Chapter 10: Mission Complete
The battlefield was silent. Smoke from Naruto's final lightning strike hung heavy in the air. As the blinding light dimmed, the ground where Danzo had stood was scorched black, and no trace of his body remained.
Naruto's lightning-armor faded, the crackling energy dissipating into the cold night air. His Zanpakutō, Kaminari Yoroi, reformed in his hand, it's blade glowing faintly before returning to its dormant state.
He stood there for a moment, gazing up at the moon with a crazed smile. His golden eyes shimmered with satisfaction, but the manic expression faded as quickly as it had appeared. He regained his composure and muttered to himself, "Mission complete."
With a flicker, Naruto vanished into the night.
--
Hiruzen's Office: A Shadow's Report
The room was filled with the sound of a pen scratching against paper. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, buried nose-deep in a mountain of paperwork, sighed heavily. He reached for his pipe but paused, sensing a familiar presence.
"You're here," he said without looking up.
Naruto stepped out from the shadows, his silent arrival startling none of the ANBU in the room, they were used to this by now. His ability to bypass even the most sensitive detection systems and trained operatives was unmatched.
"Report," Hiruzen ordered.
Naruto looked down, his expression unreadable. "I failed," he said quietly.
Hiruzen froze, his pen halting mid-stroke. The ANBU in the room shifted uncomfortably. Naruto had never failed a mission.
"What happened?" Hiruzen asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.
Naruto kept his head low as he began. "I successfully infiltrated Danzo's hideout and incapacitated him." His tone was measured, but there was an edge to it that made even the seasoned Hokage wary.
"Go on," Hiruzen said, leaning forward.
Naruto's voice darkened. "Simply assassinating Danzo wouldn't have been… satisfying." A wave of bloodlust leaked from him, momentarily suffocating the room. The ANBU stiffened. Even after years of service, the boy's insatiable thirst for violence still unnerved them.
Naruto continued, ignoring their discomfort. "I took him to a secluded location and fought him. When he realized he was losing, he ran."
Hiruzen's eyes widened in disbelief. "Run? Danzo?" he asked, incredulous. Even in his old age, Danzo was still a formidable shinobi. The idea of him fleeing from Naruto seemed impossible.
Hiruzen began to organize his thoughts for a manhunt, but Naruto interrupted him with a smirk. "I was joking."
"Joking?" Hiruzen repeated, his tone sharp.
Naruto's smirk widened. "I electrocuted him to a crisp."
Hiruzen's eyebrows rose. So he's mastered Lightning Release, he thought, though he didn't voice his surprise. Naruto's true abilities were shrouded in mystery, as the boy never showcased his skills in the academy or around others.
Hiruzen frowned. "Naruto, don't make jokes during a mission report. This is serious."
Naruto tilted his head, feigning remorse. "Apologies, Hokage-sama. I'll be more professional next time."
Hiruzen sighed deeply and rubbed his temples. "Dismissed," he said. Naruto nodded, vanishing as silently as he had arrived.
Hiruzen stared at the spot where the boy had stood, pondering the implications of what he had learned.
--
Council Meeting
The council chamber buzzed with murmured conversations.
When Hiruzen called for silence, the room fell still. "I have called this meeting to inform you of a grave matter," he began, his tone grave. "Danzo Shimura has betrayed the village."
Gasps and murmurs erupted from the council members. Shikaku was the first to speak. "Hokage-sama, do you have proof of this?"
Hiruzen nodded. "I sent an operative to investigate the newly formed Hidden Sound Village. What they found was not a village at all but a scattered network of hideouts and laboratories. These belonged to none other than the traitorous Sannin, Orochimaru."
The room grew colder at the mention of Orochimaru's name.
"My operative witnessed Danzo meeting with Orochimaru," Hiruzen continued.
Tsume Inuzuka scoffed, crossing her arms. "I always knew that snake Danzo was rotten."
Inoichi spoke up next. "Hokage-sama, has Danzo been captured?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Danzo has been eliminated by my operative."
More murmurs rippled through the room. Shikaku leaned forward "This operative must be quite skilled to infiltrate Orochimaru's hideouts without detection and eliminate Danzo.?"
Hiruzen's face remained impassive. "This operative is… uniquely skilled," he said simply, offering no further details.
Tsume snorted. "Whoever it was, they deserve a damn medal. One less snake in Konoha."
Hiashi Hyuga frowned but said nothing, his expression unreadable.
Hiruzen allowed the conversation to flow for a few more minutes before raising his hand for silence. "Danzo's actions are a stain on Konoha's honor. However, this matter will remain classified. The villagers will not know the details of his betrayal."
The council members nodded in agreement, though some looked dissatisfied.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, the weight of the day's revelations heavy on his shoulders. "Meeting adjourned," he said.
--
Chapter 11: Graduation and a Deadly Test
Naruto continued with his dual life, by day, an ordinary academy student barely passing his classes, and by night, Konoha's most skilled elite operative, carrying out missions that others wouldn't dare attempt.
The days passed quickly, and the academy graduation exam arrived. Naruto did just enough to pass without drawing too much attention to himself, performing the Bunshin no Jutsu adequately. His instructors congratulated him, though they thought his performance was subpar. To his female classmates, however, Naruto was a rising star.
When the ceremony concluded, a crowd of girls swarmed around him, showering him with praise. "Naruto-kun, you're amazing!" one girl squealed.
"Congratulations, Naruto!" another chimed in, her cheeks pink with excitement.
Naruto scratched the back of his head with a playful grin. "Thanks, ladies! You're all too kind," he said, his charming tone making them go gaga.
As he prepared to leave the academy grounds, he was stopped by none other than Mizuki, one of his instructors.
"Hey, Naruto," Mizuki called, his tone overly friendly.
Naruto paused, his sharp instincts instantly alert. Mizuki had always given him a bad vibe, though he hid it well behind his fake smiles.
"What's up, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto replied, masking his wariness with his usual carefree demeanor.
Mizuki leaned closer, his voice low. "I've got a proposition for you. How would you like a chance to skip straight to chunin? There's a special test,top secret, that could fast-track you."
Naruto's golden eyes narrowed slightly, though he kept his smile. "This idiot thinks I'm stupid enough to fall for this?" he thought.
"Really? That sounds awesome! What do I have to do?" Naruto asked, feigning enthusiasm.
Mizuki smirked, believing he'd hooked the boy. "All you need to do is steal the Forbidden Scroll of Sealing and learn a jutsu. Do that and the promotion is yours."
Naruto's mind raced with the possibilities. "This worm doesn't know who he's dealing with. I should rip out his throat right here and now". But he resisted the urge, his grin widening.
"Got it, Mizuki-sensei! I won't let you down," Naruto said, his voice dripping with false excitement.
Mizuki patted him on the shoulder. "I knew I could count on you."
--
Hiruzen's Office
Hiruzen sat at his desk, watching Konohamaru sulk as Ebisu scolded him for yet another failed assassination attempt.
"Young Lord, such behavior is unbecoming of a young noble!" Ebisu lectured.
Konohamaru crossed his arms, glaring at his teacher. "I'll get it right next time!"
Before Hiruzen could intervene, a new presence filled the room. Naruto stepped out of the shadows, his golden eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Looks like you've got your hands full, Hokage-sama," Naruto said, his tone light.
"Naruto" Hiruzen
Ebisu turned, his scowl deepening when he recognized the jinchūriki. "You..."
Before he could say more, Naruto turned to Konohamaru, a mischievous grin on his face. "If you really want to assassinate the old man, you should ask me for tips. I'd succeed on the first try."
Hiruzen's ANBU stiffened, and Hiruzen himself sighed, knowing the boy wasn't bluffing.
Naruto vanished, only to reappear behind Hiruzen, holding a kunai to his neck. "See? Easy."
Konohamaru's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Whoa! You're so cool!"
Ebisu fumed, but before he could scold Naruto, the boy was already next to him, ruffling Konohamaru's hair. "Keep practicing, kid. You'll get there someday," Naruto said, stepping back.
"Train me, Naruto-nii!" Konohamaru blurted out, stars in his eyes.
Hiruzen interjected quickly. "Naruto has his ninja duties to focus on. He won't have the time to train you." Not to mention he'd be a terrible influence, the Hokage thought grimly.
Naruto smirked. "Sorry, kid. Maybe next time."
Hiruzen tells Ebisu and Konohamaru to leave.
As Konohamaru and Ebisu left, the latter scowling at Naruto, Hiruzen turned to the boy. "Now, why are you here?"
Naruto's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by seriousness. "Is there a secret test for genin to quickly become chunin?"
Hiruzen frowned. "Where did you hear such a thing?"
Naruto shrugged. "Never mind. That's all I needed to know."
The Hokage sighed. "Naruto, what's going on?"
Naruto leaned against the wall, his golden eyes glinting dangerously. "Mizuki-sensei gave me a little 'test.' He told me to steal the Forbidden Scroll of Sealing."
Hiruzen's expression darkened. Mizuki had been under suspicion for years, ever since his teammates began dying under mysterious circumstances during missions.
"Follow through with this farce," Hiruzen instructed. "You'll meet him with a fake scroll. Let's see how far this goes."
Naruto's gaze turned murderous, and the oppressive weight of his bloodlust filled the room. "No," he said coldly.
Hiruzen sighed internally. "There's no reasoning with him when he's like this."
"Fine," Hiruzen relented. "After we've extracted the information we need, you can deal with Mizuki however you see fit."
Naruto's lips curved into a bloodthirsty grin. "That's more like it."
The ANBU watching from the shadows exchanged uneasy glances. They had grown used to Naruto's dangerous aura, but the boy's constant thirst for violence still unsettled them.
Hiruzen studied Naruto carefully, concern flickering in his eyes. "That bloodlust… it's only growing. How long can he keep it in check?"
Naruto turned to leave, his grin still in place. "This is going to be fun," he said softly before vanishing into the shadows once more.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, sighing heavily. The boy was a weapon, sharp and deadly, but a weapon could just as easily turn on its wielder.
Tbc