{A/N}

My apologies for the late update, but I'm still very active. I will post the other half of this either later today or tomorrow morning. I had to split this because 30k words is a bit much for a single chapter, and was acting funny when I posted he 20k three weeks back. I'm not taking any chances.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Ironclad Repository}

August 22nd.

[7:23 PM]

Line break.

Some would call this petty; others would call it desperate. But everyone else would call this treason. Yet, in Danzo's mind, they wouldn't understand. They never do. He won't let these people cast him down and take credit for his work. Never. It's why he's doing this.

Shukaku is his and his alone.

The Ironclad Repository is one of Konoha's fortified facilities, and it could be considered one of the most impossible points of entry and escape. Guarded by Anbu and surrounded by intricate seals, it ensured only the most authorized personnel could enter.

Tonight, under the guise of seal experts, fourteen Root agents moved with practiced precision, their faces blank and their minds focused on the task ahead. Their mission: replace the One-Tail's gourd with a decoy, an order given by Danzo Shimura himself.

The group moved in silence, their disguises flawless.

They approached the Repository, blending seamlessly into the environment. The regular Anbu patrolling the area didn't suspect anything.

"Stay here." Their captain said as he walked in on what seemed to be a large briefing/study meeting.

The room was filled with experts, all gathered around a table. Many people were in this room, and one person wasn't happy about the interruption.

This person was Kazuto Shiba.

"What is the meaning of this?! Can you not see we are having a discussion in here?!" Kazuto yelled out, annoyed out of his mind. "Who even are you?! I don't have time to babysit another upstart!"

The disguised captain ignored the man's rant and walked up to him before handing him some kind of keycard.

This alone made Kazuto pale before turning to his colleagues. "Continue the briefing without me. This will only be a minute!" The man yelled as he rushed out the door, dragging the captain with him.

The older man shut the door and was startled to see the expressionless faces of other obviously disguised agents.

"W-why? Why are you here? What could Lord Danzo be trying to sneak out of here?" He whispered with worry.

"You already know. Now. Give us the green light and let them know we're here for a... Routine inspection," Said one of the disguised shinobi, their eyes unfeeling as they stared the old man down.

"O-o-of course!" The man said as he walked forward, his heart racing at the prospect of being caught. 'Dammit! First, you excluded me from the study of the Bijuu, and now you want to take it away?!'

Kazuto tried to keep calm as they walked through the corridors, and the captain, seeing how nervous the old man was, spoke. "Relax. You aren't doing anything wrong." The captain stated, his voice devoid of emotion.

Kazuto nodded his head, his hands visibly trembling.

The captain looked back to see his subordinates, who all held the same emotionless expression.

He sighed to himself when seeing this. 'This isn't going to work. Not like this.'

The captain did something that surprised them all. He put on a charming smirk and wrapped his arm around his female co-worker, the female agent not knowing how to respond.

"Act natural, all of you. Relax and establish an alibi," He whispered, his smile wide as he led the group forward, acting like the man he was supposed to be.

The female Root nodded and leaned into his shoulder.

"Alright."

Kazuto relaxed as the agents, through some miracle, all appeared natural, striking up a conversation with one another as though they'd always known each other.

They passed two seal masters, one of them looking back at the group with an interested and narrowed gaze,

"Did you see that?" The taller man whispered. "They're moving in on our objective. Should-"

"Quiet. Just keep your eyes forward and watch them." The younger assistant said calmly.

Line break.

When the group reached the checkpoint, Kazuto was measured, exactly what the captain wanted.

"Routine inspection," Kazuto said, his voice calm and his tone finally ringing with authority.

He presented forged documents, the seal stamp matching those issued by both Danzo and Inoichi.

The specialists glanced at the documents, then nodded, allowing them access. The Root agents moved with practiced ease, slipping into the secure area, and Kazuto let them be, hoping they knew what they were doing. If not, it would be his head.

Inside, the large gourd containing Shukaku sat on a low slab, intricate seals surrounding it.

The room was quiet, and the only sound was the faint hum of energy coming from the gourd. It was a strange and intimidating sight.

There were two other individuals keeping tabs on it, writing something down, ignoring the supposed inspectors, too used to this being a daily occurrence.

The Root agents wasted no time. No words, no comments.

Two of them used genjutsu, subtly influencing the specialists in the room with them, while the others carefully approached the gourd. One agent, a master of sleight of hand, swapped the genuine gourd for the decoy, moving efficiently using the replacement jutsu to do so.

To any untrained eye, it would appear that nothing had changed. After all, they were the only shinobi in the room. From there, the hard part began.

Pretending to be real inspectors. None of them were aware that their operations were being viewed closely by others interested in the gourd.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Firelight estate solutions}

[7:50 PM]

The sun was finally getting low enough for streetlights and buildings to light up. It was a beautiful day in Konoha, and it was even more so in the evening. The lights of the city shone in the eyes of the young blonde Namikaze, who was currently sitting in the large lobby.

Polished dark wooden floors that almost looked like dark marble and subtle Leaf village symbols were etched into the walls or floor. Soft lighting from modern overhead lamps illuminated the space, giving it a professional yet welcoming feel during the day. Yet, at night, it made Naruto drowsy.

Jiraiya was talking with the lady at the front desk. Meanwhile, he was leaning on the arm of his chair and closing his eyes, hoping to maybe get a quick nap.

The purpose of their visit was simple. To hire a trustworthy property manager for his new residential district and an administrator for the commercial land.

As he was finally starting to nap, the doors burst open, startling him awake as a man in a formal business suit entered.

His hair was slicked back, his face was sharp, and his eyes were narrowed. He was pissed.

"Excuse me?! Why is my assistant telling me I'm being locked out of Niji Gardens?! I was building there!" The man yelled

"Sir. This is a private establishment. Please lower your voice, and we can discuss this." The receptionist said with a scowl.

The man stomped his way to the counter next to an annoyed Jiraiya, slamming his hands onto the desk as he spoke. "I want to speak to someone about my Property! I was told I had more time! I'm not leaving until-"

"Sir, please calm down. We can discuss this in a civil manner, or you can leave. Those are your options." The lady grounded out while pointing to one of the chairs in the room.

"I have been redirected to multiple offices all day, each telling me the other was the root of my problems, and-"

"I can assure you, sir, you are in the wrong space. This place has no control over who holds what, " she said as she crossed her arms.

The man's face went red, and just as he was about to explode, Jiraiya planted a hand on his shoulder, and a terrible feeling washed over the man for a moment before it vanished. "Sir. Why don't you sit down and let me finish my business here? It has been a really long day for me and As you can see, I was here first This will only be a minute."

The man didn't move for a second. He got a good look at Jiraiya before glancing at the only other person in the office, Naruto. With that, he gaped like a fish for a second before schooling himself. "V-Very well."

Jiraiya nodded and watched the man walk away before turning back to the receptionist.

The lady cleared her throat. "As I was saying, we have two candidates for the property manager position. One is a former business owner who has recently sold their company, and the other is a retired real estate agent. Both have experience managing properties and have a proven track record of success."

"Excellent. What about the administrator for the commercial land?"

"We have a candidate who has worked in the retail industry for several years and has a degree in business administration. They have experience in managing budgets and developing marketing strategies, and they have a good understanding of the local market."

Jiraiya shook his head. "Ah. You misunderstood what I was looking for. It's not business management but tax collection. My pupil owns the land itself in the commercial district, and the people there-"

"I understand the process, Lord Jiraiya. There is no need. My apologies for getting that bit wrong, " the woman said with a bow. "We have one person who is currently working as an administrator in the tax office of a large corporation, and they are looking for a change of pace. They have a background in accounting and are familiar with the local tax laws. I think she would be a good fit if her salary were appropriately negotiated."

Jiraiya nodded and gave a tired smile. "Very well. We will go with the former real estate agent and the tax administrator. I'd appreciate it if we made the necessary arrangements in... Uh... Perhaps within a week?"

The receptionist nodded, "Very well. We'll contact the candidates and set up a time for them to meet with you. Is there a form of contact or a location we should have in mind?" she asked as the man from before began to stand.

Jiraiya nodded. "My pupil's estate would be a good place to meet. The Namikaze estate."

The lady nodded and wrote that down on her clipboard. "Very well. I will send them there. Is that all for today, Lord Jiraiya?"

"Yes, that will be all. Thank you for your help," Jiraiya said with a smile. He then turned to Naruto and gestured to the door. "Come on, kid. Let's go home. I'm sure you're ready to get out of here."

Naruto stood up and followed Jiraiya out of the office, taking note of the look the other guy in the room was giving him. It wasn't a good one.

As he walked out and into Konoha, Naruto turned to Jiraiya and pointed at the building with his thumb. "He mentioned-"

"Yeah. Niji Gardens. He must've been the former owner before you took back your father's land. You'll run into a few... Disgruntled nobles, but it's nothing to worry about. He'll be fine. Now let's get some food. I'm starving."

Naruto nodded and followed his mentor out of the office.

Line Break

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Moonlit Haven Inn}

[11:08 PM]

[Yuma POV]

Yusuke and his grandchildren spent the rest of the day searching for Namikaze Naruto and with no success whatsoever. They were simply too slow and unfamiliar with the village layout to find him.

Now, they were currently in their rooms, and no one could sleep.

The night was heavy, the weight of their humiliation was... Too much. As the Koneko family settled into their hotel rooms, it became obvious to them that sleep would be elusive tonight.

Yuma was lying in her bed with her eyes wide open and her body burning with rage. Her fists clenched the sheets as her mind replayed the events at the Hyuga compound over and over again, her fantasies running wild. Her grandfather's terrible unraveling and the cold dismissiveness of Hiroshi Hyuga. If only she would've said something. Perhaps she could've prevented-

'No. They'd made up their mind the moment they saw him in the wheelchair. Those heartless, blind-eyed looking bastards.' She thought angrily.

The Hyuga had humiliated them, but Yuma swore she would ensure their family position was secured. She'd make the Hyuga pay for this slight.

She growled and sat up, unable to bear it any longer. She needed air, or perhaps to see the one who had been affected the most.

She threw the covers off and made her way to the door but stopped suddenly. Masuda would sooner lash out than let her coddle him. He's inconsolable.

She gripped the knob tightly and closed her eyes. 'Sleep. Just... Get sleep, Yuma.'

But the more she thought of sleep, the more it evaded her.

She growled and threw herself back onto her mattress, letting out a long sigh. 'This is gonna be a really long night.'

Line break.

[Togoshi POV]

In the common area of the suite, Yusuke paced back and forth, his face twisted with anger.

He could hardly keep himself contained, his old hands trembling at his sides as his thoughts circled around the humiliation they had suffered. It was intolerable.

"How dare that Hyuga filth insult us like this!" he spat, his voice low but full of rage. "To speak of Masuda like that, as if we were nothing but beggars at their door! My progeny! Us!"

Togoshi, seated at the table, flinched as his grandfather threw his glass into the wall, his expression tense. The glass shattered into the corner of the living area and into the carpet, wine spilling down the wall.

"This isn't just about the Hyuga," Togoshi said while keeping his voice measured. "We were too hasty in seeking out the Hyuga and foolish in believing they were out of the loop of what was going on at home."

Togoshi's mind began racing, considering all the angles. He wasn't solely concerned about the slight they had suffered. He was worried about the future, about the fact that he might never become the Daimyo at this rate. Revenge is the sweetest through success. The sooner they succeed, the sooner they'll have the Hyuga groveling at their feet, begging to take Masuda back.

'Though, that is wishful thinking.' He thought while thinking of his brother's condition.

"You're right," Yusuke said, his voice softening slightly, and the teen looked up to see that he stopped his pacing.

Yusuke turned to face Togoshi, his eyes still burning with fury. "We need to find a way to get The Namikaze into our grasp, to convince him to join us before any of the other families do. If we let anyone from the court beat us to him, we're finished."

Togoshi nodded. "We'll need to be smart about this. We haven't even considered what we'll be offering him."

"What do you mean?! He'll be marrying into the royal-"

"We aren't the royals yet, grandfather! What do we have to offer? Think for a second!" Togoshi shouted out in anger, causing Yusuke to fall quiet, the old man's eyes widening for a moment before narrowing in anger.

"Speak like that to me again, boy, and-"

"And what?! What are you going to do?! It seems I'm the only one concerned about the success of our family rather then pride and simple prestige gain!" He yelled back. Yusuke's face fell for a moment, and the man slumped.

"..."

Togoshi took the silence as his answer. The old man can do nothing. He may be their guardian, but he's not their head. Not anymore.

"This time, I'm doing the talking. Going to the Hyuga without any cards up our sleeve was stupid. You know how they are. They're fickle and cold. Now my brother is useless to us until we can find him a girl, and that may not come for awhile since our standing has fallen." Togoshi said as he rubbed his temple. leaned forward on the couch.

"What do you suppose we offer then, hm? Money? Gold? Women?" Yusuke said sarcastically.

Togoshi was internally grateful his father raised him rather than his grandfather. He was understanding why his father preferred he'd not be spoiled. He wanted him hardened in the case something like this ever happened.

"Come now, grandfather. Think about it. If you were in his shoes, what would you be dealing with right now?" The teen said.

Yusuke scowled. "I'm not in the mood for your riddles, Hisaki."

Togoshi blinked as his grandfather continued to pace, the absent-minded mention of his father giving him pause before continuing. "He'll surely want what's his by right. If we, say, support him in the upcoming trial in transferring the ownership of the Silverleaf trading company and whatnot, he'll surely be on our side. We also can support him with the capital's trade routes and such. We can help his standing among the nobility. If he wishes to be seen as one of us, then he will surely be receptive to this, don't you agree?"

Yusuke paused at this. "And... How do we accomplish that? Our position-'

"He doesn't know of our position. In fact, he'll know little of us. We'll simply tell him we're the family of the former Daimyo and bam! He'll be given a false perception of us. It's why we need to hurry, though. He is surely naive of the ongoings of court, so let us use it to our advantage." Togoshi said as he imagined ways the conversation could go down.

Yusuke narrowed his eyes, his old wrinkled face deepening with thought. "Whatever you say. I'll leave this to you, then. Remember, this is also about Yuma. She must marry him down the line for this to work. And then there's the issue of getting around his guardian."

Togoshi's lips thinned, and he nodded. "I know. We'll go into more detail tomorrow over breakfast. Getting his initial help is easy, but that part... I don't know. Meeting him in person is important. He's Masuda's age, after all."

The old man waved the implications away. "In this village, children grow up far faster than civilians. That Hyuga girl is a prime example."

Togoshi's brow furrowed in thought. 'We'll see, grandfather. We'll see.'

Line break.

[Masuda POV]

In Masuda's room, things were far less composed.

The boy was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his hands clenched into fists, and his breathing uneven.

His mind was a storm of anger and shame. His thoughts kept circling back to Hiroshi's words, to the way Hinata had looked at him. The humiliation was unbearable. His manhood, his very worth, had been questioned in front of the girl he had wanted more than anything in the world.

He felt a surge of anger, and he twisted on the bed, trying to reach for something, anything, to throw. But his legs wouldn't respond, so all he could do was flail his arms about. His frustration mounted to the point of beating his fists against his pillow, an attempt to release the rage building inside him.

He wanted to scream, to tear something apart, but all he could do was lay there, useless.

He had just woken up prematurely after crying himself to sleep.

His dreams were usually more like nightmares of the day he lost his parents or sometimes scenarios where he walked out alive and fine with them by his side. Those were cruel, but not like this one. This was a shameless fantasy rather than the nightmare he wholeheartedly expected. He dreamt of Hinata and how beautiful she was, how she had always seemed so graceful and untouchable.

He saw her doting on him, even in his crippled state, caring for him, and in his dream, it went further than that, shamelessly so. He dreamt of her on top of him, dominating him, taking his virginity, what her usually serene face would look like, what her breasts would be like, what her body would look like in motion and in pleasure.

And then reality came, and he found that it was all a shameless fantasy. Now, he sat up, looking down at the obvious tent in his pants, his face reddened. And nothing would even come from it.

"I-It was all a dream! She'll n-never... Not when her grandfather...-" He whispered, stuttering in shock and humiliation at what he'd just done in his sleep. But in his mind, it was justified. It wouldn't have been a dream. It would have been a potential future for him. And that thought sent him over the edge.

He threw his pillow across the room. "I'll kill him!" He roared, his voice cracking.

He sat there for a while, his face buried in his hands, trying to control the sobs threatening to choke him.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Naruto's apartment}

[11:42 PM]

[Naruto POV]

Naruto opened the door to his apartment, a bag of food in one hand, and walked into his apartment while dragging his feet, Jiraiya close behind.

"You sure you don't want to stay over at your new place?" Jiraiya asked while setting his leftover beef bowl down.

Naruto shook his head, hopping onto the counter to finish his meal. "Not really. I still like this place. It's the place Hiruzen gave me, and I've taken care of it all this time."

Jiraiya looked around the apartment, and aside from a few clothes sprewned across the place and scrolls on the ground, it was tidy.

"It's a good space," Jiraiya said with approval. "However, it won't offer you the necessary security your new position requires."

Naruto scowled at that revelation. "Y-Yeah... That's true... But-"

"Naruto, listen. I know this is your first home and that you want to hold onto it. However, it is not suitable. You're going to need a space large enough to hold meetings with others and a space that is well-fortified for the times when I'm away. You're a bigger deal than you've ever been. This isn't about living in some fancy house but making sure you have the recourses available for the position you've inherited."

Naruto scowled at that. "Now, why did you have to go and make such a valid point?" He grumbled.

Jiraiya chuckled. "It's fine if you want to keep this place. I'm not saying to sell it or anything. I'm saying for the time being, you should really begin to take residence at your new place. At least until the recent revelation of your birthright fizzles out."

Naruto deflated and picked at his food at that. "It's just... Empty. I don't know how to keep up with such a large property."

"That's what servants are for, kiddo." Jiraiya said with a smirk.

Naruto blinked at that. Hiring a staff? He'd have never thought of that.

"One more thing. This place isn't even technically yours to begin with. It's the Sarutobi clan's. And according to Hiruzen, you're technically... Indebted to them for this place since Hiruzen went against the clan to put you here." Jiraiya said with a bitter undertone.

Naruto deflated further at this. "Oh. Great. Can't I just pay off what I owe?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Hiruzen convinced them you'd be able to when the time comes, and I bet they're looking forward to that. But until then, I think you should get used to living in the estate."

"Alright... But what will I even do in such a big house?"

"Train. Study. Host parties. Get married and have kids."

"I mean it, Jiraiya," Naruto said, his tone serious.

"So do I," Jiraiya responded, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

Naruto sighed and went back to eating, grimacing at the ramen. The sight made the man laugh.

"I told you not to order their ramen. It's a place that sells beef bowls. Why did you think they could do it well?"

"Shut up," Naruto mumbled, taking another bite of his ramen. "I had a taste for ramen, ok? It's been too long." He said with a depressed whisper.

The older man nodded in understanding and rubbed the kid's hair gently. "I never told you how proud of you I was, did I? Because I am. I really am, Naruto."

Naruto gripped his fork hard enough for the plastic to break, causing bits of ramen to fall off onto the counter. "Thanks. You too, I mean. You too."

Jiraiya shook his head. "No. Not me, too. I pushed you harder than I did your father did when we trained, and gave you little praise at how much you grew. I wasn't there for your match, I pushed an S-rank mission onto you and pressured you to the point of stressing you out... And... Even with all that, you did exactly what you were supposed to do, exactly as you were told, and went above and beyond to see things through to the end... Only to lose some of the people you love. And even through all that, I haven't been around as I should to address this."

"J-Jiraiya. It's ok-"

"No, no... It's not. I can't express..." Jiraiya stopped talking to take a breath and circled around the counter to face Naruto. "Your life is changing in ways you never imagined, and I've been negligent of that. I'm not very good with kids, I've admitted this to you in the past, but I want you to know you're an amazing kid. No one would be taking this as well. You haven't lashed out once."

Naruto nodded. "I...-"

"You don't have to say anything. Just listen. I'm not going to be here tomorrow because I'll be attending a council meeting. This is to take down the people responsible for the great blunder that was Shukaku's release." Jiraiya said.

This got Naruto's attention instantly, "Ah! You mean that Danzo prick?!" Naruto growled.

Jiraiya nodded, and before he could respond, Naruto beat him to it. "Why didn't you tell me this before? How long has that been going on?!"

"I didn't want to stress you out anymore. This is going to be a long, arduous thing that could take time. The point of this is to put the people responsible for this mess on trial. Mind you, these are the people that... Leaked your status as a Jinchuuriki to the village." Jiraiya said.

Naruto's eyes widened with surprise before they narrowed. "They're... They're the reason the people kept... Looking at me like-"

"Yes. Now, when the time comes, We're going to need testimonies, and given the fact that you were a key player in subduing the Sand Jinchuurik before they dropped the ball, there's no other more fit for this. However, this is optional. You-"

"Absolutely. I want justice to be served, " Naruto said, his voice low.

Jiraiya nodded in understanding. He couldn't imagine what Naruto was feeling. But it was clear he'd been given an outlet, even if it was a small one.

"Very well, " Jiraiya said, his gaze unwavering as he continued, "However, you must know that I can't involve you as much as you'd want. Not until after the meeting, so sit tight."

Naruto nodded and went to take another bite of his ramen, only to find that his plastic fork is still snapped. 'Damn.'

Line break.

After another hour with Jiraiya, Naruto bid him farewell.

He walked to his kitchen and packed up his leftover noodles, grimacing as he looked at them. He couldn't finish it. He ate the beef, but their noodles sogged up in a bad way. It wasn't appealing at all.

It definitely wasn't Teuchi. He wasn't going to waste food, though.

He put it in his fridge and dragged his feet to his room, putting his things away and cleaning up a little.

Afterward, he turned off his light and sat on his bed, the room now illuminated by the moonlight. He took a deep breath and buried his face into his hands, groaning as he did so.

He was afraid to sleep tonight. It's one thing to have nightmares about his loved ones dying out before him, but it was another to deal with another dream where everything was great. It's worse when he knows the faces of his parents on top of that.

'My mind can be so cruel.' He thought to himself as he rubbed his temple.

Standing up, he let the window crack open a bit to let some cool air in. It saves on electricity.

It's that time of year when the nights are just starting to get chilly. It's actually his favorite time of year. Fall is just around the corner, and that chill breeze is always so refreshing to feel. It helps clear his mind a little bit.

With that, Naruto took a deep breath and sat back down on his bed, the cool air hitting his face. After getting comfortable in his bed, he faced the window.

It didn't take long for him to doze off from there. He'll see about relaxing tomorrow and perhaps pay Konohamaru a visit since he wants to settle this apartment nonsense as soon as possible.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Council chambers}

August 23rd.

[5:35 AM]

[Jiraiya POV]

Jiraiya walked briskly down the hall of the building, his sandals tapping softly against the polished wood floor.

The morning sun hasn't even graced the skies yet. It was still dark out, and the building was not technically open.

He approached the council chambers, where he, Inoichi, and Shikaku had agreed to meet early to finalize their pitch. This wasn't the actual trial, far from it. But they planned on pressuring their opponents as though it were one.

Today was all about laying The intricacies of the failed containment mission bare before the council. This meeting could determine a hell of a lot for Konoha, and Jiraiya was feeling nervous in a way he hadn't in a really long time.

He took a deep breath, knowing that every word they spoke today could have dire consequences for those in power.

'Ok, Shikaku. You'd better be perfect today.' He thought before he pushed the heavy wooden doors open.

He found Shikaku and Inoichi already in deep conversation. Shikaku was organizing the files, stacking them in neat order, his expression pensive, and Inoichi had his arms crossed, nodding thoughtfully at something Shikaku was saying.

They both glanced up as Jiraiya entered, their expressions shifting slightly, Inoichi with a relieved smile, Shikaku with a curt nod, though looking like he'd rather be in bed right about now.

"Glad you could make it," Shikaku said, gesturing to a seat across from him. "We're just going over everything one last time. We need this airtight."

Jiraiya let out a breath and nodded, finding a seat and settling down.

He leaned forward, hands resting on his knees, his eyes narrowing in focus. "Alright, Shikaku, pitch it to me. What's the game plan."

Shikaku leaned back slightly, tapping the topmost folder. "We start with Kazuto's mission reports. The ones the Anbu commander 'retrieved' from Danzo's operations. They detail the failure during the invasion and the decision to transfer Shukaku without considering the damaged state of Gaara's seal."

"It'll force their hand immediately. No doubt they'll have some kind of counterpoint prepared. They're not going down easy." Jiraiya said.

"I'm well aware, and that's why we have Maki's report on their retrieval of Gaara's body, showing the extent of the seal damage, corroborating Kazuto's reluctant reports. She's also willing to testify and back her statements, so there's no issue there." Inoichi said.

"We'll be aggressive at the start, putting these two at the forefront before stepping off and seeing what Danzo has to counter with if anything. If he's smart, he won't come unprepared. He'll likely have altered reports of their statements or reports that contradict the two most damning statements we have. No doubt he's keeping any of the survivors of the incident quiet and subservient. He's a cutthroat, after all." Shikaku said as he drew a couple of scrolls before them.

Inoichi smirked. "That's when we start pulling these cards out. Bribery, fund siphoning, tampering with village policies, all the corruption we know they've been part of. We hit them with everything. One by one, we present the evidence. But the first thing we hit them with is the proof that they've been tampering with our files for years, and this right here will prove it."

Jiraiya stood up and hovered over an old file, one that dates back to before he was even known as the legendary toad sage.

"This... These are old... Yet, you can see where you're coming from." Jiraiya said as Shikaku drew over a file that was very similar, yet not.

He went on to set multiple files out one by one, an original, and a copy, all with dates that contradict any possibility of them having been the ones tampering with the information, sensitive or not.

"I think we can all agree that no one here was old enough or had the ability to access the vaults at such an age. They boast their old age all the time. They may as well own it." Shikaku said.

"That's not entirely true. Hiruzen could have. Yet... It's definitely not him." Jiraiya said quietly.

"The more we reveal, the more they'll scramble. Danzo will try to salvage it, either with arguments or with counter-documents he's prepared in advance. But we've got him covered." Shikaku responded.

Inoichi chimed in next. "We know their moves. Danzo especially. He's always one step ahead or thinks he is. We need to overwhelm them before they even know what's happening. If we keep piling on the evidence, they'll struggle to counter it."

Shikaku tapped another file, his eyes narrowing. "We use these to back the elders into a corner. He won't be able to deny his involvement, not with Kazuto's mission orders directly implicating him."

Jiraiya frowned, his brow furrowing as he processed the plan. " He won't just sit there and take it. But this plan seems solid."

Shikaku nodded. "Without a doubt. We'll pull in the testimony as our trump card."

Inoichi leaned forward, his expression hardening. "If we can get her to the council chamber safely, her statement will be enough to force an official investigation. Once we do that, the Anbu will have the authority to raid the Shimura compound. That will be the final nail in the coffin."

Jiraiya looked up at that. "The anbu are preparing a raid? Already? Isn't that aggressive?"

Inoichi nodded. "The Anbu commander insisted. He's... Onto something, it seems."

Jiraiya crossed his arms, his gaze shifting between the two men. A slight frown formed on his face. "And what about Maki's safety? The last thing we need is her getting taken out before she can testify."

Shikaku exchanged a glance with Inoichi, who spoke up, his tone steady. "The Anbu commander is on that too. Kakashi and Tenzo are protecting her, and they're prepared for anything."

Jiraiya smirked slightly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Well, well. I can't see any holes from where I'm sitting. Not bad.

Shikaku gave a nod, then looked down at the scrolls in front of him, his fingers brushing against the edges. "A few witnesses have gone missing as is. We can't point our finger towards Danzo, but we can't be too careful either, hence, the security on Maki."

Inoichi sighed, his expression tired but resolute. "This is our shot. We bring them all down, and we pave the way for a new era in Konoha. But it's all or nothing. If we fail, they'll double down on their control, and it will be harder than ever to uproot them. We can't let that happen. Not after everything we've uncovered."

Jiraiya leaned back, exhaling heavily. He looked at his two comrades, his gaze serious. "Once the elders are weakened, I'll go after Tsunade. I need her back here ASAP. Them being out of the way could encourage her to take the hat."

Inoichi raised an eyebrow, his lips forming a tight line. "You think Tsunade will even agree to come back? We're not exactly offering her a paradise. Honestly, Jiraiya, you should take the hat. You're already in this fight, and you've proven yourself to be capable."

Shikaku nodded in agreement. "You've got the respect of the village, and you're already in the thick of it. It would be easier if you just took it. Besides, you know what we're dealing with here better than anyone."

Jiraiya shook his head adamantly, a determined glint in his eyes. "No. I need to be here for Naruto. With his heritage out in the open, people are going to be gunning for him. He needs someone to watch his back, someone who understands what he's going through. On top of maintaining our spy network, it simply won't do to have me become the Hokage. Tsunade's our best option for Hokage. She has the strength and the experience, and she won't take any nonsense from the elders if they somehow cling to some semblance of power, nor anyone else."

He hesitated for a moment, then added, his voice softer, "I need your help with her. If this falls through, it can't be for nothing. I need her back here, and I need her on our side."

Shikaku looked thoughtful, rubbing his goatee. "We could remove her immunity—force her back under village control. It's an option, but it's risky."

Jiraiya frowned, shaking his head. "No. If we push her too hard, she might just bolt. I don't want her labeled a missing-nin. But... I'll keep it in mind as a last resort. I just hope it doesn't come to that."

Shikaku rolled up one of the scrolls, nodding in agreement. "We'll get her back, one way or another. For now, let's focus on today. We need to protect Maki, make sure our arguments are airtight, and prepare for any surprises. We can't afford to let this fall apart—not now, not when we're this close."

Inoichi glanced at the files, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "And what if Danzo has more than we think? He's a snake. If we back him into a corner, there's no telling what he'll pull."

Jiraiya grinned, his confidence unwavering. "That's why we've got contingency plans. If Danzo tries to pull something, we hit back even harder. If they somehow win, and god forbid that ever happens, we'll... Leak the official reports of the containment mission. We'll let the people know just who's responsible for the second-tailed beast massacre in this village's history."

Jiraiya leaned back and smirked. 'now there's some poetic justice. I like that.'

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Naruto's apartment}

[8:12 AM]

[Naruto POV]

The very next day arrived, and he was, of course, hit with the morning rays.

He winced away from the light and let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't having a very good dream.

He sat up, clutching his chest, as he was glad to be awake. He never thought he'd feel that way, but even morning drowsiness was preferable to what was happening in his dream. Iruka's dead body flashed into his mind, and he winced before hurrying out of his bed and toward the bathroom.

He doesn't know the details of his death, but one terrible comment from one of the chunin made his heart crack wide open.

Apparently, he was like a zombie, with how many wounds he suffered. Now, a zombie Iruka plagues him at night, and he can't seem to shake off that terrible sight.

As he entered the bathroom and washed his face and hands, those thoughts got worse, and he paused, remembering their last conversation in the cafe.

[Flashback]

"I appreciate you bringing me here. It really helped," Naruto whispered, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.

Iruka gave him a warm smile. "Of course. I can see you're nervous about tomorrow. Don't be. You are going to make so many people proud, including me. You have a good head on your shoulders, much better than myself when I was your age.

Naruto chuckled, and Iruka shook his head. "I mean it. Look. When I first met you, admittedly, I was like everyone else. I regret that to this day, and I'm glad I came to truly know you better because even up to that point, I didn't have someone to call family."

Naruto's eyes widened at this, and Iruka continued. "The potential I saw in you is being manifested before my very eyes. I ask about you all the time, and I'm told how you'll surpass me and your other sensei' in due time. In truth, I think you may have already surpassed me, actually."

"I... I don't know about that... but-"

"I really think you have. Don't doubt your abilities. Keep your head held high where it belongs. Don't let the thoughts of what the people of this village think about you affect your future. I see it. I've always seen it, and now everyone else will, too."

Naruto didn't know what to say, but his lips curled up in a warm smile. "I needed this."

Iruka nodded. "I know."

[present day]

Naruto blinked at the sudden pain in his hand, and looking up, he saw his fist embedded beyond the mirror and in the wall.

He drew his fist back with a pained hiss and held onto his hand while his chest burned with grief.

Gah! Damn! Now, why would I go and do something like that?!" He bit through clenched teeth.

He looked at his hand and grimaced. There wasn't a lot of blood, but the glass definitely cut into the skin.

'So stupid. Why would you think of that now?' he scolded himself before turning the faucet on and putting his hand underneath the running water. 'Think positive thoughts, you idiot.'

Line break.

Entering his living room, a bowl of cereal in hand, he sat in front of a bunch of scrolls slewed across the floor. His old work is from when he received his mother's diary. Three projects were scrapped because they were too ambitious at the time of drawing them up, but with his current understanding of fuinjutsu, he feels he should be able to crack these.

He set his bowl down after a few more bites of his breakfast and grabbed a scroll containing his dream project.

The notorious Uzumaki sealing formula.

This is what his clan was feared for, yet, according to his mother, not many in their clan knew how this worked, save for the elders, herself, and a few of their top sealing experts. It was so complex that it wasn't passed down often. It had to be studied and practiced with intensity. A seal that could seal anything, including the strongest of the bijuu, was a seal to be feared. Humans, objects, monsters, and according to this... Even gods. There was nothing this thing couldn't contain.

He stared at the swirling formula with fascination. He was going to master it eventually. It would make him unstoppable... Kind of.

There were limitations, obviously. It was a ritualistic seal, so it couldn't be condensed into someone's palm and slapped onto an object or person just like that. It had to be placed beforehand and activated manually in order for it to work.

On the bright side, it is unstoppable when applied.

Then, there was the completed version of his barrier armament jutsu. Splitting void. Her version was immune to regular elemental ninjutsu. That alone is a game-changer. His version shatters when you hit it hard enough with a damn bat.

"I guess we're doing you today. This'll keep me occupied, for sure." he said before finishing his cereal and grabbing the scroll, getting straight to work.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Hyuga compound}

[8:24 AM]

Hinata sat cross-legged in the lounge area of the estate, the girl still in her night clothes.

In front of her sat Ko, the man sitting with his hands on his lap. He wore a confused expression on his features, the man trying to comprehend what was just spoken to him.

"I don't understand." He said quietly.

"Simply keep an eye on him. Nothing more. Don't approach him, don't interact with him in any way whether direct or indirect. We'll wait it out and see how he'll react to his new positon." Hinata said as she meditated.

Ko frowned slightly, his confusion even more evident. "Hinata-sama, wouldn't it be better to bring him to the compound? Either to yourself or your grandfather? The boy could be snatched by any number of people at any time. It's risky to leave him alone."

Hinata shook her head, a small, almost cunning smile playing at her lips. "Tell me, Ko-san. Who is protecting Naruto?"

"Huh?-"

"Who is acting as his guardian?" The girl reiterated.

Ko thought about it for a moment before speaking. "I believe Jiraiya-Sama is the boy's charge."

"Correct. Now. What is the first thing he's likely to do when Naruto tells him about his day and the offers he was given by the nobility?" She asked before sipping her tea.

The older Hyuga's eyes widened with realization. "He'd-..." The Hyuga's brow furrowed as he really thought about it. "I imagine he'd sit the boy down and... Perhaps... Explain the dangers of nobility and their offers... Right?"

"Correct, Ko-san. He's inexperienced and new to this terrible game. To approach him without Jiraiya's presence would be disrespectful and... Predatory." She said while narrowing her eyes in thought. "What I want instead is to... Perhaps wait until he's in a position where he's less guarded. The pressure he's under is immense. I also feel that approaching him with the number of eyes on him as there are without a purpose would be foolhardy. It would bring more pressure to him."

Ko nodded. "So, keep an eye on him, and if I see an opportunity that can be taken advantage of-"

"Contact me if something happens. I don't want an angry Sannin. My grandfather is hasty because he's afraid of my father waking up. Take your sweet time, Ko-san."

Ko nodded and stood from his spot on the floor, taking a deep breath as he bowed to her. "Very well. I shall report back soon."

She nodded. "Thank you. You're a big help."

"Lady Hinata, your teammates have arrived at the compound and wish to see you," a branch member announced from the door.

The girl looked over with a bit of surprise and confusion. "Now?" She asked almost incredulously.

The woman stiffened and bowed. "I-I could send them away if it would please-'

"No, never mind." The girl said with an annoyed sigh. She had plans today, especially with her grandfather getting ready to leave for some council meeting today.

Setting her tea down and rising from her position on the floor, she followed the servant out. But not before addressing her guard.

"I look forward to our next meeting, Ko-san." She said before turning toward the door and exiting the room.

Line break.

She exited the drawing room and down the hallway before turning to her right to the guest lounge.

She saw the pair waiting for her, Kiba looking around the room with a frown while Shino stood still.

"Making Akamaru wait outside. Bunch of bastards." Kiba grumbled.

"He pooped on their pathway the last time he was here. It's no surprise-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know!" The boy hissed, "He apologized! It was my fault for rushing him here without making sure he was good. Still, making him wait outside is a bit much!"

Kiba's head then suddenly whipped in her direction as her scent hit him, and a huge smirk spread on his features.

"Hey, Hinata. Y-You... Woah. You look good this morning." He said with a slight blush, one that she took notice to.

She looked down at herself with slight alarm. She's wearing her night kimono. The neckline is a bit revealing given her rate of growth in her development. It wasn't a prominent cleavage, but Kiba being the way he is would be able to appreciate the slight view.

'What the hell was I thinking coming out in this?' She thought with disgust before clearing her throat. "What brings you here so early in the morning?"

Shino sighed from behind Kiba. "I could use help convincing him not to fight Naruto-"

"Shut up, Shino!" hissed Kiba before he turned to Hinata fully. "I need some help getting ready for my rematch. I'm going to teach that little runt a lesson!"

Hinata tilted her head in confusion, and seeing Shino so annoyed was also new.

"Kiba, you're being ridiculous. He isn't someone to challenge lightly." Shino responded.

"I'm not! His victory during the exams was a fluke! Remember, Hinata?!" Kiba said as he turned to her.

Hinata scowled at the memory. "I do. I warned you to be mindful of his abilities and to use a more careful approach. It didn't end well. What of it? Why are you picking a fight with Namikaze now?"

"Don't call him that." The boy said with a groan. "It makes him sound more important than he actually is. I need a good sparring partner to prepare, and since you're a friend and all..."

She sighed and shook her head. "No, thank you. That doesn't sound very interesting."

"What?! Why?!"

"Kiba. I can't teach you anything that will stick, let alone anything I feel would work on Naruto. You saw his match, didn't you?" She said.

Kiba stamped his foot. "Yeah! I did! But-"

"Kiba, listen to her for a second," Shino said, and Kiba growled at him.

"No, you listen! He's trying to handicap himself! No ninjutsu?! One hand?! He's an arrogant little shit that thinks he can beat me without his ninjutsu, or both of his hands! I'm gonna wipe that stupid look off of his face!" The Inuzuka yelled, imagining the smug look Naruto would be wearing during their match.

Shino pinched the bridge of his nose, a frustrated sigh leaving him.

Hinata closed her eyes in thought for a second before ushering the two further into the compound. "Listen. We'll go out to eat later today and... Talk about this issue. For now, I'd like to enjoy my morning in peace."

Shino bowed his head, and Kiba's mood improved almost immediately. His smile was toothy and wide as he nodded.

"I'll hold you to it," Kiba said with a nod.

She nodded and walked away, giving the servant a gesture to see the two to the entrance.

Line break.

[9:27 AM]

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Moonlit Haven Inn}

The dining hall of the hotel was a buzz of activity, the late morning atmosphere subdued as sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting a soft light over the Koneko family.

Masuda sat at the table, barely able to look at the meal in front of him.

It was a simple spread of rice, grilled fish, and miso soup. His eyes were hollow, unfocused, and his hands were moving mechanically, as if eating was the last act of control he could muster.

Even now, the sting of their humiliation at the Hyuga compound lingered, replaying in his mind over and over.

He heard Hinata's voice, the memory of her confirming his impotent state haunting him. What's worse? Her eyes were devoid of warmth. At least they were in the nightmare he'd suffered last night. He could barely even taste the food, let alone muster the energy to respond when Yuma nudged his arm, concerned. Then there's that damn dream. He flinched at that, his heart crushed at the thought that it would never be.

At the other end of the table, Togoshi leaned toward their grandfather, his expression troubled. His voice was lowered, meant only for Yusuke to hear. "I've seen a lot more minor families arriving. I don't think this was the best place to stay."

Yusuke took a slow sip of his tea, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched nobles get their bags taken by a hotel bellboy. He sighed deeply, setting his cup down. "You are worrying over nothing, grandson. These are all fodder, minor families with little to no power. We are untouchable to them. They're not even looking our way."

Yusuke then turned to his other grandson, his voice rising in irritation. "Masuda, eat," he commanded, his voice harsh and commanding. "You need your strength, so finish your food."

"Grandfather, he shouldn't even be up and about. His condition-" Yuma was cut off by a sharp glare from the elder.

"Silence, girl. If Masuda's state of being was too harsh for travel, we wouldn't have made it this far. We'll rent out a place after breakfast, and he can stay in whatever bedroom you want, Yuma." Yusuke said dismissively, his attention turning back to Masuda, who had started to move the food into his mouth, albeit slowly.

Yuma's lips pursed into a thin line, not appreciating the lack of concern for the boy, and when she turned to Togoshi for support, he simply stared at their brother with... Pity? No. It wasn't even pity. It was worse.

'Don't tell me they've disregarded him! And all for something out of his control?!' She thought with anger. She knew Togoshi never liked or cared for Masuda due to him growing up far more spoiled, but to not even share a shred of empathy with him now? That's disgusting!

Her gaze drifted back to her grandfather, the man who didn't even look at his grandson anymore with that fire in his eyes that promised prosperity. The look he's been giving the two of them for years. He's of no use to them in his eyes.

The Hyūga clan's rejection had left them grasping for straws, and the sudden influx of families into Konoha only heightened the urgency.

"So. Any strategy on getting the Namikaze boy's attention?" Yusuke asked, his voice hushed. "And when we do, what are we offering aside from your sister's hand?"

Before Togoshi could reply, the group felt someone approaching and turned to see a girl named Kurome Takiyama enter the dining hall.

She moved with the kind of grace that came naturally to someone raised in a privileged society. Elegant, her dark hair tied back, and purple eyes, and her presence commanding the attention of many in the room. But that was because many knew who she was related to.

Her gaze flickered toward the Koneko family, her lips curving into a polite smile as she approached their table.

"Lord Yusuke," Kurome greeted cordially, her tone laced with a politeness that felt almost mocking.

Yuma stiffened beside Masuda, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the girl she had always disliked. Kurome's condescending demeanor only made it worse. "I couldn't help but notice you here. A fortunate coincidence, indeed. I was curious... There have been whispers in the capital regarding your departure and its nature. My father won't say, so I came to see for myself."

Yusuke forced a smile, his eyes betraying nothing. "Rumors are often exaggerated, Lady Kurome," he replied smoothly, waving a dismissive hand. "We are simply taking some time away. A family matter."

Kurome nodded, her smile never faltering, though the knowing look in her eyes spoke volumes. "I see. Well, far be it from me to pry. I shall take my leave. Do enjoy your stay in Konoha." She bowed slightly, a gesture dripping with politeness, and turned to leave.

But Yusuke wasn't ready to let her go. He called after her, his voice a touch strained. "Lady Kurome, if I may ask—how long have you and your esteemed family been in Konoha?"

She paused, glancing back at him. "It's been a week now," she answered. "We are here to support Namikaze Naruto in reclaiming his businesses. The Silverleaf Trading Company has been a valued partner of ours, and we hope to maintain that partnership as he takes his rightful place."

Yusuke paled slightly at her words. Toin Takiyama, Kurome's father, owned the largest coastal province in the Fire Country, the thriving port city of Kaigan. The significance wasn't lost on him—the Takiyama family held considerable power, and if they were here supporting Naruto, then the Konekos were even more outmatched than he'd feared.

'Shit. SHIT!' Togoshi thought in his head as he stared at his food, his eyes wide with horror.

Kurome's gaze lingered on Yuma for a brief second, a small, satisfied smile playing at her lips before she turned away. Her father, Toin, called out to her from across the hall, his voice carrying authority. Kure Miyako, another figure of power, stood beside Toin, the younger brother of Kasumi Miyako, the very woman who had led the faction that dethroned Yusuke.

Seeing them together, united in purpose, drove it home for Yusuke. He knew other families would be here, but the brother of the daimyo that deposed him and one of the most influential businessmen in Fire Country together? There's no doubt that both are here for Naruto. They knew how it would play out, they could just feel it.

Yusuke's fingers trembled slightly as he placed his teacup down, a hint of desperation in his eyes. "We need to finish here," he said quietly to Togoshi and Yuma, his voice urgent. "We cannot waste any more time. We need to find Naruto, and quickly."

Togoshi nodded, his face set in determination. "We'll find him, Grandfather. But we have to be smart about this. We can't afford to let the Takiyamas or any other family get to him first."

Yuma, her eyes still glaring at Kurome's retreating form, clenched her jaw. "I'll do what needs to be done," she said, her voice cold. "If securing Naruto is what we need, then I'll convince him."

Yusuke gave her a sharp nod, his gaze hardening. "Then let us not waste any more time. We leave as soon as we're ready."

Masuda, still silent, watched the exchange with a hollow gaze, the sting of his own failures making him feel even smaller. He forced himself to take another bite of his breakfast, but it tasted like ash. All he could think of was Hinata and how he had lost her, how he had lost everything he had dreamed of.

'I hate my life.'

Line break.

[9:27 AM]

[Kakashi POV]

The street was lively and bustling despite it being early in the morning, and Kakashi Hatake approached the small house within Konoha. Construction crews worked tirelessly, and the sounds of hammers and shouting workers filled the air. If he had to stay here, he'd be losing his mind.

The house Kakashi approached was unassuming and tucked in between a few larger buildings. The house belonged to one of the fuinjutsu experts who had been present during the Shukaku incident.

Kakashi let out a sigh as he scanned the building and proceeded to pinch the bridge of his nose, hoping this will go well. He's here to escort this guy the meeting to testify, but based on what he's been told, he's a challenge to deal with.

Multiple Anbu guards were hidden in the shadows, and protection was given to the witness courtesy of the Anbu commander.

He raised his hand and knocked firmly on the door.

The seconds dragged on, and there was no response. He knocked again and spoke up. "Tenshin-san! You good in there?!" Kakashi asked. But there was no response.

Kakashi frowned under his mask and turned his head slightly toward the shadows.

"Where is the seal master?" Kakashi asked, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority.

There was a pause before one of the Anbu spoke up. "He should be inside, sir. We have not seen him leave."

Kakashi's frown deepened and he turned and knocked again. He waited a good minute, and then knocked again, Yet, there was no answer.

"You've been here the whole time, right?" Kakashii asked as he crossed his arms.

Another Anbu stepped forward slightly, their posture rigid. "Yes, Hatake-san. We have been stationed here the whole time."

Kakashi sighed, his frustration growing. "Why isn't he answering the door?"

The Anbu exchanged questioning glances, and he could sense their confusion.

After a moment, Kakashi stepped forward, his patience wearing thin.

"Move aside," he ordered, his voice lazy but cold.

The Anbu hesitated but ultimately complied, stepping back as Kakashi approached the door.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, hoping he wasn't doing something hastily. Then he forced the door open, the wood splintering slightly under the pressure of his kick.

He stepped inside, his senses immediately on high alert.

The house was quiet. Way too quiet.

Kakashi's eye narrowed as he moved through the living area, his gaze sweeping the room.

As he reached the small sitting room, the sight confirmed his worst fears. The seal master lay crumpled on the floor, lifeless.

His eyes were open, staring blankly at the ceiling, and his body showed no signs of a struggle. There was no blood, nothing to indicate how he had died. The seal master looked as if he had been doing something idle, like reading a newspaper, before death claimed him. The cause of death would require an autopsy to uncover.

Kakashi's expression darkened, a cold fury building within him. He resisted the urge to throw his arms up in the air at the sheer absurdity of a man just passing away like this out of nowhere. He was what, 30?

He turned on his heel and marched back to the entrance, his anger barely contained.

The Anbu guards straightened as he approached, but Kakashi's voice was like a whip when he spoke. "How did this happen? Did any of you see anyone enter the house?!"

"We... we didn't notice anything. There were no signs of forced entry, no disturbances," one of them stammered, clearly unnerved.

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed, and he looked back into the house. 'This was foul play, I know it. What are the odds of him just dying off the day of the meeting.' Kakashi thought with annoyance.

His gaze swept over the Anbu once more, and though their masks concealed their expressions, he could sense their unease.

Kakashi took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain composed. "This is unacceptable. You-" he pointed at two of the Anbu , "go report this incident to your commander immediately. The rest of you, secure the area. I want no one coming in or out until we get to the bottom of this."

The Anbu nodded, a few of them disappearing in a blur of movement while the others moved to follow Kakashi's orders. Kakashi remained standing at the entrance, his mind racing.

'I know this was you, Danzo. If only I could...'

Kakashi looked out as the anbu left the area. 'Or are you forces even amongst the Anbu now?'

Line break.

{Land of Wind: The borderlands}

[9:45 AM]

The sound of howling wind was getting annoying for Tsume at this point. The sun was in the sky now, and warmth was slowly returning to the desert, the chill of the night fading finally.

They struck early in the morning, and now, what remained were scattered signs of the mini skirmishes that had erupted here. Broken kunai were lodged in the sandy ground, singed spots littered the land where explosive tags had detonated, and faint trails of blood dried under the relentless sun, leading to now deceased sand shinobi being piled up and burned.

Konoha forces, led by Tsume Inuzuka and Shibi Aburame, had ruthlessly taken over the area.

Their mission was clear. To establish a foothold in these strategic outposts that were once Suna's first line of defense.

Tsume was crouched near the entrance of one of the larger abandoned bunkers, her eyes scanning the pitch black hall in front of her.

"Hana, come here," Tsume called.

Hana stepped forward, her three ninken flanking her. Their noses twitched as they scanned the air.

"See if you can sniff out anything down there. My nose is strained." The older woman said, crossing her arms.

Hana nodded, and with a silent gesture, her lead ninken began sniffing the air and itching closer to the entrance of the base.

It wasn't long before some of them recoiled back, and she herself scowled. "More smelling salts. I can't tell for sure." The younger girl said, turning to her mother. "What now?"

Tsume turned toward Shibi, waving him down. "Oy! We could use some assistance over here!"

From the other side, Shibi sighed and stood up, grabbing a brown gourd and an eerie black one as well.

He walked toward the pair, and Hana stepped away from the gourd, hearing the ominous low hum of man-eating beetles within.

These weren't your usual beetles, and it was made clear by all present Aburame clan members to stay away from the gourd at all costs. Very few in their clan could house such beetles, so few were safe from them, save for Shibi and a select few.

"Step back, please." The man said.

They complied, and the man stepped into the hall, going down a few of the steps before stopping at a wire. 'This is a good distance. Please behave, my children.'

With that, he peeled the tag that was keeping the gourd secure and slid the lid off slowly and carefully, and what looked like a black mist seeped from the opening before flying into the dark halls, a low, eerie buzzing following it as it descended down into the depths of the base.

He then sat down, lounging in wait and listening carefully for any sounds. 'It won't be long.'

Line break.

A young sand shinobi who was hidden well beneath the trap door in the darkness of the bunker covered his mouth when he heard the buzzing.

It grew louder and louder, and though he was sure he was fine where he was, it was clear that his comrades weren't. This is one of the larger bunkers, so it required three to make it difficult to conquer.

'Holy shit! I'm gonna die down here! I'm gonna die! I thought I was ready, but I'm not!' He screamed in his head as he prayed.

The buzzing was now accompanied by screaming, muffled but definitely screams of pain and agony.

His eyes widened, realizing his friends were being devoured by whatever the fuck was down there. He heard something hit the floor and instantly jumped out to run toward the entrance. He didn't want to go out like this.

Behind him was a black mist of insects devouring his comrade, and above him, another ball of mist itching into the ceiling vents to eat his comrade.

He turned the corner and ran through something that pelted him like a bunch of small bullets, and he was immediately in excruciating pain as it felt like holes were being burrowed into him.

He screeched and flailed as he ran, having obviously run into a colony of the beetles.

He went through hand signs recklessly and coated himself in wind, but it only served to knock him toward the entrance with a painful tumble, his flesh still being devoured by some of the insects on him.

When he finally rolled to the exit, his body covered in bleeding holes that would no doubt leave his skin scared and his face half eaten away, the Aburame and Inuzuka looked on in with indifference.

The man looked up to see Shibi sitting on the stairs, his silhouette cast from the light of the outside. He desperately tried to escape.

"P-Please!" He screeched, hearing the swarm behind him. But no answer was given.

Then, his vision was covered by the swarm, and the screaming resumed.

Line break.

From the outside, Hana was grimacing. The screaming didn't stop until it became gurgling cries, the victim's throat likely being devoured to silence them. It made her shudder.

"Fuck me, those bugs are scary," Hana whispered.

Tsume nodded. She specifically showed her daughter why the 'bug' clan wasn't to be messed with. Of all the clans in Konoha, though not the most renowned and not the most destructive, they were the most lethal in the practical sense when used strategically like this. In an enclosed space, it was effective.

"Typical Suna. Leave a mess for us to clean up, knowing they can't hold their own borders." She motioned to her Inuzuka clansmen. "Alright, spread out. Let's make this quick. Hana, keep your team sniffing out the explosives. Shibi, any idea of how many more traps we're looking at?"

Shibi glanced at the black swarm of bugs returning to him, switching to his tamer variant for the sake of his comrades.

After sealing up the black gourd, he spoke up. "Roughly twelve more in the main bunker and six in the smaller buildings. There may also be hidden passages that lead to additional traps. They seem to have prioritized leaving behind a deterrent more than an actual defense. There could be more, though. This breed was more focused on attaining food for their young."

Tsume scoffed. "Figures. Double-check the marked locations. We'll set off whatever we can safely."

The man nodded and watched as her clansmen entered the base to secure it. 'I suppose this is as far as we go until Konoha's council makes up their minds on who will lead us into this hell.' He thought as he paced.

'The borderlands are ours now. However, this next target won't be given without a fight. The Desert fortress will be ours nonetheless.'

Line break.

[11:27 AM]

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Intelligence Division}

One of the sensors perked up, the lower half of her face tightening into a frown. She turned to her superior, her voice low but urgent. "captain, there's something… unusual. I'm picking up two signatures at the... edge of the barrier."

The Sensor captain, Tanji, a seasoned shinobi with graying hair, looked up from the map he was studying. He moved closer to her station, his brow furrowing. "Two intruders? Where exactly?"

The sensor nodded, the girl focusing. "They're... They keep blipping on and off our radar, almost as if someone is... They don't seem like your typical intruder."

The commander stared at the bubble, his frown deepening. "Are you certain?"

Another sensor chimed in from across the room, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "Commander, I'm sensing them too. Their chakra is… It's fluctuating. They are in an area we don't patrol often."

The commander clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed on the distorted points on the water sphere.

"Notify Inoichi," Tanji ordered, his voice calm but firm. "We can't afford to take any chances. Make sure all units know we have intruders breaching the barrier, and get me updates on their position every minute. Send anbu where they were last sitting and see if there's tampering."

The sensors nodded, each focusing harder, their chakra extending outward to track the intruders' movement. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone worked in silence, the only sound being the faint hum of chakra running through the seals.

"Sir, Lord Yamanka is currently attending a council meeting, the same as Ibiki. Should-"

"This is a matter of national security. I don't care of what they're discussing, we have intruders that have failed to check in at the front gate." The man said.

The aide nodded and disappeared in a blur of movement, leaving the captain to stare at the water sphere, his expression grim. Whoever these intruders were, they knew how to move in and out of their sensor range. The way they moved was deliberate, but there was a strange pattern as well. It was almost as they knew Konoha's layout.

Tanji shook his head. 'Not a good time for this to be happening.

Line break.

[11:30 AM]

{Land of Fire: Outskirt of Konohgakure: Unknown location}

Root agents leaped from branch to branch with urgency, making their way back to their hidden base.

The six agents moved in formation, their movements silent and synchronized, barely disturbing the air around them. They had just completed a mission, and now they were heading back to regroup and receive their next orders.

One of the agents, Kodai, glanced to his left, his eyes narrowing beneath his mask. Something felt off. Two of his comrades, Shin and Haru, were moving strangely, their usually sharp reflexes seemed sluggish, their chakra signatures muted.

Kodai frowned, his senses on high alert, but kept his suspicions to himself for the moment. They were close to the base, and he decided it would be better to report any abnormalities once they were back on secure ground.

The group landed in the clearing outside their hidden base, the entrance concealed behind a dense plants and other obscuring obstacles.

Kodai's unease only grew as he watched Shin and Haru, who moved almost mechanically, their heads tilting slightly as if listening to something only they could hear. Before Kodai could voice his concerns, it happened.

In a blur of movement, Shin and Haru turned on their comrades, their attacks swift and brutal. Kodai barely had time to react before a kunai slashed across his throat, the cold steel cutting off any chance of a warning. Blood sprayed into the air as Kodai fell, his vision darkening.

The other two agents, caught entirely by surprise, were dispatched with equal efficiency—one impaled by a kunai to the heart, the other taken down with a punch that whipped the man's neck back with a sickening crack.

"Took them out before they even knew what hit 'em," Shin said, his voice low and amused. He tossed a scroll onto the ground that expanded and unraveled, unsealing a bandaged blade.

"Shall we?" Shin said with glee.

"Don't go overboard." Haru said calmly, the duo wandering into the dark hall, stepping over their victims as they did so.

Line break.

[12:13 PM]

{Ko Hyuga POV}

Ko Hyuga sat on the rooftop across from Naruto's apartment, a small meal packed into a bento box resting beside him. He chewed slowly, his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked at what the vendor gave him.

"Ah, no. He gave me the wrong thing." He muttered to himself.

The box was filled with fried tofu instead of dumplings. Bummer. He had never been a fan of the food, but it would have to do. It was the closest place he found, and he wasn't hungry enough to look for somewhere else.

He shook his head and bit down anyway. 'This tastes weird.' he thought to himself before shrugging it off, his gaze wandering back to Naruto's window.

Ko had been on this assignment since the early hours of the morning, a direct order from Hinata. His mission was simple. Watch Naruto report any activity back. But as Ko watched, he couldn't help but feel bored... So incredibly bored.

The boy hasn't left his apartment at all, and with all the people here, there's absolutely no way he's ever leaving his apartment. It's going to be an incredibly boring rest of his afternoon.

Line break.

{Naruto POV}

He tried. He really did. But the barrier seal/prototype his mother came up with was just so... Fanciful. It was unreasonable in it's design, and it required something he wasn't sure he even had at first. Yin release.

What the fuck is Yin release?! He kept asking himself this question, and hilariously, his mother did too. Based on the handwriting, she was around the same age as him when she wrote this part into her journal.

She went on to create little reminders in here on how it functioned, and whereas he understood the concept she was putting down, someone else's handwriting was present in the journal, almost as though they were helping her write this stuff down. This handwriting was his dad's. Or, a younger version of him.

It was funny to read her aggressive and frustrated handwriting in her notes, but it was also insightful.

Yin chakra is of the mind and spirit, so basically genjutsu. No surprise there. What interested him was the concept of creating barriers that could act as false realities. His mother hadn't come up with that one.

However, he'd need a deeper understanding of how yin chakra works. Like other chakra natures, this can be learned since just about everyone has it. Whether he has an affinity for it is in the air, though.

He tossed the book on the couch and ran his ink-stained hands through his hair as he looked at all the scrap paper on the ground. 'Man. Look at the mess I've made.'

He blinked and looked down at his hands before realizing he got ink in his hair.

"Oh, dammit. Why do I keep doing that?" The boy complained as he flicked his hands.

He made his way to the sink and rinsed the ink out, having learned his lesson using a brand that was more washable. He'd rather not have ink in his hair for days... Again.

He let out a breath, thankful for the calm afternoon study before standing up again and heading to his room. He threw on his clothes, wearing his mesh shirt, black and orange jacket and pants, and made his way out the room, turning down the hall and seeing his neighbors just so happen to open their doors at the same time.

'Ok. That's creepy.'

He ignored them and kept going, waving awkwardly as they waved back. 'Ok. First stop, the Sarutobi compound. Time to run some errands.'

Line break.

Ko watched from the rooftop as Naruto finally left his apartment, a sense of relief washing over him.

Naruto had been inside for hours, and Ko had begun to worry that the boy might stay holed up all day. Seeing him step outside made Ko feel a sense of relief. He did not want to spend the whole day in one spot.

He got up from his position and began to tail the boy from the roof, keeping a safe distance as he followed Naruto through the village. He knew that his role was to observe, but he couldn't help but worry. He's not taking the rooftops like he figured he would. At this rate, he'll attract too much attention.

There were too many eyes on the boy, too many people who wanted something from him. Ko could see them representatives from the various great houses, each hoping to catch a glimpse of Naruto, to find an opportunity to approach him. Ko frowned, his gaze shifting from one figure to the next. He would have to be vigilant. The Hyuga clan couldn't afford to let their guard down.

Line break.

As soon as Naruto took a few steps down the street, he could feel it. The eyes on him. People whispering, heads turning. All these people who saw him as the village pariah now look to him with a touch of reverence. Though, not everyone was thrilled, There were those who wanted to glare amongst these people, but an important factor was accompanied by their reluctance. His status.

Right now, though he doesn't know it, he's walking through the very district he owns. Everything around him that he sees is the buildings and land his father expanded and renovated in the name of Konoha.

As Naruto made his way down the street, merchants called out to him, eager to have the Namikaze heir grace their stands. One merchant, a well-dressed man, stood at the entrance of his lavish shop, a smile plastered on his face. "Namikaze-sama! Please, allow me to show you our finest goods. A man of your stature deserves nothing but the best!" The man's voice was loud, drawing the attention of passersby.

Naruto gave a polite but dismissive nod. "Maybe another time!" he called out as he fast-walked through the street.

He continued forward, but from there, the interruptions became a constant. It felt like every few steps someone else would approach him, hoping to engage in conversation, to invite him to their home, to propose alliances or favors.

It was getting on his nerves fast. Yet, what if he pissed off the wrong people? What if there was someone here who he'd need in the future to thrive? There's no telling where his mindset will be at the age of 30. People hold grudges, after all.

He tried to be polite and move quickly through the crowd, but it was no use. Everywhere he turned, there were more people, more eyes, more voices calling out to him. He felt a surge of frustration, the unfamiliar feeling of anxiety pressing down on the boy.

He needed to get away, needed to find some space to breathe.

Without a second thought, Naruto jumped, pushing off the ground and landing on the nearest rooftop.

"Why the hell did I think going by foot was a good idea?!" He growled to himself as he dashed from building to building.

He let out a sigh of relief and enjoyed the wind on his face. "I guess strolls through the village will be a drag no matter the circumstances. Hated or 'loved',"

Naruto's eye twitched when his senses picked up on something getting close. Multiple chakra signatures were moving in sync with him.

He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he spotted them. They weren't Anbu, and they weren't really shinobi either. They were mostly civilians... But trained in the art of maneuverability. They weren't moving fast enough to be a problem, but still.

They were hired by the various great houses, each of them wanting to keep tabs on him, to find an opportunity to approach him.

'Wow. Desperate much?' He thought as he sped up, and in a flicker, he was gone, using his enhanced speed to flee. 'Ninja stalkers exist, huh? Let's see them catch me when I'm moving like a real shinobi then.'

Line break.

Ko had been following Naruto from a distance, his Byakugan allowing him to keep track of the boy even as he moved across with a higher grade of movement speed.

Ko's eyes then shifted, scanning the area, and that's when he saw them—the hired watchmen, all struggling and baffled at Naruto's ability to get away. These aren't shinobi. They only excel at one skill, and it only brought them to the level of a genin. They're professional stalkers and nothing more.

A frown formed on Ko's face, and he took a mental note of this. There were many of them, each one working for a different master, each one trying to get close to Naruto. 'Interesting. They probably couldn't hire actual shinobi thanks to Konoha's heightened and stricter security, so they settled for... This.'

Ko adjusted his position and dashed off to where he knew Naruto to be, and his eyes widened when he saw the destination. 'The Sarutobi clan? Oh dear.'

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: The Sarutobi Compound}

[Naruto POV]

Naruto looked up at the gates, taking in the grandeur of the Sarutobi compound.

The gates were taller and more imposing than most clan structures, made of heavy wood reinforced with metal, the symbol of the Sarutobi clan etched prominently in the center.

Beyond the gates, the compound sprawled out, a mix of traditional architecture and natural beauty, stone pathways and all. And from the looks of it, it wasn't a single large compound but multiple buildings and courtyards of various sizes. It was a very nice establishment.

In front of the gates were two Sarutobi clan guards, their faces stern, their posture rigid and ready for action.

They eyed him suspiciously as he stepped forward. Before he could say anything, they beat him to it.

The guards eyed him suspiciously as he approached. "State your business," one of them said, his tone flat.

"I'm here to see Konohamaru... And to speak to... Uh, the Sarutobi clan head," Naruto replied, trying to keep his tone polite.

"Konohamaru is not accepting visitors at this time, nor is the clan as a whole," the other guard said, his voice equally dismissive. "You'll need to leave."

Naruto frowned, his patience starting to wear thin. He had come all this way, and now he was being turned away without so much as a second thought. "Isn't there a way to at least get in touch with someone here? Can I at least leave a message?"

The guards exchanged a glance, and before they could speak, an old man chimed in. "What's going on here?"

The guards turned quickly, their eyes widening as they saw the elderly figure approaching them.

Takeda Sarutobi, an elder of the Sarutobi clan, walked up to the gate, his eyes flicking between the guards and Naruto. He was an older man, his hair mostly gray, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that made it clear he was not someone to be taken lightly.

"Lord Takeda," one of the guards began, bowing slightly. "This boy-"

Takeda held up a hand, cutting him off. His eyes moved to Naruto, studying him for a moment before recognition dawned on his face. "Wait a moment... you're Namikaze Naruto, aren't you? The young hero of the Leaf?"

Naruto blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. "Uh, yeah," he said, nodding.

Takeda turned back to the guards, his expression hardening. "And you were about to turn him away? Without even notifying me?" he scolded, his voice filled with disapproval.

The guards visibly flinched, their eyes widening in shock. "W-We didn't realize, Lord Takeda," one of them stammered, bowing deeply. "We've never seen him before. We had no idea."

"Frantic apologies won't change the fact that you almost disrespected one of the village's most important shinobi," Takeda said sharply. He then turned back to Naruto, his expression softening into a smile. "Please, come in. You're always welcome here, Naruto."

Naruto nodded. Still a little taken aback, he stepped forward as Takeda gestured for him to enter.

The gates were opened, and Naruto walked through, following Takeda into the courtyard. Almost immediately, he could see the servants moving about, their eyes widening slightly as they noticed the unexpected guest.

Servants rushed to tidy up the courtyard, their movements quick as they tried to make everything look presentable. It was clear that no one had been expecting a visitor, and Naruto couldn't help but feel a little awkward at the sudden flurry of activity.

"My apologies for the state of things," Takeda said, his voice apologetic. "We weren't expecting any visitors today, but I'm glad you came. It's been some time since I've had the pleasure of meeting you, Naruto."

Naruto gave him a strange look. "We've met before?"

Takeda nodded. "You were a baby then. Hiruzen brought you in and had you cared for in the compound during the first 4 months of your life."

Naruto's gaze lowered at the mention of the old man. "I see. I had no idea."

The man sighed, looking back at the gate as they kept walking. "I'll be sure to have a word with the guards about recognizing important guests. Though, they weren't entirely at fault. I ordered them to turn away just about everyone. We aren't interested in getting involved in the ever-changing political landscape. We're content as we are... For now."

He then turned to Naruto, his expression regretful. "So tell me, Namikaze-san. What brings you to our home?"

Naruto thought about it for a moment before responding. "I... Uh... Jiraiya said something about you guys being the true owners of the apartment complex I'm staying in now. According to him, I owe you guys money."

Takeda's smile faded a touch, remembering how he and his fellow elder clan members argued with Hiruzen for renting out the apartment to host the Ninetails Jinchuuriki. They were livid and went as far as they could to make things difficult for the Kage.

"Ah. Of course. I'd forgotten about that to tell you the truth. We can discuss that in the drawing room. Follow me, please." Takeda said as he walked, and Naruto followed him into the compound's main structure.

He stepped through the doorway, and he couldn't help but notice the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

The inside of the Sarutobi clan's home was bustling, with activity here and there, the sound of kids and women moving about, and the smell of a delicious lunch cooking in the kitchen. There was a sense of community here, a warmth and camaraderie that Naruto hadn't expected to find.

He looked at the faces of the women, the children, the elders, and couldn't help but feel a pang of longing.

"This is quite the place you guys have." He said, his tone more genuine and not forced.

Takeda chuckled. "It's not extravagant by any means, but it's home. A good one. Right this way." The man said, motioning him to a door.

Naruto stepped through, his eyes widening slightly. The drawing room was nice and cozy. Inside was two girls who couldn't be any older than him, one with brown hair, and the other with black. They were doing each other's hair when the two entered.

"Out, both of you. I have business to attend to." He said.

They both huffed and got up before noticing who was with the elder, and they immediately looked interested in him. He could practically see their thoughts in their eyes.

They walked past, whispering to one another as Naruto was motioned to a cushion. They both took their seats and Naruto took in a breath, getting straight to the point.

"Lord Takeda, first, I want to thank your clan for letting me stay in the apartment rented out. I understand it wasn't in your clan's interest. My account is still frozen, but whatever is owed, I'll pay it in full as soon as possible-"

"No need, lad. In fact, I have an offer in exchange for that." The man said, leaning forward, a smirk growing.

'Ah, crap. I'm not in the mood to barter with these people,' Naruto thought as he furrowed his brow. "Uh. Ok. And what do you have in mind?"

The man's smile grew, and he glanced at the door. "You saw those pretty ladies a moment ago, yeah?"

Naruto raised a brow for a moment before his lips thinned. "Y-Yeah?-"

"How would you like to marry one of them, eh?"

"I-... Uh, I couldn't-... Well-"

"Oh calm down, I'm just pulling your leg, kid!" The man laughed, patting the boy on the shoulder, causing Naruto to let loose a nervous laugh. "In all seriousness though, I'll let the payment slide if you agree to forming a sort of... Bond with our clan."

Naruto's brow furrowed a bit, and Daichi's eyes gleamed with interest.

"I understand you and Konohamaru are close. Perhaps a pact can be formed through this relationship? After all, you are both slated to assume the roles of clan heads, and with you being the son of the Yondaime Hokage and Konohamaru the grandson of the third, surely-

From there, Naruto stopped listening. The bullshit spewing from this guy's mouth was just too much. He'd hate to lunge over the table to throttle this old fart for daring to try and take advantage of his bond with Konohamaru. So, he pretended to listen. It was better that way.

'I should've waited for Jiraiya. What was I thinking?!' He thought as he nodded his head and tried everything he could to stay polite. Yet, his patience was waning.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Council chambers}

[12:13 PM]

The council meeting had already begun by the time Jiraiya arrived, his presence announced by the door sliding open, the man holding a bag of warm bagels.

He had a few bags in hand, one of which he held out towards Inoichi as he walked to his seat, a sheepish smile gracing his lips.

"Apologies for the tardiness, everyone. Someone requested a late breakfast pick-me-up," Jiraiya said with a chuckle, shooting a pointed glance at Inoichi.

Inoichi gave an appreciative nod, accepting the bag. "I wasn't going to say no to bagels, especially not with a day like today ahead of us. Plus, lunch would've taken too long."

He looked at the council members present, from Shikaku, Choza, Hiroshi Hyuga, the elders, and the ever-silent Danzo.

"Ah. We're missing a few anyway. The Sarutobi stand-in and the Aburame regent aren't here yet. Why start without them?" Jiraiya asked as he dipped his bagel in the cream cheese that Inochi provided.

The blonde man sighed as he sat down in his seat and began setting out the paperwork in front of him. "That's the thing. They're running late, and they have no excuses. At least you were confirmed to be in the building."

Shikaku cleared his throat, bringing the room's attention back to the topic at hand. "Now that our most relevant members are here, let's get straight to it. As we were discussing earlier, our troops have successfully crossed into Sunagakure territory and are taking over the area as we speak. The abandoned outposts meant to block off the Land of Rivers were a fortunate break for us." He leaned back slightly, looking thoughtful. "But it also means that we have officially begun hostilities. There's no turning back now. The war has begun."

There was a heavy silence that followed Shikaku's declaration. It wasn't as if they were unaware of this fact, but to hear it put into words made it real. They were now part of what could be the beginning of the next great war.

"Sunagakure abandoned those posts far too easily," Choza mused aloud, his brow furrowed. "It's almost as if they knew they couldn't hold them."

"They didn't have the manpower," Homura cut in. "After such a failure trying to conquer this village, trying to leave anyone to defend those positions would be impossible. Their numbers are pathetic compared to before. They did, however, leave some rather troublesome pawns behind. Each base was manned by a single shinobi, a suicide unit. We can expect this war to be gorilla in nature moving forward."

Jiraiya leaned back in his chair and listened carefully. 'Another reason to ensure Tsunade's ascension goes smoothly. She won't be thrilled about leading a village through war, especially with all that she's lost, but we need her.' He thought to himself as he bit into his food.

Choza, who had been silent up until now, spoke up, his tone measured. "If I may, what is the situation with the other nations? Are they making any moves that we should be aware of? Specifically, Iwa?"

Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze shifting to Jiraiya, who answered. "Iwagakure has begun to mobilize its forces. They've already started marching on some of the smaller neighboring countries. They're expanding their territory, likely in an effort to gain resources for their own campaign. Their true target is unknown to us. We do know that Iwa's objective is different from ours. They aren't interested in Suna per se; they're more concerned with gaining wealth."

Hiroshi's brows furrowed slightly, his voice low. "And if Iwa decides to turn their attention towards Sunagakure, how should we respond? Would we risk engaging Iwagakure as well?"

Danzo shook his head slightly. "They have already engaged Sunagakure, albeit indirectly. However, it seems that their focus is solely on resources. For now, they aren't our problem. Our goal is to subdue Suna and eliminate any threat they pose to the Land of Fire. Iwa's greed can be dealt with later."

Homura crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "What about Kumogakure? Have we heard anything from them? They've been unusually quiet."

Shikaku leaned forward, his hands resting on the table. "Kumo has indeed been silent, which worries me more than anything. During the Third Great War, they were similarly indecisive until the opportunity presented itself. Right now, they have no clear targets. They may be waiting for a reason to strike, or they may be cautious about Iwa's movements. For now, it's anyone's guess."

Hiroshi nodded. "A silent Kumogakure is a dangerous one. They could be using this time to prepare behind the scenes. They're sneaky and untrustworthy. We cannot afford to overlook them."

Koharu cleared her throat, her voice carrying a hint of concern. "That raises the question, what are our policies in this war? Our war goal hasn't been made clear."

Inoichi set his mostly eaten bagel down, wiping his hands with a napkin before speaking. "That's exactly what we need to determine. We have several options, but the key is deciding on a goal that benefits us in the long term. Are we aiming for complete subjugation of Sunagakure, or is a more diplomatic solution preferable?"

Danzo scoffed, his gaze cold as he looked around the room. "Diplomacy? Surely, you're joking. They attacked us during a neutral event, bombed our civilians, and tried to unleash a tailed beast on our populace. They need to be punished, not negotiated with. Our goal should be complete subjugation, to make Sunagakure a vassal state. We need to install a pro-Konoha Kazekage and ensure they can never pose a threat to us again."

Inoichi frowned, his tone measured. "Subjugation might seem like the ideal solution, but we must consider the costs. If we push too far, we risk provoking the other nations who will see this as a... slick expansion on our part. We should consider demanding reparations and limiting Suna's military capabilities. That would weaken them without risking further escalation."

Shikaku nodded thoughtfully. "Inoichi has a point. We do need to tread carefully. If we push too hard, we might find ourselves fighting on multiple fronts. A weakened Sunagakure that pays us reparations and submits to our oversight might be a more manageable outcome. Other sanctions would be put in place as well, and perhaps even more Konoha presence within their territories as well."

Danzo's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Weakness will only invite further attacks. We need to send a message, not just to Sunagakure, but to every other village that might think of challenging us after their little stunt. We need to cripple their military, take control of their resources, and ensure they are never in a position to rise against us again. Anything less would be seen as a failure of leadership."

Shikaku scowled at that. "We need to consider the people of Sunagakure as well. Not everyone there supported the Kazekage's actions or Orochimaru's schemes. If we go in too heavy-handed, we risk alienating potential allies and creating long-term issues for ourselves."

Jiraiya nodded, his expression thoughtful. "A balanced approach might be our best option. I'm not an expert in any of this stuff, but Shikaku's point seems fair to me."

Danzo shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. "You're all too soft. Sunagakure betrayed us, and they must be made an example of. Lord Jiraiya. These are the people who conspired with your traitorous rival and had your sensei killed. Would you really-"

Jiraiya slammed his hand on the table and glared at Danzo. "Tread carefully. I don't allow anger and resentment to guide my actions, so no. I'm not interested in seeing Suna burn for the mistakes of one man."

Shikaku sighed, leaning back in his chair. "If we act rashly, we could end up causing more harm than good. World tension is high as it is. How we handle our victory will be closely observed by the world."

Homura sighed and shook his head. "We are well aware of this notion. We've experienced all three great wars. We know how this game goes."

Danzo was about to say something when his coms went off. [Lord Danzo! There's an issue at our outer compound! We're being-]

Danzo showed no outward reaction, but his stomach dropped in a bad way at what he just heard.

"Excuse me for a moment. I need to take care of something." The old man said before standing up.

Koharu and Homura looked concerned a touch as they watched the man go.

When Danzo went to open the door, the Anbu commander was there, reaching for the nob. Behind him was both the Aburame clan regent and Daichi Sarutobi, all three a bit late for the meeting. Ibiki was there as well, the man on crutches.

"And just where do you think you're scurrying off to?" Ibiki said with a smirk as his fellow council members filed into the room.

Danzo's eyes narrowed. "Step aside, Ibiki-san. I have an urgent matter to attend to."

"Not enough to skip out on this. If you leave, you're out of the debate. There's a topic that involves you in particular."

"Am I on trial for something?" Danzo said in a low tone, facing Ibiki directly. [Lord Danzo! Can you hear this?! If so, we're moving be-]

Danzo's grip on his cane tightened as the person on the other end was cut down, and Ibiki crossed his arms and leaned on the door frame for support. "You're about to be."

"Get in here, Lord Danzo. There are matters that require your attention here." The anbu commander said, his anbu creeping from the shadows to force the man in his seat if necessary.

Koharu and Homura both paled at the shift in tone, while Hiroshi, Choza, and the other relevant clan members eyed the scene with interest.

Danzo growled and turned around, moving to his seat.

'What is happening out there?! Have they found my base?! Has one of my operations been exposed?! And if so, am I on trial here?! Should I be alarmed?! Am I under attack?!... Is the culprit in this room with me?!'

Danzo's mind raced with these thoughts as he sat down, and even as his fellow elders tried to ask what the issue was, he remained silent, trying to stay relevant in the current discussion.

Unfortunately, he's being rattled in a way he hasn't been in a long time.

He looked around to see if anyone was perhaps aware of anything, and then, he felt someone's gaze.

He turned toward the Anbu commander and felt himself go a touch pale. The commander was staring at him.

He knows something he shouldn't.

Line break.

End Chapter.

{A/N}

Ok. Now. I don't have much to say about this half since I wasn't too excited about writing any of this stuff. But, it has to happen, and you'll see why later on. I'm more interested in writing the stuff that occurs after this mini-arc.
Nothing else to say other than stay tuned for part 2 to understand why.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned. Let me know If I should post tonight or tomorrow. Whichever works best for you guys.