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Leader	By : mannahpierce Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 2164 -:- 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
- 88
- 89
- 90
Thank you to my beta and muse, Small Fox. This story grew from a plot idea he gave me.
Also thanks to Bree, esquisitpet, melissen, satterb, yukinauchiha, sadie237 and Laforet for reviewing after chapter 88 was posted.
Readers’ feedback, support and comments mean a great deal to me. At the moment writing is very difficult so every review or email is particularly precious.

Leader
Part 10: Endgame
89: Proposals

Sasuke stared at the tiny box bearing the seal of the Central Civil Service. Naruto had placed it on the table when he had entered; after he had escorted Bettencourt to the shuttle bay.
“Do we know what’s in it?” Iruka asked.
“A message tape,” Naruto told them. “For Izuna Uchiha. He asked us to deliver it.”
Shikamaru had that far away look that meant he was thinking even more deeply than usual.
“Why ask us?” Kakashi questioned. “Why not use a courier? Or send a light speed message via the Stellar Exchange?”
“Bettencourt-san wishes us to know it has been sent,” Neji replied.
“It will be a threat,” Shikamaru announced. “It will be worded very politely but it will tell him to leave me alone.”

There was a silence that Iruka finally broke.
“What did Bettencourt-san say to you, Shika-kun?” he asked gently.
Shikamaru’s gaze was still very far away. He shook his head. “I am not free to say,” he replied. He briefly made eye contact with Sasuke, promising more when they were alone.
“How can we take advantage of it?” Sasuke asked.
“Threatening an Uchiha never works,” Kakashi pointed out. “It implies that they can be intimidated and they hate that. They come out fighting, even more determined to achieve what they set out to do.”
Sasuke guessed that was true.
“What are his weaknesses?” Neji asked. “Does he have vulnerabilities we can exploit?”
“He likes being pampered,” Iruka replied. “That’s how Haku handled him.”
“He wants to be treated with respect,” Kakashi added. “He believes that it is his right.”
“He is conceited,” Neji contributed.
Sasuke stiffened. He could not help it. Despite everything that had happened, Izuna was Izuna Uchiha and it did not feel right to criticise him.
“He is greedy,” Shikamaru added. “I’ll never forget how his eyes lit up when I offered him those petacredits.”

That reminded Sasuke of what had happened next; Izuna had drugged Shika and tried to rape him. This was not his boyhood hero; Izuna had endangered his family again and again. His eyes went to Naruto, who had said nothing since telling them what the box contained. “Naruto?”
Naruto’s whiskers twitched. “What does he want?”
From experience, Sasuke knew that Naruto’s straightforward questions often got to the heart of the matter. “To be clan leader,” he replied.
“Does the clan have to be new Uchiha?” Naruto queried.

Madara settled at his desk. Kimimaro waited the usual interval, Madara suspected he timed it, and then appeared in the doorway.
“Tea, Uchiha-sama?”
He still missed Sakura, even though thinking about her made him angry. Sakura would have known just from looking at him that he wanted coffee rather than tea. “Coffee please, Kimimaro-san.”
He had asked an agency to find a replacement but neither of the women who had made it as far as a trial had been suitable. Even if they had been, Madara did not know if he could bring himself to trust them.

He was sipping his coffee and reviewing his diary when he heard the distant tone of the outer door announcer. Kimimaro answered it and then was in his office, despite having not asked permission to enter.
“It is a group of Uchiha crew members, Uchiha-sama.”
That explained Kimimaro’s agitation.
“The one who was Itachi Uchiha is among them,” Kimimaro added. “Also the Uchiha queen, Haku.”
“Any hybrids?” Madara asked. He could not imagine Itachi and Haku out and about without Kisame.
“The sharkman,” Kimimaro confirmed.
“Calm down, Kimimaro-san. I need you at my side doing your job, not thinking about how you could fight the sharkman.”
“I could beat him, Uchiha-sama.”
“I am sure you could.” Madara doubted it. From what he understood only Naruto had defeated Kisame and that was because Kisame had thrown the fight. “However this is not the time and the place.”
Kimimaro calmed himself. “Shall I send them away?”

Madara considered. Three different security experts had assured him that there were no bugs in his apartment or office. Although he had no doubt that Shikamaru could design undetectable bugs, he had decided that Haku had sent him his things because it was the right thing to do rather than for any ulterior motive.
“Find out what they want,” he decided.

It was a few minutes. Madara hoped that Kimimaro would not have a meltdown and challenge Kisame or, worse, just attack him. Then, thankfully, Kimimaro reappeared.
“They have two messages for you, Uchiha-sama, and would like to wait to see if you have a reply.”
Madara considered. “Accept the messages and tell them they can wait to see if I wish to reply.” He could always keep them waiting and then send them away empty-handed. “They can wait in the outer receiving room. I want you in your office.” It was important to have Kimimaro where he could keep an eye on him.

The messages were on tapes. One was sealed with Sasuke Uchiha’s personal seal, rather than the clan leader’s seal.
The other was boxed, like message tapes always had been when he was young. It was also sealed but he did not recognise the impression. He looked more closely and his heart speeded up. It was Centre.

He broke the less familiar seal, tipped out the tape and put it into the player. An image of Ector Bettencourt appeared.
“This is a message to Izuna Uchiha from Ector Bettencourt speaking on behalf of the Central Civil Service and the Institute of Psychology on Centre 1.”
The image smiled.
“I thought that I would update you, Izuna-sama. Thank you for bringing Shikamaru to our notice. We are very grateful. After reviewing the case we have decided that Shikamaru should remain with his family.”
Madara was struggling to take it in. His ploy both had and had not worked. He had succeeded in focusing Centre’s attention on Shikamaru only for them to decide not to take him.
“Shikamaru is a unique individual. To Centre, his welfare is of paramount importance. We are content that his welfare is best served by being where he is, surrounded by his crew and his family.” The smile vanished. “We would not look kindly on any attempt to take him from his family or to disrupt that family.” The smile returned. “I am sure that we can rely on you to act in the best interests of the Uchiha clan.”
The image vanished to be replaced by the Central Civil Service crest and anthem, confirming that it was an official communication.

Madara stared at the display. It was a threat. Centre was threatening him. He went to the side and poured himself a whisky. He told himself that his hand was shaking with anger rather than fear.
If they decided to snuff him out he would be gone. Everyone knew that Centre’s fringe agents made even the Sisterhood look like amateurs.

He pulled himself together. The two messages had to be connected; otherwise they would have been delivered separately. He went back to his desk and replaced the tape in the player with the one from Sasuke.
Sasuke was sitting at his desk but there were few of the trapping of a clan leader on display. On close inspection he was wearing his rings but there had been no attempt to ensure that they would be seen.
He looked even more like Izuna than usual.
“You are Izuna Uchiha. This is the clan you founded. We honour you for what you achieved. However this is now my clan to lead. I have dedicated my life to fulfilling that role. Those sworn to Uchiha expect and want me to lead them.
“There is still a place for you in this clan. A position where your experience is valued. A life as Izuna Uchiha, legend and hero. Or perhaps you wish to start again; well-funded and far away. The second message on this tape expands on that possibility.
“All I would require is you word not to claim or challenge for the leadership and a promise not to work against my and new Uchiha’s interests.
“Please consider this a basis for future discussion.”

Madara stopped the tape and drained the last of his whisky. The juxtaposition of the threat and the invitation was clever. So was the choice of messengers; he missed Haku almost as much as he missed Sakura and Itachi was living proof that Sasuke Uchiha believed in redemption.
Izuna would have happily settled into the role of wise uncle. Madara could imagine him burbling on about how wonderful it was to see what had grown from the seeds he had planted so long ago.
That was the problem. They had been Izuna’s seeds; it was Izuna’s harvest.

Even if he became leader it would not be as himself. It would be as Izuna. Only he would know his true identity. He would add to Izuna’s reputation, not to that of Madara Uchiha.
Maybe the idea of going away, starting again, was worth considering.
He restarted the tape.

The proposal was ridiculously generous: an unpopulated system with three planets, one of them habitable, ships, two gates, a space station, top-rated anti-ageing technology and an eye-watering amount of credit to launch a new clan.
It included none of the things that gave new Uchiha its advantage: no route finder, no minigates, no improvers. On the other hand, no one in that sector of the Far Fringe had half the technology he would be taking with him.

He could be Madara Uchiha. He could found his own clan. All he had to do was let go of his claim on this one.
And leave Tarrasade; the space station he had designed and built. He would never see his home again.

He called Kimimaro, intending to tell him to relay a message to Haku. Then, at the last moment, he changed his mind.
“Ask Haku-san if he would join me in my office.”

Haku was wearing a kimono rather than his uniform. Madara knew it was another attempt to manipulate him but could not help but appreciate it.
“Allow me the honour of making you tea, Izuna-sama,” Haku requested respectfully.
“That would be most appreciated, Haku-san. Thank you,” he replied.

It reminded Madara of how much better his day-to-day life had been when he was living in the Uchiha household.
If he took the offer, he would no longer have to worry about what the media would think and the questions they might ask. He could go to one of the geisha schools and buy the contracts of his pick of perfectly trained young ladies.

He sipped his tea. It was perfect, unlike Kimimaro’s attempts.
“Do you know the contents of Sasuke-sama’s message?” he asked.
“A little of it, Izuna-sama,” Haku admitted. “Sasuke-sama has come to accept that you are in your prime; a man of action, a leader. Such a man cannot sit in another man’s household playing the role of an elderly relative. He also regretfully accepts that his beliefs and aims do not overlap with yours sufficiently to permit close cooperation. This is his solution; an attempt to give you back what you lost.”
“How will Uchiha afford it?” He was interested in whether Haku had been told to answer such questions or to pretend that he did not know.
“We will give up the plan of developing the third string of systems for now,” Haku explained. “Two of the gates we had ordered will go to you and the third will be sold to fund your venture.”

It was a significant sacrifice. Sasuke was determined to be more than fair.
There would be no more pretending to be Izuna, no more fucking males because he did not dare act on his attraction to women, no more Kurotsuchi and her equally unappetising minions, a flying start for a clan that would be undisputedly his to lead, no looking over his shoulder for the fringe agents of the Central Civil Service.
It was more than tempting.

Sasuke was waiting in his office for Haku to return from visiting Izuna. Much longer and he would start worrying that something had gone wrong.
Including Kisame had been a risk but it was unthinkable to send Haku without him.

They had debated how to take advantage of Bettencourt threatening Izuna for over a day. Sasuke kept coming back to what Naruto had said. Izuna did not want to lead the present-day Uchiha; he hated almost everything that new Uchiha stood for. He wanted his Uchiha back; the one that had existed a thousand standards ago.
The massive bribe had been Neji’s idea. Shikamaru was immediately in favour. Kakashi hated it but agreed it could work. Iruka and Naruto were willing to try anything short of murder that would get rid of Izuna permanently; sending him to the other side of known space would do.
It had been Sasuke’s job to dress it up in a way that would make it more attractive.

Once they were home... Sasuke smiled, remembering how Tsuneo had charged across the docking bay, not to Naruto or to him but to Shikamaru. That night, putting the triplets to bed, Sasuke had sat on the edge of Tsuneo’s bed.
“I told Ta-chan and Te-chan that you wouldn’t let Centre take Shi-chan away,” Tsu-chan had told him.
Sasuke had smoothed the bright blond hair and looked into those trusting blue eyes. There were problems that Papas could not solve but they would talk about that at another time. “You would miss him,” he had said instead.
“He’s magic,” Tsuneo had confided. “He has lots of different worlds in his head.”
It was a fair assessment of Shikamaru’s abilities; Sasuke had been impressed by his son’s insight.
“When I grow up, I am going to look after him,” Tsuneo had added. “Like you look after To-chan.”
Sasuke had smiled and kissed his son’s forehead. “Sleep well, Tsu-chan. Sweet dreams.”
Tsuneo had curled up around his plushie and shut his eyes. “Goodnight Papa.”

Sasuke pulled his thoughts back to the matter in hand. Haku and Itachi had gone over the offer, using their knowledge of Izuna to tweak the detail. Then Sasuke had made the tape; it had taken three attempts before Neji had been satisfied.
Haku had insisted on taking the message himself.

There was a click and then Haku’s voice. “This is Haku.
Sasuke stabbed the intercom button. “This is Sasuke. Haku-san, please will you join me in my office.”

Haku was dressed for the household rather than for out and about. Sasuke told himself it had been fine; Itachi and Kisame had been with him.
Not that Haku was incapable of defending himself.
“Tea, Haku-san?” he asked, gesturing towards the comfortable chairs.
I am fine, Sasuke-sama,” Haku assured him, choosing to bring a chair up to his desk instead.
“How did it go?”
“He did not give us a response, but he liked the offer,” Haku replied. “He certainly was not offended by it. I was not there when he viewed either tape but judging from the fact he had been drinking whisky, I think Bettencourt-san’s tape scared him.” He considered. “He does not look as well cared for or as content as when he lived here.”
“Did he give any indication of wanting to talk to me?”
“His precise words were, ‘Please relay to Sasuke-sama that I am considering what he has proposed.’ In my opinion, he finds the offer very attractive.”
Sasuke nodded. It was as good a response as he could have hoped for.

Madara was considering his options. Ideally he would like to leave with a fanfare; Izuna Uchiha going out to the frontier of known space to found another great clan. However, going out with a fanfare meant dealing with Kurotsuchi.
There was no way he was taking the woman with him.

Kimimaro appeared in the doorway.
“Kurotsuchi-san is here, Uchiha-sama.”
Madara sighed. Even thinking about extracting himself from the woman’s clutches was enough to make her appear.
He wished he had the option of turning her away when she arrived without an appointment.
“Please show her in, Kimimaro-san.”

She obviously knew about Haku’s visit, he could tell from the way she was looking at him.
“Thank you, Kimimaro-san.” He waited until Kimimaro had left and closed the door behind him. “How may I help you, Kurotsuchi-san?” he began, hoping to distract her by being unusually pleasant.
It worked; she smiled. He suppressed a shudder.
“We need a game changing move, Uchiha-sama,” she told him.
They did and he had one; Sasuke Uchiha’s offer.
“One of our people had come to me. He has a canine-specific virus that affects canine hybrids.”

Madara froze. If he could get rid of the fox hybrids, he could challenge for the leadership. If Sasuke had lost his beloved and his hybrid sons, he might be grief-stricken enough to be an easy target.
On the other hand, Centre would definitely consider killing all the canine hybrid members of the crew as disrupting Shikamaru’s family.
“How specific and how lethal?” he asked.
“It does not infect purebreds,” Kurotsuchi assured him. “Ninety percent of the canine hybrids infected die including all of those with the level of canine gene expression displayed by the canine hybrids in Sasuke Uchiha’s household. We have tested it.” She smiled. “The results were most satisfactory.”
Madara suspected it might not prove to be that simple. Merely a few moments’ thought threw up possible problems. The first that came to mind was that the canine-human hybrids in Uchiha had high-quality nanobots.
“Sasuke Uchiha sent his representatives to you,” Kurotsuchi stated.
He nodded, hoping that it was one of the guards who kept Kurotsuchi informed and not Kimimaro.
“If he wants to negotiate, you could introduce the virus into the Uchiha household. Doing that was a problem for us. If they suspected a canine-specific infection, they could close down the household and get the canine hybrids away on a ship.”
“You intend to start an epidemic?” Madara checked.
“That is the plan but we will have to help it along. The density of canine hybrids is too low and unfortunately it has proved impossible to develop a strain that purebreds carry. We can manufacture virus that will be virulent for about one hundred minutes after release into the air. If we release it at enough different points that should be enough.”

Madara nodded and then stood up, giving her no choice but to do likewise. “That is excellent work, Kurotsuchi-san,” he told her. “I am impressed. As you say, timing is all. It is essential that we do not show our hand too early and miss the fox hybrids. I shall keep you closely informed as to when I can expect to be invited into the Uchiha household.” He smiled. “I do wish I could ask you to stay longer, but I have another commitment.”
Kurotsuchi’s face moved in way that suggested that she did not know if she should be annoyed that he was hustling her out the door or happy that he had praised her. In the end, she settled on a vaguely pleased expression and obedience. “I understand, Uchiha-sama. Until our next meeting.”
“Until our next meeting, Kurotsuchi-san.”

Once she had gone, he settled at his desk. When he had woken that morning, Madara had still intended to declare himself clan leader and accuse Sasuke of being a usurper. There had been two major obstacles to success; Sasuke had more resources and he had Shikamaru. Madara had spent the last standard acquiring resources while waiting for Centre to take Shikamaru.
Bettencourt’s message made it clear that Centre had decided to leave Shikamaru where he was. Worse, they had warned him away.

However, now there were other options; ones based on Sasuke’s offer and Kurotsuchi’s plan.
He needed to think. He pressed the button that activated the intercom to Kimimaro’s office. “We are going out, Kimimaro-san.”

This was his new favourite place; the lower viewing deck of Prime. His usual seat was available; if it had not been, a single look from Kimimaro would have made it so. He settled onto the upholstered bench and studied the view.
Others came here to admire the stars but he came to look at Tarrasade; his greatest achievement.
Not that anyone remembered it that way. History said that the Uchiha clan helped found Tarrasade, not that Madara Uchiha had designed it. There was no mention that the ambitious multistage plan had been his.
Could he let it go? Could he start again?
What did he do about Kurotsuchi?

Then, as he sat there, the solution occurred to him. Kurotsuchi had given him a way out. He could go public, saying that bioweapons were dishonourable. She and her followers would be hunted down and killed. Centre would be appeased. He would be a hero.
He could leave with his fanfare; a glorious expedition rather than a messy dispute or, worse, seeing Centralite fringe agents in every shadow.
It would be a triumph.
- 88
- 89
- 90
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Leader