Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor do I make money off this fanfiction.

Chapter 10

Sunagakure no Soto

While Konoha's council was quickly descending into madness over the thought of Itachi taking over Jiraiya's spy network the Suna council was trying to determine how best to play off the death of their Yondaime and subsequently being duped into attacking their allies.

"I don't know what you're worried about, the third Hokage has always been soft. He will happily reinstate our prior alliance to avoid a war, I don't think we have any cause for concern," one of the councilor said.

"We have already offered reparations but any alliance will be on shaky ground after what we've done. The Hokage won't be willing to bend even a little, not with the public pressure he will be under. If he doesn't treat us with a heavy hand the rest of the villages will view him as weak, and he can't afford that any more than we can. We need make a much greater gesture. And the simple fact is we can't afford a misstep right now," one of the councilors said.

"With the losses during the invasion and our failure to discover the Yondaime had been slain we will be seen as weak and vulnerable by both major and minor powers. With our already low number of shinobi from the economic issues we've been dealing with coupled with the losses from the failed invasion if multiple minor villages were to ally against us we would be hard pressed to hold them back," Baki said.

The Suna council murmured at the news they could be in such a dire position, "And with the Uzumaki child's sudden power Konoha's strength has only increased. It was like an advanced form of the Hirashin the Yellow Flash used. I believe we must make a greater gesture to ensure Konoha accepts our overtures. With our alliance reinstated we'll gain much needed breathing room."

"Agreed, the Uzumaki child's power is great enough to provide a massive deterrent to any village in the world. Look at what he did the Gaara, I suggest we offer something that could cement the alliance over a much longer term," another councilor agreed.

Baki, the interim-Kazekage, frowned at where this was going, "You mean to offer a marriage contract to cement the alliance?"

"Exactly, if we offer one of our most promising kunoichi from a strong line it would show our willingness to make amends and build a stronger foundation for the future. I think Temari-san would be perfect for this situation. She's the daughter of the former Kazekage and a member of one our more prestigious clans," the council member said receiving several nods and murmurs of accent.

Baki frowned further, "And we lose one of our most promising young kunoichi in the process. And who would you offer her too? Her father is dead, her brothers protect her now, and any decision made would have to pass through Gaara. Despite his obvious improvements he is unlikely to be inclined to give up his sister for this council's politicking."

Since his return Gaara had been… different. He was less homicidal and more in control. He didn't radiate the bloodlust he once did and he seemed more introspective of his actions than ever before. However, despite that he was still Gaara and many feared his willingness to slaughter indiscriminately without the power of their former Kage to control him.

Some councilors frowned at that while others nodded, the original speaker, seeing the spilt decision, decided to try another tact, "What if we ask her? She may not be against it if she understands the situation and our concerns. We may even be able to offer her a choice of whom to offer the contract too. It doesn't have to be someone she dislikes, it could be someone she respects and is agreeable too."

Seeing he had caught the attention of many of the council with the idea Baki knew he was outmaneuvered and nodded his assent before sending an ANBU to retrieve his former student.

Konoha

After the prolonged council session and Naruto had disappeared to the one place he felt could make all the evils of the world go away. The sun seemed to set on the small ramen stand that had often fed him when no one else would. It was his haven and the father and daughter that treated him as a family always seemed to keep the worst of the world away, even if only for a short time.

"So what's got my number 1 customer down?" a female voice asked with concern at the obviously distraught blonde before her. Her name was Ayame, and she had known the boy before her since he was five years old. She was a few years older than him, around 5'4 with deep brown hair and eyes that radiated warmth of the boy sitting before her.

Naruto gave her a weak grin before sighing, "Sorry Ayame-chan, I had to attend this stupid council meeting and things just… they were pretty terrible. I hate politics."

Ayame frowned, "Yeah, dad is always complaining about the council and the stupid things they do. What happened?" the concern obvious in her voice

Naruto took another bite of his ramen and squeezed the chopsticks tightly, "I just don't understand why those old baka's have to be involved in my life. Jiraiya says it's the downside to becoming a leader, you deal with people wanting to play political games and why he never wanted to be Hokage. But, I mean, just a month ago I had no idea who my parents were. I was some orphan and now? I am some 'highly valuable asset' and the heir to two clans that I never knew existed! And they just want me to make some mistake so they can steal my clan's money and heritage for the village."

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut as tears threatened to force their way out, "Why can't they leave my family alone and let me figure this out by myself? Didn't we sacrifice enough?" he said quietly as his left hand moved slightly to cover his stomach before he returned to his ramen. He had learned a lot about his family in the past few weeks, their sacrifices during the great shinobi wars, and to see Konoha attempting to maneuver to steal from them just filled him a deep sense of betrayal by the village.

Ayame smiled sadly at the boy in front of her, she reached over and rubbed his sun kissed hair with a small smile, "I wish I had the answers for you Naruto-kun, but sadly neither dad nor I have any influence in the council. We've never been their fans but we do care for you. And if they try and take anything that belongs to you then I want you to fight them with every ounce of you being, got it?!"

Naruto met her eyes and nodded before giving her a rare true smile, "You got it!"

Ayame smiled and looked the blonde in the eye, admiring the determination and spirit, "Naruto-kun, you'll always be family to us. I know we're not blood but dad and I will always be here for you. I'm just sorry we can't do something more to help but make ramen for you."

Naruto gave her a smile, "I know Ayame-chan, but the ramen you make has saved me every time I need it. Thank you, you guys are the best, and thanks for listening to me."

Ayame smiled and nodded before turning to take some dishes to the back, sometimes everyone needed a little bit of ramen in their life.

Hokage Tower

"Telling them that Itachi is coming could blow up in our face, you know that right?" the old kage said as smoke drifted lazily from his pipe, "Although it was brilliant to treat it as if we had recruited him back to the village. No one even questioned it and it split them between the fear of his return and the much needed improvement to the village he would bring as an S-ranked shinobi."

The council meeting had descended into screaming and madness after Jiraiya's announcement. The good part was it threw everyone off Naruto and forced them to focus on a different subject. It was a temporary solution but it bought them time to stall the council from trying any dirty tricks with Naruto's heritage.

Jiraiya nodded, "I know, but we needed some way to get them off Naruto and bringing Itachi back is our safest bet. Also since he will be out of the village we won't have to worry about villagers going nuts over it, particularly now that you've made it an SS-class secret. No one will know that Itachi is our spy and he has been brought back into Konoha," the sage snorted, "Not that he ever left."

The return of Itachi would cause a massive stir if it got out. Not to mention the effect it would have on Sasuke's already questionable mind-set. The reports from the Yamanaka clansman that had been tasked with following and putting together a preliminary report on his mental state indicated he should be immediately removed from the Shinobi corps and put down as a flight risk. Should he learn his brother was returning he would likely be unable to accept it, going so far as to cause a possible mental breakdown.

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, "So you know?"

"Of course, I'm a spy master, I knew before you did what happened and why. The Uchiha were planning a Coup' and Itachi was the only one capable of stopping them. Although we both know Ne and someone else were involved. Itachi only killed active duty shinobi taking part in the coup'. I have all the evidence even if took years to get it."

The third Hokage nodded, "Then we're ready to take the final step. To think if I had died in the invasion we never would have been able to take him down."

Jiraiya noticed his teacher's mood dampening and turning toward unproductive thoughts, "But you didn't and we are here. Say the word and I'll lead the team myself to arrest the old bastard."

Hiruzen was silent for several long minutes contemplating the plan. He knew that Danzo had not disbanded Ne the way he had been ordered. Unfortunately, it had taken nearly six years to gather the evidence. He had been forced to play his cards close to his chest, let Danzo think he was getting away with building his own private army, in order to get him to come out enough for Jiraiya to gather that knowledge.

But he also knew Danzo's little group provided protection for Konoha by doing missions that couldn't be traced back to the village. That was a moot point now though, he was growing too dangerous and the new numbers showed he had several hundred operatives, small compared the nearly 25,000 shinobi under the Hokage's command but still, he could not allow it to continue.

Hiruzen nodded and Jiraiya vanished to the ANBU command center to initiate the counter-strike.

As Jiraiya left Hiruzen knew he needed to take care of one more loose end before it could possibly grow out of his control, "Lizard. Monkey. I want to retrieve Sasuke Uchiha for me."

Suna

Temari sat quietly with her brothers. The council had called her in that morning and 'requested' she agreed to a marriage contract to ensure Konoha accept their renewed alliance. She had been struck silent by the audacity of the 'request', well, more like demand. Only Gaara's presence had ensured it was a politely phrased as a request and not an outright order.

After giving the council the proper response that she would consider their 'request' she had left and headed into the sand dune training grounds near the village to unleash mass destruction. Hours later she still felt nothing but rage at what they wanted.

Her red headed little brother sat nearby reading a book, poetry from what she saw, he had taken to read that at night. He said it helped him feel at peace. She finally had him back and the council would be dammed before she agreed to leave.

Just as she was making up her mind her old sensei let himself into their home, "What do you want?"

Baki raised an eyebrow and accepted her anger, "I want you to know the marriage contract was not my idea but you should be aware of the situation we are in. I know you were too angry to even hear what anyone was saying."

Temari nodded with a glare at her old sensei, "We need this alliance Temari. While I don't think it's necessary it would not hurt for us to offer the contract and there is no indication Konoha would accept. Even before the invasion we had the lowest standing shinobi force of the five great nations. Now there is legitimate concern that without this alliance several smaller villages could ally against us and win or if another of the major villages wanted to launch an attack we would be hard pressed to repel them. Most likely in either scenario we would lose."

Temari's eyes widened, she knew things weren't good but had no idea they were that bad, "But if things are so bad why offer the contract? We're paying reparations right? Shouldn't that be enough?"

"Normally yes, but you saw what the Uzumaki boy was capable of. The council feels, and I can't deny, that with his power alone backing us any nation would think twice before launching an attack."

Gaara, who had remained nearby raised his eyes from the book in his hands, "Uzumaki is a good man, I approve of him," he said in a neutral tone before turning his eyes to his sister, "but should you be harmed in any way, I will kill him for you."

Temari stared at her brother, both in pronouncement that he would approve of the Uzumaki and his statement he would kill for her. To protect her. He had never killed for anyone but himself before. Just the thought that he cared for her, that her baby brother cared for her, was enough to bring her to tears that she may have to leave him just as he was returning to her.

"We had not decided who to offer the contract too, part of bringing you into the meeting was to get an idea if you would be willing or if there was anyone you may consider marrying within the leaf," Baki told her.

Temari frowned at that, she knew the council lacked the power to order her to accept the marriage contract. As a clan member she was protected under clan law from that, although her clan head could make such arrangements.

"And you came to let me know the stakes if I say no and how it could affect the entire village?" she asked with a hint of anger in her voice.

Baki nodded, "You needed to know the full picture. I don't deny that I dislike it but there is a strong argument that should we offer the contract it will sway Konoha to accept that our intentions are genuine."

Temari stared at the dunes before her in thought. Sometimes it just sucked being a shinobi.