Devils in the Background

Cutting Away the Webs

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"I won't let you get away without answers. Take him to Ibiki, take their clothes and then we'll head to the ports." Minato glared as his few carefully selected anbu escorted the ROOT assassins away ...

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Haru groaned in pain and glared at Minato and Ibiki, "Fuck ... you."

"Well we'll see how you feel soon. Anko." Ibiki glanced at the purple haired woman as he and the hokage made their way to the door. Anko simply gave a sadistic smirk and pulled out a drill. Once Ibiki shut the door he heard the drill buzz to life and screams of agony. "He's a tough one. He won't talk, at least, not in time for this exchange at the ports." Ibiki said.

Minato scowled "Kakashi tried using his sharingan on one of the ROOT agents that were caught with Haru, but the seals on the back of his tongue actually exploded and killed him. It's not the type of seal one would know if it was destroyed so I don't believe Danzo knows yet, but we need to move fast or we will lose any chance we have. Go bring in the casino owner Roshi and make sure he knows Haru was caught, but don't raise any suspicions when you get him. It's to look completely unofficial."

"Understood, hokage-sama." Ibiki bowed respectfully before leaving with two other anbu.

"Haru probably wants to stall until a certain check in time passes. The seals on the back of their tongues makes it so we can't just pull the information from them, but Roshi isn't a trained ninja so he may be our best bet. We only need a little information." Minato sighed sadly. They were so close. They just need a little more information before Danzo gets wind of everything and escapes.

For now though he wanted to quickly check up on his family he jumped along the roofs of the buildings of Konoha deliberately making sure to hit one building in particular before moving on to his home. Minato knew it was late, but he had to check in on them. With care he opened the door to his home and went up to his bedroom where he found Kushina sleeping peacefully.

As Minato gently brushed her hair from her face her eyes opened, "Minato ... is everything alright? You didn't come for dinner."

"Sorry, we suddenly became really busy. We caught a man named Doki and I think he's involved with a much bigger ring of criminals. I just wanted to check on you and the girls." He leaned over and kissed her before heading for the door.

"Mito and Kana aren't here. They're staying at a friend's place" Kushina said quickly almost looking worried.

Minato pouted slightly, but smiled, "Ok, go back to sleep." The hokage left through the front door and hurried back to T&I. Roshi should be there by now and hopefully giving him everything he needs ...

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Naruto looked up from his sketchbook in the studio in his home as he sensed Minato pass his shop, "I'm glad that I got the place so close to my shop." He turned his attention back to is drawing and let his thoughts wander. How would things change once this is over? It was something to consider ...

Something his mother said came to mind ...

'A ninja's life is dangerous, Naruto, but not just because you could die in a mission. Your family might also be targeted for leverage or revenge.'

As a kage Minato has plenty of enemies out there and in the village, apparently. Naruto knew that he had several tricks up his sleeve, but he wasn't a ninja. He has only healed injuries not truly killed except for once in self defense. Well, really it was to protect his mother mostly ...

One summer when he was 12 he and his mother went camping in the forest near the village of Colors. It was something they loved doing together and his mother, while clearly against the ninja lifestyle, was adamant that he knew how to survive by himself no matter where he is. They were enjoying grilling a couple freshly caught fish when a bandit sulked out of the forest.