Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 100

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Cover Art: Kissuli.

Chapter 100

"I'm still waiting, old man," Eiji said, standing straight. Currently, he was in front of not only the Hokage, but also the man's apparent successor, Tsunade, and the leader of Root, Danzo. One wouldn't have guessed so though, with how calm he sounded, all but demanding an answer to his request.

"It's not an easy thing, what you are asking, Eiji," The old man replied, taking a drag from his pipe.

"And what you are asking of me is?" The boy shot back, making the Hokage grimace. "I don't care about being sent on these missions, old man, I really don't. These people are hunting down Naruto, and Gaara. I will hunt them down, happily at that. But the least you can do is give me this for the trouble though."

Hiruzen sighed then, massaging his forehead as he considered those words. The people on both sides of him remained silent, although Eiji could see that Tsunade was annoyed. He didn't know if that was directed at his request, or something else, but she didn't voice any complaints so far, so he took that as a win. Danzo, for his part, didn't so much as twitch, looking impassively towards Eiji in a way that frankly unnerved the boy a little.

"Sasori is out of the question."

"Old man, I told you that when I asked," Eiji replied, unimpressed, drawing a grimace of a smile from the man. Had he expected that saying that would make him change his mind or reconsider or something? "Will you give me my team or do I have to be... drastic?"

Threatening the Hokage.

Eiji could safely say that he'd never have thought he could get away with that. Especially not so early in his career.

As things stood though, he was the most promising ninja in the village. Not the strongest, he didn't think, not even close. However, he was the one that seemed to be able to go the furthest. He was young, he was still growing by leaps and bounds, and he didn't seem likely to go rogue anytime soon, if they played their cards right. Thus, that made him important enough to not want to antagonize.

With a name behind him, he'd have likely been able to get away with just about anything. Hell, they probably wouldn't send him in the missions they did if he did come from an important family. With all those factors, he had the makings of a high placed council member, if not Hokage. He still could make the second one, as demonstrated by Minato Namikaze. It was also possible that the only reason they were sending him on these missions was because they knew he wanted to go, and they were letting him, because it was also convenient.

Eiji was sure that was how the village saw him, at least. Or somewhere along those lines. Regardless, between that and the fact that he was already quite close with Hiruzen after years of interactions, he thought he could get away with this much. Danzo had practically groomed him to be like this too, to do what he thought was necessary, so he couldn't really complain. And as for Tsunade... Well, she better get used to him, because he wasn't changing, even if she was made Hokage.

"We'll do it," Hiruzen acknowledged in the end, and Eiji nodded, giving the old man a smile.

"I wanted to talk to you too, brat," Tsunade voiced then, drawing the attention of the other two. "First of all, I really, really hope you know what you are doing with Sasori... But after Orochimaru, I think I can give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Thank you for your generosity," Eiji said blandly, not really sure how to respond in any other way.

"Second, and most important," The woman continued, ignoring his words altogether. "You do know what that technique you made with what I taught you does, don't you?"