Naruto: The Uchiha Chronicles Re-Version

Hey everyone, welcome to the fifth chapter. Not much to say this time, this one is pretty short.

Arc I: The Origin:

Chapter 5: Growing Suspicion

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An inky black curtain had fallen over the Leaf Village. Tiny pinpricks of light covered the sky, and the summer moon hung low in the sky, a giant white sentinel. It's silver light poured in through the panoramic bank of windows outside the Hokage's office and mixed with the artificial yellow lights.

Hiruzen sat behind his regal desk reading several documents by the electric light. His expression became increasingly disturbed the more he read. They were recent reports from Naruto's former and current teachers. The combination detailed a marked increase in his skills. Despite what Naruto himself had expressed a few months ago, it was clear even then his skills were showing a remarkable increase. Tatsuya didn't outright say it, but it was clear the man suspected Naruto was getting tutoring. Hiruzen had known the man long enough to read between the lines of his report. He couldn't help but agree with the man. Naruto had rocketed up the rankings at a rapid pace in his second year. Frankly, the only thing keeping him in second place was his abysmal grades his first year. Not to mention, one specific thing stuck in his mind. When he'd asked Naruto about the leaf sticking exercise months ago, he'd lied about where he learned it.

At the time he wanted to dismiss it as nothing when Tatsuya first submitted the reports. He wasn't so sure that was an option. There was only one conclusion to be drawn here. Naruto was being taught by someone, and for whatever reason he didn't want people to know.

There was only one person he could come up with as a suspect that had the ability and motivation to increase Naruto's skills so rapidly. Danzo Shimura. Secretly training Naruto was right in line with his old rivals M.O. He couldn't allow that. He had to find out if it was true.

His eyes wandered over to the line of photos on his wall. The images of the Leaf's four Hokage's. Next to his own–much younger–visage was a man with messy blonde hair and blue eyes. He bore a striking resemblance to Naruto. Hiruzen couldn't help the feeling that the man watched him. Judged him for how he handled Naruto's upbringing. Though he knew it was mostly just his own guilt.

Hiruzen wasn't a fool. He knew that in many ways, the steps he'd taken to protect Naruto had also harmed him. The boy had to grow up alone and ignorant of his heritage. A steep p/rice for hiding his identity, though one he felt justified. It didn't ease his mind much. Naruto had been miserable until recently, and the blame could be laid squarely on Hiruzen's shoulders. It almost made him hesitate to investigate. Almost. Danzo would ruin any chance Naruto had at being happy. 'But this is too far. If Danzo is training Naruto, I have to put a stop to it.'

Yes. He owed it to Naruto, and his deceased parents. He had to make sure he was okay.

The whisper of displaced air broke him from his thoughts. At the same instant, a man flickered into existence in front of Hiruzen's desk. The man quickly knelt before him.

"I came as soon as possible Lord Hokage." He man said. Curly black hair framed an expressionless white mask in the shape of a crow.

"At ease, Shisui." Hiruzen replied. "You can remove your mask as well."

Shisui was quick to comply. He stood up and removed his mask in one smooth motion, revealing a youthful face. At only fifteen, Shisui was easily one of his most powerful and trustworthy ANBU. 'Just like his father.'

"Thank you Lord Hokage. If you don't mind me asking, why did you summon me so late? Is whatever mission you have urgent?" Shisui asked.

"I don't mind at all." Hiruzen said with a shake of his head. "I wouldn't say this is urgent, but it is rather important." He took a moment to gather the papers he'd been looking at together into a file folder. It also contained Naruto's other grades and reports, as well as some general information. "Tell me what you see here."

He handed them to Shisui, who couldn't hide his surprise when he flipped it open and saw a picture of Naruto. The boy's eyes morphed from green to red. His sharingan spun rapidly as he glanced through the files. It allowed him to process the information far quicker than Hiruzen had.

"I'd say Naruto has made an improbable leap in skill." He answered.

Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Then you should understand why I'm assigning you to tail him. I want you to find out who is training him, and why. There's no time limit for this assignment, and I'll expect it to take precedent over your other mission. For now Itachi will pick up the slack. Make sure nobody discovers you."

"Understood. I'll begin tomorrow." Shisui said.

"Good. That will be all for now." He replied. At the dismissal, Shisui disappeared as soon as he came.

Once again he found himself alone. Hiruzen turned around to look out his windows to gaze upon his village. It was a beautiful sight, bathed in silvery light as it was. One of the windows was cracked open to let the cool night air in. He could feel the exhaustion of the day catching up to him. His eyes felt like lead, and his joints ached terribly.

Being Hokage was a stressful job. Especially in times such as these. Far too stressful for someone of his age, if he was being honest. His mind wandered to the most pressing matter. The Uchiha Clan. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

In hindsight, moving them into one district at the villages edge was a massive blunder. At the time he'd gone along with it simply to appease the people in the Leaf's leadership that were suspicious of the clan following the Nine-Tails attack.

It was a calculated risk. He'd hoped Fugaku would smooth tensions, as he always did. In the past Fugaku had always been steadfastly loyal to the Leaf. That was his biggest mistake. The forced relocation was one too many slaps to the face of the prideful man.

'Hopefully we can resolve this peacefully. I shudder to think of what will happen if we don't.' He thought to himself. Honestly, someone else should be handling this. The Hokage seat was a young man's job. He had little choice, though, but to carry on. Neither of his remaining students had any interest in it, and nobody from the younger generations was qualified to take over.

'For now, I must carry on for at least a little longer.'

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Well, there you go. What will come of this? You'll have to wait and see. Unless you read the last version, in which case you have a pretty good idea where it's going.

Until Next Time,

RinneTaicho, Signing Off!