PLEASE NOTE: I am currently re-writing the chapters for this story. There will be no new chapters until I have completed re-writing the first two.

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Plot belongs to Veroxion.

Shadows

"You sicken me."

Those were the last words the snake sennin with piercing golden eye's heard before the katana slicked across his pale neck, slitting his throat as blood spurted out of the fresh wound, pooling around his lifeless body as it lay limp on the bed, long dark hair was strewn over the mattress, blood mixing and forming hard clumps.

The Uchiha snapped his katana back into place back into its case behind his back, held in place by the purple rope that was tied around his waist, baggy white sleeve's pooling around dark armguards as hands were stuffed into blue pockets, stalking away from the bloody mess that he had left during his innocent little 'visit'.

...

Sasuke stopped, hearing soft footsteps in the distance as a pair ebony eye's hidden behind circled glass's came into view, silver hair tied neatly behind, few bang's framing his face, an Oto headband placed proudly on his forehead.

"Kabuto."

"Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke closed his eye's, almost giving a small smirk.

Kabuto was ignorant, not knowing about anything or Sasuke's true plans, letting everything run free and dandy, hoping his master would get everything he desired, oh how wrong he was and on so many levels as well. Kabuto was a small pawn in Sasuke's plan, not only was Kabuto a medical ninja (which was good when it came to injuries) but he could complete the next task without inflicting any pain or hurting anyone physically, he could simply put them to sleep with the flick of his wrist.

But Kabuto was also loyal to Orochimaru and Sasuke doubted he would listen to him, after all Sasuke had shown no respect whatsoever to Orochimaru, nor Kabuto for that matter.

I should just kill him.

And although the thought was pleasing and his thirst for blood shred was rising, he pushed the thought down and spoke.

"Orochimaru is dead."

Kabuto's eye's widened for a moment, mouth agape slightly as he stared at Sasuke in disbelief before they returned normal and Sasuke half-expected him to lash out with a scalpel to try and kill him, of course that would never happen, seeing as Sasuke was stronger than him.

"I suppose it is your doing, Sasuke?"

The 'kun' suffix was gone, Sasuke immediately noticed that but it was also the calm way Kabuto had spoken, as if he knew this would happen all along and that irked Sasuke, knowing that maybe someone knew of his plans when he had been secretly plotting but before he could say anything, Kabuto spoke again.

"If I am correct, you plan to become Otogakure's new kage?"

Sasuke smirked.

Kabuto was a smart bastard, he'd give him that.

"Hn. Aren't you smart."

Kabuto gave his own smirk in reply as he nodded his head.

"Shall I dispose of the corpse, Sasuke-sama?"

Sasuke-sama.

He liked the sound of that, not only the way it sounded but it meant he had power over the shinobi who resided in Otogakure, he had the will to do whatever he felt like doing and they couldn't have a say in it unless they wanted to be killed, which Sasuke was sure they didn't.

A shinobi's life was too important to be taken away.

"Hn. Burn it, immediately." and with those words, Sasuke burst into flickering flames and disappeared, leaving Kabuto to stare at the endless hallway, thinking.

Then, he gave a soft sigh as he made his way to Orochimaru's chambers and creaked open the door, seeing the corpse lying the bed, fresh warm blood soaking the bedding he gave another sigh, wondering why Sasuke had to be messy with his killings, of course Kabuto couldn't blame him, he couldn't make clean killings like he could with his medical jutsu.

Kabuto merely gave another sigh as he began soaking the blood up.

Dattebayo!, Dattebayo!, Dattebayo!

That was the only thing going through Uzumaki Naruto's head as he ran through the streets of Konohagakure, dodging people, animals and food stalls as he zoomed past Ichiraku's, ignoring the shop keepers blank stare of disbelief.

What could be more important than ditching his precious beloved ramen?

Have. To. Find. Sakura-chan. And. Kakashi-sensei. NOW!

Naruto launched himself off the ground, jumping onto a nearby rooftop as he began to hop along, pushing himself from one roof to the next, all at the same time grinning like a maniac.

This is the best day EVER!

Finally, seeing a head of pink and silver, Naruto landed in front of them.

Sakura jumped back in fright at Naruto's sudden appearance and Kakashi looked up from his orange book, raising a thin grey eyebrow at the huge grin Naruto had on his face.

"Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei, GUESS WHAT!?" he shouted in their face's, causing Sakura to glare at him and resist to give him a good punch to the head, Kakashi merely turned a page of the book, looking uninterested.

"What, Naruto?"

"Tsunade-baachan called me to the Hokage tower this morning and and and-"

"Spit it out already!" Sakura growled, raising a fist, indicating that she could 'persuade' him if she had to.

"I'm the next Hokage!"

The book fell out of Kakashi's hands as they both stared at the beaming Naruto.

Surely... he... hadn't?

...but apparently he had, even though Naruto always said that he was the best person for Hokage and joked about it, saying he would furfil it.. but he wouldn't go this far with a joke, that only meant would thing.

He had done it.

Like he said he would.

Silence covered them as they stared at Naruto, eye's wide, mouths open.. well Naruto assumed Kakashi's mouth was open.

"Congratulations, Naruto!" Sakura was the first to break the silence as she gave Naruto a smile and Naruto gave a cheesy one in return.

"Yeah, Congratulations, Naruto. You fulfilled your dream." Kakashi said as he picked up his book from the ground, brushing the precious page's off as he stuck it in his kunai pouch, listening to Naruto as he replayed what Tsunade had told him earlier that morning, Kakashi merely gave a small sigh before poofing away.

"Hey!, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted, glaring but it was no use as he was already gone, he then turned to Sakura who was still smiling with a hint of proudness in her eye's.

"Ichiraku?"

"Sure, Naruto.."

"You know what he's going to do.." Kakashi trailed uncertainly as he stood in front of the now former Hokage's desk, she sighed and stood up, walking towards the window to look over Konoha. Tsunade looked as young genin went around doing their daily missions and as civilians walked through the streets, the gentle breeze blowing leaves around the village.

"I know, but I'm getting old, the sixth Hokage had to be chosen... I merely recommended Naruto for the position, seeing as he is so determined. The elders accepted. In the end it was not my decision."

"So you can't change it?"

Tsunade frowned.

"No. I cannot."

Doesn't he want Naruto to become Hokage?

I know he can be a brat at times and he is an idiot but he is strong and determined.

He would make a great Hokage.

I believe in him.

Tsunade straightened herself out, taking in a breath of air as she turned around to see Kakashi who had a troubled gaze on. "The decision has been made."

Kakashi nodded in understanding.

"I see..."

Tsunade sat down in the Hokage's chair, rubbing her temples, reaching for the small bottle of sake under her desk, bringing it to her pink lips and having a sip, staring at Kakashi through half-lidded amber eye's.

"Why are you so concerned about all of this, Kakashi?" Tsunade's voice broke the silence that lingered between them both.

"Because... on a recent mission I found out important information."

Tsunade put the sake firmly down on the desk, giving a small growl of disapproval as her hands gripped the sake bottle tightly.

"And why wasn't this brought to my attention, sooner?"

"I apologize."

Tsunade snorted but motioned for him to continue, interested in what he had to say as to why he didn't want Naruto to become the Rokudaime.

"Orochimaru is dead."

Before Tsunade to let out a choke of disbelief, Kakashi continued.

"Uchiha Sasuke has taken place as the Otokage."

Tsunade's eye's narrowed.

So he really is a traitor.

"..and if I remember correctly..."

Tsunade urged him to go on, still interested in what Kakashi had to say, even thought he had gotten to the point already, this information could have a major impact, after all.

"Konoha and Oto are enemies with each other...with Sasuke as the Otokage and Naruto as the Hokage... I expect there to be a great ninja war."

The sake bottle shattered under the Godaime's grip.