Rokudaime

Chapter Eleven

A hell load of negotiating

It was close to midnight by the time Sakura had left the Hokage Tower and released her Henge of her beloved Shishou. She was exhausted and felt drained despite the minimal use of chakra she had used up today. It was all that overdue paperwork that did her in, but luckily she was somewhat up to date with the reports. A feat she was proud of since those reports were weeks overdue. She also needed to set up a meeting with Kakashi-sensei regarding his mission in Rain country. She needed to know more about the mission and if the rumors about there being more Jinchuriki were true. She has had a suspicious feeling that the young boy that was admitted this morning could be one of those new Jinchuriki that the Akatsuki were after.

She would have to keep him low-key from now on until she learns more about him and his origins. Hopefully his memories will return in a couple of days if not it will be quite difficult to handle the situation and protect him from the dark organization.

In the empty streets of Konoha the kunoichi made her way to her apartment building. She couldn't wait to take a hot shower and to sleep in her full size bed. The medic sighs dreamily at the thought and quickly picks up her steady pace once her building comes into view. By the time she made it upstairs her stomach began aching. 'Not again.' She thought with a groan while opening her apartment door rather sluggishly.

She nearly missed the note that was push underneath her door inside her apartment. She raised a brow curiously while bending down and retrieving the envelope. She saw her name written neatly in the front and recognizes that it is Neji's hand writing. Once inside her apartment she takes a seat and opens the envelope hastily, she had the letter in hand she read it anxiously. She didn't know whether it contains romantic words of love, which she highly doubts since Neji isn't the type to express his feelings in a letter, or if it was important.

Nervously she shook her right leg as her eyes read each and every word. Her eyes flashed with outrage, sadness, anger, despair, worry, fear, hope and then finally happiness. She pulls the letter down onto her lap and ponders on what she had just finished reading. Neji was being followed by a spy assigned by his Uncle and could not risk being seen anywhere near her home unless they were to be found out. With Neji being engaged to Ten-Ten and him being found in her apartment at nights and leaving in the early mornings would be disastrous and stir drama from the two noble clans.

Now she would be seeing less of Neji and in an effort to comfort herself she wraps her arms around her waist with a sad expression in her eyes.

Neji had informed her that Hinata now knew of their relationship, but was willing to help them in any way she could. In that sense Sakura was relieved and thankful. At least Hinata didn't have a problem with her being with Neji. "Kami, if only the rest of your family were like you Hinata-chan." Sakura murmured wistfully before letting out a small smile. "The only way to annul this marriage is if we marry." She said out loud with thoughtful eyes before proceeding to get a fresh paper and pen. Once she had the necessary items she began to write. Once she was done she placed the pen down and began to massage her temples.

She was getting a headache and not to mention her stomach felt like it was severally knotted. As if she was going to vomit any second from all this stress and anxiety. She knew the consequences if Neji were to marry her. He would be exiled and possibly…killed, killed from the cursed mark sealed on his forehead.

As she thought about the cursed mark a disturbing image of Neji being subdued and crying out painfully as he hits the ground flashes before her mind's eye. Her stomach lurches rather painfully and she could feel the bile rushing up her esophagus. She quickly rushes to the bathroom and vomits.

She washes her face and mouth with cold water and stares at her reflection in the mirror with conflict shimmering within her eyes. She couldn't allow Neji to get hurt. No matter how much she wants to marry him, she didn't want him dead for committing such a commitment against his clan's wishes. "What do I do?" She asks out loud, desperately hoping for an answer to her dilemma as if wishing that it would appear from out of thin air.

She felt hopeless and she hated it.

Akatsuki

"The Jinchuriki has been successfully transported within Konoha's walls and is currently in the Hospital under the Hokage's supervision, Pein-sama." The hologram form of Pein flickered in and out erratically before the fallen Uchiha.

"Well done." He murmured pleased with the successful transactions of the first step towards their plans. "Continue keeping tabs on the Jinchuriki and Konoha. I will inform you when to proceed." Itachi nodded his head in understanding before the hologram disappears and he is left completely alone in the rented hotel room.

He took a pair of pills and drinks them down with a cool glass of water. The urge to cough was becoming great, but he contained himself well, knowing that if he did cough his hand would be soiled with blood. He would rest for awhile now that he had completed his part in Pein-sama's plan and from the meeting just now he wouldn't be needed for quite some time. They didn't know when the Jinchuriki who housed the Nine Tails will return.

Discarding his robe onto the chair the Uchiha lied down quietly on the bed. He stared silently at the white ceiling and deactivated his Sharingan, immediately his vision lessens considerably to only shapes and blurs. The continuous use of his blood limit resulted in his now failing eye sight. There was nothing he could do about his failing sight, but to continue on with his mission and complete his final goal.

Only then would he be set free.

He closed his eyes and began to relax while allowing his mind to wonder on other things besides the uneasy tightness of his lungs. The latest Jinchuriki wouldn't be needed for quite some time just yet so the twelve tails would be his eyes until he sets foot once again in Konoha.

Tsunade's Condo

Small beads of sweat adorn the forehead and temples of the Godaime. Promptly ignoring her rising fever Tsunade reads on feverishly through the Medical Scroll of Suna. So far there were a few symptoms that have shown up in different diseases that match her own that she has come across, but nothing that fully indicated what she was suffering from. She bite down on her thumb as a deep crease formed on her forehead as she scowled lightly in frustration. Her symptoms were spaced out and could be a number of things.

"This is going to be a lot harder than I imagined." She murmured to herself before tearing her gaze from the Medical Scroll and bringing it over to the door of her condo where she could barely distinguish the chakra signature of the person behind it, but if it wasn't for Shizune having a spare key to her condo she wouldn't have known who it was. Her chakra control was beginning to become difficult to control and that was something good because that meant she was becoming disabled further.

It meant that she wouldn't be able to protect the village from any sudden attacks.

It meant that she was becoming disabled and unfit to be Hokage.

"How are you Tsunade?" Shizune asks as she closes the door once she was inside. She made her way to the kitchen and placed down a few grocery bags on the counter along with a bag full of medications from the hospital. The dark haired medic took out a bottle full of painkillers and filled a cup full of water before walking over to the blonde medic. Her dark eyes widen slightly at the sweat glistening on Tsunade's face and her redden cheeks before quickly narrowing her eyes at the blonde, greatly upset. "You're burning with fever! How could you still be researching?" She asks outraged while bringing her now glowing green hands to the Godaime's forehead and cooling down the fever slightly. Tsunade sighed in relief at the cooling chakra being held against her burning forehead.

Now, why couldn't her chakra produce the same results as Shizune's chakra? Why did it seem as if her body wasn't responding to her own chakra anymore?

"Calm down Shizune it's nothing but a minor fever." She informed her first student wearily as she takes the pills down with one gulp. She soon takes the Medical Scroll under her arms and walks towards her bedroom to retire for the night. Earlier it had started off as a minor fever, but it gradually began rising to the point where she couldn't control it any longer with her chakra. She didn't want to stop her search for a fever so she had just ignored it.

Shizune watch wearily and worriedly at her mentor and close friend.

She was getting worse.

She frowns deeply at the thought.

'What if this is it?' She thought suddenly. 'What if this is a sign that Tsunade's time is coming?' She couldn't bear the thought of her mentor of decades leaving her to a place where she herself wouldn't be in just yet. It would be the only place she wouldn't be able to follow her mentor into. If that were to happen then what would become of Konoha? Who would lead it afterward? Danzo would love to take Tsunade's position the moment the opportunity presents itself, but they both knew that man had his own philosophy on how a village should be run. Just look at the Anbu Root division he ran. Those men were nothing, but mindless weapons that Danzo controls without a conscious of their humanity.

Shizune passed a hand through her dark strands and paced in the living room.

The only way to prevent Danzo from taking over would be if Tsunade declares a successor the moment her illness takes a turn for the absolute worse and she is left immobile. Shizune glances wearily towards her mentor's bedroom and signs deeply. This was going to be hard, but it was something that needed to be done sooner rather than later to ensure the safety and direction of Konoha's future and will.

Opening the door to Tsunade's bedroom the dark haired medic found the Godaime to be fast asleep on the bed with a pained expression etched upon her face. She gingerly retrieved the Medical Scroll before closing the door completely unaware of the passing shadow just outside the Godaime's balcony.

Raikage

That old man was out of his mind and had a lot of nerve to request more of his men. He should be grateful he had extended two of his finest out to him. He was beginning to see that Danzo was a glutton of a man. The Raikage angrily rolls the scroll after he is done reading it and tosses it aside carelessly. "Danzo has no qualms about bringing up the Hyuuga Clan's deceitfulness." He grits out before calming himself down.

It was true that he owed Danzo some sort of gratitude for informing him of the scandal, but he was also extremely wary of the man.

He was the sort of man that couldn't be trusted.

If betraying his own village's secret to an enemy village wasn't an indication of being a snake then his goal of wanting the current Hokage to be removed was a clear enough sign.

The letter he received from the Hokage the night his men were captured had promised war if his men were to be caught once again on her territory. He had considered it with great hesitation. It was enough of a gamble that he had two of his finest inside Konoha, but more would surely be disastrous and he certainly did not want that Hokage unleashing war and hell on his village and people. Tsunade-sama was a ruthless woman, especially when it came to war and especially if she became involved in the front lines herself. With her involved directly he would have no village at all, but instead would have ruins of collapsed buildings and upturned soil from her massive, inhumane strength.

Leaving his office the Raikage seeks out his council of advisers. They would surely know what course was best to proceed with. He soon entered into a room where two elderly men sat with grim, tight expressions on their faces, both discussing politics before their Kage graced them with his presence. "Raikage, how can we assist you tonight?" One asked with a raised brow. The Raikage took a seat across from them and explained his dilemma.

"Hm, it would be foolish to assist this Danzo any further, but he promises a body of a Hyuuga once he becomes Hokage, which can further our village's strength and worth if we can find the secrets regarding their blood limits capabilities." The Raikage nodded his head in agreement. Yes, the pros for such a bargain were great, but with pros there came cons. "Those were my very thoughts when I had assigned Sayu and Ryo to be stationed in Konoha for Danzo's assistance in becoming Hokage." At the mentioning of Ryo being one of the two that the Raikage had sent the elders became uncomfortable. "You sent the heir into enemy lands on such a risky mission?" The condescending tone of voice that the second elder directed towards the Raikage made him irritated.

"Yes, I sent my son; he is one of the finest shinobi in this village and has proven himself time and time again. If I had not thought him capable I would have sent someone else." He informed then tersely.

The two elders both frowned, both displeased that they weren't consulted with and for the risk of having the heir on such a risky mission.

"What's done is done." The first elder commented.

"Send more shinobi to assist Danzo, but his promise had better hold out in the end and I hope you ensure that they do." The second elder proclaimed with meaning. "If not we will have a terrible war upon us, a war we will not win with the Slug Princess commanding it." The Raikage frowned at the true statement.

"Of course," he stated with confidence. "My son already knows his orders if the situation were to become sour." Yes, his beloved son knew to eliminate Danzo the moment things became sketchy on the old man's part.

"Well then Raikage there's no more to discuss then until next time." the first elder states as he watches the Raikage stand to leave.

"Yes, until next time."

He has had his suspicion that inferred that the Hokage of Konoha was ill, but he did not know that she was this ill to not even move an inch when he had slid the door to her balcony open and entered into her room. He was as silent as any Cloud shinobi could ever dream of being, especially a Konoha shinobi. He was the best in his village and he took full pride of it. As he approaches the sick woman he observed her appearance and took in the more prominent wrinkles gracing her usually youthful face. He could see the silver of grays intertwine with the soft blonde locks and the way her breathing was becoming a bit shallow with a light wheezing sound with each breath she took.

This would have been a disturbing discovery if he were a citizen and a loyal shinobi to this woman, but seeing as that he was not he stores the Hokage's appearance to memory. Danzo would surely find this development pleasing and from Sayu's earlier reports the Godaime has been sick for quite some time now and has been searching for a cure, but he also noted that on other days she would look healthy and uninfected with illness and not like the woman he is now seeing.

He deduced it to her ability and experience as a medic that is the cause for her healthy appearance.

Danzo wanted the Medic Scroll belonging to Suna, but the Cloud shinobi hadn't counted on the fact that the Hokage's apprentice was the one leading the retrieval mission. The old man knew that if Tsunade had the scroll she would find a cure for her illness, whatever it may be, and she would remain as Hokage and continue her reign over Konoha. His comrades were taken by the village and were most likely dead by now. He was pissed off about that discovery and demanded that Danzo see to their survival. After all once his father steps down he would became the next Raikage and then those that had been captured would be his men.

It would only be a matter of time before her illness caught up to her, weakening her to the point where she was left immobile from what he could see right now. Ryo was more than sure that that would be the time that Danzo will strike. He was a coward of a man, but that was the way of any shinobi who wanted power and they would obtain it in any way, including the lowest of ways. He personally did not like Danzo or his cowardly ways to become Hokage. If he could not fight his way against the Godaime in a match then what made him think that he could run and protect an entire village?

He often wondered why his father would agree to help this man, even if the body of a Hyuuga was promised to them in the end.

In the end it didn't really matter what he thought because he was a shinobi who served his Kage foremost, but he vowed to take over this village once he was Raikage. He would have Danzo's head on a silver platter.

He got what he needed from here and he turned to leaves from which he came until the woman's voice stopped him.

He stiffens immediately and he had to control his heart rate from racing.

"Shizune… water, now." The command was soft and dry.

Ryo tensely glances over to the woman on the bed and sees that she is between consciousness and unconsciousness. He swiftly brings his gaze to the table that was supplied with a jar of water and two cups. He fills the glass water and with light footsteps heads over to the Godaime's awaiting hand. He notices the tremors to her arm as she holds the cup and brings it to her lips. He takes note of this and stores it away in his mind.

He hears oncoming footsteps from the Godaime's student and silently curses to himself inwardly. If he were to leave now they would surely know that someone was in here. Luckily the Godaime was done and had tossed the cup to him carelessly before turning over in bed and going back to sleep without even a mutter of a thanks. He scowls at the woman before placing the cup where he found it and leaves with haste just as the door to the room opens. He watches wearily from the balcony window as the black haired medic enters slightly confuse.

"I thought I heard her call me."

Shizune mused to herself before shaking her head and leaving, but not before casting a worried gaze onto the blonde woman in bed.

'That was a close one.' He thought to himself as he races away from the Hokage's condo. He wore the regular clothes of a typical Konoha civilian, but had his weapons hidden on various parts of his body and his chakra masked. He dropped to the ground and smoothed out his clothing before walking onto one of the many paths of Konoha. He stood away from the inner part of the village and made his way to the dense forests and empty training grounds.

Sayu was to meet him here after giving her report to Danzo.

As he walks to the designated meeting area he caught the chakra signature of a shinobi just up ahead. He jumps into the tress hidden by the lush leaves as he made his way closer to the shinobi. He is surprised to see that it is a woman with long flowing hair that seems to be the color of a darkened lavender. He narrows his eyes to get a better view of her face, but with her head facing away from him he cannot identify the woman he knows to be a kunoichi from the amount of chakra she contains. He decides to wait it out until Sayu arrives. They had no choice, but to change their meeting place for tonight.

It was several minutes before the woman finally sighs and brushes her hair behind her ear. His breath hitches at the sight of her profile. She was utterly beautiful and he could not believe how pale her skin was against the glistening moonlight. He feels his mouth agape slightly and with a dark blush he closes it. He looks at her more, especially at her eyes and notices the pale lilac irises and the absence of a pupil in her left eye. He realizes with surprise that the woman was blind. He is taken aback by this and furrows his brow thoughtfully.

Why would a blind ex-kunoichi be out this late at night without any assistance?

His thoughts were soon interrupted by a light tap to his shoulder. He glances over to his left and sees Sayu. She had a brow raised at him in wonderment as to what he was doing up in a tree staring off into the distance. She brought her gaze to what had his attention and soon realized it was a woman he was gazing at. She furrowed her brows and frowns before motioning with her head for them to leave. She soon disappears from the tree branch besides Ryo and heads to a new designated spot to have their meeting. Ryo casts one last long over to the beautiful blind woman and disappears as well.

They run a few miles away from their previous spot to stop by a river.

Sayu leans against a tree and folds her arms across her chest. Her chest was burning with jealousy and anger. She concealed her emotions from Ryo in order to hide any suspicion of her feelings for him and opts to stare at the lush trees surrounding them.

She was tired and bored.

She had been following the Godaime ever since their arrival to this village. It was rather boring and tedious since she often commutes to both the hospital and the Hokage Tower. This afternoon she seemed to be in good health, which did not match up to how she was a just few days earlier. The Godaime of today was fit, healthy, and most importantly not showing any signs of being ill or weakened at all. "The busty blonde seems to have recovered from whatever illness she had before. She has appeared to be well and fully healthy." She began while keeping her gaze on the river not too far from her.

Ryo allowed a cocky smirk to appear on his handsome face as he questions Sayu, "Are you so sure about that, Sayu-chan?" Sayu is taken aback by the question and narrows her eyes at him, causing her hazel irises to fill with confusion. She forced herself to not blush at the sound of her name rolling off his tongue in such an intimate and teasing manner.

"Of course I am!" She ground out while unfolding her arms and pushing herself off from leaning against the tree. How dare he infer she was doing an incompetent job!

Ryo's cockiness always riled her up, especially when he wore that sexy smirk of his.

Just because he was the Raikage's son didn't mean his skills as a shinobi were superior to hers. They were in the same ranking and same level, take and lose a few with experience. Ryo closed his eyes with his smirk still in place and finally explains his new findings with his cute partner. "The Godaime is indeed ill. I followed one of her apprentices, the black haired one, to her living quarters and found the woman extremely ill." At his revelation Sayu becomes confused as Ryo went into deep detail about her appearance.

"How can she put up such an act? Surely it would demand a lot of chakra." Sayu muses impressed at how well the blonde could conceal her outwardly appearance of being terribly ill to completely healthy.

"I agree and I'm in wonderment to it as well, but tomorrow morning I'll be watching the Godaime from the moment she awakens to the moment she falls asleep. You will do well to keep an eye over at the Tower and see if that annoying Anbu search for us has lightened up. I hope that old man has done something about it. We can't work as well as we usually would if we have to avoid them from catching us." Ryo stated with a snarl before bringing his gaze to Sayu.

A/N: Here it is the next chapter and I'm sorry for the long delay! Life really caught up to me and I had to deal with a few things, but its August 17 that I have finish this chapter and it's my birthday! I would like to thank all of you who have reviewed and to everyone that is reading this story.

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Lady Manami