Tsunade showed him the notice. "This was given to Naruto while he was recovering in the hospital and brought to me by him while the Anbu were attempting to catch me off guard. You tell me who looks like the responsible party."
The notice was passed between a growing number of maddening shinobi all ranked jounin or higher. "The nerve of these bastards. If I had hellhounds I'd sic them on them all right now." Tsume growled.
"What are your orders Hokage-sama?" Hiashi asked.
Tsunade smirked. "If I'm removed from office, I can't give orders, can I?"
All the ninja including Shizune were caught by surprise by that remark. "Excuse me?" Inoichi asked.
"I didn't come back to this village to get bossed around by idiots with more ego than courage or common sense. Some people here, I'm assuming most of the civilian council if not all of them, are trying to claim authority they don't have, and apparently some of the shinobi are on their side. Since each clan has active members in the Anbu ranks, I need to know right this instant who hears approves of the idea that Konoha is better off with new leadership?" Tsunade said, her gaze sharp enough to cut steel at the end.
None of them argued with her. "Hokage-sama, we support you. You can do the job well rather than some figurehead leader that the civilians would favor but would barely know how to do the job right. So what do you plan to do about this?" Shikaku told her.
"The problem is deciding what to do when considering the consequences. Not too long ago we were invaded and that alone makes us vulnerable to our enemies. An internal struggle over leadership and control of our ninja will only make the village a bigger target. With that in mind, a decision must be reached and achieved immediately for best results." Shibi stated.
Tsunade nodded. "Which is why I have an idea that may work. It's a long shot, and I know I'm not the best gambler, but this might just work for us." The others were interested to hear what she was going to say.
Naruto brought Moegi to Konohamaru's home, and after assured she was going to be safe went back out to find Tsunade. 'I guess the people who hate me ran out of patience and are finally doing something about it. Well I always knew this day might come. I just wish I could have had more time with Hinata-chan. I'll miss her, but at least she'll be safe and-'
He was cut off by a cluster of poorly aimed kunais coming at him from his left. He stopped and looked left, seeing an alley in between two buildings. He saw someone hiding in the shadows. "Who the hell are you?" Naruto shouted. The figure turned and ran off. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" He ran after the hidden attacker, despite his inner guts warning him not to.
Out of the shadows, Naruto could see his surprise assaulter was dressed in black with a grey vest, reminding him of normal high-ranked ninja attire. Thinking quickly, Naruto formed a clone and got a rasengan started on the run. Once it was done, they both jumped at the clone grabbed Naruto and spun him around to give him momentum before throwing him towards the running nin.
The rasengan made impact in the ninja's back, causing a decent amount of damage and making him fall forward. Naruto grabbed the back of his collar and turned him around. "Tell me who you're working for!"
The attacker turned out to be a man about six or so years older then Naruto with dark grey hair and dull green eyes but no expression on his face, though there was a bit or mirth in his eyes. "You'll never know, for you've fallen for my trap." All of a sudden six more ninja dressed identically and looking as stoic as the first one appeared surrounding Naruto.
"Come with us Uzumaki. If you surrender, you will live but be put to proper use. Refuse and you will go to hell with the other demons." One of the six surrounders told him.
"I don't surrender. Now or ever." Naruto said before forming his favorite hand sign. All the grey-vested shinobi threw kunais at him, but luckily Naruto formed enough clones to take the hits for him. Unfortunately they were prepared for this and threw a second wave, hitting Naruto this time. He remained on his feet, but his body was already sore and taxed from all the recent activity after healing from his severe injuries.
"It's a shame. You would have made a great weapon, but unfortunately you're a hard fox to domesticate." One of the ninja with long brown hair stated, pulling out a tanto with his comrades doing the same as if hoping to finish the job now.
All of a sudden, the air pressure increased. It was like the feeling one got when exposed to a great amount of KI, only this time it had a physical effect to it as well. Their bodies felt like something was crushing down upon them and their vision got darker and slightly blurrier. Naruto appeared fine but confused when his ambushers suddenly fell to their knees. "What... is this?" The brown-haired one asked.
Naruto looked around, unable to feel anything different, until he heard a thud behind him. He turned and saw someone new appeared.
"Naruto?" The newcomer asked.
It was the woman he saw at the Valley of the End, the one who claimed to be his mother.