A/N I do not own the rights to Naruto or character, these are owned by Masashi Kishimoto.
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Chapter 3 – Demons of the Past

Naruto flew through the air until he reached the kunai, snatching it Naruto entered a spin an released fifty kunai directly into the group spread out beneath him. The three pronged weapons rained down scattering among the fighting forces spread out beneath his flight, Kumo shinobi were fighting desperately against Iwa ninjas that were disguising themselves as Konoha nins. Naruto smirked viciously, it had taken a lot of digging to discover that this was actually all a ruse, for years Kumo believed that this was a back stabbing attack at them as they retreated from the battle that had just taken place and the shaky truce that had been worked out.

There were already a few differences though, one simple one was that the Raikage and the Hokage survived the battle and were not both found dead, presumably at the others hands. Naruto had eventually found out the truth that it had been an elaborate plan taken by the Tsuchikage to weaken and defeat his two primary competitors at the moment and Suna and Kiri were both weakened greatly form the end of the last great war, with the fighting between Kumo and Konoha raging Iwa could move in and become the strongest nation. The long of it was that this all lead to the events which were the cause of the third shinobi war.

All of that did not really matter to Naruto now, he had assumed that even with his primary plan defeated and exposed that the Tsuchikage might still try this second stroke, if he succeeded here it would forever place an insurmountable rift between Konoha and Kumo, one that would take decades to heal.

The kunais struck, missing the fighting forces effectively. The battle stopped and everyone looked up. Who threw that many kunais and missed so badly. Crossing the sky they watched an orange clad blond smirk again and flash in a burst of orange light. The streak arrived at the first planted kunai and then started to move almost as a solid beam of light between each kunai that had landed in a web like pattern. When the orange passed the disguised Iwa nins deadly cuts and slashes appeared on each of them, many of them fell over dead their arteries slashed, arms missing, or in the case of a few their heads rolling on the ground before the bodies that they once belonged to fell beside them.

If there was one word the watching Kumo shinobi would use it would have to be 'massacre' never before had any of them seen such a devastating technique. No one had, the shock alone accounted for the deaths of their enemies. The Raikage watched in muted horror as the bodies of those they were fighting piled up, the streak even killed those it had merely wounded. The Raikage suppressed a shudder, when he had seen the young blond man perform this jutsu before to save the blond girl who had protected him, he had never realized that this could be such a devastating maneuver and used to cause such death and destruction.

Eventually the light stopped and there standing in the midst of all his men was a blood covered Uzumaki Naruto. The boy was panting and though his chest was covered in blood the Raikage soon realized that it was not that of his enemies. The red was seeping through bandages wrapped around the boys chest where the Tsuchikage's scythe had pierced him.

The Kumo nins wavered at the blood covered blond, he had just easily slaughtered over fifty jonin, and given his head band, he slaughtered his own companions before they could even counter act him. Naruto for his part continued to pant before he went down on one knee breathing heavily, the two swords he carried heavy in his hands.

Finally the Raikage spoke, "Why?"

Naruto gave off a bitter laugh, under his breath he replied and the Raikage owed his training for catching the words, "For her."

Forcing himself to stand Naruto looked wearily at all those who surrounded him. The Raikage shook his head, he wondered who this 'her' was, based on the events in the village it was most likely the blond haired girl who saved him and was in turn saved by this boy. He would leave that for another time, for now he wanted to know why this boy would betray his own comrades. "I meant why did you kill your own fellow villagers."

At this Naruto actually managed a full laugh, sheathing the two blades the Raikage caught a glimpse of them and did a double take, he was about to demand how he had them when Naruto spoke, "These scum are not my fellow leafs, they are disguised Iwa nin." Naruto smiled slightly, "This was part of their pathetic attempt to cause a war between Konoha and Kumo. I decided to crash their party."

The Raikage nodded his head at the response, he was about to demand about the swords when another spoke up. "What was that technique, and your power was amazing surely we should have heard of you before now?"

Turning to face the one who spoke Naruto gave a soft chuckle. "That technique was made by my father, as for the rest of your question... Well it is too complicated to explain, too much is, for now though I recommend all of you leave quickly, I am not sure if there are more Iwa shinobi due to arrive." Naruto nodded to all of them.

Sighing the Raikage nodded back, "I have many questions for you young Uzumaki, the little information I was given by my friend the Hokage about you and your two companions does you no justice." A smile was on the Raikage's face as he spoke, he loved mysteries, they made life more enjoyable and he looked forward to the mystery of Uzumaki Naruto and fully exploring it. "For now you are right, we must leave. Are you able to make it back to Konoha alone or do you require assistance?"

"I shall be fine." Naruto nodded to them again. With a return shake of his head the Raikage signaled his troops who gathered up their wounded and dead before they all took to the trees again, the Raikage stayed behind just long enough to give Naruto a final smile before he too raced off.

Heaving another breath in Naruto waited for around a minute before he spoke aloud to seemingly no one. "You can come out now."

After he spoke ten people dropped down and surrounded him. The Tsuchikage stood tall holding his scythe idly as nine masked ANBU supported him. "You are quite impressive."

Naruto smirked viciously before drawing forth his blades again and dropping into a low guard, "I work at it, I am known as the most surprising ninja after all."

"You're unknown to me," The Tsuchikage said menacingly. "You have managed to interfere in my plans, while I may not be able to raise Iwa up I can still at least strike you down, unless you join me Iwa could use one as strong as you."

Naruto started to laugh, managing to hold onto his drawn swords as he grasped his chest in pain, Naruto gasped for air. "You can't be serious."
Snarling at the laughter the Tsuchikage reigned in his impulse to strike down the impudent boy. "I am quite serious, we could offer you much in Iwa."
"Never going to happen," Naruto regained himself and braced on the balls of his feet, "I, with all the disrespect I can manage, tell you to go too hell."

Instantly the Tsuchikage snapped his weapon up as he sneered at the blond. "Stay out of this," The man spoke harshly too his assembled ANBU, "He's mine. How hard can he be, I already stuck my blade through his chest once and he is barely standing."

A harsh hacking laugh responded, "Give it your best." Both warriors glared at the other, one not really understanding why the younger hated him. Sizing each other up both men slightly tightened their grips on their respective weapons before charging.

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Pissed would be an understatement for what Yugito was feeling at the moment, Naruto had plain disappeared, it had been over a day since any one had last seen him. Huffing Yugito stormed around the village in search of the younger blond and preparing to rip him a new one for daring to disappear like this. The three of them had things to do and running off was not one of them.

Moving across another set of buildings and glancing down at the street below as she passed Yugito continued her search, she just knew that Naruto running off had something to do with the past the two of them shared. Glaring at the people down on the street below Yugito pushed thoughts of her past with Naruto into the back of her mind for later. After all, she had enough time set aside to go over and mourn over the events. Even as she pushed the memories kept struggling to get to the fore ground of her mind, in no small part to the damn Uchiha and his miserable questioning.

She had met up with the insufferable power crazed raven haired teen only to have him constantly demanding to know what her past with Naruto was, and never accepting her telling him to stuff it. Hissing like a cat Yugito made her way to the next street, she had gone around this stinking village twice already with no sign of Naruto.

Moving towards the northern gate Yugito jumped lightly form building to building. Recent events had been very interesting for her. Thanks to the intervention of herself and Sasuke, and to a degree she admitted Naruto, the war between Kumo and Konoha was over. History was already changed. In the future she knew the kages died in the battle against the other, the two sides for all intents leaderless declared an uneasy and very temporary truce. The worst part was that during the return home of the battle weary Kumo shinobi a large contingent of Konoha ninja struck and slaughtered most of them, even taking away the sword that was given to the Raikage, the Hi no Aku.

The insult could not be tolerated and the war began again in earnest until the masterful tactics of the Sandaime Hokage eventually won out and lead Konoha to a powerful victory, Kumo had barely maintained its position as one of the five great nations. But now, just a few hours ago the Kumo forces had left Konoha, only this time with the Raikage still alive and a solid truce between Kumo and Konoha with a possible alliance to form between the two formerly hostile countries to crush Iwa for their attack.

Yugito had felt like jumping for joy, her village was going to be better than before, perhaps in this time line things would go better for those to come. All Yugito had to do now was find Naruto and tell him the reasons that Akatsuki sent them back in time to this point. Heaving a heavy sigh Yugito jumped up the top of the wall and looked to the north, she wished she could join those who left for Kumo, but it was not to be.

Slowly her eyes traveled over the vast forest and she picked up details, then she felt it, a spike of chakra that she would always recognize, her eyes snapped to the spot and she cursed. Jumping down to the forest outside she began to run.

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They had only made it around a mile before the Raikage and his men felt the spike of chakra from where they had just left. All of them stopped suddenly as it grew and washed over them in a wave. Looking back he offered a annoyed sigh. He owed the young man and from the feel of it there was a major battle going on back behind him. Glancing at his men he sighed before speaking.

"I am unsure as to why but I feel I must go back, I owe that young man for saving all of us and I need to make sure he is not in trouble." The Raikage offered a bowed head, "The rest of you head back while I go check on him."

Nodding his head at the rest of his shinobi the Raikage turned and started jumping back, hopefully he would make it in time. As he jumped he noticed the others coming with him. Six of his ANBU jumped along side him. Giving a sharp nod as he looked at them, "This is my responsibility."

"Hai Raikage-sama," One of his ANBU said pleasantly, "However I personally owe him, I was about to be stabbed with a sword when he removed the head of my attacker." The ANBU gave a chuckle. "So I owe him my life, besides, did you really think that we would allow our kage to run off and have all the fun too himself?"

The other ANBU around gave a laugh at that, this Raikage had done so much for them and they loved to work for him. The Kumo village owed the man so much as he had changed it for the better. The Raikage just offered a sardonic smile though before speaking again, "Far be it from me to deny my ANBU anything."

Together the group moved faster, they had to arrive to help their savior after all.

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Their blades met and sparked as they bounced off each other. Naruto and the Tsuchikage disengaged before swinging around again, Naruto aiming for a decapitation while the Tsuchikage attempted to sweep his legs out from under him. Dropping his left hand sword in a defensive maneuver Naruto managed to halt the progress of the moving scythe as his own blade moved forward.

The Tsuchikage merely twisted his scythed to a vertical position and blocked Naruto's right hand blade with the hilt of the scythe. Using the sudden stop the Tsuchikage delivered a powerful kick to Naruto's midsection. As Naruto was sent flying back he felt for the Hiraishin kunai behind the Tsuchikage, feeling it with his chakra he pulled and became a streak again only to have the Tsuchikage neatly side step and place the blade of his weapon where Naruto's neck was pressing against it when he stopped.

Naruto cringed as he felt the cool metal just beneath his chin, he was being badly beaten here and could not win. He hated to admit that this man was so much stronger than himself, even if Naruto had not been so grievously injured he would be most likely loosing, the only thing keeping him alive at this point was the Hiraishin. Though the Tsuchikage had gotten adept at defending against the powerful technique. Kakashi had been right so long ago, you only show your secret weapon once, more than that and it became to predictable as the Tuschikage was now proving to Naruto.

Gulping Naruto used his move again and backed to a farther kunai away from the blade. Promptly he collapsed to the ground on his knees breathing heavily. The Kyuubi was roaring with rage inside the seal and pouring its near infinite chakra through the bars, attempting to heal and supercharge his prison. Naruto hissed in pain as he felt the chakra surge again before slapping another suppression seal onto him chest where it burned against him.

This process had already been repeated again and again. The seal he had place was the sixth one besides the one directly over his necklace. Each of them burned and sizzled angrily against his flesh. His body was covered in several cuts and he had yet to even touch the Tsuchikage with his blades or even a jutsu, the man was just to good.

Speaking of the man he just stood there and laughed, "You're are good boy, and had you not already been wasted attacking my men and so wounded you might have actually managed to give me a hard fight, as you are you could not hope to harm me." The man span his scythe nonchalantly as he spoke down on Naruto.

Drawing in a ragged breath Naruto sucked in his mouth drawing all the blood to one spot before he spit it out. He was nothing but a bloody mess, without the Kyuubi to heal him Naruto doubted he would survive long, if at all without medical attention. Naruto grimaced and forced himself slowly to his feet, barely managing to do that.

"Glad to give you a challenge teme," Naruto amazed himself by speaking so clearly, in an act of more defiance and with his muscles screaming in protest he once again raised his blades.

"Give up already boy, you can't hope to win this." The Tsuchikage said, not moving from his spot, he had to say he was very impressed with the display so far. That this boy could fight with such a grievous wound to begin with and continue to struggle and fight with the numerous cuts and wounds now covering him, not to mention those seals he kept placing on himself which emitted smoke and burned on his flesh.

Leaning on his scythe the Tsuchikage took in the whole appearance of the boy, not the physical but everything. It was said that battle was the truest form of communication and the Tsuchikage was an avid believer of that, through this heartfelt conversation he had with this boy known as Naruto he had learned much. After it all he wished the boy would run, he had seen enough to know that he wanted to fight him at full strength and when he did not do whatever he was to hold himself back. However he knew that would never happen, Naruto would never retreat or surrender. Smiling to himself the Tsuchikage prepared to move and finish it, he at least deserved a swift end.

Before the man could move Naruto spoke up, "You're right, I don't have a hope, of course I haven't had it in a while so there is nothing new there." Naruto looked down at his swords before he dropped them and looked up again into the eyes of the Tsuchikage, "But I won't lose." Moving at cobra like speeds Naruto flashed through a set of seals before holding the ram seal, and nothing seemed to happen.

A low pitched hum suddenly filled the air and a feeling of heat passed through everyone. The Iwa nins looked around for the source until they noticed all the scattered three pronged kunai glowing brightly. Before they could move they heard Naruto utter one word, "Boom."

The explosion was massive, it ripped through the area in a wave of destruction and debris. Four of the Iwa ANBU were dead before they could react the rest escaped with a mixture of light to heavy damage on themselves. The Tsuchikage had massive burn marks on his back along with several cuts on his left arm. They all looked around at the damage surrounding them.

Slowly the smoke and dust receded and before them stood Uzumaki Naruto, they had wondered how he was standing up before and now they were simply gazing at the impossible. Naruto was standing before them with both his swords in hand, though how he could manage was beyond mortal comprehension. His body had been torn up before, now it was beyond that, he had massive gashes that flowed blood in rivers, his entire body was badly burned, his hair was blackened though amazingly relatively intact and blowing slightly. His pants were shredded but thankfully let him keep his decency. A nasty gash ran down his right leg and appeared to nick his artery as his flowed copious amounts of blood. He appeared as death himself to them. Nothing should be able to stand. Looking closer they even realized that a chuck of his right arm muscle was missing and they could see the bone beneath.

Naruto gave them a dark laugh, "I won't lose to you or any one."

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The Raikage had been just outside the blast radius as the explosions had gone off. Reacting quickly him and the team with him waited for the area to become visible and almost wished that when it was they could not see again. The vision of Naruto was one of hell. The boy should not be standing. Signaling the other the Raikage dropped down beside Naruto and glared at the team from Iwa. The staring match between the two sides continued for a good ten minutes before the Raikage finally huffed and spoke up.

"I suggest you leave, you can't win now." The Raikage looked directly into the face of the Tsuchikage who managed to tear his eyes away from Naruto.

"Very well," The man snarled as he placed his scythe on his back and motioned for his remaining ANBU to gather their dead and move off, "Tell the boy we will meet again."

The Raikage nodded his head and watched the Iwa nins retreat of to the west before turning to face Naruto. The boy smiled and dropped his swords when his enemies had finally left. "Wimps, I could beat them all." Naruto offered as his body shuddered lightly.

"I'm sure you could," One of the Kumo ANBU said mirthfully.

"Damn you should be dead," Another pitched in.

"You'd be surprised what one can live through," Naruto shuddered again. Then he suddenly arched forward as chakra poured from his body, the repressive wave shocking the gathered Kumo nin. The red chakra flowed over his body before he reached shakily, his mouth opening into a silent scream as he did, into his kunai holster. As his hand withdrew he held another seal which he slammed onto his stomach and let loose a primal scream of pain. He heaved in another breath barely as yet another person rushed forward to join them.

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Yugito hurried as fast as she could, it was quite amazing how fast a jinchurriki could travel when pressed too. Pushing Nibi's chakra and using other methods Yugito managed what would be a several hour trip for most ninja in less than thirty minutes. There was a sense of urgency to her travel as she quickly made her was forward.

Yugito could not deny her feelings, she hated Naruto bitterly, but at the same time she loved him more than anything. It was confusing for her, how could she hate and love the same person to such extremes. Naruto had taken her world from her, but Naruto was her world at the same time. She tried so much to deny all of it, and had even successfully buried all but her hate, or so she thought. Until times like this, there was a feeling in the chakra she had felt, something that drove her on.

The air was thick with anticipation, she had to arrive and help Naruto. A feeling burned on her neck, a raw mark of red. Reaching up she grabbed it and tried to hold back the pulsing painful feeling. The thing had started to burn more fiercely and painfully ever since she had felt the chakra pulse. The pain slowly built up and reached new levels and was really starting to irritate her. Withdrawing her hand she cursed, it was covered in blood. While Yugito would never claim to be an expert of marks like the one on her neck, she did know some of the basics. The mark connected her, and it warned her when the other person with the mark was in pain or danger, and too a limited degree what they were feeling.

The marks were ancient to humans, but something well known to demons, something they had developed an age before. It was a simple mark to help protect ones mate.

Suddenly up ahead a massive explosion ripped through the land scape, Yugito screamed as the mark on her neck burned and pain surged through her originating from the mark and brought her to her knees. Reaching up to her neck again she felt the sticky blood thick on herself, she felt the indented mark from which the blood flowed. The mark was simple really, the marks easily identified as teeth surrounded a orange and black fox with nine tails flowing around it in a spiral fashion.

Struggling up Yugito fought the pain as it came over her in waves. A female voice screamed in her head. 'FIND HIM NOW!' Yugito tried to ignore the insistent yelling of the demon cat sealed with in her but found herself agreeing.

'What is going on that has you worried,' Yugito spoke in her head, 'You can tell more from the connection then I.'

'The fool is doing something very stupid,' The Nibi was hissing in anger, 'Kyuubi is...'

'So what if he is doing something stupid,' Yugito thought back viciously, 'Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll die.'

'Foolish girl, when will you listen to me,' Nibi was in a really hissing fit insider her mind. 'If he dies...'

'I don't care,' Yugito shouted back inside her head before cutting the connection, or trying to at least.

'He will need you after this foolishness,' Nibi spoke softly before curling back up in her cage, perhaps this would be the first steps in correcting past mistakes. Nibi could dream.

For her part Yugito tried to ignore the comments of the fur ball sealed inside her. After all the stupid cat was partially to blame for what had happened. Cursing Yugito pushed forward again and arrived just as the Kyuubi's vile chakra spiked again. She looked across to where Naruto was on the ground arching, she watched as he slowly reached in his holster and withdrew a tag before slapping it on himself.

The chakra vanished in an instant and Yugito got a good look at him and cried out in horror, what was he thinking. Before she could gain a rational thought and contain herself Yugito cried out again and rushed forward catching Naruto before he completely collapsed.

Naruto looked up as Yugito's arms caught hold of him, looking into her pleading eyes he smiled slightly as she rolled him over and laid him out with his head in her lap. She started to reach for the tags he placed on himself only to have him reach up and stop her. Looking into his eyes she finally spoke, "Why would you do this, are you insane?"

A large peaceful smile came onto Naruto's face, "I owe you." Naruto sank back, before speaking again, softly, "It was important." Naruto's voice started to trail off, "Now you're here I can rest, only..." Naruto's voice stopped as he fell asleep with his head resting on her, he was completely at peace with the world based on how he looked and how his face relaxed.

Yugito could not bear to move him.

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It was all so simple really, Naruto had figured it out and that is why they came here. He had to admit Kumo was quite impressive, the village nestled in a massive glacial lake valley. Clouds surrounded the massive mountains and flowed into the valley itself covering the village, it was almost like a mist. The village though was massive buildings that rose high into the sky, there were massive antennas on the top of the tower with cords that trailed of them and connected to the ground. Naruto wondered about these until a bolt of lightning struck one. He watched fascinated as the electricity arced down the pole and cord until it ended in the ground.

Moving forward Jiraiya slightly behind him the two continued to walk. They had already passed the guards to the city. They lay a little farther back in the pass to the city. Any other way to attempt to arrive in the city besides on that path would be suicide so that made it the perfect spot. Naruto still watched the city in amazement as the two made their way towards the Raikage tower as it would be called here.

The two reached the open square just before the tower and Naruto paused again in awe to take in the six massive statues surrounding the square and looking down upon it. Each statue was made of what appeared to be steel and all were dressed in various shinobi gear holding weapons. Finally he made the connection, he spoke to Jiraiya, "These are the Raikage, aren't they?"

Jiraiya looked down at his young student and nodded, "Quite, but we shouldn't linger, the Raikage is expecting us."

Naruto smiled back, and looked at the different statues until he came to the sixth, it was an imposing man to be sure and Naruto was not sure he wanted to deal with him. However, Naruto needed to deal with what he had discovered, it would affect the current political climate.

Sighing heavily Naruto grasped the sword beneath his cloak, moving forward both made it to the top of the tower and approached the secretary. Naruto peeled off and looked out a window at the impressive sight, he would let his teacher deal with the boring details with the secretary. Finally he was drawn back into the conversation. "Naruto, we are to see the Raikage now."

Naruto nodded his head briefly and turned to face Jiraiya, joining him they made their way to the door flanked by two Kumo ANBU. Both of the ANBU stood with iron discipline and did not even blink or move as the two Konoha shinobi opened the door to the Raikage's office slowly.

Naruto stepped into the room and smiled as he looked around until his eyes rested upon the man sitting behind the desk, he matched his statue perfectly in looks, except where the statue had an imposing feeling the man gave a relaxed aura. It was quite interesting, but then again Naruto reflected how the Sandaime's carving on the Hokage mountain looked very stern and imposing but the man was much different, and he also did not picture his father, Namikaze Minato to be so daunting either. That was solidified in his mind after Jiraiya spoke about him.

The man behind the desk stood and offered his hand to Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sama, it is an honor too have you here." The Rokudaime Raikage smiled wide as Jiraiya took his hand. The man was well built, tall and lanky, his face had a soft yet hard look and his goatee fit it perfectly, his black hair was pulled back into a pony tail. Finishing shaking Jiraiya's hand he continued on, "I hope you can sign something for me." The Raikage's eyes lit up and Naruto had to suppress his eye roll. Finally the man stopped his lecherous grin and face Naruto extending his hand as well. "It is also an honor to meet the son of the legendary Namikaze Minato."

Smiling Naruto took the offered hand and shook it, "Thank you sir, but I go by Uzumaki, my mother's maiden name."

The Raikage nodded, "Of course Uzumaki-san."

Naruto scratched nervously behind his head, "Please call me Naruto Raikage-sama."

Jiraiya smiled lightly, it had taken him awhile to smash manners into the boy, and while they would not always stick he knew that Naruto would use them due to the importance of this meeting. "Raikage-san, Naruto and I have come here to do some research as well as speak to you on important matters."

The Raikage broke out into a lecherous grin at the mention of research from Jiraiya. "Research eh, well there is a beautiful blond around that you must absolutely use."

Naruto rolled his eyes at this, "I swear everyone is a pervert."

The two older men laughed at this. Finally the Raikage broke it, "Well what is the manner of research, you know our jutsu's are not to be taught to you."

"Just historical is all," Naruto spoke quickly. "I understand that you don't want to release your secrets and that is fine, I just need to check some history and such." Naruto glanced over at Jiraiya, "I would however still like permission to be able to train when not busy researching, I can't let my skills go down with everything going on."

The Raikage smiled lightly, "Ah yes, the Akatsuki a dangerous group to be sure, it would indeed be wise not to let your skills slip with them hunting for you."

"Exactly," Naruto smiled.

Looking at his student again Jiraiya smiled, "Naruto, why don't you get something to eat."

Understanding the message that the two wanted to speak privately Naruto stood up, "Why not, Raikage do you know a good ramen stand?"

The man shook his head, "I really don't though I do know a great sushi spot if you like?"

"Never really had that, guess I should try it," Naruto looked thoughtful.

Scribbling out some directions down on a piece of paper the Raikage motioned it too Naruto. "Now Naruto, I know I can trust you but I'm afraid I still must assign a guard while you are here." The Raikage gave a nasty smirk, he loved his idea. "I will tell you who it is though, her name is Nii Yugito." The man flashed a look at Jiraiya, "I'm sure you will find you have much in common."

Naruto for his part smiled widely, "Really, that's great I love making friends." Naruto took the directions and bowed respectfully before rushing out of the office with a rushed "Buy Ero-sennin."

Jiraiya shook his head muttering "Damn gaki" before looking up at the Raikage, "Tell me, did you just set my student up with your jinchurriki?"

The Raikage's smile, if possible, just grew.

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Naruto made his way to the sushi stand and smiled. His nose was assaulted with stands as he walked forward and looked around, making up his mind he walked to the counter. Picking up a menu who looked at it and realized he really had no clue here. He was completely lost at this place.

Finally Naruto just sighed and set the menu down huffing when a voice spoke up. "Let me guess, never had sushi before?"

Naruto turned to face the person who had spoken and stopped instantly. She was beautiful, that was the only thought that came to mind but there was something more. He felt something thrashing about inside as he looked at her. Finally he shook his head and spoke up, "Yeah, I'm a ramen lover personally, the closest I have gotten to sushi is the seafood ramen."
The blond woman laughed lightly and sat down next to him, "Never had ramen myself, I love this stuff to much but I'll do you a favor, how about I order for you here?"

Naruto just found himself nodding in response. The woman laughed again, Naruto just watched her, she moved so gracefully, almost catlike. Finally he snapped out of it and offered his hand to her. "Uzumaki Naruto."

The woman smiled and took his hand, both of them ignored the sparks that shot up and down them at the contact, "Nii Yugito."

Naruto could not help but smile widely at that raising an appraising eyebrow as he spoke, "Ah, so you're my keeper."
Yugito shook her head in confusion, "Keeper?"

"Yeah, the Raikage said my guard would be you while I was here," Naruto smiled widely, "I guess he sent you here to find me."

A laugh came out of the woman, "Ah, well... The thing is that I don't know what you're talking about. I just got back from a mission and have yet to report back, I was too hungry."

"Oh, okay, well I guess you know your next mission now," Naruto flashed her a smile, "I assure you that it will be easy, I have no intentions of being difficult."

"Well that is nice to know," Yugito said bowing her head and looking closely at his whisker marks for some reason. "But for now let's eat, okay?"

"Sure," Naruto turned to face the bar. "I trust you not to poison me."

"Your confidence in me is inspiring." Yugito replied mirthfully before signaling the man behind the counter.

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The blond on the bed was barely breathing, his chest moving a minuscule distance up and down. Blood was still flowing every where off of him. There were three IV's plugged into him two pumping blood the last one some unknown solution. The healers had tried everything to heal him but nothing worked and no one knew why. His wounds would not close.

Yugito sat to the side, the healers had just left a few minutes ago and would be gone for another hour before they rushed in again to change everything. Naruto was for all intents dying. Yugito had rushed her fellow blond back after she ripped of those damn demon suppressing seals and Kyuubi's chakra had not started to heal the boy.

Shifting in her seat trying to get more comfortable Yugito watched the blond. She was not doing the best, a bandage around her neck kept the blood from flowing far, but the bandages just became blood soaked after a few minutes, all they did was keep it from going to far. Reaching out a hand to brush Naruto's hair back Yugito snatched it back when it was an inch away as though burned.

What was she doing, she wanted this, Naruto dead and in pain. That was the price for the pain and betrayal he had inflicted on her.

'He didn't betray you foolish girl,' Nibi said in her mind.

'Yes he did, and you know it,' Yugito snapped back at her tenant.

'You are still such a fool,' Nibi smashed against the bars in the mind before settling down again, 'You know what has to be done, the fool boy has suppressed Kyuubi to far, who knows how long he has been suppressing him.'

'What are you talking about, only a few days,' Yugito said quickly, 'After all he released Kyuubi's chakra when we watched him fight the Uchiha.'

Nibi growled, 'When will you learn what you must, that was a fluke, he has been suppressing Kyuubi for longer than that. Based on what I have felt and seen I would say he has kept the fox down since the events in Kumo.'

Yugito snorted indignantly.

'Look at his arm you stupid girl.' Nibi demanded in a harsh shout. Yugito scowled but complied looking down at his now bare arms, one of them heavily wrapped and she saw it, numerous square burn marks up and down.

"What?" Yugito acutally spoke a loud as she saw them, she recognized the style of burn and the size.

'You finally noticed, those easily date to just after Kumo.' Nibi sniffed in her cage. 'He has suppressed the chakra that long.'

'But it has been almost two years.' Yugito said and resisted the urge to reach out and pull Naruto to her at the sight of those marks.

Nibi sighed insider her cage and curled up, 'This surprises you?'

'Yes,' Yugito thought quickly, 'And no. He would go to this extreme.' This time Yugito did not stop her hand that reached out and caressed his face. 'It's not fair, and I...'

'Kitten, you will understand eventually,' Nibi started a soft purr.

'You haven't call me that since...' Yugito trailed off, 'Why are you doing it again?'

'Because maybe, just maybe you will finally understand.' Nibi picked up the purring to sooth her host. 'You must, you refused to even understand when the Uchiha pointed it out.'

'I... I...' Yugito went through all her moments, everything that had happened. 'I don't want him to die. But I still hate him.'

'Well it is a step in the right direction,' Nibi said quietly. 'You'll stop hiding eventually.'

'I don't know what you mean.' Yugito said defensively never consciously acknowledging her hand which continued to stroke across Naruto's cheek and fore head.

'Argh,'Nibi screamed in annoyance,'You are so stubborn it hurts me. For now just do what you need to.'

Yugito sighed and nodded, she didn't speak back to her furry tenant. Lifting up her other hand she rested it on Naruto's chest. Running her caressing hand through his hair once quickly she reached down to the base of Naruto's neck and gently moved some bandages away revealing a dark mark. The mark was clearly a bite that had healed but the teeth marks remained indented; in the middle was a cat curled up with two tails flaring around it and a flame around the entire cat.

Seeing the mark Yugito went up to the base of her own neck and removed the bandages from which some blood still flowed. Yugito hated this, all the consequences would be hard, but she did not really have much choice if she wanted Naruto to live.

Yugito got up and sat on the bed next to Naruto before leaning down over him face to face. She wanted to kiss him but refrained, she could not love the monster that had done so much to her. Moving slightly to the side Yugito moved her mouth just over the mark, she could not resist the urge and kissed it slightly before she opened her mouth and closed her teeth over the mark. Her teeth fit perfectly into the indents, made by her they would always fit her perfectly. Yugito resisted smiling as her teeth were clamped there.

A feeling of overwhelming peace and contentment settle over her, this was meant to be, she and Naruto together. But then the images rushed her and she felt tears burn in her eyes before they fell down her face. The feeling was diminished, not gone but it was easier to ignore. Steeling herself Yugito put more pressure on the mark actually piercing the skin and drawing blood. The taste was euphoric and addictive, wholly meant for her and no one else, the far reaching effects of what she and Naruto had done.

Focusing herself despite her thoughts Yugito called forth her chakra and pushed it into the bite mark as well as Nibi's. Yugito's lips curved as she heard a loud 'FINALLY' in the back of her head. The effect was instant, Naruto suddenly shot up into a sitting position, Yugito still lock on his neck, he was not conscious, it was all instinct.

Yugito bit back a moan as Naruto's mouth clamped down on the mark on her neck, fitting as perfectly as her teeth had fit the mark on his neck. Soon Naruto's and Kyuubi's chakra flowed into her and Yugito did moan. She hated it, she had missed this more than she could have believed as she wrapped her arms tightly around Naruto and held him close as she could, his arms did the same to her pulling her close.

Then it happened, finally the connection came, the one Yugito had desperately shut and locked. The door was broken through.

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Yugito found herself in the mind scape her and Naruto had set up so long before, it was peaceful and beautiful. A combination of both their homes in a way. The grass tickled her legs as she sat in a field, Naruto was laying his head in her lap. Yugito's hands absently brushing his hair and running over his face. Naruto's face was contented beyond belief and Yugito felt that same contentment reach her.

A loud and feral sounding growl issued and Yugito snapped her head around. She watched with amusement sparkling in her eyes as nine tailed fox and a two tailed cat rolled around and generally played with each other before the fox licked the cats face. The two biju were quite wrapped up in there own world as Yugito sighed. Neither was their full size here, but that did not bother the two. However Yugito did not want to have to watch the two... Clearing her throat loudly she called out interrupting the two.

"We are here for a reason." Yugito's eyes glanced down at the resting blond in her lap.

Kyuubi just growled at her before walking over with Nibi right beside him leaning slightly into his body. It would be sweet Yugito reflected if not for everything that had happened. "You are responsible for this, and I will not follow your demands." The Kyuubi was furious and shouted at her.

Thankfully Nibi decided to take pity on her host as she gently licked the side of Kyuubi's face calming the fox down. "That may be she is primarily responsible, but we still have to help."

Kyuubi just sighed and sat back on his haunches, "Yes, but only if she agrees to never cut the link again, I won't be separated like that again. At least through the rules if we die our souls are linked and we would be together." Kyuubi spoke down to the cat beside him before it wrapped its tails securely around it.

Yugito sighed and bowed her head, she realized this would happen. The link was open again and Kyuubi and Nibi would insure it stayed that way. She had no choice, "Fine, just do it."

Nibi sighed slightly as Kyuubi removed his tails from around her and wrapped them around the blond lifting him up. Nibi moved over next to Yugito and laid next to her placing her head into the young woman's lap. After a few minutes Yugito finally broke and started to cry into Nibi.

The two sat there for several hours, Yugito poured out everything to the cat she had housed since she was one. Nibi just purred and tried to comfort her. Kyuubi could be bitter, but Nibi would speak with him now that she could again. This connection was built for that purpose. The two bijus had accepted their fate and when Yugito and Naruto found each other they gave them the markings, which both used happily.

When the two of them discovered that they were linked through them they had been over joyed, but more so were the biju who found they could communicate through the link, they finally had company again, well more than that really. Naruto and Yugito to show their appreciation agreed to fix the marks to allow the Nibi and Kyuubi to see each other when ever, not just when Naurto and Yugito were in the link. That meant that now once again Kyuubi and Nibi could spend all day together, and not be so alone. There was more to it than that but for now it did not matter as much, just knowing the two could be together again was surprisingly enough for the two biju.

Eventually it came to an end and the Kyuubi made his was back over carrying Naruto's still limp form. Nibi moved her head out of Yugito's lap and Kyuubi set the boy down back in position with his head once again in the lap of the young woman. Nibi made her way back over to Kyuubi and purred into his ear softly as they watched Yugito run her hands through Naruto's hair once again.

Kyuubi having enough made his way over to the two and spoke, "I think it is time you two went back, we will speak again tonight, he will know then that you have reopened the link."

Yugito nodded and then bowed her head, "Thank you, and I'm sorry I punished the two of you when I was just trying cut ties with Naruto for what he did."

Kyuubi sighed and then looked over at Nibi before walking over, "You should know, neither of us was in control." With those words he pushed Yugito and Naruto back into the real world.

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A/N
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I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter, too many projects, too many distractions.
I have another story in mind that refuses to leave, I am forcing my self to work on this and Beyond Death, but it is hard. I will finish at least one of these two up though before I publish something else, no matter what, promise.
I beg for reviews... Well thanks for reading,
Final Sleeper