Chapter two - Explanations

"Are we getting close Kakashi-sensei?" asked the blond boy while taking off his eye bandage.

"First, stop calling me sensei and second, I don't know but I thought the Iron village wasn't so far away the last time I went there don't you think Yamato?" replied the grey hair man.

"You're right Kakashi. Something is wrong. Normally, we would have reach the small village half the way to the Iron Village by now. Unless …" answered the said man.

"Unless what?" asked Naruto, totally oblivious of the situation.

"Unless we have been spotted." answered Kakashi.

"Uhh …" replied Naruto with a shock look.

"What do you think Kakashi?" asked Yamato

Pulling is headband up and revealing his sharigan, Kakashi soon confirms the fears of his teammates.

"Genjutsu!"

In Konoha

The silence was unbearable. She should have run away when she had the chance. Now it was too late. She was trapped here and there was no way she could have just poofed away. It's been five minutes since anybody have spoken a word. Sakura was still waiting for the storm to start. She has even prepared a plan if anything was going to be throw off in the air or if the ground was going to explode under her feet. But nothing came except an hard, cold and unbearable silence! The atmosphere was so tense that even Shizune was looking everywhere but at Tsunade, too afraid to suffer from her anger. But instead of the intense reaction they were apprehending, the sannin spoke softly.

"Why?"

To say that Sakura wasn't expecting this, was an understatement, she totally wasn't expecting this! She thought she was going to see some action, some emotion from her sensei, but it seems like her mentor wasn't in this state of mind. Getting over her shock, Sakura decided to answer her mentor, but she was cut by Shizune.

"Seeing that you were in a coma and after the battle that have take place in the village, the council have state that Konoha was in need of an Hokage, one that they could count on."

"I see… So … Who is the next then? Kakashi? That would have been the best choice. Last time I had a meeting with those old gramps his name was mentioned frequently as a replacement if anything were to happen to me." admitted Tsunade.

"Tsunade. This is why I said that the time was not to joke around. Kakashi have been mentioned, but he is not the 6th hokage… In fact… Danzo is…" finally answered Shizune.

"You're kidding me right?" replied Tsunade, totally dumbfounded.

"Shikamaru's father was assisting the meeting and he reported me that somehow, Danzo have manipulated the concil in order to make Kakashi look like if he was unworthy for this tittle. This is why he is the 6th hokage and Kakashi is not. As the hokage, Danzo have already planned things. First, he have classified Uchiha Sasuke as a missing-nin and order his execution." said Shizune.

At the mention of his name Sakura's eyes had been downcast. 'Sasuke…' she thought.

"It seems like Sasuke and his teammates have joined the Akatsuki and that they have attacked the Raikage's brother in order to stole the eight tailed beast. As you will understand, the Raikage didn't appreciate it much and he sent a team to meet the hokage to order the assassination of the Uchiha. He have also put Naruto under watch and he is not allowed to quit the village. Finally, he have dismiss you of your duties." concluded Shizune.

"Where is the hokage now?" asked Tsunade

"He is heading to the meeting of the five kages with two of his most loyal subordinates."

"This is bad, really bad…" said Tsunade.

"Euhmmm, it's not all Shishou…" spoke quietly Sakura for the first time in a while.

"What do you mean Sakura?" asked the Gondaime.

"There is something you and Shizune don't know. I have overheard a conversation between Naruto and the rest of team 7…" she admitted.

"Tell me everything Sakura, we need to know what you know." ordered Tsunade.

"Okay … First of all during his battle against Pein, Naruto has transformed into the nine tailed bea…"

"WHAT!! NARUTO TRANSFORMED INTO WHAT?" yelled Tsunade into Sakura's ears.

"Hold on Shishou … Geezz! You haven't let me finish! You know, Shizune I'm not the only one who takes the bad habits of Naruto…" replied Sakura in an annoyed tone.

"Please continue Sakura!" said Shizune in a panic tone while glancing at a furious Tsunade.

"Naruto transformed into the nine tailed fox, but he went back to normal without Yamato's help. At the moment, I didn't understand how he has been able to come back to his senses, but after hearing his conversation with Kakashi it all became clear." confessed Sakura.

"What do you mean?" asked Tsunade.

"Naruto said he had met the 4th hokage inside of his head or something like that. He is the one who stop Naruto from becoming the beast and he told him that Toby, the guy with the orange mask in Akatsuki was behind the attack of the nine tailed fox sixteen years ago. Naruto has also mentioned that he was behind Akatsuki and that Pein, Nagato, was his puppet. Naruto believes that Sasuke is probably used by him too. After that, I don't remember very well, but I think Kakashi have mentioned Jiraya's name and that it was like he had said. Kakashi said that Toby had the Sharigan and that he was indeed Madara Uchiha, a missing-nin who had the power to control the fox. Then, he asks Saï to go tell the hokage and he ask Naruto what his father had told him and Naruto repeat it. His dad has faith in him. After that, Naruto, Yamato and Kakashi have decided to follow the Raikage's team so that Naruto could plead the redemption of Sasuke in front of him. They are probably far away from Konoha now… It's about all I know." concluded Sakura.

"Thank you Sakura, but this is getting even worst then I thought. Now that the council is on Danzo's side, that Danzo is at the meeting of the five kages and that the village is under restrictions from leaving and for missions… This is getting out of hand. Not to mention that my grand-father's enemy seems to be alive! What else could go wrong?" said Tsunade, exasperated.

"But Shishou, there must be something we can do? We can't let Danzo kill Sasuke and destroy the entire village with is evil politics! We can't destroy the efforts of ours ancestors…" begged Sakura.

Tsunade, who was sitting on her mattress, try to stand up. She needed to walk. The situation was way to stressful. What were they going to do about it? How were they going to protect the village from the dangerous plans of Danzo? There was so much to think about, so much to do. That's when it clicked.

"Shizune how long do we have before the meeting start?" asked the Gondaime, while taking the said girl's arm for support.

"Two days and it includes today." answered Shizune.

"Good! Shizune we are going to attend the meeting and you are coming with us Sakura." stated the hokage.

"WHAT!" said Shizune with shock written all over her face.

"What? Shishou, I think I don't understand your plan?" replied Sakura.

"Listen girls, I am still an hokage and even if I am not in charge of the village anymore, it doesn't mean I can't attend to a meeting of the five kages. And as for you Sakura, it's normal that you don't understand, this is why I am going to explain things to you."

Sakura nodded and Shizune sat down on a chair, leaving Tsunade to try and stand alone.

"Before the attack from the Akatsuki and the death of Jiraya, I have made some research on the past of Konoha. I have discovered things in the third hokage's things that made me think that Konoha is corrupted. The attack and the nomination of Danzo only confirms my fears. I also have discovered strange facts concerning the Roots and Danzo."started Tsunade.

"Like what Shishou?" asked Sakura.

"Danzo is responsible in the coup d'etat against the third Hokage, he knew that Orochimaru was going to attack the village and he didn't react. He let it happened. As for the Root, they are suspected in many unsolved cases and massacres. But the most horrible act Danzo have made is the Uchiha massacre."

There was a pause. Sakura was trying to assimilate what her sensei was throwing at her when realization came upon her. Danzo, he was responsible for everything that happened to the Uchiha clan.

"Danzo is a manipulator, he have probably mystify the council so they would accept his decisions." continued the Gondaime

"What else have you discover about that, about the Uchiha massacre?" asked Sakura, eager.

"Danzo is the one who have order Itachi to kill his clan. But not everything went as planned. Itachi was supposed to kill everyone and act like nothing happened. Fortunately for team 7, Itachi haven't been able to kill is younger brother. This has forced him to quit the village and accept his faith has a missing-nin, but before he vanished he had made a request to the third Hokage. It was to protect his brother."

"So this is why you never classified him as a missin-nin." stated Shizune

"Yes, and it's also because Sakura and Naruto have pleaded me to do so."

"Is there anything else?" asked Sakura, eyes downcast

Pondering on if she should continue or stop, Tsunade decided that her apprentice has a right to know everything.

"Danzo have placed Naruto on Anbu's watch because he wants to take advantage of the demon inside of him and he don't want to loose is precious creature to anyone. And… he had place a spy in team 7."

"… Saï" concluded Sakura

"Don't dwell on it Sakura. Maybe Saï was a spy, but he has changed and as proof, Danzo himself doesn't trust him as much anymore." replied Shizune

"Forget about it, I think I've learned enough stuff for today. So, what's next Tsunade? What am I supposed to do now? What are we going to do about Danzo, Madara, Sasuke, Saï and who knows maybe Naruto? Humm? Because I don't know what to do now, I don't even know who I should trust…" cried the pink haired medic. Even if she was trying to keep her tears from falling, she was loosing a battle against herself. She soon find herself comfort by her sensei who was rubbing her back while holding her thigh. Everything was spinning fast in her head. Danzo he was the man responsible for everything that occurred to team 7. Well not everything because Sasuke have chose his own actions, but that old man was the reason behind Sasuke's behaviour. He is the one who asked Itachi to kill is entire clan, he is the one who make Sasuke become the man he is now. Danzo is the reason why Sasuke have quit team 7 to avenge his family. He is the reason why Naruto have lost his best friend and why she has lost her love. And Saï, he has betray them … just like Sasuke! Where there more people who were going to stab them in the back?

"I can't tell what will happen in the future Sakura, but it's time for us to do something and to get into the action. With his past actions, we can't let Danzo took power over the village, his vision of the ninja world is catastrophic. I can't let him risk the life of the villagers and uses our ninjas like tools. The previous Hokages have fought hard for what they believe in. We have to fight and for this, I will need you, Sakura. I will need your talent and your spirit. We will be the change. Remember Naruto, this kid, he is the one who will make the difference. That, I can tell. But he needs help, you can't change the world alone and that's where we came along." said Tsunade, smiling.

Sakura only nodded while drying her tear from her wet face.

"What we are about to do goes against Konoha's laws, we are about to break directs orders from the Hokage and we are about to create a civil war here. Therefore, we will be considering as missing-nins. I will understand if you wouldn't want to come with me…" spoke the Hokage.

"You can count me in Shishou, I will help my village and my friends no matter what it cost me." state Sakura, all her confidence back.

"You know me, I will follow you to the end." replied Shizune with a small smile.

Tsunade smiled at her apprentices, she was proud of them, especially of Sakura. That girl has done the impossible. From the weak, naïve little girl she was, she had become a powerful, determined young woman.

After a long pause, the Gondaime decided to break the silence.

"Shizune… did the jonin have voted yet?"

"No" answered the brown hair girl.

"Perfect … girls? asked Tsunade.

"Yes?" the both replied.

"Konoha's revolution have started. We are entering a new decade. We will get out of the shadows…" said the Hokage.

"You said it Shishou!" replied Sakura with determination that the Gondaime haven't seen in her apprentice's eyes for a long time.

"We are on our way!" said Shizune.

"Go packed your things we are leaving by dawn. We will meet at the south gate. There, I will explain you the plan. We will have one day to get to the Iron village, so try to rest a little and bid your goodbyes. Now I have things to do before we go." explained Tsunade.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama." replied at the same time the girls.

"Oh and don't forget … no headband… we are doing this incognito, as missing-nins now." mentioned Tsunade.

At that, everyone went silence and nodded before spreading in different directions.

In the Iron village

"Sasuke, the birds have found something." said a tall man with orange hair

"Here, on the south gate, the defences are less important"

"Fine, we will wait until tonight." replied the missing-nin.