Minato awoke in a cage.

No, that wasn't quite right. It was not quite a cage, but a prison nonetheless.

The first thing he realized was the lack of chakra sustaining him.

Chakra was energy. It flowed through every living being, this he knew. Yet somehow, someone had managed to drain his away, leaving him with little more than was necessary to fulfill basic human functions. Someone… had sealed it.

"Sealed…" he muttered, his voice dry from a lack of water. "That kunoichi…"

In an instant the memories of his earlier battle returned to him, and with a small groan, the blonde made to rattle the golden chains binding his limbs.

"They won't break." A familiar voice spoke curtly to him from the shadows. Minato realized it was that of the same woman he'd fought earlier. "I made them stronger this time. Strong enough to weigh you down."

Minato grunted, and rattled the chains once more to confirm her words. Indeed, with his current strength it would take quite the miracle for him to shatter the new chains. Realizing the futility of his situation, the blonde turned his head, and stared toward the darkness in which his guard stood.

"I see. Then, I suppose I am to be used as a hostage?" Minato questioned. "Or… perhaps you intend to torture me as your prisoner? I should warn you, my lips won't be loosened that easily-"

A soft sigh interrupted Minato's statement, and suddenly the chains binding his legs vanished, dropping him to the floor in a slump. The blonde was surprised, but not shocked. Standing quickly, he made to attack, only to realize his hands and wrists were still bound.

"You're not a prisoner," the woman said while leaving the cover of darkness, "but I can't let you run around freely."

"Not a prisoner? You don't really believe I'm stupid enough to believe that, do you?" Minato inquired. "If that's truly the case, you wouldn't have bothered with the chains."

"The chains were… necessary." The kunoichi explained, tugging on Minato's remaining chains to lead him down the hall. "We couldn't afford to have you wake up and start attacking without explanation."

Minato's face remained unimpressed. "So you drain my chakra and chain me up? Sorry, but that not very convincing."

"It doesn't matter whether you're convinced or not." The kunoichi said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're just another mission, -tebane. One that's finished as soon as I show you to Mito-sama."

"Mito-sama?" Minato asked.

The kunoichi sighed, and made to explain. "The leader of our village. I believe the term for you Leaf-nin would be, a Kage? She is the one who heads the majority of our operations, and the one you should thank. If not for her, you would not have gotten off so… easy."

"Easy, is it? I'm not quite sure that's the word you're looking for." Minato said. "Speaking of easy however, how was it you reflected my Rasengan?"

The kunoichi scoffed. "You don't really expect me to tell you such things, do you?"

"Not really." Minato admitted, "But then, I already have my suspicions. It was a Seal, wasn't it?"

The kunoichi paused, her steps faltering at the words. "Yes. That's correct. How is it you know of such things?"

"My teacher." Minato explained. "The lines you drew appeared similar to those I've seen him attempt to make use of before. Though unlike you, he was never successful with writing on scrolls, much less in the air, of all things."

"Of course not." The woman replied, her voice harder. "Jiraiya knows but a portion of what we Uzumaki have to offer. The fact he managed to remember any Arrays at all astounds me."

The use of his teacher's name brought Minato to a halt, and he stared at the kunoichi in shock.

"What? How is it you know my teacher's name? I do not remember giving you such information prior to this conversation." Minato grimaced, wondering if the kunoichi or this "Mito-sama" had some kind of mind-reading technique similar to the Yamanaka. If that was the case…

"You worry far too much, Leaf-nin." The kunoichi said, her voice betraying her amusement. "The reason I know your teacher's name, and why it would be possible for him to draw seals. Well, take a look for yourself."

She opened the door beside her, and Minato was illuminated by a blinding light. The merry sound of partying filled the air, and as Minato's eyes began to adjust, he found himself staring at a most unusual scene.

Jiraiya, his teacher, draped around the forms of several kunoichi. A bottle of sake was present in his hands, and far more were discarded around him.

"Master…" Minato deadpanned, his face as stoic as his words.

"Ah, theresh he is! Minato, my prized studentsh!" Jiraiya cheered, his face reddened and breath reeking of the liquor that filled him. "I've been waitin on ya! Wheresh ya been?!"

"In a prison, though it seems you had more luck than I…" Minato drawled.

"Prison? Don't be ridiculoush! Yah were unconscious, gaki. Kushinna hads ta, fix ya shesh did! Mito-chan's orders they were!"

The kunoichi accompanying Minato frowned at that, even more so upon realizing that her comrades were locked tight beneath the Sannin's arms. She approached the man steadily, greeted by his perverse stare and giggles.

"Master Jiraiya, though you may be a friend of our leader…" the woman said, her voice rising ever so slowly, "I thought I warned you to STAY AWAY FROM OUR SAKE?!"

She smashed her fist into the man's face at that, and a crunching sound echoed through the room, filling not only Minato, but Jiraiya himself with fear and dread. As the old sage's eyes went blank, his body was thrown back, tumbling through the room swiftly and coming to a forceful stop against the cold, steel wall.

The two kunoichi he'd been holding onto moments prior scattered, fearing Kushina's wrath far more than the other occupants of the room. They, unlike their visitors, knew just how powerful the woman could get when she was truly angry.

"You stupid fool! We grant you entry into our home and you repay us by drinking all our wine and seducing our women?! I'll kick your ass, DATTEBANE!"

"N-Now hold on, Kushina." Jiraiya said suddenly, his mind having sobered at the presence of a true threat. "You wouldn't go against old lady Mito's instructions, would you?"

Kushina glowered at that, her brandished fist seeming all the more terrible at Jiraiya's words.

"Those instructions don't apply to a dead man, -tebane!" Kushina shouted, and she pulled her fist back for a powerful punch.

Sensing the lack of serious killing intent, Minato didn't feel sorry for his master at all. Nonetheless, it seemed that Jiraiya still carried the luck of the gods. Just as Kushina's fist began to fly, a golden chain spread from the doorway behind her, wrapping around the girl's wrist and hindering its motion.

"Now, Kushina. What have I told you about threatening our guests?" a frail, old-looking woman asked, appearing in the doorway with a bemused, if not cold smile.

Kushina immediately lowered her hand, and stared at the woman in awe and surprise.

"Mito-sama! I was- this is-!"

The woman, Mito, Minato noted, raised her hand to cut Kushina off.

"There is no need for explanation, child. I know full well the hobbies of our belated guest." Mito replied, eliciting a small sigh of relief from her loyal kunoichi.

"Ah, Mito." Jiraiya greeted cordially. "You always did know how to make an entrance."

Minato, ever the genius, noticed something distressing.

"Jiraiya-sensei, you don't mean to say you know these… people?"

The Toad Sage smirked, rising back to his feet while scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Ah, Minato. I'd nearly forgotten you were here. Aye, you don't need to worry. We're among friends, for now."

Friends. The term denoted some level of familiarity between them, if not affection. Were they not the invaders Minato had thought them to be? They knew Jiraiya… but Minato did not recalling seeing even one of them among Jiraiya's spy network, and the honorifics he'd used for this Mito earlier… when did Jiraiya have the time to get so close…?

"You don't mean to say… the tales of your "tribe from the west" were true, do you Master?" Minato inquired, earning a grin from the old man.

"Heh, that's my student. Smart as a whip, that one. I told you he was a genius, Mito." Jiraiya laughed.

Mito turned to regard Minato closely, the hint of a smile present on her lips. "It would appear so, for the moment."

She waved her palms, and suddenly Minato's arms, once bound by Kushina's chains, were free. The kunoichi beside him huffed in response.

"I must admit, this is rather… unsettling." Minato admitted, rubbing his wrists gently. "To think that your stories were true… I take it this is were you learnt what little you know of sealing as well?"

Jiraiya stilled at that, and he turned his head from all in the room.

"Jiraiya…" Mito said softly. "You didn't."

"I… may have experimented some." The man chuckled. "Haven't managed to figure out even the most basic of Storage Seals… though, in other areas I've had more success."

The sound of a slap rang through the room, and both Minato and Kushina glanced at Jiraiya in shock.

"You stubborn fool!" Mito scolded, lowering her raised hand swiftly. "Did I not warn you what could happen? The dangers of tempering with our Sacred Art?! It's a miracle you're still here at all! If you had made even a single miscalculation-!"

"I have precautions set in place!" Jiraiya interrupted. "You taught me at least that much."

Mito huffed, her face drawn back in a sour expression that caught Minato off guard. Was she… was she worried about Jiraiya? After Tsunade, Minato realized it'd been quite some time since he'd seen such concern directed toward the aged man.

"But regardless of my little habit…" Jiraiya continued after a moment, "we have more important things to discuss, no?"

Folding her arms, Mito glared at Jiraiya disapprovingly, to no effect. Realizing this, she sighed, and allowed herself to retreat from his personal space.

"Yes," she admitted, "I suppose you are right. What happened to Tanzaku Gai was… rather unfortunate, I must admit."

"That's your word for it?" Minato couldn't help but ask. "I will admit that it seems you know my teacher, but forgive me if I am not yet convinced that you all…" he gestured to Kushina and Mito, "had nothing to do with the situation."

"What are you trying to imply here-?" Kushina started, only to be cut off by Mito once again.

"Slow to trust. Smart." Mito said, approaching Minato slowly. "Tell me, do you know who I am, child?"

"The leader of a woman who singlehandedly outfought me." Minato responded. "As such, it is only natural I take everything you, and your allies, say with a grain of salt."

Jiraiya laughed.

"Ordinarily, you'd be right gaki," he said after a moment, "but this is Mito Uzumaki. The same woman who fought alongside the Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage! She's not quite someone you'd treat as an ordinary enemy. She is far too wise for that."

"We are shinobi, Master." Minato said cautiously. "Is it not our job to treat everything a potential threat?"

"See?" Kushina drawled. "This is why I hate Leaf-nin. Always so quick to start a fight. Tell me, blondie. Were you like this all the time, or was it only after Danzo took over ANBU?"

Minato reached for his holster, which, for some reason, had not been confiscated.

"You know Danzo?" he asked slowly.

"I know of him." Kushina corrected. "His warmongering is well-known in the Land of Fire, and from what we've heard, it's earned him no points with the local Daimyo."

"True. He's always swooping around like an old bat, looking for new ways to bring war to our land." Jiraiya agreed. "But we are not here to talk about him, nor are we here to fight, Minato. Mito, I asked you before, but for his sake, I'll say it again. Just what were you and your clan doing in Tanzaku Gai?"

"The same as you, I suspect." Mito explained cordially. "There have been disturbing… rumors… as of late. Tanzaku Gai has not been the only town hit by this devastation. Smaller towns in the Land of Fire too, have been eradicated, victims, I think, of the same event."

"Event?" Minato asked, his curiosity getting the best of him. "You have suspicions, then?"

"Suspicions… Ideas…" Mito said. "There have been changes in the winds these past few months. I fear they may not be for the better."

"You never seemed like a woman who let her suspicions rest, Mito." Jiraiya said. "There is something you're not telling us."

Mito stared at Jiraiya stoically for several seconds, but her will broke before she could come up with a suitable excuse. Jiraiya, for all his mistakes, knew her too well it seemed.

"Alas, you are corrected. These deaths are not new to me. They are a reminder of a time long past, a time I feared would never see the light of day again." She said. "Not since the time of the departed First, I should think…"

"You've seen entire villages massacred before?" Minato asked, both in surprise and caution.

"Villages. Forests. Mountains. The world was younger, then. Wars raged, and the Countries did not yet have the Village System to curb the fighting. Chaos, was abundant." Mito said, her eyes recalling a darker time.

"You expect me to believe you're old enough to have lived during the Clan Wars?" Minato asked, understandably skeptical.

"The Uzumaki have an unnatural longevity." Mito said. "I am far older than you realize, I think, and your teacher too, would confirm my words. Though he has aged considerably since our last meeting, to him, I must not look a day older than last we spoke."

"One more wrinkle I think." Jiraiya replied. "One less hair. Nonetheless, you are just as I left you."

"Jiraiya…" Kushina warned.

"You must understand," Mito interrupted. "Times were much different then. Brother against brother. Mother against children. It was a cruel fate, to have been born in that era. There were no safe havens, and you would be killed for color of your eyes or the hair on your head. It was a cold time, a darker time, and in that chaos… they appeared."

"They?" Jiraiya asked, having not heard this before.

"Landshakers. Worldbreakers. Beasts who went against the very nature of the world, yet stood for it. A single whip of their tail could shatter mountains and cause tsunamis. Their very presence brought men and gods alike to their knees. You have heard the legends, have you not? Listened to their wisdom in your bed, just before you passed to sleep? I speak of beasts beyond mortal comprehension, Jiraiya. Terrible creatures that know no fear, know no mercy, and will stop at nothing to seek their prey."

"No," Jiraiya breathed, understanding. "Impossible."

"I speak of Biju, child, and a Biju, is what we seek."

"Biju?" Minato asked incredulously. "From the Sage's Tale? They are but a myth! A child's tale with which to teach wisdom and guide young shinobi into striving for an ideal!"

"But all myths are born from some semblance of truth, are they not?" Mito asked. "Hashirama knew this, no doubt. And so, it is no wonder he'd work the beasts into his own, memorable work."

"Hashirama?!" Jiraiya said. "That man, the First? He's the author? The timeline would match up…"

"Master, surely you aren't going to believe this? Not without some form of proof?" Minato despaired.

"Proof?" Kushina said. "Some things are not so easily proven, Leaf-nin. Was it not just yesterday that you thought your sensei's "seals" impossible to create? Just yesterday, would you have believed an entire city could disappear in the blink of an eye? You must learn to take some things on faith, I think."

"Well said, Kushina," Mito praised, "but if it is proof that Minato wants, then it is proof I shall give him. Come, follow me. The answers you seek lie not in this chamber."

Allowing the conversation to stall, Mito turned, guiding the group from the room and toward her own, inconspicuous office. Minato took the time in between to memorize his surroundings, never knowing when or if he'd need to make a mistake. While certainly unpleasant, it was true that these… Uzumaki had not yet been hostile during his time among them, and apart from his skirmish with Kushina in Tanzaku Gai, not a single punch had been thrown between them.

"If you think this wise, Jiraiya, then I shall believe in you." he whispered to himself, deciding to have faith in his teacher… for now.

Kushina scoffed beside him. Wondering whether the woman had heard him, Minato met her scowl with one of his own, before turning to keep an eye on the older woman in front of them. Mito was strange, and while far more pleasant than her hot-blooded subordinate, Minato could not yet tell whether the woman could be trusted. Jiraiya did, certainly, but Minato's time among the man had already taught him that the Sage was not always the best judge of character.

"And there's the fact that these are the same people he'd been abducted by some years ago." Minato recalled. "There's no telling whether or not they've done something to him. He has acted normally so far… but I should stay focused, just in case."

"We are here." Mito said, breaking Minato's thoughts as she led them to a large, circular chamber.

Jiraiya whistled. "Quite the place you've got here, Mito. It'd make the perfect location for the next scene in my new novel-"

"No one is interested in your Icha Icha books, Master." Minato said, earning a confused stare from Kushina.

"Icha Icha?" she asked, raising a brow at the chosen name.

"A perverse piece of literature for a perverse man." Minato explained crudely, and Kushina's eyes widened.

She turned to level Jiraiya with a stern glare.

"I see…"

"Enough. We have not the time for this." Mito said, and Kushina silenced herself.

"Sorry, -tebane."

"You sought proof of the Biju's existence, Minato. Here is what we have to offer." Mito said, and a glowing scroll presented itself to him.

Minato took the object graciously, and after a wary glance at both Mito and Kushina, unraveled its contents swiftly.

"What is this?" Minato asked, his eyes wide as he stared at the files contained within.

Mito's eyes narrowed. "The truth."

That much, Minato could make out. Like Konoha mission files, there were pictures and data available regarding the content. Unlike Konoha's however, this scroll was had been labelled with an abundance of seals, and as a result, Minato could watch what was happening. He watched as Konoha's ANBU Unit danced through the trees with practiced ease. He watched as they came upon a large, forsaken tree covered with glowing lines. He watched as the ANBU Leader grabbed his tanto, and pried it into the tree's bark.

For a moment, nothing had happened. A thick silence had drifted over the area, and the ANBU Unit had said nothing. Then, seconds later, a thickly red color seeped from the tree. The bark cracked and groaned as something churned from deep within, and suddenly, a thick, booming roar had ripped the world asunder.

Even through the scroll's recording, Minato flinched, and in doing so, he'd very nearly missed it. The blinding flash of light that swept from the tree outward, the thick, snarling silhouette that rose from the debris.

The cries of the ANBU.

As the light died down, the forest was scorched and the ANBU nowhere to be seen. They had fled, all the way to Tanzaku Gai, Minato realized. The recording zoomed in, at that point, scouring the damage and finding only a single piece of evidence. Evidence that both Jiraiya and Minato were familiar with.

A headband, bearing the symbol of ROOT.

"Danzo." Jiraiya growled, realizing just what this meant. ROOT was still active, and that meant the old warhawk was bordering on the edge of treason.

"The man sought a weapon of war, but awakened something far worse." Mito explained. "I know not how he came to discern its location, nor why he would be so foolish as to send only eight men. Nonetheless, the fact remains, the beast is free, and I fear, it is extremely, extremely enraged."

Minato replayed the scene again and again, burning the details into his mind. As he did so, he could not help but recall the Third's words.

The entire squadron had been decimated, slaughtered, by a foe they could not see or hear. ANBU Black Ops, the best of Konoha, beaten!

"They could not see because its mere presence blinded them." Minato whispered. "They could not hear because its roar shattered their eardrums. Just what are you?" he paused the recording then, staring at the dark silhouette of the creature's escape, and caught sight of its nine glistening tails.

"Wha-?"

A smoke bomb fell from the ceiling, and covered the room in gas.

"An attack, here?!" Kushina gasped out, watching as several silhouettes descended from above.

Minato was thankful for the fact they hadn't confiscated his weapons. It allowed him to grab hold of one of the many kunai in his holster, and use it to fend off his assailant.

Jiraiya too, seemed to be doing well, if the sound of clashing steel was any indication. The gas had covered the room fully, blanketing the area in a thick, gray fog that obscured enemy locations. Minato could still hear the occasional sounds of battle, but as he kicked his own attacker farther into the room, the blonde couldn't help but feel he'd made some kind of mistake.

"I won't be able to see him now." he thought, tightening the grip on his kunai. "Not until it's too late."

"Gaki," Jiraiya's voice came from behind him, and Minato felt the Toad Sage's back press against his, "how are you holding up?"

"Ask me again when we've both gotten out of this alive, Jiraiya-sensei." Minato replied, earning a chortle from the old man.

"That would be ideal, wouldn't it?" Jiraiya asked, senses alerting him just in time to deflect another would-be assailant.

"How is it you're able to see so well in this fog?" Minato asked.

Another chortle. "Seems the Uzumaki seals have more than one use, kid." Jiraiya explained. "Mito hit me with one just before the fighting started. Not sure on the specifics, but it seems to grant me a little more awareness of my surroundings. It's how I found you amongst all the fighting."

"You trust her a lot." Minato noted.

"You would too," Jiraiya explained, "if it had been your life she'd saved. Though I'm loathe to admit it, I'm still a little woozy from all my drinking earlier, any chance you could hit the room with one of those Wind Jutsu of yours?"

"While I'd love to help, sensei," Minato grunted, locked in combat with another mysterious shinobi. "I'm afraid my chakra is still remarkably low."

"That Kushina…" Jiraiya mused. "She always was a bit too forceful for her own good. Wouldn't put it past her to have hit you with a seal of her own at some point."

"Well, I'm sure I'd be more assistance if it was," Minato paused to kick his attacker away a second time, "removed."

"Hmph. Only one of the natives would be able to do that I'm afraid." Jiraiya explained. "Hmph. Guess there's nothing to do for it then. It might be a little clumsy, but it's up to me."

Quickly bringing his palms together, the wizened Toad Sage began forming numerous hand seals, and spread his hands in a show of force.

"Fuuton: Daitoppa!" Jiraiya shouted, and a wave of fierce wind erupted around him, blowing the room asunder. The sound of shattering glass could be heard as the gas fled the room, and as it cleared, Minato realized that the attackers had left along with it.

"Is everyone alright?" Minato asked, glancing around the room quickly.

"Aye. Seems they didn't want to fight in the light. Sound like anyone we know?" Jiraiya asked with a raised brow.

"Danzo. But why would he attack us?" Minato questioned. "Though, I suppose if he knew we knew ROOT was still active…"

"Where is Kushina?" Mito's tired voice asked from behind them. "Where is my kunoichi?"

The two Leaf-nin stilled. Turning, they scoured the room once more, only to find that indeed, Kushina was missing.

"Not good." Jiraiya glowered. "Did they take her in the fighting?"

"It's the only viable explanation," Minato agreed, "unless you knocked her outside with that jutsu, Master."

"I did not. The force put into the technique was just enough to disrupt the gas. She would have had to be lighter than a feather for that to have moved her."

"While this conjecture is all well and good, I'd think the time could be better spent locating my student, would it not?" Mito asked.

"Perhaps we would be able to do so," Minato replied, "if you were to remove whatever device it is that is exhausting my chakra."

Mito scowled at the words, and studied Minato's form for several seconds. "Very well." She said stiffly, and gestured the blonde close.

Warily, Minato obliged.

"I had instructed Kushina to make use of this in the case you did not believe us." Mito explained, running a hand down the blonde's back. "In wake of this attack, however, it would seem there are more important things to fear."

"Like the Biju?" Minato questioned.

"Danzo." Mito corrected. "The Biju are not to be feared, child, but respected. From what I hear, however, Danzo holds respect for no man. He foolishly believes that power is all that is important in this world, and he would bring war to get it. Stupid child. He knows not what he has brought upon the world."

"The picture… there were nine tails." Minato said.

"Nine, yes. Nine Tails, for the strongest beast." Mito explained. "It was buried here, sealed, by the one you know as the First Hokage. He feared… that if the truth of its existence was brought to light, the world would attempt to make use of its power. It was not yet ready, is not yet ready, to know that such things exist."

"And yet, Danzo knew that something, at least, was buried in that exact spot." Jiraiya grunted.

"Something you should ask him, perhaps." There was a humming sound, and suddenly Minato could feel again.

His chakra was returning. Whatever seal it was Kushina had placed upon him was undone.

"You are released." Mito said stiffly, stepping away from the blonde. "Now, go. Bring back my student, and we shall speak of this more."

Minato nodded, and leapt from the room.