Took me longer to publish this chapter than I thought it would, but... here we go.
Disclaimer: if you're reading this, you're awesome.
Chapter Five:
Laying the Trap
"There is a mole among the Ten Rings," Sasori spoke, locking eyes with the fellow missing-nin, "And I think it's you."
It took everything Itachi had not to blanch and confirm the puppeteer's suspicions. Years of training in the ANBU gave one a potent control over emotions, but the puppeteer was skilled enough to detect any subtle tell that a person might have. "Absurd. I abandoned this place long ago." It was the truth… however he doubted Sasori would believe him so easily. The puppet master had no doubt revealed his suspicions to better see the genius slip and blow his cover…
He would be sorely disappointed.
Sasori stared for a long time at the Uchiha's face, his mechanical eyes conveying its owner's suspicions. What kind of sick monster was hiding inside this armor of wood, Itachi had no idea. "You're the only one of us with a possible motive," the accuser replied with a cold tone. "Was it the price to keep your brother safe, I wonder? Information on us in exchange for his safety?"
He guessed right, unfortunately, but Itachi wasn't going to confirm any of his suspicions. "I let my brother live because he was not worth my time," he stated coolly. "Your suspicions are misguided."
"Let me tell you a story, Itachi." Sasori shook his puppet's head. "When the organization was young, Hanzo the Salamander was defeated and caught by Pain. The proud, powerful leader of Amegakure, who defeated the three Sannin decades ago, was defeated soundly. His old age dulled his skills and he was no match for our all-powerful leader." There was an ominous pause. "Do you know what kind of punishment Pain exacted upon him for resisting his will? He chained the man to a rock, and then brought his entire family before him. His sons, his daughters, his wife, his grandchildren… even his cousins."
Itachi said nothing.
"Then Pain strangled them all. One by one. With his bare hands. Hanzo begged for mercy, said they had nothing to do with his actions… and Pain replied, on that day, Hanzo would forever understand the meaning of the word suffering. The man was so traumatized by the experience he did not even resist when Pain snapped his neck in a brief moment of mercy." The puppet's tail wavered slightly. "It would be a shame if it were to happen to you, don't you agree? Perhaps your… worthless brother… would be the one brought to you. The Sharingan would make you remember the scene until the very end of your life… if Pain lets you live, that is."
Itachi did not know Pain well enough to decide if the story was true or not, but considering the self-proclaimed god wannabe ruled over Akatsuki with an iron fist, it was most certainly not an empty threat. And Madara probably had a nastier punishment waiting in his sleeve should his difficult student prove to be a traitor…
It was Kisame who came to his partner's rescue. "Sasori, I was with Itachi all the time this month," the shark man cut in. "He couldn't have warned Konoha. I would have noticed it."
"Or perhaps did he simply put you under a genjutsu," Sasori countered with a stoic tone, before switching subject. "No matter. I have come for the jinchuuriki, first and foremost."
Kisame shrugged, and tossed the beaten old man at the puppeteer's feet. "That's the Yonbi's container, Roshi of Iwagakure. We ambushed him while he was resting in the forest. Didn't stand a chance against the two of us. Do we extract the Bijuu immediately?"
"No," Sasori replied, seizing the broken ninja with his tail. "You have another assignment. I laid a trap for the Gobi's Jinchuuriki at these coordinates." He tossed a scroll to the shark-man. "The Nanabi's vessel has also been sighted in the area. Capture her if possible, but the Gobi is your priority."
"Three Jinchuuriki in the same day? Did you hit the jackpot when I wasn't looking?" Kisame asked with a chuckle. "That's going to be the most exciting day of my life. You don't mind if I rough them up a bit?"
"As long as you capture them alive, I don't care if they lose a limb or two." Sasori turned around, but gave a potent glare at Itachi. "I hope you will remember the side you're on, Uchiha," the puppeteer threatened him ominously, "Because I will keep your back in sight."
The Uchiha stayed silent, as the man vanished from his view. Once he was certain Sasori was far away, he glanced at Kisame. "Thank you."
"No problem. What happens between us, stays between us. I'm not the kind of guy who would rat out a friend. Especially when he's still loyal to his homeland. Kill them maybe, but not rat them out." The shark-man shrugged his shoulders. "But seriously, I don't think you will be able to stay undercover for long now that Sasori is suspicious. How the hell did you inform Konoha by the way? I'm curious."
"I did not."
Kisame raised an eyebrow. "Look, Itachi, it's not like I'm not aware of your true allegiance, and to be honest, I don't give a fu-"
"I did intend to inform Konoha, but I found no way to do it in time," Itachi cut in. "It's someone else who sold the information to the Leaf." But who? he had no idea.
The shark-man said nothing… and then chuckled. "So Sasori managed to overlook two moles in Akatsuki? Eh… eh… eh, that's so funny! He knows everything but missed something that big!"
Itachi rolled his eyes, as his partner exploded into uproarious laugher.
Fuu was bored.
It had been a year since she left Takigakure for the roads, trading a cage for freedom. At fourteen, after years of abuse, insults and cold stares, she decided to screw everybody and leave for a better life. It wasn't as if they tried to restrain her. In fact, in spite of the Bijuu she contained inside her body, they seemed glad to see her gone.
Of course, the fact she was the fifth Jinchuuriki of the Nanabi in the Village's history to lose control over the beast at least once probably helped. They gave up on creating their little walking apocalypse and didn't bat an eyelash when she left through the main gates with a travel bag on her back.
Even her mom didn't come to tell her daughter goodbye.
"Fuck them all," she told herself. If she continued thinking about her former life, she might descend into depression, perhaps turning emo in the process. The fact her travels didn't distract her from her problems didn't seem to help either… How can the outside world be this freaking boring? The other girls just want to marry some nameless loser and the boys think I can't kick their ass 'cause I don't have balls! Some days I regret not being able to let Nana show them who's the biggest baddy on the continent…
And here she was, wandering aimlessly among green fields of grass with an empty stomach, no money, and no idea what to do next. "Perhaps I should go find work in the nearest city… I wonder if they're looking for ninjas to hire…"
With her appearance, she wouldn't need much effort to pass a weird missing-nin. Her tanned skin, green hair, and amber eyes were quite unusual. She was wearing a kunoichi attire composed of a shirt with a fishnet armor underneath and red pants. Her belt was covered with special pockets containing all her weapons.
Before she reached any destination of note however, she stopped. Blinking in some confusion, she put her hands in her pants' pockets and frowned. "Who the hell are you?"
A man was standing still in the middle of the field. He was a giant standing at nearly eight feet tall with strange brown eyes. He was wearing a massive red armor covering his entire body, save for aforementioned eyes, a black shirt and gloves. He was also wearing a ridiculous large rounded hat… and a slashed Iwa-headband.
He was immobile, staring into the distance, like a statue.
"Hey!" Fuu waved her hand at him. "What are you doing?"
"The Han is waiting for a friend," the man replied with a deep tone. "Please do not disturb the Han. The Han likes silence and to be in tune with the cosmos."
Yes, the guy was that weird. Fuu narrowed her eyes. "The Han? What's that bullshit?"
"First person cannot convey the magnificence of the Han," the giant replied. "The Han cannot be limited by I, for the Han… is the Han."
"You're a fucking weirdo."
"Yours words are pitiful howls in the wind compared to the iron will of the Han. Cease to bother him, or the Han will kick your ass with his steel boots."
This grated Fuu's nerves. The fact the guy talked in third person, she could tolerate. To some extent. But being looked down upon always made her go berserk. "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can beat me? I kicked the butt of a jounin before I graduated as a genin!"
He shouldn't have tried to assassinate the vessel of a mighty Bijuu in her sleep…
"When the Han is going to beat you within an inch of a life, your last words won't be an appeal to the gods… but a thanks for the Han's merciful trashing. And next, the Han shall send you to crash into the moon with his bone-shattering spanking move. So do not test the Han's patience, for the wrath of the Han is limitless fury and unbending fire!"
"Alright, that's enough nutcase!" Fuu snarled. "I'm going to show what the strongest Jinchuuriki in the world can do!"
"The Han is unimpressed, for the Han is the strongest demon vessel in the entire galaxy." He nodded, upon noticing Fuu's surprise. "The Gobi is the Han's sidekick, for the Han is second to no one."
"You're the vessel of the Five Tails?" Fuu's jaw dropped, before she quickly corrected her expression. It was the first time she encountered another demon vessel, and… she had no idea how to react. "I… I see, sorry. I thought you were some haughty jerk."
"The Han accepts your apologies." The man narrowed his eyes at Fuu. "The Han would like to know which demon do you keep at bay, and what is your name."
"The Seven Tails." She grinned warmly, happy to meet someone who shared her situation… even if he was completely nuts. "I'm Fuu."
"The Han is glad to meet you, Fuu. The Han wonders what a mighty kunoichi like you is doing in the Land of Fire, so far from Taki."
Mighty kunoichi? Fuu beamed at the nickname. Finally, someone was recognizing her worth in spite of her gender. "Well, I was traveling after saying 'fuck you' to my village. Long short story, I've got nowhere to go."
"The Han understands. The Han gave the middle finger to Iwa himself when the Tsuchikage did not recognize how awesome the Han had become. If she wishes, Fuu can travel with the Han. He would be glad to have company of a fellow cursed one as he travels across the world."
"Really?" Fuu jumped on her feet. It was the first someone ever proposed her friendship… "But… aren't you waiting for a friend?"
"The Han is waiting for Roshi, container of the Four Tails and drunkard extraordinaire." The giant crossed his arms. "The Han discussed with him through letters, and he finally decided to leave Iwa to travel with the Han at the Han's urging. But the Han is growing impatient and suspicious."
Fuu raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"The Han has been waiting for four hours. Roshi might be a drunkard, but a late man he isn't. And who would dare make the Han wait?" The giant shrugged. "The Han hopes his friend isn't in trouble."
"Well… maybe he's in a city nearby?" Fuu suggested. "Maybe he's staying in Konoha?"
"Mmm… it is true Roshi is plagued with thirst and may have succumbed to the lure of an open bottle and the scent of fresh sake. Fine, the Han is going to grace the Leaf with his presence." He advanced toward the east. "The Han will shatter their walls as a conqueror and-"
"Dude…" Fuu pointed a finger toward the west. "Konoha is in the opposite direction."
The madman stopped briefly. "The Han knew that," he replied, backtracking. "The Han was just testing your sense of orientation. The Han is proud of you."
Fuu palmed her face and groaned.
"You are all gathered here today because I'm awesome!" Anko boasted, as she drank the sake. "Gaze upon my holy figure and worship me!"
"Sorry, you aren't goddess material." Naruto deadpanned.
"Folly!" If Anko wasn't drunk, she wasn't far from it. "I am supremely divine! What could be better than me?"
"The Ramen Emperor of Mankind."
Everyone glanced at Naruto in a mix of confusion and, in his teacher's case, alcohol-induced rage. The snake lady had invited her student, Gai, Asuma, Kakashi, Kurenai, and their respective teams for her celebration. Well, she didn't invite the genin, but apparently Chouji menaced to go on a rampage if denied free food and Anko wanted witnesses for her 'coronation'.
Sometimes, Naruto wondered who the hell decided to teach destructive jutsu to these people in the first place. Was he the only sane person around here? "The Ramen Emperor, sitting on his orange throne, has been protecting mankind from the dangers of hunger for eons! With his mighty recipe, he defeated the junk food gods themselves and created an army of space cooks to bring the peace of ramen to all!"
A heavy silence followed his declaration, and Perry barked on his knees. For some reason, the animal had taken a liking to resting on his lap while his owner was sitting. Sarutobi, you evil mastermind, you corrupted my pet when I wasn't looking!
"Meh," Anko snorted, "The Ramen Emperor is nothing before… the SNAKE EMPRESS!"
"Blasphemy!" Naruto pointed a finger at his sensei. "Burn the witch! Suffer not the unclean to live!"
Many people cringed at the declarations. "Let's just pretend this never happened," Tenten proposed.
"I will drink this scene into oblivion," Sakura deadpanned, bringing sake to her lips. As genin were legally adults in the Village, it was probably her first celebration of the kind.
Guess it would be quite hypocritical to teach children to kill each other and then deny them access to alcohol… Naruto pondered, before noticing the girl he was looking for, backing into a corner, fearful of others. "Tenten, could you look after Perry for me?" He asked while already deposing the platypus in front of his pal.
"What?" The girl blinked in confusion, but her friend already left her alone with the animal.
"Er… Hinata-san, can I speak with you?" He approached her, doing his best to avoid Kiba's venomous glare. "Privately."
The little Hyuuga became so red at the word 'privately' Naruto feared she had misunderstood his intentions. She however nodded and followed him, as he sat around a table isolated from the others. "Please take a seat," he asked, and she obeyed.
The blonde waited for her to say anything, but she merely narrowed her head, too shy to speak to him. "Look… Sakura told me about your crush." Somehow, she turned even redder. "First, I'm sorry about what happened… I hurt your feelings, but… you must understand… you have to drop it."
As her expression turned into one of pure despair, Naruto put a hand on her shoulder in a fraternal way. She gasped slightly at the contact, but it lessened her tension. "It's not against you," Naruto explained, "I have no interest in romance, period. I can't explain why, but in my current situation it wouldn't be wise for me to pursue any girl. Or guy."
He released his grip and laid back. "That, and… well, look at us. I'm an orphan with a really, really bad reputation in this town. My best friends either wear green spandex or are complete and utter assholes, and my teacher is an attention whore. And let's not talk about the debacle with your dad.
"You, on the other hand, are the heiress of the most preeminent clan in the Leaf now that the Uchiha kicked the bucket. Your standing is vastly above mine, and you're going to be one of the most powerful women in town. If your father knew about your crush, it would cause a scandal and give some of your family members… distasteful ideas. Neji told me about what happened to his dad, and I don't want to see you get a seal because of me… in fact I don't want to see you with a seal at all. So… please just move on and try pursuing someone else."
The girl said no word, but nodded slightly. "Naruto-kun… it's…"
"Look, I don't even understand why you have a crush on me in the first place. I don't get it… how could a girl from your standing even pay attention to a dropout is beyond me."
"Because…" She crossed her fingers. "Because I admire you."
Naruto opened his mouth, and yet no word came out of it. He was left speechless by the admission. "What?"
"I… with the Byakugan, I…" The Hyuuga lowered her head. "I know… I know why you never use ninjutsu…"
Naruto blanched. She knew, he realized, she knew all along. Of course! A mere glancing from the Byakugan would be enough to learn about my condition. "I see."
"I… I saw you train… you had every reason to give up… and yet you did not." She intertwined her fingers. "Whereas I… I feel ashamed by my weakness… so… your courage inspired me."
"Hinata," Naruto whispered softly, making her gasp. "I am touched. Really, it's… it's the first time someone admired me. Look…" He smiled at her. "The fact I can't return your affection does not mean we cannot be friends."
He presented her his hand. "What do you think of it? I would also be glad to help you become a better ninja, if you wish."
She looked at it, and after a moment of hesitation, shook it. "Alright… Naruto-senpai."
Senpai? It warmed up his heart. "Deal, Hinata-kohai." He rose up and gently led her with me. "Let me present you somebody you should look up to…"
When they reached Tenten, the girl was glaring potently at Perry. "Sit down," she ordered, and the animal obeyed. "Rollout!" The platypus rotated on place. "On your feet! Bipedal mode!" Much to Naruto's amazement, the pet hurriedly did as it was told.
The blonde glanced at his pet, then at Tenten. He blinked, glanced at Perry, and then locked eyes with Tenten. "How the fuck did you- I left it to you five minutes ago!"
"Motivation." The girl glanced at Hinata, smiled, and saluted her. "Hi, I'm Tenten. Nice to meet you."
"H-Hi… I'm Hinata." The Hyuuga suddenly found the floor to be of a very peculiar interest, and it did not leave her sight.
"Tenten, Hinata has serious self-esteem problems. As a kunoichi of talent and unquestionable sanity, I believe you are the most capable person to solve the problem. Give her…" He grinned. "Motivation."
Tenten's jaw dropped in surprise. "Me?"
"I've been training with you long enough to know you're the one keeping your team together." In Naruto's humble opinion, hadn't Tenten been there as mediator, Neji and Lee would have probably come to blows long before they could develop a friendship. "Heck, the only other person I know who can motivate others easily is Gai, and… yeah. Imagine into what he would turn her into."
Tenten shuddered, the image of a spandex loving Hinata coming to her mind. "Fine," she said, with a light grin. "But you gotta do something for me in return. Private lessons are costly nowadays…"
"You sneaky… and charity? The love of your fellow?"
The kunoichi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "I'm the daughter of a weapon seller, remember? I would be a moron to not profit when I can. Don't worry," she gave him a devilish smirk, "I won't ask for much."
Since it was pretty much the same grin Anko used each time she prepared to beat him up, Naruto discreetly looked for the restaurant's nearest exit. "Fine, fine… how much do you want?"
"We'll deal with that later." She gave a light tap on Hinata's back and took her outside, much to the Hyuuga's obvious uneasiness. "Let's teach you a few lessons about confidence and girls' superiority over boys…"
Observing the two as they left, Naruto caught Perry and noticed a friendly face drinking at the bar's counter. She was clad in a civilian black dress, and away from the rest of the guests. Naruto sat at her side and ordered a coffee. "You're not enjoying queen Anko's coronation, I presume?"
"Not so much." Yugao Uzuki smiled sadly. "I've never been comfortable in parties, to be blunt. They aren't my thing. Yeah, I'm happy Anko is joining the corps, but…"
But I still think of my boyfriend, was left unsaid. "Sorry."
"For what?"
"If I hadn't been captured, he…" Her face did not change at all, which disturbed Naruto. "It's my fault, indirectly."
"It's Orochimaru's fault," she countered stoically. "Look, Atlas… nobody could have foreseen it. Hayate died in the line of duty, which is all too common in the Shinobi world. We were both prepared for it when we started dating. In fact, I expected to be the one to die first. ANBU take the most dangerous missions. I swore on his grave I would avenge him, and I intend to fulfill this promise. Agonizing over the past… blinds you to the present."
"A wise bit of advice not everyone has the strength to follow, I'm afraid," Kakashi's voice reached their ears, making the duo turn around. He sat at their side, his lone eye trapped into a frown. "Yugao, I have bad news. We just received a report from one of our teams posted on the frontier. There has been a massacre at a town in Wind."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. Could it be a consequence of the summit debacle? "What happened?" Uzuki asked, clenching her fists.
"I only have vague info." Kakashi crossed his arms. "This morning, a lone individual entered the town and started throwing bombs at houses. An inferno quickly spread and the ninja present attempted to arrest him. Unfortunately they were inexperienced genin and chuunin, and the attacker killed every single last one of them. Then he butchered all the civilians he came across before fleeing to who knows where. Casualties are estimated between the hundreds and the thousand, thanks to the fires. Our men couldn't give a precise number."
"What did he look like?" Naruto cut in. "It might be one of Orochimaru's men."
The blonde half expected the jounin to ignore him, doubly so since he had humiliated his students a few weeks ago, but surprisingly the man simply nodded. "It was the first thought that crossed my mind as well, and the ninja's description… he had claws instead of fingers, and he was seen snapping a sword in half with his teeth. He evidently suffered from heavy body modifications, a specialty of the snake. But… that's not the worst part."
Yuugao raised an eyebrow, and blanched. "He was wearing one of our headbands, right?"
Kakashi nodded grimly. The implications horrified Naruto, and the copy-nin added salt on the wound. "He also kept shouting it was 'payback for their attempted murder of the Fire Daimyo' and that it was 'Suna would pay' among other threats. You don't need many brain cells to guess Wind will be pissed at the Leaf when this massacre becomes common knowledge."
"It's definitively Orochimaru," Uzuki whispered. "After the failed summit, our relationships with the Wind are at their lowest. This will exacerbate the tensions."
"Even if some in Wind will guess it's a false flag operation," Naruto guessed, "The populace at large will be out for our blood. The chances of a war starting just increased."
"Are the Chuunin Exams going to be annulled senpai?" Uzuki asked, the honorific surprising her blonde friend. "I heard rumors about it."
"No." Kakashi shook his head. "The Hokage wants to defuse the situation with the Kazekage and the Exams present a perfect opportunity. The Fifth Mizukage is also scheduled to attend to it, in order to take back Zabuza's corpse from us."
"Kiri elected a Fifth Mizukage?" Naruto put the information in a compartment of his mind for a later use. "Who is it?"
The Hatake shrugged his shoulders. "No idea. The region isn't completely stabilized yet, and news have sometimes been contradictory. But whoever it is, the new Mizukage wishes to confirm Zabuza's death, and probably use the Exam as a way to rebuild old alliances."
"It would also remind the world Water is still a force to be reckoned with." Yugao crossed her arms. "It seems everyone is on the move lately. I don't like it."
"Neither do I." Kakashi shrugged. "Call me a pessimist, but I fear a new war is on the horizon. The signs don't lie." He blinked, upon glancing at where Anko was. "For the love of… she's actually putting a crown on…"
And he left them in a blink.
Doing his best not to look at Anko's newest drunken joke, Naruto glanced at Yugao while drinking his coffee. "Senpai, eh?"
"He was my captain in the ANBU," she admitted. "Kakashi… you have to look underneath the underneath with him. You scratch past the foolish persona and you discover a war veteran. Dig some more and you find a troubled individual."
"I've noticed." As it became increasingly clear Yugao was getting bored, Naruto coughed. "If you don't like Anko's party, I can escort you to your home, or we can go out doing… I don't know, talk, train, do origami, anything."
The ANBU chuckled. "Weren't you supposed to avoid human contact as best as possible?"
"The old man informed you." It wasn't a question, but a fact. "Do you have an idea who could have spied on me?"
"The list is too long to give." Yugao sighed. "It's a good thing Hinata Hyuuga is already kept under scrutiny by the ANBU, for your interactions with her could have turned her into a potential target."
It wasn't surprising, considering Kumo tried to kidnap her when she was very young… "The old man said I could still frequent my team," he said. "We're still a team, right?"
The ANBU stayed silent a few seconds, before nodding decisively. "Yes… yes we are."
"Hokage-sama," Inoichi coughed. "I have bad news, and worse news."
"It can't be worse than what happened this morning," Sarutobi shrugged sadly, rereading again the report one of his agents in Wind sent as fast as he could. Who could have ordered this massacre? The Sandaime pondered. Onoki? A? They would benefit from a war between Suna and Konoha, true… but no. My guts tell me my former student has a hand in this… this shameful atrocity. "Go on."
"The captive 'Tayuya' is no longer able to endure further questioning," the interrogator admitted. "I attempted to enter her mind and extract information as soon as the medics reanimated her, but… Orochimaru apparently added a failsafe seal in her brain. The second I activated my jutsu, it destroyed her mind and memories. The hope of salvaging any information for this empty husk is… nonexistent."
Sarutobi clenched his jaw. Her survival after the burns she suffered from Naruto had been nothing short of a gift from heavens, and now it had been all for naught… "At least we can vivisect her body and examine her Cursed Seal," he noted. "You said worse news?"
"Ibiki interrogated some of Orochimaru's staff we jailed during the attack, and roughed them up a bit." The Hokage did not need a memo to understand the implications. "They… testified they received information from moles in Konoha. We managed to identify three of them…"
"Who?" Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "If the Counter-Intelligence missed them-"
"Hokage-sama…" Inoichi cringed. "The moles are from the Counter-Intelligence department. We believe at least some of its heads are compromised."
The Hokage stayed silent briefly, until he lit his pipe, inhaled sharply, and locked eyes with the Clan Head. "I had my suspicions for a time," he admitted, his fears confirmed. "Konoha was totally clueless about the recent troubles in Wave, and Kakashi and the last Uchiha were sent in a C-rank mission to it… which turned out to be A-rank. I have been wondering if the error wasn't an attempt at subtly crippling our strength."
"So what do we do?" Inoichi crossed his arms. "The moles we identified are probably only the tip of the iceberg."
Sarutobi brought the pipe to his lips and let the smoke fill his lungs. "I'm decreeing a purge."
The Yamanaka actually blinked. "Hokage-sama-"
"The ANBU," he cut in, "Will arrest all the members of Counter Intelligence. Your division shall then interrogate them and identify any individual with possible ties to the enemy. Konoha does not know it yet, but I am afraid a war is near, and we cannot afford for our Counter-Intelligence to be non-functional when the time to defend our country comes."
"I… I will be ready," Inoichi stated.
"Yes. Yes, we will."
"So?"
"Everything is going as you planned, Orochimaru-dono," the Yondaime Kazekage replied with joy upon welcoming the Akatsuki member around a table. "I have convinced the civilian representatives. With the little stunt your agent performed on the border, the populace is convinced Konoha is preparing to attack. The threat of civil war will be postponed until the more immediate threat is dealt with."
"Nothing reforms a divided population better than the threat of invaders," the Sannin mused. "If you assume, temporarily of course, the occupation of the Daimyo post, some will protest… but the sanest members of the nobility along those answering to my organization will support you for the sake of presenting a facade of unity before the foreign nations. This should give you a few months to prevent a succession crisis."
"With the time gained, I will be able to put a new loyal and competent Daimyo in that cursed traitor's place," the Kazekage nodded to himself. "Since Konoha will guess you are linked to the both the massacre and the bomb incident, I will simply have to put the blame on you, slowly defuse the diplomatic crisis, and turn Suna peaceful and stronger than ever before. The Daimyo's funds will turn back to the Village, and your organization shall be handsomely rewarded for your help… without Konoha's knowledge of course."
Orochimaru. "Actually… that's not going to happen."
The Kazekage frowned. "I gave you the S-"
"A man chooses. A slave obeys."
The Yondaime's mind ceased to function and he blacked out. His eyes wandered aimlessly devoid of life and will. Orochimaru smiled at this reaction. The trigger sentence had worked perfectly. Now, it was time to give some subconscious instructions and place this pawn on the chessboard.
"The concession you gave us was most appreciated, Kazekage-dono," the Sannin explained kindly. "But I am afraid you misunderstood your role. You will not keep Suna peaceful. In fact, while you pretend to try to solve the crisis and accept Sarutobi's explanations, you shall secretly gather your forces to strike during the Chuunin Exams, leaving your nation unprotected. We must start the Fourth Shinobi War. Kumo and Iwa are weak, while your country is strong. With Akatsuki's help, victory is assured. You must not consider the possibility of failure, and silence everyone speaking against our project. Is this fine for you?"
The Yondaime nodded, unable to control his actions. "Then… Sasori sends you his regards."
At the trigger's activation, the country leader's eyes snapped open and drifted aimlessly. Orochimaru faked a worried expression. "Kazekage-dono, do you feel alright? You seem sick…"
"Yes, I was simply pondering an alternative." The man regained his arrogant confidence. "Why not fake peaceful negotiations, and instead prepare to strike Konoha?"
"A wonderful idea worthy of your tactical genius," the Sannin agreed happily, lying through his teeth. "Marvelous. Against our combined forces, Konoha will surely fall."
"With Gaara, we will destroy the country without suffering any losses, allowing Suna to rule the south unopposed." The Kazekage snorted scornfully. "And then, we shall start the Fourth Ninja War. Kumo and Iwa have been too much weakened by the last conflict to resist, and Wind will impose its hegemony over the continent."
"Nothing would make me happier…"
Afterward, the two leaders started elaborating battle plans and as expected, the brainwashed Kazekage was walking straight into Akatsuki's trap.
If the invasion succeeds, good. Konoha will be destroyed, Wind will be weakened, and either Iwa or Kumo will try taking advantage of the situation by invading the Land of Fire, while Suna shall fall into chaos, Orochimaru mused inwardly. If it fails, no doubt the results shall be the same. Konoha will not survive without losses and their enemies might get ideas anyway. In either case, the Fourth Shinobi War will start with Akatsuki profiting from the event, in more ways than this puppet can imagine.
After leaving Sunagakure, Orochimaru was welcomed by his partner in the desert away from notice. "Tell me, my dear scorpion," the Sannin grinned, "How long has our dear Yondaime been under your control?"
"Ever since he became the apprentice of the Sandaime Kazekage." The puppeteer snorted. "He was useful to trap his teacher and since he had a high probability of being chosen as the man's successor, I had him sabotage investigations and blame Iwa… sparking the Third Ninja War."
"Oh, so you have been sowing chaos from behind the scenes for nearly two decades?" Orochimaru made a mock reverence. "I am impressed. And now you are up for a repeat performance…"
"I never do the same trick twice," Sasori replied. "This war will be my greatest performance… the total annihilation of the Shinobi World as we know it."
"A worthy goal," his partner nodded. "But tell me, Sasori… why are you a part of this? My motives are a mystery for no one, but you… what could you gain from Pain and his gang? Humans to turn into puppets? Revenge? Or perhaps is it amusement?"
The mad artist snorted. "Your curiosity will kill you one of these days."
"On the contrary, curiosity is the essence of survival, my dear friend of wood." The snake Sannin crossed his arms. "Speaking of survival, how is your investigation going? If you need help to subdue Itachi, I would be glad to lend you a hand."
"Oh, I am certain you would love to take over his body as your own," Sasori snorted. "Unfortunately… I have the feeling Itachi is not the only loose cannon we will have to deal with..."
Once he returned to his office, Danzo was welcomed by an annoying sight.
"Want an apple?" The man told him, presenting a red fruit with his right hand. "You must hungry after all your work. Give in…"
Danzo's expression did not change, although he inwardly desired nothing more than kick that criminal out of his lair and have him hanged. Considering he was probably stronger than the old man and needed to ensure Konoha's safety, the war hawk simply glared at his guest.
"Don't we look like bad guys, the two of us?" The madman chuckled with a fake, childish laugh. "A dark office… alone… masked… it screams evil conspiracy."
"I do not care for your mockery, Madara," Danzo snapped, closing the door behind him. "What do you want?"
The masked man snorted, his Sharingan swirling in his one exposed eye socket. "Perhaps I am here to congratulate you for laying such a good trap for Orochimaru. Of course, I helped somewhat, so… where is my reward?"
"Your information was welcomed." Danzo had no idea what kind of sick game the madman was playing, but no doubt it involved destroying Konoha at a point. Why the Uchiha was feeding Root's leader with information was beyond the man's understanding. Then again, living for a century with the Uchiha's curse… he may not be sane anymore. "However, I do not remember promising you anything for your cooperation."
"Danzo is a bad boy… and a liar." The masked man lounged on the desk mockingly. "You owe me Edo Tensei."
The war hawk snorted. They did havea bargain involving the technique's secrets, one Danzo had no intention of honoring. "Pain is still alive. As per our alliance, you shall not receive Edo Tensei as long as he breathes."
"Still afraid of Nagato's revenge?" Madara narrowed his Sharingan. "Perhaps you are afraid he will track you down for helping kill his friend? I wonder how Sarutobi would react to this knowledge… or what Pain would do if I convinced him to pay you a visit."
The threat was blatant, and Danzo did his best to ignore it. The war hawk had gladly allowed Madara to 'help' in the destruction of the Uchiha clan, and then sent Itachi to spy on him with the orders to kill him at first opportunity. It was his standard procedure, getting rid of allies before they could turn into threats. Especially considering in spite of Madara's vocal protests of the contrary, Danzo was certain he had a hand in unleashing the Kyuubi on the Leaf.
But the masked Uchiha had seen the betrayal coming and warned if Danzo ever tried to move against him, information about his cover-up of Orochimaru's experiments, his secret interference in Ame, Root's unauthorized operations, and dealings with Madara himself would reach Sarutobi's ears… which would probably result in Danzo's hanging and the disbandment of his organization's shadiest branches.
And while Danzo did not mind dying to keep Konoha peaceful, an ideal he lost his eye and arm for, he and Root were still needed to keep the Leaf safe, especially in such troubled times. A conflict with Sarutobi would weaken the country, and had to be avoided at all costs.
Fortunately Madara, although one of the main members of Akatsuki, apparently did not hold Pain in high regard, and did not bother hiding some important facts from Itachi, who he had to suspect of treason. In fact, the masked criminal sometimes informed the Root leader of some of Akatsuki's newest plans, illogical actions that were impossible for Danzo to understand.
Either he loves pointless chaos like Orochimaru, Danzo guessed, or he is playing a game I have yet to grasp. "No dead Pain, no Edo Tensei."
"You are a harsh friend, Danzo…" Madara teleported behind the war hawk purely for amusement. "You gotta give me a bone, or you will find me poor in info next time Pain prepares to screw you over. Or perhaps I should inform little Sasuke of our arrangement…"
"I paid you that… service… with the Sharingan of the massacre's victims." Not all of them, of course, but a sizable quantity. Danzo had been wise enough to keep a third of them and have his scientists try to reverse-engineer the bloodline. "Isn't it enough?"
"Of course not." Madara vanished with a breeze and reappeared, his back turned on Danzo. The opportunity to strike was golden, but the Shimura knew better than try. Obviously it was a trap. "I want Sasuke."
"I promised Itachi I would not lay a hand on him," Danzo replied, although once again, he had no intention of holding this bargain. Should Itachi prove to be unreliable, his brother's life would be on the balance to ensure he did not switch sides.
"Oh? So the king of liars is going to fulfill a dying man's wish? How hypocritical." The criminal mused. "Itachi has tuberculosis, and not long to live. You better find a more believable excuse."
Danzo snorted. Whether or not Itachi was indeed dying did not change a thing. "Give me Orochimaru, and I will consider your proposal."
"Afraid he'll reveal your secrets to foreign nations?" Madara glared at his foe potently. "You think the shadows protect you, fool, but they only make it easier for your enemies to fight you. One day… you shall be forced to step into the light, and none of your knowledge will protect you from the wrath of your own pawns."
"Is it a threat?"
"It is a prophecy." The Uchiha warped space around his eye, vanishing into a hole. "A snake for an Uchiha? A trade I shall consider…"
The war hawk glanced at his desk. The red apple had been placed on it.
No doubt it was poisoned.
"Explain to me," Yugao began, wearing civilian clothing, "Why do you intend to leave Konoha for hours, days after a failed kidnapping attempt?"
"I need herbs for a medical procedure and they aren't available on the market," he answered with tact. "Since Orochimaru now knows the old man can track me down anytime, I doubt he will try anything so close to the Leaf. Besides… I trust you to ensure my safety."
The woman rolled her eyes, much to Naruto's amusement. He had been quite happy when the Hokage had assigned her as a constant watcher. Anko was going to be unavailable for days being introduced to her division in the ANBU. Yugao was a good buddy to hang out with, and a friend's presence would be good for her.
After leaving Anko's celebration, Naruto had discovered Yugao's home, a small apartment in Konoha's outskirts. It was smaller than the blonde's own, but the genin suspected the woman also had quarters in whatever building hiding the ANBU's HQ. That, and apparently, the neighborhood apartment belonged to Kakashi Hatake.
He figured the team would stick together.
A coffee later, they had parted ways and Naruto had entered his laboratory, intending to do something he had in mind for some time: examine the Samsara.
The ninja wasn't dumb enough to test the product without learning what it contained, and although his equipment wasn't as advanced as Konoha's hospital, it was enough to do some guesswork on a few of the solution's components. Mysterious enzymes, chemical muscle enhancers…
And human cells.
Besides the obvious no-no of having an unknown individual's DNA in his body, Naruto was curious about its source. The herbs should help him isolate these cells from the rest of the solution, and perhaps allow the identification of the donor.
The sound of shouting at the town's gates snapped the blonde out of his thoughts.
"I told you," a guard protested to a giant in red armor and a green-haired teen, "I have no idea who you're talking about!"
The giant lowered his head and muttered something to his partner's ears. "Han says it's the one town he could have stopped by," she said.
"He doesn't speak common language?"
The giant whispered once again to the girl's ear. "He does," she explained, "But not to you."
"Would someone explain me what's going on?" Yugao asked, as the guard's jaw dropped in shock.
"They have been pestering me for hours!" The Konoha-nin protested. "It's as if they feed on my annoyance!"
"The Han requires no misery to survive," the giant spoke out loud with a deep, regal voice, "The Han feeds on the fear he inspires. And sometimes the blood of his enemies."
"You're lying," the girl snorted, "I saw you eat noodles when you thought I wasn't looking."
"You dreamed, but the Han does not blame you. Being around the Han for too long can cause awesomeness-induced hallucinations or a pathological desire to worship the ground the Han walks on. Sometimes both."
Alright, why is everyone I meet either a psycho or a weirdo? "Look, the Han… since being around you is harmful," Naruto started off slowly, "Why don't you tell us what do you want so we can resolve this issue nice and quick."
"Naruto-kun," Yugao coughed, "I don't think he's sane-"
"The Han is pleased to meet someone with a brain," the giant cut in. "The Han is looking for a red-haired drunkard who probably assaulted the nearest bar with lava and smoke, perhaps without pants."
"He's looking for a friend," the girl translated. "I'm Fuu, and he's called Han. Please ignore his antics. Preferably by not talking to him."
Naruto pitied her for a second. Being around that guy must be a constant challenge for one's nerves. "I'm Naruto, and the dark beauty here is Yugao." The woman smiled briefly at the compliment. "From what I've got, you're looking for a drunkard."
"Roshi, an old man apparently with an attraction for all things alcoholic. Also likes to smoke with a pipe." Fuu coughed. "Han says he can fly at 5 million miles an hour and shoot a laser beam called Kamehameha from his hands, but I think he's just messing with me."
It's confirmed, the guy is completely out of his gourd. "And what make you think he could have stopped at Konoha?" Naruto asked.
"Han thinks he stopped for a drink, resulting in him missing his meeting with his friend." Fuu shrugged. "Han is worried."
"The Han thinks Roshi might have stopped to meet the Nine Tails' Jinchuuriki," the giant said, locking eyes with Naruto. "Did he approach you?"
The temperature dropped heavily, as both Yugao and Naruto glanced at Han in a mixture of worry and horror. How the hell does he-
"Wait, you're the Kyuubi's container?" Fuu's jaw dropped. "Really?"
"Fear not, we wish you no harm," Han explained, apparently realizing Naruto's expression wasn't the nicest of all. "The Han keeps a dolphin tamed in his belly, and Fu is a green beetle's container."
Yugao stayed still a few seconds. "Alright," she said. "I think the Sandaime will be pretty happy to discuss your problems."
"No pressure though," Naruto promised. "He's nice… well, most of the time."
A/N: thanks ABitterPill and Third Fang for betaing.
It took me so long because I wasn't happy with my first spins on Han and Fuu, so I remade them multiple times until I was satisfied. Since they were the Jinchuuriki with the less screentime, and that I've seen only two stories that really developed them (Fuu in 'The Cost of Living' and Han in 'Yet Again', and in the latter's case it was as a major antagonist), it was basically making them unique characters without any canon or non-canon info to help. I hope the final result is satisfying.
That, and the second Bioshock Infinite was out, I jumped on it. And it is awesome. Sure the ending is left for interpretations, but the storyline and battles are excellent. But the 'bosses' (Handymen, the Siren, Airships, the Motorized Patriots, and the final battle) WILL murder you if you're not careful or low on ammo.
Sasori is officially upgraded to major bad guy material. I thought with the mysteries surrounding him (the murder of the Kazekage, starting the Third Shinobi War, brainwashed agents in Suna and Konoha...) and his ability to brainwash others, he could make a truly dangerous villain if used right. The trigger phrase is of course a nod to the first Bioshock game. Heck, all of Atlas is filled with nods to the Bioshock series.
I considered expanding Tayuya's role before realizing she was already used in too many stories, and I would better give her screentime to Fuu or Yugao.
Tobi is going to be slightly more unstable than in canon... alright, he is insane in canon (between having a volatile sense of identity, being delusional, and trying to destroy a town on a whim), but here it's going to be more obvious (and at times, disturbing). He's just less good at hiding his madness.
I'm a bit disappointed the recent flashback arc did not expand on how Hashirama met Mito (and how she became a Jinchuuriki), but I guess it leaves me more room to alter the backstory.
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