Chapter One; The Last Team Ryo
Land of Fire; Hokage Office
"Naruto. It's time to hang up the mask." Kakashi states from his desk, fingers interlocked as he stares at his most trusted Anbu; Kitsune. The operative says. "Hokage-sama, I…"
Kakashi interrupted, not willing to hear it, "Save it. It's been eight years already. No one even recalls the incident."
The silver haired man sighs tiredly. The kitsune masked asks, "Permission to speak freely, lord hokage?"
Upon the nod, the operative continued, "I have grown rather attached being a shadow in the night…" taking off his mask revealing the chisel frame built for swiftness and strength, no baby fat anywhere on his twenty-five-year-old says as his blond hair tied in a small ponytail. This was Naruto, now having grown into a great man, "…and with this anonymity, I'm just another shinobi – not the son of a hokage, nor a student of one. Just a fellow shinobi."
He replaces the mask, continued calmly. "And a respected Captain of Anbu Team Ryo."
"I see." Kakashi spoke with a thick layer of pride, his eyes super imposing himself and his own sensei on either side of the Anbu Captain "Fine then. I got something interesting. Your blood is needed for this one anyway."
Pulling out a scroll from the top drew, "Though, I think you may need pick out a team, for this one."
Kitsune tilted his head to the right, "That hard?"
"Kinda. Personally, I'd take Hawk, Deer, and Tanuki." Kakashi states causing the man to nod hesitantly, Kitusne muttered. "Wait, didn't…"
"She did. You'll have to ask Tenten directly as she left last month." The silver haired Kage states causing a frown behind the mask. "She hasn't gotten over it still."
"Isn't that why you took her out of Anbu in the first place? 'Reckless abandon' you called it. Even after…" Kitsune was cut off by Kakashi, "I know, or did you forget we've all been in that place at one point or another. You're no exception." with a pointed stare, "Fine. Shika and Temari though are just…"
"That's true. How about leaving tomorrow morning?" Kakashi offers his former student with an eye smile earning a nod from the masked shinobi, "How about this…?" standing up, the former jonin leader of Team Seven circled around the desk, Kakashi continued. "Meet me at Ichiraku's in twenty minutes? My treat."
"Sure." Letting out a soft sigh "See you there." vanishing as if a mirage in the wind.
Land of Fire; Ichiraku's Ramen
Sitting at the bar, Naruto glances to his side to see one of his oldest allies, "…guess sensei called you in?"
"Well, you're kinda the only thing keeping me straight and level, ya know?"
"Why don't you take a team? Surely you could teach a thing or two?" Naruto continued as he sipped on the chilled sake offered. A hollow empty chuckle that grated on the ears of the innocent, filled with a lack of life, "Survivors guilt. I couldn't put myself through that again." She throws back the saucer and allows her friend to pour another. A big sigh escaped from the duo, Naruto spoke lowly. "Tenten, we've been forgotten by the others of the twelve…"
"So? You're the only one I still speak too. The others…" she shrugged as he sips as their orders arrive, "…you're late, sensei." Naruto spoke as Kakashi seemingly appeared out of nowhere, as if he was always there.
Glancing at his former student, Kakashi couldn't help but smile as both his student and his late best friend's remaining student following him with cloth masks. Naruto wore civilian clothes, dull grey long sleaved t-shirt and blue three-quarter lengths. Beneath the cloth the kage noticed the discreet fishnet armour, the expensive one the chakra repulsive one.
Tenten had a dull thick grey hoody, that covered most her face, the dark cloth covering her lower face baggy matching trousers. All three eating through their masks harmlessly, completely fading within the background as the three chatting amicably. The three were a unique trio as the others had moved on with their lives in one way or another; the surviving rookies ascended to clan heads, married a cousin within their clans.
Naruto never had anyone, tried everything to gain the bonds of friendship throughout his life with various results. Tenten as an orphan too, she was adopted and guided by her father and later her genin team, they became her close family. Later with the conception of the Konoha Twelve, she saw them as something akin to cousins. Just like any other family, they had ups and downs, but ultimately, they were a family none the less.
The war, however, changed them.
The defective Sasuke had return, Kiba fell during the second day of the war, Ino and Choji the third, the gentle Hinata was saved by Neji on the fourth. Gai and Rock Lee died during the final battle, Madara couldn't handle one eight gate user, the second was damn right cheating. That was Tenten's darkest hour. Within that darkness its Naruto was the one who pulled her out of it, her pillar of strength which weathered the storms of her emotions and did not pull away, his arms holding her tightly was her only solace.
All these years later at the age of twenty-six, Tenten could say she had the best friend, brother, and lover all rolled into one Naruto Uzumaki. Though, neither would ever say anything about their relations aloud it was an unspoken whisper between them. Same with Kakashi and Anko.
"We got a mission." Naruto whispered, beneath his breath. "Oh…?" Tenten's equally soft voice between sips of rice wine. Naruto nodded, speaking. "Yeah. Land of Spring. Some rogues plan on assassination. We leave first thing."
"Cool. I'll be sure to bring my toothbrush." She smirked but he chuckled as he threw back another plate of sake, before taking a deep breath, and stating firmly. "I already have it."
This causes Tenten smirk to grow ferally, "Oh – right," they continued drink and enjoy the ramen, sake, and the cool winds beneath the full moon.
Land of Fire; Naruto's apartment
Just before sunrise two Anbu operatives continue to check one another's gear, the Kitsune mask sat beside the Hawk mask on the desk, Tenten whispered. "That should do nicely."
Naruto returned from the bedroom, his own gear already strapped on, his katana on his back, "All set too."
Tenten looks over at him, his Anbu gear always got her going as it highlighted his muscular body and the numerous hidden three-pronged kunai were always a nice touch, "So, whiskers, how about…?"
A knock on the door interrupted that particular trail of thoughts as Naruto pulled the door open to see their teammates, seemingly in casual wear but Naruto knew better, stepping aside, the two entered without fanfare and as soon as the door shut, the disguises fell away, the male of the duo asks, "How you guys holding up?"
Earning a snort from the other occupants, Tenten remarks, "Shika, small talk isn't your forte. Skip it."
The now identified Shikamaru Nara, sighed and mumbled about troublesome people, as his wife and fellow Leaf Anbu stepped up, "Sorry about that, Tenten, he's just moody this early in the morning."
Naruto stepped beside tenten, who was leaning against the breakfast table, packing the extra foodstuffs into a scroll, as Tenten replied to the former Suna kunoichi, "It's fine, Temari. Let's just cut the whole pretending bullshit and talk freely. Had enough of that crap from the others."
Temari Nara just nodded paired with a shrug, "Yeah, no sweat off my back. So, what's the mission?"
"Interception," Naruto states as he finishes packing the perishables, and seals away the scroll as he turns to this generations Anbu Team Ryo, "A bunch of missing ninjas are targeting Koyuki Kazehana. We are being deployed to intercept them."
Shikamaru snorted, "Saving your ex, huh? How's that working out for ya?"
The two ladies winced, though the man in question just shrugged, "Not an issue as I ain't exactly going now, am I? It's kitsune not Naruto so it's fine."
The others nodded, as they perform one last equipment check, before masking up, and body-flickering back to report to their hokage for their final mission brief."
Land of Fire; Hokage office
Anbu Team Ryo appeared before the Hokage without ceremony once again, Dear, Tanuki, Hawk, and their captain Kitsune, all taking a knee. Kitsune plays his role as leader, speaking formally. "Lord Hokage, Team Ryo reporting for final mission briefing."
Kakashi finally pulls his gaze away from the world beyond the glass surface, turning to face his prized team of operatives, hands still gripped behind his back as he responds, "Team Ryo; We have been made aware of a plot to overthrow the government in the Land of Spring. We know the actors are already en-route there, so interception is going to be differcult and down to the wire on this one."
As Kakashi steps before his desk, he looks down at the perfectly still group of ninjas, with a sense of pride in his star student, but that can weight for later as he continued, "As such, deploy to the country, locate these actors, and eliminate them. Try your best to not be detected by the local shinobi force but if it is unavoidable, so be it. You are all dismissed."
And like that, they were gone. Kakashi finally sat at his desk and pondered the past few years. After all the pain the old rookies had gone through during it, there is little surprise that the group shattered the way it did. He doesn't even recall the last time they were all in the same room.
He sighed lightly, as he glanced back out the window briefly, before tackling the piling sheets of paper. Another thought on how lucky he was. His team, former team, seven had all pulled through alive and somewhat well. Sasuke's return shattered them further instead of bringing them together as he had hope it would.
Sasuke had returned to a hero's welcome by the village, undoing all the backbreaking work Naruto had done to make things liveable for himself. Then his application for the CRA was approved, and now he has six wives', Sakura was number three, and numerous kids over the last few years. The return of the Uchiha clan had somehow, even defying his own understanding, swept away the rise of Naruto Namikaze, the kitsune of Konoha.
He was grateful for his late comrades last surviving students, and their bond with Naruto to keep him from falling too far into the darkness. He had done the same for them too. Naruto was Shikamaru's best man at his wedding. Tenten was Temari's maid of honour.
It wasn't a grand occasion, it was too troublesome otherwise, and the foursome were fine with that. The many empty seats held photos of the fallen who were also remembered that day. It was just an all-around beautiful day. Even if none of the other rookies showed up.
It as also the day he and Anko officially went public. The three couples danced the slow dance together seemingly in unison. Shikamaru and Temari, Naruto and Tenten, and he and Anko.
Kakashi looks to the framed pictures on his left, the both the original Team Seven photo, and then the post war one, were there and it was clear that the fractures showed in the original photograph had only exasperated in the second one. Their final 'mission' they had together, and when he said mission, he had to order it to be as such, to get them in the same room together, was his swearing in as sixth hokage.
Kakashi's final mission as Team Seven's Jonin sensei. The current generation Team Seven is led by Sasuke, as Naruto went into Anbu. Even now, Kakashi thought it was rather ironic that was. He always thought it would be the other way around. He had believed that Naruto would lead the next team Seven, and Sasuke would thrive as an Anbu captain. Strange how things turned out.
The Uchiha's brief stint behind the mask showed promise, and he was good with it, but he still lacked the willingness to allow others to work at his back which eventually led to no one wanting to work with him. His own Anbu circles had apparently become rather hostile toward Sasuke as he was often referred to as a glory hound.
He is just socially awkward.
Sighing again, Kakashi finally looks at the final photograph that had taken at the Shikamaru and Temari's wedding. Shikamaru stood with Temari on arm, Naruto stood to the right of Shikamaru, Tenten on his arm, and Kakashi stood on Shikamaru's left, Anko on arm. All in formal attire, the boys in dark yukata's, the girls in flowery kimonos, though Tenten had an elegant cheongsam, and somehow wrapped Naruto into wearing a changshan so they would be a matched pair.
It was then, only then, Kakashi knew that the younger three had given up on their former classmates. They were friends, sure, comrades, without a doubt, but that was it. Outside of missions or mandatory meetings, Naruto, Tenten, and Shikamaru wouldn't be caught dead alongside the other rookies. Hinata, Shino, Sakura, Sasuke, nor Neji ever mentions them either. So it seemed to be a mutual arrangement.
A knock on his door broke him from his thoughts, glancing up, Kakashi also notices the sun is far higher than he recalled. How long was he in his head?
Clearing his throat, Kakashi calls out, "Come in."
In steps one Sasuke Uchiha, head of the rebuilding Uchiha clan, and his third wife Sakura Haruno-Uchiha. This was a surprise to be sure. Kakashi places his documents aside and interlocks his fingers before asking, "Ah, Sasuke, Sakura; What can I do for you both?"
Sasuke wasn't one to waste time so asked outright, "I want to know about the flying thunder god technique. I have studied the markers left behind, but it makes little sense as to…"
"Sasuke," Kakashi's voice was icy, sharp, and almost deathly calm. Sasuke looks to his former sensei, face as blank as always, as Kakashi continued, "That technique is a clan secret. You are not permitted to use, replicate, or attempt to duplicate it. Am I clear?"
Sasuke shrugged, not caring, stating, "The fourth wasn't part of a clan, thus that protection does not apply here. A technique that requires such high-speeds requires the likes of my eyes for it to be even more effective. So, bringing it into the Uchiha clan is a simple, and easy decision to make."
Sakura spoke next, trying to make her sensei understand that legacy of the fourth could be transferred to the new generation of Team Seven with this, "Also, sensei, at current, it is a dead technique. Sasuke-kun has the most knowledge about space-time techniques of anyone else in the village. If anyone can understand and further develop the technique further, it would be him."
Kakashi looked at his former students blankly, to hide his disbelief at that claim. Did they not know that Naruto had not only mastered his father's technique, but he also mastered the original, then pushed it to a new level with his own spin on it.
Heck, Kakashi is almost certain that Tenten, Shikamaru, and Temari can all use it in one way or another. It's why the four are never seen with any kind of weapon on their person beside the standard issue Anbu tanto's despite the fact Temari is a fan user, Shikamaru is a knuckle knife user, and Naruto is well versed in his mother's sword style.
Why they never go to the Anbu barracks these days for anything beyond acquiring replacement masks.
Taking a deep breath to calm his irritation, annoyance, and disbelief, Kakashi finally replied, My answer is still no."
He was quick to raise his hand to stop Sakura's continued argument, and able to ignore the glare from the Uchiha patriarch with practiced ease, Kakashi continued, "Also, Sakura, it is not a dead technique as you claim it is. Not only that, but it is also a registered Senju technique and without their approval…"
Kakashi had trailed off as that as still a rather poor subject for many. Not for him, but for two of his students. Sakura as that was her mentor and sensei, but for Naruto, he was never the same after Tsunade's passing. It wasn't abrupt but a long time coming. Her seal of a hundred healing was truly a double-edged sword, and her life had been cut down drastically due to its use.
Sakura swallowed hard at the reminder of her sensei's passing, but her husband redoubled his effort, Sasuke states, "All the more reason. Without any Senju left, to enable it's continued benefit for the village…"
"The village…" Kakashi muttered lowly, leaning back into his chair, elbows resting on the chair's sides as his fingers remain interlocked, face and voice blank as he continued to stare down the head of the Uchiha clan, "Are you sure you do not mean the Uchiha clan, Sasuke?"
Sasuke did not make any indication of hearing the underlying meaning behind that statement, nor the unspoken accusation, instead trying to make his point, "Kakashi, it is simply a waste to allow such a powerful technique to be left unused and not in the defence of the village."
Kakashi maintained his blank face, giving nothing away, though Sakura tries a different approach, "Who is in charge of the Senju clan estate then? Without a living member or custodian, only the hokage can grant access to it, right?"
Kakashi glances at his smarty-pants student, speaking blandly, "Correct. Which is why I can say no."
Though internally he was smirking up a storm as he, as hokage, did not in fact have the final say in regards to the Senju assets. There are two people, no, three people with higher authority than he in that regard. One is in Anbu as a captain, the other two were in a distant land and a carefully SS-rank secret. But Kakashi is a shinobi. Trained these two people before him, thus decided to turn this into a training experience for them both.
Sasuke just turned to leave, understanding that the village now has ownership of the Senju vault and thus the flying thunder god technique. He will just tell them he wanted it and that will be it. Kakashi can't stop him if the council grants him access to it. Further discussion here is pointless.
Kakashi sighed upon the Uchiha leaving his office. Where did he go wrong with those two. Blinking at that thought, that list was rather extensive in fact. Naruto, Tenten, Shikamaru, Temari, and Anko had pointed it out during one of their night-ins.
Another deep sigh, Kakashi reached for his paperwork and got back to his day job. If he wants some ass tonight, he has to finish this quick and collect his fiancée from work.
Land of Fire; Leaf Council Chambers
Two hours later…
Kakashi wanted to applaud Sasuke for his ability to gather a council faster than him or any his predecessors were able to. Then again, he also wanted to strangle the punk with his uncanny ability to annoy him to no end. A position ironically formally held by his now favourite student.
The very moment his ass hit chair, Sasuke had stood and explained his desire to obtain the legendary flying thunder god technique and further expand it using his unmatched knowledge in the space-time field of expertise.
His whole speech was over in five minutes, during which Kakashi's numerous Anbu operatives had asked him the same question in various forms out of disbelief, confusion, or boredom. Isn't that technique a Namikaze clan, an officially registered branch of the Senju, technique thus requiring the clan heads permission. Not the councils.
Kakashi just nodded to the inquires, the council at large believing he was following the speech, which is when they all the Anbu had realised what their hokage was doing and had to smother their snorts, chuckles, and laughs of amusement as they were all on duty right now.
Before Tsunade stood down from the hokage seat, she had made sure Naruto's inheritance was beyond the reach of even the hokage's reach. One of her moves was to bring the Namikaze clan, only a clan after Minato reached the hokage seat and thus a new clan with minimal support or connections, was brought under the Senju umbrella.
It wasn't anything groundbreaking as the Uchiha, at one point, had the Fuma clan, the Inazuka clan had the Izumo, a cat like clan with similar characteristics that the Inazuka had with dogs but with cats. So, none would raise a brow at it. This was given the acknowledgement of the Fire Daimyo, and Naruto was given the title of clan head of the Namikaze clan, and custodian of the Senju should anything happen to Tsunade.
A win-win situation for Tsunade at the time and one headache less for Kakashi now.
When the silver-haired hokage saw the council vote in favour of releasing the Flying Thunder God technique to the Uchiha clan, Kakashi could not help but let out a low chuckle. As all eyes fall to him, his chuckles grew in volume, and many wondered what the issue was or the joke that caused the normally bored hokage to burst into laughter.
Sasuke himself was confused, even more so when her noticed the hidden Anbu in the shadows also appeared to be actively suppressing their amusement. Why are they amused? He just got access to his prize, and they are laughing. Are they disrespecting him? His clan? What?
His thoughts were cut through when Kakashi finally cleared his throat, all eyes falling to the sixth to bare the rank and title of hokage, Kakashi stating casually and calmly, "Umm... unfortunately for you all, that vote was invalid and illegal."
Gasps echoed across the room, with Sasuke narrowing his eyes on the man who had trained him decades ago, in his head at least, before he asked, "Invalid and illegal? How? The Senju clan is public property now without…"
"Who said that exactly?" Kakashi asked calmly, so calmly in fact that many questioned themselves on principle. Hinata, clan head of the Hyuga, raised her hand, and spoke, "Umm, Lord Hokage. Ever since the death of Lady Senju…"
"Ah," Kakashi spoke again, cutting off the woman that had abandoned his favrouite student like the rest, nodding his understanding at this misconception, "It seems that none of you actually looked into that properly. I understand now where your misconceptions stem from now."
This caught everyone's attention, none more than the last full Uchiha, who's eyes were as sharp as kusinagi, Sasuke growled though gritted teeth, "What does that mean, Kakashi?"
Kakashi offered a simple eye smile, waving him off. "Mah – Mah, settle down Sasuke. I was getting to that."
He chuckled at the twitching eyebrow of the Uchiha clan head, no doubt at his laidback attitude. The others too sweat dropped at the casualness of this all.
Kakashi though was enjoying this thoroughly, the fact that he held the entire rooms sole attention as he had claimed their actions were illegal, to which they were, and were waiting for his explanation. Should he drag this out? Perhaps a poke the bear known as the Uchiha Patriarch.
Then again, if he drags this on to long, he will never get finished with his work and no ass tonight, thus decided to cut this short, speaking up, "Well, I will keep things brief. Due to the fact the Senju are an important part of the country's history, the Fire Daymio is involved in their assets. If anyone from this council is capable of overruling his decree, then please do let me know."
It was Shino who broke the silence this time, "Lord Hokage. What is the long story? Why…? As it seems there are things we are missing. Logically, the council is informed of such direct actions from the Lord of Fire."
Koriai Yamanaka spoke next, she had ascended to clan head status after the death of her two cousins, Inoichi and Ino, "Yeah. As the last full member of the clan, if Lady Tsunade died, the assets should go to a branch clan, then cousin clan, then the council which is also when the Fire Daimyo normally has a word."
Sasuke realises something and looks back to the hokage, "Then, as my wife Karin is of Uzumaki stock, the Uzumaki clan is cousins to the…"
Kakashi shook his head at that, cutting the man off again, speaking calmly and in seeming uninterested aloofness. "That she is, however she is not of the main house, nor is she clan head, thus your claim is still invalid."
Many eyes widened at that. They had all assumed she was due to her strength and typical Uzumaki traits. Sasuke was irritated. He only knew of one other Uzumaki in the village, and the two weren't exactly close anymore, and ground out. "Then, the clan head of the Uzumaki can only be…"
Kakashi nodded once, announcing. "Yes. As a member of the main house of the Uzumaki clan, son of the previous head, and older than your wife by several months, Naruto is indeed the head of the Uzumaki clan."
Many breaths were taken, and a solemn air hung in the room for a bit. More than a few winced ag the reminder of their forgotten classmate they had turned away from. The man who had saved them more than a few times. Yet, when he asked for the same none could. Or would. Just pushed aside and forgotten with seemingly no repercussions, they too had forgetten the hero turned fellow clan head, they had buried the guilt. Until this reminder.
The growling thick guilt ridden air was shattered by Sasuke, who growled. "Then, why hasn't he ever come to these meetings then? The Uzumaki clan seat has never once been filled, nor used. Same with the Senju. Surely there are some limitations regarding that."
Kakashi inclined his head again, calmly informing. "Right on all counts."
Sasuke grinned, but Kakashi continued, "However, let's assume that the limitations were on your side, which they aren't by the way, but let's assume that they are."
Sasuke was growing irate at this game of politics. It was supposed to be simple. Yet it seemed his former teammate had not gotten sloppy with his unpredictable streak.
Kakashi continued to explain, "then next you would have to convince the Fire Daimyo that releasing the Senju assets to the village. Let's say that you manage that, you won't but let's play make belief and say that you do."
Another uncalled-for jab at Sasuke, and Kakashi was having fun, but can also sense the additional personnel hiding with the Anbu and can smell the popcorn from here. Anko is among them. He also noticed that the Inazuka clanhead sniffing around too, she probably can smell it too. Guess he should play along more than he had planned to. Make a performance of this dressing down.
Kakashi pulled his hat off and placed it down on the desk, fingers interlocked beside it, allowing all to see his entire face, as he continued, "next, you would have to speak with the custodian of the Senju clan, yes, they do have a registered custodian, and is in active service."
He again raised his hand, to prevent the back talk, and as he drops said hand, Kakashi leans on his spare fist with his face, holding the Uchiha's gaze firmly and unflinchingly, "Again, as we are playing make belief, we say you convince them too. Next, you'd have to ask their branch clan heads to gain direct access to…"
Again Kakashi raised his hand to stop the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Inazuka from voicing their arguments about the Senju not having any Branch clans. He was quick to inform to the contrary, "Yes, the Senju have not one, but two branch clans. One actually has a branch itself. But I digress."
Waving that off, Kakashi notes how irrational the Uchiha was, it was very amusing. Maybe he has been spending too much time with his prankster student, and his sadistic fiancée. A thought for later perhaps. He decided to finish this lesson up, so continued. "Once you get through all of that, you then have to get the green light from the sitting Kage, me. Again, as make belief, let's say I agree and let you onto the final hurdle; asking the current user to teach it to you."
All eyes widen in shock at that, they had a flying thunder god user already. How come none of them knew this.
Again, it was Sasuke who put it together the fastest. Speaking through gritted teeth, "The current user. It's Naruto, right?"
Kakashi offered a lazy shrug, "Don't know. Haven't asked him. We haven't had time to spar recently as we are both rather busy people. Me as hokage, and him as an S-class hunter-nin for the village. You'll have to find him and ask."
"But, you just said," Sasuke began but stopped when Kakashi offered a fluid shrug, "I know what I said, Sasuke. I know we have a user as there are bingo book entries claiming one of our Anbu, wearing a dog mask had apparently been spotted vanishing in a yellow flash."
Sasuke easily put things together in a way that Kakashi wanted him to do. To chase a trail that led to no where. Naruto was not a Hunter-nin anymore. Hasn't been for years. Nor did he wear the Dog mask with his current unit or the Hunters unit.
Anbu captain Dog has a habit of copying moves from others; the yellow flash body flicker is just an overcharged Lightning body flicker. They do it to freak out any Iwagakure shinobi they come across. Even more so when his team all do it in unison, giving the impression of the real deal. The reports he got paired with the fury he got from Kurotsuchi during the last five kage summit was peak trolling.
Clearing his throat recaptured the rooms attention, Kakashi now leans forward, eyes hard as diamond and just as unyielding, as he spoke crisp and coldly. "Now, Sasuke Uchiha, allow me to bring you back to reality. The simple truth of the matter. There is not a damn thing you can do to take anything more from Naruto. As long as I remain in this seat, you will not lay another hand on him or his dreams."
None dared interrupt the Hokage, as he addressed his former student with the full weight of his position, Kakashi continued, "You took his first love, his clan, his dream, yet he still thrives against your best efforts to break him. It frustrates you to no end. So, you tried to take his birthright next. Do not think I do not know that you have been trying to replicate the Resengan in secret. Those chakra burns are very distinct, and I recognised them immediately."
Many eyed the Uchiha warily at that announcement. The Uchiha was trying to copy other clans jutsu without permission. The reason was obvious if you dug beneath the surface. The battle between the now Uchiha clan head and the forgotten Uzumaki was said to be so one-sided, it was barely considered a fight at the beat down. To make matters worse, Sasuke was actively trying to kill Naruto, whereas Naruto was only trying to subdue Sasuke. A true show of the skill difference between them.
But Kakashi was not done ripping his former student apart, continuing firmly. "As for Karin granting you access to the Uzumaki clan secrets and absorbing the clan. You really did not do your homework regarding the Uzumaki, neither of you did, apparently. I doubt your wife or kids have any further connection to it. Nothing this council, nor I, can do either as it is a clan matter between her and Naruto."
Sasuke thought this was stupid. Though, he will have to check with Karin after this. If what Kakashi is suggesting true, then why did she not know.
Kakashi spoke again, dragging him from thoughts, "As for his dream. We all know it. Becoming Hokage. However, as you are officially slated to become Lord Seventh, he has since moved on from that. He has a new one that I am aware of, but this council is not at liberty to know. He has backing from many, many people of influence. So, whenever you do become hokage, Naruto will still be out of your reach, Sasuke. Give it up already. He will never, and I honestly mean never, be beneath your control let alone your boot. He beat you fair and square. Stop trying to one up him. It is rather pathetic honestly."
Sasuke's activation of his sharingan earned him the business end of six, overeager Anbu shinobi, and one Anbu Commander's various weapons, all appearing from various locations the same second. Sasuke though maintained his glare on his former sensei, growling lowly, "This isn't over."
Kakashi remained coldly indifferent, responding with finality, "Yes, Sasuke Uchiha. It is. Next time you try and encroach on clan rights, my Anbu will take your hands. Continued persistence, will result in your head. With all your children running around, we do not need you for the preservations of your bloodline. Keep that in mind."
Many gulps echoed from the cold hard truth in that spoken fact.
Sasuke too was taken aback by that realisation of truth. Somehow, by restoring his clan, he had become irrelevant and that irked him something fierce. Then again, once he becomes Hokage, he can just take the whole Senju archive under emergency powers. Or force Karin to take the Uzumaki clan seat, and push through the powers to do so.
Patients then. This is but a bump in the road.
After a tense stare off, Sasuke deactivated his bloodline and took a step back as a clear sign of his withdrawal. Kakashi knew that this was only a tactical step back. It was clear his troublesome student was attempting to turn this political as he had more than enough sway in the civilian council to push through anything he wanted. The other clans, however, were far more neutral in their dealings with him. He'd have to put in work, but he might pull it off with enough of them to challenge the defence of the Senju assets.
Kakashi knew Tsunade was a master craftsman in regard to politics and has taught Naruto enough to navigate it much the same way and had contingent plans in case things got too much for him to handle. He himself knew of only two of them, and he really hopes this village did not accidentally trigger either of them. For it will be a dark day for the village if that were the case.
Looking around, Kakashi lands on his Anbu Commander, and nodded. The man and his troop all vanish back into the shadows, allowing the hokage to address the room at large, "On that explosive tag, let's end this here."
Land of Spring: Wilderness
A week since mission start…
Teijo Wakatsuchi was once a member of Dido's military regime and has been slowly gathering a crack team of fighters and soldiers from across the nations to regain control over his homeland. In order to stay off the radar, Tejio had recruited the unaffiliated from the bottom of barrels from as far away as Demon and Marsh, to the endless deserts of Wind and highest peaks of Stone and Lightning.
They trained day and night, taking only the lowest possible missions possible, sparingly, s to not arouse the attention of even the most minor of ninja villages. It's been a long road, but he had finally made it. The meticulous amount of planning he had to endured to get here was finally coming full circle.
He had made it back, completely undetected, and his contacts within Yukigakure have informed him that they are also ready to strike as their leadership is clearly incompetent as to not notice their betrayal yet.
Strolling into camp, having met said contact at the nearby town, Tejio felt giddy at the prospect of his victory being so close. In his travels, he had heard of the breaking down of relations between Spring and Fire country due to the marriage contract being nullified after the actress was caught in a compromising position by the Fire delegation.
It was a messy affair that caused him great joy to hear about. It meant that the number of enemies had lessened as no doubt the Hidden Leaf was no longer in the picture.
His numerous soldiers nodded at him, matching his grin as they all knew their efforts were about to bloom and a new home secured for them all. The last part of the plan was the arrival of the latest chakra armour from Yukigakure, and they'll move on the capital and depose the reign of the last Kazehanas.
It will bring rise to the Wakatsuchi Dynasty.
Entering his large tent, Tejio Wakatsuchi had yet to notice the two masked shinobi in the shadows in the treeline that had followed him back to find this place. He was also ignorant of the fact that the ship meant he was expecting had been intercepted and delayed indefinitely.
With the flickering of the shadows the silent spectres were gone. It was time to regroup and plan for the night assault, as it was clear that they were gearing up to act sooner rather than later.
Land of Spring: Rally Point Alpha
Tanuki and Hawk returned to the primary rally point for Team Ryo, an ocean facing, cave halfway down a cliff on the eastern side of the nation. With the ocean crashing below, eating away at the rocks below, this place was perfectly hidden and made for an ideal location to operate from without fear of being noticed by local forces.
The second they passed the second genjutsu, anti-detection, and privacy seals and into their small camp where they found the last two members of their team, unmasked and standing over what appeared to be a bunch of armour pieces and documentations.
Being safely hidden from the world, Hawk took her mask off too, placing it on her hip, as she stepped closer to inspect the articles of war. Temari wasn't far behind her, causing Naruto and Shikamaru to glance up, the former stating, "We have a bigger cluster fuck than we realised."
"How so…? We found the camp, the suspected leader of this group, and mapped out their…" Temari began to inform, thinking it was straight forward, until her husband sighed and shook his head, Shikamaru stating, "It's troublesome, but I agree with Naruto's assessment. It appears that just over half of Yukigakure is in on this. This is such a drag."
Tenten looks up from inspecting one of the chakra core's, melded into a chest piece, staring at the Nara confused, "We can handle a few Jonin. Just like we did back in Marsh."
Temari wore a tight frown, "It isn't that simple. Even if we wipe them out, what can we tell them exactly? Oh, half your ninja were trying to overthrow your nation. We just looking out for you so killed them all."
Tenten sighed at that, seeing the other end of things and nodded, "That is true… even more when we barely have enough trading treaties to warrant such direct intervention."
Naruto sighed looking at Tenten, "That is why this is so troublesome. Can we wipe out a force of nearly fifty Yuki Jonin. Sure. They are at most low Jonin with a few mid a rare few are high Jonin. We are all mid-Anbu at minimum, on a bad day. No, what makes this so tricky is if we wipe out the mercenaries, those Yuki shinobi will have an excuse to 'increase security' on our protection target, and more easily create a situation they can fabricate something. We then fail our mission."
They all into another contemplative state of silence.
A silence that was broken by the boiling pot on the heating seal, drawing all eyes briefly, and Naruto gets up to tend to it. This is when Shikamaru came up with a plan that he knew Naruto was going to hate whilst keeping them out of the public space but leave them access to act freely with permission and ensure the safety of the daimyo as an added benefit.
Taking a deep breath, Shikamaru voices his proposal, "Naruto."
Naruto knew that tone from the Nara, and sighed hard. "Fine. I will talk to her, show the proof and make her promise not to reveal our involvement, instead let it be seen as a Yukigakure operation against rogue elements from the previous regime. Which is the only truth that needs to be known and made public. So, we will have to ensure that the guy Temari and Tenten found is in recognisable state when we hand him over to the samurai."
Temari and Tenten blinked at that. Surprise in Temari's case that Naruto came up with a plan like that. Tenten was more annoyed he hadn't mentioned it sooner. Shikamaru though just nodded, glad he was able to channel the prankster mindset Naruto had in spades to tactical combat. "Sorry for this."
Naruto shrugged, still kneeling with his back to them, as he poured the boiled water in the instant food cups, enough for everyone, and four cups of tea. He speaks up after placing down the kettle, glancing over his shoulder, blank face, "It's the only real way to keep this hushed up. Sure, it will boost the nations shinobi force a bit, but it's better than finding out one of the big five sent an Anbu team into a neutral nation unprompted."
Temari nodded as she was handed her food and drink, "Yeah, it would be a bit of a diplomatic headache for all parties involved. Especially for the Hokage as no doubt the Fire Daimyo will be on his case."
Shikamaru nodded, "No doubt."
Tenten snorted, as she took her cup of tea and noodles, "Come on guys, what's the worst Spring could do? Throw a tantrum and demand that we not save them from their own or some shit?"
"Yes," Temari informed before sipping, then continuing, "Then their treaty partners will demand answers, and perhaps even reach Iron Country, who will call Fire out for it. Then my brother will get involved, then Lightning as they should have been notified of us operating nearby, then a summit called for Leafs 'Transgressions' of bad faith."
Tenten looked dumbfounded at her fellow kunoichi for a solid ten seconds, before looking to the boys who both nodded to confirm that could very well happen. Swallowing hard, she asks, "Then, Naruto has to confront and convince his ex that her own are planning on betraying her. Then somehow express our intent to eliminate the threat, then pin it on the traitorous people to have them appear as saviours of the land, releaving us of any involvement whatsoever. Am I missing something?"
"Nope." Her team replies in unison.
She nodded before turning to her food, "good to know."
Land of Spring: Kazehana Castle
The following morning…
Naruto slinked into the room of one Koyuki Kazahana. It was a simple affair seeing as he was the one to install it. Glad to see that they were working as intended with minimal wear and tear since his last service of them.
The room was truly fit for royalty and truly an otherworldly place for one person to call a bedroom. A massive four post bed, think they called it shogun size, but it makes grown adults look like children upon it. The floor was all carpet, fluffy and easy on the feet, all a muted light blue, but Naruto wasn't here for a social call. Instead, he sat on the table in the corner, with a copy of the documents he and Shikamaru liberated from the convoy they intercepted.
He was in his civilian clothes, though he had his mother's sword on his back, and his hoodies hood was resting against the handle. As he adjusted it, and took a sip of tea from a flask, she awoke to the noise within her fortified room.
Pale violet-blue eyes snap open, and she snapped up, looking around frantically until she landed on. Her breath hitched. Swallow spit, and pinching herself, to confirm that he was sitting there. Koyuki went to speak, but Naruto did first, his arms crossed. "This is not a social visit, so you can relax and stay there."
He stands promptly, hand tapping the pile of documents, before Naruto continued. "Here, you will find all the evidence of a plot to overthrow you by a guy named Tejio Wakatsuchi. He has support from members of your shinobi forces. My team and I will handle his mercenaries, and the traitorous Yuki shinobi. We need you to tell everyone that it was a sting operation by loyal Yuki shinobi."
He finishes as he reached the large doors out towards the balcony he had used to sneak in, and as he reached for the handle, her arms wrapped around his chest, her head against his back, her voice soft as can be yet cracked with emotion. "How… how can I make things right? I am sorry."
Naruto did not answer her. After all there wasn't one.
She squeezed a little harder, and went to speak again, but Naruto cut her off, "My team and I will be moving just before sunrise. Be sure to finish reading those documents, as no doubt the morning patrols will stumble upon the site."
"Talk to me please!" Koyuki shouts. Naruto just sighed tightly then calmly but firmly, pulled her arms apart despite her best efforts, and he turned to her. She was still as stunning as he recalled; her long black hair was messy and untamed, having just woken up and unattended to.
Her unique violet-blue eyes seemed to shimmer in the moonlight from behind him, the tears visible in the corners pulled his heart strings, so he called upon his vast Anbu experience to stay blank face so she couldn't read anything, "The documents. Read them fully and memories them so when they ask…"
She tries to step forward, tried to bring him closer - trying to break through this wall he has eracted between them, but he kept his arm length gentle hold of her upper arms that kept her out of reach. Koyuki pleaded with sniffles and waterworks. "Please talk to me. Forget the stupid documents…"
Naruto sighed, hard, he hated this and knew he wasn't really good at the whole relations department, definatly not his forte. A fw moments before he finally looked directly at her, eye to eye, speaking softly. "Yuki."
That froze her struggles completely. He hadn't called her that in years. She nodded, trying to urge him on, and he did so without further prompting. "You are in great danger right now, and I am trying to save you. Like I always said I would. Remember?"
She nodded again; her distraught mind unable to tell this lie apart from the truth at current. Intent masked beneath the gentle words. He continued, "but, as you know, I am not supposed to know this. So, I need you to read that script and make a believeable cover story that tells everyone I wasn't here so we can make things right. Okay?"
She nodded frantically, sniffling once to try regain herself. "I will. I promise."
Naruto nodded and added a small smile for good measure, "We never go back on them, right?"
Koyuki smiled back and nodded, "It's our word."
He finally releases her and the moment she looked away to find the aforementioned documentation; Naruto was gone in the wind. The last time the two would meet. Not that either knew.
Land of Spring: Mercenary Camp
Kitsune's arrival on the edge of the clearing, and immediately flashed his scattered squad handsigns that read, "Documents delivered. Mission go…"
Shifting his eyes down to the camp below, the nearly a hundred samurai and thirty shinobi of low to mid-Jonin rank were located. Due to the time of day, many were asleep, and the night shift had settled into a false lull of security as their shift was ending shortly. Their inattentiveness will be their downfall.
Falcon signed ready.
Tanuki signed ready.
Deer signed ready.
The opening explosion was the stuff of legends. It was followed up by three more, that cut the enemy numbers drastically and sent the survivors into complete disarray. It was also the new calling card for Team Ryo. The Anbu commander and Hokage have deemed their excessive use of 'unauthorised' grade explosives has become a running joke among their fellow Anbu.
Some going as far as calling it the Leafs 'unofficial' response to Iwagakure's Explosion Corps. A Corps that was well aware of their antics and were equally impressed, annoyed, jealous, and exasperated.
The falling kunai flung into the panic laced clearing slammed through the armour plates, flesh, and bone alike, followed shortly by a dropping blade of wind. In the chaos, the masks appeared from nothing, the swords cut through the mercenaries who were up and concussed from the four twenty diameter craters, the explosive wind pressure knocking their senses from the enemy.
None were spared.
Kitsune cuts through a kunoichi, ducking beneath a water whip launched from another shinobi that was promptly killed by a thrown kunai to the neck, that exploded shortly thereafter.
Sliding back, Kitsune avoids the kunai flung from his side, blocking the strike form the opposite, he cuts right then launched a kick at a pouncing samurai, that launched him airborne s a result of the Anbu operative's strength. The mid-air foe, was blasted away by a hidden wind blast, as expected.
In a muted flash, a kunai appeared in kitsune mask shinobi off-hand, three-prongs and weighted, before he channeled the power of the wind before allowing it to explod forth punching straight through an unfortunate kunoichi, two samurai and then landing in a shinobi's heart.
A flash of yellow light, before the previously mentioned shinobi's three squad mates found their necks sliced through by a quick draw katana strike. Before said articles hit the ground, the combat boots of Kitsune were already gone double kicking another foe before another kunai appearing in the his main hand replacing his sword that had aslo vanished the same way.
Nearby, Deer was slicing through the last of the Jonin before looking to the right where the towering tent sat. He stepped towards it, swiping the blood from the blades before parting the cloth, his shadow already moving darting forward and ensuring the man who attempted to put on his kunai pouch could not offer resistance to capture.
Deer continued to stroll calmly, did not offer anything but the cold indifference its mask offered. Tejio Wakatsuchi was just another target of course. This was troublesome but the amount of trouble that would be unleashed on this guy's plan progressing further was way more so. Guess it was not so troublesome after all.
Stopping before the man, the two stared at each other, one in terror the other in cold indifference. Eventually, Deer moved, raising one of his blades up, and Tejio went wide eyed as he followed the motion the best he could, but before he could scream, an impact on his temple, knocking him out.
With the troublesome Tejio over his shoulder, wrapped in ninja wide and seals, coming to see his squad mates piling the bodies into one of the many craters from Hawks excessive use of Kitsune's personal arsenal. Those things are banned from use by the regular forces for obvious reasons.
Hawk went through hand signs for a fire breath, Kitsune through a set for wind as did Tanuki.
All four froze then looked westward, before all vanishing from sight, a massive construct of snow in the shape of a whale crashes down, covering the entire area in a fresh coat of snow, and putting out the bonfire of flesh.
Twenty Yuki shinobi appear through the frozen mist, and catch Deer by surprise, until a yellow flash, and Kitsune appears parrying the strike from the ice sword. A kick followed that, and the man was finished by another flung kunai from Hawk.
The foursome slide to a stop, Deer still holding the captive Tejio over shoulder, when the big bad Jonin commander appeared through the mist, strolling with the confidence of a big five kage, his now nineteen shinobi landing in a semi-circle around the Anbu team.
The man inspecting the four masked shinobi, and sneered, "Hidden Leaf Anbu. You know you shouldn't be here."
None of them replied, as expected, but the man just lifted his chin imperialistically, "No matter. I, Kotake Shinichi, will be putting you down here, and now. Then, once the Leaf and Land of Fire pay their dues for disrespecting us, we shall hand back your bodies. This will serve as a reminder to all who oppose us that…"
He pauses upon noticing a new fifth operative, also wearing a Kitsune mask, taking the limp body of Tejio from the Deer masked one who makes very clear and deliberate movements to reach down and into his own shadow, perplexing the Yuki shinobi.
Said Yuki shinobi were so entranced with the fact that one of the Leaf Anbu reached into his shadow, they missed the handing off of four three-pronged kunai, three were uniquely marked, from Kitsune to Hawk, behind his back. They also missed the flicker of light from the Tanuki, now with twin steel tessen in hand.
When Deer finally pulled out their hand from the shadows, clutching twin tanto's they realised their mistake. The middle-aged man, combed back black hair, and grey eyes that were wide as saucers, roared with his scrawny finger pointing at the Anbu team, "Kill them!"
The next three seconds happened in a flash. A rare move by Team Ryo, Battle Plan F. A plan only possible for close/honorary members of the Namikaze clan, and by extension, the Senju clan. A gift bestowed upon only six unrelated to either clan or known of by only them.
Four thunks echoed, followed by four flashes of light, followed by the death of nineteen Jonin class shinobi. The moment the light died down, the leaf team had replaced the semi-circle of Jonin, all four equally separated, in various post slash poses.
Kotake panicked, his men were just slaughtered in not even a second right before him, and in desperation struck out at Hawk, the closest to him. Hawk was a second too late to react, was yanked clear and protected by Kitsune, who received the ice slash across his back for the effort. A slight grunt of pain was heard but not much else.
As that was happening, Tanuki had flanked the lunge, and spun down with a slash on the extended arm, only for his chakra armour to repel the wind chakra slash attack. Kotake, suddenly believing he had a chance, launched forward at the now retreating operative.
The fan wielding Tanuki masked operative, kept backing up, avoiding, or deflecting the ice sword strikes that were sloppy at best, terrible at worst, and as they pretended to trip on a loose stick, Kotake over extended to capitalise on his perceived advantage.
He suddenly realised he no longer had an arm up on this operative, figuratively and literally in this case, as he watched his own fall ahead of him, sword, and all, yet before he could understand this further. Blackness overcome him.
Deer swiped off their tanto of the blood, before looking at Tanuki who nodded back at him, before they both looked over at Kitsune being supported by Hawk. Kitsune provided a thumb up, and the Deer and Tanuki nod back in acknowledgment.
After preventing the bleed out of Kotake, and chakra suppression seals placed on his position discreetly. Not only that, but Team Ryo also made it look like they betrayed one another with bodies and such arranged accordingly. Hawk commented, after they were done, "This was just like that time in Sky country."
Kitsune nodded, seeing the similarities when Deer just shrugged lazily, "It works so why not."
This is when Tanuki landed beside them, having discreetly informed their unknowing hosts of this location, "Time to move. Spotted a search team nearby."
The other three nodded to that and they were gone with the wind, no one but the Daimyo aware they were there. Though, Kotake would later swear he saw leaf Anbu, it was considered part of his post traumatic stress disorder, and was easily dismissed as a ravings of a mad man. Especially when he said there were four lights.
Koyuki waited for a full week by the window, balcony door open, before realising that Naruto wasn't coming back. She came to this realisation when reviewing their brief encounter word for word. Not once did he promise her, or say he'll be coming back. Just that he was protecting her as he was supposed to.
That was it.
She fell into a depression for a month.
Land of Fire; Hokage Office
Same day as the early morning raid by Team Ryo…
A knock on the door, Kakashi ordered, "Come in."
In stepped in Sakura and Karin Uchiha, both clearly upset with something as they were both supporting frowns as they approached. Kakashi raised an inquisitive eyebrow, placing his writing utensils down and clasped his hands together, "Can I help you Sakura, Karin-san?"
Sakura spoke first, despite being lower on the wife placement, "Where is Naruto? We've searched the whole village and haven't found him."
Kakashi made a show of thinking about it before clicking and looking to Karin, speaking casually aloof, "Karin-san, surely you should be able to find him, no?"
Karin grew red faced at that, suspecting that the hokage knew what was going on with her powers, thus ground out, "You know damn well what's wrong with my power, right?!"
Kakashi again, made a show of thinking on it, scratching the back of his head, chuckling nervously, "Umm, what do you think…?"
"Yes," both woman spoke in unison, and he sighed hard, slumping comically. "Well, you'd be right."
They both blinked at that. They didn't actually think he did know but then again, he was the hokage. From what Sasuke had complained about when he got back from that meeting, and what it hinted at, they suspected he knew but not for certain.
Karin growled fully now, but as low as a wounded animal, "Oh? Then do enlighten us with what the hell is going on exactly, and what it has to do with the blonde knucklehead!"
Kakashi raised his hand, causing both kunoichi to grow even more irate, however his next words froze them straight, "Relax. I can handle this Weasel, Cobra, Turtle, and Shark."
A quick glance back by both ladies, showed various pointy swords and kunai aimed at their vitals points by said Anbu members, that Kakashi then waved off, speaking nonchalantly. "Return to your posts. I have this under control."
The four nodded before vanishing into the shadows once more, scaring the crap out of both Uchiha wives, a terrible sense of fear gripping their minds, but Kakashi's voice brought them back to him, "Ah, it seems lately, the Anbu have been increasing their training and are a bit overzealous about their duties these days. Think it has to do with our flagship team showing up Iwagakure's Explosive Corp in several of their joint missions."
Kakashi chuckled at the message he got from Kurotsuchi at that, demanding access to their explosive note production method. He played his plausible deniability to the max on that one, and even when alliance inspectors combed the village for them, they found nothing. They also knew better than to ask for the specific Anbu team or its members though, so that was something.
He continued though, addressing his current situation, "As for Naruto's whereabouts, he's been out on missions constantly. He's highly requested internationally and crazily busy."
Karin adjusted her glasses and forced a polite smile and tone, recalling that Anbu were likely watching her movements like hawks, "Yes, well, do you know when he'll be back. I wish to discuss some clan matters with him."
Kakashi shakes his head, "Ah, unfortunately, Karin-san, I do not know when he'll be back. Though, personally, I hope it is soon, as his next mission is scheduled to start soon and we really can't let down the Wind Daimyo, or Suna as it is a joint escort mission between us."
Sakura frowns, recalling her time under her master and the mandatory rest duty between missions, "But, Kakashi-sensei, surely Naruto is required to take a break between missions like everyone else, no? How can he be constantly on mission like this?"
Kakashi lets out a tight breath, speaking below a breath, "That's what I keep telling him," before speaking louder to reply to his former student, "Normally that is true, yes, however due to so many of our shinobi taking time off…"
His pointed stare at them did not go unnoticed. It wasn't just them either, but they were part of the problem, as post war and signing of the shinobi alliance treaty, more and more ninja enter the reserves to take extended breaks. Several year long breaks. Thus those that remain active, had to pick up the slack.
It wasn't a problem isolated to the Hidden Leaf either, all of the great five have been suffering from it equally so there are far less shinobi out in the field, but the number of rogues had also skyrocketed. A side effect of this, meant that Anbu and their allied variants are far more prevalent in the field, and are trained far more frequently with most Jonin squads typically holding three of the four being reserve Anbu members.
Kakashi continued to address his former student, and spouse of the other former student, "we have had to make do with what we had available. Naruto is a hot commodity in the shinobi world right now, and gets us more contracts just by being seen. Almost a status symbol for those who can afford it."
Sakura looked bewildered by that statement, asking tentatively, "For those who can afford it?"
Kakashi's eyes seem to be replaced by Ryo signs as he recalls the mark ups on missions requesting Naruto specifically, and he chuckled lowly, "Oh, yes. We are making a killing with that one."
Lord Sixth suddenly got serious again, looking between the two before him, Kakashi continuing, "On a more serious note, Naruto and his team are largely the reason most people within the Leaf have yet to notice our thinning budget since the wars end."
Again both ladies look skeptical at the claim. The knucklehead being such a vital part of the village finances? The blonde idiot who is obsessed with Ramen, Orange, and becoming hokage? That knucklehead?
Sakura shakes her head, dismissing the thought that her former teammate was so important, more important than her and her husbands work at restoring the Uchiha clan and their connections.
Karin was of similar mind to Sakura but far less bias against her fellow Uzumaki. She knew he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but it was somewhat absurd that one ninja could support he village so too eventually just decided to ask the other question, "If you say so. I just want to know why my abilities aren't working."
Kakashi blinked owlishly, playing up his aloof without even thinking of doing so, "They aren't? You should get that checked out."
He looked to his other guest, spoken briskly and half whisper. "Hey Sakura, you really should have a look at her instead of being here bothering me and my paperwork."
Both hot tempered women gritted their teeth, clenched their jaws, and balled their fists, until the sound of ruffling metal reminded them of the hidden Anbu, currently watching them.
Sakura nodded then bowed, followed by Karin, "Yes, sorry sensei, I will take her to the hospital immediately."
Kakashi eye smiled, waving them off, "Don't sweat it, Sakura. That's why I am here, as your sensei and hokage. Now get going. You shouldn't waste time."
The second the duo left, snickering caught his ear, and he glances at the shadows, and chuckled himself, "I won't tell dragon, Team Kappa, as that was rather amusing."
Land of Fire; Main Hospital
Three hours later…
Sakura and Karin pour over the results of every test they can think of. What they found was enlightening as much as it was confusing. Sitting in Sakura's office, files open all over the place, Sakura offered, "Well, at least we know your pregnant again. Congrats."
Karin waved that off, "Yeah – yeah. We got bigger problems."
Sakura looks down at the diagram, it was a chakra test, and the redhead was comparing against the one she took when she first arrived after the war. The result was clear as day. The head doctor responded softly, Sakura speaking, "Your chakra density, and make up has changed rather drastically."
Karin nodded, tight frown as she bit her lip, "Yeah. This new test shows that it is not remotely close enough to be considered Uzumaki density. If I take the time between these two tests, then also assume that it has been a gradual decline since I first arrived, then…"
Pulling off her glasses to think clearer, Sakura inspects the diagram. Her fellow Uchiha wife had added a mark where normal Uzumaki density is and yes, it was not even a quartet of the way up the graph.
"Even that doesn't make sense," Karin's voice drew Sakura's eyes to the redhead who was staring down at the graph again, rubbing her temples, glasses on the table. The slug summoner sat on the desks edge, Sakura asking, "When was the last time you actually spoke, or interacted with Naruto?"
Karin blinked before looking to the pinkette, and for a moment thought on the last time she spoke with her fellow Uzumaki. It took a while before it hit her, like a resengan to the gut, "The wedding."
Sakura raised a brow at that, "The wedding?"
Karin nodded, recalling her special day, "Yes. I had noticed him after the ceremony. Hanging in the shadows. I had expected him earlier, but I guess he just got back from a mission as he was still in his Jonin attire."
Sakura blinked at that, before recalling that Naruto was purposefully not invited as Sasuke figured he'd make a scene and ruin everything. She had agreed too, but it seemed Karin was not aware of that. Allowing Karin to continued, "Though, I got really mad at the only words he spoke to me, so I stormed off to rejoin the group. He didn't follow."
Sakura suspected something happened, and probed, "what happened, exactly?"
Karin looked at her incredulously, but answered, "Well, I went to embrace him, like everyone else that day, but he simply gave me a handshake instead. Then had to audacity to call me, Karin Uchiha, and not Uzumaki-Uchiha. The nerve. Like hell I'd give up my…"
She trailed off upon seeing Sakura's wide-eyes, now realising why Sasuke did not want to allow Naruto to attend. It wasn't for him making a scene, but rather for that, "I see. It makes sense now. It all makes sense."
"What does?" Karin asks look back at Sakura intensely, as the pinkette puts a crazy puzzle together, in a surprising fast time. After a moment, she grabs a piece of paper and starts scribbling nonsense down. It took a full minute before Sakura looked back at Karin, and spoke slowly, "His addressing of you somehow, I think it's what took your 'Uzumaki' traits. I know I sound crazy, but I know that idiot and how strange things happen around him."
Karin thought on that and couldn't fault that logic before the gravity of everything settled in and she froze. Sakura nodded, as she confirmed her thoughts, "Naruto is the clan head of the Uzumaki clan. Somehow, by addressing you as, Karin Uchiha, and not Uzumaki-Uchiha, he had stripped you of your 'Uzumaki' parts."
She takes a breath as more and more things began to fit together with this new trail of thoughts. None of Karin's kids have the dense chakra Naruto and she were known for. They didn't even have levels comparable to Tsunade, who was also quarter Uzumaki, but if Naruto had taken that from her then.
Sakura's eyes harden at a certain thought that made her uneasy, her husband is known for being rather vengeful, speaking to the redhead, "Karin. When that Baka of a teammate gets back, we are going to have a nice little sit down with him and have you reinstated to the Uzumaki clan."
Karin nodded hesitation clear and evident. Uzumaki were stubborn by design. Naruto even more so. She knew this. The village knows this. Heck, the whole damn world knows this.
Land of Fire; Hokage Office
Six days later…
Kakashi perked up upon feeling the enter request from his former Anbu team. A quick pulse response and appearing before him stood Anbu Team Ryo, standing tall and proud. Kakashi nodded, at them, before speaking up, "You can skip the verbal report. Head off, your next mission is awaiting at the Nara ranch already."
The four all nodded, placing their report scrolls on the desk, and all body-flickering away, just as the arrival of his second fiancé arrived with lunch. Man, he is good at this kage stuff.
Land of Fire; Naruto's Apartment
As soon as all four Anbu appeared in the empty apartment, they all felt it. Something was off, yet it was Kitsune and Hawk who spotted what it was. Chakra burns by the door, windows, rear wall, and in the living room. Someone had tried to break in at least three times but the security seals held out.
Kitsune signs, "Position compromised. Retreat."
They all nodded but Deer signed back. "Late. Repeat."
Kitsune gave him the finger as they broke apart. Recovering the various hidden stashes dotted all around the small apartment Naruto had grown up in. These days though, it is more of their own rally point and hidden armoury. Whenever they summon equipment in the field, it is usually from here and returned here.
It is also why there are so many barrier seals around this place, attuned only to the four of them.
That being said, this is also Naruto's officially registered abode to throw off any stalkers and such but hasn't stayed here full time in years. Either spending time with Shikamaru's spare room, which is happening less and less thanks to Temari. She's mean like that. Tenten's place. On rare occasions he is in the village for more than a week, he might crash at the Hatake compound and there was that one time he stayed at Ichiraku's for a few days during his lay over from missions.
Ayame couldn't at look him straight at all for a solid month after that stunt.
After collecting everything, Deer signed, "Pack camp?"
Kitsune shrugged, "No. retreat."
With that signed, they all vanished in flashes of colours having not made a sign they were even there, despite two persistent kunoichi standing outside the door with sealing equipment trying to crack the security seals again to no avail.
Land of Fire; Nara Clan Compound
Naruto strolls into the kitchen of the Nara head house, wearing black baggy sweatpants, and white t-shirt with the Senju spear atop the Uzu-swirl. "Evening."
Tamari glanced back over her shoulder at him, sly smirk spotted. "Finished already?"
Naruto snorted as he reached the table, "We showered separately. We are technically on mission still."
Their guest nodded in thanks for that. It was none other than the brother-in-law to one Shikamaru Nara, and brother in all but blood to Naruto, Gaara no Sabaku, fifth Kazekage. "Indeed."
Naruto grinned, before asking, "So, why exactly are you here directly? I thought we…"
"Well," Gaara began, cutting off the blonde, lifting his tea from the table, "a little bit of news crossed my desk, that someone was throwing a bit of a tantrum about being denied access to a certain, clan registered jutsu. Though, when I spoke with Kakashi-san, he informed me that you were due any hour now and that the matter had been handled."
As he sips his tea, the others pondered this information. This is when Tenten entered, hair out of its usual buns and flowing down her back, slightly damp from the shower. The first thing she did was go to the fridge for food. Real food. Not the rations they'd been on since leaving the gate almost two weeks ago.
Temari spoke up, suspecting something from the state of Naruto's apartment, and of the many Justus in his arsenal, one jumps out as particular potent enough to try and steal from one of the most dangerous S-ranks. "Someone tried to break into Naruto's apartment. So, I guess either one of the jutsu in his arsenal, or library was denied access to…"
Everyone could see the logic train Temari was on, so shikamaru added, "So, someone familiar with him tried to sneak in. The only one who would…"
Naruto put the pieces together after that, cutting off his Nara brother, announcing, "Sasuke wants the Thunder God Technique, right?"
Looking to the Kage sitting at the edge of the table, blue eyes hard as diamonds, as he growled, "On the mark, right?"
Gaara simply nodded once firmly, looking back at his first friend, stating, "I believe you should think about implementing your back up plan."
Gaara looks to his sister and her husband in sequence, then to Tenten, "All of you. Once he becomes hokage, he will make a play for everything else."
A heavy silence descended upon the family table for a good few minutes after that announcement. One of Tsunade's last requests of Naruto. A promise. A promise to protect the Senju, Uzumaki, and Namikaze assets from the village that shunned him.
After Kakashi was sworn in and Sasuke's nomination and appointment as his successor by the council sealed it in her mind that Naruto would not being staying.
Her talks with Gaara, Mei, and Ay, with Kurotsuchi being informed later on once she was appointed Tsuchikage, told of the situation and if necessary, Naruto and his party were to head to Sunagakure and take up post there as Jonin of the sand.
Both Ay and Kurotsuchi offered position within Kumogakure and Iwagakure respectively to Naruto and Tenten, but it is most likely that they'd stay with Shikamaru and Temari in Suna. They were a team after all.
Naruto finally spoke, voice tight, "Well, we already have everything packed. Just in case, seeing as my apartment has come under break-ins in our absence."
Gaara raised a calm eyebrow at that, but Naruto just shrugged off the silent question, not elebroting further. The Kazekage looked among the others who all nodded with tight frowns. Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his eyes, "It's troublesome, but I think you are right, Gaara. If things continue this way, I'll hand over Clan Head rights to a cousin and we'll head over by months end."
Gaara nodded, before taking another sip of tea, before speaking up, "How about we leave first thing tomorrow morning. Allow you all to spend the night at home before your next mission."
None complained.
Dawn the next morning, the Jonin team stepped out of the Nara clan heads house, stretching and yawning in the barely lit morning. All we're wearing their standard Jonin attire, black body suits hide chain mesh, green flack jackets and headbands equipped on their persons. Naruto and Tenten on their foreheads, Shikamaru on his right arm, and Temari, who was in her black battle kimono, had it hanging around her neck.
Their nonstandard gear included lower arm armour, that had numerous seals of convience written into them, temperature control, and extra storage seals. Naruto and Tenten wore swords. For Shikamaru though, knuckle knives, and a single tanto over his shoulder.
The four Jonin and one Kazekage, strolled through the nearly deserted streets and reach the kage tower promptly, and meet with Kakashi, who was waiting for them. He was still in his sleep ware suggesting what he was going to do after they left. "Glad you made it."
"We're on the clock sensei," Naruto replied with a shrug, before asking, "Where do we sign?"
Kakashi stepped aside to reveal the Wind Daimyo escort mission scroll, already signed by both Hokage and Kazekage, and now had the Jonin's signature as they had all signed in quick succession.
Kakashi nodded at them each, before stating, "When you get back, Naruto, we should have a chat."
"Gaara alsready spilt the beans," Naruto replied as he reaches the window, being the last one out, he glances back, "If things don't get better…"
Kakashi nodded after his favrouite student trailed off, but before he could speak, Naruto did, "Oh, also, someone's been trying to break into my apartment. Look into that?"
Kakashi nodded again, "I'll task Anko,"
Naruto grinned before looking back at the distant figures of his team getting further and further, glancing at his sensei, he finally says, "Don't leave Shizune-nee out this time, neh?"
Naruto's cackle echoed as he flashed out, leaving Kakashi slack jawed. Shizune actually told him. She actually.
Naruto appeared running alongside his teammates, silently as one would expect, but could feel the facepalm Kakashi just did, and grinned just as the five drop down in front of the Leafs main gate.
Just as Naruto handed the mission scroll to the guard, an unexpected voice called out to him, causing his whole group to glance over. "Hey Naruto!"
All eyes land on one Karin Uchiha, running up to him in a bit of a panic. Naruto returns his gaze to the guard, who hands him back the scroll, and allows him to face the just arrived Karin, voice polite but lacked any fondness. "Uchiha-san. Can I help you?"
Karin eyebrow twitched, growling at him, "I am an Uzumaki too, ya know! Don't…"
Naruto raised his hand, with a frown, speaking far colder than before, "I am sorry, Uchiha-san, but we do not have time for your jokes as we are on a tight schedule, and the Kazekage is not one to be late to his own commission."
Pointing to a Kazekage, who had his arms crossed and was tapping his foot in a military beat. Karin looked back to Naruto, and began, "Why are my abilities not working? What did you do?"
Naruto was pulling from his book of Kakashi references now, and his teammates knew it, as he blinked owlishly, head tilted aside, "Umm, Uchiha-san, I do not know what you are referring to? Perhaps talk to your clanhead as I am unfamiliar with Uchiha clan internal workings."
Karin growls and was about to yell but Gaara spoke up, cutting her off, "We are going to be late…"
Naruto looked over and nodded, turning to leave with them before glancing back, "Sorry, Uchiha-san, that I could not be of more help. I must be taking my leave. Fair day."
Upon that, Naruto and his team took to the tree's leaving Karin bewildered at the gate thoroughly confused on what the hell just happened.
With Naruto and his group, laughter echoed of the trees they were speeding through, and Naruto himself had a shit eating grin, "Take that teme."
A/N: This was the original story that would have led to Kitsune Knight, thus the similar name of Kitsune Shinobi. I don't know why I scrapped this one, but I did, and it is what it is. Though, in this one, there is far more going on, and the notes on the document state that the end of chapter four is when the transfer to the DXD world was to happen.
There was one other Oneshot i was going to upload but my Lost Fox is almost finished and it's getting good.
o7
