Just a reminder: this chapter narrates the abduction. And a wee bit of "boardroom" politics.
The Third Hokage had kept true to his word; he didn't call the Council unless it was absolutely necessary. Hiashi could count the number of times they'd met on one hand.
He didn't complain. Things were much better this way. Regular meetings would drag him down, forcing him to keep his end of the bargain with Naruto. The Uchiha had delivered and helped him greatly. He didn't want to say anything that would alienate him from the rest of the Council.
At least he'd made it clear to Naruto that he would only support him if it benefited the Leaf.
Clan wars raged on in the fields for dominance. Some chose to be indifferent to the politics; Hiashi insisted his clan maintain its dominance.
"Good everyone made it." Hiruzen said with a smile.
"We don't meet as much to be missing meetings." Chouza said. You miss one, and you'd end up missing a great deal. Maybe even when decisions were being made about your clan.
"The Anbu commander is not a member of this Council, but I've brought him today because he has own opinions and I'd like all of you to hear them while he hears yours." The Hokage announced and all eyes turned to the masked man beside him.
Naruto was still a divisive figure. The Anbu commander still looked at him with a look of suspicion. He hadn't inquired much as to whether the clan heads had moved past their mistrust. Their opinions mattered, and Hiruzen hoped he could gain them from the meeting.
The Uchiha's planned rebellion was a taboo subject. Hiruzen would never discuss it and the Council was not allowed to either. It was for the sake of the village.
"I've been hearing some rather interesting stories." Chouza said.
"All true, I'm sure," Hiruzen said with a smile. "When we first revealed that Naruto had succeeded Fugaku, the villagers were not happy and had questions. But it's clan matters, it's not like they could do anything about it.
"However, they are warming up to the idea. Naruto makes rounds with his students, chatting with villagers, and making a good impression. The atmosphere is changing."
Shibi placed his hands on the table. "How is your relationship with him?" He asked curiously.
"Professional."
"Nothing like the others?" Chouza asked with a frown.
"Yes." Hiruzen nodded. "There is some distance. He does his missions and serves his clan without making a fuss."
"Are you fine with that?"
"I wish there was something, but I can't force him."
"This seems to be his design." Shikaku said. "But it shouldn't be a problem if he does his missions and does nothing suspicious."
"I'm not completely comfortable with that. How do we know him when he keeps a distance?"
"That is something we will get to."
"Has he not asked anything about the Uchiha seat?"
"No." Hiruzen shook his head for emphasis. "Has he approached any of you?"
They all shook their heads except for Hiashi. It seemed as though something was happening between the Hyuga and Uchiha, and the village seemed happy about it.
Chouza said to Hiashi, "You've been getting along with him."
"Getting along?" Hiashi asked. "That is a nice way of putting it. There are just matters of personal interests that collide and we work through them. He is not my friend. Getting along with him is another matter."
"Like?"
"He'll insult your whole clan and then be surprised when you're offended," Hiashi said in a flat tone. "We have a professional relationship. It is nothing personal for that reason."
Really, the Uchiha's choice of words could cause any prideful person to launch an attack. Hiashi was used to it; he wasn't offended by it. Naruto spoke in that manner—he didn't take anything personally; otherwise, he would have attacked him already.
"Your daughter is being trained by him," the Anbu commander said. "And so is your nephew." He pointed out. "She is the heir of your clan, and he is the clan's prodigy. For you to trust him with those two, shows a lot of confidence in him. And what does he gain from it?"
Hiashi suppressed a snort because it would be unbecoming for a Hyuga. They misunderstood Naruto. He would demand some things in return, but for others, he really didn't care, even if they were valuable. He didn't even mind explaining some of his powers, as shinobi value their secrets for the element of surprise.
"I suppose you're the expert. Naruto-san worked in Anbu, so you should understand his nature. You've probably never interacted with him, yet you pass judgment." Hiashi spoke in a cold tone. "For someone who is our Anbu commander, your lack of judgement skills are concerning."
Silence filled the chamber as Hiashi spoke in defense of Naruto.
"Don't get me wrong; I'm not defending him. I'm just stating the obvious."
Shikaku agreed with Hiashi. The Anbu commander had always been rude towards Naruto. But if he expressed his agreement, it would create conflict, and he really didn't want the Anbu commander leaving the chamber feeling ambushed and with a point to prove.
"Says the man who was the loudest in demanding he be killed." The Anbu commander shot back.
Hiashi just shrugged. A little while ago, he'd have taken offense, but being around Naruto was making him immune to such taunts.
"It was a decision made at that time. He openly expressed the idea of rebelling against us. In that moment, I felt justified."
"And now?"
"What about now?"
Hiruzen sighed as he thought about how things had turned out. It started out just fine and then suddenly, it took a sharp turn. He glanced around the table to study the expressions of others. Shikaku didn't seem too bothered; Chouza seemed curious about something, and Shibi was unreadable.
"Why did you decide to give him your daughter and nephew?" The Third asked to get things back on track.
"He is a good teacher," Hiashi said and then sighed. "Give him talent and he will make it work." He paused for a moment before continuing. "With my daughter, I really didn't have much of a choice. A decision had already been taken to strip her of her status as clan heir because she was disappointing. She was skilled, I knew, but too kind and I couldn't break her out of her shell.
"Naruto's disgust for weakness, especially from someone who has all the necessary tools to succeed, was something I had heard from some of our children learning under him. It took some doing, but Hinata was shaped correctly. We discussed their progress. I asked him what he wanted in return, but he said he didn't want anything."
From his conversation with Naruto, Shikaku knew that the Uchiha clan head understood human behavior. He didn't need a reward because while he might enjoy training, he was the one who would train the next Hyuga clan head. The Hyuga clan would always be grateful to him.
The thing with the villagers? It was about the same principle. Konoha would soon be forced to come to him. He'd said he wasn't going to beg them to accept him, but he was going to force them to act.
Shikaku said, "I can agree with his teaching methods." He had seen them firsthand. In six months, they had turned a group of Chunin into hardened shinobi. Of course, not all of them succeeded; some of them failed.
Hiruzen shook his head as he spoke. "I was honestly surprised when I read the report that he's failed half of his class," he admitted. The students had done well during their exams, showing more skill than many others. After a year of training under him, they had gained knowledge and skills they would not obtain as Jonin for at least another year. "He has been training his students for two years now, and the results are already excellent."
"And there is nothing wrong?"
"We had three students acting as moles from the first group. As for the first group, what they learned about him was what they learned from observing him. The academy students showed no outward signs of anything suspicious either. Itachi and Inoichi examined some of the students. We came to the conclusion that he has simply been doing his job and appears to enjoy it."
Hiruzen thought if Naruto ever found out about this, it would put him in danger.
"Then you didn't trust him from the beginning, despite giving him the responsibility," Chouza said in surprise. "Then again, we all didn't trust him."
Hiruzen said in a firm tone. "We had to make sure." He continued, "We had to be safe and ease the worries of others. But so far, even from observation, he has done nothing wrong but simply complete his duties. His love for his clan remains obvious."
"But he shows indifference towards us." Shibi asked, "Does he not think we can be fair?"
"That is a question yet to be answered," Hiruzen said. "Naruto does love Konoha. But so did Danzo. He loves his clan and will do whatever to protect it. He obviously has dreams regarding his clan.
"But some of his actions are intentional. He knows what he is doing. And we may need to act soon. I've told him there is a possibility he could return to the council. However, this won't be possible unless the village accepts him. Eventually, everyone will embrace him just as they do Itachi and Shisui. If you have any concerns, please voice them."
"His indifference toward us bothers me. But if he has been doing his missions without complaint, I can't really judge him. I also believe Hiashi-san wouldn't work with him if there was something he considered troubling."
Hiashi thought it was funny. He realized Naruto's future really depended on their relationship. Who knew asking that little favor would result in such a situation?
"There is still some time. But I have to agree with Shibi-san. If we cannot choose to accept Naruto despite him keeping to his word, we will come out on the wrong side of history." Shikaku said. "His power is also growing at an alarming rate."
"Which is why I worry," the Anbu commander said. "Do any of you think he is someone who can be controlled?"
Not even the Third, despite his hopeful nature, could agree to this. Naruto did as he wanted, and controlling him once he became too powerful would be impossible for Konoha.
"The Uchiha have always been able to become much more powerful. But the Senju have always been there to keep them in check. The most powerful Uchiha is Madara, and even he was able to fight the First Hokage. Since the founding of Konoha, not many Uchiha have been able to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. Those three have it, and their powers are terrifying; even Jiraiya-sama says he can't do anything.
"Shisui and Itachi are powerful. But Naruto grows into the shadow of Madara. If he takes after him and we all know his attitude, what can we do to control him?" The Anbu commander asked.
"I take it you don't trust him." Chouza said.
"It isn't a simple matter of trust. It is just the risks."
Shikaku said, "We can't plan to control him." He continued, "But if there is something that comes up, we have to trust Itachi and Shisui to take action. The moment we have some plans, and they get discovered, we are in trouble. We have to show some faith."
"It isn't a sin to be cautious," Shibi said. "He is a person who loves his clan more than anything. We have to consider that."
"Hiashi-san?" Hiruzen said.
"Naruto is loyal to Konoha. He's not stupid. He'll know if we have someone spying on him and have made some ridiculous plans to restrain him or some blackmail formed in order to control him.
"Naruto understands how things work. Things like that are not lasting. He has no interest in temporary measures. He'll probably tell you he doesn't think there is anyone who can defeat him, but will also say he knows he'll die soon. If fear rules, the moment he dies, the dynasty ends."
"So, you're saying he'll try to make things work in the normal way?"
"Yes."
"And if they don't?"
"We will face a problem. He is patient, but he has limits."
"Which is why we must take precautions," the Anbu commander said. "Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow."
"We should let things play out. We cannot do anything we will regret. If he gives us reason to trust him, we must take it. We will meet again in due time. However, you all have a duty to watch and observe him yourselves. You are free to attend the Military Police Force Academy to see him." The Sandaime Hokage said, closing the meeting.
Hidden Mist
It had been about two years since Shisui first arrived here with members of his clan. The village was different then. The mood on the streets was dark and gloomy. Even the civilians looked like murderers. The mist that surrounded the village reeked of blood, but now, it was just the beauty of nature.
As it had done before, the earth swallowed everything. The signs of battle vanished. Trees rose. Weeds covered the ground, concealing some of the scars on the earth.
The most groundbreaking thing for him was that he could now openly walk the streets. Over the past few years, he'd come here twice, secretively and never stayed for more than a day.
The Feudal Lord had sat with Mei and agreed to go along with the story of having hired Konoha, in cooperation with her. Kiri was in safe hands and performing much better, so, nobody could complain.
"Things have worked out for you," Kisame said as he led Shisui toward the Mizukage tower. "I wouldn't have complained if you were not treated better than this. It still bothers me that you're more favored than us."
"Why?"
"Yagura used the Swordsmen to enforce his rule. They had really stopped serving the village and just served their own interests. While the previous generation was a beacon of hope for the Mist, the ones you killed were a disgrace that most of the villagers didn't even like due to their cruelty."
"I still don't see why you're treated differently."
Kisame sighed. "There's disappointment in ourselves for doing nothing and the anger from those who were hurt by others. We should have been the heroes, but instead, outsiders had to be trusted to protect them from us."
That was a reasonable expectation. If a corrupt regime took over Konoha and the Military Police obeyed and abused the villagers, once there was a change in regime, the villagers would turn on them.
Shisui said, "You have time to work things out with them."
Kisame shrugged. "I'd have liked if you hadn't come. But it seems you have stuck to your word. I kind of feel like Zabuza died for nothing." He said and then laughed.
Shisui was a little bothered by the laugh. But he didn't let it show. "We're honest people," he said.
"That remains to be seen. But at least we know now that you have no intention of controlling this village. I wouldn't have allowed it. But it is good that I don't have to kill you."
Shisui just shook his head. Kill. Kill. Was that really the solution to all of their problems? He could understand Kisame wanting to protect his village, but was killing him the answer? He'd just spark a war with the Leaf unless he pinned his murder on the Sand — given its actions, it wouldn't even be unbelievable.
The Mizukage Tower had been rebuilt. It had a different aura compared to the last one. Then again, a kindhearted woman who loved her people occupied it.
The office of the Leader was spacious, its walls painted blue. There wasn't a shred of Yagura's memory left behind. Shisui had learned, anything related to the former Mizukage was treated with contempt. Now that they enjoyed good leadership, they realized just how horribly Yagura had treated them.
Mei was still the same. She seemed rested today. The last time he had come, she seemed haunted, worn out, and exhausted from working overtime. A few sparks of a rebellion from those who clung onto power and rejected her rule.
The difference was her smile. It was no longer the sly curl of her lips that tried to seduce him; it was now filled with warmth and happiness at seeing him.
"I'll be outside." Kisame said.
Mei rolled her eyes. "Sure," she said, standing up and greeting Shisui. "I'm glad you arrived safely," she said, holding out her right hand.
Last time, it was a hug. This time, he took her hand and shook it.
"Thank you." Shisui said and then he sat down. "Everything seems to be going well. The atmosphere is different from the last time I was here." He said happily.
"We are changing," Mei said happily. "It will take a couple of more years, but we will be where I want us to be…" She paused and then stared at him. "You just arrived and already you're about to get to business?"
Shisui chuckled. "I want to return to Konoha as soon as possible."
"I'm beginning to think you don't like my presence."
"No, no… it's not that." Shisui held up both hands while shaking his head vigorously.
Mei folded her hands across her chest. "What is it then?"
"Konoha has enemies, and I'd like to be home just in case."
"We'll talk about your business tomorrow," Mei said. "I said things were well, but there is something that has been troubling me. And I don't want to accuse you of anything. I'm even asking you because I trust you won't take offense at it."
"What is it?" Shisui asked curiously.
"When you arrived, Ao was outside the village. He worked as a Hunter-nin. He had the Byakugan he took from a Hyuga during the war. He was a valuable member of our military force and one of the most senior shinobi. But he hasn't been seen since. He disappeared along with his team. We investigated and it seems he completed his mission and was on his way back. But he never made it."
The Byakugan. Around the time they had come to the village. Those words bounced in Shisui's head. Naruto was apparently getting along with Hiashi. And the Hyuga were overprotective of their doujutsu. Had the man asked Naruto to do it? Or had Naruto done it to earn the favor? No, there was nothing Naruto would want from the Hyuga. The former scenario was most likely.
Would he ask Naruto?
If he asked, Naruto would tell him the truth; Shisui thought he was better off not asking.
"Have you heard anything?"
"If it were a mission from Konoha, you know I couldn't comment," Shisui said. "But I don't know anything about it. I haven't even heard anything."
It could be a coincidence and Naruto had nothing to do with it.
"He couldn't have gone rogue?"
Mei shook her head. "He loved Kirigakure with everything. He'd be working with me if he were here. At this rate, we think he is dead and have stopped searching for him. But I was hoping you'd have something to help rest my mind."
"I'm sorry; I have nothing."
"That's about it from me." Mei said. "You should go rest. Or if you want to see the village, you can do so. I'll send someone for dinner later."
She never made a mistake. Every time he came here, they would have dinner together.
Konohagakure no sato, Hokage Office
Naruto knew something was wrong the moment he stepped into the office; he'd noticed something was awfully wrong with the movements of the Anbu and the few members of the Military Police.
"What has happened?" he asked the Sandaime Hokage in a serious tone.
Hiruzen pointed at the chair in front of his desk.
There was just no easy way to do this. If Shisui had been around, he'd have preferred the Uchiha to break the news to their clan head. Naruto loved his clan above all else, even his own life. Hiruzen could only guess at the reaction to the news he was about to reveal wouldn't be welcoming in any sense of the word.
Once Naruto had sat down, the Third spoke.
"An hour ago, something occurred in the village. Two hits were reported; a child was kidnapped from his grandmother, and one of our Anbu members was captured while resting at home."
Naruto's face darkened immediately. It felt as if a dark cloud had just waltzed into the office, and was now threatening them all with the mother of all storms.
His mind worked quickly to connect the dots. The Sandaime wouldn't be telling him this unless the child was from the Uchiha clan.
This wasn't even the worst-case scenario. Naruto hadn't thought he would have to deal with such treachery in his lifetime. Had the Uchiha not been dealt with a heavy blow already? The clan wouldn't be at peace if they were now being hunted. The children wouldn't feel safe in the village.
This was their home, the place they were supposed to freely move about without care. But now, fear would grip the clan. His beloved clan. Because of an outside force with mischievous intentions.
"Would that child be an Uchiha?" His voice was devoid of any emotion. But he wasn't screaming or shouting.
"Unfortunately, yes."
Hiruzen was sure he heard something snap. He glanced at the Anbu, and they seemed to telepathically agree with him, but they couldn't see what had snapped.
"Who?" Naruto asked more or less demandingly.
His voice remained calm, but the rage was audible. His body posture did not change, but his chakra presence felt heavy enough for the Anbu to become uncomfortable.
Hiruzen thought it was remarkable that Naruto could be this angry and yet not be shouting. But such people were the most dangerous. "We're not sure yet. I have sent two full squads of Anbu to give chase. I was mindful that it could be a trap, so I didn't authorize any other Uchiha to leave the village."
Naruto jumped to his feet. "Please have an Inuzuka ready for me. I'd like to go after the suspect as well."
He swore to protect all children within the Uchiha clan. Inabi didn't die so that children of the Uchiha could be kidnapped. This was an act against nature. He didn't care if it was a village or the Raikage.
There should be no forgiveness for this treasonous activity.
Daring to challenge his authority was a grave error. The child might have even lost his parents during that dark night. If so, what could he possibly be thinking at this moment? What was going to happen to him? Would he be sold to the underworld or given to another village and groomed to raise a new army of Uchiha for the enemy? Whatever it was, he would put an end to it.
"It could be a trap. We should let Anbu handle this."
"I'll deal with it if it is a trap," the response came almost immediately after the words left Hiruzen's lips.
This was a matter of the Uchiha clan, and a matter that exposed the deep security issues within the village. For someone to come in and do this was just unacceptable.
Hiruzen motioned for the Anbu. "Get Hana Inuzuka ready immediately. Tell her to be ready at the gates within the hour. One of you must leave with him."
Hiruzen didn't think Kumo would do something so daring and reckless. There had to be one person. After all, it was only someone who was from this village who could manage to slip through the barrier without alarming anyone.
He wanted to discuss it with Naruto, but it seemed the Uchiha wasn't interested in that discussion.
"Careful out there."
Naruto didn't respond; he immediately dashed out of the office to the village gates.
A few minutes later
As Hana walked up to the gates, she felt nervous as the Uchiha clan head stood leaning against the wall with a dark cloud over him. The air around him was tense, and the guards seemed to look everywhere but in his direction.
When his eyes fell upon her, she flinched at the coldness he emitted.
"Time is of the essence; you're to lead the way and run without stopping until we have found our targets."
"Hai." Hana felt there was no other response appropriate.
"What are you waiting for?"
Her dog growled at Naruto. One look at the pet, and she squealed and fled behind her. She managed to calm the animal and then took off. He followed her in silence.
There were moments she wanted to stop to catch a breather, but he simply touched her and transferred some of his chakra, allowing her to continue running.
They ran for three hours, non-stop. Not a single word was exchanged. Naruto seemed to grow frustrated the further they ran from the Leaf.
By the time they caught up with the Anbu, the sun had already set.
She collapsed to the ground upon arrival.
Naruto didn't spare her a glance; the Anbu who was with them went to her rescue.
One squad was present; there didn't seem to have been any battles taking place, and yet the four men with the Anbu looked beaten, as if they had been tortured. Had they surrendered or been captured elsewhere?
Upon seeing Naruto, Neko felt she had to explain the situation. "The others are chasing another group. This one had nothing. It appears to have been a diversion. We tried various methods to get them to talk, but they wouldn't."
Naruto didn't respond. She didn't even know if he was listening to her. He just walked straight towards the four men.
His Susanoo came to life, its upper body forming both arms. Everyone took a step back as the chakra construct took form. The four men remained stone faced.
He said, "I only need one of you. The rest of you are unnecessary."
Yugao watched from behind her mask as the Susanoo grabbed two of the men and lifted them into the air. It crushed them. Blood splattered all over and what remained of their bodies hit the ground.
None of the Anbu could say anything to stop him. He hadn't been emanating a murderous intent when he arrived, but now he was. It was just a terrifying feeling that even the remaining men, who had withstood all forms of torture from trained Anbu, were now looking pale.
Naruto dispersed his Susanoo and then grabbed one of the two by his throat.
"You tricked me when you had captured my child." He spat with contempt.
The man exploded in a torrent of crimson flames, and Naruto was holding him by the throat. He kicked and screamed, his screams shooting through the trees as his body was consumed by the flames. Despite this, Naruto didn't flinch; he continued to hold on to the man.
There was just complete silence as the man finally stopped, but the flames continued to burn. No one made a move, not even Hana. The flames continued to burn even after the man had been reduced to ashes.
After what felt like eternity, the flames died down.
Naruto's eyes turned to the survivor. "You're just a lackey. You'll die in the end. I can see you've adopted a nice expression like you want to talk." He said, walking toward the man. His steps felt slow and gigantic. "But, I'm not interested in your own will. I will make you talk, then kill you." His Mangekyo Sharingan spun slowly as he cast Genjutsu on the man.
The man's eyes blinked as if he were in a trance.
"Where is the child?"
"I don't know."
"Who took him?"
"Kabuto."
"Kabuto who?"
"Kabuto is Orochimaru-sama's number two."
"Where could he have gone?"
"We were told."
"What were you told?"
"To create a diversion once Kabuto gave us a signal."
"For what purpose?"
"To allow Kabuto to leave freely."
"Where is Orochimaru?"
"I don't know. He could be in any of his hideouts spread across the Elemental—"
The man wasn't able to finish as Susanoo returned once more, this time with only one hand. It created a fist and slammed it down on the shinobi. The shinobi was crushed under the heavy blow. Blood and debris flew into the air as Naruto turned around.
They didn't need a warning; they all quickly leapt into the air and created distance.
Naruto's expression changed for the first time.
He released a long breath and then walked over to a tree, punching it with his bare hand. Despite using just raw strength, the tree trembled and then fell to the side.
"This is a waste of time." He said. "If it is Orochimaru, both are still alive. Simply hitting one of his hideouts would be dangerous. As they are underground, we can't very well just track them. They could be the Sound, in this country, River, or still at Konoha."
"That is a possibility. And the scent has also vanished. We can't track anything else."
"Orochimaru would have known about Konoha's capabilities," Naruto said, shaking his head. "The others probably don't know anything else. They came up with a good plan for a snake, but I'll find them in no time."
Kirigakure
The nights in Kirigakure were completely different from those of Konoha. It wasn't just the weather; this village seemed to come to life at night. Perhaps it was the new atmosphere Mei was trying to create for her village.
Shisui enjoyed these sights. The villagers went about their lives happily. No parents feared for their children's safety at the academy tomorrow. No children wept over the loss of their friends and family members who had died needlessly. They were free from many worries. For the first time since the reign of terror began.
"You could pack your bags and come here," Kisame suggested with a grin. "We'll treat you well."
Shisui laughed at the idea, because Kisame was likely being serious. The man could suggest treason as if it were small talk. But he wasn't a bad person; just didn't hide his intentions, which made it comfortable being around him.
"I will never abandon my village."
"You could find a new home here."
"My home will always be Konoha. There is nothing that can change that."
"I could make it easy by kidnapping you. That way, Konoha won't think you betrayed it."
"You'd have doomed this village if you did that," Shisui replied in a serious tone. "My clan head treats every member as part of his family. If you're going to kidnap me, it will be no different to him than having his own brother kidnapped."
Kisame noted that Shisui always spoke highly of Naruto. The same brat who killed Zabuza for trying to stab him in the back. What was so impressive about him?
"You haven't told Konoha about what Zabuza did. That makes you a bit trustworthy," Kisame said. "But if I find out you had anything to do with Ao disappearing, I'll make you regret it."
"You're always making threats, Kisame-san."
"It comes with the territory. I spent many of my days killing traitors and comrades in order to protect information."
The life of Kisame wasn't to be envied. This was a harsh world, and shinobi had to do some horrible things to protect the things they loved. Shisui didn't even like the idea of living a long life—because he didn't want to risk having to witness more and be forced to do things that would corrupt his heart.
"Mei-sama is up there." Kisame pointed to the top of a tower. "Behave," he added with a grin.
Shisui ignored the grin and parted from Kisame. He ascended a long flight of stairs. The air grew colder with each step. It went up higher and higher—Shisui may have even thought they were atop the Hokage Monument. The top platform appeared to be an observation deck. Mei sat on the steel floor, her legs dangling.
From this place, you could see the entire village. It was the tallest structure in the village and offered a clear view of the surrounding area.
"We created this for tourists. It is one of many attractions we'll build. We're planning on giving them the thrill of being able to jump from here while tied by a rope. It will help our economy. When people are here, they buy and spend money. We won't have to rely on funding from the Feudal Lord for survival."
Shisui sat on Mei's right side; there wasn't much space between them. He felt comfortable with it.
"You're coming up with innovative ideas to make the village self-sustainable."
"Same old ideas bring nothing but war," Mei said with emotion. "Kiri has seen enough bloodshed. As long as it doesn't change, it will continue to face more. We must change the way we live in order to avoid the disasters we experienced previously."
Shisui glanced at the Mizukage and smiled. He could listen to her talk; she was truly one of a kind.
"Something on your mind?" she asked, looking at him with a twinkle in her eye and a sly smile.
"I'm just saying you should have been born in Konoha." Shisui said. "But fate is on our side. This village benefits greatly from having you as its leader." He looked down. A person afraid of heights wouldn't survive here. "Where is the food?"
"My house. I wanted you to see it. There's also something else."
"We think the Sanbi has probably revived by now. But we won't capture it now because of its history. We want to know its location nonetheless." Mei released a short breath. "Things are not as smooth as I made them out to be. Actually, our remaining Jinchuriki has fled the village. We don't know where he has gone to. Losing all Jinchuriki is dangerous for us.
"We're looking for him. He may not want to come up. Even if he is forced to return, nothing is certain. I heard the Sharingan has great Genjutsu powers. If possible, and once we capture him, I was hoping you could do me a favor and use your eyes, just to prevent him from leaving again. That's all we need; we can handle everything else to convince him to take up his duties. We just want to ensure he stays and doesn't cause any harm to the village."
Konoha
Darkness had already descended upon Konoha by the time Naruto returned. The Sandaime was in his office, along with Shikaku and the Anbu Commander.
Naruto didn't walk over to the three; instead, he stopped by the wall next to the door and leaned against it. He was really tired. Running at full speed and then back again while boiling with emotions was exhausting. He was at least calm now, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep.
"I'm glad you returned safely," Hiruzen said, sitting behind his desk. "What happened?"
"You'll get a detailed report from the Anbu. But the two teams we tracked down didn't have anything we wanted. It appears they just took their clothes to carry the scent and used the teams as diversions. The real team probably hid somewhere close or may have crossed the border by now.
"The mastermind is Kabuto, Orochimaru's second-in command. We don't know where he is or which hideout he has disappeared into. But we will find him."
"I thought it was him," Hiruzen said with a deep frown.
Orochimaru had tried to take Itachi's body some months ago. He failed. But he must have decided to take a child. Yamato was without question for his experiments. The Mokuton user was the only survivor of the hellish experiments Orochimaru conducted that cost the lives of many children. He may be trying to continue with them.
"But we at least know they are alive."
"Going through these experiments… it is a violation that cannot be forgiven. I never thought one of our children would end up being Orochimaru's lab rats. I cannot sleep well knowing one of my own is suffering."
"I've already sent a message to Jiraiya. Our allies have been alerted. I'll send more Anbu to the look at the hideouts."
"Leave the Sound to me," Naruto said. "I'll rest tonight and leave the village tomorrow morning. I'd appreciate it if you could help me find the locations of the hideouts."
"You should take Anbu with you." The Anbu commander suggested.
Naruto shook his head and stared at the man. "How did this even happen? How does someone get captured in broad daylight, and then the assailants manage to leave the village undetected?"
The gaps in their security were exposed in the most brutal way. If other villages found out that such an important piece had been stolen under their noses, they would mock them. It wasn't even a good time with the Suna bearing down on them.
"Military Police didn't see anything."
Naruto scoffed. "Of course, we're going to blame the Military Police. But they don't have the power."
This whole incident just reminded him how mortal he was. Naruto was not a god; his eyes could see a lot of things, but they couldn't see everything. They couldn't see a child from his clan being captured.
He was powerful, but not that powerful.
It frustrated him to know, despite all his power, there were just some things he couldn't do; he felt powerless.
This weakness disgusted him.
"These are matters of the village," he said in a firm tone. "But this is a serious breach that needs to be discussed." Naruto looked at them with a stern expression. "Will I get the report on the hideouts in the morning?"
"Yes." Hiruzen said. "What will you do in the Sound?"
"I'll destroy everything."
Shikaku sighed as Naruto left the office—he seriously meant it. He was even more surprised when the Uchiha returned to the village. Then again, he still had a clan to look after.
"A serious concern for our security," Shikaku said. "The Military Police are seriously understaffed. Interestingly, they have more people on duty now than they did during the Uchiha's time."
"We can't do anything, for now." Hiruzen said and then stared at the Anbu commander. "How did they even get into the village? Snatching a child on the streets isn't difficult. But they wouldn't leave through the gates, as we have Hyuga stationed there. Yamato is Anbu. How was he captured?"
"They are good," the Anbu commander said. "We're dealing with someone who has done this a hundred times." He paused and then shook his head. "We've not even changed the barrier settings. It will not react to people like Orochimaru. But this just shows we need to enhance its capabilities. I'll speak with Inoichi-san."
Hiruzen said bitterly. "He'd not made any moves before. But he has now. Use every means necessary to locate his hideouts. Have Anbu stationed around the Uchiha compound. We don't want another child disappearing."
"Since he has attempted to kill both Shisui and Itachi, do we not believe he may be planning something like this against Naruto?" the Anbu commander asked.
"A possibility," Shikaku said. "But there are no other options. If it's Orochimaru, even Kakashi won't be able to handle him."
Uchiha Compound
Yoshino was a frail old woman, who'd seen her fair share of the tragedies of the shinobi world. She had lost her husband in the Second War. A child in the Third, and another in that dark night. Shinobi families didn't have a long line of relatives—they all died one way or the other.
Matsui was her only family; he was the only thing she had in this world, and that too had been snatched from her hands.
He had done nothing to comfort her, though; he'd simply rushed away, leaving the clan in disarray without a word. It was amateurish of him. It was stupid. It displayed a serious lack of control. How could he have just rushed away without speaking to anyone?
Yoshino had no hopes, she just had a grim look about her. The miserable look of a woman who'd seen all sorts of treacheries the shinobi world could show you.
Naruto promised her he would return Matsui to the village. But Yoshino just shook her head in defeat; he shouldn't put himself through this for just one child.
Clan head or no clan head, nobody was more important than the others. They were all Uchiha.
After Yoshino, Naruto descended to the Naka Shrine. The shinobi were waiting. The numbers were pathetic; it was truly a tragic state of affairs. But at least unlike the Senju, they were not extinct.
The room quieted down as he silently walked in and then took his rightful place. There was a throne, but he never sat on it; he always stood before them. This time, he sat down, with his back pressed against the throne, his right knee raised.
"You've all heard, right?"
"We have." It was Kaito who responded. "What are we going to do?"
"You'll do nothing. Tomorrow morning, I will head out to the Sound. Once Shisui and Itachi return, they will be with you."
"Can't at least Naori go with you, Naruto-sama?"
Naruto shook his head. "I don't want to take any risks."
Naori said despite the situation. "That's funny." She continued. "You'd think being in Konoha is the safest place, but one of us was snatched right here."
"An indictment of the security failures of the village," Naruto said swiftly. "I apologize for leaving without a word. I'd never have done so if we didn't have a promising lead. I should have at least left a clone behind; my emotions got the better of me."
"We understand."
Naruto nodded. "Continue with your normal duties. I'll do the rest. For now, return to your houses and rest. The coming days will be long. If you want to stand guard, don't. I'm sure Anbu will be guarding us."
"If it were some time ago, we'd be thinking the village orchestrated this to give them an excuse to put massive surveillance on us."
Naruto smiled despite his mood. "Indeed. Danzo was just about capable of anything. Inari would say this was the right time to take action, since sooner or later, they would invade the clan grounds."
Did he not think about it? What could be done if such a situation arose? Naruto did not trust the leaders of the village; some of them wanted him dead. There could be some relic from Danzo's company seeking to destroy the Uchiha.
He couldn't leave the clan unprotected. Shisui was not around. He trusted Itachi, but in these circumstances, he did not have the confidence. Naori was not the most powerful.
He had only one option – to give Naori the Kyubi contract. If anything happened, she could threaten them with destruction.
He wouldn't have a sound mind if he left the clan at the mercy of people who had ordered their loved ones to be killed. It would be reckless and a disregard of his duties as clan head. How could he even have the boldness to face Fugaku?
"Things have changed. But we must not throw caution out the window."
"Better safe than sorry."
No truer words were ever spoken. It was still a shame that, in these circumstances, they had to worry about the village leaders instead of an enemy who wanted to do them harm.
One by one, they all left, leaving him with just Naori.
He let out a long breath and relaxed. "No child is to leave the clan grounds. Sasuke has become Genin; he can leave for team activities. You'll ask Pakura to watch over the children in my absence."
"You plan on going for long?"
"I won't return without either Kabuto or Matsui."
"Aren't you going a little extra?"
"Tomorrow, no one will do it again if they know we react this way. The village must also know I will do anything to protect my clan, even if it is just one parentless child."
But that was not the main reason. He just wanted to rescue Matsui. Of course, there was his pride. He'd sworn he'd protect them all. Clearly, he'd failed. He had to salvage his pride by doing the right thing.
Home, once more. To his beloved Konoha. Shisui had returned brimming with confidence and happiness. Sure that Kirigakure would not betray their work and Mei would agree to form a formal alliance between her village and his.
The visit to the mist was also relaxing. A fresh injection of peace into his system. The stench of blood that once turned his stomach upside down had disappeared. He could take large intakes of oxygen without feeling nauseous.
It was apparent. The surprises of the shinobi world had pulled a fast one on the Leaf. He hoped and prayed Suna had not finally revealed its dirty hand. Anbu were visible through the walls. The passage into the gates appeared more strict than usual.
Shisui hurried to the Hokage Tower. There wasn't much activity as he had expected. The Third was buried in paperwork. He had to look up from the mountains of documents and looked relieved that someone was rescuing him from his hell.
"Sandaime-sama."
Hiruzen replied with a tired smile. "Please sit, Shisui-kun."
Shisui settled down and stared up at the paperwork on the Sandaime's desk. The old man only ever asked him to sit down when there was something important to discuss.
"How were things in the Mist?"
"Peaceful." Shisui said and took out a small scroll containing his report before standing up to hand it over to the Third. "The village is stable and we were received quite well. Mei-sama is eager for the day we begin formal alliance talks."
"That is good." Hiruzen took the scroll and stared at it for a couple of seconds before placing it in a drawer. "Things are not going so well back here at home. While you were away, there were two kidnappings orchestrated by Orochimaru. They were of Matsui Uchiha, and Yamato from Anbu."
Shisui immediately thought about the horrors Orochimaru had done. The kind of cruelty Matsui would suffer in the hands of the Sannin. The capture of Yamato reinforced that idea; Shisui believed he was trying to give Matsui the Mokuton before grooming him. He'd failed to take both him and Itachi. So, he must have decided on a child he could brainwash.
His heart raced as he thought about Naruto. His clan head was unforgiving, but he wasn't reckless; he wouldn't suddenly lose his reason and go on a murderous rampage without any regard for the lives of others.
Yet, it didn't mean he wouldn't do something disastrous. Worse, since someone from his clan was involved.
"It is a pity. But knowing Orochimaru, both can still be saved." They would have suffered, but could still be saved. "Military Police was unable to do anything then."
Their numbers were small, but this was an indictment of their abilities as an institution. They couldn't protect the villagers. Of course, isolated incidents were difficult to lock down, but they had failed.
"Worse things have happened," Hiruzen said. "It would be impossible for Military Police to even protect everyone in the village. But Yamato's capture is shameful. The Anbu should have stopped it. They carried it out and then escaped."
"Visibility acts as deterrence," Shisui said. "We'll have to change our tactics from now on." He paused before asking. "Has there been anything positive?"
"Naruto-san has gone to the Sound. We await his report. Anbu are following on other leads and I have yet to receive anything from Jiraiya."
"Did he go alone?"
"Yes."
"That's bad."
"He has been rather calm."
"He is always calm."
Hiruzen blinked in surprise and realized he had never heard of the Uchiha throwing a fit. Even when he was younger, he was always measured. Then again, even Itachi was like that. Naruto was just a lot more expressive than his fellow Uchiha.
"He said he wouldn't return to the village unless he got something. I'd like for you to be out there as well, but you have to work with the Anbu commander about how such things can never be allowed to happen again."
"Of course."
Naruto wouldn't return empty-handed. But that was dangerous. Shisui worried; when would his clan finally see peace? Just when things were falling into place, this happened. The kidnapping wasn't the tragedy. It was bad. The real tragedy would be the clan head's actions to reclaim what belonged to him.
Hiruzen had stared at the report in horror and dread at how others would react to the news that the Sound country's capital had been destroyed by Naruto. Those feelings were quickly shifted away into the disgust he felt toward his former student.
A day after report about the Sound came from Anbu, materials Naruto discovered from Orochimaru's hideouts in the Sound arrived. He'd gone through almost everything. Each page took a stab into his heart. There were detailed reports about experiments, the villages destroyed, the many he kidnapped. The state of his labs.
It's disgusting. And to think he raised someone who views fellow humans as guinea pigs.
Hiruzen lifted his eyes and glanced up at Shikaku. He hadn't been getting much sleep lately. He hadn't had a full night of rest since the events began unfolding.
The greatest relief was that Suna wasn't doing anything while he was occupied.
"You should rest, Sandaime-sama," Shikaku said to the Third, with concern.
"How can I?" Hiruzen shook his head. "Naruto destroying the Sound is bad. He should have spoken to me about it. The only thing that helps me sleep better at night is the fact that he didn't mercilessly murder civilians. His actions will cause migration and there will be complaints."
"If that isn't enough, I have to face up to the actions of a student I loved the most. His actions were dreadful. He had no regard for other humans," The Third said with emotion. "It didn't bother me then because I wasn't looking at it. But I see it now."
"I understand."
The destruction of the Sound took him by shock. It wouldn't have much of a negative consequence on the Leaf. In fact, it did nothing but help Konoha's military strength.
Shikaku grew concerned with Naruto's growing power and the fact that the village didn't actually control him.
"If you die now, who becomes Hokage?" Shikaku asked quietly. "We both know if Tsunade is selected, there will be problems. Even when considering her circumstances, she's the only one suitable."
"Naruto has been keeping to himself lately. By forcing us into a corner, he'll make people in the village see him as the one who took action against Orochimaru when they should have done so long ago. Eventually, Orochimaru's deeds will spread, and he will be viewed as the person who stopped them."
"I understand." Hiruzen replied in a bitter tone. "You have to work on the others to get them to warm up to the idea of his return to the Council."
"It is just Shibi and Chouza. I don't think I have to do anything. As long as Naruto does nothing, those two will be open. They have no care for politics."
"And what do you think?"
"You want my honest opinion?" Shikaku asked
"Yes."
"You'll eventually have to make decisions, not because you want to, but because there is no other choice. Do I think we can trust Naruto? He doesn't care for us. The past two years have shown this much. He doesn't need us.
"He is capable of just anything. He stated it, if we are fair, he'll not complain. That is not loyalty towards us. He is only loyal toward his clan. His actions now show this much. Does he love the village? Sure he does. We all do. Even Danzo did. I just don't know if Naruto thinks he is the only one who can lead it." Shikaku shook his head. "I don't think he does. He probably wants the Uchiha to wield greater power. But there is probably more to it. We have to place measures in place to negate it."
Hiruzen remained silent, absorbing Shikaku's words. After a minute of silence, he spoke.
"It is indeed dangerous that he has no loyalty toward the leadership. I hope the day never comes we disagree."
"That will come, Sandaime-sama. We just have to be willing to tell him who leads."
Could he? No, he had to. He had to put his foot down. Naruto couldn't do as he pleased. He was a shinobi like everyone else.
The Third said, "We'll keep this to ourselves." He continued, "In his destruction path, Naruto has stumbled upon something troubling. It appears that Orochimaru is working with Sunagakure to strengthen it."
"If Suna is arming itself, it wants a war but knows it doesn't have the strength. We have to look deep into this." The Sandaime said. "Orochimaru is arrogant enough to think he has the power to destroy Konoha."
Shikaku smiled. "Well, he'd have to survive Naruto at this rate."
Land of Bears
Naruto ducked a kunai flung toward his forehead. The kunai had an explosive tag embedded in it; as soon as it flew past him, it exploded. The explosion caused the walls of the passageway to explode.
He ignored the chaos behind him and focused on the three shinobi in front of him. It was annoying that such people were placed in front of him. He wanted nothing but to make the entire hideout explode out of sheer frustration at having been forced to fight such weak shinobi.
While he was lost in thought, one of the three lunged at him. Naruto took a single, swift step to meet the man. As the man was in mid-air, he appeared beside him and swung his right hand. His attack slammed onto the man's neck, sending him crashing into the wall, headfirst.
He took a step toward the other two, and something snapped. He didn't stop as the walls opened up on both his left and right sides, and above. Multiple kunai shot toward him.
He took a step toward the other two, and something snapped. He didn't stop as the walls opened up on both his left and right sides, and above. Multiple kunai shot toward him.
Naruto refused to use his Susanoo; it would be shameful to have to resort to it against opponents of such caliber. No, they were not even opponents. They were just weeds he had to remove.
His body exploded into crimson flames. The kunai clashed, causing sparks as metal sharpened metal.
Naruto appeared behind the two slowly. He had a full minute to even decide how he would attack before they even noticed his presence. He could even summon a sword — dismiss it and summon another weapon before they could even notice.
And it was such weeds standing in my way.
"Turn around." He said with frustration. Once they twisted around, he was holding out two kunai. "Take them and kill yourselves." He threw the kunai and then turned away.
He'd lost count of the hideouts he had raided by this point. There was always something hideous waiting for him. Some were abandoned. All of them met the same fate — destruction.
There were no nuisances until he arrived at the hall.
Kabuto stood at the center. It was bold of him to show up. It didn't matter. Naruto just felt relieved. It had been a month since he destroyed the Sound. He missed home. But he couldn't return home empty-handed.
His target stood before him. He released a long breath of relief.
"Welcome, Naruto-san." Kabuto greeted him into the hall with a mocking bow. "You do look happy to see me."
"It's offensive enough that you mock me."
Kabuto chuckled and pushed up his glasses a bit before responding. "I have no such intentions." He said. "You look happy."
"I am indeed happy. I've had to fill up a few holes you dug up with your master. And I have been away from home for a while now. It is a pain that the likes of you have to keep me awake at night."
"I felt that felt and decided to grace you with my presence."
"It isn't like you had a choice. Even if you don't reveal Orochimaru's whereabouts, I can just continue to destroy everything until this world becomes unbearable and he'll crawl out to meet me."
"That is about right." Kabuto didn't deny it. It was already difficult due to the heat the Uchiha generated.
His master sometimes misjudged certain situations and it came back to bite them all, but this was by far the greatest mistake he ever made. Even Kabuto had miscalculated. He'd never thought things would actually play out like this. Who'd have thought that Naruto would end up destroying everything his master laid claim to?
The Uchiha was restless, and at each hideout he came across, he turned it into a ruin.
The destruction of the Sound was what led Orochimaru to halt. He'd found it amusing at first, but once the Sound fell, he realized that Naruto wouldn't stop until he found him. Who'd have thought that he would react in such a way? Orochimaru had done just about anything he wanted and the Leaf hadn't done a damn thing.
He was a rogue ninja, and yet he had founded a village right on the border of the Fire Country. And the Leaf still did nothing. Iwagakure would have invaded the Sound the second they were aware. And yet, this time, the unthinkable was happening. Orochimaru couldn't even move freely within the Elemental Nations.
Naruto's destruction of the Sound had sent a message – harbor him and you would suffer the same fate. People were even eager to send messages to the Leaf if they found a hideout or even heard a whisper. The shinobi world had never been so dangerous and unwelcoming.
They had roamed without care for vigilance. They had pillaged and stormed whatever they found curious, and none of the Great Five had done anything about it. The capture of a child, however, had caused a hound to be unleashed upon them. There wouldn't be any end to this unless Naruto died or he got the little boy back.
Orochimaru had laughed. How many children had he kidnapped? How many small villages had he set on fire? He'd done it even in Konoha, and what did they do? What was so special about a parentless little boy? He was Uchiha, and then what?
"I came so we could talk."
"There is nothing to negotiate. You'll tell me what you I want to know. And I will not give you the mercy of doing so freely."
"That sounds frightening."
Naruto shrugged. "It's not." He said.
"Before you go about that, however. You Uchiha suffer from blindness due to the overuse of your Mangekyo Sharingan. The abilities of the Doujutsu are powerful, but they put a massive strain on the eyes. Orochimaru-sama knows a way to help you. If you return to Konoha, he promises that he will help you solve your greatest problem. You will not even last another year before you're completely blind.
"We found that Uchiha do not live long due to this. Many abilities of the Mangekyo are unknown because you become blind before you can even use them or even master them."
Perhaps the god who gave them such abilities sought to limit their power by applying a curse. One could become completely blind within a year of awakening the Mangekyo, depending on how it was used. A powerful ability, but with a great flaw. There was a way to solve it, and Naruto didn't need Orochimaru or Kabuto to tell him what to do.
"I'm not interested."
"Or about the Fugaku's death? We have always been suspicious about how Danzo was able to kill him, given his power. If anything, it looked like a wipeout of the Uchiha's older generation of shinobi. If you cooperate—"
Kabuto's words died on his throat, as Naruto blurred into view in front of him. The Uchiha's menacing eyes looked at him with pure unadulterated hatred. His heart exploded with a flurry of beats. The killing intent being released rendered his knees shaking. There was also something he had last experienced when Orochimaru frightened him - fear.
"What does one need to speak, Kabuto?"
The Sharingan's glare was intense. Its hypnotic effect brought on a mild migraine, and he found himself falling to his knees, unable to even keep staring at it. Staring at the floor, he realized, it was cracked. The cracks were spread across the floor from where Naruto stood. Had his senses dulled so much that he couldn't even feel the amount of chakra Naruto was pouring out?
"My mo…" Kabuto stopped mid-sentence. He didn't want to answer the question, but his mouth moved on its own. Was this one of the Sharingan's abilities? He felt compelled to answer the question, even though he didn't want to. The resistance increased the migraine.
"I see… well, you're a very excellent spy. You should have protections. Most powerful shinobi do not have protections because they don't actually think something like this can happen to them. Thus, they can be easily manipulated. At this rate, you'll die before you even tell me your name."
Naruto grabbed Kabuto's right arm with his left hand.
"To answer the question, you need your mouth to speak. So, your arms are unnecessary."
Flames burst out of his right hand, and in a swift slash, he cut through Kabuto's right shoulder, severing his arm from the rest of his body. Blood gushed out in a torrent, and Kabuto could only wince as Naruto burned his arm, leaving only ashes behind.
"Stop the bleeding if you don't want to die."
This was horrible. To be injured and then told to heal yourself. It was humiliating. What had they even done? Had Orochimaru-sama really thought Naruto would listen to him? It was a good deal. He knew Shisui was suffering from blindness. And yet, this person didn't want to negotiate on that front. Did he not care about the long-term benefits of the Uchiha clan? A single child to ensure that the Uchiha's curse was solved was a deal that even the Sandaime would have paused to consider.
Any rational person would do it unless they knew something Kabuto didn't know.
"Do you know…"
Naruto grabbed Kabuto by the face. His fingers dug into Kabuto's skin, drawing out blood.
"I don't know anything. But indeed, your proposal is attractive. Uchiha have had to struggle because of this. Many never reach prime years of power because they become blind. It is a solid offer. But, I won't negotiate you when you've got a gun on my forehead."
Konoha
A moonless night fed darkness into the village. Yet, the Anbu were clearly visible, at least to the senses. Pitch black, but the Sharingan could make sense of the moving objects and the unmoving. The village was clearly on alert—perhaps the old man was finally taking Suna seriously. He didn't think it needed to go that far, but it wasn't something to be simply ignored.
A cornered rat could bite through just about anything.
From the tall walls of the village, Naruto watched the illuminating lights. He finally breathed the air of home. How many nights had he spent watching the streets? How much did he miss those carefree days? The days when the Uchiha clan was filled with people who had a superiority complex as gods and the creators of the Leaf.
Nobody stopped him as he hopped through rooftops, towards the Uchiha compound. He noticed the Anbu watching. In his absence, it was fine. Once the dust settled, they would have to be scarce. He could never sleep comfortably knowing Anbu stood guard and watched everything happening within the clan.
Naruto landed in the marketplace and took in the eerie silence. Everyone had gone to bed for the night.
Nothing had changed. The numbers still felt the same. He was relieved.
He walked over to the Naka Shrine and dropped Kabuto on the steps before sitting down.
He wasn't back with Matsui, but he had done some good. The culprit was captured. He was not a failure to his clan. Once Shisui worked his wonders with Kabuto, he would be one step closer to retrieving the boy. Without question, Fugaku would be proud and not look at him with complete disappointment.
"Do you think the clan will be satisfied with me?"
Shisui walked up to Naruto from behind. His clan head was exposed; he looked vulnerable. It was a rare sight. Naruto didn't need anyone's approval. He'd never even sought Fugaku's approval. But still, he was human, just like the rest of them. He wanted to do good, to make the clan proud and not be a disappointment.
He stopped on Naruto's right side and looked at Kabuto. He was missing both arms and a leg. It was most likely to keep him from escaping. Basically, he was only needed for revealing information and nothing more. Once he was done, he'd be killed.
"You could have brought him back in a far better state. This gives nothing to Ibiki."
"Torture is unnecessary for the likes of him." Naruto replied. "Besides, he can be trapped within the Sword of Totsuka once he has outlived his usefulness."
Shisui shook his head and then settled down. He placed his hands on his knees, and glanced at Naruto through the corner of his eyes.
By morning, the village would know he was back, with Kabuto, but not the victims. The villagers would simply be pleased he was back in one piece, and they had no leads on the perpetrator. The parents who lost their children to the Sannin spoke of him with contempt. Some even criticized the Sandaime for not doing anything about it. Mothers knew the pain. They would rejoice finally hearing the man who took their children was finally dead.
But not yet. Orochimaru still lived. Their quest for justice and vengeance would have to wait a little while longer.
"You've done all you could. The clan simply wished for you to return home." Shisui said in a gentle voice. "I know you think all lives are equal, but some do not think that way. At any rate, you've led the clan well. We're all proud to call you our clan head."
He just wished situations like this wouldn't happen again. He thought it was unnecessary. And it would cause tension between the Third Hokage and Naruto. But it was done, and there was nothing they could do to change it.
"It's frustrating realizing that despite all my power, I'm not omnipotent. I cannot do all. I can only do what is humanly possible. Even if I may promise to protect everyone, that is not possible. You can't protect everyone." He said with disgust. "My hands tremble at this insult to my pride."
And indeed they were. The rest of his body was even trembling.
"I'm thinking I can do it. But the whispers mock me. I spent two months. Nothing. Just this damned pathetic excuse for a human." The anger was clear in his voice, and he was starting to leak a bit of his chakra. "Orochimaru has probably started. And I can't stop it. This feeling, Shisui, it is treachery. I probably destroyed the Sound out of frustration."
Naruto had never thought he would experience such treachery. He wished he could lose himself and just recklessly destroy everything in his path to make Orochimaru pay for what he had done. But, he knew, he couldn't do that.
This powerlessness feeling exposed some of his true self. He hated it. He loathed Orochimaru for making him experience such disgrace.
"When I joined Anbu, I was told I couldn't save everyone. And sometimes, I'll have to choose who to save. I thought I could save everyone. But our powers have limits. We're not gods. We're just humans after all." Shisui was thankful to his eyes. In situations were he would have to choose who lived and who died, the powers were able to rescue him.
"Can we not be Gods?"
"Maybe not."
"I had hoped when I arrived in the Sound, I would find something. But there was nothing. I destroyed and killed. But Matsui was nowhere to be found. Neither was Orochimaru. I felt, if I could just find him, I would have the upper hand. I could wield Susanoo and destroy everything, but that still wouldn't take me any closer to him. I traveled day and night, finding nothing. I don't ever want to feel this powerless again."
The frustration was real. Trying and not being able to do anything was just a crippling feeling. This sense of helplessness was not good for him. Naruto had never felt so compelled to destroy things as he did now.
The crippling emotion in Naruto's voice made Shisui want to comfort him. But he really didn't have much to give.
"We're blessed, but life constantly reminds us we can't do it all. Humans need each other to accomplish something. What you can't do, I can. You have to rely on others. And know this much, as long as we live in this world, situations will arrive."
"To live, huh?" Naruto shook his head. "Well, as long as the clan survives in the end." His expression became serious. "Use your powers to make him talk. I want to know where Matsui is and other information he can provide. Give him the willingness to answer our questions. I'd prefer it if Military Police kept him, but the village will want him."
"I can arrange that."
"Its natural that if Orochimaru hears Kabuto has been captured, he'll move. Or maybe not. Regardless, we are a step closer. Next time I leave, it will be to collect Matsui. I'd rather it be tomorrow so that I can focus on just destroying Orochimaru's hideouts."
"Will you take Pakura-san with you?"
"Why?"
"It will be good for you to be with someone. She has been around you long enough."
Unknown Location
Rasa stood hidden beneath his cloak, staring at Orochimaru with frustration. The snake Sannin had provided valuable information and their alliance had long provided him with value. He simply couldn't dismiss it, but the Sannin had stirred up so much trouble that it made him uncomfortable.
"Why the sour expression, Rasa-san?" Orochimaru asked with a chuckle.
Was he bothered by Naruto's hounding at this rate? A little. But he thought he could deal with it whenever it was convenient. For now, he had other things to accomplish.
"What the hell is happening? Why did you antagonize the Leaf like this?"
"It was for your benefit."
Rasa snorted. "There is nothing of value for us there. This is entirely your own thing."
Orochimaru shook his head. "One of the people Kabuto captured uses Mokuton. I created him. Don't you want that as well?" The Sannin grinned. "It would be poetic if Konoha were destroyed by the bloodline it covets above all!"
Destroying the Leaf? Was that all there was to it? Rasa didn't just want to make the Leaf vanish; he had grand plans to ensure the Sand survived into the future, even without the Feudal Lord. He wanted the Sand to be in a position where that man would have to beg them to accept him.
Suna couldn't be the weakest forever. It had to grow out of its shell to survive in this unforgiving world.
"Why did you ask to meet?"
"To warn you. Kabuto was captured. I'd sent him to meet Naruto with an offer he couldn't refuse, but he somehow refused it. Anger is a troubling thing. It makes people unreasonable. Because Kabuto is captured, Konoha will know about our alliance."
"Stupid!" Rasa shouted. "Well, it won't change anything even if Konoha knows. We'll just have to be ready." He then stared. "What was the offer?"
"Shisui, Itachi and Naruto are all famous for their power. But, that power will soon vanish because the Uchiha suffer a curse. The Mangekyo grants them immense power but its use damages the eyesight. Users can go completely blind within a year of awakening it.
"I offered to help them with this. I can't fathom how he'd reject the offer. Maybe Kabuto never got the chance to offer it."
"You offered to help the enemy?!"
It just meant in a year or two, he wouldn't have to worry about the Uchiha because their power would diminish once they were blind. Konoha would be weakened and Suna would have strengthened, and yet Orochimaru was boldly claiming he offered to help them solve something that was a curse to the entire clan.
"It isn't something you can understand."
What did Rasa understand about scientific curiosity? Orochimaru would have kept to his word. As long as his hypothesis was proved, he'd be happy. And, he would have gained the Uchiha as an ally. If something had happened to test subject, he would simply ask for another one.
There wouldn't even be a need to entertain himself by destroying the Leaf.
Rasa ignored this. "What exactly is it that Kabuto knows?"
"Everything."
"What do you mean everything?"
"I mean everything." Orochimaru said in a serious tone. "He has protections, so, I don't think Konoha get anything out of him, even with all their abilities."
The chapter didn't come out as I'd hoped. But, I tried as best as I could. As you'll have noticed, some details in the chapter are important to the story.
The Omnipresent Sage