20 Training, Intrigue, and The Push Over.

'My current issue is that I didn't think real hard, and managed to create something new. My body simply responded to something, and practically screamed at me what I should do. No original thoughts up top, just listening to instinct. Oh well, I will be the Idiot who pretends to be a genius.'

"How did you know what to do?"

"I didn't Kakashi sensei, I just did it?"

"Well, that isn't useful at all. However now we have something to go off of. "

"Good job Haru! What should I do now Sensei?" Naruto injected himself into our conversation, and looked for instructions.

"Walk up a tree."

"What?"

"I said. Walk up a tree"

"I heard what you said! I meant how?!" Naruto all but shouted at Kakashi.

"Inject an even spread of chakra along the bottom of your foot, and then walk up."

Naruto froze in place for a moment before moving towards a tree. "All of you do it too!" Naruto shouted while talking to his clones.

"A word of advice Naruto: Pop the clones one at a time, or else you'll hurt your head."

"Gotcha!" Naruto shouted while attempting to stick a foot on the tree.

"Alright, activate your sharingan, and watch as I cast a genjutsu over you. Break out, and cast it back on me."

Kakashi directed while Haruko did as he was told. Kakashi made eye contact with Haruko, noticed the new addition, and cast a simple genjutsu.

'Kakashi said he was going to cast something, and while I saw his chakra leave his body, and enter mine nothing was different. No new tree's, Naruto is still doing what he was, and Kakashi is still staring at me with his eyes. Wait a fucking second, where is his sharingan? Release!'

"Good job Haruko. You noticed, and broke out. Most of the time you won't be given the advanced notice of being trapped, and then you'll have to rely on your ability to notice something is wrong in order to break out. Now you try on me."

Following orders Haruko used his sharingan to send over some chakra. What did he change? He made naruto have red hair instead of blonde. A small, and obvious change, but it was a start.

"Release. While obvious you understood how to use genjutsu without hand signs, and without a specific jutsu. Very impressive, but most of the credit goes to your eyes. I'm surprised it worked at all if I'm honest."

"I'm also pleasantly surprised, as everything else has failed up to this point."

"Do you have any idea why this worked when nothing else did?"

'The way Kakashi asked the question it sounded like he already knew the answer. Why is he being so difficult?'

"Because what we did was different from typical casting, instead of using hand signs to mold the chakra, I willed the chakra to do what I wanted. Much like how I'm able to use shunshin."

"Correct. Does your clone work like the shadow clone? I can see your chakra reserve was severely depleted."

"Yes, and no. Same principle. The only difference I can tell is it's more durable."

"So a better version then?"

"It feels like it."

"Alright go back, and fourth putting each other in progressively more intricate illusion's. It's not the best training as you'll both know it isn't real, but doing it over, and over again will give you experience."

'Hm. lemme try something real quick.'

Both Haruko held their hands up, followed the signs, and created a combined total of 10 clones. Then they did as they were told, but changed partner's each time to create a higher diversity of illusions. Kakashi saw both his student's working hard, and decided not to slack off either as he moved further away before repeatedly summoning clones to fight.

In another location.

"Guy sensei, where are Naruto, Haruko, and Kakashi?"

"Well Lee, I'm not too sure. I got a note from Kakashi that merely said: "The kid's, and I are doing special training." So I'm not sure."

"Can we do special training too?"

"Ah Lee, the power of YOUTH is burning bright today! We're tripling our training today!"

"Yes Guy Sensei!"

The power duo then increased the speed at which they were running around on their hands.

In yet another location.

An aged man sat behind his desk while holding his head in his hands.

'Haruko's intelligence was correct. Every single detail down to dates, achievements, and Mizu's introduction to the root. Danzo you fool! How far will you go to fulfill your ambitions?'

"Weasel! Send this to Danzo."

"Sir."

Weasel left, and Hiruzen waited.

'After all this time I can't believe Danzo would resort to this. If Danzo is corrupted like this, then what about the other elders? Surely they wouldn't be right?'

Some time passed, and Danzo took his sweet time arriving inside Hiruzen's office.

"Hiruzen! What was the important business you needed to discuss with me so urgently? I'm quite busy."

"Busy as you may be, you know you can't ignore my orders. Arriving late, when we both know you could have been here over an hour ago."

"I had some things to finish. What do you need?"

"Information, A root ninja named Mizu, codenamed Mouse was found attempting to murder a child. Why?"

"Must have gone rogue."

"The Root does not go rogue, you, and I both know that."

"What are you getting at Hiruzen?"

"I want to know why."

"I protect the leaf in the shadows, it's best you don't know. You can do your job with a clear conscience, and I can do mine."

Danzo with all the dramatic energy he could possibly muster turned around, and left the hokage's office, not caring if Hiruzen had anything else to say.

'Even after all this time.' Hiruzen sighed to himself. While Danzo didn't outright say he was guilty, it was easy for Hiruzen to read between the lines. His oldest friend had just told him to stick it where the sun doesn't shine, and to stay out of his affairs.

'This is the worst timing possible. Between Danzo's crimes, and the slow build up of a possible rebellion, and increasing skirmishes on our borders I can't figure out where to focus. I'm getting much too old for this. Maybe it's time to retire.'

Hiruzen rubbed his temples while trying to figure out what to do. Coming to a decision he quickly wrote two letters before sending them with Weasel.

"Find Jiraiya, and Tsunade. Hand each to them, and return. Report to me your clan's movements, and then I need you to increase your surveillance on Danzo."

"Yes, Lord Third."

'If all works out I can handle everything, and set up for my student to take over. Perhaps his insight will allow me to navigate this madness.'