Yet Another Deviation.

(MC POV, Konoha – Hokage Office)

Now that the snake was gone, I had to keep watch over some of his experiments. Most important among them were the cursed seal bearers, the last remaining ones being Sasuke Uchiha and Anko Mitarashi… or so I thought.

Name: Anko Mitarashi

Occupation: Jonin

Status: Deceased

That got me to raise an eyebrow as I looked over the relevant information regarding her death.

"Led one of the primary teams into pushing inside Iwa and her unit was later isolated from the main battle group and eliminated… huh. Whoops… though it is not as if I really needed her though. Still better to be safe than sorry." – I said as I pushed the folder to the front of my desk, my body being grown enough that I didn't need to throw them anymore.

"Confirm it." – I ordered as an anbu appeared and took the folder while bowing.

It wasn't a second later that he disappeared from my sight.

Seems that I have to look out even for that pair of idiots. Who knows they might really lose their heads prematurely as a side effect of my planned 'adjustments' to this world.

(A/N: Surprised that I haven't read a fanfiction where a character dies without mc interacting with them. Though then again most chapters come out of mc interacting with them.)

As I contemplated on the possible side effects of my machinations up till this moment a knock could be heard at the door.

"Come in." – I said as I pulled with my hand, opening the door while managing not to take it off its hinges.

As I scanned the room I could see the anbu had once again shifted their positions in preparation, learning from (my) past mistakes. As I looked at the door, Yamato together with team 7 and team 3.

"Hokage-sama, we have returned from Suna and completed the mission successfully." – Yamato reported as they all looked at me seriously… barring Naruto who gave me a thumbs-up, followed immediately by him regretting it instantly.

*BANG*

Isn't it a little too soon for them to have dealt with the Akatsuki and that whole scenario.

"So, how did it go?" – I asked as I leaned back, readying myself to listen to something I already knew.

"Except for some interference from shinobi with unknown affiliations, we suffered no further interruptions. We encountered team 3 who was returning from a mission while clashing with mentioned shinobi and I decided it would be safer to have them back us up for the duration of our mission, especially given its importance." – Yamato explained…

Ah… fuck. Here we go again. Another deviation… it's especially bad considering that I still plan to change some more things in the foreseeable future.

As I nodded and leaned further back trying to think about what to do with this situation, another person entered the office. It was Hinata.

As Hinata made her way in, she stopped and looked at the individuals gathered inside who looked back at her inquisitively. She was holding a bag, like almost every day, but with all the eyes staring at her, she shyly moved the bag behind her back as she turned to me.

"Kei… did I come at a bad time?" – She asked as her face reddened up a little bit.

As she asked, the heads immediately focused on me.

This would be much more interesting and maybe drama-focused if Naruto actually had a clue… but oh well.

I got up from the table and made my way to Hinata.

"Don't worry, I always have time for you." – I said as I grabbed her by the waist and sat her on my seat.

"You eat first, I still have something to take care of." – I said smiling brightly as Hinata was blushing heavily and could only respond with a small nod.

Turning to look at the shinobi, I was met with saucer wide eyes… for the most part.

Naruto looked at the others weirdly, as if this was completely normal.

Guy was crying waterfalls while mumbling about YOUTH a little too loudly.

Lee was looking at his teacher and at us while trying to uncover what part about this was related to YOUTH.

Sai was keeping notes on a little book.

As Hinata timidly opened her lunch box on the table, she raised her head to look at the others, being immediately taken back by all the wide-eyed stares being directed at her and lowering her head immediately afterward. Not daring to start eating food she simply stood there waiting.

As I looked at them I made my way from her side to the front of the table, my frame completely blocking their view of her.

As their eyes moved up to meet mine they suddenly trembled. My Mangekyou stared straight at them as I raised my hand and suddenly brought it down.

A pressure descended on all of them as they were forced to fall to their knees, with the exception being Guy and Lee. I couldn't exactly increase the pressure enough for them without breaking the others, though it was enough to get my point across.

I felt a small tug behind me as I turned my head only to smile at Hinata as she smiled back brightly, having heard the noise but unaware of what had actually happened.

As I was about to continue and let them leave, a messenger barged inside the office, taken slightly aback at the kneeling shinobi.

'Now it's about to get interesting.' – I thought as I mentioned for him to come forward while lifting the pressure from the others in the room.

He stepped forward and kneeled on one knee before he reported.

"Hokage-sama, the Kazekage has been kidnapped. One S-Class shinobi and two unidentified others have been reported to have been the culprits by our field agents." – The messenger, likely sent by the anbu I had in waiting nearby Suna, reported urgently.

"…Three?" - I asked back sighing.