Hey everyone this took less time to rewrite so here it is also chapter 3 is 65% done mid next week is the goal for release. I have over 230 views on this 'insert smiley face here' but only seven comments one of which is me 'Sad face' also I guess I didn't state this before but this is based on destiny's game by blueicequeen sorry about the late shoutout till now. Chapter 3 is a time skip 'which I know many of you hate but it is needed'
It was a rough day for the Third Hokage, paperwork was piled on his desk like a small mountain. The problem was that each document had to be read through thoroughly by his eyes. Normally a kage could just get a secretary but with someone as cunning as Danzo always trying to get the upper hand constant vigilance was necessary. It was reported that Naruto was missing from the orphanage for two days by the matron. She said he had gone out later two nights ago and that she had assumed that ANBU were with him. There was a scent trail that lead to an alleyway in the red light district where a minute amount of blood was found. Both of the ANBU assigned to watch him were missing. They had been short handed ever since the Kyuubi attack so Hiruzen usually just had the ANBU watching Naruto on a set rotation of all ANBU in the village at the time. Hiruzen knew there were no foreign spies within ANBU as the sheer amount of interrogation they went through vetted all spies out. Unfortunately it appeared he had to worry about domestic spies, he had suspected that ROOT was still active but had no solid proof, until now.
Which left him with a dilemma, Danzo had supposedly shut down ROOT years ago. He had his suspicions but let them go because despite all of their differences he was still his friend and Danzo still had Konoha's best interest at heart. Now he was wondering if it was worth it though, looking through the orphanage records numerous kids went "missing" one of them was the only jinchuuriki Konoha had and more important than that was his adoptive grandson. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, these were the days when he wished that Minato was still here, the days where the weight of the job was almost too much to bear on his shoulders. Talking to one of the ANBU "Bring Danzo here. I want him in my office within the hour." It was time to remind him who was Hokage.
Five minutes, that's how late they were, before Danzo strode into the office. Hiruzen new it was a petty play, to show that he didn't control him he was in for a surprise. Taking a long drag from his trusty pipe Hizuren spoke. "Despite all our differences, all of our disagreements, you and I served the best interest of the Hidden Leaf. Now I am questioning that, I will only ask you once." His eyes hardened. "Where is Naruto Uzumaki?"
You could feel the smugness radiate off Danzo. "Hiruzen I expected more from you. Losing the villages Jinchuriki is a big blunder one that might get you impeached." Hiruzen sighed it seemed they were doing this the hard way. A sightly hand motion, a flash of black and Donzo's left leg exploded into pain being the shinobi he was he merely grunted, and fell to one knee. Looking towards the attacker he saw a tiger mask, one of the three ANBU captains.
Hiruzen stood up walking around his desk to Danzo until he was towering over the man. "I am the Hokage not you, Lord Second choose me, after Minato fell the Daimyo choose me. I let ROOT exist because I deemed it necessary during the two wars. After the wars I ordered you to shut it down because I deemed it unnecessary, even still you continued. I knew that those were your agents watching Naruto that night but I had faith that even you weren't dumb enough to do anything to Naruto. You know how Suna's jinchuuriki has turned out, and you still went for a move like this? Being old may have made me soft Danzo but it has made you a fool. Were you thinking that you could convince the council to give Naruto to you? Now I will ask again Where is Naruto?"
"I don't know." The calm reply set Hiruzen off. He signaled for the captain to break the other leg.
"Wrong answer Danzo. You're the only who can know where he is. After this I want a files of all ROOT agents on my desk, by the end of the month I want a meeting with all available ROOT agents, you will not start any new missions. You will be under ANBU surveillance twenty four seven. Now give me Naruto back."
Danzo started sweating a bit, he didn't know where Naruto was, Mizuki was just supposed to leave Naruto in the alleyway. From there it would've been childs play to convince the council that Naruto would've been in better hands under his tutelage. He had been willing to cut all emotional training out. However it seemed that Hiruzen was more incompetent then Danzo had thought. "I don't know where he is however I can tell you my plan." He went into depth on what the details and overall plan was. By the end of it Hiruzen was furious, Danzo had overstepped his boundaries for the last time.
Hiruzen would call a council meeting tomorrow he could only image the shitstorm that would come with it. Motioning to his captain. "Bring Danzo to the Uchiha tell them to keep him under tight watch and to only do basic first aid and alert the rest of the clans to the meeting." Before the captain could leave Hiruzen had one last order. "Make Mizuki a missing-nin A-rank 50,000 ryo bounty dead or alive."
Hiruzen could only hope Naruto was still within the Leaf, the barrier crew had not reported any huge sources of Chakra leaving the village, however he knew there were some secret entrances even he wasn't aware of.
Fugaku was many things, head of the police force, jounin of Konohagakure, patriarch of the Uchiha clan, father of Itachi Uchiha a prodigy not seen in generations. Last night when he had received Danzo Shimura, a close friend of the Hokage with two broken legs, chakra sealing tags and being delivered by an ANBU captain no less he knew something was up. Perhaps he had finally overstepped his bounds with ROOT. Not that Fugaku was arguing, he knew of Danzo's vendetta against the Uchiha clan. WIth tensions running higher and higher each day between the clan and the rest of the village it would be nice to have a key opponent out and the fact that the Hokage would trust the clan to watch over such an important prisoner was a surprise. He was not looking forward to the clan meeting tomorrow though. Perhaps Fugaku mussed, there was still hope for the clan and the village to reconcile.
It was worse than what Fugaku could have ever dreamed of, "You're telling me that our number one military asset and the sole survivor of the Uzumaki clan is missing?" Fugaku's voice echoed throughout the councils chamber.
"Unfortunately it appears that his two ABNU guards were compromised. Both of them have been apprehended however no traces of the boy have been found." A slight crack in the Hokage's voice showed his real thoughts on the matter.
"Do we have any ideas on their allegiance?" This time it was Shukaku, head of the Nara clan. Fugaku respected the Nara clan, that was when they weren't sleeping, watching clouds or muttering their catch phrase.
The silence follow the question was unnerving to all the council members. "Yes, they were from ROOT." Everyone knew what ROOT was, however they had all assumed it was shut down years ago.
"I thought ROOT was shut down." It was Shukaku who spoke what everyone was thinking, Fugaku could see Hiruzen shift uncomfortably in his chair which wasn't missed by anyone. They all knew about Danzo wanting the Hokage's seat. 'It's almost like he wants to get overthrown' Fugaku mused. This really wasn't a good sign, they needed a new Hokage and soon. However no prominent candidates came to mind.
"And what is the punishment going to be." It was Hiashi Hyuuga talk spoke. "Please tell me you can't possibly be thinking of letting him off scot free."
"Death" The word hung in the air surprise was evident on some of the clan heads' faces. "It is clear he has overstepped his bounds, if he was still alive there is always the chance of ROOT breaking him out. He is a remnant of times past, times that were more barbaric. I have ordered him to turn over all files regarding ROOT along with all agents. I plan to have the children put into the academy and with the Uchiha clan's permission put the rest of them in the police force. Having them work in the in close contact with civilians in lower stress situations would be key in assimilating them back into the village. I would also like to put as many as possible through therapy." It was clever that he brought it up in clan meeting where Fugaku couldn't yell at the man. Was he flat out saying the Uchiha clan was guilty? Because putting a bunch of ninjas trained by the man with a vendetta against his clan, on top of which taking away the role that was given to his clan seemed like a pretty bold statement.
"And how do you know that Danzo will tell you the truth? What's stopping if from just lying? He has done it before I wouldn't put it past him to do it again." Hiashi was being surprisingly aggressive about this perhaps Danzo had pushed some of the Hyuga clan's buttons as well.
"He is with Ibiki as we speak with one of my ANBU captains with him at all times, Inochi will be joining Ibiki after this." It was not a question but rather an order, Hiashi seemingly placated at Hiruzen's precautions leaned back in his chair. Fugaku almost felt bad for Danzo, Ibiki was not someone he would want to be on the other end of his techniques and hated traitors with a passion. "A group of my most trusted ANBU went into their main base and subdued all agents in the facility with no casualties. All in village agents have been subdued, no files have been touched yet in case of traps. Danzo's plan was to have a ninja attack Naruto and then propose to the council that Naruto was best under his care. The barrier team hasn't reported any large Chakra signatures leaving the village it is presumed that he is still here. Uchiha and Inuzuka will be combing through the red light district with a fine tooth comb starting tomorrow. If he isn't found we will simply increase security on the village borders. The ninja who attacked Naruto was Mizuki he is five foot ten grey hair we have marked as an A-rank missing-nin. It appears he left the village yesterday under the guise of a mission presumably Danzo's excuse to let him escape. Dismissed." With that everyone started to shuffle out each lost in their own thoughts except Fugaku and Hiruzen after everyone left did Fugaku speak.
"Hiruzen what are you thinking?" The fury was evident in his voice, the fact that he didn't say Hokage wasn't missed by either of them. "Are just going to come out and say that my clan was responsible for the assault by the Kyuubi?"
"That's not it, think about it Danzo is still popular with some ninjas, taking all of Danzo's power and transferring it to you is huge sign of trust, and having you lead the search for Naruto will get you many points with the clans heads. I know your clan wasn't responsible for the attack however we need to prove that the Uchiha clan and the Hokage work as one especially since we don't have a currently jinchuuriki."
Fugaku could see his points were valid but still it felt wrong. Convincing the clan elders would be even harder. With a "very well" he left the tower wrapped up in his own thoughts and concerns for the clan's future.
Hatake Kakashi was returning from his third S-rank mission in a row. At least he was pretty sure it was his third, after a certain point they all blended together. The sleep deprivation certainly didn't help either. Slipping into the Hokage's office Kakashi felt something was off, he looked older, shoulders were hunched just a bit, possible grief, sleep deprivation, or illness. The Hokage raised his head and smiled, but it didn't each his eyes. "Kakashi good to see you. How was the mission?"
Kakashi debriefed the Hokage, the mission was a success, the target was eliminated, no civilian casualties, and most importantly no squad casualties. With a bow Kakashi was about to leave the office and go visit Obito and Rin when the Hokage cleared his throat implying he should stay.
"Kakashi I have some bad news." Bad news? What could have possibly happened, everyone he cared about was currently dead, most of them due to his own weakness. "There is no good way to say this but Naruto is currently missing." Kakashi's lone eye opened, he could be talking about one Naruto. His sensei's son, it was wrong but Kakashi held the boy partially accountable for the deaths of his sensei and wife. He knew it was irrational but he had lost too much and never had anyone to blame so he finally blamed someone. Kakashi couldn't bring himself to be on his ANBU shift either, he looked too much like his father. Now all those choices came crashing down on him. "Who did it." There would be vengeance, there would be blood, he may have been incapable of protecting him but he would avenge him.
Handing him a manilla folding Kakashi opened it, Mizuki he vaguely remembered the man from his class an overconfident jerk. It didn't matter though Mizuki was now a dead man walking. Seeing Kakashi's thoughts darken the Hokage decided to try and lighten the mood "Naruto hasn't left the village yet according to the barrier team. He is most likely alive, they didn't want to kill only injure him and use it as a political move, however he went missing. His trail ended right next to the Dragon's Tail pub. Danzo wanted the boy under his wing, he has now been put to death for his crime as well as the numerous other which are coming to light as we go through his files." Kakashi took the Hokage's silence as a dismissal. While he was leaving he heard something being thrown at him. Turning to catch it he saw it was a blue shirt which reeked, it was Mizuki's the underlying message was clear.
You may hunt him down.
Mizuki was enjoying life, it had been a week since he had fled the Leaf. He had been paid to attack the brat, he knew he wasn't the Kyuubi but after losing his lover and sister he didn't care he wanted to lash out as this world. If he could hurt the Kyuubi he would and he didn't feel bad having to go through a kid to do it. He was currently in a whorehouse in grass enjoying the company of fine woman and alcohol from the money he got from the job. After getting laid he was stumbling through an alleyway on the way back to the hotel. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him, it was night why were birds chirping? Then a blue light emanated behind him. Turning around he was meet with a grim sight. The copy-cat ninja sharingan revealed a chidori in his hand.
"Kakashi is that a way greet a comrade?" Kakashi took a step forward. "Hey can we talk about this like adults? I got paid handsomely we can split it I'm sure." Another Step. "You blame him for your teachers death don't you? You were probably thinking of doing what I was. I marked him for life, he won't ever go around without someone knowing who he is, what he is." Before he could continue Kakashi flickered and appeared in front of him.
His voice was cold and harsh "Enough" with that he shoved his hand through his chest. The Hokage probably wanted him alive but anyone who attacked a child wasn't worth it.
He deposited the scroll containing Mizuki's body on the Hokage's desk. "He put up a fight I had no choice but to eliminate him." Both of them knew that was a terrible lie, Kakashi was one of the best ninjas in the village, Mizuki was a chunin not even close to a jounin. Hopefully it would bring some peace to Kakashi's worn soul.
"You are dismissed." With that Kakashi left presumably to go to the memorial stone or to pass out. He sent a messenger bird to Might Guy to see if Kakashi went to the memorial stone if so try and lift his mood.
Guy found Kakashi at the memorial stone talking to his deceased teammates and teacher. Guy knew Kakashi would blame himself. "It wasn't your fault."
Finally the dam broke he sank to his "HOW IS IT NOT MY FAULT, I PUSHED HIM AWAY!" A punch to the ground "I DIDN'T PROTECT HIM." Another punch "I BLAMED HIM!" The tears ran down his punching the ground until his hands were bloody. Guy caught both of his hands before he could injure himself anymore. He whispered "It's all my fault."
Guy felt bad for Kakashi, he never had anyone to teach him how properly emotionally cope with everything that has happened in his life. "It's not your fault Kakashi you weren't mentally fit to take care of him when he was an infant, if they had given him to you, your clan despite being only consisting of you would have shifted the power balance and the Hokage let it slip to me that it was an inside job. Even if you were protecting him you couldn't do it all the time." Kakashi knew it was true but it was easier to blame himself. Guy knew Kakashi needed time and someone to watch over him for now and as his rival he felt it was his job. Putting Kakashi's arm over his shoulder they began to walk home.
"Thanks" it was barely audible.
Guy merely smiled and said "anytime friend"
review plz tell me if this didn't immerse you enough or things I can do better