The Begining of planning and Subterfuge
They ran. For hours on end, all Sasuke did was lose himself in the mindless monotony of running and jumping through trees.
After a while it seemed as if Kabuto grew weary of the tense silence, he decided to strike up a conversation with the so-called 'Last Uchiha'.
"It seems as though you grow tense with every mile we distance ourselves from Konohagakure no Sato, why is that Uchiha-san ?" asked the silver haired medi-nin; the silver glint of his spectacles shone with morbid merriment.
Sasuke stared at Kabuto with eyes displaying malice and ill-intent that did not bode well for those under its scrutiny, . Eventually with a voice as dry as the desert Sasuke responded, " Be careful where you are poking your horn in, beetle. Do not ask questions that will get you killed." That being said, he continued to sail through the air as he jumped from branch to branch.
Although he did not show it, Kabuto balked at the menacing undercurrent of the stoic Uchiha's words. 'Well, that did not go as planned...'
Meanwhile, back in Konoha things were totally Topsy-Turvy. In the hokage's office a team of ninja had been assembled for a specialised mission with Nara Shikamaru as squad captain, followed by Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru, Akamichi Choji, and Hyuuga Neji as the remainder of the squad. The 'specialised' mission being that the 'Last Uchiha' had willingly deserted the village, he was declared a missing-nin and that he was to be apprehended with whatever force and brought back to the village alive to await a hearing with the Godaime and her council. Just as the Godaime Hokage, Senju Tsunade was about to conclude her debriefing of the mission, a tired voice cut in - " With all do respect Hokage-Sama this mission will be absolutely futile."
Everyone turned and laid their eyes on a certain golden haired and cerulean eyed genin who stood leaning, arms folded and foot against the office wall. Honey brown eyes narrowed in anger and suspicion.
"Pray tell, Genin Uzumaki Naruto, why is it that this mission would be futile?" asked Tsunade in a formal tone, though inwardly she was worried at her brat's formal address of her as well as pissed that he interrupted her meeting whilst being undetected by even her ANBU detail.
Naruto sighed then pushed off the wall he had leaned on and walked over to stand next to the Hokage's desk, positioning himself so that he could speak to both Her as well as the squad assembled before him.
"At this very moment, former-Genin Uchiha Sasuke would arrive at one of the operating yet hidden base of the S-ranked missing-nin and former Sanin of Konohagakure no Sato, Orochimaru. His travel and arrival was aided by a ninja we know as Kabuto. With the promises of power and revenge, Uchiha left to rendezvous with six Sound village operatives tasked to bring him to the Snake Sanin, all whom were found dead at the rendezvous point. Former genin, Uchiha Sasuke, will be officially training with Orochimaru for said power to 'avenge' his clan. In doing so, not only killing his only blood relative, SS-ranked missing nin and member of the Akatsuki, Uchiha Itachi; Unofficially he shall be trained to become Orochimaru's next 'meatsuit. So let's get down to the real task at hand."
Nara Shikamaru, whom at that point had been listening very closely to what was being said and what was also 'not' being said pondered over the facts being laid infront of him by a very unlikely source. He was still reeling at the information overload.
Eventually it was the stoic Hyuuga that asked the third question on everyone's mind:" What is the real task at hand Uzumaki-dono?"
Naruto smiled furtively at the Branch-heir of the Hyuuga clan who surprisingly brushed up on his politics and Konoha geaneology.
Shiikamaru spoke up, " The real task at hand would be how to eliminate Orochimaru whilst subtlety manipulating Uchiha Sasuke into being a spy within the ranks of the Sound village; annihilating all threats posed by Orochimaru and all those affiliated to him; thereby ensuring the welfare of Konohagakure no Sato as well as the entire shinobi nations. In doing so, we are ensuring more time for the shinobi nations to get their fingers out of their proverbial asses and alli themselves with each other and prepare for the Fourth Great Shinobi War"
The silence in the room was absolutely deafening.
Naruto smirked.