Author's note: So far the chapters have been published in chronological order. This isn't the case anymore. So please don't be startled by sudden jumps in Naruto's age. Every chapter has him as old as his level of maturity suggests.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Danzo

"A good ninja has no emotions. The only thing that matters to him is the mission," the old warhawk lectured. He had finally convinced that old fool Sarutobi to give the Weapon into his care and intended to make the most of it. He's been lecturing it for nearly an hour already and his throat was feeling parched. His only pupil, a golden-haired four-years-old child, ignored him completely in favor of playing with a stuffed frog plushy. If the old shinobi felt something, (which he didn't, because good ninja have no emotions, as he had said at least a hundred times today), he would be annoyed.

"Pay attention," Danzo scolded. Naruto glanced at him briefly and proceeded to play.

"I said that emotions are only a hindrance for a ninja. And so are attachments." The audience paid him no attention.

"Stop playing and listen," the aged ninja said sharply. "You are a living weapon, not a child." Said living weapon proceeded to merrily act like a little child. Danzo knew that emotions were unnecessary, but now he couldn't help but scowl. This was getting tiresome. And don't forget annoying.

"Stop playing and pay attention! I'm trying to turn you into a ninja here!" The boy stuck out his tongue and played, undisturbed by his outburst. Now the Root leader had it. He completely forgot that he wasn't supposed to have emotions, marched towards Naruto and yanked the toy from his hands.

"You are going to listen, you little demon!" So what if this was giving into his emotions and as such went against his beliefs, the little brat was seriously exasperating.

Naruto looked first at his empty hands and then at the plushy in Danzo's hand. "My froggy!" he pouted.

"Will you listen now?" It wasn't meant as a question.

"My froggy!" the four-year-old repeated, reaching for the toy. The old man kept it out of his reach.

"Stop this childish nonsense, your training as a living weapon of Konoha starts now."

"Give back froggy!" Naruto demanded.

"No," the old warhawk stated sternly. "Weapons don't need toys."

"Give back froggy!" The child ignored his lectures.

"Stop your whining. Emotions only hold ninja back."

"Give back froggy!" Naruto wailed. Danzo came to the conclusion that he wasn't going to listen as long as the toy was around. He decided to solve to situation in a way that could be only explained by his complete inexperience when it came to dealing with children.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" The flames completely incinerated the plushy. There was a second of stunned silence. Then...

"MY FROGGY!"

As the vile red chakra filled the room, Danzo realized that maybe he had made a mistake.

And so Danzo lost his eye and right arm. He then decided that some things just aren't worth it, even if it is for the benefit of Konoha.