"Thank you Lord Danzo. I will make sure they are fully utilised". Tsuyu saluted respectfully.
"It's nothing. I believe you know how to dispose of them afterwards. If nothing else, you may go". Danzo said calmly, as if the two prisoners he prepared for Tsuyu were nothing.
Tsuyu nodded and with a flash she were gone.
Danzo tapped his finger on his chair, contemplating. She's quite ruthless even to her own brother. But still, it's something all ANBU members had to go through; so it wasn't that special of a training. Danzo didn't think much of it. Besides, he had more important matter to attend to.
Danzo look over at the report, saying that Jiraiya would arrive in Konoha in few days. And a few members of Konoha had been dispatched to convince Tsunade to come back. Danzo felt a little apprehension over the Hokage position.
The meeting with Konoha Council and the Jonin council would determine the next Hokage. Danzo could tell the Daimyo definitely dislike him.
He felt annoyed at this; Hokage position is close in his hands, but as usual it slipped through his fingers. He can only hope those two refuse and had the position fall into his hands like a pie afterwards.
Unless...
Danzo already had a plan in mind, brewing darkly quickly.
Tsunade; you are already useless. If you are gone...
A trace of coldness appeared on Danzo's single eye. Tsunade, a medical-nin had hemophobia. A joke of the century. What use could she had now that Konoha is in a critical situation, with guillotine over it's head waiting to drop at any moment? Though...
Danzo contemplated it again. Actually, she still had some use. Her healing technique with Katsuyu to heal en-masse, and the medical knowledge in her head.
She may not be able to see blood, but remembering her achievements in previous war; and that Konoha would confront Sunagakure again with it's lethal poison - maybe it's far better to leave her alive.
Danzo tensed expression from thinking relaxed slightly.
Nevermind. She still had enough use. Besides, she could only do things in the rear once the war breaks out. While I could contribute far more than she could.
If he couldn't take this chance to become Hokage; the upcoming war is definitely his chance to shine, and once the councils and the Daimyo see how incompetent and lackluster Tsunade is compared to himself; the Hokage position would definitely be his.
Danzo felt more confident thinking about it. And thinking about his future achievements, he recalled the research he had put forward on Tsuyu's request before on aerial technology and forming a shinobi unit from it. As well as other... confidential things Tsuyu had discussed with him in the dark.
Aerial advantage had always been the major threat when facing Iwagakure ninja and Sunagakure's Kage. If Konoha could add wings to their elite members, they could fight without worry.
Danzo took another glance at the files on his table.
3 different operations and outlines from his and Tsuyu's discussion - akin to two devils exchanging ideas on how to bring real hell to this world. Somehow, despite how absurd in terms of how grand the objectives are in the end are - Danzo could see Konoha's victory.
Operation Shinigami's Dealing, Operation Starving Sand and Operation Sinking Stone. The three files with a big red letters "TOP SECRET" contained schemes that would let Konoha fight against all front. Even if it meant sacrificing morality and humanity.
I should see how everything is going.
It's the first time Danzo's ROOT are fully immobilized for the three major operations without anyone else left for other schemes. But first thing first, Operation Shinigami'sDealings should be pushed forward immediately. Danzo had a chilling cold smile as he take out a unique prototype of Explosive Tag from within the file created by Tsuyu with few adjustments from his own side.
Tsuyu, you are truly the Devil Konoha needed right now...
Danzo disappeared with a flash, heading to see the various ROOT departments.
***
Naruto was training at the training ground number 3 meanwhile. Tsuyu said she would give him a special training and he need to be mentally prepared.
Naruto, as usual, replied with usual spirit "Bring it on!"; though he shuddered thinking of various ways Tsuyu would beat and torture him. But to be Hokage, and to make sure Sasuke-teme couldn't act so smug towards him, he could endure!
Throwing fists and kicks onto a wooden dummy standing still, he imagined various scenarios in his active mind.
Time passed slowly, until a figure appeared and tapped on his back so suddenly almost causing his heart to fall out of his chest.
"T-Tsu-chan! Stop sneaking up on me!" Naruto pouted, still hated the way Tsuyu appeared like a ghost all the time without leaking any of her presence beforehand.
Tsuyu didn't comment and directly state the point.
"Let's go".
Naruto tilted his head, asking in confusion where to as he's lead to outskirt of Konoha, reaching an abandoned building away form any sign of people.
Naruto curiously look around. The walls of cement covered with moss and molds and stains of black. As if there's really nothing here.
Tsuyu lead Naruto to a corner, and in Naruto's shock and excitement, an entrance suddenly opened up on the ground, leading to a staircase down to an unknown basement.
"Wow! A secret place!". Naruto felt excited seeing some secret hideout here and his head filled with wonders.
Tsuyu didn't say much and just head straight down. Naruto followed closely from behind, only light from the small torch on Tsuyu's hand guide the way.
The stairs eventually reach it ends, and Naruto could hear... voices and sounds. Or grunts?
Naruto felt a little intimidation, wariness and even, hint of fear at the unknown. And the smell of rust, mixed with an unpleasant odor already hit his nose so suddenly.
"Tsu-chan, what's that sound?". Naruto ask with worry. But Tsuyu didn't say a thing at all and just keep walking forward.
The smell and sound become more and more clearer the further Naruto walked. He felt his chest start to beat faster and faster. The anxiety slowly accumulating inside him.
"Tsu-chan, what are we doing here? What are those sounds?".
Tsuyu lack of respond made Naruto feel even more nervous. He held a corner of his jacket, as if trying to find an anchor for himself.
Tsuyu turned to a corner, and flicked a switch.
The blinding light hit Naruto's eye for a moment, momentarily cause him to lose vision.
But as his eyes regain it's clarity, his heart dropped at the sight. His eyes visibly shaking along with his body. His fingers shakily move to held onto Tsuyu's hand.
He tried to mutter few words.
"W-who... are these people... why...".
Two adults were chained on the walls. The dimly lit room revealed their pained expression. The foul odor from their dirty wastes mixed with hint of blood from their body that are filled with various scars and injuries that are barely closed up.
Tsuyu didn't look at Naruto, but only look straight forward.
"These two are spies from other hidden villages. These two were already interrogated and extracted".
Tsuyu introduced shortly and looked at Naruto's expression, wanting to see what Naruto was thinking.
Naruto felt his throat dry, his breathing becomes heavy seeing the state of the two people chained on the walls there. His turned his eyes away, unable to see the pained expression and sound from those two.
"Look. Don't turn away". Tsuyu commanded with a cold voice.
"Tsu-chan...", Naruto refused to look, his eyes still fixed on the ground.
"I said, look". Her voice become cold and sharp, making Naruto tremble.
Seeing Naruto's refusal, a hint of annoyance flashed in Tsuyu's eyes. Swiftly, she grabbed Naruto's collar and dragged him forward.
"T-Tsu-chan...! Stop...! I-". Naruto struggle, his mind cannot process what he's seeing and what Tsuyu wants to do.
Naruto clenched his eye tight, adamant on not seeing it. Tsuyu clicked her tongue and pulled his collar and pushed Naruto down.
With a thud, Naruto fell onto the ground. Ack! He groaned inwardly.
"Tsu-chan...", Naruto raised his head; his eyes were met with the two half dead people chained on the walls a meter away from him. Their eyes contained hopelessness, resentment, hatred, and pain.
One of them stared right into Naruto with resentment and hatred. And out of nowhere, a murderous hoarse voice was spoken from his throat in a low voice.
"I will kill you...".
Without any warning the prisoner tried to reach out to Naruto with his hand suddenly; wanting to relieve his resentment onto the kid that's right in front of his eyes. Seeing the approaching bloody hand, Naruto heart stopped beating as fear made him frozen still.
CLANG!
Fortunately the chains held him from reaching Naruto. Naruto fell on his butt, feeling his heart racing from fear. Those murderous gaze and sound, the scars and horrible injuries on their bodies, the foul odor coming from them, Naruto felt his stomach flipping and he couldn't stop himself from throwing up on the spot from being overwhelmed.
After a minute, he bit his lips and shakily stood, quickly taking a step back from the two half-dead people.
He remained silent, he didn't know what to say or do, or why he is here.
After few seconds of silence, Tsuyu finally spoke.
"These two are enemies of Konoha, feeding intelligence of our village to our enemy. You should understand how much harm they had done to the village". Tsuyu said factually while at the same time trying to assess Naruto's thinking from his expression.
Naruto remained silent. He turned his eyes to Tsuyu. He can't say a word, but his eyes already presented the questions on why Tsuyu is showing these to him. And he hated all these.
Tsuyu's cold eyes didn't change, as if Naruto's feelings never mattered for her.
"Do you really want to become a Shinobi?". Tsuyu asked without any hint of emotion.
Naruto opened his mouth, closed it back, and finally able to mutter a small yes. But there's no hint of certainty or confidence.
"Are you willing to kill Konoha's enemies?". Tsuyu squinted her eyes, her gaze was like a hawk trying to see through Naruto.
Naruto's lips trembled, parted slightly but ultimately closed back. He had always said or thought he could at the back of his mind. But... but seeing the two people in front of his eyes only cause his stomach to churn.
His eyes starts to become red and teary, his lip already bleeding from being bitten too much.
"I am asking, nii-san". Her eyes turned even colder, with a hint of disappointment.
...
The further silence made Tsuyu frown in dissatisfaction. A shinobi that couldn't kill an enemy that harm the village is a waste. If it's up to her, she rather just have Naruto quit being a shinobi entirely seeing all this farce.
But, he wouldn't have a choice.
Tsuyu wasn't so cruel to hand over a Kunai and ask Naruto to execute these spies that were chained up helplessly. Instead she had a better idea and a more light one.
She walked step by step towards the prisoner on the left. The person start to shake, his voice screaming for Tsuyu to stay away.
"I already told you everything! I beg you!", his voice was filled with fear and pleading, even causing those fear to spread in Naruto's own heart.
Seeing Tsuyu's cold back, he felt genuine fear for his own little sister. Just what did she do to make the prisoner react such a way? He don't want to accept it.
Tsuyu didn't talk much, and took out a small vial containing translucent red liquid and a syringe from her ninja tools bag. She calmly shake the vial a few times and took the content out with a syringe.
"T-Tsu...chan...?".
Naruto mustered enough courage to call out to her. In respond, Tsuyu cold voice sounded, but it was not for Naruto.
"You should know you would never come out alive. But, I am giving you a chance to relieve your resentment before your death...".
"Kill him". She said to the prisoner.
Naruto felt his world collapse hearing Tsuyu's own words to the man. Tsuyu swiftly injected the unknown medicine into him, not giving any chance for him nor Naruto to say any other words. Blue veins starts to pop out and throbs from the site of injection spreading along his arm and body. He screamed in agony and pain as his muscles start to bulged and his chakra is forcefully exploding out of his body. The chains shakes and making clicking noises as temporary strength filled him up.
With a chop of a hand, Tsuyu broke the chains in one swing, releasing the man from his containment.
The chains fell onto the ground with a clang. The man's bloodshot murderous eyes look at Tsuyu that already stood at a corner as if watching a show, and then turned his gaze towards the yellow haired boy.
Naruto felt his scalp tingling, his feet wobbling, his eyes teary. He keep looking at Tsuyu pleadingly, then look at the man that looks like a monster with red eyes about to devour him then back at Tsuyu.
Tsuyu look without any hint of emotions, hoping Naruto could pass this trial in her heart.
***