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On the Fifth Day of the Sixth Month, as the weeklong rain stopped and the sun peeked from behind the cloud, a carriage stopped in front of the Prince’s Residence. A lone figure stepped out, his whole body was wrapped in back cloth, as well as half of his face. The silver hair peaked from the edge of where his head was covered, with a slow rhythm he started walking towards the entrance.
“Kakashi-Dono.” The call made him stop in his tracks and he saw Yato, Prince’s servant was standing behind him.
“Denka is not in his residence.” He informed, “He is in the Hanare right now. He had asked me to fetch you.”
“Alright.” Kakashi nodded.
They started walking through the imperial garden and stopped in front of a house surrounded by water body. As Kakashi crossed the bridge, the guards bowed at him.
As Yato led him, they entered the long corridor, and the beta opened the Shoji door. The moment he entered, the overwhelming scent of blood entered his system. He squinted his eyes trying to keep his concentration on breathing.
The young Prince lay sprawled on the ground with his eyes closed, his golden robe crumpled, his hat was scattering at the side, his golden hair was open cascading like a waterfall. Puffs of smoke rose from his mouth as he leaned on his one hand, and another held a Kiseru. The sunlight entered through the Shoji screen and fell on his feet, illuminating his skin.
“Kakashi-Dono.” The voice akin to sword slicing through the air spoke out, “Why must you make me wait every time I give you a task?”
Hatake Kakashi swallowed.
The prince did not make any move to open his eyes. Kakashi slowly walked towards him and kneeled, “Hatake Kakashi reporting to Koutaishi Denka, Minister of Treasury Shimura Danzo is arrested.”
The azure eyes slowly opened, and it fixed on him. Under the long nose, the corner of the lips was raised slowly. “Is that so?” The prince said, “What a pleasant news.”
“However…” Kakashi trailed off, “From his residence, some documentation was retrieved.” He said, “It is about the imperial military and Anbu.”
The Prince rose slightly from his position and put the Kiseru in his mouth, taking it as a sign of intrigue Kakashi went on, “I think you remember my long investigation about the suspicious activity in the military. I was right, Danzo used to supply alphas and betas in the military and Anbu, they entered as insignificant, but they rose up in the ranks. Their loyalty belonged to the Shimura clan instead of the throne.”
Silence followed the statement. Yet it was so loud, Kakashi felt his ears ring. The Prince’s finger twitched on the document where he had put it. Soon a sharp laughter erupted from his mouth, the azure eyes flashed. Kakashi felt the room suddenly had turned smaller, suffocating by the sheer presence of The Prince. Then he stopped and shook the ashes on the ashtray.
“Interesting.” He said, “Enough to display his head.”
Kakashi nodded, “I have already sent the best people to interrogate his subordinates. If they confess it would be enough to incriminate him.”
The Prince didn’t say anything. Kakashi would take it as his cue to leave but he lingered, because he had something else to report. “I have found something else as well.” He slid another report towards him, “I think there might be a possibility that the remnants of the Uchiha clan were under his possession.”
His mouth went dry as The Prince frowned slightly. “What?”
“You might recall an organisation called Akatsuki.” Kakashi said.
The Prince hummed, “Created by Uchiha Madara, yes, it was dissolved after his death.”
“It was not.” Kakashi shook his head, “Apparently the Governor of Shinano, Hanzo kept it alive. After Danzo was promoted to ministry, Hanzo died and the new Governor is from the Shimura clan. There are records of funds he assigned for this organisation. The people he recommended to the military and Anbu were all from it.”
The Prince huffed, “Right under our nose.” He puffed another smoke, “What are your doubts?”
“I think if we raze Akatsuki, we can find Uchiha Obito, the Heir Itachi and his brother Sasuke.” Kakashi said.
By the time he had finished speaking, The Prince had completely risen from his position, and his eyes were fixed on the document in front of him. “You sound unsure Kakashi.” He spoke.
“They are in Akatsuki.” Kakashi finally said.
“Is that so?” He mumbled, “The bane of the Senju clan was closer than I thought.”
Kakashi stared at the prince in front of him. The boy was merely twenty, but it had been five years since he had started this purge. The slow and deliberate planning was not at all flawless in the beginning, yet at the end he had succeeded.
He still recalled the day vividly, when his father Namikaze Minato pulled him out his bed chamber where he thought he would waste himself away and made him the retainer of the empress herself, Uzumaki Kushina.
Then war broke out, causing the Emperor Minato to leave for the border and Uzumaki Naruto was born. An exact resemblance of the emperor with bright hair and blue eyes, he was the heir to the throne.
Empress Kushina did not survive the childbirth, perhaps she knew her husband would also return into ashes like her. As she passed, she handed him to Kakashi and Tsunade, the only two people she trusted the most.
Now, right in front of him stood the man who was the same age as when Emperor Minato took the throne. The same silhouette, the same eyes, the same colour of his hair.
After the death of the emperor, the Senju clan stepped up as the regent. Due to their tie to the Uzumaki clan through Princess Mito Uzumaki being married into the Senju clan. Yet, with years they were growing increasingly powerful.
Yet, as the prince turned of age, they refused to step down and let the rightful heir take the throne. Their greed was infinite, and Kakashi would always side with the Uzumaki Clan before anything.
“What is your next order?” He asked.
Naruto had leaned back once again, inhaling smoke from the Kiseru he puffed out a cloud. “You are already on it.” He answered, “Aren’t you?”
“I am.” Kakashi answered without missing a beat.
There was silence after that, and Naruto’s impassive eyes had already drifted far away. Kakashi bowed and left the room.
………………………….
By the time the trials against the Shimura clan were completed smoothly, three months had already passed. Ensuring Shimura Danzo never saw the sun ever again, Kakashi buried himself in the investigation regarding the Akatsuki and the Uchiha remnants.
Though, he was not doing that only by Naruto’s order. He had his own goal for finding the location of the organisation.
It was Obito.
It had been nearly twenty years since they were separated and Kakashi would do anything to see him again.
That evening when he arrived at the royal residence once again, he saw Sakura walking out and getting inside her kart. Seeing Kakashi, she stopped.
“Good evening.” She said with a smile on her face.
“Good evening.” Kakashi replied, “Here for the monthly check up?”
Sakura nodded, “Yes. He told me to make suppressants for two months by next month. Are you guys travelling somewhere?”
Kakashi frowned, “Not that I know of.” He then blinked, “Do you have any news of Tsunade-Dono?”
Sakura sighed and shook her head, “No…. the last letter I sent her, the messenger came back because there was no one in the house. Nobody knows where she is.”
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose, “I understand. Thank you Sakura. I will be leaving now.” Sakura nodded and got in the kart, while he started walking inside.
Naruto was sprawled in the same Hanare, this time he was holding a book.
Kakashi could not see the name of it, but he suspected it would be another poetry book. For someone that ordered the veins of the body to be cut before disposed to eliminate the chance of resurrection, he surely liked to read about the romanticism of the moon and the river a lot.
“I have news.” He announced, “About the Uchiha clan.”
Naruto made no movement to put the book down.
“Hanzo was the Governor of the Shinano so I suspected the Akatsuki hideout would be somewhere there.” Kakashi went on, “My men infiltrated all the remote villages near the mountains, after staying there for a whole month they had discovered rationing pipelines in one village.”
He waited for the other’s response. Outside the full moon’s bright light fell inside the room, the yellow light of the lamp illuminated the prince’s face as his finger drummed on the spine of the book he was holding.
Kakashi kept talking, “It was the Tsukigawa village, on the foot of the Kageyama. There is a wealthy family, who has the documents with the seal of the governor to supply grain, clothes, oil, meat and more things once a month in the forest. When questioned he confessed that the governor’s people came to collect the receipts every month. My men threatened him to keep his mouth shut, he said the payment was enough to supply for the next three months but they didn’t come to take the receipt this month so we could retrieve that.”
At the end, he moved his face from the book and looked at Kakashi, “Is that so?”
Kakashi wordlessly pulled two scrolls out of his sleeves, then opened it and put it on the floor. One was Uchiha Itachi, the sunken eyes, the messy hair, his face had hardened from the last time Kakashi remembered. Then it was Uchiha Sasuke, black hair with two cold black eyes. If was in court, it would be difficult to hold off his betrothal.
“One of my spies disguised herself as the worker and went with them when they were taking the supplies.” He said, “She saw both Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke that day. After coming back she drew these portraits.”
Naruto stared at the two pictures, his eyes slowly glancing over both. “Indeed.” He mumbled, “Indeed.”
Then his voice raised a bit and he recited,
aki kaze no
mi ni samukereba
tsuremonaki
hito wo zo tanomu
kururu yo gato ni
“Do you know who the poet longs for Kakashi-Dono?” Naruto asked.
“Their lover.” Kakashi replied.
Naruto pursed his lips, “Is that so?” He looked back at the page, “I thought the poet longed for death.”
Kakashi blinked, not really understanding how he could reach such conclusions.
Naruto closed the book and slowly rose to sitting position and called, “Yato.”
From the side of the Shoji screen a man entered the room, “Yes Denka.”
“Send a message to the Hyouga clan.” He ordered, “To meet me as soon as possible.”
Yato bowed and left.
“What are you thinking?” Kakashi asked at last.
“What do you think Uchiha Itachi’s answer would be if I only gave him two choices?” Naruto asked.
“The one that would benefit him the most.” He answered.
Naruto rested his chin on his palm, “The one that would benefit him the most.” He nodded, “Indeed.”
………………………….
Hyouga Neji was reading some documents about the clan’s finances when his uncle summoned him. Neji stopped what he was doing and kind of rushed inside. It had been a few months since Shimura Danzo had been arrested and the court was in turmoil. As much as they were aware who was behind it, they also needed to discuss the next step.
“May I come in, Uncle?” Neji bowed in front of his room.
Hyouga Hiashi gestured him to come in and as Neji entered, without sparing a second he spoke, “Touguu had summoned us.”
Neji felt his heart hammering in his chest, “Is this about?”
Hiashi nodded, “We have to be prepared, now that the last obstacle is gone…” He trailed off.
That very evening they set out to the Prince’s Palace. As they entered the adobe, the guard directed them towards the study. The Prince was sitting in a lotus position and leaning on his backrest, his eyes were closed and his left hand was supporting his temple. In front of him scrolls scattered on the study table, the smell of ink and brush indicated he was writing something just now.
“The Hyouga clan greets Koutaishi Denka.” Both of them kneeled in front of the door.
Naruto opened his eyes and observed them for a few moments before his lips moved, “Rise.” His voice was barely a mumble.
Hiashi and Neji both sat down with his spine straight. Neji couldn’t help but notice Naruto’s hair, the striking golden one that was tied into a knot today, and his clothes were also ceremonial. Very unusual for the prince.
“Hyouga-Dono, how does the office feel right now?” Naruto’s posture remained relaxed as he talked, “Is it easier to breathe?”
Hyouga Hiashi’s fingers trembled, “Denka is sage.” He managed to say.
“Is that so?” Naruto now leaned forward and passed a scroll towards him, “Look at this.”
Hyouga Hiashi took the scroll, Neji also peeked and as they read, both of their eyes widened. “This…” Hiashi trailed off, “Your recommendation….”
In the scroll, there was a recommendation letter right with the personal seal of the crown prince, urging The Regent to appoint Hyouga Hiashi as the Minister of the Treasury.
“Denka is sage!” Hiashi exclaimed.
Naruto let him finish before he spoke again, “However, Hyouga-Dono as you have heard. To gain, you must lose.”
Neji blinked, unable to register what he was talking about. “What do you mean Denka?” He asked.
“Two choices.” Naruto said, “One, I will send the recommendation letter to the regency and ensure your appointment, and I annul the betrothal between me and Hyouga No Kimi.”
Hiashi felt his stomach fall, Neji felt his heart stop. Yet, they couldn’t speak a word, because Naruto was not finished.
“Two, the betrothal stays intact and I don’t send the recommendation letter to the regency.” Naruto finished.
Neji glanced at his uncle beside him. The betrothal between the heiress of the Hyouga clan Hinata was decided when they were merely ten years old. Back then it was accepted, encouraged even by the regency. Naruto, who was always naturally aloof, didn't object so the clan thought he was not much interested in talking about such matters in public.
Hiashi’s finger trembled as he glanced at Naruto. The prince had gone back to his previous relaxed posture, as if he just did not present him with two choices that both would make him lose something. If he accepted the position, then he had to break his daughter’s heart, if he chose his daughter then he would lose the position.
A servant entered the room with two cups of tea. He put the cups right in front of them and Hiashi made no movement to take it.
Neji didn’t know what his uncle was thinking about, but he knew one thing very clearly. If they refused the position to protect Hinata’s heart, there was no guarantee that the betrothal would stay intact in the future. Because he was sure Naruto would do something to annul it again. Then they would lose both the betrothal and the position.
Just as Neji’s thought was finished, Hyouga Hiashi gripped the teacup with both of his hands and presented it to Naruto, “Denka is sage.” He said, then poured the hot tea in his mouth.
Naruto stared at them with a fairly amused expression, his eyes glinted as Hiashi put the cup down and his lips curled up into a smile.
“Hyouga clansmen have always been intelligent.” He mused, “I am glad through generations it had not changed.
Neji let out a sigh as both of them exited the prince’s mansion. “I hope the explanation seems reasonable to Hinata.” Neji mumbled.
“She will understand.” Replied Hiashi.
………………………….
Shikamaru had been staring at the map right in front of him for an hour now. On his opposite was Kakashi with his arms folded, white hair fell on his eyes as it concentrated on the map of Shinano. Naruto was a bit far; half laid on a cushion and smoked a Kiseru.
“Why must you two make me wait?” He commented.
Shikamaru and Kakashi both exchanged glances.
Shikamaru started, “The forest around Kageyama is especially dense. Infiltration will take-”
“Give an information that I am not aware of.” Naruto cut him off.
Shikamaru gulped and looked at Kakashi for help. He might be the general of the imperial army, but the older alpha was different, he had raised Naruto since infancy, he knew the crown prince’s mood.
Kakashi nodded at him, “If we go there with a large number of soldiers then the village folks will be curious and gossip about us.” He said, “We need to ship them in smaller amounts, at least 3 soldiers every week to avoid suspicion.”
“We need a thousand soldiers to positively ambush Akatsuki.” Shikamaru supplied, “It will take a year.”
“Too late.” Naruto countered.
Shikamaru drummed his finger on the map, Naruto was right, it was too late. They had only three months of ration paid off, anything more can make Akatsuki suspicious and leave the place or worse be ready when they are ambushed.
‘Multiple people entering the village will alert them.” Kakashi said again.
Silence followed this statement, the two of them were deep in thoughts. Their mind filled with possibilities. Naruto on the other hand remained relaxed, occasionally smoked a puff and looked outside enjoying the scenery from the Hanare.
“There is a way.” Naruto said at last.
The two snapped their heads, “Yes?”
“Do you know when multiple unknown people enter a house and nobody is suspicious?” Naruto directly looked at Kakashi.
Shikamaru blinked, then he also understood.
“A wedding.” Kakashi whispered.
“Fake wedding procession, dowry chests. A lot of potentials to ship soldiers.” Shikamaru said.
“I will send a letter to the Kirishima Family.” Kakashi said, “They will arrange a fake wedding so we can enter as wedding party.”
Naruto didn’t say anything except for smoking a puff out. The smoke flew a bit higher before disappearing completely. The Prince’s posture changed and he laid down, Shikamaru folded the map as he glanced at him.
When the two left the estate Shikamaru opened his mouth, “Did he think this through?” He asked.
Kakashi sighed, “He has never been too sure of something.”