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Leader	By : mannahpierce Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 2163 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: This story has some of Masashi Kishimoto's characters from Naruto in a universe of my own devising. I do not own Naruto. I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 47
- 48
- 49
Thank you to my beta and muse, Small Fox. This story grew from a plot idea he gave me.
Also thanks to melissen, satterb, v, cynaga, sadie237, Aflyingmonkey, disembodiedvoiceofthedying and SidonieStarr for reviewing after chapter 47 was posted. Readers’ feedback, support and comments mean a great deal to me. Feedback keeps me writing.
Hits are nice. Ratings are welcome. Reviews encourage and inspire.

Leader
Part 6: Counterattack
48: Declaration

Sasuke blinked at the data, images and diagrams spread across the displays. After sixteen standards he should know better than to encourage Shikamaru to use his imagination.
Shika himself had that look on his face; the one that meant either a present or a surprise or sometimes both.
“Here we go,” Kakashi observed.
Iruka gave him a warning look and Kakashi replied with a small shrug.
Neji settled back into his chair.
Sasuke caught Naruto’s eye. Naruto smiled and then turned his attention to Shikamaru.
“I had three starting points,” Shikamaru began. “Eliminating the Akatsuki, addressing the issue of Izuna-sama and not ignoring the future because we get obsessed with the problems we have now.”

Sasuke whole-heartedly supported the first two. He felt less sure about the third. Unless they solved the others there may not be a future to worry about.
“But before I started thinking about details I decided to check out the third hole,” Shikamaru continued. “I discussed it with Sasuke-sama and we decided it would be best to use the Dart. Tatsuji-san, In-san and En-san collected the data for me.”
It had not been much of a discussion. Sasuke had recognised the look in Shikamaru’s eyes. He knew that his role on such occasions was to validate Shikamaru’s intuition.
If you could call the lateral thinking that was unique to typed-seven geniuses intuition.
“And?” Kakashi demanded.
Shikamaru, always one for the dramatic twist to a story, activated a three dimensional projection.
“Mulligan’s teats,” Kakashi murmured.
Sasuke agreed. They had a four jump shortcut to Tarrasade. Three of the jumps required an improver, so it could never be a commercial route, but in some ways that was better. The Dart could make it home within three days.
“This, along with the presence of the toad hybrids, changes how we see this system,” Shikamaru stated.

The toad hybrids; Sasuke looked to his left, knowing that Naruto would be looking at him. Their eyes met; Sasuke’s assuring Naruto that he would respect the inhabitants’ claim on the planet and Naruto’s filled with trust and approval.
Shikamaru was continuing. “Despite its massive commercial potential, I recommend we use this system as a secure base. Commercial development could be restricted to the third system in this string for a generation or so. That would also allow time for the toad hybrids to adapt to being reconnected with known space.
“I am suggesting we gate the string only up to the third system and build a modular space station, like Haven, in that third system. We get the same company to provide modules that we can use to build a smaller space station here.”
“I thought we had exhausted all Uchiha’s funds,” Iruka commented.
Shikamaru coloured slightly. “I will buy the two extra gates off Uchiha. That will resolve Uchiha’s credit flow issues. Also, I am planning to rationalise some of the minigate routes. This will mean that Uchiha will double the value of its contracts with the Stellar Exchange for ultra-fast data transfer. I could show you the figures.”
“No,” they all chorused.
“The idea is to get accommodation, a dock and a shipyard in this system as quickly as possible. This will then function as our base. Not only have we needed a base away from Tarrasade for some time, for privacy and security reasons, but it will be extremely useful while we tackle the Izuna Uchiha issue.”
“What about making it secure?” Kakashi asked. “Not only do the Akatsuki know where it is but they have been crawling all over it.”

Sasuke’s mind wandered while Shikamaru explained his plan, or rather Haru’s plan, for searching the system. Shikamaru also intended to use an Akatsuki-type disruptor to reblock the first hole, the one that did not need an improver. He had even come up with a system that would allow them to communicate through that minigate and an incoming Uchiha ship to switch off the disruptor, which was a bonus.
Shika had been through it all with him in minute detail over the last few days, so he did not need to listen. Instead he thought about having a base here. The idea had much to commend it, the best being that it provided a place where his children could have challenges to face while being safe from Uchiha’s enemies.

Finally Kakashi was satisfied and they were ready to move on.
“We all agree that we have to get rid of the Akatsuki once and for all,” Shikamaru acknowledged. “We have always wanted to do that but there has never been a realistic prospect of success. I think we are finally in a position to do it because we have much more current intelligence, better communications and the allied crews.”
Shikamaru gave a small smile. Sasuke knew that expression. He braced himself for whatever bombshell Shika was about to drop.
“My suggestion is that Uchiha declares a vendetta.”

It was brilliant. It would galvanise the allied crews. It would create a frenzy of attention, reducing the number of rocks under which the Akatsuki could hide. It would capture the media’s attention, diverting them from Izuna.
“What’s a vendetta?” Naruto asked.
“Blood feud,” Sasuke told him. “No negotiations, no being reasonable, no challenges, no chances to surrender. If they are Akatsuki, we destroy them.” It was sinking in just what a wonderful idea it was. A vendetta would release Uchiha from following the spacer code when the Akatsuki were under no such constraints.
Naruto looked unconvinced. “A vendetta means we get to break all the rules?”
"The rules are different. It’s a bit like a challenge but between clans rather than individuals,” Sasuke explained. "They were common centuries ago."
“The Akatsuki qualify as a clan?” Iruka queried.
Kakashi smiled. “I am sure that they will appreciate the promotion. Historically, vendettas were declared in exactly these types of situations, when one clan had broken the rules. The Akatsuki have used piracy and bombs. No one will query Uchiha’s right to declare a vendetta against them.”
Naruto was still frowning. “So how does it work? How do we stop innocent people getting in the way?”
“It will work fine, Na-chan,” Shikamaru assured him. “The vendetta will be carefully defined when it is declared. Saying who isn’t covered is as important as saying who is. For example, we would state that Konan, Hana, Nagato Junior, In-san and En-san are not covered. If Pein is still active in the Akatsuki, it will sow dissent.”
“We’ll say that Sasori isn’t included,” Sasuke suggested. “That will make them doubt everything he ever did for them.”
“And Kotohime,” Shikamaru added.
“What about the hybrids?” Naruto pressed.
“We ask them to desert,” Kakashi suggested. “You can record an appeal. If they escape and declare themselves neutral, we will settle them somewhere with start up funds. Like we offered the nekos.”
Iruka nodded. “That’s a good idea, Naruto-kun. You can add in bits of video showing the types of lives hybrids lead after the HDL has helped them.”
Naruto considered and then nodded, which was a relief.

They had a short discussion about what should be included when the vendetta was declared before deciding to schedule a separate meeting with that as its focus.
“The third issue,” Shikamaru went on, “is one in which the spacer code cannot be ignored. Indeed it must be complied with most assiduously.” He looked at Sasuke expectantly.
Sasuke took a deep breath. “Izuna Uchiha is a full blood Uchiha who has not sworn allegiance to me and who is in a position to make a claim for the clan leadership. As Uchiha-sama, I am ordering you to speak freely about this issue. However, please make an effort to remain respectful.”
“Neji,” Shikamaru invited.
“It is important to think about this from Izuna-sama’s point of view. He believes he has a legitimate claim on the clan leadership. He has not given his loyalty to Sasuke-sama, so he is at liberty to gather supporters from among those who are sworn to Uchiha but not among those who are sworn personally to Sasuke-sama.” Neji paused. “He believes he would be a stronger and more experienced leader.”
“We have no evidence that he has done anything untoward,” Shikamaru emphasised. “Perhaps one or two things that push the boundaries a little, but these are very mild compared to the behaviour of powerful full-blood Uchihas in the past.”

Sasuke could see from Naruto and Iruka’s expressions that they did not consider drugging Shikamaru in order to seduce him in any way mild. However Shikamaru was right; on a scale where bad behaviour was mass murder or systematic abuse, feeding someone an aphrodisiac was little more than rude.
“Nevertheless,” Shikamaru continued, “things have happened for which we have no explanation. Hinata-san tells us that Neji was offered to the Hyuga before the kidnapping. The Akatsuki were waiting for us in this system. The most likely explanation for these events is a leak from the household. To support this, I have evidence that a message was sent from the Stellar Exchange on Tarrasade less than one day after we received word that Sasuke-sama had escaped the Akatsuki’s trap.”
“If he could get the drug into the household, he could get information out,” Kakashi pointed out, bluntly.
It was the closest anyone had got to a direct accusation.
“We now restrict the information flow within the household,” Sasuke reminded them. “We must remember that even if I had irrefutable evidence that Izuna-sama was working with the Akatsuki against Uchiha interests, all I could do was confront him. He would challenge me for the leadership and I would have to fight him.” He took a deep breath. “I do not want to risk everything we have, everything we have built together, on a single knife fight.”

There was silence as they contemplated that possibility; a silence that Shikamaru broke.
“Of course that changes once we declare the vendetta. If he gives information to the Akatsuki once the vendetta is declared you can slit his throat.”
Sasuke had not thought of that; trust Shikamaru. “I shall keep that in mind,” he acknowledged.
“Only he won’t,” Shikamaru added. “He is far too clever for that.”
“He has very limited resources,” Kakashi insisted.
Shikamaru shook his head. “Not true. You aren’t the only one who had been generous to him, Sasuke-sama. Although he is never paid, he does take gratuities and honorariums. For example, he is receiving considerable amounts of credit from the media company for which he is giving the regular interviews on life a millennium ago.”
“Are they successful?” Iruka asked.
“Hugely,” Shikamaru replied. “Massive viewing figures.” He paused, frowning slightly. “Then there is credit I gave him.”
It was the first Sasuke had heard of it.
“When and how much?” Kakashi demanded.
“When Sasuke-sama was missing. He found out that Uchiha had no credit in the bank and he began questioning why I had resources of my own. I had to do something to stop him asking what I owned and exactly what I did.”
“How much?” Kakashi pressed.
“The balance of one of my accounts.” Shikamaru frowned, as if he was dredging up some insignificant fact. “A couple of petacredits.”
Iruka, Neji and Naruto gasped.
“It was the safest thing to do at the time,” Shikamaru insisted. “If I had given him even the slightest hint that I was hiding something he would have started interrogating me.” His voice shook slightly. “You don’t understand. We can’t say no to him. Unless Sasuke is there to override his orders, we have to do what he says.”
Sasuke had a sudden insight into what it had been like; the pressure Izuna had put Shika under. “It was exactly the right thing to do,” he confirmed. “He was distracted by the credit and did not think of looking deeper.”

Shikamaru settled, helped by Naruto reaching out to him and squeezing his hand.
Sasuke decided to move things on. “So how are we going to manage the situation?”
“Stay away from him,” Kakashi stated. “We do not wish to risk a challenge. Prepare you in case a challenge proves to be the only option.”
The training sessions had already started; Sasuke’s muscles ached and his nanobots were working overtime to resolve the bruising.
“Think about who you have in the household in Tarrasade,” suggested Neji. “Also, we need to monitor and manage your media profile.”
“Keep a close watch on him,” Shikamaru added. “I am monitoring his activities and I have someone working for him.”

Madara sat back in his chair and surveyed his new domain.
He had an entire floor of the Uchiha headquarters. Most of it was modern; cutting edge design provided by a company that would have done almost anything for handful of images of him sitting on a chair or at a table. This room, his office, was different. It had been furnished from the Uchiha storerooms. Crossing its threshold reminded people who he was.
Or rather who he purported to be,

Other than Sumaru, he had chosen every member of his staff. Asuma’s only conditions had been that his people passed a level two security check and did not enter the household.
A polite knock at the door, a six second wait in case he should choose to reconsider his availability and then Sakura entered.
“Your coffee, Izuna-sama,” she announced and placed the cup and saucer in exactly the correct place on his desk.

He liked Sakura’s imperfections. She had obviously been raised by aspiring, middle income parents who had spoiled her. She was not beautiful: her forehead was too wide; her breasts should be fuller; her butt could be rounder and higher; the pink hair and emerald eyes were slightly ridiculous. Her manners were learned rather than ingrained; she still had to think about selecting the appropriate response.
She showed her emotions, which was a fault in someone employed to serve.

Unlike Ino; there was no doubt in Madara’s mind that any emotion Ino showed was carefully measured and perfectly judged. During her interview she had asked him how he wished her to behave towards him. He had said professionally and, since that moment, her behaviour towards him had been precisely that.
He wondered if it would have been different if he had said warmly or even coquettishly.
She was beautiful. Her hair was pale gold. Her eyes would have rivalled the fox hybrid’s if they had not been so cold. She was long limbed, deliciously slender and lusciously curved.

Yet it was Sakura that he fantasised fucking: those too-small breasts in his hands and that too-flat butt cushioning his thrusts; sweaty stands of that ridiculous pink hair falling over the too-wide forehead; emerald eyes widened in shock as he introduced her to sexual practices that did not feature in nice, well-raised girls’ dreams.
By the Lady he wished that Izuna had been even slightly interested in women. Sometimes he fancied that he could hear his brother laughing at his predicament.
“Is there anything else you want, Izuna-sama?” she asked.
Very much so, he thought. I want you face down and butt up. “No, Sakura,” he replied. He sipped his coffee. “On second thoughts, I intend to move our usual meeting to this afternoon. Please inform Ino. Asuma-san has asked me to attend a meeting in the household this morning.”
“Yes, Izuna-sama.”

The chronometer indicated that he should be on his way to the household. As he left his office Ino was already holding his jacket and Sumaru was there, waiting.
“Do you know what this is about Sumaru-kun?” he asked as they walked along an empty corridor.
“Yes, Izuna-sama. Sasuke-sama is making a public announcement,” Sumaru replied. “He wishes us to see it first.”
Inside, Madara sneered. It would be another insipid appeal for tolerance and charity.

Only it was not; that was clear from the first image. Sasuke Uchiha stood in the centre. To his right was the fox hybrid. To his left was Kakashi. On the other side of the fox hybrid was Itachi. On the other side of Kakashi was the sharkman.
All five were dressed in the blue, leather and net of the Uchiha uniform. For the first time, Madara understood why Sasuke Uchiha favoured it over a more formal alternative. They looked dangerous; even the three purebreds looked slightly feral.
Then, after precisely enough time for the watcher to process what he was seeing, Sasuke Uchiha began moving his hands.

Madara’s mouth dried and his gut twisted. He doubted that many alive today would recognise the gestures but he was one of them.
Uchiha was declaring a vendetta.

After the gestures came the words. “I, Sasuke Uchiha, leader of the Uchiha clan, declare a vendetta against those who call themselves the Akatsuki. I name Orochimaru, Kabuto and Pein. I exclude Kiba, Konan, her son Nagato, Hana, the Zetsus also known as Inryoku and Enerugi, Kotohime and Sasori.
“There will be no warnings, no challenges, no quarter and no mercy. Anyone supporting the Akatsuki in any way, however small, will be a target. You have this one warning. If you are anyone other than Orochimaru, Kabuto or Pein, distance yourself from them. Declare yourself neutral. Otherwise you will die.”
The video faded into others showing hybrids living and working.
“Do not think you have no future other than what the Akatsuki offers you.” It was the fox hybrid speaking. “We will give you a fresh start. Passage to another part of known space for you and your loved ones. Enough credit to get you started.”
Madara did not care about hybrids. However, Orochimaru relied on them heavily; mass desertions would damage him badly. It was a clever ploy.
As was the vendetta itself.
A close up of Sasuke Uchiha filled the screen. “For the leaders of the Akatsuki, for Orochimaru, Kabuto and Pein, this is a death sentence. For those who follow them, or supply them, or pass them information, it is your last and final warning.”
He completed the series of gestures, committing Uchiha to the vendetta until at least Orochimaru, Kabuto and Pein were dead.

The video finished. He was staring at nothing. Had that last sentence been directed at him? Did Sasuke Uchiha suspect that Izuna Uchiha had been passing information to the Akatsuki?
“About time, do you not agree Izuna-sama?” Asuma was asking.
He pulled himself together. “Absolutely, Asuma-san.”
Sumaru was smiling. Madara had never seen him smile. It was unnerving.
There would be no more sending messages to Karin. He would disable the mechanism. If Sumaru caught him communicating with the Akatsuki, he would be dead; the youngster would not hesitate for a moment.

The rules of the game may have changed but Madara was still playing to win.

Author’s note
This is the end of the first half of the story. It has been hard work; more a labour of determination than love. I have decided that we will have an ‘Interlude’ next but do not fear; this will be an Interlude within the story rather than a rest from it. Chapters 49, 50 and 51 will be a bit different.

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Leader