Tail of Two Heroes: Switched at Tragedy

by Inkaliber

Time and Space crumble in the wake of dark forces. The Time Patrollers are unable to keep up with the threat, forced to watch as the two branches in time crumble. When all hope seems lost, a radical decision is made. The temporal criminal Fu is tasked by the Shenron of Time and Space to carry out a dangerous quest. Will the teen find success? Find out in this Tail of Two Heroes!

5. Family Matters! The Uchiha Massacre!

Inkaliber: Hey everybody! I just wanna say that I am indeed NOT DEAD! College is hard to keep track of and I'm now getting around to the time where I'm looking into internships and co-ops. I've been building my mojo back up by writing other stories, such as the Miraculous Gamer Guild. Now it's time to get back on track and start updating my older works.

Meowth: Glad ta see that yer getting back to dis one Boss. It's been hectic trying to keep this room clean with everything else going on. I swear da Saibamen keep getting out every other day. I nearly lost a few lives trying to deal with dis. At least that Chaotzu guy's been tryin' ta help.

Inkaliber: That does sound hectic. I heard Chaotzu had to be the one to feed the Saibamen for a few days.

Meowth: He almost vaporized 'em. I don't blame 'im. The way dey laugh evilly and try ta blow up on ya make dem more annoyin' than a group of Voltorb.

Inkaliber: Tell me about it later. Right now, let's answer some reviews.

Guest- Here it is man.

Inkaliber: Looks like that's the only guest reviewer for this chapter. Well either way, let's get started! I don't own Dragon Ball, Naruto or the mysterious third series. I do own OC characters, objects, concepts, and creatures unless stated otherwise. Roll tape!

Voices

"Talking."

'Thinking.'

"YELLING!"

"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity talking."

"AUTHOR/GUEST/HIGH OR DEMONIC ENTITY YELLING!"

"Whispering."

"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity whispering."

---

Ichiraku's, Konoha

Goku found himself running towards the Uchiha estate. He learned that Uncle Fu and Itachi wanted him to meet them there for personal reasons, though the meaning behind that eluded him. It was so random that he didn't even have much time to say goodbye to Lee and Tenten due to the nature of the message. The saiyan came to a stop as he stood before the gates of his destination. Two guards stood before the entrance, both Konoha's symbol and the Uchiha crest clearly visible on their uniforms.

"Greetings Goku," greeted one of the men with an uncharacteristic smile. "Itachi-sama said you would be here today to help out. I was surprised to see that he brought that uncle of yours along." The monkey boy nodded in response.

"Did they mention why they had me come along?" questioned the saiyan. "Itachi-ni never told me what was going on." The guard shook his head in response.

"You'll find out as soon as you meet up with them. They'll be at the head family manor. You may proceed." Goku nodded to the man before walking forward, leaving the duo behind. In spite of what some might believe, this was not so rare an exchange.

Due to his closeness with Itachi, Goku was able to build up a friendly relationship with a majority of the Uchiha within the compound. There were some who resented him due to his Sarutobi name, but those were few and far between. His uncle was in a similar situation, though it was clear that it was more the political figures that held interest in the man. He dodged to the right as a few kids ran towards him, passing him by as they ran for their parents. The saiyan giggled as he rolled his shoulders, picking up the pace as he ran himself.

The boy soon found himself standing before a large building, about half the size of the Hokage manor. This building was the very place that Itachi lived in with his family. Goku went to knock on the door, only to stop as he felt a familiar presence nearby. He suddenly turned around, catching the wrist of a young boy. He smirked as he took note of the wooden kunai in the younger kid's hand.

"Nice try Sasuke but you're gonna have to work a lot harder to catch up with me." The Uchiha kid harrumphed as he pulled his arm away. This one in particular had his hair pulled back into a style that some would compare to a duck's butt. He wore a simple black t-shirt, dark gray shorts, and wooden sandals. Sasuke crossed his arms in disappointment.

"You always know when the attack is coming, Goku-sama," grumbled the young Uchiha. He pointed the fake kunai at the saiyan, a bit of eyer laced in his look. "One of these days I'm going to get the drop on you! When that happens Itachi-ni will show me the same respect he shows you!" Goku chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah… that respect is only reserved for meetings with Grandpa Hiruzen. He still treats me like a kid otherwise." Before anymore could be said, the front door opened. Goku smiled as an older Uchiha woman stood before him. This was Mikoto Uchiha, Sasuke and Itachi's mother and the matriarch of the clan.

"Greetings Goku-kun." Greeted Mikoto. "I hope Sasuke-kun wasn't bothering you again. He's gotten so rowdy lately." Sasuke groaned as he rubbed his arm.

"Ka-san!" Cried Sasuke. Goku chuckled as he shook his head. Mikoto quickly ushered the two boys in before shutting the door. A few Uchiha passed them by, bowing in respect to the matriarch. Goku smiled as he saw Uncle Fu and Itachi sitting at a table.

"Hey Goku!" Greeted Fu. "You're just in time! Come sit by me!" Goku nodded before taking a seat beside his uncle. Itachi bowed his head slightly to the saiyan.

"Good evening Goku-kun." Greeted the Uchiha prodigy. "I hope my summons did not interrupt anything major. This matter is of great importance to me." Goku smiled as he nodded his head.

"It's no problem Itachi-ni!" Cheered Goku. "I'm always happy to lend a hand. What's going on?" Itachi nodded, happy to have the boy's acceptance. He gestured to Mikoto and Sasuke, causing the monkey boy to look their way.

"My father is pushing for Sasuke to learn the Fireball jutsu before he enters the academy. While I have done my best to try and help my Otōto, I am called to meetings and sent on missions on a longer basis. I was hoping you could teach him since you were able to create a much larger version on your own." Goku flashed his signature grin as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I've never taught someone before, but I'll definitely try. Anything for you guys!" Goku turned to smile at Sasuke, only to see a disappointed frown on his face. It was very clear the boy wasn't thrilled about having someone other than Itachi teach him. The older sibling ignored the look his brother sent him as he nodded his head.

"Excellent. You may use the training ground out back for training purposes. It would be best if you start right now." Goku hopped up from his seat with a grunt, flipping a bit before landing on his feet. He grabbed Sasuke by the wrist as he pulled him along.

"Come on Sasuke! The sooner we get started, the sooner you'll be shooting off a bunch of fireballs!" The young Uchiha sounded his discomfort as he was pulled along.

"Not so hard Goku-sama!" cried Sasuke. "I can walk on my own! Besides, you're going the wrong way!" Mikoto chuckled as she closed the door behind them, leaving Fu and Itachi alone in the room. The Nisekuma clan member's smile softened as he looked at Itachi.

"So, what do you need me for?" asked Fu. "You could have just called Goku to teach Sasuke by himself. He's a good kid and when push comes to shove he'll do his best to help his friends succeed. Also, I could have sensed if anything went wrong from my house." Itachi sighed in response.

"You are very perceptive, Nisekuma-sama." Admitted the former ANBU. "As you know, I have been watching both sides of an oncoming coup. Shisui committed suicide a few days prior due to the horrors brought on by these conditions." Fu nodded his head with a frown.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Shisui was a good guy, and a better friend from what you've said." Itachi nodded in response.

"Thank you. In any case, I wish to end this problem peacefully. With how hard it is for the Hokage and my father to come upon a deal the elders will agree with, however, I fear bloodshed is unavoidable. I come to you for advice since you have proven to be a good source of wisdom." The purple man chuckled as he rubbed the back of the head.

"Aw shucks! I didn't think anyone thought so highly of me. In any case, I think we both know who's been causing the most problems for relations between the village and your clan. A certain mummy with no regard for human life." Itachi's frown turned to one of calm rage as he nodded his head.

"Danzō Shimura. He and the civilian council have been making life for the Uchiha harsh. I have a bad feeling that he would benefit greatly from the total destruction of my clan, innocent or otherwise." Fu hummed as he nodded his head. He thought it over for a small amount of time.

It would be difficult to outsmart the Warhawk, especially if he suspected any form of plan. The only way the clan wouldn't cause a coup was if things began to change in Konohagakure. With the outrageous demands of the Uchiha elders, however, there was no way the Hokage was going to agree to any terms. There had to be a way to lessen the demands and give everyone something they wanted. He hummed as a thought began to cross his mind.

It was a long shot, but it just might work. The plan was so out there that Danzo and his flunkies wouldn't see it coming. Fu smiled as he looked towards Itachi.

"Are you free this evening?" The question greatly confused Itachi, but he nodded nonetheless. "I want to make an appointment with the Hokage, and I need you to be there. I think I have a bold yet agreeable way to handle our situation." The Uchiha heir nodded once again, interested to hear the details of this plan.

---

Goku stretched as he prepared to show Sasuke how to use the Fireball Jutsu. The Sarutobi boy grinned with excitement during his warm up for the lesson, teaching his little kouhai was going to be fun. He grunted a bit as he took a quick glance back at his first ever student.

"Alright Sasuke-kun, let's get a little warmed up then we can get to work!" cheered the monkey boy. Although it seemed Sasuke was not amused by the extra work before they could truly start on the lesson. A pout settled on the younger boy's face as he grew impatient with his friend.

"But I want to get started now, Goku-senpai!" cried Sasuke. "Show me how to do the jutsu if you really can!" Goku shook his head as he began an arm stretch.

"You always get warmed up first if you want to get the most out of…" Goku cut his words short as he caught the change in Sasuke's wording. "Wait a minute … Senpai? Why are ya calling me senpai? We're already buddies, Sasuke-kun." Sasuke snorted with a frown, crossing his arms impatiently.

"Well duh, but you're bigger and teaching me something so that makes you my senpai!" Goku hummed as he crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed as he bounced the title around in his head. He sighed as he shook his head.

"Alright, but don't call me that all the time, ok? Makes me feel kinda old." Sasuke nodded his head curtly in response.

"Hn, alright. But let's get started already! If you're gonna teach me then do it, do it!" Sasuke huffed, despite his attempt to sound arrogant it only came off as cute given that he was still a little boy. Goku chuckled as he shook his head.

"Like I was sayin, you gotta warm up first! That's the way you get the best out of some training, I learned that from Uncle Fu and Grandpa Hiruzen." Goku smiled back at the younger boy's annoyed look. Sasuke started stretching himself out, bending over and getting limber for the lesson in a hurried manner. The young Uchiha finished quickly before crossing his arms.

"See I'm stretching and warming up! Now you do it already, the sun won't be out forever!" He complained out of annoyance at the lazy behavior of his senpai. Yet the smile on the older boy's face didn't fade one bit while he finished his own warm up stretches.

"Ok, ok!" Goku nodded happily in agreement with the little Uchiha. "But don't be impatient all the time! IF we're going to be ninja when we get older then we need to focus, right?" Sasuke huffed in response to the older boy's words.

"Maybe, but ya don't have to be so lazy about it!" Sasuke scoffed as he pointed at Goku accusingly. "Show me what makes everyone think you're strong and teach me this Jutsu!" Goku grinned widely as he shook his head.

"Don't tempt me, Sasuke-kun! Cause now I'm getting fired up! Let's learn some Jutsu!" Goku did a quick pose by sticking his fist in the air with determination. The chibi Uchiha sweatdropped as he watched Goku over-exaggerate his actions.

"Oh brother, and here I heard that bushy brow kid was crazy." The Saiyan prepared to go through the hand signs for the technique, only to stop in his tracks. He smacked his fist against his palm as little light clicked in his head.

"Ah! I almost forgot, we should go over chakra a little so we can do this right!" Instantly Sasuke facepalmed with a quick groan. He removed his hand from his face as he looked towards the monkey tailed teacher before him.

'Why do I get the feeling someone is going to take even longer to teach me things than he does?' Sasuke thought to himself as he got a funny feeling in his gut about the days to come. Somewhere in the village, a young man with white hair and the lower half of his face covered couldn't help but sneeze loudly. He could swear he didn't smell anything that would make him sneeze, he didn't have a cold either. Back with the two boys, Goku was still thinking of how to begin their lesson after the short explanation of what Chakra was.

He knew about chakra and other ninja stuff, but what could he tell little Sasuke from what he remembered? Racking his brain the older boy scratched his head, the tail on his back swished back and forth. It wasn't super hard to learn it… he just had to tell somebody else how to do it. He had never done such a thing before now though. He'd just have to take it one thing at a time. Taking a quick breath, the older boy smirked and began his explanation of the technique.

"The Fireball jutsu requires six hand signs in a specific order, though I can't quite remember the names for them." Goku brought his hands together as he tried to slow down the process of creating the seals. "Snake, Sheep, Monkey, Pig... wait no it's called Boar, Horse, and Tiger. Then you form a ring with your two front fingers and blow through it." Sasuke looked a bit lost as he stared at Goku.

"Goku-senpai, you went too fast for me to see it." Goku hummed as he repeated his movements at the same speed, realizing that he did indeed go a little faster than intended. He chuckled in embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry about that Sasuke-kun, I'll try slowing it down a bit!" Goku scratched his head, laughing in embarrassment for going at a pace that his friend could not follow. Sasuke held a deadpan expression before swapping to a determined frown.

"Come on, show me again! Goku-sama!" Sasuke fumed with impatience, steam practically puffed from the boy's ears.

"Alright, I'll take it slow with the signs this time." The older boy slowly formed the hand signs one by one, carefully moving his fingers in the correct sequence for Sasuke to follow. "Boar." Forming his hands into the first sign. "Horse." Next came the second sign when Goku moved his fingers into a new shape. "And last we have Tiger!" Moving his hands one last time, the third sign was formed.

Sasuke tilted his head cutely, gears turned in his mind while he watched with anticipation. "So like this?" Carefully Sasuke moved his hands to imitate what Goku had done. Goku nodded confidently as he smiled.

"Close, but you have to make sure they're in the right order. You might have swapped the hand signs for Boar and Horse." Upon hearing these words Sasuke looked down at his hands in confusion, but he quickly pushed that down and shook his head. Immediately he repeated the same actions in different order, performing the correct signs for the jutsu. "That's it! Now make a ring with your finger and blow through it" Shouted Goku.

"Easy." Sasuke smiled proudly as he formed the circle with his fingers. With a quick lean forward he put his lips forward and blew … only to be met with the ripping sound of a raspberry. Spit flew pathetically from his mouth as he tried to get the ball of fire to form. His cheeks turned red with effort as he strained harder to make the technique work, at least until he ran out of breath.

Taking a deep gasp of air, the child kneeled over. Several deep breaths of oxygen were taken before he could speak again, but the look on his face spoke for him. Clearly the younger child was not the slightest bit happy at what had just occurred. Seeing that Sasuke was on the verge of a temper tantrum Goku moved to try easing the boy's state of mind.

"Take it easy Sasuke! Nobody gets stuff on the first try, not even me." Pointing a thumb back at himself, Goku stood over his tired friend. A quick look from Sasuke showed Goku something he didn't expect, it wasn't anger or frustration on the younger boy's face, it was the fire of determination burning in his eyes. Staring back at Goku, Sasuke quietly began to speak.

"I'm going to do it." He mumbled. A fire seemed to light in his eyes as he looked to his palms. Unable to hear the chibi Uchiha's words clearly, Goku leaned in closer.

"Huh? What did ya say, Sasuke-kun?" The young Uchiha looked at the Saiyan with a deep frown.

"I'm going to do it! You and Itachi-ni can do it so easily! I want to be a ninja and join the Konoha Police Force like my father and brother before me, so I have to get this!" The boy quickly stuttered as he realized that he raised his voice. Goku smiled, grinning even, as he nodded his head.

"And you will, Sasuke-kun." The young Uchiha voiced his confusion at the older boy's words. "With determination like that you can do anything you put your mind to. Things like this take time and dedication, especially for a kid like you. If you keep at it at the pace we're going, and you'll be spitting fire rather than... well spit." Sasuke couldn't help but beam in pride at the words before nodding his head in his own determined smile.

"Then I'll be spitting fire in no time!" Sasuke grinned proudly as he snorted with newfound confidence. Goku nodded happily.

"That's the spirit! Let's train, and before you know it, we'll have ya breathing fire like a Chunin!" And so the both of them continued their training session for several hours into the day, enjoying their time in the sun as two friends destined for greater things ahead. Goku could feel it though that their journey on the path to being elite ninja was going to be longer than either of them knew for sure. Little did they know of the events going on behind the light of the afternoon sun. Calm happiness of day's light embraced the children before facing the growing storm surrounding the village they knew as their home.

---

Hokage Mansion

Hiruzen sat in his office as he looked over the various papers and requests that came with being the Hokage. Most of them came from the Civilian Council as a way to try and trick him into giving them more power. If he had not had his eyes opened by Fu, more of those power grab moves might have slipped his eye. Still, he often wished to be relieved of this dreaded daily task. The perfect distraction literally waltzed right through the front door as Fu and Itachi made their way into the room.

"Hiruzen-San!" Cheered Fu. "Dealing with more paperwork I see! Looks like the council has you busier than ever with all that paper. It looks like it's tripled since the last time I was here." Hiruzen chuckled slightly as he shook his head.

"You don't know the half of it, Nisekuma-San. They bury in me enough of this work to drive me crazy some days. However, having your appointment at this hour is a wonderful distraction. Might I ask why you called for this meeting so suddenly, not to look a gift horse in the mouth?" Hiruzen smirked at the purple man and Uchiha standing by his side.

"Fu-Sama has something interesting to tell you, Lord third." Itachi said calmly. "He believes he may have an answer to our 'poultry problem'." Hiruzen hummed as his face displayed interest. That was the code word for the coup they were trying to avoid, and the old Hokage was not one to pass up a potential solution.

"Then by all means have a seat so we can discuss it. Knowing you, this plan of yours will likely annoy the old bats of the Civilian Council. Either way, I am willing to consider any alternative to this horrid debacle." Hiruzen reached for his pipe, lighting it a moment after sticking it in his mouth. Fu nodded in agreement with the old man.

"Let's get straight to the point then." obliged the temporal guardian. "As it stands the Uchiha will not be appeased unless they can be assured that changes will come their way. With the civilian council constantly badgering you, they'd have to be put in a situation where they'd have to back off for a while. So, as a way of getting them off your back for a long while, how would you feel about Itachi being next in line as the Hokage?" His words caused Hiruzen to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"That is a bold idea Nisekuma-san, though not one I haven't considered myself." Hiruzen puffed the pipe as he took in the suggestion made by his associate. "And just what prompted this idea? It's not every day I hear something like that." Fu nodded as he gestured to the village.

"The Uchiha clan is getting very riled up, their demands and behavior recently is only the tip of the spear. If we don't handle it quickly, things will get ... Difficult." Fu leaned back in his chair as he explained the situation. Hiruzen sighed as he shook his head.

"I already knew that, Nisekuma-san. Keeping them satisfied is not getting any easier to deal with. I also have to keep the other clans content and look after the needs of the people. How would making an Uchiha the next Hokage fix this situation?" Itachi remained unreadable in emotions as he nodded his head.

"I had not considered it myself, Lord 3rd." agreed Itachi. "However, Nisekuma-sama believes it would be a beneficial move for everyone, as bold as it sounds." Fu nodded as he looked at the old leader.

"And it will!" reassured the false demon. "I'm not just talking about placing any Uchiha in office. Itachi is renowned across the village as a shinobi dedicated to the people of Konoha. Sure there will be bigots who detest it even with this information, but the majority of the village will agree with the move at the very least." Hiruzen hummed as he nodded his head.

It was true that the people held Itachi in good regard, even some members of the Hyūga clan. Fu decided to continue as he placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder. "Itachi-san is a guy you can trust for the job. He's literally perfect for the role of a village leader. He can keep his clan happy like you said but he knows the village comes first."

The purple man smiled at the raven haired teen beside him as he nodded his head. "Am I right?" Itachi nodded without hesitation, something that seemed to please Hiruzen slightly.

"Nisekuma-Sama tells the truth. I know where my responsibilities are and what the duties of a Hokage entail. Letting my clan cloud my judgment won't happen as I love this village too much." Itachi said calmly, yet Hiruzen could see the determination burning in his eyes. Fu grinned as he held his hands behind his head.

"The council will probably back off if they think they can fool Itachi into letting them grab power. But they'll have the Uchiha clan keeping them in line with Itachi sitting in the chair. It's foolproof." Fu's smirk fully displayed his confidence in his plan. He allowed his arms to drop as he looked to see the verdict of the Hokage.

Hiruzen leaned forward, slightly skeptical of the plan. Narrowing his eyes at the two of them as he gauged their reactions. His eyes softened up as he rubbed his hand through his goatee.

"We play them against each other, so that they'll be too busy arguing amongst themselves to cause trouble for the village as a whole." stated Hiruzen. The old man began to smile, puffing a long huff of his tobacco. Fu pointed to him with a manic grin.

"Exactly! We just need to handle it carefully. That means keeping them from suspecting what we intend to do. Any hint and they won't buy it." Hiruzen hummed as his face returned to a contemplative state. He turned his eyes towards the duo.

"Let's say I agree to this idea, when should we go about naming Itachi as my successor? Such a drastic change requires all of the major clan heads to be in Konoha, and some are not present due to missions or busy with important work." Fu hummed as he rubbed his chin.

"Good question. We obviously can't do this out of nowhere otherwise it will raise suspicion. Even when getting their way the Uchiha clan will be on guard enough to know something is up." Fu crossed his arms, humming in thought as he considered the next course of action. Itachi suddenly got an idea as he stepped forward.

"If I may, perhaps we should avoid overthinking this." Interjected the Uchiha prodigy. "True we must be thorough but we are short on time, so we must act in a reasonable amount of time. I suggest we do something publicly that no clan or civilian can ignore, then you'll have the cause to select me." Itachi glanced between both of his associates as he spoke of his role in the scheme. Hiruzen looked down at his desk in thought.

"Then coming up with something public on short notice is the new issue." stated the Hokage. "A tournament might not be ideal, seeing as too many things can go wrong. We can't just announce it either, as that might backfire as well." The group sat in silence as they tried to brainstorm an idea. Fu hummed as he sat up in his seat.

"Hmm maybe it's a lot less complicated than we think." Began the purple man. "We could probably bring it up at a meeting, address the tensions and hint at Itachi being chosen." Fu snapped his fingers as an idea popped into his mind, something simple yet elegant. "The Uchiha clan gets curious and we bait them into an argument with the other clans, maybe the Hyuga clan. When it calms down we announce Itachi as your successor."

Fu quickly gestured to the duo with one of his signature grins. "Who's going to argue with that?" Hiruzen felt a small smile grace his lips as he removed the pipe from his lips.

"No man dead or alive wants to get between them if they argue over something. The Hyuga clan will complain but they might try cutting a deal with the Uchiha clan with Itachi in my place. It's perfect." Hiruzen nodded as the plan pieced together nicely in his head. Fu grinned as he crossed his arms.

"Looks like we have our plan then." Fu smirked as he stood up from the chair and stretched. For the moment it seemed their plan had come together rather easily as the light of the sun bathed the room from an open window. Wind blew a small leaf onto the desk, as if nature itself had an opinion on their discussion. The leaf was pointing towards Itachi, something that seemed to go over his head. Hiruzen inched his fingers toward the little green leaf, he smiled as he examined it.

"Well that's unexpected." Itachi remarked. He watched Hiruzen pinching the leaf with his fingers. The Hokage could only smile, the boy standing before him had no idea just what he was getting into. Or perhaps he believed he did.

"I think we're just getting started." Hiruzen shook his head as he put down the leaf. "And maybe this is good luck." The leaf remained in place as the trio discussed the finer details of their plan. Only time would tell if they would find success or failure.

---

Time Branch 147, Mt. Paozu, Earth

Mt Paozu was usually a very quiet place at this time of the afternoon. Most creatures were either beginning to awaken or settle in for the night. Even the dominant tigers of the forest were beginning to ease up for a rest before the night hunts. A grasshopper chirped as it hopped along the ground. A loud grunt broke the silence of the forest, sending the insect hopping the other direction.

Sitting atop a tree stump was Naruto, the boy looking annoyed and antsy. He stared at Grandpa Gohan as the man stood several feet away from him. The blonde had been caught messing around with the Power Pole a few days ago, so the old man confiscated it as a way to test the boy's martial prowess without it. The boy had begun to improve his skills, but there was one glaring problem the old man noticed. Instead of telling him outright, however, the duo found themselves out here in the middle of the forest. The old man cleared his throat, deciding to hold off no longer.

"Now Naruto, I do believe it's time we began training you better in the ways to defend yourself. Despite what you know already we must always practice the basics first. Your karate needs work, as well as your battle awareness. These are issues we must fix." Naruto harrumphed in response to the old man's claim

"But Gohan-jiji, I already know the basics!" Naruto groaned as he hunched over on the stump in boredom. "I've been practicing them ever since you took away the staff." Gohan hummed as he entered a fighting stance.

"Then you should have no problem in this exercise then. Come at me without the Power Pole and your fancy ninja techniques. Show me what you know." Naruto grinned in response. It wasn't rare for Gohan to challenge him like this, but it was always a great chance to test himself. The old man did have a knack for interesting challenges.

"Here I come then, Jiji!" Naruto smiled brightly as he sprang to his feet. Immediately the boy rushed to strike his elder with a straight punch. The old man's smile remained as he stood in place. He grabbed his grandson's attack at lightning speed, surprising the blonde.

"Rule one of any fight, do not announce your attack unless you are certain you can follow through." A light seemed to flash in his eye as Naruto tried to go for another punch, his eyes shifting. The jinchuriki was hit by surprise as Gohan easily moved an inch to his side, redirecting the punch with a quick wave of his hand. Naruto was carried forward by his own momentum, tumbling onto the dirt as his grandfather moved behind him. "Oh my dear boy, that was quite sloppy."

Gohan shook his head at Naruto's display. He kept one hand carefully tucked behind his back as he stroked his mustache. "Charging your opponent head on is a poor choice of strategy. Never underestimate anyone you face." Naruto growled in response to the criticism. He suddenly leapt to his feet and pointed to the old man.

"How'd you do that Gohan-jiji? I was going fast!" Gohan tsked dotingly in response as he shook his head.

"It's fairly simple, you were wide open with that strike. Now come at me again, if you land a hit on me I'll make some of that special ramen dish you like." Gohan resumed his fighting stance. Naruto's eyes became like stars as he did the same.

"Oh you're on Gohan-jiji! No way I'm gonna lose now!" Naruto howled happily. With new vigor in his step, the boy rushed his opponent once again but this time with a different stance to approach. He began throwing several punches one after the other at his elderly father figure, mixing in a few kicks as well to compliment his punches.

Gohan kept dodging or blocking every hit that came his way, however, almost as if he was predicting Naruto's attacks in the same way that an individual would read a book or a scroll. The blonde continued his assault nonetheless, the promise of ramen keeping him going. Despite the fact that the boy wasn't making much progress in striking him, Gohan could not help but to smile at the spirit of his adopted grandson. Every punch seemed to radiate the boy's excited chakra, though how he threw those punches made it all too easy for old Gohan to read. He grabbed another punch as he shook his head.

"At this rate you won't have your lunch if you can't hit me once, Naruto-San." Gohan said calmly, teasing the child in order to motivate him to try harder. The boy growled as he twisted for a kick. The old man pushed him away, however, sending him flying backwards. Naruto growled as he slid across the ground.

"Ah come on! I've gotta be able to get ya once!" Naruto groaned as he stepped back, panting from the sheer effort he threw into his attempts to hit Gohan. The old man shook his head.

"True you are doing better than most, but you have yet to learn something very important. Do not just throw your punches and hope to hit me." Hearing this little bit of information, Naruto tilted his head curiously.

"What do ya mean? Isn't that how punching is supposed to work?" Gohan sighed in disappointment as he shook his head once again.

"Ah the inexperience of youth. I'll give you one more hint. You eat well and train well my boy, but you must learn to MOVE well." Gohan explained. He remained in place as he allowed Naruto to think. The blonde wasn't as patient as the old man gave him credit for, reaching deep into his mind for a certain fuzzy friend.

'Hey Kurama! You know what he's talking about?' The boy asked the mighty chakra based creature that resided in his body. What he received in response was a loud snort of annoyance from the beast. With a loud growl the fox decided to speak.

'And why should I bother telling you anything runt?' questioned Kurama. 'I'm not in the mood, so let me sleep!' Naruto growled as he shook his head.

'You sleep all the time! Help me out here!' He got another growl in response, causing him to groan. 'Don't ignore me!' He felt a slight headache as the fox smacked the floor of his mindscape.

'Spoon feeding answers to you helps nothing. Learning from the old man is your battle.' Kurama still refused the boy's request. Naruto gained a pleading look in response to said denial.

'Hey, you want that ramen as bad as I do!' Naruto snapped. The fox growled indignantly at the accusation. He smacked his paw against the ground as he looked up at the roof of the space.

'I do not!' Kurama growled loudly. Gohan shook his head, realizing waiting was getting him nowhere. There was only one way left to try. Faster than the average blink he moved, something that flew over his adoptive grandson's head.

"You should really pay more attention, my boy." Said an elderly voice. Suddenly Naruto felt a huge punch to his stomach, he looked down to see Gohan's fist in his gut. Spit flew from Naruto's mouth as he roiled in pain from the hit, yet he would have no time to recover as his opponent was quick to strike him in the back of the head with a chop. The boy was knocked forward onto the dirt in heaps of pain, groaning as he attempted to stand once again from the swift blows. Clearly he would need to consider another means of attacking Gohan since using direct force failed.

Something seemed to click in the boy's mind as he looked at the ground. That was it! He heard the fox groan thankfully, signifying that his realization was correct. He grinned as he smacked the ground with his fist. Getting up to stand again, Naruto turned to face old man Gohan.

"That really hurt." stated the blonde. "Doesn't mean I'm giving up though, not one bit! Dattebayo!" The old man hummed in interest, noticing the look in Naruto's eyes. Could he have finally caught on.

The Jinchuriki came at Gohan once more, rearing his fist back again. The master moved as if he was going to block a punch, only to move as instead the blonde went for a kick. The old man smirked as he held the boy's leg in place. Naruto flipped once again, only this time he tried to force the old man into a flip. His opponent was forced to let go, the man grinning as he watched him land a few feet back.

"Now you're getting it! You need to be less predictable or you'll never get a real hit in, my boy!" Naruto grinned as he remained still. There was only one thing left to do now. He went for a punch, his opponent easily catching it.

Following up the predictable attack, he moved to deliver an uppercut after getting inside his step grandfather's guard. Gohan made a quick step back to avoid the unexpected attack, his grin still present. Naruto bore a large smile as he seemed to throw a kick but fainted to the side, delivering another punch where the old man had expected a kick. It would not work a third time, however, as the old master grabbed the boy's leg. He threw a punch straight at Naruto's face, but a swift move of his head kept him from getting a heavy blow to the face.

Barely having time to react, the blonde grabbed onto Gohan's arm while the old man still held onto his leg. Now it seemed the two of them were at a stalemate, neither willing to make a move. At that moment the boy decided to use his head, quite literally. Hauling himself forward using Old Gohan's arm, Naruto slammed his forehead into his face. Gohan certainly hadn't expected his adoptive grandson to pull a move like that, however it was the hit he had asked for.

"Oof!" Naruto recoiled from striking the old man with his head, a little dizzy from the action. Gohan let go and stumbled back several steps, rubbing his face for a brief moment. Though the pain hardly mattered since he was quite satisfied with the performance. Naruto grinned as he rubbed the red spot on his forehead. "Well ya wanted me to hit ya, and I did it!" His grandfather couldn't help but chuckle in response.

"That you did, Naruto-kun. It's not quite what I had in mind but it works for today. Good job, my boy." Gohan said with a smile, walking towards the boy to congratulate him for completing the lesson. Naruto looked up at the old man expectantly.

"So are you going to make my favorite ramen dish? You said you would!" He pouted at the wise adult with a cute face. The old man smiled as he nodded his head.

"Don't worry yourself, you've earned it. So let's go back inside and I'll begin cooking." Gohan nodded proudly as he walked back to the house with Naruto trailing right behind him. The boy did a fist pump as he cheered.

"Hooray! This is going to be awesome, dattebayo!" Naruto whooped loudly in joy for his delicious reward, a wonderful bowl of not ramen would be his lunch soon enough. He paid no mind to the grumbling of his spiritual roommate, the fox not liking that the boy rattled the mindscape so. The beast growled as it shook its head.

'You do realize he let you get that hit right?' Asked Kurama. 'He probably would've given you the ramen even if you couldn't land an attack in the end. You didn't have to shake up my living space.' Naruto continued to smile as he shook his head.

'Don't ruin the moment.' Thought the blonde. 'Go back to sleep.' Kurama hummed in response, rather liking that suggestion. He decided to take it, curling up as he prepared to sleep the day away… at least until the ramen was ready. He may have been a fan of this particular ramen, but he was not going to give Naruto the satisfaction of being right.

---

Time Skip: 5 days

Time Branch 149, Hokage Mansion, Konohagakure

It had taken a while for certain council members to return, but Fu's plan was beginning to fall into place. The shinobi and civilian clan heads were gathered up not long after children had gone to the academy. Fugaku Uchiha had just gotten off of a frustrating meeting with the Uchiha elders and Hiashi Hyūga was made to come on the day of a celebrated Hyūga festival, so both were primed for an argument at any moment. The tension in the room was high as the council members awaited Hiruzen's arrival. Hayate Gekko appeared in a puff of smoke, coughing as he tried to clear his lungs.

"All rise!" called the shinobi. The council members rose from their seats as the large doors to the room opened. Anbu moved into proper guard positions as the Hokage entered the room. The elderly leader looked around the room, hiding his pleasure at seeing two particular clan heads trying to hide their foul mood. He stood in the center of the room as he looked over the council, shinobi and civilian alike.

"The session is now called to order." said Hiruzen as he sat down in his chair. "You may be seated." The council members nodded as they resumed their assigned seats. The two councils waited with bated breath for the old man to speak. Hiruzen decided to agg them on a bit as he smoked his pipe.

He let out a puff of smoke before he decided to begin the meeting proper. "As you are all aware, there has been tension among all of us in recent times. Addressing it has been on my mind, but now I feel the time has come that it can no longer wait." The old Hokage spoke sternly to the crowd of civilians and clan heads, causing them to murmur somewhat. Each of them looked at each other wondering as to what their leader was referring to, though some among them knew exactly what he spoke of. A member of the civilian council leaned forward as he growled.

"Tension?" questioned the man. "Lord Hokage, that is an understatement!" This outcry earned a good bit of murmurs before Hiruzen's glare cut through the noise.

"Perhaps, but it is a statement nonetheless. I believe I have designed a good way to cut some of this tension. Since that terrible day the Nine Tails attacked, there has been an imbalance in the number of seats in this council. It may be a long time until the Hatake clan is in a state where it can regain its seat at this table, but I believe a fresh mind would help to straighten out the issues we have yet to truly decide." The head of the Nara clan kept an unreadable look as his eyes remained droopy.

"Lord Third, you're speaking of giving another clan a seat on the council." stated Shikaku Nara. "More specifically, a new member to the Shinobi Council." A few of the Civilian Council members sounded concerned at the statement. Part of their strength was in a number advantage towards voting on specific issues. Hiruzen nodded his head in response, knowing full well of this fact.

"You are correct, Nara-san. While this clan stands at only one member currently, this man has been nothing but a boon to Konoha ever since he joined our ranks. He easily set himself as a jonin level shinobi, and he has taught some members of the next generation. The strength of his students has risen the expectancy of shinobi quality by nearly double what it was at the start of the recent Shinobi War, nearly four times what the academy currently puts out without the students having prior training." This seemed to ease the minds of some civilians, as well as bolster the approval of the shinobi council.

Smiling softly, Hiruzen nodded his head. "In that case, I believe it would be best to meet your newest member before we vote on his placement. Inu, let him in." A wolf masked ANBU nodded his head before leaping to the doorway. He opened the door, silently gesturing for someone to enter.

A few members of the shinobi council smiled at the site of the man, while a majority of the civilian council looked shocked to see him. Nonetheless, Fu walked up to the center circle as he looked around. Hiruzen nodded his head as he allowed his serious frown to return. "Should you vote in favor of his inclusion, Fu Nisekuma and the Nisekuma clan will join the council as one of the noble clans of Konohagakure." Fu chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Wow." began the purple man. "I wasn't expecting this when I was asked to be here today. I'm honored nonetheless to have been considered for the position." This seemed to earn approving smiles from a few of the unsure clan heads on the shinobi side of the council. Hiruzen nodded as he looked towards the members around him.

"If anyone wishes to state why they believe the Nisekuma clan should or should not join the ranks of Konoha's elite, speak one at a time." This opened the floodgates as a few of the civilian council members cried out in defiance of the move. Hiruzen slammed his fist into his desk, shutting up the bigots. "I said one at a time, unless the Civilian Council would not like a say in this vote on account of being unable to act like mature adults." A rather pompous woman stood up as she made a concerned face.

"Hokage-sama, adding anyone to the shinobi council would be counter intuitive." Stated the woman. "With all due respect shinobi have no real skill in commerce or trade deals, meaning having more shinobi council members would stifle good progress on Konohagakure's economy. Having this man in particular would be an insult to the other clans who have more potential. Also, I hardly doubt the numbers are accurate with how little he actually teaches." An annoyed snort came from the shinobi council, but it surprisingly came from Hiashi Hyūga rather than one of the usual suspects.

"With all due respect, Roba-san, I doubt your claim holds any weight." stated the Hyūga clan head. "Your opinion obviously stems from the fact that he refused to teach your son after what he tried to pull with MY daughter." The pompous woman tried to find an argument for the accusation, but could say nothing under the unusual fury of the Byakugan wielder. Hiruzen hummed as he nodded his head.

"Are we to assume you are of the opposing opinion, Hyūga-sama?" asked the Hokage. "Please share your opinion on the matter." The council waited with bated breath as the normally calm man tried to think of his words. These past few days have been a turbulent storm for him, one of stress and annoyance caused specifically by the Hyuga elders. In spite of his nerves being tight, Hiashi found himself bearing a soft smile.

"I can attest to Nisekuma-sama's benefits to Konohagakure. He took my daughter from being unable to beat her younger sister in a match to toppling opponents twice her size. The power gained by those who train under him is immense. It would be foolish not to reward his efforts properly." Fugaku harrumphed as he nodded his head.

"I never thought I'd be agreeing with a Hyūga on something." stated the Uchiha head. This earned him an angry frown from Hiashi, but he decided to press on. "Nisekuma-san has shown more potential than anyone in this room, save for the Hokage himself. It is an obvious choice to bring such a wise and powerful clan into the council, as his clan can only get stronger from here." A rather plump councilman with no hair growled as he stood up.

"How can you talk about 'his clan' when he is the only member!?" roared the fool. "What mockery is this where a freak like this is considered for the council when he is the only member of his clan here! Where did he even come from!?" A flying kunai cut the man across the cheek, rendering any further comments from him silent. Hiruzen glared at the man with a cold fury.

"The Nisekuma clan origins are a high class secret only known to those who can be trusted, including myself." stated the Hokage. "Any further inquiries will be taken as a threat to security, and be punishable by immediate termination." The room went deadly silent at this claim. The silence was broken by the clanking of a wooden cane. The crowd looked to the top row of the meeting room as someone had left their seat.

He was an elderly man with black shaggy hair and a black eye. He was covered in bandages all over his body save for the left side of his face and his left arm. He wore a white shirt, with a black or dark gray robe over the top of it covering from his feet, to just over his right shoulder. Fu kept a neutral expression as he looked at the man, Danzo Shimura. The elderly man stopped as he turned to face the council.

"The matter of him being the only member left in his clan is still an issue, Hokage-sama." Stated Danzo. "If it were the Hatake clan rejoining us that would be more understandable, but an individual joining under a clan name that is unheard of is cause for concern." The civilian council members voiced their agreement while the shinobi council were irked by the well thought out statement. The old mummy remained firm as he looked down at the purple man. "However, there may be an agreeable solution in spite of his… unique appearance."

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes at the man he once considered a friend. It was rare that he would side against the civilian council unless he had his own motivations. The retired shinobi decided to continue now that he had all eyes on him. "Some members of the civilian council may feel more secure in the decision if Nisekuma-san were to ensure the bloodline of his clan were to continue after his passing by this time next year." Hiruzen growled, realizing the play made by the shifty man. Fu sounded his discomfort as he rubbed the back of his head.

"That's a lot of pressure on one guy ain't it?" asked the purple man. "Love is kinda something you can't rush. Tell ya what though, I can agree to these terms. That is IF I decide who joins my clan, bride or otherwise." Danzo seemed to regard this term for a while, the civilian council members watching with bated breath. He nodded his head in response, causing most of them to sound their defeat.

"Those are agreeable terms. Any genjutsu detected on your chosen bride, however, and you will find yourself in T and I before you can spout a Jutsu." Hiruzen sighed in defeat at the decision of his companion. He would have to deal with that later. The Hokage looked up as he sighed, instantly earning the attention of all in the room.

"If there are no more inputs, the vote begins." Stated Hiruzen. "All in favor of adding the Nisekuma-clan to the council, with conditions in place, say I." Most of the room said I, save for a few stubborn Civilian Council members. The Hokage nodded as he looked to Fu. "In that case, take your seat amongst the Shinobi, Nisekuma-sama.

Fu bowed respectfully as he leapt up to the seats. He took a seat a bit away from the others, mostly as a means to watch the show. He already saw their plan begin to unfold as Hiashi leaned forward a bit.

"These conditions are highly exploitable." Mumbled the Hyūga head out loud. "The Hokage must act quickly before someone takes the advantage, like those blasted Uchiha." These words did not escape Fugaku, the man looking down towards his rival clan head.

"And pray tell what that means, Hyūga-sama." requested the Uchiha head. "Are you assuming that MY clan would stoop so low as to interfere in such a serious matter? That is something I'd expect from your clan, especially the elders." Hiashi growled as he stood up, instantly turning towards the offender.

"How dare you question the honor of my clan! The Hyūga are an honorable people, in spite of recent developments. I will not have the pride of my clan, my family, threatened by the clan that brought Madara Uchiha into the world!" Fugaku stood up, rage equally visible on his face. Hiruzen slammed his fist into the desk once again, ending the conflict before it began.

"Enough!" Roared the Hokage. "If the two of you cannot put aside your foul moods you shall be removed from the premises!" Both clan heads muttered their apologies as they resumed their seats. Hiruzen sighed fondly as he shook his head. "To be entirely honest, I shall miss the squabbling of the council."

This statement shocked most in the room, save for Fu who kept a neutral face. Did… they hear that right. A member of the shinobi council stood as he sent the leader a serious look.

"What do you mean Hokage-sama?" questioned Choza Akimichi, head of the Akimichi clan. "Are you well?" Hiruzen remained silent as he nodded his head. He slowly stood up from his seat as he turned away from the council. He placed a hand on his chair as he looked towards the exit doors.

"As many of you are aware, my age has long been a cause to question my ability to lead our beloved village. I can assure all of you, it has never been an issue. However, I recently found myself looking to the youth for advice more and more with each passing day." Many around the room became antsy at the man's words. Danzo narrowed his one eye as he pondered the Hokage's words.

'What are you driving at, Hiruzen?' The old mummy thought to himself as he watched Hiruzen orate to the council. This was something he was not expecting for a long time. The Hokage took a breath before he resumed his speech to the council, taking great care to not provide any means for the council to speak over him.

"Times change and so does the leadership of our village. Guiding our people through the years has been fraught with peril, which is why we must never allow chaos to grip our village. Adding branches to the great tree that is our village grows our strength. With even myself being unsure of how long I'll be a part of this world, the time has come to look to the future of Konohagakure." Fu grinned to himself in pride as he leaned back in his seat.

'Go ahead and tell them, Hiruzen.' Fu thought. 'Let's finish this off strong.' So far their plan had worked perfectly, and it was time for the big finale of their scheme to tie everything together. Itachi was brought into the room, once again bringing surprise to most members of the council. A smile grew on Hiruzen's face as he cleared his throat to make the biggest announcement of the meeting.

"I'll be direct with what I must say now. I hereby name Uchiha Itachi as my successor. He shall be the fifth Hokage after I retire from my position." Hiruzen pointed a finger straight at the Uchiha, garnering much surprise from the council. Many eyes stretched wide in shock at what they had just heard, the prodigy of the Uchiha clan obtaining the highest office in their village.

Thunderous applause came from the clans who supported the Uchiha. Fugaku himself was nonplussed at the development. It hardly registered in his mind what he'd just heard. His eldest son was being chosen for what would be the proudest moment of his life at the time. He couldn't help the proud grin that was begging to form on his face.

On the opposite end, Hiashi Hyuga was fuming with anger. He couldn't believe it. The Uchiha clan would rule the village now with Itachi running things. His fist tightened as he attempted to rein in his anger before it could burst. How could Hiruzen do such a thing? Granting that clan more power than ever made him furious. Itachi held up his hand, halting the applause.

"I wish to give a speech in order to clear the air." stated the young Uchiha with a calm smile. "I am honored to have been chosen for such an esteemed role in our village. That being said, I am not blind to the fact that many hold my clan in a less than positive view. I am also aware of the implications that come with a new clan holding the Hokage seat." The room remained silent, some nodding at the boy's honesty.

It was a good sign for someone chosen for a high role to not be blind to the challenges they may face. "I wish to dissuade any thoughts that any clan will be able to do anything rash with me taking the role as the Fifth Hokage, even my own. It is true that I love the people of my clan, as any good man should, but I also care deeply for the people of Konoha. All I wish is for true equality amongst our people." Fugaku nodded, happy to see his son set a good example for their clan.

Itachi continued as he looked over the people of the council. "I have worked under Sarutobi-sama in stamping out corruption in Konoha, and I have found something truly horrifying. For too long fools have been allowed to slow trade by cutting corners and growing lazy, as well as stifling the value of our shinobi by showing favoritism to the clan heads and those whose families had deep pockets." The crowd seemed to listen intently to the words of their newly chosen leader. A few members of the civilian council looked concerned by the young Uchiha's declaration, though they seemed to be giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Itachi decided to conclude his speech as he held his forehead guard up for everyone to see. "I wish to continue the good work of the Third Hokage and the late Minato Namikaze. Alongside this I will instate new plans that I believe will benefit all of Konohagakure, civilians and shinobi alike. It is time to show the other villages that the Will of Fire not only shines in our shinobi, but in each and every citizen of our great village."

Even Hiashi, who had just earlier shown disdain for the clan, nodded in slight approval of the decision. He had interacted with Itachi in the past and, as Fu had expected, the Hyuga clan leader seemed to reconsider the opinion he had. The facial expression he wore made it clear he was thinking over the decision in a more rational manner after hearing what Itachi had to say.

Slowly another round of applause rose within the room as one by one the council began to clap fervently. Leading Itachi to smile a bit as he watched the crowd take delight in his words, he'd done what he needed to do. With each clan head watching his speech he'd been able to get them all in agreement with his choice. He spared a glance to old Hiruzen, who nodded proudly to the boy who would lead their village from now on. Fu couldn't help smirking with pride at having done the impossible, things looked bright.

---

Uchiha District

A small fireball flew through the air hitting a target dead center. Two more were shot off, each one meeting their own mark. Sasuke took a deep breath as he aimed the last one. He sent it forward in a fiery blast, though it dissipated before it could hit the target. He huffed and puffed as he fell backwards, listening as Goku did a slow clap.

"Nice job Sasuke-kun!" cheered the saiyan. "Three out of five is not bad for someone five days into training! You'll be doing bigger ones in no time flat!" Sasuke's breathing steadied as he gave the older boy a cheery smile.

"It's all thanks to you Goku-senpai!" The little Uchiha smiled gratefully. "It probably would've taken me weeks to get that on my own." Yet the boy's cheerful expression dropped to depression as he looked at the older boy. "Do you really have to stop teaching me?" Goku sighed as his face mirrored Sasuke's.

"Fugaku-sama tried to talk the elders out of it, but they think anyone teaching an Uchiha outside of the clan or assigned Sensei will corrupt you. They never made too much of a fuss before, but I guess they got 'a wild hare' or something as Uncle Fu would say." Sasuke chuckled a bit at those words. He may have held respect for the people older than him, but even he didn't like the elders much. The boy gained a soft smile as he looked up at the Saiyan.

"Would you still be able to come around … even if you aren't teaching me, Goku-san?" Goku looked at the young Uchiha with a confused look. "I know you would have no reason to keep coming back, but you have made training more enjoyable than previous trainers I've seen. You will also go on missions as a shinobi that will take you away from the village." Goku sent the boy an ear-to-ear grin.

"What kinda question is that? Of course I'll keep coming around! We're pals now, so no one's gonna stop me from coming to see you." Sasuke looked nonplussed for a bit before doing his best to mimic the smile. The sudden sound of commotion caught the duo's attention.

"What's going on?" The two boys quickly moved as they approached the crowd. From what they heard a messenger had been sent by Fugaku with an important announcement and all of the people were called to the district square. Goku and Sasuke soon approached the front of the crowd as the messenger walked up the stage. The man seemed to be holding in excitement as he unfurled the scroll.

"A message from Fugaku-sama of utter urgency." Said the messenger as he began to read the scroll in his hands. "On this day, the anniversary of Konohagakure's founding, the Uchiha have been given a major step towards gaining equality amongst the villagers. The Third Hokage, during a council meeting, has declared that Itachi Uchiha will be dubbed the Fifth Hokage in a few weeks time. This marks the first Uchiha Hokage in history!" The crowd went ballistic with excitement at the news.

Cheers and applause practically rumbled throughout the square, bursting with cries of pride from the Uchiha clan members and retainers. Joy could be seen on the faces of each of the many people in the square as they began to celebrate the good news. Sasuke was wide eyed in excitement as the realization hit him.

"My big brother is the next Hokage!" He shouted happily with childish excitement. Itachi was his hero, so seeing the older sibling gain such a high honor brought a level of excitement he could not contain. Goku's smile remained as he nodded his head.

"That's really cool!" Stated the Saiyan. "Itachi-ni is going to take the seat from Jiji. He deserves it." Goku smiled, though he was happy for his good friend, it also meant he'd have more time to spend with his adoptive grandfather. No paperwork to keep him from training with the old ninja and his uncle Fu, so he was going to enjoy it.

"I can't wait to ask Itachi-ni about it when he gets home!" The Chibi Uchiha could barely hold his excitement in. Goku was surprised the boy held on to what he could this long. The messenger perused the scroll as he approached more dialogue.

"To continue the message, Fugaku-sama has ordered that an impromptu celebration will be held in honor of Itachi's selection! Retainers and any volunteers are to begin organizing the festival immediately!" The messenger shouted once more to the crowd. An uproar was heard once more, though some adults in the crowd seemed to be more excited than the youths at the promise of special "celebratory drinks." Sasuke smiled as he turned to Goku.

"Wanna stick around for the party, Goku-san?" Sasuke asked. "I'm sure mother would be happy to have you here." Goku gave the younger boy a huge smile as he nodded.

"Yeah I will if I can!" Replied the tailed Sarutobi. He pumped his fist in excitement. "This will be fun!" Sasuke laughed in response to the boy's enthusiasm. This day promised to be one to remember.

---

Fireworks flashed over the square, shining a light that nearly extended past one of Konohagakure's border walls. There was one thing the Uchiha clan was known for aside from their battle prowess and Kekkei Genkai, their large celebrations. Every stall was lined with thrown together merchandise of Itachi as the Hokage, as well as an abundance of tomato themed snacks. Children ran around with sparklers and toy kunai as they played ninja while trying to keep the sparklers lit. Fu, Goku, and Hiruzen approached the celebration as the smell of cooking tomatoes hit their noses.

"Whoo!" Cried Fu in excitement. "I never thought the overwhelming smell of cooking tomatoes could be so good! I thought they considered the thought that every Uchiha loves tomatoes to be a vicious stereotype." Hiruzen raised his finger with a smile.

"Tomatoes are well known as one of Itachi's favored meals, and vendors are usually quick to capitalize on such details." stated the soon to be retired Hokage. "It's good business." Goku licked his lips as he saw tomato soup being handed out. He nearly jumped away from his companions to enjoy, in his opinion, the best part of the festivities when the family of the hour arrived. Sasuke ran towards them with a grin, his arms behind him as he allowed a more childish nature to overtake him.

"Goku-San, Nisekuma-sama, Hokage-sama!" Greeted the young Uchiha. "You made it!" Goku grinned as he nodded his head.

"Of course we made it!" stated the Saiyan without a doubt. "It's Itachi-ni's big night, and I told you I'd try to make it. I never go back on my word!" Hiruzen chuckled at the hidden impatience in his grandson's movements, the boy bouncing up and down a few times. He ushered the boy along with a gentle hand.

"Why don't you and Sasuke-kun go enjoy the festivities for a while?" suggested the elder Sarutobi. "At this age you should enjoy moments like these. Now go on!" Goku grinned as he grabbed Sasuke by the wrist, dragging him along despite protests of his companion's ability to walk. Soon the duo were out of hearing range, leaving the adults to themselves. Fugaku smiled at the two adults as he nodded his head.

"I hope my clansmen have been treating you kindly, Hokage-sama." greeted the Uchiha clan head. "It would not do if they were uncouth towards you after Itachi's speech in the meeting." Hiruzen chuckled as he shook his head.

"No more than anyone involved in our previous situation would be of someone who they believed opposed them. It has been no trouble to me or Goku-kun, Fugaku-san." Hiruzen's answer seemed to cause Fugaku to sigh in disappointment. He looked to a few nearby members, watching as their judgemental glares turned into nervous looks as they averted their gaze. The man returned his attention to Hiruzen with a smile.

"I will speak with them on the matter soon. Regardless, it means so much to all of us that you could attend the festival." He then turned his attention to Fu as he bowed slightly in respect. "I have suspicions that you are partly responsible for helping the Hokage reach this monumental decision, Nisekuma-sama." The purple man playfully sounded off false dismissal as he waved his hand.

"Why do I have to be involved in everything good that happens in Konoha?" Asked Fu. "I just… helped Hiruzen-sama and Itachi-kun realize the potential of the latter. Does that really make me responsible in any way?" Mikoto chuckled at his antics as the two men close to him shook their heads in amusement. "Wishful thinking, I know."

"Regardless, you are both welcome to stay as long as you like. If anyone gives you trouble, you bring it to me. This may be a celebration, but I must put my duty as the head of my clan before my own enjoyment." The two visitors nodded in response. Goku's head popped out from one of the further off stalls with tomato paste on his face.

"Uncle Fu!" Cried the Saiyan. "They have that tomato and cheese ramen stuff you showed me and Itachi-ni a few weeks ago!" Fu sounded his interest as he held up his finger.

"Excuse me gentlemen." Stated the Nisekuma clan head. "I need to make sure a certain little monkey doesn't eat all the spaghetti. Save some for me Goku!" He suddenly ran off, showing that Goku's personality was not entirely his own making. Hiruzen chuckled as he shook his head.

"I should make sure they don't cause any trouble." sighed the Hokage. He bowed respectfully to Fugaku and Mikoto. "Thank you again for the hospitality." The old man walked briskly as the heads of the Uchiha clan bowed in response. Fugaku was first to rise, only to hum curiously as he saw something strange through the corner of his eye.

One of the Uchiha elders was walking away from the festivities, towards one of the old secret meeting locations. His eyes narrowed at the action, especially since he called for those areas to be dissolved. Red flags waved heavily in his head, but he had to be careful how he handled it. He smiled at his wife as she stood tall, unaware of what her husband had witnessed.

"Excuse me for a moment my love." requested Fugaku. "I believe I left my good sandals at the manor. I was also hoping to look into something to gift our children on this most joyous occasion." Mikoto nodded with a smile as she followed the visitors and Sasuke. Just because he was slow to admit that he loved tomatoes didn't mean she was, and she had been meaning to try this new dish that swept the Uchiha district.

Fugaku regained his serious look as he followed after the elder. A feeling of unease hung in his gut as he moved to shadow the elder, growing larger with each step. Over the years he'd learned to listen well to this instinct as it often meant the difference between life and death, though he hoped he was merely being paranoid. Fate it seemed would not be so kind to the clan head as he entered the secret room. He was surprised to find three more of the elders standing in the room, meaning only two were not part of this meeting.

Narrowing his eyes at the men in front of him, Fugaku closed in to listen to their conversation. He remained careful not to make any sounds or sudden moves to avoid detection. The map of Konohagakure they used for war meetings was still hung to the wall, attack coordinates altered from the original layout. The elder he followed looked between the others before pulling out a kunai. He threw it at the center of the map, landing at the throat of a painting of their soon to be former Hokage.

"The Hokage believes making one of our own the next Hokage will satisfy the years of isolation and torment our ancestors underwent as outcasts?" Questioned the man. "Where was this decision when others continued to take our homes from us over land disputes? Where was this when our clan needed the ruling that confined us to this horrendous plot of land instead of living amongst the ungrateful pigs outside our walls?" Two out of the three companions growled as they nodded their heads.

"It would have been perfectly fine if Fugaku were made Hokage instead, or one of the many representatives we offered up over the years to take his place." began one of the more sickly looking men. "Naming Itachi as the next Hokage, however, flies in the face of everything we've been trying to achieve." Fugaku growled under his breath at the notion. How dare they say such a thing? The remaining elder sounded his confusion as he gestured to the first one.

"Is this not a good thing?" questioned the man. "We finally have the representation we deserve, along with a Hokage who will be sympathetic to our cause." The leader of this apparent meeting shook his head in denial.

"Itachi does not favor the clan over the entire village." began the first elder. "He has been made to believe there is some good in the bigots who confined us to this space, growing attached to them. We cannot threaten him with the safety of his family like we could with Fugaku, as ANBU would be watching them from all sides. He is only a benefit to those within our clan who wish for equality with the rest of Konoha, rather than the total power and subjugation promised to us by our fathers and their fathers before them." The hesitant elder went to try and reason with his colleagues, only for the signet rings of the remaining elders to roll across the table towards him.

"If you still do not understand, maybe you would like to join the fools who could not see our way." threatened the third elder. "I'm sure they would be grateful to have company alongside the Shinigami. Your lineage would join you soon after." Fugaku's eyes widened in shock as the hesitant elder chose to say no more. The leader of this group nodded in response.

"Then it is decided." observed the traitorous man. "A week prior to Itachi's assigning as the Hokage, we shall make our move. No one will see us coming, not even the accursed Hyūga as we slaughter them down to the last offspring." Fugaku reached for his kunai, deciding to end this here and now. He felt terror hit his gut as he realized he left his weaponry behind to promote calmness in his people.

The men stood up as the leader nodded to the second one. "Prepare our forces in the eastern edge of the Forbidden Forest. They will strike first. If we have to, we will finish what that Kami-forsaken Madara Uchiha started." Three of the men revealed themselves to be Shadow Clones as they disappeared, leaving the second man on his own. Fugaku prepared his hand signs as he saw his chance.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fireball Jutsu!" Roared the clan head. The elder was left in utter shock as a stream of fireballs was hurtled at him. He quickly dodged out of the way as he ran for the exit on the other end of the room. "Stop Ginoku-san!" Fugaku quickly gave chase, not wanting to let the man reach the defectors.

The two men ran through the trees, branches creaking from their weight. The elder was severely lacking in stamina, something that Fugaku seemed to have in spades. The old villain would throw back kunai in order to try and throw off the clan head's movements, but these were only partially successful. Fugaku began to gain on the man, reaching out to try and grab him. Both were forced to come to a stop as long blades came flying out of a nearby tree.

The elder was stabbed through the forehead in multiple places, nearly making Fugaku regurgitate at the sight. The man fell from the trees, hitting the ground hard. The clan head lowered to the ground as he moved to inspect the body. He suddenly found his moves restricted as his body seized up. He knew this technique very well, the Nara clan's Shadow Possession jutsu.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Fugaku grunted as he tried to break free. "I was chasing a rogue shinobi for vital information and you skewered him beyond usefulness! The Hokage must be warned at once!" A figure began to walk out from the shadows, one that caused the Uchiha head to growl in fury. Danzo Shimura stood before him, two ROOT shinobi standing behind him.

"I would not talk of treachery, Uchiha-san." stated the bandage man. "After all, you were onboard with the original coup, were you not?" Fugaku's eyes widened as the warhawk remained in place. "Itachi-san and Hiruzen may have been able to hide it from most but, as you can tell, I have my own eyes everywhere." While surprised by the information, the patriarch was able to reign in his shock as he growled.

"As true as that may be, Itachi's naming as the Hokage changed everything. We have a chance for true equality in the village. Surely you can agree with his goals." Danzo nodded his head in response.

"As a matter of fact I do. It is good to bolster our forces with those who are the strongest amongst their peers. Be that as it may, and as admirable as your son's goals are, I cannot allow him to take the seat of power. With the threat of the Uchiha overpowering the other clans, it would bring about a bloody civil war that would ruin this village." Fugaku nodded, hoping the man would see his reasoning.

"Not if we warn Hiruzen now. We can cut this off before it gets out of hand. There can finally be true peace in…" Danzo stomped his cane on the ground, triggering one of his ROOT nin to throw a kunai at the Uchiha head. His cheek bled from the edge of the weapon grazing him.

"Peace? What peace can there be when the other nations remain at large? What good is it when we're sitting here, practicing this 'Will of Fire', when our enemy continues to grow stronger and stronger? I will die before I let Konoha wilt away into the shadows of the other nations in the name of this petty peace." Fugaku growled in anger once again as he glared at the warhawk.

Danzo quickly cleared his throat as he regained his composure. "I will not deny the Uchiha have their use within this village. That is why I will make you an offer. If you are able to slaughter the traitors before nightfall on the eve of their treachery, by yourself, the rest of your clan shall live." The Uchiha leader's words of outrage caught up in his throat as a kunai was held to his neck.

He was basically being forced to listen to this horrid man's demands. "Should you fail to do this, I will slaughter every last Uchiha in this village down to their roots. Any child that survives will face life as experiments for the furthering of my vision. Tell anyone, go to the Hokage, or that accursed purple freak, and I will start with your family and make. you. watch." Fugaku was finally released from the hold and the possession, forcing him to fall to the ground.

He coughed as Danzo took a few steps back, the feeling of hate in him growing stronger. "Remember, Fugaku, we are always watching. Not even your own clan is safe." Fugaku wanted to hit the man with a fireball, but he Body Flickered with his shinobi as quickly as he appeared. Even the corpse of the traitorous elder was gone.

The head of the clan punched the ground in anguish. Several thoughts raced through his head as he continued to pound the ground. He should have carried his kunai. He should have left the elder to his business. He should have brought backup if he felt something was wrong.

Now here he was, forced to slay an unknown number of his own kin in order to appease a traitorous man who he could not touch. Who could he even trust in this situation? It was made very clear Danzo had people even in his own clan. The life of his family hung in the balance and he had no one to turn to. He was cut off from his self loathing as the sound of bodies hitting the ground caught his attention.

Several Root shinobi in the area fell to the ground, their bodies desecrated in various ways. The sound of tsks soon followed, causing the man to look to the origin. A man in a black cloak with red clouds on it walked forward. His short black hair stood firm as his orange swirl mask hid his face. A single hole was his view of the world around him.

"Sounds like you're in quite the pickle." stated the man in a childish tone. "Having to possibly kill a majority of your clan has to hurt. You're condemned if you do and you're condemned if you don't." Fugaku growled, recognizing this man instantly as a member of the infamous Akatsuki. He readied the kunai of a nearby fallen foe as he turned to face the individual.

"And how is this the business of an outsider like you?" Fugaku said sternly, gripping the kunai tightly in his fist as he stared at the stranger. A quick tilt of the akatsuki member's head accompanied a blink of his eye within the hole of the mask. The very action caused the clan head to bring his kunai up in defense, but the stranger paid him no mind as he leaned forwards a bit.

"That's just it though, I may have the answer to your problem. That is … if you're interested." He said with what Fugaku could only imagine was a smirk beneath the mask. "Besides, since when has someone of your blood been an outsider." Suddenly the stranger opened his visible eye widely, revealing the all too familiar crimson red Sharingan eye.

Fugaku recoiled, visibly flinching at the reveal of the stranger's eye. It couldn't be possible. He growled as he stood his ground, a flame of rage in his eyes.

"You bluff! I am not blind to how the world works. You could have stolen that eye! Wh…who are you?" His hand shook slightly as the stranger leaned forward casually, a hint of joy in his movements.

"I'm called Tobi by my bestest friends!" The akatsuki member gleefully stuck his hands out on both sides, as if introducing himself to a group of children. This flare of emotion dropped almost as quickly as it appeared, however, when he slowly gestured a hand to himself. "Although …. our history would know me as Madara Uchiha." Fugaku's eyes widened, not believing what he just heard.

Madara Uchiha was the infamous traitor of the Hidden Leaf. The very man who condemned the Uchiha to their previous way of life. The notion of this man being a warrior who should have died long ago was frightening, and yet the Sharingan he possessed was one not easily obtained by even members of Fugaku's clan: The Mangekyo Sharingan. The level of this man's Sharingan was beyond any known living member of his clan possessed. Even still, Fugaku was not ready to trust this man nor who he claimed to be as he tightened his stance.

"What makes you think I have any interest in your scheme, Madara? You're supposed to be long dead." Madara dismissed Fugaku's suspicion with a wave of his hand.

"Simple, you can't kill all of the clan's traitors by yourself. For that you would require my assistance, and I doubt you are in a position to refuse my aid. I also happen to know exactly who the traitors are. The choice, and the lives of your family, are yours." Fugaku sighed, closing his eyes for a brief second.

There really was no way out of this horrible situation. There was no telling what this man would do if he did not accept his offer. Danzo's threat also weighed heavily on his mind. There was one way forward from here. He opened his eyes as he reluctantly lowered his guard.

"I'm listening." He spoke bitterly. Madara must have had a terrifying grin hidden behind his mask as his visible eye squinted in pleasure. Tomorrow would mark the most terrible day for the Uchiha clan and Konoha as a whole. Fugaku just hoped someone would put an end to this madness. Little did he know that time was not entirely on the path he expected it to be.

---

The Next Day

Goku sighed as he walked around the town, his arms behind his head. He couldn't tell why but something was bothering his nerves. Things should be getting better ever since Itachi was named the next in line for Hokage. Instead he found that a lot of Uchiha that normally walked around the village were absent. He would think that a lot of them were still tired from the party, but even the ones that worked in his usual visiting spots were absent.

"Is everything alright, Goku-san?" asked a voice. Goku turned to see Lee walking up, more so running over in a handstand. The eccentric boy flipped to his feet with a grunt. "You do not have your normal cheery demeanor my eternal friend." The monkey boy sighed as he shook his head.

"I don't know Lee." answered Goku honestly. "I just have the strangest feeling that something terrible is about to happen. Maybe it's just an old wise tale but the sky was red this morning and I was always told that something bad was bound to happen on these kinds of days." The monkey boy looked like he was about to say more, only to pause as he noticed something. Lee didn't seem to pick up on it as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Do not worry Goku. I am absolutely certain that nothing is wrong on this…" Goku held up a finger, causing Lee to pause. The boy quickly sniffed the air, almost as if he were a bloodhound. His eyes widened in recognition and fear.

"I smell smoke. Smoke and… a lot of blood." Lee's expression mirrored the monkey boy's as they heard a cry of terror. A smoke column rose in the distance, specifically near the Uchiha District. "Get to the Hokage's office."

Lee looked like he wanted to object, but Goku had already raised into the air with a burst. "Get Grandpa, Itachi, and Uncle Fu over here. Now!" Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lee quickly took off for the Hokage Tower. Goku immediately flew off, causing a massive breeze behind him.

As he approached the area his worst fears were realized. There were dead people in the streets and buildings damaged by flames. Goku felt his rage grow as he recognized every person that was on the ground. "What kind of monster…?" His question died on his lips as he heard the nearby cry of a small child.

"HELP!" cried a woman's voice. The monkey boy quickly dashed off in the direction of the cry, He came upon the scene, scanning the area before him. The woman had long brown hair with bangs framing her face, the typical onyx eyes of an Uchiha, and a mole under her right eye. She wore a long-sleeved, high-collared purple shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol on the back, baggy blue pants, a shuriken hostler on her right leg, red armband on her left arm, and a long purple fingerless glove that ran nearly the length of her arm. This was Izumi Uchiha, and behind her were three young Uchiha children.

Before her stood the man Fugaku met the previous night, the man calling himself Madara. He had a bloodied katana in his hand, his grip tightening. He readied the blade for an attack, his one visible eye narrowed.

"Run all you can." growled Madara as he took a step forward. "My vengeance shall be fulfilled!" Izumi huddled the kids close as she felt too tired to fight back. She felt a shift of weight at her kunai pouch, figuring it was a sign of the man's strike. The sound of clashing metal told her otherwise, prompting her to open her eyes as she witnessed Goku hold the murderer's blade back with a single kunai.

"Enough!" roared the monkey boy. "I won't let you touch Izumi-chan!" Madara's eyes widened as the boy pushed him back. He stumbled a bit as he tried to find his footing. He took in the scene before him as Goku slid into a defensive stance Hiruzen taught him.

'It cannot be! The way his hair is styled, the look in his eyes, that tail. Could this child be... His descendant?' Madara growled as he readied his blade once more. The world seemed to be moving at a slow pace as Goku glanced back at Izumi.

"Izumi-chan, take them and go! Uncle Fu and more shinobi should be here shortly!" Izumi looked like she wanted to argue, but Goku quickly cut her off as he blocked a sudden strike from his attacker. "Now!" The woman had no choice but to run with the children in her arms as Madara unleashed a growl.

"I won't let you go." The villain leapt into the air in order to perform a jutsu, only to be interrupted mid seal as Goku grabbed his ankles. The boy spun around a bit mid-air before letting his opponent go. He quickly dashed after Madara, the man having to stab his sword into a nearby tree to try and stop his descent. The criminal had to quickly hold his arms in a blocking position as he was sent flying backwards onto the ground.

"That's for all the innocent people you killed! By the time I'm done with you Yamanaka-sama will have a hard time finding anything!" Madara growled as he stood up, his blade still in hand.

"You foolish brat. You have no idea who you find yourself facing. Shinobi far greater than you have tried to best me, and yet I still stand. Now your fate will be sealed, along with the rest of my accursed clan." Goku growled as he stood tall on the branch.

"As Uncle Fu would say, there's a first time for everything. You won't be hurting anyone else, traitor!" The boy then brought his fingers together as he performed a familiar seal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Madara's eyes widened as he saw the remaining large branches of the tree and the edges of nearby rooftops become enveloped in smoke.

As the smoke cleared, 20 shadow clones stood at the ready. They all growled as half of them crouched down with a kunai at the ready. "Face the might of the Sarutobi!" The attacking clones leapt forward, forcing Madara to use his sharingan eye to assess the situation. Even in this mode of higher processing, the attackers were still moving faster than expected.

'So, I was right. He is of your blood. Let's see how strong your lineage has grown, Sarutobi.' He quickly swung his sword through the air in an attempt to quickly defeat the clones. Only one fell for the strike, the others using their kunai to block it.

The villain continued to slash at the clones, doing his best to conceal his real skill. It was obvious that Goku knew what the true power of the Shadow Clone Jutsu was, information collection. Goku winced as he gained memories of each clone's destruction, but it did give him clues for how to face his opponent. Soon the monkey boy sent the rest of his clones in, readying to make a surprise move. He soon saw his chance as he performed a few hand signs.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Madara looked on in shock as a large ball of fire came crashing towards him. He quickly kicked off one of the remaining clones, forcing him to take the brunt of the blast. A scroll on the man's side began to catch fire. His visible eye widened as he tried to put out the flame.

Goku frowned as he realized the object was an important item. 'That must be part of what he came here for. I need to get that away from him and end this quickly.' With a squat Goku quickly soared at his opponent with a ferocious roar. Madara saw this movement and quickly brought up his sword to block the oncoming assault.

Goku struck his blade with the borrowed kunai, stopping any attempted attack his opponent could muster. Madara's eye began to swirl as he activated the power of the Sharingan, but the monkey boy quickly kicked at his side before leaping away. Madara quickly went on the assault as he tried to cleave Goku in two. It seemed to work for a moment, only for the boy to be replaced with a log. The villain was clever, however, as he quickly turned to grab Goku's hand.

"You're rather clever, for a runt. Now… sleep." Madara's eye swirled once again, seeming to catch Goku under its effect. The traitor took his chance and stabbed the monkey boy through his chest. His visible eye squinted in satisfaction, only to realize that there was no blood on the blade as the boy popped out of existence.

"Wrong one!" Madara looked up just in time as Goku had his hands above his head, the boy's palms facing him. "Uncle Fu taught me this one for monsters like you! SOLAR FLARE!" The villain had no time to deactivate the sharingan as his eyes were assaulted by a sudden flash of light.

He roared in pain as he tried to cover his eye with his free hand. This gave Goku the opportunity to kick his katana away and take the scroll from his waist. Madara finally recovered, growling as he turned towards the monkey boy. "I'll be taking this back to the Hokage." The villain's eye scrunched in rage.

"GIVE ME THAT!" Madara quickly went on the attack, striking at Goku with precision. The monkey boy did his best to block and dodge the attacks. He wrapped his tail around the scroll in order to free up his other hand, allowing him to throw a surprise punch at the villain. Madara blocked the attack, but jolted as he felt a pain in his hand.

He pushed the fist back before kicking Goku away. 'That felt way too strong to have come from a normal child. He's far more powerful than I've given him credit for. Time to fight him at the level of a mid-tier genin.' Madara changed up his pace as he moved at a new level of speed.

"Oh no you don't!" Goku kicked forward, intercepting a punch from the infamous traitor. This was the opening his opponent was looking for, however, as he grabbed the boy's foot and threw him over his shoulder. He grabbed at the boy's throat, only to be bit on the hand. He shouted in pain as he launched the boy to the side.

"You barbaric brute! Did you just bite me!?" Goku blew raspberries at the man, causing him to growl. "I have had enough of these childish games! I'm finishing this now!"

Madara began to perform a specific set of hand signs. Goku knew the moves all too well, having seen Itachi do them during a rare sparring match. Madara made his fingers into a ring shape as he prepared his attack. "FIRE STYLE: GREAT FIREBALL…" A twinkle in the distance behind them caught Goku's attention.

"DYNAMIC METEOR!" Cried Lee as he came hurtling towards the duo. Madara turned at the last second, forced to cancel his jutsu in an attempt to block the attack. He could not have been any less prepared, however, as the kick from the bowl cut boy managed to send him flying a few feet back. "Apologies, my Eternal Friend, but I could not wait for the others to arrive with the threat of losing you." Goku chuckled as he stood up from his prone position.

"Perfect timing Lee." Greeted the monkey boy. "We have to keep this scroll away from the crazy man at all costs. He seemed intent on keeping it undamaged." Lee nodded as he returned his attention to Madara or rather, where he once was. The boys felt a sudden shift as the villain appeared behind them.

"Lesson one, never take your eyes off your opponent." Instructed Madara in a threatening manner. The boys were thankfully able to dodge in time as the man tried to slice at them with his retrieved sword. He tried to get a kill on Goku, but the boy kicked the blade out of his hand at surprising speed. Lee came in from behind in an attempt to kick the man away, only to be blocked. This did force Madara to grab Goku's punch with his other hand.

The boys smirked as they nodded at each other. Madara's visible eye once again widened as both boys grabbed his wrists. They suddenly flew into the air with the man in tow. They spun around before throwing him towards the ground. Their opponent was forced to shushin in order to avoid taking a large amount of damage from hitting the ground.

He growled as he looked up at the duo. 'They're strong for their age AND they can fly!? I had no record of flying shinobi in the village! I thought that was an ability unique to him!' Both boys suddenly flew downwards with a burst of speed, their respective lead ligaments readied for action.

Madara was forced to retry the attack he attempted earlier. He was able to complete the last sign in time as the boys drew closer. "FIRE STYLE: GREAT FIREBALL JUTSU!" He unleashed a large fireball at the duo, forcing them to block the attack. A massive explosion burst through the air, the boys crashing towards the ground.

Madara harrumphed as he dusted off his cloak. "Lesson two: never fight an opponent beyond your level." The villain walked towards the boys, seeing the glint of his somehow unharmed scroll. "Mayhaps your bodies can help me to understand how you could possibly…" Madara stopped in his tracks as he once again was surprised as he saw movement in the boys.

"You… shouldn't underestimate… our Will of Fire!" roared Goku. He and Lee slowly stood up, revealing that the attack only did major damage to their attire. While there were some obvious scratches and burns, none of them were as severe as the jutsu should have left them. "We… won't stop… until you're in the ground or captured!" Madara growled as he clenched his fist.

"How are you still alive!? That attack should have killed you!" The villain quickly regained his composure as he prepared to perform another jutsu. "No matter. With this attack you will…"

Madara suddenly halted his attempt as he was suddenly flooded with memories. 'Impossible! First my clone at the shinobi barracks is defeated by a purple man, and now my clones are destroyed by a volley of strange lights! How!?' His answer came as Fu suddenly flew into view.

"Found you." said the man in a threatening tone. Madara looked up at the time traveler, feeling the intensity of his killing intent. "Are you gonna come quietly or are we doing this the hard way? Please choose the hard way." The villain growled as he looked towards the boys.

"It appears the lesson is at its end… for now. Know this, Sarutobi. You have made a powerful enemy this day. I will return to finish what I started. Mark my words."

The man vanished in a shushin before Fu could even get in a proper ki blast on him. Even when disappearing, his eerie chuckle filled the air. Fu tried to get a sense of the man's location, but there was nothing. He sighed as he lowered himself to the ground. Goku laughed a bit at the villain's defeat, only to slump forward in unconsciousness.

"Goku-san!" cried Lee. He caught the boy before he could fall, the scroll clattering on the ground beside him. Fu walked over to the boys as he tried to get a read on his adoptive nephew's condition. "Is he…" The purple man raised his hand before the word could be said.

"Tired." answered Fu. "He's exhausted from the battle' but he'll be alright once you're both attended to." He looked over to the scroll, quickly picking it up as he looked it over.

"Th…the dastardly villain desired that scroll from what Goku-san said. He wanted to take it to you and the Hokage and…" Fu chuckled as he secured the scroll at his hip.

"Well it's with me now. Medical staff should be here soon so please make sure nothing happens to him. I have to see if there are any more survivors." Lee nodded as he gently laid Goku down to rest. Fu quickly flew around the area as he tried to find more survivors.

Over at the main house of the estate, Sasuke quickly ran through the halls. He had to find his parents and get out of there. He ran over to their room, only to find it left ajar. He threw the door open, only to find his father standing over the corpse of his mother. He felt his heart sink as he approached the man he called his father.

"F… father?" asked the boy. "P…please tell me she's…" He came to a stop as he saw the bloodied sword in his father's hand. "N…no." Fukaku slowly turned towards his youngest son, tear stains on his cheeks.

"Sasuke." greeted the man in a dead, cold tone. "I need you to listen to me." The boy took a step back as he tried to get away from the man.

"W…why!? Why would you do this! You… you killed her! You killed my mother!" Fugaku sighed as he walked over to his inconsolable child. His eyes began to form into Mangekyo sharingan as he stared down at the boy.

"You may never understand what happened today, but you must take my words to heart. I want you to get stronger, whatever it takes. When you're stronger than your brother, come find me… and kill me." Before Sasuke could even question his father's words the man placed him under a powerful genjutsu. Fukaku disappeared in a puff of smoke, just in time for Fu to arrive.

"Fugaku-san!" Cried the purple man. "Pack your bags, 'cause it's moving…" His eyes widened as he saw the scene before him. "No." He looked down as Sasuke cried out in his unnatural sleep, the nightmares only just beginning to set in.

---

The Next Day

Dawn soon came as the word of the Uchiha Massacre spread around the village. Few survived the deadly assault, those unlucky few unable to identify their attacker. Rumor spread that Fugaku was the one who killed his own clan in a mad search for power, killing his own wife in his madness. The name of the man was cursed throughout the village, becoming the top name in the Bingo Book. Inside his hospital room, Goku could be seen absentmindedly looking out over the horizon.

"You know there's nothing more you could have done, Goku." Stated Fu as he flew in the way of the boy's view. The monkey boy's response was to turn away and look towards the door of his room. Fu sighed as he flew into the room. He took a seat at the foot of his nephew's bed as he continued his lecture. "To be honest you did more than anyone in your situation could have done."

Goku ignored the man's words as he continued to stare off into space. "Look, you can't sit here and mope about it all day. At some point you have to…" He caught Goku mumble something under his breath, something he surprisingly couldn't discern. "Mind repeating that sport?"

"I wasn't strong enough to do anything." growled the monkey boy. "If I could have beaten him, maybe I would have been able to save more people." Fu sighed as he shook his head.

"Goku… you can't blame yourself for what happened. You should just be glad you saved Izumi-chan and those Uchiha munchkins." Goku suddenly stood up, surprising his Uncle with just how much he recovered.

"I can't be happy when there was so much more I could have done if I was strong enough! I can't just say 'oh well' and move on! Itachi and Sasuke are now orphans, same with those kids you mentioned, and the guy got away with it!" The boy kicked his pillow off the bed, causing it to explode on the wall. He took a few deep breaths as he tried to collect himself.

Fu allowed the boy to vent, realizing that his Saiyan genes were flared up. "That guy was on a level unlike anything I've ever fought. I'm not counting our spars as you tend to hold back a lot. If Lee didn't come in to help… I'd probably be dead." Not liking his nephew's thought direction, Fu stood up from his sitting position.

"Don't you dare think like that young man! You are growing at a marvelous pace. You can't go thinking about the 'what ifs' or the 'I should haves'. Once you reach Jonin you'll…" Goku growled as he looked at his uncle.

"I can't wait that long! The enemy is not going to wait that long! Next time you and Lee might not be there to save my tail! What if this happens again and I'm the only one there to stop another clan from nearly dying?" Goku looked down at his open palm, forming a small ball of energy inside it.

He crushed it in his hand, causing it to explode slightly. "On my honor as a Sarutobi and as a future shinobi of Konoha, I can't afford to wait. I need to be stronger, for everyone. Please, Uncle Fu, help me be stronger." Fu narrowed his eyes as he looked his nephew up and down.

"Do you realize what you're asking me to do? You're asking me to push you to limits you might not be ready for. On top of that I can't be here every day. I need to know that you are serious about this before I can agree to anything." Goku looked his uncle in the eye as he nodded his head.

"I need to be stronger. Hit me with everything you can." Fu sighed as he shook his head.

"You aren't ready for that kind of load. Having said that, we can advance your training once more. Even still, you'll have to take time to be young and spend time with your friends. Do you understand?" Goku nodded his head, his frown never leaving his face.

The purple man couldn't help but chuckle as he rubbed the boy's head. "You're a little crazy guy, you know that? Rest and get the doctor's clean bill of health. I've got some things to take care of." Fu stood up before flying out the window from whence he came. Goku allowed himself to finally smile as he saw his Uncle's twinkling form disappear.

With the time traveler, his frown all but disappeared as he approached the Hokage tower. He didn't even bother to use the front door as he approached the window of the Hokage's office. Before he entered, however, he grabbed something mid air. Smoke puffed as a ninja with a headband displaying the kanji of "Root" had his neck clutched in the man's grasp. "Bugs like you need to be exterminated."

With a flex of his power he engulfed the man in energy, incinerating him without even so much as a noise. He landed inside Hiruzen's office, the old man's expression being similar to his own. The elderly Hokage sighed as he smoked a pipe.

"It's a dark day in village history when a clan is nearly brought to extinction." somberly stated Hiruzen. "The bodies from the scroll have been cremated as you suggested. To say Danzo looked spiteful in the meeting earlier is an understatement. I'm fairly certain that he's after your head." Fu sat down in front of the Hokage, his frown deeper than before.

"I could care less what part of me he's after. I came here to inform you that Goku is determined to increase his training. I advise you to go with it as it's important that he gets as strong as possible. I also came with a warning." Hiruzen raised his brow, interested in what the purple man had to say.

Fu made his intentions clear as he stabbed his sword into the floor. "Don't try to stop me, Hiruzen. Next time Danzo steps out of line, I'm ending him myself."

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Inkaliber: And that's a new chapter done and done! This chapter's been a long time coming. I'm hoping I can get back on the ball and pump out some new chapters.

Meowth: You said it Boss! You can do it! Hopefully you guys start reviewin' because that helps ta inspire da big cat!

Inkaliber: Alright that's enough out of you. I've got a chapter to end. Why don't you go take a break.

Meowth: Ya don't have to tell me twice.

Inkaliber: Anyway, what did you guys think of the chapter? Did you like the decision of making Itachi the next Hokage? How about Goku and Lee having a dangerous encounter with Madara? Let me know what you think down below, and I'll see you in the next one. This is Inkaliber, signing off.