Chapter 41
Realistically speaking Naruto should have seen this coming. It was apparently too much to ask for a month off in peace without being interrupted by the hokage. Sure, her information network was one thing but the hokage was another. She asked for a break from duty, not her own personal research.
Minato waited till everyone had arrived and signalled for Shikaku to begin, “I’ll say the short version. ANBU operative Dolphin intercepted Panda, a recently recruited ANBU operative reading information in this book.” He lifted the book and Naruto recognised her clan name, “He was trying to gather information of the Uzumkai clan’s remaining members, most of whom are documented in this book. However, many of them are not and the only people aware of their current locations are Nagato, Lady Kushina and Lady Naruto.
“He was brought to the hokage unconscious and then taken to T&I, where Anko, Ibiki and Shizune were able to gather intel from him about his ties to an informant for a group called Byakuren.” That caught Naruto’s attention, she would have to debrief everyone in the room apparently.
“We were unable to gather any intel of the group from the boy, only that if he did as they asked, he would be trained and later accepted into this group. He also confessed to having given information about the byakugan, sharingan, rinnegan and some basic information about the chakra chains. He was hoping to gather further information on the chakra chains. His informant didn’t need to know about the members of these clans and instead wished to know about their kekkei-genaki- including weaknesses.”
Shikaku finished off and looked to the hokage and Naruto signalled to him that she had something to say so she moved to stand next to Shikaku.
“I have just received information about Byakuren from my informants and network.”
Everyone in the room began to murmur but it was Koharu’s voice that cut through them all, “And why was no one informed?”
Naruto looked blankly at the aging woman, “As I just said, I only just received this information. I knew some rumours previously about a gang however it was only a short while ago that I had more information.” She answered and looked to Minato who nodded towards her.
“Before I say anything, I need a coms link connecting to the other kage, everyone may as well hear it at the same time.” Inoichi set out to do as she asked, knowing not to even wait for the hokage to agree. It took approximately ten minutes to get each kage online and updated about what was going to be discussed. They had also requested a few minutes to gather some of their forces, similar to the Konoha forces, into their offices so everyone got the same information.
“I don’t have a lot of information yet however what I am aware of is highly confidential and under no circumstances does it leave this room. I was only going to mention this to the hokage however as everyone is now aware of the group, I shall have to inform everyone here.” She gave everyone a hard stare that could rival an Uchiha glare and they all nodded before giving a small bow.
“I received my information from the ex-commander of Kirigakure’s ANBU. He had agreed several months ago to take a role undercover for me as no one knew his true identity, and was eager to be on active duty- even if it was for a foreign nation. I had him go undercover as a man named Kazuma who, with the agreement of Lord Raikage, had his identity faked to be a rogue S rank shinobi of Kumo. Lady Mizukage also agreed to this arrangement.
“I gave him control over an unknown business of mine which he has fully been able to corrupt with questionable employees and methods as was planned. He then approached the group, Byakuren, at their meeting-place. A brothel within the red-light district near Tenchi Bridge. The person seemingly in charge of this group is called Lady Hibara, a well-known businesswoman whose business has bloomed within just a month. She owns many brothel establishments in many cities across the five elemental nations and is attempting to open one in the Land of Iron however they a strict ‘no brothels’ rules.
“The group consists of approximately 3 rouge A and S rank shinobi from each nation and several B ranks as well. There was only 1 S rank from Konoha thankfully, so they were unable to gather the intel we have stored here. They have a total of 7 S rank and 6 A ranks. I don’t know how many B ranks they have. However, we can surmise that they are recruiting loyal ninja to corrupt to their call- which I am unsure about as of right now.
“The mole in Konoha shows that these people are skilled if they were able to get past 5 sages each able to use senjutsu as well as several other sensors and senjutsu users. I would suggest each nation induct all their shinobi, whether family or not, into a loyalty examination.”
She paused to allow the suggestion to register and it was the Mizukage who spoke up, “Would not inducting them show to them we are aware of their plans? It seems to me like a risky move.”
The other kages on the screens nodded and she gave them a small nod, “Whilst it could be seen that way, if each leader were to announce a different reason, they would not suspect a thing.”
“And what reason would you suggest?” asked Minato.
She glanced briefly at Minato and carried on, “The five elemental nations have only just signed an agreement and treaty, allying us to each other. There are several people who have formed groups within each of our nations who are unhappy with this turn of power. We could simply say it is to ensure they are all loyal to the new plans and if any are shown to be un-loyal… I’ll leave that to each of you to decide. I would of course suggest they be questioned before you do anything.” She hastily added.
“Hmm, the idea has merit and is doable within our own shinobi ranks however how will we be able to conduct this test to those outside of our main hidden villages? Say for example, Takigakure. How would we get them to agree?” spoke the Tsuchikage.
Naruto had to agree, it was a valid point. “We should speak to the daimyo’s in this regard. The villages haven’t merged yet and if we asked this of them now, it could break the treaty which was just signed, they may take offence.” Naruto wasn’t sure what to do.
“If I may.” Naruto looked up at Kakashi who spoke up and nodded towards him. “What if, instead of the five kage making this announcement, the daimyo’s make the announcement instead and they enforce all shinobi go to the nearest kage to have their loyalty checked.”
It was a simple idea and brilliant in Naruto’s mind and she was apparently not the only one, “I agree. Your shinobi makes a good point. Our word is questionable but not that of the daimyo.” Spoke the Kazekage.
Naruto didn’t answer as she was absorbing the information a shadow-clone of hers relayed after having it burst and groaned. “Do you not like the idea?” asked the Raikage.
“No, it’s not the idea. The idea has a lot of merit and is better than my original plan. The problem is the information I just received via shadow-clone.” Everyone in the room tensed and Naruto could see the kage also tensed. “It was my clone in charge of gathering information from Kazuma, he says that they’re not just searching for shinobi, but any chakra user.”
“Aren’t all chakra users shinobi?” asked one of the shinobi in the background on one of the screens, she wasn’t sure which one.
“No, there are some civilians who can use chakra to the bare minimum for things like strengthening their muscles and endurance. These users would be able to mould chakra further with the correct training however that is the most they tend to us it for.” Replied Ao, so Naruto assumed the person was from Kiri.
“Was there any further information from the shadow clone?” asked the Tsuchikage.
“Yes… they seem to be partaking in some sort of human trafficking-”
She was interrupted by another shinobi in the background, “So we could always arrest them just for that.”
Naruto heard the distinct sound of someone getting slapped over the head as she replied, “No, they’re not trafficking living humans. They’re trafficking dead people. The order people to kill then have the person that did the mass deed killed, collecting that person’s bounty when they turn them in. They then sell the bodies the first assassin killed whether as a whole or in pieces. However, they only sell some of the bodies, the keep the rest.”
There were a few people who were disturbed by that information. “But why?” asked one of the Konoha shinobi.
“Selling dead people means a person can either use them for experiments or use their internal organs for other purposes. I do recall reading once about a poison that required internal organs of humans, and you needed a lot for it. Allow me to look it up and cross reference it with Kazuma, it might ring a bell if I mention it to him.” They all nodded and Naruto got the feeling that each of the kage knew exactly which poison she was referring to.
Naruto prayed she was wrong; she didn’t want the enemy to be mass making a poison that cuts off a person’s chakra forever.
“Are there any civilians that cannot mould chakra within their ranks?” asked the kazekage.
“I’m not sure. Kazuma has seen many civilians there however he cannot be sure if they are officially part of Byakuren. At most, the only confirmed non-chakra user is Lady Hibara.”
“If that’s the case, she may have promised them false promises and in turn, will stab them in the back in order to make a shinobi free world.” Naruto shivered at the thought, it reminded her far too much of a past war she would very much like to forget.
“Whatever the case may be, we will allow the five kage to finish discussions on a plan. Can everyone go to the room across the hall and wait to be called back. That goes for all the rest of you on the coms. Kage only.” As she said that she gave a slight bow and made her way out the room.
She wanted to give the impression that she was calm and collected however the Mizukage’s words stuck her hard.
‘Could Zetsu have an Uchiha within Byakuren’s forces?’
‘It is possible. Or it could be like with Akatsuki, where there is one assumed leader but then there is actually a leader behind that one.’ Agreed Kurama.
‘The only option would be Obito.’ Spoke the haikage.
‘I know.’
‘Then why don’t we just kill him? We could make it look like a heart-attack.’ Spoke her Hunter person.
‘Please don’t tempt me.’ She pleaded and they all rolled their eyes.
‘I don’t usually like killin’ but if it gets the job done then it gets it done,’
‘See, even the idiot agrees.’
‘Oi, who you callin’ idiot?!’
‘You, clearly.’
Everyone decided to ignore her hunter person and the male Naruto as they argued.
‘You either kill Obito Uchiha, or you bring him back to his senses. You know how to do it.’
Naruto did know, but she doubted she would get permission to do it. It wasn’t exactly easy on the person that needed reforming and usually left scars on the person’s psyche.
‘I’ll consider it.’ She reluctantly agreed. She didn’t want to kill Obito if only for the love others had for him. Naruto? She had no love for the insane Uchiha and would have killed him already if it was anyone else.
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Shisui stood behind Naruto who was sat on a chair in the far corner of the room, his hand absently combing through her hair when the war hawk himself appeared before them.
“Danzo, whatever seems to be the problem?” asked Naruto, even though her tone was anything but helpful.
Danzo, instead of immediately answering her, took a seat opposite from her and glanced towards the Uchiha, “I was hoping to have a quick word with you alone.” The hint was obvious but he wouldn’t leave unless she said so.
“There’s no need for that, he’s fine to remain by my side.” She replied much to the elder’s annoyance.
Danzo inclined his head enough to not be disrespectful, “As you requested of me, I have sent some of my operatives to spy within the smaller villages however none of them ever turned up with anything similar to what you are saying.”
“Your operatives never enter the red-light district. You ought to change that ideology of theirs. They don’t need to actually sleep with people there in order to gain intel from them.” The snide remark of them being celibate was barely there. Danzo may have trained his men to not seek pleasure but that means they are more vulnerable to seductive tactics.
Shisui began to fuse chakra into the tips of his fingers as he continued combing through her hair and felt her breath hitch before going back to normal.
“A mistake I fully intend to rectify.”
“See that you do. Konoha has no need for spies that do not complete their duty.” She quipped back, not in the mood for these mind-games.
Danzo eyed the two of them before leaning forward, “I must say, it is quite a pity you were unable to carry your child to full-term. It would have been a sight to beheld to see a child of the Uzumaki and Uchiha.”
Naruto merely tilted her head and furrowed her brows in confusion, “I don’t recall being pregnant.”
Danzo sat back, “There is no need to keep secrets from me, I have ways of finding them out. I read the reports, pale skin and a severe headache with needs to sleep constantly. You forget, I was alive when Lady Mito was the jinchuriki, the kyuubi’s chakra was sometimes far too corrosive for the unborn child to handle and she would miscarry. She only managed to successfully give birth to three children out of eight pregnancies, at least those were the numbers she was aware of. She would sometimes miscarry without any signs at all.” He looked at them both and stood up, “If you have any further need of me, you know where to find me.” The word sadly was clearly implied at the sentence.
The war hawk had given them something to think about, something he knew was going to bug his girlfriend to end. Being the dutiful boyfriend, he set out to bring her back to reality.
He fell to his knees behind her seat, gently he moved her hair from the back of her neck to the side and gently began to press kisses along her nape.
Her reaction was instantaneous, moving her head to the side to allow Shisui more access to her neck he let out a chuckle. He ignored the others in the room, whilst he wasn’t one to display so much affection out in public, he knew he needed to ground his girlfriend before her mind wondered.
He’d face Minato’s wrath at a later time. One of his hands rested partially on her hip and partially on her stomach as the other tugged her hair slightly.
“Shisui.” She whispered, biting her lip as he bit into the joint of her shoulder and neck wanting to leave a mark.
The door suddenly opened and Minato stood in the threshold the same time her turned Naruto’s face around to place a gentle kiss to her lips and forehead.
Everyone slowly made their way into the room, Shisui holding Naruto by the waist and he ignored the killing intent coming towards him from the hokage.
“We’ve come to a decision. We are not to actively engage with the enemy, allow them to think we know nothing as we slowly gain more intel. We need to learn the identities of the rogue shinobi in order to know who to send to fight them. None of the five nations are willing to send a battalion into the smaller countries and risk earning their ire, just like how the third war began. Until then we are to keep training and ensure all shinobi are able bodied and fully adept before sending them on missions out of the village.
“Every shinobi who leaves the village will have to meet certain criteria as I just mentioned. I will not risk losing more shinobi, the war was hard on our numbers as it was.”
“If I may lord hokage.” Spoke one of the chunin, “Why do you not instate martial law upon certain sectors of the village. This way it would not affect the economy but instead affect how seriously shinobi take their training. I have already seen several of the younger generation being lax with their training.”
The man had a point, it was a pity Shisui didn’t recognise him.
“I shall see if I am able to instil a partial martial law but until then, carry on as usual with added training. I will have scrolls with details sent to those who will need further information. Dismissed.”
Everyone began to trickle out of the room and when Shisui began to move, Naruto held him in place.
“Was there something you two needed, Naruto”? asked Minato as he moved to begin his paperwork.
“I hope you’re aware that I’m still off active duty and will still be leaving the village tomorrow.” She replied and Minato’s hand which was able to sign the document stilled.
“You cannot be serious-” Naruto cut him off before he could make his point.
“Yes, I can. I may be an elite jonin and member of ANBU and the Hunters, however I am off active duty. Minus these two weeks, I have not had even a full week off ever since I became genin and don’t you dare say my training trip with Jiraiya-sensei was considered a break. I still took missions and signed contracts, all the while doing further training.” She spoke hastily and it made Shisui wonder why she was so adamant about this break. He knew that she would have come off this break readily under normal circumstances so he knew something was off.
“If you reinstate martial law I am still entitled to a holiday. You cannot work me to the bone Minato. You are the hokage and not me, stop trying to make me deal with work that’s yours.” She spoke quietly, as if tiered of it all.
“I don’t make you do my work!” he replied flabbergast.
“You do and you don’t realise it. Whenever I’m in the office I do your paperwork, some of it anyway. If I’m here, you expect me to be in charge of your forces when you have a jonin commander, ANBU commander and Hunter commander for that. You even have Danzo to lead the forces. You could ask any one of them to remain here and delegate.
“I know I can have an army of shadow-clones ready but you know why I don’t want to the hokage seat, so stop grooming me to be your successor.”
“Sweetheart I know you don’t wish to be hokage, I’ve even told the council that you will not be my successor should I perish unless none of my other candidates are alive and able.” Minato answered, guilt laced in his voice and Shisui felt very out of place.
Naruto closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before letting out her breath which was shaky, “Then let me go.” Shisui tightened his arms around her, him and Minato thinking the worst of that statement, “Let me and Shisui go on this break. When we return, we may even have a surprise for you.” She gave her father a small smile and Shisui felt his hokage’s eyes steel at him.
“And what may this surprise be?” asked Minato between clenched teeth.
Naruto tilted her head, unsure as to why he seemed so mad, “Just a project I’ve been working on for a few years, I just need these two weeks to relax and make sure everything goes through.”
Minato slowly nodded but still gave Shisui a look that translated to something along the lines of, ‘don’t you dare make me a grandfather when I’ve only started being a father.’ Shisui couldn’t really blame his leader, it was a fair request. Shisui prayed Danzo kept his mouth shut about Naruto having actually been pregnant.
Shisui doubted he would live.
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