The trial - part 1

Minato was at his desk preparing for the trial when someone knocked on the door.

Knock knock knock "Hokage-sama may I come in?"

"Come in" Minato said

The door opened and Shikaku Nara appeared.

"How are the preparations going Shikaku?" Asked Minato

"It's all ready" Said Shikaku

"Have the Daimyo and the nobles arrived yet?" Minato asked

"No, the Daimiyo should arrive in a few minutes" Shikaku said.

"I don't understand why the Daimyo has been so persistent in attending Danzo's trial" Said Minato

"Do you think he will try to intervene in the trial?" asked Shikaku

Minato looked at him and said "I don't know, in the documents that I've collected from root, there is nothing mentioning a deal with the Daimyo or a relationship between Danzo and him. But he's wrong if he thinks I'll let him intervene in Konoha's internal matters.

How is the security for the event going?" Minato asked

"The Anbu are watching from the rooftops while the Jonin are patrolling the village" Shikaku said.

"Have all the shinobi that were outside the village arrived yet?" Minato asked

"Yes, they have all arrived. Only Jiraiya-sama is missing and he should be here shortly" Shikaku said to which Minato nodded. Shikaku looked at Minato and asked "Do you think someone will attack during the trial?"

Minato looked at him and said "I don't know. Danzo had many connections inside and outside the village. He controlled many minor clans in Konoha, and even had connections with the nobles of the fire country.

Also, I'm almost certain that he had shinobi outside the village. Those people will do anything to avoid his death.

But that's not the worst, Danzo also kept in contact with people like Orochimaru, it's possible that this one will come to save him" Minato said.

"Are you sure that a person like Orochimaru would come to save Danzo? From what I know about him, he would never risk himself for anyone" Said Shikaku

"That would be true if Danzo and Orochimaru didn't have a deal. And Danzo has not kept his part" Minato said.

Shikaku looked at him curiously "What deal would it be that would make Orochimaru risk invading Konoha just to save Danzo?" Shikaku asked

Minato looked at him and said "You already know that Danzo wanted to destroy the clans, right?" Minato asked, seeing that Shikaku nodded he continued "One of the clans he wanted to destroy was the Uchiha clan. Danzo didn't just want to destroy the Uchiha clan because of his enmity towards them or because they might pose an obstacle to his plans. Danzo covets their eyes," Minato said.

Shikaku looked at him confused and said "And what does that have to do with Orochimaru?" asked Shikaku

"Orochimaru also greed the same thing, he's obsessed with the Sharingan as well as Danzo" Minato said.

Shikaku got thoughtful and said "So they made a deal to destroy the Uchiha clan and split their eyes" Shikaku said

Minato shook his head and said "No, you're wrong. Orochimaru is not interested in the destruction of the Uchiha clan, what he wants is a living Uchiha and it has to be a talented one. Orochimaru's deal with Danzo was that Orochimaru would help him implant the Sharingan in Danzo in exchange for a talented Uchiha" Said Minato.

Shikaku was surprised by Minato's revelation, but something didn't add up. "Why would Orochimaru want a talented Uchiha with such strength?" asked Shikaku.

Minato looked at him and said " It is rumored that Orochimaru has achieved immortality. But everything comes at a price, he has to constantly change bodies. He uses a technique to invade other people's body and replace them" Minato said.

Shikaku was speechless, he had finally understood 'Orochimaru wants an Uchiha so he can take over their body' thought Shikaku at the same time he was terrified 'If Orochimaru gets an Uchiha body with a Sharingan, I can't imagine what he might be capable of doing' thought Shikaku

"That's why you have ordered the Anbu to guard Itachi, Sasuke and Shisui Uchiha" Shikaku said.

"Yeah, I couldn't risk letting Orochimaru capture these kids" Minato said.

Suddenly an Anbu appeared and said "Hokage-sama the Daimyo has just arrived."

At the gates of Konoha

The guards at the gates spotted a large entourage. Four strong men carried a red palanquin with gold decorations. Behind the carriage was a large group of men following the carriage.

When they arrived at the gate the chunin in charge of guarding the gates spoke

"Tell me your identity and your business in Konoha" Said the Chunin.

The men loading the carriage were about to stop, but were interrupted by the person inside the carriage

"Don't stop" Ordered the voice

The chunin who saw that they were not going to stop said.

"Hey, you can't just pass" Shouted the chunin but he was interrupted by a sword pointed at his neck

"Don't raise your voice to the Daimyo. We came to attend the trial of Danzo Shimura" Said a man wearing typical samurai armor.

The chunin who had a katana by his neck swallowed dryly and said "I cannot simply leave you without verifying your identities. Besides, so many people will not be allowed to enter, at most twenty people can enter" Said The chunin.

The samurai took a token out of his bag and handed it to the chunin.

The chunin took the token and looked at the token meticulously.

The token was made of fully Gold with an engraving in Kanji that said Fire (火).

"These men are the Daimyo's guard you are required to let them in" Said the samurai.

The chunin swallowed dryly, even though he shouldn't let them in, he couldn't say no to the Daimyo of the land of fire.

The chunin nodded and said "You may pass. Don't cause any trouble in Konoha" The chunin said letting in over a hundred people.

With Naruto and Sasuke in the tree

Naruto and Sasuke were in a tree near the place where the trial will be held. Suddenly the crowd started to move strangely.

"What's going on?" said Sasuke as he saw the movement of the crowd.

Naruto looked at the crowd and said "Someone important must have arrived" Naruto said.

The two curious looked up waiting to see who had arrived.

Naruto and Sasuke saw the Daimyo's palanquin being carried by four people followed by a legion of soldiers.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at this scene 'What's going on here? That's the Daimyo? But why is he being followed by so many guards?' Naruto thought.

The Daimyo and his entourage passed through the crowd until they reached the Hokage's tower.

The men carrying the palanquin stopped and set it gently on the ground.

Out of the palanquin stepped a thin man with an open fan and a hat that resembled the fan, but this one had red flames drawn on it.

In front of the Daimyo an Anbu appeared. Before the Anbu could speak the Damiyo said "Call the Hokage" Ordered the Daimyo to the Anbu who was puzzled by the Daimyo's attitude.

The Anbu stood there for a few seconds until he nodded and went to report to the Hokage.

Hokage's office

An Anbu appeared before Minato and said "Hokage-sama, the Daimyo orders you to come down to receive him" Said the Anbu.

Minato and Shikaku who were in the room were puzzled by the Daimyo's attitude.

While it would have been polite for Minato to have received him at the gates of the village. Minato had been unable to do so due to trial preparations.

"Tell him I can't come down now because I'm busy. If he wants he can go into a waiting room and wait until the trial time" Minato said.

The Anbu quickly disappeared and went to pass Minato's message.

Shikaku looked at Minato and said "The Daimyo is acting very strange" Shikaku said.

Minato got up from his chair and looked out the window where he saw the Daimyo and his large retinue of bodyguards "Yes, he is acting too strange" Minato said. 'Something tells me he's come to cause trouble. What are you planning, Daimyo? If you think I'll let you do as you please you're very wrong' thought Minato.

Suddenly he heard a shout coming from the Daimyo.

'How dare he treat me like this? I demand that you come down to greet me, this is the second time you have disrespected me" Said the Daimyo to the Anbu.

"I'm sorry sir, the Hokage is busy with preparations for the trial. He has told you that if you wish you can go inside to wait in a break room, but your entourage will have to wait outside" Said the Anbu

The Daimyo grew even angrier and said "I'm not going anywhere without my guards. Konoha is no longer a safe place, they even arrest their valuable actives" Said the Daimyo as he turned and walked back into his palanquin.

With Naruto and Sasuke

Naruto and Sasuke looked at the scene with strange eyes.

"That's the leader of the fire country? That's not impressive at all" Said Sasuke.

"Yeah, I don't understand how the ninja villages bent the knee to people like him" Said Naruto

"Don't say that" Suddenly said a voice coming from above.

Naruto and Sasuke were startled when they heard the voice. They looked up and saw a boy about ten years old, the boy was hanging upside down from a tree branch. The boy had shoulder-length gray hair.

After saying that the boy jumped off the branch and landed next to Naruto and Sasuke.

'I didn't sense him' thought Naruto as he looked at the boy suspiciously and prepared to run away if necessary.

'How did he do that?' thought Sasuke who was also prepared to run away.

The boy smiled and said "No need to be so nervous" He said with a friendly smile.

"What's your name" Naruto said squinting his eyes.

The boy smiled and said "My name is Ka..."