Strain
Minato watched with keen interest as the council members left the room, engaged in animated discussion. He had presented his plans and changes to them, anticipating the mixed reactions. Undeterred, Minato persisted with his ideas. One particularly contentious point was his intention to foster closer collaboration with the Uchiha. While some clans were open to it, the elders, in particular, were skeptical and unenthusiastic.
Glancing at the clock, worry lines creased his forehead. Time had passed longer than expected. He had planned to pick up Naruto, but now it seemed impossible. Raising a hand, an ANBU immediately approached and knelt beside him. "Could you inform Kakashi to retrieve Naruto for me?" Minato said calmly, his gaze narrowing across the room. His voice lowered to a whisper. "Keep an eye on them until I return. If Kakashi notices anything, tell him it was my directive, and I will explain later. Try to prevent it, though."
The ANBU nodded swiftly and vanished on Minato's cue. Unwavering, Minato kept his focus on the opposite side of the room. Danzo sat motionless, fixing Minato with a grim stare. An icy silence hung between them, but Minato was resolved not to yield to the elder man.
Leaning forward in his chair, hands folded, Danzo spoke sternly, "You'll lead the village into ruin! What makes you think collaborating with the Uchiha is a good idea? They cannot be trusted."
Arching an eyebrow, Minato reclined comfortably in his seat. His voice remained calm yet firm as he began, "I see no reason why the village should be led into ruin. The founding purpose of this village was to protect children, and that is precisely what I intend to do." He paused briefly before continuing, "As for the Uchiha, I see no reason not to trust them. They have been marginalized and pushed to the fringes for too long. It's time to address this issue."
Danzo snorted angrily. "There is a compelling reason why the Uchiha cannot be trusted."
"And what would that be?" Minato asked calmly, his voice steady.
Leaning back in his chair, Danzo replied curtly, "The Kyuubi attack. There are strong indications that the Uchiha were responsible."
Minato rubbed his face thoughtfully. He had to tread carefully not to reveal too much. "Let us not forget that I was personally present during the Kyuubi attack," he said calmly yet with a hint of seriousness in his tone.
For a moment, Danzo regarded him suspiciously. "What really happened back then? If the Uchiha are truly innocent, they could testify."
"The Uchiha had absolutely nothing to do with that incident," he asserted firmly, rising to his feet. "Excuse me, I have much work ahead. The session is already adjourned," he declared as he moved, sensing Danzo's penetrating gaze upon him.
"I sense you're keeping something from me," Danzo said coolly, standing up. "Sooner or later, you'll realize you need my ANBU. Someone must operate in the shadows."
Minato stopped abruptly, turning decisively to face Danzo. "I won't allow one of your ANBU to someday stab me in the back with a kunai. Your unit will be disbanded and integrated into my ANBU. I will no longer tolerate two separate ANBU units!"
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "You're overstepping your bounds. I didn't expect you to be more naive than the Third Hokage."
Minato slowly turned away, unwilling to continue arguing with Danzo. "My decision is final!" With those words, he left the room. He knew further discussion would be endless. Minato longed for peace to attend to his paperwork.
**********
With Naruto in his arms, Kakashi stepped tensely into the apartment. Throughout the entire journey home, he had felt watched. Since Danzo had threatened him, Kakashi kept his senses sharpened at all times, even though it was exhausting. When he noticed the pursuers, he deliberately chose a different route, a busier path through the city.
Carefully setting Naruto down, Kakashi gently removed his sandals. Fortunately, the boy seemed oblivious to Kakashi's tension and chattered happily, enthusiastically recounting his day. Once the sandals were off, Naruto immediately jumped up and ran cheerfully down the hallway to his bedroom.
Kakashi watched Naruto for a moment, remaining crouched, his mind racing. He needed to figure out who had been following them all this time. With a determined expression, he stood up and hurried down the hallway. A quick glance into the child's room showed Naruto deeply engrossed in his toys. Quietly, Kakashi continued, slipping into the bathroom. There, he focused his chakra and created a shadow clone.
The two Kakashis nodded to each other swiftly before the real Kakashi left the bathroom and approached Naruto. "How about I prepare a little snack for us?" he asked aloud. Naruto beamed at him and nodded eagerly. With a smile, Kakashi lifted Naruto into his arms and carried him to the kitchen.
As he began bustling around the kitchen, keeping Naruto occupied with small tasks, Kakashi discreetly kept an eye on the surroundings. This innocent activity was meant to lull the pursuers into a false sense of security, while his shadow clone took the opportunity to slip out of the house unnoticed.
While Kakashi prepared a snack in the kitchen and Naruto watched him eagerly, his shadow clone moved silently along the side of the house. It didn't take long for the clone to spot the pursuers. Two ANBU agents had adeptly hidden themselves in the foliage of a tree outside the kitchen window. Their camouflage was nearly perfect, and Kakashi had to admit they had concealed their presence remarkably well. Were they truly Danzo's people, perhaps disguised as the Hokage's ANBU? Kakashi focused, gathering chakra in his feet, ready for a swift attack. Regardless of their identity, he needed to find out what they wanted and why they were here.
In a flash, Kakashi leaped onto the tree and landed silently behind one of the ANBU. Pressing a kunai against the ANBU's throat, the agent froze instantly. His companion instinctively stepped back and reached for the sword on his back, but hesitated upon recognizing Kakashi.
Kakashi's gaze was icy as he tightened the kunai against the ANBU's throat. "Who are you, and what do you want?" he asked coolly, each word sharp as a blade.
The opposing ANBU raised his hands placatingly, sensing Kakashi's deadly resolve. "Easy, Kakashi! The Hokage tasked us with monitoring you and Naruto. You could have just asked us instead of causing a scene."
Kakashi quickly released the ANBU and turned slightly away, realizing he had overreacted. Putting on a relaxed face, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I apologize, but it felt odd to suddenly be followed," he lied, striving to keep his voice steady. The ANBU relaxed slightly, but Kakashi could still feel the tension in the air. He decided to change the subject quickly. "Why does the Hokage want you to monitor us?" he asked, his voice firm and controlled once more.
The ANBU exchanged a brief, meaningful glance, and Kakashi could practically feel their suspicion. They weren't fools; they likely saw through his lie. Finally, they turned back to him, and one of the ANBU spoke. "The Hokage will explain everything later. That's all we can say for now," he replied shortly.
Kakashi nodded slowly, his mind racing. He knew there was no use pressing further; the ANBU wouldn't betray their orders. "I understand," he muttered, and in the next moment the shadow doubles and dissolved.
Kakashi paused for a moment as he absorbed the information from his shadow clone. The tension was palpable, and he bit his lower lip thoughtfully. The ANBU would surely report everything to Minato, and he would wonder why Kakashi had such an extreme reaction within the village. He needed to come up with a plausible excuse.
However, before Kakashi could think further, he was interrupted by Naruto tugging at his pants. "Ashi!" the boy complained and pointed at the snacks Kakashi already had in hand.
Kakashi immediately turned his attention to Naruto and smiled. "Not so impatient! You'll get something to eat soon," he explained gently, leading the boy to the dining table. He placed Naruto in his high chair and while he belted, his thoughts swirled.
A feeling of unease enveloped Kakashi. He felt cornered. On one side was Danzo, pressuring him, and on the other was Minato, whom he desperately wanted to keep out of the affair. He placed his hand on his chest and frowned as the tight feeling worsened. For a moment, Kakashi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to keep a cool head.