Chuunin! Time to Up the Ante!
IMPORTANT A/N: This chapter is being summarily written without the use of my notes, which were inexplicably erased from my computer, whether by my own hand, or as a result of a deliquient program, is not known. As such, this chapter may not conform to the previous chapters style of writing. That said, I hope the feedback received details where I may be able to fix the chapter. Thank you!

ANBU District Hidden Conference Room, Designation "Ne"

Danzo glared at the mission report that lined his desk as he looked at the young, black haired teenager crouching in front of him. His face was visibly contorted, showing his displeasure at the outcome.

He picked up the piece of paper sitting in front of him, and burned it using his chakra, before turning to the kneeling subservient and said, "this meeting never took place. Understand?"

The black haired youth nodded his head, "Hai, Danzo-sama!"

As he disappeared, Danzo picked up the errant piece of paper, the visage of the white-haired Sannin glaring back at him, mockingly.

"I'll get you, Jiraiya, and that ikeike, Tsuande."

He looked to the door of his secluded office in the Council building before saying, "Dog! Get me Akimichi Chouza! Immediately!"

The Dog-masked ANBU snapped to attention and disappeared in a poof of smoke, before glancing at the list of supporters aligning his desk.

Danzo smiled.

Streets of Konoha

Neji sighed as he looked to his golden haired companion, whose terse look reminded him of some of the looks he'd received in the Ninja academy. The cold, calculating eyes of his friend and room mate bothered Neji for some inexplicable reason.

As the two passed the Yamanaka Flower shop, Naruto stopped. A shadow extended from up on the roof, it's pineapple shaped head giving the identification of the assailant away.

"Shikamaru," Neji said. The gangly looking Chuunin sighed as he jumped off of the roof, his feet hitting the ground, and rolling into a crouch. "Kage Mane no Jutsu, seikou."

He dropped the seals. Naruto turned to him, his eyes glazed over.

"Naruto-sama found out some disturbing news last night, Shikamaru-san. He is not in the best of moods this morning. Please forgive his eratic behavior."

Shikamaru nodded. "I would have called out, but that would have caused a commotion. That would have been troublesome."

Naruto turned, his head nodding just the briefest bit, and continued walking, his pace set. The three Chuunin, answering the summon Shizune had sent out earlier, were to be at the Hokage Tower no later than ten. Having set out at nine, the two Chuunin took their time, unafraid of the potential eruption of the villagers.

When Jiraiya arrived the previous night, two full weeks after the ordeal with the Akatsuki, he had initiated the Chuunin in conversation about how the group of Jinchuuriki had escaped. After Naruto had explained their planning, the man had seemed intent on disassembling each part of the execution, and informing Naruto where they could have done something better.

The Chuunin agreed, naturally wanting to help his sensei understand where they were coming from.

As Neji remembered his reaction to the next words spoken, Naruto was releasing a small amount of killing intent, also caught up in the memories of the night before, large enough to turn the crowd of civilian villagers away, but small enough to not alert the ANBU.

"You should watch your back, Naruto," the Sannin had said, "the Council is beginning to move against you. Should the need arise, I'll arrive in Konoha to take you away. Until then, be careful. Look underneath the underneath. Got it?"

Naruto's face, after he had taken apart Jiraiya's broken message was contorted. Neji saw how the Sannin's words had affected his friend. His Byakugan eyes, used often for seeing nearly three-hundred and sixty degrees, activated and he glared at the Sannin's retreating back. The man turned, amused at the small killing intent Neji had released.

"Naruto-sama," Neji said as the three Chuunin approached the Kage's tower. Naruto stopped and looked at his friend. "Perhaps you would like to discuss what has happened. After all, it is unlikely Hokage-sama will put up with your eratic behavior."

Shikamaru, to his left, sighed. "I agree," he stated. "You are growing more troublesome, Naruto-san. If we are to be sent on a mission, I would like to know what subjects to avoid making you as such."

The Chuunin guarding the door jerked it open as they stepped inside, his cold eyes traveling to Naruto's face. "It's about my... tenant." Shikamaru frowned while Neji's eyes widened. "Apparently, I'm a disgrace to Konoha for daring to fight while harboring who I do. They moved to have me declared a nukenin while I was AWOL, ignoring the fact that I had been kidnapped."

Shikamaru sighed, "I knew there was a reason Uchiha Itachi had come to Konoha, Naruto-san. It's problematic being on a team with you, because of this, but I will stand by you."

Neji nodded to affirm his stance. They approached the ANBU guarding Tsunade's office, and the man merely held his hand.

Naruto walked over to a chair and sat down, while his teammates leaned against the wall.

Tsunade's Office - Ten Minutes Earlier

Shizune gasped as she looked at the information scroll, placing the S-ranked scroll in front of the jounin in her office. He was dressed in ANBU garb, his ferret mask covering his features.

She rolled open the scroll and moved away, as Tsunade looked at the ANBU and said, "it is troublesome to have you among the ANBU ranks, Ferret. I believe your prior assignmet should take precident over your readiness for promotion.

However, I can only assume that you are ready to move forward. The ANBU captain has asked for your promotion to his ranks. In accordance, we have assigned you a solo S-ranked, assassination mission. Your target is the brother of the dead Gatou Corporation head, Gatou Teuchi. Your target's name is not known, but he is said to base his new organization along the borders of Tea Country. The Shinobi of Tea Country are at war, as you know, with those of Amegakure. The Jounin-oyabin has requested that, in alliance with our border treaty, aid in taking out the newly reformed Gatou Corporation.

While there is little chance of encounter with a Shinobi, Gatou has at his disposal three hundred employees, guards and mercenaries. He is based out of a village with heavy import export traffic. He also has ties with Orochimaru, and is said to be fronting a movement by Rice Field Country.

Do you accept this mission?"

The ANBU nodded, snapping to attention and turning around. He stepped out of the office, his eyes lingering on the three Chuunin, and the ANBU guarding the door. As he exited, the ANBU turned toward the Tower as the Hokage's voice shouted, "UZUMAKI NARUTO! NARA SHIKAMARU! HYUUGA NEJI! IN MY OFFICE! NOW!"

A few minutes later, said ANBU was leaving the gates of Konoha.

Ten Minutes After

Shikamaru sighed as he studied the scroll in his hands. Having been asigned the leader of this mission, it was up to him to decide what the best area of accomplishment would be, and to act accordingly. He sighed, pocketing the scroll, and walking out of the Clan's Compound, and walking toward the district square. He met with his teammates, Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji, and sighed.

They entered a large, oak walled room with pictures lining the walls. Some, more than others, had question marks covering their faces, while a few had in large black kanji, "RECOVERED".

The Chuunin pushed the door open where a large man, a scar running oblongly across his face, sat behind a desk. On his desk were three pictues, and a large "S" covered their faces. On the wall, three black body suits and masks were hung on the wall.

"Being a Chuunin is about making sacrifices," the man began as they entered. "As Genin, you are taught the fundamentals of being Shinobi, as Jounin, you are expected to be proficient at your job. As a chuunin, you are taught these responsibilities, and are taught how to be proficient in whichever area you work in.

For some, the track is to directly become ANBU. If that is the case, you must petition the ANBU captain, or be recommended by either a retired or current member of their forces.

In other cases, such as this one, the track leads to you becoming Oinin. Sometimes, it's guard duty, or two years at Konoha Ninja Academy. Regardless, within the first six months, all Chuunin are required to do two months service with the Oinin.

Due to unforseen circumstances, each of you have had a more active six months than most Chuunin. Going on missions required of more experienced shinobi, or commanding your genin squad full time, does not allow for you to truly experience life as a Shinobi.

During your time as an Oinin, you will be tested on what it means to be a Chuunin. If you are unable to handle life as a Chuunin, you will never make it as a Jounin. As such, on the wall are your temporary uniforms and all the equipment you will need during your duration as Oinin.

I recognize that you may have other obligations during this time, and will attempt to schedule around them. However, as is the case with three man teams containing a Yuujou, you may still continue your regular duties in another country, as part of your training.

If that is all, your first mission as Oinin is to track down B-ranked nukenin named Oroku Yoshi. He is a Chuunin of two years, and has recently abandoned Hoshigakure. A jounin-genin team consisting of Maito Gai, Yuuhi Kurenai, Rock Lee and Hyuuga Hinata spotted Yoshi heading for Rice Field Country, to join Otogakure. Hoshigakure has a price of seventy-five thousand Ryuu on his head. He has also been placed in the Bingo Books of Getsugakure, and Kumagakure as part of the alliance between the three villages. He was last spotted two weeks ago, entering Fire Country at it's border to escape Oinin. As you know, our border patrols are immensly complex.

We doubt Yoshi has left Fire Country. You are to follow standard Oinin protocol."

"Teuch," Shikamaru said as he pulled on the cloak, and put on a white mask with no distinctive shape. Unlike ANBU, the Oinin didn't assign a permanent mask to their members, and never with a defining shape. Their black cloaks held all sorts of pockets, and a pouch specially designed to conceal kunai and shuriken. Along with these, a long sheath was stitched into the design.

"These cloaks are yours for the duration of your period as Oinin. Should you decide to continue, you may purchase the cloaks. The masks are yours to keep, and should prove useful when you are in a situation that requires stealth. You are to head out immediately, our spies have indicated that Oroku Yoshi is nearing the end of his journey to Rice Field Country. You will bring back proof of his death, and we will send the proof to the proper countries, pay will be deposited into your Shinobi accounts."

The three Chuunin nodded and disappeared in three swirls of leaves.

They exited the north gate an hour later, heading at a fast pace toward the Valley of the End, where a battle took place. The winner of that battle, the Shodai Hokage, went on to create Konohagakure.

The journey to the Valley of the End only took at best six hours. In that time, Shikamaru passed around Oroku Yoshi's picture, and a description of his abilities. He was a taijutsu expert so Shikamaru told Neji to be ready, that he was going to be the main battler. His ninjutsu and genjutsu were average, and he only had at most twenty of each to chose from. His chakra capacity was large for a chuunin, possibly Shikamaru said, a side-affect of Hoshigakure's strenuous and mysterious training.

As they neared the Valley, the sound of a rushing waterfall filled their ears. In the distance, two great statues rose out of the ground, one obviously the Shodai Hokage. The other was a great mystery to the people of Konoha, though popular belief indicated that it could have been the leader of Shodai's people.

They crouched at the Valley a few minutes after they arrived, Neji having activated his Byakugan, and were now searching for their prey. Suddenly, a false chakra filtered through the woods surrounding the Valley of the End, it's color a pink in nature. A soft humming filled the air, as the body walked along the Fire Country, close to his final objective.

Shikamaru nodded to Neji, and the user of Konoha's most prestigious bloodline stood, killing intent radiating off of the Hyuuga. The boy jumped back, crouching on his hind leg, his front leg extending in front of him.

"I am afraid you cannot leave," Neji's cold voice swarmed over the area. The sound of rushing water intensified, as a sick glow surrounded their prey.

"I'm afraid you've got a case of wrong place, wrong time," Yoshi stated. Neji simply glared at him and went into the familiar stance of Jyuuken. Yoshi smirked, his face holding obvious bemusement, as he said, "you're kidding right? You beat me, in taijutsu? Even with Jyuuken, you're no match for me."

Neji glared, his face covered with the white mask indicating him as a member of the Oinin. Yoshi jumped backward and smirked, dodging as Neji extended his fingers onward.

The young nin from Hoshigakure grinned, his arm snapping out and connecting with Neji's wrist. The sound of bones breaking startled them, and the shinobi jumped backwards. He went though a set of seals and said, "Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Water raised into the air and split six different ways. Yoshi jumped and started running in a full circle, while his Bunshin's formed. Suddenly, all seven of them stopped and at once placed their hands together in a ram seal.

"Kawarimi no Jutsu!" each of them said. A pillar of smoke arose around Neji, and when it cleared, seven people stood in the same place. Neji looked around, his Byakugan attempting to see through the ploy. The Chuunin didn't act as if he were going to wait that long. Each one pulled out a Kunai and wrapped an exploding note to it. Neji smirked as they stepped forward to impale the devices though him.

"You are all within the range of my divination!"

They stopped as a genjutsu covered the field, a gigantic clock spreading out. The three closest were well within the divination field, and the rest barely on the outer edges.

"Hakke! Rokujuu Yonshou!" Neji shouted. With each subsequent shout of Nishou, Yonshou, Hashou, Juurokusho, Sanjuusho! RokujuuYonshou!, a clone would disappear. Finally, exhausted, Neji collapsed. The problem was, every one of the clones had disappeared. Shikamaru cursed, his eyes closing and his legs crossing. His bent his wrists up, turning his arm down, and connecting his fingers making an 'O'.

Silently, he replayed the events as they occured and said, "Kuso, that was another variation of Bunshin we ran across. He sent a scouting party ahead, and is probably altering his course to avoid us. Naruto, I'll help Neji. You find him and direct him back this way."

Naruto nodded and crossed his fingers for Kage and said, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Twenty Naruto's appeared around him and ran in each direction. Naruto sat down himself, his eyes closing, and waited. Soon, one Bunshin disappeared, and another. As each would disappear, Naruto would gain knowledge of their whereabouts.

The fifth clone to disappear was on a course paralell to the Valley of the End, a bridge crossed over the border, and below was a river full of rampaging armor. Oroku Yoshi was crossing the bridge, and heading to Rice Fields. Naruto closed his eyes and sent a message to his Bunshin, and sighed as an influx of knowledge cramped his mind.

He looked at Shikamaru and silently communicated that he was already crossing into Sound Territory, four Oto-nin waiting for him. Shikamaru nodded.

Drawing a Kunai, Naruto placed Chakra inside it, crossed his fingers and flung it in the direction of the bridge. "Hiraishin no Jutsu!"

He streaked after the Kunai, his eyes shifting to the Mokuchichi. He avoided trees and other obstacles, and appeared at one side of the bridge. Oroku was already smirking, almost to the border, when Naruto growled and threw two kunai across the bridge.

He snapped the ropes and threw a third Kunai, and streaked after it, tackling the Chuunin that had grabbed onto the hands of the outstretched Oto-nin. Naruto swore as a black tattoo spread across their necks, and a sick, purple Chakra flowed out of them. He growled, as a pink chakra reacted with theirs, and three fell to the watery surface below. The other three followed.

"Kuso," Naruto said, as the cursed chakra flowed around him. His now blue eyes shifting from one opponent to the other in an attempt to see which would attack first.

There were three Oto-nin males, an overly large boy with massive arms, a nin with six arms and legs, and a boy with two heads. The last Oto-nin, a girl, was a red-head and carried a flute.

"Don't you wish you stayed home, bastard." the girl stated. Naruto cursed, the flux of chakra coming from them flowing over him.

"I have no quarrel with you, Oto-nin," Naruto stated, "I would not wish to start an incident."

The woman grinned and blew a note, and Naruto cursed as he felts the affects of a genjutsu. He placed his hands together and said, "Kai," remembering his last lesson with Kurenai, only a few months before she was placed on a long term mission with Gai, Hyuuga and Lee. Instead of cutting the flow of Chakra, though, Naruto increased it.

It didn't work.

"Kuso," Naruto said as he dodged a black figure racing towards him. He cursed, as he was punched in the back of the neck, and rolled forward. The four Oto-nin grinned and said, "unlike you, Konoha scum, we are under orders to attack any Konoha shinobi attempting to cross into Sound Country."

Naruto growled as the boy with two heads separated. Cursing again, Naruto glanced and jumped, digging a kunai into his arm. It dispelled the genjutsu, luckily, and Naruto glanced at the looks on their faces at his self-inflicted wound.

"Baka," the spider like shinobi stated. "Now we'll have an even easier time of killing you."

Naruto grunted. The twins ran forward, each attacking Naruto simultaneously. He dodged their punches and kicks, his doujutsu shining in the light of the morning. Suddenly, Chakra immenated from his body, and mixed with the blood staining his body. "Kokaku, Seikou."

One of the twins kick connected, and Naruto groaned at the impact. Whatever that chakra was increased their strength as well as chakra reserves it seemed. He directed Kyuubi's healing chakra to the infected area and said, "Shannaro! That hurt."

A wet substance surrounded his wrists a moment later as a slow melody filled the area. Naruto growled as he felt blades digging into him and looked down. His crust was gone. Naruto growled and released another burst of chakra, and glared at the genjutsu that disappeared.

Then, he grinned. A burst of smoke drew their attention from behind, as Yoshi's form disappeared into that of another Naruto.

"Kage Bunshin?" asked the spider like kid, when the other disappeared. Naruto nodded.

"When did you have time?" asked one. Naruto glared and said, "when I used Hiraishin no Jutsu, I used a microsecond of time to create a Kage Bunshin and Kawarimi'd myself with some water below. The Kokaku increases my stamina, and allows a Kage Bunshin to take even greater damage, and as you know, Genjutsu doesn't dispel a Kage Bunshin. I took our prey back somewhere safe. You're unsuccessful in your attempts, now tell Orochimaru-baka to back off."

The girl cursed as she ran forward and kicked Naruto in the jaw. The Chuunin flew backwards and bit his thumb. He ran chakra through it and landed on the water with nary a problem.

Then, it happened. The four of them were spread in black tattoo like seals which connected. The amount of killer intent coming off of them increased exponentially, and Naruto cursed as they all disappeared faster than even his eyes could see.

He felt one fist dig into his gut, and a knee insert itself into his jaw. Before he could respond, he was axe hammered in the back and dropped to the ground, where his gut met another knee. The killing intent increased again, and Naruto swore, as his ears picked up one say, "Kanashibari no Jutsu!"

A large wave of killing intent crushed into Naruto, and he froze. A kunai flew at him, and Naruto closed his eyes, as a swirling blue ball appeared in front of him, and a welcome voice called "Kaiten!"

Neji stopped spinning three seconds later, his right foot dragging the water. He dropped into the familiar stance of the Jyuuken and said, "Naruto-sama, are you alright?"

Naruto stood, finally succeeding in fighting off the effects of the Kanashibari no Jutsu. "Arigatou Neji."

The Hyuuga nodded, as a blast of cursed chakra came from the four in front of them. Naruto turned and said, "together?"

Neji nodded and sasid, "hai."

The two grinned. Suddenly, they disappeared in a flume of smoke and reappeared, surrounded by two thousand clones, half Neji. The other, Naruto.

Suddenly, kunai started flying from each direction, some hitting with nothing happening and the others hitting, and piercing. Each time it happened, a large spike of chakra would hit from the affected party.

Suddenly, a large amount of chakra came out of nowhere, and thier target, Oroku Yoshi, floated down, large wings extruding from his back. He growled at the Chuunin and said, "you have no idea who you're messing with."

A large explosion of chakra reeled the Chuunin back, as Shikamaru joined them at his side and said, "he escaped."

"We got that, Shika," Naruto said. "How?"

"His wound started healing at an accelerated rate, and that pink chakra blasted me away before I could deliver. He's a troublesome one."

Naruto sighed, and said, "fine."

Neji glanced at his friend and stood back. Suddenly, five cursed chakras were bearing down on them, and Neji's Byakugan was getting a workout. He felt a Kunai in his hand, and looked down before nodding.

Shikamaru looked at the kunai in his and said, "hai."

Suddenly, they both threw the Kunai at the same speed and Naruto closed his eyes. He ran forward, about to connect with a separate kunai, when a pulse of evil chakra blasted him backward. The large one smirked.

"We've read all about the Hiraishin no Jutsu. Orochimaru-sama said that there was a Kazama in Konoha, and that we were to bring you to him. Thanks for serving yourself up."

"Jirobou, you baka, you're just now figuring this out!" the one with six arms said. "Shut up, Kidomaru! Tayuya agrees, right?"

"Lard ass," the girl muttered before she looked at them. "Those other two aren't needed, though Orochimaru-sama may want the Hyuuga. Oy, white-eyes, are you a main or branch member?"

Neji's glare intensified. Shikamaru sighed.

"This just isn't my day," Naruto sighed. "Any ideas?"

Shikamaru nodded. "Hai, but they're all to troublesome to explain. We'll use Delta Formation Red 3. I assume you read the Chuunin Manual?"

Neji nodded but Naruto sighed, "no, I used it as a plate for cup Ramen, Shika."

They glanced at the shinobi, who smirked and said, "Red 3, huh? Alright. Here goes, Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Suddenly five Naruto's were running at the oto-nin and hoshi-nin. They all drew a kunai and threw them toward their opponents. Using a kawarimi, they moved and punched their opponents, and dispersed, the sound of broken bones sounding though the air.

Naruto winced at the onslaught of memories and said, "nope, Red 3 doesn't work."

His teammates rolled their eyes at him. Another surge of malignant chakra was forced through the area, before a smirk appeared on Naruto's face. "Hakke: Rokujuu Yonshou!"

Suddenly, Tayuya found herself falling under the water below, as Neji enacted the first phase of Red 3. Naruto grinned as the twins found themselves with shadow's scouring up their necks, which were twisted in a gruesome fashion. "Kage Kubishibari; Seikou".

Naruto too disappeared, in a great display, placed a Rasengan though the chest of the spider boy, who flew backwards and impacted a rock wall, he fell to the water below and didn't surface.

The last two, Jirobou and Yoshi, both released their cursed chakra and Naruto looked amused. He turned to Neji, who simply smirked and nodded. Shikamaru sighed, looking between the two of them and said, "fine."

Suddenly, red chakra flowed out of Naruto's tenketsu. Naruto smiled, flowing chakra though his eyes, fingers, and ears, taking the shape of a fox's head. Two tails of red chakra erupted from his backside, and Naruto hunched over. Jirobou didn't hesitate, he allowed the black tattoos to spread over his body and form together. His face turned from a pale white to a sunken brown, and what looked like horns grew from his head.

Yoshi, on the other hand, extended his chakra around his body and allowed it to transform him into a peacock shaped form. He took to the skies and landed atop the changed Jirobou, both raising into the air to fly off. Naruto smirked, disappeared from his spot, and appeared atop the two attempting to escape. He swept his kick out and connected with Yoshi's face, the nukenin flying toward Neji, who caught him and cut off several tenketsu around his heart.

Yoshi's eyes widened, and he fell forward, dead. Neji looked at Shikamaru, who said, "Maa, Naruto. We're finished here."

Naruto, who had gotten a good hit in on Jirobou stopped his foot centimeters from the unconscious oto-nin's head. Shikamaru sighed, "if I'm not mistaken, these four were involved in the death of Sandaime-sama, perhaps we should take them now."

Neji nodded and said, "it is not in mission parameters, but I see no reason not too."

They nodded. Shikamaru sighed and decapitated the bodies. Naruto sighed and used, "Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu", to burn them. They placed the heads in a bag and nodded, disappearing in a swirl of leaves.

They passed the border to Konoha roughly two hours later, exhausted and in need of sleep. They arrived at the Oinin's office, where Tsunade was waiting for their reports. She, as well as their superior, raised her eyes and said, "report!"

Shikamaru sighed, explaining how they intercepted him before he successfully crossed the Valley of the End, and then were attacked by the Oto-nin.

She nodded and said, "Hai, but why are they dead."

"I believe," the boy explained, "they were involved in Sandaime-sama's death. You have blood from the four suspected, and I wanted to make sure. Either way, they did attack us, more specifically Naruto-san, and there are standing orders to bring them back to Kohoha."

The woman nodded. "Killing blows?"

"Neji defeated Yoshi as per mission orders; along with the troublesome girl. I defeated Sakon and Ukon, and Naruto defeated Kidomaru and Jirobou."

"You have done well, I will test their blood. If it checks out, you three will receive the proper amount Oinin would for defeating nukenin."

They nodded. "Dismissed."

As the Genin left the room, Tsunade turned to the leader of the Oinin and said, "well?"

The man nodded his head, "they have potential. Are you sure that Naruto kid is Yuujou? I could use him on my team."

Tsunade chuckled and said, "yes, I'm sure he's Yuujou. But that said, I do have someone interested in joining the Oinin. She's a Jounin, and new to Konohagakure. I processed her application just a few days ago, and have granted her permission to join Konoha as a Kunoichi. I'll send her by tomorrow."

The man nodded as Tsunade handed him a manilla folder containing a name, picture, and description.

"Nii Yugito, hmm. Ne, Tsunade, isn't she the new ex-Kumo nin that you took in?"

Tsunade could only smile. "Yugito will prove a valuable asset to the Oinin."

Ne

Danzo looked at the two genin standing in front of him, holding ANBU cloaks and face masks. He looked at his prized student and said, "Sai, this is Ox and Boar, and they are new recruits. You are to train with them personally, and make sure they are up to task within half of a year. Ne has been denied too long, and it is time we took our proper place in Konoha. I expect you to do your job. Dismissed!"

Danzo smiled as he eyed the folder on his desk, and the genin that just left his office. Sure, the brat may have the support of the Hokage, but he had the support of an even bigger and better segment of the population. The citizens of Konoha.

His plans were coming together.

He looked up as his door opened, sighing as the woman entered. She had long, brunette hair and a white kimono. Danzo stood and stretched out his arm, and said, "what can I do for you, Orochmaru-sama?"

The snake sannin smirked, the face peeling and ripping off, revealing his sinister looking visage. Orochimaru sat down and said, "your envoy said that you wished to talk, Danzo. So, talk."

The man smirked, "I think you're going to enjoy this."

Orochimaru said, "for your sake, I'd better."

End Chapter

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