Title: Art of Conflict (Inspired by a VNV Nation song)

Full Summary: In a futuristic alternate reality, Teams from all over strive to gather a precious mineral called Magnite to keep their business and homes running on power. Which leads to constant conflict of who can get what first between nations. With the currently failing economy, Androids are taking jobs and the people are not happy about this. But there is much more to worry about, a power that will soon engulf all and make them forget why they rose up from the ravages of war all those years ago is heading straight for them.

Main Cast: Sakura, Sai, Ino, Sasuke, Hidan, Itachi, Kakashi, First and Second Hokage.

Secondary Cast: Deidara, Sasori, Hinata, Neji, Pein, Konan, Kurenai, Kisame and many others.

Pairings: I'd say there are pairings but I'm just going to go with the flow on this. Sai/Sakura and Sasuke/Ino are a strong possibility, well as a few others.

Author's note: In order to get better at writing, one must actually force themselves to write, right? I don't claim to be spectacular, so all I can do is hope I'm writing something interesting and people will like it. It's more about fun than being accurate for me, anyway. I do welcome constructive criticism; flames will be automatically deflected with my imaginary kunai knives.

Disclaimer: I can't believe I forgot this, but here is a lovely disclaimer. I unfortunately, do not own Naruto.

ACT I

Before The Fire

City overlights drifted through blind-less bay windows, casting an ethereal presence about the magnificent office, double red scrolls marked with black kanji relating the words 'People, Power, Wisdom' sat on each side of a luxuriant black leather chair only a few meters from the walls they hung. On a rectangular desk made of deep mahogany were neatly placed folders, pen holders, and documented reports, for the most part the room was designed with a passionate and rich leader in mind. The only thing about the room that held a humble warmth was a picture in the further corner of the desk - a smiling yellow haired child in pigtails and a beautiful woman that could only be her mother overlooking a lush mountain side. Which was more rare than the beauty of the females in the photo for this world.

Hashirama Senju, Burgeon Minister, contemplated silently in his chair looking out the window where down below the bustling city thrived, or was it simply that people were more restless as of late? They had good reason to be, he was assured by his brother. They were scared the new law in support of Android workers would take away jobs from an already hurting economy but he would reassure them that every business owner and place would need the working minds of real humans still. In these thoughts he knew it had been a week since Kabuto had last reported to him about another assembly line having been finished, the silver haired genius was put in charge of overlooking the project from the start. It had been his own hand raised in the meeting three months ago, eager to grasp the chance at creating something other than Scout Droids and Hashirama wouldn't have any other way. Though he was liable toward slacking on reports, Kabuto was the most improved from the youth full of promise back in their day, none of his creations malfunctioned and were always the very best of what you could ensure the safety of faction teams. It was not any different with his Worker Droids.

There was a light knock on the door that he ignored for a moment, allowing himself to taste the afterthought and turn around. "Yes?"

"It's Tobi, Hashi," Came the muffled voice of his younger brother, Tobirama.

"Why are you knocking? You have as much right as any to barge in here," Hashirama said, bemused by his brother's constant action. It never ceased to amaze him how polite he strived to be.

Tobirama walked inside, smiling, the corners of his mouth crinkling... "It would be rude, brother."

Hashirama closed his eyes. "Family never needs to knock. Anyway, what have you come to tell me?"

"Have you gotten today's mineral reports?" Planting himself on a clear edge of Hashi's desk, Tobi's smiling expression turned a bit sour.

"No, but I have them... is there something I should be worried about?" Hashirama arched his brow.

Tobi threw a thick stack of papers in front of his brother. "Well, not yet... but you should hold a meeting with the Mineral Faction. More and more teams are quitting due to low pay wages and the ones who stay on board aren't as good as the ones who keep quitting."

Taking the stacks, Hashirama showed no reaction leafing through them. "What are these?"

"Resignation forms from Madara. He thought you should look them over before deciding anything..."

"What does he want /me/ to do with them, exactly?" Hashirama continued to leaf, shaking his head.

"You are the only one can refuse to allow someone to quit. It's your order against his in this situation and he'd much prefer some of them not take leave," Tobi shrugged.

"This is true... but I believe in freedom of choice here. I won't be like Gatou of Hoyle...," Hashirama paused, shaking his head, noticing red marks that indicated worthy people of mention.

"No, you're not Gatou."

"But I'll consider passing through higher wages to those he thinks make a valuable asset in order to keep them. It'll still be their choice, however."

"He'll be glad to hear that. He feared the Faction would be short-handed and we'd need to pass through some inexperienced kids to get things done."

"That wouldn't be wise, no matter what the decision. Hm, even his own nephew is considering resignation." Picking up a pen he started remarking the files.

Tobirama chuckled. "Yes, he definitely doesn't want to let him go."

xxx

"Sassssssukkke!" Ino Yakanama yelled throughout the facility garage, cupping a hand over her mouth. "Yoohoo. I know you're in here. Sakura already sold you and the boys out for a couple hairpins." She searched the large chrome area, looking under vehicles and broken down extractors with no luck. Hands on her hips, she gave the area one last long survey and started back toward the entrance with a wave of her hand and an exasperated sigh as a blonde blur popped up behind her tapping her on the shoulder. "Hey!"

Ino jumped, turning on the young man in an instant, poking him in the chest, hard. "Don't do that, Naruto. I could've knocked you three ways till Sunday!"

"Ouch! That hurts," Naruto whined, cowering mildly from her hostile reaction.

"You deserved it," Ino stated defiantly, crossing her arms. "So, why are you guys hiding out here, huh?"

Naruto rubbed at his chest, looking sheepish. "We're not hiding... we're working on the extractor. Hidan said it sounded like it was ready to blow a gasket."

"It did sound pretty funny yesterday," She remarked. "But, not funny enough to warrant Commander Itachi and Kakashi-Taichou searching the whole friggin' building for ya with no results. You guys are hiding, admit it!"

Naruto grumbled, shrugging. "Honestly, we're not! Promise, what's going on, anyway?"

"I'm not sure... Kakashi-Taichou said it was important. Something about a possible late night mission."

"Aw, man. I bet it has something to do with everyone quitting lately."

The hush sound of an automatic door opened as Sasuke stepped out behind Naruto. "Already heard about it. It's likely the quota hasn't been reached for this week."

"Sasuke!" Ino exclaimed happily, rushing over to him to grasp his arm. "I've been looking for you allll day. Remember that promise you made me?"

Sasuke looked uncomfortable for all it was worth but didn't budge from her hold, Naruto tried to suppress a chuckle at his expense but it escaped and the Uchiha was throwing dark daggers his way.

"Your priorities are seriously misguided," Hidan scowled, rolling his eyes in the light blonde's direction as he came out behind Sasuke.

"Shut up, weirdo. No one asked you," Ino mouthed off, glaring at him.

"No, but I'm talking aren't I?" Hidan scoffed, wiping off oil and sweat from his hands with a dirty rag.

"Can we get back to business? Whatever they need us for is probably more important than arguing," Sasuke reasoned, lightly extracting himself from Ino's arm.

Looking dejected, Ino had to admit he was right. "Yeah, Itachi is really mad."

Naruto shuddered. "That scary silence thing he does?"

"That scary silence thing," Ino shuddered in turn.

"Seriously not in the mood to deal with that," Hidan said walking toward the entrance exit.

Walking after Hidan, Sasuke didn't care. He dealt with his brother enough to know how far he could push his limits.

xxx

The dim lighting cast over the darkened cafeteria shone on the surface of the silver lunch tables, the cafeteria workers closing up for the night as a young woman in a mid-thigh red dress sat down in front of one of those tables, wiping perspiration off her cheek. There was mostly silence in the Faction Facility, most groups had gone on home to turn in for the night but Sakura found herself sipping on an iced tea, attempting to combat the heat. Due to recent cutbacks and loss of members, there had been a restriction order on the air conditioners seeing as if anyone knew the importance of mineral energy it would be those that worked hard to find it and keep supplying the city. Sakura didn't agree with this at all, finding herself overheated and forehead touching the only cool thing in the room. The back of her metal chair. It was so incredibly unfair the way they had to suffer for it.

Of course, she didn't admit this out-loud to Kakashi-Taichou, seeing as he wouldn't really care and would say something about today's youth not knowing the value of a little pain. But there was another reason besides sipping on sweet tea that the pink-haired medic was stuck here. Those cut-back and member losses were making things difficult for teams that decided to stay; she figured it out that there would be lengthy lectures of no days off this week. Kakashi had already flattered her in a non-plussesdstyle that Team 77 was one of the best fterall and it only meant they'd be recognized for sticking it out. "You don't have to sit in a hot desert looking for the stuff." She mumbled out-loud, listening for approaching footsteps as one bundle of energy rushed in grinning at her.

"Sakura! I knew I'd find you here," Naruto said, taking a seat across for her, he reached out and snatched the tea from her hands.

"That's mine, doofus," Sakura exclaimed, reaching out to grab it back from him.

"Mm, this is great!" Naruto said through a sip.

Annoyed, Sakura snatched it back from him, holding it to her chest. "You could have at least asked first."

Naruto continued to grin; unaware that she was contemplating torture. "It was worth it. Maybe the lunch ladies will let me grab one real quick."

She made a face examining the straw where driblets of his drool resided, handing it out. "No, don't bother them. Just take it; you demolished it with your germs. Did you run into Ino?"

Naruto was too happy to oblige. "Yeah, Kakashi and Itachi are coming this way. Everyone will be here in a second."

Sakura looked around then leaned in, looking nosy. "Is she, uh, still trying to get Sasuke to go on a date with her?"

Naruto snorted through his straw. "Don't you know it, girl never gives up. You'd think she'd get the point by now."

/I certainly did.../ "Ino's as stubborn and deaf as a blind bull. He'll probably put her down hard at some point." Though Sakura had given up on the Uchiha train a long time ago, she couldn't help but feel a tad bit of jealousy that Sasuke seemed to be responding more to her blue-eyed friend as of late than he ever did to her. She had a feeling Ino getting put down was as likely as Sasuke not liking tomatoes anymore.

"I don't know... she could get through to him this time," Naruto observed, watching as Ino and Sasuke walked in with her clinging to him like usual. He seemed at ease until he saw them and decidingly tensed up.

Sakura turned to watch, mentally sighing. /What's she got that I don't? /

"But, but, hey! What about you and me, Sakura? We could go on a date this Saturday night... take in a movie, get to know each other a little more over some ramen," Naruto tried easing his way into this for the umpteenth time this month.

Sakura shook her head. "No way, you'd just try to eat my share again like last time!"

Naruto laughed, rubbing his stomach. "What can I say? I'm a growing boy."

"Growing fetus more like it," Sakura shot back at him, smiling. "But we'll see. Long as this lecture doesn't turn into slave-driving us Tsunade-Sama style." Though Naruto was half-heartedly serious about them getting 'together', him and her both knew it would never happen.

"And what are you two talking about?" Ino chimed in, taking a seat next to the quiet Sasuke. No longer holding onto him.

"Sakura said we'd go on a date!" Naruto told her proudly, guzzling down the rest of his tea.

"A play-date more like," Sakura chided him, holding up a single finger and Naruto deflated with rounded shoulders.

Ino had a smug look on her face, but before she could answer them, more footsteps approached. The group looked over to see Hidan, Kakashi and Itachi walk in the room. Three backs straightened, minus Sasuke, and Hidan slid a chair over to straddle where they sat.

"Oh, you found some time to spare it seems," Kakashi said, smiling what Sakura saw as falsely. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, it wasn't like Ino and her hadn't been present when they came looking for them.

"I told you, it was the extractor," Hidan protested, averting his eyes from Itachi's piercing gaze.

Kakashi ignored him, turning toward Itachi. "You want to explain or should I?"

Itachi flicked his head gently.

"Alright," Kakashi said, drawing himself up straight as he slid his hands in his pockets. "I don't need to tell you what's been going on lately, so with the way things are... you'll be taking double shifts for the next month."

Sakura bit back the urge to protest this sudden change of plans, but no one else did as a series of groans and mumbles followed. It was bad enough with the sudden heat wave that decided to hit all of Burgeon; they didn't need to be stuck in a desert looking for minerals back to back. How the heck was this even going to work? "I know, it seems like a lot of work but we decided it'd be much easier than taking your days off from you. It'll unfortunately be this way until some of the newer students have passed graduation next month. If they succeed in showing that they're efficient in doing their job, things will go back to a regular schedule."

Sakura raised her hand.

"Sakura, you don't need raise your hand. If you have something to say, just say it," Kakashi chastised.

"How is this going to work? Are we talking morning and night?"," Sakura failed in hiding the fact that this news disappointed her, with a new apartment after deflecting from her parents. She had intended to decorate during the weekdays. The weekends were for relaxing, and a stressed Sakura, was not a happy one.

"Well, were thinking more like morning and afternoon so you still have some downtime."

"That's murder, Kakashi-Taichou!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing at him in an absurd manner. "There's no way we can crunch out that much mineral."

"A little murder never hurt anyone," he brushed off. Typical.

Sasuke's interest piqued, taking a more profound interest the silver haired leader. "Does it include more pay?" That too grabbed everyone's attention.

"Yes, orders from Madara. Anyone willing to work these extra shifts will be paid double for their overtime. Are we in agreement?"

Sakura looked at her teammates for their own approval; it was evident that everyone could use a little extra money in times like these. She couldn't help mentally planning out what she could do with a month of double salary.

"Then I'm in," Sasuke agreed, looking a bit calmer. Though the younger Uchiha was private, it was easy to see an uneasy tension between them and he was likely looking for independence from his brother.

"Me too!" Naruto resounded; it was obvious everyone else agreed. "But hey... does that mean we have spend more time with... that thing?"

Sakura looked to Naruto. "Of course, silly. We need him for three more missions... then after that we won't need him anymore."

Kakashi cleared his throat. "Actually, about that... Sasuke's reports indicate that you're not entirely up to par on scouting out materials without the use of your Scout Droid, unless you can prove you don't need him - he'll be staying with you for as long as it takes."

Naruto involuntarily shuddered. "Argh, but it creeps us out. It doesn't talk, it doesn't eat, and it moves lik-"

"Like a robot? That's what it is dummy!" Ino scolded him, Sakura had to admit it seemed pretty silly considering in this day and age Androids were used everywhere especially in faction groups. "Besides, it's not that bad... at least it doesn't yell every five minutes trying to impress grains of sand."

"Well, I was going to say like a thing but take that back!" Naruto pointed at her, feigning hurt. "The sand doesn't need to be impressed by my greatness. It just knows."

Ino smiled fondly at the blonde, shaking her head. "You're such a dweeb."

"Still, You have no choice until you can prove otherwise that you don't need it," Kakashi stated firmly, giving Naruto a pointed look.

"Oh, alright," The spiky haired blonde resigned. "But keep it faaar away from me. Everytime it stares I feel like it's trying to suck out my soul."

"It seriously does, damn thing," Hidan stepped in, quickly changing the subject. "Anyway, is that all Itachi-Taichou?"

Itachi, who had remained quiet during the explanation, addressed Hidan calmly. "No, another thing you need to know is vitally important. Lately there have been more Hoyle teams dipping in the land we usually extract from, that means fighting might occur this time. I trust you've been keeping up on your training even when I don't instigate it?"

"You don't need to tell us when to train," Sasuke said, looking him directly in the eye.

Itachi regarded him coolly. "But do you? Is what I'm asking. It's a simple question, Sasuke."

A flicker of emotion that could have been disdain passed over Sasuke's face then disappeared all too quickly. "Yes. I ensure it.

"Good. Meeting Adjourned," Itachi stated, walking out of the cafeteria.

Kakashi stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I don't need to ask the same of you three do I?"

"Nope, been training everyday. Why I make sure to see how many brain cells Sakura loses during the course of sparring!" Ino said charmingly, grinning at Sakura whose eye visibly twitched.

Sakura turned away; deciding the time to have a little clash with Ino could come later. "Isn't it kind of moot point for you both to address us differently? Isn't the point of teams to be seen as a whole once put together?"

"You do have a point but Itachi and I have differing opinions on what training is. Anyway, since you're used to afternoon shifts you'll need to report here tomorrow morning around eight. Don't be late," Kakashi responded.

"You're one to talk," Hidan scoffed, shaking his head.

"Yes, well, I'll be leaving now. See you kids later," Kakashi waved, walking out of the room casually.

"This is going to be really rough," Sakura sighed, laying her head down on the table. It wasn't like there was tension in the air as it was, oh no, so the last thing they needed was more work slapped down on the table.