Shadows On The Leaf

It was a quiet night in Konoha. The moonlight streamed through the windows of the Hokage's office, dimly illuminating the figure of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting behind his desk reviewing some scrolls. Standing in front of him was Kakashi Hatake, who was wearing his usual shinobi attire, but whose face reflected a deeper tiredness than his physical one.

"Kakashi," Hiruzen began, setting aside the scroll he was looking through, "I thank you again for accepting this responsibility. I know it was not an easy decision for you."

Kakashi bowed his head slightly. "Hokage-sama, I did it because… because I know that it's what Minato-sensei would have wanted." 

Hiruzen nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at the young jonin. "Minato trusted you, Kakashi. I knew that even in your darkest moments, you were still a good boy. That's why I chose you to look after Naruto." 

Kakashi was silent for a moment, his eyes drifting to the window. 

"It's… complicated," she finally admitted. "I never thought I'd end up taking care of a baby. Let alone under these circumstances. Losing Obito, Rin… and then Minato-sensei… It's been hell. I thought I had nothing left to fight for." 

Hiruzen watched him silently, letting the young man share what was in his heart. 

"But Naruto…" Kakashi continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "It's hard to explain, but when I hold him, or when he smiles, or even when he cries… it's like there's a little beacon in the darkness I've been mired in. I didn't expect it to give me strength, but it does. And I can't help but think that Minato-sensei and Kushina-sama would be so happy with him."

Hiruzen smiled slightly, nodding in approval. "Naruto has that light, Kakashi. And so do you. Even if you don't always see it." 

There was a brief silence before Hiruzen changed the subject, his tone more serious. 

"You know, people in the village haven't stopped talking," he said. "Despite our initial efforts, it's not hard for many to make the connection. A blond boy with blue eyes, born on the day of the Kyūbi attack, not to mention that the Fourth Hokage's wife was close to giving birth… We can no longer hide the truth."

Kakashi frowned. "They talk about him openly?" 

Hiruzen nodded. "Yes. That's why I decided that there was no point in hiding it any longer. From now on, Naruto will be officially recognized as Naruto Namikaze. I don't want him to grow up under a lie, and we can't allow the village to see him as a burden or a threat either. He's the son of a hero, and he should be treated as such." 

"What about the village's enemies?" Kakashi asked. 

Hiruzen sighed. "That risk will always be present. But if we allow fear to control our decisions, then we have already lost. Besides, Naruto will be protected, not just by you, but by the entire village. And someday, when he is older, he will protect Konoha as well." 

Kakashi nodded, though his expression remained serious. "It is a great weight you have placed on his shoulders, Hokage-sama. I hope he can bear it when the time comes." 

"He will," Hiruzen replied confidently. "Because he won't be alone. He will have people like you to guide him." 

Kakashi bowed his head slightly, accepting the Hokage's words. 

"I will do what I can," she said finally. "Naruto deserves to have a future full of hope… and a childhood that prepares him to be strong, but also happy." 

"I trust you will do well, Kakashi," Hiruzen said with a slight smile. "Remember, you are not looking out for Naruto just because of his lineage or his destiny. You are also doing so because, as you yourself said, he is a beacon. And you may need that light as well." 

Kakashi didn't answer immediately, but there was renewed determination in his gaze. 

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," he said finally. "I will make Minato-sensei and Kushina-sama proud." 

Hiruzen nodded as Kakashi left, leaving the office in silence. The Third Hokage looked out the window, out into the quiet Konoha night.

/////

Moonlight filtered through the treetops as four hooded figures wearing ANBU masks moved swiftly forward, leaping from branch to branch with impeccable precision. Danzo led the group, his cloak billowing behind him. Despite the mask covering his face, his movements and posture conveyed authority and confidence. 

Behind him, Shisui, Kinoe and Tatsuma remained in formation, keeping pace without difficulty. The sound of the wind and the occasional rustling of branches were the only companions on their journey through the dark forest. 

"Danzo-sama," Shisui began, breaking the silence with a respectful yet cheerful tone. "I want to thank you for the training you've been giving us, we know that's not something you do with the other members. Both Kinoe and I feel that we've improved greatly under your guidance."

Danzo did not look back, but his words rang out loud. "You have great potential." 

Kinoe nodded, though she knew Danzo couldn't see it. Shisui continued, "It is an honor, Danzo-sama. By the way, sir, I have been working on new techniques. I recently signed a summoning contract with the crows. I am thinking about how to integrate them into my combat style, especially in combination with my genjutsus."

Danzo nodded slightly. "A shrewd choice. Crows are intelligent creatures, capable of adapting to multiple strategies. If you train them well, they will be an invaluable asset in your quests. Although Root does not have an alliance with summoning clans, in the future, I will find a solution to this, but only the best among you will have access to these summoning beasts." 

Shisui and Kinoe shared a brief glance, impressed by their leader's vision. 

Danzo continued speaking, "At Root, we don't waste potential. Speaking of potential, what about Itachi, Fugaku's son… what do you think of him?" 

Shisui pondered for a moment before answering. "He is a prodigy, no doubt. But he is also young. He has natural talent, although he still lacks experience. However, I know that with time he will surpass even my expectations." 

Danzo didn't add anything further on the subject, but his thoughts had already begun to work on future possibilities. 

After a few minutes, Danzo stopped on a high branch and pointed to the horizon. The other three stopped behind him. 

"We have already left Konoha territory," he announced in a firm voice. "The mission we are about to undertake is a delicate one. We are heading to Kirigakure, but we cannot allow anyone to track our movements. That is why we left without alerting the Hokage or the patrols. This operation is not officially sanctioned. If anything goes wrong, there will be no backup. Is that clear?" 

The three of them nodded in unison. Tatsuma was the first to speak. "What shall we do in Kirigakure, Danzo-sama?" 

Danzo turned his head slightly, although his mask still covered any possible expression. 

"In Kirigakure, we will be looking for a man named Ao. According to my information, he is in possession of a Byakugan stolen from the Hyūga. Our mission is to locate him, study his movements, and recover the Byakugan. We will not let something so valuable fall into the hands of another village."

Shisui processed the words quickly. "That explains the discretion." 

"Exactly. Any sign of our presence could spark an unnecessary conflict with Kirigakure. Our mission must be executed with surgical precision. No trace, no flaw." 

With those words, Danzo moved forward again, and the others followed him, each lost in their own thoughts.

Shisui, as he ran, reflected on all he had learned from Danzo and what he could still accomplish under his tutelage. Deep within him, a spark of ambition began to ignite.

////// 

The sun's rays barely made it through the dense treetops as Danzo led the team through the forests near a small port in the Land of Fire. Still clad in their black cloaks and ANBU masks, the four of them advanced silently as they leapt from branch to branch.

After hours of traveling, they finally reached the outskirts of a fishing village. Danzo raised a hand, signaling them to stop. From their hidden position, they could see the small wooden houses clustered around a simple harbor, where several fishing and trading boats bobbed in the water. 

"This is the starting point," Danzo muttered, adjusting his hood. "From here on out, we leave behind our identities as Konoha shinobi. It is time to embrace our new lives." 

The team followed Danzo to an abandoned hut on the outskirts of the village, a temporary shelter where they could prepare for the next stage. There, Danzo unrolled a map on a makeshift table and began to detail the plan. 

"We will infiltrate the Land of Water as civilians. The facade is simple: we are three brothers seeking a new life in Kirigakure. Shisui, Tatsuma, and I will be the brothers, while Kinoe will be an orphan we meet along the way. His past and specific details must be kept ambiguous, but consistent. If anyone becomes suspicious, they will respond with the bare minimum." 

Danzo assigned fake names to each of them and went over their backstories. Shisui would be "Shin," the cheerful younger brother; Tatsuma would be "Taichi," the protective and somewhat serious middle brother, while Danzo would be "Hajime," the older brother, the wise and firm leader of the family. Kinoe, simply put, would be "Taro," a boy they had found wandering alone on the road. 

Shisui looked with some amusement at Kinoe, who was now dressed in simple peasant clothes. 

"We'll take good care of you, little Taro," he commented with an amused smile.

Kinoe frowned. "We're the same age, don't call me little."

Danzo interrupted the conversation. "This is not a game. Any mistake can cost us the mission. Is that clear?"

They all nodded seriously, aware of the importance of the cover-up. 

//////

They boarded a merchant ship at dawn, blending in with a group of civilians and merchants also seeking to reach the Land of Water. With contact lenses and dyed hair, the group soon began to blend into their roles. Danzo adopted a calm and authoritative demeanor, interacting with other passengers like a protective older brother. Shisui showed his charismatic side, quickly gaining the sympathy of some passengers, while Tatsuma remained more reserved, watching in silence.

Kinoe, for his part, acted like a shy child, staying close to "his family" and avoiding eye contact with strangers. 

At night, as the ship glided through the calm waters, the crew would gather on deck to talk in whispers.

After two weeks at sea, the group finally landed at a small port in the Land of Water. The fog that covered the coast was thick, almost suffocating, and the atmosphere felt tense. Following the plan, they adopted their civilian roles and began their journey towards Kirigakure, moving carefully and keeping a low profile. 

During the nights, they camped in the nearby woods, it was on one of those nights that Danzo gathered the team to explain the final details of the plan.

"When we arrive at Kirigakure, Shisui will use his Sharingan to hypnotize the guards at the entrance. This will guarantee us a clean entry, with records and legal documentation. Once inside, we will take up residence in the outer district. From there, we will begin gathering information on Ao." 

Danzo unrolled Ao's drawing. "This is our target. If you see it, you are to report to me immediately. Meanwhile, Shisui and I will ambush lone ninjas to gain information from their memories. This must be done with complete discretion." 

Shisui looked at the drawing carefully, recording every detail in his mind. "Understood, Danzo-sama." 

Danzo continued. "Tatsuma, your task will be to infiltrate the Kirigakure morgue. Using Shisui's genjutsu, we will secure you a position there. Your objective will be to collect genetic material from the corpses of great ninja. This is crucial to my future plans." 

Tatsuma nodded, with absolute loyalty towards Danzo.