A/N: Well, this chapter is the longest in the story and it is for a good reason. As I said in the previous chapter, I have already finished writing this chapter and I am sorry if things don't turn out the way some of you would have wanted to. There are two or three chapters left before we head into a very interesting arc (cough... Itachi... cough) that I have been planning for a while. So, hang in there folks...

And a happy news... the fanfic has crossed over 1.5K favs, 2K follows, and 1K reviews... I am tremendously grateful for all your love and support.

It would be a spoiler, hence I have placed the title at the bottom :)

As I sat in my favorite spot in the entire Konoha and overlooked the village that was bustling with activity, I couldn't help but sigh at how peaceful it was. From my position on the top of the Hokage monument, I could see the entire village as both civilians and shinobi alike went about their lives with no trace of anything towards unordinary. The sight somehow didn't bring me joy. Neither did it bring forth any negative emotions. All I could feel was a numb feeling that pervaded me entirely.

Anko had recently moved out of the house after finding a small apartment in the shinobi residential area owned by a retired shinobi. A little bit of digging let me know that the old man was a friend of Hiruzen. I was glad that Hiruzen had secretly helped out Anko with her living problem. Even, the village was slowly beginning to look at Anko in a sympathetic light.

Minato had also done his part in helping her out after the investigation was over. He had pulled some strings and obtained an apprenticeship in Konoha's T&I for Anko. Initially, Anko had been reluctant to step back into that particular building. But, after Minato had summoned her to a meeting, she had realized that she had very few options other than that owing to the stigma that had been generated due to Orochimaru.

I was sad for her since she had a very bright future before all this debacle. Regardless, she at least had a place to be thanks to Hiruzen's and Minato's efforts. While both Harami and I would be there for her regardless of her choice, it was a good thing that she now had a road to walk on her own. At least, this would help her move past the last few months.

She had moved out a few days ago. Ever since then, it had been just me in the big Senju Ancestral house. After having someone staying with me for the past few weeks, the sudden absence of people other than me made the entire house a bit lonely. So, I had taken to spend my free time away from the house.

While it did relieve me of the boredom, it also served an additional purpose. Since, no one was taking the bait after I moved out of Hiruzen's house and stayed alone, I figured that maybe seeing me wander around the village all on my own would tempt them. At least, it was worth a shot.

But, today was entirely different from the other occasions that I had wandered out. Today was special. In an alternate universe, this day would have been the harbinger of doom. It would be so pivotal for years to come. Hell, this was the day on which canon officially began. Yes, today was October 10 – the very day Kyubi rampaged through Konoha.

But, that was in an alternate universe. This version in which I was alive was so different from that. For one, Team Minato was still alive and kicking. While it may not be whole in the upcoming weeks, as of today Team Minato was still whole. That meant, Obito wasn't out there plotting the murder of his sensei and unleashing a tailed beast. Hell, he didn't even have Mangekyo at this point.

The second kicker was that Kushina was scheduled to go into induced labor two days from now. That simple thing changed a whole lot of others. Even if someone had taken the place of Obito, this day was bound to be peaceful since there wasn't anything to be done today. Even if they were going to go ahead with the same plan, they would only do it two days from now. As for change in the plans, the seal would only be weaker during the childbirth and no sane mastermind would attack a highly protected jinchuriki when their seal was strong.

And last but not least, there was my nifty little influence in creating a space-time barrier seal. While it may not be so big, it was little things like these that threw a wrench in major plans. With the space-time manipulation taken out of the game, any attacker must run through a gauntlet to even reach Kushina. And even if they reached, by that time Minato would be alerted and not to mention the fact that they have to face an irate Kushina who was protecting her baby. Even Madara wouldn't succeed with odds like that.

Hence, this day in Konoha was bound to be peaceful.

Whether two days from now would be the same was entirely another matter.

But, the fact still remained that things have changed in a very obvious manner. October 10 was no longer the day of mourning. It was just another day in the lives of Konoha citizens. The bustling scene in front of me was the biggest evidence of that.

I let out a huge sigh and shook my head. As much as I wanted to hang around with someone, no one would know how I felt or what this day meant to me. After all, they didn't have a whole load of probable future in their minds do they? I was all alone in my melancholic recollection of what this day could be. Who could understand my complex feelings towards this ordinary day?

That was the reason I was sitting all alone on top of the Hokage Mountain currently.

Suddenly, a thought popped into my mind and took root. I let out a surprised chuckle and berated myself for being so stupid. As I watched the setting sun, it became clear to me that I was not perhaps alone in this world. There was a certain someone who was similar to me, who knew perfectly well what this day was about.

Kenpachi, that old bartender, would know the importance of this ordinary day. While he wasn't privy to the change of date regarding Kushina's childbirth, he would know that in an alternate universe this was the say in which the Kyubi rampaged through Konoha. That meant, I was not alone.

Strangely enough, that thought gave me comfort. So, I didn't need to be all alone on this dreadful day mourn for the tragedy that should have befallen Konoha. In fact, if I started now at full speed, I could probably reach his place in another half an hour. Maybe I could drown my imaginary sorrows with him and even pick his brain a little on how to handle things two days from now.

After all, while we both knew the major events of Naruto series, our knowledge on finer things would differ. If I could glean some extra tidbits, I could be more prepared two days from now. Furthermore, his viewpoints might differ, and having a sounding board would help me immensely if I had to tackle Kyubi being released despite the changes in the timeline.

As I thought more about it, I smacked myself for not doing this sooner. But, it was never too late to try. And, having company tonight was not a bad thing either for both of us.

Having made up my mind, I blurred towards the village gate with a light heart.

(*****)

As I reached Kenpachi's place, I saw that he had already closed the shop. It looked like this day was weighing on his mind heavily too. A small mirthless smile formed on my face as I slowly strode into his place despite the closed sign.

"Didn't you see the closed sign?" Kenpachi growled in his aging voice as I entered his place.

He was already drinking despite the early hour. The sun had just set and while it wasn't uncommon to drink during the day, the level of his inebriety was not consistent with day-time drinking.

"My, my, Kenpachi! I thought you would like some company on this dreadful day. Don't tell me I am mistaken," I chuckled looking at his slumped form.

His eyes shot open and he squinted to get a clear view of me to confirm that it was indeed me.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Kenpachi asked in confusion.

"Visiting an old friend, of course," I said taking a seat opposite to him.

"Don't tell me you are running away. I never figured you for a coward," Kenpachi squinted.

"Nah," I shook my head pouring some sake for myself.

"If you are not running away, what are you doing here? I am sure you know what day this is," Kenpachi asked suspiciously.

"I do know what day this is," I said drinking my sake. "That's the reason I am here."

"Shouldn't you be there trying to mitigate the damage?" Kenpachi asked flabbergasted.

"Ah, about that, there has been a slight change in things," I said looking at him.

"Oh, what changes have you made?" Kenpachi asked eagerly.

"It's not me," I said shaking my head, "Kushina's childbirth isn't for two more days."

"Huh"

That was all the reply I got before Kenpachi trailed into silence. We both sat in silence for a long time as we drank without saying anything. After some time, Kenpachi broke the silence.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, she told me herself that her childbirth date was on October 12."

"That does change things a bit," Kenpachi mumbled before taking a swig out of the bottle in his hands. "So, what brings you here?"

"I couldn't stay there tonight. Not…." I trailed off as the memories of Kyubi attack washed over me. "Not after knowing what happened there tonight."

Kenpachi merely nodded.

"Heck, even I am a little sad," Kenpachi growled. "I know I am a bastard for staying away and letting things happen as they used to happen. But, it is what I choose when I was born here. Despite that, I can't help but feel bad when thinking about this day. So many lives…."

We both drank in silence for a long while, before I eventually broke the silence.

"Well, not that I fault you. If I had a choice, maybe I would have done the same. Didn't everything turn out good in the end? But, now that things have changed even a little bit, I can't help but worry for the future."

Kenpachi nodded in understanding. While his presence hadn't done anything to the timeline, mine had definitely caused some ripple effects. Even though we didn't say it aloud, we both knew that now the future was a little uncertain. Will these small changes affect the final outcome in a different way? No one could predict it.

"You know, sometimes, I mean sometimes when I am deep into the cups, I would think what would have happened if I had become a shinobi. I mean, I was born long before you. I was alive for all three wars personally. Would having me in the center of things change it entirely?"

I remained silent to his questions. There was no if. He had made his choice and the world was as it is now. Thinking about past choices and their effects was a fruitless endeavor.

"Maybe, I could have changed a lot of things," Kenpachi said wistfully.

"Or maybe you would have died horribly before you could even affect things," I reminded him somberly causing him to look up at me sharply.

"What's that supposed to mean? Am I not qualified enough?" Kenpachi sneered.

"Nothing, I was just pointing out the obvious pitfall there. I have been in the thick of war Kenpachi, I know how brutal it was. Surviving one is enough to give me nightmares. Surviving three, I don't even want to think about it. If you did, you would be a Kage-level by now."

Kenpachi remained silent as he mulled on my words. It was clear to him by now that I wasn't insulting him, but merely laying the possibilities bare. Surviving three wars is no small thing. Only a handful of active shinobi had done that. Onoki, Hiruzen, Danzo, and perhaps a few others. If he had indeed survived all three, he would definitely be a Kage level shinobi by now. But, there is a reason that Kage level shinobis are so few. After all, attaining that level was not a simple feat.

"Forget it," Kenpachi waved his hands, "it's all in the past now."

I nodded in acceptance.

As the night progressed we both sat there drinking our sorrows away. We reminisced our old world and lamented the lack of technological development here. Soon, we also treaded into the topic of existence in this new world.

"Tell me, what do you remember about the Kyubi attack?" I asked Kenpachi.

"Nothing much, to be honest. After all, the show didn't provide many details into it even though it was where the story of Naruto began. Obito, or to be specific Tobi, infiltrated the village with his use of Kamui and attacked Kushina and Minato during childbirth. Minato saved the baby, but Tobi managed to unleash the nine tails. In the end, Minato and Tobi fought, with Minato defeating Tobi. After that, Minato sealed the Kyubi at the cost of his and Kushina's life."

"Yeah, I too think there weren't many details provided. Come to think of it, where exactly in the village was the Kyubi even released? Why wasn't there anyone near Minato when he confronted Tobi? After all, a battle of that level wasn't easy to be overlooked. They are bound to cause a major disturbance."

"You are overthinking it. Do you think anyone would bother paying attention to a battle happening in the outskirts when there is a tailed beast rampaging in the village? Also, didn't Tobi take out all the security before entering the cave?"

"Yeah," I nodded glumly.

"You aren't thinking of confronting the Kyubi, are you?"

"I don't know. It just doesn't feel right to sit back and watch. I am close to both Minato and Kushina," I said softly.

Kenpachi remained silent for a long time before he grunted, "In that case, you are better off finding that cave. If you can stop the intruder from entering there, then things could be easily accomplished."

"Its not that simple," I shook my head. "The location of that cave is a highly guarded secret. Very few know of it. Apart from the Hokage Guard Platoon, the midwife, The Hokage, and Jinchuriki, no one else knows of it."

"What about the previous Hokage and elders?"

I paused momentarily, "Maybe, they would know. But, they won't disclose it easily."

"Then, your only option is to keep tabs on the members of Hokage Guard Platoon and follow them there. If I was Tobi, I would do the same thing."

That idea had merit. With Tobi's space-time manipulation, he could easily track the movements of the Hokage Guard Platoon. In fact, that might be the way through which he figured out the cave's location. If I could convince Minato to add me temporarily to the platoon, I could use my sensory skills to rat him out if he appears. This way, we would have an additional layer of protection even if there were other factors that were involved.

"I think you are right," I let out a relieved sigh.

"You thought of a plan?"

"Yeah, I hope it works out," I mumbled.

Now, it was all upto whether Minato would temporarily allow me to join the Hokage Guard Platoon. Even if he doesn't, the idea will make him add a few more adept sensors to his team who could prevent Tobi sneaking into the cave.

"So, what about the place the Kyubi was summoned? Where do you think it is?"

Kenpachi was silent for a while as he pondered about the location.

"The best bet would be to be near the Uchiha clan compound," he grunted.

"What? Why there? The Uchihas were the least affected due to the attack. That was one of the reasons for the village to turn on them," I said in confusion.

"Pfft, I think you forgot. The Uchiha clan was relocated to the outskirts after the Kyubi attack. If their clan compound hasn't been destroyed why would they need to be relocated?"

I sat there stunned for a while. What he said made sense, so much so that it was perfect.

"Moreover, it doesn't matter about the location. After all, you would be able to see that giant orange furry monster regardless of where you are in the village. The reason for me saying for you to be near the Uchiha clan compound was to provide them an alibi. If there are worthwhile witnesses who saw that they had nothing to do with the attack, it might help prevent the massacre."

"You are right," I grunted. "But, my main concern is not about the massacre."

"You are worried about Kushina and Minato," Kenpachi asked.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Then, there are only two options. The cave as I said earlier, it prevents everything from happening. But, if it does, then your only other option is their residence where the sealing is happening," Kenpachi said looking at me gravely. "And I don't need to tell you, the residence is the most dangerous of the two."

"Why do you say so?"

"For all his abilities, Tobi is a mere man. And you won't be fighting him alone. But, in the residence, your opponent is an enraged bijuu. It is on whole another level. Neither Kushina nor Minato will be in a state to fight alongside you. Even though the duration you have to fend it off is less, it is more dangerous than the first option."

I bit my lip as I thought about it. It was true, the bijuu was more dangerous than the masked man who would release it. Even though I have to only fend it off during the duration Minato needed to cast his seal, it would be more demanding to face an enraged bijuu. The Kyubi which had recently come out of mind control would be even more bloodthirsty and would consider any living being as its mortal enemy. That kind of situation would lead to it becoming frenzied.

Even though, it was the worst possible situation to arise, there was still a possibility for it to happen. It was better to be fully prepared for any eventualities. If things indeed progressed to such a situation, then Minato would already be on the verge of death. In that case, I would only be able to save Kushina. But, something was better than nothing. So, I didn't have much problem with doing it if it came to such a situation.

"I will see how it goes," I said softly to Kenpachi. He merely nodded and we both once again started to drink in silence.

The topic once more diverged from serious matters. We both sat there drinking for some more time as Kenpachi told quite a bit of his life here in Narutoverse. The night had already fallen long time ago and it was nearing midnight by now.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a strange sense of foreboding came across me. My intoxicated mind became a little alert as a dreadful feeling washed over me. I immediately flushed my chakra of alcohol and stood up. Kenpachi, however, didn't seem worried due to my sudden action. On the other hand, his face was scrunched up and he seemed to be pondering something.

"Why do I feel something bad is going to happen all of a sudden," he muttered as he looked at me with worry etched across his eyes.

His worried eyes were the last thing I needed right now. Were the conspirators going to attack me now? After all, I was currently outside of the village. This would be an ideal chance to carry out an assassination. As this thought arose, I immediately flashed outside not bothering to reply to Kenpachi.

As I came outside, I didn't see anything out of ordinary. Despite that, that foreboding feeling didn't manage to go away. In fact, it only intensified further. Worried, I pressed my fingers on the ground and tried to sense my surroundings.

I knew being currently out in the open was a stupid thing to do. But, I also didn't want Kenpachi to get involved in this. Furthermore, the outside provided me with ample opportunity to sense if any trap was set and escape in the ideal direction. Locked inside the house would not give me much freedom of movement.

As I sensed the surroundings, I didn't feel any chakra signatures. A couple chunnin level signatures registered in my mind from the direction of the only inn present in the village. I knew they would only be sending themselves to death if they were indeed here for me. It made no sense, so I decided to ignore them and increased my searching radius further by pumping chakra into the technique.

Recently, some of the scrolls I have read in the Senju Ancestral House were from my grandfather on the intricacies of performing long-ranged sensing. While, I didn't have much practice, I had indeed grasped the theories behind it solidly. I modified my sensing technique to suit long-ranged sensing and let the input flow through my mind.

As I extended my range further and further, I could feel a headache beginning to form. The sensory overload was almost too much for me. But, I bit my lip and prevailed. Still, I couldn't sense anyone in the vicinity for miles who was above Chunnin grade. Despite all these things, I couldn't help but feel the foreboding sensation growing stronger and stronger.

Just when I was about to stop my technique, an overwhelming pressure rammed through the sensations into me making me end the technique and stagger back a few steps. I coughed up a little blood with fear written all over my face.

"What happened?" Kenpachi's worried voice came from behind.

I woodenly turned towards him and replied in a scared voice, "The Kyubi has been unleashed."

Kenpachi stood quiet for a moment as he processed my statement. His eyes bulged in shock as he stared at me incomprehensibly. I too stood there stunned for words.

"But… but.. but… How?" Kenpachi asked in confusion. "Didn't you tell the childbirth was two days later?"

I stood there silently not able to believe what I have sensed in the distance. That malevolent force of chakra couldn't be anything but Kyubi. That colossal amount of chakra that I had been able to sense lightly couldn't be anything human. If not for the fact that I had use long-range sensing and the sheer incredible amount of chakra Kyubi had, I wouldn't have felt anything either. After all, we were a long way away from Konoha.

As for why I had vomited blood, the reason was two-fold. One, I had overextended myself in my worry and had completely drawn on every bit of energy I had. Two, by overextending myself in such a way, I had completely let down my guard and allowed the feeling of that malevolent and corrosive chakra to pass through me completely.

Even though the amount I had sensed was not even a drop in the ocean of the total amount of chakra Kyubi had due to the distance, the malevolent and corrosive nature of chakra had invaded me easily. Thus the reason for my current state. But, the physical blow was nothing compared to the mental blow I had received.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Kenpachi started chuckling mirthlessly. I turned to look at him in anger.

"Oh…. oh…. oh… you poor boy," Kenpachi spoke amidst his chuckles which were turning into laughter. "I have heard that the heavens always work in mysterious ways. Seeing you now…. Ha ha ha ha ha… I see that is true. Ha ha ha ha ha…."

I gritted my teeth in anger and marched towards him.

"Don't mind me….. ha ha ha… Maybe this is the reason I had been kept alive for so long. Oh ho ho ha ha ha…."

As I stood before him Kenpachi seemed as if he was raving mad.

"Kenpachi," I growled.

"You still don't understand do you boy," Kenpachi chuckled shaking his head and controlling his laughter. "You see, if I wasn't alive, you wouldn't have come out of the village today, would you? If we haven't met, you would have remained behind in the village, wouldn't you? Who knows, maybe, you could have changed something if you had remained there. Ha ha ha ha….. Oh heavens! You merciless pieces of crap! Ha ha ha ha."

Unable to take it any further, I punched Kenpachi right in the face sending him crashing into his pub. I turned around and took off to Konoha without sparing Kenpachi a single glance. As I sped towards Konoha, I already knew I was far too late to anything. Even still, I pushed myself in the hopes that there was something I could do to change the course of events.

(*****)

One hour ago…

Minato flashed into the clearing near the cave where Kushina has been escorted prior under heavy guard with a Hirashin. He appeared near Raidou and Genma, his two personal bodyguards, and surveyed the barriers enveloping the area and nodded at the amount of security that has been placed.

"Raidou, Genma, return to the Hokage Office and ask Kiriko to deny any visitors for the rest of the night. I will notify you when the childbirth is completed. If any emergencies arise, notify the Sandaimae. I have talked to him prior to coming here, he will hold down the fort in the meantime."

"Acknowledged, Hokage Sama," they chorused.

Another Hirashin later, both his personal guards were gone. Minato looked at the barrier pondered briefly seeing them disappear.

"Kushina nee, this experiment exposed a serious security breach in Konoha's barriers."

Hatorama's voice echoed in his mind as he eyed the barriers. When Hatorama and Kushina had given him the finished seal, he had done everything he could to get it approved by the council of elders. However, none of them saw the necessity for such a large undertaking of rewiring the entire Konoha Barrier System. Strangely enough, Danzo had been adamant about exploring the seal on his own.

Fearing his motives, he had shelved the proposal to the background and secured the seal on his person. After all, who knew what the old war-hawk wanted to do with the seal. After Orochimaru had defected, he had seen signs of severe tampering in several of Orochimaru's hideouts. Ever since then, he had been very cautious of Danzo. Giving him such a seal would effectively close his own backdoor if in case he needed to snoop around a bit on the elder. So, he had held on to that seal ever since then.

Now, looking at the barriers which were easily bypassed by him, Raidou, and Genma, he couldn't help but feel that Hatorama was correct. Maybe, if he rewired these barriers with Hatorama's seal it would serve as a good test run.

But, there wasn't enough time for that. He could already hear Kushina's anguished cries from the cave. He needed to be there if in case there was a problem with the jinchuriki seal. So, that would be what he needed to prioritize now.

Letting out a huge sigh, he walked towards the cav3e dwelling with a nervous expression and put the thought of testing this new seal in the back of his mind. Just when he crossed the threshold into the cave, he stopped for a moment. His eyebrows furrowed and he seemed to be debating something serious.

"Hokage sama, we need you in here now," Biwako san's voice called him from inside making him rise out of his contemplation.

"Minato, if you don't come in here and keep this furry bastard in place, I will make sure you will regret it," Kushina's bellow was the last thing he needed as he rapidly walked inside anxiously.

Little did they know that they all have just signed their doom due to that one moment of prioritization.

(*****)

I hastily swallowed a few pills to restore my chakra and soothe my internal injuries as I made my way towards Konoha at high speed. Compared to how fast I was going when I visited Kenpachi, now my speed was twice that. I wasn't wasting any second. I knew I was already too late to change anything, but unless I saw it personally, my mind refused to lose hope.

Furthermore, I could still feel Kyubi rampaging. Its chakra was easy to identify, after all. That meant that I still had a chance to save Kushina from certain death. Once Kyubi was released, Minato's fate had already been sealed. But, Kushina was still alive and I could probably save her if I rush back soon.

There were also other questions as to why Kyubi had been released today. The only logical answer was that the childbirth was scheduled for today. Nothing else made sense. If so, did Kushina lie to me? Why would she do that? Did she think I was untrustworthy?

Several questions popped into my mind. My entire mind was a whirlwind currently. On one side there was my concern for Kushina. On the other side, there was my hurt from Kushina's actions. These opposite emotions wrecked my already anxious mind further. And Kenpachi….. I didn't even want to think about the man's words and what they meant.

I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to the limits as I raced back to the village. Halfway to the village, the malevolent aura of Kyubi's chakra abruptly vanished causing me to stumble and almost fall from the top of the tree.

I stood there dazed. The Kyubi was gone. Most probably, Minato had sealed it. If so, what happened to Kushina? I stood there for a few moments before gritting my teeth and continuing my journey. I knew regardless of what the situation was, I needed to return to Konoha to learn about it. There was no use standing in the middle of the forest in worry and wondering what was the situation.

As I neared Konoha, I could feel Anbu already roaming the outskirts of the village, like patrols to deter any curious inquisitive fellows from spying on the real situation of the village. If Minato was indeed dead, the longer the news was withheld, the better it was for Konoha. And if any of the other nations knew the extent of damage Konoha had suffered, they might take the chance to carve out a piece of Konoha.

So, it was only natural that Anbu was already on patrol to prevent any leaking of intel before Konoha had stabilized. As I moved towards the village, I felt five chakras converging towards my location at a rapid speed. I didn't pay them any heed as I knew they would allow me to pass through once they saw who it was.

That's why I was mildly surprised when I felt the five of them form a semi-circle around me and stop me in my tracks. Not willing to waste any more time in needless pleasantries, I immediately recited my Konoha registration number and tried to move past them.

The moment I was close to one of them, I was severely shocked to find there was killing intent enveloping me. I slowed down dramatically and came to a stop a few feet away from them and looked at them curiously. They all sported standard Anbu masks and wore typical Anbu gear. Still, something felt off about them. The killing intent was palpable. I scrutinized them for any anomalies, however, they all looked like Konoha shinobi.

"I am Senju Hatorama. I was away from the village during the…. Disturbance," I said not wanting to ruffle any feathers. It was understandable that they were on high alert. Still, something about these Anbu bugged me severely.

"As soon as I felt the disturbance, I have raced back to Konoha. If you guys would allow me, I would like to return to the village," I said straightening up, but inwardly I was on guard already.

"We have been ordered to take anyone attempting to enter Konoha into custody," one Anbu said making the hair on the back of my neck raise up in alarm.

While the order wasn't unusual, what made me put up my guard was that the voice of the Anbu was masked. While it wasn't unusual for an Anbu to have their voice masked, I had a strange feeling that I had heard this particular modulation and the same sentence before.

I glanced at them and a strange notion popped into my head. Deciding to gamble with my gut feeling, I smiled at them and spoke, "Is that so? Then show me the order papers."

Silence prevailed for a few moments. Then I had to hastily evade a couple of Shuriken and Kunai thrown at me. I cursed myself mentally for not being prepared enough. I had conveniently left my weapons pouch at home while I had stepped out earlier in the day. I hadn't actually planned to go see Kenpachi. And seeing that I was only in the village, all I needed was to create a big enough commotion. But, now the situation wasn't the same.

I now clearly knew who these bastards were. It seemed like someone within Konoha has decided to take this chance when the entire village was in turmoil to kill me. Sneaky little bastards. I had to hand it to them that this was the ideal way to dispose of me. I was outside Konoha currently. And with the state the village was in, no one would know if I was killed or kidnapped for a long time.

I grimaced as I spun between a shuriken and Kunai. I extended a hand and caught a kunai thrown at my head. My hand bled from the impact, but I didn't mind as I transferred the Kunai to my other hand and started warding off the other projectiles coming towards me. I wordlessly released the seal on the new training weights I was wearing and they fell down to the ground with a thud raising dust.

Just when I was clear of projectiles, a kenjutsu expert engaged me in close combat. Immediately behind him another Anbu was rushing towards me with a Tanto. I knew that I was in a perilous situation. I warded off one blow from the kenjutsu expert with the kunai. The long blade of the weapon came dangerously close to impaling me. Before I could recover, the Anbu with Tanto swung at my midsection. I pushed off from the ground towards my back. The Tanto sliced into my skin but didn't actually do any heavy damage.

I backed off a few paces and the others were upon me. I willingly took a kick to my chest and allowed myself to be sent back hard and thus escaping the encirclement. I could feel that I had a few ribs broken from the kick which I had utilized to escape from the encirclement. Even with that added momentum, I had a few more grazes from others Kunai and Tantos.

I laid there gasping for breath with several bloody wounds on my body. Even breathing became hard. But, I knew that was the price I needed to pay to escape the encirclement. I seamlessly molded my chakra internally without any seals and let it flow to my bloodied right palm. I looked at the five men standing in front of me and smirked.

Kuchiosone Jutsu

A large cloud engulfed the region I was in. The next moment I performed a substitution and got the hell out of there, leaving them to face my summon. I smirked and performed the hand seals for a Waterfall Jutsu.

It didn't take them long to figure out that I wasn't there and there was only a summon in front of them. The next moment, Sosuke, one of my mad warrior summons dashed out of the cloud and launched itself towards them. I call Sosuke a mad warrior because, he has no fear. His favorite thing to do was to rush into fights. The more enemies the better. His skin was hard as an iron and it gave him impenetrable defense. He was useful for tying up opponents when I needed time to perform some complicated jutsus.

At the same moment, a waterfall rushed towards the Anbu attacking them from another angle. Multiple substitution jutsus echoed. But, Sosuke targeted one shinobi and rushed to engage him. Meanwhile, I had summoned Chojiro and sicced him at another Anbu, leaving three for me. While I could summon another one to tie up another Anbu, that would cost me a good amount of chakra.

Furthermore, this situation was only temporary. If I could summon help, these Anbu could too. So, the priority was to eliminate their numbers as soon as possible. As long as they felt that I didn't have the upper hand, they wouldn't do something drastic. If it became a summon battle, I am sure my summons would thrash the others easily. Because, all of my summons were warriors who enjoyed fighting the most, so it was a no-brainer when it came to summon battle. But, they didn't know that. That's where my advantage lied. And overusing it would not be ideal.

Taking in a deep breath, I shot out a water bullet at an approaching Anbu. He evaded it smoothly as if he knew that I would do that. Something about that particular Anbu felt incredibly familiar. The way he dodged and how his body moved, everything felt familiar. I mentally made a note to mark that Anbu down. I took out a sealing scroll from my pocket and threw it in the air. The next moment, all the Anbu stopped in their tracks.

As I unsealed it, a war bow, a quiver of arrows, and five kunai with tags attached to itself dropped in front of me.

"Well, well, I didn't expect you sneaky bastards to come after me at such a time," I smiled at them and threw a Kunai towards one of the guys, he dodged it easily. But, I used the time to equip my war bow and arrows. The other two rushed at me, but I sent two arrows at them causing them to evade. I rushed towards one of them and engaged him in Taijutsu.

As much as I wanted to use Ninjutsu, that was way too dangerous. With five Anbu grade shinobi attacking me, I would essentially be battling five shinobi at my level. With Ninjutsu, one slight mishap might doom my life. So, I decided to stick to my battle plans. I have made some arrangements in case of such scenarios. But, I had to wait and see if it was viable. With me being underequipped, I couldn't take any chances.

I secretly decided to never step out of my home without my weapons even if I was roaming inside Konoha from now on. I had been a little complacent in my vigilance which was what led to the current scenario.

The Anbu tried to parry my rapid fast blows. I was dancing in the wind like a madman with incredible speed and swinging my kunai at his vital spots. He was already having a hard time. But, I knew it couldn't last. I felt the other one approaching me from behind. Without turning around, I threw the kunai in my right hand towards him. He effortlessly dodged, but it allowed enough time to retreat. The one who I had thrown the first Kunai at approached me from the side. I threw yet another Kunai at him making him evade and used my war bow to keep the two Anbu in front of me to at bay. I stood still in the center and used my arrows to keep all three of them in a distance.

I knew this wasn't a viable strategy. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the Kenjutsu user trying very hard to get past Sosuke. But, he was having no luck. Chojiro was keeping another Anbu at bay. Still, it was only a matter of time before Ninjutsu and Genjutsu came into play. I knew that I had enact my strategy before we got to that level.

I skillfully maneuvered the three Anbu with my arrows allowing them to assume that I was merely buying time. But, I had an even more brilliant plan in mind. It was almost set and all I needed was one last step to go out without a hitch. Normally, I would have taken a few more minutes to perform that last step. However, time wasn't with me today. I could already feel that the man that I had marked earlier was getting impatient.

Gritting my teeth, I threw the fourth Kunai at the man. He dodged it effortlessly and I saw his eyebrows furrow. Fearing that he had seen through my plan, I abandoned all pretense and rushed towards the initial spot where I had unsealed the scroll.

As I reached there, I heard the man yell, "Retreat! Now!"

Confusion could be seen in the other two Anbu's eyes clearly. The man paid no heed to them as he scrambled away with a shunshin. I scowled at him and inserted the blood-soaked final kunai under my feet. Immediately, a transparent shield enveloped me like a circle. The four blood-soaked kunai I had thrown earlier in the four directions acted as anchor points as the trap seal that had made me famous in the first place unraveled.

One of the Anbu was quick on the uptake and he used an earth-based jutsu to escape. But, unfortunately, he was a step too late and had to leave behind an arm. The other Anbu was not so fortunate. Countless weapons were shot out from my seal and he was literally cut in half unable to escape. Even after that, the weapons were relentless enough to make him into mincemeat.

I smiled at the gruesome sight. The man I had marked earlier glowered at me from outside the seal. The earth near his feet dislodged and a bloody Anbu came out. One of his arms was gone; there were countless cuts all over his body. I smiled at the duo and waved at them to come at me. The duo looked at me angrily as I mocked them from the safety of my seal.

I mentally sent a command making Chojiro and Sosuke vanish in a puff. The other two Anbu rushed towards the duo. They too sported various cuts all over their body. The Kenjutsu user in particular had a nasty gash that ran through to his bones in his shoulder. They watched me angrily as I calmly regarded them from the safety of my seal.

My attention was focused on the man I had marked earlier. Now that I wasn't in a life or death situation, I was able to calmly analyze the man. The man's posture was incredibly familiar. I was sure that I had contact with this man before this.

And from the way he was able to guess my intentions and battling style easily, it became clear that either the man would have once fought with me in the frontlines or had incredible intelligent sources. Considering the familiarity I had with the man, the only option was that he had been fighting alongside me in the frontlines.

I have been constantly upgrading this particular trap seal. This latest use of blood-soaked kunai as anchor points was something I had never used before. Despite that, the man had been able to guess my intentions and retreat at the right time. If I had bagged these three with the seal, I could have easily captured the one of the remaining two and interrogated him.

However, things have changed due to his warning. I grimaced at the loss of opportunity. Regardless, I blamed myself for dropping my vigilance and being underequipped. If I had been better prepared, I wouldn't have needed to step up the process of establishing the seal and letting the man figure out things.

Still, I now had a plausible direction to look into. If I uncovered the man's identity, I could probably figure out who the culprit was. But, that was for another time. We both knew that their operation this time was a failure. I could easily sit inside this seal for another fifteen minutes. So, until then, it was impossible for them to wait around.

The commotion we created earlier was enough to alert people. I can already feel a few chakra signatures rushing towards our location. It seemed like the real Konoha patrol was coming. And since they can't deal with me openly, they needed to retreat.

As expected, the four Anbu retreated in an instance. They were very decisive and didn't waste any time. I watched them go with a frown. This time, it was a near miss. If I hadn't sped up the process of the seal, a ninjutsu fight would have broken out soon and I would have been a goner. No matter how good I was currently, fighting five Anbu grade shinobi on my own was a suicide attempt. So, I can only resort to using tricks. But, now I had one less trick in my bag.

I let out a deep sigh and waited for the Konoha patrol to come across me.

(*****)

I walked into the Jounin Council meeting that was happening with blood dripping from my body. I didn't intend to cover my bloodied state. In fact, I wanted to broadcast the attack on me to everyone. This was the only way I could make people take the attack on me seriously.

Hiruzen was grim as he sat at the forefront with his advisors on either side. As I entered, both his and Danzo's eyes scrunched upon seeing my bloodied form. The other elders looked appropriately shocked at my state. None of them gave me any hint as to who it was that ordered the attack.

I had removed Hiruzen of the list by now considering how close to the Kyubi attack this attack on me had happened. From what I heard, Hiruzen was in the thick of things. He wouldn't have time to do anything else. He would have been occupied with too much work to make sure Konoha functioned to even care about me.

The other three were a different matter. While the first attack didn't look like Danzo's style, I still decided to keep my guard about him. The attack had happened immediately after the Hokage election. Where, for the first time, I had went against Danzo's wishes. So, the probability was still there. I knew from the knowledge of Canon that Danzo was one of the few people who took advantage of Kyubi attack to further his cause. So, ruling him out was foolish.

The other two looked like amicable elders. But, I would be a fool to trust them based on their appearances. No one who lived so long as a shinobi was clean. We all had our hands soaked in blood. After years of being immersed in politics, these two would be well-versed in schemes. So, I wasn't taking any chance with them either.

While we have had our differences, there wasn't anything serious that warranted such relentless hunting. The only matter that could cause it was what Tsunade had said to me. I was becoming too hard to control. Whether it be Danzo or the other two elders, I was becoming a threat to their seat of power. And that was cause enough to do something drastic.

"Hatorama, what happened?" Hiruzen asked in a frigid tone.

It was clear from his voice that nothing was going his way today. He had already lost his wife, successor, and countless people in Konoha. And now, his ward turns up injured. It was understandable why he was so cold.

"Five masked Anbu attacked me on my way back to the village," I reported succinctly letting him know that it was related to the earlier attack inside the village.

Murmurs swept through the crowd at my answer. It was like numerous cicadas clamoring in the cold night. Hiruzen's brows furrowed and he took a deep breath.

"I will look into it," he said regally. "Now, take a seat, we are discussing some important matters."

I nodded before taking a seat near Shishui who was looking at me in irritation.

"Do you have to be such a drama queen?" Shishui asked sullenly.

"This is my only proof Shishui," I said grimly motioning towards my bloody body.

He grimaced and we both turned around to look in the front.

"I am sure you all know the events that happened today," Hiruzen spoke in a grim tone making the mood in the room plummet further. "We have lost countless lives to the rampage of the Nine-Tails, including the Hokage's family. The Yondaimae Hokage sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tails. Now, we are without a Hokage. For the next few months, until another Hokage is elected, I will retake my responsibilities as Hokage. The council of elders and I have discussed and came to the conclusion that electing a new Hokage now would cause instability. So, we have postponed the election for a month or two until stability in Konoha could be established."

None of the Jounins had any objection to it. After all, a Hokage must be selected carefully. It wasn't a simple matter. If there was already a successor, then he could be appointed. But, since Minato was newly elected, there had been no successor candidate. Furthermore, Orochimaru's defection had already left the higher-ups reeling. So, they probably wouldn't rush in selecting the new Hokage.

"Now, the second matter of discussion is what are going to do with the other nations," Hiruzen spoke gravely.

"As you are all aware, if any of the nations come to know of the state Konoha was in, they would no doubt seize this opportunity to further their ambitions," Danzo spoke from the side frigidly.

"I agree, but considering the impact of the events and its magnitude, it won't be long before the news leaks out," Shikaku said rubbing his temple.

"That's why I propose to be on the offensive. Before they shall act, we need to act," Danzo said shooting a look at the assembled Jounin.

'Not another way,' I groaned internally.

It looked like my sentiment was echoed by many other shinobi as they fidgeted in their seats. Hiruzen had his eyes closed. His brow was furrowed and he was thinking hard.

"Oh, what do you propose to do, Danzo sama?" Shikaku asked with a hard edge to his tone.

"If you aren't aware by now Shikaku san, I don't think me spelling it out will make much difference," Danzo replied indifferently.

"Danzo, we have to avoid war at all costs. Especially now," Hiruzen sighed and shook his head.

"Your peace-loving attitude was the reason we are in this situation Hiruzen," Danzo retorted angrily. "If we had crushed the other nations when we had the upper hand in the last war, we needn't be worried now."

"Danzo, Hiruzen, what is past is past. No need to dwell on it," Elder Koharu piped in.

"Then what do you suggest?" Danzo asked her frigidly.

"The only thing we can do now is to safeguard our borders," Elder Homura sighed.

"I agree, wars are too costly. And we aren't in a position to wage any," Elder Koharu said massaging her temple.

"And what if they wanted to strong-arm us?" Danzo snorted.

"Then, show them no mercy," Hiruzen said suddenly causing everyone to look at him. "I agree, we are not in a position to wage any war. However, if they aren't sensible there is no need to hold back."

"Mist is in no condition to wage war. Their internal struggle is close to a boiling point. Suna, on the other hand, had recently lost their Kazekage. There is no news about his whereabouts. His son Raza has taken the seat. While he is ambitious, he would not initiate war for a year or two. He will try to strengthen his country before doing anything else," Shikaku interrupted smoothly and unfolded the information he was in possession of.

"What about Kumo?" Hiashi Hyuga asked.

"Kumo is a worrisome opponent. They too have recently elected their Raikage. Their previous Raikage had died in battle during the war. His son, A, is currently the Fourth Raikage. Logically, they shouldn't wish for war. However, with the new Raikage's forceful personality, he is bound to test our limits," Inoichi said from the side.

"So, we need to station some strong shinobi at the border to deter his eagerness," Shikaku said massaging his temple.

"That leaves Old Man Onoki," Elder Koharu said softly.

"Of all the nations, Iwa would be the one who would be most concerned about Yondaimae's status," Hiruzen let out a long puff from his pipe as he spoke. "The only reason that old bastard accepted for a truce was Minato's actions on the battlefield. Now that Minato is not there, the Onoki's hands might start itching soon. Iwa will be big trouble."

"Compared to Kumo, I am more worried about Iwa doing something," Shikaku sighed softly.

Danzo merely grunted but didn't say anything. The entire room fell silent for some time. No one spoke. In the end, Hiruzen spoke to break the silence.

"In that case, we should put more strong shinobi along the border to Iwa. If they try to do anything, show no mercy. Make a clear statement. Even if Yondaimae is dead, Konoha isn't a pushover. If they ask for it, make a very large statement. Use them as an example for the rest of the world to know."

Everyone could hear the iron in his voice. Rock-hard determination shone through it.

"Shikaku, I will leave the deployments to you. Consult with the elders and prepare the deployments. What we need is a show of force. We need to let them know that Konoha isn't as week as they seem to perceive."

Shikaku nodded.

"I am sure you all are aware of the situation. We need to stand united if we want any chance of overcoming the hurdle. The Will of Fire burns deep in every one of us. We will not succumb to circumstances like these. Show the world what we as shinobis of Konoha are capable of. You are all dismissed. You will receive your deployment orders tomorrow. Prepare yourself and show no mercy to your enemies on the battlefield."

Hiruzen finished making every one of us rise and salute him, "Hai, Sandaimae sama!"

The room filtered out soon after. But, I was in no hurry to return. I watched as the shinobis walked out of the room making note of everyone present. I was secretly taking note of everyone to see who bore a resemblance to the man I had marked earlier. As I watched the room empty, one particular figure stood conspicuous.

As I watched the figure's movement more and more, my face became grimmer. As if sensing my gaze the figure turned around and held my eye. We eyed each other for a few moments. There was mockery in the eyes of the figure that was opposite to me. Scorn was evident in his eyes. And something within my gut told this was the man who had attacked me earlier.

And I knew him all right. How in the world could I forget this piece of shit? No wonder that man felt familiar to me. Even without the mask and voice alteration, I could identify him clearly. If it was indeed him, then the reason the man was able to see through my tactics was quite apparent. After all, we had fought together countless times.

And the man was none other than my dear old sensei – Mokurimo Tsuki!

Rage flooded through me and I had to restrain myself from launching at him. I had thought it would take some work to uncover the identity of my attacker. But, this was even more perfect. I now knew his identity. Now, both old and new scores need to be tallied. But, the big question was whether he participated because it was me, or whether he was involved in the destruction of Senjus for a long time.

I smiled thinly at him as he left the room. I didn't take my eyes off him either. I memorized every movement his body made and swore to myself that I would make him pay – not just for attacking me, but for everything he had done to me.

"Hatorama?" Hiruzen asked in confusion and I turned around to see only a few people were left in the room.

Shikaku, Inoichi, Genin Commander, Fugaku, the elders, Hiruzen, and strangely enough me.

"Do you have anything else to report?" Shikaku san asked me cordially.

"Oh, nothing," I smiled at him as he looked at me disbelievingly.

"Then, in that case, you can scram off," Elder Koharu snorted angrily.

"Koharu," Hiruzen sighed.

"You and Danzo have spoiled the boy," she sniffed and turned away.

Elder Homura on the other hand was smiling at me. Danzo's eyed me up and down before looking away. Inoichi san and the Genin Commander were trying to stifle their laughter. Fugaku was stonefaced as always. In fact, he even looked a little stiffer. Shikaku san seemed bored and didn't meet my eyes. I knew far too well that Shikaku san was way more interested in what I was doing than he was letting on.

Hiruzen looked at me calmly. I smiled at him after eyeing the others.

"So, when are you going to tell me about Naruto?" I asked with a smile.

Hiruzen looked shocked. As did the elders. Fugaku's face showed a trace of emotion for the first time. There was pain and anger mixed into it. The rest of them looked curious, but didn't comment.

"Didn't you hear boy, the entire Hokage family is dead," Elder Koharu snapped bluntly.

Many faces flinched.

"Tut, tut, try a little harder, you old hag," I replied with a small smile.

"What do you mean?" Elder Koharu snapped.

"As the only resident seal master available in Konoha now, I say in my humble opinion that you are bullshitting," I replied with an even wider smile.

The looks on Hiruzen and the elders' face froze. Fugaku looked genuinely curious for the first time since I started speaking.

"I think it would require a private conversation Hiruzen," Danzo said signaling him with his eyes.

"And I would be present in it," Fugaku said indignantly making Danzo to look at him sharply.

"And what right would you have for that?" Danzo asked coldly.

"Because, my wife is Naruto's godmother," Fugaku replied sharply.

Both Fugaku and Danzo stared at each other angrily.

"Cough…. I think everyone here should be privy to it. After all, they are the ones responsible for protecting Konoha, whether it be internally or externally. They need to know who to protect and why they are doing it. Don't you agree, Sandaimae sama?" I asked Hiruzen directly.

The smile on my face was gone. I was staring down at Hiruzen. I knew I was toeing a thin line here, but I didn't care. I was currently pissed at Hiruzen. He had the gall to hide Naruto's existence to me even after knowing I had viewed Kushina as my elder sister. Moreover, he was the one who assigned Tsuki to me as a sensei. Whether he did it knowingly or not, he needed to give me some compensation for all I had gone through.

"Who's Naruto?" the Genin Commander asked curiously.

I didn't reply. I merely stared at Hiruzen. He should be the one fielding the question. While I could blabber it out easily, the person responsible for disseminating that information wasn't me. It was Hiruzen. Yet, Hiruzen remained silent. He eyed me for a long time. The tension in the room was rising.

"Leave us," Hiruzen said at last breaking the stare-off.

"Hiruzen," Elder Koharu hissed.

"That's an order Koharu," Hiruzen snapped making her mouth shut.

She turned and glared at me before stomping off. Elder Homura looked baffled for a second before he too walked away. Danzo eyed the two of us, snorted and walked away. Shikaku looked as if he was going to protest, but in the end walked away with Inoichi and the Genin Commander.

However, Fugaku stayed still. He wasn't budging.

"Do I need to repeat myself, Fugaku," Hiruzen asked coldly not taking his eye off me.

"I have every right to be present in this discussion, Sandaimae sama," he said stubbornly.

"Do not test my patience, Fugaku," Hiruzen slowly turned his gaze towards him.

Fugaku eyed Hiruzen for a few moments before turning around coldly and walking away without saying anything. Hiruzen waited till everyone was outside. The room was naturally sealed to prevent eavesdroppers as it was where the Jounin Council meeting was held.

"Hatorama, why would you act so stubborn all of a sudden?" Hiruzen sighed massaging his brows.

"That's because you seem to forgot to inform me, Sandaimae sama," I sighed standing up.

"What do you want to know?" Hiruzen asked after a few moments.

"I want to know many things, Sandaimae sama. For example, who was it that ordered Anbu to attack me twice? I know that only four people in the village have the power to command Anbu. And all four of them are my superiors. How much trust do you think is left over after such incidents? But, for now, I will settle for immediate concerns. How is Naruto? What are you going to do with him?"

"Naruto is fine. That is all you need to know."

"I beg to differ Sandaimae sama. Naruto's mother was my elder sister. I need more information than that. I need to know who will take care of him from now onwards."

Hiruzen eyed me silently for a while before letting out a deep sigh, "The Council of Elders and I have decided to place him in an orphanage."

"Orphanage? Why would he need to be sent there when he has both Godfather and Godmother? If you don't find them suitable, I am willing to take care of the child," I asked sharply.

"There are several reasons pertaining to it. Both political and security-wise, it is better to keep him in an orphanage."

"Kindly shed some light, Sandaimae sama," I said with mocking clear in my voice.

Hiruzen looked as if he was going to burst out in flames. However, in the end, he managed to remain composed. I knew all the reasons he was going to give to me. But, until he spoke them I can't refute them and let him see the faults present in his logic.

"Do you know that tailed beasts can only controlled by two powers in this world?" Hiruzen asked taking a large puff from his pipe.

"Three," I absentmindedly informed him.

"Three?" he asked sharply.

"Yes, three," I said.

"As far as I know only Mokuton and Sharingan can control tailed beasts. Even then, Mokuton can only be used to subdue them, not outright control them."

"You are right, Mokuton can only be used to subdue them. On the other hand, a normal Sharingan isn't powerful enough to control them."

"I see you have read through your ancestor's texts," Hiruzen looked at me sharply.

"I have," I said without providing much explanation.

"That would mean you have met with Tsunade already," he said softly.

"We have met," I nodded.

"How is she?"

"Drinking, gambling, wasting her life away," I said nonchalantly.

"She is still the same," Hiruzen sighed. "Anyways, it is true that normal Sharingan couldn't control a tailed beast. It requires an even more powerful version of Sharingan – namely Mangekyo Sharingan."

"True," I said softly.

"The Nine Tails which attacked Konoha was under someone else's control. And the only people who could perform such a feet are the Uchiha. Now you know why I can't place the boy there. Naruto is very essential to Konoha's strength. He would be under constant danger if he was placed there. Anyone strong enough could take control over him if he was sent to the Uchiha. Hence, I can't send him there. As for his Godfather, Jiraiya might be my student, but he is a total waste when it comes to raising kids. Even you have to agree to that. Hence, I am placing him in the orphanage."

"You think it was Fugaku who unleashed the Nine-Tails?" I asked skeptically. "I mean, the same Fugaku who gave up the chance to be Hokage to Minato."

"I will trust no one when it comes to the safety of the village," Hiruzen said sharply.

"Is it you or the elders? I know how Danzo treats the Uchiha. Don't tell me he got into your mind," I asked in askance.

"Enough," Hiruzen bellowed. "Whatever he may be, Danzo has always been loyal to the safety of Konoha. Even if there is a one percent chance in the Uchiha being the culprit, I wouldn't place the boy under their care. It is way too dangerous."

"What if it was somebody else?" I asked in annoyance. "Then, wouldn't this damage the relationship Konoha has with the Uchiha clan. What if it was their plan all along to drive a wedge between Konoha and the Uchiha clan?"

Hiruzen remained silent. From the way his brows furrowed, I knew he was giving my words some serious thoughts. Then, it was time to go for the kill.

"There is a third way to control a tailed beast," I said making him look up at me.

"Third way?"

"Yes," I stated simply. "Rinnegan."

"Rinnegan? Do you mean the legendary dojutsu the Sage of the Six Paths possessed?"

"Yes."

Hiruzen looked stunned for a moment, before he asked me suspiciously, "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Very little records remain pertaining to that mythical dojutsu. However, one of its abilities is to have control over all beasts, including Tailed Beasts. I am not saying that it was a Rinnegan user who controlled the Nine-Tails. But, all I am saying is that don't rush into conclusions. Suspicions are good, but if it becomes intolerance it would be Konoha's loss. Furthermore, there had been many Uchiha clan members who had been presumed dead. What if one of them went rogue and did this? Are we going to prosecute and suspect every Uchiha because of it?"

"What you say makes sense," Hiruzen acknowledged. "Still, I am not moving on this matter. It is best that if the boy isn't placed under them."

"Then what about me? I am willing to take care of that child."

"You?" Hiruzen looked gobsmacked. "Forget it, as I said, there weren't just security reasons. Political reasons are also involved. None of the clans would allow one of the clans to shelter a Jinchuriki."

"What's there to worry about? Isn't my grandaunt the first jinchuriki?" I snorted.

"Things have changed since then, Hatorama. They wouldn't allow you. Furthermore, you aren't exactly child caring material either."

"Who wouldn't allow it? If it is the other clans, I will talk to them," I said stubbornly.

"It's not just the clans," Hiruzen sighed.

"You mean the elders?" I asked sharply.

"Hatorama, if what you say is true, then one of the elders is out to get you. How can I willingly place an important asset to the village in such danger?"

"You are only thinking of the boy as an asset," I looked at him incredulously.

"What do you think of me as?" Hiruzen looked enraged. "Do you think I am Danzo to only look at the boy and consider him as a weapon?"

"Well, those were your words," I shot back hotly.

"Leave this topic Hatorama. No one will get custody of the kid. He will be placed in an orphanage," Hiruzen said with an air of finality.

"Fine, fine," I grumbled knowing that there wasn't much I could do to change the situation. "But, remember this, I know where Danzo recruits his pet soldiers. If he extends his grubby paws at Naruto, I hope you understand that all bets are off."

"Are you threatening me Hatorama?" Hiruzen asked arching his eyebrows.

"I am merely reminding you, Sandaimae sama," I smiled at him, but my eyes were sharp letting him know that I was serious.

"You don't need to worry, I will take care of the boy," Hiruzen stated calmly.

I snorted inwardly. I do know how much Hiruzen took care of Naruto. While the Naruto in the series was a pitiful soul who yearned for love, affection, and acknowledgment, he wouldn't be the same this time around.

I had only given in to Hiruzen knowing that there was absolutely nothing I could do to change his mind. Falling out with him now was very unwise. And what Hiruzen said was true. There were people out to get me. Endangering Naruto wasn't wise.

But, that doesn't mean I couldn't be part of his life. I could always slowly integrate myself into him. I could always take him under my wing and teach him stuff. And no one would dare to question me as long as I remained in the good books of the Hokage. So, it was essential that I don't completely fall out with Hiruzen now. Hence, I had taken a step back.

"Is that all?" Hiruzen asked calmly.

"One other thing," I replied with a serious face. "I thought the childbirth was supposed to happen two days from now. That was the only reason I went out."

Yeah, this particular question was bugging me way too much. If I need one question answered among all in this night, it would be this.

"Ah, that," Hiruzen sighed, "Most of the higher-ups in Konoha still think the same. That's the reason no one asked about the child. The most prevalent thought is that the seal loosened and Kyubi went on a rampage. While others would believe that, I am sure you won't."

I didn't reply. I merely stared at Hiruzen and waited for the answer.

"We had indeed moved the childbirth two days prior. It was a last-minute decision. It was finalized only last month. After Orochimaru's defection, we feared that he might have some ideas of revenge against Minato and moved the childbirth date. We knew he knew of the original date, so to throw him off we changed the date. Despite that, such a tragedy still happened."

"Who knew about the change in the date?"

"Minato, me, the elders, Kushina, and Biwako, that's it."

"I see," I muttered staring at the ceiling.

I felt like the universe was playing a big joke on me. After all the preparations I had made, it all turned out to be useless. All because people were afraid of Orochimaru's revenge. And strangely enough, I had gone outside the village to visit Kenpachi. What an irony?

I felt like both laughing and crying at the same time. Who am I going to pin the blame on for this? On Orochimaru for being so scary? Or on Kenpachi for merely existing? Or on Kushina and Minato for failing to inform me?

Regardless of whoever the blame was on, one thing was sure. The Universe was out to fuck with me and there was very little I could do about it.

Chapter 35 - October 10

A/N: And that's about it...This idea was brewing ever since I introduced the second SI character. And Orochimaru's defection gave me a possible way to tie all this up. While Minato and Kushina are beloved characters, I felt that since the story was revolving around Hatorama, killing them off wouldn't impact it much.

As for Tsuki, I was going to kill him off initially during the Kyubi rampage. But, I felt that this would be more interesting than that. What do you folks think? Let me know in the comments.