----------------------
If I gave you the truth, would it keep you alive?
Though I'm closer to wrong
I'm no further from right
And now I'm convinced on the inside that something's wrong with me
Convinced on the inside, you're so much more than me, yeah
No there's nothing you say that can salvage the lie
But I'm trying to keep my intentions disguised
And now I'm deprived of my conscience and something's got to give
Deprived of my conscience
This all belongs to me, yeah
"Truth" - Seether
-----------------------------
"Damn it, Damn it DAMN IT1!"
Eyes flared as twin fists slammed onto the desk and broke it cleanly in half. "GOD DAMN IT TO HELL!"
Tsunade snarled to herself as she stared hatefully at the folder in front of her. "Not dead! Of course he's dead!" Shizune's eyes remained calm as she stared at her long time friend. "The reports were true, the corpse that we so readily named as Naruto's was, in fact, not Naruto-kun's."
Tsunade took in a deep breath and ordered her apprentice to detail her response. "If that body was truly our Naruto-kun's; his organs would have been damaged along with his chakra system from the Kyuubi as you yourself have spoken. But- there was no damage, in fact the corpse didn't die of torture, he died of a slit throat. The rest was for show." Shizune pointed to the folder she just laid down. "When we first attempted to dispel any lingering jutsus, we expected a simple one that would dispel with a single 'Kai', however, we did not attempt anything beyond that. We did not expect any illusionary jutsu so thorough, so ingrained into the corpse itself. It was my mistake, and I am prepared to take full responsibility for it."
During her speech, Shizune fell into a respectful bow, not expecting Tsunade to merely wave her hand and sigh. "We all missed it, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
Tsunade sat down heavily, her energy leaving her in great waves. "But," Shizune shook her head. "Tsunade-san. I would never lie about something like this and you know that." Tsunade nodded, her face heavy with fatigue and tightly controlled grief. "Now, if I may say; is the time to gather Iruka, Kakashi, Jiraiya and several of the Chuunin and such." Tsunade gave a great sigh. "Do not forget Gaara-sama. He wouldn't hesitate to harm something if he was not informed of this fraud."
Nodding once before turning, Tsunade watched as Shizune left the room. With a quick jutsu, she fixed her desk and rested her elbows on it, composing herself for the upcoming confrontation that was bound to happen in the meeting.
---One hour later---
"Tsunade-sama? I do not wish for you to play such horrible jokes. I can't take it at the moment."
Tsunade gazed calmly at the still distraught Iruka, her anti-depressives having no effect on the once innocent and happy Chuunin teacher.
"It's true Iruka-san. We have confirmed, myself personally just now, that Naruto-kun is in fact not that corpse in the room downstairs." Tsunade's eyes drifted downwards to her linked fingers. "In fact, it's the corpse of a missing-nin from the village of the stone." (there is such a village! )
Something snapped, wood splinters dancing on the floor before they settled.
Tsunade looked up to see Gaara standing with his eyes shadowed. Sand drifted around his feet angrily, having just splintered the chair Gaara was sitting on moment ago.
Even though Shukaka was gone, the youma of one tail had left enough of an impression and chakra imprint that Gaara still could control sand by instincts and emotion alone. It took more control to control the sand, more chakra to use the same attacks. But Gaara was still deadly.
"Calm yourself Kazekage!"
Another chair splintered and Jiraiya cursed loudly as he fell from his stupor and his chair onto the ground.
"Naruto is still alive, am I correct in assuming this?"
Tsunade sighed, but nodded silently. "That is correct." Gaara's eyes glinted as he lifted his face to stare Tsunade in the eye.
Tsunade was suddenly struck with how lonely and mistrustful Gaara's eyes were.
The same as Naruto's…
Shaking her head, she gestured for him to continue. "Then where is he, why didn't he come back." Gaara's voice was carefully controlled. "He is in unknown whereabouts. That is why I called you all hear, I want to know if you have heard anything about well, anything."
Everyone shook their heads, Gaara merely glared like he was offended to be asked such a question. "Well," Tsunade gave a tired sigh. "Maybe Naruto had to do this, to prove something. Maybe he had something he had to-" Iruka burst out, his silence ending at that sentence. "Naruto would never play such a heartless and cruel joke! He may be a prankster- and heck, once a prankster always a prankster, but still!"
Tsunade nodded, willing to do that simple gesture to please Iruka. "It was merely a thought, a rightly wrongful one I do say so myself."
Iruka nodded vigorously, his eyes widening as natural life filled them once more at hearing the prospect that Naruto may be alive once more.
"Tsunade."
Tsunade looked over at Jiraiya. "It's time we told everyone, everything about the Akastsuki. I mean, it's only proper, don't you believe?"
Tsunade snorted and mumbled something, but nodded turning serious once more.
"I believe everyone but the Chuunin know what's happening." Kakashi spoke for the first
time.
Tsunade nodded, suddenly glad the said chuunin were not in the room.
"The Akatsuki is a group of highly talented exiled ninja. They have this goal of capturing all the Youma and summoning a great demon to kill of Orochimaru and bring their own plans to a climax."
Tsunade settled herself, recounting everything about the group known as the Akatsuki that was gathered at the moment to fill everyone in.
"I am not sure if they have something to do with this, but I do not want to risk being ignorant. Is this agreed on by everybody?" everyone gave a solemn nod, Gaara looked almost stricken at the thought of Naruto being in the hands of the ones who killed himself in the line of retrieving Shukaka.
-----------At The Same Time---------------
The steady dripping of a tap never ceased, the glowing liquid sliding down the clear tube and into the still, lithe arm.
"Is his heart stabilized, Kabuto?"
Tapping on the keyboard a few times, glasses flashed before they were fixed on the bridge of his nose and he returned to checking over the monitors. "Do you believe my jutsu had been broken, Orochimaru-sama?"
A small chuckle filled the room before seemingly manicured nails slid over the exposed torso laying still and helpless on the bed before him. "His seals are growing quite nicely, are they not Kabuto?"
Kabuto gazed upon the chest marked with seals that spiraled out from around the male's bellybutton. "He is coming along quite nicely Orochimaru-sama."
-------------------------------------------------------
0o. What did I do!
Please review, I do need to know what you liked and what you disliked. Yes, I know the chapter was short. But everything of mine was deleted (once again)!
I kind of wish to add a little yaoi as I am partial to that and heterosexual pairings. Tell me your thoughts and can some people give me some ideas!