7 Another Meeting

At night, there was another meeting in the Hokage Office. Fugaku had asked Shikaku and Hiashi to talk with them, but the meeting happened just 1 hour before the set time.

In this meeting, only Hokage, Fugaku, Ino-Shika-Cho, Hiashi and Aburame Head whose name Fugaku didn't remember were present.

"Let's start the meeting. Fugaku, are you sure that the assiliant is still alive?"

"We didn't get any dead body, did we? So we must assume the worst. We, the Uchiha clan have already come to the conclusion are alert if anyone sneaks into our compound."

"So if you are so concerned of the assiliant, shouldn't Uchiha clan not abandon their duties that Second Hokage bestowed on them!? The morale is low as it is, we can't have more unrest."

"Then why did you start it? How did you even think of driving away the founding clan of Konoha to the outskirts, and trying to take our land for Sarutobi and Shimura? And regarding the safety issue, Uchiha clan will not be responsible for it solely. We don't have the best sensory capabilities and understanding of human nature. If the assiliant sneaks into the village, we wouldn't be able to spot them easily. We would need the help of good sensors like Hyugas, Yamanaka, Inuzuka and Aburame. We should expand the police to include all these clans as well.

Second Hokage may have offered us this position as a goodwill, but if it isn't working as intended, we need to improve the solution. Since all the clan heads are here already, what do you say about my suggestion?"

Expanding the police to other clans will serve many purposes. It will distribute the negative views of Uchihas to other clans, improve the coordination between clans, and Obito will have a harder time killing police. We would still be able to wipe them out, but there is a possibility that he will be discovered.

"I will have to talk to the clan about it."

Hiashi said, and the other clan heads nodded too.

"Alright. We will think about it. But right now, I would like you to stop creating disturbance in the village, Fugaku."

"Can I be blunt?"

"Yes."

"What we are doing is just protecting ourselves. From what I remember when I was a kid, someone blamed Sakumo for starting the Third Ninja War, yet not the teammates that were burden to the mission. Sakumo was a noble man, and look how his nobleness paid off? All the blame was pushed on him, somehow the shallow details of a super secret mission was 'leaked', and he either suicided or was taken care off."

"Fugaku. That was a suicide. Even the post mortem said so."

"So? What if it was done by the same person who leaked the info of that super secret mission?

And that's not all. Nawaki Senju. The male heir of the Senju clan. He was just 12 at the time he died. How was the male heir of the founding clan sent off to war so early? And even if he was sent to the war, he should have been sent with the older member of Senju clan, Tsunade. Even in my case, I went to war with my father who was the Clan Head when I was young. How was his team ambushed?

And as I have said in the previous meeting, us knowing that the Uzumaki clan was attacked only when they were utterly destroyed is just ridiculous.

Now, the Kyuubi attack happened due to your mismanagement and a traitor who is one of your friend. Then who will be blamed so they can get away scot-free? It's us Uchiha. And what about the one who is responsible? You are a fence sitter who just sat smoking when Senju and Uzumaki clan were destroyed. Your two friends are pathetic weaklings who have never offered any reasonable advice. And Danzo? I am the mostly suspicious of him. How is he allowed to have an independent ANBU under him, despite being crippled? Why was he monitoring us instead of helping in saving civilians or fighting the Kyuubi?

You and your friends are weak minded and schemers. Second Hokage made a mistake by choosing you as the Third Hokage. He should have chosen Kagami Uchiha instead. Why wasn't he made an advisor atleast?

You all are suspicious, and I don't want my Uchiha clan to take the fall for your mistakes. And that's why we want someone who has some actual guts like Tsunade to become the Hokage and investigate you all.

Afterall, the Senju clan also died due to you 'mistakes' and 'leaked info'."

"..."

The atmosphere was tense. All the clan heads kept a neutral face, and Hiruzen was showing a face that has made too many mistakes.

"Fugaku, do you really suspect me?"

"Not in the Kyuubi attack because your own wife would have died, which she did. But in the case of Uzumaki and Senju, I do suspect you. And even if you are not involved, you are responsible for it because you were the Hokage at that time. You have been a fence sitter all along.

We should have atleast taken one bijuufrom Taki and given it to the Uzumaki village in the first war. Kyuubi is so damn powerful that even Uzumakis lose control sometimes. And what about having a Jinchuriki Aburame for seven tails? Taki is a small village without any significance. Aburame are the top clan in our village, only restricted by their low chakra levels after hosting the kikachu. Seven tails is a bug type bijuu, capable of flying.

But what did you do? Let the war end without any reparations, and we entered two more wars with just about every village against us. There is a difference between forgiving one time and being a fool two more times.

In short, you are an utter failure. We can't have you as the Hokage any longer."

Hiruzen looked hurt, but whatever. He could be acting for all he knows.

"Fine. Jiraya is looking for Tsunade. I will let her deal with the investigations. But for now, we have another problem to deal with. Our new Jinchuriki. How should we hide him? Kumo tried it with Kushina, and it may try with her son too, you know, kidnapping."

"Excuse me Hokage-sama, but can we know who the father is? Did he die as well?"

Hiashi asked. Oh well. Only the upper echelon knew the relationship between her and Minato, along with Mikoto as she was her best friend, and by extension, me. Shikaku will definitely know once he sees Naruto, along with most clan heads.

"I think it's fine to tell you now. Fugaku."

So he directed the task at him.

"It was her bodyguard who was a distant relative of Senju. But he is dead as well."

"Yes. So now we have to decide on where to hide him and who will be his guardian. With Kushina, she stayed at the designated Uzumaki building built for Mito-sama, and that's why everybody knew that Kyuubi's Jinchuriki stays there. We can't have that now that we are weak and other villages might attack us."

Everyone nodded, including Fugaku.

"So I think we should keep him in the orphanage as ordinary children and have several ANBUs watch over him at all times."

"And this super-secret wouldn't be leaked like Sakumo?"

"It won't happen. I promise you that."

Yeah. As if the entire village wouldn't know in time.

Shikaku, who has been silent till now, gave a good suggestion.

"I think we should have an ANBU member from the Aburame clan adopt him and change his hair color. It will help in keeping watch, and Aburame clan doesn't involve itself with village politics. Plus growing up, Aburame outfit can be a good disguise.

Most importantly, we have to train the Jinchuriki. Only he himself can be capable of restraining the Kyuubi, and must have a stable mind."

"I agree with Shikaku. Orphanage is not a safe place. And Uchiha clan can't take him in because we ourselves may be the target of the assiliant."

"I agree with that. Why? Because nobody notices us. And if he looses control, we can put him to sleep with our poison."

"I agree as well. Hyuga can't take him in for obvious reason. He doesn't have a Byakugan."

"I agree as well. Akimichi physique is too different for us to take him in."

"Yamanaka clan doesn't exactly have big chakra. And we are too connected to the village for someone not noticing it. Aburame clan will be the best option, much better than orphanage."

"And if you want a Jinchuriki who will laze around and say, "What a drag", you can have the Nara clan adopt him. And of course, my clan wouldn't allow that because it's a drag."

"...Fine. Aburame Clan Head, meet after an hour. And everyone, this is a S-rank secret."

"Yes Third Hokage-sama."

"Good. You all can go now. Uchiha clan head, stay here for a while. I want to talk to you in private. The meeting has ended."

Well, the meeting ended surprisingly well. I wonder why Naruto wasn't adopted in the Aburame clan in the original work? Is it because Aburame clan doesn't take the first step? Is it because Danzo wasn't in the meeting? Or is it because the credibility of Hiruzen has been shattered everytime Fugaku is speaking?

One can never exactly know.

"Fugaku, let's talk."

"Yes Hokage-sama."