"Arashi Uzumaki," were the words spoken from the unnatural darkness. "Arashi Uzumaki," the words rumbled out again, spoken by a guttural, powerful voice.

"I have come, Kyubi-san," came a softer voice, firm and powerful by the standards of men, but nothing next to the voice of a god.

"Arashi Uzumaki, you have come to beg me for something…" the voice said, sounding intrigued and amused at the presence of the human creature before him.

"Tell me again, old Alp, why is it that you take what is not yours?" Arashi Uzumaki asked. The tall blond man stood, awaiting a reply.

A silhouette formed in the shadows writhing from a large form into a smaller form, until it ceased and a figure, shorter than Arashi, emerged from the deep of the shadows. His skin was gray and ashen, and his eyes were strange, blue instead of white, with pupils that were red and shined like gold. His hair seemed black one moment and red the next. His form were boyish, graceful, and yet seemingly adult like. His grin bore both mischief and malice in it. He came forward then to the man who stood fearlessly before him.

"What isn't mine?" Kyubi asked, acting sincerely ignorant.

"You've demanded of me my services, and I've owed you that, but not my home. I will not give up my family to you. And I will not give up Konoha to you," said Arashi, staring firmly into eyes of the god before him.

Kyubi stared back into him and then answered, "Demanded? Why, I've only ever asked of you reparation for favors. I gave you power and you became their defender, and when they defy me by bringing forth such wretches as that traitor you called a teacher…"

"Orochimaru is not one of us. He has betrayed us and is not welcome to any of us save those who would cut his throat gladly," Arashi interrupted. "I gained power from you, yes, but never with contract, and you chose to give me powers without limits or any agreement. You chose to give me power that could not be taken away and with no contract. That was not a betrayal on my part, for I never asked for that power. I only used it fitly. And it was unwise if you expected something out of me," he said.

"I don't care if he is not one of you! Orochimaru has insulted me and my raw power to often, and your defiance of me… how dare you turn your back on all I've done for you!" the god said angrily.

"I will pay for my mistakes," Arashi answered, closing his blue eyes to shield them from the occasional dust devils in the cave.

"And your son will pay with you!" the god roared. His eyes narrowed, now more beastlike than human. He saw a glint of fear in Arashi's eyes and remembered why he'd helped him in the first place. "I can not sate Kamikaze's anger. Even if I cared to forgive your defiance of a god, he would not. I'll do what I can for your boy, my friend, but…" he said looking into the eyes of the man, "for you I can do nothing. By the end of the coming storm, you will die. And when that happens, I will hunt down and kill Orochimaru for his insult. But if you stand, even if you die, you might win the safety of all you love," he said.

"Then I will see you at the gates, old friend," Arashi answered. He bravely turned his back at the old demon god and left the presence of Kyubi. It would be his last peaceful altercation with the creature.

Arashi's eyes opened, and the trance ended. The world around him returned, and there stood before him three faces he was always glad to see.

"What is it that you've seen, Hokage-sama," the older man's voice asked Arashi.

"We must prepare for battle. Kyubi's wrath cannot be sated and we must fight him when he comes to the gates of Konoha. Prepare all the warriors, the Sanin, the Jonin, the Chunin, even the Genin, and the ANBU for battle. Tell the Daimyo to gather all of his Samurai and soldiers," Arashi said to the older man and the other two.

"We will make the preparations for war then," answered the second of the three, a man much older with a stiffer voice. He was arrayed in armor and black battle garb.

"No, I will do that. I need you all to prepare and ready the Death Seal," he said. The air of disbelief around him was strong. "I will perform the jutsu, but I do not know the seal as you three do. I need it readied for battle."

"My lord, if you do that," the third voice, that of an older woman in green healer's robes, said, "you'll die."

"And who will the demon be sealed within?" came the second voice. "You know what you are saying, right? That we trap the demon within a child."

"Yes, I know. Go to my home a take my son. He will be the one to bear this burden when I am gone," Arashi said. "Do as I've asked you, Sarutobi, and I will prepare the troops for battle."

The old man, the second voice, nodded and left the room, but the other two delayed. The old man that remained only nodded, giving a grim face. His stature always enhanced upon that, and his battle garb, his armor, and his red robes made him always a menacing figure when he looked stern.

"Thank you for your help, Jiraiya-Sensei," Arashi said to the old man. He nodded and expected them to leave and aid Sarutobi in his task. Jiraiya did leave, but the woman remained.

"Is their no way I can convince you otherwise," she asked, her voice wavering.

"I am sorry; Tsunade-Sensei, but I have made my choice," Arashi said to her.

"Do not go," she begged him. "I cannot bear to lose you," she said.

"I must. It is my place as the Hokage. I will go and do as I must," he said. "You have always been there for me, and I consider you the closest of friends, Tsunade-Sensei, but be my friend now and do not dissuade me."

"Dan and Nawaki died for those foolish reasons," she said, tears erupting from her eyes as she begged him. "Don't make your life short for such an idea."

"Did they die in vain," he asked her. She was stunned by how coldly he could say it, with his eyes so narrow and his voice so stern. He seemed like a statue. "I'm sorry, but please do as I've ordered."

"Very well, Hokage-Sama," she said. She'd never called him that. It had always been Arashi-kun, "I will do as you command. But if you do not return from this battle, I will leave this village forever. It has taken everything from me."

Arashi watched as she stepped out of the room. A few tears were streaking down the sides of his face. It wasn't the first time he'd come to understand the cost of battle, but now he was afraid to die. He didn't want her to go. He didn't want her to leave the village, but he knew that Kyubi couldn't be defeated any other way.

… … …

"Are you truly ready for this, young one," the thundering voice bade.

"Gladly," Arashi answered to the god. "Gamabunta, I would gladly give my life for these people."

"Very well, then I shall aid you one last time," Gamabunta, the frog god, answered.

"And can you do for me one more favor," Arashi asked.

"Yes… what is it?" Gamabunta asked, expelling a large amount of smoke from his pipe.

"My son will need guidance. Sarutobi and Jiraiya will see to that, but when my son goes to battle as a ninja, should he become one, I want him to fight at your side as I did," Arashi said. The great toad lowered his head so that Arashi didn't waste energy jumping on.

"Very well. If he's worthy, then I shall do this for you. And remember, always, that he will be under my guidance. I'm sorry we couldn't share one last drink though," the old Toad said.

"Jiraiya will drink with you in my stead then. And I will die at your side, old teacher," he said in reply.

Gamabunta rose up then and moved forward. The ninja were already met in battle with Kyubi.

He saw the position of the Death Seal and readied himself for the end. Rain came that moment, and he felt the wind. It was unnatural. It was beautiful. He could hear the elder song and the breath of life around him. He knew his fate now.

On that night, those years long past, he died.