Youko no Kage

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters associated with it as they are all the property of Kishimoto.

Additionally this story is the intellectual property of NYCDMan as his idea is the creator of this story.

"Talking"

Thoughts

Gaara

Roars of cheers could be heard as everyone was excited for the ongoing of the tournament. After the spectacular match between Shikamaru and Temari, everyone was on the buzz in talking about how brilliant the fight was.

Though it started slow in which no one thought anything of it, everyone quickly changed their tune the moment they understood that this wasn't a battle of strength or skill but rather tactics within a rather clever game of cat and mouse between two extremely competent tacticians.

But as great of a talk as this was, it was quickly wearing thin due to . . . . Unexpected problems. For most of the audience they were doing their best in being patient.

"They better have a damn good reason for this" Kushina grumbled with her arms crossed as she was tapping her foot against the ground quite vigorously.

"Lady Kushina" said Komachi waving her arms is a passive motion. "You need to calm down" as she could see her hair raising up in a demonic like fashion. Amongst everyone in her generation and older, Kushina's temper was legendary as even now the classrooms of Konoha academy still echo of tales of her rage. Even the concrete from beneath her feet was giving way from her repeated stomping.

"I don't know what Mikoto has been teaching Sasuke, but this is plain inexcusable" as Kushina stomped her foot a few more times. "It's probably Kakashi rubbing off on him in always needing to be late just to make an entrance. When he get's here I'm going to have a few strong words with him!"

Komachi stumbled while sweating a bit as she now uncertain if she can diffuse the hot tempered bomb that was about ready to explode. But all things considered, she preferred this situation. Concerning Mikoto or the other Uchihas, she did not have the heart to tell her their fate. As tough as anbu training made anyone, she was not as cold hearted to say it as she knew how close she and lady Mikoto were. So that was a conversion for another time. But for now, "lady Kushina" she whispered, "perhaps we can take a walk".

"I can walk on my own. So stay here and watch my seat" as Kushina then got up and began to stomp away as fellow audience members visibly trembled as they wisely got out of her way.

". . . . I hope no one get's hurt" said Komachi offhandedly as she had to respect her wishes while she prayed that she stayed out of trouble.

"I'm going to have a talk with Mikoto the moment I find her" Kushina continued while mumbling under her breath. Though it crossed her mind to just ask someone where she was, she was supposed to be incognito. Frankly she liked just wandering around to see how the village has changed as she saw a mix of old familiar faces as well as some new ones. Even amongst the crowd she saw a few of her friends. But since the village was still occupied with foreign nations, she would do as advised till it was the right time to reveal herself. Continuing her walk around the arena looking for her friend, she came upon two sleeping children. "What an odd time to be sleeping" she mused

Examining the children for a moment, she revived them as they regained consciousness soon enough.

Hinata rubbed her eyes as she looked to the arena floor. "Oh no, I missed how the match ended".

"Drat" as Kiba snapped his fingers. "I missed it when things were just getting good!" But then looking up in thought, the dog ninja thought outwardly to himself. "Hmm, but why did I fall asleep?"

"What match were you watching?" Kushina asked

"The one with my teammates cousin and her precious Naruto-kun" Kiba teased as the Hyuga heiress blushed a bit. "Though we were really routing for that blond dope to win too".

"I see, are you two friends with Naruto?"

Kiba gave a hard look while scratching his chin. "Hmm, hard to say. I wouldn't say friends really. But more like on good terms".

"But I" Hinata started before shying away a bit.

"Hmm, what is it?" Kushina asked giving a quizzical look.

"That I . . . ." she started only to shy away again.

"Ehh? Speak up. I can't hear what you're saying".

"I want to be his friend!" Hinata blurted out only to blush as she turned away.

At hearing that Kushina couldn't help but give an amused smile as how cute she was acting. Her eyes told the whole story that she was a Hyuga and a very different one with the way she acted with a less mightier then thou attitude and more just a regular girl. The boy was obviously a Inuzuka with the dog like traits he had along with the pet he had with him. "So what's your name?"

"Hinata".

"Kiba".

"Right" Kushina chimed. "I'll remember that. Enjoy the rest of the match then" as she went on her way leaving two preteens wondering who exactly she was.

Continuing her walk around the arena she saw an array of interesting people who knew her son personally. Although they admitted they were not always on good terms with him, they all respected him. As they got to know him he was turning out to be someone they really liked. Though Kushina got good impressions from all of them, she had varied opinions concerning each of them. Especially some of them with their unusual . . . . 'Quirks'.

Meeting Shikamaru, he was certainly a very bright young man though apparently very bored with his life. Much like another Nara she knew. But he was very good hearted.

Chouji like his clan was a very heavy set fellow. Though sensitive about his weight, he was very chummy to which she ended up promising to buy him lunch one of these days. Though she wonders if that was a good idea.

Alongside the young Akamichi, she met Ino. Very much like her parents carried a very flirtatious yet dignified air about her.

But upon bumping onto Shino, she really didn't know what to say about him. He was respectful to her son. But like the Aburame clan in general they were really a mysterious and creepy bunch. But from what she could tell a good kid nonetheless.

Then finally there was Sakura who was a teammate to her son. Though her opinion started high considering who her parents were, it quickly dropped. Most if not all the pink kunoichi had to say were vile and hateful concerning her son's demeanor. For an instant it crossed her mind to smack her across the head if she said one more bad thing about Naruto, her only saving grace was her final word of respect in seeing how much he had grown in such a short time to becoming someone great. Withdrawing her initial impulse to strike at her, she would definitely keep an eye on her for now.

Hearing the roars of the crowd, Kushina looked to arena ground to see Kakashi and Sasuke appear in a rather showy manner. "Tsk, just like them. I better get back to my seat" as she quickly ran back to find Komachi patiently waiting with her reserved spot.

"Did you enjoy your walk my lady?" asked the female anbu.

"Quite" Kushina smiled.

Turning their attention to the ground below, the match was announced as the battle soon commenced. Opening up the fight, the young Uchiha displayed amazing speed easily running circles around his sand wielding opponent Gaara as he was barely keeping up with his defense. Although slower in aspect, he was competent enough to use his sand defense in a counter offensive manner by creating clones and weapons from his primary tool.

Watching thus far, Komachi was impressed by the aptitude Sasuke displayed thus far in terms of raw potential and skill. Even against an opponent of such a high offensive and defensive ability, the young Uchiha was staying nimble as he was attempting to look for a weakness in this near impenetrable fighting style.

But looking over, Kushina gave a puzzled look as she watched the match with intrigue.

"Is there something wrong my lady?"

". . . . Not quite" as Kushina eyes were focused onto one combatant. "But it just seems . . . . Strange to me".

"Strange my lady?" Komachi questioned. "Is there something troubling you? Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm alright, it's just that Gaara kid".

"What about him?"

"I'm not quite sure about it" as Kushina continued to stare at the young red head. "But I think . . . . He might be a jinchuriki".

"What?! Are you sure?!" Komachi exclaimed at hearing the alarming news. Regardless of time or how good a relationship was between nations, no village would ever send their jinchuriki into foreign nations unless under a very specific mission. The implications of such an act were simple. Their kage was possibly quite naive, extremely stupid beyond a fault, or what anyone in her position was thinking up to something sinister. From what she could tell on Kushina's face, she was thinking the exact same thing.

It was a very common practice during the third ninja war. A tactic of sending a jinchuriki into the oppositions home village and unleashing the beast completely devastating it. It was a very effective method of not only obliterating the enemy, but also cutting off supply lines to other places and just as importantly it would completely and utterly cripple any form of morale to fight back after such a devastating blow.

Upon this realization, both Komachi and Kushina were about to make their move until the entire audience went into another uproar as Sasuke jumped back preparing himself for his strongest technique. Sticking to the walls and unleashing the bindings to his left arm, sparks of electricity began to form in his hand as he prepared the signature move of his mentor. Calling out his attack, he began to accelerate forward with incredible speed. "Chidori!"

Everything went silent as Sasuke's attack pierced a once thought impenetrable defense. Just for that one moment as Sasuke stumbled back with his hand drenched with the blood of his opponent, everyone felt it. The feeling of that ominous chakra they have all felt before from that of their own bijuu. As things began to spiral out of control, that's when it all began as feathers began to rain above as audience members began to pass out as an explosion occurred at the kage booth.

Surrounding the village upon their great wooden walls, sand and sound ninjas alike stood on top of them as a multi-headed snake appeared on the outskirts of the village.

It was now the invasion had started.

Recognizing that genjutsu was being casted, both Kushina and Komachi acted quickly with an illusion deflection technique. For those who avoided the surprise attack, they were now the last targets standing.

"Lady Kushina! Get behind me! I'll protect you!" Komachi called drawing her katana in one hand and three needles in her other.

As three sound ninjas came at them with incredible speed, Kushina easily defeated all with simple taijutsu giving one punch per a person smashing them against the concrete. "They just don't make ninjas like they used too. Oh did you say something?"

Komachi could only shake her head as the fight proceeded as slowly Konoha was becoming a war torn battlefield with death and destruction raging about. However they could not allow their minds to be distracted as they had to focus in just surviving this as they were up against chunin and jonin level ninjas. But for the brief moments they had to look around and observe their environment, they saw a few allies amongst them with a few chunins and a couple of jonins including both Gai and Kakashi as they were trying their utmost best not to be overwhelmed by the absurd numerical odds.

Though Kushina just recently came out of a coma, she was fighting brilliantly. But not nearly at full capacity as her muscles were still adjusting to being used again after years of atrophy. However with the way she was handling herself really showed off her potent Uzumaki bloodline. In terms of raw physical strength and stamina, there was no equal to her clan. Just to exemplify this point she was only using taijutsu thus far.

But going with the flow of battle, she and Komachi got separated from each other attempting to deal with their own batch of bad guys.

Converging from all sides, Kushina was surrounded as she looked both left and right waiting to see who was going to make the first move. Being a well coordinated enemy unit, two ninjas approached. One from her front and one from her blind spot.

Thus that being the case, it was time to up her own game. Frankly she was never good at using ninjutsu thus the necessity to be more innovative. Thus her signature technique of molding her chakra into physical weapons as her tool of choice were chains. Forming some in her hands, she whipped it around the neck of the enemy before her as she pulled hard throwing the ninja back to the one attacking from behind. Pulling once more, she kicked the sound ninja to the ground as she hogged tied the man.

Moving once again in her blind spot, Kushina reacted repelling over him from his shoulders while instantaneously creating another chakra chain in her hand pulling it across her opponent's throat as her back pressed into him forcing her opponent to struggle for air as he fruitlessly tried to pull away. Circling around as her back was covered by a human meat shield, she didn't care to waste anymore time with these small fry's. In the brief moment she looked to the arena ground, her son was there one and then gone the next. So it meant he was either captured or pursuing a target. So she needed to get to him now. So materializing several massive chakra chains from her back, they pierced the ground beneath reemerging above as they whipped around bashing several sand and sound ninjas as it swerved back and forth like snakes controlled by Kushina's willpower. Seeing no more left, it gave her time to breath as Komachi approached.

"My lady are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just a bit winded. But I need to go to my son now and I don't have time for questions".

Nodding, the female anbu understood as the red headed Uzumaki had just performed a rather showy attack gaining the attention of their fellow leaf ninjas. Namely Kakashi and Gai as they were wide eye to what they saw as there was only one person in Konoha who could perform that technique. But looking up to a building close by, "my lady, look!"

Turning to the said direction, Kushina saw as Hiruzen was currently in a life or death struggle with his former student Orochimaru as they were surrounded by what appeared to be an ominous purple barrier keeping fellow leaf ninjas from interceding to help their hokage.

"We must do something. Even now more enemy ninjas are entering the village. We must act and quickly".

Kushina gazed downwards as she had to make a critical decision. One that caused her to cringe as a lump formed in her throat. On one hand she was a ninja of Konoha and her head told her to push the invaders out and help the hokage as soon as she can. But on the other hand she was a mother and her heart told her to go save her son as he was most likely chasing after the enemy jinchuriki in which it was a fight she didn't want him to face alone. However this was a hardship within simplicity as her two sides argued it out to what she should do as there were too many ramifications of choosing one path over the other. Closing her eyes, she gave a soft breath as ultimately . . . . Her heart won. To her knowledge Naruto was the only family she still had left in the world and she wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to him. If Minato was still here . . . . He would understand her decision. So with a heavy heart and a tearful look, she exited the arena. "I'm sorry jii-san".

Komachi could only watch as Kushina jumped the arena's walls as she slid off the outer sides before proceeding off towards the forest. Though she felt it was a violation of their duty, she understood her feelings and dared not question them. So this only meant they had to compensate, adapt, and overcome. Feeling the questioning eyes of Kakashi, Gai, and her other fellow ninjas, it had to wait as they had other important matters to see too. Arming themselves, it was time to take Konoha back.

Running deeper into the forest Kushina knew she was going to right way as she was homing in on the chakra of that detestable kyubi. If it counted for anything, this was the only good thing that bijuu ever did for her as it allowed her to track Naruto quite easily. Though the demon fox was no longer a part of her, it still left an abundant of chakra residue on her soul which made sensing possible.

Going along she knew other battles were taking place in the forest, but her senses told her they would be fine.

"Got to hurry! Got to get there faster!" she told herself as her heart pounded in her ears while adrenaline raced through her veins. She wanted to run faster, commanding, begging her legs to pick up the pace as dreadful thoughts plagued her mind. Looking up briefly, she saw the sand's bijuu in all it's glory as it was easily hundreds of feet tall dwarfing everything else around it and her son was going to fight that?! What if Naruto was in trouble? What if he was hurt? What if he was dying? "No! I need to think positive. I'll make it. Just hang in there Naruto!"

Just then the earth beneath her trembled as a blast reverberated through the environment. Stopping, she looked up to see Gamabunta as Naruto stood proudly on top the great toad's head. " . . . . Naruto". She didn't know what to say at seeing her son. There he stood bravely without faltering the way his father would against such a fearsome enemy. Fighting alongside him was an ally who very few were able to call. Awe aspiring as it was, she was going to be there for her son now as he has been fighting alone his entire life long enough.

As the battle commenced between the two giants as Gamabunta made the first move swinging his sword for a quick pass as the ichibi countered with his own strike. Successfully connecting and severing the beast's arm, his blade was thrown aside due to the difference in power between them. Eying the bijuu, he sensed what was coming next as it prepared it's technique. So jumping into the air in an attempt to avoid, the ichibi aimed upwards firing a volley of massive powerful sand bullets. Unable to dodge in midair, the great toad countered using his own volley of water bullets.

Colliding in the space between, a storm of sand and water erupted as it rained down below.

However Gamabunta was not able to stop all of them as one blast of sand impacted causing him and Naruto to crash to the ground below. Cringing from the hit, "that hurt! You pumped so much damn chakra into that ball you threw at me!" Looking up to Naruto, "I won't be able to withstand many more hits like those".

"What are we supposed to do?" Naruto asked.

"We got to rough up that kid so that his spell will break".

"How exactly are we supposed to do that?"

"We'll get close to that stupid badger and stop him in his tracks. We'll do it when his guard is down".

"I'm asking you how exactly are we going to do that?!" the blond jinchuriki stressed as they were running out of time.

Gamabunta didn't have much of an idea for this. Naruto was more then likely running on empty after summoning him. He didn't have much left after taking all that damage. Considering the ichibi's condition, though his jinchuriki must have been running ragged needing to support his bijuu the beast itself still had plenty of juice left to go. If it decided to fire a tailed beast ball then it was over for all of them. Quite frankly, what they needed right now was a miracle.

As the ichibi began to advance, giant chakra anchors skewered the bijuu's limbs as several chains appeared wrapping around them as it began to pull the beast back. "What the heck is that?" said Naruto confused to what it was.

Standing a distance away with her arms crossed, Kushina smirked as her technique was taking effect. For two generations already, the Uzumaki line were tasked with subduing the power of the kyubi. The demon fox being the strongest of all tailed beasts, what hope did a one tailed tanuki have in resisting her seals? "Alright, let's start by cutting you down to size".

Naruto squinted his eyes trying to locate who was casting this jutsu. Searching a bit, he spotted the hooded figure quite a few meters away. "Amazing" the blond exclaimed. "I never seen anything like it! That person is holding it back all by themselves!"

Gamabunta was speechless. To his knowledge the only person who knew this technique was supposed to be dead or so that was the official story. But if it was who he thought it was then joy was one of the few words that could describe what he felt. More so, he knew a certain blond would be happy to meet her.

"Come on!" Naruto shouted. "This is our chance! Let's strike!"

"No" said Gamabunta which earned him a puzzled look from his summoner. "Let 'her' handle things from here".

Now pressing her palms together, the chains began to tighten and squeeze tearing off the ichibi's arm, legs, and tail before decapitating the tanuki. Ripping the bijuu apart, it broke down into an avalanche of sand. "Got to hurry before it reforms itself! I need to get to it's jinchuriki!" As the sand began to pile down in a wave, Kushina ran at her top speed along with her sticking repulsion technique as she began to climb it.

Sensing an invasion on it's body, the ichibi began attacking as sand traps and turbulent waves erupted all over it's body.

"Tenacious bastard!" Kushina cursed as she felt herself lose footing due to random fluctuations in the sand. "Fine have it your way!" as she shot up a chakra anchor piercing the top as she began to reel herself up. Upon getting there, she launched several lines into the sand pile in an attempt to fish Gaara out. Locating him, she pulled him out but not without a fight from the ichibi as it attempted to pull him back along with her. In a contest of willpower or just plain stubbornness, the red headed Uzumaki believed herself the strongest there was as the sand's jinchuriki was within her grasp. Now within her hold, she charged a handful of her chakra as she pressed it against Gaara's stomach.

"Hey what is she doing?" Naruto questioned, "she's just standing there!"

"She attempting to connect with the ichibi" Gamabunta explained. "She's trying to end this without anymore of a fuss".

However the one tailed tanuki would not have that as the sand began to pick up where it left off trying to attack his current assailant.

"I'm too big to do anything. It's on you Naruto".

"I'm on it!" as Naruto made his cross seal as several kage bunshins sprang to life as they jumped off the toad next to the female stranger. As the sand came to life all around them, the clones fought and protected the female kunoichi with everything they had left short of being human shields as they hoped that whatever she was doing, she'd do it fast.

~ Inner World ~

Standing within the infinite world of sub-consciousness, Kushina stood before the one tailed beast as behind her was Gaara apparently in the fetal position with a look of terror on him.

She didn't know how jinchuriki's were treated in other villages, but it was clear Gaara was a victim like most jinchurikis were. She definitely didn't want to have to harm a child as she had seen enough of this kind violence to last a life time. So to end this fight with the least amount of loss, she was going to deal with this beast that was plaguing this boy.

"How dare you!" the ichibi roared incoherently. "How dare you enter here! This is my world! My world!"

". . . . Shut up" Kushina sighed while nonchalantly picking her ear. "I barely even know you and I already don't like you. Compared to that stupid fox, you make him sound like a genius".

The sand tanuki growled loudly at that remark as it stared intently to Kushina. But observing, it felt a very familiar chakra presence which really got him riled up. "Kurama!"

Kushina brow quirked to this as she thought she heard a name. However with the monsters constant grumbling it made it hard to understand what it was saying. But it didn't matter. It was causing enough problems for her as it was and it even tried to kill her son. So she was going to give this bijuu a rather harsh lesson in humility of why you never challenge an Uzumaki.

Aiming with his mouth, the sand tanuki fired several bullets of sand as the force of that attack was great enough to peel the flesh right off the bones of any regular human.

"Typical" as a chain dome surrounded Kushina like barrier as the projectiles sputtered off harmlessly from it. Countering, she sent her chains out as they tied up the beasts arms and legs. At the command of a thought, the lines that tied the tanuki's arms began to pull forward. "Now kneel in apology". The ichibi resisted as he attempted to pull back only for Kushina to pull harder. "I said kneel!" as another chain pulled around it's neck dragging it down. Walking up to it, she yanked at it's eye lid as she wanted her face to be burned in his memory for all times. "I don't know where you get off on getting your kicks in tormenting people like this. But it ends now" as a boulder began to appear behind the ichibi. From the chains that binded him, it pulled back attaching to the rock as the sand tanuki's arms, legs, and tail began to fuse with it. "Let this be an example for you to learn some manners and decency. For the many generations after if you ever rear your ugly head again . . . . Remember me".

At being completely defeated, the ichibi roared rattling his new confines as he was completely immobilized all the while cursing incoherently.

Done with her task, Kushina made her way to Gaara who hadn't moved the entire time still terrified with his eyes shut tight to what was going on.

Approaching slowly, "it's alright now. He won't hurt you again".

"No! Stay away!" Garra shouted burying his head within his arms. "I won't die! I won't die! I don't want to die!"

It was at this point Kushina's motherly instincts took hold.

"Oww!" Gaara cringed at receiving a knife hand chop to his head. Looking up, he saw the red headed lady looking somewhat annoyed. But before long she settled into a warm comforting smile. She then kneel down only for him to retreat a bit. However she still slowly approached as her hand settled on his cheek.

"See? There is nothing to be afraid of" Kushina said gently as she held her warm smile. "It's OK now. It's OK rest".

Although still terrified of his current ordeal, a strange sensation began to appear inside him. He didn't know what it was. However . . . . It felt like something he lost . . . . Along time ago as then his eyes started to feel heavy as they closed as he was now asleep.

~ Konoha (forest) ~

Now back in the material world, the battle was over as Gaara laid unconscious. Kushina was glad she could have ended this relatively peacefully.

With his time already used up, Gamabunta returned back to his homeland leaving Naruto to approach as he ran up the pile of sand to check if everything was alright. Reaching the top, he saw Gaara unconscious with the mysterious ninja standing there. Examining the mysterious individual, the ninja was a woman with red hair as she seemed to be wearing a disguise of sorts. Regardless of that, the blond jinchuriki was just plain amazed at how a single ninja took down an entire bijuu all by them-self. "That was awesome lady! You were awesome! Who are you?"

Stumbling a bit, Kushina looked to Naruto as she had no idea what to say. This wasn't exactly the most ideal first meeting she was looking for. But seeing the young blond looking in awestruck to her, she said the first thing that came to mind. "Someone who has been gone for a long time".

To be continued . . . .

Author's notes: