Author's Note:

Hello guys, sorry it has been so long since the last post, but school is kicking my ass right now. However, I will still try to get back to updating as much as I can. I do have some things to clear up. I know that some of you said that I mentioned in the previous chapters that the Akatsuki had the One-Tail? I am sorry about the confusion and will correct it. No, the Akatsuki does not have the One-Tail. The second is I have a scene where Naruto talks to Kakashi about his relationship with Iruka. Is that a scene somewhere in the story already or have I not made it yet? I have looked through all the chapters but cannot seem to find it and don't know if I am just missing it. If you guys have found it, then let me know what chapter please. Other than that, enjoy this next chapter.

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Chapter 23: Kage Summit

Normal P.O.V.

It took them a little while before they finally reached the Teleportation Jutsu room. Everyone looks around at the blank room like their Teleportation Jutsu back home in curiosity.

"Did it work? Are we actually in the land of Iron?" Hinata asks.

Kakashi steps forward with his hand on the doorknob. "Why don't you see for yourselves,"

Everyone is amazed as they step into the hallway. "Where are we?" Naruto asks.

"It would seem that we are inside of a tower. Usually these meetings are held in places like this," Kakashi explains with his hands in his pockets.

While continuing to look around, the group hears a familiar set of voices coming from the hallway beside them.

"Oh, hey guys. What are you doing here?" Kankuro asks with a smile and a small wave.

"We came as escorts for Lady Tsunade and Lord Danzo. Sorry we're late though," Kiba announces while scratching the back of his head.

"It's alright. We were actually on our way to meet up with Gaara now. The meeting should be starting soon anyway. Follow us," Temari said as she leads the group towards the meeting room. After a few minutes, they stop in front of a door. "Here we are. Come on," Team 10 and Kakashi enters the room but Temari stops Neji and Naruto from entering. "Sorry guys. Escorts only,"

"Understood," Neji nods.

"Understood?! No way, I'm going in there. I didn't come all this way just to stand outside the door and let them decide Sasuke's fate," Naruto growls.

"I'm sorry dude, but those are the rules. Only certain people are cleared to enter this room during this meeting," Kankuro says.

"Please, you don't understand. I would do anything to protect Sasuke. I know that he has committed heinous crimes and even killed his older brother for revenge, but I have spoken to him, recently in fact. He's lost. His soul is trapped, and I believe that I am the only one who can save them. Please, just let me talk some sense into them. I can reason with them. I came all this way; at least let me try," Naruto pleads.

Everyone turns to look at each other with an uneasy feeling. After a few moments, Kankuro gives a deep sigh while rubbing his hand over his face.

"Alright,"

"Alright?" Naruto repeats.

"Alright. If you think you can do it, then I say go for it,"

"Kankuro, you can't be serious. You know the rules~" Temari starts.

"Ya, but I also know what it's like when you really care for someone. I mean, if it was Gaara they were discussing in there, you and I both know you would have blown open that door and held them hostage until they changed their minds. Why is this any different?" Kankuro tries to reason with his weasel sister.

Chuckling a little to herself, Temari realizes that her brother is correct in his assumptions.

"Alright, kid. You have your chance. But, if this blows up in your face, just know we're not going to be here to save you,"

"Hn. I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself," Naruto smirks with his chest puffing out with pride.

"Should we really be allowing this?" Shino whispers to their leader Kiba.

"It'll be fine. After all, if anyone can convince the Kages about anything, especially Sasuke, it'll be Naruto's bonehead ass," the male canine chuckles to himself; Akamaru barking in agreement.

"Alright then. Now that that's settled, I think the Kages are waiting on us," Kakashi says before opening the door.

All the Kage stand when they hear the door creak open. Everyone except Danzo gasps when they see the large group entering the room. A pissed off Tsunade glares when she sees her grandson and a male Hyūga enter the room.

"I was expecting Kakashi and Team 8 as my escort, but neither of you. Neji, Naruto, what the hell do you two think you are doing here. This is a secret meeting. You're not supposed to be here," Tsunade scolds.

"Grandma Tsunade, you and I both know why I am here," Naruto glares back softly.

"Tsunade, is this how you let your subordinates speak to you? How pitiful," Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage and land tortoise, chuckles to himself with his arms folded.

"Shut it, old man," Tsunade growls before turning her attention back to Naruto. "You need to leave, right now. This matter does not concern you,"

"Doesn't concern me? You know how much Sasuke Uchiha means to me and our village. You really think I was going to sit by idly and let you five decide his fate without me?"

"Hn. With the lengths you're going for this handsome young man, I would say that you might be in love with this Uchiha boy," Mei, the beautiful, long red-haired, water dragon and Fifth Mizukage, giggles behind her hand.

Everyone stays quiet after Mei's comment. After a few moments, Tsunade breaks the silence with a heavy sigh as she sits back down in her chair. Her slender fingers massaging her aching temples.

"Please go home, Naruto. I promise I will discuss this with you at another time. I don't have the patience to deal with you or this right now,"

"And I've told you I'm not moving,"

Tsunade glares harder at her grandson. She was about slam her fist into the desk, but stops when A, the ox, Fourth Raikage speaks up.

"Boy, you have a lot of nerve to disrespect your Hokage like that. Must have some balls on you,"

"I mean no disrespect. I only tend to convince you five to lighten Sasuke's sentence. No one understands Sasuke like I do. He and I have been through so much. I know he may not mean much to any of you or half of you may not even care about him or what I have to say. But, please, if you five do nothing else, at least give me a chance to change your minds. If not, then you'll force me to take matters into my own hands," Naruto pleads a final time.

The five Kage look around towards each other. The silence is thick enough to be cut by a knife. The only thing strong enough to break it is a loud, hearty laugh from the otherwise raccoon demon, Lord Gaara.

Temari, just as shocked as anyone else in the room, runs to her little brother's side with a glass of water. "What's the matter Gaara? Are you chocking? Here's a glass of water,"

The raccoon demon whips a small tear from his dark eyes as he refuses the glass of water. "I'm fine. I just find this resistance amusing. Some of you in this room may not know Naruto, but he is the most unpredictable ninja to ever exist. He has even managed to turn me around and is now considered my closest friend. I am willing to hear his case. After all, there is no harm in doing so. He is just asking us to spear the life of someone he cares about. And for any of you to sit here and say you would do the same for someone you care about are lies. Naruto, you have my permission to speak on this matter,"

The other Kages reluctantly agree.

"Alright, brat. You may weight in," Tsunade sighs again. Naruto inwardly cheers.

Danzo leans over into Tsunade's ear, malice laced in his voice, "You're making a grave mistake,"

"Bringing you was a grave mistake," she replies before leaning towards Kakashi. "You know this is all your fault, right?"

"Kakashi does not look up from his book while replying, "You act as if I had a choice in the matter. I was just as outmatched as you,"

"A, I like this kid. He seems like a hip young man, yo," Killer B says while sitting next to his older brother.

"Of course, you would. He's just like you. You Jinchūriki's are always sticking together," A replies with his large forearms crossing over each other.

"Alright, then. Let's get this meeting underway, shall we?" Ōnoki says as before clearing his throat. "First on the agenda is the Akatsuki. According to our sources, their numbers have dwindled to quite a few. That does our side a great favor, however the remaining ones seem to be the deadliest. Lady Tsunade, if you would?"

"Yes," the snail queen lifts the papers in front of her and begins reading from them. "The reports from my own personal ANBU have stated that the Akatsuki are in the process of completing their plan to capture all of the Jinchūriki to harness their powers. Obviously, they had tried with Lord Gaara, but thanks to the efforts of Naruto, his Team 7 and a few other Konoha and Suna nin, they were able to save Lord Gaara before they could extract the One-Tails from him,"

"Wait a minute, you mean to tell me this brat and few others were the ones responsible for saving Lord Gaara? So, the rumors were true after all. I'm impressed. Please, continue," Ōnoki says in amazement.

"We do not know how may Jinchūriki they have captured so far. As far as we are concerned, the only few that remain are in this room currently," Tsunade finishes.

"Well it looks like we need to step our game up. Those Akatsuki brats tried to come after me a little while ago. I gave them the slip though. They were no match for the Master Rapper: Killer B!"

"They did what?!" A rages as he slams his fists on his desk. "B, why didn't you tell me this before?!"

"I didn't want my big bro to worry. Like I said, they were not match for me anyway," Killer B says as he leans back on the back legs of his chair.

"You arrogant little~"
"What did they look like?" Naruto interrupts.

"One was a tall dude with bright orange hair and super anger. The other was a weird white haired, shark guy with a large sword. The other was a red haired, fox chick with strange healing powers. She could heal people by letting them bite her. And their leader was this bratty, catty with crazy red eyes with black lines in them,"

"Crazy red eyes with black lines in them? You mean Sasuke? You fought Sasuke?" Naruto gasps.

"Yeah, that was the dude's name. Man, he was strong, but none of them had the skills to pay the bills, fool, ya fool,"

"Stop talking like that," A starts. "That brat and his team have gone too far now. First, they tried to kidnap and kill Lord Gaara. Then, they go after my brother?! They must be stopped, and that brat executed by any means!"

"Everyone, calm down. We need to think this through," Tsunade says, trying to calm everyone.

"There seems to me that there is nothing to debate here to me. Looks like the only way to keep the Shinobi world save is to eliminate the Uchiha brat and the Akatsuki," Danzo announces.

"What wait just a damn minute. What give you the right to just suggest that?" Naruto growls angrily.

"As Lady Tsunade's counselor, it is my duty to advise what is best for everyone. Including those both in and out of the Shinobi realm. This boy you so desperately want to save seems to only have one agenda on his mind and that's to destroy us all. I see no reason to keep any of them alive. Sure, it will be the end of a dead clan, but one much needed. The Uchiha have been a thorn in our village's side long before you were ever born, young Nine-Tails. You have no right to tell us what to do or even help us decide what is best. It also would seem that you have a death wish for everyone in this room.

Everyone glares at Danzo's boldness. The old man, not caring how others view him, stands his ground against the angry fox.

Naruto's fists clench at his side; burning tears threaten to fall down his tanned, whiskered cheeks.

"That's where you're wrong old man. I care for everyone here, back home and inside and out of the Shinobi world. It's true, I may be young and there's still a lot for me to learn, but there is one thing I do know: "Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than sum,"

Hearing Naruto repeat his former master's words bring pride and joy to his heart. "Looks like I taught him something after all,"

"Sasuke Uchiha is more than my best friend. He is my everything, but he is also lost. This world has not been kind to either of us. As most of you already know, I am the Nine-Tails': Kurama's vessel. And for several years, I had to be looked at with disgust and hatred for what the demon inside of me did to our village sixteen years ago. Sasuke, in my opinion had it worse. He grew up with a clan, a family, a home, love; things that I could only imagine would feel like. And, at an incredibly young age, he had to watch all of it be ripped from him by his older brother who was ordered by our Elders to do so," This statement causes everyone's eyes to widen, including a worried Danzo. "Surprised I know? Sasuke told me and he has proof of it. But, to make matters worse, he had to live his whole life believing that it was his brother's own personal doing. He was lied to and told to get stronger to avenge his clan's genocide. Sasuke, like me, has been nothing more than a piece in this giant game called chest. So, after now knowing all of this, can any of you look me in the eye and say that he doesn't deserve to be lost?"

Everyone in the room remains silent after hearing Naruto's speech. His words felt some feel ashamed. Some felt pride. And some felt baffled. Despite all of these mixed emotions, Danzo still had some complaints.

"Well, that was an interesting speech you presented us with, young Jinchūriki. But, it does not excuse the fact that Sasuke is taking part in an operation whose desire is to eliminate all of us in one swoop. This boy and his partnered organization has damaged all the nations far beyond repair and will continue until they are stopped. And, if my memory serves me correctly, was he not the same Uchiha that tried to kill you when you hunted him down for retrieval? And if that statement is true, then do you honestly mean to sit here and defend the very person who has tried to take your life along with others who have cared for him?"

"Naruto tries to swallow a lump in his throat. A shaky hand lifts to cover his chest in the same place Sasuke put a Chidori through it all those years ago.

"It's true. He did try to kill me. It is also true that my team and I failed to bring him back and almost costs us or lives in the process. However, that Sasuke I know. The Sasuke I know has was dealt a shitty hand by the Fates and prospered onward. And, through all his nightmares, fears, anxiety, anger, angst, and misery, found a way to look past all of this and show me the kindness I thought I would never find. He was my best friend and only companion for a while. I have and will continue to go to the ends of the earth until I know he is safe. Despite his crimes, Sasuke is lost. His soul is lost. His conscious is lost. He is lost, and I am the only one who can save him. And if I can't save him… then when you guys execute him… take me first…"

Everyone gasps at Naruto's declaration. None of them have ever heard of someone offering their life along with the person they want to protect. Naruto may not know it now, but he earned almost everyone's respect that day.

"Wait a second. I just want to make sure I heard you correctly," Ōnoki speaks. "So, you are offering your life along with the Uchiha's if you are unsuccessful to save him? That is quite the offer, young Jinchūriki,"

"I'll do anything for him, Lord Third Tsuchikage. I would do it without hesitation. My dream is to one day become Hokage. How can I do so if I can't even save one friend?"

Mei is the next one to speak. "Well Tsunade, I must applaud you. Not only do you have handsome men within your village, but bravely does not seem to be lacking either,"

"Bravery? More like foolishness. Becoming Hokage is your dream? You must possess the intelligence of one first,"

"That will be enough, Danzo," Tsunade growls before giving Naruto a worried look. "Naruto, are you sure you know what you're doing. Don't get me wrong, I know how special your relationship with Sasuke better than most, but… I just can't bring myself to do it if you fail,"

"Do you think I would fail?"

"I think you might be over your head a little?"

"I actually agree with both Lady Tsunade and Danzo. Boy, do you realize the trouble we will hold you accountable for when you fail to save Uchiha? Are you out of your mind? This Uchiha feline has done so much damage to our people and others alike. Do you honestly believe that you can bring him out of this "lost" state of which you speak?" A asks.

"I wouldn't throw my life on the line if I wasn't," Naruto replied.

"Tsk. Fine then. It's your funeral,"

"What is the matter with all of you? When did all of you forsake yourselves?" Gaara speaks out with his eyes closed and his arms crossing.

"Excuse me?" Ōnoki asks, offended by the younger leader.

"I said: When did all of you forsake yourselves? Naruto is willing to put his life on the line to save the person he cares about most in the world. And almost every single one of you would rather sit here and bash his decision instead of supporting it. As I have said before, I was lost just like Sasuke. In fact, when I met them for the first time during the Chunin Exams all those years ago, I was no different from the way Sasuke is now. I even took joy in killing those around me. I treated both my siblings as if they were nothing but common trash in the streets. The village I am leader of now forsaken me because they too looked at me with the same eyes as my One-Tailed demon: ShuKaku. No one understood me. No one could save me. I was stuck; lost just like Uchiha. That is, until Naruto literally knocked some sense into me. He taught me that there is more to life than murdering and destroying the people around you. Life is full of struggles and tribulations. But what truly matters is finding beauty in this ugly world and caring for those who accept you, even when all you see in yourself is a monster," Gaara opens his eyes and offers a gentle smile to his old friend. "Naruto, you have my support,"

Naruto returns the same soft smile. "Thank you, Gaara,"

He looks around the room. His comrades all gives smiles, nods of approval, or a thumb up to show their support. The remaining Kages remain silent as the matter continues to plague their minds further.

"The boy makes a strong case for the Uchiha's wellbeing. I say we dismiss the issue for tonight and revisit it in the morning with a final answer. Naruto was it? Does this sound fair to you?" Ōnoki asks. Naruto nods in approval. "Very well then. Everyone is dismissed. But, I expect each and every one of you to be back here by seven o'clock sharp, understood?"

"Yes!" Everyone says I unison.

"Come on everyone, we'll show you guys where we'll be staying," Temari says as everyone except the Kages and Danzo leave the room.

"That kid is something else, Tsunade." Mei says while leaning back in her seat.

"Tell me about it. And just think, he's basically like my grandson," the Slug Queen chuckles to herself.

"He sure has your spirit, that's for sure," Gaara smirks.

"Yeah. That's why I'm trying to prepare him for becoming the next Hokage," she announces.

"You cannot be serious. That would be unethical. It would be~"

"The right decision?" Tsunade says, cutting off Danzo.

"Quite the opposite. He is too immature. He will never be ready to handle the stress and duties associated with the position. He is a Jinchūriki for Christ's sake! He will not and cannot do this job! You would be insane to believe otherwise!" Danzo yells.

"Well then, it's a good thing that I am the Hokage and not you. Danzo, you may be older than him. Hell, you're probably older than me, you ancient fuck. But, in all my living 55 years, I have never met anyone like Naruto. He is truly the most unpredictable, loyal, and most intelligent person you'll ever met. There was even a time where I had to put my life in his hands and he beat the odds. I would do it again and even entrust my village to him. And frankly Danzo, as long as I walk this earth breathing, you'll never become Hokage; even if I am on my death bed. Now, if you'll excuse me, Mei and I have a date at the local pub,"

"Right behind you, Slug Queen," Mei says while standing.

"Oh, and Danzo," Tsunade calls out as she stops at the doorway. "I expect you come tomorrow with a better attitude than you displayed here today. If anyone was disrespectful of their leader, it was you,"

Danzo watches in anger as both Mei and Tsunade walks out the room. Soon the others follow and Danzo is left in the room alone to brew in his slight defeat today.

"That brat thinks he can come here and show me up? And that Tsunade dares to tell me that I am more unfit to be Hokage more than that Nine-Tailed demon! I will not let this transgression stand. Both will rue the day they made a fool out of me!"

While Danzo remains in the conference room, Gaara is shocked when he walks out the room and is met by Neji.

"What are you still doing here?" Gaara asks, a light blush on his cheeks.

The smirking Hyūga walks over to his lover, grips his chin, and kisses his forehead lightly. "I was waiting for you. You invited me after all,"

"Yes, to visit me in Suna, not here,"

"Yes, but I figured this would be a better surprise since I had to decline all your other offers. Besides, I was hoping for a personal tour of this new land," a smirking Neji says.

"Hn. You ask for a lot of a leader. Bold of you," Gaara says, smirking back.

"What can I say? It seems Naruto has rubbed off on me slightly,"

"That he has. Come. I do not know this land very well myself, but maybe we can discover some of it together,"

Gaara turns to walk towards the entrance of the tower. Neji does not say a word as he follows his lover on a night walk around the Land of Iron.

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To Be Continued…