Return to The Past : Naruto Fic

17

Chapter 16 – Surprises

Sarutobi sat down in his raised seat with Hideyoshi opposite him. The Konoha Shinobi council was already present with some reports lying in front of them. The elder council was sitting on the tire right below the Hokage. Sarutobi and Hideyoshi shared a small smirk before Sarutobi spoke, "As you all know, Naruto has led a team of Konoha and Uzu's best and brightest shinobi into Kiri to help the rebels. It took them three days to reach the rebel base. Upon arrival, they found the base and it's personnel under siege of Yagura's forces. Yagura had sent two of his three remaining active battalions."

"I doubt that they had much trouble. After all, Jiraiya and Naruto-sama was there. They themselves can easily turn the tides of any battle!" Homura said with a nonchalant expression.

Hideyoshi and Sarutobi suppressed a grin. "Not really, only Naruto needed to interfere. Jiraiya was saddled with protection detail of the rebel leader."

"Then I can assume that Naruto-sama had suspected foul play. Am I right Hiruzen?"

Everyone narrowed their eyes at the old war hawk. There was no information about a traitor in the reports, so where did Danzō get such an idea?

"Naruto didn't say anything like that in his report, but I am sure that such a thing can happen. After all we have seen war, haven't we Naruto-kun?" Hideyoshi said with a chuckle as a muffled laugh rang through out the room.

Everyone but Hiruzen and Hideyoshi tensed for a moment before realizing that it was only Naruto. Danzō, on the other hand, felt a spine chilling shiver run up his back. He could sense the the presence focused on him. A whisper sounded in Danzō's ear causing the man to nearly jump out of his seat.

"You made a grave mistake old man! Did you think I won't find out?"

With a cold sweat breaking out on his skin, Danzō stuttered out, "I don't know what you mean Naruto-sama!"

"I'm sure that you will when I elaborate!" Naruto said with a mischievous grin. Danzō narrowed his eyes in a frown that quickly changed into horror as Naruto began speaking. "My fellow council members, Hokage and Fire Daimyō, I have here a scroll written by the team leader of the Root Team I requested Danzō to send with me to Kiri. Just today, I liberated it from the leader and interrogated him thinking that he was a traitor."

Danzō suppressed a shiver. He hoped that Naruto was unable to break his cursed seal, else he was a dead man walking! "What I found was quite disgraceful. The man was completely brainwashed and then a cursed seal was placed on his tongue. The seals presence prevented the man from speaking. Yes Inoichi?"

"I am sorry to interrupt, but did you find out how he was brainwashed and by whom?"

Naruto frowned before saying, "Through systematic physical and emotional torture followed by mental reprogramming sessions. It was done to both make the man a sociopath and completely loyal to the brainwasher."

"Do you have any idea who that is?" Inoichi asked with a frown, before eying Danzō and saying, "If not, I would love to mind-walk the man!"

"I have completed knowledge of who the person is. It is quite disgraceful that someone of such high esteem would do such a thing to unfortunate kidnapped orphans and forced volunteers from even Konoha's clans!"

Danzō looked startled as everyone looked outraged at the information. Hideyoshi stood up and declared with anger painting his face red, "Who dares enact such disgraceful actions upon our subjects and unfortunate orphans? Tell us Naruto-dono, so that we may enact justice!"