Contrary to what we may have been taught to think, unnecessary and unchosen suffering wounds us but need not scar us for life. It does mark us. What we allow the mark of our suffering to become is in our own hands.-Bell Hooks.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been through many things in his long life. He was taught by the Shodaime and the Nidaime. He'd seen all three shinobi wars and lived to tell about them. He watched as his three students became legends all on their own and earned the title of Sannin. He'd seen the Kyuubi attack and his successor seal the Biju into his own child, dying in the process. He was heart broken to find one of his students, had become vile and corrupt. He was too weak to stop him for good, and now, that same student was planning to invade the place he had once called home and destroy it. How could this have happened?
"I'll have to alert the Anbu Commander and all the trustworthy Jonin about this. We'll have to prepare to evacuate the civilians when the time comes. Sabaku no Gaara will need to be dealt with before the attack. Naruko, if you make it to the end, which I'm sure you will, you may be put against him. If that happens, do anything it takes to win. Tell your teammates as well. We can't afford the damages of another Biju attack. Jiraiya, I'll need you to tell Tsunade and Shizune. I'll have Kakashi and Itachi find Sakuro and his family. They're both excellent trackers."
Naruko and Jiraiya bowed and left.
Hiruzen called for an Anbu and told them to get Kakashi and Itachi quickly.
They appeared moments later and he debriefed them. Kakashi was shocked and Itachi seemed a little horrified about the whole situation. The Hebi Sannin wanted to use his little brother as a new 'body'?! He would never let that happen!
"You are to go out and find Haruno Sakuro and his family and bring them into custody. According to Jiraiya, with confirmation from Naruko, they have been providing Orochimaru information regarding your clan. Even going so far as to give him a map of the Compound. I need you to apprehend them as soon as possible, because we are preparing for an invasion and we can't deal with this right now," Hiruzen explained.
"Invasion?" the two men queried at the same time.
The Hokage nodded, "Yes, Oto and Suna will attack after the Chunin Exams. We must be prepared. Now move out!"
They disappeared.
He sat back and sighed. I'm too old for this!
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Naruko walked into the Uchiha Compound, waving at the few who said 'hi' and continued on to Sasuke's house.
When she got there, Mikoto explained that Karin was with Sasuke in the training field. She then told Naruko where to go and Naruko was on her way, wondering slightly why the woman was smiling like that.
What she found, was definitely a sight. Sasuke was shirtless, and beating the crap out of a practice dummy. Karin was sitting not far off, with a dreamy look on her face. Next to her, was an Uchiha that Naruko had yet to meet.
She slinked up beside the miniMaki and wrapped her arms around the tiny girl.
"Nee-chan! You're back!"
Naruko looked up to see Sasuke completely focused on his training.
She looked down at the miniMaki, "Yes, and I'm going to kick ass in the exam!"
Karin smiled and grabbed her hand, "Nee-chan, this is Sasuke-nii's cousin."
The man next to her gave Naruko a smirk, "I'm Shisui Uchiha."
Naruko's brow quirked, "Shunshin no Shisui?"
His eyes widened, "Wow! You're well informed."
Naruko nodded, "I have to be. I don't like surprises, kind of like the crappy one I just got today. Which I have to ask, are you a Jonin?"
Shisui nodded.
"Be prepared to be called into the Hokage's office. Jiraiya found some bad news and when he told me I was able to confirm something bad."
"What kind of bad?"
Naruko looked up to see Sasuke standing in front of Karin, holding a canteen.
"Well, it appears that Orochimaru has been getting help from Pinky's family. Ero-Sennin spied on one of Pedo-Orochi-Teme's camps outside the border and found out that a man named Sakuro, who is Sakura's father, has been providing the Sannin with information regarding the Uchiha Clan. Apparently Orochimaru has a map of the Compound."
Both Uchiha hissed at that. Shisui looked at her, "Are you serious?!"
Naruko nodded, "That isn't all. The group was camped outside the border because they are going to invade along with Suna at the end of the exams. Suna plans to use Sabaku no Gaara, their Jinchuuriki, to destroy the village. So, Jiji is going to tell all trustworthy Jonin about it, because we need to prepare. I mean, we have two Sannin, the Hokage, several Anbu, a Jinchuuriki of our own, and many capable clans, so I'm pretty sure we won't suffer too hard. But a day to set everything up for this, isn't enough time."
"And Sakura's family is involved?" Sasuke asked.
Naruko nodded, "Yep. Jiji sent Itachi and Kaka-sensei to find and detain them."
"So that's why Itachi left with that Anbu," Shisui mumbled.
Naruko looked at Karin, "We should be going. I plan to eat ramen, because for the last month, I've been eating worms, larva and other things that aren't fit for human consumption."
Sasuke and Karin looked disgusted. Shisui seemed interested. "Why?" he asked.
Naruko gave a small 'heh' and stood. She moved over to Sasuke and pulled a kunai out of his pouch. She pricked her finger, and handed him the weapon. She then swiped the blood across her left palm. She made some hand signs, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
Naruko stood with a small toad in her arms.
"Hey sis!" the little orange toad waved with a smile.
"Hi Gamakichi! I'm showing some people my new status." Naruko explained.
"Status?" the three other asked.
Gamakichi nodded, "Sis is the newest Gama Sennin!"
Shisui's mouth dropped while Sasuke and Karin looked confused.
"You've become a sage? In only a month?!" Shisui asked in awe.
Naruko nodded and let Gamakichi hop on over to Karin, who had a bag of candy.
"Can I have some?" the little toad asked the redhead. She nodded and he took two pieces, "Thanks. I'll give the other to Gamatatsu!"
He hopped back over to Naruko, "Thanks for summoning me sis! Summon Gamatatsu next time to make it fair. Make sure you have lot's of sweets though."
Naruko nodded and the toad poofed away.
Naruko looked over to Sasuke, "What did you train for?"
He shrugged, "Itachi and Shisui helped with the Mangekyo, because they both have one."
"Well then, I look forward to seeing your fight."
Karin jumped, "Can Sasuke-nii come with us?"
Naruko looked at her friend who shrugged and went to put on his shirt. A small part of Naruko was sad, but another was thankful. She was going to become a pervert otherwise.
She looked at Shisui, "You want to come along?"
He made a face as he looked at the sky, "Why not?"
Naruko and Sasuke were ahead and neither noticed the grins Shisui and Karin gave each other.
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"I can't believe you would eat such garbage!"
Naruko sighed as she started on her tenth bowl of ramen. "I know Ayame. But Shima-Baa-Sennin, was so happy to cook for another mouth, and I couldn't bring myself to tell her I thought it was gross."
Ayame sighed, "Well, I'm glad your appetite and taste buds are still okay. Eat up!"
Naruko nodded and shoveled more noodles into her mouth.
Shisui leaned into Sasuke and whispered, "You love her even though she eats more than you?"
Sasuke glared at his cousin, "Yes. I find it charming, that she doesn't try to be like other girls. She's been doing this for years, and refuses to change for anyone. I wouldn't want her to change either."
Shisui backed off with a wide smirk on his face. He looked over at Naruko, jaw dropping at the stacks of bowls surrounding her. Three sat in front of her and she was taking a helping from each. He shook his head in bemusement. Sasuke really knew how to pick them.
Later, after Shisui was called to the Hokage's office, Naruko and Karin went home. Sasuke decided to go back to the Compound to train some more.
The house was just fine in their absence and Naruko let her Kage Bunshin that she had guarding the place, dispel. The information she got made her giddy. So giddy, that she swung Karin up into her arms and spun the girl around.
"What happened?" Karin asked.
"Well, Shadow's Fire has become very successful in the Weapons Creation and Distribution Department! Hi no Kuni, Nami no Kuni, Tsuki no Kuni, Yu no Kuni, Shimo no Kuni, Na no Kuni and Kaze no Kuni, along with Takigakure, are now official recipients of Shadow's Fire services!"
Karin smiled at Naruko's excitement.
"Were also developing new versions of kunai, shuriken and tanto. The revenue of the other departments, Production and Trading especially, have gone up between thirty and forty percent since I took over as CEO. If we keep this up, Shadow's Fire will be the most powerful company in the world!" Naruko explained.
"So, it's doing good cause you're awesome?" Karin asked, a little confused.
Naruko snorted, "I am awesome yes, but the increase isn't because of that. I just understand the way finances work."
Karin nodded, but folded her arms, "I think it's because you're awesome."
Naruko laughed, "Thanks. I'm going to put my things away. I'll be right back."
Karin nodded and sat on one of the cushioned tatami floor seats. She noticed the fancy looking scroll on the kotatsu and grabbed it. It had purple tassels on it.
"Hey nee-chan! You have another scroll here!"
Naruko returned looking lost. She took the scroll and frowned. Making a Kage Bunshin, she had it open the scroll incase it was rigged or something. When nothing happened, she took it back and read the fancy writing. Already she could tell that it was written by a Clan Head. And she had a bad feeling of which one it was.
Her ninth sense as she called it, wasn't wrong. It was from Hiashi Hyuga. She gripped the scroll, crushing it. She really hated Hyuga's. Sure she was tolerant of Neji when on that mission, but once that was over, she went back to hating him. She always cast the Hyuga's austere glances, because they were assholes. All except Hinata, the angel that she was.
She had been summoned to the Main House, by Hiashi Hyuga.
If she didn't go, then whatever he wanted, he'd keep pestering her until he said what he needed to say.
"Karin, I have to go somewhere. I'll leave a Kage Bunshin with you okay?"
The girl noticed the seriousness in her sister's voice and nodded.
Naruko hurried off, leaving the Bunshin with her ward.
I have to find Ero-Sennin!
Why?
I don't trust Hyuga's. Not after what happened. He'll come along. Because they wouldn't try anything with him around. That I know for certain.
Good thinking ahead.
Thanks. Now, to the hotsprings!
As she thought, he was peeping through a hole in the fence of one of the springs.
"Hey Super Pervert!" she whispered.
He turned to her with a big smile, "Yes?"
"I need your help."
He straightened immediately, "What's wrong?"
She sighed, "I've been summoned by Hiashi Hyuga. But, I have trust issues with Hyuga's and I don't want to go alone. Either you come and keep them from trying anything with me, or you come and keep me from killing them all, except Hinata."
He frowned, "What did they do to make you so, angry?"
"They ruined my future," was her cryptic response.
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Naruko glared the Hyuga Head. He had just proposed an alliance between the Hyuga and the Uzumaki clans.
Naruko wasn't stupid. Such an alliance, would give the Hyuga's a certain percent of the Uzumaki's income and give them power of a vote, should Naruko not make a council meeting that is called upon to make a decision. Hiashi would immediately get the right to cast her vote, if she wasn't there. The same went for Naruko. The problem was, that the Hyuga's didn't have any kind of income that was noteworthy. They didn't work for a living. They owned their land and didn't have to pay bills because they were the Hyuga Clan. Special privileges, like other big clans.
If she agreed, she'd be making a fool of the Uzumaki Clan. Even if she had the right to Hiashi's vote, he never missed a council meeting. Thus leaving the whole agreement on her end, void.
Another thing, was that she hated the Hyuga. She wouldn't make an agreement with such a clan even if they had something to give to the alliance. She'd never forgive them for what they did. The whole clan was full of horrible people. Not just the Main Branch, who abused their power. But the Side Branch, who decided to blame others for what the Main Branch did to them. She hated everyone but Hinata, who shouldn't have even been born to the clan.
"No."
Hiashi's eyes uncharacteristically widened, "Pardon?"
"I said 'no'," Naruko stated firmly.
Hiashi glared. "May I ask why?" he asked tersely.
"Why of course," Naruko nodded. "I strongly believe in Karma. Your clan is finally getting what's coming to them. Main and Side Branches. You people are despicable. For chasing and torturing a three year old, up until she was six. For treating said child like she was worthless and below your notice. For ruiningthat child's future. I refuse to have my clan associated with the Hyuga's. You will not be getting power from my clan or have any power over me at all, and I wouldn't want anything with your name attached to it."
She stood, as did Jiraiya and turned to leave.
"A word of advice Hiashi, you should really watch how you treat others. Because some day, like today, it'll come back to bite you in your all-seeing ass," she said over her shoulder.
She and Jiraiya left the Hyuga Compound then, and waited till they were far away before speaking.
"Did they really do that to you?" he finally asked.
She nodded, "There was always a Hyuga involved whenever I was chased and beaten by villagers. Main and Side Branch members. They really did something bad, Jiraiya. Tsunade knows about it, ask her. And no, I didn't tell her because I trust her more. It came out in a medical examination. Tell her that I said it was okay for you to know."
Naruko Shunshined then, leaving the Gama Sennin in wonder. She'd called him by his name. Both he andTsunade. Which meant that the situation was serious.
He headed for the nearest shop, to buy some sake. Then he went straight to the hospital.
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Naruko knocked on the Uchiha Head Family's door.
Mikoto answered and gave her a hug.
"I know it's pretty late, but is your husband home?"
Mikoto nodded, looking slightly worried at the seriousness in Naruko's tone. "He's in his study. Follow me," she said.
Naruko removed her shoes and followed the Uchiha matriarch down the hall. She waved to Sasuke when she passed the kitchen and saw him chopping vegetables. He gave her a 'what's wrong?' look and she mouthed the word, 'Hyuga'. His eyes narrowed, but he nodded nonetheless.
Mikoto, led her down the long hallway, and too a shoji screen. "Dear, Naruko is here to speak with you, " she said, tapping on the frame.
"Let her in," came the reply.
Mikoto gave her a pat on the shoulder and opened the door.
Naruko bowed to Sasuke's father and sat in front of his desk.
"What can I do for you?" he asked with an expectant gaze.
She sighed, "I was just summoned by Hiashi, who had proposed an alliance between the Hyuga Clan and the Uzumaki Clan."
Fugaku stiffened, "I hope you made a good decision then."
She nodded, "Yes. I refused."
She saw the barely visible sag of his shoulders. "That's good. They aren't a clan you'd want to associate with."
Naruko inclined her head, "My reasons were personal. So much so, that I had to bring my godfather Jiraiya, for safety on both sides. Me, because I don't trust Hyuga's. And them, because I hate Hyuga's, and if Hiashi had said something to set me off, I warned Jiraiya that I would have no problem committing Genocide."
Fugaku's eyebrows rose at the statement. She was dead serious about what she said. She really didn't like the Hyuga family.
"In my life, not once have I been chased or attacked or even beaten, by an Uchiha. Never. The Hyuga's though, both Main and Side Branches are child beaters. I refused to give Hiashi any power of me and my clan. Because the Hyuga would benefit from the alliance, but the Uzumaki, wouldn't."
Fugaku nodded in understanding. She had made a good decision. He had threatened every Uchiha to leave her alone as a child, because he and Mikoto knew who her parents were. When they told the clan, everyone agreed to let her be. The Hyuga's, apparently didn't.
"I am here to propose an alliance between the Uchiha and the Uzumaki. And I will use the terms that Hiashi had come up with."
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Jiraiya sat in silence. He and Tsunade had been talking and Tsunade had explained the situation between their goddaughter and the Hyuga Clan.
He was disgusted, and all respect he had for the clan, was gone. The fact that they had done that to a child, was disgusting!
"Tsunade, this is horrible."
The busty blonde nodded, "Yes, I put a hole in the wall. I explained it to Naruko and she asked Kyuubi, who revealed the truth. Naruko then told me, as she cried. Those people, are wretched and I wanted to castrate Hiashi for not watching his clan better."
Jiraiya sighed as he tried not to break the saucer in his hand.
"No wonder she's so against them. I don't blame her in the least."
"Neither do I. I wonder how her fight with the Hyuga will go tomorrow."
Jiraiya shrugged, "Whatever she does, I won't be angry."
Tsunade nodded and look a long drink of sake.
"Tomorrow."
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Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the three people in front of him with a grim expression. One that spoke of disappointment.
"Sakuro Haruno, Saki Haruno and Sakura Haruno, I hereby place you under arrest for the aiding of an S Class Missing Ninja and revealing information about a Konoha noble clan."