Chapter 56 - The Mask has Been Seen

-CHANGE POV- (Shikaramu Nara)

"Well we are comrades and we need to know each other, plus I don't think you are a spy..."

I look at Yami Inuzuka... this kid... he is definitely wearing a mask... you notice these kind of things when you are always on guard against spies in our midst.

Even though I wasn't sure in the beginning that he was wearing a mask his body language is perfect, not surprising since he is a medic... but that is also what made me suspicious in the beginning... it was too perfect... even with Tsunade you are able to notice how she is feeling from her body language and slight face twitch. Though if I was an enemy and she was on guard there is no way I would be able to notice it in the midst of battle... even though sometimes she is very expressive of her feelings.

But this kid, he is to guarded even against the konoha ninja... he is hiding something... I can count the people who would be able to notice his mask in one hand and 3 of them are in this room me included. I then say to the kid.

" Sure, sure kid *sigh* this is such a drag... anyway my name is Shikaramu Nara I like cloud watching and playing shogi with my friends. I dislike dishonest people.."

He doesn't even flinch slightly when I say that, this control over his body's natural reactions are scary even for ninja especially ninja his age. But I continue saying.

".. and people who go out of their way to disrupt my cloud watching. My dream is to live until this war ends so I can be lazy and play shogi all day..."

He just looks at me without an even trace of anger and just says.

"You know old man you are really lazy."

This is the thing that makes me suspicious of him... his teammates died because some ninja were lazy or didn't look hard enough and let a big group on ninja with jounin and chunin pass. I thought he would criticise me... but he is so calm like.... well anyway the hokage then says.

"Yami as the second in command, if Tsunade is ever fighting against an opponent I need you to lead the ninja, if you want to just go and help Tsunade I need you to give command to Shikaramu because he will be your second in command and will be a critical part in planning strategies."

"I understand Hokage -sama... "

Then the hokage says.

"I won't keep you any longer I am sure you need to prepare for the journey."

He gets the hint and goes out of the office.

When he is gone there is silence for a couple of seconds until I say.

"Soooo.... I am sure you noticed that the kid is wearing a good mask."

Then the hokage looks at me and says.

"That kid... he lost two of his teammates in a mission... in the reports from the medic they say it was a miracle he was able to stay conscious and come back alive after the battle against some Sand Jounin..."

I then say to them...

"That is true he doesn't like to show weakness and he has a mask... we don't know what is hidden behind the mask... but what I believe from all of the information that I have about his life is that he hides his so called weakness or as he precedes as emotions behind a mask. I believe for his mask to be so good he started wearin it young... probably when he learned that his father was dead... "

Then Danzo is also looking at

Hokage -sama then he says...

"If we weren't at war he would have been perfect for my Root program..."

The Hokage frowns, looks at Danzo and says.

"No you aren't allowed to take clan children or ninja with talent in your Root program... we need them to be the light...."

I look at them and think... Hokage -sama really hates the Root program... I mean 99.9% who know of it hate it...

But still the Hokage knows that Root ninja are efficient and very useful...

a Root Chunin could assassinate a Jounin with a suicide technique, or just simply attacking and having paper bombs wrapped around him... not even the most devoted ninja will do that...

We have thousands of chunin, but only a handful of Jounin... if even one is taken out it is a great loss... they are after all the best ninja in their generation... there is a saying that there is no weak Jounin.

That is why none of the clans even dare to get any 'smart' ideas...

I am brought out of my thoughts by Danzo's voice who says.

"I know I wouldn't take him even if you gave him to me..."

We all know that is not true.

I think that while Danzo continues speaking.

"... look at the strategy he did in the land of the Sky... he is without a doubt an asset to Konoha... if he wasn't so young I would have even recommended him as a frontline army commander."

The Hokage looks at Danzo with a little surprise, then he smiles and says.

"Are you getting sentimental Danzo, does he remind you of a yourself when you were younger."

Wait how does he get that oooohhh...

Well that is pretty much it, but I bet you could match that background with 80% of the konoha ninja. I am sure the Hokage is just trying to get under his skin.

Danzo looks at the Hokage and says calmly.

"Aren't you to old for these types of games Hiruzen."

The Hokage shrugs his shoulders and says.

"Oh well..."

Then an anbu signaled us that the next visitor is coming.

-CHANGE POV- (Yami's POV)