WHY I'M SO STUPID?

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Hey folks, here is the next chapter. Same reason as before, I have been busy with school, life, and all that jazz. That, and with graduation getting closer and closer, I have been making sure to get prepared for it, like earning income at home, and making sure I have enough money to help pay back the students loans I'm getting.

Basically, trying to avoid the same mistakes a lot of college students make, thinking life would be easy peasy after they get the degree, only for life to bitch slap them in the face what is really expected of them.

Also, I've started over on World of Warcraft, and trying to avoid the same mistakes I made during the first go around. Although I still repeat some of them, after realizing what I just did afterwards. In case anybody wants to know, I'm going through the Outland part, high enough level for Pandaria, but I'm going to start the Lich King expansion afterwards. Trying to get the stories in the right order if I can.

On with the story

Tsunade is sitting at her desk, going about her duties. Although now, she is still hoping that this suggestion of Naruto's works out for the better. It has been two months since Naruto told them about why they should start an alliance with all the villages.

When everybody started to demand an answer on why Naruto would request such a ludicrous thing, his answer shut everybody up. He pointed out the things that Itachi and Kisame have explained about Akatsuki, who is in it, how they operate, and the power they possess. Mainly telling everybody in the room that when it becomes to fighting this organization, they are deep shit out of luck if they were to try and fight them on their own.

Also, as Itachi pointed out, there could be spies from within the village walls. So, they really must start cleaning house.

After that, things really got ugly within the village, with certain villagers that have been disturbing the peace. By spreading a bunch of propaganda on people, trying to convince them about a 'conspiracy' on usurping control from the true leaders of the village.

While nothing could be done to these people unless they say or do something with hostile intent, it does give everybody enough warning about how those three fools plan for what they believe is an easy return. By trying to get more and more people to go against both Naruto and Tsunade, along with their allies, the trio can come back with whatever army they build and take over leadership with little to no trouble.

So with the help of the shinobi council, with Shikaku being the main strategist, some contingency plans were made, some that involved leaving the village. While she was hoping to keep her grandfather's dreams for the village alive, Tsunade knew that there might be a time when she might have to rebuild a village from scratch or leave it for a future generation. Something Grandma Mito told her after hearing the news of what used to be her home being wiped out by overwhelming enemy forces.

'While it is sad that my home is gone, yet the village is far from dead. It took people to build a village, and as long as there is somebody with even the smallest amount of Uzumaki in their blood, they provide the chance for it to thrive again as long as the desire is there. And as long as somebody has the right stuff to make it happen, the village can rise again, even though it could never be the same one ever again.'

At first, Tsunade thought that her grandma was just trying to keep face about losing her home, but now she got the full picture. While yes, Konoha was a nice village, it took people with a passion in order to give it life. Even if she was forced to abandon it due to things out of her control, she can still rebuild elsewhere. She knows that her grandfather's work would die here, but his dream well live on, even if she had to give it a few tweaks.

A loud knock got her attention. "What is it Shizune?" Tsunade yelled out, not looking up from her work.

The door opened to reveal said person, holding something in her hands. "We just received a message from the Fire Daimyo." Shizune said, before revealing a scroll that was made of the highest quality in the land, that the way it is shining makes it hard to believe that is supposed to be paper.

One thing that Tsunade had to explain to Naruto on making his plan to work was the politics behind it. Or rather who she had to talk to in order to start getting leeway into other countries. The first step is to let the Fire Daimyo know what is being planned, along with what Konoha would like for him to do in order to start building towards peace. Which was sending word to the other Daimyos about starting peace talks, along with convincing them that the only focus would be the Akatsuki, and how it could be beneficial for the Elemental Nations.

It started with a week to write a letter that would get the Fire Daimyo's attention. Another week talking to one of his aids, explaining how a group of super criminals could be a threat to those that are supposedly beyond shinobi level. Which was a task in itself, since the Fire Capitol never sent troops into a shinobi war, and too many people living there believe they are untouchable.

Yet once Danzo and the Elders were brought up, on how they are now criminals of Fire Country, and the things they might know, things changed in a heartbeat. Turns out, the trio had a couple of friends within the Daimyo's court, yet it couldn't be proven. So with the help of the ex-Foundation troops, which was handed by Naruto, the aid was more than willing to put in a good word towards the alliance. Although nobody told the aid that he had a copy of paper evidence, since both Naruto and Tsunade agreed to keep the original just in case something goes wrong.

So now, after waiting for a bunch of hot air to reach a cooling level between five power individuals, the answer they have been waiting for is now sitting on her desk, waiting to be opened right away.

{Naruto}

At Training Ground 7, the four people that used to be Team 7 decided to have a little get together. Starting things off with a mock battle, to show how much each has progressed during the last few months. It was just Kakashi and Naruto fighting each other, while Sasuke and Sakura are sitting to the decide, recovering from their little battle. Kakashi wanted to battle Naruto, mainly because he wanted to see how far his Sensei's son has grown. That and the last time he battled Sakura, she almost turned his nuts into butter with her super punch, so is more about preserving the bits.

On the sidelines, a conversation started between the two. "So Karen is telling the girls about you no longer needing a cast." Sakura said out of the blue, knowing full well how that topic is still sensitive to the Uchiha.

Sasuke's face lit up like a lava lamp when Sakura said that so casually. While he wanted to yell at Sakura for saying it, he knew that he could not blame her. Ever since that one night, when Karin had 'too much' fun at his expense, she mellowed out after seeing who is going to be paying the price. Even though Sasuke asked/begged her not to tell anybody about what happened, the girl was a new definition of shameless bragger, especially since she was the one to bandage his mini-me thanks to her training as a nurse.

"Well, it's not like your activities with Naruto had a hand in it." Sasuke shot back with sarcasm.

Now it was Sakura's turn to blush up a storm. Ever since she blurted out her sex life to a good portion of the Konoha women, some of them gave her a look of envy due to her man keeping her at a beyond satisfied level. Naruto gets a bunch of hate mail and death threats because he puts their manliness to utter shame.

Deciding to change the subject, "So what made you decide to fight me without your Sharingan?" Sakura asked, since it surprised her that during their bout, he fought her without his clan's prized dojutsu.

While still watching the battle, yet feeling like they are being watched, "I had my Sharingan on during my times with Karen, that if I were use them when I battle a female opponent, certain memories tend to pop up as a distraction." Sasuke said point blank, the blush getting a bit stronger.

This caused two reactions, Sakura to blush a bit more at that statement, and a loud thud to ring out in the bushes behind them. Giving each other a confirming look, while Naruto and Kakashi stopped their battle, each one grabbed a capsule from their belts, and tossed them to the ground. Releasing a cloud of smoke onto each person, a kunai flew into each one, carrying something extra that lead to a series of explosions. When the smoke cleared, all there was left, was a bunch of craters, and smoking logs.

Knowing that they were caught, four shadows went in separate directions. Not knowing that they themselves are being watched.

{Naruto}

Before the day was up, a council meeting was held, mainly to give a heads up on the attempted life on Team 7. Mainly telling them that the assassins failed, and what their fate well be when the torture trio are done with them. Which was to be ready to meet their maker once their usefulness is up. This was Tsunade's way of getting the rotten apples to start sweating up a storm, because she has them right where she wants them.

Another thing that happened was that Tsunade told Naruto about the scroll she received from the Fire Daimyo and what it entails. Along with a mission that she needs to put together for a big team, which should require at least a week to get ready.

Afterwards, everybody just called it a day, preparing for what was about to come.

Well, here is the latest chapter. Sorry for the way it is, hit a brick wall on how to proceed, and just felt like throwing a new chapter for the fic. Read and Review.