AN: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters.
Palace of Sand, Sunagakure
Kakashi had travelled to all of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Each time he felt fortunate to belong to Konoha.
Kiri was an absolute shitshow when he'd went there, a lawless landscape on the cusp of revolt.
Kumo seemed too militaristic, most of its populace adopting the menacing scowl and rigid posture of their infamous Raikage.
Iwa had been off-limits ever since the Third War, and in his prior visits he found them an uptight and strict society.
And Suna...
It felt too pompous.
Which was an irony considering they were the least of the Five Great Villages, barely holding onto that title.
Their retinue had been let into the so-called 'Palace of Sand', the official headquarters of the Kazekage.
Unlike Konoha where a simple office was preferred, Suna went for a much grander enterprise.
On either side of the hall were large statues and sculptures of village heroes and previous Kazekage.
And at the very end was the Desert Throne.
He found it to be a hideous thing, ghastly in appearance.
Rumour was that the Shodai Kazekage had constructed it as a symbol of his strength and ferocity.
A horn blasted to announce the presence of the Yondaime Kazekage - Sabaku no Rasa.
Everyone bowed as he sat on his throne.
He swept his eyes over the entourage, an unkind gleam as he stopped at the Daimyo's daughter.
"As our welcomed guests we invite you to Sunakagure no Sato, Miyo-sama."
She dipped her head "Our heartfelt thanks for your hospitality."
One of their security team delivered a scroll to the Kazekage's subordinate, who passed it to his liege.
He opened it and read the message, before closing it and scrutinising their entire group like a hawk.
His eyes stayed on Kakashi and Anko, if only for a fraction longer but in the end he looked at the Daimyo's daughter.
"This is a very unusual request Miyo-sama."
Miyo-sama gave her most charming smile "It is also a very unusual situation Kazekage-sama."
The Sand Leader read the letter again, no doubt making sure there were no loopholes that could harm the Sand.
"You can tell the Hokage...I accept."
"We are fortunate to have you as allies."
He could have sworn the man's face twitched for a moment when she said that.
"Now, let's get you settled in. My people will show everyone to their quarters, and there is a feast in your name tonight".
The Daimyo's daughter smiled and accepted, and soon everyone was being ushered to their rooms.
Konoha Council Chambers, an hour later
"A desert hawk has arrived. The Sand has responded to our invitation."
"I take it they have agreed?", Danzo questioned.
"Indeed. The Kazekage specifically mentioned what a great honour it would be, and that he hoped his children would bring great pride and joy to their village with their performances".
The true meaning was not lost on anyone. The Kazekage was bold enough to send his sole jinchūriki a long distance into potentially enemy territory, and such boldness did not bear good tidings for Konoha.
"One must appreciate the confidence the current Kazekage possesses, though whether or not it is ill-advised is yet to be seen" Hiashi stated.
"For their lone jinchūriki to be allowed so far from their protection makes me think they are planning something...untoward" Shikaku suggested.
"All the better that we have moved most of the event abroad. Have there been any responses to our other missive?"
"Indeed there has been" Hiruzen nodded, "two villages have replied in the affirmative - Takigakure and Otogakure."
"Otogakure? For a newly set-up village to want to host such a large-scale event is very optimistic" Tsume observed.
Homura looked at him "An established rapport exists with Takigakure. When they were unable to host the event due to security reasons we helped them out. They may see this as a way to repay that debt. It would be unwise to do anything that might hurt their sentiments."
"In any case, I would like to know what my council thinks. We shall have a vote between the two choices" Hiruzen announced.
Danzo frowned unnoticeably as Hiruzen relayed the results of the vote: "The upcoming Chunin exams will be hosted in Takigakure" after which he excused everyone.
He himself had voted for Takigakure, for a host of reasons.
To change the program would require a meticulous restructure of the established agreement.
That in mind, there were other benefits to doing so.
If the chunin exams took place there, it would open up a greater influx of shinobi from more states, such as Kumo and Iwa; who could be analysed and if required - intercepted.
Danzo also did not want to cause any avoidable suspicion if he was the only one in favour of Oto.
The second was he did not want the ball in his 'ally's' court. With the Chunin exams originally in Konoha, Danzo had the upper hand in their agreement.
If the location was changed to his village, the odds and profit would swing in his side.
At the very least neither held an advantage this way, on neutral soil.
And the ace-in-the-whole was that for the first time ever the jinchūriki would be out of Sarutobi's protection.
In fact, with Takigakure as hosts the reward would be double.
Why go to so much trouble for one jinchūriki, when you could have two for the same cost.
Taki had the Seven-tails, and if his sources were correct (which they always were) it was sealed inside a little girl called Fū who was frequently on the village outskirts unsupervised.
It would not be too difficult to make arrangements for her too.
He looked around, seeing everyone had left while he was stewing in his thoughts.
Yes, it was decided.
'Finally, I will have what I always wanted'
Konoha library
Somehow, he had ended up in same section of the library at the same time as Ino.
She wordlessly invited herself to his table, and soon they both had their noses buried in books, too preoccupied to even ask what the other was reading.
He would often come here, under disguise of course to read up on fuinjutsu.
And that was what he was currently doing.
His talk with Kurenai-sensei had been quite fruitful.
She had explained how the Kyubi's own chakra acted as a barrier against foreign intrusion, and that this protection would only grow the more the host could access and control their beast's chakra.
So currently he was trying to find out all he could about the subject.
Unfortunately he hadn't found much yet.
Even though Konoha had produced the very first jinchūriki there was precious little known about the relationship between host and tenant.
The Lady Mito was accredited as absorbing the Fox to protect the village, and there was scarce mention of her experience with the bijuu.
For whatever reason at the bottom of every page was what looked like a phoenix.
As for his mother, she didn't officially exist in the public domain.
Once upon a time, Naruto used to feel sad about this, but later on he realised the Sandaime had protected him by doing so.
If word got out that the current Kyubi holder was the son of the previous, he didn't even want to think about the ramifications.
A small part of him recognised the injustice of this approach - to essentially divest someone's power without their consent.
But then again, the Nine-Tails was no innocent dove - it would routinely taunt Naruto with sadistic displays of its heinous destruction as some sort of sick show of power.
And then again, what was the use of an unused, virtually limitless source of power in his belly?
"Something's wrong with you".
He looked up to see Ino frowning at him.
At his quizzed expression she explained, "You have that look on your face, when you realise something is wrong".
He raised his eyebrows at her, and she blushed slightly.
"I didn't know you noticed so much."
"I don't", she backtracked, "your face is just very readable."
Naruto crossed his arms and looked back, "So is face-reading another ability of yours? What else have you been holding out on us?"
"Fine", Ino snapped, "don't answer me" and went back to her book.
For some reason he felt bad about this, and decided to give her an honest answer. Besides, it wasn't as if she had any way of knowing he was their successor.
"I'm reading about jinchūriki."
"Oh."
"It means the power of human sacrifice. When one of the nine Tailed.."
"I know what it means. Why are you reading about them?"
"Just some general knowledge. But the issue is there isn't much to go around. The tale of Konoha's previous jinchūriki - Lady Mito, does not mention much about her beast."
She snapped shut her book and moved her chair next to him.
"Wow, she looks pretty".
"And here I was thinking you'd grown past all that and become a kunoichi."
She elbowed him in the ribs, eliciting a well-deserved "Ow", but blushing secretly that he thought so highly of her.
She perused the page with one of her fingernails, and when she was finished something didn't make sense to her.
"But if Lady Mito passed away three decades ago, who has contained the beast since?"
He shrugged innocently, wanting her to think he was just as unaware as she was.
"Anyways", she got up clearing her things.
"It's almost dinnertime. I should get going." Just before she left the room, she turned around biting her lip.
"Would you like to come?"
He smiled easily at her, "Maybe some other time", but internally sweating buckets that she had invited him to dinner.
His boredom led him walking along the Second Pond.
It was one of the artificial ponds created in honour of each Hokage.
Naturally, this was the Nidaime's.
Naruto wondered if the day would ever come in the future where there was no space remaining to make another pond.
He liked the idea of that - of Konoha prospering for that long.
Having nothing else to do he walked up to the riverbank and sat down with his feet in the water.
Near him, a couple of kids were laughing and splashing, generally having a merry time.
He smiled at them and they waved back, their toothy grins making him laugh.
Suddenly there was shouting and the kids were running back to their parents, and when he looked at them he understood why - they'd seen him.
Their fear and mistrust was clear on their faces, and he sighed to himself and fell back, lying on the soft grass.
"Why don't you hate them?"
Naruto clenched his fists so hard they turned white.
"You're getting better at sneaking up on me."
"Don't flatter yourself. I was walking by and saw you wasting your time with some kids."
"Cheery today aren't we?"
Sasuke looked at him plainly "You didn't answer my question. Why don't you hate them? All they ever do is look at like you're the reason anything is wrong with their lives and stop their kids from coming near you. So why?"
He gained a faraway look in his eyes "Because I stopped caring. I don't want to waste my time on them or their ignorance. They can hate me all they want, it means not a thing to me."
"Why didn't you just leave then? Why stay and endure them your whole life?"
Naruto snorted "Leave? And where would I go? Last I checked, the only places orphans were in high demands were brothels and gangs. Both options likely to lead to my funeral sooner than later."
"You're a shinobi, you could join another village."
"Trying to get me to desert? Is that how you want to become the strongest genin of our team? Besides, which village would I go to? Iwa, with my blonde hair and blue eyes just like the Yondaime; they'd kill me as soon as they saw me. How about Kiri? Where I'm likely to die sooner with the endless bloodshed. No, I think I'm just fine here."
"So you just there and take it all day?"
"Not at all. I didn't waste my education inside a stuffy classroom like the rest of you. Remember that lamb chop place? The owner refused me entry once, and let's just say he ended up becoming a goat. And that's only one instance. I pulled a lot of pranks on a lot of people."
"Which asks the question as to why do they avoid you in the first place? What is it about you that scares them?"
"I'm afraid I can't answer those questions."
"Right, it's that you can't answer them, not that you won't."
"Damn right."
He tried to change the topic "Why were you passing by here? You live on the other side of the village."
"Hey guys. What are you doing here?" a feminine voice called out from behind them
They both turned around to see Sakura approaching them.
"Nothing, just boys talk" Naruto lied
"Really, it seems like you're always meeting behind my back."
"I was just passing by when I saw Naruto."
"Here?" she asked him with some doubt, "I thought you lived..."
"So?" he asked, the annoyance in his tone rising, "I didn't know I couldn't visit places if I didn't live there."
"N-no of course not Sasuke-kun" Sakura backtracked.
"Then where are you going?" Naruto asked.
"To the Administrative Office. I have some work there."
Naruto got up from the floor, dusting himself "We'll come with. I've always wanted to see how old and dusty that place must be."
Not able to find a valid reason to brush him off, he turned around and started walking without looking back, the only sign his teammates were there the shadows trailing him.
She was beginning to think she was being left out.
Counting their first day as a team on the academy roof, their first day at Training Ground 3 and this - it was the third time they'd met without her.
And those were the only instances she knew of.
Kami knows how many times they'd done this.
The two of them couldn't be more different.
Naruto was an orphan, a loner and occasionally a prankster.
Sasuke-kun was a clan heir, respected and admired by the entire village.
Yet somehow she kept finding them talking to each other with serious faces, as if what they were speaking of was of utmost importance.
What could it be?
Why did they have anything to discuss in the first place?
What were they not telling her?
Sasuke slammed the folder on the table.
"I'm here, and this time I have all the required documentation you asked for."
A tick appeared on the officer's face "You again? I didn't think you would come back."
"Didn't think or hope?"
"Eh, potato pohtato" the man drawled.
He scanned the paperwork and looked up, his eyes going to Sasuke's left - at Sakura.
"What's this kid?" he snorted, "You brought some protection. You think your girlfriend Strawberry Shortcake scares me?"
From his other side, Naruto cleared his throat and crossed his arms.
Instantly, the man straightened up and began inspecting the documents thoroughly.
He was thankful for Naruto, for getting the man to focus because he could feel Sakura's blush at the man's remarks.
Even if he couldn't understand why one look from Naruto would...unnerve this man.
The officer held the papers and organised them.
"This is alright. Someone from the office will contact you about a collection date."
"What do you mean collection date? Last time I was here you told me to get these papers and I'd get my property."
"I did" the officer agreed, "but I didn't say you'd get them immediately. Stuff like this takes time. We've lost our records of the archives, so someone will have to manually search for it."
"Well then I'll do it."
"No can do kid. Only the Hokage has unrestricted access to the Village Archives."
"Why you lying piece of"
He stopped mid-sentence, feeling a hand clasp onto his shoulder.
"Is there any way to speed up the process?" Naruto asked, and his tone made it clear this was not a question.
"Uh, you could always try asking the Hokage."
"Fine!" Sasuke spat, and he left barely controlling his rage.
"I'm tired of being treated like a kid!" Sasuke-kun lashed out.
"Um, but you are a kid Sasuke-kun" Sakura replied gingerly.
"Once upon a time I was someone important, second-in-line of the Uchiha Clan. And now look at me...begging for what is rightfully mine. I'm tired of this village."
"Easy", Naruto narrowed his eyes "You are still a shinobi of this village, and in the presence of fellow shinobi of said village."
"Screw this. I'm leaving" and with that he stalked off, her eyes following him all the way until he was out of sight.
She wasn't sure if he meant this particular place or the village.
"What do you see in the guy?"
It took her a minute before she realised Naruto had asked her a question.
She looked at him embarrassingly "I'm sorry, I zoned out for a moment."
He shook his head "I asked why do you even like him?"
Her cheeks burned bright red as she tried to articulate her feelings.
"H-he wasn't always like this you know."
"I do. But if you keep reminding yourself how he used to be you'll lose sight of who he'll end up like."
"Who?"
"Itachi."
The answer stung her like a tight slap to the face.
"Sasuke-kun could never be like that monster! He would never hurt his loved ones."
Naruto looked at her sadly "Look around you Sakura. He doesn't have any loved ones. Not anymore."
Her eyes glistened with budding tears "Why are you speaking like this Naruto? It's almost as if you want him to end up that way."
"Of course I don't. To be like Itachi...condemned and reviled for all eternity, an omen of great evil - there are worse fates than death. I don't want Sasuke to be that way, but I'm not sure he won't be."
She shook her head "Then we'll help him. He's our teammate."
"Is he really? When was the last time he thought about us, or anyone other than himself and his vengeance?"
As he walked away, he whispered something in her ear she'd never forget.
"Be careful what you wish for, because you can never unwish it."
"I understand what you are saying Naruto-kun, but what you ask of me would set an unfavourable precedent."
He sighed, knowing this was to be the likely answer.
Normally he wouldn't be bothering the Old Man with something trivial like this, but Sakura's sorrowful puppy eyes made him come here.
"Isn't there something you could do?"
"Anything I can do would be an abuse of power, not to mention sending a wrong message. Aggrieved though Sasuke-kun is, I cannot show preference to any one shinobi. It sends a wrong message to the rest of the village. I'm afraid Sasuke-kun will have to wait like everyone else."
An idea struck his mind.
"No he won't."
"I'm afraid I don't follow you."
"What if someone where to switch dates with him?"
"I suppose that is an option yes, but where would you find someone willing to do so?"
"Me."
At his confused face Naruto answered "Jiraiya told me the last time I saw him that my parents wanted me to have something when I made chunin. Now granted I've done and seen things above a chunin's classification before, but officially I am a chunin now. Which means there's something from the archives for me too."
The Hokage cursed himself "Of course. It seems old age is slowly eating away at my memory. In fact, I remember reviewing the file just days ago, to see where it was. Naturally for security reasons it is a token report. No information is provided about the contents, or who they're from and who they're to. The only reason I'm aware of the contents is because your father had told me. I was going to call you to my office tomorrow morning to receive them."
Sarutobi rifled through his desk drawers, until he finally found what he was looking for.
"Here is the contents summary. But Naruto-kun, these include letters your parents had written for you in case"
"In case they died?"
The Hokage grimaced at his frankness "Yes. Not only that, it also contains the scrolls of the Hiraishin - exclusive to your father and Tobirama sensei. I could not ask this of you."
He mulled over it. On one side was a jutsu only known by two of the strongest shinobi to ever live. Something like that would be a devastating tool in his arsenal.
Besides, it was his legacy, being passed on to him from his father.
But then he thought of his teammates; of Sakura who'd expended so much energy in trying to make them a team, of Sasuke who was an orphan like him - who knew what is was like to be alone like him.
It felt wrong to deny someone their heritage - Naruto knew about that better than anyone.
Besides, prick or not he clearly deserved a break.
"You aren't asking. I'm giving."
Sarutobi looked at him with pride "You remind me so much of your father. I am so proud of you Naruto-kun. Trust this to me. I won't let you down."
"Thank you Hokage-sama. Just make sure he doesn't know I did it."
Sarutobi was immensely proud of his charge.
A shinobi was meant to think of his comrade and the greater good, but Hiruzen doubted if anyone else in the village would have done what Naruto just did.
He completely agreed with Naruto.
Except for one thing - he would make sure Sasuke knew Naruto did it.
He did not want to be seen acquiescing to the outbursts of a teenager, clan heir or not.
And, because he wanted Sasuke to learn.
Duty. Sacrifice. Honour.
That was not a catchphrase, but a reality of being a Konoha nin - and the foundations upon which the Will of Fire was hoisted.
His predecessors knew it, he knew it and his successor knew it.
It was time the next generation learned it.
Putting the file away, his hand brushed against something rectangular.
A dusty photo frame.
He took it out.
A picture of him with Lady Mito, and a young girl roughly his age with flowing red hair and blue eyes, with the widest smile he had ever seen.
He stroked the cool glass fondly.
Gods, how long it had been since he'd thought of her. (An OC character)
Thinking about her made him sad.
For how things had turned out.
He had failed all three of them.
Evening, Sunagakure
Kakashi decided to ditch the bandage this time. It annoyed his skin, and besides - an eye patch was much cooler. His mouth was still masked by the camouflage (make-up).
They'd dressed in what hoped made them look like ordinary people trying to fit in with the elite.
He'd worn a black suit with tie, opting out of the more traditional yukata.
She'd worn a navy blue knee-length dress, and her hair was done up in one of those fancy ways Kakashi never understood why women did.
He opened his mouth to complement her, but decided against it.
He didn't know how she would receive it, so instead he asked her if she was ready.
She looked at him resolutely "I was born ready."
For the most part they'd worked separately, trying as discreetly as they could to get whatever information they could.
Only once had they come together, during the couples dance so no one asked why a married couple weren't on the floor.
He held her by her hips, mirroring what everyone else was doing.
She had both hands on his shoulders, trying to look everywhere but his eyes.
"I must make a very lousy fake husband."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because my fake wife is looking like I stepped out on her."
"Good thing you're just a fake husband then."
"Why's that?"
"Because you have no idea how women think."
"Ouch" that stung.
He took one of her hands and twirled her around, clasping her closer to him when she faced him.
"And how does a woman think in this situation? You, for instance?"
"I'm thinking about the mission we're here for, just as I'm sure you are."
She emphasised the last part, making it clear what she thought about his action.
The song ended and they walked over to the bar, from which point they separated.
He shook his head. It's like his mind and body had been thrown off equilibrium ever since that night.
What was he even doing? Flirting with someone he barely knew, moreover a fellow nin of the same village.
He was laughably incompetent when it came to the ladies department, specifically the part where you had to talk to them.
His idea of a relationship was a brief physical fling, no strings attached.
But that would not happen here. Too much was at stake here to be blown over his stupid feelings.
His village depended on him.
He would not fail them - never again.
Nightfall, Konoha
Naruto was looking at her, and then he wasn't.
In his place appeared coils of bright light.
Nine coils.
Of bright orange light.
That snapped her out of it.
She crashed out of her dream, jumping up and gasping.
She could vaguely remember a history lesson years ago.
About how the Tailed Beasts had been divided.
Konoha had gotten the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tailed Fox, with its orange visage and malicious eyes.
Orange tails and malicious eyes...like the ones she had seen when...
Reality assaulted her like a thunderstorm and her eyes widened as she connected the dots.
Naruto was the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails
After Nightfall
Like last time, they waited until everyone was sound asleep before getting ready.
Before the feast, they'd already decided to start from the Sand Palace.
He found it difficult to believe any competent shinobi would let such a large space not be appropriately used; the appropriate use in this case the stockpiling of state secrets.
Another oddity had caught his attention - the place was scarcely guarded.
Almost as if to give the impression there was nothing worth guarding.
This was a common tactic amongst the shinobi villages - to (seemingly) lightly guard their most valued assets, and heavily guard seemingly insignificant items.
Misdirection.
Always look underneath the underneath
Both made sure to avoid any alcohol at the feast, whilst discreetly trying to encourage as many of the locals as possible. And also, to prevent even a chance of a repeat performance from the last time they'd done this...
The less obstacles in their way the better.
This time though, the stakes would be higher.
There was no local help or prior information provided.
They were not in some sleepy little town, this was the heart of Sunagakure no Sato - one of the five Great Villages.
If they were caught, they would be disavowed and any knowledge of their existence or operation denied.
As they left their room however, neither noticed the old lady sweeping the floor, the same old lady from the reception desk of the hotel from Tottori...
Getting past security was easy enough.
Two plump chunin were standing outside the doors, smoking and cracking lewd jokes.
His hands began moving as he performed a genjutsu
"Illusion Art: StandStill."
"Quickly, we don't have much time. This only lasts for less than a minute".
They moved in, making sure to barely move the door as they slid in.
"What was that jutsu? I've never seen it before."
"You wouldn't have. It's a Hatake clan technique. Whilst the genjutsu is cast, the victim does not see any changes in their surrounding. I can only apply it for a couple minutes at most."
They moved to opposite sides, traversing the entire length sticking to the walls to not get stuck in traps.
It was difficult to see much in the pitch blackness, but using a torchlight was too risky.
Eventually, they had moved to the other side of the venue.
Nodding at each other they started scouting the place.
Kakashi eventually made his way to the Desert Throne, and thought it was even more unsightly from up close.
Disregarding it, he looked for anything peculiar around it.
He lifted his eye patch, allowing his Sharingan to spin into action.
Everything appeared sharper and crisper.
Scanning the entire hall, he spotted two anomalies - two hollow spaces inside a statue.
He directed Anko to it, and on the count of three they pushed into the hollow spaces.
The statue was soundlessly swallowed by the ground, and in its stead appeared a spiralling staircase.
He slipped the eye patch into place, and took out a kunai.
From his belt he took out a glowstick and went down the staircase.
It seemed as if the staircase went on forever.
Part of it was the speed at which they were descending it.
This was essentially enemy territory they were treading on, and unknown territory.
That made things worse: there was no intel about this place, or where it led to or who or what would be at the bottom of it.
Her eyes travelled to his face.
In the green light of the glowstick he looked like a ghost, his dyed hair looked like it was on fire.
On fire
That's what she'd felt like ever since they had...
She felt a solid hand obstruct her, and she saw Kakashi indicating with his other hand what was in front of them.
Some fifty feet in front of them was an observation deck.
They cautiously approached it, Anko could hear a low humming sound.
From the look on Kakashi's face he was also hearing it.
As they got closer the humming turned into chanting.
Beyond the observation desk was a glass floor.
And underneath it...
Was the strangest thing she had ever seen, which was saying something considering she had once been abducted by Orochimaru.
A giant sphere of sand levitated in the air, and people in dark gold robes surrounded and recited some sort of chant.
Speaking of Orochimaru, she had a funny feeling in her gut.
She breathed in, and her heart stopped for a second.
Snake
She could smell it in the air.
The rational answer was that he was close by, but Anko felt paralysed and trapped in her own body.
It was as if she was watching her own body from distant, trapped corner of her mind but couldn't control it.
Basically how she used to feel under him.
She hated how helpless it made her.
So trapped in her fear was she that she didn't notice the voices had gone quiet, and the sand disappeared.
The next thing she knew Kakashi grabbed her hand and ran out of there, dragging her behind him.
An eternity passed before they made it to their hotel room.
She was still frozen, standing by the doors with her fists clenched and eyes wide.
A warm hand touched her chin "Are you okay?"
His warmth coursed through her like a wildfire and revitalised her like hot chocolate.
"He was there."
"Who was?"
She looked up at him, and met his eyes for the first time since they'd left Tottori.
How ironic that she was behaving the same way she'd accused him of.
She thought of his warm hands, his solid arms, and then...his soft lips.
How they had messed with her head, how she wasn't able to concentrate or think.
That's what she needed right now.
To not think.
"Make me forget" she demanded him and then jumped into his arms, fusing her lips to his, pouring everything she had into the kiss.
He stumbled for a moment, before picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom.
No words were uttered after that.
The next morning
She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Her lips were bruised purple from biting them every time she thought about it.
'Naruto is a jinchūriki'
The term itself was not a part of standard Konoha curriculum, and she could understand why.
Ino had learned about it from some older clan members
To have a burden like that...she couldn't begin to imagine what he'd endured.
A million questions formed a violent maelstrom in her head, and each question led to a dozen following questions.
It was as if the subject had been seared into her mind, everything she did to get her mind off it failed.
Ino felt she would burst if she kept this to herself any longer, but who could she tell?
Shikamaru would take it to it like a bloodhound to blood, and after their talk the other day she'd rather not send him down such a road.
Choji, her good Choji - he couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. Anything she told him would automatically be disclosed to Shikamaru, so he was off limits.
That only left...
Well, she'd just have to do with the next best person on the list - Sakura.
His doorbell rung, disrupting his morning exercise.
Opening the door, he saw a man bringing in a huge number of large crates.
Sasuke frowned "What is the meaning of this?"
The man spoke to him while unloading them "Well, your friend Naruto pulled some strings. There was a last second opening. Apparently someone doesn't want their archives just yet. So we were able to shift you up. Sign here and have a good day."
Once the man left he took a proper look at the crates.
There were too many to count.
Naruto did this.
His frown grew.
He moved the boxes inside, wondering how the hell Naruto had done this.
From what the official had said yesterday, only the Hokage had the authority to do something like this.
But why would the Hokage do this?
Unless...
Naruto had asked him to.
But why had he done that? And why would the Hokage agree? Did the Hokage have a personal connection to his teammate?
Asking these questions lead him to no answers, so instead he decided to hear them from the horse's mouth themselves.
Training Ground 12, an hour later
Sasuke walked up to him "I didn't ask for your help."
Naruto played dumb "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Cut the crap Uzumaki. You got my clan archives delivered to me. At least have the decency to admit it."
That angered him "Decency? The decent thing to do would be thank me for helping you. But then again we all know civil behaviour is beyond your reach."
"How were you even able to get an appointment with the Hokage. You have to book one weeks in advance."
"I guess it was your lucky day then."
"I didn't need your help."
"I know you didn't, I helped you anyway. It's called being a good person. You should try it sometimes - it'll be good for you."
The Uchiha growled at him "I don't need your pity. I had it all..."
"Covered?" Naruto finished for him. "I'm sure you did. After going home and brooding overnight, you'd have magically solved the problem."
Sakura intervened at this point "Why don't we all just relax for a moment? Let's get off each other's backs."
Naruto looked pointedly at her "Oh I'm not on his back. Trust me, if I were on his back he'd know about it."
"Are you threatening me?"
"I don't need to threaten you pretty boy. I could kick your ungrateful ass..."
A firm voice stopped both of them in their tracks "What is going on here?"
Kurenai-sensei had arrived along with Team 8.
Training was a tense affair.
He almost had a flare-up with Kiba after he elbowed him a bit too hard in the nose during their taijutsu spar.
The mutt-boy had to go home early, clutching his nose as blood flowed freely.
Kurenai-sensei looked at intensely, and he thought she was going to kick him out.
"The next time this happens, you'll be sparring with me."
He recognised this as a promise, not some empty threat.
Perhaps Team 8's sensei had sensed there was some friction between them, and apart from one exercise he and Naruto were kept apart.
Sasuke poured his ire into target practice.
Why did Naruto get special access to the Hokage?
Thwack. Bullseye
What was so special about him?
Another bullseye.
What was he hiding?
This time, the kunai went through the target and out of the tree.
What made him better than me?
TBH, Danzo in the manga/ anime just comes off as an unlikable asshole. Not saying that he won't be unlikable or an asshole here. I just want to make his story more subtle and well-fleshed, which I have seen occurring in a number of fics.