I've been tinkering on this story for a while now, and now it's time to actually start writing. This is the first bit of the prologue, I have one other segment that will be focusing on Naruto after this one, and then a time-skip to when he receives his headband (which will probably be in the next chapter, haven't decided yet).
Summary: Uzumaki Naruto had a choice, to stand fast with the old order, or to join the revolution. He had to make it soon, though, as the weird-eyed member of Akatsuki didn't look like the patient sort.
Fight for the Future
Prologue
For Konoha, the winter months had a tendency to be short and dreary, but this day seemed to do its best to fight all expectations. Though late, the sun had yet to set. The few clouds that remained in the sky grew smaller as if being burned from existence. Though faint, the hustle and bustle of the market street could still be heard; merchants of exotic foods, trinkets, and many other products hawked their wares to the remaining shoppers hunting for good deals. The aromas of food being cooked could be smelled from all across the Hidden Village .
For the Third Hokage, it was the kind of day that reminded him why he had come out of retirement three years ago. Throwing the most recent memo from the Military Police onto a stack of similar documents piled high next to his desk, he stepped toward one of the many windows that lined the outer wall of his administrative office.
Sarutobi's eyes were drawn to a young girl as she jogged away from her team and jonin instructor. Long brown hair whipped in the wind around a long face with the red markings of the Inuzuka clan as she began to run, first on the street and then along a wall. His eyes crinkled in mirth as the kunoichi performed flashy but basic acrobatic feats along the walls and rooftops to an audience of awed children. Whooping and hollering, the pack of tykes followed the girl as best they could before she slide down a spiraling handrail and out of site. To be young and just learning how to climb walls and walk on water!
Chuckling, he turned his focus to the many squads of ninja traveling across Konoha's skyline. Groups of chunin and jonin moved quickly and silently along their assigned patrol routes. ANBU were on the move as well, some joining the chunin and jonin patrols, while others left the village in flickers of movement that Sarutobi kept track of easily.
Though he tried not to, his eyes were drawn to the four ANBU teams that were not moving. Standing still, the sixteen ninja were a silent, oppressive presence to the tall walls and austere buildings of the Hyuga compound. Sarutobi's mirth died a slow and painful death as he was reminded of what had happened the night before, what the village and the majority of the ninja under his command did not yet know. He let out a deep sigh, and felt all his years hit him at once. It was a tragedy, a crime and a shame, and likely all his fault.
The slight sound of displaced air was the only cue he needed. Closing the window, Sarutobi stared at the reflections of his closest confidants. ôReport.ö
Mitokado Homura stepped forward, loosening his thick, white shawl before beginning. ôThe treaty has bee signed, dated, and notarized by the Kumo delegation. Peace, of a sort, has been achieved.ö
ôOf a sort, indeed,ö Sarutobi said calmly. His eyes flickered to the reflection of his other, former teammate.
ôThe merchant guilds are clamoring for less taxes,ö said Utatane Koharu as she squinted at Sarutobi's reflection. ôOr a tariff on imported goods.ö She shrugged her shoulders. ôOne, or the other. Perhaps both.ö
The last of the three snorted in disgust. ôThey are overstepping themselves, again,ö said Shimura Danzo.
ôThey are merchants, Danzo, of course they'll stretch themselves too far.ö
ôYou know as well as I do that those guilds are controlled by the Uchiha Clan. Anything that they say is suspect.ö
ôPerhaps,ö said Sarutobi before the argument escalated. He motioned towards the stack of paper next to his desk. ôI have also received a request from Fugaku for additional funding after last night's incident.ö Silence met his statement. His eyes flickered again, this time focusing on his longtime friend and rival.
The former leader of Root reached into his robe. Removing a sealed scroll, he tossed it towards Sarutobi, who caught it without bothering to turn around. Quickly forming a chakra scalpel on the thumb of his free hand, he pricked his index finger. As the blood pooled on the top of the digit, he infused it with his chakra. Smearing the blood and chakra mixture over the seal broke it, and as the scroll unraveled he began to read; he finished quickly, the scroll was less than a half meter in length, and when done he threw it into the air. A one-handed Tora seal and a breath of fire later, and the scroll and its contents were no more than ash.
ôSo,ö said Sarutobi, ôThe Hyuga heir has been kidnapped, and her father lies on death's door. We know that it was Kumo who was responsible, but we lack the proof needed to justify burning our newest bridge to its foundation.ö He sighed, turning around and looking at his three advisers in turn. ôWhat would you suggest we do?ö
Homura pushed his glasses up his nose. ôI would first like to know what was written on that scroll.ö
ôNothing important,ö said Danzo, ôOnly what could be gleaned from the Kumo delegate.ö
The other elder's eyebrows knit together in confusion. ôWhat could be û you tortured him?ö
ôAnd how would such information be deemed unimportant,ö asked Koharu as she turned her gaze on Danzo.
The bandaged man shrugged his free shoulder. ôBecause while he was aware of such plots, he was not aware enough.ö Danzo snorted, in amusement or irritation, no one was able to tell which. ôThe man was kept perfectly in the dark about the operation. What little he knew was how much we knew prior to the kidnapping.ö
Homura and Koharu looked at each other, displeasure apparent on both their faces. ôAnd nothing could be gained from Hiashi's body?ö
Danzo shook his head. ôThe bruises match up with strikes from a taijutsu style native to the Land of Fire. The burns on his arms have been attributed to a lightning technique, while the crushed legs can be blamed on an earth one. The cuts on his body were caused by a weapon enhanced with wind chakra.ö
Homura's omnipresent frown deepened. ôNothing from Kiri or the Land of Water?ö
ôNo, though I imagine that the weapon used was made there.ö
ôThey can't expect us to believe such an obvious set-up?ö
ôOf course not,ö said Sarutobi, ôIt's the barest, thinnest of diversions, but enough of one that the Fire Lord will not allow us to risk open war.ö His eyes flickered to each person in turn. ôNor is it enough to earn his consent to a secret one.ö
ôPerhaps,ö said Danzo after a brief pause, ôYour former students could be called upon?ö
ôImpossible.ö
ôBut yet-ö
ôNo, Danzo. None of them can be called upon for this. Perhaps Jiraiya, but he will not be in contact for a fortnight.ö
ôHe is to visible, too well known,ö said Homura.
ôBut his network could provide the information we need.ö
Koharu glared at him. ôAnd who, exactly, would put that information to use? Tsunade? She has up and disappeared somewhere near the boarder with Ame, her and her apprentice!ö
Danzo's silence, however, told Sarutobi all he needed to know. ôNo. Absolutely not.ö
ôHis status as a traitor would only help us in this case, so would his,ö Danzo paused, a grimace forming on his face, ôTendencies.ö
ôNo,ö said Homura as he glanced at Sarutobi, ôOrochimaru is too unstable, too untrustworthy. How do we know he did not assist Kumo in the kidnapping in the first place?ö
ôHe is too egocentric to assist Kumo, if anything he would have taken the girl for himself.ö
Homura nodded, acquiescing to Danzo's point. He flinched back as the Hokage's flinty gaze turned on him. Swallowing, he said, ôPerhaps we should hold of on deciding this until later, the Uchiha as well?ö
Koharu raised her hand to cover her laugh at her friends discomfort. ôAgreed.ö Sarutobi's former teammates left the room with nary a sound.
Sarutobi glared at his rival, the command clear as day on his face.
Danzo coughed into his hand. ôI do have to ask, about the Jinchuriki-ö
ôNo.ö Sarutobi turned back towards the windows overlooking Konoha, closing his eyes as he did so. ôWe have already failed one young child, I refuse to condemn another to a similar fate.ö
ôOf course.ö The sound of displacing air signaled Danzo's departure, and as the smoke of the Body-Flicker dispersed, Sarutobi let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes to once again stare out across his home.
Summary: Uzumaki Naruto had a choice, to stand fast with the old order, or to join the revolution. He had to make it soon, though, as the weird-eyed member of Akatsuki didn't look like the patient sort.
Fight for the Future
Prologue
For Konoha, the winter months had a tendency to be short and dreary, but this day seemed to do its best to fight all expectations. Though late, the sun had yet to set. The few clouds that remained in the sky grew smaller as if being burned from existence. Though faint, the hustle and bustle of the market street could still be heard; merchants of exotic foods, trinkets, and many other products hawked their wares to the remaining shoppers hunting for good deals. The aromas of food being cooked could be smelled from all across the Hidden Village .
For the Third Hokage, it was the kind of day that reminded him why he had come out of retirement three years ago. Throwing the most recent memo from the Military Police onto a stack of similar documents piled high next to his desk, he stepped toward one of the many windows that lined the outer wall of his administrative office.
Sarutobi's eyes were drawn to a young girl as she jogged away from her team and jonin instructor. Long brown hair whipped in the wind around a long face with the red markings of the Inuzuka clan as she began to run, first on the street and then along a wall. His eyes crinkled in mirth as the kunoichi performed flashy but basic acrobatic feats along the walls and rooftops to an audience of awed children. Whooping and hollering, the pack of tykes followed the girl as best they could before she slide down a spiraling handrail and out of site. To be young and just learning how to climb walls and walk on water!
Chuckling, he turned his focus to the many squads of ninja traveling across Konoha's skyline. Groups of chunin and jonin moved quickly and silently along their assigned patrol routes. ANBU were on the move as well, some joining the chunin and jonin patrols, while others left the village in flickers of movement that Sarutobi kept track of easily.
Though he tried not to, his eyes were drawn to the four ANBU teams that were not moving. Standing still, the sixteen ninja were a silent, oppressive presence to the tall walls and austere buildings of the Hyuga compound. Sarutobi's mirth died a slow and painful death as he was reminded of what had happened the night before, what the village and the majority of the ninja under his command did not yet know. He let out a deep sigh, and felt all his years hit him at once. It was a tragedy, a crime and a shame, and likely all his fault.
The slight sound of displaced air was the only cue he needed. Closing the window, Sarutobi stared at the reflections of his closest confidants. ôReport.ö
Mitokado Homura stepped forward, loosening his thick, white shawl before beginning. ôThe treaty has bee signed, dated, and notarized by the Kumo delegation. Peace, of a sort, has been achieved.ö
ôOf a sort, indeed,ö Sarutobi said calmly. His eyes flickered to the reflection of his other, former teammate.
ôThe merchant guilds are clamoring for less taxes,ö said Utatane Koharu as she squinted at Sarutobi's reflection. ôOr a tariff on imported goods.ö She shrugged her shoulders. ôOne, or the other. Perhaps both.ö
The last of the three snorted in disgust. ôThey are overstepping themselves, again,ö said Shimura Danzo.
ôThey are merchants, Danzo, of course they'll stretch themselves too far.ö
ôYou know as well as I do that those guilds are controlled by the Uchiha Clan. Anything that they say is suspect.ö
ôPerhaps,ö said Sarutobi before the argument escalated. He motioned towards the stack of paper next to his desk. ôI have also received a request from Fugaku for additional funding after last night's incident.ö Silence met his statement. His eyes flickered again, this time focusing on his longtime friend and rival.
The former leader of Root reached into his robe. Removing a sealed scroll, he tossed it towards Sarutobi, who caught it without bothering to turn around. Quickly forming a chakra scalpel on the thumb of his free hand, he pricked his index finger. As the blood pooled on the top of the digit, he infused it with his chakra. Smearing the blood and chakra mixture over the seal broke it, and as the scroll unraveled he began to read; he finished quickly, the scroll was less than a half meter in length, and when done he threw it into the air. A one-handed Tora seal and a breath of fire later, and the scroll and its contents were no more than ash.
ôSo,ö said Sarutobi, ôThe Hyuga heir has been kidnapped, and her father lies on death's door. We know that it was Kumo who was responsible, but we lack the proof needed to justify burning our newest bridge to its foundation.ö He sighed, turning around and looking at his three advisers in turn. ôWhat would you suggest we do?ö
Homura pushed his glasses up his nose. ôI would first like to know what was written on that scroll.ö
ôNothing important,ö said Danzo, ôOnly what could be gleaned from the Kumo delegate.ö
The other elder's eyebrows knit together in confusion. ôWhat could be û you tortured him?ö
ôAnd how would such information be deemed unimportant,ö asked Koharu as she turned her gaze on Danzo.
The bandaged man shrugged his free shoulder. ôBecause while he was aware of such plots, he was not aware enough.ö Danzo snorted, in amusement or irritation, no one was able to tell which. ôThe man was kept perfectly in the dark about the operation. What little he knew was how much we knew prior to the kidnapping.ö
Homura and Koharu looked at each other, displeasure apparent on both their faces. ôAnd nothing could be gained from Hiashi's body?ö
Danzo shook his head. ôThe bruises match up with strikes from a taijutsu style native to the Land of Fire. The burns on his arms have been attributed to a lightning technique, while the crushed legs can be blamed on an earth one. The cuts on his body were caused by a weapon enhanced with wind chakra.ö
Homura's omnipresent frown deepened. ôNothing from Kiri or the Land of Water?ö
ôNo, though I imagine that the weapon used was made there.ö
ôThey can't expect us to believe such an obvious set-up?ö
ôOf course not,ö said Sarutobi, ôIt's the barest, thinnest of diversions, but enough of one that the Fire Lord will not allow us to risk open war.ö His eyes flickered to each person in turn. ôNor is it enough to earn his consent to a secret one.ö
ôPerhaps,ö said Danzo after a brief pause, ôYour former students could be called upon?ö
ôImpossible.ö
ôBut yet-ö
ôNo, Danzo. None of them can be called upon for this. Perhaps Jiraiya, but he will not be in contact for a fortnight.ö
ôHe is to visible, too well known,ö said Homura.
ôBut his network could provide the information we need.ö
Koharu glared at him. ôAnd who, exactly, would put that information to use? Tsunade? She has up and disappeared somewhere near the boarder with Ame, her and her apprentice!ö
Danzo's silence, however, told Sarutobi all he needed to know. ôNo. Absolutely not.ö
ôHis status as a traitor would only help us in this case, so would his,ö Danzo paused, a grimace forming on his face, ôTendencies.ö
ôNo,ö said Homura as he glanced at Sarutobi, ôOrochimaru is too unstable, too untrustworthy. How do we know he did not assist Kumo in the kidnapping in the first place?ö
ôHe is too egocentric to assist Kumo, if anything he would have taken the girl for himself.ö
Homura nodded, acquiescing to Danzo's point. He flinched back as the Hokage's flinty gaze turned on him. Swallowing, he said, ôPerhaps we should hold of on deciding this until later, the Uchiha as well?ö
Koharu raised her hand to cover her laugh at her friends discomfort. ôAgreed.ö Sarutobi's former teammates left the room with nary a sound.
Sarutobi glared at his rival, the command clear as day on his face.
Danzo coughed into his hand. ôI do have to ask, about the Jinchuriki-ö
ôNo.ö Sarutobi turned back towards the windows overlooking Konoha, closing his eyes as he did so. ôWe have already failed one young child, I refuse to condemn another to a similar fate.ö
ôOf course.ö The sound of displacing air signaled Danzo's departure, and as the smoke of the Body-Flicker dispersed, Sarutobi let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes to once again stare out across his home.
