The Shadow

Disclaimer: Any references to HP or Naruto are purely for enjoyment. There is no profit from it.

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"Bijuu/Boss summon speech"

"Human speech"

:Silent speech-- morse code, sign language, etc:

Thoughts

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Chapter 1

The moon was high in the air. It was a full moon and there was not a cloud in the sky. It would have been an ideal night for star gazing had it not been for the bestial roar that rent the air.

"Meat bags! Not worth the air you breathe!" That was the roar of the huge enraged kitsune that was ravaging the land on Konoha's doorstep.

The shinobi of Konoha fought to stop it advancing any further, but did so in vain. The rest of the civilians had been evacuated in the opposite direction in which the beast was coming from and those that were not were either dead of going to be dead. The fox was not inside the village but the tremors created destroyed buildings and trapped people in them and the terrible chakra emitted was poisoning civilians unused to the amounts of chakra invading their bodies.

Trying to stop the animal was like trying to stop a force of nature- how do you stop waves on a beach, how do you stop the earth from crumbling in an earthquake. With a swing of its tail and a stomp of its leg trees several centuries old were demolished and lakes drained. The chakra techniques employed were absorbed into the pulsating hide of the beast and tendrils of chakra whipped out striking at any close enough who dared to use such techniques on it. This was not to mention the mind-numbing, shock inducing killer intent that was generated by the fox.

The clans all tried to use their bloodlines in attempts to delay the Kyuubi's advance. The Yamanaka flung their minds at it to try to over power the mind of the beast and turn it away but the mad animalistic thought processes were too alien to comprehend and drove them mad. Those with dojutsu activated at the beast were affected by the chakra and resulted in destroyed blood vessels of the eyes and ruptured chakra pathways to the brain killing the clan members. The bugs of the Aburame clan and the dogs of the Inuzuka clan turned on their masters driven crazy by the malignant chakra emitted from the fox. Indeed those without kekkei genkai and those who did not activate them stood better chance of surviving the encounter than those with.

An exhausted jounin saw the flagging spirits of his comrades and tried to give them heart.

"The Hokage will come. We only need to hold off the Kyuubi until he arrives. For Konoha!" All of those present had fought and survived in the 3rd Great Shinobi War. They were used to putting their lives on the line for their village but never had they faced such an impossible opponent. All knew that it would be unlikely that they would survive this encounter but were encouraged by the jounin's words. They would find it in themselves to give the last push in this battle. If they survived then good, but if they didn't then at least they knew they had tried. It was a feeling that all were used to so giving one last roar as one they moved.

"FOR KONOHA!"

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Meanwhile in the Hokage's Tower a lone ANBU guarded a door inscribed with seals. The seals glowed rhythmically with a black light. The ANBU had orders to to allow the door to open for any circumstance from the outside. If the door opened before the seal was deactivated there would be serious consequences. So far the occupants of the room had been in sequestered for about an hour.

Inside the room two men were working furiously- well one was and the other leaned against the seal-covered wall watching the other work. Both were fatigued because to them they had spent 12 hours in the room.

The first man was hunched over a desk scribbling away, ink splattering everywhere. He had spiky blonde hair and had sapphire blue eyes. He wore a standard jounin flak jacket with the green and gold stars with ANBU grade trousers and blue shinobi sandals. He also wore a red and gold braid on his right bicep indicating that he was a Fuuinjutsu Master, Ist class. The only thing unusual about his attire was a white cloak with flames on the bottom and the kanji for 'four' in the middle.

The second man was half in the shadows and his all black clothing only made him blend in further. He wore a half-face-mask, an eye-patch with thin black strings holding it in place running across his forehead and just above and below the ear, a bandanna concealing his hair, sleeveless form-fitting shirt revealing a black ANBU swirl with a red kanji for 'fire' next to it, full fingered gloves with metal back-of-hand plate and ANBU pants tucked into soft leather boots with steel toes. He also wore three pouches and wore leather braces in a cross on his chest, his katana sheathed handle down and nodaichi handle up. On top of all that he wore ANBU armour chest-plate, lower-arm and shin guards but in matte black instead. Altogether the scars, mask and eye patch gave him a dangerous look of a shinobi not to be crossed but the half-lidded visible eye and fondness with which he watched his friend's scrabbling around softened the image a tad.

As if sensing his companion's amusement the blonde man looked up and gave the ANBU a glare, though it was ruined by the black spotted face and ink moustache on the upper-lip where he had unconsciously stroked earlier. "What do you think you're doing? You are just as good as this as I am. You aren't in here to just look pretty you know... not that you do..."

"Excuse me, Hokage-sama, but what can I, a lowly ANBU, do that the great leader of Konohagakure no Sato cannot?" asked the ANBU in a perfectly serious tone, ignoring the last muttered comment. The Hokage's eyebrow twitched at the title. "Did I say something wrong Hokage-sama? You have a twitch Hokage-sama."

The blonde continued twitching then his eyes gained a mischievous glint. He jumped up from his seat and pointed at his companion proclaiming dramatically, "ah ha! You just called me your great leader. And so as your great leader I order you to look over the seal."

In a monotone he replied, "of course Hokage-sama. You just needed only to say the word Hokage-sama. My will is yours to command Hokage-sama... you're still twitching Hokage-sama." As he walked over to the table you could see a definite amused look in his eye and his grey eye light with laughter.

The jounin fell to his knees and raised his hands beseeching to the heavens. "Why Kami did you have to give me such a cheeky Shikikan (Commander) for a friend. Why?!"

The ANBU snorted at his friend's antics. This was one of the reasons why he made such a good leader- being able to create a light atmosphere with only a few words and yet not over do it. The commander glanced at the seal and immediately whipped out a fine brush and began to fill in several runes and seals on the chakra-dissolvable sealing paper.

"Yare yare baka-Yondaime-sama. You missed out the fire and wind seal interspersed between the isaz, ehwaz and fehu runes. They will prevent the Kyuubi from manipulating yo-... the vessel's thoughts."

The Yondaime looked at the new seal. "Ah, so that was why... arigato Seimei," he clapped the ANBU on the shoulder and resumed his previous scribbling, "so this goes there... and that..."

Surreptitiously the ANBU waved a gloved hand and as if by magic the ink stains disappeared, the seal is nearly finished and we can't have you looking like you have just fought a war with ink, can we Minato-sempai?

Still writing away Minato talked to Seimei, "you have to properly teach me those runes properly someday 'mei-kun. They are damn useful as the seals in the room shows..." he rambled on and Seimei just blocked it out, this time his gaze on his superior was sad and yet contained pride.

you know that you'll not live through this night senpai... and yet I'd be disappointed in you if that were not the case

His musings were interrupted by an insistent tingling in the back of his neck. Directing a smidgen of chakra to a miniscule seal on his collar-bone he listened to the incoming message.

:Shikikan-sama. This is Go-Daishou (5th Brigadier). The Beast has breached the outer perimeter. I have sent squads 10 throught to 18 to hold it off. We are getting slaughtered out here. Requesti-: the transmission cut off suddenly.

Seimei shifted slightly, his game face on, eye completely serious. The shift caught the attention of the Hokage who shut up and sobered. "The outer perimeter." he stated rather than asked. "Hold it off then. I will be finished soon. I will also need to get m-my son." he caught himself. He Hesitated but eventually did place a firm hand on the shoulder of his ANBU Shikikan and looked seriously into the lone slate grey eye, "be careful my friend. It is not like the battle of Grass Valley... I am counting on you to see this night through."

Seimei didn't answer and only saluted. He snapped his hand out had a red cloak flew from his hook into his hand and he fastened it on. From the shadows a huge black wolf slinked out and sat nest to her master. Giving one last look to his old friend Seimei turned sharply on his heel, and keeping a hand on his companion, they both disappeared without a sound.

Behind them they heard a whispered call, "Gokooun o inorimasu (Good Luck). Live up to your name Senshi Seimei."

The pair apparated to the spot where he last had contact with his 5th brigadier, the chakra-magic hybrid communication link providing accurate directions to the officer. They were behind the humongous chakra entity and in the middle of a swathe of blackened forest where there were once luscious green trees. He found the shinobi dead and burnt, the smell of cooked flesh repugnant to his nose, but thankfully alive. Grateful that he at least had one person saved he took out a stasis seal and channeled a mixture of magic and chakra into the seal to temporarily halt any life processes- the seal would keep the person 'alive' for longer than a insistere condicio spell, then activated a small coin portkey which he dropped onto the brigadier and the unconscious man disappeared in a swirl of lights into his ANBU office away from the danger zone.

With his subordinate out of the way he straightened and cast a sonorous over his voice box and whistled. The kitsune looked up from its onward plough and looked for where the noise came from. Just as it was about to turn around another noise distracted it. A red-necked falcon gave a piercing screech and dive-bombed the nose of the behemoth and managed to create a deep gash on its muzzle which didn't seem to be healing. The bird flapped away just in time.

Seimei called out to his familiar. :Enough! Ken come back:

:No aniki. Kyuubi-teme killed my mate. Must. Have. Vengen-:

:Yamero (stop)! You cannot do so if you are dead:

Ken saw reason and instead dived for his master but pulled away in time to land comfortable on a reinforced shoulder. Seimei had put the momentary distraction to good use and had gone through several hand seals in blistering speed whilst gathering some chakra from a Ryu kanji on his right bicep. He slammed his right hand to the ground and a huge summoning circle blossomed from that point as an impossible speed, Ryuu Kuchiyose. A great plume of smoke erupted from the centre of the summoning seal and Seimei felt himself rising up into the air. All the while Seimei kept his eye on the fox but directed his thoughts to his wolf companion.

:Tsuki-hime... ready?:

:hai:

The wolf jumped off next into mid-air and summoned her internal magic like her master had taught her engorgio. Immediately the black wolf began expanding and enlarging until she was as tall as the Kyuubi. Seimei had also stopped getting higher and the chakra smoke disappeared revealing a huge golden dragon. Seimei was standing on the snout of the great animal and turned his back to the fox and went into a respectful crouch (ANBU greeting)- left knee on the ground, right knee up, hands on the ground, head bowed.

"Ah... Young-Drake. Long time no see."

"Hai Ryuutama-sama. I request that you aid me in holding off the Kyuubi for a while."

The golden dragon looked past his summoner and stared at the fox. "She is not the Head of the Kitsune clan, merely the mate... very well. You have my aid."

Shocked at the revelation Seimei put that piece of information to the back of his mind for the moment and focussed on the present. He flipped onto the head of the dragon and used chakra to secure his position behind the right eye-brow ridge, Ken staying perfectly composed on his shoulder. The Dragon launched into the air. Seimei saw that the shinobi on the ground had not taken advantage of the She-fox's distraction and left the danger zone. Shaking his head at the stupidity and lack of self-preservation he shouted out to them, the voice-enhancing spell still activated.

"Shinobi retreat to the inner perimeter!"

The shinobi got out of the way just in time as the huge dragon, one and a half times as large as the kitsune-mate, landed with barely a thump in front of her and flared his great wings creating a golden shield of skin, muscle and bone but was as hard as metal.

In tandem all three attacked. Ryuutama and Tsuki seeking to grapple and hold the fox down whilst Seimei shot spell after spell at the beast and maintaining a thick shield of magic between their bodies and the chakra entity as it was their protection against the causticity of the enraged fox's chakra. Inspite of this Tsuki and Seimei were starting to feel the effects of the chakra. Ryuutama was feeling fine because as the ruler over all summons and beasts the chakra caused him no harm but he could only remain on the material plane for as long as his summoner was conscious. Most of the wounds inflicted on the fox were gradually healing because of the increasing ferocity and anger at their intervention but because magic and chakra were like opposites the lingering magic in the wounds prevented instant healing.

To the shinobi behind all they could hear was deafening roars and howls but the Kyuubi was not getting past the golden shield so the survivors began to get a feeling of hope. They might live through this night. Most of the shinobi, not ANBU, had never seen the elusive ANBU Shikikan, only ever known of his existence but for the ANBU present the display only served to raise their commander to even greater heights. They knew that Kuro Ookami had been the commander for over two years already since before the 3rd War ended and all knew of his incredible mission quota and accomplishment of not having lost a single squad member in all his five years of service. He was also known for his title of Konoha no Yurei (Ghost of Konoha) for his ability to complete a mission without any witnesses and extraneous killings and was rumoured to have been the operative to personally assassinate the Tsuchikage inside his own office in the middle of Iwa thus ending the war. All this information and hearsay was passed between those present and the legend of the ANBU Shikikan rose incredibly on this day.

Seimei was oblivious to all of this and was fighting to keep standing through the assault of the malicious chakra. They had been engaged for only about 20 minutes but to Seimei it felt like hours. He knew he was feeling the edges of magical exhaustion because he was maintaining large shields as well as directing spells of his own. Minato-senpai, you had better arrive soon because I do not know how long I can keep this up.

As if the mere thought had called him Minato arrived on the Gama boss summon with a kage bushin holding an orange bundle. The waiting shinobi all cheered. The Hokage was here, he would save them.

The large summon landed with a thump behind the combatants away from the village. Minato was already going through hand seals and was gathering a lot of chakra. As if sensing the end of her life was nigh the kitsune fought even more ferociously but all three gave it their last push to hold the animal in place as the window of opportunity would be very small. Seimei's exhaustion was showing because the shield was flickering and Seimei and Tsuki were gaining chakra burns where the red chakra managed to escape.

Minato finished his string of seals. "SHIKI FUUJIN!"

A ghostly spectre materialised behind the Yondaime. It's face was more than enough to strike fear into the most fool-hardy of hearts- white long hair, red horns set on a purple face with beady black baleful eyes and a mouthful of sharp point teeth gripping a large tanto. If that wasn't enough then the deathly aura would definitely scare the living daylights out of them. Animals were more susceptible to the aura (as opposed to the image) than humans and so Gamabunta fought to remain still with the Shinigami hovering above him.

Kyuubi's mate went slack upon feeling the chilling Shinigami's chakra. She knew that the spectre was coming for her and there would be no escape. Although humans were not as effected by the aura, because he was near magical exhaustion and was suffering from a case of chakra poisoning Seimei as feeling the effects more and it was all he could do to remain in position. Ryuutama only felt slightly uncomfortable in the presenjce of the death god because his status as the ruler od all beasts was just below that of the god.

When asked years later on the events of 10th October the sealing would be just as vivid in his memory as when it occurred. He could recall was the agonising call of the Kitsune as the death god pulled her soul out of her body and into the waiting vessel, the son of Namikaze Minato. The body if the kitsune just disintergrated, the soul, that held the chakra entity in a physical form, having left. Using his false crystal eye he had been able to see with great clarity the look of pain on his friend's face with the god's arm through his chest and the look of sorrow and tears as he sealed the the bijuu into the new jinchuuriki.

The kage bushin disappeared as the strength of his creator left. Minato fell to his knees as he cradled his son. It seemed that the death ogod was not without mercy and had just left a hideous looking seal where his ghostly arm had pierced his chest but had allowed him some final time in the material world. Seimei saw him speak to his summon and Gamabunta nodded.

Seimei knew he had to be there for his sensei, leader but most importantly his friend. Peripherally he noticed that Tsuki had shrunk back into her usual form and lay panting on the ground recovering.

He forced himself to bite his inner cheek to draw blood and touch on seals in his face-mask and channel chakra through his tongue to release food pills, pepperup pills and one jounin soldier pill. quietus he waved a hand over his throat. Regaining strength he said to his summon, "arigato gozaimasu Ryuutama-sama. I will be going to Minato-senpai."

Having said this he gathered a right mix of chakra and magic. This created a special type of energy which fuelled his next technique. shunpo he thought and in a blur of colour he flashed to on top of Gamabunta's nose. He gave the saddened boss summon a greeting before jumping onto his head to see his friend.

Minato glanced up from his son, face pale. He managed to crack a grin, recognising his friend. "Ohayo 'mei-kun... great job there, managed to get the Kyuubi good," he paused to cough, blood leaking from the mouth. Seimei had pushed his wolf mask to the side his his head so that his face was visible-well the bits not covered by a mask anyway. He also knelt down and gripped Minato by the upper arms. He didn't have the heart to tell his friend that there was another 9 tailed fox out somewhere and the sealed fox was only the mate not the legendary Kitsune that was supposed to guard Hi no Kuni.

"Hai... you also did good Hokage-sama..."

"... don't call me that... sorry for taking so long," ever the shinobi, even in death, he noticed the numerous chakra burns on the skin and armour. "it seems that little Naruto-chan will not have a mother. Kushina-hime had serious bleeding of the womb... if Tsunade was here maybe...."

"Aa... you'll be with her soon... she's waiting."

Suddenly frantic Minato freed one hand and held Seimei's in a death grip. "Promise me you'll be there for him."

There was no way that Seimei could refuse. "Of course Yondaime-sama. I will always look out for Naruto, I promise."

Minato released his grip, satisfied, his son would have a protector. The promise of his stoic ANBU Shikikan was priceless. He was a man of his word and would seek to carry out his promise no matter what. Suddenly it seemed all the energy left him, he started to fall. Seimei caught bith father and son in time and with one arm he held the baby and with the other he gently lowered Minato to the top of Gamabunta's head, then on second thought he carried both down so they were on mother earth and lowered Minato on the ground. He was aware that his summon was still present and both boss summons were standing by peering at them and especially the new vessel.

Minato was rambling now. "... why am I so cold... 'mei, where are you?... why is it so dark?..."

Tears leaked from his lone eye but he was able to keep the tremor in his voice to a minimum. "I am here Hokage-sama... don't worry... you rest for now, everything will be alright..." he placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. Suddenly the eyes focused on him and was momentarily contained his usual sharpness.

"'Course it will be alright. I am the great Hokage, am I not?... and don't call me that..." his eyes roamed Seimei's face as if trying to commit it to memory then he frowned in consternation, "where is your mouth 'mei... actually I don't think I've ever seen your mouth..." as he continued to mutter, his voice getting fainter and fainter.

Seimei acquiesced with his request. In fact no one bar his deceased blood-brother and team mate had seen his face. He pulled down the black seal covered cloth and deactivated the memory erase of his face. For the first time in many years another saw his whole face. It was quite handsome with defined cheeks and a serious mouth that made him look older than his years. The smooth skin with only a few frown lines marred only by several silvery scars, legacies of torture as a POW in the previous war.

Minato's eye's widened at the revelation. His hand twitched as if to touch but his arms felt strangely leaden but Seimei noticed and grabed his right hand. Shakily he traced the scars. His face bloomed into a smile, "ha!... I, Namikaze... Minato have seen... a sight most kunoichi's... would kill to see..." he looked up from his fingers and glanced towards his son. Sensing his desire Seimei lowered the Naruto so that he was level with Minato's head. Minato turned his head slowly and stared into the bluest of blue eyes of his son, who stared back. Minato's smile became sadder but no less proud, "Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto... never forget, I will always love you..." he leaned forward a little and kissed his son on the forehead. He exhaled his last breath and closed his eyes, soul leaving him, and died with a smile on his face.

Seimei bowed his head in respect and closed his eyes allowing himself to grieve, "sayonara... Minato-senpai." He was startled from his mood by insistant cries from chibi-Naruto who had been upset from his sleep when he had been lowered and felt a strange cold object pressing in his forehead. Now he was getting cold, despite the thick orange blanket.

Seimei gave a crooked smile. At least there was one good thing this day. Life would go on and there was hope for the future in this child. He pulled up his mask then his ANBU one and composed himself. There would be time to mourn later, now someone needed his comfort. He picked up the baby, "hush child." He slowly rocked the baby and applied heating charms to the blanket, but not before peeking at the seal. The seal was glowing red and stood out on the baby's navel but seemed to be disappearing. At this rate the seal would be complete and secure in 72 hours indicating the mass of chakra present even though it was only the mate and not the actual Kyuubi Kitsune. The smooth motion and warm atmosphere calmed the babe and he was soon asleep, a picture of innocence as opposed to the screaming hell raiser a minute earlier.

"Ahem..." Seimei glanced up at Gamabunta. He was shocked when the large mass began to shrink and take on a human form. He was dressed in a blue sleeveless yukata with the kanji for 'shrimp' in the back, black shinobi pants and sandals. He was smoking a pipe and carried a dosu (yakuza aword) in a white sheath at his hip. He had a small white gotee and looked like a human except for his yellow eyes with a black bloby pupil. He carefully traced the three whisker-like marks of being a kitsune jinchuukiri and said benevolently, "so this is Minato's tadpole, Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto... he will be great like his old man." he looked up and looked piercingly into Seimei's stormy-grey lone eye. Inspite of all his occulmency barriers Seimei felt as if his soul was stripped naked and intentions clear as day. He had never felt so exposed since the signing of the Ryuu Kuchiyose Kanko Hon (Dragon Summoning Scroll). "Ahem... you'll do Senshi-san. The tadpole is in good hands." He reached over to expose Naruto's right arm and using a bit of his chakra created a small frog like tattoo. This was not the same as his own summoning tattoo but was more of a promise. Next Gamabunta took out a small scroll and handed it over to Seimei who looked over it, sensing magic then turned puzzled to the boss summon. "I am trusting the true Gama Kuchiyose Kanko Hon to you for safe keeping. The tadpole is to sign it when he becomes genin... it is magically shrunk by the way," at his surprised flicker of chakra the summon gave a booming laugh and clapped him on the shoulder, "yes, all beings have the potential to utilise magic, not just the ones bonded to you." With that the summon disappeared in a poof of smoke.

His own summon had not transformed but stretched his great neck down to the ground. "Bunta has given you a great honour young-Drake. It is only in exceptional cases that another is allowed to be the keeper of the contract who is not the summoner of that clan." The Dragon King also looked at Naruto. "A turbulent life he will live... raise him well Seimei. I will-"

He didn't get to finish as another spine-chilling roar erupted from the opposite side of the village. The side of the village where the rest of Konoha's populace were evacuated.

The scene of dying Minato was hard to write. Maybe too long?

A cliffie to keep things interesting :p

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List of spells and techniques

C = Chakra technique

M = Magic spell

CM = Chakra/Magic Hybrid

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M: Insistere Condicio: Stasis spell

M: Sonorous: Voice Increasing spell

M: Quietus: Voice decreasing spell

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C: Kage Bushin no Jutsu: Shadow Clone technique

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CM: Shunpo: Flash Step

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What do you think? Good? No good?

All comment welcome.

Constructive critism please.