Gohan In Narutoverse: Sage Style

The citizens of Konohagakure couldn't be more excited. While Konohagakure was classified as a village by the Fire Country, the size of Konohagakure easily outclassed the capital of the nation while its exotic structures and quality of life could easily make the citizens of fire nation sigh in defeat.

It was one simple reason, really. All the villagers, be it shinobis or the traders born in the hidden village, they all took their health extremely seriously. Even the fattest of the citizen could outrun most of the youths from the capital.

Today, however, the whole village threw caution of their health to the gentle wind as they partied as hard as they could. Each house was decorated beautifully while children wearing traditional kimonos ran across the street with a big and happy smile.

"This smile is what I wish to protect." Covered by his genjutsu, Minato stood on the Kage mountain, his steps right above one of the spikes of his hair carved on the mountain while a particular black-haired youth with violet eyes stood a little farther from Minato. Looking at Minato, Ryu took a moment before speaking out.

"Asuka... has some time before the delivery. I can stand guard, if you wish." Hearing his words, Minato shook his head and looked back at Ryu. Even though Minato would take a lot of time before finally achieving the technique that led Shodaime to his rise, he had enough confidence to protect his own wife from harm's way. After all, the seal was strong enough to keep Kyubi from reacting during the delivery while he already had enough trump cards to deal with stronger opponents.

"My only motivation about informing you of the secret location was to show my sincerity and trust for future cooperation.

Your clan... your kid, at least, thinks this village as his home. He is a child of a new era... hopefully, a peaceful era. I stand by what I pledged the day I took the seat of the highest position of the village: Hokage.

My work and my motivation are to see the smile on villagers and children while also create a safe haven for the shinobis who accompany on this noble quest."

"It is... admirable."

Ryu nodded as he could easily see past the long-distance and gaze upon his son, laying on the ground, under the shade of the tree while wearing a violet kimono with black cloud-prints. The violet easily contrasted with his white and smooth skin.

'Ah... Asuka is going to be mad if she sees that Kimono get dirty.'

Ryu sighed in distress. No matter how strong a shinobi gets, there are still some concerns that needed constant attention... no matter how small they are. Meanwhile, Minato gazed at Naruto duking out with the Inuzuka heir and sighed with visible distress.

'Ah... Kushina's going to get mad after seeing his dirty kimono... maybe... even raging. After all, she is due today.'

Minato shivered at the thought.

"But it is strange... well, not strange, but... disheartening." Ryu continued as he looked faraway, as if gazing at the group of delegates arriving with their designated bodyguards. Looking back at the village, Ryu sighed and spoke with the slightest tinge of regret. "Konohagakure... is one of the better ones, at least in policies... and yet, there still remain spies that will sell their souls and their homes for what? Nothing! Just to satisfy their hatred for a few individuals by punishing innocents."

The delegates choosing the same day as delivery and that, too, unanimously, easily pointed out that there was someone privy to the things closest to Minato. Ryu, of course, was ruled out as he was only informed today. But the identity of the spy remained a big question mark. Their motive, too. Nodding at Ryu's words, Minato finally spoke before moving away with his Body Flicker Jutsu.

"All we can do is believe that the Village will still stand... as a hope, at least, as a spark of light to warm the hearts of those, who still believe in the village, even after seeing the worst."

Gazing at the empty space, Ryu smiled sadly. If only it was so easy.

"I really wish that your words become true." He muttered before disappearing himself.

Since he was given holiday from his usual patrolling and got replaced with more 'specialised' ANBU shinobis, Ryu took a chance to meet up with Minato. While the mysterious helper of the Hokage that struck the vilest at the darkest hours remained a big question, Ryu's presence achieved the required effect as the Councilmen finally started to control their actions and remained under the policies of the village. For now, at least.

***

With the back of violet kimono ruined by rubbing against the bark of the tree that graced Eio with its shade all year round, he failed to grasp the surroundings, momentarily, he couldn't feel Naruto's brawl with Kiba on the serious topic of the most delicious snack, he failed to feel an equal lazy Shikamaru laying alongside him and threw caution to the wind regarding his Kimono, he failed to sense a slightly happy Uchiha cheering for Naruto and of course, he failed to feel the creepy gazes on his body from some of his young... followers.

But only for a moment.

Almost suddenly, his senses overflowed and reached the distances he could have never imagined. Stream of nature energy slowly seeped into his body and gradually phased out of his body, making Eio lose that powerful sensation as his eyes snapped open and he immediately stood up. Looking around, he still saw Naruto and Kiba fighting while Sasuke, whose mood has slowly gotten better, cheered at the top of his lungs. Since today happened to be a special occasion, the girls known to the group decided to join as they played house with others.

'That felt... clear.'

A moment of clarity indeed. Even though it was harder to meditate with his physical body laying on the ground, and honestly, less effective, Gohan still managed to feel that particular energy that he has been searching from the moment he started his training.

***

Soon, the delegates reached the entrance of Konohagakure while all the children were brought back to the houses by the parents. While the parents wanted their kids to enjoy peace, that certainly did not mean that they would feel comfortable with their kids playing outside while potential threat loomed over the village. The arrival of delegates could lead to one of the three things:

1) A successful negotiation followed by drafting the peace treaty.

2) An unsuccessful negotiation followed by the delegates returning back to their villages.

3) An unfortunate scenario which could induce the delegates to draw their weapons against each other.

Fearing the worst outcome, it was easy enough to understand the villagers' caution.

The delegates from other shinobi villages were quickly brought to their inns and were soon surrounded by the remaining ANBU in the village as a means of 'protecting' the delegates.

While the delegates were quickly settled, in the forbidden area beyond training ground 1, a small hut was constructed for a temporary purpose. Ordinarily, not even the village Jounins bored enough to explore this area just to find this single shed, from where, loud screams could be heard. But one person was quite interested in this particular hut. Gazing from far away, Madara took out three kunais strapped with explosive tags and hesitated for just a single moment before throwing the three blades, which quickly stuck on the roof and exploded with a loud noise.

Being in a secluded area, the noise didn't reach far into the village and while the select few who managed to hear the explosive only shook their head with a sigh. For they all thought that such a soft sound could only be created by a failed firecracker. Most likely, an excited villager failed to light up the sky and would most probably be returning with a dejected sigh.

Madara, on the other hand, shot towards the empty shed with a blinding speed only to witness Kushina's badly battered body laying on the ground, unconscious. Blood covered the entire shed but Madara's expression turned stiff when he managed to see that small smirk on Kushina's face with his sharingan and failed to notice the seal on her body.

"Got you!"

Poof!

Kushina's body exploded with a big smokey poof and Madara's body shivered as he heard a cold voice behind him and felt a sharp and cold Kunai on the nape of his neck. Standing still, Madara finally chuckled in a hoarse voice and broke the silence.

"I underestimated you... Yondaime. Your predecessors would be proud of you."

"Cut the crap. I know you aren't Madara Uchiha! He is dead without a doubt. Speak! Who are you?"

The masked assailant grew silent before he replied in a grim tone.

"Madara... is not an identity. His name is bigger than that. It is a resolve. But I am sure, Kushina, currently delivering in your apartment would understand the meaning of Madara, the incarnate of hatred."

Madara's chuckle received a cold glare from Minato as he immediately pushed his kunai into Madara's neck only to have his hand phased out.

"Farewell, Yondaime."

With another poof, Madara's body disappeared before Minato let out a relieved smile.

"It seems to be successful?"

A deep voice rumbled in his mind as Minato nodded and smiled.

"Yeah. All that's left is to keep the barrier under control."

With a smirk, Minato disappeared.

***

Meanwhile, as the villagers feared, the worst outcome broke out the moment the delegates settled in their inns. The Jounin delegates from the other four shinobi villages immediately struck the surrounding ANBU with their chuunins without hiding their movements. The attack came suddenly and swiftly.

From four different location, the delegates shot towards a single location: the Hokage's residence. Even though the delegates did not know the address of the Hokage's stay, and the fact that their eyes were clearly in a daze, the delegates easily reached the Hokage's residence as if the location was already imprinted over their mind. But before they could barge in, the procession was stopped by an invisible barrier while the group hidden around the residence ambushed the procession.

Before the procession of delegates could be further attacked, a cloaked figure immediately appeared in between the delegates and slammed his palm on the roof, summoning a big python that destroyed the said roof. Even if the figure was cloaked, his Jutsu spoke all about his identity.

Orochimaru! One of the Legendary Sannins!

***

"Sandaime-sama"

An ANBU shinobi voiced his concern as looked at Hiruzen, who stood far away, gazing at the scene with a sad expression. Even now, he didn't wear his battle outfit and looked like a normal old man. He recalled Minato's sudden arrival and how he asked a personal favour to help him by assisting in the evacuation of 2 kilometres of radius around his apartment. But the next sentence was given out as a command of Hokage: No matter what happens, you won't take part in any battle.

Hiruzen's body twitched continuously. He wished to redeem himself by slaying his student with his own hands and yet, it felt like he was going through a tribulation, watching at his most talented student tearing down the place he once called home. In the deepest corner of his heart, Hiruzen inexplicably felt that he had done something wrong while raising Orochimaru as a shinobi. Even though his other disciples constantly assured him that it wasn't his own fault, there was nothing he could do but feel the burden of the guilt brewing inside of him and burdening his old and brittle shoulders.

"I will see through it... this is the least I can do."

This was one of the rare moments where Hiruzen's body screamed and begged for long and deep puffs of his smoke pipe and yet, he held on to his consciousness. He didn't wish to intake anything that would reduce the guilt building inside of him. At least, not today.

***

As Orochimaru covered for the delegates, the procession immediately fled into two groups and immediately shot towards the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuuga Clan. Seeing this, a deep frown emerged on the spectator's faces that knew the truth of the matter. According to the script, the goal of the hidden enemy should have been the Kyubi sealed inside the Uzumaki princess. But now, things had turned for the worse.

But still, the Hyuugas and the Uchihas belonged to the top 5 clans inside the village. While most of the procession was killed, the delegates were kept alive. Being the masters of genjutsu, the sharingan holders easily broke the genjutsu while the Hyuugas weren't any worse.

***

"It's a trap...."

The masked assailant immediately appeared inside the Hokage's apartment and easily bypassed the seal surrounding the house as Orochimaru battled with the group of ANBU shinobis. Looking sideways, he found Minato sitting on the dining table while he silently gazed at the masked man and spoke softly.

"Why don't you sit and chat... with your Sensei?"

Narrowing his eyes, the Uchiha snorted and walked over to the dining table and pulled a chair for himself. He wasn't scared about the whole set-up being a trap because, in such a short distance, it would be hard to avoid the fastest Shinobi's strike.

"When did you know.... Yondaime?"

"Cut the act, Obito Uchiha. The seal surrounding the house is unable to obstruct space-nin users like us. And out of all tue Uchihas, only you have visited this place. Now, are you going to tell me what happened or should I discipline you like old days?"

Minato asked with a deep frown as he gazed at Obito Uchiha, who claimed himself to be Madara Uchiha.