The Best Laid Plans

Arun

Chapter 13: Thirty Pieces of Silver

Disclaimer: Viva la Yaoi! ROFL

"We need him," Koharu stated aloud, leaving unsaid the addendum, if only to prevent civil war.

"Maybe," Sarutobi accepted, waving at the document before him with a flourish, "but that constitutes high treason. That places certain restraints on me. That makes me wonder if the cost of Danzo alive is worse than the price of Danzo dead."

The two advisers looked at their copies with distaste. They knew Danzo was a fool given to little forethought for consequences, but really, ordering Mizuki's assassination when it could have undermined all of Fire and Konoha's plans for the exams was too much. A patriot to the idea of the village, the old cripple undeniably was, but that truth negated neither the evidence at hand nor his treasonous actions against the rest of the Ruling Four and couldn't stay the long arm of the law.

Certainly, they felt little inclination to defend him. Sarutobi had probably cooked up the evidence – even a temperamental fool like Danzo couldn't have survived to ripe old age if he was also thoughtless, after all – but they had no doubt where laid the responsibility for the fiasco. Oh, they had no doubt at all on that account!

Sarutobi had made it very clear that it was up to them to clean up the mess as best they could, salvage what was possible and do everything in their power to avoid bloodshed and possibly civil war within the village, for he wasn't going to. Hopefully, they could get the Third to see reason, which going by his last statement was going to be hard work, and forge a compromise.

"He is loyal. In his own fashion," Homura observed with a sigh of resignation, knowing that the argument was weak in light of the evidence. It was certainly galling to say that of Danzo's ambitions and his ideas, but he and Koharu were really grasping at straws here. Anything was better than shedding their own blood and weakening the village in these troubled times.

"Yes, but his virulent patriotism has caused a lot of trouble in both the domestic and international scene over the years. He has a demonstrated propensity for resorting to force without thought for consequences and I must remind you that there comes a time when even the greatest patriot needs abandonment.

"And besides, the Daimyo has been less than satisfied with the idea of Danzo in a position of responsibility for years now. He has expressed his reservations on the subject. This incident just proves his fears true and I see it as a great opportunity. Undoubtedly, the time has come to deal with old One Arm," Lord Watanbe chipped in.

Homura and Koharu exchanged a sideways glance. Even though the issue had security implications for Fire as a whole, they'd wondered what role the Daimyo's plenipotentiary ambassador to Konoha played in a meeting concerning, what was at end of day, mostly an internal problem in the village. Now they knew. Watanbe's stance was even harder than the Third's and his presence guaranteed the Daimyo felt the same way. If the ruler of Fire was steadfast on the matter, it did not forebode good things for the future. Bloodshed they hoped so badly to avoid might be unavoidable, after all.

"We cannot execute him, Sarutobi. We simply cannot," Koharu pleaded with the Hokage, changing tack and opting to address her teammate rather than the nobleman. "Root is too powerful."

"My hands are tied," the Hokage replied with a shrug, shooting a look at Watanbe. "The law is pretty clear on that point."

"If you appeal to the Daimyo, he'll grant a pardon, you know that. There is precedent there," Homura pointed out. Whatever their teammate may hint about Watanbe forcing the issue, truth was the Third retained a lot of influence over Hi no Kuni's ruler. They simply had to make him use it and this whole nightmare would go away.

Sarutobi nodded agreement.

"Yes, I can, but do I want to appeal to the Daimyo? Danzo's actions have endangered both village and country this time, and went beyond the pale. I want to avoid bloodshed myself," he said smoothly, "but I find myself in a hard place. And like I said, Danzo dead, even with all the bloodshed in the short run, may be better than Danzo alive."

Koharu sighed inwardly. The Hokage's speech just about confirmed her suspicions. Sarutobi was orchestrating this whole mess to gain concessions from them. But she worried the old coot may have overreached himself this time, however, playing with fire as he was by informing Watanbe on Danzo. Now, because he had, his teammates would have to pay his price for the pardon. And the only thing that Sarutobi wanted from she and Homura was their support for his candidate for the succession.

"His men would mutiny," she argued weakly, knowing the counter to her point even as she spoke.

"They would if they were within the village. If My Lord Daimyo wants me to, I can sign orders to move most of them to Rain and secure the border from Kumo infiltrators. There's no doubt that Danzo's men can and will rally around him so long as he's alive. Undoubtedly, they'll defend him with their lives, but with their numbers reduced thus, it'd matter little when I send in my assassins. Certainly a waste of good troops as I'll have to put down all who stay behind, and though it'll weaken the village in the short run, I think it'd be a small price to pay for the future security of Konoha. We cannot in good conscience condone this kind of unilateral action detrimental to the good of the village. I will regret giving the order, but I will not renege on my duty," the Third replied.

"And I can guarantee the Daimyo wants to," Watanbe added.

"And if Root refuses to follow orders?" Homura asked.

Sarutobi shot them a grim look. Words were unnecessary.

It was an act, the two advisers knew now. But neither did they doubt that the Third had any compunction against acting in the manner he'd stated in alliance with the Daimyo.

There was nothing to do then really, but pay the price – Sarutobi and the Daimyo might think the village could afford to shed its own blood, but the Third's teammates thought otherwise. They consoled themselves with the knowledge that they would, at least, gain the satisfaction of having dealt with Danzo once and for all.

And it certainly wasn't as if Kakashi wasn't qualified for the job. It was just that their first preference was Jiraiya. But if it meant avoiding a civil war, they'd gladly give Minato's student the Seat.

"We can strip him of his power," Homura stated, making a really weak attempt to gain some brownie points.

"Are you out of your mind? Root would flock to his standard if we make such an announcement and then we'd certainly have a civil war in our hands," Sarutobi said, a little heatedly. "No, I don't think so."

"I think Homura means strip him of his power by virtue of sending him to Suna. Let them deal with him," Koharu appended.

"Put him in charge of our compliment there?" the Third asked, intrigued.

"Yes, just don't send his men with him. Give him two companies from the reserves. If we offer him leeway to recruit and train his own men as needed, I think he may agree to the deal."

The look on Sarutobi's face hinted he was intrigued by the idea, but the Hokage remained silent, allowing his teammates to expand on the idea further.

"Especially if we show him the evidence and threaten to leak it to the heads of the noble houses in Fire as well as the clans in Leaf. If that happens, he can't hope to win a civil war and will have to accept our terms once we dangle the other stick before him. Exile of sorts with the possibility of honorable return – that's implied by the confidentiality agreement anyway – or the gallows. It'd keep everyone happy and we can rotate the security compliment assigned to watch him as well as his own recruits on a periodic basis. Say, we recall one company every six months or so – yes, I think that'll work out," Homura added.

Sarutobi leaned forward in interest. But still, their idea wasn't yet complete. There remained, for one thing, the question of who'd manage Root with Danzo gone.

"What's to keep his own men here from reporting to him? We need someone to replace him as their commander."

"Jiraiya can do that. His loyalty is unquestioned and everyone respects him," Koharu replied, stating clearly that they were willing to make the concession on the subject of the Hokage succession. And this way, if Jiraiya couldn't be Hokage, he would head Root, at least.

"No, Jiraiya needs to run his intelligence network, but if I abdicate, I'll be free to take command of that little den of troubles," Sarutobi replied, thinking it over and indicating his assent to the deal.

That was acceptable. For Homura and Koharu both.

The rest of the discussion was about the minute details of the deal. When the two advisers finally left the room, happy with the bargain they'd struck – Kakashi on the Seat in return for Sarutobi in charge of Root, Danzo out of their hair, not to mention an averted civil war – the Third turned to Lord Watanbe and gave a nod.

"Thanks, Watanbe, for keeping your end of our deal," he said.

"You're welcome. This was a good deal itself."

"Yes. The Wind Daimyo is going to love it when he hears that one of the Ruling Four is in charge of the mission," the Hokage laughed.

"True," Watanbe agreed with a smile. "It would ensure his border's security for the near future until the other villages find out, if they find out."

"In the meanwhile, he gets to rebuild his Ninja Corps and we get to seed his whole country with spies."

"Wind will entwine itself tighter in Fire's embrace, which is even better."

"Yes."

"Tell me, Sarutobi, did you cook up the evidence on Danzo?" Watanbe asked solemnly.

The Third shot his friend a look that spoke a great deal. Understandably, Watanbe did not press him further.

xxxxx

Danzo stared at the four people before him with a steady gaze and took his seat. The way the chairs were positioned, it was clear that they wanted to confront him about something, siding four against one, but he did not yet know what.

"Danzo, thanks for answering our summons," Koharu said.

Danzo nodded.

"Is there a reason I was summoned?" he asked.

Koharu looked at the others and then turned to face the Root leader. Their eyes met.

"There is, yes," Homura replied.

Koharu cleared her throat.

"Shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato, Adviser to Sandaime Hokage Danzo, you're accused of sedition and high treason for conspiring to undermine the defense of realm. You're…"

"How dare you!" Danzo exploded angrily, his knuckles whitening as his clutch on his walking stick tightened.

"We dare," Homura retorted, "because we have evidence you ordered the assassination of Chuunin Mizuki, fellow shinobi of Konoha, selling national secrets to the enemy and conspiring with him to overthrow the lawful leadership of Konohagakure no Sato, and we're satisfied of your guilt."

"This is no trial, but a sham then," Danzo replied accusatorially.

"Perhaps," Koharu agreed, "But given the magnitude of your crimes, are you sure you want a trial, Danzo?"

"You no doubt want time to prepare your defense as well," Homura added.

Danzo glared offended. They were quick to catch on to so obvious a ploy as he'd known they would. But that was okay. He'd suspected something like this and left orders with his subordinates to come for him if he failed to return inside of three hours. After that, his freedom of movement would increase dramatically.

"Yes, I do."

"Then you wouldn't mind if we shared the evidence with the heads of the clans. We can do it now and have the trial on the day of your choosing," Koharu replied.

That gave the old war hawk pause. He'd forgotten that they wouldn't have dared move against him without a serious plan. Trapped in the room, contact with Root severed, he was powerless and they could move against him without fear for the immediate present. Danzo had no doubt that the evidence they'd assembled against him was top-notch forgery, but many of the clan heads would only be too willing to condemn him. The established clan hierarchy had never been enamored by his dreams for a unified village without the clans to divide loyalties and they would jump at the chance to do him in.

"You think it'll be that easy to get rid of me?" he challenged them.

"We don't, but our minds are made up," Homura replied.

"The Daimyo's had enough of your nonsense," Watanbe, who'd remained silent until then, chimed.

"Your political position is untenable," Koharu spoke conversationally. "You cannot win this."

"Unless you're ready to kill me here and risk the suspicion of the clans, I'd say it's far from, as you put it, untenable. The moment I get out of this room, my Root will flock to me. You'll have a hard time getting your hands on me after that," Danzo retorted, resorting to naked threat of force. Without surprise on his side, he and his people would be massacred, but not without a terrible cost in lives lost. He counted on that recognized fact heavily to save his skin here.

Koharu shook her head.

"Unless we disperse the evidence even as we have you assassinated and then convene an emergency meeting to plead extenuating circumstances with the clans."

As Koharu completed her speech, Homura leaned forward in his seat.

"But it doesn't have to be that way, Danzo," he said. "We are prepared to give you a chance at life, provided you'll cooperate with us."

Danzo did not say anything.

"The deal is this. You'll assume control of the security contingent to Wind. We'll appoint a spy to report on your actions, but you'll be given command of two good companies from the reserves. You won't be able to influence Root anymore."

"You must think I'm an idiot. That deal has nothing for me."

"On the contrary, there is plenty for you. First, we bury the evidence of your treason. It doesn't leave this room, on the condition you don't involve in sedition against Konoha in Wind.

"Second, you will be persona non grata within Fire for four years. If you step foot inside the border within that time frame unless you're specifically summoned, we will distribute the incriminating evidence and hire missing nin to assassinate you. But follow the rules and we will destroy the proof of your guilt before you at the end of that period.

"Third, we don't care what you do in Wind so long as you don't undermine Suna and Wind. Not badly at least. We are not against you spying on them, building a spy network and passing on a few tidbits of information back to us. Since you'll be operating far from home base, we'll also look the other way if you decide you needed to recruit nin for whatever purpose on one condition. You'll rotate them through Konoha as well with the companies."

Danzo nodded. He could work with that. Hire thirty nin and send back ten.

"Four years is too long," he said, negotiating for more room. By the end of four years, they would have wrested control of Root completely out of his hands.

"You accept these terms or it's no deal," Sarutobi said, breaking his silence, "Also, I want you to introduce me to Root as their temporary commander in your absence. Whatever happens, Danzo, you must know this. Root is the price you pay for your indiscretions. The Daimyo and I will accept no less."

Danzo sighed.

"It's not as if I have a choice."

Sarutobi shook his head.

"Yes, you do. You can always be unreasonable about this and take up arms, but we hope you'll see reason. Rebuilding everything from the ground up will be hard, but you get to keep your neck to try again some other time."

"All right. We'll do it your way. How soon do you want me to leave?"

Homura smiled.

"Today would be great, but it's not a realistic timetable. Tomorrow or the day after it must be. I hope you understand our desire to keep the ANBU on standby as well as provide you with an ANBU escort till then."

"Of course. Now, is this meeting over or is there something else you want to strip me off?" Danzo asked, a small grin on his face. Like Sarutobi had said, he'd built Root from the ground up before and given five or six years, he had no doubt of his ability to build something even better, this time without morons like the one who'd ordered Mizuki's assassination in the ranks.

"A few minutes, if you will, Danzo," Sarutobi said. "I'll ask ANBU to go on standby."

Danzo nodded. As the Hokage communicated his orders and the minutes slowly ticked by, the soon to be ex-Root commander made and discarded plans in his mind for a newer, better force of loyal men. In all that time, the thought never struck him that his adversaries – the main one in particular – planned to stab him in the back as soon as the threat of Root stopped hanging over everyone's neck.

xxxxx

"Kakashi."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"I secured Homura and Koharu's support. I'll be taking command of Root tomorrow and abdicating the Seat in your favor in two weeks."

"Such a tight schedule? Shouldn't we give the villagers time to adjust?" Kakashi asked.

"They'll survive the shock, I'm sure," the Third said dismissively. "Be wary of the civilian council until you secure a majority in that snake pit with trustworthy men. You can count on Homura, Koharu and I for the present, but I'll be campaigning starting next month and will be on the field for most of next year leading Root and the ninja compliment of the Tea invasion. Jiraiya will be here, of course, as will Shikaku, and ANBU are loyal as always."

Kakashi nodded.

"Team 7?"

Sarutobi pushed forward a scroll.

"I'm granting the ANBU request to have your team transferred to their operations group. I'm thinking you're okay with it as you'd already agreed to have them test Team 7?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Then it's done. After they pass the ANBU course, they'll be deputed to Jiraiya for the next three years pending review. They'll remain under his command for the duration of this period or till the outbreak of open war between Fire and the other nations, whichever comes first.

"Jiraiya's already agreed to take on your team as apprentices. He came by earlier and I gave him the news first. If you want to discuss your team over with him, he'll probably be hanging around any of the women's baths or springs in the village tonight."

Kakashi nodded and made to rise from his seat. The Third stopped him in his tracks with a wave.

"On that note, you can have that conversation you're aching to have with your team tomorrow. Right now, I have a task for you and Gai. I've sent for him. We'll wait till he joins us."

Kakashi shrugged and pulled out his Icha Icha lovingly. He suspected he wasn't going to get to spend a lot of quality time with his precious in the future.

xxxxx

"Anko?"

"Yes, honey," she replied, caressing his face as she lay on his chest.

"We may not be able to go on that vacation we'd planned a month from now," he said.

Mitarashi Anko lifted her head and looked at her soldier. The month long mission had been extended once HQ learnt that her mark, Daisuke Namba had fallen in love and now, he regularly discussed state secrets with her, unknowingly passing them on to Fire.

"Why?" she asked.

"Fire's going to invade us. Everybody's been put on alert."

"Is it going to be okay?"

Namba shook his head.

"No, it's not. Our allies in Lightning and Cloud have abandoned us as Fire's accusing us of aiding and abetting Orochimaru's failed attack on Konoha."

"What are we going to do?"

"We're hoping saner heads will prevail in Fire's court, but the order's been sent out to the fleet to report in early so that they'll be refurbished and out at sea in time to thwart the invasion." At her uncomprehending gaze, he explained what he'd heard in the high level meeting that day, "When the invasion starts, we expect a major landing force from the sea. If we can crush it, our forces won't have to face the enemy on multiple fronts and won't become severely extended as a result. Then, we should be able to fight them off."

"Ah!"

xxxxx

The alarm cut off abruptly as it crashed against the wall and shattered. Sakura lost a lot of clocks that way, though this one was Naruto's.

"Wakey, wakey!" Naruto shouted from the foot of the bed.

Sakura and Sasuke grumbled and glared balefully at the blond. But they sat up and stretched.

"You're ready already?" Sasuke asked.

"Are you kidding me? I woke twenty minutes early so that there won't be any rush to the bathroom. There's only one in the house, remember?"

Sakura immediately threw her blanket over her teammate and made a run for it. She slammed the door in his face just as he reached it.

"Pinky, you cheated!" Sasuke shouted as Naruto laughed uproariously behind him.

"Screw you, Uke! Ladies first," Sakura shouted back from behind the door.

"That part is debatable," Sasuke grumbled to himself as he walked back. At Naruto, who was still laughing, he scratched his butt and glared, "What are you laughing at, prick?"

Naruto smirked back.

"Nothing. I'm going to prepare some instant ramen. You want some?"

"Yeah. Better prepare for the psycho too, or she'll take it personally."

Both boys shuddered. Kiba had leered one too many times at the Haruno just yesterday and found out what happened when she got pissed. The mutt was going to be singing soprano for some time to come. But the incident was just an aberration. Team 7 were ambivalent about the sudden interest the other rookies showed in them, but they tried to be sociable. It was just that Kiba got on Sakura's nerves and Ino on Naruto's, which made for some interesting arguments. Fortunately, except for poor Kiba – and everyone agreed he deserved it – there had been no physical altercations. On the plus side, however, Shikamaru and Sasuke seemed to get along well enough as did Naruto with Kiba and Chouji.

"Her temper's something else. You better watch what you say around her," Naruto advised softly.

"Me? You're the one who's usually pulling her leg. I stay away from the psycho," Sasuke retorted a bit too loudly.

"What was that, Uke?" Sakura shouted in an annoyed voice from the bathroom.

The Uchiha paled and the Uzumaki burst into guffaws. Life within Team 7 was never boring.

"You put the scrolls away," Naruto said, pointing at the mess on the floor from last night's study session when Sakura tutored them. They'd started having these sessions once or twice a week after Kakashi suggested they use their copious free time to train in the month before the Chuunin Exam finals and now, it'd become kind of a tradition.

Sasuke muttered deprecations as he set about his task and his teammate set about his.

Later, at break of dawn, they entered the training field for the morning workout. But someone was already there to greet them.

"So you must be Team 7?" the white haired man said.

"And you're Jiraiya of the Sannin. Come to ask directions again?" Naruto asked snidely. None of Team 7 liked to have their morning schedule interrupted, he most of all.

"And you're the wiseass brat who beat Suna's Jinchuuriki. How you doing, brat?" Jiraiya responded jovially.

Naruto glared.

"We exercise in this field every morning, Jiraiya-sama," Sakura said, shooting a look at her two teammates, "but we can move elsewhere if you want to use it."

The sannin laughed.

"One of you is polite, I see," he chortled. "I came here to see the three of you, actually. I've heard a lot about Team 7 from Sarutobi-sensei and I wanted to see for myself. So, I'll go and sit out of the way in that corner and observe in silence. In return, I'll give a few pointers at end of the session. How's that for a deal?"

Team 7 looked at one another. A chance to gain a Sannin's insights on their techniques and their teamwork? Like they'd pass that.

"You got a deal, Old Man," Naruto replied with a grin. They were going to have so much fun.

xxxxx

Kabuto fiddled with the ring in his pant pocket. It had been a close call, but he'd managed to successfully evade the Akatsuki duo after two weeks of hide and seek. Now, it was time to check on his comrades, who, if rumor was to be believed, were corralled in one of the research facilities under siege. It wasn't that he wanted to save the sorry lot of idiots and morons, but he had use for them and the longer they managed to hold out, the better his prospects.

xxxxx

Kakashi found Team 7 at the training ground seated before Jiraiya, who was jovially chatting with the genin and giving out pointers. He waved at his students and with a nod of acknowledgement to the sannin, made his way to his team.

"Jiraiya-sama."

"I was just having a talk with your team, Kakashi. You got some good kids here," the sannin said.

Kakashi looked at his little sprouts.

"I do," he acknowledged proudly. Then, to Team 7, but only because he believed in breaking news in the most shocking way possible, "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura… Today's the last day we'll be working together as a team."

"What?" Naruto fairly shouted.

"Yeah, what's happened?" Sakura seconded.

Kakashi did not reply to their questions. He was more concerned by Sasuke's silence and the fact that the raven-haired boy refused to look at him. He understood how the boy must feel, hearing that the team he'd come to look upon as family was breaking up.

"Sasuke, look at me."

Sasuke reluctantly looked up at his teammates' nudging.

"I'm not abandoning any of you. You're my family."

Sasuke still did not speak.

"Stop sulking, Sasuke," Naruto said, slapping the other on his back. Then, shooting Kakashi a meaningful look, "I'm sure Kakashi-sensei's got a good reason. Don't you, Sensei?"

Kakashi shot his student his winning smile. If it had an effect on Naruto, he did not show it. The jounin shrugged mentally. Sometimes the smile worked and sometimes it did not.

"Promise me you won't share it with your friends until you hear the official announcement."

Nods all around. Even from Sasuke.

"I'm going to become the Hokage sometime in the next few weeks."

"Really?" Naruto and Sakura asked.

Sasuke just stared.

"Yes, really."

"What's to become of us?" That was Sasuke. And from his tone, it was clear he meant Team 7 with Kakashi.

"Well, you'll always be my wonderful students. As for what's to happen to the three of you specifically, you're ANBU recruits now."

"And you'll be my apprentices," Jiraiya added.

Team 7 glared at the sannin.

"You knew. You came to scout us out."

Jiraiya shrugged.

"I don't like him," Naruto said to Kakashi. His teammates nodded in agreement, glaring at the legendary ninja.

"Now, don't be like that. Jiraiya-sama's an excellent teacher. He trained the Yondaime."

"We know that, Sensei," Sakura replied without breaking her glare.

"And he's the author of Icha Icha series. I'm hoping he'll be able to wean you two away from each other, Naruto and Sasuke. Man-loving is well and good, but you haven't experienced anything until you've known the silky-softness of a woman, boys. Jiraiya-sama knows all about that."

"Eeeew!" Team 7 said in unison, Naruto and Sasuke unconsciously inching away from each other.

Kakashi ignored Jiraiya's raucous laughter and grinned innocently at his students.

"Anyways," he said in a solemn voice, "I want you three to remember that you're ANBU now, not to mention my students. You got the example of the other Team 7s before you to live up to as well as the creed of ANBU. I hope you will not fail."

The genin nodded.

"You'll probably start your training tomorrow or day after… Yes, Jiraiya-sama?"

"Actually, I've asked that Team 7 be excused for a month. I want to spend some time with the kids on the field and get to know them before they disappear into ANBU Corps black hole and reappear as trained operatives."

Kakashi nodded.

"I didn't know that." To his team, he said, "The ANBU course will be easier than the training I gave you in some ways and harder in others. It'll certainly push your limits, and further strengthen your mind and body. You can opt out now, but once you go in, I don't want to hear that you quit. There's no prohibition against quitting the course halfway through, but that option is not open to Team 7. You will stick together, rough whatever they throw at you, and you will pull through."

The genin nodded.

"Good. I'm proud of you."

"Congratulations, Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke said, changing the subject.

"Yeah, Godaime," Naruto seconded, flashing Kakashi a big smile.

"Me, too, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura's smile matched Naruto's in immensity and perhaps even exceeded it.

Kakashi beamed at Sasuke. He was glad his young charge had gotten over his childish sulk, for all that the reasons for it were understandable. And he was happy his team hadn't thrown a fit. It would have made him feel guiltier for not having consulted them on the offer earlier.

"Thanks, guys. We'll go and have a big treat this evening to celebrate."

That got Team 7's loud approval. Well, Sasuke did not join in, but even his lips quirked upwards in a little smile.

"And since I'll miss my favorite students, henceforth, we'll lunch together every Friday whenever you're free and in the village."

The relief on Sasuke's face at the announcement almost made Kakashi hug the boy. Not that Sakura and Naruto didn't look relieved either, but it simply meant much more for Sasuke, who'd lost a family so horrifically once and then gained it again. The jounin's words had finally convinced the boy that his second family wasn't breaking up.

"Now, what were you and Jiraiya-sama doing when I came in?" Kakashi asked, giving the young Uchiha scion a fatherly pat on his shoulders.

xxxxx

Colonel Kita Terujiro, commander of Third Regiment, Gem Division in charge of the defense of the southern flank of the Hi no Kuni salient fiddled with his saucer of sake. He did not look at his two aides as he brooded treason, but they shot furtative glances at each other in a small, rundown restaurant on the Fire side of the border.

"Terujiro," Mononobe Shota, the Fire minister who'd come to negotiate the price of treason urged, sensing the deal slipping away, "think of the plight of your family and the families of your men on either side of the border in the event of war. Think of your men. Tea is outnumbered and cannot hope to win. If the war drags on, then the borderlands will be subject to more depredations by marching armies. You'll be doing all of them – civilians, soldiers, their families – a favor."

"I never asked for this. I never supported the plans to support Orochimaru in his suicidal attempt. It was the fault of those idiots in the capital," Terujiro complained.

"And need I remind you that it is those very same idiots who're leading Tea towards certain ruin now. The very same officials who'll sit safe and sound in their homes while you and yours suffer the indignities of war firsthand. It is insanity to resist Fire without Lightning's support."

"They trust our navy to hold you off."

The minister snorted.

"So you'll trounce us at sea," he replied, "but we'll crush you on land. The war will be lost or won on the ground and you have no hope there. Look at you. Tea doesn't even have the manpower to station regiments far from their areas of recruitment."

"I'd think you'd be glad for the fact," Terujiro responded with a slight smile and a loosening of his shoulders.

"I am. Don't mistake that. But it just goes to show how unprepared you are."

The Colonel downed his saucer of sake and grimaced. The quality was what you would expect from such an establishment. He turned to his aides.

"I'll do what my men want me to. What do the common soldiers say?" he asked, knowing the answer full well.

The first aide shrugged.

"They think that the capital has brought this war upon us and our families are going to suffer as a result," he said.

"They're worried about their families," added the other, "We felt out a few closemouthed men. They don't have a problem with what we're doing, Sir. It is not their war."

Terujiro turned to face the minister then.

"Let us negotiate the price of high treason then, Shota. How much are you willing to pay me and my men to let your people through?"

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Author's notes:

Another chapter complete and this one had two scenes with Team 7! Yep, things are definitely improving. LOL Please leave reviews.

For those of you who didn't get it, the evidence against Danzo was forged. Sarutobi suspected that Danzo was responsible for Mizuki's assassination, which nearly derailed Konoha's plans to deal with the Oto-Suna alliance and indirectly put Fire's long term plans in jeopardy. However, he saw a use for it to deal with a thorn in the side and to get Kakashi installed as Godaime using the deal he'd struck with Watanbe all those chapters back.

Thanks to RakeeshJ4 for serving as an idea sounding board for the political maneuvering against Danzo. Also, link to the map of the elemental countries is on the profile page.