"I still can't believe you agreed to such an outrageous demand father." Kitscuhi, son of the 3rd Tsuchikage held the honorable robes of the Tsuchikage in his hands. He never imagined his father, the stubborn Onoki would ever step down as Tsuchikage. Even if he simply handed it off to his son without concern, it was a harrowing feeling that shook the man to his core. "Even if this is just for show to appease the raikage, I'm uneasy about going through with this. You buckled, and the raikage knows that."

Onoki scoffed and rolled his eyes as he flew over his son for the sole purpose to look down at him and make his giant of a son lok upwards. "Please, I'm playing that fool like a drum doing this! If you take over the day to day duties of the village, it leaves ME far more open to make other preparations! I don't intend to spend my golden years laying around, not while my family and village needs me still. It's an interesting new age we're moving into, and I need you to be a strong front for the Stone Kitsuchi!"

Kitsuchi sighs as he tightly grips the robes in his massive palms. "A new age indeed...if this arranged marriage between Kurotsuchi and the Kazekage's son Kankuro does happen...her children could each become Kage of the Stone and Sand one day. It's a long game, and one I certainly expect that kazekage is thinking of as well. If I'm honest father, I would prefer to make my first action as Tsuchikage to break this betrothal. It would be selfish of me, and I worry Kurotsuchi will grow to hate me for this, but we must think of the Stone. I must think of the Stone...even if it means my daughter might not find a true love."

Onoki pats his son on the head, "Atta boy! You'll make a fine kage! If you don't I'll just take the mantle back myself."

Kitsuchi grunts and grows a smirk as he took that as a challenge. "The mantle isn't mine just yet father. We still need to conquoer the Hidden Lock first."

"A campaign you're more than capable of leading! I can attend to some loose ends and prepare this passing of the torch. Once you officially take over my boy, it will be smooth. The raikage's attempt to hold us back WILL blow up in his dumb, smug face!" Onoki flew out of the room, leaving his son the freshly selected 4th Tsuchikage to ponder over his own, the stone's, and his family's futures alone before he would inevitably be sent out to perform his last mission as a mere jonin working under his father.

Elsewhere, on a high mountain top that surpassed even the clouds, the 4th raikage spoke with his brother in private. "Minato Namikaze sealing away the 9 tails into a supposed random orphaned infant? I don't buy it. Not for a second B."

"Yo bro, what's the big dealio about that anyhow? It's nothing to worry about you feel me? We got a nice few years to not stress over another war anytime soon so I say we relax! I'm thinking a world tour-"

"NO! You're to remain in the Land Of Lightning, or only by my side unless I say so OTHERWISE! I detested confirming your jinchuriki status to the other kage. The only benefit it may have granted us was a growing fear of your prowess and abilities. The rumors of your might were already famous, and now they no doubt understand the tales of your exploits are no mere exaggerations! Nevertheless, they will be monitoring you. The 3rd Mizukage's own grandson Yagura is the new host of the 3 tails, and he claims he nearly has full control of the beast already! I have to be vigilant B, I need to be aggressive without raising the alarms of the other villages. We got the least out of that summit, not even a single physical, tangible gain. To make up for it, there is much I have to do."

"Bro you're bein wayyy too hard on yourself, fool! You got those 3 geezers to agree to step down! You got that arranged marriage pact with the kazekage-"

"A pact that only puts the Sand into our good graces. IF that, and it will be years before we could truly take advantage of such an agreement." He shuts his eyes and punches a nearby stone, shattering it like glass. "On top of that, I was hasty and offered the kazekage a dowry fee! BAH! But, you're right about those old men. So long as they hold true to their words, the 3 of them stepping down will change the hierarchy of power in their villages. Whatever Hiruzen planned to do with this, supposed un-important baby that hosts the 9 tailed fox will become a gambit once the 5th hokage takes their place. B, prepare to make a trip to Genbu! You and I aren't going to waste this ceasefire waiting on the others to make a move! We'll push ourselves further than EVER!"

Killer B stood there for a few seconds, processing that after JUST having to make a trip to the Rain, he was now going right into training. "Can it wait a few days bro? I gotta got some r and r and R you know what I'm saying? Rest, relax and RAP! YEEEAAAA-" His brother promptly dropkicks him.

"The ceremonial robes suit you, Lord Fifth." Hiruzen spoke with an earnest compliment as he greeted the newly elected 5th hokage in the Leaf Village's council chamber. "I must say I'm impressed with your composure. You only clinched this title by one vote and yet you appear calm to hold it."

"I'm simply masking my anxiety well, Lord Third." Fugaku Uchiha rubbed his chin, seeming comfortable around Hiruzen in the moment. For now, it was just the two of them in this chamber room. "I am grateful you allowed only the jonin to vote for this title. Enough of them knew me and my character enough to disregard those nasty rumors that the 9 tails attack was my clan's doing."

Hiruzen took in a hit of his pipe, nodding in agreement before he blew out a nice sized puff. "You have your work cut out for you to erase the feelings of unease some in the village have over the Uchiha about that. I'm sure in time, should your work as hokage be good then it will simmer out."

Fugaku took a seat, and gently felt the rim of the Hokage's ceremonial headwear. He allowed a small smile to form as he accepted this coveted role and relished it was his. "Some in my clan suggested me to use my sharingan. To cast a genjustu over the other jonin for a landslide vote. It was tempting, Lord Third, but I knew if I was found out things would only grow worse for my clan. Despite being shinobi, I knew my best chance was to be open and honest toward my peers. Yesterday's vote may very well be the last time I have a chance to be so openly truthful to the other Leaf ninja. That's why you wanted to speak with me in private, isn't it? To tell me of the Leaf's many secrets I need to know."

Hiruzen sat down beside him, remaining stoic as he continued smoking his pipe. "Indeed. Just being hokage already has made you a powerful enemy. An enemy that is a great asset to the Leaf as well, so I urge caution in your dealings with him."

"Are you talking about Danzo Shimura, or Orochimaru?" Fugaku asked quickly. He needed to know who to prioritize keeping his eyes and ears on. "Orochimaru has desired this position for years, and I can only imagine the frustration he feels over losing to me by a singular vote. Danzo however, has a horde of elite ninja from each great clan of the Leaf that follow his every bidding...and that is all I've ever known about the man."

"Hmm. I was speaking primarily of Dazno. He's quite upset over my decision to let the jonin elect the next hokage instead of handing it over to him, or Orochimaru directly. He didn't even bother attending the vote. He's aware of how hated he is in our ranks by those we know of him. With the vote, he had no way of securing the hokage position."

"So, I have a jealous Orochimaru, and a disgruntled Danzo to worry about already?" Fugaku let one sigh escape as he let the gears in his brain turn to figure good measures against the two. He wasn't worried of a coup anytime soon. It would be too obvious, and surely both of those men knew attempting such a thing while the Leaf was weakened would just be asking for another village to break the ceasefire and put the final nail in the village's coffin. "I'm glad you've decided to do ANBU work, Lord Third. You're the greatest ally I could have under these circumstances. I'm sure the current commander won't mind at all to have you replace them."

The older ninja placed his pipe down and clasped his palms together. "It's the best way I can still be of use to the village. I know many in the village are angry over my agreement to step down, but for the sake of letting our forces build back up it was an essential compromise."

"On the topic of the ANBU, and those two men; I believe I have my first mission to assign as hokage, Lord Third." "Before your proper inauguration?" "What can I say? I want a good head start."

Rasa the 4th Kazekage stood on his palace's rooftop with 2 of the elders from his clan, Lord Ebizo and Lady Chiyo as he revealed what he informed the other villages about their jinchuriki. "They all bought the lie. As far as the other kage know, that monk in the cell is still Shukaku's host. We can move ahead with the plan for my unborn son and they'll be in the dark about it for years to come. It's paramount we keep this a secret only among the Sand's council, if it were to slip then every negotiation I pulled in our favor at that summit will begin to unravel. Once we have the one tail sealed away in the boy, I'll reach out to the Hidden Waterfall."

Ebizo claps three times, seeming impressed by all this. "You're making great steps lord kazekage...just watch your ambition. An unchecked ego can reek havoc."

Chiyo chimed in, adding that "We are grateful for the lengths and sacrifices you're willing to go through for the village's sake...but as my brother said you must watch every step you take. It isn't too late to postpone this jinchuriki sealing."

"You're right Lady Chiyo, it isn't too late yet. That's why the sooner we do it, the more potent my son's power with the tailed beast can be. The more time we have to raise him into our ultimate weapon."

These four villages, had managed to keep things civil so far. They were operating with what they could, and making their plans accordingly. Their machinations brewed with their allies. The Hidden Mist village had no such civility over this.

In the Mizukage's chamber, half a dozen jonin of the Mist lay dead as their blood pooled around them. A dozen more were injured to various degree but seemed to have given up over whatever they fought over. They dropped their battle ready stances, ended their jutsu early and all turned to look at one man who stood out amongst this battle royale. A single voice cut through the group and the silence that came post this bloody battle. "Gramps had the right idea. Let the 20 best of the Mist duke it out so only the strongest can rule. I bet he did it as a way to test how I'm handling the 3 tails." Another corpse hit the floor, dropped by the young man speaking.

The 2 swordsmen who accompanied the 3rd Mizukage to the summit both looked apprehensive over the clear victor. Juzo lowered the executioner's blade and commented that, "I could have clinched this...grabbed the title of 4th Mizukage for myself if this monster wasn't a candidate!"

Raiga chuckled and let his blades the twin Kiba drop to his side. "What a resplendent monster he is though. Vicious as the beast inside him."

He looked hardly older than Kakashi, a small man with a long, doubled hooked club stood victorious as a monstrous aura engulfed his form. "So, bow before the 4th Mizukage of the Blood Mist Village already! The greatest jinchuriki this world will know! Yagura Karatachi!"

"Thank you for arriving so swiftly." Fugaku, sitting behind the hokage's desk addressed the squad he was personally assigning the first mission of his reign to. The 8 shinobi gathered in his office were all impressive and powerful in their own rights. Shibi Aburame, Hizashi and Hiashi Hyuga the famed byakugan twins; the Ino-Shika-Cho trio of Shikaku, Inoichi and Chouza; Taika Uchiha one of the top members of the Leaf's military police force, and lastly their youngest jonin in employ Kakashi hatake. "You lot were chosen thanks to your current and past work in the ANBU as well as your jonin ranks. You're elite, and this mission should hopefully not need to test your combat abilities."

Kakashi let his uncovered original eye wander over the adult ninja. He knew these men were his superiors, but none of them rivaled his menot Minato. He wondered what sort of mission needed this many jonin. Especially so many heads and heirs of the Leaf's honorable and prestigious ninja clans. *Whatever the Fifth needs of me, I must perform it as I would have any mission from Minato sensei.*

Fugaku cleared his throat. "You'll be divided into 2 teams. Team A will be led by Shikaku, and be filled out by Chouza, Inoichi and Hiashi. Your mission is to monitor Danzo Shimura of ROOT. Gather any and all intel possible, offer yourselves up for a joint mission or whatever need be done to collect intelligence on the man. Try and test his ROOT members if you can, gauge the skill his agents posses but not if it makes it obvious why you're doing this. Team B will be led by Shibi. Hizashi, Takai and Kakashi are under your command Aburame, and I'm entrusting you all to watch for Orochimaru. You needn't challenge him or offer anything. Pure recon work and data gathering. Every little thing we can learn, the better."

Kakashi made sure to speak up while he was already in audience with the 5th hokage. "Lord 5th, I may have some intel on orochimaru already. Something that may need confirmation."

"Out with it Kakashi."

"During the election process two days ago, Orochimaru told me he had one of his students Anko Mitarashi out on a special assignment." Fugaku furrowed his brow, hoping this actually meant something. "He offered me to join this already in progress mission. I know it isn't uncommon for a squad leader to deploy one of their subordinates off on a mission of their own, but I haven't seen Anko around the village for some weeks."

"Weeks?" Fugaku leaned forward as his intrigue was peaked. "Anko Mitarashi you said her name was? I don't recall seeing that name in the ANBU files, so what could she be doing off on her own for Orochimaru for such a prolonged period? Thank you Kakashi, when you get the chance try and reach out to this girl's parents and see what they know. We can't leave any stone unturned with these men. Now, please get on with it." The 8 ninja were gone in the blink of an eye.

"Lord Fugaku moves swift, and precisely." Taika Uchiha reveled in his first mission from the new hokage. Team B were gathered on a nearby rooftop outside the hokage building to build their initial plan. "Dealing out important missions before his ceremony celebrating his ascension! This new era he'll lead us in will-"

Hizashi politely taps the Uchiha's shoulder. "He can't hear you, you're aware of that right? Hyping him up won't do you any good." Taika glared at the Hyuga.

Shibi bluntly added on, "Everyone here is already fully aware of how quick he's acting. You waste our time. To make up for that, Taika; your task will be to investigate Orochimaru's home."

"What?! Alone?!"

"You're an elite Uchiha, I'm sure you can maneuver around any traps he may have and avoid leaving a trail. Hizashi and I will catch up to Lord Orochimaru and monitor where he's heading today. Kakashi, you'll do as Lord Fugaku suggested and seek out this Anko girl's parents. Ask them every detail you can, and then investigate their home once you're able to sneak in. See if anything is hidden that could potentially tell us of any secrets orochimaru may have shared with his protege."

Kakashi sighs, "When I'm done what then? That won't be anywhere near as time consuming as your tasks. Should I just group up with Taika?"

Shibi shakes his head side to side. "No. Should you find anything worthwhile, report it to Lord Fugaku first. We can use a communication shinobi to link up and figure out where to move from there. Same goes to you Taika." The Uchiha grumbled and took off without a word. "Hm. Hizashi, let's go." The two jonin vanished, leaving the young Kakashi there alone on this rooftop.

His gaze wandered over the Leaf, before resting on the hokage monument and Minato's sculpture. He stared at it for some time. Taking orders from a new hokage already, it felt so odd. Even with the fact Kakashi had voted for Fugaku Uchiha he couldn't help but miss working under Minato.

"If Orochimaru left Anko behind, or gave her up to enemy ninja...no matter the reason I swear I'll get her back and make him pay. Nobody gets left behind." Kakashi gently rubbed the headband covering his sharingan eye, and now looked at the empty spot next to Minato on the monument of hokage. The spot Obito hoped to have his face on one day. He wished Obito could have been the first Uchiha up there. Finally he broke his gaze of the mountain, and bolted off for the Mitarashi residence.

Action is coming soon I promise lmao. the decision of what to be done with Naruto will come with the conclusion of this first arc now that things are set in motion. I hope what I'm cooking is good and interesting, and any feedback is appreciated and welcome btw.