Chapter 18

"Naruto, what do you think of the brewing situation with Cloud," Sarutobi asked.

Naruto looked up from his side of the table. Before him, lay a small feast. Also at the square table, sat Kenshi and Kakashi.

Naruto took a bite to eat, before he spoke, "It's annoying. While we alone cannot tell Cloud to stop and expect them to listen, it is also extremely difficult to get Rock to be on our side of the issue. Mist will be of little help with their civil war, and Sand simply is strong enough."

Sarutobi simply nodded in response, and then asked, "What of the minor villages?"

Naruto shook his head before saying, "It would take time to get them to listen, to them, it would seem like were imposing ourselves too much on them, no matter how much they don't want Cloud taking their current route. To prideful."

Sarutobi simply smiled before saying, "Naruto, never underestimate the influence of a good name. Perhaps if Leaf had a lower reputation, it might be impossible. As it is, I believe they can be convinced. The real trouble is convincing Onoki."

Naruto nodded in response, before asking, "What are we going to do?"

Sarutobi smirked before replying, "Onoki has already agreed to meeting me in Iron country, who also are willing to mediate our talks. It doesn't say anything whether or not they will join us, but he is smart enough to have a meeting in neutral territory to discuss the issue."

"I thought you always said he was extremely stubborn," Naruto remarked.

Sarutobi retorted chidingly, "Naruto, no matter how stubborn he is, he still cares very much for his people. That is why he became a shadow," before continuing with a smile, "He is acting as a proper leader should."

The four continued eating in silence for a small amount of time. Naruto then asked, "Sir, if he hates Leaf as much as our reports say he does, why wouldn't he just join Cloud and put pressure on us?"

Sarutobi grew a large smile, answering, "Naruto, it is because he loves his people that much. He knows if he militarized, then another war would be on the horizon," before continuing with a sad look, "It is a sad truth that in Cloud, leaders are more chosen based of strength than character. As is in Mist."His demeanor this visibly brightened before finishing, "In Leaf and Rock though, leaders must have great character to become leaders. It is also for that, that he hates Leaf so much, and I too hate Rock. We have both lost so much from each other." By the time he finished his last sentence, he once again adopted a sad face.

"What is war like," Naruto asked, frowning.

Kenshi spoke, "Think of war as like the time that Yugao got in a fight with her boyfriend, and how she took it out on us. Now instead of it being for a week, it is for two years. And your friends and family are slowly dying around you."

Naruto shivered at Kenshi's words. Hiruzen then spoke, "Naruto, war is a sad time. It is a time where I have to send people out on missions, with the chance that they may die. Sometimes knowing they will die. But them smiling to them with a straight face, and telling them good luck."

Kakashi finally spoke, "I can't match their descriptions, so, war is hell."

"But gramps," Naruto started, "I thought you said a Shadow should never send a person out on a mission if he knows they will die."

The Fire Shadow let out a deep breath before saying, regret lacing his voice, "Naruto, sadly, that is something that can only be applied in times of peace. In war, a shadow cannot afford such a luxury."

The group paused from their eating, and stayed silent for some time. Hiruzen then said, "Naruto, you're a part of my guard detail. You too Kenshi. I will also be bringing you Kakashi, as well as Mako Kurama. Kenshi, Naruto, you will be in ANBU gear, and will stay in it unless requested otherwise.

Naruto then asked confused, "Why me, wouldn't it be better to choose someone stronger?"

Hiruzen's eyes twinkled before saying, "Naruto, have are you not ANBU?" Naruto stammered out an incoherent sentence, that was likely not understood.

Author's Note
Hello readers. Sorry for being unable to update over the weekend. I had dive classes that took my time and left me exhausted. For all interested, I am still looking for a beta reader. The list given by the site I have found unreliable, with users who haven't been on in years.
In other news, I have reached 4000 views! Still only one review :(
The Cloud Militarization Arc will be over in just a couple chapters, unless some radical idea pops itself in my mind to extend it. That's actually what happened with this story. Some of you may have noticed a strange intro before I removed it, but I had originally planned to make this an extremely serious and dark story. How things change for writers.
The results show that I will not being having join team 7 for whatever reason, based off of one review. I will figure out the polls system eventually.
Until next time, make sure to review!