Welcome Back to book Two of my story. First off as always I do not own Naruto or any of the other characters.

I'd like to thank all those who took the time to review my last chapter: GravenImage, Sevensin, JokerisDaking.

And now I present chapter five in my tale. As always please review my work as I use your thoughts to improve on my writing and story.

Naruto: Chronicles of the Seventh

Book Two: New Dawn

Chapter Five: Danzo's Ambition

Danzo and Torune moved briskly through lower levels of Root head quarters. Despite his increased power as Hokage, Danzo had chosen to keep Root as a small underground organization within ANBU. "Roots tend to wither and die when raised from the earth," he had told his loyal followers. "Remain here as the foundation and bedrock of Konoha's true might."

There was another reason Danzo chose to keep Root small and out of the way. It would better serve him in times where prudence and secrecy were paramount. Times such as now, when what he was about to do was something no one outside a select few must ever know about or it would prove disastrous.

After some time, Danzo and Torune came up on a large, unmarked metal door. Danzo quickly moved the wrap from his face revealing his sharingan and quickly scanned the area. There was no such thing as being to careful as far as he was concerned. Once satisfied that he was not followed he nodded to Torune who placed his hand on the door. "Seal Release," he said and the door cracked open releasing a gush of stale air.

Danzo and Torune quickly entered and Torune closed the door behind them. They then made their way down the darkened hallway before them. On either side there were torches lit one after the other every few yards to light the way. Danzo could also see the large rusted metal doors that flanked them on either side. Each one was in fact a cell where Root kept those they deemed a danger to them or to Konoha.

Danzo walked briskly down the path never acknowledging the prisoners on either side as they moaned or screamed or pleaded. His focus was maintained on the last cell. As he opened it Danzo couldn't help but be taken aback by the over whelming odor of decay. In the room stood Fu and next to him, lying on a bed of hay was an old man. He stunk of death and seemed in a catatonic state. He was impossibly thin and had dead soulless eyes.

"Is he ready," Danzo asked as he looked to Fu. Fu bent down and placed his hand on the old mans' head. After a moment he looked to Danzo and nodded. "Alright then," Danzo said. "Make the connection. I need to speak to him now."

Fu placed his fingers at both side of the man head and looked deep into his eyes. Suddenly the old mans eyes closed for a moment then, just as quickly the old man took in a deep breath as his back arched and his body tensed as though he was having a stroke. Then he settled down back into position.

As the old man's eyes flew open Torune saw that his pupils were completely gone signaling that he was ready. "The connection has been made," Fu said as Danzo stepped closer. Slowly the old mans head turned to Danzo and he smiled wickedly showing the few blackened teeth in his mouth. In a low raspy voice the man began to talk. "So," he said, "Tell me Danzo, why have you contacted me?"

Danzo grimaced, "You know damned well why I've risked contacting you. What the hell do you think your doing Madara!?"

Meanwhile

Konohamaru sat in chair staring out the window in his room. Since he had returned from that disastrous mission this is where he had spent most of his time. His mother came in from time to time to give him a meal that he would barely touch. And the only times he found himself ever leaving was when Moegi would stop by to force him to go to physical therapy. Despite it all Moegi seemed to be the only one who could get him to do anything. She knew just what to say or how to say it to get him to do what she wanted.

Konohamaru heard the door to his room open behind him but didn't turn to see who it was. Whoever had entered would announce themselves soon, so why bother. It was then he heard a soft female voice of a person he instantly recognized but was surprised to hear. "Hello Konohamaru."

Konohamru turned to see Sakura leaning on the door frame. She was smiling slightly as she looked at him. Konohamaru was initially surprised to see her but quickly realized why she would come to see him. Turning to face the window again Konohamaru said, "I guess Moegi told you already huh?"

Sakura walked into the middle of the room and stood, arms folded, looking at Konohamru. "Yes," she said, "I must admit I'm surprised. I never would have pegged you for a quitter. What will Naruto think when he hears that you've requested to retire as an active shinobi?"

Konohamaru laughed to himself as he rose to face Sakura. Leaning on one crutch he shook his head and looked at her. "What will Naruto think," he said. "Sakura, Naruto is gone; dead. He's not going to think anything. I feel sorry for you that you're unable to accept that truth."

Sakura's smile slowly faded as she listened to Konohamaru. "Last I checked Naruto is alive in a bed in the hospital," she said.

"You call that living," Konohamaru asked as his face twisted in grief. "He has no brain activity, barely has a pulse and needs a machine to breath for him. He's a damned vegetable and the sooner we let him go the sooner we can move on!"

Sakura clenched her fist and closed her eyes trying to control her growing anger. She couldn't believe that this was the same Konohamaru that was, for all intents and purposes, considered to be Naruto junior. "So this is what you've become huh," she asked, "You fail one damned mission and now you've just given up on everything!"

"This wasn't just some failed mission," Konohamaru screamed as he fought back tears. "I lost my best friend! My sensei! And now you want me to sit here and act like I should hope that Naruto somehow cheats death!? As if even he could do something like that?! And what happens if he were to come back?! Could he end this war?! Could he bring my friends back!?"

"You think you're the only one to know loss," Sakura asked. "We all have lost friends, teachers and family! But we keep fighting and we keep trying! And we never give up because if we do then what's the point?

"Exactly," Kanohamaru said, "What's the point of fighting against sorrow? Even if you win, more sorrow just replaces it. Naruto was a fool to think he could succeed against sorrow. And I was just as big a fool for believing in him. Eventually we all have to grow up and face reality Sakura and I've realized that Naruto's way is nothing but hollow idealism in the face of true evil. Finding true peace is a fool's dream."

"Then," Sakura said with a growing intensity, "If what you say is true wisdom, then I'm happy to live as a fool!" Konohamaru looked at Sakura with a sense of shock. "I will live my life believing in Naruto and his dream of peace! I will fight till the end to protect my home and my friends!"

Konohamru stared at her in amazement for a moment then lowered his head. Sakura turned and began to walk away. "I won't become what you are," she said. "I won't be a disgrace; someone who is barely even a ninja or a man. I realize now that you were always weak. You needed Naruto to give you strength and now that he's gone you have none of your own to depend on." Konohamaru clenched his fist and gritted his teeth as he heard what Sakura was saying.

"It's sad really," Sakura said walking away, "I wonder what the Third would say if he saw how pitiful you are. That his grandson isn't worthy of the name Sarutobi." Enraged Konohamaru came at Sakura and swung his crutch at her head. Without even looking back Sakura used her right hand to grab the crutch and snapped it in two and, in one fluid motion, swung her left hand out and slapped Konohamaru with the back of her hand, causing him to tumble to the ground.

Konohamaru clutched at his left arm which had not fully healed and with tears in his eyes looked up to see Sakura standing over him. "Well," she said, "at least you have enough fire left to attack a woman from behind." Konohamaru winced in shame at hearing those words. "Konohamaru," Sakura continued, "Maybe it's best that you have quit as a ninja, because a man with no faith would make a horrible comrade. Remember that." Sakura then turned a left without another word.

Meanwhile – In Kirigakure

Madara sat at his desk listening as the dead man in front of him spoke. Though the man was dead, Danzo was using the ninja he had captured long ago who had the ability to speak through the dead, to communicate with him.

Meanwhile - In Konoha

"What the hell do you mean you've changed your plans Madara," Danzo screamed. "It was agreed upon that when you overthrew Kirigakure you would commit your forces to help me crush Suna and Kumo!"

The man smiled, "Well unfortunately through you're failures I have had to change those plans. Iwagakure is a threat that needs to be neutralized first. Once I have done so I will then come to your aid with an even bigger force."

"My failures," Danzo screamed. "I have done nothing but follow your plans to the letter. I completed every task without fail. Exactly what did I fail at?"

"You failed to give me the Nine Tails," Madara responded. "If you had completed that task as planned then this wouldn't be an issue now."

"What," Danzo asked. "I called him back to Konoha and sent him to Kumo like you asked. It's not my fault you chose to send Sasuke to capture him instead of Kisame or perhaps yourself!

"Ah," Madara said, "But you also chose to send that girl along. She is one of the strongest kunoichi's in Konoha. She was a variable that we weren't prepared for and that was your fault."

Danzo gritted his teeth has tried to hold his temper in check. "This is not my fault," he said. "And you should have checked with me before changing your plans!"

Madara laughed, "Check with you? My dear Danzo you say that as if I require your permission. I think you've let this whole Hokage thing go to your head." In a harsh venomous tone Madara continued, "Never forget that you are just a member of Akatsuki, which is controlled by me. It was me who gave you the seeds to grow your Root when you're first planned coup failed. It was I who was responsible for you getting Uchiha Shisui's eye and arm and it was I who put you in the position to become Hokage in the first place. And make no mistake, everything I've given I can take away and more. I will change the plans when I see fit and if I were you I'd simply smile, agree and pray I don't change them any further. Do you understand?"

Danzo squeezed his walking stick nearly to the point of breaking. "Yes," he said finally, "I understand Madara."

"Good," Madara responded. "I'm glad we can understand each other. In fact I'm glad you contacted me as I need you to do something. Since we now agree that this was your fault I will give you the opportunity to make amends. I want you to bring me the body of Uzumaki Naruto. I don't care how it's done but I want him delivered to me in two days time. Are we clear?"

"Fine," Danzo replied highly annoyed. "I'll have one of my men take his body and deliver it to you in Kirigakure."

"Good," Madara replied. "And Danzo, don't fail me again." As Danzo said these words the old man gasped and went into convulsions. Danzo was used to seeing him do this as this was the man response when his connection to the dead was severed. Turning swiftly Danzo walked out of the room as Fu began the procedure to ensure the old man didn't die.

Once outside the cell Danzo stood and took a deep breath to calm himself. His mind was racing and was considering all possibilities. So focused was he that he failed to see the odd looking roach as it left the cell and made its way down the hall. Torune exited the cell behind Danzo and speaking in hushed whispers said, "My Lord, what do we do now? It would appear that Madara has betrayed us."

Danzo didn't even look in Torune's direction as he answered him. "Yes," he said. "But this was an eventuality that I expected. None-the-less we are in no position yet to do anything about it. For now we will complete our tasks as we have been told and wait for the opportune moment to strike. Torune, tomorrow morning I want you to go and retrieve Uzumaki's body. Sneak in and kill anyone who sees you then cause an explosion before you remove him. This will make it seem like we were attacked. I'll then delay the search effort giving you plenty of time to escape."

Danzo then walked back up the darkened hallway towards the exit but stopped short halfway there and turned to face another cell of to his left. He then unlocked the door and entered the small room. As he walked in he scanned the damp floor and saw a figure lying in the shadows. The person was on his side in a semi fetal position and did not react to Danzo's presence.

Danzo slowly made his way over to the person and for a while stared in disgust. "Can you hear me," he asked. "Are you ready to give me the assistance that I require?" The person did not speak and merely remained on the ground rocking slightly and mumbling to himself.

After the day he was having, Danzo was in no mood to be patient and walked over to the person and kicked him hard in the back. Despite the powerful kick the man showed no pain or anger. He merely rose to his knees and stared at Danzo with a blank expression.

"So," Danzo asked, "you know why I'm here and what I want. So let's skip the back and forth and tell me, have you reconsidered my offer?" The man merely stared at him and said nothing. After a moment Danzo, in a rage, slapped him with the back of his hand forcing the man to nearly fall backwards.

Again he did not yell or show any signs that he was hurt. As he looked up at Danzo, blood trickled down from the side of his mouth. Then in a raspy voice he said, "Every time you come here Danzo and make the same request and every time I tell you that I won't help you. So why don't you leave now and save yourself the oxygen."

Angered, Danzo this time punched the man forcing him to fall back. Danzo then reached down and grabed him by his tattered collar. As Danzo looked into the mans face, he is angered further but not shocked to see that the man is smiling. "I don't know which one of you I'm talking to. Whether you're Kabuto or Orochimaru now means nothing to me. Either way you will give me what I want whether you choose to or not. The horrors I have done to you in here is nothing compared to what's to come. My time is running short and so is yours."

Danzo raised his hand and snapped his fingers and immediately the door to the cell opened and one of the Root ninja entered with a rolling tray filled with instruments of torture. Leaning closer to Kabuto's face Danzo sneered. "Think about my offer in between your screams," he said as he released Kabuto and left the room.

As the door closed behind him Kabuto smiled as his long snake-like tongue extended and licked the blood from his chin. Then looking at the masked Ninja Kabuto said while giggling, "Well then my friend, shall we begin?"

Meanwhile – In a place where time has no meaning

My name, he thinks, why can't I remember it? I see faces but I can't place them. There is pain but is it mine or someone else's. Where am I? Why is it so cold?

The man floats in the darkness. Hours, weeks, months, centuries, he can't tell how long he has been in this darkness. He longs for warmth, for light, he longs for…something he can't even remember.

That's when he sees it. Like a match was being struck in darkness he sees a pinpoint of light in the distance. Like a moth to a flame his drawn to it and begins to will himself towards it. For him it seems like an eternity to reach it. But as he gets closer he found it harder and harder to move. Suddenly he feels warmth and he could see figures standing within the light as if beckoning him. In the light he could see happiness and peace and safety.

He tries to keep moving towards it but soon he comes to a stop and is unable to move any further. It was then a memory began to return to him. My name, he recalled. I think I remember it. My name, my name is, my name is….

And that's when he heard it; the low growl of a vicious beast. He felt a sudden heat of flames and deepening sense of dread. Turning around he saw large yellow eyes, full of malice and hate, staring at him.

Out of the shadows a huge orange fox with nine tails emerged. For a long while the Kyuubi merely stared at the man and growled menacingly. Then after a time it spoke. "Uzumaki Naruto," it said. "That is your name." Upon hearing those words, Naruto's face lit up, as a lifetime of memories and experiences suddenly came flooding back. "Boy," the Kyuubi said, "you and I need to talk."

End of Chapter Five

Next Time: Secret of the Perfect Jinchuriki