'The public is a ferocious beast; one must either chain it or flee from it.' ~ Voltaire

"If I may say so, sir, the administrators will not take kindly to having the whole system changed so suddenly." An orange-haired man said politely. He was standing with his hands clasped behind his back, giving his daily report of village proceedings to the Hokage. "I suggest making a tour of the academy and inquiring after the percentage of students who graduate per year, compared to those who must repeat a year or repeat exams. It would be much more effective becoming involved close-up than from a distance."

"I want you to view the school today, then, Fū. Go as my representative and tell them I am interested in seeing the progress of Konoha's-" Danzō grimaced. "Bright new futures."

"In my experience, Hokage-sama, all humans enjoy praise. It has opened many doors; and as Hokage, most of them are opened for you already. I will arrange an appointment for...?" Fū paused, letting the question hang. His golden eyes blinked once, and he never turned his gaze away from his lord. Danzō absentmindedly drummed the fingers of his left hand on his desk. Yamanaka Fū was one of the select few in Root who knew of the truth behind Danzō's right eye and arm. He had been in Root for many, many years, along with his partner Torune, and they had never failed him nor inadvertently revealed his secret. With much of the original Root taking on a new task now, he was also part of the team of fifteen that still carried out undercover missions.

"Eight o clock, two days from today." Danzō picked up a pen and signed a slip of paper. "Take this authorization and present it to them for them to sign, confirming the visit. Is anything unclear?"

"Yes, sir." Fū bobbed his head in affirmation. "One thing. What if I find a low rate of failure and their current procedures are satisfactory?"

A corner of Danzō's lips twitched in what could have been a smile, but it swiftly passed. "I am not satisfied with just 'satisfactory.' There is always something those complacent idiots could be doing wrong."

"Understood." The man kneeled and touched his hand to the ground. Danzō took a minute to adjust his Hokage's headdress. Tsunade, as Hokage, rarely wore the wide-brimmed hat, and it wasn't required by law.

'However, it's required by tradition.' Danzō thought grimly. 'Tsunade-hime decided to do away with it... but things are different now. She was content to let her chunin and even her jonin slack off and keep Konoha a meek country open to invasion. Genin and pre-genin under her rule were poorly trained, with but a few gems in their bunch born with talent. Hiruzen... bah, he also set a bad example. It is lucky I kept the roots of Konoha healthy, but now I am able to tend to both, and my country will become strong again.' A knock on the door sounded, and this time the brief, mocking smile of earlier returned. 'It must also be noted that those under my command actually use the door.'

"Enter." he commanded. The door swung open and closed, and Shikaku Nara stepped into the room. Danzō paused, formulating what he would say next. Something was going on if the Jonin Commander reported to him directly.

"News?" he asked at last, eyes boring into the spiky-haired man. Shikaku flinched almost imperceptibly, but didn't avert his gaze- he couldn't avert his gaze. Danzō nodded to himself. 'Of course, as long as I still keep the orders I gave him under the Sharingan, then he can't disobey.'

"Hokage-sama, there is a force of Sound nin heading our way." The commander stated. "They bear a flag of truce and their leader asks for an audience."

"And who is their leader?" Danzō asked quietly.

"Damn, I'll be on liquid food for a week." Naruto grumbled, holding his stomach gingerly. He had one hand on the rail, refusing Sakura's offer of letting him lean on her shoulder. "And no training, either! And-"

"Bed rest three hours a day, light physical activity and no missions or trips to the training grounds." Sakura said gently. "It's not the end of the world, Naruto. You've been in the hospital for a longer time before."

Naruto lowered his voice. "But, Sakura! At least then, I didn't have to have a shadow!" he protested in a loud whisper. The bubblegum-haired girl rolled her eyes and cast a swift glance backwards, where the third member of their little party walked. The masked ANBU gave no indication that he had heard Naruto's comment, nor any indication that he was paying attention to them at all. Sakura frowned to herself. Naruto disliked masks, and always needed to know what the other person was feeling. It was going to be a rough two weeks for the jinchuuriki.

"It's for your safety." Sakura insisted, also lowering her voice. "Kakashi-sensei recommended this man."

"But I don't even know his name!" Naruto shot back.

"Iichiro." The ANBU said. Naruto jumped a foot into the air at the sudden reply. "I was Kakashi-san's elder and team leader before he retired, and now I do mostly solo missions."

"Such as guarding me." Naruto said, and Iichiro acknowledged him with a nod. The boy sighed, his shoulders drooping. There was dark circles under his eyes that belied many sleepless nights. "Whatever." Listlessly, he stepped off the last step and moved into the street. Sakura pursed her lips, worried.

'No word on Sai... Naruto won't tell me why Sai was even over his house in the first place, or anything else about that night. I need him to stop worrying himself to death. Then I'll get him to talk.'

"Say, Naruto." The kunoichi said aloud. She folded her hands behind her back and stopped in the middle of the street, putting a smile on her face. "You have to stay on liquid food, don't you?" she questioned. Naruto grunted, and she took this for a yes. "So you're not allowed to have ramen."

"Are you trying to make me feel any worse?" Naruto snapped, and Sakura almost flinched, struck by the viciousness of his answer. He made a step as if to go around her.

'Oh, no you don't!' Sakura thought stubbornly, and took a step so she moved over to block his way. Her smile broadened and sweetened. Some of the fakeness left it at Naruto's endearingly childish scowl. 'He's still such a kid.' Her green eyes closed into half moons, and she tilted her head coquettishly. To many others and once even Naruto himself, this pose had men practically jumping into her lap. It was all an act, however. She would do it to Lee and watch his face go red (and then she would kiss him, but that was another matter altogether); she'd do it to Sai and get a raised eyebrow. She'd do it to Naruto and start some harmless flirting. Hell, she'd even tried it on Hinata before and made the poor girl pass out before she could explain it was a joke. It was a pose that was achingly familiar, full of awkward and dear memories.

"Naruto.. do you want to go out for ramen?" she asked, batting her eyelashes. "You might not be allowed to have noodles... But I'm sure that Ichiraku-san can make you some flavourful broth!"

A glint of amusement flashed in Naruto's dull eyes, and desperately Sakura clung onto it. "I'll pay." she pressed, and at last the act brought the desired results. Naruto heaved a sigh and stuck his hands in his pockets, looking away moodily. He couldn't fool her, though. The kunoichi saw a smile tugging at the corners of Naruto's mouth.

"Yosh!" he said brightly, though his voice still sounded a little too forced for Sakura's liking. "If you're paying, Sakura-chan, then I'll get to eat all I want!"

"Bid them enter. Keep them under guard and parade them through the village, but make sure all of their weapons are removed first and that only five, including the Otokage, come to see me."

"Delicious!" Naruto mumbled before quickly raising his bowl of ramen broth to his lips again. He downed the remaining salty liquid in one big gulp, putting the bowl down with a clang. The boy burped and wiped his mouth, but he was grinning hugely at both getting to have a taste of ramen and Sakura's disgusted expression. The kunoichi was absentmindedly stirring a spoon through her own bowl of broth. She hadn't wanted to torture Naruto by ordering a full bowl of noodles, but now she was wishing she could change her mind and return the bowl. Watching Naruto slurp down the extremely salty liquid without the aid of a spoon was making her lose her appetite; and besides, ramen without ramen noodles was almost as bad as seawater.

A little bit of oily liquid trickled down Naruto's chin, and unable to bear it any longer Sakura looked away. She shoved a handful of napkins in Naruto's direction.

"Here, baka." she hissed. "It's called manners- ever heard of them? God, you're worse than Choji at a table full of ikayaki!"

Ichiraku appeared before them, wiping his hands on a cloth. He smiled widely at Naruto.

"Would you like another bowl, Naruto?" he asked, and Naruto nodded vehemently. A few strands of blonde hair were shaken free and fell down across his forehead, so huffing out a frustrated breath he attempted to put them back into place. Looking around for a miiror, his blue eyes alighted on some cheap, microwaveable ramen cups for sale. They stood in a neat row on a shelf on the inside of the store, ordered by flavour: Pork, shrimp, vegetable, chicken, beef. Sakura smiled lightly at him as Naruto stared at the cups for longer than a simple look-over.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "I'm sure it won't be that bad going without that unhealthy stuff for just a week." Sakura nudged him lightly, grinning. "Maybe this will finally get you to start eating well!" Naruto didn't reply. Her smile faded, and she took a closer look at his face. His eyes were fixed on the ramen cups, but were seeing something else. "Naruto?"

"I was going to make those. For the two of us." Naruto said slowly. "I was going to- going to wake up in the morning earlier than him, for once, and have two cups of steaming hot ramen on the table to prove to that bastard that I can cook too." His fingers clenched on his thighs, and he lowered his head so he wouldn't have to meet Sakura's questioning gaze. "I was... heh, what am I saying?" he laughed softly and passed a hand over his face. "I'm embarassing myself right now, aren't I?"

Sakura watched him sadly. "You were going to have breakfast with Sai." she guessed, and Naruto nodded.

"Sakura... you don't think he'sthe one who tried to kill me, do you?" he questioned, at last lifting his head. His eyes shone with a desperate hope.

Slowly, the kunoichi shook her head. "No. No, I don't think he tried to kill you, but there's something going on here that he's a part of and we don't know enough about. Something to do with Root, and Danzō."

"But he's Hokage now! What else could he want?" Naruto asked heatedly.

"Who knows?" Sakura shrugged disdainfully. "Power, maybe. It's what people like him are always hungry for. There will be changes coming, Naruto, and maybe he'll slip up and give us a clue about what happened to Sai."

A smiling Ichiraku placed another bowl of ramen broth in front of Naruto, who drank it more slowly than the rest. The two sat in silence until the last slurping noises faded, and then Sakura stretched and placed some bills and coins on the table.

"Thank you for the meal, Ichiraku-san!" she called. As they started to walk away, a shadow detached itself from the side of the ramen shop and started walking a discreet distance behind them.

Kakashi paused next to an alleyway that appeared to be empty.

"It's all right, Iichiro-sempai." he murmured quietly. "Follow at a distance, but do not reveal yourself; I'll be close to them for a while." Having given his message, Kakashi took out a copy of Icha-Icha: Paradise and sped up his pace so he would bump (completely by accident) into Naruto.

"Heey, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said cheerfully. The jonin raised an eyebrow at him. "Long time no see!"

"I saw you this morning." he replied simply.

Iichiro, true to his word, did not join the trio. He stole softly and silently across windowsills, behind street market stalls, and occasionally ducked into alleyways for a side route before meeting up with the main street later. He had had countless missions where he had needed to stay unnoticed and follow a target in an enemy village; but in all his long years on the job, he had never been ordered to follow a shinobi of Konohagakure. Even less did he expect that someday he would have to protect his charge from those who were supposed to be comrades. He had not been ordered to take on the job. Iichiro was doing it because Kakashi had asked him to. Little explanation was needed. The ANBU were feeling the reprecussions of Danzō's appointment already- the number of missions they took on a weekly basis suddenly decreased, leading many to suspect a second, secret force had taken up those jobs. They normally would have been ordered to investigate Sai's dissapearance, too, but the Hokage hadn't even mentioned it to them.

'I have never seen Kakashi look so tense... well, in such a familiar environment, that is.' he thought to himself, watching the silvery head of hair weave through the crowd. To most observers, the scene was normal. Two students talking to each other; the blonde one pestering his sensei, the pink-haired girl trying to get him to stop. The sensei appeared disinterested in everything but his book, but Iichiro knew better. Kakashi had been on the same page for too long, and his free hand was casually dangling near the kunai on his belt.

Shouts from ahead. Iichiro's eyes flickered to the next intersection, where some some of crowd was forming. He saw an entourage coming slowly up the street, and his eyes narrowed behind his mask. 'What's going on now?'

"Say, what are all these people doing?" Naruto complained as he tried to shove his way through the crowd. Some were whispering. Some people were glaring. He finally made it to the front of the crowd, Kakashi and Sakura squeezing out to stand close by.

Ten stern-faced shinobi were marching up the street, their feet making little impact on the cold, hard earth. In their midst were five shinobi; three of them wore characteristic dotted headbands and dark flak jackets, but the other two were dressed quite differently. Those two walked at the front of the group of newcomers: A silver-haired young man, his bespectacled eyes darting about; and a tall, pale man with lank black hair visible from underneath a blue and white Kage's headdress.

Naruto's mind went blank. He tried to formulate words, but nothing came to mind. The Sound nin had almost passed him by when the Otokage tilted his head a little bit so Naruto could see half of his face.

Orochimaru smiled. It was a terribly knowing smile, one that sent shivers of dread running down the young Jinchuuriki's spine.

Kabuto gave the decrepit Team Seven a mocking half-wave.

The Sound nin passed on.

"What the hell are they doing here?" Sakura hissed venomously.

"Orochimaru must have heard about Danzō's election." Kakashi's mind was working fast. 'He hears about the election. He knows that Tsunade is incapacitated He is using this chance to strike a deal... or an alliance. Shit, that's it. An alliance. Knowing Danzō, he will accept. Two powerful wills brought together, each trying to control and manipulate the other. Konoha will become a battleground for each side's spies.' A bitter smile without any feeling threatened to take over his face. Thankfully, his mask hid it; if Sakura or Naruto had seen it, they would have though he was going mad. 'Perhaps I am.' The jonin thought. 'It seems inevitable that someone will have to cave in. Things are getting worse and worse. Sai- I'm willing to bet he holds the key to this. Whatever happened that night was important enough for Danzō to make him disappear If he can testify, or if Naruto gets his memory back...' Kakashi's grey eye lingered on Naruto's face. The boy was talking angrily to Sakura.

"Naruto. Sakura." he said firmly, catching their attention.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura queried.

Kakashi steeled himself. 'Ah, well- if I'm going to find anything out, then I should start sooner rather than later. It pains me using Naruto like this.. but I need to appear complacent, like I'm just being tugged along for the ride, or else Danzō will find ways to stop me leaving Konohagakure.'

"There is a tradition passed along by every Hokage to hear shinobi opinions on domestic policy every other Tuesday in the afternoon." he said mildly. "You're a chunin, Sakura, aren't you? I'm sure that you can take Naruto with you today and ask about Orochimaru's presence here."

Sakura frowned. "I can't, sensei, you know that I have to work in the hospital today." she rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Can you go with Naruto and ask for me?"

"Hmm, well.." Kakashi sighed, affecting boredom. He put away his book. "If you insist."

Danzō looked at Orochimaru keenly as the Sannin sat down in the chair opposite him, in the Hokage's office. His movements were languid and smooth. Both of them were wearing official dress, though now Orochimaru took his headdress off as a sign of respect for being in Fire Nation territory.

"Looking as spry as always, Rokudaime. My congratulations on your appointment." Orochimaru said, his voice at once a paradox of being deferential and disrespectful. Danzō grunted.

"I doubt you came in person just to send well-wishes, Orochimaru." he said flatly. "You want something, and you came here to get it."

Orochimaru's tongue darted out and he licked his lips. "Very perceptive as always, too." he noted appreciatively. "But I don't come here asking for Konoha's surrender-"

"Not today." Danzō quipped sharply. Orochimaru clicked his tongue, sounding offended.

"My, my! What a harsh welcome I'm receiving. Do you really distrust me so much, Danzō? I have already been made to realize Konohagakure's strength. I will never try anything of the sort again. All I want is something that will benefit the both of us."

"An alliance." The Hokage said, and Orochimaru nodded. Danzō leaned back in his chair, studying his opponent's pale face and hungry yellow eyes.

"And what if I were to simply betray the truce, and have you killed, right now?" Danzō said, so softly that Kabuto barely caught it despite standing close by his master's side.

Orochimaru was unfazed. He smiled a little wider and blinked slowly and theatrically. The two golden, slit-pupiled eyes became Sharingan red. Danzō's breath caught in his throat and he sat straight in his chair before remembering himself. The Hokage sank back, but now eyed Orochimaru slightly more warily.

"You took over the Uchiha's body, then." Danzō stated. "I had hoped to kill him before that happened, but it looks like I was too late."

"You needn't worry about that, if we are to be allies." Orochimaru persisted. He laid bony white hands on the table and leaned forward. "I sense it. You want to agree with me, so why are you holding out?"

Kabuto watched the exchange, feeling smug. 'Sasuke's adapted so well to Orochimaru's body and his habits that I'm beginning to think that Orochimaru-sama is not wholly dead after all. As time passes, he's displaying more and more of his mannerisms and quirks- licking his lips often, tasting the air, and treating everything like a play. It would be frightening if it weren't so amusing.'

"We must still... negotiate the terms of the alliance. I would like you or your closest subordinate to be here at all times, accompanied by at least one of my personal guards."

"Agreed." Orochimaru waved his hand carelessly. "I would like to work with you on the capture of the Akatsuki, and the last remaining Uchiha, Itachi... for his Sharingan."

Danzō blinked. "Ah, yes, you were a defector, were you not? I would imagine that they would want you dead." He paused, waiting for a comment, but Orochimaru simply shrugged and smiled creepily. "In that case, I have a special request of my own, one that should be a specialty of yours- and yours." he turned his dark, one-eyed gaze onto Kabuto.

"Yes, Hokage-sama?" Kabuto bowed.

"I need a corpse."

Kakashi stopped Naruto out of earshot of the two ANBU standing guard at the entrance to the Hokage building.

"Remember." he told his student in a low voice. "Wait for me to make an introduction first, and then talk, but keep your wits about you. You won't get away with just a bruised head if you cross the Rokudaime... Tsunade-sama was always lenient torward punishments."

"Hmph, lenient?" Naruto grumbled.

"Naruto." Kakashi warned. "If you want to find anything out, then you have to be respectful. I know it hurts, but bear with it."

"Yes, yes." Naruto shifted impatiently from foot to foot. When Kakashi nodded at him, he took off in a purposeful stride, entering the building with the jonin following close behind. The receptionist at the desk looked up. Kakashi frowned at her. Previously, it had been a sweet-tempered middle-aged lady who worked the desk. She was a shinobi, but preferred desk work to the field, and managed every visitor with supreme patience, efficiency, and kindness. This newcomer was about five or ten years younger, with her black hair done up in a tight bun.

"You're new." he said casually. "Did Minura-san retire?"

The woman gave him a bright smile that didn't reach her eyes, and Kakashi was immediately reminded of Sai, back in the day.

"Yes, she went to live with her family on an outlying so she could protect the borders and be with relatives. May I arrange an appointment?" Her voice, too, was wrong. It affected cheerfulness, yet at the same time was oddly flat.

'Root.' Kakashi realized. 'Of course, he would want of his own agents to watch the door.'

Outwardly, he kept his tone polite, aware that Naruto was growing increasingly impatient. "Actually, we are here to speak with Danzō-sama during his bi-weekly conferences with shinobi."

Her expression didn't change. "Of course. Proceed upstairs to his office, then, and I will ring up to announce you are coming."

Naruto looked around uneasily as he crossed the large entrance room to get to the stairs. He was one of the more frequent visitors of the Hokage's building, and had come to know most of its workers. However, other than Kakashi, he saw no one familiar around him now.

"I've noticed it too." Kakashi said unexpectedly. "There have been staff changes."

"That lady was weird." Naruto said by way of affirmation. "I don't think she would be nice at all." He put his hand on the side rail, ascending the steps. Fluorescent lights had flickered on by then, eliminating soft shadows and flooding the enclosed stairway with harsh light. "Say, Kakashi-sensei... what do you think Danzō will say?"

"I don't know, Naruto." his elder replied frankly. "I'm sure he will tell us a whole load of lies, though from those lies we should be able to find some grain of truth."

"Eh?" Naruto scratched his head, making Kakashi chuckle. The jonin ruffled his hair fondly, making Naruto scowl and bat his hand away. "What's that for? I'm not a kid anymore!"

"No, but I'm still older than you, so I have an inherent right." Kakashi answered cheerfully. He heard footsteps ahead of them, then saw a pair of sandaled feet come into view. He nudged Naruto to the side so they could let whoever was coming down pass.

It was Kabuto. Kakashi's hand twitched in the direction of his kunai before he mastered his instinctive response to that little half-grin.

"Should you be wandering around by yourself?" he asked mildly. Kabuto shrugged.

"I'm going to the bathroom." he answered pleasantly. "Besides, I'm sure that there are two ANBU above our heads as we speak. The security you Konoha nin have is really top-notch." He glanced over at Naruto, who was glaring at him with clear loathing. "Ah, hello, Naruto-kun! Just you and the sensei, I see. Where's the bubblegum girl?"

"Working." Naruto ground out.

"Mm. Interesting." Kabuto's eyes glittered, and Kakashi sensed the conversation was about to enter dangerous territory. "What about your boyfriend, that pasty one- Sai? I see he isn't here with you, either." Naruto dug his nails into his palm, but couldn't think of a retort. Kakashi noted with surprise that he hadn't automatically called out Kabuto on calling Sai his boyfriend and not mentioning their last disastrous encounter in Orochimaru's lair. Kabuto gave a short gasp. "Ah- don't tell me! Is he still injured from Sasuke's manhandling? I recall he shielded you from Sasuke-kun's katana. Or..." Kabuto gave a short laugh. "Did he die saving you?"

"You bastard!" Naruto lunged at Kabuto, forcing Kakashi to grab onto his collar and hold him back to prevent a physical fight. "You're just as bad as Orochimaru, slinking around under people's skin like the world's greatest asshole, and-"

"Naruto, we're going to see Danzō. Calm down and ignore him." Kakashi reprimanded sternly, though his fingers too itched to wipe that smile off Kabuto's face.

"Let me go!" Naruto snarled. He twisted in Kakashi's grip and broke free, running up the stairs two at a time. His chest twinged painfully from the extertion, but he ignored it and Kakashi's calls.

Naruto burst onto the top floor and reached out for the door handle to the Hokage's main office, intending to wrench it open. Two ANBU shimmered into sight from where they had been standing camouflaged and attempted to push Naruto away. but he was too strong for them.

"Oi, old man!" Naruto burst through the doorway, his face flushed angrily. "And you- GET OFF!" The two ANBU who had accosted him at the door still somehow clung to his arms, but he shook them off with unnatural strength. It was only with Kakashi's quick intervention that he saved them from being thrown into the wall, but Naruto paid them no further attention. He stood in the middle of the room, breathing heavily and glaring at the Hokage. Danzō raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. "You were leader of Root, weren't you? And you disbanded it, didn't you?"

Danzō drummed his fingers on the desk, studying the furious Jinchuuriki like he was an interesting painting. "The Foundation was a militant organization under uncertain leadership. Even if I happened to have something to do with it, I could never disband it, boy. It was never formally recognized. Now, what is this all about? I was polite enough to give you several minutes of my precious time, but the Fire Country is not easily run, and there are more pressing matters at hand than a young child's whim-"

"Whim?!" Naruto stalked forwards and slammed his hands on the desk. Kakashi jumped forwards, grabbing him by the shoulder.

"Naruto, control yourself!" he commanded. "Hokage-sama, I am deeply sorry for this intrusion... Naruto heard that it was your day to hear shinobi opinions, and so he insisted on using some of your precious time." he laughed slightly and rubbed the back of his head. The placating words to this usurper made his mouth feel dirty. Danzō waved his hand, one eye crinkled and face twisted into a smile faker than any of Sai's.

"Now, now, let him ask his question." he paused, and opened his eye, meeting Kakashi's stare. "I will humour him. After all, I only wish to do what I can for the inhabitants of my village."

"Then tell me this." Naruto interjected. "Danzō... " he gritted his teeth. "Danzō-sama. You know all the members of Root, and track them wherever they go. So, tell me- where is Sai, and what have you done to him?!"

Kakashi sighed mentally. 'Naruto... I would have chosen a less straightforward way of asking.' He searched Danzō's face for any hint of malice, but found none. Instead, the Hokage looked down, regret colouring his voice.

"Ah... I had hoped to send a messenger to break the news to you, but it seems you got to me first."

"Break the news?" Naruto asked suspiciously. Danzō sighed, looking every bit his age.

"I regret to inform you, but he has... passed away."

"D-dead...?" A wave of dizziness crashed over Naruto, and the room swam before his eyes. He sat down hard on the floor, sending a jolt of pain through his still-healing chest. He tried to say something, but for some reason words didn't come easily to mind; finally, with difficulty, he forced out: "You're wrong. You're trying to trick me."

Danzō shook his head slowly. "I have had the body brought in for a proper funeral, if you wish to see it before the ceremony... he was found outside the village. The poor child must not have known that the Sound nin are our allies now, and attacked. He wouldn't have stood a chance against Orochimaru." He bowed his head. "I am so very sorry for your loss. He was a fine shinobi, one of the best."

Kakashi's own grey eye widened. He stared hard at Danzō, but the man gave nothing away.

'He has to be faking it... he would never show regret.' Unconsciously, Kakashi's fists tightened at his sides. 'But he's offering us a body. Is it the real one? Did Orochimaru kill Sai- or did Danzō arrange his death? Or maybe...no. Sai wouldn't.' He refused to believe the third option that presented itself: that Danzō was telling the truth.

"So Orochimaru murdered Sai, and you're letting him into the village?" Kakashi asked thickly, between clenched teeth. Danzō tilted his head, his face half-shadowed by the Hokage's headdress.

"Oh?" he murmured. "Would you have me forsake an alliance with a strong village for the sake of petty revenge?"

None of this registered with Naruto, except for one word. 'Orochimaru.' In his mind, he saw once again that tiny, mocking smile the Sannin had given him from under his blue headdress. 'Orochimaru.' he thought numbly. 'He came to finish the job.'

Kakashi couldn't tear his gaze away from Danzō. 'It takes a lot to get me worked up... hell, I can't remember the last time I was really angry. But something about this guy...' He let out a long breath, trying to calm himself down. "I'd like to see him, Hokage-sama. He was my student, after all."

"Of course. Would you like me to inform his teammates, or...?" Danzō trailed off, his gaze flickering in Naruto's direction.

"I'll do it." Naruto said, as if with great effort. "I'll tell them."

Whoo-ee. Perhaps it was the manga that got me back into writing. (R.I.P. those dear characters in the recent chapters.. they will be missed. Necessary and good for plot, perhaps, but their deaths are still sad. Though if Kishimoto somehow resurrects them again, I won't be happy. Too fake).

Welcome to Konoha underneath the Rokudaime, my friends. You'd probably be better off in the Mist village in its heyday; since at least then they didn't invite a snake to nest amongst their homes.

I hope I'm not confusing anyone with this whole 'Sasuke is Orochimaru' thing. I feel it would be more confusing to write in Sasuke speaking when everyone else except for Kabuto thinks he's Orochimaru.