First, thanks all reviewers and story followers.
Some asked questions about the Akatsuki and the more 'modern' take on them. I admit, although we all know Pain's true plan wasn't the same as the one he preached to his minions, I never understood why we never saw Akatsuki acting as what they were pretending to be, a mercenary force for hire secretly undermining the Hidden Villages. Iwa and other countries hired them, but we never saw such deals on screen.
And I never understood why, after sending Itachi and Kisame to catch Naruto and had Zetsu spy on him, they did nothing during three years. Surely, sending two teams while Naruto was walking across the continent, with only one S-Rank ninja as escort, wouldn't be hard, instead of letting their future prey strengthening himself. Heck, Pain himself could have dealt with both his mentor and Naruto without any troubles. Or Tobi could have just teleported with the boy when Jiraiya wasn't looking and kept him alive until they were ready to extract the Kyuubi. Or they could have captured Gaara when he was twelve years old and hated by everyone. I mean, if you follow canon, Tobi was able to enter Konoha and observe Kakashi with no one knowing it. Imagine how much damage he could have caused, beside the Kyuubi attack.
Of course, we all know if Tobi had just bothered to warp Naruto, we wouldn't have had a shounen series and awesome fights, but hey, I always wondered what would have happened had everyone been cheating their way to victory instead of fighting one on one and making big philosophical speeches. Atlas is built on that idea.
So I'm making Akatsuki active from the get-go instead of having a timeskip happening. That, and... to be honest, they have incredible resources that are underused. Sasori has invented the ultimate form of brainwashed moles, Zetsu's clones can copy anyone and replace them without anyone knowing it, Deidara can NUKE entire towns with his C3, the Cursed Seal can make normal people into super soldiers, if they survive... I'm simply having the villains AND the good guys using their powers outside battling, to further their agenda. As for the technology angle, I think an organization trying to take over the world should be preoccupied with having a technical advantage over competitors.
And of course, the good guys will use their abilities to their fullest potential.
LincDawg asked if Naruto could access the Kyuubi's chakra... the answer is yes. Yes he can... but since his chakra network is underdeveloped, the process is... really nasty. And painful.
Also, Cat said Naruto is hypocritical about criticizing the Uchiha's advantages while ignoring the limitations. This is completely true. It's mostly his issues talking, and lack of knowledge. In his mind, the Sharingan is just 'instant shortcut', and he's unaware of its costs and limitations.
As for the Satellite dishes... it IS actually used in canon for the Daimyo's conference, before the Shinobi War Arc. I think chakra is involved instead of satellites, but, they exist. Kishi was always a bit vague on the level of technology. There are radios, TV, satellite dishes, but no car nor primitive rifles. The entire setting is anachronistic.
Also, about why Neji's attacks didn't have effect on Naruto's organs... it's a latter plot point. But hint: he's holding back.
Thanks ABitterPill for betaing.
Chapter 3: Atlas Shrugged
"Student."
"Yes, crazy sensei?"
"Why did you bring a fucking platypus with you into the Hokage's office?"
Naruto smiled. "I named him Perry. Like pretty." He seized the animal by the belly and gave the presentations. "Perry, meet crazy sensei. Crazy sensei, meet Perry." The animal stared confusedly at Anko. "He's timid, but Perry is a good boy. He doesn't bite people… yet. Right hand guard platypus, anyone?"
"Mmm… interesting choice of pet," Cat noted, as Gecko gently took the platypus from Naruto's hands, petting it. The creature wavered its tail in appreciation.
And the Sandaime? Trying his hardest not to laugh.
Anko massaged her noose. The whole situation was humiliating. "A Doberman, I can tolerate, it's nasty, vicious, and cool. A tiger? Badass. A snake? I would adopt you on the spot. A platypus? Are you kidding me? No student of mine shall be seen fighting next to this… this… this cosmic joke."
"You don't see the big picture, crazy sensei." Naruto shook his head in disappointment. "Perry is a killing machine. It's the proof nature can be awesomely generous."
"It's a four-legged duck that can't fly. It's the proof nature has a sense of humor."
"Here again, you can't see." Naruto intertwined his fingers. "Perry can swim like a duck, bite like a snake, has the strength of a bear and the agility of a lizard. The animal reign's most awesome abilities were condensed and combined into the ultimate reptilian slash mammal slash bird. We humans rule only because platypuses are too lazy to take over."
As Anko's expression clearly told she wasn't convinced, he grinned and put his ace on the table. "Male platypuses produce a venom triggering all the pain receptors in a human body without killing it. A man once compared the pain of having an arm amputated as a cakewalk before the refined agony of platypus venom."
"Boy, I'm aware of that, but let's be honest, platypuses aren't really the best animals to fight with, unless you expect your enemies to die of laughter. You aren't bringing it on our mission."
"A platypus is too rare to be ignored," Gecko added, the hybrid creature purring in his arms. "If people see you with one, you won't stay under the radar for long."
"Killjoy." Of course, Naruto was well aware of the importance of namelessness. To be an infiltrator, you had to be a nobody. A platypus would be akin to painting 'hey, I'm strange' on his back. He had just brought his pet to screw with his team. "Alright, Perry, you can't come. Old man Sandaime is going to take care of you."
"Yes… it shall… prove to be… interesting…" The Sandaime took a pause to regain his breath. It was easier said than done, as the temptation to laugh returned each time he stared at Naruto's new animal companion. "You four have all memorized the identities we forged?"
"My name is Kaguya Sumeragi," Anko started, bowing slightly. She had adopted a white and yellow dress of silk, fitting of the rich noblewoman she was impersonating. She had let her hair down, dying it black, and in Naruto's own opinion, it had made her looks go from 'sexy' to 'beautiful'. Her blue contact lenses added something ethereal to her aspect. "Second daughter of a rich merchant of jewels with the Daimyo's favor. Father sent me to the court to find a husband."
"Kaname Ougi, personal bodyguard of lady Kaguya," Gecko, alias Hayate Gekko, faked a thuggish expression. He was wearing a white iron armor covering his entire body, and wielding a longsword. His hair was red, and his eyes golden. With the sadistic smirk on his face, anybody would mistake him as a psycho for hire. "I don't say a word unless allowed to. Come from Kusa's surroundings. Stole a sword and later an armor after killing the former owner in his sleep. Became a bodyguard to get money and kill people legally. I'm new in the lady's service"
Cat, alias Yugao Uzuki, took a step forward. She was wearing a grey iron mail, black sleeve and pants. She was carrying a sheathed katana on her back. Her hair were now black, as were her eyes. Make-up made her look older than she truly was. "I am Kallen Kozuki, m'lord. Come from good mother Land of Earth, mercenary. Daughter of a blacksmith, took the sword when I realized I was good with it. Got recruited by the old lady 'cause I learned to read and write. Been in her service for a year as bodyguard."
"My name is Lelouch Lamperouge, prince of the far away country of Britannia! I'm secretly the S-rank missing-nin Zero, and I have an awesome plan to take over the Land of Fire with my Sharinghax-"
"Atlas."
"Just messing with your mind, old man. The name's Suzaku, sir," Naruto spoke with a coarse, foreign accent. Sarutobi had to admit, the boy was good. "I'm the lady's personal servant. Do all the jobs she wants me to do. I've been with the old lady Sumeragi for two years, after she found me in the street in her town. I was taught to read and write to make my work easier."
The blonde had taken a red shirt, and blue pants, as his own disguise. He was wearing his orange jacket over these clothes, just in case. He had dyed his hair black as well, put black contact lenses in his eyes, and covered his whiskers with makeup. Modifying his appearance was child's play for the demon vessel.
Sarutobi nodded. "The Daimyo alone is aware of your true identity. Viper will serve as your liaison with him, as her identity allows her to communicate with him without arising suspicion. Viper will serve as the team leader for this operation and coordinates your efforts. Deadly force is allowed. Do not blow up your cover unless it can't be avoided. Understood?" The four nodded. "Then dismissed."
As they left him alone, Sarutobi crossed gaze with the platypus. The creature placidly stared back, before shyly backing down into a corner.
"Britannia… I wonder where he found that one…"
"In one of the few non-porn novels Jiraiya wrote during his service."
Sarutobi chuckled, unfazed by the man's visit. "I have a door for a reason, Danzo. You should try using it one day."
"My apologies, Hiruzen," the Root commander replied with a neutral tone. They were odd friends, yet Sarutobi had to admit the man's eternally stoic attitude was incredibly disturbing. "The matter at hand is of the highest importance. My agent has sent me his report. I have had the confirmation Kabuto is an agent of Akatsuki."
The Sandaime Hokage gave no sign he was concerned in the slightest. He seized the platypus and put it on his lap. The animal purred in appreciation, as Sarutobi started to caress his back, mostly to relieve the tension. "Has your… agent… learned what they intend to do with the samples? Or the details of their operations against us?"
"Their science division intends to replicate their bloodlines and create supersoldiers. To what end…" Danzo trailed off, Sarutobi picking the little hint of disappointment in his voice. His spy had infiltrated Akatsuki's core ten members for years, without gaining any knowledge of their main plan or the Leader's identity. "As for their current operations, my agent is not privy on the details. Unfortunately, Pain is… quite secretive."
"Paranoia is to be expected from the leader of the missing-nin syndicate." Not just any missing-nin syndicate. The missing-nin syndicate.
Konoha hadn't been aware of Akatsuki's existence until one year after the Uchiha Massacre. The members went at great lengths to make sure nobody discovered they worked as a single organization, destroying any evidence that could blow up their secrecy. Jiraiya himself had no knowledge of it, and Danzo was affirmative: Akatsuki had been working in the shadows for at least a decade.
According to the agent's reports, Akatsuki was at its core, an alliance of ten S-rank missing-nin united under one goal: to take over the world, although some members were in it for personal reasons or to access the organization's resources. The agent had infiltrated this main committee after a previous member, Hidan, proved himself to be a liability and was promptly relegated to guinea pig status for his trouble.
This was only the tip of the iceberg. Akatsuki had hundreds of bases, facilities, and hideouts implanted across each corner of the continent, thousands of agents ranging from weaker missing ninjas to bankers to power brokers, and financial resources as vast as one of the five main Hidden Villages. Truth to be told, Akatsuki was, in practice, a Hidden Village… one without frontier, banner or a public face.
The fact they managed to infiltrate Konohagakure enraged Sarutobi to no end. What was counter-intelligence doing, drinking coffee? "Still nothing on Pain?" The elusive leader of Akatsuki was a mystery that worried the Hokage. Anyone able to impose his authority over nine of the worst criminals in history was a threat. A large threat.
"Beside his codename? He participated in Ame's civil war and personally killed Hanzo and his private guard. On his own."
"It would take an army. My own students barely survived an encounter with Hanzo." No, scratch that. It wasn't an encounter, but a trashing in its purest form. They didn't land a single hint on the Salamander. For a single man to kill him and his elite guard…
"He did it alone, or so I was told. I find this doubtful. Some elements hint Pain may not be a single person, but a group of individuals sharing the name. Mere guesses of course. Sasori, Zetsu and maybe Kakuzu are the only people that might have answers to our questions, and none are willing to talk. Akatsuki's leader is a secondary problem right now. The protection of the Daimyo is more pressing, doubly so since Akatsuki plans to destroy us."
"I know." If Akatsuki was indeed going to attack the Daimyo summit, their goal was clear: exacerbate tensions between the two nations and spark a new Suna-Konoha war. Diplomatic relationships with the Kazekage were good on the outside, yes… and Sarutobi wasn't fooled. The Yondaime was getting desperate to find funds due to his conflicts with the Wind Daimyo, and he would go to any length to get them.
Causing a conflict wouldn't be a big deal for him, and Akatsuki would no doubt gain some profit from a war.
"Hence… I have to ask." Danzo sat in the chair in front of the desk, glaring at Sarutobi's own seat. The war hawk dreamed of taking over Konoha since the Sandaime's election, and never bothered to hide it. But he was loyal to the Hokage first and foremost. He had the option of furthering his ambitions at the sake of the Village's prosperity, yet didn't betray his former teammate. Danzo narrowed his lone eye.
"Why did you send two unstable, unreliable loose cannons on such a crucial mission?"
Danzo didn't need to raise his voice to make his displeasure clear. Sarutobi scratched the platypus' back, surprised to discover it had fallen asleep. "Anko and Naruto are more competent than you think. You underestimate them. We already had a conversation on the subject, if I remember."
"You overestimate them," Danzo shot back. "Mitarashi has psychological baggage rivaling Hatake's, is unreliable in teams, and her Cursed Seal makes her a potential sleeper agent for Orochimaru. Uzumaki has the ability to destroy mountains and none of the wisdom needed to handle that power properly. He had luck you defused the situation with the clans he insulted, after going along with Mitarashi's stupid bet. Hiashi and Tsume are bitter. It was unnecessary and stupid of him to attack their children and not expect retaliations. He is a mere child."
"Here again, you make the mistake everyone does with Naruto: there is nothing mere about that child. You should have understood with the Forbidden Scroll debacle." Danzo groaned. "I admit he has flaws. He has to mature, yes… but weren't we rash back in our youth? In time, he will become one of our best ninjas. I have faith in his potential."
Sarutobi intertwined his fingers. It was a tic of him, the gesture he abused to patronize people. Naruto had managed to mimic it to near perfection. "As for Anko, she has proved her worth a hundred time. Tsunade herself confirmed the Cursed Seal cannot allow information transportation or remote control. She completed nearly a hundred A-rank missions, two S-rank, and spent two years as a cover agent in Kumo and completed her work flawlessly. What other proof do you need to finally accept her promotion as ANBU?"
"I won't reconsider as long as Orochimaru breathes. She's a time-bomb, Sarutobi. And if by some miracle, you were right all along, it doesn't change much: Mitarashi is psychologically disturbed. How can you trust her to teach our best weapon?"
Sarutobi glared at his former rival. "Best soldier." The icy tone made Danzo scowl. "What were my other options? Tenzo? He has been missing in action for a year, probably dead. Kakashi? He admits himself he couldn't use the Sharingan for more than ten minutes, let alone suppress the Kyuubi. Jiraiya? We both agree this would be unwise. As far as I know, Manda is the only summon that has a reasonable chance of restraining Naruto if the Kyuubi takes over."
Danzo snorted. "She is of poor influence on your best soldier." The war hawk took malicious pleasure in stressing the word.
"On the contrary, he is of good influence on her." Sarutobi chuckled lightly. "Don't you understand? They are incredibly similar and both outcasts in their way. Misery loves company. The way I see it, they will be an excellent two-man squad in time."
"They won't stand a chance against Akatsuki." Unless… doubt took over Danzo's heart. "What do you have in mind, you crafty monkey?"
"Oh, nothing." Sarutobi grinned ear to ear, deeply unsettling the Root's leader. "Nothing at all."
Land of Rivers
The travel hadn't been much the hassle. Due to their cover and to avoid being identified, the group had to move the civilian way: on foot. It suited Naruto. He wouldn't have to run after his allies, unable to jump from tree to tree as easily as ninjas and monkeys.
Both Gecko and Cat had been pleasant company. Gecko was a stoic, calm and composed man. Naruto had yet to see him raise his voice. He was quite friendly, in an aloof way. Cat was warmer, obviously a good friend of Anko, and closer to Gecko, if their respective body language was to be believed.
"Nice tattoo. How long have you been in the ANBU?"
Naruto snickered at the trio's expression. "Yes, I can see it. People with this special tattoo can see it on fellow wearers. Otherwise, a powerful illusion makes it invisible, unless it's a genjutsu expert. Pity it doesn't work on me."
Anko immediately understood. Genjutsu manipulated the target's own chakra flowing through the brain to trap him in an illusion. However, as Naruto had no chakra at all, he was completely immune. The snake lady made a mental note for further use.
"I've been in it for a year." The woman stared down at him, her face neutral. "Now, I will have to kill you for learning my secret."
The tone was icy and the killing intent was impressive. Except it was nothing compared to Anko's. "Good bluff, but I don't buy it. Killing a team member in the middle of a mission is unwise, and I'm pretty sure if you're in the ANBU, you're trusted enough not to be a double agent."
"I don't have to be a double agent to kill. Maybe I just hate you and we're looking for an excuse. Maybe taking you out of the city was part of a much grander plan to have you 'accidentally' killed without the Hokage executing us as punishment."
Naruto laughed… and then stopped, once he realized Gecko and Anko's expression was deathly scary. Gecko looked like a iceman, and Anko…
Anko was simply grinning. Which was very, very creepy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's not funny."
A sword flew out of Cat's sleeve.
"Wait, wait!" Finally understanding he was in it for his life, Naruto brought out his knives. "You want a fight, bitches? Bring it!"
Cat let go a cheerful laugh.
As Anko roared in laughter and Gecko smirked, Naruto realized he had been conned. "You…" he pointed a finger at Cat. "You evil mastermind! You improvised on the fly!"
"You still have much to learn." Truth to be told, Yugao was enjoying herself a lot. Anko had been right: teasing the kid was a wonderful pleasure. Of course, the snake lady's idea of teasing was… unique. "Do not, under any circumstance, reveal everything you have learned about someone until the person has earned your trust. The fact we're on the same team doesn't mean you're safe. Backstabbing is all too common in the Shinobi world."
"I didn't, I just-"
"What if I was a double agent?" Gecko spoke. "Cat might be trusted for being chosen as ANBU… and me? You don't know who I am, my story, my abilities, and my allegiance might not be unquestionable. I'm untrustworthy. Letting me know Cat is an ANBU could have had tragic consequences down the line."
"I…" Naruto closed his mouth. There was nothing more to be said. He should have been more careful. "I fucked up. Again," he added under his breath, to himself.
Naruto was unaware his three teammates picked up that short monologue. Anko decided to have a mentor talk with him, Gecko narrowed his eyes, and Cat couldn't help but try to salvage things.
"Making mistakes is human, Atlas," she said softly. "You're very good for a newbie. Take it as a chance to improve. And… don't swear."
"Right." Naruto gave her the Maito Gai pose. "Let the fire of-"
"If you say youth, you're dead, student." Anko sighed. "Look, it's your first mission, so it's expected for you to screw up. We infiltrators do no start paranoid, we become paranoid. You must remember the single most important piece of advice I can give you: unless you can trust people with your life, never tell them everything you know."
"Roger that."
"Good." The snake lady grinned. "Of course, it's not important. Everyone here has read your dossier and learned what you're capable of."
Naruto froze. "It must have forgotte-"
"Atlas is a skilled herbalist, poison user, chemist, trap maker, weapon designer," Cat began. "Atlas is an explosives expert, created new medications, and shows signs of having photographic memory. He's good with Taijutsu, and his cooking is so bad it can be considered a biological weap-"
"Stop," Naruto interrupted, palming his face. "Do not get to that part, please."
Land of Rivers, Tanigakure
Tanigakure couldn't be called a Hidden Village.
Hidden Villages were glorified fortresses. There were civilians inside, yes… and many, many ninjas. Konoha was a base of operation, with natural protections, impressive security, omnipresent ANBU… the place was a military dictatorship and reminded it to all visitors.
Tanigakure was the complete opposite.
As the name of 'Village Hidden in Valleys" implied, it was placed in a valley, at the convergence of four rivers. The land was fertile, the grass green, rice fields surrounded the city, and bridges were omnipresent in the streets, necessary to cross the numerous streams. The roads were paved, the town in itself was small, and mostly composed of pagodas of varying height. The biggest, which housed the local Daimyo and welcomed Fire and Wind's courts, had thirteen floors, a majestic brown and black tower.
The architect was compensating for something, that was sure.
The group received a welcome befitting of Anko's fake rank. Noblemen came at her like hungry flies, servants arrived to attend to her needs, and guards recorded her and her followers' faces, names and features. Naruto was promptly forgotten after Anko's absentmindedly asked him to run errands for her, which he quickly interpreted as reconnaissance. As he saw her enter the main tower with her two bodyguards, the blonde memorized the faces of every single one of the snake lady's suitors for further investigation.
Putting his photographic memory to good use, Naruto went on to observe the streets and key points of the city. The location of every bridge, the plan of the town, the places to avoid…
From small talks with the inhabitants and shopkeepers, Naruto learned why Tanigakure was so different from the usual Hidden Village. Unlike Konoha-nins, the city's ninjas were a police force of sort, in charge of maintaining the peace and protecting the country against invasions. Taxes on the civilian populace was the main source of funding, not mercenary work. Tanigakure was the central source of food and agriculture on this side of the continent, bringing economic prosperity to the land. Rivers had been invaded only once and benefited from the protection of Fire and Wind, so militarization wasn't necessary. In fact, the populace considered it a waste of time and money.
After one hour of reconnaissance work, Naruto's tranquil walk was interrupted by a scream. He turned around in an instant, his instinct kicking in. The blonde was welcomed by a surprising, and distasteful sight.
A teen. Black hair, his face against a wall. Two thugs beating him up. No police nearby to rescue him and prevent Naruto from hesitating between maintaining his cover and doing the right thing.
Hey, he was Naruto Uzumaki. He could do both.
Punching the first guy from behind, Naruto knocked him out in one blow. The other thug stared at the newcomer, froze for a second, and received a knee hit to the genitals. The teen seized his hair and tossed him to the ground, proceeding to beat the crap out of him. The blonde consciously faked a crude, unprofessional trashing. He would look like a heroic, normal bystander. Not a ninja undercover.
"You're alright?" Naruto asked, offering a hand to the victim once his attackers were out of action.
"Thanks," the guy replied, accepting the help. Nearly all his face was covered with bandages, save the left eye. The teen had a deep voice, and wore a grey outfit. "Looked at them the wrong way, and they didn't like it. Thanks, mister…"
"Suzaku," Naruto spoke, upon shaking the guy's hand. "I'm a servant of some crazy noble lady from Konoha."
"The name is Dosu." The teen's gaze grew cold. "You work in the tower? For a tree-hugger? Must be tempting to pour poison down her throat."
The venomous tone didn't disturb Naruto, at least outwardly. After a short second considering the answer, the infiltrator shrugged. "Oh, I would love to, but got to earn money, and I'm not good at many things."
"Eh, you're good at fighting." Dosu snorted. "Hey, want a drink? My treat, gotta be even with you."
"I'd love to, but I've got work to do," he replied politely. "Going to get beaten up if I'm late, or fired. Or both."
"Ah." Dosu gritted his teeth, before loosening the pressure. "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you. I got the feeling we're gonna meet again soon."
Naruto's room
His bedroom was huge.
Alright, technically, it was Anko's bedroom… and bigger than Naruto's own apartment. There was a lot of space, splendid tapestries, mirrors, private bathrooms, king size beds… As 'personal servants' of Anko, the rest of the team had graciously been allowed to stay in the suite, as long as they slept on the ground.
"Stupid guy," Naruto muttered, writing files on the tower staff for Anko to read. "Moron."
"I'm sure whoever you're talking about would love to hear you."
Naruto froze, as Anko walked in front of him, grinning. The blonde massaged his temples. "I trapped the door. Locked it. Trapped the windows too. Added microphones, just in case. So why do you keep sneaking up on me?"
"I'm that good," she shot back, crossing her arms. "You're talking about Gecko? Look, I know it had had to hurt your pride, and took it badly due to your over-competitive streak, but Cat is one of our most promising ANBU and Gecko a Kenjutsu mas-"
"Cat and Gecko? I was talking about the Wind Daimyo." Anko blinked in surprise, and her student scowled. "Over-competitive streak?"
"Er, don't try to switch subject!" the snake lady accused him, childishly trying to cover her mistake. "We will have a moment of honesty later, don't think you can avoid the subject, but back on the Wind Daimyo!"
In Anko's mind, the problem with her student was very simple: Naruto had a compulsive need to prove himself better than others. Much like Gai and Anko herself, the blonde was over competitive, but took it to extremes. Naruto hadn't thought twice about challenging and beating nine genin, or accepting an A-rank mission from the Hokage. Most people would have turned down the offer, but not Uzumaki. He had to show he could do anything.
As a result, he didn't take failures and mistakes well.
Naruto face palmed, and obeyed. "I've worked on the background of the staff of the Fire Daimyo, nothing out of the norm. As the guards are checking if people entering the tower are wearing Henge or using Genjutsu, the enemy will come from the inside. Probably from Wind's court."
As Anko made no comment, Naruto carried on. "I spoke with the Wind Daimyo's staff, and many people are unhappy with the treaty. Land of Fire's products are cheaper than their own, and Suna is afraid the end of taxes on transport would be a crushing blow for their economy. Wind's resources are mostly minerals, and their food is more costly than other countries thanks to less fertile grounds. Opening the frontiers would kill the little agriculture they have left and make them dependent on Rivers and Fire for provisioning… and it enrages the Kazekage. The Wind Daimyo is making an enemy out of the strongest military leader of his land, who has the means to kill him easily. He's an idiot."
"The Wind Daimyo has drastically reduced Suna's funding over the last decade," Anko whispered. "He has outsourced many missions to Konoha. As he does not have a clear successor, his assassination might cause Wind to fall into civil war, preventing the Kazekage from simply removing him altogether."
"Yet, Suna's ANBU isn't present at the submit, whereas Konoha has sent at least a token escort. The Daimyo trusts his personal guard alone to ensure his safety. Unfortunately, Suna isn't the sole possible perpetrator. Our enemies wouldn't like to see us reinforcing ourselves." Naruto crossed his arms. "What do we do next?"
"Negotiations will go on for weeks until the treaty is finalized and signed. This leaves plenty of time for assassins to sneak in. From now on, you will study the background of any newcomer, and investigate on the Wind's court."
"Deal." Naruto coughed. "The summit's opening is tonight. Am I supposed to attend?"
"No, you have another assignment." Anko took one object from her own bags and tossed it to her student. Naruto identified it as a wireless radio upon catching it. "You will find an excuse to get out of the tower. Wanting to party, visiting family, I can't care less. You will spend the night outside. You will find yourself a roof, and watch over who gets in and out of the place. Cat will stay on standby and you will exchange info with these radios. If you see someone suspicious enter, Cat will tail them."
"Alright…"
Outside, Roof
Where is the red light district please?
Best excuse to sneak into the night with a bag and without arousing the guards' suspicions. I need to use that pun somewhere, Naruto thought.
Finding a roof hadn't been hard. Climbing to it, however… fortunately, the bag contained all the blonde's useful stuff. Shrugging his civilian clothes for his night uniform, Naruto turned into a shadow. With a grappling hook, patience, and hard work, the blonde reached the top of a six floor pagoda, half a kilometer away from the main tower. Discreetly checking out nobody lived underneath the roof, Naruto started to install himself. It would be a long, long night without sleep.
Fortunately, he had brought a lot of coffee.
Searching inside his bag, Naruto brought out a telescope. He might have keen eyes, but the blonde wasn't a hawk and didn't have night vision. He had figured out that a telescope would be a useful tool for nightly-assassinations and recon. Fortunately, the doors guards were keeping torches, and the weather was good. The full moon above the city provided a useful source of light.
"Atlas to Cat," he whispered through the radio. "Someone?"
"Cat to Atlas," a familiar voice replied. "I have to check out your identity. What did you call me when I pranked you?"
"Evil mastermind. I should have chosen brilliant jerk."
"Alright, it's you. You're in position?"
"I'm watching," Naruto said, looking through the telescope. "Nothing to report yet. And you?"
"It's quite calm. The Fire Daimyo and his Wind's counterpart are going to make a speech very soon on furthering their alliance, and negotiations will open tomorrow. The Guardian Ninjas and the ANBU are not letting the Daimyo's out of their sight. Same deal with the Wind Daimyo's guard. Both Daimyo have yet to eat anything."
Ah, so they were afraid of poisoning. "To be expected. The rest of the team?"
"Viper is attracting a sizable bunch of males and feeding them lies. Gecko is not far away, silent as a stone."
Cat fell silent. Naruto briefly wondered if the radios didn't work anymore. The female ANBU spoke once again. "How is the moon?"
Startled by the question, Naruto shrugged. "Full and beautiful. Why?"
"Watching it is a hobby of mine," she replied. "Here it is. Look at the third floor. The balcony."
Naruto did as he was told, and noticed Cat standing near the edge, alone. She was staring at the moon, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Her face was easy to see under the moonlight. "See you. You do know the ballroom is on the second floor? Shouldn't you check it?"
He saw her smile. "I'm taking a break. Do you have one? A hobby?"
"Training and planning to defeat everyone I meet," he deadpanned. "You're top on my list."
"Could you wait after the mission to try? You might bite off more than you can chew." She stopped. "Why did you said 'again'?"
Naruto immediately understood, and cursed under his breath. "You could hear me?"
"Please. The entire team heard you. You didn't answer my question."
Naruto snorted. "Why bother? It's unimportant."
"It's about your shortcomings isn't it?"
The blonde almost crushed the radio with his bare fingers. The interrogation had struck a nerve. "I am going to be the strongest ninja in the world. Yet, even the worst Shinobi has an advantage over me. If I want to keep up, I have to be the best at everything. The best actor, the best archer, the best killer. I can't tolerate mistakes. Any mistake."
Cat fell silent. "I see. Atlas, there is a limit to what one man can achieve."
"Oh true," he replied, continuing his watch. "But how can I know my limits, if I don't try surpassing them?"
Days repeated themselves. Naruto continued his investigation, watched the tower's entry ways, slept, and repeated the process.
Nothing noteworthy happened. The negotiations continued, the nobles entertained themselves with visits, hunts, and Shogi. They discussed, took their time, and delayed the accord's signature. Anko and company gathered as much information as they could on the staff and court. Half of it belonged to the Daimyos' themselves, and the rest was above suspicions... in theory. But since the unseen blade was the deadliest, the team was keeping an eye on everyone.
However, there were main suspects. Anko had noticed at least three people who had definite reasons to dislike either of the Daimyos present, be it because they lost family thanks to Konoha, or out of rampant nationalism. In Naruto's mind, the attack would come from Suna itself. The Kazekage hated his leader with passion and wouldn't find seeing him gone.
Overall, the mission was pretty boring, and Naruto was seriously getting impatient.
It changed when he met Dosu again, at the exact same spot he saved the boy from being bullied. "Tell me, Suzaku," he started, "Would you wish to be a ninja? To be strong?"
The blonde laughed. "For the power to walk on water? I would do anything. Unfortunately, it's an impossible dream."
Dosu glanced around himself, and started whispering to his ear. "Not anymore." Naruto waited for him to elaborate, and he did. "I met people that can make you strong… stronger than any ninja. They're looking for teens with attitude, and they're recruiting. If you want, I can introduce you to them. They might give you a chance."
It sounded shady and was probably a joke, but Naruto had nothing better to do with his time. It may prove to be amusing. "I'm in."
One hour later, they entered a big, magnificent pagoda, protected by two samurai guards. They silently appraised the two, and let them pass. Dosu opened the wooden door and invited Naruto inside a corridor. The scarred boy opened the second door to the left, and the duo found themselves in an office.
"I see you brought our new candidate, Dosu-kun." The man had short black hair, eyes of the same color, and an unremarkable face. His voice was soft, and he was wearing a black business suit. He looked like some friendly, affable salesman. "What's your name?"
"Suzaku."
"Suzaku-kun… fu, fu, it's a nice name." The man's smile was unsettling. "I like your eyes. I can see your whole life inside… you were a victim and toughened up, isn't that it? You have determination, smarts, guts… and no power. Do you seek power?"
"I was told I could gain it here."
"Only if you meet my standards. You will have to pass a psychological examination, to see if you have the… right mindset, and later a physical examination, to see if you are not too frail to be of use."
It was pretty much the usual tests to enter Ninja Academies, so Naruto nodded. His interest was growing. Perhaps was this guy a missing-nin looking for some muscles?
The man showed him a seat, and Naruto sat in silence, taking the opportunity to examine the office. The walls were yellow and decorated with tapestries representing dragons and phoenixes. It had no windows, and the door seemed reinforced to prevent sound from getting out. The businessman dismissed Dosu with a hand gesture, and the teen closed the door. "I will say a series of words, and you will have to answer with one of your own. Suna?"
"Desert."
"Konoha?"
Easy. "Assholes."
The man laughed at that. "Ninja?"
"Powerful."
"Murder?"
"Solution."
"Work?"
"Necessary."
"Authority?"
"Obedience."
"Jinchuuriki?"
It took everything for Naruto not to pale. "Enemy," he said, after a short blank. The man locked eyes with him for minutes, creeping him out, before asking a new question with a frightening smirk.
"Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Awesome." The man chuckled, and the blonde glared at him. "Who are you exactly?"
"Oh," he hissed like a snake. "I am certain Anko-chan spoke fondly of… her old teacher."
… I'm so very, very dead. Gotta find a way out-
"Your reveal is lame. Did you take it out of a Princess Gale movie?"
It actually made the disguised Orochimaru blink in surprise. Naruto took it as an invitation to continue. "Yeah, I mean, it's so cliché! You invite the student of your former student, probably to tempt him to the dark side, and then do a 'we can rule together' speech! I have seen that times and times again, it's getting old!" Naruto left his chair and moved toward the door, as the Sannin watched at him blankly. "See ya around once you find a better scenario. Oh, and SMOKE BOMB!"
Throwing, well, smoke bombs taken from his pockets at the older ninja, Naruto brutally opened the door, prepared to run out for his life-
And someone applied a ether-laced handkerchief to his face, quickly knocking him out cold.
"Tobiman is awesomely surprising," the masked man said, taking the unconscious blonde in his arms. The Akatsuki member glanced at Orochimaru's office. "Is Dr Snake fine?"
"Yes, yes," the Sannin said, emerging from the smoke. "It seems Anko taught him psychological manipulation of the highest level. I admit, this trick was… unexpected." The missing-ninja then glanced at his ally. "Did you place the bomb?"
Tobi nodded. "Deidara-senpai made a big petard."
Hours Later,
Somewhere in the Land of Rivers
"Hugh…" Naruto scoffed, opening his eyes slowly. "Now I know how my victims felt…"
"Did you have nice dreams, Naruto-kun? Hopefully yes."
The blonde jerked his head to the side, noticing Orochimaru grinning at him. As expected, the Jinchuuriki was restrained to an operation table by tight chains, unable to move the rest of his body. Apparently, the Sannin was too smart to use ropes.
Naruto stared around himself. The place was dark and illuminated by candles, and it was pretty much like a mad scientist's lab. It was full of bottles containing questionable-looking substances, dead animals kept from decomposing by a green liquid, and scrolls. Orochimaru himself had dropped his former business outfit for a white surgeon grown… and revealed his true form. His skin was as white as milk, his hair long and black, his eyes golden and freaky. In them, Naruto didn't notice any hint of humanity.
"Looking for an escape?" The Sannin gave his prisoner a smug smile, before showing Naruto his sealing bag. "I'm afraid without your tools, it might prove to be difficult. Especially since I have a few hundred men handy… and I am no weakling myself. Impressive sealing work, however. I might replicate this object for my own use one of these days."
He caressed his cheeks, upon placing the bag near other potions. "Since I am your teacher's teacher… maybe it would be better if you were to call me Orochimaru-sensei or Orochimaru-sama, don't you agree?"
"I was going to call you Snaky, to be honest," Naruto deadpanned, sarcasm being his only option for now. Perhaps could he talk his way out?
"I see Anko-chan failed to teach you politeness… then again, she never learned it herself." The man narrowed his eyes at the teen. "I admit, your infiltration was flawless. If I hadn't been informed of your arrival and your disguise, I wouldn't have recognized you, Suzaku-kun."
"You were informed?" Naruto guessed instantly. "How long was I under surveillance?"
"Since you were old enough to walk. Unfortunately, ANBU were too omnipresent for a kidnapping to happen, and Tobi's power has limits I have yet to understand. So Sasori focused on keeping you under our radar, waiting for an opportunity to snatch you away from Konoha… which Sarutobi gladly provided." The man snickered. "Sending a demon vessel outside the Village, in peace times, without an escort? Seriously, I wonder if my old teacher isn't going senile. I guess his age finally caught up with his atrophied brain."
"Sasori? As in, Sasori of the Red Sand, the legendary spymaster? And what do you mean by our radar?" As the Sannin simply grinned, Naruto creasedhis eyebrows. Since he would get no answer on the subject, he asked another question. "I suppose the incident with Dosu was staged?"
"I wanted to get a better grasp on your personality before kidnapping you, and between your psychological test and your rescue, I have found… flaws, to exploit." Orochimaru shrugged. "Dosu-kun is a good ninja. Obedient, reliable, courteous. I thought you would get along, and when he would give you an offer, you would walk into a trap without much forethought."
"If you were watching me, why didn't you kidnap me sooner? And why are you taking me? To extract the Kyuubi?"
Orochimaru searched in his substances. "Why now, you wonder? The confusion caused by the bomb will occupy Konoha, instead of your disappearance."
"Bomb?"
"As for why we want you…" Orochimaru trailed off, blatantly ignoring the question. "To be honest, Naruto-kun, I didn't care about you in the slightest, until I learned Anko had taken you under her wing. Is she doing well? Reports on her tend to be conflicting. Sometimes they say she's a sexual deviant, and others explain she's never seen with anyone."
Naruto glared at the missing-nin. "I don't know what happened between you and her, but apparently, it wasn't nice. Don't pretend you care to gain my sympathy."
"Anko was my finest student," the man replied, bringing it out a syringe and filling it with a solution. It was a green serum, kept in an iron canister, which Orochimaru closed right after finishing his work. "Did you know she was the top kunoichi of her year? Her grades were even better than those of Neji Hyuuga and Sasuke Uchiha. She never disappointed me. Out of ten people, she was the only one to survive my Cursed Seal. It was impressive."
Cursed Seal… gotta remember that term. "And yet, you abandoned her."
"Well… yes." Orochimaru chuckled callously. "I could have killed her to cover my tracks, but… it would have been a waste of human worth. I couldn't bring myself to kill her. Since she was unfortunately too traumatized by my latest… experimentation… I was forced to leave her in Konoha. Is it so hard for you to imagine I might be interested in learning how my legacy is doing? I am a sentimental man."
"Sentimental man?" Naruto snorted at the blatant lie. "You don't see her as a person, do you? You're just curious about what happened to your guinea pig."
"Perhaps." The Sannin turned around, the syringe ready. "To return to your question, an extraction would take too much time, and to train a container into using the Kyuubi's power is… bothersome. So, we want… to recruit a full grown Jinchuuriki. You. With enough body-alterations, you will be able to master the Bijuu's chakra and use it for our benefit."
Naruto grinned. "It would be a pleasure to join you. I never really liked Konoha anyway, since they, you know, hated my guts since I was born. Free me, and I'm all yours."
Orochimaru smirked. "I would be a fool to trust someone so… happy… to switch sides. Fortunately, we have many means to turn you into an… obedient soldier."
"Like?"
"For example, Gai and his team may never return from their next mission outside Konoha's walls, if you try backstabbing us." The Sannin leaned over Naruto's face to better read his reaction.
The blonde managed to keep a straight face. Oh the hell does he… ah yes, I have been under watch. FUCK.
"Kumo hasn't forgotten the Hyuuga affair. One word from me, and they will send a squad after this 'prodigy' and his team. Oh, and… what are their names… ah, yes." Orochimaru licked his lips. "Teuchi and Ayame, isn't that? Civilians are always vulnerable to accidents. It would be a shame if they were to fall down some stairs and break their necks. Truly a shame…"
The Konoha-nin would have enjoyed wiping that grin from the bastard's face, if he could have gotten past these chains. "Alright…" he said, understanding the man wasn't above killing one of his loved ones to see whether or not Naruto cared for them, "What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing hard. Killing people, launching Bijuudama on targets, that sort of things. Of course, you will be handsomely rewarded." Orochimaru showed him the syringe. "You came here for power, didn't you? Here it is."
Naruto glanced at the liquid. "What is that? Ooze?"
"I was told you were unable to use chakra," Orochimaru whispered softly, his prisoner scowling in answer. "Here is the cure to your condition. This is a serum composed of enzymes, modified proteins, and special cells. A performance enhancer developed to create super-soldiers, the new stage of the Cursed Seal. Codename: Samsara. Sasori was always good with nicknames."
Naruto glanced uneasily at the substance. A performance enhancer? "How is it supposed to help me?" he asked, unable to hide the hint of interest in his voice.
"It will allow your body to achieve its true potential, and no doubt it will cure your ailment." The scientist prepared to pierce Naruto's skin. "Of course, there are… side-effects. Like a dependence on the product. Yet another way to make certain you will obey."
Naruto tried to free his arms from the chains, in vain. Orochimaru raised his tool…
An earthquake shook the room, and the Sannin staggered. The man groaned, and touched a ring he had on his hand. "Deidara, what is happening?" he spoke to thin air, making Naruto doubt his sanity. Unless it was sensor-induced communication. Yamanaka were able to pull it off.
Orochimaru's expression progressively worsened, until he was seething with rage… and then he grinned devilishly. "I see." He released his grip on the ring, and posed the syringe among other solutions. "If you will excuse me, Naruto-kun," he said, leaving the blonde's sight, "It seems my old teacher has decided to pay me a visit. Please stay quiet while I welcome him."
Naruto heard the sound of a door closing. He glanced at his sealing bag. If only he could reach it, it would be easy to get rid of the chains…
Minutes passed, and a few earthquakes shook the room in quick succession. It seems the Old Man managed to track me, he thought. But so fast… he was supposed to be in Konoha, coming to the Land of Rivers in such a short time… there is only one possibility.
Naruto had been a bait.
"Old Man, you magnificent bastard!" The prisoner shouted to himself, in awe before the ruthless plan. "You knew Orochimaru knew I would be sent to the Land of Rivers!" Sarutobi never intended for his protégée to help foil the Daimyo's assassination… simply to attract the snake's attention and trap him. The Hokage must have a way to track me down, the Shinobi guessed. Maybe a function of my seal…
He heard the door opening, and someone walked into view. Although she was wearing a cat mask and the standard ANBU uniform, Naruto instantly recognized Cat. "Before you ask, no, I haven't been molested," the blonde joked.
"Wait," she said, unsheathing her Tanto, "I will free you."
"What happened?" he asked, as she channeled chakra into her blade. "Orochimaru mentioned the Hokage paying him a visit. And a bomb. And where are we exactly?"
"The Sandaime, a full platoon of ANBU, and nearly all the forces stationed in the Land of Rivers," Cat corrected, cutting the chains in one precise strike, leaving her teammate free and unharmed. "This is an underground base located in the countryside. We wouldn't have been able to find it without the Sandaime's guidance."
So he has a way to find me when he wants to… probably only him, or else I would have been arrested after one of my pranks, or during the Forbidden Scroll's theft.
"As for a bomb…" Cat trailed off, as Naruto's feet touched the ground. "Short story, someone had a bomb explode during a public conference between both Daimyos. How they smuggled it into the building, we have no idea, but there are at least two dozen casualties, including the Wind Daimyo."
"And the Fire Daimyo?" he asked, recovering his sealing bag. A good thing Orochimaru had been too focused on finishing off his former teacher to take it with him.
"The Daimyo always sends a body double during public apparitions," Cat shrugged, "A precaution that saved his life, at the cost of his copy. Unfortunately… evidence… implicates the participation of Suna, and I am afraid the terrorist attack started a diplomatic crisis. The Fire Daimyo is accusing Wind, and tensions are escalating."
A false-flag operation. "Orochimaru all but admitted being linked to it."
"You will share this information with Sarutobi-sama once we find him", Cat said, turning her back on him. "Fights are happening throughout the complex. It would be good if we were to participate."
"Two seconds." Naruto looked at the drugs, and found the canister he was seeking. Samsara, he thought upon reading the kanji on it, and placing the substance in his bag, you're coming with me.
"What are you doing?" Cat asked, opening the door. "Hurry."
"Yeah," he said, bringing out his bow, "Let's go kick some asses."
A/N: yep, I'm totally having Sarutobi act like the ruthless military commander he's supposed to be behind the kind grandfather act. And that includes using people as baits.
Most of the Daimyo plot is set-up for the future invasion of Konoha. I mean, if the Kazekage wanted to take out a competitor to get the Daimyo's funds back, why didn't he simply have him replaced with someone more... obedient? The Wind Daimyo could have merely outsourced missions to Iwa had the invasion been successful, and Suna would have suffered heavy losses.
As for the performance enhancer, it's basically the new form of the Cursed Seal. I mean, if one subject out of ten survives, it is... quite costly. Surely Akatsuki would try enhancing it to create a loyal mercenary force. Or use it to keep Jinchuuriki on a leash. I mean, if they can only extract the Bijuu in a specific order, surely making the Jinchuuriki obedient and turning them against their home (and after years of abuse, it shouldn't be hard to convince them to lash out) would be a good alternative to letting them in the hands of the Hidden Villages. Or using the captured Bijuu to create new demon vessels that would obey to the organization only.
Would you kindly review and give your point of view? It fuels my motivation.
