Story Summary: While Minato is training his students during a rare ceasefire in the 3rd Ninja War, 5 strangers show up claiming to be from the future. Chaos ensues. With Kushina and Jiraiya's help, they have established that Naruto is indeed a second Jinchuuriki of the 9-tailed-fox.

Chapter 4

"You can't really believe this nonsense, can you, Hiruzen?" Danzo growled as he stood stoically in the Sandaime Hokage's office, not taking his visible eye off his old rival. His posture remained calm and loose, an excellent example of how a ninja should be, shrouding his true feelings from the world. Danzo's inner world raged in an inferno of disbelief, frustration and anger. This situation had to many unknown variables, to many things he couldn't account for, and he hated things he could not accounted for. He'd need to severely recalculate his plans.

And Hiruzen, being the old fool he was, had bought their story, hook, line, and sinker. Not that Danzo didn't respect the current Hokage (he was at least better than the yellow haired brat he's chosen to succeed him). On the contrary, he held a great deal of regard for Hiruzen, as the man was a powerful ninja and a fairly competent leader, but he lacked vision—or rather, true vision. Hiruzen seemed stuck in his dream world where everyone got along with enough hard work, but Danzo had long since grown tired of being the only Konoha ninja with the common sense to see that the world didn't work like that.

As if to validate his perspective on the current Hokage, the old fool spoke up, "Danzo, they do have some compelling evidence." He held up a hand to forestall Danzo's next comment, "I do realize that it is circumstantial, with the exception of the second Kyuubi. Do you have an explanation for that?"

Danzo waved his hand as if to bat the comment away. "Even the Yamanakas' knowledge of mindscapes is limited. Who is to say that what Yamanaka-san saw wasn't a mental construct designed to look like the Kyuubi? And how could there be two of them? Theoretically, having the same biju near an exact copy of itself should warp space and time irreparably. The logical conclusion is that this is just a con. A well executed con, I'll grant, but still just a con."

Hiruzen nodded, as if to say he'd consider the point, though his next words belied that. "We've also had no recorded success with time travel jutsu. There have been, however, several attempts. It is obvious our theories are not complete. But who is to say we could not learn to complete one in the future? The idea is not completely implausible."

Even Danzo could not completely deny the implication of those words, especially as they were obviously well-thought-out and currently coming from "The Professor." Didn't mean he had to like or agree with them. He decided to try another approach.

"Sandaime-sama..." he started.

The Third Hokage cut him off, "Danzo, have you stopped to consider what it would mean if they are telling the truth? The possibilities this opens up?"

Danzo paused and stared at the village leader. Yes, he had considered it, he'd be a fool not to, and Shimura Danzo was no fool. So, quietly, he spoke his mind, " Just because we would like it to be true does not make it so."

Hiruzen stared back, "You think I should reject the idea, based solely on that philosophy?"

Danzo knew a verbal trap when he heard one, but felt it was better to disarm this one. "Of course not, Sandaime-sama. I merely felt it prudent to point this out."

Hiruzen nodded, "Good, because if I did judge everything like that then I would reject not just the bad, but every good thing that came before me. Progress would be impossible.

"That being said, I do see where you are coming from. I am not taking their word on blind faith, nor am I giving them free range of the village. I've already assigned ninja to escort and watch them, indefinitely."

"So you have already turned foreign, unknown ninja out into Konoha?" Danzo heard himself ask incredulously.

"Not yet." Hiruzen said coldly before continuing on where he'd left off. "We will be vigilant and question any inconsistencies in their stories, because as Hokage, I would be remiss in my duties to dismiss the possibility that you are correct. However, I would be just as remiss to dismiss their claims without irrefutable proof."

At that point, Danzo realized that it was the end of the discussion, and that continuing to argue would be counterproductive.

"Hai, Saindame-sama," he said with a respectful bow, before turning on his heel and leaving that office for his own.

He would do what he had always done, and be ready to clean up Hiruzen's mess from the shadows. Or prevent it entirely, as even elite ninjas ran afoul of "unfortunate" accidents.

He signaled to one of his loyal men that there would be an emergency meeting. He already had plans in place to protect Konoha, even from its Hokage's foolishness. Now it was just a matter of implementing them.

xXx

Hizashi Hyuuga hated guard duty. There were times when he wondered why he'd even bothered to become a chuunin at all (family pride aside). In truth, he missed the old days with his genin team, trying new things, going on adventures...getting away from Konoha and the nightmare that was his home. The waving and the bowing and the posturing and the thrice cursed caged bird seal...

Still, he was a Konoha ninja and a Hyuuga and he knew better than to shirk on his duty. The only way he would get a mission he liked would be to complete his current one with exemplary reviews. It wasn't as if he didn't know the importance of this particular mission either. Guard duty was extremely important and part of what kept Konoha safe. It didn't mean he had to like it. He didn't even know who they were guarding. No one did, as far as he knew. He'd only been allowed to check on them with the Byakugan, and their characteristics weren't familiar in the slightest. Then again, it wasn't a chuunin's place to know.

So he stood silently next to his current partner, another random chuunin he did not know very well, and remained vigilant. He still had a good half an hour of duty left before they were supposed to be relieved. It wouldn't be long now (although still all too long in his opinion).

Which was why an ANBU showing up out of nowhere not five minutes later startled him. He immediately went into defensive mode and activated his Byakugan. Thankfully, the guard gave all the correct hand signals and pass codes. Hizashi nodded and backed down, although he didn't quite relax.

"My apologies, Hyuuga-san," the ANBU started with a bow. "But Miroku-san has had a time-sensitive mission assigned to him. I was tasked to come and get him as soon as possible. I have already sent for your replacements to come and relieve you, but Miroku-san is to come with me immediately."

Hizashi frowned. This was highly irregular and he was already planning on putting it into his report. Still, there wasn't much he could do about it now, so he simply nodded in acknowledgment and watched as they left. Then he conjured a bunshin with a henge in his former companion's place. He really needed to increase his chakra reserves and try to get an elemental bunshin or kage bunshin down. He was determined to make Jounin by the end of the year and having something like that under his belt would definitely help that along. Not to mention it would come in handy at a time like this. It wasn't too difficult to see through a bunshin. It was far more of a challenge to see through a more solid bunshin. Still, he'd do what he could and wait.

As he had his byakugan activated anyway, when he had his henged bunshin in place, he moved into a position where he could check the prisoners again. It wasn't always possible to do as the cell had been lined with seals that redirected their sight, not an easy feat but one Uzumaki seal masters had accomplished (not that the clan elders had been too happy about that).

The older prisoner hadn't moved. Three of the younger (or at least smaller) ones—including the one with chakra so bright it almost hurt to look at—were pacing in their cells. The last of the smaller ones hadn't moved an inch as far as he knew, simply sitting in one corner and doing nothing else. At least, that had been true before. Now he stood and looked directly at Hizashi. It was unnerving to say the least.

And were those...hand signals? Yes. Konoha hand signals.

Just what was going on?!

I need to speak with the Hokage immediately. Life or death. And it was accompanied by a hand signal that meant they should override normal procedure. No one outside of Konoha should know that. Not that there weren't leaks, but still...

Of course, that left Hizashi in a very bad position. Normally in a situation such as this, he would leave his companion on guard duty while he went and informed the Hokage or someone of higher rank that he trusted implicitly. However, the only thing he could do at this point was wait for his replacements to come and then report. He wasn't about to abandon his post, but there were too many strange factors in this for him to just ignore the kid. Perhaps it would have been easier to judge if he'd had any idea who was in there or why. For all he knew it could be for their own protection just as much as it could be for Konoha's.

Fortunately he didn't have to wait long. As soon as his replacements came, he checked out with the normal procedure before going directly to the Hokage tower to request an audience. Fortunately it didn't take long before he was allowed in and permitted to explain what had happened to the Sandaime.

Once he had finished reporting, the older man remained silent for several seconds before he snapped his fingers. Immediately, two ANBU appeared at his side.

"Help Hyuuga-san escort the prisoner here," he said. "Immediately. Do not inform anyone else. This is currently an A-rank secret."

Hizashi couldn't help but be surprised that he would be included in this. He had a feeling that this went far above his rank (the A-rank secret didn't do anything to alleviate that suspicion either). Even the fact that he was a Hyuuga, one of the most esteemed families in Konoha, shouldn't buy him leeway in this case if even half of what he suspected was true.

His guess was that they were protecting informants or defectors (most likely from Iwa if this level of security had been taken) and that one of the 'defectors' was actually a deep-implant spy from Konoha originally and that was the one who had given hand signals. He'd probably been doing so for a while, hoping for a Hyuuga to see him...but that didn't make complete sense to Hizashi. Why hadn't he said something to his guards? Why had he taken a chance on the Hyuuga being there? Why hadn't he told his ANBU guards beforehand?

It wouldn't be difficult for a half-decent ninja to deduce where the entrance to the dungeon was and just randomly give signals, but the timing was just too much of a coincidence for Hizashi. How could he have known—through a chakra dampening field that could cut off all but perhaps the most potent seals, and those would have to be connected to a seal network that a Hyuuga branch member could only guess at—that Hizashi's partner had suddenly left? And why? Was there something about Hizashi in particular that had caught the prisoner's eye (or senses or whatever the heck he had)? Or had there been something about his partner that the prisoner hadn't liked? Did they have a spy in their own midst? It wasn't inconceivable, but still highly unsettling to say the least.

His head swam as he thought all of this and he couldn't seem to come up with any concrete answers—he didn't have Hiashi's deductive skills—but he guessed he'd either be getting those answers very soon, or he'd be dismissed once he delivered the prisoners and he'd have to figure it out later...if at all.

The two ANBU retrieved the person in question while Hizashi gave them the scroll signed by the Hokage and all of the correct pass codes. A few minutes later, the prisoner was carried out in an unconscious heap over one of the ANBU's shoulders. They bid the guards farewell and left, flying as quickly over the streets of Konoha as they could. Hizashi was actually rather proud of himself for being able to keep up with ANBU. He hoped they weren't pacing themselves slowly for him, but he didn't think so.

They got to the tower and went through the window into the Hokage's office. Hizashi had never done that before. He always had wondered why the Hokage left such an obvious hole in his security. Now, he supposed, it made more sense. Personal guards and the like could bypass anyone that might gossip and get to the Hokage far more quickly.

The ANBU tied the prisoner to the waiting chair and then released the jutsu that was keeping him asleep. As the boy woke, Hizashi took more of a chance to examine him. He had very pale skin and an almost expressionless face. He also had nothing covering his mid-drift, and was otherwise dressed almost completely in black. Typical ninja sandals, regulation black pants, a short vest and stretched shirt on top, fingerless gloves and well-groomed hair. Basically, this boy could easily pass for a girl.

It didn't take him long to fully awaken. As soon as he did, he scanned the room, taking in everyone in it. Then he smiled an absolutely fake smile at the Hokage.

"Thank you for seeing me, Hokage-sama. I have to say, though, that I will only speak in front of you, Hyuuga-san over there, the Yondaime, Kushina-san or Jiraiya-san."

The Sandaime balked at the kid's nerves. He had to have balls of steel. Chakra reinforced steel.

The Hokage frowned. "My ANBU are my most trusted ninja."

The boy's smile never left his face. "Nevertheless, I must insist on those terms."

The Professor hummed and thought over the situation for a few moments before waving his hand. The ANBU vanished.

"All ANBU, Hokaga-sama," the boy insisted. The older man raised an eyebrow that seemed both reproachful and approving before he motioned with his hand and yet another two ANBU appeared at his side. "Get Minato and tell him to meet me here, now."

"Hai, Hokgae-sama," both of the ANBU said, but even Hizashi could sense the disapproval coming from them. Once they left, the Sandaime turned an expectant eye to the boy.

"I believe you said your name was Sai, correct?"

The boy nodded. Alright, that smile was really starting to freak Hizashi out. Just how long would he keep forcing it?

"Hai, Sandaime-sama. Please forgive my insistence, but you see, I could not call myself a loyal Konoha ninja if I did not tell you about Root."

The Hokage frowned. Hizashi couldn't help but be confused. What was Root? And a loyal Konoha ninja? That supported his theory of a deep-cover spy at least.

"It was disbanded more than three years ago," the Hokage said.

At that, the boy opened his eyes and the smile vanished, replaced by a completely blank expression that was somehow even creepier than that smile. Hizashi had the feeling that this was the true ninja's real face...a face that showed no emotion whatsoever. That went beyond creepy and into downright scary territory.

"No, Hokage-sama," the boy said in a flat tone that still somehow conveyed the earnestness of the statement, "it was not. I would not speak to anyone else because I did not know who I could trust until recently." At that, he turned and looked at Hizashi over his shoulder.

"Hyuuga-san, could you come and lift the sleeve to my right shoulder?"

The Hokage frowned. "If you try anything, you will regret it."

Sai looked solemnly at the older man. "You have my word, Hokage-sama. On my life and on the lives of my friends, I will not try to escape or kill anyone before I leave this office."

No one missed the loophole he'd given himself. They probably weren't supposed to. Hizashi still wasn't sure he'd trust the boy, but the Hokage must have deemed it an acceptable risk because he sighed and nodded to Hizashi.

Carefully, the Hyuuga branch member walked forward, never taking his eyes off of the boy and making sure his Byakugan was activated. He did note a slight gathering of chakra on the boy's skin where he'd asked Hizashi to expose. A seal then?

He lifted the stretchy fabric to reveal the strangest marking Hizashi had ever seen. It looked nothing like normal seals as it seemed to consist of nothing but squiggly lines. The Hokage, on the other hand, recognized it immediately.

"A six-point com-origin seal. I must say I'm impressed. I only know a few seal masters who could pull that off. Who put that on you?"

Sai's gaze suddenly sharpened. "The same person who put this on me." He opened his mouth and revealed what looked to be a faded seal consisting of straight lines. The Hokage's eyes widened even further.

Hizashi wasn't sure it was his place to ask, but he decided the Hokage would tell him if he didn't need to know. He was, after all, the only other ninja there besides the Hokage at this point. Hiashi always did say he was too curious for his own good.

"Forgive me, Hokage-sama, but if I may ask, what are those seals? What do they do? And what is Root?"

The Professor sat back in his desk, fingertips touching in front of him. Apparently he deemed Hizashi worthy of the answers because he spoke up a few minutes later. "The six-point com-origin seal is one of the most powerful network seals in existence. It is also said to be one of the most painful. It connects whoever has it to a network of people—anyone else who was given the seal by the same person. The remnant of the seal on his tongue would have stopped him from talking about certain things, on pain of death. I have learned of these seals before, but have never seen them used.

"As for Root, it was supposed to be an elite ANBU force that took the most secret jobs. They would, in theory, do the dirty work that would potentially break other, more visible, ninja—even those in ANBU. However, after seeing the puppets that the program turned out, I deemed it too morally corrupt. It goes against everything Konoha stands for. Many of those who knew supported my decision...but then again, many didn't."

Hizashi could only stare in shock. Those seals...just who would do that to someone? That had to be something Iwa had given him because no one in Konoha...they wouldn't...right? And Root? What kinds of jobs...no, he was sure he didn't want to know, but his mind supplied him with a rather long list of possible missions. Assassinating children, torture of otherwise loyal ninja, severe destruction on a large scale...and that was just scratching the surface.

The boy, Sai, shook his head. His next words shook the Hyuuga to the very core."I grew up a part of Root, Hokage-sama, and the person who gave this to me was the same man who kept the organization alive and headed it personally. Shimura Danzo."

xXx

AN: Yup. Not dead. Plodding along. Seriously, one chapter a year. Please don't expect more. It just won't happen. Sorry.