Her plans were coming together much faster than she'd ever anticipated. She knew with the information she had the Akatsuki the old fool would feel the need to be proactive, he hadn't lost all of his instincts but she assumed he'd be too soft to lead the charge, that he'd delay for a year or two and let his replacement handle it. But this is almost better. He'd have to sit in that chair and live with the disgrace as many of his top Jounin wonder if he's going to war to cling to power; the man of peace himself being considered a warmonger? It was delicious but still didn't bring her the fraction of satisfaction that him assigning Naruto to her did. She assumed she'd get him in the period before Jiraiya went to "prepare" for a training trip, the same he as he did for Minato. But no, he's hers outright. Sarutobi claims it's only for the six months leading to the invasion but that'd be plenty of time to get him ready. She just couldn't wait. Jiraiya's expression when the old monkey made his decision was just icing on an incredibly sweet cake. He could only glare, the one sign of his impotent rage. She would get Naruto ready and with the might of Konoha, vanquish all of their enemies. Then the old monkey can go whither away in irrelevance while she and Naruto-kun continue to break barriers. She couldn't wait. She was heading down the final path to her compound, to see her former apprentice waiting for her.
"You seem happy. Whose soul did you eat today, Sensei?"
"Oh, Anko-chan. You smell of disappointment and sake. Well, you always smell of disappointment."
"Fuck you, bitch."
"You were never really my type."
"So I've heard. Is it the red hair or the prepubescent penis?"
"Such a crass little trollop you turned out to be. And I'd request you not speak of my new apprentice that way."
"God, the Old Man has really given up, hasn't he? To allow you to be the master of anyone is criminal but him? I don't know if I should try to kill you to save him or kill him to save the rest of us." Anko spoke and immediately found a firm hand around her throat and was lifted off the ground.
"Poor, little Anko. She never did know when to shut up. I should really snap your neck right here but that's what you want. One final act to show Sensei cares. Be honest, you were never mad I left, you were mad I left you. How could I? You want to know why? Why I gave you the curse mark and left you in that lab? Because the depths to which you disappointed are hard to articulate. I thought you were someone like me but you weren't. That seal was to maximize your potential, no more and no less. I wanted a student that would accomplish something new, change the shinobi world. You just wanted to please me like some concubine." Orochimaru said, her grasp tightening. "And now you threaten Naruto-kun because I see his value, having nurtured it in a far less direct way than I did with you and yet look at him, at how much he's accomplished because he was willing to do so." Orochimaru finally let Anko go, dropping her to the ground. Anko immediately began to rub her throat, trying to ease the pain.
"People think I want another me, I want someone in my image who thinks like me. Why would I want that? I'm not that egotistical, I don't need a replacement or an heir to some imagined thrown. Unlike most of you unremarkables, I don't want to change Naruto in the slightest. I want him to be the best version of himself, even if that version is my antithesis."
"Yea, right. No one would believe that." Orochimaru smiled, that's what she was counting on.
"He would and he will. He isn't beholden to groupthink and is willing to find things out for himself. But I'll tell you like I told Sarutobi and Jiraiya; Anko, if you interfere with my apprentice or try to influence him in a way I don't like it won't be healthy for you. And if that's too cryptic, I'll be literal. I'll kill you, Anko. Do we have an understanding?" Seeing her former student isn't responding Orochimaru grabs her hair and pulls her head back. "Do we have an understanding, Anko?"
"Hai."
"Good girl. Now, run along and the next time we speak try to be a bit more polite. You're a kunoichi, not a corner girl."
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He stares at his charge not knowing what to say. His words fall on deaf ears and he really isn't one to give speeches, it's never been his thing. He's the cool, aloof, genius and really cool type. You're supposed to hang off his every word. But this boy, he's immune to the coolness. It was vexing. It was annoying but before now, it hadn't been dangerous. Sasuke couldn't know Naruto's hard and fast rule or why the boy had it but he needs to learn his emotional outbursts can get him hurt. If that'd been another senior ninja, they may have just snapped his wrist and been done with it but he'd really rather gamble with the health of his student. So now the boy is tied up with ninja wire looking at Kakashi with all the hate his little body can muster but at least he has enough sense not to activate his sharingan or Kakashi might have had to pop him one.
"I know you hate Itachi. I know why. No one can fault you for wanting him dead, for it to be a driving motivator in your life. But these childish temper tantrums? That needs to end, Sasuke. You almost got skewered today because you violated the personal space of the wrong shinobi and had I not been there your revenge would be moot."
"How was I to know he'd react like that?"
"We're trained killers, he was just ambushed by two S rank ninja, if you knew nothing else you should assume he'd be a little worked up having survived what should have been certain death or defeat. Also, he had a concussion, so your shaking and yelling wasn't helping matters. That's just baseline observations even a genin should have been able to make." The boy hung his head in shame. Finally, something got through to him.
"I just needed to know why Itachi thought he was worth it, what made him so special?"
"If you knew then what? What would knowing solve? Shouldn't you just be relieved he is in custody and no one else died to make it happen?"
"I heard he managed to stab him in the back. No Genin nor Chunin should be able to do that."
"Why? He's not invulnerable and he's not a God. And as Naruto mentioned, he was with the Sannin. All of them. Do you think none of them would be able to make Itachi leave a small opening in his defense? He likely wasn't concerned about Naruto at that point and that was his mistake. That's the thing about this profession, Sasuke. It only takes one time to fall into the right trap or fall for the right trick and powerful or not you die."
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"Is he well enough to talk?"
"Yes but don't push it. He was lucky Naruto was concussed or the Nuibari would have pierced his heart and killed him instantly."
"I don't exactly feel lucky, Tsunade-sama." Itachi quipped, small smile on his face.
"Shut it, brat. You missed your last check up."
"Being a missing nin doesn't allow for one to keep a consistent schedule especially with the Akatsuki starting their initial play."
"What can you tell me about that, Itachi-kun?" the Sandaime spoke.
"Leader-sama wanted to test the youngest jinchuuriki, assess their threat level since we wouldn't be going after them for a few years."
"Why the delay?"
"The Mizukage died, Sandaime-sama. The Sanbi won't reform for at least three years."
"How long do you think it'd take them to replace you and Kisame?"
"I'm not sure, S rank nuke nin aren't common and they really need to be of that caliber. Maybe a year or year and a half?" Itachi postulated.
"Good, good. Itachi, you return now in a time of upheaval, some of my past indiscretions have come to light so I am not long for the chair but I won't leave the Akatsuki to my replacement. I must once call on your service once again. I believe Maelstrom will need you now more than ever."
"What do you mean?" Asked Itachi. Even Tsunade was confused at what new danger Naruto found himself subjected to.
"Orochimaru has returned, she gamed the Daimyo to make it so and has been five steps ahead of me. She wants Naruto. I don't know why but currently she is the one best suited to raise his skill level quickly. I know my student, she will demand he be subjected to a period of isolation, just her and whoever she may choose to aid in his development. As his master, she has that right. But as a clan heir, one that faced a recent abduction attempt I think he'll need additional security and as Hokage that is my right. It'll be an observe and report assignment just like last time."
"I accept, Hokage-sama. What about Sasuke?"
"I believe you should have the right to decide. Inform him of the truth and I'll do what I can to mend your broken bond. If you wish he stay ignorant I can claim you are in a secure facility or even succumb to your injuries. No one would be too credulous at the idea you fell to the Sannin."
"When would I need to start my watch over Naruto-kun?"
"You'll be on bed rest for at least five more days, no debate." Tsunade stated, brooking no argument.
"Then you'll have your answer no later than that, Sandaime-sama." Accepting his response, the Sandaime and Tsunade leave Itachi's room and head for an exit.
"When this Ame issue is resolved, I want you to replace me."
*Snort* "I bet you do but I vehemently decline."
"Tsunade, please. The village will need strong leadership."
"Then let Jiraiya do it. It's about time he stop playing spy anyway. Hell, he'd take the position to spite Orochimaru."
"That's part of the problem. He'd go out of his way to antagonize her. That would end in disaster, a disaster with Naruto in the middle of it. And with Naruto involved, that is involved as well."
"So, what, you think I'll keep Jiraiya and Orochimaru from killing each other and make sure your jinchuuriki is stable? No. I want nothing to do with this. Also, why would Naruto be in the middle? He doesn't seem aware Jiraiya is his godfather. At this point, Jiraiya is just his father's sensei that half-assed his Chunin finals' training."
"She has something planned for Naruto and Jiraiya won't sit idly by and allow it to happen."
"And I will?"
"No, you won't needlessly antagonize her and since you're his Obachan, if you warn him he'll believe you."
"No, he'll take it under consideration and look for proof. Likely because he's had to learn to rely on himself from an early age. Funny how that works."
"I can't have that fight again, Tsunade. Just, you're the best choice. And maybe with you in the chair this village can get back something its lost under my leadership. You may even inspire Naruto to want to be Hokage again." Sarutobi said, causing Tsunade to glare at him.
"That's more reason not to take the hat. If he gave up on that idiotic dream then all the better, he'll live longer. Maybe have a family and find some happiness."
"Tsunade, just consider it. Until then, you have your medical training program. Get as many medics trained up as you can and start back seriously training yourself."
"Pfft, take your own advice, Old Man. You'll get your damn medics, three decades late. As far as that other thing, don't bank on me accepting. It's enough I'm here and having to deal with this bullshit again."