Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto
Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23
Chapter 59: Consequences
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Tobi's masked visage tilted as he sat on his chair among the others of Yamata's council. All members were present, along with the great serpent conversing with Bai Shen, who held a crow on his forearm. Annoyance glowed on both their faces, and the Uchiha glanced at Jeanne, "A summon like this normally so abrupt to make?"
The vampire woman rolled her eyes as Bai Shen overheard, "An heir of Rama has appeared." Ibuki hissed drunkenly at the words.
Even the bone-faced demon Guildenstern to the Shade Akuma bore severe expressions at those words. Curiosity bloomed on the face of the ancient necromancer, Zu Zhang, who rubbed his chin. "From where?"
"Our agent discovered it, the one we had sent to Han'ei." One of Yamata's heads gazed toward Tobi, "The Jinchirriki of Konoha."
Tobi's brow rose behind his mask. A growl came from scythe wielding demon, "We never seem to rid ourselves of those damnable Uzumaki pests."
A low growl came to Yamata, "We can discuss the matter at length later. However, a situation has come to my attention for an opportunity we can not pass up."
"Heir of Rama," The Uchiha whispered in question to Jeanne.
"Ask Bai Shen later, human."
The great serpent's eyes seemed to glow as an ethereal representation of Gogyou-koku appeared in the middle of the chamber. The map seemed to zoom in on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Trees.
"The daimyo of the Land of Trees has grown weary of hostilities between their nations and has invited the Fire daimyo to intervene," Yamata-no-Orochi explained.
Tobi hummed in thought; the last time any major news came from the Land of Tree was when Konoha attempted to secure an alliance with the little village, only to be betrayed by a high branch of their nation's ANBU, the Prajñā Group. Anticipating foul play, the Konoha team was more than prepared and all but annihilated them. The surviving Tree shinobi from the Prajñā Group were imprisoned, with many going rogue. Regardless of them acting without authority from their Kage and Daimyo, it sparked tensions with the smaller nation, which resulted in scattered fights along the border.
The Land of Trees had suffered a relatively economic solid strain ever since the last great war. Being so close to the Land of Fire, it did not surprise Tobi that most people would hire Konoha instead of them, which only fueled Tree's residents' resentment.
"The daimyo of Trees is ready to swear loyalty to the Fire Court."
That did catch Tobi's attention, "The Land of Tree is planning to become a vassal state to Fire?" It did not often happen that a little village would abandon sovereignty to serve one of the Big Five. Usually, when it happened, it was by force of conquest. It was rare for it to be done through diplomacy, particularly that a daimyo would swallow their pride and choose to bow to another. "Tree must be in direr economic strain than I thought..."
"It appears to be that way" Bai Shen took over. "The Fire Daimyo will travel to the Land of Tree within the week. This presents us a perfect opportunity to enact our plan finally."
Tobi could feel the looks of anticipation on some of the council members' faces.
War, they craved it.
"Right now, our agents are working with a branch of Tree's shinobi force who do not take too kindly to the idea of serving another nation, particularly the Land of Fire," The scarred demon explained. "We will give them the tools to ambush the Daimyo, where we will assassinate him and use it to gut the Land of Fire's leadership. Then, sensing this unprecedented moment of vulnerability, the other nations will strike, quickly escalating into a new war."
Guildenstern's wicked eyes shone with Disturbed glee, "The thought of next potential test subjects does brighten my day." His elongated fingers interlocked.
"Disgraceful," Akuma snarled, "Open war amongst 'ninjas' only proves how far they have fallen from being real shinobi." Tobi shot the specter a glare which he ignored.
The serpent deity shifted his attention to Zu Zhang, "With this development, your work with the neophyte immortal can progress further."
"Preparations are almost complete for what he needs. One fully resurrected individual will get his prize. All the while, he is our puppet."
Yamata nodded favorably, "Good. We all have our duties to play. We succeed in this, and our goddess is closer to returning and claiming the world as hers once more." At that, Tobi could see the excitement of those words among the group. "This meeting is adjourned."
Yamata's great head seemed to vanish in the shadows of the chamber, retreating through whatever portal he opened in the first place. His daughter stood up and stretched her limbs, yawning and muttering something about grabbing a snack before taking a nap.
The phantom of a shinobi melted into the darkness, and just like that, Tobi could no longer feel his presence. It was humbling to see the abilities of a shinobi of old. Guildenstern muttered to himself about some specific projects he had going, things that blended science and magic in a level of perversion which would make Orochimaru tremble with jealousy. The necromancer Zu Zhang departed to meet with the snake, and they still had other matters to arrange if they wanted to use him.
The masked ninja turned to see the burnt demon priest approach him. "The time draws near, brother Tobi" He did not like being addressed as a member of his 'cloth', but he let it slide. "We must ensure Pain is guided in the direction we see fit. He needs to enter the coming war, and we must stretch it as long as possible."
"I know my role," Tobi replied. "I'll convince him your cult is nothing but fanatics dedicated to him; keeping the actual numbers and activities will be more difficult. But so long as he believes he is worshipped and his plans are furthered, we have nothing to worry about."
"Indeed," Bai Shen smiled, the burnt flesh on the side of his face twisting in a mockery of a smile. "I'd rather not see Ibuki destroy him. He is too much useful."
That woman was considered their contingency to get rid of Pain if he ever became an issue spoke volumes of her power...
"Now, we shall meet in the Land of Rain" He tapped his scythe with each step, calling out behind him as he left. "Be careful who you talk to in this place, we work towards a common cause, but there are knives in the dark."
Tobi merely narrowed his visible eye as the demon disappeared, muttering to himself. "Does Yamata not keep his people in line?"
"Pffft!" A snort came from behind him; the pale young woman with red eyes was still sitting in her chair, having procured a glass of what could only be blood from somewhere. "You still don't get how things work here. We are not a court of backstabbing socialites looking for more prestige but a place in the council. Ohhhh, every man, woman, mortal, or demon here wants a place at this table."
Tobi remained silent for a moment as he turned to face her. "Why do they covet a seat so badly? Is having Yamata's ear truly that rewarding?"
"Ohhhh, it's not Yamata who will reward us" Jeanne grinned at him, showing two sharp fangs. "It's 'her'"
Tobi knew instantly whom she was talking about.
"You think she will reward us all equally?" She snorted. "Don't be absurd. She's not a cuddling deity and will only reward those who make her return possible. Those who sit at the higher echelons of her cult, who orchestrated it all. We shall become her kings and queens of the new world."
At that, the vampire noticed a look of disinterest from the masked man, "Rulership does not interest me."
"You might not care for such power. But those whom you sidestepped into your position damn sure do." Jeanne leaned in, "And you think they are remotely happy that some upstart took a seat at the council without a shred of effort put into it?"
Tobi did not recoil from her predatory aura, "You want me dead as much as they do."
"Earning your place here among us is not something that should be simple or easy. I only stay my fangs because Yamata needs you; you have much to prove, boy." She began to walk away.
"I'm not here to make friends," the Uchiha called out.
"Then you might survive long enough to bring back your darling Rin." Jeanne cackled, exiting the room.
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Takeda could not recall witnessing so many smiles and celebrations from the people of Han'ei. But, unfortunately, for long enduring years under Tokuhara's boot had all but snuffed out the light of their nation. Now, at last, with the tyrant dead has restored what was once lost. Still, it will not be an easy process. Yet the young man and his grandfather were ready for whatever came for them as they rebuilt their nation.
The former rebel took a long breath as he basked in the morning sun. From atop the very zenith of the castle, the breeze washed over him like a mother's tender caress. At long last, he felt he could put the past behind and finally lay it all down...
"Like you can finally breathe again," The voice of the Kageken assassin who had grown so dear to him muttered softly. Isamu stared at him with an endeared smile as he adjusted his long brown bangs under his blue bandanna.
"I... am free," Takeda said with a smile the white-clad shinobi had never seen before. "And I feel so at peace... thank you for all you've done for me."
Isamu laughed softly, holding Takeda's hand tightly and leaning until their foreheads touched. "I'll never forget this place or you. Your courage, your spirit... you embody everything our group believes in, everything I fight for."
"You give me too much credit," Takeda responded with a slight smile. "I'm just... someone who was far too angry and wanted justice. Anyone would have done the same in my place."
"It wasn't just anyone who led them; it was you. Never forget that."
The blue-eyed teen sighed sadly, "I wish you didn't have to go..."
"We went over this, and I can't stay. Our goal and fight live on in so many other places. So there is a lot of bad in this world; someone has to put it right."
And right there, that was why Takeda admired him so much, why he had become so dear to his heart. "We'll always have this land, you and me."
Isamu smiled lovingly and leaned in to kiss him. The two held each other in a brief but tender embrace, knowing that if they prolonged it, it'd be harder on them.
"Go on, shinobi who fights for justice," Takeda smiled at him, "Go knowing this foolish rebel is always with you in spirit."
The Kageken shinobi smiled with all the sun's brightness, giving him one last look as he waved his goodbye, leaping down the castle and leaping down from place until he finally rejoined his twin, the two vanishing into the distance as they embarked on a new quest.
Takeda let out a long sigh; his heart longed for him already... but it just wasn't meant to be, not now, perhaps. Who knew what the future would have in store for them?
"You can stop sneaking around," He said with a faint smile.
Naruto stepped onto the roof, a sheepish look on his face as he scratched his neck. "Sorry, I didn't know you weren't alone. I... didn't want to interrupt or anything."
The young adult gave a grateful nod before showing a curious expression, "Not with the others celebrating?" He winced as he realized who he had just asked, "Right, sorry."
To his credit, the blond Uzumaki gave a soft shrug with a slight grin, "Mom is making sure we get all our stuff before heading back home." But soon, his face veered to a more halfhearted but haunted regard, staring out at the village. "I hope for the best here. You and Jiji fix this place into an excellent thriving place for everyone." His cerulean orbs shifted downwards, "But I'm never coming back here."
Takeda swore this boy sounded like an old veteran soldier by his tone if he wasn't looking at a twelve-year-old child.
Part of him wanted to console the boy, but how could he? Naruto and his team had committed treason against their village to aid them against the Daimyo they were sent to help. And such an act was not treaded lightly in the shinobi world as his grandfather had told him.
But a stray thought did come to the former rebel leader, "You guys could become missing-nin."
However, the blond's head swayed a negative, "None of us would ever run away from Konoha. Moreover, I'm the village's Jinchurriki, and not just ANBU would be after me."
Enemies of the leaf would salivate, claiming their prized secret weapon for themselves. That thought made Takeda's stomach churn, "I can't believe the Yondaime put such a burden on a child."
Naruto did not react to those words but only peered at the man, "Minato Namikaze was my dad." Pure shock bloomed on the young adult's face. "Dad didn't have a choice in the matter, and he trusted me with the Kyuubi." He looked back ahead, "and I'll honor that trust... But never thought I'd be helping the bad guys like Tokuhara."
"..." Takeda blinked, "A Ninja is known to be deceptive individuals to do nefarious deeds."
"I knew that much," the blond expressed honestly before shaking his head, "But guess I still am just an idiot like people say."
The former rebel pursed his lips, not knowing what to say beyond asking the obvious. "What will you do now?"
"Now? We must get back to Konoha and surrender to their judgment. Don't worry; the Godaime is my adoptive grandma; she'll be lenient... mostly. I think. I hope..." He muttered those last few words.
"I wish there was more we could do for you people."
"It's okay. You've got your hands full anyway," Naruto sighed but still managed to give Takeda a small smile. "You know... I'm happy I got to meet you; you're damn awesome, you know that?"
"Heh," Takeda chuckled ruefully. "Please, no more praise. It's bad enough the citizenry is already spreading tales about me like I'm some... folk hero."
Well, he was. That was a fact. "And the singing."
"There are songs?!"
There was something so hilarious about his mortified and embarrassed expression.
Naruto gave him a foxy grin. "Oh yeah, and before you know it, there will be plays and bedtime stories for kids!"
Takeda made a sound of utter despair. "Please stop..."
At that, the blond chuckled, extending his hand, which the older teen took, "Good luck."
"You too, Uzumaki."
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Frustration glowed in Kushina's eyes, staring up at her hulking cousin, who dryly stared back. "You can at least hide in the forest around the village," Her hands rested on her curvy hips.
"Yes, for which your scouts will be wondering why some unfamiliar shirtless man is camping close to a ninja village with a bear beside him." The Uzu matriarch deadpanned, "I will not hide myself, did enough of that as a child. My place is at our family's side, even if that means a prison cell."
Kushina groaned, "When did you get, so gods damn stubborn 'ttbane?"
"Well, being an Uzumaki is a factor. And I was raised among a sleuth of wild bears. So take your pick Kushi."
And this was the scene team seven came upon with Kushina slumping forward in defeat, "Alright, fine..."
Kosuke only grinned at his victory before waving to the others, "Well, it will be my first time going to Konoha. I heard a lot of stories."
"Considering we're all going to prison, your cheerful," Sasuke drawled.
"I'm with my family again," The large man grinned back, "Nothing could be better young Uchiha."
"A very positive attitude," Soujiro remarked with a nod.
Karin only groaned, leaning her head against her adopted brother's shoulder, "A full-fledged Leaf ninja for a few weeks and pulled another traitorous act. Am I cursed?" Naruto, on his part, only hugged her with one arm. His other arm wrapped around his pinkette friend and teammate, who shared Karin's dour mood.
"Best not to dwell on it," Kakashi offered some words, "Least till Anko kicks my ass."
Kushina just gave him a completely puzzled look. "What kind of relationship do you two have?"
"It's complicated."
That was a category all on its own...
There was a sense of fatalism hanging over them. They knew what they did, and now they had to face the consequences. They violated orders, turned on their client, and helped depose him. Tsunade, even if she were family, would take action to punish them.
But they had their pride and wouldn't shy away from it even if they knew this was the right decision in their hearts.
So the group marched back to their home to face the music.
It was a very somber and quiet walk. The most they could do to alleviate the mood was strike an idle conversation with Kosuke, who regaled them with tales about what he had been up to all this time.
"Really, raised by non-talking bears?" Karin called out in doubt.
The towering man rubbed his hand on his enormous furry partner, "Yup." He answered with a warm expression of reminiscing. "I thought they would eat me when I woke up on the beach near the forest. But instead, the matriarch of the bear sleuth took me as her own. Kuma, here was her last cub before passing away a few years ago. My little brother, you could say."
The giant beast made a cooing sound with several grunts.
"That's why you don't wear shirts?" Sakura quipped dryly, inching closer to her blond friend away from the Kuma.
"Kind of hard to find shirts when you are nearly two meters tall and nothing but pure muscle. Korin-Jiji had the same problem."
"No, he just preferred being shirtless," Kushina deadpanned, recalling her late grandfather's antics. "Outright whined when Baachan forced him to wear one when meeting some nobles at the fire court."
Upon mention of the Fire Court, the shinobi slumped forward, "How mad do you think the Fire Court will be?" Sasuke questioned the adults.
"Are you asking how angry they'll be when they find we completely destroyed ties with a trading partner?" Kakashi lamented.
"Will we be executed?" dread came from the pinkette asking that question.
Kushina sharply glanced over, "Mom will fight against that." But the other options were just as bad for them. Stripped from duty and imprisoned was better than the headman's axe if nothing else.
They continued their talks as much as possible to take their minds off what awaited them. But fortune was not on their side this day in any sort of way. Eventually, their path took them to a fateful meeting. They spotted a makeshift camp, with tents littering the area around carts and carriages. The people in them looked too well dressed to be simple nomads, and the guards they had with them were well-armed.
Karin realized who they were. "These... These are the nobles who were exiled from Han'ei."
The group came to a stop. It had been a horrible affair; the nobility of the country had either been cowed into submission by the new government or forced into exile. The Tokuhara clan, as the former rulers, absolutely refused to bend their knees. So Shibata stripped them of much of their ill-gained wealth and had them exiled from the country.
"Let's... Let's go around," Kushina muttered, and the shinobi were about to do just that when they were spotted.
"It's them!" Someone called out. "The Konohas!"
The former nobles panicked, gathering in groups and backing away, looking at the shinobi as though they were the Shinigami itself coming to reap their souls. Naruto watched those desperate and fearful eyes, looking at him like... like he was a monster.
He was used to such looks, but those back from Konoha had been born out of resentment and anger. These people, though, were afraid of him, honest and pure fear. It was as if they feared they had personally come to finish the job. Guards were in position before the nobles, raising trembling spears as their firearms had also been taken from them.
"...Let's go," Kakashi said, motioning for them to go around the exiled nobles. The guards followed them with their spears, aiming them as they went around the camp. Nobody dared to move until the shinobi could finally be out of sight.
But suddenly, there was another commotion from the camp. Cries and shouts rang out, making the ninja turn around to see what was happening. A small figure ran past the guards, ignoring all failed attempts from the other exiles to catch her before she went beyond their reach.
A woman's voice cried out, and the word's made Naruto's blood freeze. "Aiko, please stop!"
There she was, the same girl with purple hair. Her previously expensive clothes are now dirty and scruffled. Whereas once there was childish joy and innocence on her face... there was now only anger and absolute loathing, a look no child should ever have.
And it was directed at Naruto.
She looked at him as though he was the source of all evil.
"Naruto Uzumaki..." She spat with pure wrath. "I will remember your face... I swear, on the Tokuhara name, I will have my revenge."
Naruto could not move. So much hatred radiated in Aiko's eyes. Finally, she snapped at the people and guards, who quickly took back hold of her. "I swear by the gods I will kill you!" At last, she was taken back to the main tent though she was still screaming at the blond. "You broke your promise! I'll kill you, Uzumaki!"
Her words felt like a hot kunai had ripped through his chest.
Like the wind, Kushina knelt to her son, only keeping his eyes fixed on the Tokuhara tent. Never had they seen such hollow despair in the blond as tears fell from his cheeks. "...I broke a promise," his voice a pained whisper.
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The trek back had taken several days. But the mood among the team was somber. And several looked concerned at Naruto, who had been so silent it was unnerving to even Sasuke. Despite a few attempts of trying to the blond to speak. He said nothing in return, with only the haunted gaze in his eyes that had never left him.
'We should have never gone to that damn place,' Kushina mentally cursed at herself. But what was done was done. She only wished she could do something for her son to ease the pain in his heart. Seeing him so heartbroken tore at her. Karin was not leaving his side, but he barely even registered her presence.
What's done was done. All they could do now was move forward and learn from this.
Where exactly would their lives take them now after what they did; however, Kushina had no idea.
The looming walls of the village, usually a comforting sight, became disturbing. Haunting even. There would be no respite here; their home would judge them. Nevertheless, they ignored the odd looks, mostly sent to Kosuke and Kuma as they headed for the tower. Despite his protest, Kushina made him swear to remain at the tower entrance.
It was fortunate that team 7 did not run into anyone of their comrades while marching to the Hokage tower; they didn't have the heart to face their comrades and friends at this moment. So instead, they just silently marched to meet with their leader. She was the only person they had to explain their actions to.
The group stood outside the office. Kushina took a deep breath, readying herself for the fury and disappointment she could already envision on her mother's face. But, instead, she gave the others a solemn look, "This is it..."
The young teens and Kakashi remained resolute, with no regrets or coming back. And for that, Kushina was proud.
She turned the knob and opened the door with a sweaty palm.
She felt her heart clench as Tsunade looked up from her documents, Shizune at her side holding Tom-Tom, the two smiling brightly at them. "Ahhh, you're back. Good to see you all."
They entered the room, silent as they went.
"Now, I'm sure this was a grueling mission. But before I can let you guys take a break, I will need a report" Tsunade leaned forward, locking her fingers in front of her face. "So, I trust the mission was a success?"
Then, the Hokage noticed their solemn faces, all having varying degrees of apprehension and regret. Naruto looked particularly haunted, like those veterans who came home after witnessing a massacre. Her daughter's expression was of great shame. The kind one gives to a relative after feeling they've let them down.
"What's wrong?" Tsunade asked with concern, Shizune mirroring her expression as the temperature in the room seemed to drop. "What happened at Han'ei?"
Kushina let out a long sigh, and with a wave of her hand, the rest of the team began discarding all their weapons before kneeling on the ground with their hands behind their heads.
"Wha-" The Hokage sputtered in confusion at the sight as Kushina followed suit. "What are you all doing?"
"Giving the ANBU no reason to believe we'll resist," Kushina said with an exasperated tone, "So... here's our report."
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It was amazing, really, the speed at which they were transferred to different cells back in the mountain's prison. Once the shock wore off, Tsunade practically screamed at the ANBU to take them away so she could adequately question them.
And boy, the lungs on her mother seemed it wasn't just her limbs that carried that supreme strength, but also her vocal cords.
"WHAT, IN THE NAME OF ALL THE GODS, WERE YOU THINKING?!"
Concern only shone in Shizune's eyes as she kept her gaze on Naruto behind his cell. The blond's eyes never left the floor. A huff came from Kosuke, who sat cross-legged in a larger cell with Kuma beside him. The two had been brought into the prison by ANBU after Kushina and team seven's confession/report. The hulking Uzumaki kept his furry companion calm as the two were brought into their cell beside Kushina's.
Said Uzu's matriarch just winced while her mother kept hollering. "How many times do I have to keep saying it!?" Then, finally, Kushina yelled back, sitting on the ground.
"Until you explain to me how all of you lost your senses disobeying a mission for a Daimyo!"
"Because said daimyo was an unscrupulous despicable bastard," Kosuke spoke up rather calmly from his cell.
Tsunade's eyes slowly turn to focus on him, "You keep your mouth shut, Kosuke Uzumaki. To begin with, you are in enough trouble being on the rebel's side."
The giant redhead shrugged, "I only did what Tsukiko-Baachan would have done."
"Well, Tsukiko never had to consider the political ramifications for ANY of her actions; she just went in her merry sage way!"
Kushina glared at her mother, "Wow. Nice way of remembering her."
"Oh, don't pretend your 'moral high ground' makes what I say any less true," Tsunade snapped back. "You actively defied a mission. Not only that; you AIDED the people you were hired to take out."
"Oppressed peasants and soldiers tired of acting as thugs for a corrupt daimyo"
"That was not your call to make!" The Hokage shouted. "Do you even understand what you've done?! What you got the others into doing it?!"
"She did not force us to do anything, Hokage-sama," Kakashi spoke up from his cell. "We all agreed that's what we wanted to do."
"Well, congratulations, Kakashi, you have doomed your family name to remain forever in dishonor."
The Hatake did not reply to that.
"You," Tsunade hissed through clenched teeth. "All of you turned on a client. You KILLED someone who provided our village with the necessary money. Completely uprooted a nation's government when it was your job to secure it. Not only did you ignore what was best for the village now, you more than likely damaged our reputation. What do you think will happen when news of this spread? People will believe Konoha betrays clients at the drop of a hat!"
Everyone was silent till one voice finally spoke, "Then I'd be the monster folks used to call me here for just helping a scumbag like Tokuhara." Shizune winced from the sheer coldness that came from Naruto's words. But what he did next shocked every person in the room as he took off his Hite-ate and tossed it out of his cell. "And if being a shinobi means being a monster, then I want no part of it."
Tsunade only stood in shock for a moment before her anger returned. Then, stomping over, she picked up her grandson's leaf bandana. Glaring at it, then back to Naruto, who kept his gaze at the ground, "Nothing is that black and white. And you don't get a say in the matter."
"Because I'm the nation's secret weapon," Not even Sasuke had heard such contempt coming out of the blond Uzumaki's mouth.
"No future Hokage sounds like that."
At that, he finally shifted his eyes to his grandmother. His glare was emotionless and cold. "then I don't ever want to be Hokage."
Tsunade's body shook before storming out of the prison with Shizune running to her.
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The door of the Hokage office slammed out as the Godaime stormed in and collapsed into her chair. Shizune closed the door and soon picked up Ton-Ton, who let out concern oink. However, the raven-haired woman said nothing as her sensei dropped her grandson's bandana on her table. She stared at it in silence for several minutes before letting out an enraged cry and smacking the object off her desk.
Her body shuddered before putting her hands over her face and fighting the tears threatening to escape.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Soujiro stared at his prison cell before looking out to the others, "Uncle Samenosuke always said prisons looked quite dreary." He looked at the prison garbs he and the others were put in before being brought here.
"Hmph," Kosuke grunted, "Sounds like he got worse with age."
"Can we focus on our current situation, please?" Sakura reproached.
Karin only kept her eyes on her brother, who resumed staring at the floor.
What a life she's had so far, huh? Losing her mom due to Kusa's overuse of their healing abilities, working for Orochimaru, finding her clan, defecting him to join Konoha, and now abandoning it all to join her family to do something right at the cost of their freedom. Karin did not regret she took part in it... but she lamented that she'd had so little control of her young life.
Sasuke kept staring at the dark, damp wall, instinctively trying to activate his Sharingan, but the chakra-suppressing seals placed on them all kept him from doing so. So, was this where his path ended? Was this how the legacy of the Uchiha came to an end, with both surviving sons forever remembered as traitors? He silently prayed to the spirits of their ancestors; 'Forgive me, father, for throwing away all you taught me. Forgive me, ancestors, for our name now dies in infamy.'
Sasuke failed in his missions of avenging and restoring his clan...
...But he honored his mother's spirit, choosing the life of her most dear friend and the path of his new family above all else? There was still honor in that. It was for more than Itachi could ever claim.
Sakura once swore she'd never be a useless canon-fodder shinobi, those born most from civilian families, that she'd make a name for herself. She would fight as a proud shinobi of Konoha and stand side by side with her teammates as equals. Well, she could say she failed at the first one now, but she more than lived up to the second. Sakura would be at their side, from her until the end, and face the consequences together. The only thing she regretted was tarnishing her family name...
...Oh gods, her family! Her parents were going to find out about this soon! Ohhhhh, her mom was going to kill her…
For Kushina, her mind wandered to the past while she sat in her cell with melancholy in her eyes.
There she stood in her father's office in Uzu as a youth. Her hands were over her ears, and concern showed in her eyes as she took in the shouting between her father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and an angry Tsukiko-Baachan. Then her memory shifted as she stood in Baachan's garden. Her grandmother hugged her so tightly she felt her trembling.
"Never forget what I taught you, my precious Kushina. Don't forget who you are."
The redhead's knees came up her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Her head rested in between them with pain etched on her lovely face. It raised as the prison door slammed open. Her eyes took in Anko stomping past her cell and coming to a stop at Kakashi's. The said Jounin's lone brow rose as the purple-haired buxom woman turned with her back leaning against the bars and sliding to the ground. Her legs crossed at her ankles while her arms crossed under her bust.
A short sigh escaped Hatake's lips as he mimicked Anko's action coming up the bars with his back against them, sitting on the ground.
"...You fucked up." Anko scowled deeply.
"Yup"
"You fucked up BIG TIME."
"I concur."
"Whatever possessed you to do this?"
Kakashi thought, "I wanted to do the right thing."
"Well, congratulations, your family name has finally been completely run through the ground. How does it feel now that you did the 'right thing'?"
Kakashi thought about it for a shorter moment, "Pretty good." he paused before continuing, "Finally, understand why my father did what he did."
"The fire court will have your ass on a grill."
"Well, my fate is in the gods' hands now."
"No, it's on a bunch of old nobles who liked having trade routes with Han'ei. The new Daimyo hasn't even spoken to the Fire Court yet. So we don't even know what will happen from now on."
"...Aren't you tired, Anko?" He asked the woman who had shared his bed for years now. "Of constantly fighting, seeing friends and comrades die?"
"...Tch" She made an unpleasant sound. "What, you think your little 'heroics' changed things forever?"
"No... but I think this what Minato-sensei would have wanted"
She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Gods, why do I put up with you?"
"Because I'm the only one who puts up with you."
"Oh, like I need you to do that. I'm a loner, Kakashi. I'm perfectly fine on my own."
"Mm-hmm," Kakashi made a non-committed sound. Of course, it was a lie; he knew it, Anko knew it. But they were at that point in their 'relationship' when they knew what the other truly felt. What a complicated mess they were.
So much for just being 'with benefits. The 'friends' part came later. After that... well, he had no idea.
She was here right now, showed how she cared, and that was enough for him.
In his cell, Soujiro remained kneeling on the ground. His posture was so still he might as well be a statue. He was not submerged in inner conflict and gloom like his peers and family. He had no regrets, nor did he feel trepidation about his fate. Though as far as he was told, that was an extremely abnormal attitude he had. Soujiro simply did not find a reason to regret his actions; he saw the most moral thing to do and did it. That was all there was to it.
He supposed his father would be very disappointed that said actions got him into so much trouble. Would he be grounded? He was never grounded before.
XxX ~ the following day ~ XxX
"Well, you turned out alright," Kosuke grinned happily, petting Kuma's thick fur head.
Lyn dryly gazed back, "Says the idiot in the prison cell." Her hands rested on her hips, "Find out my long-lost cousin is still alive but also imprisoned for deposing a daimyo!" She leaned to her right to look into Kushina's cell. "When I said all that stuff a few months ago, Kushi, I didn't think I'd lead you to betray Konoha! What the freaking hell!?"
A deadpan came from the former ANBU, "This had nothing to do with that."
"Well, it was something that caused you and everyone here to pull this damn stupid stunt."
Kya glanced at her lover before looking back to her young cousin, who sat in front of his cell, "what are you feeling?" She knelt to his side.
"...That I really should have paid attention more to Iruka-Nii and Jiji instead of being an idiot," Naruto omitted weakly, glancing up at the older blond, "You and Aunt Lyn were right." He rested his head against the wall showing a rueful grin, "But I don't regret a single damn thing."
Save one… Aiko's angry visage flashed in his mind.
Upon returning after leaving yesterday, Anko let out a snort sitting in front of Kakashi's cell, "So finally, out of your damn moping and sound like a crazy person, kid."
The blond Uzumaki dryly stared over, "Says the woman only dressed in chain mesh, a mini-skirt, and trench coat."
"I'm eccentric, not crazy."
'There is a difference,' Sasuke mentally quipped, deadpanning at the bickering.
"Your path feels... clouded, Naruto," The older Namikaze said as she knelt in front of his cell. "It feels uncertain now."
"You can 'feel' that?" The young boy tilted his head in confusion. "You're psychic now? That part of being a sage?"
"Nothing of the sort, but I would not be doing a good job in my training if I were not intuned with reading people's spirits. Tapping more into it lets me feel... more. It is hard to explain. It can only be experienced," She explained as best as she could. "I can see your aura; it flickers and shudders like heavy waves on the shore; you bear a lot of guilt."
"Well, of course, I do," Naruto said as if it was the most obvious thing. "I wanted to help people, and while we did, we still hurt many other people. I know we did the right thing, but... It still feels I did something wrong."
Did all the soldiers who died in the battle deserve it? They had chosen their side, but he couldn't say that automatically made it right. The nobles of the Tokuhara clan were not... the best of people, even Aiko was corrupted by their arrogant beliefs, but she was just a young girl repeating what her elders taught her. There was always the chance she could have grown out of it.
"And doing things differently would have made things better?" Kyra patiently asked.
Naruto sighed tiredly, "No."
The people of Han'ei were suffering, and they would have continued suffering if they had done nothing. Helping the helpless was the most moral, but he was also asked to think of his people, friends, and Konoha comrades. The money coming from Han'ei was significant to keep things afloat in the village. With struggle after struggle coming from years of conflict and disasters, a shinobi village always had to do whatever it took for them to survive, even if others got hurt.
But did it have to be that cut and dry? 'So long as we're fine, we can't afford to think of others?' That was... horrible.
His mental musing was disrupted by a warm, supple hand resting on his head. "You are reaching a crossroads, little cousin." Kya addressed in a gentle tone. "But only you can decide what to do when you get there."
The younger blond nodded to his fellow Namikaze's remarks.
"It all depends on what the fire court wants to do with us as well," A snort escaped Kushina's lips. The redhead blinked as Kya came into her view, "Yeah?"
"Your aura is much like your son's. What your family has taught you is battling what the Leaf has trained in you. I fear it will be much harder for you than for Naruto, Kushina."
At that, the imprisoned Uzu matriarch crossed her arms under her bust, "Well, nothing has ever been easy for me to begin with, Kya."
"This might break you, however."
Kushina's eyes went sharp at the sage Namikaze's remark.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
"You guys are in so much damn trouble."
"I think they get that already, Kiba," Shikamaru dryly quipped, sitting by Naruto's cell alongside Hinata and Tenten.
Upon learning of the mess of Han'ei, Team eight, nine, and ten ran into the prison to their colleagues. Ino gave an apologetic look to Sakura, who asked about her parents. "Your dad is... Freaking out."
"Mom?" by the paled expression from the blond Yamanaka, it was better NOT knowing.
Taking a long drag from his cigarette, Asuma leaned against the wall near Kakashi's cell. "Are you trying to one-up me with my guardian twelve days or something, Hatake?"
Anko rolled her eyes from where she was from hearing the comment."Well, I supposed if I do the mother of all fuck ups, I should go big or go home," Kakashi grunted and was smacked on the head by the buxom tokubetsu jōnin.
"Please take this seriously, Hatake," Kurenai remarked near Soujiro's cell with Shino and Neiji.
"Oh, trust me I am Yuhi-San."
"Everyone here knows the Hokage will keep you guys from facing the worst punishment," Gai remarked in an uncharacteristic somber tone, pacing. The situation was highly problematic after all. "But that only saves you from death, and we're looking at lifelong imprisonment, all of you separated into different corners in the Land of Fire."
"What about me?" Naruto said, "I'm the Jinchuuriki, aren't I kind of necessary to keep the other villages from getting ideas? I don't think I'd be of much use in prison."
"That," Another voice entered the cells, and everyone instantly stood at attention, even the people in chains, "will be a matter of a great discussion," Sarutobi Hiruzen stated with a heavy tone as he stepped forth. His ceremonial Hokage robes were almost a permanent part of his attire. The only thing missing these days was the hat he passed on.
"Sandaime-sama," A few people in the room muttered, showing the respect this man had earned after a lifetime.
He greeted them with a few nods as he stood before Naruto and Kushina's cells, giving them a saddened look. Then, he sighed, "I never hoped it'd come to this..."
"...I'm sorry, Jiji," Naruto muttered.
"No," The old Kage said with guilt, "No, my boy, I am sorry. To all of you, I am sorry."
Sakura looked at him with concern, "My lord?"
"Once... being a shinobi meant to work in the shadows out of loyalty to our lords and nations," The Hokage started as if beginning one of his famed lectures. "But as the clans grew, alliances and mercenary work became the norm. The money was needed to feed the large clans. And increasingly they became used to preventing wars between countries, leaving the clans to fight amongst themselves until the conflict became less of circumstance, and more of tradition."
The shinobi remained silent, wondering where he could be going with this.
"I was born soon after the end of that era. Hashirama-sensei carried with him this dream that shinobi would not need to act as the first battle line. The conflict of nations would be kept in check by the shinobi actively working for them... We thought the days of sending children to fight would be over... Until the villages grew too big, and our semi-autonomy became an issue. Money was needed for supplies, food, anything to keep our people alive."
He sighed, "Did you know that after the foundation of the Hidden Village, the age requirement to be in active service was sixteen? Then after the first war, after a conflict that dwarfed the clan wars battles by an enormous margin, so many heavy losses, so much money needed for reparations... we were forced to remove that law..."
"I became Hokage so young, I've been the longest Hokage overseeing this village, and everything that happened in that time is my direct responsibility," Sarutobi said with a steely edge. "Lord Hashirama envisioned a time in which the shinobi clans would no longer fight senselessly out of grudges... and he was right. It became business. Blood was our currency. We tried to spread our work, avoid causing needless death, anything that would spark more conflict between nations... but we failed" His gaze became downcast. "I failed"
"Dad..." Asuma muttered sadly.
"We foolish old people who once tried to make sure the shinobi way would no longer involve you, youths, instead perpetuated this system... and we refined it, to the point it became the only thing we knew."
Everyone there, including Naruto and Lee, had heard or read just how bad the first shinobi war was. While not as brutal as the second or the nightmare of the third. The cost of human life in those battles was astronomical. But the revelation of the age requirement was Something of a surprise to the young Genin within the room.
"So..." Karin's voice garnered attention from the others, "None of us should have been ninjas right now?"
"Had the age requirement remained no. Then, once you had reached sixteen, you would be more mentally prepared for the severity of our work. But life is difficult as it always is." Then, his eyes turned to Kushina, "Tsukiko-Sama was always right. The shinobi system is nothing but an endless cycle of violence. With children's hands stained with blood."
Contemplation grew on Neji's face, "But if we changed the system, wouldn't there be consequences for all of us?"
"Many think that," Asuma stated, "But that is only cause most can't see past the system itself. As dad said, it became a tradition, and if you haven't noticed, many people are big on tradition in the shinobi world."
"Then change it," A few eyes turned to Kosuke, rubbing his chin, "Something has got to be more promising than there is now."
Nervously eating a chip, Chouji glanced at Shikamaru, "Can anything be changed?"
"That is not a question for me. That's something for the Fire court and Daimyo to decide."
At that, Hiruzen rubbed his beard chin, 'There might be one other. If the Gods can give her the means to do so.'
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Tsunade stood at the center of the empty prison, save only the prisoners within their cells. "I've decided, along with the elders and council, for all of you to be taken to the Capital for judgment of the Fire court and Daimyo himself."
Different levels of surprise were shown in the face of the shinobi. "Wait, you're not sentencing us here?" Kushina asked in confusion. "Isn't this a Konoha matter?"
"Usually, yes, but the gravity of your actions is too large for them to go unnoticed," The Hokage said sternly. "Shinobi going against mission parameters and betraying a client, more than that, uprooted a whole government who had business with us" She paced around before the cells. "The court will want answers, and we want to show the court we are still loyal. They are tired of hearing about missing-nin. You want to face the consequences for your actions doesn't matter."
"So," Kakashi summarized, "You want the court to still feel in control of us."
"They ARE the people we serve, and the Fire Daimyo is your lord," Tsunade reminded them harshly. "You went against the interests of this nation, and for that, you must answer to the people who RULE this nation."
The Hokage pinched the bridge of her nose, suddenly looking tired and old.
"The best I can do is keep you from the executioner's block. After that..." Tsunade clicked her tongue, making a sound of frustration. "Why did you have to do this? Were you even thinking about your future, any of you?"
Naruto chose to answer, his gaze unwavering and his words steely, reflecting his belief. "We were thinking about the future of those innocent people."
Tsunade stared at her grandson, not with disappointment but with heartache. It wasn't pitied. She didn't look at him like his ideals were childish or wrong... but like she knew they would only lead to tragedy for him.
"...The ANBU will escort you to the capital tomorrow," She said softly. "There is a trial that will be held."
The Hokage turned around and walked away.
"I'm sorry I disappointed you, mom," Kushina called out, her voice honest. "But... I don't regret doing what Tsukiko-baachan would have done, what Minato would have done."
Tsunade wanted to tell her how proud she was she held those beliefs so firmly... but she was Hokage now, her only ideal to uphold was the Will of Fire, and the village came first. Anything for the village's prosperity.
Tsunade did not turn around, and she couldn't allow her heartbroken expression to be seen. A Hokage had to remain firm in all things…
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
