Lord Third's Decision

"Assimilation gives me everything the person had. Their chakra, skills, and knowledge. Even their form. Due to this I know Danzo ordered Mizu to kill me, and wanted my death to send Naruto into a frenzy so Danzo could convince Lord Third to give him Naruto."

Kakashi sat in silence for a moment. "Can you prove what you're saying?"

Haruko changed into Mizu right before Kakashi's eyes. "Proof enough?"

"So this is the person who tried to kill you?"

"Yes his moniker was mouse, he was an assassin in the Root who carried out Danzo's orders."

Kakashi lifted his headband, and took a good look with his sharingan. "This isn't a transformation, I can't see your real chakra network under there. Every detail which could indicate that you're a different person is missing. You would make the perfect spy, and assassin."

"Yeah, I figured that out, but all the skulking, and shit sounds boring."

"How are you feeling?"

"Numb, but mostly fine. The events of last night helped open my eyes to the truth of this world. I can't be a dumb kid forever."

"It's a shame. You deserved to be a dumb kid for just a little while longer at least."

"On the brightside I've technically already finished the academy, and now a few jutsu now. I still can't use them when I'm in my real form, but I can use them in this one."

"Well, that's not too bad. I need to report this to Lord Third."

"NO! I don't know if I can trust him with this."

"Nobody else can protect you from Danzo, Haruko. Based on what Naruto said Danzo isn't going to stop at just this."

"He won't but what if Lord Third decided I'm too big of a threat to leave alive?"

"So you would just wait around for Danzo to kill you?"

"Yes! Wait NO! I don't know Kakashi! What would you do if you had the potential to become the strongest being on the planet, but you were currently so weak anybody with a knife could kill you if they caught you off guard. Others will fear me if they find out, and the leader of a nation would have to make the hard call between raising the monster, or destroying it before it could become a threat."

"You're right, but I can't always be around to protect you. They would wait until you were most vulnerable, and then kill you. Danzo needs to be stopped, and only you have the proof of his crimes."

"You wouldn't stop Lord Third from killing me if he decided I was a threat would you?"

"Haruko, I will do my best to keep you safe. Please come with me to Lord Third. He needs to know that Danzo is plotting against Naruto, and you. We can omit some details, and figure out a likely story."

"Am I coming too?" Naruto asked while awkwardly reminding us he was still here.

"Obviously. Now let's go. The sooner we do, the sooner we can prevent something awful from happening to you."

Kakashi picked the two of them up before shunshining away. The trip to the Hokage's office was quick, and the feeling of the wind was quite pleasant. Naruto nearly threw up on the Hokage's balcony after we finished moving, and in spite of everything I giggled at it.

Entering from the balcony was unorthodox, and Hirzen was sure to show disappointment as we entered.

"Kakashi, how pleasant for you to show up completely unannounced while I'm in the middle of my work." A smile crept up onto his face as he sat down the large stack of paperwork.

"Lord Third, I have an important classified report." With a nod Hiruzen waved his hand, and a few figures disappeared from the room before he activated a seal.

"Report."

" I caught a root ninja who was targeting Haruko. Like most root ninja he had a seal preventing him from talking, but Haruko used his unique bloodline limit to bypass it, and force him to talk before I dealt with the body. "

"Kakashi, do you take me for a fool?"

"No, Lord Third."

"Then why state such an obvious lie?"

"This did happen Lord Third."

"I trust a root ninja targeted young Haruko, I don't trust that he has a special bloodline limit to break seals."

'Fuck me this isn't going well. Fuck it!'

"Lord Third if I may."

"Please speak Haruko."

"My situation is unique as you know. Whatever was done to me as a baby had allowed me to do a few strange, and amazing things. What's important is that Danzo is planning on using my death to make Naruto unstable, and go on a rampage. Danzo wants to capitalize on the chaos to convince you Naruto should be in the Root, and under his control for the sake of the village."

"How do you know this Haruko?"

The red tendrils swam around Haruko's body, and Mizu was left standing there.

"This was Mizu, or better known as Mouse. He was the root Anbu sent to eliminate me, upon killing him I learned all his memories, and was able to take on this form. It isn't a transformation jutsu, this is a carbon copy of his body."

"This is disturbing new's to say the least. You say you know this boy's memories?"

Haruko began spouting every event that had ever occurred in Mizu's life down to the date, and mentioned every single detail he could about Danzo that Mizu knew.

"Danzo… Something must be done. For now take them to Minato's home. Danzo wouldn't think to look there as he doesnt know that you know about your father Naruto."

An astonished look crossed Kakashi's face when Lord Third revealed what he knew.

"He was going to learn eventually, and I'm glad it was sooner rather than later. Poor boy deserved to know who his father was, and since you told him I believe he will keep it to himself."

"Thank you for trusting my judgment, Lord Third."

"I'm going to confirm what you've shared with me Haruko, and then plan from there. Danzo will be dealt with. Itachi. Watch over them."

A swirl of crows appeared from the center of the room, and the masked figure nodded his head before disappearing in another swirl of crows.

"Itachi?"

"Oh yeah! Weasel mentioned he knew you, Sensei."

"He spoke to you?"

"Actually yeah, before Mizu attacked me. I believe he left me to check on Naruto again."

"Yes Itachi has been keeping an eye on you three since Kakashi decided to fail in his duties to report to me."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, and motioned for us to leave.

"Itachi will give you news from me. Anybody else, and assume they are there to kill you."

' Well, that could have gone much worse. I suppose he was too distracted with Danzo to focus much on me.'

"And Haruko we will be having a lengthy chat once all this business is behind us."

'Fuck'

"Yes Lord Third."

Kakashi then picked us up once again, and with a few whoosh's we were in an entirely different part of the village. A beautiful home stood in front of us. Despite being uninhabited for a few years it was still kept in great condition.