"Where are we?" Through the cracking wood and billowing smoke, I scowled at the question. Not really because I hated the person talking, but due to the fact that I couldn't really answer. I could track a Shinobi tailing us as well as assassinate him before he could even know I was there, and I could hold my stomach as I searched his insect infested body for useful items, but there was one thing that still plagued me since the beginning of my rebirth. Getting lost as well as staying lost. Both of which were something that I was finding increasingly annoying. They were definitely up there on my hate list with horrifying monstrosities and kidnappers. Now, I know there is a difference in scale between a forest and a village, but getting lost was getting lost. Though, I think that losing your way in a Shinobi village in the middle of a civil war was some new kind of idiotic. There was also the problem of one Sasuke Uchiha. The child had, thankfully, not run off whenever I gone to kill the Shinobi pursuing us, but now I had to deal with a strangely immature brat who was severely dependent on his big brother. In fact, I had to ignore him more often than not as I tried to search for landmarks that would lead us back to Itachi. Of course, after a couple minutes of trying that, I got bored, and then decided the best way to get rid of Sasuke and find Hinata was to ditch him with Itsuki. The missing Kiri-nin was good with kids, I think… I mean, Hinata didn't turn out too bad all things considered. "Hey, you're lost, right?" Sasuke shocked me from my musing, pointing at me with what I could only assume was childish righteousness. I could tell he still saw me as some kind of peer that he could relate with on some level, but I wasn't in the mood to establish some sort of playground hierarchy at the moment. I was above playing with children, and going along with their weird games was just losing me time. Instead, I scoffed lightly in the face of the black-haired child, making sure our eyes were level. "I never get lost. I'm taking you to a friend who can watch you while I go make sure that your idiot of a brother is safe." "Big brother is not an idiot!" He fumed, probably inhaling a bit of smoke, too. "And I'm not going anywhere without my big brother! And, and… I'm taller, so you have to listen to me!" I blinked once. Twice. Then I tired to make sense of how Sasuke was processing everything. When my brain failed to compute the logic of the preschooler, I decided the best course of action was to keep silent. With that epiphany, I simply grabbed the wrist of the young Uchiha, physically dragging him with me. He apparently got the message after the first attack on our lives, and stayed as silent as possible while still making his dissent known. Sasuke was a brat, but one that was capable of learning. "Big brother is the best. He taught me how to throw kunai really well, and I taught Sakura everything, and now we're the best in the class." I really hoped that Sasuke would learn the joys of silence faster, though. "I can teach you, if you want… But, you have to apologize to my big brother." We rounded another corner carefully, slowing our steps as I peaked around to make sure that there was no one looking for any unsuspecting kids to wander in the hopes of finding a missing big brother. I could have been using my knife to scout out the immediate area, but I had long since sent it out in the hopes of finding Itachi as well as those Anbu from before. So far, all that has turned up is the fact that I have been noticing weird mobilizations of Anbu around the red, dome-shaped building. It was almost like they were looking for something or someone, but couldn't find it. "Oh yeah, Sakura said that you shouldn't be embased… imbalanced? Um, emberry?" "Embarrassed." I supplied, noting that I was correcting the vocabulary of a talkative child in the middle of the what could be considered a warzone. "Yeah! Embarrassed! Anyways, Sakura said that even she was bad at throwing kunai before I showed her." While I had many questions about why Sasuke had suddenly found a friend in Sakura, me asking now would probably spur the child into a wordy frenzy. Or just something worse than the state he was in now. "Hey, when's your birthday?" Not even turning to look at the child next to me, I watched as my specter found an odd group of Anbu going closer to that weird building. Absently, I answered the child as I watched them carefully, "Does it really matter?" "What? But what about your parents; did they not tell you?" A flash of unreasonable rage shot through my spine as I whirled around to face Sasuke. I knew that he wouldn't have any idea what happened to my parents, and that he would assume my family situation wasn't any different than his own. It was a viewpoint that most people in my original life had; they would relate their own situations at least on some level, and kids weren't the best at understanding the implications of certain things. However, my parents in this life -Minato and Kushina, a part of me reminded- were something of a sore point to me. They had been the reasons for most of my actions, and I had been wanting to prove them right for giving their lives for me, so it was only slightly justified that my scowl was turned full force at the unknowing five year old. "They did not." I ground out, suppressing a wince as Sasuke visibly flinched away from me. "My parents are dead, and right now I'm focusing on trying to get you back to your own family before finding my friend. If you would so kindly shut up, then I would actually be able to think past your incessant babble." "Oh…" Sasuke curled in on himself, glistening tears already forming in his eyes. Great, now I feel like an asshole, and it wouldn't be wrong to say that I was. Running a hand through my hair I found that I could use a haircut sometime soon. "Look, I didn't mean to-" "I'm sorry." Sasuke beat me to the punch, wrapping me in a hug as tears began to spill from his eyes. "I didn't mean to… big brother and Sakura always told me to think of others, but I didn't know… I'm sorry…" Tentatively, I patted the shoulders of the child, careful not to dislodge him. "It's alright." What I never expected was for two black eyes to bore into mine, sparkling with traces of tears and resolve. "If… if you don't have a family, then you can join mine! I may not be the best big brother, but I'll make sure you're okay!" "Do you honestly not see the situation?" I asked, my mood healed by the cliched innocence that was young Sasuke. Still, despite remembering some unpleasant things, a smile graced my lips. Maybe he wasn't so bad, after all. Of course, now was the perfect time for that group of Anbu to arrive at that weird building, carrying the unconscious body of one Itachi Uchiha. They were lacking a few members, but a chill ran down my spine at the fact that I now had to tell Sasuke about his brother being captured. Luckily, my specter wasn't anywhere close to where we were at the moment; giving us some leeway on how we should proceed. The problem was I needed Itachi to figure out what actually was going on, and I was also getting attached to the cheerfulness of Sasuke -even if he annoyed me more often than not. So, that meant I had to not only save Hinata, but get Itachi out of whatever cell he would be put in. This had to be a Monday, I was sure. With my physical body, I led the continually chattering Uchiha even closer to the walls, and away from any subsequent danger. All the while my specter tailed after the Anbu who were silently signing something to the patrols that were roving around the red building. "Make sure he goes straight to the holding cells." One of the Anbu called out to the one carrying Itachi. "Those Uchiha bastards will pay for causing all this destruction." I frowned as several of the surrounding Shinobi nodded as if there weren't a majority of burning buildings belonging to the Hyūga and Uchiha. Something was wrong with their words, and I felt that I was only beginning to scrape the surface of what was going on. While I carefully noted just where they were taking Itachi, my specter flew into the large building that the Anbu seemed to be guarding. Oddly, I found only deserted rooms where there might have been a lecture going on, but halfway through everyone had gotten evacuated. Pencils and papers were strewn all about the area, covering the large tables that served as desks and the smooth floors. At a different part of the building there were a series of offices and hallways that led to a large spiraling staircase. Smelling quite a few Chakras at the top of the stairs, I found my specter in the middle of an office that overlooked the village. Several Shinobi crowded around someone who I knew very well: Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage. An older man was standing before the liver spotted old Shinobi, draping himself over a thick, wooden cane. He wore long, flowing robes that covered the right side of his body, and wrapped his right arm into a sling with a series of bandages. I found it weirder that I could see some phantasmal material wrapping around his bandaged and covered side, translucent, green branches criss-crossed so tight around odd wisps of inky black that writhed about like caged snakes. "Hiruzen, this madness needs to be stopped." The man said, his voice desperate and hoarse. For some reason, the odd thing that was attached to him made his words hollow. It wasn't that I could see through any act that he might have been pulling, but just something set all my instincts on high. Hiruzen considered the man for a second, staring out the window with an expression as somber as the billowing clouds of smoke. "This isn't as simple as it seems, Danzō. The Uchihas and now Hyūgas have been against the directives of the village even when we are in such a precarious position of power. Our recent actions have ostracized them to a disturbing degree, and the civilians are forced to stay in the Hokage Rock for fear of getting swept up in the chaos. The things we can do are now limited in scope." "They think they can bite the hand that had fed and protected them all this time?" Barked one of the Shinobi in the room. A woman with savagely spiked hair and a pair of intense eyes. Most notably were the curved, fang-like symbols painted red on her cheeks. "Despicable! They deserve to be torn from their very roots!" "I don't think you should implicate children in your little inquisition, Tsume Inuzuka." Danzō bit back, drawing a little heat into his words. "They are innocent of the crimes of their idealistic parents." "Oh yeah?" Tsume growled, baring her teeth. "And what the hell are you doing here? Aren't you part of the civilian council? Leave matters of honor and loyalty to us Shinobi." "Please try to calm yourself, Tsume-san." Another Shinobi cut in, his voice calm and calculated. A man with a two scars dragging across his wizened face moved to the spotlight. His spiky hair, matching his small goatee, was drawn back and tied to the back of his head with a small band. "Danzō-sama was originally on the same team as the Hokage, and has just as much of a right to be here as anyone who is worried for Konoha." Tsume grunted, crossing her arms and moving back to lean on one of the walls. "Fine, let the cripple talk. I still say that these traitors should be executed without question." "And that will only add more fuel to the flames we have created." Hiruzen commented. "I will admit that my plan to get the Hyūgas to abandon their reasons for betrayal failed miserably, but letting this conflict escalate more now will weaken our forces to outside threats. As such, it might be worth something to consider their side of things for the sake of peace." "No, Hiruzen, you can't do that!" Danzō said hurriedly, he gestured to the spiky-haired man who spoke earlier. His worry was nearly palpable to my spectral self. "Shikaku-san, as the Hokage's advisor, please speak some sense into him. If he meets with them on the terms they set, then we can be assured that they plan for an ambush." Shikaku nodded towards the man, smiling at the worry that he had for his friend. "Do not worry, they asked us to bring the hostages as well, and so long as we do not harm them we can expect that it wouldn't be too much trouble to bring a couple others." "Then I'm coming!" Tsume bared her sharp incisors. "I don't mean to be rude, but these are a peace talks, Inuzuka-san." A rather plump man with a mane of long red hair said, smiling placatingly at the glowering Tsume. His kind looking features stopped most of her aggressive words in their tracks, but it might've also been the impressive stature of the Shinobi speaking. "Chōza does have a good point." Shikaku said, eliciting another animalistic growl from the aggressive woman. "Sorry, Tsume-san, but this meeting could send Konoha into a full blown civil war, or give us some semblance of peace after the whole Anbu fiasco with the Hyūga compound. We're lucky enough that the main house doesn't care much for the branch houses -as insensitive as that sounds. As the talks will most likely need me, I'll be one of the guards for the Hokage. And, since we're trying to keep this as non lethal as possible, I suggest Chōza and Inoichi come along as well." "A sound combination." Hiruzen hummed with approval. "Your experience and help will be a great boon in these proceedings, but…" The old man stood from his chair, drawing all eyes to him. His wrinkly features did nothing to hide from the fact that each of his steps and actions all held some otherworldly grace that didn't quite match his age. "I can handle myself just fine. Years may be piling up on me, but I doubt Hiashi and Fugaku can best me anytime soon. Though, I have to ask what will we do about the Uchiha's regaining back the hostage we had taken previously?" Danzō sneered from his place in the room. "There's that overconfidence again, Hiruzen. People called you a God of Shinobi, but you can't believe that everyone will just bend over backwards because of what you could do. As for the hostage situation, one of the Anbu had reported to me that he had captured Itachi as an even better hostage. Though, going back to your confidence issue," He leaned in, speaking in a whisper, "Need I remind you what happened to the still missing Uzumaki child?" "That'll be enough…" Hiruzen said, and if one looked close enough they could see that his teeth were clenched together tight. "Shikaku, send a message to them that we'll meet at their desired location. Now is not the time to be fighting." "Very well." The black-haired man spoke brusquely, turning to the one person who hadn't spoke in the room the entire time. "Do you wish to add anything, Inoichi?" "Ah," Inoichi started as if he wasn't expecting to talk during the proceedings. The man fixed a few dirty blonde hairs out of his face, pulling them back into the ponytail he was wearing. "I don't see anything wrong with these plans. I believe…" He paused, green eyes glancing from Shikaku to Danzō for some reason before snapping back to Hiruzen in the matter of a second. "... Shikaku's ideas are quite sound." "Then this matter will be settled, and you all should get back to your duties." Hiruzen said. As everyone was slowly shuffling out, I found Danzō had stayed behind for a second. He waited a couple minutes after everyone but the Hokage had left the room, and stared hard that the village in the distance, small trails of smoke gathering in the distance. "Be careful, Hiruzen. The kunai unseen is sometimes more effective than any other Jutsu." "Ah, thank you for the words, Danzō." The other old man said, taken aback for some reason. Then a smile took over the melancholy on Hiruzen's face as he looked over at the crippled man. "I must say, I had always thought you hated me after I ordered you to disband Ne, but I'm glad we could finally reconcile our differences. Though, for it to be due to something as terrible as this coup, I'm rather conflicted." "And I too am conflicted." Danzō said, and finally turned to leave. However, before he could take a step out the door, he smiled as if something funny ran through his mind. "You must watch your back, my friend." As Hiruzen was left suddenly alone in his room, I debated on whether or not to appear and ask him directly about what was going on. The only thing stopping me was the fact that me appearing suddenly in front of a powerful and paranoid Shinobi wouldn't be the best idea for my livelihood. There was also the fact that I would be leaving Sasuke alone in a place that I couldn't find him, but as soon as I found Itsuki to throw the child onto I would be getting all the details from everyone. However, after that odd meeting, I felt there was something off with everyone. It wasn't just the fact that there was something wrong with that Danzō guy, but the whole room felt like it was a rehearsed play. Still, I had too little information about the whole thing to start pointing fingers now. Though, if everyone was pushing for peace, then I could relax a bit. All I had to do now was find Hinata while maybe looking into things a little more at ease. My specter hovered outside the building, trying to find any more clues as Sasuke and I traveled the deserted streets. Of course, when I was feeling comfortable that everything was going to be resolved peacefully, I found a rather suspicious looking individual lurking nearby. If it wasn't for my spectral byakugan, then I would have never noticed that someone was there as they blended into the environment so well. All I caught was a brief flash of white before they disappeared from my vision. Which only set off more warnings in my head as I had missed almost nothing after I found out how to use my byakugan. To make matters worse, I found a haggard looking Inoichi trailing in the direction I had last seen the white blur disappear to. My gut was telling me something sinister was afoot as I trailed behind the man who was carefully looking over his shoulder every now and again. Finally, when he entered a small wooden shed with the word 'Ichiraku Ramen' hanging off of fluttering cloth, I was fully intent on understanding just what was going on. I smelled conspiracy along with so many Chakras gathered in the small store.