章 16: Threat

"These are..."

Asuka's eyes widened in complete shock as she felt that she wasn't young enough to deal with all the stuff her husband has suddenly dipped into. Their bed was filled with files that contained top-class confidential information that only two entities had— The Hokage and the Root. Yes, these were those specific files demanded by Hiruzen in his las Clan meeting. While the information of Root members are completely forbidden to be distributed, Danzo still had to share them with the Hokage to avoid the title of treason.

After all, as a Hokage, no information should be kept a secret from him.

"Well, many things changed in the last few days... these documents represent that I am officially sinking back into the village's dirty politics." Ryu spoke with a calm face as he went through all the files one by one. While the information regarding the members of the Root was extremely shocking, Ryu had no doubt that there were many 'unrecorded' facts that Danzo hasn't shared with the Yondaime.

Not only the facts, but Ryu also wouldn't believe that the files contained the information of all the Root members. Every organisation like Root and ANBU have some hidden trump cards that are only released at the times of life and death. Ryu immediately stacked some of the files and cleared Asuka's side of the bed so she could sleep while he had already decided to pull an all-nighter.

Asuka opened her mouth to speak something, but eventually didn't allow her worrying words to affect her husband. With her experience, Asuka knew that all the steps Ryu took were always in favour of the family as a whole, whether he favoured those decisions were a different matter, but he always did what was necessary to protect his family. Softly whispering a goodnight, Asuka laid on her back and closed her eyes while Ryu kept on reading the information and tried to form some tactics. But before he could create anything meaningful, he would need to go through the clan's records, too.

Unknown to the troubled parents, before going to sleep, Eio had gone through another round of what he calls— Chakra Meditation, and still failed to exhaust his chakra while his manipulation and control over the chakra barely increased. Stretching his body all over again, Eio fell into a deep sleep until he was woken up by Ryu's footsteps the next day.

***

"Hey, are you really okay?" Naruto extended his hand towards Sasuke, who looked at the space in front of him with a dazed expression. While all the children played happily, these two best friends couldn't help but feel down. Sasuke's reason was still a mystery to him, but Naruto was sure that he felt bad when his best friend had that look on his face.

Hearing Naruto's voice, Sasuke broke out of his reverie while he stood up and shook his head.

"Sorry, Naruto. I really can't play today. I don't know why, but dad has gotten a lot stricter than usual. I should go and train."

Seeing the miserable expression of Sasuke's face, Naruto felt like grabbing his shoulders, but his father always taught him to be considerate of other's feelings. Honestly, he didn't understand one bit what his respected father wanted to convey, but today, that piece of advice unexpectedly flashed within the corner of his mind as he failed to shake Sasuke's shoulder, whose back slowly turned tiny in his vision.

Sitting on the ground with a grumble, Naruto didn't feel like joining the other boys who kept on laughing and playing boisterously and looked at the group at what he and Sasuke loved to call— Trio Freaks. But today, he did feel like joining them. There they laid under the shade of the tree, silently. Somehow, Naruto found himself walking towards the three and sat beside the heavily clothed boy with his eyes covered in black shades.

"Hey, Shino-kun! Want to play with me?" He extended his arms once again and asked with a cheerful smile. By the time he reached the trio, he had already forgotten the stuff with Sasuke as he was a proud kid with an attention span of a hummingbird. Shino looked up, quite confused. But being the member of Aburame clan, who focused on intelligence and observations more than anything, the little guy soon found out the reason why he was the 'lucky' persona to get the attention of Yondaime's son.

Being defeated by a single move, Naruto would clearly feel a little bit awkward if he chose to converse with the uncaring Eio, who happened to have shown his fierce side to some of the older bullies, while Shikamaru, on the other hand, would clearly dismiss Naruto with the exact words: Don't wanna, it's too troublesome. At least, this was the conclusion the young Aburame came to after analysing all the factors involved. The only reason the trio actually rested under the shade of the tree was because they didn't disturb each other at all.

Shino thought for a moment before gazing at Naruto's passionate gaze once again. Nodding, the two of them quickly went for the sand battle ground... or so they named and entered their sparring position while Eio looked at the lazy Shikamaru from the corner of his eyes.

"Pineapple, I am going to ask you something... if it is forbidden to discuss by your clan, then act as if you are sleeping, just like the way you are now."

Shikamaru's body flinched visibly but his eyes remained shut as his expression remained peaceful. Honestly, Eio always felt that the particular meditation exercise to control his chakra was a common technique in the village, as opposed to the influx of nature energy. While his father did not mention anything about sharing the two technique, Eio still had to clarify things for himself.

"Do you meditate on your chakra and try to move it within your body... for practice?"

A relieved sigh escaped Shikamaru's lips as he opened one of his eyes and looked at Eio, his words laced with an annoyed tone as he replied.

"That is called Chakra Manipulation practice. Meditation is one of the basic exercises." Eio nodded thoughtfully at his words and did not speak anymore. Regarding Chakra Manipulation practice, Eio was confused by the fact that his Chakra wasn't the least bit exhausted, but he felt that such a piece of information shouldn't be made privy to others carelessly.

***

In the outer borders of Konoha, Orochimaru stood with his body covered in the standard jounin uniform of the Konohagakure while his pale, yellow pupils stared at the black-cloaked, orange-masked figure with an indifferent look.

"I hear that your... supply has been cut-off. Truly an unfortunate incident." The masked figure's deep voice rumbled as Orochimaru's eyes twitched with annoyance whenever he thought of this issue. His research has been practically stopped due to this issue.

"Your focus on Konohagakure is particularly... fascinating, Madara Uchiha. It would be disappointing that you contacted me for simply commenting on my situation." Orochimaru's voice carried a serpent's hiss as he spoke with his eyes narrowed.

"We may not have trust for each other, but I am here to propose an opportunity. This opportunity may be something that you have waited for your entire life." Madara extended his hands and spoke coldly. Through the hole in the mask, a piercing red eye with three rotating tomoes could be distinctly seen by Orochimaru's sharp eyes as his expression grew solemn, waiting for Madara to finish his words.

"I am putting together a group... of extraordinary characters. This particular group will definitely require a department focusing on scientific advancement in the sector of human life." Orochimaru's eyes shone brilliantly as Madara continued.

"Of course, for this purpose, the group will be adding a particular objective, especially for this scientific department.

Missions to gather appropriate supplies."

If Orochimaru wasn't enticed before, he was very well intending on joining the group after hearing the last part. But Madara's next words caused him to reassess the whole situation.

"Of course, to successfully utilise those supplies, you will have to complete your missions, too."

***

"Does this report match your desired opponent?"

In the dark of night, Ryu placed a document in front of Minato. They both remained in the Hokage's office as the designated ANBU members were already sent off. Picking up the document, Minato started reading it with great interest, until his brows were raised in surprise while his eyes couldn't help but show confusion.

"Why was he kept alive?" Minato asked as he looked at the only survivor's name: Itachi Uchiha. With Itachi's team slaughtered in front of him after his mission was intercepted, Itachi's kekkei genkai finally manifested. While Itachi became the prime suspect of the incident, he was soon released from the interrogation department after a few rounds. But the murderer described by the young Uchiha felt all too familiar.

"To establish the contact... maybe." Ryu shrugged and took a seat. He looked extremely haggard after not sleeping for almost 30 hours while he tapped on his desk with great annoyance and placed another document on Minato's table.

"This might be the reason that Itachi was chosen as a desirable point of contact."

A report on Itachi's true capabilities was placed that was attached to Itachi's transfer to ANBU alongside the reports of a certain incident with the Leaf Police Department that showed active aggression of the Uchiha Clan towards the Village as a whole. Going through the reports, Minato's gaze turned dark as he couldn't help but worry for the worst. As he looked at the three reports in his hands, his thoughts started clashing as he frowned and stood up from his seat, gazing outside the window with a troubled expression. After what felt like an hour, Minato finally opened up.

"The easiest option would be to conspire against that masked shinobi and the Uchiha clan to remove them completely as a threat... but..."

"Is that really an appropriate option..."

Ryu finished Minato's sentence with a sigh. In fact, destroying the Uchihas unprepared and pointing the blame at the masked enemy was all too simple. But is it really appropriate to let their fears dictate their actions? Sure, Uchihas are getting aggressive. But is it not the fault of some members of higher council banding together and suppressing the Uchihas due to the action of a few bad ghosts of the past?

Minato rubbed his eyes in frustration as he looked at Ryu, who placed one more troubling report on his desk.

***

"The Uchihas are proving to become a threat. A threat that should be quickly eradicated in its initial stages." Danzo spoke with a calm expression as he didn't even look at the tea personally served by his old friend, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime.

"And what is it that you want from me?" Hiruzen sat on his couch with a peaceful expression as the growing undercurrents weren't anything of his concerns and smiled. After truly removing himself from the political situation of the village, he finally started to smile genuinely whenever he looked at his son's accomplishments. While there was still some distance between them, Hiruzen was pleased with the progress of his relationship with his son.

"I want your support. Convince your successor." Danzo snorted as his unbandaged eye gazed at Hiruzen's peaceful expression and couldn't help but become more displeased.

"What about you?" Hiruzen asked with a gentle smile as he took pleasure in the mixed flavour of cool tea alongside his favourite smoke.

"What do you mean?" Danzo asked, slightly disturbed.

Hiruzen sighed and gazed at Danzo with a clear look in his eyes. At this moment, the old Sandaime was made painfully aware that his old friend that should have been his intellectual competitor had finally lost his edge. It may be because of his greed of power or due to his fears of the past.

"How should my successor deal with you when you become a threat greater than being a necessary evil of the village?" Danzo's eye widened with surprise as he couldn't help but feel a strange sensation inside his mind, slowly dulling his thoughts.