Chapter 28:Danzo's scheme!

The monster trio sat in front of the Hokage in silence, still processing everything that had just happened. When Yuto defeated Mizuki, the transformation serum's effects began to reverse, and Mizuki screamed in agony as his life force visibly drained. In mere moments, he had aged into a frail man, becoming uncounciois due to loosing nearly all his chakra.

Just then, Neko appeared from the shadows. "The Hokage has requested to see the three of you at the tower," she informed them, her gaze assessing each of their conditions. She created a shadow clone to transport the weakened Mizuki to the interrogation department, then turned back to the trio, gesturing for them to follow her.

The trio exchanged glances, still coming to grips with Mizuki's fate. Hitomi, always blunt, muttered under her breath, "Didn't expect him to turn into an old man after losing…"

Naruko nodded, brow furrowed. "Yeah… I knew he was using some forbidden thing, but I didn't think it would… take that much out of him."

Yuto remained quiet but thoughtful, remembering all the things Orochimaru had done in the anime. He wondered if he could visit the rice country in the future to see if he can get his hands on some things orochimaru had.

They reached the Hokage Tower, and after a few flights of stairs and quiet contemplation, they entered the Hokage's office, wondering what the old man would say.

Hiruzen looked at the trio, his expression somber but genuine. "I'm sorry," he began, his voice heavy with regret. "For all of you getting involved in this... It was never my intention to place you in danger." His gaze softened as he looked directly at Naruko. "You are not the Kyubi, Naruko. You are its jailer. The Fourth Hokage sealed the beast within you, believing that you could one day protect this village from it. He saw potential in you, a strength that would allow you to control it."

Naruko frowned, a mixture of confusion and hurt in her eyes. "But why me?" she asked quietly. "Why did I have to bear all the hate from the villagers?"

Hiruzen sighed, looking down for a moment. "Because the Fourth believed in you. He thought that, one day, you might learn to harness the Kyubi's power, not as a weapon, but as a protector. And, perhaps, the village would see the truth about you."

Hitomi, always quick with words, smirked and said, "Naruko's too much of an idiot to be the Kyubi, like Mizuki said. I need to keep this idiot in line."

Naruko playfully punched Hitomi's shoulder, shaking her head. "Shut up, Hitomi!" she protested, though the lightheartedness didn't hide the relief in her voice.

Yuto, with his usual calm demeanor, added, "Naruko's my first friend. I've known her for seven or eight years now." He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I knew about the Kyubi from the start. Some adults were talking about it during the academy days." Both Naruko and Hitomi stared at him, their eyes wide with surprise.

Hiruzen was equally stunned. "You knew... all this time?"

Yuto nodded, unfazed. "It didn't matter, though. What matters is that Naruko's my friend, and I didn't care about the demon sealed inside her. She's one of us—one of my best friends." He stood up and pulled both Naruko and Hitomi into a group hug.

Naruko gasped in surprise, half-heartedly protesting as she was pulled in, but there was no mistaking the tear that rolled down her cheek. "Idiot Yuto," she muttered, her voice choked with emotion. "You guys are such idiots…" But she didn't pull away.

Hitomi shrugged, pretending to be annoyed but secretly enjoying the moment. "I guess we are," she said, but her voice softened, "but remember we are THE idiot trio, Naruko."

Hiruzen watched this scene unfold with a wistful smile, thinking to himself, 'The Will of Fire burns brightly in this generation.'

Hiruzen cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. He reached into his drawer and pulled out a headband, placing it in front of Naruko. "There is one final thing," he said, his tone softening. "You've mastered the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, passing your final test with flying colors."

Naruko's eyes widened in shock as she looked at the headband. Without hesitation, she grabbed it, her face lighting up with pure joy. She tied it around her forehead, beaming with pride.

Yuto and Hitomi chuckled, both of them equally happy for their friend. "You did it, Naruko," Hitomi teased with a grin.

Naruko beamed, the weight of her new achievement sinking in as she looked at the headband with gratitude. "Thanks, guys," she said, her voice filled with warmth.

The room was thick with tension. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the council table, his fingers massaging his temple. The Mizuki incident still weighed heavily on him, and now the discussion of team placements added to his growing list of concerns.

"Team 10 is set," Hiruzen announced wearily, his voice echoing in the otherwise quiet room. "Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji, with Asuma as their sensei." He glanced over at the others, but his eyes landed on Danzo. The man was ever-present, his expression grim as usual, his posture rigid, but his words—those were sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

"Yuto, Naruko, and Hitomi," Danzo started, his voice cold as ice, "must not be allowed to form a team."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. He could already feel the tension in the room rise. His hands gripped the edges of the desk as he sighed internally. He had expected this. Danzo had never been fond of Yuto, Naruko, or Hitomi. There was something about them—perhaps their potential, or the fact that they didn't fit into his vision of the shinobi world—that irked him.

"Danzo," Hiruzen began, his voice firm yet measured, "these children have proven themselves. They passed the exams with flying colors. Naruko, Yuto, and Hitomi have exceptional talents. You can't simply disregard that."

Danzo leaned forward, his intense gaze never wavering from Hiruzen. "I do not care about their 'potential,' Hokage-sama. I care about control. You are too lenient with them. You cannot trust them. Not with everything they are capable of. You know this as well as I do."

The rest of the council murmured, some didn't have any opinion on this, some thought that this team was unbalanced, but there were some, like inochi, who supported at the formation of this team. Hiruzen remained calm. He had anticipated Danzo's opposition. The old warhawk had always believed in strict control, in manipulating people like pawns, but Hiruzen had always taken a different approach—one of compassion, of believing in the potential of the younger generation.

"Do not make the mistake of underestimating them, Danzo," Hiruzen replied, his voice low but full of authority. "You may not agree with my methods, but these children are capable of great things. Together, they will be a force to be reckoned with."

A tense silence filled the room, and for a moment, no one spoke. The weight of the decision hung in the air like a thick fog. Finally, one of the other council members, a quiet man with glasses, spoke up.

"Hokage-sama, while we understand your point, we cannot ignore the risks of allowing them to form a team together. Especially given... the history of the Kyubi."

At the mention of the Kyubi, the room stiffened. Danzo gave a curt nod, and Hiruzen's face hardened. He could feel the eyes of the council upon him, waiting for him to make a decision.

Danzo, with a calculating expression, proposed his own team placements, hoping to split up the trio. "The first team," he suggested, "could be Hitomi Uchiha, Naruko Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno. For the next team, Yuto Yamanaka, Sai, and Yakumo Kurama."

Hiruzen, deep in thought, considered the implications of these new combinations. He didn't like the idea of breaking up the trio, especially since they had proven their unity and strength. But Danzo's persistence left him no choice but to listen, even if he disagreed with the arrangement.

Some council members agreed with Danzo's proposed team placements. They believed the new teams could offer a solid balance of skills. Yuto had demonstrated remarkable mastery of Genjutsu with his Kamigan, while Yakumo Kurama was a genius with her bloodline abilities, surpassing many in her clan. Sai, who had shown proficiency with ink-based jutsu, was recognized for his potential in reconnaissance and scouting. With Yuto's power, the team could excel in various missions, making them an effective and well-rounded combination for a variety of tasks.

The council also recognized the potential of the trio of girls as a formidable team. Hitomi's close-quarter combat skills and proficiency with short-range jutsu made her ideal for assassination missions with proper training. Naruko, with her vast chakra reserves, could overwhelm enemies using clones and ninjutsu, especially in large-scale battles. Sakura's exceptional chakra control suggested she could excel in medical ninjutsu and Genjutsu, offering invaluable support in both combat and healing. Together, the trio could create a balanced team suited for various missions.

Hiruzen sat in deep contemplation, realizing the council was evenly divided, with half supporting Danzo's team arrangement and the other half backing his own vision for Yuto, Naruko, and Hitomi. He understood the strategic logic behind both team placements and knew that each setup had distinct strengths. However, he also felt the weight of his responsibility to make a choice that aligned with the village's best interests, especially considering the personal bonds and teamwork potential within each proposed team.

Hiruzen finally made his decision, and his gaze settled firmly as he made the teams he knew were best. He then assigned specific Jounin to each team. He selected trusted Jounin whom he knew would nurture the students' potential without aligning with Danzo's ideals. Danzo's expression soured at this development, his earlier plans of using his Root agents to influence the teams thwarted. Despite his frustration, he knew that challenging Hiruzen's choice would be difficult, as the Hokage's authority was unshakable, especially with these experienced Jounin in place.

[Can you all guess what teams will be formed. Also,tell me if yuto should be with naruko and hitomi in a team or he should be without them.]

(Pls give me some power stones!)

(Find out next time on Naruto:Eye system)