Shisui's POV (Team Six Training Ground - Hidden Leaf Village)
Shisui had never imagined he'd be a Jounin Sensei. Just achieving the rank of Jounin after the fall of the Uchiha had been quite a task. And Shisui had never really seen himself as the teacher type. He was relaxed, unorthodox, and a member of the "traitors." But the decision had been he felt obligated to make.
The attempted rebellion of the Uchiha had been a life-changing event in many ways. Shisui, as a high-ranking clan member, had, of course, been in the know. But as someone most of the clan disapproved of and held no loyalty to them. In fact, Shisui and Mikoto exposed the ploy and enacted the strategy used to usurp them. Shisui had always been loyal to the Leaf over the Uchiha. But the results of such chaos led him to today.
While most of the Uchiha shinobi and civilians alike had been complicit in the plan, some had been truly innocent. Mikoto had betrayed her own husband to ensure the safety of her children; Shisui and two others had been spared due to their efforts to betray their clan. But others too young had been spared as well. Two, to be precise, Sasuke Uchiha, the youngest son of Mikoto and heir to the clan. Yuno Uchiha was a minor clan member whose parents had also been found innocent. But it was the former that Shisui felt indebted to.
His work had cost Sasuke his father and brother. While he had been left in the dark, as asked by his mother, Shisui had been asked by her to keep an eye on him. Pressured to do so even further by Hiruzen, Shisui now was a Jounin Sensei, the leader of the newly formed Team Six.
Sasuke Uchiha, Kabuto Yakushi, and Hinata Hyuga. An odd trio, to be sure, Kabuto was one of the few skilled medical shinobi the Academy had to boast of. Older than most due to being held back, the guy was the classic case of the defenseless healer. He was polite and knowledgeable to a fault. Hinata Hyuga was the heir of the Hyuga Clan, their former rivals. Yet the young woman was clearly shy and nervous as all hell. Finally, there was Sasuke.
The trio had spent the lunch Shisui paid for silently, save for Kabuto's attempt to maintain a conversation and Hinata's efforts to respond. Any genuine effort made to include Sasuke was answered coldly. Sasuke seemed to disrespect them both openly.
The first round of team training had been tense and silent as well. Kabuto and Hinata were struggling to keep up with Sasuke. Though they proved his intelligence, neither was his equal regarding physicality or jutsu. Which Sasuke predictably took issue with.
With the Uchiha clan being reduced to a fraction of its former glory, the remnants were a small group and kept in touch regularly. So much so that Shisui had former experience with Sasuke. The guy could come across as cold and hateful, but in truth, merely focused. Since then, the Uchiha had become some of the most hated within the Leaf. Even their reputation as the loyalist Uchiha had suffered greatly.
In response, Sasuke became defensive and outright hostile to his peers. Unless they proved themselves, he treated them coldly and often appeared arrogant. A problem with this team-only compound was that Kabuto and Hinata were too meek to oppose Sasuke, quickly making him the three's leader. It usually would work fine, but if Shisui wanted to make Team Six work and ensure Sasuke became loyal to Uchiha, he needed them to gain his respect.
This was when Shisui had the genius idea of how to get familiar, on the same page, and friendly as a unit while working on Sasuke's attitude and earning his respect.
Sparring was one of the best icebreakers in the game. So Shisui merely had Sasuke face the rest of his team. They had been going for two rounds now, and Sasuke defeated both his teammates easily the first time. The second time had been longer but not closer. But now the two were fighting in earnest, it seemed.
Sasuke backflipped several times in a row, avoiding a string of shuriken. However, Hinata appeared behind him during the final flip and attempted to sweep his legs. Sasuke flipped over her efforts and easily caught a kunai aimed for him. However, the Uchiha had no break as Kabuti charged in with another kunai. The traded slashes three times before Sasuke disarmed him and landed a straight kick to his face. Before he could follow up, however, Hinata drop-kicked his side, sending him sprawling. The Uchiha rolled through the assault and flicked out several shurikens towards Hinata, but she deflected each with her bare hands as she drew close. All the while, the recovered Kabuto stalked around the two.
"This is disappointing." Sasuke began as Hinata drew close. The two started a dance of dodging each other's attacks and attempting to land their own. "Especially in you, Hinata. I expected little from Kabuto but from Hyuga?"
Hinata grimaced in response. The woman struggled to speak while attempting to push her new teammate. "I am trying my best! You are rather skilled!"
"Of course I am, the Uchiha used to be the most prominent clan, an honor you Hyuga stole." Sasuke accused plainly. "If you lack talent, you may as well give up."
Hinata froze. This opening left Kabuto's attempted sneak attack thwarted, as Sasuke easily caught on and kicked the man away. However, Shisui broke out with a massive smile as he realized what had happened.
Hinata's file mentioned that Hyuga had a bad habit of holding back. She had been meek and weak throughout her entire time at the Academy, except for a day when one of the students managed to test her temper. It said that when properly motivated, her actual ability shone.
Shisui openly laughed as Sasuke looked back at Hinata to taunt her, only to eat a palm to the face. He laughed even more as Sasuke attempted to up the pace and keep it close range out of pride. The furious Hinata matched his pace blow for blow, the spar soon turning ugly as the two began to focus on landing painful blows.
Kabuto seemed more alarmed than him and attempted to intervene. However, Shisui's laughter grew as they reacted at once. Both smack the man out of the way while proclaiming to stay out of it.
Shisui was beginning to think this may just work…
Danzo's POV (Hidden Root Base - Hidden Leaf Village)
An old man walked calmly through a tunnel with two masked men following behind him closely. He had an aura of authority and power; it was clear he was a shinobi despite his appearance. Despite his advanced age, he had short, spiky hair that maintained its color and vigor. Half his face and his body were wrapped tightly in bandages. Still allowing various scars to show on areas where his skin was exposed. He wore a simple robe and walked with a noticeable limp. His cane seemed to aid this gait, yet he still moved briskly. He walked into a dark room with three young adults bowed before him. Seemingly awaiting his arrival patiently, entirely still and silent for his approach. Danzo almost allowed a smile to show on his face. "Your report?"
The one in the middle of the three stood slowly and spoke. He was a young man with ashen skin and dark hair. Sai was one of his newest yet most promising recruits. The boy had taken well to his training, especially concerning emotions. "Yes, sir, we all passed in the middle of the pack as you requested. We await further orders."
"Excellent, Sai; what of your orders, Sora?" Danzo asked, addressing the boy on his right. He was a disciple of a Fire Temple Monk with whom he had worked out a deal a while ago. The young man was often treated as a pariah by the monks and was promising with the small amount of Nine Tails Chakra he had. Danzo used him as a potential replacement for Naruto if needed.
"As you asked, I convinced the monks to teach me some of their techniques," Sora informed. The young man was dressed as the monks of the fire capitol. But still had long dark hair nearly reaching his waist. His eyes appeared as empty as Sai's. "They are not simple nor easy to pick up, but I believe, given time, I can master them and teach them to fellow Root members."
"Tenten, you are on a team with Sai and Shikamaru Nara, are you not?" Danzo carried on, never offering his thoughts to their feedback. His men knew better than to tamper with news to appeal to him or to fear reproach. They may receive it, but they need to be honest.
"Yes, just as you planned, sir," Tenten answered, being the only woman in the group. She was dressed in a black vest containing many scrolls and combat shorts. Her brown eyes also seemed lifeless. Being done in twin buns, her hair was the only bold thing that stuck out. "I have slowly but surely been attempting to get close to Shikamaru."
"Perfection. Get close to Shikamaru Nara and keep an eye on that Sensei of yours. Asuma Sarutobi is close to Hiruzen and was likely assigned to Sai since we made it obvious he was tied to me. That will allow you to move with much more freedom. Seduce, befriend, or blackmail. I care not how you do it. But gaining a Nara would be incredible for our forces and the village. Add to the fact that Nara has befriended Naruto Uzumaki, and we have an in for various important players of the next generation. A mind at a level we have never seen before. Then, a perfect living weapon. Yes, this will allow our home to grow much stronger. Perhaps even finally, it will allow me to overthrow my old friend. Then, I can lead the Leaf into a golden age. After all, that is, as Hiruzen would say, my own Will of Fire." Danzo finished with a rare smile. The man turned and walked away, his bodyguards following him. Danzo knew it was rude not to dismiss his charges when he did not need them. But forced to carry on with him. They were his tools, after all.
Best not to give them any ideas.
?'s POV (Nearby Hokage Manor - Hidden Leaf Village)
Shortly after this meeting, someone could be seen jumping from rooftop to rooftop, avoiding detection from any patrols. As if they knew where to go in advance to do so. They landed on the roof of the Kage manor and quickly snuck in through an open window. Landing in a large, lovely bedroom. The Hokage's bedroom, in fact.
"Ah, I may be old," Hiruzen answered with a flick of the room's light. He was standing by it, seemingly waiting for the unannounced guess. "But I felt you coming since you landed on the building. I'm assuming my old friend called a meeting?" He asked the frowning Tenten before him.
The young woman sighed dramatically. "Yes, the old bastard gave us new marching orders and, in his old heartless way, congratulated us on completing orders. He's making a play regarding Shikamaru using me as in. He hopes this will allow him to reach Naruto in the future." Tenten listed, sounding very animated compared to her behavior around Dazno.
"Very well done, Tenten. Your service is as valuable as it is appreciated. I know you hate job spying on the man, but I needed a young recruit with a head on their shoulders to keep an eye on my old friend, as I'm sure you learned is generally a good idea by now." Hiruzen stated.
Tenten sighed but nodded her head yes. "When are we making a move on him anyway? I'd like to be freed from his grasp sooner than later."
"We are merely waiting. When Itachi revealed Danzo's nature to me, we discussed an agreement. For now, we let him plot, and we'll merely inconvenience him. Soon, the time to pay for his crimes will come. I wish mercy upon his soul when it does. Now, regarding your orders. You should get close to your team, but the true assignment is to try to compromise Sai just as you have been. He's newer, so I believe the brainwashing can still be countered. Do you accept these orders? If not, rest assured I will find another." Hiruzen asked patiently.
"Yes, of course, Hokage sir. Should I forgo Danzo's orders entirely, then? "Tenten said tiredly.
"No, let him think he's winning. He was always an arrogant victor." Hiruzen chuckled.