Naruto was happy. Sure, he was confident in apprehending Danzo, but he did not expect the man to agree with him so quickly. Danzo had put up some resistance in the beginning, and knowing how stubborn the older man was in the previous timeline, he had supposed that Danzo would still struggle even after his proposition, not conceding to either options and went about his own twisted path. If that had happened, then Naruto would have killed him in a heartbeat.

.

.

With elated mood, Naruto teleported back to Konoha and appeared right in front of his two best friends.

.

.

"Took you long enough," Sasuke said as he smirked. Shikamaru chuckled as Naruto pouted at the teasing. Danzo cleared his throat, bringing their attention towards him.

.

.

.

There was a brief pause.

.

.

.

"You didn't kill him?!" Sasuke seethed, his daojutsu activating and spiraled crazily, causing Danzo to inwardly grimace. He would have jerked back from the killing intent if he had been able to move. Shikamaru restrained Sasuke by his shoulders trying to calm him down. Naruto simply grinned unabashed, disregarding Sasuke's outbursts.

.

.

"Yep, he made his choice!" Naruto gingerly said. His voice filled with such mirth that it was plain to see that he was pleased with the turn of events. Unable to rebuff his hokage, Sasuke relented and let out a sigh. But he made sure to whisper some admonition in Danzo's ears.

.

.

"Any funny business...and you're dead. Stay away from Naruto," Sasuke hissed forebodingly. Danzo visibly paled, recognizing the voice. Upon closer look, he finally knew who it was, evident from the child's odd eyes that deathly glared at him. Uchiha Sasuke. Danzo was more than bewildered to find that the Uchiha had achieved the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and the boy was barely 13! And is that a Rinnegan?! Somehow, Danzo began to see more sense in them raiding ROOT, especially if the Uchiha was involved.

.

.

Sasuke was pissed. He loathed the man to the core. Danzo had been responsible for instigating his brother Itachi to massacre his clan. While Naruto is big-hearted enough to give the sly old man a second chance, Sasuke remain skeptical. Understanding Sasuke's sentiment, Naruto smiled wryly and persuasively said,

.

.

"It's okay, Sasuke. We need an adult shadow player in this game. If it makes you feel better, he can be our scapegoat in important times. And besides, if he's up to something, I can always count on you to point them out! I won't stop you then..."

.

.

Sasuke's scowl twisted to a sadistic grin, seemingly had a brilliant idea. Danzo on the other hand felt sick in his stomach while sweating profusely. The older man was sure that the raven-haired kid would make his life a living hell. He regretted his decision. He should have chosen death. Shikamaru, who had been quiet all this time, continued observing their expression in downright amusement, snickering in the corner.

.

.

-Uchiha Compound, Underground hideout.

.

.

"Hmm~" Naruto hummed as he scrunched his face in deep thought. Never had anyone seen the blonde concentrate in a dead serious manner. His eyes are closed in forming a thin line and his eyebrows furrowed. His face had never been so comical. Danzo shifted his glance nervously left and right, his face full of sweat. The atmosphere seemed to grow tense as time dragged on. Sasuke was seen leaning on the wall a few feet away with a stare so sharp that it prickled the older man's neck. His hair stood on ends as he felt goose bumps all over his less than ideal body, with his right arm gone and an eyeball less (Sasuke ploughed his right eye out unprettily, the Sharingan that belonged to his cousin Shisui and safely kept it).

.

.

Danzo was sitting in the middle between Naruto and Shikamaru as the two time travelers battled in a silent war. The older man being forced to sit beside them much to the Uchiha's displeasure. Danzo felt like a hole is being burrowed through his back by the Uchiha's glare. Meanwhile, the Nara's dark onyx eyes egged the blonde in challenge. A smirk played on his lips as he dared his beloved hokage to make a move. Naruto exhaled a breath and grabbed a piece of his loyal knights, his eyes scanned through each piece on the board and ran through many moves and possible consequent moves from his opponent a mile a second.

.

.

"There!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes twinkled marvelously as he placed his knight on the Shogi board, marking its placed. The placement of the insignificant looking wooden piece on the board made a seemingly magnificent sound that echoes in their ears. Shikamaru's eyes widen as he scanned through the new pattern on the board.

.

.

"What?!" The Nara genius couldn't help but cry out as he stood up abruptly in disbelief, knocking his chair down.

.

.

"Finally! Ha ha ha!," Naruto laughed in content as he threw his hands up high in the air with balled fists, seemingly declaring his glorious victory. Sasuke smirked at the sight while Danzo released a breath that he had not noticed he had been holding, feeling relieved from the Uchiha's merciless stare diverted from him. The older man reminisced in a daze at the series of events that led him there.

.

.

=============================================

-ROOT HQ

.

Danzo had chosen to live and atone for his sins. From now on, he serves the mysterious blonde known as Uzumaki Naruto, and surprisingly, his two best friends, Uchiha Sasuke and Nara Shikamaru. Danzo could only blinked in confusion at the revelation. He has plenty of questions as to how they met and their relationships. In retrospect, they have absolute trust with one another. But Danzo did not miss how the other two treated Naruto with more importance as, while the other two had and stated their opinions, they waited, listened, and abide Naruto's word as the final decision. After their incessant discussion, they finally turned and he had their full attention.

.

.

Danzo gulped.

.

.

First and foremost, Danzo was not allowed to move on his own accord. He is to strictly report and deliver his missions accordingly. Any threats or suspicious individuals that he found and deemed a threat to Konoha will be reported to Naruto or the other two first before any suggestive actions or decisions to be made. ROOT's behind the scenes operations was put to a stop permanently. Any dirty methods that threatens the peace between villages will be severely looked down on.

.

.

"Keep in mind that you will always be observed. I have eyes everywhere," Naruto solemnly said.

.

.

Secondly, was Danzo's role as an influencing figure in the Council. He would help to subtly guide the Council to their desired direction. Since Naruto and the others are children, their voices would hardly be heard or considered. But with Danzo, he can help voice them out and put them to actions. At this, Danzo would have to work together with Shikaku. Danzo was doubtful since they don't have the best of a relationship, but Shikamaru insisted that he can make it work.

.

.

His reason being?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

He's a genius.

.

.

.

If he had been able to move, Danzo would have face palmed. What else would he have expected from a Nara?

.

.

.

Third, he would release all the kidnapped children and compensated them. If some of them were willing to be taken in and trained to become a ninja, then he would need to properly treat them as a human being. No, Naruto demanded that he would treat all his subordinates as a proper individual and not a disposable tool. The blonde adamantly implies that they should be treated as family, and freely given the decision what they wish to do with their lives.

.

.

The restrained members of ROOTs were released from their bindings and Naruto erased the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal placed on them.

.

.

At this, Danzo couldn't help but raised his eyebrows and marvelled at the blonde's abilities. To be able to erase and counter his seal...just who is he? Danzo was stumped. That was the only question that kept rewinding in his head.

.

.

'Who is he?'

.

'Who is he?'

.

'Who is he?'

.

'Who is he?'

.

'Who is he?'

.

'Who is he?'

.

'Who is he?'

.

'Who is he?'

.

.

Danzo felt his mind swirl from dizziness from the repeating question that lingers ever so persistently in his mind.

.

.

As Danzo drifted into a trance-like state, Naruto had asked the ROOT members their decisions. Some decided to quit and return to their ever so loyal position as ANBU under the third hokage. While the rest decided to stay, despite achieving their freedom. Naruto explained to them that they are no longer ROOT members. But they, despite everything, wishes to stay and served Naruto alongside Danzo instead. They had reasoned that while Danzo treated them as tools, they had a purpose in life. To complete their missions, and to protect Konoha.

.

.

Before Danzo took them in, they had been aimless and had nothing. So, they felt indebted to the older man for realizing their potential and if Danzo were to be punished, they would gladly be punished with him. They had reasoned that they were as much as guilty as Danzo in their ways and would like to make amends. In other words, they were a loyal and workaholic bunch. Naruto was first troubled by this, but Shikamaru managed to make the most of the situation.

.

.

"Naruto...didn't you want to make allies and friends in carrying out secret missions to save the world? One that consists even that Akatsuki?" Shikamaru rationalized. At this, Naruto widen his eyes at the implications and jumped in joy.

.

.

"Yeah! Believe it!" Naruto whisper shouted. He still minded the hours. At the side, Danzo who heard everything felt his eyes bulging out of its sockets.

.

.

"Did I hear that right?! Akatsuki?!" Danzo paled as he felt his spirit leaving him.

.

.

"Alright. From now on, the Secret Alliance Association is established! Starting members include us, our pet Danzo and his hardworking cronies!" Shikamaru declared with a mischievous glint in his eyes, various schemes playing in his genius mind. Danzo was still looking lifeless at the Akatsuki comment while the rest shivered in fright at the look.

.

.

"Hell yeah..." Naruto celebrated, quietly.

.

.

"Hnn," Sasuke grunted, still having a disapproving look on his face. But he agreed nonetheless. He had many plans in store for their pet.

.

.

Danzo snapped out of his lifeless state when he suddenly felt chills running down his spine.

.

.

"Seriously...these children," Danzo sighed in defeat. "No...are they really children?"

.

.

Thinking back on everything that they had accomplished and their adult-like discussions, it's really dubious to think that they were children. But Danzo knows for a fact that they are indeed children from their appearance and age as well as from their birth certificates in the villages record. But their actions betrayed their outward appearance. Could they have been possessed by spirits of the future? Danzo inwardly shook his head and laughed at the thought.

.

.

.

.

Impossible.

.

.

.

.

"You know what, I need a time out," Danzo concluded. He felt like his brain would explode any second. So, he decided to worry about them later and followed them back to the Uchiha Compound.

.

.

Well...more like dragged. He was still not released from the constraint seal. Naruto had probably forgotten about it...or...it was purposely done to persecute him. (Guess who drags him? Hint: DOOOOBE!!)

.

.

Little did he know...his earlier guess was on the mark.

.

.

======================================================

.

.

Shikamaru and Sasuke went ahead, with Danzo in their custody and return to their Underground Hideout at the Uchiha Compound. Seeing Sasuke dragging the older man by the feet with a bored look on his face, Naruto sweat dropped.

.

.

Naruto stayed behind a little bit to give further instructions to the members. The little blonde was so giddy and happy that he finally got some hands and feet to do secret missions.

.

.

Naruto placed a Hiraishin seal on everyone. Better be safe than sorry. Of course, he meant more towards saving them than kill them. This is Naruto we're talking about! He then asked the SAA members to get the kidnapped children and return them to their homes and orphanages, then gather at the Uchiha compound, saying that it will be their new HQ. They all nodded and swiftly went to work. Naruto smiled. Shortly, he frowned, as if something was nagging at him at the back of his mind.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Why do I get the feeling that I forgot something...?" Naruto looked thoughtful but then shrugged.

.

.

.

"Eh----, it's probably nothing," Naruto decided. (Danzo is crying)

.

.

"Now that's done and over with, maybe I'll play a round of Shogi with Shika! It's been awhile!" Naruto gingerly said then vanished, teleported to their newly founded SAA headquarters.