Price of Power

Chapter 1

Price of Power

-scene break-

Disclaimer: I lay no claim to Naruto as a series, as a character, or in any other fashion. This is an entirely non profit work of creative expression done entirely for the sake of aforementioned expression. This work of fiction is fanfiction, and is being hosted on .

-Story Begin-

The land of Fire was legendary for many things, its prosperity drew it the envy of many rivals. In this era the safety of a land rested foremost on the shinobi that could be employed. Hi no Kuni was blessed in this aspect as well for its prosperity in commerce was protected by one of the five great shinobi villages. This village was known as Konoha, the village of the hidden leaf.

Konoha was famous. It was one of five great ninja villages. Its shinobi were legendary for their skill in battle. The shinobi of Konoha were legendary for their heritage. The shinobi of the hidden village in the leaf were legendary for its fortune in its many geniuses. It was one such genius who was nearly on the verge of breakdown

From an objective standpoint the Sannin, one of the as the name would imply three ninjas who had studied as Sarutobi Hiruzen's students, knew he should be sleeping. Orochimaru simply did not care. He neither wanted nor cared about sleep at the moment. His teacher was the great Third Hokage. The title Hokage was one that meant Fire Shadow, the one who had that title ruled Konoha. It was a position that the snake sage coveted now more than ever.

Of course there were other things Orochimaru desired. He was so tired though, the recent conflicts were of course. The sannin stumbled fumbling and hitting the side of his desk knocking his carefully organized notebooks and charts aside.

The world was in chaos. In a way he knew objectively that all of this could be laid at the feet of the formation of organized, powerful ninja villages. Originally ninjas had been organized into clans, and less commonly guilds. Some of these had been nomadic, wandering through the lands, others had lived in mountains, or valleys fairly stable, still others had had the blessing of living in cities. The foundations of the first truly powerful ninja villages had abruptly changed the status quo that had existed.

Since the foundation of the shinobi villages individual national power waned. It was that waning power that was responsible for this the third great shinobi war that was on going... this chaos that turned the whole world into a battlefield.

Oh Orochimaru didn't mind the killing, or the destruction. There were very few people Orochimaru didn't want to see die. Amongst that number were first and foremost his teacher, and his team mates the other sannin, and his own students, and then a handful of other people. It wasn't much of a list, but it was his list.

This, the third great Shinobi war was merely the culmination of the increasing power of individual shinobi villages, and the weakening of centralized national powers. The daimyos, the great lords who ruled the lands, no longer had the raw power or influence to control the many lesser provinces. It lead to this war.

Orochimaru cursed pushing his tired body up, and settled into the chair behind his desk cursing, and rambling on about all his failures, imagined and real. His body occasionally giving a spasm form lack of sleep.

Slowly the exhausted reached to pick up some of the scattered paperwork, he hadn't genin team since the usual meeting earlier in the week, but the examinations well... Orochimaru was very pleased with his team. Originally he hadn't even wanted to bother taking a team, but Sarutobi had gone an insisted. Then there was the fact that there was a war on. Personally he thought he would have been more useful in the service of the ANBU, since the Sannin were needed individually, but orders were orders. Still he had a genin team, and his idiot teammate had a genin... in fact Tsunande was the only one who had taken on a team... but she was busy at the hospital.

Slowly he looked at the picture, the team picture that had been something of tradition when a genin team was formed. His students were oddballs, even Jiraya had said so, but they were his. He muttered aggravated, his stress levels being atrociously high and his body dangerously being deprived of sleep for so many days on end. There was a mission scroll from a division within the ANBU.

He wouldn't be able to bring his team along, but it was for the good of the village, and that was always what Sarutobi-sensei was harping on about. Sarutobi who needed a successor, and in Orochimaru's mind who better than himself after all. He just needed to further demonstrate that he was the best candidate for the job.

A dangerous mission far behind enemy lines, and into their hidden village in the very hear of the land of stone to eliminate a dangerous threat to Konoha. A threat the ANBU couldn't handle but he a Sannin would have no problem with. That would show Sarutobi he was willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the village, and he'd still make it back in time to train his genin team once they were all cleared to return to duty.

He'd show Sarutobi. He was after all Orochimaru, favorite of Konoha, most knowledgeable of the three Legendary Sages of Konoha, the Snake sannin, and all countless other titles. A simple mission like this would be no problem for his skills he told himself, and it would help cement his ascension as the next hokage... whenever Sarutobi felt like giving up the job, Orochimaru was in no rush there was a war to win after all. "Oh and damn it all I have to clean up this mess." Orochimaru slowly went about picking up the files.

Orochimaru ended up taking the mission to Iwagakure in the height of the third great shinobi war. It proved a nearly fatal mistake for all parties involved in it. Shimura Danzo, a student of the second Hokage, and the leader of the ruthless ANBU division known as the Root had orchestrated the mission in secret. The mission that nearly got Orochimaru killed.

Orochimaru made it back to Konoha, badly injured, but still capable of fighting. Once in the capable care of his teammate Tsunande he was back in full fighting form within a week. The battle though had greatly shaken the snake sage's confidence. He still wanted to be the best, and succeed Sarutobi, but he did step back and start training his genin team a little more seriously, even going so far as to try and better acquaint them with his teammate's own students.

In the end the third great shinobi war ended, and Sarutobi did name a successor to his position as Hokage. If not for the fact that Orochimaru had been shaken by the mission to Iwagakure, and the after effects he might have begrudged Minato's ascension to the position of Yondaime Hokage. Instead Orochimaru had other things that he had to deal with.

In the wake of the war, and then the Kyubi attack soon afterwords Konoha was badly depleted of manpower. It was a stark reminder of mortality.

-scene break-

The Yondaime Hokage had not ruled long. So Orochimaru had not had time to sulk for long. The chaos and destruction the bijuu attack had brought forced him to focus on other things as well. Minato had had a genin team as well, and a son too. Successors both in technique and heritage.

Orochimaru decided then and there as he overlooked the village that was so precious to his teacher that he needed a a proper successor to fulfill his dreams. To master the ninja arts, to become Hokage, to become immortal, and become as a god. Konoha definitely could also make do with a second Snake Sage.

The problem was to find some one who could surpass him if I did fail. Konoha was legendary for prodigiously talented shinobi, but for one to Orochimaru's heir... oh dear that would be hard. Orochimaru had a very low opinion of the conceited clans, and their children. They could be powerful ninja, yes, but they lacked the vision.

The answer Orochimaru realized was simplicity itself. He already had the ideal candidate after all Minato had already prepared him for the roll. After all the fourth hokage was dead, and Orochimaru wasn't, and the kid was Sarutobi's favorite. That was like perfect karma to be Orochimaru's student... not that Orochimaru cared about silly notions like karma, but it would let him one up that Shimura bastard.

Even though it had been a few years he hadn't forgotten about that botched mission to the land of stone. One day Shimura Danzo would pay for the Sage's near demise, but that day would a long time coming. Today though Orochimaru had other work to do, it would be years before 'Naruto' could begin ninja training the boy couldn't even walk yet, which gave him time to prepare.

Even with his research expenditures, which was hideously expensive even when they were partially subsidized by Konoha, which wasn't always the case, Orochimaru would never be hurting for money. He was after all the only Sannin in the Village after the attack by the nine tailed fox, and one more legendary ninja meant more money coming into the village. He would however have to go to the bank.

Orochimaru looked out over the village hidden in the leaves, he had a few years to prepare for training. It was too much to hope for that that two year old could read already, which was unfortunate... really it wasn't fair at all that he couldn't start training the kid for another few years.

Two years after the Kyubi attack Orochimaru began laying the groundwork for his next great plan. His genin team had already been promoted, in battle as he had preferred it. His students were now Chunin, and special jonin. His student Mitarashi Anko, to whom he had allowed to sign the snake summoning contract, had even joined the ANBU. This had been much to Orochimaru's liking.

For everyone else Orochimaru's plans were generally bad news. The downside to the sannin were that all of them tended to be prima donna ninjas. The only one who really had the ability to reign them in were each other, and Sarutobi. It was true that all of Konoha respected them, but the the legendary ninjas had another reputation as well specifically for getting what they wanted.

-scene break-

Naruto Uzumaki had been four when he'd started learning how to write, and he had been four when he'd gotten his own apartment. It had also been the age when Orochimaru had started taking a much more vested interest. Vested interest in this case meant sending one of his former genin to start teaching Naruto how to read and write, and math.

Before Naruto was four Orochimaru hadn't really done much, because he could do much about training. It wasn't noticed at this point though, in fact the Hokage only noticed when Orochimaru himself started teaching Naruto how to use chakra to walk up walls, and Naruto had been so happy he'd shown Sarutobi.

Sarutobi had not been pleased at the 'sudden' interest... and neither had Jiraya when he found out a year later. Orochimaru's initial efforts were getting the kid exposed to science and math, and basically coopting his former students to play ninja and tutor the kid while Orochimaru did his own thing. After all he was a legendary ninja teaching a child to read was not his job. It was also the reason

So at age seven Naruto was dressed pretty much normally in civilian clothes, or as civilian as ninja off duty clothes. Today had been a pretty average day all things considered. The academy had been boring, but that was about as surprising as summer being hot in the land of fire. Orochimaru was off somewhere, some mission most likely, which left Naruto stuck with a boring scroll with things to work over. It was mainly chakra control stuff.

Even if it was boring, it was still better than the crap at the academy. Academy lessons to quote Anko 'were eight hours straight of filtered bullshit with a lunch break'. Naruto slung off his orange sports jacket.

His apartment was made to seem all the tinier by the shelves, and boxes that filled up the walls, and under the counter. He had been living here for three years, and he was relatively comfortable here. It certainly beat the orphanage. The problem with it was that people who could sneak in tended to do so whenever they felt like it.

In this case the people who could sneak in were ninjas like Anko, or the Hokage or Orochimaru... or as the case at present was Hatake Kakashi. "Yo." The one eyed ninja greeted from his position as he leaned back reading his book. Kakashi had also not taken Naruto being trained by Orochimaru well. In fact they were pretty much the same reasons that Jiraya objected to the training. Kakashi wanted to be Naruto's jonin instructor, which would be difficult if the Orochimaru took a genin team. Of course that wasn't why he was here.

He had been carefully monitoring Naruto's academy progress... and he was going to bunch Orochimaru in the face for teaching Naruto the earth clone, or he would if he thought he could actually hit the sannin.

Now the problem was Kakashi thought a hands off approach was probably the best way to start a ninja off... Orochimaru pretty much went the opposite direction. It made it a little hard to compete, even if the opposite direction was more focused on book learning than flashy ninjutsu, especially when the competition was an even more legendary ninja, and there was still ninjutsu to be learned. It also didn't help of course Orochimaru had three head start teaching Naruto.

"Kakashi stop raiding my fridge," Naruto complained.

Now Kakashi might have felt bad, Naruto being an orphan and all meant he lived off of welfare and food support coupons, except Naruto wasn't dependent on those. On top of the orphan's stipend, Naruto was generally getting paid for a d rank mission every weekend. The Hokage tended to look the other way since it was one of the legal gray areas, and the mission was basically yard work in the company of another genin team... also Kakashi did replace the food he ate, since it tended to be his food in the first place.

Naruto's window opened again, and Anko popped in, "Oi you back to headquarters," She growled. That stupid one eye knew there was briefing in ten minutes, but no here he was messing with Naruto's training.

The blonde sighed... no respect for privacy. Just because they lived in a ninja village didn't excuse them barging into his apartment all the time. At one point he had put explosive tags on his latch, naturally in hindsight that was a tremendously stupid idea. The old man had been worried about him accidentally blowing something up, either himself, or some hapless idiot. Naturally Orochimaru had taken the opposite stance, and that had just gone and gotten them both further in trouble.

Kakashi grumbled and left with Anko, leaving the blonde to his homework, and individual practice assignments. Naruto groanedHe wouldn't have minded the academy if the classes weren't so boring. Orochimaru's successor that was him... but there was a price to power. Part of that price was studying, lots and lots of studying.

There was a knock on the door, and still grumbling the blonde let Kabuto in. Kabuto was a Konoha genin, even though from a skill set he was more suited to being a chunin. He also served as Naruto's principle tutor since he was after all just a 'genin'... he even got a regular d rank pay check for the tutoring, which was worth it... Kabuto couldn't stand having to do menial labor. Kabuto was an ideal pick for tutoring also, given his had Orochimaru's absolute trust, given both of them wanted Shimura Danzo's head on a platter. "So I guess Anko just left, eh Naruto-kun. Anyway its biology time," Kabuto dropped a human anatomy text on the table. At sixteen Kabuto was already a medical genius, easily better at anything in the field than his stepfather; who was the head doctor at Konoha's primary care facility. His talent was unrivaled in his generation, and only Tsunande had more raw natural talent.

Naruto had to learn all of this for a very important reason. Orochimaru's research involved a great deal of biology. His, Orochimaru's, studies of kekai genkai revolved had been revolutionary to the study of genetics. If Naruto was going to understand how revolutionary Orochimaru's work was he needed a firm background in the sciences as well as the more common ninja arts.

-scene break-

Naruto would be turning eight in the fall, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, was nearly at his wits end. If he had had the time he would have just taken to training Naruto himself just so he could put an end to this petty squabbling between his two students. Alas he didn't have time to train Naruto, running the village occupied most of his time.

As if Jiraya, who shouldn't even have been complaining because he wasn't even in the village in the first place, and Orochimaru complaining wasn't enough of an issue he had Danzo and Kakashi complaining to. Sarutobi had put his foot down when Orochimaru had asked if Naruto could take the graduation test early. As if to sandbag him Danzo had jumped in wanting again to add Naruto to the Shinobi corp as well, and Kakashi had immediately jumped in wanting to be Naruto's genin instructor. Kakashi had never even had a genin team. On top of this there were any number of other problems going around both internally within the village, which ranged from the mundane to potentially deadly issues, and external issues with the various other nations, and villages... the hidden village of Kumo in particular came to mind most especially. Still the issue for the moment was Naruto. "Now Naruto, I'm aware that bandit hunting is something considered especially normal amongst shinobi, but for your own safety, especially Orochimaru isn't allowed to conduct any more of these practical lessons outside of the village from now on."
The blonde nodded, there was an already healing cut across his temple. Kabuto had apparently had to shave Naruto's head in the field, apparently it had been seriously matted with enemy blood... which the Sandaime wasn't pleased about at all, "I understand, old man," he responded, damn his head hurt. He had been way to close to the explosive tag when he'd triggered it.

Sarutobi sighed, he wasn't sure how much longer he could realistically deny Naruto the graduation test. It was true that unlike even four years ago that Konoha needed all the skilled able bodied shinobi it could get. Even with the trouble in Hidden Mist, and the problems that Konoha was having Kumo there was no reason to rush educating new gening. Except in this case they weren't rushing, Naruto had the benefit of a half dozen off and on teachers outside of the academy itself. Kakashi just happened to be the odd man out of Orochimaru's little clique of students, and associates.

It was also Kakashi's reports that Sarutobi was reviewing. Well his evaluations, and one of the chunin instructors at the academy. That wasn't what was worrying him, "Now Naruto the doctor said you were experiencing some light sensitivity so I'm going to agree with him, and you're to take the next week off."
"But old man the exam is next week, I'm ready," Naruto declared emphatically, "I can totally breeze through that I've got the basics jutsu down," which wasn't entirely true since he couldn't pull the illusionary clone technique, but his tsuchi bunshin was plenty good, and well so was his kage bunshin.

The Hokage knew all about that too, he had really not been happy with Orochimaru teaching Naruto that particular kinjutsu, but it was bridge under the water now. "And you've just survived a battle with bandits, and your light sensitivity may be indicative of potential complications, so you will have to miss it."

"Kabuto-"
"Is not a fully fledged member of the medical community of Konoha," Yet, it was a small trivial bit of paperwork and Kabuto could very well strut around as Doctor Yakushi Kabuto if he wanted, but the Hokage wasn't going to broach that matter. Orochimaru looked as if he wanted to interject, "Quiet," Sarutobi grunted at his wayward trouble causing student, "this is your fault to begin with, and I have given you plenty of leeway with teach Naruto while he's been attenting the academy but there will not be any more of these bandit killing trips, if this was war time you might have a good reason for this."

The snake sage nodded, grudingly conceding to the Hokage's orders. He personally thought it was best that genin should have plenty experience, even if Konoha thought it was best to wait until making chunin before making one's first kill. Still at least the old man was assuming the light sensitivity was from the explosion, luckily he expected the pain to fade soon.

The hokage dismissed them and then started reading Orochimaru's report on the bandit killing. It had been by his order that the bandits were to be killed.

All through out the land bandits were regarded as the worst kind of scum, even by Shinobi and Ronin who were little more than hired swords. A bandit did not follow any code he did what he pleased thievery, rape, murder were all acceptable actions. He had sent Orochimaru just because the sannin had been more than willing. He hadn't even considered that Orochimaru would bring people along with him, much less Naruto.

Still it was done now. Orochimaru's impromptu team had come upon the bandits like a scourge sent by god, and obliterated them. They had all been dead before their physical lives had ended, their lives had been ended by the stroke of a brush by the order of the God of Shinobi, the Third Fire Shadow of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. The presence of ronin in the camp though was... troublesome

Kabuto's medical reports were thorough though. The boy was a service to the village, and his medical skills would save hundreds of Konoha's finest over the next few years. At least the injuries seemed superficial it was probably nothing. The sandaime finished reading, yes he would just have to keep Orochimaru in line.

Naruto had come straight home to his apartment after leaving the Hokage's office, and Orochimaru had parted with him at the lobby of the tower. The snake sage had said something about the Kumo delegation coming, and how he was going to check out things with the ANBU, which meant he was probably going to see Anko for information.

The blonde yawned soaking in the hot water of his shower, geez he loved water heaters they were great. Best thing after a mission ever... and what a mission he'd gotten to fight ronin and bandits, and kill the enemies of the hokage, and Konoha it'd been awesome... well except the whole nearly blowing himself up part. That had been marginally less awesome than the rest of it. Of course the downside was there was supposed to be a delegation from the Hidden Cloud Village coming to Leaf. Orochimaru had suggested that the blond keep his eyes open for any suspicious activity.

Kabuto had managed to scrub most the blood off in a nearby stream, but Naruto wanted to make sure. So when he was satisfied the blood had been removed turned off the water and stepped out.

He reached out silently and grabbed a towel and dried off. He'd definitely need to wash clothes, it was the one chore he always ended up falling behind on doing. He looked around through his mess of clothes, most of them dirty. So he grabbed one of his loose fitting yukata, and the dark blue trousers.

It was nicer than anything he wore regularly, but it was also one of the few things he had clean. The only problem with it was it wasn't really suited for ninja stuff. There was also no sense ruining his good clothes on everyday things normally. So Naruto was stuck grabbing single belt with pouches on it, his though pouches just weren't going to be practical.

He grabbed one of his protein drinks, and chugged the disgusting mix down, swallowing and opened his window getting ready to leave. Konoha was peaceful, but this was its natural environment at least to the blond. Naruto had not experienced a war that affected the entire village so this environment was normal to him.

Kakashi's self proclaimed rival Maito Guy took the time to ask if the blond had seen the infamous one eye. Naruto hadn't of course, seeing as he had only just gotten back, so Gai went on his way. No doubt Gai was hoping to challenge Kakashi to one of the two's inane series of contests.

Naruto didn't really know what to do though... though the Hokage hadn't expressly forbid it the blonde understood he was supposed to be taking it easy. The problem with that was he didn't really feel like doing laundry, even if he knew he needed to, and studying wasn't fun when you had a splitting headache. "So they have arrived." He breathed catching sight of what he figured was the Cloud delegation. He didn't really get why they were bothering to negotiate in the first place. As far as he could figure Kumo needed to get its ass kicked, even if Orochimaru had said that some times you had to negotiate... even with people you didn't like. Still Naruto was wondering if their wasn't some over elaborate ruse in place to aid Kumo's agenda.

-scene break-

It was two days later when things abruptly got out of hand. It had been good fortune that Orochimaru had been suspicious about things as well, and had urged the ANBU to be on alert. It had been further good fortune that Konoha Military Police had taken notice of the increased alert and likewise increased patrols.

The problem was already out of hand in the first place. You didn't use ninjutsu inside a village, there simply was way too much chance for collateral damage. Jonin especially should have known better... or maybe they had and just hadn't cared.

Kakashi cursed his luck, and kicked the cloud jonin in the ribs... on the plus side the kid was safe, on the other he was pretty sure that his partner had a ruptured spleen.

The Konoha detective slammed the enemy jonin against the wall. As an Uchiha he might not have liked the Hyuga all that much, clan rivalry and stuff, and they were ninjas too, but these fuckers, these fucking cloud bastards had tried to kidnap a kid. Man he'd been dismissive of Itachi's warning a couple days ago, now he was glad though.

Hiashi Hyuga considered his options, there was no way to avoid an incident. What had been an attempted kidnapping had exploded into a lethal battle with the entirety of the cloud delegation, and members of both Konoha's ANBU, and the Military Police getting involved. The Hyuga clan head flexed his numbed hand, that lightning jutsu had been just a little too close for comfort. "How is he?"

"We need to get him to the hospital," Kakashi grunted checking over Itachi's prone form as the younger ninja clutched his side, it'd just been bad luck that the cloud ninja had been willing to use such destructive techniques when they'd shown up.

They all went quiet as the Hokage arrived... with plenty of ANBU. Sarutobi Hiruzen had already ordered the village sealed off, and ANBU and Military police agents sent to all the clans immediately. This was a disaster... an unmitigated disaster. His surrogate son might have urged for a stronger more aggressive foreign policy, but Orochimaru didn't particularly want another war. Danzo though, Danzo was an old war hawk... and there was no denying this was an act of war on Kumo's part.

The Hyuga already wanted blood, and that would play right into Danzo's plans. "Where is Orochimaru?" The Hokage asked.
"Apologies Hokage-sama I have not seen him tonight." The ANBU responded, which really wasn't that surprising all things considerd.

Sarutobi nodded, most likely Orochimaru like any other Shinobi was probably trying to sleep. Still this was a crises and he needed all of his best ninja up and awake ready for anything. "Prepare to move the wounded, and fetch me Ibiki, Fugaku and Orochimaru immediately." The old man ordered. He would also need to see about getting a hold of his other students. Jiraya he could probably depend on, but Tsunande might be an issue. Still he needed all of his ninja.

The residence of the Hyuga clan was pristine in a very traditionalist noble home style all the building represented the traditional nobles complex, if it was possible they probably would build another Pagoda soon, the style was in stark contrast to the Uchiha clan town like complex.

Or rather it had been pristine mere hours ago. Now there was smoke rising up to the heavens, and the main gate, and wall of the complex was completely shattered. Naruto he wouldn't realize anything was up for another several hours when he woke up in the morning.

-Chapter conclusion-