Otokage

Chapter 9

Part 9 of Naruto: Otokage

LET’S GOOOO!

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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 9

In a dimly lit room (as expected of an underground base) stood Orochimaru and his most loyal spy, Kabuto were discussing what was to be done in Sound’s upcoming invasion of Konoha.

 “I still think it's foolish to expect Gaara-san to do anything useful.” added the younger man calmly before he placed the file he’d been given back down.

Straight from the Art of War there were two key parts to Orochimaru's plan in overwhelming Konoha.

To take Konoha unprepared and divide their resources so that Sound and Sand would remain victorious.

Call Kabuto cynical but he was more than aware that this invasion of Konoha was nothing more than a glorified revenge mission.

He'd done his homework on Orochimaru during his time under the man. Apparently Orochimaru-sama had been overlooked when the Fourth Hokage had been chosen.

He knew that the Third Hokage had embarrassed Orochimaru when they'd last fought... Their duel had been shortly after the Kyuubi attack. Many had expected the Third to give the mantle of the Fourth Hokage to Orochimaru.

He obviously hadn't.

The Third Hokage having found out about Orochimaru's true nature and his desire to be great had confronted the man. In the end the Hokage had spared Orochimaru. He'd been unable to kill his student and it was a mistake Orochimaru clearly wished to make the man pay for.

That story alongside everything else Kabuto knew made it obvious Orochimaru really only had three goals. One to kill his sensei, two to mark Sasuke and three to cripple Konoha if he could... No more, no less and by any means possible if his faith in Gaara was to be believed.

All of which brought things back round to Kabuto current concerns about Gaara; Sand’s Jinchuuriki.

From what Naruto had just read. The young man was being groomed to be the next Kazekage. However whilst his credentials couldn't be doubted... 25 A-rank missions for a Genin, Jinchuuriki or not was nothing to look past, his apparent temperament left a lot to be desired.

Kabuto had shown him a mission report by the teen's sensei, and coincidentally his older sister. There was one quote that had stood out.

'Gaara slaughtered them all and warned us to not interfere... Unless we wanted to join them...'

A family that can kill together stays together…

The really funny thing was that, the Kazekage apparently endorsed such behaviour and had done so since Gaara had killed his uncle a few years ago.

“It's the only reason he's willing to cooperate Kabuto-kun.” added Orochimaru chuckling at the thought. They’d mentioned casualties to the Kazekage, and his son’s sleep depraved eyes had lit up.

It’s why Kabuto was sceptical about having such a loose cannon being integral to their plan for overthrowing Konoha but if it was Orochimaru's desire he'd follow the man to hell and back. Kabuto knew his present master was meticulous amongst other admirable traits.

For the record Kabuto had his reasons for being loyal to Orochimaru beyond admiration.

One reason was that Konoha had robbed Kabuto of his adoptive mother so any person who wished ill on it was no enemy of his. But his true loyalty came not from the fact that Orochimaru had taken him in and schooled him on the realities and hypocrisy of places such as Konoha.