The Third Hokage: First Move Send Danzō to Prison

The best Ichiraku Ramen.

"Eat up, everyone! It's my treat today! My froggy wallet is maxed out and ready to go!"

After inhaling three large bowls of tonkotsu ramen, Naruto glanced around at his friends. They all seemed a bit reserved, so he quickly waved them over with enthusiasm.

Sasuke and Sakura had each only eaten one bowl. Shikamaru and Ino from Team 10 were about the same.

Hinata barely finished half a bowl, her cheeks pink. Girls really did have such tiny appetites.

Only Chōji's bowls had already stacked into a towering column. Kiba was still in the hospital, Shino had declined the invitation, and Guy's team had already run off to train again.

As for his clanswoman Kasumi, she seemed tied up with some complicated paperwork and had been led away by a coughing jonin. Guess he'd have to invite her next time.

One thing that went against the usual "Hokage protagonist struggle" trope was that Naruto wasn't actually short on money aside from the part where Jiraiya would later spend it chasing women. Even at the start of the story, Naruto's apartment was surprisingly modern, and he even had a private training room.

"You think everyone eats like you, you bottomless pit?" Sakura grumbled. "How did the Chunin Exams turn into all this chaos anyway?"

Shikamaru sipped the last of his broth, then leaned back and explained, "It was an ambush by the Sand Village and that rogue Sannin, Orochimaru. Lucky for us, we won."

"I'll take another bowl!" Chōji declared, fully immersed in his ramen bliss.

"But what about our exams? Can we still get promoted to Chunin? Or are we really going to have to go back to the Academy?"

"That wouldn't be so bad," Shikamaru said, scratching his head with a frown. "Under the new system, regular graduates are already considered Chunin. The higher-grade students still have to do missions for the village. Basically, it's just a way to keep genin working closer to home."

He added, "And even if we do go back, it'll have to be once the new campus is finished."

"Wow, you really know a lot, Shikamaru," Sakura said, a little impressed.

"Maybe we won't get promoted this time," Ino murmured, resting her chin on her hand. "I wonder if the village will arrange a retake. Naruto's gotten really strong though."

"Hehe! That's because I have an awesome teacher now!" Naruto grinned, tapping his forehead protector. "He used to be my dad's teacher!"

"Wait, Naruto, who is your dad?" Sakura asked, intrigued. Everyone turned to him, just as curious.

"Grandpa Third says it's still a secret for now."

"Ugh, so mysterious." Sakura pouted. "What, is he some bigshot or something?"

Hinata had mustered a mountain of courage just to accept Naruto's invitation to dinner, so she didn't dare chime in. She simply watched Naruto quietly.

As for Sasuke, the recent events had hit him hard. He hadn't said much at all. To put it in cliché terms he was torn between worrying that his friend lived a tough life and resenting that he might be driving a luxury car now.

Forget it. He'd just train ten times harder. A man had to rely on himself.

After everyone went their separate ways, Naruto was heading home to keep working on that "balloon" jutsu when he noticed someone following him.

"Huh? Oh, hey Hinata! What's up?" Naruto turned around with his usual sunny grin, scratching the back of his head.

"I… just wanted to say… thank you, Naruto," Hinata mumbled, her face flushed and eyes avoiding his.

"It's nothing! We're all friends here!"

"Mm… I'll be going now. I want to visit Neji. I'm really grateful to him too."

Naruto thought, She's so polite…

Hinata left, planning to grab a proper meal later. That half bowl really had been next to nothing.

...

Meanwhile, in a hidden cave somewhere far away.

"Obito! Obito! We're in trouble!"

Black and White Zetsu scrambled into the cave, shouting at their enigmatic, self-proclaimed mastermind: Uchiha Obito.

The news of Konoha's restructuring and the Sand's failed ambush had already reached the distant Land of Rain. Zetsu had even gotten his hands on the new Konoha Jonin Handbook, a feat only the King of Intel could pull off.

This "Evil Organization Response Manual" was almost comically brutal. It was as if it had been written specifically to target them.

Every Akatsuki member's abilities had been laid bare including Obito's. Thankfully, his true identity hadn't been exposed yet. If they'd "opened the box," there'd be no way to maintain the "Uchiha Madara" persona.

If he had to fall back on his real name, convincing Pain to follow his plans would be nearly impossible. Even Kisame might turn on him. The name Obito carried zero intimidation.

"There's a traitor in the Akatsuki," Obito muttered, flipping through the stolen handbook.

"Is it Itachi? His entry is strangely vague," Black Zetsu offered. He'd always suspected Itachi's loyalty.

"No. Itachi wouldn't have access to everyone's information. Some of this includes even Pain's secrets."

"There are only two people in the organization who could know this much…"

"You mean…"

"That's right. It's Pain himself," Obito said flatly.

"What!" Black Zetsu was stunned.

Obito nodded. "Only the leader would have access to this kind of data. And he's the only one who could know enough about my abilities to include details like this. He's clearly been watching me."

"That's true," Black Zetsu said after a moment of hesitation.

"Looks like Pain's been making moves behind the scenes. Probably trying to test me. He's never trusted us. And the feeling is mutual."

Black Zetsu tried to argue. Something about this didn't make sense why would Pain include himself in the intel leak?

"Also, what's with the line that says you 'crave familial affection'? Aren't you supposed to be a manifestation of Madara's will?"

"Haha! Guess Pain misunderstood me," Obito said with a sarcastic laugh. "Anyway, now that our intel is compromised, we need to be careful. Let's feel him out."

...

In the Village Hidden in the Rain, where the rain never stops falling.

Rainwater slid down the sides of towering steel spires, the tops vanishing into mist. Cold and lonely.

Inside one of the towers…

Nagato's frail body was suspended by a web of complex machinery. Under the dim light, his face looked gaunt and pale. His Rinnegan eyes shimmered with uncertainty.

"How was the intel leaked so thoroughly? I don't even know the full scope of everyone's abilities myself."

Konan stood nearby, a scroll of intel in her hands, paper fluttering gently around her.

"It must have been Uchiha Madara. I've always suspected he had hidden agendas."

Her eyes briefly fell on Nagato's weakened body. A trace of complex emotion flickered in her gaze.

"Nagato, does this mean… we need to change our plans?"

Nagato thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No. Even if our intel's exposed, ordinary people are no match for gods. Pain is invincible."

He continued, "Move up the schedule for the Tailed Beast hunt."

"But with the members' identities out in the open…"

"It doesn't matter. They're all missing-nin to begin with," Nagato said coldly. "Prepare the Phantom Projection Jutsu. Call everyone in. The Tailed Beast Hunt starts now."

"Understood." Konan nodded.

Nagato had made his decision. Even if she had doubts, she wouldn't question him.