Hello everyone!

First off, I will give you the full summary. Please understand that I must hold back certain details so as not to ruin the story.

Summary:

When Naruto is captured by Akatsuki and nearly killed in the process of draining the Kyuubi, he disappears, reappearing sixteen years in the past. He witnesses the fateful day when Kyuubi first attacked Konoha. In order to save the village, he must once again sacrifice himself to be the container for the Nine Tails.

Now considered a weapon by Danzou and the Council, he must fight the dangers of political intrigue, survive the terrors of a looming war, and somehow try to stay alive in a world that curses his existence.

A Note:

I realize that Kakashi would technically be younger than Naruto, but for the sake of this story, I will assume that they are the same age - around 16.

...

Stillness

Prologue

Don't doubt the fact there's life within you. Yesterday's ending will tomorrow life give you. All that dies, dies for a reason, To put its strength into the seasons.*

The beast had broken through the outer walls.

Alarms sounded to warn the villagers.

He was monstrous.

It was the first time anyone had ever seen the living Kyuubi. For centuries, legends of the Tailed Beasts had been passed down in the scrolls of hidden villages. There were even rumors that some of them had been captured and made into slaves to serve Shinobi. But no one had ever dreamed that the most powerful of them would appear in such plain sight to wreak such havoc on the peaceful village of Konoha.

The monster's growls and shrieks caused earthquakes. Each swipe of its claws tore through mountains. It's chakra was a living entity – swirling around its owner and turning into poison gas. It burned whatever it touched – not with flames that could be doused, but with a fire that burned without end. At first, Konoha's defenders had thrown everyone they had against it in an attempt to subdue its savagery. Hardly anyone returned alive. So many had already fallen. Homes, streets, hills, and valleys – everything that Konoha's people called their own – were wiped off the map in a few disastrous hours. Women ran around wildly, screaming for their lost children. People huddled under broken rubble, hoping to avoid further injury from the monster's rampage. Shinobi littered the streets. Jounin were trying to gather teams of ninjas to launch assaults. Some were already heavily injured, others were shaking in fear. No one could have blamed them; even the bravest of men would have been terrified.

In his home, the Yondaime did not need to hear the bells to know that Konoha was doomed.

He'd felt the monster's sickening chakra long before the ANBU had come to him with warnings. It was a horrible time – there could be no worse situation. His wife, Kushina, had gone into labor prematurely just hours prior. Though he knew that he was desperately needed on the front, he feared to leave her side. Never had he felt such raging torment. What was he supposed to do? He held her hand as she screamed in pain; sweat glistened on her brow; she was pale as death. She'd always been a fighter – so full of energy he had trouble keeping her still. Seeing her so depleted terrified him. He knew that giving birth was a difficult and dangerous process, but should it be taking this much out of her? Should she be bleeding so much?

The nurse was yelling for her to push. Every time she did, more blood flowed out onto the bed. Red blood – as red as her hair. It had been – up until this point – his favorite color. Now he watched as it consumed his beloved wife, not sure whether he wanted to curse the baby for hurting her so much or worry about its safety. She must have seen the turmoil on his face, for she looked at him and gave him a brave smile.

"It's alright…" she said in a faint voice. "I'll be alright…"

Under normal circumstances, he would have believed her. She was strong – always, she had been his greatest support. But, looking at her now, he thought she looked to be only a shadow of her former self. It was irrational but, more than the Kyuubi, he feared losing her to their child. Forcing himself to smile for her sake, he squeezed her hand.

"Hokage-sama!" A voiced boomed out behind him. He didn't need to see the person behind him to know who he was. Turning around, he saw his former student kneeling before him, his head down, an ANBU mask covering his face. To think that Kakashi had made the decision to join ANBU; on one hand, the boy's personality suited his position. He was able to coldly rationalize the situation at hand and the objective of the mission was as important to him as protecting his team mates. Secretly, he was proud that his student had taken one of the highest ranks among Konoha's most talented shinobi.

"Kakashi…" Minato said in a low voice. He inclined his head for the man to speak.

"Your presence is needed urgently on the front. We've done all we can but we cannot restrain the beast." His tone was calm, reserved – he seemed aloof, as usual. Had Minato not watched this man grow into manhood, he would never have seen the signs of anxiety in his body language. His student was afraid; the situation truly was dire if even Kakashi was so shaken up. Not that he had doubted it for a moment; his rationale begged him to leave his home and race to help the others, while his emotions and conscience would not allow him to abandon his wife. He grasped her hand a little harder, subconsciously refusing to listen to reason.

"Hokage-sama, is it not your duty to protect this village?" At his student's words, Minato's eyes grew stormy. Any man with any sense of self-preservation would have quaked before the infamous gaze. Kakashi, however, remained kneeling, his head submissively lowered. Frustrated, worried, and torn apart by guilt and anger, the Fourth rose to his feet. He looked at his wife. Perhaps she saw the plea in his eyes; perhaps she simply felt it. There were rumors that the two lovers could read each other's minds. Though they seemed to be complete opposites, they had somehow found their missing halves in each other. For the handsome, powerful, prodigy Minato to have fallen in love with the tomboy Kushina – who had never particularly excelled in the academy – was unthinkable at first. It was only later that those closest to the Hokage and the fiery redhead saw how truly devoted they were to each other.

"Minato…" she whispered. "You need to go now…" Tears of pain glistened in her eyes. The contractions were becoming more and more forceful with each passing minute. "When you come back, you will have a son you can be proud of."

Although everything in his body warred against it, he leaned down, captured her lips in a fiery kiss, and left the room without looking back.

...

...

In the hallway, he was met with several other members of the ANBU. They were all kneeling. He did his best to settle his emotions, knowing that what these men needed now was a leader, not a coward. If they were to defeat this demon, his mind had to be clear. He took a silent, steadying breath.

"Report!"

One of the men – the one in center of the formation – stood from his position and tapped his chest in a formal solute.

"Hokage-sama…the Nine Tails has broken through our outer walls of defense. There isn't much time before it makes its way to the center of the village. We've successfully transferred most of the women and children into the base of the mountain, but if the beast goes any further they are in danger of being killed. We've tried everything but it seems like the monster somehow predicts every move we make. It's as if…"

"Someone is controlling it. There's no other explanation," the Hokage said with some finality. The report was disturbing. More than ever, he felt guilty for having abandoned his people in such a critical time. "What are the casualties?" He felt the men hesitating.

"We haven't been able to keep an accurate count, Sir."

This is worse than any of us could have believed…he thought. He brought a hand to his forehead and ran it through his golden hair. Think, think! It was the first time that he was struggling to keep his emotions in check. Kushina was the hot-headed one; she was the one who always jumped into a situation without considering the consequences. How had they switched places? Get a hold of yourself – he commanded mentally. Now is not the time to panic.

"Have you searched the surrounding forestry? If there is someone controlling that thing, he should be close by." He looked up at the men. "I realize we are short handed, but send out a team to look around. If we find the one who is behind this…" he paused, his eyes darkening. "…I'll kill him." The men bowed and disappeared in puffs of smoke. He turned to his student.

"We need a team of medics put together as soon as possible. Have everyone bring the injured to designated places around the village. If we have stations, the healers won't be running around arbitrarily and wasting time." His mind was racing, trying to think of a strategy. He'd have to call Gamabunta, of course. Perhaps together they could measure the power of the Kyuubi for themselves. If the monster had something its own size to concentrate on, perhaps he would be distracted from attacking the village. It would buy only a little time, but at least the men would have a breather. "Bring my scroll from the tower," he ordered. Just as he was about to dismissed the silver-haired officer, a scream erupted from behind the door. Heart jumping into his throat, he whirled around and nearly tore the door off its hinges in his haste to enter the chamber.

"Kushina-sama! Please! Don't give up!"

All the nurses were gathered around his wife, some shouting orders, others checking the pulse points on her neck and wrist. One of the women was holding a bundle at her feet. There was so much blood; it covered everything – the sheets, the covers, her legs, the healers' aprons. Her eyes were open but unseeing, staring up at the ceiling with a dull gaze. He felt the color painfully draining from his face. All thoughts of the battle disappearing in an instant, he rushed to her side and shook her shoulders.

"Kushina! Are you alright?" She didn't answer him. Her lips were parted, as if she wanted to say something but the words had gotten lost. He grabbed the healer on the opposite side of the bed by the front of his shirt, feeling absolutely helpless as he shook him violently. "What's wrong? What's happened to her?" A horrible silence permeated the room. Everyone lowered their heads. The man he'd grabbed looked physically pained. Denial, thick and overwhelming, rose up in his chest.

"Hokage-sama…she's…"

No. It wasn't possible. Hadn't he just held her hand? Hadn't he just spoken to her? Hadn't she just been smiling at him gently? His vision tunneled. It was the first time in his life when he felt he could be sick.

"My son…" he croaked through a hoarse voice. "Is he…?" Helpless to stop himself, he turned to look at the tiny bundle of sheets in the nurse's arms. It was still and silent. Horror mushroomed in his chest. His throat constricted painfully. Breathing had become impossible.

"Stillborn…" the nurse whispered, tears trailing down her face.

...

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