Onoki, the longest-serving Kage in the history of the Hidden Villages was currently having a staring contest with his granddaughter. She often proclaimed she'd replace him one day and he didn't doubt her potential as a kunoichi. It was her distaste for other considerations that gave him pause. But if she wanted to lead his village he'd drag her along kicking and screaming. This was one such attempt, a strategy session. He needed to come to a decision regarding Konoha soon and felt it was the perfect situation to teach his granddaughter how a Kage must think.
"Well?" the aged Tsuchikage asked.
"I say we stay out of it, let the tree huggers fend for themselves."
"And if they should lose? Better yet, if Konoha should fall what then?"
"Then they are gone and we'd have had no hand in it."
"Hmm. And besides Konoha separating us, what would make Kumo and Iwa allies?"
"You think they'd attack us after defeating Konoha?" Kurotuschi asked.
"I think if they were to claim that significant of a victory we'd be foolish not to prepare."
"That still isn't enough reason to ally with Konoha. It's not like we'd get much out of it, it's just a mutual protection deal. Not even a trade agreement," Kurotuschi answered but scowled when she saw her grandfather shake his head in disappointment. She hated when the old man did that.
"An agreement of mutual protection is a trade deal. If any citizen from the Land of Earth or Fire were to be attacked while traveling to the other nation but villages would have the license to act, including merchants. As it is now, those that would risk traveling between our nations are not enjoying the joint protections and therefore there is very little trade."
"Then join them."
"Hmm but Kumo has the strongest military force. The most ninja per capita and the highest military spending of the major villages. Who knows what kind of developments they are making, what kind of breakthroughs they may share with an ally or use against an enemy."
"Then don't join Konoha and join Kumo."
"There is also Suna to consider. They are on an upswing, their Kage is young but powerful. Especially in the deserts of Wind Country."
"What do you want me to say, Old Man? What's the right choice?"
"That's a matter of perspective. Many would claim Konoha had never lost a shinobi war and in direct combat that is true. However, after the First Shinobi War, the ironworkers that resided in the Land of Fire migrated to the Land of Stone. We saw an increase in the quality of our weapons due to their proximity which increased the efficiency within our missions and an increase in revenue.
Konoha wins the second shinobi war but Ame permanently closes its borders and travel has to divert. The exchanges happening in the Land of Rivers is the seed that eventually causes Suna and Konoha to become an alliance. All from increased interaction and interdependence."
"What about the Third Shinobi War?"
"Honestly, no one gained much from that. Konoha should have but the rampage of the Kyuubi just a few years after the war's end eroded any gains they could have made. There are a lot of ways to analyze this choice and whether something is right or wrong is often a matter of execution of a decision, not the decision itself."
"Then what are you going to do?" Kurotuschi asked.
"I don't know," Onoki answered. He had a lot of information but the key piece of the puzzle, why Ay was doing this, was missing. The Fence Sitter wouldn't make a move until he knew why. He could tell his granddaughter didn't like that answer. She was decisive, preferring a fast and wrong choice to a slow and correct one. It was understandable, she was the type to face the consequences of her actions head on. But sometimes caution, mapping out the angles before you moved was the right course. She needed patience.
Patience was not something Onoki lacked. It had earned him his nickname, what many said as an insult. What many people didn't understand was that power and authority could be felt in its action and inaction. By delaying a formal agreement with Konoha, Kumo was given the chance to make a counter offer. That they hadn't did not give Onoki a clear window into Ay's thinking but the Tsuchikage suspected it meant his fellow village leader was prepared to see this through, confident he didn't need allies to accomplish his goal.
But what was it? Ay had been amassing power, attempting to steal bloodlines for years. It was one of the reasons Onoki hired the Akatsuki, so he could better train and prepare his forces. But what was Ay after? Onoki doubted the Raikage believed he could truly destroy Konoha with Kumo's might alone. The Sannin, Hiruzen and a cast of other elite ninja were enough to dismiss that idea. Then there was Konoha's Jinchuuriki.
If he didn't have it on good authority that Hiruzen and the Namikaze boy weren't on good terms, he'd swear the Old Monkey had attempted to create a shinobi in his own image. Mastering all five nature releases before adolescents, additional training by Hiruzen's very own students. Jinchuuriki were supposed to be S-rank ninja because of their bijuu, not despite or in addition to. If Ay were solely motivated to remove the boy from the board Onoki would understand.
It was one of the reasons Onoki hadn't shared Rasa's file with anyone but his most trusted advisor. He hadn't told Roshi why he wanted Han and he to meet the boy, outside of being a fellow Jinchuuriki. Onoki didn't blindly hate Minato but he couldn't fault his ninja for doing so. One man changed the tide of the war and on his way to the Pure Land gifted his, apparently, genius son with the most powerful of the Bijuu. Onoki wondered if Kurotuschi could stand up to such a ninja in the future.
'The future,' the august Kage thought. All Kage dedicated themselves to that. Present day strength was for the protection of the future. His mind, not dulled by age, spun rapidly. Could that be Ay's goal? A war to remove Konoha's potential? Weaken them for a generation or more? Is that why the man doesn't care about creating allies? To win only requires the death of what, ten to fifteen ninja? It was just speculation but Onoki had this feeling he was right. If so, it raised more questions and left the elder with even more plans to consider. But that was fine. He would only move at the exact right time and not a second before.
0000000000000000000
"So, should I make myself scarce tonight?" Jiraiya asked his godson as several clones finished setting up for the gathering that was to occur later in the evening. There were now wood tables and benches under a recently created gazebo. Torches were set up but unlit for when the sun went down and off to the side sat the concrete pit waiting to be lit for tonight's festivities.
"There will be other adults here. You can talk to them about how kids these days blah blah blah blah blah," Naruto answered. Jiraiya matched Naruto's grin before feigning annoyance.
"I am so not one of those, "back in my day," geezers. But you brats should respect the amazing, enviable, number one gallant Shinobi."
"And if you keep adding adjectives I'm sure we will someday. Of course, someday we'll all be dead but you have to think the odds are with you on this one."
"Was your mouth always this smart and I just never noticed?"
"No. There was that period after you told me I was the shinobi messiah and I was too freaked out to be funny," Naruto retorted and Jiraiya scratched the back of his head in shame.
"Oh, yea…"
"Enough of that, Perv. I made my peace with it," Naruto admonished after seeing Jiraiya become sullen.
"Oi, Stump!," Naruto heard Tayuya call, not that it'd been necessary.
"You ever get tired of her calling you that?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yes, but I really don't want to encourage her to get creative," Naruto answered as they walked toward their just arrived guests. Shika and Shino had arrived with Ino and Choji. Naruto smiled as he approached the group.
"Hey, guys. Welcome to my home," he greeted as he slipped into host mode.
0000000000000000000
Across the village, several of the Leaf's most prominent women sat around a rectangular table. Sake, tea and snacks were available as they watched the last of their party settle in. Kurenai sat down and an attendant prepared her tea and then exited.
"It is so lovely to see you all here again," Koharu offered, as she was the hostess of this gathering. She was transitioning out of public life, not that she minded. Tsunade had Jiraiya and Orochi to advise her, Shizune to temper her. It was long past time to allow the younger generations to come fully into their own. But she still had a lifetime of wisdom to share so these gatherings were meant to make the generation after Tsunade's comfortable enough to seek her out should they desire to do so. She also hoped they would continue the tradition.
"Thank you for hosting us, Koharu-sama," Shizune replied, selecting tea over alcohol but knowing her teacher would do the opposite.
"Yea, yea, enough of this formal stuff. I'm here to relax," Tsunade cut in. Anko snickered at the Godaime's brashness, Kurenai smiled politely but Yugao and Orochi had no outward reaction.
"If Mito-sama could see how borish you behave, she'd cane you Tsunade-chan," Koharu responded.
"Don't be like that, I have to be formal all day," Tsunade complained.
"Kukuku, so much easier when you could just punch everything," Orochimaru observed.
"Exactly!" Tsunade brightened as she answered. Koharu simply sighed and decided to move along.
"Kurenai, how are you, dear?"
"Just really ready to not be pregnant anymore, honestly. If it isn't being as big as a house, it's all the people that hover over me like I'm made of glass."
"Asuma?" Anko asked.
"Him and my boys, well Shino and Shikamaru. I wouldn't be surprised if I had a panther summons watching me and I just don't know it, as well," the Genjutsu Mistress said. It was voiced as a complaint but no one missed the fond smile she dawned.
"You settled on a name?" Yugao asked
"Mirai. Mirai Sarutobi," said Kurenai and got a round of approving words from most of the party; all but Orochimaru. The Snake Sannin hadn't thought much about giving birth, not since she aborted her baby. However, that was before Naruto. She knew one of his drives was to have a family and she wouldn't deny him that. In truth, if the two kept going how they were she'd be pregnant sooner rather than later. One could forgive Naruto for being lax, as her supposed physical age would put her past any concerns about conception. However, that wasn't the reality and she was fully capable of conceiving a child.
"Sensei?" Anko called out, breaking Orochi from her thoughts.
"Hm?"
"Where'd you go?" Tsunade asked, the smug look on her face suggested the question was rhetorical. "Where ever it was doesn't matter, you're falling behind so drink up." The Sannin rolled her eyes at her former teammate as she took a saucer to her lips, downing the liquid contained therein.
"Happy?"
"Ecstatic."
The night progressed as previous their previous get-togethers had, the women sharing in their personal and professional developments. Tips and suggestions were shared, support given. Even with the haze of over consumption setting in, Tsunade noticed Orochimaru had been more quiet than normal. Tsunade had watched her friend get more comfortable, or more accurate watched as the women in this room grew more comfortable with her.
"Oi, Orochi, what's got you so quiet?"
"Concocting a plot to harvest your souls," the Sannin answered and laughed at the looks being sent her way. Looks that couldn't dismiss her words outright but were betting she wasn't being serious.
"Pfft, you can have it. And then do all my damn work while you're at it. Although, you might have a fight if you try to take the hat," Tsunade announced.
"Kukuku, don't worry Tsunade-chan, I no longer desire that position," Orochi said to her fellow Sannin. The look on Tsunade's face told the Snake Summoner she'd clearly blundered into something.
"Oh, and what positions do you desire? Or is it more important about who you do them with?" Tsunade asked.
"That's lewd, Tsunade-sama," Shizune admonished.
"Oh, Shizu-chan, that's the point. Besides, don't act like a prude. I know those extra long lunches you take aren't because you like to savor your food." Shizune went red at Tsunade's words.
"Don't be embarrassed, Shizune-chan. Genma is a fine, young man. Even Minato thought so," Koharu relayed and watch as the young woman nodded in acknowledgment.
"Yea, Shizune. Hurry up and pop out some kids I can spoil. I'll make them poker aces by the time they can walk," Tsunade spoke, cheerily. She was genuinely happy for her student and friend, knowing the constant traveled had cost Shizune a lot. Tsunade wanted her student to take advantage of this stability as much as she could.
"You couldn't even make yourself one, Tsunade-chan," Orochimaru responded. The Senju gained a tic mark.
"That's because I have bad luck, not due to a lack of skill."
"Excuses, excuses, Tsunade-chan."
"I'm never too far from a deck of cards, Orochi. If you want, we can start up a game; though if I beat you I'm sure as shit not taking you out for ice cream," Tsunade finished with a devilish grin.
"I'd never get any if it depended on your winning a bet anyway," Orochimaru returned.
Tsunade pulled out her cards as she spoke, "We're doing this and don't go crying to your boyfriend when I spank you." All the women watched as the two most powerful kunoichi, and possibly ninja period, of the village bickered like children. It was Kurenai who dwelled on Tsunade's use of the word boyfriend and wondered if Naruto had already begun a relationship. She'd have to talk to her problem child soon. Kurenai didn't distrust the Snake Sannin anymore but it never hurt to stay on top of things.