30 Chapter 30: Rammifcations Part 2!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hiruzen's POV (Hokage Manor)

"Of course sir, these letters are the messages from all five of the main villages." Shizune started.

"You don't mean?" Kakashi interjected.

"Yes I do, for the first time in years, all five villages will be present in the Chunin Exams. Leaf, Stone, Mist, Sand, and Cloud. All of them are sending at least one team. Even more troubling is the fact that all five Kage will attend of course with their guards." Shizune finished.

"Holy crap! We only had two when I went!" Obito exclaims.

"I suppose it makes sense. With Sensei's agreement with the others we all have a crop of Genin now all raring to go. With our new standard of keeping them in the oven, there would be no reason to wait." Tsunade offered.

"Indeed with all of the villages attending, we need to ensure it goes off well. Preferably with our shinobi coming out on top… Kakashi give the report again. It's time to discuss the next topic."

"Sir, my Genin team, Team Seven were sent on a mission to remove a recently formed bandit camp. It was scheduled to be a C-rank mission. Should've been simple. Earnestly I intended to see how sharp they were and blood them. But things as always seemed to go sideways. Firstly we were ambushed by a group of foreign shinobi."

"Not many villages even have shinobi capable of standing up to someone of Kakashi-sama's level." Itachi added. "The only ones that come to mind are the whispers of a new one forming somewhere in the Land of Fire. They are new but secretive so perhaps they could have the manpower. I believe it's referred to as the Sound?"

"Correct! Oh, they grow up so fast." Kakashi jokes. "But I believe they were marked with snake scale clothing. And they weren't quite at the level of Jounin I'm used to. Earnestly they seemed like newbies. Even with numbers I carved through them. It was really targeted as well. Each of us was attacked as soon as we separated. It suggested they had insider info on the fact we were there and who was sent. With that in mind it's my own personal theory they are somehow related. Luckily we had all managed to overcome them. I met with Ino Yamanaka and Neji Hyuga to check on them. They were a bit shaken up but mostly unharmed. I had intended to grab Naruto Uzumaki and then we would pull back. But I was interrupted by a shinobi. Kisame Hogaki was garbed in a red and black cloak and claimed he was after Naruto. I told the other two to extract Naruto and escape." Kakashi continued.

"Kakashi you dumbass!" Obito roared angrily.

"I know how you feel, old friend but I had doubts I could even survive against Kisame. I had intended to do what I could but was prepared for the worst. The other two headed off as I fought him. The entire time he seemed to be playing around. He consistently had me on the backfoot. Before he attempted to finish me off with a drowning/shark attack. In desperation, I activated my Kamui. It managed to wound the man severing an arm. But in the process passed out from the wounds I had received."

"I can come in from there." Tsunade called. "I was in my lovely town enjoying some great company. It was a rather lucky day all in all."

"She was gambling and she lost often." Dez whimpered from the wall.

Failing to even cry out in pain when Tsunade kicked him again. Merely fading back unconscious.

"When one of my men reported to me informing me of a fight spotted nearby just minutes ago. I debated if this was truly my problem." Shizune gasped shamefully at that. "And decided it was." Shizune visibly relaxed. "I raced forward and could feel them in the distance due to chakra. I decided to go to the signatures that were fading fast. Likely they would need the help first. When I did I saw the Genin were engaged with one Juzo Biwa. Well the result of it anyway. He had defeated them by then. So I stealthily approached and struck him hard attempting to take him out at once. Somehow the freak survived and we engaged briefly. He seemed somewhat spent though since I was able to beat him around. He retreated to his comrade when I arrived and we all faced off. Honestly, it was going to be a tough battle. But suddenly they choose to retreat. I healed the bunch then Dez and Katsuyu arrived allowing me to transport them to the Leaf as well as back up if they returned. They did follow us for a bit but fell back once it was clear we were heading home." Tsunade informed the group.

"I'm assuming the Akatsuki?" Itachi asked politely. Tsunade nodded at this with a frown.

"The Akatsuki?" Kakashi and Shizune both echoed at once.

"Tsunade." Hiruzen stated.

"The Akatsuki is a mysterious and powerful group of missing ninjas. No one seems quite sure of their motives or operations. But in the criminal world, they are quickly rising to the top. They are known for taking any S-rank missions and completing them all. But even more than that they are known for their secrecy. So much so that even the underworld discusses them hush-hush. It's made getting info difficult. As far as we know at the moment, their only goal is to collect money or power. Even their members are hard to get info on. So far we know they have Kisame Hogaki, Jozu Bawi, and a recently identified shinobi by the name of Zombie Hidan as well as his partner Zombie Kakuzu. There is a fair bit of info on Kisame and Juzo due to their bingo book entries but the other two are a mystery. Even more concerning is supposedly they have at least ten members. If rumors are to be believed all ten are S-rank missing ninja." Tsunade finished.

"Ten? There's no way that's accurate! Ten guys on Itachi, Tsunade, and I's level? They'd be a threat to even the major villages!" Obito exclaimed.

"That is indeed troubling." Itachi said with narrowed eyes.

"They were after Naruto. I suppose you could get a decent bit of money or political sway with a jinchuriki. Hell even if they just wanted to use him as a weapon he'd be invaluable. I doubt this is the last we see of them." Kakashi reasons. 'I need to get stronger. Fast, without Tsunade… no never again!'

"Yes, but that is not all Itachi if you would like to go next." Hiruzen interjected politely.

"It seems the group responsible for the theft of the Five Masks of the Uzumaki are, interestingly enough, Uzumaki themselves. I was unable to determine what their membership or power is but reports suggest at the very least are an A-rank threat. They are responsible for various theft, assassination, terrorism, vandalism, and all sorts of despicable acts. They seem to have a proclivity towards Uzumaki items and or people." Itachi lectures. "They have been reported to seem to hate their own heritage. Often killing Uzumaki or stealing and destroying artifacts."

"This means Mizuki's attempt on my cute little Genin's life was due to Ikam wanting him dead. Mutual interest and such." Kakashi added.

"Indeed, they are wanted by the Sand, Cloud, and Rain. For various crimes. The Uzumaki have spread rather far after all. We had pursued a trail with the device the science corp had provided." Itachi acknowledged.

"Even worse yet is that we can confirm that Orochimaru is working with him due to the Mizuki incident." Obito said with a frown.

"Um, yes the compound they both used. My medical team's hypothesis is that it's some kinda chakra steroid." Shizune said while reading through some notes. We can be certain it works through the bloodstream and activates immediately. It allows the user more chakra, more potent chakra, better chakra control, and your physicality goes through the roof."

Tsunade snorts at this dismissively. "Quite the boost but surely the strain on the user is incredible." She remarks.

"Certainly, Lady Tsunade. But it also has various drugs to produce intense euphoria. It's a wonder the user can feel anything. Yet alone complex thinking that would be required for combat." Shizune agreed.

"Yes, but it would seem it has been improved. If not for Danzo's quick thinking he and I would've been slain." Hiruzen countered. "Before I was confident even in my advanced age. I was certain in one on one battle I could slay the treacherous Snake. But now with his new drug, he crushed Danzo and me at once." The group grew silent as they awaited his thoughts. He allowed himself a minute or two to consider his options. "I'm certain now you all realize the situation we have found ourselves in. I know having it all laid out like that can make it seem overwhelming but remember who we are. The Village Hidden in the Leaves has long stood as a proud nation. We have had generation after generation of shinobi passing on their will, dreams, and determination. This has led to us having formidable willpower that supplements our strength. This is what we call the Will of Fire. Using our fiery will, we will face our problems knowing that we will not fall or give up. Understood?"

"YES! SIR!" The rest called back.

"Firstly, Kakashi, you are to inform the Jounin sensei that I want those Genin in peak form. The Chunin Exam is in four months and we need a great performance. Now due to it being so close, we must consolidate our power. With all five of the hidden villages coming as well as their Kage, we cannot afford an incident here. As such Tsunade you and your men are to come back. You all will serve as a new police force. With my own approval you are to ensure things are peaceful. Itachi and Obito are to keep track of various high-value targets during the exams. For now, you both will maintain around-the-clock surveillance on Kushina and Naruto Uzumaki. Since both groups seem to be targeting them it would be wise to have a guard. I can think of no one esle. Shizune see if the science corp and medical corp can create a similar drug to the one Orochimaru made. Understood?"

"YES SIR!"

"Dismissed." He said with finality. Turning his back to look at his village. He heard a cacophony of body flickers confirming their exit. It was good he maintained his cool during the meeting. The room had been full of some of the sharpest minds. Many of them were candidates for Hokage once he hung his hat. Yet they realized not how shaken Hiruzen was. Orochimaru had very nearly killed him and his best friend. His best friend had saved his life and he responded by throwing him in chains. The mantle he held grew heavier by the day it seemed. But he would hold out yet. He saw the villagers as his children in a way. As such he merely wanted to ensure it prospered. Even long after his death. It had been the motivation behind the academy curriculum change. In many ways his crowning achievement. It had brought peace in a way he hadn't seen in years! But now it seemed the winds of change wanted to blow the peace he had worked for away. He would not let it. He was the God of Shinobi after all.

Realizing tension was filling his frame he slowly packed another bowl of tobacco, and sat in his large chair. He ignored the painful creaking of his old bones with practiced ease. Well, life was never only dread, it was merely up to a man to find his happiness. Now Hiruzen in his age had matured a great bit. Such was required to become Hokage. But for this once he had indulged in pettiness. Orochimaru would not get another chance to launch a sneak attack like he had before. And he would eventually find out regardless. That is what he had told Shizune and his advisors. But in truth, this was merely his way of teaching students yet another lesson. Never do sloppy work. He looked at the article with a shit-eating grin. Its label was sure to infuriate his former student. "Snake Sannin Attempts Assassination but Fails!" His smile grew further at the shot of Danzo and him standing tall after the battle. Danzo had even warned him he would seem like a fool.

Hiruzen frowned as he remembered Danzo. In truth, he could execute him for the crimes. Despite Danzo's earnest intention, it did fit the bill of treason. But Danzo had always called him soft and he was somewhat right. He would not allow his friend to be killed when he had acted as he should when it came down to it. But he could not allow the man to roam free. He had worked with enemies, he had disobeyed orders, and it had led to the brush with death they had faced. Eight shinobi had died as well attempting to get into the barrier. So for now he had him imprisoned in a secret cell. He could keep him there for the rest of his natural life if he so pleased. He did not though, despite Danzo's behavior Hiruzen understood his mind. He was loyal to the Leaf, more so than many. But for now, he would pay for his various sins. Until Hirzuen could find a better idea.