No one in the Hokage Residence's council room could say anything. Tsunade laid out everything that happened and why Naruto had gone rogue for those who had yet to hear. It was a combination of disbelief, shock, and fear. They were under the threat of something that could dismantle their entire way of life. Even worse, there was no clear or certain solution to it.

"...Are we going to invade the Land of Rice?" Tsume asked, breaking the silence.

Homura scoffed. "That would kick-start this war Lord Fourth's son wants to happen: all neighboring villages would immediately take notice and action in fear of what they would perceive as a power grab."

"Orochimaru has evaded capture despite being one of the most sought after ninja in history," Koharu said. "Our rogue jinchuriki is most likely out of reach."

"Maybe a meeting between the Five Kage could be called, so we can resolve this with minimal conflict?" To Asuma's surprise, everyone around him didn't immediately protest. "I know it's still risky, but this is a concern for all of us." He looked down. "...Enough people have died already."

Danzo looked straight into the eyes of those seated at the table. "Put our neighbors in our position and us in theirs. Would we help them fix their mistakes? Ones that have the potential to ruin the entire world and not demand exorbitant concessions in return?"

"No," Shibi answered, attracting a worried glance from Tsume.

"Preparing our defenses for war will provoke a response from the other villages," Hiashi, hands folded, said. "Not preparing them will leave us weak for an attack that will come when they realize we have lost our jinchuriki."

Inoichi rubbed his temples. "I'd say to send teams of normal shinobi and anbu to scout out the Land of Rice, but that'd just be the equivalent of invasion in everyone's eyes."

"Any major action we could take that would produce results will trigger hostilities," Shikaku began. "Fact of the matter is war is inevitable at this point. The damage to our reputation alone when, not if, this gets out will last for generations." He almost laughed. "Even if we successfully retrieve Naruto, it will happen. I don't know if he's thought that far ahead, but you have to realize what a masterstroke his defection was in dooming us all: what major power would allow its neighbor to make a mistake on this scale again? We can expend who knows how many resources and lives to retrieve him just to be weakened as well as surrounded by enemies. If we don't retrieve him, we'll have to deal with the other major villages before he decides to make his move."

"...This is the price we pay for our lies and our failures." Choza was either oblivious or uncaring of everyone's mostly concerned looks.

"We will need the power of the Nine-Tails or the means to control it should every other village turn against us for losing it," Danzo said, "and training shinobi to that caliber is impossible."

Tsunade's frown grew. "How do you propose we retrieve and control Naruto then?" Everyone, including her, turned to Hiashi.

"….When I noticed something of Naruto's in Hinata's possession, she looked at me, her own father, with the intent to kill. A servant approached her while she was holding it intending to inform her a bath was ready and nearly lost his life. Even after everything that occurred, she loves that boy. She will not willingly be used against him, and I doubt holding her life against him will be as effective if she could."

"Then that singles our choices down to the power of the Sharingan: Madara Uchiha was capable of controlling the Nine-Tailed Fox thanks to its Genjutsu," Danzo informed.

Tsunade shook her head. "Sasuke Uchiha considers Naruto his best friend and was infuriated to learn he was being lied to for so long. I don't need to tell any of you what he is to Kakashi Hatake. Even if the Nine-Tails itself could be controlled, that doesn't mean Naruto can." She looked down. "Unless you mean we should undo the seal or kill Naruto and wait for the Nine-Tails to reform."

"Naruto Uzumaki's death, while sparing the village of one threat, will potentially open a far greater one in the form of the Nine-Tails. While Tailed Beasts can reform, no one has stuck around the places they were felled to find out if they do so there. Who is to say it will not come to us first and destroy everything before its eyes could look into a Sharingan?"

"Leaving us back where we started."

Tsume looked to the Hyuga head. "As horrible as it might be, using your daughter might be the only way we'll get out of this. We all saw how he was around her, and she did say he would've stayed if she asked him to." His unchanging face worried her. "Sorry, Hiashi."

"Out of the question," Danzo Shimura, the Shinobi of Darkness and committer of who knew how many atrocities of all people, said. "Far too much can go wrong if we hinge our efforts and the survival of our village on adolescent affection. Men and women can part just as easily as they join, especially so young." He paid their still somewhat surprised faces no mind. "If she was the only one to overcome him, she still has some use as a shinobi, but her recent actions are proof it will either take time for her to fall back in line or she never will."

"Do you advocate for execution?" Homura asked.

Koharu hummed. "It is the punishment for partaking in treason." She looked towards the ever-stalwart Hyuga. "The elders of your clan surely have discussed this with you."

"Hinata Hyuga, as ineffective as she is now and may be later, remains our only advantage over Naruto Uzumaki," Danzo said. "We should let the matter of her crimes rest until we are certain there is nothing more she can do for the village."

Hiashi nodded. "That is the wisest course of action. Should the day come were Hinata to be judged, I will not stand in the way. No one here could defend their child doing the same as she did."

"We're still left with how to proceed," Inoichi said.

Asuma closed his eyes as he finished his cigarette. "Isn't it obvious at this point?" He put it out on the palm of his hand without so much as a twitch. "We prepare for war."

"Against potentially everyone." Tsume sighed. "Unless by some miracle the Sand wants to keep associating with us."

"...Their jinchuriki is still in this building," Homura said.

Inoichi cringed. "They sent him in good faith despite everything that could go wrong."

"With no Kazekage and having already taken large losses in their attack on us, it would be unwise to invade," Hiashi said. "The other villages will take notice, we will lose more men to secure a position that grants us no benefit whatsoever, and that leaves us with no allies for what will come next. Our alliance benefits us both for now. Even if they were to turn against us in the future, the threat they pose is minimal and does not outweigh what we gain from having them as an ally for a time."

Danzo nodded. "It is in our best interests that the next Kazekage is a Sand shinobi sympathetic to the Leaf." He looked to the Hokage.

Tsunade almost laughed when realization dawned on her. "Gaara for Kazekage? After Yagura? After Naruto?"

"To be fair, it's not like the Sand has a lot of options left," Shikaku said.

"Gaara liking and being sympathetic towards Naruto doesn't mean he feels the same about our village either."

"But it's not like he's fond of his own village, right?" Tsume said. "He doesn't have to love us: we just need some kind of understanding."

"Baki the Dust Storm, Gaara's own sensei, is likely to be the next Kazekage, but I can see support from him for Gaara elevating him to the position," Danzo said.

Asuma tilted his head. "It could just as easily be Baki, he's been around: he knows how these things go." He laughed. "But I guess he's too loyal for our interests, huh?"

"Never for one moment consider what we do is any better nor worse than any other village. Let those of us who fell during the invasion remind you of that the next time you take the ones responsible into consideration."

The debate continued on. Far too much could go wrong regardless of what they chose. It would take time for them to see whether or not their decisions were right, wrong, or the lesser of several bad choices. All knew what was coming regardless.

When it was over, Hiashi put a hand on Asuma's shoulder before he could leave. "I need to see Kurenai when it is possible."

"If you're going to blame her for what happened, you and I are going to have a real fucking problem." Hiashi's unfazed expression only unnerved him.

"Hinata is practically our daughter: she likely has more than a few words for me, and I cannot blame her." He let go. "I simply wish to talk." He turned towards the exit and started walking.

Asuma twitched. "...Not even sleeping with her yet you still found some way to cuckold me." He followed after he was gone. "But I guess Kurenai technically was?" He shrugged it off.

It was the least of their troubles.

Several days passed since the incident that would shape the world for years to come. Kabuto took his part in it, as inconsequential as it was. He returned to the hideout and was immediately sent out with a peculiar task. It wasn't as if he didn't see it coming, but it was still somewhat vexing. Of all the things for his goal to do, he would make himself a goal.

The townsfolk glanced at his transformed appearance more than a few times. He didn't impersonate anyone local just in case. His garments and stature were that of a traveler, so he didn't particularly stand out. What he found peculiar was what he overheard.

"I heard he was a runaway prince from some faraway land."

"She patted his head, and he sat in her lap like a fox for more."

"No, you had to have seen it! He's the child of a wind spirit and a human!"

"He likes being licked?"

"He was cutting Rika's hair and begged her for forgiveness when she started crying. No matter what anyone did, he wouldn't leave her side. Even his ramen couldn't take him from her."

"My wife and my daughter haven't been home since."

"Lord Tazuki was strict but the boy doesn't seem to care what we do so long as we obey."

"I thought they were joining but really he was crying into her chest."

It was very tempting to shake his head, but that would've attracted more attention. The conquered group and town were in Orochimaru's awareness because of their proximity. He had little interest in either save for the possibilities of someone stumbling upon his lair. Supposedly, their old leader was someone formerly a chunin bordering on jonin, so he didn't even come close to being interesting.

Stopping by the biggest house, he smiled at the glaring entrance guards. "Pardon me. I overheard this town was taken over by a new lord who fits the description of a dear friend of mine." Their doubtful eyes were well-warranted. "He has strange whisker-like marks on his cheeks, blond hair, and commands the wind." He laughed at their taken aback faces. "If I can't enter still, tell him, 'You-Know-Who wants a word,'"

"You can come in," the one to his left scoffed.

The one to his right shook his head. "If you're lying or try anything, he's just going to kill you."

"Alright." Kabuto walked in and through the halls to the main room.

A small crowd of women, grown and young, in white kimonos surrounded a young man in an orange one at its center. The eldest held him up, letting him rest his head on their breasts, while those a few years older than him cuddled him from the sides. His eyes remained shut and his breathing was purposefully odd. When they noticed him, they stirred. That change made him open his eyes.

"Naruto," he said in his actual voice. "What…" He drifted off as he closed his eyes again. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Training and relaxing." Opening them, he glared at him. "What do you want?"

"Do I really need to explain it to you?"

Naruto lifted his upper body up while his 'harem' dramatically gasped. "Take that attitude with me, and I'll cut your tongue out before feeding it to the guards who let you in here."

"...Our 'friend' wants you back so he can show you a few things."

"Why didn't he before?"

"He wanted to give you time to work on your fire chakra molding."

"It's not going so well." Naruto made one more attempt and sighed.

"Your affinity is wind: as easy it was to learn, it might be as hard for fire." Kabuto smirked. "Speaking of not going so well, your classma–" A jet of wind cut through the side of his neck, severing his jugular.

"I don't want to hear it!" Naruto ignored the girls scurrying away from him in favor to his blood-gushing 'ally,' who transformed back into a mock-anbu disguise. "Oh shit; I killed you." He blinked as the bleeding stopped and the wound stitched itself together. "...What the?"

Kabuto massaged what should've been a fatal wound. "Since when could you do that?!"

"I could ask the same thing!"

Shaking his unnaturally black-haired head, Kabuto turned to the direction of the exit. "Are you coming or not?" He twitched when the boy rubbed his chin.

Naruto looked to the terrified faces of his companions, frowned, and nodded. "...Yeah."

They walked out of the town lord's house. His guards looked surprised but made no effort to stop them, knowing how he'd react. Townsfolk, having already lost a sizable amount of their defense, looked panicked. It took about two minutes before the shinobi showed up.

"Lord Holy Royal Master." The former lord's second in command prostrated himself in their path. "May I please know where you are going?"

"Out, Kuro." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Now get up and fuck off." They flashed red after having to wait a single second more than expected. "What did I say?!"

"Forgivemelordholyroyalmaster!" He flickered out of sight while everyone else knelt.

Kabuto took in the sight of all the supplicants before they walked out of the village back into the greenery. "You really made an impression."

"Their old leader, No Head Fire Sword, used to be a chunin in some waterfall or whatever before going rogue. I have no idea why he was a big deal. Kuro said something about him using lightning too. And he had this stupid, retard look on his face when I told him how easy it was to kill him."

"Jonin typically have two nature transformations, streaming chakra of any nature is difficult, even more so in vast quantities; and the only ninja with the rank of jonin that go rogue are typically S-rank criminals who are on same level as Kage."

Naruto grinned, puffed his chest out, and laughed. "I keep forgetting how awesome I am! Tailed Beasts, Kage, and S-rank criminals! I'm already on top!" Frowning, he slouched. "Then why…"

Kabuto stopped when he collapsed on to the grass. "Hey."

"...Hey."

"Well, are you going to get up?"

"Carry me."

"Just beca–" He jumped to evade a jet of wind in his feet to catch a blade in his ankle, having been perfectly read. "Seriously!?"

"Do you want to help me find out if you can reattach your legs!?"

Relenting, Kabuto picked Naruto up and set him on his back, just as he did during the Chunin Exams. "This brings back memories."

They remained silent for a time. Both were too angry at the other to think of words, one more justifiably so. Each was a traitor toward the same village and were technically in service to another traitor to it. Questions were on both their minds when sense beat out rage. Neither was quite sure who the other was or what they wanted.

Naruto's rage subsided, as it always did, leaving behind an indescribable emptiness. "...You ever feel like you're just going along with things and have no clue what you're actually doing or who you are?"

"Uh…" Drifting off, Kabuto pondered how best to answer the question before it resonated far too much. "A lot of the time, actually." He blinked at his own answer.

"I'm sorry."

"Apology...accepted."

Silence returned and would remain. That one question gave both more than enough to think about for the duration of their journey as well as after. It helped quell whatever feelings were left too. Whether or not it'd help them solve their issues remained to be seen.

The first thing Anko noticed when she woke up was how weak she felt. Not mentally but physically: even lifting herself up felt harder than before. It was as though weights she never knew existed were removed by the Cursed Mark and subsequently returned when she removed it. Her new Hokage was there to give her context to her favorite tyke's shenanigans, which horrified her in how much it explained his recent behaviors. Jiraiya asked her to join him in hunting Orochimaru, but she asked him for time on account of her new reality. As soon as she could get out of bed, she decided to make a visit.

Blank eyes narrowed at her. "Just what do you think you're doing here, Mitarashi?"

"Would you believe me if I said I'm here to help that little princess in your castle out of bed?" Anko tilted her head from side to side. "Yeah, I wouldn't either."

"I suppose you would call it help after what you did to Tetsu," the owner of another set said.

Anko looked down, gulped, and sighed. "Look, can you just tell Hiashi I came by?"

"If it will get you to leave, fine." The guard clucked his tongue at her staying in place. "Of course it wouldn't be that easy." He went inside while the other kept an eye on her.

Hiashi Hyuga came out with him not long after. "Mitarashi." He squinted a centimeter at her nervous wave. "Follow me."

She obeyed and did her best to avoid eye-contact with him as well as everyone else inside. "Sooooo." She looked down. "Hinata isn't pregnant, is she?"

"She is not ovulating, though I understand how one could think it."

"How do you…" Blinking, Anko nearly laughed. "No wonder you're all so uptight: you have no privacy." His silence further unsettled her.

They stopped by one of the large rooms in the main house. Like the entrance to the compound, two guards were in front of it. Both were shinobi Anko vaguely recognized from when Naruto was briefed for the first time and the slight shift in their demeanor told her their thoughts. Neither opposed Hiashi when he gestured for them to open the door though.

A black-haired head familiar to them both rested on a pillow. The lumpy shape of the futon's blankets signaled someone was curled into a ball. Everything she must have heard didn't so much as make either twitch. It was almost like two stones at the bottom of a river.

"Hey." Anko held back a smile when she turned her head, revealing even deader eyes than the rest of the Hyuga. "I thought you'd be like this after everything." She turned to the girl's father. "So, uh, you might want to step out for this."

Hiashi did not move an inch. "No."

She stepped forward. "Suit yourself." Her lips curved into a smirk before she, careful to avoid striking range, leaned toward her. "How was he?" She whispered loud enough for only her to hear.

Life gradually returned to Hinata's eyes as her skin turned a vibrant pink. "Wh-Wh-Who do you mean?!"

"Oh come on!" She closed the distance between them without getting struck as everyone else had. "You can't play innocent now!" Leaning her head over her shoulder, she glanced at a somewhat surprised and relieved Hiashi. "How'd he do?"

"H-He…" The part of Hinata that wanted to maintain her dignity and image gave way to the part of her that was a gossiping woman for the first time in her life. "He was so rough and so tender," she whispered with vigor, very much not wanting anyone but especially Hiashi to hear. "His hands were so eager." Anko's excited, affirming nods and hums only encouraged her. "We kept shifting into positions and going and going until…" Sighing, she rubbed his forehead protector at the memory.

"That's my boy." Anko wrapped her arms around her when she began to whimper. "Hey." She rubbed the back of her head as she wailed into her chest. "There, there." To their relief, Hiashi walked out and closed the door to give them privacy.

It took several minutes for Hinata to run out of tears. Like so many others, she had a lot of grief to work through. Her part in all of it did anything but help. Only problem was nothing existed that could undo what she did. They weren't keeping her against her will, but it wasn't as if she would ever be trusted enough to at least help.

"I… I want him back." She looked up to her. "I want to hold him so much."

Anko looked down and frowned. "So do I, but it's not going to be easy."

"What is it going to take?"

"Hinata, even if I knew for sure, I'm still surprised they haven't executed you yet." She sighed at her looking away. "I'm not going to sugar coat it: there is no way in hell anyone is going to trust you on a team, much less with something related to Naruto. Your days as a regular shinobi are done. There's only one path left aside from the gallows or what you're going through now and…" Drifting off, she stared at her interested face.

"And what? What path?"

"...Forget I said anything."

"No, what are you talking about?" She didn't let go as she stood up, failing at getting away.

Anko pursed her lips. "You're in your emotions, so you'll agree to anything anyone proposes, and that's not at all the mindset you should have right now."

"Tell. Me."

"Are… Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you're sure?"

"Yes!"

"…Are you sure you're sure you're sure?" She flinched at her Byakugan activating. "Do you… Do you think you can get your father to let you leave for a while? A little over a week?" Her hopeful nod made her heart skip a beat. "Then I'll stop by sometime." Being let go did not relieve her at all. "Just don't do anything stupid like try to leave the village because you won't find him on your own."

"I understand." Deactivating her Byakugan, Hinata slipped back into her bed and nuzzled Naruto's forehead protector.

Anko walked out of her room and the Hyuga Complex itself with pain and longing in her chest. "...What the fuck are you doing?" She asked herself far away from anyone.

Much like the two other disciples of Orochimaru, she had no real answer.

For the second time, the surviving Leaf rookies, with two exceptions, attended the same funeral in black. It was really three, but they fell trying to accomplish the same mission, so all occurred at once in honor of their combined sacrifice. The bodies themselves were in the custody of their clans and would be committed in accordance with their traditions or wishes. Twin gravestones on clan plots in or near their compound and village plots reserved for shinobi were common so everyone could honor their fallen whenever they wished.

Guy stood and saluted proudly in front of his remaining crying students, hiding his own crying face from them just as he did after they broke the news. It would do them no good to see someone they thought of as strong so fragile. He gave a grand and motivating speech before leaving on 'errands.' The reality was he collapsed on some distant rooftop bawling before Kakashi, having heard his weeping, appeared to give him the biggest hug in his life.

Kiba, Akamaru, and the women in his life were by Shibi. To his surprise, his mother had shown nothing but respect and care for the man. Kurenai showed more emotion than even he did but didn't take offense to his apparent indifference: she felt partly responsible for the ordeal and already knew Aburame weren't the type to emote. He shed tears once before bitterness held back more.

The previous generation of Ina-Shika-Cho came with the survivors of the current one alongside their sensei. Choza and his wife did not restrain their weeping and no one could blame them. Ino joined in. Shikamaru and Shikaku neither shed tears nor made so much as a frown though. Asuma shared looks with Shikaku and Kurenai but that was it.

Hiashi, whether intentionally or not, came out in force with members of his clan, branch and main family. Hanabi made no sound yet could not stop the tears from leaving her eyes. Neji was far too gifted to be so easily dismissed by even the elders. His growth was exceptional, and he would've surpassed Hiashi in a manner of years. Unfortunately, he was eclipsed and consumed by two others with more.

Both students of Kakashi arrived with only each other. Wisely, their sensei was keeping his distance, mourning at the memorial stone as he typically did. Neither was well. Guilt wore itself on both their faces but for different reasons. For one, it was about to break a dam holding back many emotions.

Sasuke never truly grieved over his clan. Even when he was a child, vengeance clouded his mind. Naruto drew his focus towards uncovering the truth behind brother's actions, if there was one. Itachi realigned his focus somewhat back on to him while wounding his relationship with Naruto. Now, he couldn't focus on anything anymore. Things were far beyond his control as well as his power. All he knew for certain was that he failed and countless people, including those few he loved, were going to die because of him, just like the three he was there for.

Sakura glanced at him when she heard the most unlikely sound. She blinked the second she heard it again. Others in their class did the same. Together, they turned to its source. None could say anything or protest, but it was still surprising nonetheless. A young man they all thought beyond them and unassailable was crying, eyes clenched shut, with gritted teeth. Each turned away to give him the privacy they knew he would want.

None saw the red starred flower blooming from his Sharingan when they opened.

Numerous abandoned buildings or shacks lingered throughout the Leaf Village for one reason or another. One was because of Root, Danzo Shimura's personal anbu corps that made anbu look like moralists. The people who knew their locations were either a member or familiar with their organization. It just so happened the uninvited visitor to their headquarters was one of the few familiar with them.

A masked man flickered in front of the entrance. "If you take one more step, you will die."

"Did your boss really not say anything?" Anko raised an eyebrow. "Even now, I'm pretty sure I can kill more than a few of you before I go down, so why don't you step aside?"

"Wait," a masked woman flickering into sight said. "Lord Danzo has decreed Mitarashi is not to be harmed."

He recoiled before nodding. "Apologies. It's my own failure." He flickered away.

"Follow me." She turned and began walking.

Obeying, Anko stepped into the vaguely familiar dark halls. Her eyes couldn't make anything out but the surprisingly well-sculpted woman leading her. She ended up too focused on her to really make a comment about how cheesy it was. The light of the main room wasn't enough to distract her.

"Mitarashi," Danzo said, drawing her attention.

"Hey." She glanced at the woman before she flickered away. "...Since when the hell did you have her?"

"Why are you here?"

"I need a place far away from any prying eyes and ears, preferably with a large drain and a freezer."

"Done." He snapped his fingers and a Root agent camouflaged on to the wall disappeared to retrieve the info she wanted.

"...You're not going to ask me what I need it for?"

"No."

"So you know what I'm planning, right?" She laughed nervously when he shook his head. "You're freaking me the fuck out."

"Whatever you do, it will be for the sake of the village. Do not mistake this for trust. I only understand why you're still breathing."

"Please tell me this is your attempt at humor." She barely registered the agent flickering to her side and holding out a map scroll.

"You can leave now, Mitarashi."

Anko grabbed the scroll. "I hate you." She left with no further word.

The masked woman flickered to his side when she was gone while the man returned to his place "Are you sure that was wise?"

"She will do as she is needed: there is nothing left for her in this life."

"And should her actions lead to more complications?"

Danzo would've laughed if he had a sense of humor. "Our current affairs are complicated enough."

Like many others, neither knew just how right and wrong they were in the grand scheme of things.

AN: Happy New Year (2024)!

Things are going to get started next chapter, if you don't consider them started here.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of a review or PM.