Recommended Story: 'Naruto's True Nindo' by Kyuubi123

Chapter Four

Naruto now had a tail. Not a chakra tail, but a dark-colored flesh tail with a spearhead tip. And he didn't even seem to notice it.

Shizune whispered to Tsunade. "M'lady...?"

"I know Shizune, but right now we've got a bigger problem. For instance, where are all the other Anbu? This clearly was not the entire force so if this was only a fraction then why didn't anyone intervene? For that matter, why is no one appearing right now to see what happened?"

Shizune gasped thinking it over. "You're right. What's going on?"

Tsunade stepped forward. "Naruto!" She called out, gaining the boy's attention. "Help me take her body to the hospital. And create as many clones as you can and find every Anbu and clan head you can. Tell them I sent you and see how they react. Gather all the non-traitorous ones and bring them to the hospital. We need to see who all is still on my side here."

Naruto nodded and let go of Moegi before creating hundreds of clones that ran out in every possible direction. He turned to help Tsunade carefullly lift Shinju's body, making Moegi gasp. "Boss, when did you get a tail?"

"A tail?" Naruto repeated, completely clueless to her question. "I don't have a tail."

"Then what's that behind you?" Moegi asked.

Naruto felt his backside and quickly found a new appendage. "What the hell? Where did that come from?"

"I'll have to check that out too but for now let's focus on her." Tsunade said picking up Shinju. 'I don't think I can save her, but if there's a chance I better try.'

Naruto ignored his new feature and helped Tsunade take the civilian councilwoman's body to the hospital with Shizune and Moegi following.

"I'm serious Ino. Sasuke was trying to kill Naruto." Sakura told her friend, both girls inside the Yamanake flower shop. Ino's parents were out on a date that night so this felt like a good spot as any to have a talk.

"Really? But why? Wasn't Naruto sent out to save Sasuke-kun?" Ino asked.

"He was. But the problem was Sasuke didn't want to be rescued. I saw it Ino. Sasuke had a chance to come home, he was away from Orochimaru's henchmen and there was no one stopping him, but he chose to fight Naruto instead. He even used that lightning jutsu he used in the chuunin exams on Naruto twice. That move is an assassination move, so why would he use it in a friendly spar? He even tried using it on Naruto here in town before he left too. Sasuke honestly wanted Naruto dead!"

Ino was appalled. "But why would he do that? I mean, Naruto may not be the easiest person to be around, but I wouldn't say he deserves to die."

"I think... Sasuke's jealous of Naruto." Sakura suggested.

Ino arched an eyebrow. "Sasuke-kun? Jealous? Of Naruto? Why?"

"Why else would he feel so compelled to beat Naruto? It's not like he would get rewarded for it. The way I see it, Sasuke wants to beat Naruto just to reassure himself he can, and that could only mean he's jealous or threatened by Naruto." The pinkette said.

"But why would he be like that?" Ino asked.

"Ino, Naruto's a better person than we give him credit for. I mean, there is a reason Hinata likes him so much. Oh, you're not going to believe this, but apparently Naruto and Hinata are an item now."

"What?" Ino came close to screaming. "How? When? Why?"

"I don't know. I never got a chance to ask either of them. I didn't want to make them feel scrutinized while they were having such a good time together. But I think it was soon, since Naruto has been rather aloof to me lately. Even when I was on that date with him to talk to him he acted like he wasn't all there."

"Wait a minute. You actually went on a date with Naruto?" Ino asked.

Sakura looked down, saddened. "Kind of. It was more like a meal between friends so we could talk, but I called it a date to get Naruto to agree to it. If he wasn't already with Hinata by then, I certainly didn't give him any reason not to, and if he was, he probably didn't know how to turn me down."

Ino could sense the remorse in her friend's voice. "What happened?"

Sakura was a bit hesitant to answer. "I was confused about Sasuke and hoped that by talking to Naruto about it he could help me know what I wanted. He tried to reassure me that Sasuke wouldn't do anything wrong but I don't think either one of us really believed that. After that he cut it short, he probably saw that I had other things on my mind than spending time with him and felt hurt. I don't know, but I feel like maybe I hurt him."

"So? Naruto will get over it and be back to his normal self in no time. Don't beat yourself over it Forehead." The blonde mindwalker callously commented.

The pinkette lightly frowned at her friend. "That was uncalled for Pig."

Ino frowned back. "Well why do you care so much? You never cared how Naruto felt before so why now? I've seen you hit him like it's a reflex. And now his feelings are hurt and suddenly you feel bad? Before we get to my attitude, let's cover yours."

Sakura jerked back a bit but didn't argue. Instead she looked remorseful again. "You're right, I'm a horrible friend. But at least I've learned to admit it and am willing to change it. Would you do the same Ino?"

Ino shrugged. "Why should I? Naruto's never been my friend. I don't hate the guy but I've never even said more than one sentence to him at a time. Why should that change now?"

"Because someday you may have to work with Naruto and depend on him for something like I have. Do you really want there to be a wedge between you when it happens?" Sakura asked back.

Ino was confused by this sudden new attitude Sakura had. "Sakura, since when do you care what Naruto thinks? I mean Sasuke-kun's the only boy you would even give the time of day to and even last week he was the only boy you mentioned by name without someone else bringing them up first. So why now the change of heart?"

"You really want to know why Ino?" Sakura quietly asked, as if afraid to be heard. Her friend nodded. "Ok, the truth is-"

"DIE DEMON SCUM!" A voice screamed outside.

Both girls bolted out of their chairs and looked towards outside the store where the shout came from. From the window they saw a bunch of Naruto's fighting an Anbu in the street. One of them knocked on the door. "Ino? You there? I need to see your father! Now!"

Sakura reacted first and opened the door. "Naruto? What's going on?"

"Some crazy shit's going on and the Anbu are turning against the Hokage. I'm trying to find all the ones who aren't and all the clan heads too. Where's Yamanaka-san?"

"He's out with my mom." Ino answered, still processing all this.

"Where? The sooner I find him, the better." Naruto asked.

"I think they're either at the theater or at the Akimichi restaurant." Ino told him.

"Thanks." Naruto said before turning around and heading back out, avoid the Anbu who now gave chase.

Ino was wide-eyed. "The Anbu are rebeling? Why?"

"I don't know, but that's not all. I don't know how to explain it, but I could swear Naruto had a tail." Sakura stated.

Hinata was about to get ready for a bath then bed when she heard something at her window. Immediately worried, she instinctively activated her byakugan and saw Naruto perched on her windowsill. "Naruto-kun?" She asked as she opened the window. "What's wrong?"

"Hinata-chan, I can't stay long. Please get your father and tell him the Anbu are rebelling and the Hokage needs his help immediately to keep them from succeeding. Can you do this?"

Hinata silently gasped then nodded. "Of course I will Naruto-kun."

"Thanks. I better get going before anyone dispels me. Just promise me you'll stay safe." Naruto said before giving her a light kiss then leaving, without waiting for her to respond.

'Naruto-kun, good luck, and please stay safe too.' She told herself before heading towards her father.

Tsunade did the best diagnostic scan she knew over Shinju, only to find the results everyone feared were true. "I'm sorry, but she's gone." Moegi broke out in tears, and Tsunade had a night duty nurse take the body to the morgue. She then looked at Naruto. "Naruto, I need to get to the hokage tower to get control of this situation. Please get this girl somewhere safe then get to the tower right away. And while you're at it, try to hide that tail. It's likely to only create more problems in the ninja and that's the last thing we need."

Naruto nodded and tucked his new tail under his orange top as best he could before lifting Moegi onto his back. This put a lot of weight on his tail which ached but he ignored it. 'Where should I take her? Her place might be a target now, and my place is even unsafer under the circumstances. How about Konohamaru's? That might work.'

The whiskered blonde immediately took off to the youngest Sarutobi's house.

Tsunade at the same time headed towards the hokage tower. 'Who's behind this. That Anbu talked like he was enjoying this, but I don't believe he was doing this uncoursed. Someone put him up to this, someone who wanted me and Naruto out of the picture. And since they're acting now, that can only mean this is connected to the Uchiha's betrayal. In that case, this must mean someone on the civilian council does not like my ruling and is willing to break the law to get what they want, and even a good portion of the shinobi are on their side. Bunch of egotistical fuckers.'

Along the way one of Naruto's clones came up to her. "Baa-chan, I think you may want to see this. It's what made me come to you right away tonight." The clone held out the letter that Shinju had given Naruto earlier and was left behind in the training field, until a clone went to retrieve it.

"Thanks Naruto, now get back out there and find help." Tsunade told the clone who quickly departed. She read the letter, and saw red.

Naruto Uzumaki, you are hereby stripped of your status as genin and effectively banned from ever having a claim to ninja title, rank, status, or property including equipment from this day forth per orders of the council. Reasons for this, which we are only giving because we're legally required to, not that an abomination such as yourself deserves such courtesy, are because you have proven yourself a threat in our eyes to our more competent and valuable shinobi and you are influencing the younger generation in a bad way as well as controlling the hokage somehow. Do not bother having your puppet hokage get you out of this as she is effective immediately removed from office too and we will decide an appropriate replacement while she suffers for her crimes.

It was signed 'Council of Konoha', but there was only the civilian seal on it. The shinobi seal was completely absent. 'Oh I'm going to tear these assholes a new one. And then I'm going to get started on the serious beating.' Suddenly, she stopped. 'Or maybe... I could make this work to my advantage.'

"Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked, seeing her mentor stop walking.

"Shizune, how long does it take to mend a broken body?" Tsunade asked casually, resuming her walk.

Shizune and Tonton were immediately confused. "Umm... it depends on the extent of the damage and the effectiveness of the treatment given."

"True. And how long does it take to mend a broken ego?" The slug sannin added.

The brunette and pig were even more confused now. "That... cannot be treated by anything less than time and acceptance of the situation that bruised it. Tsunade-sama, what are you getting at? We're in a serious situation here."

"I know. Which is why I'm asking this. Tell me Shizune, what's crueler to do to someone with a superiority complex? Break some bones, or break their prides?"

"M'lady, speak stop speaking in riddles."

"Alright, but I'll have to tell you the rest later when we get to the office."

Thanks to Naruto's clones, all the clan heads and some of the Anbu were brought to Tsunade's office. "Ok everyone, we've got a crisis here. Not more than thirty minutes ago I was attacked in my own home by our own Anbu, led by the current head of the department. He declared me removed from office and under arrest and quarantine as if he had the authority to do such as thing. Naruto got warning of this and came to help me out, and under my orders gathered you all here."

"Any idea who is behind this Hokage-sama?" Shikaku asked.

Tsunade showed him the notice. "This was given to Naruto while he was recovering in the hospital and brought to me by him while the Anbu were attempting to catch me off guard. You tell me who looks like the responsible party."

The notice was passed between a growing number of maddening shinobi all ranked jounin or higher. "The nerve of these bastards. If I had hellhounds I'd sic them on them all right now." Tsume growled.

"What are your orders Hokage-sama?" Hiashi asked.

Tsunade smirked. "If I'm removed from office, I can't give orders, can I?"

All the ninja including Shizune were caught by surprise by that remark. "Excuse me?" Inoichi asked.

"I didn't come back to this village to get bossed around by idiots with more ego than courage or common sense. Some people here, I'm assuming most of the civilian council if not all of them, are trying to claim authority they don't have, and apparently some of the shinobi are on their side. Since each clan has active members in the Anbu ranks, I need to know right this instant who hears approves of the idea that Konoha is better off with new leadership?" Tsunade said, her gaze sharp enough to cut steel at the end.

None of them argued with her. "Hokage-sama, we support you. You can do the job well rather than some figurehead leader that the civilians would favor but would barely know how to do the job right. So what do you plan to do about this?" Shikaku told her.

"The problem is deciding what to do when considering the consequences. Not too long ago we were invaded and that alone makes us vulnerable to our enemies. An internal struggle over leadership and control of our ninja will only make the village a bigger target. With that in mind, a decision must be reached and achieved immediately for best results." Shibi stated.

Tsunade nodded. "Which is why I have an idea that may work. It's a long shot, and I know I'm not the best gambler, but this might just work for us." The others were interested to hear what she was going to say.

Naruto brought Moegi to Konohamaru's home, and after assured she was going to be safe went back out to find Tsunade. 'I guess the people who hate me ran out of patience and are finally doing something about it. Well I always knew this day might come. I just wish I could have had more time with Hinata-chan. I'll miss her, but at least she'll be safe and-'

He was cut off by a cluster of poorly aimed kunais coming at him from his left. He stopped and looked left, seeing an alley in between two buildings. He saw someone hiding in the shadows. "Who the hell are you?" Naruto shouted. The figure turned and ran off. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" He ran after the hidden attacker, despite his inner guts warning him not to.

Out of the shadows, Naruto could see his surprise assaulter was dressed in black with a grey vest, reminding him of normal high-ranked ninja attire. Thinking quickly, Naruto formed a clone and got a rasengan started on the run. Once it was done, they both jumped at the clone grabbed Naruto and spun him around to give him momentum before throwing him towards the running nin.

The rasengan made impact in the ninja's back, causing a decent amount of damage and making him fall forward. Naruto grabbed the back of his collar and turned him around. "Tell me who you're working for!"

The attacker turned out to be a man about six or so years older then Naruto with dark grey hair and dull green eyes but no expression on his face, though there was a bit or mirth in his eyes. "You'll never know, for you've fallen for my trap." All of a sudden six more ninja dressed identically and looking as stoic as the first one appeared surrounding Naruto.

"Come with us Uzumaki. If you surrender, you will live but be put to proper use. Refuse and you will go to hell with the other demons." One of the six surrounders told him.

"I don't surrender. Now or ever." Naruto said before forming his favorite hand sign. All the grey-vested shinobi threw kunais at him, but luckily Naruto formed enough clones to take the hits for him. Unfortunately they were prepared for this and threw a second wave, hitting Naruto this time. He remained on his feet, but his body was already sore and taxed from all the recent activity after healing from his severe injuries.

"It's a shame. You would have made a great weapon, but unfortunately you're a hard fox to domesticate." One of the ninja with long brown hair stated, pulling out a tanto with his comrades doing the same as if hoping to finish the job now.

All of a sudden, the air pressure increased. It was like the feeling one got when exposed to a great amount of KI, only this time it had a physical effect to it as well. Their bodies felt like something was crushing down upon them and their vision got darker and slightly blurrier. Naruto appeared fine but confused when his ambushers suddenly fell to their knees. "What... is this?" The brown-haired one asked.

Naruto looked around, unable to feel anything different, until he heard a thud behind him. He turned and saw someone new appeared.

"Naruto?" The newcomer asked.

It was the woman he saw at the Valley of the End, the one who claimed to be his mother.