Fourth Hokage and Son

Intentions

"Where is my son! Answer me Danzo, where is Naruto!" Minato's voice sounded throughout the ANBU Headquarters, causing several ANBU to outwardly cringe with instilling fear.

"He's fine, just on a field trip with Kakashi."

"Field trip my ass!" There was a loud thud from the office as Minato slapped a folded sheet of paper on Danzo's desk. Taking a look the old man realized that it was a quick note written by Naruto to his father apologizing and asking for forgiveness in advance. Danzo almost laughed at the short and sloppy handwriting, a note made at the last minute as the boy's mask and defiance cracked.

"He's accompanying Kakashi and another ANBU on a meet up with an asset in the Sand Village. They're just there to have a conversation and then they'll be back."

"In a week! You sent my son on an assignment- which I did not approve of- which could potentially disrupt our relationship with the Sand!"

"I don't need your approval for covert ops that fall under my direction, that's not how this system works. As for sending your son, he's the one who brought the issue forward in the first place... I figured he should see it through."

"No, my son stated very clearly that he 'thinks' there is a possibility of the Kazekage lying about certain information in regards to the border skirmish-"

"Your son believes there is an extremely likely possibility that the Kazekage is lying about the purpose of his ninja being in the border town... that is exactly what he stated in his report. The asset they're meeting will be able to confirm or deny that accusation. I don't see the problem?"

"He's eleven! And this is easily an S-Class assignment!"

"Sure, if they run into to trouble it could be classified as S-Class, but otherwise I'd put it as a solid B-Class. Let's be reasonable, Minato."

Another smack to the desk. "What's reasonable about sending an eleven year old boy on a three day journey away from his home into unfriendly territory!" Danzo cocked an eyebrow and smirked in response.

"So you agree that the Kazekage was lying? That his visit was a bit out of sorts?"

"I agree that he might be hiding something. Not that my son should be investigating."

"Your son is getting practical, hands-on experience to further his education. Might I remind you that this is the way Naruto learns the best? That he can't sit in a classroom, listen to a lecture about infiltration, and be expected to follow suit. No, he needs to actually be doing it to learn." Danzo's point was logical and true. While Naruto exceeded everyone's expectations under the guidance of Danzo, he still struggled at the academy. Another way to look at it would be that he was street smart rather than book smart... or that he was becoming physically capable but mentally lagging in some areas.

"This isn't what his classmates are learning right now! There's no reason for him to know about infiltration when he should be working on his ninjutsu. He needs to be able to work with a team by the end of this, which means he will need the same skill sets as all the other children!"

There was an eerie silence from Danzo. For a moment he didn't quite know how to respond to the Hokage. Did he just hear him correctly? "You intend to put Naruto with a squad after his graduation from the academy?"

Minato was dumbfounded. That was the whole point to his son staying during the morning sessions, so that Naruto still had the same basic knowledge as the other students. His son was supposed to make up for the missing afternoon course work with Danzo, learning through individualized attention and spurts of experience. This is what they agreed on at the beginning. Had that changed?

"What have you been teaching my son? Exactly how many of these excursions has he gone on?" The questions were almost whispered, but Danzo could still pick up on the slight fear and waver in Minato's voice.

"We agreed that I could teach him what I pleased. That he was my student, that he would follow my program, and that he would complete it before graduation. We worked this out because he was having a difficult time both within the classroom setting and with his classmates. Yes, he's better, he's grown emotionally and he's able to handle more without loosing his control, but under no circumstances would I agree to placing Naruto back at the academy full-time."

Danzo had said it as evenly as possible, kept his gaze on Minato, and his voice never rose beyond a slight whisper. But he was evading Minato and that's what set him off, "What are your intentions for my son?!"

"What are yours?!" Now they were both yelling, the desk no longer a sufficient boundary between them. ANBUs on the premises heard the skirmish but dared not interfere. Within minutes there was silence once again, but the tension remained.

Minato now had Danzo pinned to the wall once behind the now overturned desk, the old man balanced on his tiptoes as Minato held him up by the neck Danzo held a letter opener to Minato's side, the tip ripping through fabric and barely piercing the skin underneath. Neither gave in but both struggled to maintain their holds over the other.

"Did you honestly expect Naruto to be apart of a squad after graduation?" It was breathlessly spoken on Danzo's parts, as Minato continued to squeeze at his neck.

"With the right students, yes. I've already narrowed down the list of potential teammates. What are your intentions for my son?" Minato gritting his teeth between sentences to keep from yelping at the blade in his side.

"I've been training him as a tracker, he's done quite excellently. This field trip is also to serve as a test to gage if Naruto has any potential in infiltration, asset management, or to serve as a possible asset in the future. And I have been teaching him about working with others, thank you very much, this isn't all about individual skill! Who are your candidates?"

Minato gave him a firm glare, before huffing and releasing his hold on Danzo. Before stepping away, he took hold on the letter opener, twisted it out of Danzo's hand, and threw it across the office. Only then did he answer, "Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, and Shino Aburame. Do you intend to involve him in the ANBU after graduation."

"He has already begun the initiation process. Who do you intend to lead the squad?"

"I was hoping for Kakashi, if I can persuade him."

"I agree, he is the only person I will allow to lead Naruto's squad. Do you understand me, Minato? No one other than Kakashi or Naruto works solely under ANBU."

"How many of these assignments has my son gone on?"

"All those camping trips with the previous ROOT candidates for specialized training under a particular ANBU member... bullshit. They'd all be on assignment away from the village. This is the longest one he's been on, which is why Kakashi is with him. You're leaving tomorrow for the Kage summit and he was supposed to be back before your return... you probably wouldn't have known if he hadn't left you that message." Danzo smirked in Minato's direction. They both knew it was the truth, and it hurt Minato to some degree. There was a long conversation he wished to have with his son and a slight brewing rage pointed in Kakashi's direction, but his next words wiped that smirk off of Danzo's face quickly.

"He didn't."

 "What? I saw the note, it's his handwriting."

"No it isn't. The words are choppy, there's a slight slant, and an ink blotch from where the pen broke." Finding it on the floor, Danzo took a look again and sure enough Minato was correct. It made his blood run cold and his face pale in realization.

"Be proud, my son didn't betray your plan. The nine-tails wrote that note."

A/N: Let me know what you think!