AN: I don't know what is it with power that always tempts you to take more... and more... and more... its a vicious cycle I tell you. The more you take, the more you are tempted, and the higher the stakes each time. If you rule your life in this way, there will come a time where you lose big, and by big I mean everything. Temptation is a funny thing. As humans, we are so susceptible to the wiles of money and women, to the promises of untrustworthy sources. In the end, what once started as a mild temptation will evolve into a raging addiction.

Power is funny like that.

Note: I will be making the Sarutobi clan a strong clan... makes sense that the person perceived as the strongest should actually belong to a strong clan.

After the jump!

Temptation is perhaps the most dangerous obstacle in life. Money, power, women; all these and more are often coveted by others, leading to conflict and dispute. Schisms can occur between friends, fragmentation in families; The ultimate end is dissension and disunity.

The Clan Head Fugaku Uchiha was struggling with temptation. For years, the Sarutobi clan had held on to the most revered seat of power in Konoha, lording over the other clans and hoarding its assets with boundless jealousy. Members from the Sarutobi clan were said to possess innate talent in the art of manipulating elemental chakra, and many of them master four of the five elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, Earth), and as such were hailed as some of the strongest ninja in Japan. But the years had dulled the power of the once-great clan: Konoha was a shadow of its former self, and now, weak from mismanagement, the village faced military reprise from its various enemies. The Sarutobi clan itself had been whittled down through fighting the Samurais, and now the Third Hokage just barely held on to his dwindling vestiges of power. Village security was at an all-time low, with ninja casualties, and failed assassination missions, mounting by the day.

Either the Samurais had gotten stronger, or Konoha was getting weaker. The Uchiha clan spies had reported rumors circulating throughout the nations that Konoha would topple soon and relinquish its hold on the title of 'Strongest Hidden Village' in the entirety of Japan.

Fugaku could take it no longer; power was calling out to him, tempting him to take it and make good of it. As Hokage, he would not suffer the Council to make decisions for him, not like the Third, pathetically heeding their commands like a whipped dog. Danzo, one of his rivals, was simply an old man, and would pose no problem to his manipulations. If all else failed, he would just execute him. His only problem now was that bastard Hiashi.

Interestingly enough, his spies had also uncovered valuable insight into current Kumogakure operations in Konoha.

-A Week Later-

The scorching heat of the summer sunlight beat down upon the forest, exacerbating humidity levels and generally making Naruto feel extremely uncomfortable. The young blond was practicing some new skills the Hokage had passed on to him the week before, and true to his character he was tirelessly practicing, never giving in to exhaustion.

"So... a Shunshin is carried out like this... AGH!" screamed Naruto, as once again he was teleported several metres into the air, flailing his arms as he futilely tried to slow his descent. With a sharp crunch he impacted on the forest floor, sustaining several bruises but otherwise getting away unharmed.

"Dammit, what is with this jutsu! I always get teleported above my target! Again!" he exclaimed, going through the hand seals yet again and concentrating on his destination at the peak of the tree.

Poof!

Yet again he was sent several meters above his destination, crashing down to the ground seconds later. Grumbling, he pushed himself to his feet, preparing for another try, when he realized he was staring at the face of an indigo-haired girl about his age.

"Eep!" the girl exclaimed, wheeling around to hide her face.

"H-hey! What the hell are you doing so far from the village... who are you?" questioned the boy.

Turning to face the blond, the girl answered, "W-well, my name is Hinata, from the Hyuga clan... I was just watching you train!"

Naruto studied the girl's features, wondering if he knew her. The girl had weird lavender eyes, short indigo hair, seemed undeniably red-faced and was quite the shy and timid girl. Perhaps the most prominent feature about her was a greyish cross that adorned her head, but Naruto took it to be some sort of fashion statement.

"Well, you should respect the privacy of people, plus I'm training, so don't disturb me. Shoo! Go back home!" said Naruto.

"S-sorry..." Hinata replied, walking dejectedly back to the village.

Naruto was left standing alone in the clearing, wondering what the girl was doing watching him. Deciding he had to be more careful in the future, in case somebody dangerous had the chance to threaten him, he went back to his training.

A little caution never hurt anyone.

Hinata had always loved watching that blond-haired boy train. It had a calming effect on her, the monotonous way he would try, fail, then try again. His determination allowed her to forget her worries and failures, giving her hope that maybe one day, life would be worth living.

Today had saw her hope crashing down upon her. Even the boy she had so secretly admired in the past few months had rejected her the moment he saw her. She seemed to be a magnet for failure, and would doubtlessly live an unfulfilling life. Just the day before, she had been branded with the infamous Cursed Seal and made to live in the Branch House Quarters, signifying the end of her freedom - not that she had much before anyway. Now, she was made to serve the Main House members as a slave, and was to be inducted into the Konoha Medical Corps to be trained in medical jutsu. A failure like her did not deserve continued guidance in the special techniques of the Hyuga Main House.

Sighing, she entered the Hyuga Compound and made her way to her Quarters. She had to get ready to serve dinner to the Main House members as soon as the cooks finished their work. Just enough time for her to shower and get changed. Entering into her small room, she took a fresh change of clothes and turned... only to find her younger sister walking into her room.

"H-Hanabi-sama! What brings you here?" inquired Hinata.

"Just wanted to see how you were... onee-chan. I informed the other servants to excuse you for tonight. We need to talk." replied Hanabi, sliding the door shut and seating herself on the floor. "Really... how have you been treated? I'm worried about you onee-chan..."

"I'm all right. I'm glad you won anyway. I never wanted to become Clan Head. I would never want to marry some old Elder when I turn eighteen!" laughed Hinata, lightening the mood.

The sisters continued their conversation till nightfall, reaffirming their friendship. Theirs was a bond clan regulations could never break.

Unfortunately, so caught up were they in talking to each other that they failed to notice a soft sound that seemed eerily like a human scream.

Kenzo Jiburo pulled the knife from his victim, allowing the corpse to slide to the floor, staining the ground in blood. According to the information gleaned from snippets of conversation he had heard from the guards, the Hyuga Clan Heiress was currently in the Branch Quarters. He found the customary guard that always accompanied the Heiress standing guard (or rather, loafing around) outside a Branch room, and deduced that the Heiress was currently within. The guards were obviously lax; who would expect an attack on one of the most powerful clans in Konoha? Jiburo used this complacency to his advantage, but unfortunately his latest victim managed to give off a final strangled cry that signified his demise. After making sure nobody had found out about his latest kill, he quickly motioned for his two companions to storm the room.

Ripping the door off with his bare hands, Jiburo and his companions surrounded the two startled girls inside. With quick precise jabs, the ninja paralyzed both girls' chakra pathways before knocking them out, not giving them a chance to react.

"Hanzo, take both girls. we'll kill the Branch member after we reach Kumo territory. Kali, carry the body outside; we can't afford to leave evidence. I'll stay and clean the blood. We'll meet the Uchihas behind the temple. They said they would secure an exit for us." Jiburo ordered. Immediately, his two companions disappeared, leaving him alone.

The Heiress would make a good bargaining chip in securing Hyuga cooperation in future endeavors. This was just the precursor to the downfall of Konoha. Jiburo could feel it in his veins: Kumo would utterly destroy the accursed Hidden Leaf Village, and leave its remnants to the wolves. The Uchihas were very foolish to collaborate with them.

Another whole day of training had passed for Naruto. After almost eighteen hours of continued training, he felt ready to collapse from chakra exhaustion and sleep deprivation. At last he had managed to pull off the Shunshin no Jutsu perfectly once, and had called off his training in favor of getting some rest.

The blond was heading back toward the village when his ears picked up the tell-tale rustle of leaves. Raising his head, he caught sight of three ninja illuminated in the moonlight. One of them sported a scar over his left eye and carried two unconscious girls, slung unceremoniously over his shoulders. For a moment, he gasped, sharp eyes catching sight of one of the girls; she looked suspiciously like Hinata, whom he had met just hours before. Knowing something was definitely up, he threw caution to the wind, forgetting his fatigue and hurtling after the ninja at full speed. One against three... seems like good odds...

It would not be the first or the last time he committed to such drastic action with seeming folly.

Sitting in his room and sipping his tea, Fugaku let out a relaxed breath. He was enjoying the cool night air, having had to endure the sweltering afternoon leading the Uchiha Police Patrols. His plans were coming to fruition. Soon he would set the Uchihas on a rampage across Konoha and secure full power over the Ninja Corps. Ahhh... temptation is so much sweeter when you get what you want...

Unbeknownst to him, he was playing straight into the hand of a certain sharp-teethed missing-nin.

'Well, there's always a bigger fish.'

AN: how was is? Please read and drop a review! The story is about to get much darker and convoluted from now!