Flashback- 5 years after Kyuubi Attack
He was tired, the years were beginning to take their toll. Already his once chocolate brown hair and small beard had begun to turn a grayish white. He wasn't supposed to be doing this job again. No he was supposed to be enjoying spending time with his little grandson and being a better grandfather than he had been a father. Unfortunately the best laid plans do not often survive when the unknown variables of the real world come crashing down.
The Sandaime Hokage could only sigh as he smoked his pipe. Standing on top of the Hokage Tower, looking up at the faces carved into the mountain before him his thoughts wandered to both his predecessors and his successor.
Stopping upon the thought of the Yondaime and how it should be him standing here now. Sarutobi's thoughts turned to that night just a little over five years ago when the village had been besieged by the great nine-tailed demon fox, Kyuubi no Yoko. Biting down lightly on the tip of his pipe he could not help but grumble out, "Damn you for being so courageously foolish."
That night had seen more death and destruction for Konoha than any other in its history. The Kyuubi had been relentless; caring not who or what it killed and destroyed. Neither shinobi nor civilian was spared by the great bijuu as it burned a path through the forest surrounding the village before it broke through the great wall and began its rampage within the outer limits of the village itself.
The old man shuddered for a moment remembering the horror that had been unleashed as the Kyuubi devoured some, ground others into small bloody smears, and simply incinerated many with its demonic chakra. The danger had not only lain in the deadly teeth and claws of the beast, but also its massive nine tails. Those tails had torn up the landscape and seemed to cause small earthquakes that cracked many of the village's buildings.
All had seemed hopeless as wave after wave of Konoha shinobi threw themselves at the demon in an effort to save their home, their loved ones, and their fellow leaf-nin. Yet at the moment that everything seemed ready to finally fall apart the Yondaime had appeared upon the battlefield and ended the one-sided conflict with what most of those present remember only as a giant flash of brilliant light.
Taking a long, slow puff from his pipe the elderly Sarutobi couldn't help but recall the moment that Minato had come to him with the idea of sealing the fox. He had been somewhat horrified when he had been informed that only a newborn infant could hope to act as the vessel to contain the beast. He had been even more horrified when Minato had presented his own son, not even an hour old, to be used.
He had argued vehemently with Minato to allow him to be the one to do the sealing. Yes, he may have been already injured from having just come from the battle, but he was old and the village needed its young hero and leader. He had thought that he had convinced Minato when the younger Hokage had suddenly lashed out. The strike to his already broken ribs had driven the Sandaime to his knees and into the blackness of unconsciousness. He heard the words whispered to him before he went to sleep...
"Don't tell a soul, only Kushina will know."
He hadn't woken until it was far too late to stop what was happening.
His mind wandered to the image of a newborn baby suddenly being bathed in a crimson light as the seal drawn on its belly in blood became a permanent part of the child's own soul. Then there was that high pitch crying that followed. Whether it was from the pure pain and anguish that must have been felt from having the seal and with it the power, the rage of the Kyuubi no Yoko burnt into both the infant's flesh and soul or if it was perhaps the child somehow knew that in that moment it had become an orphan Sarutobi would probably never know.
Speaking of said child Sarutobi felt his mood grow even darker as the boy had become a main topic of debate in the council sessions of late. Despite the law that he had passed restricting all knowledge of the sealing and the identity of the vessel it seemed that no matter how tightly he clamped down on the information some of it was bound to slip out. At least what information had slipped wasn't too detrimental and the individuals who had used that information were now enjoying a nice 'chat' with one Morino Ibiki.
The wizened Hokage soundly felt himself pulled from his thoughts as he felt a presence land upon the roof with him. Though the presence was unexpected he knew he had nothing to fear as he turned to come face to face with his own son, Sarutobi Asuma.
The young jounin was taller than his father and had the slight stubble of a beard outlining his jaw line. With dark black hair and a more muscular build the younger Sarutobi took more after his mother's side of the family than he did his father. Having landed gracefully and without nearly a sound the young man pulled out a silver lighter and small white cigarette.
"You know those are bad for you right?" the elder Sarutobi asked while eyeing his offspring with a slight bit of curiosity.
Shrugging his shoulders while lighting up anyway Asuma replied, "Never stopped you. Anyways Asuka won't let me smoke around Konohamaru, so I decided to track you down for her and see if you would be stopping in."
The elder Sarutobi chuckled slightly thinking of his daughter and grandson. The boy was quickly nearing his 'terrible twos' and the toddler was becoming quite the handful for his mother. It didn't help that Asuma, playing the good old uncle card, was attempting to spoil the boy rotten. Speaking of which that reminded him that he should make sure to pop in and see his first and only grandchild; he had his own spoiling to do.
Chuckling at the thought of how it would drive his daughter up the wall he decided that yes he really did hate having to do this job again. He had already been Hokage longer than his predecessors before selecting the Yondaime and here he was now back in the position. One would think he was either attempting to set a record or was a glutton for punishment, perhaps even both if the person doing the reasoning was one Maito Gai.
Dismissing that thought quickly, as he had no need to get an even worse headache than he already had by thinking of the exuberant new jounin, the aging Hokage began to speak to his son.
"I saw you in the council meeting today," he began. "You didn't stay around for long afterwards."
Shrugging once again the younger Sarutobi took a puff of his cigarette before responding, "What can I say, places to go and people to see."
"Those people wouldn't happen to be some impressionable young thing now would it?" the elder questioned with a gleam in his eye.
Coughing hard after nearly swallowing his cigarette Asuma quickly retorted, "Iie! I didn't…I mean I wouldn't…Fuck!"
Seeing his son stumble because of the insinuation that there was a nice young lady out here waiting for him caused a great deal of mirth to enter the old Hokage's laughter.
"There wasn't a girl," began the embarrassed jounin.
Seeing an excellent point to pick at his son the Sandaime quickly said, "A young man then, you know your mother and I would never judge you Asuma and that the family loves you irregardless of your…."
"Otousan!" the irate Asuma suddenly yelled cutting off his sire and losing the cigarette from his mouth.
Giving a hearty laugh the elder man brought up his hands in a show of placating his irritated son while said young man ground his fallen cigarette out lowly grumbling about crazy old men needing to be put in the 'Old Shinobi's Home'.
Giving his son time to cool down, which in Asuma's case meant smoking an entire cigarette before lighting up another to actually enjoy, the Sandaime Hokage slowly began to think about what he originally was going to ask his son.
Seeing that Asuma had calmed down and was now slowly enjoying what was his third cigarette in the presence of his father, the elder Sarutobi began.
"I had hoped to speak with you after the meeting let out," the old man began wearily. "I wanted to get your impression on what was discussed and…."
"You mean you want to know what I think of the boy," Asuma interjected before his father could continue.
Seeing the silent nod from the older man Asuma warily asked, "Am I talking to the Hokage right now or my tousan?"
"I can't simply divorce one from the other Asuma, you know that," the Sandaime stated. "But if you mean can you speak candidly to me then by all means speak what you have to say."
Sighing quietly before beginning the young jounin moved to the railing next to where his father stood.
"Knowing what I do about the boy and even taking into account what little you have let loose about the sealing, I would have to agree with many of the points made by the council," stated Asuma as he heard the slight intake of breath that signaled that his father was surprised. Moving quickly to finish his piece before he was possibly reprimanded, Asuma continued, "I mean no disrespect to you Otousan, but…."
Hearing the hesitation in his son's voice the elder Sarutobi gave a slight nod before saying, "Say what you wish Asuma."
Seeing the nod and hearing his father's words Asuma pressed ahead while turning to fully face his sire and letting his voice take on an edge that cut deeply into his father's heart.
"The boy is dangerous! Many of the others can sense it, why can't you?" Asuma said vehemently.
Suddenly fearing he may have overstepped his bounds Asuma surreptitiously began to scrutinize his father for any sign that the old man may lash out. However, what he saw struck him harder than any blow that could have physically harmed him.
The old Hokage looked as if someone had stacked the entire weight of the world upon his back and then kicked his knees out from under him. Asuma had never before seen his father look so tired and it suddenly pained him that he had in a way caused this sudden show of age by the elder Sarutobi.
"Otousan, I…," Asuma began to apologize only to quiet as he saw his father's eyes snap up to hold his own. The fire that burned in those eyes was a complete antithesis to what Asuma had seen in his father before he attempted to apologize.
"Do you really think that way Asuma?" the Sandaime growled out. "Do you think that he is nothing more than a monster given human form or are you afraid that the Kyuubi has or will take over and destroy us while we sleep?"
Asuma attempted to answer but the glare he received made his voice refuse to utter his answer.
"I thought I raised you far better than that Asuma," the old Hokage stated angrily. "I thought I taught you to be rational and follow logic and the evidence in order to formulate your conclusions and opinions."
"I am following the evidence and being rational about this!" Asuma retorted heatedly. "Stop believing you owe that fucker Minato and look at the evidence! The boy broke another child's wrist a few months ago, he is constantly disappearing from the orphanage and causing trouble in the village, and even more important you seem to forget what happened only a few days before the festival this year!"
The elder Sarutobi stopped his retort as his mind ran back to the event Asuma mentioned and began to recall what had occurred.
(A Flashback Inside A Flashback, How Crazy is That)
It had been only four days before the festival celebrating the defeat of the Kyuubi and the sacrifice made by those who had fought the great demon. Uzumaki Naruto had somehow snuck out of the orphanage without the elderly matron catching him. When it was discovered that he was missing the Hokage had immediately ordered a village wide search by the ANBU. The black ops unit had found the boy in a small out of the way clearing in the forest, but the scene that the Hokage arrived at was anything but pleasant.
Naruto had been savagely beaten. The boy's blood was everywhere and there was so much of it one would have thought the boy would have been bled dry. His clothes were torn and charred looking, barely covering the young body. Having the shirt almost completely ripped open allowed the gathered ninja to see how the skin had been almost peeled from the torso and showed the pieces of rib broken through the muscle.
His head and face had been bashed repeatedly, probably with one of the bloody bricks nearby. The beating had been so bad that both eyes were swollen shut and the surrounding bruises had grown to the point of nearly bursting. Around his mouth were small flecks of white that if Sarutobi and the ANBU had not been the combat tested shinobi that they were they would have not recognized as pieces of Naruto's small teeth. His right ear looked as if it had been partially pulled off while the left appeared as nothing more than charred flesh.
Naruto's right leg was twisted completely around below the knee and his left leg had a compound facture with the femur sticking out through the side of the small child's thigh. His right hand had been mashed until it resembled something akin to raw meat. The right arm was slashed wide open to the point where the muscles had begun to peel back and the bone had become visible. Of course that bone was also broken in several places so it was difficult to tell where the greatest damage was done on the arm. When Sarutobi shifted his gaze to Naruto's left side he was aghast that the part of Naruto's left arm from the elbow down was simply gone.
Taking in the scene the old Hokage had felt a mixture of sorrow, anger, and shame boil up within him to the point where he felt sick. At least that is what he would later convince himself had made him feel ill and not the remains he saw before him that day.
Feeling tears begin to well up in his eyes the Sandaime had started to give orders. His first was to find the ones who had done this. He was especially clear that if the parties involved resisted then the ANBU operatives were to exercise the part of their training and charter that allowed them to execute a resisting criminal without trial. He had been happy to note that two of the ANBU captains present, one wearing the mask of a cat and the other that of a weasel, were quick to carry out the order and seemed to share little qualm in avenging the child who had been the vessel of the demon kitsune.
More so Cat who radiated pure hate at the time.
His second order was to the medical ninja and the seal specialists that had accompanied him. They would assist him in preserving the body and making sure the seal had taken affect so that the Kyuubi followed poor Naruto into the next world. After that the body would need to be prepared for cremation and burial. However, when the medic-nins had moved forward to place a preservation jutsu on the body so that it could be attended to one of the greatest surprises of Sarutobi's life, if not all of the lives of the individuals present, happened.
Naruto suddenly convulsed as air seemed to be forcefully taken into his lungs. Quickly the medics had rushed forward in attempt to save the boy who was miraculously not dead, as they had all assumed from the condition he was found in. When the medics then started to apply healing chakra and jutsus to the boy's mangled body the next greatest surprise to all those present occurred.
The medic-nins were blown backwards head-over-heals as a torrent of blood red demonic chakra exploded forth from Naruto.
The ANBU had immediately taken up positions to attack and defend depending on what occurred and even the Sandaime felt himself fall into a rough battle stance in preparation for the potential return of the Kyuubi no Yoko. However, all present were even more startled by what began to occur before their eyes.
The chakra seemed to wrap Naruto in a protective shell, even going so far as to make a faux limb where the rest of his left arm should be. The red chakra had then begun to bubble and hiss as Naruto's wounds began to heal themselves.
His ribs made sickening pops as they were forced back into place and fused together as if new. The skin on his torso then began to look as if it were melting as it restructured itself to lose the cells that were already dead and merge with the new cells that were rapidly forming whole new layers of skin to cover the areas that had been ripped away.
His legs and right arm made horrible cracking noises as bone was pushed, pulled, and twisted back to its original position. A slight fizzing sound seemed to occur as the skin reformed and began to seal together without assistance. Naruto's right hand seemed to spasm as the shards of bone within it reconstituted themselves into the many intricate working joints and the muscle wrapped itself around them to make the hand function again.
Several ANBU lost there control and had to remove their mask as they vomited at the sight occurring before them. Sarutobi felt for them as he was barely holding down his own gag reflex and the small lunch that he had consumed. His focus was diverted for a second as he heard one of the medic-nin loudly and rapidly praying to whatever god or gods may be listening and quickly turned his gaze upon where the man was looking.
By this time Naruto's head had reared back as the flesh was pulled taught and the blood that had filled the swollen bruises about his eyes drained down his cheeks and onto the ground as his ears were reformed. As the flesh repaired itself Naruto's mouth opened wide as if in a silent scream only to reveal to those present the new teeth that were being pushed through rapidly healing gums. But that was not what had drawn the attention of the medic-nin pleading for some form of divine salvation; no that was reserved to what was occurring where the faux limb had been created on Naruto's absent left limb.
Where there had been nothing below the elbow before a sight both wondrous and horrifying was happening. Bone seemed to grow from nothing and was elongating down and splitting to form the needed forearm, wrist joint, and hand with a sound much akin to that of a bizarre mix of squirming maggots, bending wood, and squishing sludge. This sound intensified as brand new muscles, tendons, and ligaments began to form on the new bone as if the bone was secreting them. Finally, the sound was replaced by the low fizzing sound that seemed to accompany the growth of new skin.
With all of the wounds that had been seen upon arrival gone the demonic chakra seemed to pulse once before seeming to fade back into Naruto's little body. This left the almost five year old boy looking as if he was simply sleeping and nothing untoward had occurred, albeit the boy was now completely naked as the remains of his clothing had seemed to disappear under the chakra's influence in what could only be called an eerie mix of evaporation and incineration.
The Sandaime Hokage upon seeing that nothing else was occurring and that the crimson chakra of the Kyuubi could no longer be sensed outright began to move forward only to be stopped by an outstretched arm belonging to one of the ANBU captains that had remained to oversee the scene.
"I am sorry Hokage-sama, but the danger may not have passed," the man began. "We can't know if the boy is still himself or if the fox is now in control. I don't think it is wise to…."
Her protest was cutoff as the aging Hokage gently pushed her arm down and began forward while motioning to the senior medic that had accompanied him earlier.
Kneeling down next to Naruto with the middle-aged medic he started, "I want you to check to make sure everything is where it should be and what Naruto's current health is while I check the seal for damage."
Nodding silently in agreement the two men soon set about their tasks with diagnostic jutsus flaring and scanning every inch of the young vessel's body. Upon completion the two men rose and the Hokage signaled for one of the ANBU to get something to wrap the boy in.
Looking to the medic-nin as well as the others present, Sarutobi decided to break the silence with his findings, "The seal is still present and appears to be undamaged. Apparently the fox sees Naruto as an investment and doesn't yet wish to see what death is like."
This statement caused a few nervous chuckles from the gathered ninja as they were still wary of what had just occurred. Sarutobi could hardly blame them as it is not everyday that one witnesses someone miraculously cheat death in such a blatant display.
Seeing the senior medic wishing to report his findings Sarutobi turned to the anxious man while a young female ANBU gently picked up Naruto and wrapped him in a discarded ANBU cloak, cradling him close to her shoulder so that he would be supported. This caused a slight smile to play on the Sandaime's lips as it was an indication that not all those in the village hated and feared the young boy as he turned to regard the medic.
"Hokage-sama, I have checked all of Uzumaki's vitals and his entire body for damage," the man nervously began. "I can't find any sign of his wounds from before, not even a single scar," the man said showing great confusion. "As far as I can tell he is in perfect condition, but I would like to get him back to the hospital to run a few more tests before I can be certain."
Seeing the conviction in the man to follow his oath as a healer, even if he was currently suffering from a major bout of fear and confusion at what he had just witnessed, Sarutobi nodded before issuing orders to that regard.
"I want Naruto under constant guard," he ordered the remaining ANBU. "One of you go and retrieve the matron at the orphanage. Take her to the hospital; she must be worried sick about what is going on. She is the only one allowed in and out to see Naruto other than myself and whoever you can vouch for Kenji," Sarutobi said while glancing at the senior medic who nodded in acknowledgement.
"Another group of you go and inform the council and the shinobi that have gathered that I will address them shortly, as I am sure many have felt the release of chakra here and are contemplating foolish actions without knowing what is actually happening," he began. "Make sure order is maintained as many are liable to panic and start rioting if given half a chance. I don't care if you have to arrest them just make sure the situation is contained."
With a chorus of 'Hai' the ANBU dispersed to accomplish there tasks while Sarutobi turned to regard Kenji who was still standing next to him as the other medics were racing back to the hospital to begin their own assigned tasks. They were hand picked by Kenji so Sarutobi was confident that they would not attempt to harm Naruto.
"There is something else you didn't say before Kenji," the aging Sandaime began. "We are alone now so what ever you have to say right now is between you and me."
Kenji felt himself shake slightly as he let out a breath before he began, "Hokage-sama, I have been a medic for a long time now. I started as one of the last students Tsunade trained before she left and since then I have striven to become as best a healer as I can…."
Sarutobi noticed Kenji pause for a moment and could tell the man was carefully trying to pick his words so as to convey exactly what he was feeling.
"I can say without hesitation," He continued, "that I have seen some horrible sights in my day. I'll even admit that I have seen worse wounds before, as hard as that is to believe. But, I have never seen that degree of wounds on someone still alive!"
The Hokage reached a hand out to steady the now visibly shaking Kenji. To see a medic-nin of Kenji's caliber and experience so disturbed by the initial wounds caused a tinge of fear to form in the elder man's mind.
"I can't tell you what just happened," Kenji began again having gotten hold of his shaking and looking his Hokage in the eye with a stern gaze. "What we witnessed is a medical miracle, but I can't think that it will not be without cost. I wish Tsunade was here as she would be better able to diagnose the situation than myself, but I can tell you this. What we saw just now, was not medically possible and by all rights that kid should be dead."
Hearing the conviction in Kenji's voice and having been witness to the event himself, the Sandaime silently agreed with the assessment. Turning to go and deal with the panic that would almost assuredly be spreading through the village despite the best efforts of the ANBU, he was stopped by one final statement from Kenji.
"I will do what I can to limit the information surrounding this event," Kenji began. "But you must know that those who hate and fear the boy will discover it and seek to use it against him and you. Be careful Hokage-sama, we can't afford to lose you."
Standing on the Hokage tower after having just come from a council meeting where parts of the event were fully revealed by the boy's enemies caused the aging Sandaime to look back and regard Kenji's words as prophetic.
Everything that could have been done was. Kenji had sealed the medical files to the highest level after determining that Naruto was not at risk for the moment from either the miraculously healed wounds or the demon that had been the source of that healing. The Hokage had returned to the village and quickly taken charge of the near mass panic that gripped the village.
He felt blessed that only seven individuals had to be arrested before most of those who had gathered after feeling the burst of energy had calmed down enough to listen to his explanation of the situation. The calm hadn't lasted long after that but it wasn't as bad as before and he, along with a few others that were either protective of Naruto or simply neutral to whole situation and merely wanted to not witness their own village be torn apart from the inside, dealt with the small crisis.
A group of angry and drunk civilians led by a rather drunk and disgruntled chunin were apprehended by the ANBU. These individuals were all now enjoying a fond stay at Konoha's military prison after having been interrogated by both Morino Ibiki and the Hokage himself. Apparently there were a few more who were involved, but the two ANBU captains that had led the investigation decided to follow the Hokage's orders to the letter.
As for Naruto, the boy had woken up the afternoon before his birthday as if he had in fact been simply taking an extra long nap rather then the near death experience that had actually occurred. Other than being startled that he was in the hospital and not back in his bed at the orphanage, Naruto's only other problem seemed that the boy had an insatiable appetite that had only been satisfied after a large ramen binge at Ichiraku's that had left the Hokage's wallet feeling a few pounds lighter. What was more startling then the boy's near endless love for and ability to consume ramen was the fact that he couldn't remember anything about the event other than he had gone to explore and find some flowers for the matron and then next he was waking up in the hospital.
The old Hokage couldn't help but shake his head slightly at the boy's ability to apparently bounce back from almost dieing with his trademark foxy grin.
Although it was smaller now that he thought about it and his eyes were a little darker….
Shifting his focus back to the matter at hand the elder Sarutobi began to address his son, "What you refer to is immaterial. The incident where the child was supposedly injured by Naruto was a simple playground scuffle where the other child went to push Naruto only to miss. The resulting fall caused the injury and I hardly see how Naruto can be blamed for that."
Looking Asuma in the eye he continued with the same steely tone marking that he would not take kindly to being interrupted.
"The incident that occurred before the festival was a one time occurrence and the seal is still functioning properly, we need not worry about the fox escaping," he continued while puffing energetically on his pipe. "As for Naruto's ability to disappear from the orphanage…well many young children are curious and love to explore, especially when they are told not too. You were no exception, if I recall your mother had to contact me several times when you went through the same phase."
"I'm surprised you even bothered to notice," Asuma replied indignantly.
The elder Sarutobi was taken aback for a moment before asking, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Asuma speared his father with another hard glare before he continued, "I mean you were barely ever around when any of us were growing up so it's hard to imagine you actually know anything about what things were like."
The aging Sandaime felt his heart plummet as he recognized the truth in his son's words. He had been so busy as Hokage that he had little time to spare when it came to his family. He had missed birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays all in order to preserve the village that he and his family called home.
Seeing his son blurt out what could only be years of anger at what the young jounin must have seen as neglect from the man who should have been the most important figure in his life not as a village head, but as a simple loving father caused his spirit to fall. The pain was evident in his voice as he attempted to explain to his son.
"I could have done things differently…I should have done things differently, but you must understand that what I did was not only for the good of the village but also for you, your mother, and your brothers and sister," the older man began only to be interrupted by his son once again.
"What we needed was you, not a Hokage but you," the young man said firmly. "I will never understand why you thought or why you still think that the village is more important than looking after your own family. I…."
Asuma was suddenly cut off by his father as the elder man's irritation seemed to return.
"Then you apparently didn't learn your lessons as well as I thought," the old Hokage stated heatedly. "If you had then you would have known that my duty as Hokage was more important than anything else, including my family."
Asuma seemed to recoil back as if he had suddenly been struck as the tone of his father hit him. He began to protest but was unable as the older man continued.
"It is the duty of a Hokage to protect the village no matter what the cost. In doing his duty he must see the village itself as his family," the old man intoned as he turned to face away from his son. "He must love it like no other, even if that means sacrificing things he cares the most about. You brothers understood that."
Asuma had begun to calm down as his father's words held wisdom, but the reference to his brothers reignited his anger as old wounds were torn open once again.
"They never understood it!" he yelled irately. "They died because they both hoped that they could get your attention by showing that they could live up to your reputation. You are 'The Professor', the 'god of shinobi', the great Sandaime Hokage what chance did they have in hoping to become recognized as strong individuals when all they could think of was hoping to be more like you!"
The elder Sarutobi was shocked at the words of his only living son. He had always been worried that his children would seek to emulate him to the point of blinding themselves from there own desires, but he had thought that it wasn't a problem when they all began acting independently in their teens. The realization caused by Asuma's words caused that assumption to come crashing down.
Not letting up on his sire Asuma continued, "The only thing that stopped Asuka from following them to an early death was that she went and found someone she cared about and wound up preggers! Yet even that didn't totally save her as her fiancé felt he needed to impress you so that you would see him as a worthy match to her," Asuma said before pausing and letting his voice drop to barely above a whisper. "He's been gone know for nearly a year, but she still cries her eyes out whenever she is reminded of him."
"I never meant…," the Hokage began before being cut off once again by his son.
"I doesn't matter what you meant to do or not to do," his son said tiredly while turning his back to the old man as said man leant heavily on the railing surrounding the rooftop.
"I lied before," the young jounin sullenly stated. "After the council meeting I went to discuss an offer that had been made to me a few days ago. Chiriku was there."
Hearing the name of one of the elite Twelve Guards whose sole duty was the protection of the Fire Daimyo and his family caused the saddened Hokage to turn and stare at the back of his son in stunned silence.
"I have decided to accept his offer and become the newest member of the Twelve Guards," Asuma stated while drawing out a new cigarette to replace the one that had been lost while he had yelled at his father.
Knowing that the members of the elite group never strayed far from the Lord of Fire Country, the aging Sandaime realized that his son would need to travel to the capital of the Country of Fire in order to assume his duties.
Finding his voice the older man asked, "How long before you…?"
Before he could finish his question he was halted by his son's quick interjection.
"A week," the young jounin said dispassionately. "I will be leaving in a week."
"Have you told your mother or your sister yet?" the elder man asked knowing the two women of the Sarutobi clan would be close to a frenzy once they knew as they would work hard to throw a celebration to congratulate Asuma for earning a slot in the elite unit. He also knew the celebration would probably be one of the few times any of them would see Asuma until he left the position.
"I was planning on telling them tonight at dinner," Asuma answered before taking a long draw upon his cigarette. "I hope you will be able to attend."
With that the younger Sarutobi leapt off the roof top and headed into the village leaving his father standing alone to ponder all that had been said.
Thinking of all that he had just learned the Sandaime Hokage felt the weight of the world crash down upon him renewed vigor. He had already spent the morning fending off political attacks aimed at Naruto and now he had spent the better part of the noon hour arguing with his only living son, a son who would soon be entering into a position that was just as hazardous as those filled by the elite ANBU black ops members. He felt a slight shiver run down his spine as he realized that after a week's time he could potentially never see his son alive again.
While he was worried as any parent could be, the part of him that was the battle hardened ninja and Hokage accepted that fact. Truth be told he had every confidence in Asuma' abilities and doubted that he would lose him, but his mind couldn't help but hold onto that small dreadful thought. He would mourn the loss as any parent would, just as he still mourned the loss of his other boys. However, the real worry that he had was how his wife would take such a blow, she had been devastated when she had learned first of their eldest child's death and then of their second's not more than a year later. If Asuma was lost she would be inconsolable and slip into a depression that could have terrible consequences. Also, if what Asuma had said about Asuka was true it would not be just his wife that would necessitate careful watching and comforting.
Nearly lost in his own macabre thoughts of how his seemingly neglected family could fall apart at any moment the Hokage almost missed the new presence that joined him on top of the tower. Turning to face the new arrival he quickly hid his worry only to suddenly feel distress well up as he took in the ANBU member standing before him.
Normally the ANBU acted as the elite guards of Konohagakure serving the Hokage directly. Besides their usual duties they usually took only missions that required their black ops specialty. These missions often required that the village either not be identified with the actions undertaken during the mission, as it almost assuredly would lead to political and/or military actions taken against Konoha, or that Konoha be clearly identified as the mission was a statement of Konoha's power and/or vengeance.
To accomplish these missions the ANBU were divided up into divisions of specialty, though all of the members could easily carry out the skills of the other division if needed. The divisions were each overseen by a captain and each had its own function. There was a division specifically setup for torture and interrogation, currently being headed by the newly installed Morino Ibiki. Another division dealt mainly with assassination and sabotage, reminding the Hokage that one Mitarashi Anko was clamoring to be admitted to said division. A third division dealt almost exclusively with counterintelligence and clandestine surveillance of foreign countries and villages. This was not the only intelligence division however as another existed that acted as an internal police force separate from the Military Police that were seemingly controlled by Clan Uchiha. This division was one of the least popular as it spied upon ninja and civilian alike so long as they lived within the Land of Fire.
The fifth and final division was an elite battle force. Though all of the ANBU members could boast skills in the areas of the other divisions the members of this division specialized in the preparation for war. These ANBU were the elite shock troops of Konohagakure and would either be leading the charge, acting as a rear guard during a withdrawal, or acting independently of the main battle force to harass and decimate the enemy through the use of guerilla tactics and independent ops. During these times of peace they spent most of their time training and preparing while they carried out the normal ANBU operations, often times they would be placed to assist in the guard duty of the walls and gates of Konoha as well as the security patrols that were done throughout the Country of Fire.
The ANBU member that stood before him now was a member of that last division and if his memory served him the Hokage believed that said member had been assigned to assist with guard duty at Konoha's main gate for the week. The fact that he was now standing before the Hokage and that the young man had a distinct nervous air about him could not possibly bode well.
This was more or less a filler chapter to give the Sandaime's side of things. Doesn't make him a good person or at least good in Naruto's book.
"The road to Hell was paved with good intentions"
-Unknown