Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, it would surely be the apocalypse.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update, but now that finals are over, I can hopefully update more often!
Naruto, Sai, and Kakashi stood expectantly in the Hokage's office, waiting for her to speak. Since they arrived, she had not said a word. Nor had she acknowledged their presence. Instead, for the past fifteen minutes, she buried her nose in the eternally huge stack of papers before her. A couple more minutes went by and still she had not said a word.
At length, and ANBU nin entered the office and bowed before the Hokage.
"Report,"
"Mission successful. The message was delivered to Sunagakure, and the Kazekage has replied accordingly." The ninja placed a scroll on her desk and continued. "Also, Tsunade-sama, Assassination Squad 3 departed for their mission a couple minutes ago."
"Thank you very much. You may leave."
The ANBU bowed once more and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Without hesitation, the Godaime picked up the scroll on her desk, and quietly smiled to herself at the contents. Not able to stand the tension any longer, and fearing Naruto would say something stupid, Kakashi spoke up.
"Tsunade-sama, if I may be so bold to ask, why have you summoned us here?"
"Yea, baa-sama, you've kept us waiting for hours, dattebayo!!!!" Kakashi smacked himself on the forehead. It seemed Naruto would never grow out of his foolish habits.
"You have a new mission, but I don't want to explain it until the last member of your team arrives."
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Hinata walked out of the meeting room feeling utterly drained listening to old men complain about nothing. When her father died, she was named the new head of the Hyuuga family, and let me tell you, being the head of any family is no walk in the park. Especially for a girl with self-confidence issues. But somebody had to do it, and she was the most qualified.
Taking in the sweet morning air, Hinata made her way to the Hyuuga mansion where she resided. Perhaps there she could take a much-needed nap. Old men and their complaints. Ugh, how dare they complain? She had erased the boundaries between the main and branch families and forbade the cursed seal technique, brought over all greater unity to the clan, and they dare to say she's a weak leader? Weak? She opposed century's old traditions and she's weak? No, she would prove them wrong.
In a cloud of smoke, a ninja in a mask appeared by her side, waking her from her reverie.
"Hinata-sama, you are expected at the Hokage's office."
"Hai."
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Naruto had now taken to pacing anxiously around the room. Sai found himself wondering how long it would take for Naruto to ware down a hole in the floor when the door burst open revealing one very flushed and out of breath Hinata.
"S-sorry Tsunade-sama. The . . . the meeting ran late and –"
"No need to apologize. Now, as for your mission . . ."
"Wait a minute!"
Everyone turned their heads to face Sai and his unusual outburst.
"As much as I respect Hinata-san, doesn't Sakura usually accompany us on our missions?"
"Yes, however Sakura is currently on a mission of her own. Now for yours. It would seem that the stars are yet again in the proper alignment for demon-sealing. You know what this means Naruto."
The fox demon nodded his head somberly.
"It has reached the ears of Konoha that Akatsuki is yet again on the move, and you, Naruto, being the last remaining Jinchuuriki, are their prime target." Hinata grabbed Naruto's hand tightly upon hearing this, a concerned look on her face. Tsunade continued. "Should they get their hands on the Kyuubi, they will launch a world-wide invasion, against which we will be powerless. Which is why you will be leaving."
She paused here to take out the scroll she had received only minutes before.
"The four of you will stay in the Wave country until further notice. We have already arranged for your living arrangements. Konoha has made several communications with the Sand, and it has been determined that Hinata and Naruto are to be disguised as nobility from the Country of Wind, while Kakashi and Sai will be their escorts, disguised and Sand shinobi. You are to leave immediately. Is this understood?"
All four shinobi saluted. She tossed the scroll to Kakashi before going on. "Very good. This scroll here contains further details of the mission, and where you will be staying. Good luck, Team Seven. Oh, and Hinata . . ."
The Hyuuga approached her desk. Waiting until the other three had left the room, Tsunade said, "I did not assign you to this mission because you are Naruto's girlfriend. I gave you this responsibility because you possess the Byakugan. Do you understand?"
"Hai, Tsunade-sama!"
"Very good. Take good care of Naruto for me."
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Kiyoshi ran through the stone cold hallways, all the while fearing his own decision. Uchiha-sama was not one to forgive, or to let slide any disobedience. He turned right into another winding hall, and paused before a large wooden door adorned with the symbol of a fan. He hesitated before opening the door, fearing the Otokage's wrath.
No one knew what lay behind that door. Uchiha-sama could sometimes be seen walking in and out of this door, but he forbade any other from touching. And Uchiha-sama was not one to be trifled with. Fear seemed to follow him wherever he went. He seemed to thrive off of the pain and fear of others.
The day Orochimaru died was bitter-sweet. The man was a foolish ruler, who nearly destroyed his own village with two invasions of Konoha. The sannin was no hero to his people. The ones closest to him held in their hearts an undying, inconceivable loyalty to the man, but over the years, as his incompetence became more apparent, he began to lose respect. He was obsessed with his quest for immortality and power, often disregarding the needs of the village for his own selfish desires. But none where brave enough to face the legendary Sannin.
Kiyoshi had been called to the training ground that morning. Orochimaru said he had something special planned for that afternoon, a momentous event in Otogakure. He said he would soon possess the Sharingan, and would soon find no need for his old body. Kiyoshi was to dispose of this body after the ceremony.
As he entered the training ground, he screamed in terror. Laying on the floor were two bodies belonging to Kabuto and Orochimaru drenched in blood, gore splattered all over the walls, limbs dispersed throughout the room. How? Who could possibly be strong enough to defeat The Snake Sannin? Kiyoshi frantically searched around for the enemy.
"Well?"
Kiyoshi jumped at the sound of this voice and spun around. Behind him, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, not slightest look of fear in his eyes, was Uchiha Sasuke.
"Well? You gonna clean up this mess, or do I have to add you to it?"
"H-hai, Uchiha-sama!"
Uchiha-sama made a far better ruler than Orochimaru. He attended to the needs of Otogakure, and under his command, the Sound became a wealthy, formidable opponent. Stability finally appeared in the village, and crime rate dropped significantly. However, the Uchiha was also a far more terrifying leader than Orochimaru. And believe you me, that is saying a lot.
The Otokage ruled with an iron fist. If even the slightest order was disobeyed, punishment was cruel. Public executions were held almost every day, and the heads of the executed were put on display in the streets for all to see. He seemed to know everything. He had eyes that dug their way right into your mind, that drove you crazy. The look in his eyes alone could bring even the strongest men to tears. And with these eyes, he could see the slightest twitches in one's face, and instantly know his thoughts. It was almost as if he could read you mind. And no one could read his. His face almost never betrayed any emotion. His eyes that could see so much showed so little.
But he was psychopathic. Anyone could see this. He blood lust was almost tangible, suffocating all in his presence. At all times, he had a squad search for a grouped named Akatsuki. He was searching for something, wanting something, but no one knew what. The last ones to know were Orochimaru and Kabuto, but they were dead. His objective was kept an eternal secret, As was his past.
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Kiyoshi opened the ebony door to find himself at the top of a long staircase leading down into darkness. He followed it down, down into the bitter pitch-black. At the bottom, he paused in fear.
Uchiha-sama stood, his back turned to him, before what appeared to be a shrine. A large white plaque hung on the wall, holding same fan symbol he wore on his back and many innumerable names, each one an Uchiha. On either side of this plaque were large torches set ablaze with fire.
Without turning, the Otokage spoke in a menacing, fearsome voice.
"What are you doing here?"
Kiyoshi fell to his knees and bowed before his master, his body shaking in fear.
"P-p-please forgive me, Otokage-sama, b-but, I-I . . ." The Uchiha turned to face the trembling figure before him.
"HOW DARE YOU DISTURB ME IN THIS PLACE!!!!" The Shinobi bellowed, his face contorted in rage. Kiyoshi had never seen him show any emotion before, but this rage sent shock waves of horror into his bones.
Slowly, the Uchiha regained his composure and returned to his usual unreadable expression. But Kiyoshi knew he was in no less danger.
"Now," he said, withdrawing his katana and pressing the blade against the neck of his terrified servant, "What possible reason do you have for disobeying my direct order?"
"My Lord, p-please don't kill me! We . . . we I news t-that I thought you wanted"
"Oh?" he said, drawing a drop of blood from his neck. "And what might that be?"
"W-we have found Akatsuki!"
The Uchiha lowered the weapon and stared off into space. His eyes grew wide, eyebrows furrowed. The shards of insanity that lay beneath the surface of his skin penetrated his expression, revealing his madness to the world. A truly psychotic look spread across his face, one that Kiyoshi had never seen on any face before.
"Where?"
A/N: Please comment! Flames, criticism, complements, suggetions, anything is wecome!