Rasa stood atop the Kazekage tower, looking over the village with his hands folded across his chest. He was content more than anything—Suna's situation looked much better. The future wasn't as depressing as it had once appeared to be a couple of years ago.
He'd managed to halt the downfall.
Military power was expanding; he believed they could compete with any Great Nation. However, the village was still in a financial black hole. He had sunk into it due to the debts he had taken. A few threats managed to convince the Wind Lord to do some housekeeping, but it wasn't enough.
At any rate, the village had grown. He'd grown. He couldn't be afraid of anything. Orochimaru may be dead, but he'd given a lot. Rasa was thankful to Naruto; he didn't have to plot to kill the Sannin himself.
Baki walked over to the Yondaime Kazekage and stood beside him.
Rasa declared proudly, "Sending Gaara away was the best decision I ever made."
By sending his son away, he'd given him a chance to live a better life. There were no assassination attempts and his children didn't view him with contempt. Most importantly, he had a weapon he could rely on. If only he'd known all he needed was a bit of care for Gaara to be emotionally stable, he would have started with that.
He had perhaps expected too much from a child.
"Indeed," said Baki. "His uncle did well to nurture him. I had lost all hope."
Of course, he hadn't wholeheartedly agreed to the idea of killing Gaara. A danger to the village, but that was simply because of Rasa's mismanagement. He'd be more than happy when the Kazekage decided to simply send the boy away.
"Things worked out," said Rasa. "Yashamaru loves the boy. He was going to take care of him." He smiled. "How did things go on your end?"
"Sasori said he was willing, for the right price. He wants to get paid first."
"We'll have to do this quickly. I've received word that Naruto is on his way to Iwagakure. We must prepare. With Orochimaru dead, it is only a matter of time before the Leaf strikes. We have to strike first before they do."
Naruto was touted as the Leaf's strongest, at least according to the rumors. Remove the Uchiha clan head, and he would have weakened the Leaf. Rasa really didn't care if he removed either Naruto or Itachi. He just wanted one of them dead. Shisui was almost blind, if Orochimaru were to be believed. He was much less of a threat compared to his fellow Uchiha.
Another person to target was Jiraiya. But the Sannin was hard to track down.
"We're going to do this then." Baki swallowed as he spoke.
"Having doubts?" Rasa asked with a raised eye brow.
Konoha was still the strongest of the Great Five. It had many great shinobi. To underestimate them would be their downfall. Baki didn't think their plan was wrong, but he advocated for the abundance of caution.
"I don't think Iwagakure will help us."
"We don't need them," Rasa said. "Konoha doesn't even have a Jinchuriki. We have three. If we get rid of one of the Uchiha, we will have the advantage." He paused, staring down at the peaceful streets. "The Third is old. Minato is old. And Uchiha doesn't have the same power it once held. Tsunade hasn't even seen battle in years."
Baki wanted to point out that, despite the Uchiha having lost many of their numbers, they were likely stronger than ever before. Rasa was even contradicting himself; he believed it necessary to eliminate one of them due to their power growing beyond what had been seen during either the Third or Second Wars. And yet, still dismissed them.
"She is still a Sannin."
"True," Rasa said. "I'm sure once Iwa notes we're winning, they will try something. They may even attack us. Our relationship has not been great throughout history. If we are willing to invade the Leaf, we can do it to them."
Rasa smiled, shaking his head at the cruelty of the shinobi world.
"Hotaru is in place." Rasa said. "We'll give the order soon enough. I have the money ready for Sasori. The Akatsuki will be blamed for it. And we can move other pieces during the chaos."
"Should I depart now to give them time to prepare?"
"Yes," Rasa said. "We have to get rid of Pakura. We'll need a plan. As long as she is alive, she remains a threat. It's bad for us especially since Konoha is allying with the Mist."
"Do you think she might attempt to return and turn the civilians against us?"
"It is a possibility," Rasa said with contempt at the very idea. "Of course, I'd need to be dead. But Konoha could do it. They could very well plan to kill me and then have Pakura replace me."
If it happened, this village could turn into Konoha's satellite. He couldn't permit that to happen. All the sacrifices his predecessors had made would have been for nothing.
"It is a pity information isn't coming out of the Leaf."
"That's the one thing they are doing well," Rasa acknowledged. "I'd hoped they'd make the first move; we would have things much easier."
Rasa would have been truly happy if Konoha had launched an invasion. But it was obvious it wasn't going to happen. Konoha marching through the desert would have given them an advantage. But at this rate, the Leaf would less likely plot something along those lines.
"It seems the Sandaime was wise. Or perhaps it's much simpler."
"Could be," said Rasa. "We'll have to force their hand with the first move."
Jiraiya stopped mid-street, not minding the civilians passing by. He was famous, but this was a shinobi world; there were people who had heard of him but never seen him. Technology wasn't too advanced for his image to be in all corners.
He stopped because he was staring at Naruto. The Uchiha clan head was sitting on a stool, his back turned against the counter, watching the streets with a blank expression on his face. His favourite gunbai was rested on the right side, and two silver spears were pressed against the counter.
He was obviously lost in thought. Nobody in this world would recognize him, not even those in the Fire Nation. Civilian towns received news late about matters of the shinobi world; despite the fact that they suffered whenever the ninja clans fought against one another.
Jiraiya continued walking until he reached the Uchiha. He stopped by the small dango stall and sat beside the Uchiha on his left side. He glanced in the direction of the Uchiha's eyes. There was nothing particularly out of the ordinary, just people going about their daily lives.
Jiraiya liked Naruto. He was respectful towards him, but he found out it was only because of his power. The Uchiha was still someone he could get along with. They did share a common goal of protecting Konoha. And he knew Naruto didn't like the way the Third did things at times. Jiraiya couldn't even fully understand the Uchiha, or at least whatever transpired within his head. He spoke his thoughts loudly, but there was still something the Sannin thought he was missing.
"Bad day?" The Sannin asked before grinning. "Or just checking the goods?"
Naruto glanced at the Sannin from the corner of his eye and then back at the streets. "I forgot you're a legendary pervert. Even Anbu reads your books."
Jiraiya grinned proudly. "You want a copy?"
"No."
"You're no fun, you know?"
"I've been told, Jiraiya-sama." Naruto sighed. "You fool around with civilians as well?"
"Woman are women. There is no difference between a kunoichi's breasts and that of a civilian?"
"Tenderness."
"No difference." Jiraiya replied firmly.
"Shinobi lack innocence."
Jiraiya blinked, realizing Naruto had been trained as an Anbu shinobi. He knew the dark missions they undertook. Seduction was part of their training. Some respected their bodies and wouldn't let just anyone touch them, but for others, it was part of their trade and they used their sexuality to their advantage.
"Is that your taste? Innocence?" Jiraiya found it funny.
"No. I just find it curious why you'd take interest in civilians. Then again, it is nothing more for fleeting pleasure." Naruto said.
"You've indulged yourself?" Jiraiya asked. "You said civilians were tender. You'd only know that if you indulged yourself."
"I thought you'd be in the Wind country." Naruto said instead of responding to Jiraiya's question.
"The moment I cross into the Land of Rivers, Suna will eventually find out," Jiraiya said. "Though I have people in the Sand. Getting information out of Sunagakure has been difficult. Even when it does get out, there isn't much. The Kazekage has been keeping everything close to him, and leaks haven't come out. The village doesn't even know about Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru isn't the kind of person you want to tell people you're conspiring with." Naruto pointed out.
Naruto felt he had done the shinobi world much good by getting rid of the Sannin. Countless civilians would be spared from torture. But the damage was already done, at least in respect to Konoha; he had already gifted Suna with powerful abilities.
"But were you able to get something out?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah," he said, but didn't immediately elaborate. "The Jinchuriki are within the Sand. We already know his youngest child hosts the One-Tail. The other two are there. The user of the Kinjutsu is the one who isn't in the village."
"That is bothersome."
"Indeed." Jiraiya replied. "But with the Hyuga keeping guard, she can't enter the village."
"The safe bet." Naruto grunted. "This is nothing that will convince the Sandaime to take decisive action. I was hoping you'd return with something a little more instructive. At this rate, I'd even appreciated if you fabricated the Intelligence."
This was one aspect of Jiraiya that he liked about Naruto. He wasn't the type of person who hid behind a silver tongue. You knew what you were dealing with. And if you didn't get it, he'd drive the message home with sharp words.
"I'm the one who is constantly seeking peace," Jiraiya bitterly laughed. Even to this day, he thought about the child of prophecy. Who could it be? "And yet, I've already advocated for war."
"It's not advocating for war." Naruto corrected the Sannin. "It is merely advocating for proactive steps. Suna wants war with us and we're just sitting with our hands folded. We will suffer the most if we do nothing."
Then again, if the village suffers because of the Sandaime's negligence, it would hasten his retirement. Of course, Naruto wouldn't sponsor such treachery just to get rid of the old man. He'd never put Konoha in harm's way. Doing so, would put his clan in danger.
"Yeah." Jiraiya agreed. "Sensei has his way of doing things. And I hope it pays off. Otherwise, the village will suffer." He shook his head. "Strategically, we can't really send an army through the desert. We'd be sending men to their deaths. There is a reason the Wind has never been invaded despite being the weakest."
"Sending an army was never necessary."
"What do you have in mind?"
"It is just a matter sending a strike force." Naruto shrugged. "I'd be more than happy to go. In fact, if the Third continues this way, I'll eventually go to Suna. If I go there, I'll draw out their Jinchuriki and then deal with the danger. Once that is out of the picture, Suna will have no means to indulge in its delusions about topling the Leaf."
"Why don't you?"
"I like how things are. I'm conscious of the situation. I'm a clan head. To go out of my way against the Sandaime would put my whole clan under unneeded scrutiny."
It was not just scrutiny; it was the danger of the look of suspicion and being put under a microscope. While the villagers couldn't do anything harshly against him, they would no doubt screw him over in the game of politics. He didn't want to play that dirty game with them when it was unnecessary.
Of course, if things changed, he would bear the brunt of any consequences. As long as he protected his clan and the village, he wouldn't complain about anything.
"I'll go home with you. We can try to convince him."
Naruto shook his head. "Itachi asked me to do the same. But I'd rather not. I'll say unpleasant things to him."
"If it protects Konoha, it should be necessary."
"Indeed," Naruto agreed. "But, it is not necessary now." He glanced at the Sannin through the corner of his eye. "Anything else you got?"
"No." Jiraiya looked disappointed. "They are being tight. But we know enough to act."
"Pakura's situation?"
"The village has been told she betrayed it and turned to Konoha. There is some scepticism from the villagers and some shinobi alike. Rasa-san's secrecy about it makes it difficult. But if she fights with Konoha against the Leaf, they'll completely turn against her."
Naruto adopted a thoughtful expression and then glanced up into the sky. He hated playing this sort of game. It didn't provide him with any excitement. Anything that didn't involve a rush of blood and a pain was often boring, especially in comparison to battles.
"So, they can be convinced otherwise."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "I don't think Konoha will be too happy to lose her."
"She is just a Kunoichi and while her bloodline is powerful and rare, completely subjugating Suna with her in charge will be beneficial for the long run." Naruto said before going into detail. "I don't like quick gains. They provide temporary relief. I want something long term, and or, even eternal. I could go and smack Suna into its knees, and then what? I know a thing about holding grudges and hatred. Even if we go to war, there will be a divide. It will reoccur again if we don't put someone we can trust in charge of Suna."
"And what's the alternative?" Jiraiya asked in a sharp tone.
"Whipping Suna to behave will only make it kneel while plotting for pay back. Then the solution to the problem is complete destruction. Or just so much destruction that it gets crippled to the point where even if it wants revenge, it cannot do anything."
Jiraiya felt Naruto's concerns about the death of innocent civilians weren't valid. If he wanted, he could mercilessly slaughter everyone in that village. The solution he was looking for was one that would mean Suna wouldn't rise again. He was fine with either way. Konoha just benefited more with Suna being an ally. But if the situation warranted, the Uchiha was equally fine with making it a ghost town.
But, even with that cold hand, he was still capable of doing something pleasant. "No," Jiraiya thought with a shake of his head. He was just being perfectly rational.
Itachi was right in his assessment; Naruto was a rational person. In that context, he'd do anything he believed was rational. Of course, emotions seemed to get to him when it involved his clan. But some semblance of sanity still prevailed.
"Would she want it?"
"Doesn't matter what she wants. Besides, when I spoke to her, she seemed hesitant to fight the people she once swore to protect."
"I thought you were close to her."
"So?"
"You're a cold person."
Naruto laughed. "She'd get what she wants. Everyone is happy in the end."
"You'd have to kill Rasa. And there is a chance people will think she conspired in order to get the power."
Naruto shrugged. "People will believe anything that makes them sleep better at night. Say the right words or do the right thing, and whatever you did or do won't matter to them."
People always wanted to believe in something. With Rasa gone, Suna would have to believe in Pakura, even if it might take time. Without hope, humans were just livestock, waiting to be slaughtered.
"With your understanding of people, you could become something even better for the rest of the shinobi world."
"I have no interest. Your ideals are your own." Naruto smiled. "Of course, if you want to motivate me, it is a simple thing of aligning your ideals with what I desire."
"To protect your clan. A safe shinobi world without wars means your clan doesn't get dragged into them and survives."
"Yes," said Naruto, smiling a little wickedly. "But that is only because of my fears. If the numbers were greater, I wouldn't care how the world looked. We're warriors. We prove ourselves as Uchiha in battle, not by speaking nice words."
Jiraiya shook his head. "Iwagakure?"
"Not a problem. At least for now. Eventually, they will be. Or not."
"I suppose things went well."
"Yes."
"So, what were you thinking about?"
"Who knows?"
A glared at Shikaku and Hiashi.
Mabui had already gone through Konoha's expectations. And he wasn't the least pleased. He'd expected Hiruzen to allow bygones be bygones. But they were bringing up things from the past and refusing to let it go. Konoha's fraternizing with the Mist didn't even give him any comfort or peace.
"Why must we go through this?" He demanded.
He didn't care if he was in front of Hiashi, the man whose twin brother was sacrificed because he demanded the Byakugan. He could even claim Konoha tricked him.
"We have already explained this to Mabui-san."
"And you came here hoping for some confessions?"
"Indeed." Hiashi replied. "It's better for both nations if this is agreed upon."
Admitting he had planned the whole thing would put a huge dent in his reputation. Once he admitted it, there was no taking it back. Unless, he was going to shamelessly concede and admit to making the admission to make the alliance with Konoha work. Nodding inwardly, he found this a perfect solution should any problems arise in the future.
Still, making the admission could potentially open some doors he didn't want opened. He couldn't leave his village open to attack. He couldn't even trust the Leaf wouldn't demand anything tomorrow once they had the admission.
What was he going to do? He believed the alliance was necessary, at least in the present circumstances. He didn't care about the threat of Sunagakure to Konoha. He thought the Leaf was perfectly capable of defending itself. But he couldn't help but criticize the village for allowing the Kazekage to be so bold.
"I understand you don't want to make the admission because we can always hold you accountable, but that is not what Konoha is looking for. We simply want the truth, to confirm that we can indeed trust you." Shikaku said.
It didn't matter if it became public or not; the Sandaime was content with a written admission that would be kept locked away. The rest of the people could remain ignorant. The issue had been long since solved.
"What happens if I do admit to this?"
"We accept it and know we can trust you."
"And you?" A stared at the Hyuga clan head.
"There is nothing I can do or will say. I will simply accept it."
"I'm not going to apologize for anything." A said firmly.
Shikaku smiled; he didn't expect the Raikage to apologize. Konoha wasn't even looking for an apology. An apology was something they wouldn't get. Even if they demanded the Raikage reveal his criminal intentions to his village, he'd refuse and say the alliance proposal was dead. They were conscious of this and only wanted something doable, but tangible.
"We don't want an apology, Raikage-sama. You did what you did."
"What are you terms?"
"Write a letter to the Sandaime Hokage. In the letter, admit your Head Clan was sent to the Leaf with an ulterior motive. Konoha will not demand compensation or anything. The letter will not become public nor will your admission be made public."
"Really?" A looked at Shikaku with scepticism.
"Yes. Do you want us to demand compensation?"
"I wouldn't give it."
"Thought as much."
"How do I know you won't make it public?"
"You don't know." Hiashi replied. "Even if we do make it public, you can always deny it."
A letter meant there would be a record. He would have bound himself to its contents. If something happened in the future, Konoha could always whip out the letter.
"I will write it." A sigh of displeasure escaped the Raikage's lips. "Does that make you happy?"
Shikaku shook his head, but Hiashi beat him to the punch. "You sent your Head Shinobi to the Leaf with the intention of stealing the Byakugan. He failed and was killed. You doubled down and demanded we hand you over the Byakugan or it would be war. If we wanted happiness, we'd demand my brother's return or something of equal value. Say, like your own brother's head."
He slammed his fist on the desk, and then held himself back from standing up to stare down at the Hyuga. "Don't get ahead of yourself!"
"I'm not." Hiashi replied sharply. "But you understand, right? I was there who did it. I killed that man while he was trying to kidnap my daughter. And yet, we're the ones who were at fault. I had to give away my brother. Just a fleeting thought of your own brother being used as a sacrifice and you're on your feet." He stared coldly. "It's unpleasant, isn't it? But that is what you made us do, and we're going to swallow it up, for the sake of peace."
The Raikage stared at Hiashi with coldness. Were all Konoha people like this? Even the Uchiha didn't have a high opinion of him. Without question, if he didn't do something now, his actions would have severe consequences in the future. A future Konoha ruled by the Uchiha and Hyuga would spell a disaster for the Cloud.
Actions have consequences? What a farce. It was only the weak who suffered.
"What are you looking for in the alliance, Raikage-sama?" Shikaku asked, switching the subject. He didn't actually have a problem with Hiashi's words. In fact, he thought they were perfect. It would remind the Raikage that there were things he wanted to protect, and he needed to be aware, should he do things to others, the same would happen to him.
He released a long breath, feeling the tension ease in the office. He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands on the desk. In silence, he tapped his fingers for a couple of seconds before opening his mouth. "Something peaceful, that will benefit both nations."
"Economic or military?"
"Both." A said. "But I have no interest in Konoha's war with Sunagakure."
"Of course," Hiashi said with a smile. "We have no intention of involving you with it. It is a matter we will handle. But doesn't stop us from entering into an alliance. Agreements can easily be broken. We want something tangible that will encourage friendship with both nations. Something that will last for generations. If not, it will be a waste."
A hadn't really thought of something lasting. He was thinking of the now. But there was nothing harmful about something lasting, as long as it benefited the Cloud.
"What did you have in mind?" A asked with suspicion. "My Jinchuriki are off limits."
"Konoha's bloodlines as well."
A nearly hit himself for rushing to speak. He wanted to gain one of Konoha's Doujutsu. He was the one who was quick to say his Jinchuriki were off limits. A political marriage with Yugito could have been arranged. But that was off limits.
"Details beneficial to both nations can be discussed in due course. We can send teams to study economic benefits to benefit each village. In the meantime, we were hoping to do something that signifies the change in relations between our nations. We want something friendly. We want to host a friendly competition between shinobi."
Hiashi added more details to what Shikaku had said. "We could have a Genin round, Chunin round, and a Jonin round, as well as a team competition. The competition must be friendly."
Competition was a good thing. It was nothing like a Chunin exam. Were they trying to foster good ties because of it? A liked the idea. After all, they would be able to see the progress of Leaf shinobi.
Unknown Location
"He wasn't alone."
Sasori had said those words with indifference. If Baki had the power, he would have attacked the rogue shinobi and killed him for his insolence. They should have just hired the Akatsuki instead. The organization was faithful to its missions and always succeeded, one way or another.
"What do you mean he wasn't alone? Who could he have been with that made you call it off?"
"He was with Jiraiya."
Baki's frown deepened. For a normal person, facing Jiraiya and Naruto would be an impossible task. But Sasori was anything but normal. He shouldn't have turned back. Baki didn't care if he had to die in the process. In fact, it would have been better for Sunagakure if the man had just attacked. He could have at least taken one of them down with him.
"And you turned back because of that?"
"You wanted me to attack Naruto. He wasn't alone. It is dangerous for me to that job without exposing myself."
"What are you afraid of?"
"I am part of the Akatsuki. If I attacked both, and one of them managed to escape, it would put the Akatsuki in the spotlight. We've done missions, but never against one of the Great Five. If it is against the Leaf, it is another matter that would cost dearly."
After all, to attack one of Konoha's shinobi would be a declaration of war against the Leaf. In these present circumstances, the leader would kill him for doing something so stupid. The Akatsuki did not want war with the Great Nations.
Sasori was certain Baki didn't care if he died or not. In fact, Suna might have been hoping he did die in the process. If he died, they could simply blame someone else, even Iwagakure, as it had a long history of using the Akatsuki to complete some of its most dangerous missions.
"Rasa-sama will not be pleased with this. You had a job and you failed to do it." Baki said with displeasure.
"It isn't like there is something he can do about it. If you want your money, you can take it. I have no need for it. I'd simply accepted because you begged me, and I thought to help you as my former village," Sasori replied in a monotone voice.
Baki shot him another glare, and seethed silently. After a minute or two to calm himself, he spoke again. "We have another mission for you. And this time, it is in the territory of the Leaf. You don't have to go in, just drop something off. I'm told you have a partner."
"It can be done." Sasori said. "Tell me, why did you decide to have Pakura killed? She was a loyal shinobi and very powerful. She'd be leading forces now in your war against Konoha, but now, she will be fighting against you."
"We did not try to kill Pakura. She betrayed us."
"Admitting it is no harm. I won't judge you. I was just curious."
"I didn't come here to answer your questions. I wanted to confirm if the mission was successfully completed and then give you another one." Baki stared. "How can I even trust you will do this on?"
"If you pay me more, I can ask my partner to join me and we can attack them before they reach Konoha."
It always filled Naruto with a sense of relief whenever he returned home and didn't see a rising black smoke, sounds of battle, or cries of pain. The shinobi world wasn't as predictable as one hoped, and anything could happen in the blink of an eye. For the Leaf, there was no peaceful night without the fear of the Sand ninja launching another devastating attack.
When there was no sign of smoke, it gave him hope that he could strike first and end this farce.
"You going with me?"
Naruto glanced at Jiraiya and then nodded. It wasn't like he had any other options. He had to give a report to the Sandaime Hokage. And perhaps with Jiraiya there, the old man might say something that would excite him.
They walked through the village gates. As they made their way to the Hokage Tower, the villagers showed their appreciation. Jiraiya acted like the pervert he was when ladies greeted him. It was like watching a shameless child who liked breasts a little too much.
A perverted man, and yet he had no children of his own. For a man who wanted to pass on his ideals, he should have had his own child, rather than trying to pass on his ideals to the children of others.
"You're inflexible for someone so young. You should try to have a little bit of fun."
"I'm not inflexible. I'm just mannered."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "You?" He chuckled.
Naruto didn't say anything to the Sannin in response; he just walked along in silence until they reached the Kage Tower. The Sandaime seemed to have been waiting for them, as the office was empty.
"Sandaime-sama."
Hiruzen smiled at Naruto. Despite what some might say, Naruto appeared to be able to get along with just about anyone. He didn't drink and share perverted laughs with Jiraiya, but they seemed to get along. Hiruzen thought that was only good for the Hidden Leaf.
The one person who was infinitely suspicious was the Anbu commander. There was nothing to fear, but Hiruzen allowed the man to feel that way, to keep him awake at night.
"I'm glad both of you returned safely." The Third said with a warm smile. "I hope you have some good news, Jiraiya." He said to the Sannin.
"It depends."
"On?"
"A few things. But, don't you want to know how things went in Iwagakure?" The Sannin asked curiously.
Hiruzen leaned back, adopting a serious expression across his face. "I have a few guesses," he said. "The Tsuchikage is war hardened, stubborn and very protective of Iwagakure. He'll do anything to make Iwa safe. Knowing Naruto, one can guess how things went about."
"I'm surprised you even sent him alone." Jiraiya said. "He could have returned with a declaration of war."
After all, Naruto wasn't the type to sugarcoat his words. If he thought Onoki was being stupid, he'd say it. If he wanted to threaten the Tsuchikage, he'd do it.
He already had Suna, Jiraiya thought someone more diplomatic was necessary to defuse tensions and assure the Stone Konoha had no evil intentions toward it. And perhaps, imploring Onoki to reconsider his options, for the benefit of both nations.
Naruto was not a polite person. He was the type of person who would show up when you really didn't care about the outcome.
"You think the worst of me, Jiraiya-sama," Naruto said with a smile, a little amused.
"It is just your nature."
"If you go by that, I wouldn't have returned with simply Iwa declaring war upon us." Naruto replied, his eyes fixed on the Sandaime. "Your sensei knew this much. If Iwa had declared war, I'd have returned with a crippled Iwa, begging not to be destroyed."
Jiraiya snorted. "Your arrogance will see you killed one day."
Naruto laughed. "Quite possibly," he said with nonchalance. "But, in the meantime, who in Iwagakure can actually kill me? If you remove the Jinchuriki, that village merely has a large number of good shinobi, but nothing exceptional."
Jiraiya wouldn't argue with that. Konoha has been able to stand strong because they've always had multiple exceptional shinobi. Even their Kage have always been something special. Aside from the Tsuchikage, Iwa had Kitsuchi. Kumo only had the Raikage and his brother. Suna only had the Kazekage.
The Leaf on the other hand had three Uchiha, the Sannin, Kakashi, Might Gai, and the clan members who made up formidable teams.
Jiraiya sighed, and opted against arguing with Naruto. The Uchiha knew strength alone was not enough. He was arrogant and knew it. But nothing could knock him down because he was rational in his analysis of the fact that there was no one who held any power that threatened him.
"How did it go?"
"He admitted Suna approached him and he considered it. But ultimately, decided against it because there was really nothing to gain. It would just be greed." Naruto replied. "Of course, I'll be marked. We didn't leave on good terms."
"What do you mean by that?"
"He didn't like it when I called him out for his hypocrisy. I told him straight if he was threatening Konoha, I would do the same." Naruto shook his head. "It's amazing that a Kage can be that fragile. How are such words offensive? It was ridiculous from him, considering history."
"We always do evil to others, but hate when it is done to us." Hiruzen said with disappointment. "For someone who has experienced many wars, his attitude is disappointing. But can we trust he will not attack us?"
"I told him there will be no war with Suna." Naruto said those words coldly. "Konoha can't be dragged into a bloody battle with Suna. We can't afford to lose more men when it is not even necessary. That village can be brought to its knees without the need to men to their deaths."
"You're determined on that."
"Of course." Naruto said and then stood up. "I will send the detailed report later."
Naruto silently exited the office, leaving Jiraiya behind with his sensei.
"I've already told him." Jiraiya said. "The Jinchuriki are all in Suna. Rasa is keeping them there. Perhaps, as deterrence to ensure he doesn't get attacked. What worries me is the Kinjutsu. I cannot track down the user. It appears, she is not in the Sand. She could be anywhere at this point. Even in the outskirts of Konoha, or among us."
Hiruzen was deathly silent. This would be disastrous for the Leaf. And if she was among them, her attack could be the beginning of Sunagakure's attack on Konoha.
It would be hell. That Kinjutsu was deadly, and with Konoha's population, it would be devastating.
"I will increase surveillance over the village. We were already searching. We'll double the efforts just in case." Hiruzen said in a serious tone. "Kiri will send men to the Fire Nation. It is just problematic that Suna is keeping the Jinchuriki within the village. We'll have to provoke it to bring them out and take care of them."
"If we had Fuinjutsu masters, things would be easy. I could sneak them in." Jiraiya said.
"Can you sneak Shisui in?"
"It would take a thorough operation without any mistakes. Unlike Konoha, Suna doesn't use a barrier." Jiraiya said and then shook his head. "I can also go there. Take him and Naruto with me."
"How?"
"Toads."
"Be on standby then."
"What are we waiting for? They could attack us any time now."
"Kiri's men are already on their way. We will wait for them to cross into the Fire Nation and then make a move. Even with the destruction of their Jinchuriki, Suna might attack. But if we have Kiri, the army will be too big for it."
Uchiha Compound
Naruto stopped in his tracks as he spotted Itachi walking down the street. He stood there, watching. It wasn't often he saw Itachi strolling through the clan grounds with Izumi, and Sasuke right behind him, pouting like a two-year-old whose toy had been taken and given to the cousin.
Itachi was stoic, usually not expressing any emotion. And yet, he lived a very normal life outside of Anbu duties. He smiled, laughed, spoiled his little brother, and went on dates with Izumi. Naruto didn't have any of that. He admitted, he was pretty miserable inside.
"Naruto-sama," Izumi said softly, her voice sounding a little shy.
Naruto smiled, a genuine smile—it seemed to just make her feel flustered. On the other hand, Sasuke appeared to be blowing hot air.
He greeted the girl. "Izumi." He said. "Leisure day?"
She nodded her head. "We were both around, and since we're usually busy, we thought to spend some time together."
"How nice," Naruto said, his eyes falling on Itachi. His smile had faded and his unreadable expression had returned. "I'd seen you smiling; your face looked different."
"You just returned?"
Naruto ignored the Uchiha. "Why are you staring, Sasuke? Are you still jealous?" he asked, amused as he thought about how a younger Sasuke would never allow anyone to touch him when Itachi was around.
Sasuke folded his hands across his chest. "He doesn't want to train with me. He could leave the village tomorrow for another mission."
"And that makes you angry?"
"Of course!"
"And it has nothing to do with jealousy? Izumi gets to spend time with Itachi and you can't?"
"Of course it is that. He is my brother!"
Naruto glanced at Izumi, who seemed apologetic about it. He waved her off. "Don't feel bad about him. He needs to realize Itachi is grown and can't babysit him forever." His eyes went toward the Uchiha. "Right?"
Itachi had a feeling Naruto was trying to force him into agreement. The truth was, however, that Itachi's clan head was indeed right. Sasuke needed to grow. He didn't even have friends aside from his teammates. After missions, he was back home training.
Itachi couldn't get away from it because Sasuke reminded him that he had done the same thing.
"Yes. But today, I wanted us to get together."
"Doesn't seem to be working well."
"Sasuke-kun doesn't like me that much," Izumi sighed with sadness. "In fact, he's never liked me."
Of course, she was stealing his brother. But Sasuke wasn't going to say that in front of Naruto. His second brother would decide to drag him away for disciplinary action.
Naruto shook his head. "Well, enjoy these moments." He said and then shot Sasuke a disapproving look. "Your attitude is unbecoming of a genius of our clan. You're never going to step out of his shadow if you still act like you're still three years old." He sighed, and walked past the them.
"Senpai," Deidara said, his excitement tamed, as he contemplated the idea of blowing up a village like Konoha.
Perhaps he shouldn't have brought this person with him. Sasori could have manipulated one of his puppets to fly over the Leaf and drop off the explosive girl there.
He glanced at the girl; she was mindless, glowing with natural energy that was sure to cause much devastation. If they had not been high above the ground, they would have been surrounded already by Konoha shinobi.
He felt nothing for her; she was going to die. She was nothing more than a puppet and would serve her purpose.
"They'll know it was you. We don't want to leave the Akatsuki's trail behind."
"But if I do enough destruction, they won't have the power to do anything."
"No."
"Don't be like that, senpai. Are you perhaps jealous that you'd be able to see the beauty of my art and not yours?"
"Do you want to die?"
"We'll all die eventually. If I can die showcasing the beauty of my art, why not?"
"You're still too young." Sasori said, inwardly shaking his head. "We're not to be seen. We're dropping her and then flee, not leaving any trace. We can't bring the Akatsuki into this."
"Doesn't make much of a difference. It would make an impact if I added."
"Can you not feel the amount of chakra this girl gathered?" Sasori asked Deidara. "Are you just jealous that she could produce something much more attractive than you could without blowing yourself up?"
There was no need for Deidara to do anything. The Kinjutsu the girl possessed was capable of destroying the Leaf. Suna thought Konoha could save itself, but not without a huge blow. He'd been sceptical, but once Hotaru gathered the chakra, he was convinced.
If this could destroy half of the Leaf, Suna would win the war against Konoha without having to send out its army. It would be a glorious fall for a giant.
"I'm not jealous!" Deidara shouted. "She is also going to blow herself up!"
"Yes." Sasori said. "But our orders were to drop her. And we will do exactly that and leave. Whether it works or not is not our concern."
Deidara stared into the distance, seeing the night lights of the Leaf. He was really hoping for a bang. But, since the Leader had not even approved this mission, he suppressed his excitement.
"We're not going to get into trouble with the Leader, are we?"
"No." Sasori said. "As long as we don't mess up and reveal ourselves."
"Well, if we do, we just have to erase the evidence." Deidara said with a grin. "Where are we even dropping her?"
"They said it doesn't matter."
"But it would work better if dropped somewhere crowded."
"Symbolically, we could strike the Hokage Tower."
"I can always drop one of my little birds there. No one is going to know anything. They'll be too focused on her."
Sasori sighed.
Meanwhile, Konoha
Naruto sat on the roof of the academy, knee raised; twelve of his top students knelt before him. Shisui stood, hands folded across his chest on his right side.
"They are a good group," the elder Uchiha said with a smile.
"I've chosen them to be team leaders of their fellow graduates." Naruto replied, his eyes glowing into the night.
This was a practical experience lesson for them. The others were with Naori in the class below, being assigned.
There was no better time to teach them surveillance duties. The village needed man power during the night anyway. Spies couldn't be given breathing space. Experienced ones surely operated during the day where it was easy to blend in with the civilians.
"You all know Shisui. He'll be observing you tonight to see if you're ready to enter his force." Naruto said without emotion. "You're team leaders. Every decision the team takes is your responsibility. You're all responsible for the safety and lives of those you lead."
"Remember to be disciplined out there. There are no civilians due to curfew, so you won't be tested that much. But, keep an eye on everything. Anything suspicious, deal with it quietly, and if you can't, alert others." Shisui said. "And remember, you must always know where the nearest team is in case in you need backup or they need backup."
"Hai."
Naruto clapped his hands once. "Go down to the class. Naori will give you your assignments."
"Hai."
They all disappeared by utilizing Shunshin.
Shisui nodded with approval. "Jonin skill, but they've mastered it."
"The basics." Naruto said. "They have the chakra control required. Besides, it is a useful technique to move around. It would have been irresponsible for me to send them to duty without the required skill set."
"Proud?"
Naruto shrugged. "Are Anbu handling the outskirts?"
"Yes."
"And your trip in Kiri?"
"Fruitful." Shisui said. "There is also something I wanted to ask you about it. A marriage between me and the Mizukage could be suggested..."
"Unless she is going to live in this village, it is not happening." Naruto interrupted Shisui before he could finish speaking. "Besides, a marriage with someone like her could dilute the blood. Your children may not even have the Sharingan, or her bloodlines..." he shook his head and glanced at Shisui. "You like her?"
They sensed a powerful wave of chakra, before Shisui could respond. Naruto jumped to his feet and tracked down the source of the chakra.
The attack was imminent; there was no doubt it was an attack. The Anbu seemed to be moving about in panic. There was one person, falling from the sky. Naruto frowned deeply, and cursed the Sandaime's passive nature. This was his fault.
"I'll head out to gather my men." Shisui disappeared without a trace.
Naruto didn't linger about either; he rushed toward the object of discomfort.
Hiruzen stood above the Kage tower, watching panic unfold. The second something had crossed the barrier, he'd been alerted. His face looked troubled. The dreaded attack from Suna was happening, and it was the worst possible scenario. Tsuchimogo Kitsunju was being unleashed against them. there was nothing else that Suna could drop at this stage.
He wasn't even sure what was worse; Hotaru or a Jinchurki.
"She is falling toward the Hospital, Sandaime-sama. We're busy trying to evacuate it." An Anbu reported. "But there won't be enough time."
"Evacuate civilians living within the immediate area, and all other shinobi."
"Hai."
It would only take a second for the explosion to rock the village. There was hardly anything he could do. They could try to use Earth Jutsu to attempt to contain the explosion, but there was no one who could teleport like Minato.
Why would they attack the hospital of all places? It was inhumane, and an attempt to stop Konoha from healing its wounded in case the war started.
He looked grim, as if defeated; that Suna would target the defenceless.
"If Kakashi-san were here, he could blast her away with Kamui," Itachi said to Jiraiya. "Since she's in mid-air, someone would have to fly over there."
"I have ordered Earth users to raise a structure above the hospital. We have to try to stop her from colliding with it." The Sannin said.
Boom
A powerful explosion rocked the village, causing them to turn toward its direction.
The Hokage Tower was engulfed in a massive column of flames, causing almost every Anbu to rush there, as the Sandaime was also there. Another explosion blew towards the village gates, and everything just stood still.
There could be more explosions. The village was under siege.
Where was the enemy?
Itachi frowned deeply and wondered what the right decision was at this point. Should he leave the hospital to search for intruders, or should he stay and risk being caught in another explosion? He could take on the explosion with his Susanoo, but it would likely cost him his life. An explosion that could destroy an entire village was deadly.
No, this was much more important. It didn't matter if other things were destroyed; the important thing was to prevent the explosion.
"I'll take care of the girl."
There wasn't even time for Jiraiya to question Itachi's wisdom, or what he intended to do. Panic was all over the village, and the Sandaime was possibly caught in another explosion. Jiraiya could only nod, but before he could do anything, A Susanoo sprung to life, mid-air.
"Wha—"
It was a loud bang that shook the entire village. A blinding white light flashed through the village, almost blinding everyone as Hotaru set off a chaotic explosion, just above the hospital. Naruto's Susanoo disappeared, and a red barrier sprouted from the rooftop of the hospital, enclosing the explosion within it.
Neji felt his heart pounding in fear; there was chaos everywhere. Civilians were running around, and experienced shinobi were trying by all means to restore order. The explosions had quieted down, but there could be another one. At the academy, the market, or even the safe houses, anything could happen.
The civilians wore expressions of dread. Some of his fellow students from Konohagakure looked shaken, and were hurrying civilians to the safety zones. Even some grown shinobi seemed to be terrified. As if they were reliving the horrors of the Kyubi's rampage once more.
This was the real world. The real shinobi world Naruto had taught them about. A simple mistake, a loss of concentration, and civilians could be in harm's way. Hell, even he could be caught in an explosion.
"Why are you just standing there?!"
Neji was pulled out of his thoughts by a member of Military Police.
"Use your Byakugan to scan the areas for any other explosive. We can't be safe until we know what to do."
That was something he should have done long ago. It was the best course of action under the circumstances. Neji simply nodded and rushed away, into the chaos everyone else was running from.
Mikoto pushed the last child into the meeting place beneath the naka shrine. The adults were gathered above. She had never thought she would see Konoha under such attack again. The Kyubi's rampage had filled many with intense memories of hatred and dread. The young ones had not seen anything like it; many had lost their lives.
And in the end, the Uchiha were blamed for everything.
What would be the result this time?
"Mom," Sasuke asked, his face worried. "What is happening?"
They all heard explosions. Then they were told to hide here. He was worried that the village might be under attack. He'd been told Suna could wage war against them. But his mother looked too worried; it bothered him. Where was Itachi even? And Naruto? What was happening in the village? The clan grounds were far too removed to be affected, but they still felt it. He'd heard the cries coming from the village.
"I don't know, Sasuke." Mikoto said, putting a hand over Sasuke's head. "Stay here, and look after everyone. I'm going up to check on everyone."
"I'm coming with you."
"Stay here."
"But who can protect you? and I am a shinobi!"
"Stay here, Sasuke." Izumi said, smiling with warmth despite the situation. "You're a shinobi. You must protect everyone else here. If you leave to protect your mom, who will protect these ones here?"
Sasuke glared at Izumi but decided to relent.
Izumi and Mikoto left the meeting place and went up to the Naka shrine. Everyone was gathered there, and Naruto was also sitting there, surrounded by a ribcage of his Susanoo. No one was left behind. The only ones not there were the usual suspects and those serving in the military police.
"If you're here, who is protecting Konoha?" Mikoto asked.
"I'm just a clone."
"Oh." Mikoto felt stupid for asking, but it was still Naruto. The village was under attack, and it wasn't unreasonable to expect Naruto to abandon the village and protect his clan. No, no one who knew him would actually expect him to do anything different. "What is happening out there?"
"An attack. But it appears to be small scaled. Perhaps, a warning shot."
"Is Itachi okay?" Izumi asked, concerned for her beloved.
The Hokage Tower had been reduced to rubble, with nothing left standing. Whatever caused it must have been incredibly powerful; it wasn't just an explosive tag, but something far more dangerous.
Tsunade watched as the shinobi worked to remove the rubble in search of survivors.
There were no more explosions. Shinobi still ran around the rooftops. The Anbu had already left the village walls to find the suspects. The girl hadn't simply fallen off the air; someone had dropped her into the village.
The Sandaime Hokage stood, being addressed by Anbu. He was unharmed, but some Anbu were wounded, and two had been killed in the explosion. She walked over to him and shot him a glare.
"Luckily you got protected."
"Unfortunately."
This was entirely his fault. It was pure terrorism, a barbaric act caused by his passiveness. This was entirely his fault. He hadn't thought it would happen. He'd taken measures, but it had happened, and as Hokage, he had to take responsibility.
"Everything is fine here. Go to the hospital."
"Shizune is there."
"I need you there."
"Someone could have sneaked into the village in the chaos. Suna could very well be marching out." Tsunade replied in a hardened tone. "Your Anbu seem to be incapable of protecting you without dying. What do you think will happen to this village if you die while Suna is marching?"
Despite some opinions, the Third's death would be a huge blow to the village. It wouldn't affect the morale of the shinobi. However, they wouldn't be in the right state of mind for war. They'd be angry and seeking vengeance, and with that attitude, they would make reckless decisions.
Hiruzen couldn't did, yet.
"Even so, the hospital is much more important." The Third said.
"Let us go there together." Tsunade replied. "As you say, there is nothing here. Damage is already done."
"Fine."
"I won't judge you. I abandoned Konoha and had to be dragged back." Tsunade said to the old man as they hopped through rooftops.
Hiruzen smiled bitterly. His own conscience was judging him. This was perhaps inevitable. He was just grateful that nothing disastrous had occurred. Buildings could be rebuilt. But lives lost couldn't be replaced.
He'd failed Konoha.
There was a huge hole through the hospital. The structure was damaged. Itachi stood on the rooftop, staring down at the hole. The explosion had blasted through the rooftop and into the ground floor below. Everything in between had been wiped out. If there had been people inside the rooms, they were dead. Wiped away from existence.
The hospital was damaged, but the disaster that he had feared hadn't occurred. Had Naruto not moved quickly, he would have sacrificed himself, and his life would have been lost.
Konoha was not yet safe; anything could still happen.
The Anbu were already moving throughout the hospital. The structure could collapse. Evacuations were still ongoing. A temporary structure would have to be erected while the building was being repaired.
He turned around and faced Naruto. The clan head's expression was murderous. His upper clothing was burnt. He had burn marks on his hands. He was sitting in a meditative position on the rooftop.
Itachi assumed Naruto first used Susanoo to contain the explosion, with the Yata mirror before a clone summoned the Flame Formation from the rooftop. Considering everything, he seemed fine.
"How did you get injured."
"Hm... I wanted to try something. It didn't work out." Naruto replied with a shrug, indifferent. "This will heal."
He shrugged despite looking murderous. Someone was going to pay hell for this. But, perhaps this was good. He could now move without much resistance, and try to push the Sandaime from his position.
He held out his right hand, and frowned at the burn marks. Susanoo had limits. Everything had limits. He could have protected himself with the Yata Mirror from the explosion, but such occasions didn't come often. A little bit of a rush of blood wasn't a sin.
His life was never in danger after all; recklessness in such circumstances was warranted.
"What of her?"
"Dead. Erased." Naruto said. "Could have been worse. But for a start it is impressive. They knew about the barrier and that they couldn't walk her into the village. However, I didn't know Suna had someone who could fly."
"They don't need to have someone who can fly. They can simply hire someone."
"A possibility." Naruto conceded. "Well, tomorrow is another day. Suna shall know its place."
The murderous intent had simply diminished. Itachi was glad. Despite the situation, Naruto still looked calm. But without question, he was going to march out tomorrow to Sunagakure, and there would be chaos.
It was necessary. They couldn't just sit and allow the Sand to threaten Konoha like this. Itachi firmly believed the destruction of the Sand would save Konoha.
The Sandaime Hokage and Tsunade appeared on the rooftop. A second later, Jiraiya too appeared. Tsunade rushed toward him, and kneeled beside him.
Her hands glowed green.
For a moment, Naruto considered stopping her, but he decided to let her do as she pleased.
"If I'd known you had that in your arsenal, we would have worried less," Hiruzen said to Naruto, relief evident on his face.
"Shinobi must be prepared for just about anything." Naruto said. "The worst was averted."
"Thanks to you."
"I did nothing special. Itachi could have slammed her into space with his Susanoo. I just moved a bit faster."
Once Tsunade was finished, Naruto stood up. He faced Itachi. "Go to Shisui. Check if everyone is okay and send a clone with the report to me. I'll be at my house resting. Tomorrow will be a long day." He said, and turned away. "Oh, he must also check my students." He glanced at the old man. "Sandaime-sama."
Itachi glanced at the Sandaime.
"Go." The Third said. "He is not pulling everyone out of duty, just a head count. You don't want him to worry. Let him rest in peace."
"Hai."
Tsunade faced her sensei. "He doesn't like you, does he?"
"Of course not," Jiraiya said. The Sannin was the one who replied. He was standing on the edge of the hole in the rooftop. "It would have been much worse if a member of his clan had been killed or if there had been an attack on the Uchiha clan."
"He wanted to march out?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "He doesn't think war is necessary," he said. "This could have been worse. Tomorrow or the next day, it could be another Jinchuriki." He said in a dead serious tone.
"Indeed."
"We wouldn't even be in this situation if we'd taken decisive action before. We've allowed Konoha to be repeatedly threatened. If Suna didn't think lowly of us, we wouldn't be in this situation." Jiraiya said on a cold tone. "Would you have lived with yourself if the hospital had been destroyed?"
Of course not.
"Let us secure the village. And ensure there is no more danger and if there is, we are ready to act. Tomorrow, will be a long day."
The Sandaime left to check other areas.
There wasn't much need for medical services since the damage was minimal; whatever was needed, Shizune could handle. Tsunade was relieved that the villagers would soon be able to return home. In an hour or two, the villagers would be allowed back into their homes.
"He's always need something to move. For years, he was warned about Orochimaru, and he was blind to it. Even when his evil was revealed, he still didn't do anything. He is kind. But his kindness is not suited to being Hokage." Tsunade said with a slight of her head. "Well, at least the sentiment won't be as bad because there is less damage."
If this was a stress signal, they had managed it well, not perfectly, but it was passable.
"He was trying to avoid a bloody war. But there is no other choice now but to attack." Jiraiya said.
Safe once again.
Neji lamented his momentary lapse of concentration. But he was thankful; he was fine. He'd been engaged in duties with other Jonin and high-ranking Chunin. Most of the Genin had been sent away to be with civilians. He'd roamed the streets with experienced shinobi. He'd executed his duties, and he believed he was ready for Military Police duties.
It was obvious though, Military Police were on the frontlines when the village was attacked. They always needed to be sharp. It was no wonder Naruto beat them hard in training and demanded they be better than Anbu.
"That was hell!" Sora exclaimed, throwing himself to the ground. The other students were with him. They'd been rounded up after things had settled.
"Yeah. Thought I was going to die."
"But a good experience," Sora said. "I can see why Sensei says we must be the best and can't afford mistakes. If it was us on duty, we'd be mad we were not able to stop the explosions. In fact, what was done was to minimize the damage. It is some sort of failure."
Neji shook his head. "The response was still good." He said. "If it had been an invasion, it could have been bad."
"Yeah. But what a day to start Military Police duties!" Sora cried. "Couldn't have asked for something better. We're Konoha's last defence. We have to be better. But I'm sure sensei will be proud of us."
Shisui watched the group from a rooftop. They were well-trained. They knew what to do. Going through practical exams had taught them to be prepared. In a year or two, they would become good shinobi. The good thing was that they were not exposed to multiple dead bodies of civilians and their fellow students.
"He does well in training them." The Anbu commander said.
"Indeed." Shisui said. "You still don't get along?"
The man didn't respond to the question. "I'll go speak to the Sandaime," he said. "We'll meet again at the academy in thirty minutes to discuss how we proceed from here and release the villagers. You can sort out other issues. I don't think the kids will be needed."
Shisui nodded. "They've done enough." He said.
The Anbu disappeared without another word.
Shisui sighed in relief and then settled down. They had survived this. But it was still not enough. This shouldn't have been enough to shake them. They were the Hidden Leaf; they were expected to survive this.
A pity, the inevitable was going to happen.
"I'm glad you're fine." Itachi said as he walked up to Shisui. He glanced down at Naruto's students and then sat beside Shisui.
"So, am I. But this was nothing. It was minor. Perhaps they expected the main attack to succeed or at least cause enough damage." Shisui said.
"Naruto sent me."
"Head count?" Shisui asked. "Everyone is fine. The Kids are all right. And nothing happened in the clan. But I'm sure he already had a clone there. Is he fine?"
"Yes. He went back to the clan grounds. He said he was going to rest."
"Surprising he'd want to rest under the circumstances. Some of us are not going to sleep at all."
"I'm sure he is resting because he plans on heading to Suna."
"He'll go even if the Sandaime is against it. One of us will have to go with him. Perfect Susanoo is an existential threat to a village like Suna. He could flatten the village with a swing of his sword. It is worse, since Naruto's attack is incredibly powerful."
Itachi knew just what a perfect Susanoo could do. Naruto's was almost unbeatable, or perhaps truly perfect because of the Yata mirror. As long as it was active, there was no jutsu that could penetrate through it. And as long as Naruto had chakra, he would continue causing destruction.
Itachi wasn't really concerned with Sunagakure. He didn't want Konoha to go to war. If they did, they would leave themselves weakened, and any other village could take advantage of the situation. Konoha would be in danger in such a situation.
"The important thing is that this attack seems to be over." Itachi said.
"Indeed."
Sometimes, Shisui wished he could just go back to Kirigakure and live a peaceful life. He wouldn't have to fight anymore; he would just be normal and carry out his duties as a diplomat for the Leaf.
"You think the Sandaime placed the village in danger because of his choice?" Shisui asked Itachi.
"We dont know how Suna would have reacted if we made a move earlier. The important thing right now is ensuring hard decisions are taken to stop Suna and protect Konoha."
"I suppose you'd go with him."
"If it secures Konoha."
When all was said and done, civilians returned to their homes, but nobody in Anbu slept. The Jonin stayed up as well. Calm had returned. In such moments, Naori was thankful the clan grounds were no longer in the centre of the village; they'd been dragged into the chaos.
It was a surprise to the shinobi that Naruto had saved the day and then disappeared to his clan grounds. She'd laughed, finding it predictable. There was just no way Naruto was going to sit around and not be with his clan. He was probably sleeping, not because he needed the rest, but to simply assure the rest of the clan they could sleep as well, and that all was well.
Shisui had been kind enough to let her leave her duties.
She immediately went to Naruto's house; it was never locked. She wondered why he even had doors. There were no traps inside. A thief could enter and take everything. Then again, Naruto probably never kept anything of importance in his house.
Naruto sneaked through the halls and went to Sasuke's room. The door was hung open, as if he was waiting for someone. The curtains were parted, leaving the windows exposed to the dark night.
Above the headboard, there were two spears, mounted on the wall. The gunbai was resting on the right side of the bed. Naruto just lay there, half-naked, without any blanket covering him.
Her heart raced with excitement. Once she took this step, there would be no turning back. Nora couldn't deny she was hopelessly in love with the clan head, but she liked him. She wanted to be here. For her own pleasure and satisfaction.
She slowly walked over to the bed. The floor made no sound with each of her steps.
She climbed onto the bed and checked him. His eyes remained closed, his body not even moving. There wasn't even a change in his chakra. She moved up and climbed atop of him.
The moment she sat on him, his eyes snapped open. The glow of the Mangekyo welcomed her. For some, it may have been intimidating, but she found it alluring and exciting. The danger in those eyes turned her gears into motion.
"Did you get tired of pretending to be asleep?" She whispered, placing her hands on his toned chest. He didn't flinch, or even react to it; he just stared at her.
"I was wondering what you were up to."
"Figured it out?"
"Not quite."
"I took the effort to come here, and you're going to pretend to be oblivious? You want to make me work that hard?"
"Is see no problem with it. But, why are you here?"
Naori sighed and then laid her head on his chest. She rested the side of her head against the centre of his chest, listening to the soothing sound of his heartbeat.
His body was warm – it was always warm. He was unnaturally calm. A novice would have been flustered. But Naruto was not innocent; he was familiar with this situation. He wasn't even getting excited because she sat atop of him.
"This attack made me realize just how short the life of a shinobi really is. We could have died tonight. Or maybe tomorrow. We don't know. But it can happen any time. We're going to war. I may not survive it. I don't want to die with regrets. I want to die having done whatever I've wanted to do."
She didn't smell of sweat despite having being on duty. It was just her natural scent.
He slowly raised his hands, placed them on her shoulders, and then lifted her. Staring into her eyes for a long moment, he then pulled her up.
End of chapter
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The Omnipresent Sage