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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
- 56
- 57
- 58
Thank you to my beta and muse, Small Fox. This story grew from a plot idea he gave me.
Also thanks to eunmook, melissen, satterb, sadie237 and disembodiedvoiceofthedying for reviewing after chapter 56 was posted.
It is difficult to find enough time to write at the moment. Work and real life gets in the way. It makes such a difference to hear from readers.
Thank you to those who have written a review or sent an email and particular thanks to those who review regularly.

Leader
Part 7: Vendetta
57: Prospects

Madara had been forced to rethink his strategy after the Orochimaru print had allowed Sasuke Uchiha and his purebred sons to escape. With no prospect of a convenient death, he had to fall back on wresting the leadership from Sasuke’s grasp.

Then Sasuke had declared the vendetta before he had begun adapting to the new situation. Suddenly he was operating completely alone. A vendetta was a vendetta; one piece of evidence that he had communicated with the Akatsuki since the declaration and his life would be forfeit.

Without access to Karin, it had been fiendishly difficult to set up clandestine communications. He could not even trust the Stellar Exchange because, somehow, Shikamaru had known that a message had been sent to the Akatsuki from Tarrasade.
He had resorted to using tapes and a random choice from the many courier services available. It was slow but outside the data streams.
The sooner he could get rid of Shikamaru the better.

Which was why he was the guest of honour and after dinner speaker on a luxury liner.

He checked his appearance. His image nodded in satisfaction. It was the perfect balance of wealth and sophistication with just enough spacer to remind people that he was the Izuna Uchiha.
Ino was waiting for him in the inner receiving room of the suite. As instructed, she looked incredible. In the room beyond was Sumaru. He was dressed in the most formal version of the Uchiha uniform; rarely worn since Sasuke Uchiha had become clan leader. His tags matched Madara’s earrings. Madara was not taking any chances; not even on a luxury liner without any spacers on the passenger list and crew members who were forbidden to challenge.

They walked through the outer room that was serving as an office. Sakura was at her desk. Her smile was a little forced. Madara suspected she resented Ino being promoted to escort for the trip.
Ino was the logical choice; she was more beautiful. Also, Madara would find having Sakura on his arm distracting. In a moment of weakness he might reveal the attraction he felt for her.
As he continually had to remind himself, Izuna Uchiha was only interested in men.

It was their first formal reception. Madara spotted his contact immediately; ageless, biosculpted to the Centralite idea of perfection and with the Central Civil Service pin in his lapel.
Madara resolved to ignore him, at least for now. He was aboard for two days; there was no rush.

Next was the banquet, followed by his slot as after dinner speaker. Madara enjoyed having so many rich and powerful people hanging on his every word.
He was less taken by having to be charming to them afterwards.

Then, unexpectedly, he was entering a small side lounge with a single occupant; the Centralite.
“Go and mingle,” he instructed Ino. “Wait for me outside the door,” he ordered Sumaru.
Sumaru did not hesitate, which was convenient but perhaps a little concerning given his role as bodyguard.
The door closed between them.

The Centralite stood. “Izuna Uchiha? I am Ector Bettencourt. I am here as a representative of the Central Civil Service.”
Madara found his direct manner rude but told himself that he was no judge of Centralite manners. “Bettencourt-san,” he acknowledged. He decided to take a seat.
Bettencourt sat opposite him but said nothing; Madara had no choice but to begin.
“I have some information that I believe will be of interest to Centre.”
“Firsthand accounts of life a thousand standards ago are always interesting. I assure you that we are collecting everything you say most assiduously.”
Was that a compliment or a threat? “Something else,” Madara specified.
Bettencourt managed not to sneer. “It is unlikely that you have any other information that we would categorise as interesting.”
“Not even the location of a typed-seven genius?” Madara countered.
There was a hairbreadth of hesitation before Bettencourt replied. “In our experience, non-Centralites rarely use typed-genius definitions correctly.”
Madara shrugged. “I shall give you a name. You will make of it what you will. While he was alive, Klennethon Darrent protected this individual’s identity.”
“The name Klennethon Darrent is familiar to us,” Bettencourt acknowledged. “What is the price of this information?”
He might have reacted differently if the offer had been more seemly but he was too proud to ask for credit. “There is no price. It is Shikamaru, who is sworn to Uchiha.”
“Sasuke Uchiha’s advisor,” Bettencourt checked.
“Yes.”
“I understand,” Bettencourt replied.
Madara ignored the tendrils of doubt that simple response engendered.
Bettencourt stood. “Thank you for the information. I shall relay it to someone who can give it the consideration it deserves. It has been interesting meeting you, Izuna Uchiha.”
Madara stood. “Likewise, Bettencourt-san.”

Sasuke had forgotten what Naruto could be like when he started buying presents. Tamaki, the young woman who had helped them shop in the past, now worked for Naruto’s charity Jizenkai. However Dengaku, the manager, had become expert at selecting young women with exactly the warm, welcoming, helpful manner that Naruto appreciated.
The three accompanying them excelled in making Naruto feel comfortable about spending eye-watering amounts of credit.

Luckily Haku was also with them or Sasuke would have had to ask Shikamaru for funds to settle his Hunundau account at the end of the div. Haku was doing an excellent job of making sure Naruto chose one of each item rather than being persuaded to take one of each colour or one in each size.
Then they visited the kimono department and even Haku’s common sense vanished.
“We have a new buyer, Haku-san,” Dengaku pointed out. “He has exquisite taste.”
“I like that one,” Naruto declared, pointing at a kimono that was more a work of art than a garment.
Sasuke imagined the cost and could not completely suppress a tiny whimper. Perhaps Haku would not like it, or it would not suit him.

A few minutes later both those possibilities had vaporised. Sasuke took a deep breath. He would just have to ask Shikamaru and then pay him back.
“Please add the cost of the kimono to my account, Dengaku-san, along with all the other items that we have picked out.”
Dengaku’s smile suggested relief and his bow was a little lower than Sasuke would have expected.

“What was up with Dengaku-san?” Sasuke asked Haku once they were in the shuttle with their purchases.
Haku’s lips thinned. “Izuna-sama never pays for anything. He has become known for it. At first the shops and suppliers were pleased that the great Izuna Uchiha was a client, but now they dread him approaching them.” He laid a hand on the box in his lap. “Are you sure about the kimono, Sasuke-sama? Was it very costly?”
Sasuke concentrated on how much Haku did for each and every member of Uchiha. “I refused to imagine it belonging to anyone else, Haku-san. It has found its home with you.”

Once they had docked, Sasuke headed for his office but stopped at the door before. He pushed the announcer and waited; Shikamaru often took some time to answer if he was there alone.
He was on the edge of giving up when the door slid open, revealing Shikamaru at his desk but no sign of Neji.
“Finished shopping?” Shikamaru asked.
“Finally,” Sasuke replied. “Shika-san...”
“I’ve moved things about so the domestic account can take the hit,” Shikamaru assured him. “You should have worked out by now that Na-chan spends ten times as much if you are with him.”

Sasuke had not made the connection. Maybe Naruto thought Sasuke would call a halt if he was spending too much.
“When he’s on his own he worries about what you would say. When you are there you give him positive feedback so he keeps going,” Shikamaru explained.
“He likes buying presents for people,” Sasuke replied, defensively.
“That bad? Should I move some more funds?”
“One of the top of the line kimonos,” Sasuke admitted. “Everything else was insignificant in comparison.”
“Has he realised that the store has an ‘intimate toys’ section yet?” Shikamaru asked.
Sasuke paled at the thought of it. “No. At least I don’t think so.”
“C-san told Haku and Haku told me. You have to ask. It’s very discreet but remarkably comprehensive.” He spun his chair about and activated one of the projectors. “Do you want to see what they’ve got?”
“No,” Sasuke stated firmly. He decided to change the subject. “Apparently Izuna never pays for anything.”
Shikamaru shook his head. “It isn’t like he hasn’t the funds.” He sighed. “The man is such a crushing disappointment.”

Sasuke knew that he should disapprove of Shikamaru displaying his lack of respect. Of all people, Shika was the one most likely to step over the line and attract Izuna’s ire. On the other hand, what he had said was so true. The great Izuna Uchiha, their hero, was so unrelentingly selfish. “Shika,” he warned gently.
“I know,” Shikamaru admitted. He shuddered. “Believe me, I know.”

The space liner offered light speed communications whenever, like now, it was in a system with gate that contained a data relay.
Madara only had to speak the words ‘activate’ and ‘news’ for one of the tasteful pictures on the wall of his cabin to change to a display showing media feeds.
“Activate. News. Uchiha,” he ordered.

To his surprise the first images were of Sasuke rather than him. Had there been a significant development in the vendetta? He checked he date and time; the broadcast was only a day old.
“Sources confirm that Sasuke Uchiha arrived in Tarrasade the day before yesterday. A newly registered craft, the Elm, is now docked at the Uchiha compound, showing Uchiha colours. Our experts speculate that it is one of the new style small mother ships with the innovative miniature Mulligan drive.”

Madara’s fury, usually bottled up and buried deep, threatened to break free. He had only told Ino, Sakura and Sumaru about the trip a few days in advance. Even if Sumaru had told Asuma immediately, as Madara had assumed he would, how had Sasuke managed to get to Tarrasade from a system at the end of a five jump string?
They must have a new, much shorter route; yet another example of the advantage that Shikamaru gave Sasuke Uchiha.

He forced himself to concentrate on what the presenter was saying.
“Yesterday Sasuke Uchiha himself was spotted at Uchiha Headquarters and in the Hunundau store. In addition, Naruto-san has visited the Jizenkai offices in Level 1 as well as the Songen hospice and the Cho orphanage in Sublevel C.”
He watched the video clips avidly, but they only showed the fox hybrid.
“We are delighted to announce that the award-winning journalist, Yukie Fujikaze, has arranged an exclusive interview with Sasuke Uchiha, which we will be showing tomorrow. Meanwhile, we welcome the highly respected commentator and writer, Shimon Hijiri, to discuss recent developments involving the Uchiha clan.”

Obviously the man had recovered from the accident the Akatsuki had arranged for him. The image changed to that of a solemn, formally-dressed man. Behind him was a split screen. On the left was an image of a dark-haired spacer that looked like it had been taken from a child’s story book. On the right was a picture of a sad child that Madara at first thought was Haru but had dark eyes.
“Izuna Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha as we first encountered them,” the man began. “One a hero of the past. The other a bereaved child. And as they are now...” The images changed to show two strikingly similar men.
Madara had not realised how much he had come to resemble Izuna; had they really looked so similar? Then his eyes went to the image of Sasuke.
He looked different than Madara remembered: older; less forgiving; more determined.
“Both these men see themselves as leader of the Uchiha clan. Izuna Uchiha founded the clan. Sasuke Uchiha saved it, rebuilding it when it had been all but obliterated.
“So why, you may ask, can’t they share the leadership? Or why, may you ask, is Sasuke Uchiha not willing to step aside into the role of heir out of respect for his illustrious predecessor?
“The answer, I suggest, is that they do not wish to lead Uchiha in the same direction.”

Madara sank down onto the nearest chair. This was different. Usually such programmes did not get past interviewing irrelevant plebs about whom they liked more. Once in a while so-called experts would debate which of them had a better claim to the leadership.
No one had dared speculate in public about who would make the better leader.
The Akatsuki should have killed Shimon Hijiri rather than putting him in a tank.

The man was continuing. Madara shut his eyes, imagining how many hundred thousands of people had already heard his words.
“Sasuke Uchiha is a remarkable man. He actually believes that an individual should be judged on his or her merits. It appears that he will consider anyone: female or male; pureblood or hybrid; irrespective of parentage, not even caring if the individual had parents. He has even welcomed a Scavenger into his household and to his table.
“In contrast, Izuna Uchiha is a traditionalist. Based on what he has said in his interviews and other broadcasts, he believes in a natural order. Men should care for women. Women care for children. Hybrids have been created by humans to serve. I imagine many of you agree with him.
“A clan led by Izuna Uchiha would be like the Uchiha of the past. Given his record, it should be Uchiha at his historic peak: honourable; magnificent; implacable in its pursuit of excellence; a clan of traders turned warriors.
“But a clan led by Sasuke Uchiha is an Uchiha for the future: flexible; innovative; making the most of individuals’ potential; a clan of warriors turned builders.”
The man gave the smallest of smiles. “So which do you favour?” He gestured first to one image and then the other. “A fossil or a promise?”

A fossil? Madara’s fury burst free. He was on his feet and the nearest object, some ornament, had been hurled. The display shattered and shorted in a shower of sparks that left a lingering tang of ozone.
He needed his practice dummy; to strike and to crush.
Sakura appeared in the doorway. He surged towards her; intent on burying his hand in her ridiculous hair, dragging her to bed and fucking her senseless.
Maybe even to tighten his hands around that pale throat and see life fade from those unnatural green eyes.
As he had seen it extinguished in those two pairs of brown eyes; the ones he had hated and the ones he had so loved.

Only, before he could take two steps, she was gone and Death stood in her place. Icy fear stopped him in his tracks, quenching his molten rage.
“May I help, Izuna-sama?” Sumaru asked.
Somehow he knitted together the tattered remnants of his control. “The display exploded,” he lied. “Please call a steward and have it replaced. I shall be going over this evening’s talk in my bedroom.”

He stalked away, through his bedroom and into the shower. Cold water soaked his clothes and hair, dissipating the residual heat of his anger.
He would claim what should have always been his. Then he would show them what a clan of warriors could do.

Sasuke stood motionless as Haku checked him over. He was not nervous because they had everything under control. The interview would be recorded rather than broadcast live. Shikamaru and Neji would supervise the editing process. Yukie Fujikaze understood perfectly that this would lose her status of Uchiha’s first choice interviewer if she stepped out of line.
Haku moved onto Naruto.
“I did not expect Shimon-san to endorse your leadership, Sasuke-sama,” Neji observed.
Sasuke was ambivalent about Shimon Hijiri’s analysis. Had he been accused of abandoning his clan’s traditions? “Was it positive enough to be considered an endorsement?” he queried.
Naruto sniggered. “At least he didn’t call you a fossil.”
That was true; even ‘promise’ was better than ‘fossil’.
“You’ll do, Naruto-san,” Haku declared. “No sitting down until you get to the couch.”

It went well. Yukie Fujikaze pushed hard enough to make it lively but not so hard that they had to keep stopping and starting. Sasuke felt that he had got his points across about the leadership, the vendetta and why he had moved his family out of Tarrasade.
Naruto mentioned his various charities whilst favouring the cameras with smiles that Sasuke knew would do more good than anything either of them could say.

Once recording was complete, the four of them watched the footage before releasing it to the media channel for editing. It would be some time before the final version was returned to them for checking, so Sasuke decided to go to his office and work on his correspondence.

To his surprise, Moegi was outside in the corridor waiting for him.
“Moegi-san,” he acknowledged, gesturing her into the room before him. “How can I help you?”
“Sasuke-sama,” she replied. “I know you are busy but Sumaru has sent me a light-speed vid from the space liner. I didn’t expect him to and I think the information in it is more for you than for me.”
Sasuke was surprised. Sumaru was careful never to overstep the bounds of propriety; any information about Izuna was fed to Asuma during informal conversations.
He guessed that a video to Moegi was the long-distance equivalent.
“May I show it to Shika-san?” he asked.
Moegi relaxed a little and there was a suggestion of a smile. “Certainly. I shall send you a copy.”
“Excellent,” Sasuke acknowledged. “Would you like some tea, Moegi-san?”
“No thank you, Sasuke-sama; I have many tasks awaiting me in the infirmary.”

Sasuke cast about for anything he should say. Then he remembered her weekly report and the information that Shikamaru had been drugged. “Thank you for your weekly reports. I have learned to read them most assiduously.”
Her smile broadened. “You are welcome, Sasuke-sama. I am glad to be of some help.” She turned slightly, hinting that she would like to leave.
Sasuke walked with her to the door. “Will we be seeing Udon-san at the evemeal again today?” he asked. “You know that Naruto and I always enjoy his company.”
Moegi flushed slightly. “Thank you, Sasuke-sama. Yes, he will be there.”

Once Moegi was gone, Sasuke settled at his desk. A copy of the video arrived within minutes; it must have been sent as soon as Moegi reached the infirmary. Sasuke activated the intercom.
“This is Sasuke. Shikamaru-san, if you are available I would like to see you in my office.”

Shikamaru turned up surprisingly quickly; Sasuke guessed that he had caught him en route somewhere. He explained about the video and then they watched it together.
Sasuke could not help smiling. It was so funny to see Sumaru pretending to be sending a ‘wish you were here’ message to Moegi.
“No long-short or other code,” Sasuke observed. “Not that I expected any.”
Shikamaru did not respond, which drew Sasuke’s attention. He was pale and his face was expressionless; an indication that he was off somewhere in his mind.
“Shika?” he queried. It had no effect. “Shika!”
Shikamaru was suddenly back. He claimed Sasuke’s interface. “This bit,” he explained and replayed one section.
“There is even a Centralite here. I know he is one because he has a Civil Service pin in his lapel. He and Izuna-sama spoke but I did not get to hear how he talked or what he said, which was a bit disappointing.”
“There was a private meeting between Izuna-sama and this Centralite,” Shikamaru pointed out. “One where secrecy was so important that Izuna-sama sent Sumaru out of the room.”

Sasuke understood; meeting with the Centralite could have been innocent, but sending Sumaru away meant that it was not.
“There are only two things Uchiha has that Centre would want,” Shikamaru continued.
His gut clenched. Centre was obsessed by typed-geniuses; if they knew of Shikamaru and Haru’s existence they would want them.
For the first time Sasuke wondered if Izuna was unhinged. No one in the Fringe ever did anything to attract Centre’s attention. Spacer folklore was littered with stories of Centre deciding that a group was acting against Centralites’ interests and destroying it. As Centre did not place any value on non-Centralite lives, the solution usually involved sanitising planets or eliminating space stations.
“Sasuke?” Shikamaru whispered.
“I won’t let them take you,” Sasuke insisted.
“Yes you will,” Shikamaru told him. “You must. Anything else would be crazy.” He took a deep breath. “I think Izuna will have only mentioned me. He’s tried to gain control of me and failed so he’s decided to eliminate me. If Centre takes me, I’ll do what Klenn did. I’ll volunteer for the Central Civil Service. I will be back after ten standards.”
“But...”
“If we resist, they will look more deeply. They will find Haru. They might decide that they need to make a show of strength. They could eliminate Tarrasade.”

Shikamaru was right, Sasuke knew that. Ten standards; the children would be grown up; Naruto would be...
He cut off that line of thought.
“You might not survive what they do to you,” he whispered. “Or they might lock you up so tight that you can’t get to a Civil Service recruiting office.”
“Or they might underestimate me,” Shikamaru reminded him. “They will have annoyed me,” he added.

Having Shikamaru annoyed with you was unwise; Sasuke recalled what had happened to the Snuffers. He imagined Centre disintegrating from the inside out because Shikamaru had got into their systems.
On the other hand, Centre might realise, like Pein had, that containing Shikamaru was easy. All you had to do was threaten the people he loved.
Shikamaru would serve the Centralites for the rest of his life if that was the only way of keeping his family safe.
“It’s Centre. Maybe they won’t believe him,” Shikamaru suggested.
Even if it did not seem very likely, it was a consoling thought.
“Maybe we are wrong,” Sasuke suggested. “Maybe that’s not what Izuna said to him.”
“Maybe,” Shikamaru agreed.
Only Sasuke knew that neither of them believed that.

The display screen has been replaced by the time Madara had given his second and final after-dinner speech. He activated it immediately, wanting to watch Yukie Fujikaze’s interview with Sasuke Uchiha as soon as it was available.
“Activate. News. Sasuke Uchiha.”
It came up immediately.
“Show,” he ordered.

It was the usual drivel. Sasuke was sitting on the familiar leather couch with the fox hybrid beside him. The woman asked her inane questions and they gave their insignificant answers.
One thing was interesting; Sasuke’s physique. Even with him seated, there was no missing how much he had changed.
So Sasuke was expecting him to challenge. He had been training for it.

Would Sasuke initiate it? For a moment Madara allowed himself to imagine Sasuke challenging him when he jumped through the gate into the Tarrasade system.
If only; no, Sasuke would be long gone before Madara returned, using the vendetta to distract from his cowardly retreat.

He wondered about Sasuke’s strategy. Was it to stay away from Tarrasade forever? Or was he waiting until Hikaru and Haru were old enough, strong enough and trained enough to threaten to challenge?
How long would that be? Madara could imagine Hikaru being a formidable knife fighter by the time he was twenty.
Six-and-a-half standards; could Sasuke avoid him for that length of time?

Waiting that long made sense. Sasuke would get to spend the next six standards with his family. He would see his younger children into adolescence.
The fox hybrid would probably be dead by then.
If Madara won, which he was sure he would, Hikaru would challenge immediately. Even if Madara won that challenge, Haru could follow up.
Madara was not sure he could win three successive challenges.

No, he would have to force a challenge well before Sasuke’s sons were strong enough to face him.
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Leader