Chapter 2

Gathering Forces

To say the last three years had been hectic would be the understatement of a lifetime for one Sasuke Uchiha, formerly Lelouch vi Britannia. In fact, nearing twelve years of age in the body that he inhabited, he could argue that the last three years were filled with nothing but cramming and preparing for the world that he was going to be thrown into once he graduated and became a child soldier, a genin, for the village. While there was something that he found abhorrent in the very concept of child soldiers, he couldn't exactly criticize it without noting that he hadn't exactly been one to adhere to that societal standard himself when he waged his war against Britannia. Still, there was something to be said about how third-world-like it was in convention.

But, that was the deal he had made with the Sandaime Hokage, and if he were to renege on the deal, well...it would not end well.

So, it was a matter of knowledge and practice, both of which he found himself with in plentiful supply since that day. It had taken three months of cramming and questioning the Sandaime before he found it acceptable to join the general populace. In retrospect on that decision, he regretted that choice as he found himself surrounded by people who have easily fit into the nobility of his world, so ready to lickhis sandals just for some type of favor from "The Llast Uchiha", honestly it disgusted nearly to the point of physical ailment.

After that, he had made it a point to avoid anyone that sought favor with him, to where it had brought the wrath of the civilian council down upon him, albeit in a subtle matter. Sadly for them if there was one thing he had over all of them it was the intimate knowledge and breadth of skill in politics that made them small time against him. He merely noted commercial laws that forbade any type of special dispensation or favoritism to any clan outside of contractual agreement. Suffice to say, it was an ugly council that he had left once that was done, though there were still the sporadic attempts up until today to open that door.

To anyone that was observing the conflict, it simply appeared to be the attempt of a young boy to establish authority, and that was fine with Lelouch, let them think what they wanted. In actuality, the entire purpose of the exercise had both been to establish himself, but also provide him with the necessary privacy he needed but would not have gotten otherwise. Too many people being interested in what he was doing and trying to situate themselves in it would only cause him problems in the long run, especially as he got older and worked toward a goal.

Because there was too much on the horizon for him to ignore.

It was a running theory, considering all the the flags that were being raised, but he was fast becoming convinced that he had left one war to be thrown into another one.

Peace always led to stagnation, the longer it lasted, the more relaxed a people became and the less likely they would pay attention to the warning signs, but they were there. The quiet build-up in Kumo, the sudden activity in Kusa, the Wind Daimyo cutting funding to Suna, Iwa hiring out mercenaries for missions, they were all small pieces on a very large puzzle that was only starting to arrange itself, but he knew what he was looking at. He had talked with the Hokage about it, noting how the older man seemed to be aware of the very same things, but the difference was in levels of experience in the world, and what Lelouch took as signs of war, the Sandaime took it as the type of business as usual in the world, even if there was the possibility of war, the signs would be a lot more blatant than the shadows that Lelouch was chasing.

It was ironic, really, the fact that he was going to go from just finishing one war, to be participating in another at the behest of the collective unconscious.

If anything, Lelouch respected the old leader, maybe even admired him a little bit, the man toed that line between benevolent and kindly to the definition of a military dictator that could still wage war when he felt forced to. It was something maybe he wished he could have been if he had the time, or maybe just a different direction in life. He respected the man who had given him a chance.

So, as Lelouch paid more attention to the world at large, he also began his own preparations for making sure he was ready for what was coming. Not because of his job as a shinobi, but as a responsible person. War may happen with the next year, or maybe the next decade, all that mattered was that war was on the horizon in his lifetime.

That meant that he trained. If Suzaku had been here, he would have likely laughed at him. Leave it to death to finally put him in a body that was not a frail toothpick that looked like a gentle breeze could simply knock it down. For vanity's sake, he could believe that maybe his eighteen year old frame could keep up with the body he had now, but he would be deluding himself, considering the body of Sasuke Uchiha could do things that the mere thought of would have caused him to faint in his previous life.

So training it had been, training both in his body, but also exploring in chakra. It had been the Sandaime that had arranged for him to receive private lessons in order to both accustom him to the world of chakra, but also the other detail in his life that he honestly could have lived without considering the ramifications of it.

He hadn't even been aware of it at the time, but in that hospital room, he had an awakened set of Sharingan, a pair of eyes that could do wondrous things if they were wielded right, but caused him to almost feel sick with the idea that he could never truly escape Geass in some manner or form, considering they seemed to have so many abilities that could be contrived as being Geass abilities. The only plus side to this entire ordeal was the fact that he could deactivate them at will instead of depending upon a pair of contacts to prevent accidents from happening, not that he could do the same as what he had done in his previous life.

So, it had been in private sessions with the only other wielder of the Sharingan in Konoha, and from what scant texts he could find in the private archives of the Uchiha clan, that he had learned to wield those magical eyes, not that he would ever admit to be dependent upon them. In fact, he honestly wanted to avoid using them unless he had to, no good could come from a set of eyes that could instantly memorize everything seen, steal jutsus from others, and inflict illusions that could literally fry a mind on a whim. No, there was going to be none of that if he could help it.

"Oi, Sasuke."

He brought his head up from the scrolls he was glancing through to meet cerulean and a wide smile at the only other inhabitant of his home.

Sighing, he shook his head, "What is it you want, Naruto?"

Naruto Uzumaki, someone who reminded him so much of Suzaku, minus the martyr complex, that it was painful. It was still the oddest of relationships, at least in the eyes of the hidden village, people didn't understand at all why the scion of the Uchiha's would dare involve himself with the "demon", but to Lelouch, it was a matter of common human decency.

"What are you doing?"

"Reading some economic reports."

This caused the expressive eleven year old's face to contort into a grimace, obviously not exactly what he wanted to hear from him. But then again, he was eleven, things like economic reports and news would be a foreign concept, even if he was training to be a shinobi and, if his dream had any merit, to one day be Hokage.

"Why?"

Placing down the scroll, he dug deep into his nearly limitless well of patience, something that Naruto, in spite of their friendship, seemed to make him tap into quite a few times.

"Naruto, if you want to be a leader, one thing you will learn is that economics drive the decisions of many things. Like this, for example," he motioned to the scroll he was looking at, "is the latest profitability assessment made by the bank. What this tells me is the plan I have to rent out the compound to outsiders will eventually retire the debt that has been absorbed by me because of the fact that I am the sole remaining Uchiha and therefore required by law to pay it back."

"But what does that do?"

"Let me put it this way. If I didn't do this, then by next year, we would both be homeless."

That processed for the blonde, causing the boys eyes to widen with a small hint of fear. He may be improving in the classroom thanks to his continuous efforts, but there was a long way to go to repair the damage his instructors had inflicted.

Now to use the carrot...

"That aside our personal situation, economic reports can tell you a lot about things. The healthier an economy, the more happy people are and vice versa. If you become Hokage, these reports can be a lifesaver."

It also let him keep himself afloat and slowly build a war chest. He had taken to economic reports like his old chess matches, the money that could be made there based upon investments kept him from having to go to the Council to ask for money from the Uchiha accounts, placing him firmly in their debt. No, he would not dance to their tune.

"So, Naruto, what is it that you want?"

"Well," the blond grinned sheepishly before scratching his neck in embarrassment, "there's nothing to do and I thought that maybe you would spar with me?"

Lelouch glanced to the clock, noting that he had been going over all these scrolls a lot longer than he had expected. If Naruto was looking for something to do it meant that the ball of energy needed some release and he couldn't find an outlet with any of their peers, leaving only him as a last resort.

Sighing, and rolling up the scroll, he realized that there was no getting out of it. It was hard to try and deter an eleven year old from something they wanted to do, especially for someone who was previously relationship deprived like Naruto.

"Alright, I can spare an hour or two."

"You've been in this room for like six hours, ever since you woke up."

"And," he asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

"Just...why can't you do normal stuff?"

"Naruto, do you know what the most powerful asset a shinobi has is?"

"Well, that's obvious, his ninjutsu."

This earned a shake of the head from Lelouch as he reminded himself he was dealing with an eleven year old.

"What?!"

"It's his mind," he stated patiently, "you may be the strongest shinobi in the world, but if you don't have a keen mind to go with it, even a lowly civilian can defeat you with the right instruments. After all, the Yondaime Hokage himself was able to defeat the Kyuubi because he had the ability to think of a way to defeat something that was infinitely stronger than he was."

"Please," Naruto scoffed, "the Yondaime was definitely stronger than that stupid fox."

"Could the Yondaime destroy an entire village with a single attack?"

This caused Naruto to stop, before pouting and muttering a "Shut up".

"I will admit that the Yondaime is one of the strongest, but even his strength could not compared to the Kyuubi. That's why he had to use his mind, which is something every Hokage must have if they are to lead."

"Then I'll become Hokage without having to be sm-OW," the blond snapped, holding his forehead where a small stone smacked into it. His eyes narrowed accusingly at him, where his hand was perfectly positioned after having flicked a pebble at him.

"I never said anything about book smarts, Naruto. I said that you have to have a keen mind, they are two different things. We both know that you can't stand reading or anything intellectual, that's why I tell you to work on thinking on your feet."

"Bastard," Naruto muttered not quite soft enough for Lelouch to not hear it, "can we please go spar?"

"Fine," Lelouch replied, deciding that was enough for today in trying to get prod Naruto on a productive path. Getting to his feet, he made sure to stow the scrolls away before walking out the door, Naruto tagging along.

"No Sharingan this time," this statement drew a smug look from Lelouch in response.

"What did I just tell you about thinking on your feet. The only way you can learn is to continuously experience and adapt."

"Sadist," Naruto groaned, knowing full well that the damn Uchiha was going to kick his ass.

GotD

Lelouch wiped his brow, slowly regaining his breath as he surveyed the scene of destruction around him. Leave it to Naruto to let a "friendly" spar turn into an all-out battle. Of course, he hadn't exactly tried to stop Naruto from escalating, but he needed to get out a bit considering the last week had been spent in between academy, meetings, and his own studies that he had not been able to work out.

Still, his eyes trailed to the blond who was laying on his back, fighting to regain his breath, it worked out for both of them real well. Naruto could only really go all out when it was with him, so much so had his ability improved since he had taken him in that he outpaced many of his peers.

"You," Naruto breathed, "are a bastard, have I told you that?"

"You do it at least four times a day," was the flippant response, causing the blond to actually let out a chuckle, which in turn caused him to smile at the lighthearted moment.

"I hate your eyes, stupid magical pink eyes."

This drew a laugh from Lelouch as he flopped down beside the boy, sprawling out as he looked up at the sky that was turning to dusk.

"And if I didn't give you my best, what would you do?"

"I'd kick your ass."

"Precisely. Stop being a sore loser."

"Start being humble, not like I have your special eyes or anything."

No, you have something else entirely, Lelouch thought to himself, rubbing his cheek from where a bruise was forming. The last few rounds they had gone, Naruto had adapted to the point where he had nearly been on the defensive, even with the Sharingan. It was scary at how much of a kinesthetic learner the blond boy was. Give him a few more years and that gap in which he adapted would be terrifying for any enemy that dared face him down.

Just as he was about to compliment Naruto, he felt a very faint presence at the edge of his senses, which caused him to sigh as he knew exactly what it was.

"Hey, Naruto," he said as he slowly got himself up to a seated position and reached into one of his pockets and pulled out his wallet, extracting some ryo notes, "go and get some Ichiraku's, my treat."

Naruto immediately perked up and snatched the money out of his hand while letting out a cry of jubilation.

"'Bout time you paid for something good," Naruto declared, even as he ignored the jab given by the blond. He then watched as the boy quickly got up and started running off, thinking about all of the ramen he could eat with the money he had just been given. As soon as Naruto was gone, Lelouch forced himself to his feet and dusted himself off.

"Yes."

As if on command, an ANBU jumped down beside him.

"The Hokage requests your presence," the cat-masked ANBU said.

"Do I have a moment to clean up," he asked, motioning to his clothes that were roughed up, with a few tears here and there.

"No."

"Alright then, let's go."

With that, the female ANBU placed her hand on his shoulder and he felt the wind on his body from the Shunshin and then they were in front of the Hokage's building. He didn't wait a moment as he began his march up, followed closely by the ANBU member. To any observer, this would simply be a meeting with the last Uchiha and the Sandaime that took place quite so often, which was the overall intention of it. But for Lelouch, there was always something that needed to be achieved in these meetings and for him, but the suddenness of the Sandaime requesting his presence was something else entirely. There was a part of him hoping that the reason for this was because of the idea he had been tinkering with for the last years with some assistance.

Knocking on the door, he waited for the Hokage to request his presence in the room before he stepped in, Cat following him before moving back to her position as the Hokage's bodyguard.

"Please, Sasuke, take a seat," he motioned to the chair after a few moments of regarding his disheveled appearance, a knowing smile on his face letting him know that the Sandaime was perfectly aware of what had gone on before his arrival.

"You wished to see me?"

"Yes. You had brought up a very interesting idea and I felt that it would be nice to have a second perspective on it," he then motioned to the the window where it was now that Lelouch noted that there was a man with a white mane of hair, along with several other details that immediately alerted him to whom it was. Of course, you would have to be an idiot to not recognize one of the Sannin.

"Allow me to introduce Jiraiya of the Sannin."