Chapter 17
"So, that's how things are," Yamato said as he took another drink.
Sitting next to him was Kakashi. They were in a bar called 'Rusty Kunai' in Hidden Leaf Village. A small genjutsu was making sure no one could hear what they were talking about, also making sure no one would be able to lip-read, without dispelling the genjutsu and making the caster aware of it.
"...Hmm, to sum it up they still are not giving up... And here I thought they would stop meddling after that... Then again it's expecting too much from someone like him." Kakashi said to Yamato stopping himself from sighing.
An unprovoked attack on a comrade was already frowned upon. But they were so brave that not only did they attack Team 7 unprovoked, but they also intended to kill at least one of the members.
Even he felt the headache coming just trying to imagine the consequences. Thank the lucky stars they were unsuccessful.
"But it made Naruto even a bigger target. He is growing fast but he can't handle the fallout if things go too far. Not to mention even though Naruto doesn't show he is quite attached to his teammates..." Yamato didn't have to continue, even though he understood it. No one wanted to see another Nine Tails night.
"Don't worry about it. I will keep an eye on things." Kakashi said as he took another drink through his mask, in a split second that is. "My summons are not just for show."
"How are they taking the news about me?" Kakashi put his glass down as he asked. "Are they feeling sad? Angry?" Kakashi said changing the topic. Because both of them knew very well that they could only stop Root from meddling by being more active. They were also very sure still the Root shinobis would still be able to get the information they wanted. At the end of the day without the Hokage putting his foot down it was impossible to stop them.
Both of them were also sober enough to know that Third Hokage stopping Danzo Shimura was nothing more than a pipe dream.
"You don't have to worry about them. I told them I would meet them from time to time, and It was enough to calm them down. I also think they understand and didn't question me too much." Yamato had a smile talking about his students.
"It seems I have quite a big pair of shoes to fill. Though I don't plan on going on any mission outside of the village... I think I will just work on their teamwork." Kakashi said. To that Yamato had few things to say.
"I think you should give them tips from time to time. It will help them in their training. Sparing with them will also help you earn their respect far more easily... Though I have to warn you to not let Naruto go all out, he can make things dangerous, very fast." To that, Kakashi had to agree. He read the reports and without any doubt, Naruto Uzumaki was taking great advantage of his abilities.
"Sasuke has calmed down a lot. But his hunger for power is still rising, without visible improvements, he will start to deteriorate. He is also quite protective of his teammates."
"About Sakura... I think she has come far from her previous self. But... Bad habits die hard. You have to make sure she doesn't regress back to her previous full-on fangirl self."
"It seems like they are still the same problematic genins," Kakashi said feeling a little relaxed as he started to think about his new task, which should have been his from the beginning.
*
- Naruto Uzumaki -
"You know you are just too damn lazy. And here I thought genins supposed to learn imitating their superiors." I complain as I lay on the training ground looking at our new Jonin sensei, Kakashi Hatake. Who is also lazily sitting on a tree and reading his favorite book, which I don't even have to introduce.
My weights are heavier than the previous day and so it is making it harder for me to train.
I pick up a leaf and try to channel my chakra through it, trying to enhance it, not that I can see any success. Especially knowing full well Kurama is still making trouble.
It's frustrating sometimes knowing what you can do and how you are getting held back. All my attempts to try and enter the seal in my mindscape are not showing the result I want. However, I am also careful to not let Kurama's chakra out.
"After you reach my level there are few things you have to worry about. And having an Ideal image is not one of them." To that, Kakashi replied with that. He flicked a leaf toward me, which was embedded next to my left ear. He did it like nothing...
I feel my lips twitch at his action. Not that impressive. Without any doubt, Kakashi is one of the strongest elite jonins. But the simple fact of the matter is it is nothing compared to the level I will have to reach to have a carefree attitude like him... Though very likely I will never be able to have a a carefree life like Kakashi.
Even now sometimes I wake up thinking about the monsters I will have to face in the future. I worry how my meddling can and will change the future. But the only way I can comfort myself is by saying that I can do better than my canon self.
I am doing what I can do. Working hard to create a strong foundation, making allies, and gathering information. I can only work for a better future.
Only time will tell how much true it is.
"Well, the rest time is over. Don't be lazy." I look at him a little annoyed. Resting a little is not being lazy.
And here I was thinking about the future and important stuff. Literally, the world's future depends on it.
"Go sneak behind Sasuke. If you can punch him on his back. If you can do that without him noticing today's ramen will be on him." I pause hearing that. "Like hell! It should be your treat, not Sasuke's!"
A good exercise with gains for both of us.
But Kakashi really knows how to get under my skin.
"That will be Sasuke's fault for not noticing you, not mine." I move from my place knowing full well Kakashi is probably smirking behind me.
'But I want to have some ramen.'
*
- Orochimaru -
"Lord Orochimaru, here's the message." Orochimaru didn't even blink at the sudden arrival. However the same couldn't be said about his servant, Kimimaru who tensed up.
How cute like he would need protection from him.
They were in one of his hideouts in Sound Village or Land of Rice Paddies.
"Calm down, Kimimaru. Kabuto is not going to attack me." He looked at Kabuto while hiding his amusement. "Or, will you, Kabuto?"
Much to his amusement Kabuto didn't show any reaction... Other than the increased sweating.
"Why don't you take a walk." It was not a suggestion. Even with all of Kimimaru's loyalty, it was such a shame that he couldn't become his new vessel.
"Yes lord Orochimaru." While Kimimaru went deeper into the hideout, he opened the scroll and started to read through it. As he read he couldn't help but feel excited. In his excitement he couldn't help but release his aura, making Kabuto shiver in fear.
He closed the scroll and stopped leaking his chakra. A glance at Kabuto showed how fast he was back to his calm self.
All that aside.
"Rasa is such a fool. And here I thought of Suna just in case... Things are going far better than what I expected." A little amount of his chakra and the scroll started to burn.
"Kabuto you are doing such a great job. Just keep an eye on Danzo. That old cripple is just too stupid to know his limits." Orochimaru knew how greedy Danzo was. And if Danzo could very likely create problems for him.
"But he is a bigger fool than Rasa." He said with disdain. Even as the enemy of the leaf, Orochimaru knew what Danzo was doing was not only traitorous, it was pure arrogance filled with foolishness.
But deep down he knew it was all his former Sensei's fault.
Things were already going far better than he had planned. Now he had to take a few steps to make sure Hidden Leaf would suffer.
"Well, then get ready. We have a meeting with a Kage. We don't want to keep the Kazekage waiting for us." He said that but he had a lot in his mind.
A day later.
In the land of Sand.A Valley surrounded by small rocky mountains. A perfect place to have a hidden meeting. Especially something like invading another nation.
Orochimaru, Kabuto stood in the meeting place, waiting for the Kazekage to come.
Orochimaru had a smile on his face, while Kabuto was hiding his entire face with his cloak. As for Kimimaru even with his senses Orochimaru couldn't sense him.
'The seals are doing a far better job...' He mused.
"So, how long are you going to keep us waiting? Or the Kazekage is scared of little old me?" He said looking to his left where there were a lot of rocks.
Suddenly those rocks moved as three figures came out. At a single glance, it was possible to see they were Kazekage and two Suna ANBU. Rasa wore his Kazekage's garb only leaving his eyes to be seen, while the Suna ANBU were in their ANBU uniform.
"Trusting a snake to not bite is foolish. Not to mention you are Orochimaru one of the legendary sanin." The Kazekage said as he stood in front, ready for any fight.
Orochimaru felt a little annoyed hearing his title of Sanin, after all, it was a title of shame and defeat. But what amused him more was the fact Rasa was so confident meeting him that there were no other shinobi as far as his summons could tell. Which meant for almost a dozen kilometers no other shinobi was present.
'He is not even that strong. His chakra is far below what I expected...' Orochimaru thought as both of them looked at each other.
"So, now that you are here, does that mean you are willing to join in? Or it's a trap for you to try and catch me... Fair warning that may cost you more than you think." Orochimaru's smile got bigger as the fools didn't even notice. And here he was thinking they may notice. After all, Suna was known for making the best poisons in the world.
'Scentless, colorless, delayed acting poison. It will make chakra control very hard.'
"No, I want to make sure you are not trying to lead us to a trap. After all, there is no guarantee a missing-nin can't help it's village." Rasa said as he looked Orochimaru dead in his eyes.
Orochimaru had to give it to him. Rasa was not just any fool he was one of the dumbest people he ever met, and when you take into account someone like Jiraya you will understand.
Rasa coming to him and talking to him was more than enough to say he was tempted by his offer to invade Leaf village. But now he was acting like he was doing something great.
'My old Sensei and the Cripple can eat him alive. No wonder Sand Village's situation is so bad. He is too rigid and easy to see through, then again nowhere does it say to become a Kage you have to be smart.'
"We need a guarantee that you will not take us into a trap and the details of the entire plan. And after seeing this I will consider the step of our partnership." As Rasa said that Orochimaru's smile got even bigger, making Rasa more alert.
"You are just a disappointment. Good thing I was already prepared for that." He said as he took a step toward them. "Don't worry you will die just like your teacher."
Orochimaru moved as Rasa tried to crush him with gold sand. Snakes jumped out of the sand trying to bite Rasa, who dodged them easily.
On the other hand, Kabuto was nowhere to be seen.
"Is that all you got? No wonder people call you the weakest Kazekage. And not surprisingly the sand villages situation is because of you." Orochimaru was having fun taunting Rasa. He was biding his time for the poison to do its work. There was no need for him to attack seriously. And with that in mind, Orochimaru focused more on evading.
For the next few dozen seconds it was like a game of cat and mouse. Where Rasa only got more and more frustrated not being able to kill his enemy, much to Orochimaru's amusement.
'Use more chakra and make it easier for the poison to take effect.'
"Shut your mouth, traitor! You couldn't even become a Hokage! What do you know about the responsibility of wearing this hat! And what do you know about Third Kazekage's death?" Rasa shouted feeling enraged as he again failed to capture Orochimaru.
To that, Orochimaru's smile turned sadistic. "My isn't this mouse a little too energetic. But then again play time is over. As for the answer..." Orochimaru stopped as the gold sands trying to catch him fell.
"What!? What is happening!?" Rasa on the other hand staggered on his feet, his chakra out of his control. So much so that he couldn't even control gold sand which was instinctual to him.
"What did you do to me? You disgusting Snake!?" Looking at Rasa who could barely stand up Orochimaru gave him a smile.
"You are really a fool. It's poison oh great Kazekage. You can't even tell that. Even my old Sensei who has one leg in the grave can do better than you can do better than you." He laughed. "And you are dying just like your Sensei, when he got ambushed and poisoned by Sasori of red sand."
"No! It can't be! And Sasori killed Third Kazekage!" Orochimaru took great pleasure from Rasa's reaction.
"Tut tut you can meet him and ask when you meet him. Oh, and another thing thanks for making me the Kazekage. Even if it's for a small time." As he said that a fully armored Kimimaru came out of rocks and pierced his bone hand through Rasa's chest. Rasa could only look in shock and bone spikes came out of his chest along with his life essence.
Orochimaru was also very cautious. It was just in case of any traps. After all, he loved his life more than anyone.
"You. Damn. Traitor!" Rasa could only say that before slumping over. And just like that the fourth Kazekage of Sand village Rasa died.
"Good job both of you. Now we are going to Suna." Orochimaru grinned in happiness as Kabuto came back with two bodies of Suna ANBU.
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