A/N: Single quotes are mental voices, double quotes are spoken word. Bolded text is bijuu speech, italics are Madara genjutsu voice.

Prologue:

Time: Approximately 1 year after Kyuubi event.

Location: Kirigakure, Mizukage's headquarters:

The fourth Mizukage, Yagura, stands up from behind his desk and turns, pacing nervously back and forth. His best fuuinjutsu artists have just finished sealing the Rokubi into a new child, and there was now a new piece on the playing field. That type of power could upset the delicate situation he had spent years building. His eyes, once relaxed and bright, have become terrified, constantly flickering back and forth as if watching for invisible assailants. Maps and tactical diagrams line the walls of his once pristine office, each covered with hastily scribbled notes. As he whirls to face the window yet again, the voice of Isobu, the Sanbi, rings out inside his mind.

'Stay calm, human. This all-controlling focus on paranoia ill becomes one without an obvious assailant. Do not seal yourself inside a shell without reason.'

Yagura freezes, and his fists clench.

'Without reason?' he thinks, his thoughts fraught with a fear bordering on madness, 'I am surrounded by enemies! Anybody could attack me at any moment! And, without me, Kirigakure will fall into obscurity. I cannot allow that to happen.'

When Isobu's voice rings out again inside his mind, it is tinged with a bit of exasperation.

'And why, exactly, would someone be attacking you? You are a strong ruler, who has led his people to strength after strength. You are ringed with the most powerful guards in the land. Who exactly do you consider to be a threat?'

'Those who wield Kekkai Genkai. If they decided to rise up against me, I would be helpless before them.'

'Then do not anger them, fool! If you do not wish rebellion, do not invite it through your actions!'

Suddenly a dry, whispering voice makes itself heard in Yagura's mind. Its tone seems to promise untold benefits if one merely listened to its advice.

'There is...another way, Mizukage-sama.'

Yagura's eyes widen, and his body tenses up. His left hand extends and begins signing to his guards.

*Outside the office*

The ANBU whose job it was to guard the Mizukage that day is exceptionally bored. In his mind, guarding the Mizukage is even worse than gate guarding. At least gate guarding means you get to see new faces every so often. However, as any experienced ninja knows, boredom kills. Suddenly, he glances up to see the Mizukage signing something. His eyes widen.

'Two fingers...Genjutsu!'

He jumps to his feet, only to feel strangely faint. It almost feels as though his chakra has been drained. Suddenly, he feels a series of sharp pains to his spine and the warm flow of blood down his back. He slides to the ground, his last expression of confusion and alarm now eternally engraved on his face. A few seconds later, Kisame Hoshigaki steps into the room and recovers Samehada from the dead man's body. He barely gives the body a second glance before taking up a post outside the door.

*Inside the office*

Yagura waits, but no guards come bursting in. The dry voice in his mind chuckles.

'Yagura-sama, I am no hostile force which you must fight. I am here to help you rule with strength and prosperity.'

Isobu laughs, and the sound booms out through Yagura's mind.

'Foolish mortal, what makes you think my vessel will listen to you?'

'Wait, Isobu. We should hear him out. There is no harm in listening to advice.'

'Thank you, Yagura-sama. Now, as I was saying, there is a third option. Rather than living in fear of the bloodlines or pacifying them, why not attack them?'

'That is an...intriguing idea. However, it would severely weaken our forces.'

'Then perhaps choose some bloodline users to preserve and destroy the rest? Then you would eliminate all threats to your rule.'

Yagura tilted his head to the side briefly, thinking.

'That could work. However, I'm uncertain how other villages would react to an action that drastic.'

'The only village which would fight us for something of this nature is Konoha. Those soft leaf worshipers...actually, I see a way to solve our problems.'

Yagura's eyes widened.

'Oh? Do tell.'

'We can offer them a trade. You wish to get rid of the Rokubi no Kenjuu, yes? So send it to them. Perhaps, in exchange for a bloodline user. One of the shadow wielders, they could prove useful.'

'That is quite an idea. I shall send a message to Konoha post haste.'

Yagura stands and begins to pen a letter to the Third Hokage. As he does so, the strange dry voice fades out from his mind. However, just at the edge of his and Isobu's hearing, something remains...

*10 days later, Hokage's office*

Hiruzen Sarutobi sits at his desk, concern evident on his face. Shikaku Nara is at the other end of the table, as his normally bored eyes water slightly.

"Shikaku, you know I would not normally ask this of you. However, you know the great benefits which another Jinchuuriki could bring to the village. If I had any other choice which did not lose us this, I would take it."

Shikaku nods.

"I understand, Hokage-sama. I have ordered many into battle before, many of which have had to sacrifice their lives. My son will just be another name on that list...troublesome."

The Hokage almost looks affronted.

"Now, Shikaku, you don't know he's going to die. He's exceptionally valuable to them. He'll be completely safe."

"With all due respect, Hiruzen, ninja don't really do completely safe."

Both he and Sarutobi share a companionable, sad chuckle at that line. After that, Shikaku stands up and leaves.

*5 days later*

Two groups of ANBU meet in an abandoned village in between Konoha and Kirigakure. With practiced formality, each group hands a bassinet containing a child and a few scrolls to the other. Neither group knows precisely why this mission is so important, but they don't particularly care. All they know is that they are receiving A rank pay. And so, the future of the shinobi world changes.

A/N: Well, here's a prologue for a story which badly, badly needed one. The real first chapter should be back up soon, I just need to rewrite some scenes.