Anbu Root base-
[Danzo's office]
In a dark room, illuminated by candlelight, Danzo Shimura and Taiju stare at each other.
"You can't seem to help yourself can't you?" He shook his head, "Nearly starting a war with 3 nations over a sword!" He slams his desk.
Taiju stood there, arms crossed, looking completely uninterested." Key keyword is nearly–everything worked out at the end."
Danzo clenched his wrapped arm, tearing into the bandages.
"Be careful Grandpa, you'll reveal your little secret ~"
"I should kill you."
"But you won't. " Taiju tilts his head, grinning like an idiot, "You're biggest problem is that you can't stand me but need my expertise to accomplish that Hokage dream of yours," Taiju stated.
"Tsk–you really believe you're my sole hope of achieving Hokage status? You underestimate boy, my plans reach beyond surface thinking. " Danzo corrects him.
"Hah." Taiju mocks, "This civil war you're planning will only ruin the village. Even if you somehow control the Kyubi, you won't live to see the fruits of your labour. "
Slam.
Danzo vanishes from his chair, choking Taiju against the wall, holding him tight enough to burst his trachea.
"Do not forget who created you boy...you were a mere bastard on the streets that I took a chance on and made a worthy weapon. Like any tool, you can be replaced."
The words hit Taiju like a punch to the jaw, he could do nothing but expect it.
"I–I was made to be your weapon...But I do not choose you as my wielder. "Taiju choked out.
"Mxm." Danzo let go of him.
Taiju landed on both feet, rubbing his throat.
"Let me remind you of something Taiju, your purpose is to control the nine tails, whether you die trying –I couldn't care less," Danzo concluded.
"Of course Lord Danzo."
[Konoha hospital]
Like most of her nights, Ino clocks out of the hospital, ditching her rags for her purple two-piece dress, she drags her tired feet out the entrance, into the cold Leaf air.
"Finally, sleep..." The Yamanaka heiress groaned out.
"You can't be that tired blondie ~" A voice spoke in her ear.
"Eeee." Ino shrieked, twirling around to deliver a heel kick to the person behind her.
Her foot was caught just an inch from the person's face.
"Taiju." Ino growls.
"This isn't a nice way to greet your sensei." Taiju pouted.
"Screw you!" Ino huffs, turning her back to him, stomping her way home.
"Wait!" Taiju snakes his arm around her waist, pulling her flush to him. She leaned back into his chest, his chin resting on her messy blonde hair.
"W–What... are you doing ?" Ino stutters out, blushes adorning her pale face.
"Just greeting you of course." Taijuhumss, trailing his fingertips up her delicate armhe shivers under his touch.
"Your muscles are tense." Taiju blurted out, still sketching her body.
"This is harassment," Ino warns him.
"Then why haven't you hit me yet? Your body has been relaxing in my hold." He teases.
"I'm serious Taiju."
"Finnne." He reluctantly let her go.
Ino crosses her arms, glaring at him.
"So–what is it?"
-----
"A civil war between the Anbu?" Tenten questions.
The student of Might Guy's finds herself in Kurenai's apartment with Hinata, Tayuya, and Kin.
Tayuya was just done explaining Danzo's plan to eliminate Anbu black ops and restrict the freedom of Squad-0 after he becomes the 6th Hokage.
"Wait...aren't Alk anbu under Lady Tsunade's jurisdiction?" Hinata asks.
"Not quite," Kurenai answers," The Anbu were created as a special division to do assassination and espionage missions that the average shinobi team is either unqualified for or lacks the mental strength to handle the backlash. " She educated them.
"Root is a division under Danzo's direct orders, Lady Tsunade is the second in command to them. Squad-0 or originally called the suicide unit is specifically trained for its fatality missions such as–"
"Keep a nine-tailed brat from losing his sh*t." Tayuya interrupted.
"...that is correct. " Kurenai sighs.
"So Taiju is expected to tame Naruto?" Tenten looks baffled at the revelation. "Taiju is strong but this is the kyubi we're talking about!" The Burnette hits the counter harshly. "Sorry Kurenai-chan. " She apologizes for her outburst.
"It's ok Tenten. You girls underestimate how powerful Taiju is." Kurenai looks at them. "That man was trained by Danzo, a man obsessed with ruling all the elemental nations. "
"I believe Taiju is strong. " Hinata added, quickly hiding her face at her backing of him
Kurenai smirks at her student, "My–I didn't think Taiju grew on you that fast." Kurenai giggles.
"KURENAI SENESI!" Hinata shrieks, burying her face in a pillow. "Don't look at me." She muffled through the pillows.
"Another hopeless girl." Kin shakes her head.
Tayuya rolled her eyes at her comment. "Anyways...we still need to prepare for this inner conflict, Danzo has already assigned spies to monitor us."
"Really?" Tenten said.
Tayuya pointed out the window, "He sent fem boy Sai and the annoying Aburame."
On the roof across from Kurenai's apartment, two ninja cloak themselves in the shadows, watching the Yuhi residence.
"I feel like Tayuya's talking about us?" Sai shivers.
"..." Torune remains silent.
----
[Forest of death ]
"Why did you bring me here Taiju?" Anko presses him.
In the same clearing they once fought, she now stands with him, Ino, and Yugao.
Taiju holds a giant scroll in one hand, and the other has a paintbrush and ink. "Anko, remember when I said I could remove your curse mark?"
Anko froze, biting her lip, eyes trembling."Don't joke like that Taiju...I don't find it funny. " She glares at him, hand reaching for her hidden kunai.
Taiju made no sudden movement, just looked at her, "Do you trust me?"
[End of chapter]