Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the subsequent characters belonging to the franchise, those belong to Mashashi Kishimoto, Bandai and Shounen Jump.
Glossary:
Jinchuuriki - Power of Human Sacrifice -A general term used for the containers of the mythical tailed beasts
Densetsu no Sannin - The Legendary Three Ninja -The nickname given to Team Sarutobi that consisted of Orochimaru the Snake summoner, Tsunade the Slug summoner and Jiraiya the Toad Summoner.
Nuke-Nin - Missing ninja (A ninja that has betrayed his village and has a bounty on his head).
Ningen -Human
Bijuu -Tailed beasts
Sunagakure -Hidden Sand
Iwagakure - Hidden Rock
Kumogakure -Hidden Cloud
Jutsu - Technique
Ichibi -One tail
Hachibi -Eight-tails
Nami no Kuni- The Wave Country
Youki -Demonic Chakra/Life force
Hyouton - Ice Release - A bloodline limit that allows the users to simultaneously combine the Wind and Water elemental chakra types and create a new element - Ice.
Nakama -
(Two days later, Tazuna's house)
There was only one thing that filtered through Naruto's consciousness the moment he woke up: pain. His body was heavy and his eyes burned intensely; the mere thought of moving or Kami forbid opening his eyes simply blasphemous.
The Uzumaki had no idea where he was and for a scary few seconds; who he was. He grit his teeth and tried to sit up unsuccessfully and then it struck him. A wave of nausea flushed through him, forcing his eyes open.
A horrible sense of vertigo overwhelmed him as the room's bright light added with his nausea consequently elicited a repeated gagging before he threw up blood and vomit. "Wha-What is this?"The blonde Jinchuuriki was lost as to what the physical ailments plaguing him were and that scared him.
Ever since he could remember himself he had never felt such physical weakness and helplessness. After years of being ignored and rejected by his village and peers the young Jinchuuriki had his share of mental and emotional scars; some more easily ignored than others.
Despite his better efforts he started panting harshly, panic starting to settle in as a tight knot in the center of his chest. Delirious memories of fear, of loneliness and uncertainty flashed before his feverish mind. He couldn't help his instinctive reaction as he wrapped his arms around his midsection to protect himself.
Someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder. He gasped in a pathetic tone, snarling as he reacted to the threat by launching a half-hearted. A hand wrapped around his wrist gently, squeezing it comfortingly as a soft voice filtered through his senses. "Hey hey, calm down, Naruto. It's me, Kakashi."
The familiar voice of his sensei elicited an immediate calm. His shoulders relaxed, the lines of anxiety around his eyes fading in the face of relief. "K-Kakashi-sensei…what's happening to me…?" A faint tremble echoed in the undertone of his hoarse, whispering voice.
The Copy-nin sighed softly, somewhat unsettled by the state of his pupil. He had never seen such raw fear or panic in Naruto's eyes. "Well...you've been unconscious for almost two days. I'm no medic-nin but my best guess is that you're suffering from some sort of severe chakra poisoning; most likely due to being exposed to too much of that chakra."
His visible eye narrowed slightly. "Before I update you on the situation Naruto, I need you to tell me exactly what happened on the bridge." There was no request or gentleness behind Kakashi's command. There would be time for reassurances later; once he finished debriefing his student.
The Uzumaki pointedly kept his eyes on the floor, his body tensing as his guilt resurfaced. The ever-tightening ball of tension made breathing difficult. The blonde rubbed his palm against the area unconsciously, trying to alleviate the discomfort in vain.
He didn't want to relive those horrible memories but Kakashi's tone belied the urgency of his order and that superseded his fear. Besides, despite how lacking Naruto's formal ninja education was he knew better than to go against a direct command.
"I-I'm so stupid, Kakashi-sensei! I was...I should've stayed out of the dome. But I…I wasn't thinking so I stepped inside and got trapped too. If I…" Naruto's voice slurred out in half whispered words. His words came out so quickly it was hard to follow him.
The silver haired Jounin cut through Naruto's self loathing cycle by clearing his throat. Naruto blinked and smiled shakily. "B-But he was too fast! We…no, I wasn't fast enough to dodge his needles. Sasuke wasn't doing too well either but then he activated his sharingan. So...we made up a plan and it worked! We really thought we had him but we were wrong."
Naruto's eyes darkened, the blonde wearing his heart on his sleeve like he always did. His face went through his feelings, ranging from the false hope and excitement he and Sasuke shared to bitter disappoint when he realized how dim the situation really was at the time.
"I-It got really bad… 'cause that masked guy stopped fooling around. I was too slow to dodge so he used me to get to Sasuke's…" he paused, collecting himself before continuing. "That's w-when Sasuke jumped in front of me and he-he…" Naruto's voice broke at the end of the sentence.
He bit down on his lower lip, moisture filling his eyes. He couldn't talk anymore, shaking his head pitifully as tears escaped his tightly shut eyes.
The air whistled softly through his sensei's mask as he weighed over the information. "I see…that is unfortunate. Now that I know what happened I need you to listen carefully, Naruto. What I'm about to tell you is a very important secret. You are not to repeat it to anyone outside this room, do you understand?"
The Copy-ninja locked his brown eye intently with a pair of overwhelmed, watery orbs as the Yondaime's legacy nodded. "One of our medical extraction teams arrived yesterday and examined Sasuke's body. Before they extracted it they shared their initial findings with me. They told me Sasuke's stab wounds were not the cause of death."
The blonde's ninja's eyes widened considerably as the implications were not lost to him. "I'm sorry, But Sasuke died from a case of fatal chakra poisoning..."
The Jinchuuriki's thought his abysmal ninja skills were to blame for the Uchiha's death – a fact now proven false. His mouth dried up and his heartbeat thundered in his ears. He couldn't swallow as his neck was clogged with choked sobs. "B-But…"
Kakashi lifted his hand, interrupting him once more. "Naruto, you must understand something. You are the container of the Kyuubi so the seal Yondaime-sama grafted on your stomach to absorb and purify it works only for you."
"So It was me! I'm the one who killed him!" the genin's voice choked out as he shut his eyes tightly. His restraint was tossed aside as he sobbed harshly; drowning in the guilty self loathing that accompanied the truth.
Kakashi's voice was cold and commanding as he grabbed Naruto's shoulders roughly and shook him several times. "No, you did not, Naruto. Sandaime-sama has classified our true mission details so officially, Uchiha Sasuke died in the line of duty. He sacrificed his life to fulfill his mission like any honorable shinobi would. That is the truth that is what you will answer if anyone ever asks you about this mission.
The jounin's commanding tone left no room for argument but his student's expression darkened and his fists tightened through his nod. A soft sigh escaped the sharingan wielder as he realized his words fell on deaf ears so he decided to try a different approach. "Did you mean to poison Sasuke, Naruto?"
The Uzumaki shook his head violently, his shoulders tensed further as hot tears continued to slowly stream down his cheeks. His sobs quieted down to small sniffles as blue eyes glared emptily into space.
The Yondaime's protégé knew that if he didn't act now, he would lose the boy forever. Survivor's guilt would eat at whatever semblance of sanity the pariah still held on to, "Naruto, I know what you're…"
Naruto's face contorted into a hateful, bitter expression as the words left Kakashi's lips. It seemed that his emotional dam broke and all the bitterness and hatred he kept at bay exploded. "No you don't! You don't know what it's like to have someone spit when you walk down the street. You don't know how it feels like when everyone ignores you, rejects you and acts like you don't even exist! You don't know what it's like to find out one day that you're supposed to hold back a monster!" he spat out.
His blue eyes burned shone with a heart wrenching fusion of rage, despair and speckles of insanity. The blonde sobs overtook him once more, his voice breaking. "You don't know what it's like…know what it's like to know you, to know that you're the one that killed your…"
Kakashi shook his head and spoke up. "That is not true, Naruto. You're only partially right. It's true I can't imagine what it's like to be in your shoes, being a container of one of those beasts of legend. But I do know what it's like to be suspected and hated for something out my control," Kakashi admitted.
He chuckled inaudibly at the way the Yondaime's legacy's eyes widened and mouth hung open. "My father was Konohagure's Legendary White Fang, a genius ninja that at his pinnacle rivaled the likes of the Densetsu no Sannin..."
The Jinchuuriki didn't know what surprised him more, the information itself or the fact Kakashi was entrusting him with something as intimate as his past. He was touched on one hand but felt unworthy on the other hand as there was no way he deserved Kakashi's kindness.
How could he? He was a failure, a kin-slayer and monster. So why? Why was his sensei showing him such compassion? It didn't make any sense.
"The name doesn't ring a bell? Oh my, well…if you had paid more attention during history. Nevermind, to make a long story short my father fell from grace when he abandoned an S-Class mission to save his squad. His failure exposed the mission details to Sunagakure and the controversy drove our villages to a bloody war. My father killed himself out of grief and left me alone to bear the shame of his actions.
His tone was quiet he looked away briefly. He reminisced over those darker times, "I…didn't fulfill the village's expectations. Instead, I chose to walk the opposite path; abiding the code to its letter. For almost seven years I stuck to the textbook nonsense about the mission coming first and foremost in all circumstances; even before the lives of my comrades and my village," Kakashi unveiled.
The cerulean eyed ninja was confused by the revelation and more than a little disillusioned. He hated to admit that a small part of him was relieved by knowing the way his home village treated him was not something reserved solely for him.
"But he…you said that those that abandon..." Naruto stammered and Kakashi's eye flickered with some sadness briefly. The emotion melted away abruptly a serious, solemn was left in its wake.
"It took the death of my teammate, Uchiha Obito, to show me there was some folly in my ninja way. While it is true that we shinobi are tools, the living extensions of our Hokage's will; we are also humans. We feel, we mourn and we all make mistakes. Denying this truth is living a lie, no matter how hard someone tries to convince you otherwise."
"Obito saved my life when we botched an attack on an Iwa jounin that captured our teammate. He got crushed under a massive rock slide by pushing me out of the way. It was on that mission that I lost my original eye and received this sharingan eye. Our other teammate Rin, an accomplished medic-nin performed field surgery and I now carry his legacy with me. It is a constant reminder of the path I must never follow ever again" The Copy nin reminisced softly. The haunted tone he spoke in as he tapped lightly against his slanted headband to emphasize his point, and his sincerity.
"H-How did you cope with it?" Naruto asked wearily as he digested what he just learned. The intensity of his agony faded into a bitter acceptance. He was so confused it physically hurt. He didn't know if he could deal with these emotions alone and he prayed his sensei would help him, otherwise…
Kakashi remained silent for a long time before his eye shifted to its smiling shape "I won't lie to you, Naruto, It never truly fades away. My sensei and teammate were the ones that helped me learn to live with my loss. They stood beside me and helped me grow out of my mistakes and move on. Don't worry; I won't abandon you, Naruto. I'll stand by your side for as long as it takes. I promise."
The Jinchuuriki froze in surprise, his eyes wide. He couldn't breathe for a long time before his dreary and gloomy expression melted away and his lips twisted into the widest, most genuine smile the copy nin had ever seen.
The blonde's eyes filled with gratitude and relief and he ignored all forms of sensei-pupil protocol and hugged his sensei tightly. "Th-Thanks, K-Kakashi-sensei!" He knew things would never be the same but the world seemed just a bit brighter now. If the genius managed to shoulder his loss somehow at Naruto's age than perhaps the Uzumaki could as well.
Kakashi's thoughts darkened somewhat as he thought of what would happen very soon when Sakura would make her presence known. His other surviving student had almost killed Naruto on the bridge. He hadn't addressed the hidden Kunai he saw her reaching for as she hadn't initiated her murder attempt when it happened.
He had since reprimanded her and cautioned her from trying to kill Naruto once more while advising her to try and calm down and think over things rationally. When he saw she remained broken he tried get her to open up to him, to explain what she felt regarding the whole ordeal and Naruto in particular.
But the pink-haired girl was inconsolable, it seemed with the adrenaline gone and the threat of death removed from her shoulders she folded into herself. She was a miserable, sobbing mass of depression and incoherent self dialect.
It worried him that despite his better efforts he couldn't get through to her and he even had to knock her out several times to get her to sleep; even though she often woke up screaming from nightmares. He had no choice but to conclude that something within the pink-haired genin seemed to have died along with Sasuke and he only hoped that several post-trauma psychiatric sessions would help straighten her up over time.
He guiltily admitted that he ignored the signs of her mental instability in the past, omitting the references to her self monologue, emotional imbalance and violent tendencies from his mission reports. He did that because thought it was a passing phase and she would grow out of it as she and Sasuke and Naruto grew closer but it seemed there was no denying the truth now – he had failed.
What had been a slight behavioral disorder in the past may have just transformed into a full blown dementia or deep mental trauma. It wasn't surprising in light of the traumatizing manner she confronted death for the first time while simultaneously losing her object of transference/obsession and her background as a sheltered civilian girl protected from the ugliness of life.
"By the way Kakashi-sensei, just who was your sensei anyway?" Naruto asked curiously, wondering who it was that influenced his sensei so much and helped him overcome these horrible emotions.
The dog summoner was pulled out of his contemplations and smirked faintly under his mask. He replied in a mock-disapproving tone: "Iruka will be very disappointed, Naruto. One would think you'd pay special attention to historical references to that particular person, "Kakashi chided.
A flat, impatient frown exchanged his earlier broken expression and the years seemed to peel off his previously somber expression. "Well…he wasn't anybody important. Just the man that one day became the Fourth Hokage…" He retorted mischievously.
Naruto exclaimed audibly, shocked and mock accusing and the Copy ninja chuckled softly at his rambling complaints of hiding something like that from him. "Things are going to be alright, Naruto…I'll make sure of that - I won't fail another one of my students…"
"Kaka-" The familiar sound of Sakura's timid, slightly subdued voice echoed from the hallway. Several moments later the door snapped open, eliciting an inaudible sigh from Kakashi.
"Oh, so he's finally awake," Sakura commented flatly in a somewhat tense tone. She seemed to ignore her teammate completely but the gleam in her eyes spoke otherwise. It was also noteworthy that the harder edge to her voice was the first one to surface other than despondence and depression in the last twenty four hours.
The blonde ninja's eyes narrowed faintly and a sinking feeling in his stomach made him feel even sicker than before. His beloved Sakura-chan assumed that look, the look that haunted his dreams and memories since he could remember himself.
Kakashi knew his two surviving pupil's would have to deal with the tension between them on their own. The same situation or at least a similar one had transpired between him and Rin all those years ago when Obito sacrificed himself and Minato-sensei hadn't taken sides either at the time. Therefore, despite his personal reservations the jounin decided that he would try ti follow his own sensei's footsteps and let them deal with their troubles on their own, at least for now. "I hope they can get over this. Sakura is no Rin, but then again Naruto is definitely not me. I'll stay on the sidelines as long as I can..."
"Sakura, Naruto. I'm going to prepare some rations for our journey back. When I return I'll carry Naruto until he feels well enough to walk on his own; so get ready. And Sakura, remember what I told you..." Kakashi said before he slipped out the room silently; leaving his two charges alone.
After the door slid shut a tense silence remain in the room. "S-Sakura-chan are y-you alright?" Naruto inquired shakily, his smile forced. The Pink haired kunoichi ignored him, her eyes cold and dismissive right before the wandered back to the wooden floor.
The fact she blatantly ignored him only served to shatter the glimpses of hope his sensei's kind words had inspired just moments earlier. The blonde genin afraid to put a foot in his mouth as he usually did; especially with how fragile Sakura's state of mind was; he had never seen her this quiet or detached before and it scared him on some level.
However, he couldn't stay silent for long; it wasn't in his character to be reserved. And so with his usual Uzumaki courage that bordered on recklessness he tested the waters. "S-Sakura-chan…I'm sorry about Sasuke. I-I tried to…but he still. I know you're upset b-but we'll be alright. We're comrades, aren't we? if we stick together we can get over this...right?"
Sakura's disposition darkened at his words. The sorrow melted away from her eyes, icy green transforming into a pair of hateful, burning emeralds. "Comrades? I don't know what you're talking about. How can I trust you? You're a traitor and a murderer!" Sakura hissed balefully, her voice was soft, but that made her words even more foreboding and painful than her usual screaming.
The Jinchuuriki sputtered, his wide eyes questioning and confused. Before he could muster a retort the pink teen dove in for more. "You always hated Sasuke-kun…you were jealous because he was better than you! But that wasn't what made you do it…was it? It was me you wanted more than anything, and you couldn't handle knowing I'd never give you the time of day.
Her voice was contemplative and quiet at first, but gradually it grew louder and rang with undertones of outrage and hatred. "How could you murder him like that? How can you sit here and talk to me when it's your fault he's gone!"
Naruto blinked at her accusation, the absurdity of her comment inflaming a sense of anger and righteous fury. His sunny, apologetic expression shifted into a blank expression and he held back the profanity and rage inside him by sheer willpower.
"What the fuck are you talking about, Sakura? I didn't...! How can you...? Damn it! Why do you keep on saying that?" his harsh, icy tone was foreign to Sakura; the low tremble of his hoarse hiss quite a bit more intimidating that his usual loud tantrums.
Her answer jammed in her throat at first the dead-last's bright blue eyes seemed to darken to a nearly violet shade. Sakura shut her eyes "He's just trying to deny his earlier confession! He admitted he KILLED Sasuke-kun! You can't trust anything he says now, he's just trying to worm his way out of a death sentence?" the voice of her ever-trusty alter-ego,' Inner-Sakura', cautioned mentally.
'Have you forgotten what happened already, Sakura-chan? He's a monster! You saw his glowing eyes, those fangs and claws! A-and, that horrible chakra, don't you remember how evil it was. He can't be human! Don't let him confuse us, we know what he is now. a lying, manipulative that's biding his time..." her inner-self reminded her urgently.
Perhaps she needed to convince herself by silencing any doubts or extenuating circumstances or perhaps it was an attempt to also sway over the primary consciousness but both facets of her psyche accepted it as the dogmatic truth. Any other explanation would be admitting her/their own utter failure and the inevitability of the Uchiha's death; something the pinkette could not stomach. Sasuke-kun was better than a victim of being dealt a shitty hand by fate!
The fact the blonde seemed to shift in between innocent dead-last and murdering monster so quickly only eased her conscience as she laid the blame on him. "I know you'll do anything to get what you want; you proved that plenty of times during the academy! I know you killed Sasuke-kun! You said it yourself so don't you fucking lie to me now!" she pointed at him with eyes and finger alike.
The Uzumaki shut his eyes tightly. His body trembled, the sickly, feverish heat within him returning. The nausea came back, a prelude to yet another fit of coughing blood into his hand. He panted heavily as he clutched his lungs, the crimson liquid obstructing his breathing.
He knew Sakura was distraught but her conviction and self-righteousness infuriated him. Said blonde couldn't quite quell his instinctive reply, one that came deep from his gut. "Fuck you…Sakura! You don't know shit about what happened on the bridge! You don't know how it feels like to know he died while protecting me…" Naruto murmured inaudibly.
The second survivor of team seven eyed him with something akin of disgust and incredulity. "I know enough! I know you killed him! I know you'd do anything to get what you want and don't give a crap about anything or anyone but you!"
Her accusing tone and dismissive eyes were the outward mask that concealed her internal glee at the broken expression that spread across the blonde's face 'That's showing him, Shannaro!'
Naruto couldn't believe his ears; she actually thought he was that heartless and selfish? Was that what everyone of their generation thought about him? That he was some stupid, selfish bastard that only cared about his dream and ambitions? The mere thought brought upon a new realization – he was a joke of a ninja.
Even if the hatred of the Kyuubi was to blame for many of his setbacks, it wasn't like he took his studies seriously even when Iruka-sensei offered to help him. A large portion of the blame for the ridicule of his peers was his own stubborn pride, his childish antics and naivety about relying on his own strength.
"Become Hokage? Not like this…I can't protect anyone like this…'"Naruto thought, a flame of determination burning deeply in his chest for the first time since Sasuke's death. He clenched his fist tightly to the point where his knuckles whitened. "Sasuke was right, I am a dead last! It was my fuck up that got him killed. But I won't let that happen again! I'll change: I'll try harder; I won't let anyone I care for die because of me! Never again!'
Naruto resolved his 'new' nindo silently before opening his eyes and glaring at Sakura darkly. "Don't you dare look down on me, Sakura! You don't know shit about what happened on the bridge or about me. You're just a sheltered kid who doesn't know what suffering is. That's why I'm gonna ignore what you're sayin' now because you don't know better, but you have no right to blame me for everything!" He retorted angrily.
Her slightly fearful expression shifted into a furious, self-righteous one. Her eyes flickering with insane anger, 'How dare that bastard talk to me like that! He's the one that got Sasuke killed and now he thinks he can talk back at me? Where does that motherfucker come from that he's trying to justify himself by saying I don't know anything?'
Her next words were uttered in a tense, foreboding manner. "You aren't getting off the hook so easily, you son of a bitch! I won't let you brush this under the carpet! When we get back I'll let everyone know exactly what you are and how you murdered Sasuke-kun!" she began only to be silenced by the sight of Naruto's pupils slitting.
The innocent baby blue color shifted to a bright burning ruby that was something taken out of a nightmare. Naruto's fear, anger and bitterness; the emotions that welled inside him for years finally erupted and his heightened emotions invoked the demon's chakra once more.
"I'm not a monster and everyone knows that but you! And If you think I'm going to let you ruin my life, you've got another thing comin' for you!"The Kyuubi-influenced voice exploded out of his throat angrily. The intense furious heat he experienced on the bridge returning with vengeance as his chakra spiked ominously.
"Yes I fucked up and Sasuke died, but it wasn't my fault and I did my best on this mission, unlike YOU! I won't let you steal everything I've worked so hard for!' He shouted, a wave of killer intent sending Sakura to her knees as the tears fell from Naruto's eyes.
"I loved you, Sakura. I did everything I could to make you happy! And you shot me down, spat on me, hit me and hated me. Well enough is enough! I'm fed up with your shit, Sakura! I won't let you shoot me down anymore!' he growled as he slowly stood up.
His footing was wobbly and his balance off due to his illness. Furthermore, the flaming chakra only served to augment his physical weakness; but he couldn't help it – she made him so mad. "No…I won't let you…" Naruto caught himself, realizing what he was about to do and bit down on his lower lip tightly.
Blood pooled in his mouth as he brought himself into a kneeling position, clutching his body tightly as he fought down the murderous youki that threatened to overwhelm him. He sank deep into his own subconscious, seeking out the tailed beast within him. "I am not a monster like you, Kyuubi! I don't need your chakra so knock it off!'he shouted in his mind, screaming at the demon behind the sealed cage.
The massive Kitsune opened its burning red eyes and chuckled deeply in amusement. The dismissal and ridicule was apparent in its eyes as it spoke. 'Foolish little ningen, you can fight me, you can hate me and curse me all you want. But the longer you live in denial the sooner you just how pathetic you truly are…and come begging for my help…' The ageless chakra entity promised before curling into itself.
It pulled back its chakra, not due to its host's threat, bur rather since it felt the boy's body was too weak to sustain its youki. It would do no good to kill its warden; at least not yet. So for now it was satisfied with waiting patiently for another chance to corrupt its host.
Naruto was torn out of his own mind by his survival instincts screaming at him to move. "I could never love a monster like you!" she screamed and reached for her weapon pouch. "And you bet your lying, backstabbing ass I'll scream to the high heavens about what you did, you fucking bastard!
She grasped a kunai and whipped her hand forward, sending it flying forth at the immobile Naruto. 'First he murdered Sasuke-kun, now he wants to murder us too, Sakura-chan! You heard him, he'll stop us from exposing him at any cost! He really is a demon...he'll do whatever it takes to get his own...you know what has to be done' Inner Sakura supplied passionately, goading her primary ego on.
The Jinchuuriki tried moving out of the way but he knew he wouldn't make it in time in his weakened physical state. Therefore he aimed to minimize the damage but before he could a blurry shape knocked him to the ground. Someone deflecting the kunai and it missed Naruto's jugular just barely before sailing harmlessly into the wall behind him. "She...she really...she actually tried to kill me? I-I can't...Sakura...?
Kakashi was kneeling beside Naruto, his hand pushing the blonde against the ground. His head was bowed before it rose slowly to glare at his pink haired student. His single brown eyes flashed with such intensity that Sakura nearly wet herself. "Sakura! What is the meaning of this?" his voice hissed out in a commanding manner.
Sakura's eyes filled with tears as fear, paranoia and panic flooded her, making her eyes flash with a truly wild and somewhat deranged gleam as she pointed at Naruto. "Look at him, sensei! He's got red eyes! His chakra's RED! He's a monster! He killed Sasuke-kun and h-he said that he'll...!"
The pink haired's voice was a shrill, shuddering one as she shouted desperately, trying to convince her sensei to join her cause. To her great disappointment and misfortune she only found her sensei's anger growing along his homicidal impatience as he didn't allow her to tell him of Naruto's threat.
"Sakura, what the hell are you thinking! I told you Sasuke died in the line of duty and Naruto here put his life on the line to both avenge Sasuke and protect Tazuna-san…" he clarified with finality, his tone as crisp and icy as the gleam in his eye.
"I let your previous murder attempt slip because you were distraught and confused. But I explained things to you since then, didn't I? I don't care how sad and angry you are now, you're out of excuses and there is only so much I can turn a blind eye towards. I should execute you now for this treason but enough blood has been shed for one mission so I'll leave your fate to Hokage-sama. Now, you had better keep away from Naruto or I'll be forced to kill you myself, do you understand me, Sakura?" His words were harsh, clipped and seemed to put the fear of death in his young pupil.
The gleam in his single brown eye was so terrifying Sakura could barely breathe, more so offer an argument against him, so she nodded helplessly and bolted out of the room fearfully. "He's…he's got Kakashi-sensei wrapped around his finger, maybe even Sandaime too. I can't trust Kakashi-sensei anymore, I-I hope when we get home I can make Hokage-sama see the truth..."
Kakashi watched Sakura bolt in tears and shook his head slightly. "What a mess…this is going to be one hell of a walk back to Konoha…"
He sighed softly as he patted his blonde pupil's back consolingly. "Don't worry Naruto, we'll figure something out. Get dressed I'll carry you," The copy ninja coaxed the Uzumaki quietly and slipped out the room.
He caught the sight of Naruto's reserved and somewhat forlorn expression just before he slid the door shut behind him. He knew Naruto would never forgive Sakura, she had abused him for so long and yet he still loved her. But to have all the blame placed on his shoulders, to have her nearly kill him was unforgivable, even for someone as caring and loyal as Naruto. "These two, they'll never be able to work together again. Minato-sensei...what should I do?"
Two days later, the silent and subdued remnants of team seven reached the gates of Konoha. Naruto had recovered early on the second day and had taken to walking beside Kakashi on the final leg of their trek to Konoha.
Once the trio entered Konoha proper the jounin dismissed Sakura and sent her home and ordered her to remain there while he escorted the Jinchuuriki towards the Hokage tower until she was summoned to meet with the Sandaime.
On her way home Sakura passed through one of the side streets. She paused when she felt a chakra signature flare behind her. The psychologically unstable girl turned around and gasped in surprise when she caught sight of an owl-masked ANBU standing right behind her.
Before she could react he put his hand over her mouth and pushed her against the wall firmly, stifling her scream. "Haruno Sakura?" The ANBU asked and Sakura nodded nimbly. "You've been summoned, come with me," He commanded and let her go. He hit the side of the wall gently, revealing a passageway.
The pink haired kunoichi looked surprised. Kakashi had told her to go straight home and remain there until she received word of the Hokage's verdict, but this ANBU was one of the Hokage's men, wasn't he? That command superseded Kakashi's and so she followed quietly.
"This isn't the way to the Hokage tower" she replied hesitantly as she stepped into the darkness.
The black ops. agent's reply was simple, "We aren't going to the Hokage tower"
While Sakura was being led through a labyrinth of side corridors and underground tunnels that ran beneath Konoha Kakashi was leading Naruto to a room deep beneath the Hokage tower.
"Naruto, we're about to be debriefed and questioned by the council of the flame. So I suggest you remain respectful and behave properly," Kakashi cautioned softly. They started walked down a spiraling staircase, deeper and deeper into the bowels of the earth.
"The council of flame…?" Naruto questioned his sensei in confusion and the copy ninja sighed. The blonde needed some serious remedial training once this was over.
"The council of flame consists of the clan leaders, the legendary ninja and Hokage. The council is an ancient political body that Shodaime-sama created to represent Konoha's ninja in crucial times." the elite Jounin explained patiently.
"But I thought the Hokage was our leader?" Naruto asked quietly, genuinely confused as he had always imagined the Hokage was the sole power behind the village's military force.
Kakashi proceeded to further enlighten his pupil before they entered a potentially lethal situation by teaching him the basics of what he was about to face. "While it's true that generally Hokage-sama is the final word in all military affairs the council of flame is an advisory council he can choose to consult with on his own discretion in order to get a wider acceptance of controversial subjects."
"All ninja countries have a governing council of some sort to assist him in managing the village as there is only so much one man can accomplish. These councils' authority and influence vary from Kage to Kage. In our village the council of flame is a mostly advisory body but their final word is usually accepted by the Hokage due to their political influence even though technically it isn't binding in a legal sense."
Kakashi elaborated patiently as he saw some realization in Naruto's eyes though there was much confusion due to the complex terms and words Kakashi used. "There are a number of agreed issues that justify the Hokage assembling the council of flame. The most common use of the council is dealing with subjects of national security that the Hokage feels deserve being discussed in a wider forum. The other is electing a new leader if the reigning Hokage dies and no successor named before presenting him to both the jounin population and the Fire Daimyo for approval."
The Uzumaki nodded thoughtfully "I guess Iruka-sensei wasn't kidding when he said being Hokage was about more than just strength. All of this is so complicated but I guess it makes sense. It doesn't matter though; I'll wing it when the time comes. I will become Hokage!' Naruto grinned faintly, the whole ordeal with Sasuke only having strengthening his sense of purpose to protect everyone and be the best Kage ever.
"I think I understand. So…think before I talk and…be respectful, right?" he asked hesitantly; making sure he understood his sensei correctly as they reached the set of double doors made of deep mahogany. Kakashi nodded as he led Naruto into a dimly lit room.
The room itself was huge hexagon that consisted of a large open area with a long table in its center. The floor's tiles were carved like the rings at the base of a tree. At the eight corners of the room eight pillars rose into the darkness, torches hanging within them and granting the room the atmosphere of being in the base of an ancient tree. It contained many carvings of figures Naruto imagined he would've recognized had he listened during his history lessons with Iruka-sensei though he easily recognized the Hokages of old and his idol, the Fourth.
Around the table sat many people Naruto recognized from his academy days as the parents of his peers. The Ino-Shika-Chou trio was sitting on the right side of the table, all solemn and serious as the death of the last Uchiha held dire implications they could not ignore. Beside them was the empty seat that was once reserved for the Uchiha clan's representative, vacant ever since the murder of Uchiha Fugaku.
Across from them sat Aburame Shibi, his body enveloped in his dark baggy clothes as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. To his left sat Inuzuka Tsume, her feral disposition twisted into an impatient, slightly nervous one as she disliked these meetings with passion. Some of the worst and most dreadful decisions in the current history of the leaf were suggested within these walls and she hoped that this pattern would not repeat itself today.
To the other side of the Aburame leader sat the head of the Hyuuga clan, the venerable Hiashi. His silver eyes were blank and icy as usual. His porcelain like features belied nothing of his inner thoughts; though his gaze did shift to glance at Naruto when he stepped into the chamber.
At the head of that side of the table sat the one man Naruto did not recognize at all. He was old, if a bit younger than Sarutobi though it was hard to tell since half of his face was covered in bandages. The man's left arm was also seemingly missing and for the very brief moment he glanced at the blonde the Jinchuuriki felt tingles run up his spine at the coldness of his penetrating gaze.
Also there were another three vacant chairs where Kakashi and Naruto now stood, no doubt they once belonged to the Densetsu no Sannin. At the head of the table sat the Hokage and his former teammates/advisors.
Sarutobi was the only one that smiled while the other two elders simply glared at him quietly in an unsettlingly emotionless glance. Naruto kept his face calm as he Kakashi walked over to the table and stood silently side by side.
"I've summoned the council of flame today in order to discuss and analyze the events that transpired three days ago in Nami no Kuni. Mainly we must review the events surrounding the death of one Uchiha Sasuke and its consequences," Sarutobi narrated neutrally. He signaled the meeting was now in session by spreading his arms to allow the council to speak freely.
"Kakashi, you were the senior ninja on the scene. How exactly did Sasuke get separated from you, his Jounin-sensei?" Koharu questioned quietly and Kakashi was surprised the elders didn't immediately tear into Naruto but he wasn't one to argue with any luck that was thrown his way.
"We were attacked by Momochi Zabuza, an A-Class nuke-nin and his accomplice a boy named Haku; a wielder of the supposedly extinct Hyouton bloodline limit," Kakashi explained. "Naruto was not with the team on the bridge initially as he suffered from mild chakra from training too hard the previous evening. Naruto held back a groan, realizing how idiotic that was.
"Allow me to make sure I understand correctly, Kakashi. You allowed part of the guard detail to train to the point of chakra exhaustion when you knew an A-rank nuke-nin was on your trail. I cannot help but question your reasoning, Hatake-san," Hiashi exclaimed his silver eyes narrowed slightly. The Hyuuga horrified by the strategic ineptitude and borderline stupidity but reserved judgment until he heard all the details.
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head and seemed a bit sheepish, "Zabuza was injured in our initial confrontation as my mission report states, he wasn't expected to surface while they were training and to be honest Naruto never suffers from chakra exhaustion for more than several hours at a time due to his 'burden'," the Copy-ninja replied.
He left the catalyst of his pupil's abilities unspoken as all members were aware of his condition. "It turned out for the best because he managed to save the client's family and prevent a hostage situation…"
Hiashi looked thoughtful for a moment before his expression smoothed out to its stony mask once more as he nodded. The council accepted the exonerating circumstances due to Naruto's 'tenant' so they apparently let it slide, at least for now.
Kakashi knew his decision was controversial and he might have to rebuild his credibility as a sensei if he ever wanted to command a genin team with anyone belonging to a clan again. Though he admitted to himself that after this debacle he wasn't very eager to assume that role anytime in the near future.
"Naruto-san, how exactly did Sasuke die?" The Aburame head cut to the chase, his blunt, direct approach in any quest for knowledge quite renown amongst his peers.
The Jinchuuriki started faintly at being addressed directly by the council and nervousness welled within him as all the eyes locked up him; some were curious while others were openly inquisitive.
He exhaled shakily as he tried to arrange his thoughts. "I underestimated our enemy. He and Sasuke were locked in some kind of dome of ice mirrors and instead of staying outside I got trapped inside too." He swallowed faintly as he watched Danzou scoff openly. Perhaps it was his imagination but he could've sworn Sarutobi eyes leveled a glare at the war hawk and silenced him wordlessly.
"Haku…he used some strange ice jutsu to teleport between the mirrors and was too fast for us. The needles he used were probably coated with a drug or something because they made me numb and drowsy. I got hit by so many of them that I...I think I was about to faint. That's when...that's when Sasuke jumped in front of me and took the lethal blow," Naruto's tone faltered as he bowed his head.
"And yet…you somehow survived these lethal amounts of poison, how?" Tsume asked sarcastically, finding his story a bit too convenient. To her credit she was unaware of the full scope of his regenerative abilities; nobody was as his unique Jinchuuriki abilities had yet to manifest – until now.
Shibi coughed into his fist "The boy is telling the truth, but there is something he's holding back…" the Aburame said sagely, his voice toneless yet it carried an inquisitive quality that would not be denied.
"You are aware of who you're talking to, aren't you boy?' Nara Shikaku commented lazily and quirked his scarred brow. "We've been sorting through lies and deception since before you were born so lying to us would not be in your favor, Uzumaki,"' he pointed out honestly with a slight sigh as the kid seemed painfully unaware of the situation.
"I…I'm not lying" Naruto murmured out painfully, "I'm just…I'm just ashamed. I was too weak to save him," he replied miserably. Some of the council members exchanged and looks of sympathy whereas some exchanged looks of disappointment and disapproval. Each and one of the elite ninja had lost comrades and family; suffered from survivor's guilt at some point of his/her careers.
"Is that that was when you got angry, Uzumaki-san? So angry that you invoked the Kyuubi and you let it control your actions…" Homura asked him neutrally. He sighed and rubbed his beard when Naruto seemed tongue-tied by the blunt observation.
"This is disconcerting, we cannot risk releasing the Kyuubi. Unlike it's lesser counterparts, it cannot be sealed in inanimate objects. We don't have another Namikaze Minato or Senju Hashirama to single-handedly defeat the legendary beast; nor any Uchiha like Madara to control it. I cannot help, despite my personal reservations, wonder if counter-measures should not be taken to protect Konoha from such a disaster..."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed dangerously at the unspoken suggestion. "I will allow no such thing!" he declared in a firm, powerful tone; flashes of the 'God of Ninja' bursting through the mask of his advanced age as he slapped his hand against the table.
That would be enough to cut the dangerous thoughts in their bud, or so he thought. He eyed his childhood friends and teammates questioningly. While they were close on a personal level they often disagreed on political affairs, their line was a harder, harsher one than the 'god of ninja's' peaceful ways.
Danzou's eyes narrowed slightly "Just because you blind yourself willingly to the true threat that boy poses does not mean you can bully the council into sharing your ignorance, Sarutobi," the war hawk took every opportunity to weaken his rival's political hold on the ninja council in order to strength his own.
These openings where the only thing that prevented Sarutobi's silent wish regarding expelling Danzou. Unfortunately many viewed him as the 'Devil's advocate' that offered a true counter rationale to the 'Professor' and so he remained a thorn in Sarutobi's side.
The council seemed uncertain on how to react to the exchange between the two elder ninja. While they all sympathized with the Sandaime and revered his wisdom they couldn't completely ignore the logic behind Danzou's claim on how the old man pulled his rank as it was the second time Sarutobi forced their hand forcefully on an issue regarding Uzumaki Naruto.
"Naruto, please explain what transpired when you accessed the Kyuubi's chakra. Perhaps that'll clarify things a bit better," Akimichi Chouza cut in. He hated discord and thought perhaps a perspective on the events could help settle the issue a bit more decisively and prevent further arguments and bad blood between the council members.
Naruto shuddered visibly and his eyes narrowed. He bit his lip constantly to quench the righteous rage mingled with terror he felt. He stammered a bit as he spoke: "The damned fox was laughing in my head but that was it. It kept on forcing its chakra through my body and I felt like I was burning all over." He explained.
"It was hard to think and concentrate, but even so...I was the one in control! Even when it regenerated all my wounds, even with the burning chakra searing my skin I was the one fighting and I was the one losing miserably to Haku…" Naruto murmured bitterly.
"You are but a child and you expect us to believe you were able not only to subdue but also control the will of the demon-fox on your own?" Danzou accused in a cold, condescending manner and slammed his hand on the table as well.
While he held no personal grudge towards the young blonde he did not trust his ability to rein the youki contained within him. Sarutobi refused to have the boy properly trained and therefore Naruto was a liability, a walking time bomb that present a danger to Konoha and that was something the secret sharingan user could not tolerate.
Hiashi's eyes narrowed faintly as he gazed at the defiant fire in Naruto's eyes, he had seen it the eyes of another years ago. Just like her unfounded accusations seemed to further garner indignation. The boy was visibly upset by the way he physically bit down choice words that were most likely coarse and quite unsavory and Hiashi found his lips tugging upwards faintly at the similarities between mother and child.
"I can too suppress its chakra! It sounds amused when I refuse its help, but I still…" he began and the room exploded into murmurs of varying volume and Naruto realized he had just made a fatal mistake by the way Sarutobi's eyes widened in shock and the way Kakashi stiffened beside him.
"So you openly admit that you correspond and communicate with the demon-fox, Uzumaki?" the former ANBU commander accused, his eye narrowing just a bit.
The situation was shifting into one that fit his plans perfectly. "The next step will be having easier access to its youki. Then you will be more open and ready to accept its tainted influence. Surely, Uzumaki cannot hope to control the rage of the demon. One small lapse of judgment might become our undoing!" He planted the seeds of doubt in the council and waited patiently for one of his main goals finally coming to fruition.
He would either remove the threat of the Kyuubi indefinitely or transform its vessel into a weapon worthy of its bloody legacy.
"Hiashi-san, do you mind scanning Naruto's chakra pathways for youki?" Sarutobi interjected coolly, already rushing to deflect Danzou's move. The Hyuuga nodded once in acknowledgment before activating his Byakugan.
He looking over the young blonde Hyuuga was nothing if not a shrewd and cunning individual and he hazarded a guess regarding the boy's amazing potential and entertained a theory regarding the blonde he would have to investigate on a later date.
The partially crippled elder was crafty and cunning but he was not the only person on the council with spies of his own – Hiashi's own men came up with a very different version of the truth around Uzumaki Naruto.
That boy was no threat to the village and unlike many of his peers he trusted Yondaime's sealing skills and could not blame the boy for the rampages of a demon. Instead Hiashi had a gut feeling that the Uzumaki boy would become someone of great prowess and value to Konoha and it would be very foolish to alienate him.
Thus the Hyuuga patriarch did what he did best and chose the path of greatest benefit to the Hyuuga clan in the long run – gaining the favor of the Uzumaki. He could easily condemn him but instead he decided to tell the honest truth about his chakra network instead of omitting facts that would paint the boy in an unsavory light.
"It appears young Uzumaki's heightened emotional state has invoked some of his tenant's chakra, but the chakra in his tenketsu is predominantly Naruto's. With my 'all-seeing eyes' I can tell you right now with certainty that the boy holds no malice or bloodlust within him that warrants labeling him a national security risk," the Hyuuga concluded decisively.
The Hyuuga's words won over the Ino-Shika-Chou trio, the three seemingly easing down in their seats and the harsh lines in their faces smoothing out. Tsume seemed to also be warming up towards the Jinchuuriki.
The former runner-up for the Sandaime position leveled Hiashi with cursory glance as his lips tightened; he would settle the score with the Hyuuga soon enough. It was interesting to note that Koharu and Homura remained unflinchingly neutral and unconvinced despite it all.
"Be as that may, we have no guarantees that the demon's influence will not grow as the Jinchuuriki ages…today we lose the last Uchiha, tomorrow it might be one of your clan heirs that falls due to his…condition" The supposedly one-eyed council-member replied sternly. "I'm afraid that the immediate revocation of his ninja status and indefinite incarceration are necessary as the path of execution is most certainly out of the question."
Koharu rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "While Yondaime-sama's seal work was at his time considered legendary the Kyuubi has never been sealed before. Even the Hachibi, the second strongest Bijuu came nowhere near the Kyuubi's power. I hold no qualms against young Uzumaki-san on a personal level but we must not forgo our duty and make a hasty judgment. We've all seen what happened to the containers of the weaker Bijuu when they are allowed to operate unchecked…"
Everyone briefly glanced at Danzou, the war hawk had lost his full battle ability when his arm was crushed and half his face was pulverized by the crushing sands of the Jinchuuriki of the Ichibi no Shukaku; the 'weakest' Bijuu, in the last days the third ninja war between Konohagakure, Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
He only survived with his life because the sannin had all intervened directly in the conflict and repelled Suna's human weapon – much to Sarutobi's chagrin in retrospect, but Danzou was a powerful ANBU operative at the time.
Naruto felt the cold touch of fear as he saw Shibi nod thoughtfully and Tsume shake her head and looking conflicted once more. His eyes fell to the ground and clenched his fists so tightly his hands nearly bled, the injustice nearly brought him to tears because it seemed he just couldn't catch a break in his life. Since he could remember it seemed like fate was determined to pit everything against him and make his life hell.
Kakashi eyed the proceedings worriedly before he noticed Hiashi's lips twitch just slightly, his silver eyes locked on something behind Kakashi. The copy ninja's nose twitched as he sniffed the air before he grinned widely under his face-mask and squeezed Naruto's shoulder
"Don't worry, Naruto. It's going to be ok," he whispered reassuringly and before Sarutobi could pull rank in an attempt to salvage the situation a different voice cut in and beat him to the punch, coming from the shadows of one of the corners of the room.
"You guys have got to learn to loosen up, the seal's foolproof. I've examined its schematics thoroughly." A man stepped into the light, his face the mask of disappointment and ire that made many of the council bow their head to avoid his piercing brown eyes. "You seem so suspiciously mistrustful of my pupil's work in his death. But I guess considering what we're dealing with I can let it slide…this time."
The man's white hair swished as he glided across the room and stood beside Kakashi, smirking faintly, "But have no fear, Jiraiya-sama is here! I'll examine the seal for you," he exclaimed dramatically and 'patted' Kakashi on the back cheerfully, almost knocking the silver-haired Jounin to the ground.
"Besides, the squirt here and can handle it. He was Minato's prized student for a reason you know…he is an intermediate seal master. With a little guidance he could easily learn the machinations of the seal as well" he pointed out while gesturing at Kakashi with his thumb.
The room filled with murmurs, it had been a decade since the toad hermit set foot in Konoha. It was common knowledge that the mere sight of the Hokage monument pained him. There were also rumors regarding his estranged relationship with Sarutobi when said Hokage denied Jiraiya's request to take the baby Naruto away from Konoha to live in an isolated location where he could grow up normally.
"Jiraiya…you really are my most trustworthy student…even after all this time and all our arguments…" Hiruzen's face brightened at the sight of his wayward pupil, while Naruto looked at the odd looking man with slight suspicion but with a great deal of relief and thankfulness.
The massive man slapped his hand on Naruto's shoulder and grinned in a way that reminded him of his own grins. "Hah! Imagine that! I wonder how our enemies would react if they knew the council of the leaf was afraid of this pipsqueak!" he joked and chuckled inwardly at the blonde's shocked then outraged expression, the resemblance to his parents was unmistakable.
"With all due respect, Jiraiya; your interference is not required at the current time." Danzou attempted to steer the conversation back to the direction it was going – his direction; when his hopes were dashed by the toad san-nin's boisterous laughter.
"Hoo Hoo Hoo, last time I checked I still held a seat on this council, Danzou-san" the hermit brushed off Danzou's words jovially and knelt beside the Uzumaki. The whole atmosphere in the room changed dramatically with the sannin's arrival.
All parties knew of his legendary sealing skills as well as his deep loyalty to Konoha. Where Tsunade merely sent the occasional medical research paper and small bits of information to Sarutobi and Orochimaru betrayed and abandoned the village completely Jiraiya was the only sannin that truly remained part of Konoha through thick and thin.
"Remove your jumpsuit and shirt and then channel some chakra for me, boy," Jiraiya commanded softly and Naruto numbly obeyed, somewhat awed by the man presence and how he single-handedly turned the tide regarding his ultimate fate.
The toad san-nin examined the seal thoughtfully and smirked "Pure genius, he really did outdo himself with this one…" he murmured thoughtfully before standing at his full height and taking a step back from Naruto. "The seal construct is as stable as ever and it's functioning as intended without a flaw…" He concluded with a grin "My student truly was a once in a lifetime seal master…"
Jiraiya turned to the council and smirked slightly, "However, to alleviate all of your concerns I'll just conduct one more test to make sure. Hiashi-san, watch the seal's machination while the boy channels the Kyuubi's chakra."
Naruto blinked in shock and looked somewhat fearful, but the odd man's cold brown eyes left him with no other choice but to obey. Naruto shut his eyes and concentrated on appearing before the massive seal-gate and looked into the endless darkness behind it.
"Oi, Kyuubi! C-could you give me some of your chakra…um, please" Naruto asked hesitantly, trying to be polite to the nine-tailed calamity while licking his lips slightly in nervousness.
The Fox popped one eye open and regarded the human before it in boredom 'Oh…so now you want my chakra, do you? I don't think so…go away, ningen. I don't feel like dealing with your loud voice at the moment…'the demon fox refused dismissively and shut its eye once more, seemingly returning to sleep; curled within its many tails.
"Hey, you stupid fox! If you don't give me your chakra those old bastards might execute us both!" Naruto shouted angrily. His patience had run to its end; his panic and urgency overwhelmed his rational thoughts that would've cautioned him on the insanity of threatening the crimson furred tailed beast was quite unwise at the very least and suicidal at worst.
"Listen to my you fucking bastard, give some of your chakra or we're both dead!" he shouted brazenly, throwing caution into the wind. The many twists and turns in how the council regarded him had successfully grated his very last nerves and the stupid overgrown fur ball wasn't helping.
The Kyuubi opened both of its eyes, the massive orbs narrowing dangerously as it growled at the blonde in deafening decibels. It slammed its massive paw against the gate, effectively shaking the entire area.
'You dare threaten me! The Kyuubi no Kitsune! Insolent ningen, I'll eat you!' its killer intent ran rampant as its snout slammed against the bars of its cage. Naruto struggled to remain standing but slowly his outrage turned to curiosity as he watched the fox fail miserably at breaking out of its cage.
"Ha! As if you could! You're stuck behind those bars, bastard fox! It's not like I want your tainted chakra anyway, I just need a little so that white-haired old man can prove the strength of the seal…" Naruto retorted with a small grin as and locked eyes with the ageless entity. "If you don't want the Yondaime's victory over you to be the last…I suggest you cough up your chakra…"
The Kyuubi was not impressed that the pathetic sack of flesh, even if he hadn't wet itself in its presence. None the less, the simian had a point; humans were flighty, panicky creatures that needed constant reassurances; it would be best not to test how far they would go to remove a threat. 'I'm only doing this because you're too stupid to get us out of this situation on your own, ningen. So just this once I'll grant you some of my chakra for free. Now…get out of here, the stench of your smugness and relief is nauseating'
"Do not think this is over. You insolent little insect. I will eat you yet, on the day you succumb to your insecurities and realize that without me, you're nothing…" the Kyuubi thought vindictively. It had lived for ages; it could wait patiently for its chance.
Jiraiya chuckled inwardly as he watched the seal flare in red momentarily before crimson chakra erupted from beneath the Uzumaki's tanned skin. The miasma-like chakra licked against its jailor's skin hungrily, grasping for something to grab and destroy with all the bone-chilling killer intent of its source.
Naruto stood steadfast against the burning sensation compacted in his chest; he held a calm and concentrated expression as he endured the sickening heat. His muscles tensed further as the fox's laughter echoed in his ears. The amused and malevolent sound only served to strengthen Naruto's silent vow to never again approach that fox again if he could avoid it.
Meanwhile, Hiashi's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, watching the swirling seal pulse like a heartbeat, thrusting repeated, sequenced doses of Youki into the young Uzumaki's body. If it were left to that he would conclude the boy's fate was death but instead of overwhelming the boy, another set of seals filtered the chakra and converted some of it into human chakra, thus diminishing from the Youki's intensity and distributing the remainders through the blonde's tenketsu equally.
That was the moment the Hyuuga realized as Jiraiya had earlier with a glance alone the truth depth of the fourth Hokage's genius. Hiashi explained the machinations of the seal and Jiraiya filled in the details where the Byakugan wielder lacked the professional sealing terms and in the end the Toad Sannin smirked widely.
"As long as little Naruto here if trained properly, he shouldn't have any problems with the Kyuubi's chakra. On the contrary his ninja abilities will grow far beyond our comprehension…" The toad san-nin declared with a reassuring 'thumbs up' gesture.
Naruto inwardly cheered and couldn't stifle the huge foxy grin the declaration elicited as his body seemed to teem with renewed vigor.
"Naruto, you're dismissed, we still have issues to discuss – I will summon you later so we can talk further…" Sarutobi informed him calmly. His eyes flickering briefly with weariness as he saw the slight twitch in his student's left pinky. It was the telltale sign he was hiding something and Hiruzen had a feeling he would not like whatever his student was concealing.
Meanwhile Naruto smiled shakily, "Sure thing, Ji-I mean, Hokage-sama" he laughed nervously before bowing awkwardly and slipping out of the room a bit clumsily.
Kakashi coughed politely once Naruto left the room. An idea had formed in his mind while they travelled back from Nami no Kuni and he might as well offer it considering what Naruto is and situation that arose from the council's decision. "I have a request I would like to discuss. I wish to apprentice Uzumaki Naruto much like Jiraiya-sama apprenticed Yondaime-sama." Kakashi spoke humbly and watched the surprise and consequential approval on Jiraiya's face with relief.
"He is the one my sensei chose to bear the burden of the Kyuubi and I owe Minato-sensei in the very least to protect the boy from harm. Besides with his inhuman chakra reserves and regenerative abilities I promise to mold him into a true legendary ninja." Kakashi vowed.
Though Inoichi was now convinced that the Uzumaki boy could be trusted he feared the second coming of an Uchiha Itachi should the blonde Jinchuuriki be alienated from his peers and trained for power. Thus, the usually silent member of the council decided to add his own two cents to the discussion "While I find much promise in Kakashi's motion I think it would be preferable if Naruto was also allowed to join other genin cells on their missions…" he stated smoothly.
Shikaku's eyes widened briefly as he caught his old comrade's drift. He rubbed his beard thoughtfully and commented accordingly. "Yes, I believe, Inoichi is right. It would be wise to let the kid rotate between his graduating class' genin squads so he can learn the value of teamwork and make bonds with people his age. After all, it is theorized that it was Itachi's isolation and Orochimaru's ostracized life that drove them each to treachery and as the Kyuubi's container he has the potential to become deadlier than both of them combined…"
Tsume grinned in a feral manner. "Yeah, if want him to grow strong, he's gotta have a heart and leadership and teamwork skills can't hurt either. It's better for him to be a real ninja than a weapon that would just as well kill our ninja as the enemy's," she added her two cents.
"I concur to the council's suggestions and will embrace them gladly. Kakashi you will resume Jounin duties and apprentice Naruto in-between missions. While you are away he will both attend D-Ranks with other genin squads and train under other available Jounin," The Sandaime declared and scribbled down the decision on a scroll on the table and signed it.
Before he could adjourn the meeting and gain some reprise Aburame Shibi asked the question that many clan heads feared to bring up. "Speaking of Uchiha Itachi. What of Sasuke's Sharingan, will we be trying to harvest cells and recreate the bloodline?"
"No," Sarutobi replied sternly and without pause, "The time of the Uchiha is over. After witnessing the results of the experiments conducted by Orochimaru regarding the Mokuton Kekkai Gekkai I refuse to sacrifice dozens of babies to recreate the sharingan." Sarutobi exclaimed fiercely and Danzou snorted audibly, shaking his head in a most condescending manner.
"You're grown too soft in your advanced age, Sarutobi!" the war hawk stood up to make his point, leaning against the table shakily. "The sharingan has been one of our trump cards all throughout the last three ninja wars. It is a priceless tool that helped us stand above the other villages for decades and it would be sheer insanity to not research ways to recreate it. We could even share its power amongst the clans equally…" he laid out his tempting offer.
"You've got to be joking, Danzou!" Jiraiya cut in rudely and smashed his fist against the wooden table angrily, his killer intent flooding the room, causing the ninja around him to shift uncomfortably.
"Sarutobi-sensei's right, we can't just experiment on kids like that! We're better than that and we don't need the sharingan to be mighty! We're strong enough as it is now, we've done fine without it for the last five years," the Toad san-nin argued furiously. His charismatic tone and the reference of being compared to the likes of the despicable traitor swayed most of the council on his side immediately.
"Besides, even if we did have the children 'to spare' you of all people should know the statistics written down in the recovered documents from the snake's various labs. Only half a percent of bloodline recreation subjects have ever survived and that was only because Orochimaru, arguably one if not the most talented genetic researcher on the continent was conducting the experiments himself; " Jiraiya admitted bitterly. Just thinking of his former teammate's sins still haunted his dreams and every time he relived them it hurt.
Hiashi stood up as well "It was not too long ago my clan suffered from the coveting of bloodline limits by Kumogakure. Therefore, The Hyuuga clan will never condone such blasphemous practices. We will fight it to the last drop of our blood," he threatened coldly. The pain of losing his twin still fresh even after all these years and the clan had yet to fully heal from the fracture caused by Hizashi's sacrifice in Hiashi's stead.
The clan heads for various reasons and interests all seemed united against Danzou and only he and the advisors seemed to see reason in recreating the sharingan. Not that it came as a surprise for Sarutobi's peace loving ways had corrupted the village for decades now and the ways of old - the true path of the ninja now lay forgotten.
It had all started when the First Hokage returned changed from his victory over Uchiha Madara a changed man. His peaceful new outlook had only grown worse by the generation - though the Second Hokage was a bit less altruistic than his older brother. Danzou had hoped to avoid direct intervention and that the council would see reason for once but it would seem Sarutobi had lost his mind in his old age.
He allowed the emotionally unstable Jinchuuriki to live, not only protecting it but also fostering its power without taking proper precautions against its potential loss of control. That would be the end of the village yet in Danzou's eyes, more so with him forbidding the recreation of the only bloodline that could control said demon-fox power beside the Senju clan's blood inherited chakra suppression abilities.
It would seem Danzou would have to save Konoha from destruction and rotting from within. It was his job as the leader of the Roots division of ANBU, to protect the tree of Konoha from the darkness in any way possible, moral or immoral.
The Second Hokage had entrusted him with the sacred duty nearly four decades ago and he would never fail him or abandon his post – never. It also didn't hurt that Danzou had already foreseen Sarutobi's folly and had already put a plan into motion to rectify the situation regarding the sharingan - once and for all.
"Agreed, the Sharingan will die with Uchiha Itachi, I thank you all, meeting adjourned. Kakashi, Jiraiya, please remain where you are seated, I have things I need to discuss with you." Sarutobi ordered and leaned comfortable in his seat.
Each representative leaving in his/her turn; except those he ordered to remain and unsurprisingly his former teammates and Danzou. He should've known they wouldn't leave as they probably had choice words to share with him over his decisions.
"Now Kakashi, your reported some questionable conduct by your other charge, Haruno Sakura, was it? I understand there were two 'incidents', I would like you to explain your vague report," Sarutobi questioned, ignoring his peers for the time being despite the anvil sized hints they left for him to allow them to speak.
Kakashi's visible eye darkened "Haruno Sakura's state of mind is dangerously unstable. I recently reviewed her psychological evaluation during the academy and believe the psychologist that examined her was incompetent. I had my suspicions of her holding a multiplde-personality disorder but believed it was just a phase. However, I now believe that her sanity has become too fragile to be ignored any longer. During our A-class mission she attempted to assassinate Naruto on two separate occasions in the aftermath of Sasuke's death.
"I believe the mild mental illness has become a full blown dementia due to the trauma of our last mission. The first attempt on Naruto's life was somewhat justifiable under the circumstances of witnessing him under the influence of the Kyuubi and a misconstrued conversation with Naruto, but the second attempt was after I spoke to her and warned her. So I believe she's undergone a complete transference process and convinced herself to shift all the hatred, helplessness and blame on his shoulders for Sasuke's death. Her obsession has changed from trying to court Sasuke to trying to avenge him and I suspect certain sociopathic tendencies may develop if she isn't treated quickly."
Danzou's lips twitched once more at that piece of information, "It is my honest opinion that she will be unable to work with him or anyone else in the foreseeable future in any way. I suggest she undergo several intensive post-traumatic therapy sessions and be dismissed from active duty until such a time she is healed…" the copy-nin concluded, having seen similar situations in the past.
Danzou chuckled softly. "I have an alternative suggestion, Hiruzen." he intoned quietly, a way to finally infiltrate the current generation of clan heirs. "Haruno Sakura will never heal from her trauma and even if she does, once news of her meltdown leak out and her attempt at murdering a comrade...she will never be trusted amongst her peers again. Give her to me, Sarutobi. I will train her and transform her into a true kunoichi that wouldn't shame Tobirama's age…"
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed, "Absolutely not! I will not sanction you weaponizing children."
Koharu's lips pursed, "Now don't be hasty, this is a good situation, Sarutobi. We both know trauma and insanity like hers will only lead to either the asylum or the graveyard. But now that you've made an exception for Naruto, I don't see why you shouldn't allow Danzou an exception as well. Argue with his methods, but when Roots still existed he always delivered results."
Kakashi wisely kept his mouth shut when Jiraiya placed a hand on his shoulder. This was a political bartering game, Danzou would not push the Naruto situation given he'd be given a toy to play with. For what purpose was anyone's guess but it seemed inevitable to sacrifice Sakura for Naruto's sake.
Homura adjusted his glasses slightly, "I think they have a point, Sarutobi. You can't grab he rope from both ends and I think it will turn out for the best. The child's fate is sealed no matter however you spin it, except if she is...given to a specialist."
Jiraiya looked at his sensei expectantly, shaking his head slightly. Nothing good could rise from giving Danzou what he wanted. Homura, he and Koharu had good intentions in most of their endeavors but often their extreme methods had collateral damage that was as dangerous as the supposed benefits of their ways.
Hiruzen was silent for a long moment before he shut his eyes, "So be it, Danzou. You will be granted a chance to salvage Haruno Sakura from her madness. I grant you six months to show me palpable results and I warn you, if I at any given time disapprove of what she's become or what she does, both she and you will suffer the consequences..."
It was a hollow threat and everyone knew it, but as expected Sarutobi's mercy won over reason as he did not want the young child he had often seen smiling and laughing rot away in some cell for all her life. He knew it was dangerous, he knew it was perhaps irresponsible but his compassion won in the end.
He lamented having to give away Haruno Sakura's fate to his rival. But the child was a non-entity with no clan association so nobody of political capital cared for her and as any kunoichi she was a tool to most, currently flawed. It was yet to be seen what blade Danzou would temper her into, but Hiruzen had little doubt he wouldn't like the end results.
He would have to temporarily sacrifice her mind and body to Danzou for the sake of Naruto, Minato's child and Konoha's future. Later, he would devise and find away to break her away from Danzou's tutelage or at the very least sabotage his conversion/indoctrination attempts. "Yes, that would do fine. Let Danzou have his temporary victory, in the end I am the one that'll get the last laugh."
He exhaled heavily and shut his eyes as he was once more reminded of the burdens of his position and cursed fate for taking away the beacon of hope and light that was his deceased successor – Namikaze Minato.
He watched them leave one by one, except Kakashi that lingered behind. "Hokage-sama, I understand where you're coming from, but I can't in good conscience keep this from the other jounin-sensei if she's going to interact with their children. I will make them vow to keep it amongst themselves and the parents of the genin though, with your permission."
Sarutobi sighed and nodded, knowing there was little choice. He dismissed Kakashi and only prayed as he always did that he had made the right choice and not set the stage for another failure that would cost them all. He would have to see how he could minimize the damages of Danzou's influence and maximize his little victories regarding Kakashi and Naruto.
Such was the burden of ninja leadership, balancing the good and the bad and find the most acceptable outcome out of all the undesirable possibilities.