Disclaimer: I still do not own Naruto.

I know it took long so I forced myself to finish this chapter. I think it's quite long. And the plot thickens from here. I died while writing this. Too much exposure to radiation makes me sick. Anyway, I'd be going to college soon so I think my updates will become slower since I'd be studying far away but I won't abandon this. Writing is my passion. Thank you for the patience. I love you guys huhuhuhu

CHAPTER SIX

CONFLICTING LOYALTIES

The usually calm demeanour of the herbalist was betrayed by the occasional sigh he let out as he strolled towards the tent where the captain and the injured Chiro should be residing. After the turn of events, Sally had started moping around in the corner of the tent that the men had stolen from the enemy camp. Though big of a man, Jiro knew the fragile and sensitive heart that lay beneath all that layers of muscle and fat.

It was a character that a ninja couldn't afford to possess.

That was why he was torn.

To be a father?...Or a ninja? What role should I take?

He shook his head. His now grey coloured hair mildly swaying with the his mind reeling with thoughts on the object of his son, he hadn't realized that he had arrived to his desired location until he heard voices inside.

He was about to turn back to give them privacy when Aiko's agitated voice stilled him in his spot.

"Tell me."

There was pause. What was Chiro hesitating for?

"We were attacked….. by other Grass-nins."

"That's impossible they didn't know-"

Jiro's eyes widened as he caught up with Aiko and Chiro's exchange. He dreaded the next question that he knew would come and the answer that would follow it.

"Who was it?"

"It was Chen"

It was Chen

That statement seemed to resound in Aiko ears. He felt his strength leave him as he grope for something to steady himself with.

"Why?" He heard himself utter in shock, in grief. He was at loss for words.

Why would he do such a thing?

Aiko covered his face with his hands, unable to bear the betrayal.

"That's impossible!" Aiko didn't have time to react as Jiro barged inside the tent.

"I understand what you feel." He didn't have the energy to be polite enough to greet his senior. "But we have to accept the fact that friends won't always remain friends,"Aiko said in a whisper, unable to talk directly to the old man. He didn't fully believe what he said. He didn't want to.

"You don't understand, Aiko. Chen would never do such a thing. Chen is my student-"

"And Chiro is like my son. He would never lie to me." Aiko stood up and attempted to step in front of Jiro but the older man put a hand to stop him. "Jiro, I think we've had enough for one day."

Everything fell into deaf ears as Jiro took a kunai in his pocket and pointed it threateningly at the paralyzed young man on the bed as if he could jump at him any time.

"Do you remember why I told you to never let Chen go into battle and insisted that he stay back as an operator and tracker in the background?"

Aiko sighed tiredly. "No, you never told me the reason. I just assumed that it was something personal so I never asked. I've always trusted your judgement."

"Then trust me when I tell you that it's for a good reason. You see," he trailed, "Chen is allergic to potassium chlorate. Exposure to large amounts of it can cause him rashes while high dosages can be toxic to him. "

"Potassium chlorate? But that's-"

"-the main ingredient for making smoke grenades. The whole camp smelled of it when we entered. Chen wouldn't be so foolish as to surround himself in something that could kill him."

"Hurry up!" Sakura shouted at the fumbling medic. She was being harsh but it was just taking too long.

"Don't go to sleep, Chen," she gritted her teeth as she tapped him in the cheek. His eyes were starting to daze over. She looked on worriedly at the rashes on his skin and his shallow breathing. No, scratch that, he was wheezing to death.

She heard the medic exclaim in triumph as the antihistamine drug was handed over to her. With fast reflexes she grabbed for the syringe and injected the drug on his arm. Sakura felt a small percentage of her worries lifted off from her shoulders.

"Allergies done." She wiped the sweat from her brow as she stared at the gaping hole on his stomach. Her hand glowed a brilliant green just above the open wound.

Gaping hole here we go.

"But Aiko-sama I would never do such a thing!" Chiro tried to stand up but grunted. Aiko was about to run up to him out of instinct but Jiro put him in his place.

"Don't let your emotions cloud over good reasoning." Aiko clenched his fist, looking confused but he stood his ground.

"Aiko-sama…." Chiro looked at him pleadingly but Aiko turned his eyes away.

Then, Chiro chuckled.

"Really. You make my life so complicated Jiro-sama," he said mockingly, clucking his tongue."Potassium chlorate? I thought he was just too weak. He surely seemed like it when I blew a hole into his stomach."

His eyes took on a look of malice; one that Aiko never knew was behind those usually kind brown eyes. Jiro gripped his kunai tighter as Chiro sat up as if he had no injuries.

"It's not me you should be worried about. You know I could have never done it by myself."

With that said, there was another explosion as smoke covered the whole camp and blurred their vision. The explosion seemed to have come from different parts of the camp since the cloud didn't settle for such a long time.

Jiro looked on warily at the cloud of smoke surrounding him, listening intently for suspicious sounds.

Then there it was.

He leaned back just enough to avoid a kunai from hitting him head on. It missed him in a hair's breath. He reached out just as a hand popped out of nowhere. Gripping it tightly he used it as a leverage as he back flipped in mid-air, successfully twisting it making an awful cracking sound. He heard the man groan in pain.

The old man landed in a crouched position and backed away from the attacker as the concealing effects of the smoke wore off. His eyes widened a fraction as he took in the familiar face of the ninja before him.

"Why?" Jiro asked in disbelief. The man staggered to stand up, cradling his broken arm.

"Our resistance is futile."

Aiko clutched his bleeding side as he backed away from Chiro and at the large crater he had created after the punch missed Aiko and –instead- landed on the ground. He never knew Chiro could become this strong in such a short span of time without him noticing. Except for that one time...

"So the Uchiha did this? He's just using you for his own benefit, Chiro."

Chiro smirked. "I don't care. You should try it Aiko-sama, it feels fulfilling. The unadulterated power surging through your veins."

He paused tapping his chin in thought. "In fact, I should show you a demonstration. Close and personal."

Aiko felt the environment around him grow cold as water accumulated beside Chiro and took on the shape of a crane. Chiro had the ability to turn water into animals, but he needed a close source of water. The closest lake was miles away.

"That's impossible."

"I can make use of water vapour now thanks to Uchiha-sama. He told me I had potential for greatness. A thing that none of you weaklings ever noticed."

"What are you talking about Chiro? The people admired you!"

"Admired? Have you seen the disappointed glances? The murmurs?"

I bet he only got in because he's Aiko's adopted son.

What a waste.

"I'm tired of getting identified with you, of being called weak and always being in the background! I hate them. I hate those people." He started biting his nails and looked at Aiko. His eyes revealing the veiled existence of a disturbed mind. "I hate you. You never did anything. You could have shut them up. Closed their mouths for good." He hysterically laughed. "You told me you'd protect me. I knew I should have listened to the voices. They told me you were a liar. Just like my old ma and pa."

"Aiko, are you sure about this?" The doctor looked at him and the child behind the sound proof glass. "He has gone through a traumatic experience, growing up with abusive and neglectful parents. He shows some signs of schizophrenia as well. He said they were telling him to kill his parents or they were going to kill him. He's too young to go to jail and his mental instability prevents him from taking direct cause of the murder. Are you still willing?"

Aiko nodded as he stared at the little boy sitting stock still and staring blankly at the cube on the table.

"He'll need to be exposed in an environment where he is loved and cared for. He'll have to take constant medication to suppress the symptoms of schizophrenia. And," she turned warily at Aiko, "There might come a time he'd want to be part of the trade. Don't let him do the killing. Once a man -no matter how young- experiences how to kill, it never leaves him."

The doctor reached out and turned the knob of the door to the adjoining room. Smiling, she waved at the little boy as he was gently nudged towards the two adults.

"Chiro this is your new dad."

Aiko crouched down to the young boy's height and patted him in the head. He stared directly at empty brown eyes that looked blankly at him.

"I'll protect you, that's a promise."

"You lied! So now you'll become like them." The crane opened its wings and slowly turned to ice. "It's amazing isn't it. It's part of the power package."

It lunged in the air and swooped towards him.

"Goodbye Aiko-sama."

Aiko closed his eyes as he felt ice shards rip through his body. But he didn't feel the fall.

"Chiro!"

There was pause as he felt himself lifted off the ground. "You'll be fine Aiko-sama," said a familiar voice, Aiko identified as Kiro.

"Let's play a little game. The person who makes the biggest crater wins."

"Sakura-hime! Nice to see you again. Crater? Are you sure about that? I wasn't even using much force when I created that."

"No. I'd do better than that."

BOOM!

Aiko could hear the ground below crumble. Just a few feet from him he heard a high-pitched scream but was instantly swallowed up.

"I win."

"Kiro hold him by the shoulders."

Aiko felt two arms clasp him by the shoulders. He screamed as he felt the shards pulled out from his body. It felt excruciating.

"He's bleeding bad, Sakura-chan." It sounded like Sally.

"Here's some cloth."

"Thanks Meijing." He felt a smooth material against his skin. Slowly he tried to open his eyes but he could only hold it for a few seconds as the sharp pain rocked his body again.

But before he did he saw a mixture of blue and red hanging by Sakura's neck.

Two days later...

A young man with raven hair and piercing obsidian eyes stared piercingly at his subjects as they kneeled before his piercing gaze. His face was a bit angular further emphasizing his good looks.

"So you failed?" He deadpanned, sending shivers of fear as they nodded.

Smiling, he called out for the guards. "Take them to the salon. You've had such a rough day."

The men stood up stiffly, hesitating as they were led out of the door.

"Jugo." A muscular man appeared before him. "Take good care of them."

Jugo nodded and left the room.

"So what are we gonna do about that town Sasuke? Want me to go there myself?" said a silver-haired man with jagged teeth. His eyes dancing with mischief.

"You don't need to. I'm sending someone else. Call Ichijou-sama."

Suigetsu grumbled as he involuntarily obeyed and called for the man. Minutes later a man with a happy disposition and a round belly stood before the daimyo.

"Ichijou-sama I would like you to go to Senka town. I'm particularly worried of the townspeople there. Just keep your affiliation with me a secret, they are still reluctant of my lordship status. And I'm worried that you will go in harm's way if our relationship is discovered."

Sasuke Uchiha smiled.

Suigetsu shivered at the sight. He liked it better when the man talked in monosyllables, instead of sentences. Because when he did, there were always some cryptic meanings behind it. The Uchiha was a cruel manipulator, bending his personality for his advantage. The worst part was, unless you knew the man well, one would never know of the cruel and heartless man behind the facade.

"Well do, Uchiha-sama. I'm sure the people would soon warm up to you and get to know how much you care for the people," Ichijou smiled, kind eyes disappearing as he smiled.

What a fool, Suigetsu looked pitifully at the old man. He doesn't even know he's working as a spy, instead of being a concerned citizen.

He looked pointedly at Sasuke and shook his head.

That man is as vicious and sly as a snake.

Sakura uncomfortably shifted in her seat as Aiko and Jiro assessed her with calculating eyes. It had been four days since the incident and both men had recovered from their injuries. Chen, on the other hand, was in a comatose state.

She thought it would all end there but she thought wrong.

"So tell me," Aiko stood up and looked out the window, "What's an Uchiha symbol doing dangling around your neck?"

Sakura opened her mouth, but closed it again when no coherent thought came to her. Aiko asked her again.

"I got it from a friend," she said beating around the bush.

"From which Uchiha did you get it from?"

When she gave no indication that she would answer, Aiko spoke up.

"So I was wrong when I thought that you were just of the same village with the Uchiha. So what's your relationship with him? His lover?"

Sakura gasped and stood up. "Th-that's impossible. Sasuke wouldn't even care if I died before him."

It was hard for her to say that, but the truth always hurts.

Aiko turned to him, his expression dead serious.

"Then explain to me so I can understand why you're wearing an Uchiha clan's betrothal necklace."

Cause I thought it would be unfair if all Sasuke said was 'Hn'. Since he's a daimyo now, he should at least learn from Orochimaru of how to rule with deceit. He is more cruel and cold this way. If he acted like a normal Sasuke would he won't be able to accomplish his goals cause everyone would be against him. Sooooooo this chapter tackles the issue of the rules of the ninja world, relationship vs duty, loyalties, the effects of civil war and bad parenting (hahaha) and etc. The Senka Village and the Capital is a two day journey if one walked.