Moon Lit Past Written By: Matdeception
Disclaimer: I think I'm entitle to admit I don't own Naruto, and such.
Chapter 2: A beauty in this Impure world
Arc: Setting the Stage, Year 6
Uchiha Mikoto, Matriarch of the Uchiha clan, Mother to Itachi and Sasuke, and former Jounin of Konoha found herself frowning at the sight of it. 'Dirty, dirty boys!' she scowled inwardly at the dirt caked shorts, blood stained pants, and cut up gloves sitting as pretty as you please in the hamper. If there was one regret she had for her family, it was the serious lack of a daughter, who she knew would have brought a nice boost of female energy to an otherwise testosterone flooded family life.
"Dear, have you seen the news paper?" Her husband and Clan Head through Marriage, Uchiha Fugaku, stuck his head in the laundry room with an expectant frown on his handsome face.
"Your study, were we always put it, dear." Mikoto answered, tentatively pinching the clothes (And her nose) and tossing them into the wash.
"KAA-SAN!" Sasuke ran in, dodging his father who wandered off mumbling about newspapers hiding from him, "I need more taijutsu training! Some stupid kid beat me in practice at school today!"
"I'll get your uncle Yashiro to tutor you, dear." Mikoto hummed, adding industrial strength detergent to the wash - the Uchiha secret to keeping clothes fresh while also making them stiffer then an Inuzuka in heat, the better to maintain their haughty reputation with!
"Hn. Maybe I'll beat that stupid Uzumaki if I practice really hard!" her son mumbled as he walked away.
'Ah, Uzumaki, eh? Can only be Naruto.' Mikoto grumped, suddenly not feeling very much in the mood for house hold chores. The fate of the little boy had hit her where it hurt, of a family torn apart by forces beyond their control with Kushina nearly dying during childbirth, and follow that up with Minato's stupid decision to disown the boy. Mikoto wasn't generally a betting woman, but she'd gladly put the entire Uchiha family fortune on Minato being brutally murdered by Kushina when, if, her redheaded best friend ever recovered from her coma.
"Mother."
Mikoto startled, hand against chest as she ripped around in surprise, "Itachi!" she breathed, "You startled me!"
Her rather stoic son quirked an eyebrow at that, "Apologies, I did not realize you were distracted."
"Mah, lighten up sochi!" Mikoto playfully winked at him, "All work and no play makes Itachi a dull boy." she paused, "A really, really dull boy."
"I see." The not quite a teenager returned neutrally, glancing back down the hall before stepping into the laundry room and shutting the door. "It's good I've caught you alone, there is something I need to discuss with you."
Mikoto raised an eyebrow at that, before shrugging. "Okay."
Itachi frowned slightly, looking for all the world in deep concentration. "The Hokage... has ordered me to, ah, encourage a relationship between Sasuke and another boy."
"Whoa whoa!" she flailed her arms around, "First, Sasuke is six! Six Itachi! There is no relationship allowed or condoned for six year olds!" she bulled on despite Itachi's stunned look, "Second, Sasuke isn't even aware of what sexuality means, and chances are he doesn't swing that way to begin with!"
"I... am at a loss." Itachi retorted in that same dull tone. "I did not mean to suggest a romantic relationship, but a friendship, or a rivalry."
"Oh." Mikoto blushed pink, "I see, well, forget what I just said."
"You have no idea how hard I'm trying too." The Uchiha boy mumbled.
"Ah haha!" she laughed weakly, "Anyway... so who is this boy? And why does the Hokage have to order you to do something so trivial?"
"The... Uzumaki boy was not raised well." Itachi confessed, "The Hokage believes that with out an anchoring factor involved, chances of disloyalty or out right betrayal exceed acceptable levels."
"Wow." Mikoto shook her head, "Again, lighten up Itachi-kun! And as for the Hokage... well, no crap the boy isn't loyal. Given the way this village treated him, I'm amazed he hasn't run away already!"
"Then you comprehend the gravity of the situation." Itachi nodded seriously, "Good. I was afraid you'd decline."
"I never said I accepted either." Mikoto shrugged, humming as she did her work. "I do not like that fool barging into my home and ordering one of my children to be friends with some one they don't know, especially not to fix up their own darn mistake!"
"You refuse?" Itachi blinked in dumb shock.
"Word play Itachi, you need to learn word play." The Elder Uchiha grumped, "I never refused either, merely pointed out I haven't accepted, and find the Hokage's attempt to fix his screw up by using my children reprehensible."
"Then you..." Itachi frowned, trying to make sense of it all. "... will think about it?"
Mikoto decided she'd take what she could get, these little baby steps in breaking Itachi out of his drone routine would work or heaven help her she'd butcher Fugaku for ever ordering her son enter the blasted ANBU. "I'll think about it."
Naruto decided today he'd return home, shut and cover all his windows, and focus all of his attention on the generous donation of chakra Black Zetsu had left him. While no one would be able to tell the difference at a glance, his Sochi was comprised purely from Kaguya's Yin chakra, and such chakra was BEAUTIFUL to his eyes. Given the chakra came from the very source of it all, there was almost nothing that couldn't be attained if one could properly harness and utilize that chakra.
And he could. Oh yes, he very well could, Kaguya's chakra would send him forward leaps and bounds in whatever he decided to use it for. It wasn't unlimited, however, and while Zetsu probably wouldn't mind handing him more, he certainly wasn't about to cry for it. He had only just got his Sochi back, the last thing he wanted to do was put a stupid thought in his head that his father was using him for his own gain.
'Chakra coils first, I am sick to death of these control exercises.' the boy grumbled mentally, peeling a bit of the Yin Chakra from the core and painstakingly working it into his chakra coils, melding it with his chakra in just the right way to remind it how it should be behaving. Seemingly instantly, but really took almost seven hours, the boy woke from his meditative trance and collapsed back on the floor panting in exhaustion. "Ugh." Dear Kaguya! He felt worse then that time he and his traitorous sons had started fighting over who was Ka-himes favorite! So much PAIN.
Still, worth it. Even now with his altered coils he could practically feel every single mote of chakra making up the whole. 'Perfect chakra control? Pfft, this is DIVINE control, beat that you overly critical medic bastards!'
"Hey."
Naruto startled, rolling backward and hopping to his feet in shocked surprise. "Eh?!"
White Zetsu smiled toothily, "Hey boss-man."
"Ah." The silvery blond allowed himself to relax. "Sochi said you'd be around."
"Indeed we are, indeed we are." The Zetsu grinned, slinking out of the wall and glancing around curiously, "Been keeping an eye on the Hokage, he's been talking with a guy named Jirayia about your mother. Said she suffers from Chakra Dissonance."
"And I have no idea what that means." Naruto shrugged.
"Us either." Zetsu riposted, "Only reason we're mentioning it is because Jirayia believes with a monitored, controlled infusion of Kyuubi's chakra they'd be able to cure her." He frowned, "Only they don't know how much. The Hokage seems willing to rip it from you entirely, not caring that you only MIGHT survive."
"I see." the Jinchuuriki frowned. "Keep an eye on the Hokage. If he makes a move for me, warn me ASAP. In the mean time, send the others to dig up everything you can find on Uzumaki Kushina. Her likes, dislikes, dreams for the future, even the name of her dog if she happened to have one."
"Sure." the Zetsu shrugged, "Why though? She's unconscious and not likely to wake up soon."
"I'm painting a picture." Naruto grinned, "And that picture is called 'Leave Minato in Hell' and Kushina seems like a central brush stroke, doesn't she?"
"Fair enough. Aside from that, they've been talking about your loyalty to the village, or lack there of. The Hokage has ordered some one to convince an Uchiha Sasuke to be your friend, or rival, or whatever humans call that."
"Really." Naruto frowned, glancing at the roof thoughtfully. "Well, let them try. I suppose."
"Maybe you should fake being his friend?" Zetsu suggested, "If only to throw the hounds off you and give you more time to screw with the Hokage?"
"Doesn't matter." The boy shrugged, "If he's willing to sacrifice me to bring back Kushina, then I've got limited time as it is. Once he gets frustrated or impatient, I'll be hearing his lackeys barging down my door to restrain me for the transfer." he shook his head, "No, doesn't matter. Just get me that information on Kushina by morning, then I'll see how deep his bond is with her."
"Sure thing." Zetsu waved cheerfully, merging with the floor and vanishing.
Naruto stared at the plant-mans parting for a few moments, frowning thoughtfully. 'It seems I really don't have much time left. It really is a miracle I woke up when I did, if I hadn't then Uzumaki Naruto would have been sacrificed on the altar of that fools obsession.' he grimaced. He may not have much time left, but he already had a really good idea on how he could screw that man over, he just needed Zetsu to confirm it.
The Next Day...
Mikoto promised to think about it, but wasn't about to let her little Sasuke be friends with a potentially unstable element like Naruto with out seeing him firsthand. It was a harsh way of thinking, one she had no doubts Kushina would smother her with a pillow for ever doing so, but when it came to her precious children she had long since accepted the fact she'd burn the whole village down if it meant protecting them. Did that make her a good mother? Yes. A lousy Villager? Yes, but she didn't care.
"Ah, Uchiha-sama!" a rather boisterous man called to her, wearing his white robe complete with white chef hat. Ichiraku Teuchi was a man she had practically grew up with, even if he was only ever a civilian. One was not friends with Uzumaki Kushina with out becoming friends with the very people who brewed the 'Nectar of the Gods' as the redhead often put it.
"Ichiraku-san!" Mikoto waved cheerfully, idly looking around the ramen shop and failing to find her target. "Moh, not here."
"Looking for some one?" The Cook prodded gently.
"I heard rumors little Naruto-chan loved this place." The Uchiha frowned thoughtfully, "Was hoping to run into him."
"Naruto-nii?" Ayame, the darling eleven year old daughter chirped from her perch on the counter, "I haven't seen him in ages!"
"A week." Teuchi corrected with a chuckle, ruffling his daughters hair. "Kids, even a day feels like forever ago to them."
"Moh." Mikoto pouted, looking every bit as childish as Ayame right there. "Do you know where he lives?"
"Hasegawa Orphanage last I knew." The Cook grunted, stirring the brothy noodles simmering over the fire. "Heard rumors he's started the Academy, which means he's prolly been packed into the Shinobi Apartment complexes down the road." he frowned, "If you do see him, tell him to stop by, we miss the little guy."
"Ah, we'll see." Mikoto nodded pleasantly, "I was hoping I wouldn't have to barge in his home to see him." she sighed, "Give me two orders of Salt Ramen and a Miso, Teuchi-san!"
As much as he generally disliked the White Zetsu, Naruto had to admit the little dolls were good at what they did. The amount of information they were able to find on Uzumaki Kushina was staggering; Reports going as far back as her pre-genin days that detailed her dream of being Hokage, of the isolation she felt as both a foreigner and later as the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. There were even notes on her relationship with Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage, all of which seemed to have kick started after a botched kidnapping attempt by Kumo that the Namikaze had rescued her from. She also had a cat, named Whiskers, who apparently drowned in a pot of salt ramen when she was fourteen. A terrible tragedy, that.
Naruto skimmed through most of it, after all a lot of it were useful observations and suggestions on the girls mind set, actions taken to subtly influence her to be more loyal to Konoha, but nothing heinous or truly overt stuck out to him. 'Not like they slapped a seal on her or something trite like that.' he mentally grunted, turning his attention to her more recent files, the medical documents concerning her near death condition, multiple treatments and their inevitable failures, so on and so forth. Apparently the woman had over-taxed herself following the Kyuubi's attack on Konoha, utilizing an Uzumaki seal like her own now shattered one to seal the Kyuubi into him not even an hour after his birth. She fell into a coma holding her crying little baby, only kept from death by Namikaze's quick thinking and Fuinjutsu mastery over space and time, some kind of stasis field that stopped her final demise but could not save her.
'Space and time... so like Ka-hime's ability to breech the dimensional wall and create new dimensions.' Naruto grumbled, rather impressed despite himself. While in his original body he had figured out something similar, he knew Kaguya was the true master in this particular field. What to do...
"A woman is approaching." White Zetsu informed, a lilt of excitement in his tone, "Uchiha Mikoto, she's been looking for you."
"Oh?" That name sounded familiar. He glanced over Kushina's file, finding the entry mentioned in her younger days. "Ah, the girl the Third Hokage had ordered to befriend her during her most intense period of social isolation?"
"Similar to the Fourth's attempt on you, is it not?" Zetsu mumbled needlessly. As if he needed that pointed out. He may have only been physically six year old, but his Chakra, and thus his mind and soul, were far more learned then a mere childs. This wasn't even counting the leaps and jumps his mental acuity took when he expanded his awareness via Kaguya's Yin chakra.
Naruto grunted, stacking the information on Kushina and shuffling it under the bed. "I'll handle her. You will monitor the hospital, give me an idea on guards, defenses, potential issues I'll be facing when I make a move on Kushina."
"Going to kill her?" Zetsu blinked, head tilted in obvious curiosity.
"It's possible." Naruto allowed. He honestly hadn't decided yet, he'd need to wait until he could evaluate the woman himself. "Now shoo. The last thing either of us needs is getting spotted together."
Zetsu shrugged, sinking into the floor and vanishing.
Mikoto bit her lip pensively. Finding Naruto's home hadn't been hard, as the closer she got to it the more people were willing to mumble and curse to her about the little monster inhabiting this particular building. In many ways it was like Naruto was reliving Kushina's own terrible childhood, instead of being called a monster the red-head had been labeled the foreign strumpet seeking to sully the Leaf with her abnormal ways. She had been cross when her father suggested she make friends with the girl, so childishly set in her own mind that she was superior and shouldn't lower herself to deal with such common rabble, but ultimately glad she had reached out like she had. Theirs was a friendship that would have lasted the rest of their lives, still would if Kushina ever recovered.
The Uchiha Matriarch sighed, idly pushing a tress of hair behind her ear before knocking on the door. She didn't have to wait long, the door creeping open a smidgen as silvery-blue eyes gazed out curiously. "Yes?" he spoke, tone oddly musical and comforting in a way the older woman couldn't comprehend.
"Ah, apologies Uzumaki-san!" Mikoto chirped, idly glancing at her bag of sealed Ramen bowls, "I visited this nice little Ramen shop down the way, and the owners asked if I'd be so kind as to check up on their Number One Customer!"
Naruto tilted his head slowly, those fierce - when did they become so fierce? - eyes drilling holes into her rather flimsy excuse. 'Should work' Mikoto grumped mentally, 'Six year olds aren't going to be so suspicious, at least not enough to see my somewhat obvious fib.'
"I'm fine." he returned softly, glancing at the bag, "Though I don't remember ever telling them where I lived."
"Oh, it isn't a big secret, y'know?" Mikoto beamed, "After all, you're a bit of a celebrity in this Village."
"A social pariah, you mean." His deadpan was barely concealed. He seemed to consider something, brow furrowed in that cute way only children were capable of, before he opened his door wide. "A hungry one."
"Ah.. R-right." the Uchiha Matriarch was rather impressed she had been able to restrain her wince at the boys rather accurate, if miserable description of the truth. "Well, good thing Teuchi-san sent me with food, ne?"
"Right." he mumbled suspiciously, before tilting his head, "Would you like to come in, Uchiha-san?"
"I'd love too." Mikoto chirruped, feeling relief the boy wasn't out right telling her to go away. Maybe there was hope for him yet! She glanced around the rather bland apartment, taking note of the thin sheen of dust gathering over pretty much everything. His Kitchen doubled as a dining room, which expanded into a cramped if bland living room that looked like it hadn't ever seen use. "I hope you like Salt Ramen, it's a favorite of mine."
"It's fine."
Setting the bowls on the table, Mikoto watched as the boy slowly ate some of the delicious noodles, yet doing it in such a clinical and rather emotionless way. No wasted movements, no pausing to enjoy the taste, just simple consumption. Mikoto leaned on the table, palm to chin as she hmmed, "You know, Uzumaki-san, I think my little boy is your age."
"Sasuke." Naruto grunted, ignorant or ignoring the surprised look on Mikoto's face at that.
"Ah, I didn't realize you knew."
"You usually pick him up after school." Naruto shrugged, "Hard not to notice when Sasuke hugs you on the way out."
"Ah." Mikoto frowned lightly. She could only imagine what the boy felt like seeing other children with people or parents waiting for them, while he had none. "I didn't think we were making a show of it."
"You're his mother, he's your son." The Silvery-blond returned blandly, "He's lucky he has you, and you're lucky you have him."
"Still..." she mumbled softly, "... I'm sorry if we made you uncomfortable. With what happened to your parents..."
"Parent." Naruto cut her off. "That MAN is no parent, nor would I ever think of him as one, Hokage or not."
Now that surprised the Uchiha Matriarch, not many actually knew the Fourth was Naruto's father, and those who did were under threat of death if they ever revealed it. That Naruto seemingly knows... "I... wasn't aware you knew. I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Uchiha-san." the boy shrugged, "Karma has a way of evening the score, he will get what's coming to him in due time, so don't concern yourself with me." he smiled lightly then. "Still... thank you for your concern, it's... rare to see such beauty in this impure world."
Mikoto blinked, "Beauty in this impure world? What does that mean?"
Naruto shrugged slowly, "Let me answer that by explaining a scenario. Let's say something really bad happens, your husband is hurt, lying in a coma on deaths door but otherwise stable. Your entire family, except your children, are dead. What would you do?"
The Uchiha woman frowned darkly at that. "I... don't know. If my children are alive and safe, I'd probably worry over my husband when I could." she shrugged, "While I'd be real sad my family were gone, as long as my children were safe I think I'd be content."
"And that's why you're beautiful." Naruto continued, "This impure world is filled with people so willing to throw their precious loved ones into the fire, heedless or uncaring of those hurt in the process, of those who are innocent of their hatred and rage." he grimaced, "This world... desperately needs peace."
Mikoto nodded slowly. "It does, but peace... it's not easy to obtain."
Naruto smiled beatifically, "Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, Mikoto-san." he sighed lightly, "The question of peace in this village comes down to what must be sacrificed for it. A country? A village? A family?" he paused, eyes narrowing tightly, "A child? In a world so willing to sacrifice such things, there can be no peace. This is my truth, this is why we live in an impure world."
The Uchiha Matriarch made her decision right then and there concerning her Sasuke making friends with Naruto. The Child wasn't just improperly raised, he was scarred, tormented, tortured and worst of all, equipped with a mind that could see every fault and failing of the people surrounding him. He didn't need a friend, he needed psychological help! 'Minato you idiot! You've destroyed him, your own son!'
Jirayia hadn't actually needed time to test his theory, he had already done it long before informing the Hokage of the possibility it could heal Kushina. No, he needed time to face his guilt, to face the very real fact his pupil was willing to put his own child on an altar and possibly sacrifice him just to bring Kushina back from the brink of death. If it worked, if Kushina recovered... well, the lot of them weren't going to have long to live once she found out what happened. If she found out what happened - He wouldn't put it past Minato to fib and flub the truth, make it seem like Naruto had been unstable or some such crap in order to make the red-head see 'reason'.
"Ever think the world would be better off with out us?" Tsunade murmured softly, hazel eyes staring deep into her saucer of as of yet untouched rice-wine. She had been pulled back and forced to stay in Konoha since the Kyuubi attack, Minato would accept nothing but the best when it came to his wife.
"I don't know about you." Jirayia grinned weakly, "This world would be a dull place with out your knockers to liven things up."
A bit of steel entered her hazel eyes, "You... are not going to distract me with that again."
'Was worth a shot.' the Toad Sannin grunted mentally. "Fine. This world would, could only be better with out me or my failed teachings." he grimaced, "Just seeing Minato like this... almost want to find a way back in time so I can slap myself and stop from making him my apprentice."
"It's just like Sensei said." the Slug-Sannin hmmed, "Our greatest flaws often show in the next generation."
"Pfft!" Jirayia snorted, "He was describing Orochimaru there, and you know it."
"Kind of an ironic comparison with you and Minato, eh?" Tsunade shrugged, not even caring at the way her team mate winced at that.
Jirayia was silent for a time, eyes drifting to the table in thought. When he spoke his tone was dead, so terribly lifeless yet simmering with an ember of hope. "I have to have faith... that when it comes down to it Minato will make the right decision, the best decision for Konoha."
"How patriotic." Tsunade growled, "When this is all done, if that child dies just to bring Kushina back, you'll end up just like me." she sneered angrily then, "Hiding from Konoha because every time you come here, every time you see a child you'll see Naruto in them like I see Nawaki. When you see a couple walking the streets you'll imagine them as Minato and Kushina, but be unable to ignore the dead little boy that follows in their wake."
"Is that what you see?"
"I see nothing but regret." Tsunade snapped back, "And not a day goes by where I don't wish to go back, to strangle Sensei for giving Nawaki that foolish mission, or screwing up the orders that led to Dan being outnumbered and overwhelmed." she gripped her saucer of sake tightly, "I see Konoha, the worthless village who chews up and spits out the brightest of us, leaving only shadowy wretches left to live on when those worthy of life and love meet their bitter ends."
Jirayia grunted, not daring to meet the woman's eyes. "I take it that means you refuse to perform the procedure?"
Tsunade froze, her scowl deepening. "You can tell that blond haired cock sucker I'd rather face execution." she downed her sake, slamming it down and shattering the saucer, "He has more then enough idiotic loyal fools who can do it, I want no part of it."
"But you're the best." The Toad Sannin pushed, "If something were to happen, if both Kushina and Naruto could live if you had been there to save them..."
Tsunade was silent for a time, lost in thoughts with unfocused eyes. Jirayia didn't push, merely waited for the woman to make her choice. A good five minutes of silence past before she spoke, "No."
"No?" Jirayia grimaced. He honestly hadn't been expecting that.
"Kushina would rather die then risk her son, should have died before it reached this point." Tsunade murmured, "And Naruto is better off dying then living in this shitty village. Even if I could some how save both, some how heal Kushina and keep the boy from dying, Konoha... Minato... neither of them deserve the effort."
"So that's it?" The man scowled, "You'd let two innocent people die when you could save them?"
"Why not?" Tsunade snapped back, "Minato, the great and wonderful Yondamine Hokage, is willing to let his son die to save the life of a woman he loves and desperatly wants back." she clenched her fist angrily, "And we both know that love he's so desperate for will wither and die the moment Kushina discovers the truth."
"If she discovers the truth." Jirayia snapped back.
"Are you really going to lie to her?" The Blond frowned, "Let her live a lie just to protect that wretched mans feelings?"
"If Konoha..."
"Fuck Konoha." Tsunade roared, slamming her fist and crushing the table between them. "This is exactly what I'm talking about! Konoha doesn't care for it's people, only for it's god damn selfish survival! Let this pitiful dream die the failure it was always meant to be!"
Jirayia froze, dumbstruck by the sheer vehemence in her words.
The Slug-Sannin glared for a moment, then turned and walked away, anger rolling off her enough to suffocate anyone unfortunate enough to pass by.
"No."
Itachi paused in his weapon sharpening, glancing up at his mother. "Pardon?"
"No." Mikoto reiterated, glaring through the window at the Hokage Tower in the distance. "I do not want Sasuke anywhere near that boy. I will not allow that fools screw up to bleed over into my child!"
The eleven year old frowned, setting his tanto aside. "You've spoken to Naruto."
"Had to see it with my own eyes." his mother gritted her teeth, trembling. "That boy wasn't just raised wrong, he's broken. He sees nothing but hatred, but worthless sacrifices for people who don't deserve the effort. An impure world full of wretched lies, and even more wretched people."
"An... impure world?" Itachi returned neutrally. "Mother, I don't understand."
"You will one day." The Uchiha Matriarch scowled, "One day when you're asked to give up your family, your child, your very reason for existing all to protect a notion, ideal, or a worthless scum like the Hokage." she finished bitterly, hatefully. "If that fool is so willing to sacrifice his own son to this world of hatred, let him. I will protect my family, protect my children until the day I die."
"His son." Itachi murmured softly, "Is... Naruto the Hokage's son?"
"By blood?" Mikoto shrugged, "Yes. By any other definition? No." she turned away, "One day sochi... that man will regret the monster he twisted his son into." then left.
Itachi stayed there for a long time, lost in thoughts of duty, of peace, and the wretched impure world they lived in.
Two Weeks Later...
"It works then?" Minato raised an eyebrow, carefully hiding the sudden anxiousness, the desperate hope burning in his chest while ruthlessly surpessing the wave of guilt hiding just behind it.
Jirayia nodded slowly. "As we discussed, it will work, but just how much of the Kyuubi chakra is needed is up in the air." he turned towards the man with a blank, hard stare. "Chances are... high that it will require everything."
"Hn." the Hokage grunted, drumming his fingers along the desk. "Very well. Have Tsunade..."
"She refuses." Jirayia interjected blankly, "She made it quite clear she'd gladly face execution then assist in this procedure. Dr. Yakushi, not quite as skilled but the best we have after Tsunade, has already agreed to do it."
"I see." Minato grunted, waving his hand. Two ANBU appeared, bowed in supplication, "Arrest Tsunade for treason, desertion of duty, and insubordination." His subordinates nodded, vanishing in a swirl of leaves.
"You... are really serious about this." His Sensei said through gritted teeth.
"If my Shinobi do not follow orders, then they are traitors, and will be dealt with as such." the Yondamine grunted, "Inform Yakushi we'll peform the procedure tonight, then find that boy and get him to the hospital."
Jirayia grunted, stiffly removing himself from the Hokage's presence.
Minato stared blankly ahead, frowning ever so slightly. 'Soon... soon this will all be over, and then I'll apologize to her...'
Naruto sat ever so still in a lotus position, silvery-blond hair dancing on an invisible wind as he levitated off the ground, his mastery of chakra capable of defying gravity with but a thought. He was at peace, he was serene, and most importantly...
"The Hokage is making his move." White Zetsu stuck his head out of the wall, a rather sadistic grin on his features. "He's having the Slug Sannin arrested for treason, since she refuses to perform the procedure, and Jirayia will be en-route to collect you shortly."
... he was ready.
AN: Yarp! Things move ahead, and next chapter is probably the last full blown Konoha chapter for a good long while. The events surrounding Kushina, her incapcitation, and Minato's surivors guilt will all come out. As for Tsunade... well, I have plans for her :P
See ya next time!