An Exiled Prince

Ren only returned to the Senju compound due to seeing Konohas Root closing in on the area. The asshole who administered Danzo's little test was hard to forget.

When Konohas Root operatives closed in on the location where Uzushio once stood, they were stunned at the changes.

Uzushiogakure had now became a village with a moat. The carnage around it was still present but the ruined structures with the serene lake circling it would make one forget a war just happened. The main reminder of the truth was the pile of huddled corpses with in Uzushiokagure.

Snapping out of it Konohas root immediately moved in and retrieved the Uzumaki corpses they could. They focused on retrieving the bodies of the Senju family in particular. They were only able to identify Kenzorama and Mira due to his ceremonial armor. Both had become a pair of charred corpses clinging to one another. Between them was a severed arm likely from Nawaki. Of him the could find nothing more than that arm. Every other remaining Uzumaki corpse left in tact were also retrieved.

The head Root operative noted the level of devastation created was incredible.

When these same Root operatives returned to Konoha, the council could only listen to the report in complete silence.

There were several headaches they had to manage in the aftermath of this battle. The first being what to say to Lady Mito and the remaining Senju couple. How to respond to the Fire Daimyo when news of their allies fall inevitably reached him. Other allies had to be reassured they wouldn't meet the same fate.

Hiruzen also had other concerns and was beginning to wonder if he should step down as Kage. He was extremely concerned about the remaining Uzumaki and Senju lineage.

Lady Mito didn't have much longer to live, her transfer of the Kyubi should happen sometime soon. She shouldn't be a problem. With her passing Tsunade would become the heir to the Senju and Uzumaki. As her Sensei he knew Tsunade would be reasonable at least for his sake.

The Uzumaki downfall also brought an issue no one was addressing. The unique Uzumaki bloodline that plays host to the Jinchuriki would only be carried by the girl known as Kushina. A child that would become unstable when she found out her entire village was destroyed. She needed to be controlled immediately or the Kyubi may become the destruction of Konoha later.

Not to mention his biggest worry was Ren.

Tsunade may not hold a grudge over this incident but Ren was different. So far he had dealt with Ren in a calm measured manner fully aware that the boy was too unstable to do otherwise. This approach might have to change after this incident.

Ren was truly one of the villages greatest assets and a great political asset as well. Ren held no attachment to the Hyuga and was being subtly influenced by Kenzorama. Slowly but surely Kenzo was instilling the idea that the village needed Rens protection into Ren. Furthermore providing the boy with a new family worked incredibly. The concept of family was truly what held Ren together. The boy unknowingly was starting to hold the Will of Fire.

This ironically is actually the root for Hiruzens concerns. Ren hearing his family was destroyed without Konohas reinforcements maybe an issue. Today he may lose all the progress he held with Ren. To avoid this he would capitalize on the boys flustered state. He would redirect his hate.

Hiruzen was kicking himself. Today he would make a decision that would change Konoha. All to keep a child in check.

Looking at the Anbu and Root operatives around him, he began issuing orders.

" Send the corpses to Lady Mito. Inform her that Uzushiogakure exists no more. Immediately after send out a return order for all active ninja. Inform them it would be for a grand funeral.

Danzo mobilize all of your Root operatives and begin sabotage and assassination missions on the borders. Spread rumors of Iwagakure and Kumogakure allying to destroy Sunagakure at Uzushio. Let it be known Kirigakure was the final victor in that battle gaining all the rewards."

" Calm yourself Hiruzen. Are you declaring war!?"

" Not yet but it won't be much longer. As soon as our forces return we'll mobilize in earnest."

(With a grin) " Very well Hiruzen. Root will move—"

Before Danzo could finish an attendant stepped in to the room. " Lord Hokage the Kirigakure envoy demands an audience regarding an exiled Prince."

" What exiled prince?"

" A prince from our land of Fire."

" Hmmm… pass him through."

Soon a middle aged man with round glasses and slick back haired appears before Hiruzen and his closest aides.

" Greetings Third Hokage. (Bows) On behalf of the Second Mizukage we request the safe return of Prince Zuko Hozuki. Failure to do so will be seen as an affront, particularly my lord demands the return of the boys mother from your Fire Daimyo as well."

The envoy was met with completely bewildered faces at his words . Doing the job for as long as he had, the envoy was able to tell they genuinely had no idea what he was talking about. So he had to ask:

"… (cautiously) have you not heard?"

" Heard what?"

" A masked young man appeared in the battlefield of Uzushio. Seemingly he is a complete master of water release and displayed the jutsu of the Hozuki clan."

Hiruzen could only think: well I know that much. Is Kirigakure trying to intimidate me with such a powerhouse?

" That same masked young man called himself the Blue Spirit, not before letting it slip he was an exiled son of your Fire Daimyo. Prince Zuko."

Hiruzen at this point didn't understand what was goin on. The supposed appearance of the Fire Daimyo's exiled son? Who would believe such rubbish. The only hydrification users in the land of Fire are Kosuke and Ren. To be perfectly honest he believed Rens version of the technique was likely inferior to the original. The Hozuki would likely never believe the imitation to be their original jutsu. It was derived from his Senseis research and while Ren was competent it surely could not be on par…right?

" The land of Fire has no prisoners of the Hozuki clan and the Fire Daimyo has no exiled sons. To our knowledge his only only son was born with no capabilities, he does not have the ability to be a ninja. You were lied to."

Before the envoy could respond. Danzo stepped forward.

" Hold on Hiruzen. We may need to talk for a moment. Everyone we will return after discussing matters."

With those words the two vanished from everyone's sight.

" Danzo you surely don't believe such non sense right? Root would have surely reported some unknown child to me I would hope."

" Don't be a fool Hiruzen. Who would completely believe an enemy on the battlefield. Kirigakure is only probing to find the Hydrification user that appeared outside of their lands."

" So why are we here?"

" I believe we have an opportunity. We can pass the boy Ren off as this Zuko and have him infiltrate Kirigakure. Whether we keep them as allies or enemies afterwards would be our choice."

" Surely you don't believe the Fire Daimyo would agree to this?"

" The fool will be known for spawning a water release master, gain a connection to the Hozuki clan, and be the bridge for a possible alliance between our villages. What does he lose?"

" I still can't believe he would besmirch his honor so easily."

" Leave that to me. His advisers and I can likely convince him."

" Even if he does agree, where do we get a fake Hozuki mother? What of the Daimyos current wife? You are aware we'd likely make Ren the Daimyos heir right? The Hozuki will surely push for him to be recognized as the Daimyos child."

" We can fashion the required story to make things play out in our favor without a woman. Have you forgotten the case of the Chinoike clan?"

" When the lightning Daimyo took a second wife from their clan and died shortly after. The Daimyos first wife led the charge in eliminating the second wife and her Chinoike clan. What of it?"

" Say the Fire Daimyos lover gave birth to her son here in Konoha where she died giving birth. When he returned with the child to his home, the boy was not well received and the first wife in her jealousy attempted to murder the child. In order to protect the boy he was exiled and The Anbu has been watching over him ever since.

As for the Daimyos wife. He's the Daimyo, with the amount of lovers he has had would she really care?

Don't worry about the heirship either. This would all be a ploy. As long as the key people are aware it means nothing."

" Let's ask the Daimyo before we commit treason that could lead to the destruction of Konoha."

Soon a video call would be triggered. A call that would give birth to a prince.