AN* Ok, thank you to all of you that have reviewed so far, I do appreciate them, and as usual the replys.
Rose Tiger: She didn't just yet, I still need her in Konaha at the moment, so she will have to stay there for the time being.
Cobra0000: True as that is, I am not just going to destroy them right away. That just takes away all of the fun in writing this. One thing is that if it is for the greater good, Naruto will swallow his pride and work with people he hates. Just a little foreshadowing for those of you that read these. And as for the Sakura detail, I felt that making her a half assed character would make for better bashing later in the fic.
Wyrtha: Well it may just become that if the poll stays the way it is at the moment. And as for the Akatsuki, Deidara won't be killed just yet.
Peter Kim: That is for you to find out.
notgonnasay09: No I will not have all of them joining, just those that have a chance at redemption, I mean as the manga/anime has shown they are not all entirely bad. I intend to save those with a chance at being saved, but not all of them will be.
Angels will bleed from pain: The nicknames will become clear as time goes on, though some should be very obvious. Don't worry too much about Sasuke, he will get what is coming to him. And on a side note, is your keyboard all right, since that review was rather hard to read, I don't mean this as an insult at all but it was rather jumbled up.
bigking: It all comes down to the poll, with the half way results being told to all of you at the end of the replying to reviews.
OK! Now the next matter is the poll. At the moment, holding the lead with seven votes is a small harem, followed by a large one at six and no harem at four. So if you haven't voted yet, please just go to my profile and place your votes.
Declaration of War
Naruto stood amongst his councilors, looking at a map while discussing plans.
"What is the status of the hunt for the Sanbi?" Naruto asked, looking at Gaara.
"Going well. We have almost located it, but there is a problem."
"There always is." Naruto chuckled.
"He doesn't have a container." Gaara said as they all looked at each other with worry "Without someone sealing it into someone else it will do us no good to capture it."
"Well that is a problem." Naruto mused "Is there anyone that could become the jinchuruki?"
"We have a few candidates but I would not use it personally."
"We don't have the time to be picky unfortunately." Naruto sighed "Who stands the best chance of surviving and being able to use the beasts power?"
"From our information it would be Yuki..." Gaara said as everyone looked at Naruto. Naruto himself was fighting internally over this choice, especially since he was so close to her.
*Flashback*
It had been over two years since Naruto had been banished and his teacher had thought it would be a good idea for him to wander the lands, learning what he could on his own and honing his already impressive abilities. Naruto was walking on the Great Naruto Bridge, walking to Nami no Kuni, hoping to visit Tazuna and his family for a day or two before he started wandering again. As he stepped off of the massive stone construct Naruto sensed chakra flaring and started moving towards it. Stopping Naruto found a young girl, no older then five sitting in an alley, with three drunks standing over her.
"Now you're going to get what you deserve you freak." one laughed as he swung a knife at her but wasn't even close. The little girl for her part tried to keep a brave face, but the massive swirling blue chakra proved that she was either very angry or very frightened for her life.
"I would stop if I were you." Naruto said from behind them. Turning they looked at the blonde, however being too drunk to think sensibly one threw a bottle at him, that he caught and shattered in his own hands. Suddenly he was standing in front of the girl, Geiru drawn and the three men dead, falling down, cut down at the waist.
"Are you ok?" Naruto asked as he looked at her. She looked up at him with muddy brown eyes that showed all of the hurt that she had. She wore rags that barely covered her emancipated frame and her black hair was knotted and she smelled like she hadn't bathed in a very long time.
"Are... Are you going to hurt me..." she asked as he sheathed his sword.
"No. Why don't you come with me. I can get you a meal, some decent clothes and a bath. Definitely the bath and meal though." Naruto chuckled as he picked her up, piggy back style and carried her to Tazuna's house. Once there Naruto was welcomed and Tsunami had taken the young girl to get a bath before anything else.
"Tazuna-san, do you know anything about that girl?" Naruto asked as he sat at the table with the older man.
"No." he sighed, shaking his head "She came in with a group of three men, looking exactly like that. We planned on confronting them this evening about her but it seems you beat us to that."
"I don't know who they were but they are dead now, after threatening her." Naruto replied a cold look in his eyes.
"Yeah. So what are you going to do? We know that you can't take her to Konahagakure no Sato, and that you are a wanderer."
"She can stay here if that is what you are trying to tell me to do. But I feel that is a waste of talent. She has a lot of chakra, easily as much as I did the first time I came here. With the right training she could become a great shinobi." Naruto remarked.
"So you will take her with you?"
"I don't know. If she wants to come with me then I won't stop her. I'm not much of a teacher but I will do what I can for her, at least until I meet with my sensei again." Naruto nodded. Turning at the sound of footsteps Naruto saw the little girl coming walking into the kitchen, still damp from her bath, her eyes wary but taking everything in.
"Hi there." Tazuna smiled as she cringed.
"It's ok. Tazuna-san wouldn't hurt you." Naruto said as he knelt next to her, instantly getting hugged by the young girl who refused to let go. Sighing in mock defeat Naruto picked her up and returned to his seat at the table as Tsunami walked in and smiled at the sight.
"You look like a father, Naruto-kun." Tsunami giggled as Tazuna sighed.
"I guess I do. And this answers our question. She will be coming with me." Naruto grinned as the girl nodded her head, while tightening her grip "But I need a name for you."
"Yuki..." she said.
"Yuki, that's a pretty name." Naruto grinned as he hugged "Alright, your name is Yuki Uzumaki Namikaze." Yuki pulled away enough to smile at him before turning so she was sitting in his lap as Tsunami brought some food for her. Yuki ate with such vigor that Naruto had to slow her down enough so that she would be able to breathe. After eating herself to sleep Naruto took her up to a bed for her to sleep in, while asking Inari to keep an eye on her while he went to go pay his respects. Walking into the forest glade Naruto stopped in front of Zabuza's and Haku's graves, a small smile on his face.
"I almost wish you were alive. You always seemed so certain in your decisions, both of you. I wish I had that now, even half of it would help. I don't know what to do. How am I supposed to create an organization that will bring about world peace?" Naruto asked looking at the graves "I'm sure that you would have some ideas. Maybe even some way to help me get people to join me." Stopping he turned to see Yuki standing behind a tree looking at him "It's ok. I just came to pay my respects to some people I knew." Yuki then walked over, looking at the two graves before looking up at him.
"Who?"
"There names were Zabuza and Haku Momochi. They were family to each other and honorable nin. They died in combat and died defending what they believed in." Naruto said "If I can be even half as great as they were I would be well off."
"Oh..." Yuki smiled as she looked up at him again.
"You know Yuki, back at the alley when I saved you. Do you know what that blue stuff was that was around you?"
"No... The men were frightened by it, and always hurt me when I did it."
"Well that is going to change. That is called chakra, and it is what shinobi use to fight and be what they are. You have a lot of it, and I want to teach you to be a shinobi like me." Naruto smiled.
"Really?" Yuki asked "Can we play as well?"
"We will play every day if you want." Naruto promised as he gave her hug "So would you like me to teach you what I can, at least until we can meet with my sensei again?"
"Yeah. As long as we get to play." Yuki smiled as she returned the hug, with Naruto picking her up.
"Great. Now it is time for a certain young shinobi to get to bed." Naruto laughed as he carried her back to the house.
For the following years Yuki had always been his companion and had helped him keep his determination to create Yugure. Now she was the best candidate to become a jinchuruki. Shaking his head he looked at the gathered members.
"Try to find another." was all he said "I don't want to thrust that fate onto Yuki."
Nodding the members walked out of the room with Naruto sitting down on a chair in the room trying to think on what to do next. The countries were becoming split. Now that two of the five great nations followed him Iwa was dead set against joining with them. Tetsu no Kuni had agreed to a non-aggression treaty, between them along with the detail that they would not trade with Hi no Kuni anymore. Kawa no Kuni had agreed to fight alongside Konahagakure against Yugure, banning them from their borders and giving another safe haven for Akatsuki. Cha no Kuni was still trying to argue with them and so Naruto knew that he was going to have to go there and either convince them to agree with them or he would have to write them off as another enemy and deal with them. Umi no Kuni had at least finally agreed to join them, and their diplomat Isarabi had returned, to continue her shinobi training and to help them work on their underwater training, in case things turned ugly with Mizu no Kuni. Mizu no Kuni was still undecided, seeing as how they were still in the recovery stage with the kekkei genkai purge. Ame no Kuni was refusing to let his diplomats in so that was looking like peace wasn't going to be the answer, at least not yet. Lastly Yu no Kuni was trying to work out a different deal with his diplomats and Naruto was going to have to go and deal with that himself. Sighing Naruto checked the pile of papers and noted that he was supposed to go and see the council of Konahagakure today. Sighing Naruto grabbed his mask before warping to the road a few miles outside of Konahagakure. Walking slowly Kitsune prepared himself for the Pandora's Box he was about to open. Once at the gates Naruto was stopped by two chunin who glared at him.
"Passport please." a man ordered as Kitsune shook his head.
"My name is Kitsune. The council of Konahagakure no Sato is expecting me." Kitsune replied as the two looked at each other before checking their sheet and seeing that he was expected.
"Sorry for the delay. Just go straight to the tower." one of them nodded to Kitsune who nodded back and walked along the path, knowing that he was being followed by both ANBU and ROOT agents. Heading straight for the tower he stopped and looked up at the massive building before shaking his head. Walking in he was given directions to the meeting room where he walked in to find that the councilors were already waiting.
"Right on time." Tsunade nodded as she motioned to the seat at the end of the table "Now Kitsune-san. If you would please explain to us why you are here."
"Of course Hokage-sama. I am here to declare war upon Konahagakure no Sato and all of it's allies." Kitsune replied as the councilors stared dumbly for several seconds before they reacted.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" Homura raged as many other councilors did the same with the Isako Haruno shouting the loudest. Kitsune waited for several minutes before he finally spoke, speaking loud enough for them to hear and then lowering his voice slowly so that they were quiet and he was speaking normally.
"Due to many of your actions, we, the members of Yugure have agreed that Konahagakure no Sato must be eliminated, so as to ensure world peace and to meet the one dream of one of our members. However I am told by this person that there will be one way for you to reverse this situation." Kitsune replied as Danzo noted that something wasn't right.
"And what is this. Surely we can reach some sort of agreement." Komura grinned.
"If, and only if, you reverse the banishment on one Naruto Uzumaki, will we of Yugure agree not to eliminate you and all that live here." Kitsune replied as many jaws dropped at this request while Tsunade sighed.
"That is preposterous!" a civilian shouted " Why should we take back that demon so that you won't fight us?"
Kitsune looked at the man and released enough KI to force the man to pass out. Once done he looked around the room seeing many people smile while others looked angry.
"This is unheard of. Why would you make such a demand?" Hiashi Hyuga asked.
"Because the boy was banished for unjust reasons, reasons that you back Hyuga-san. Therefore this is the only way for you to avoid being destroyed. Reverse the order and all will be forgiven and we will talk of alliance. Refuse and you will see our blades become red on the flesh of you ignorant fools." Kitsune said "If there is nothing else I will be going now. I will send a messenger tomorrow to collect your answer. And if anything should happen to this messenger we will attack Konaha so quickly that you will not have the time to pray to Kami for forgiveness." Walking out of the room the councilors looked at each other worried.
"What are we going to do?" Homura panicked "We cannot reverse this order."
"And why not? Taking back one banished shinobi in order to avert a war is not much to ask." Tsunade argued as Danzo nodded.
"As much as I hate to say this. Hokage-sama has a point. We need to take actions that will aid Konaha, not weaken it. I admit that while banishing the boy was a right choice at the time now it is not. We need to consider taking him back." Danzo replied "I for one will not see Konahagakure lost to the ages simply because we were too stubborn to back down."
"We will not allow him back! Konahagakure is one of the greatest of the shinobi nations! We can easily deal with a mercenary group that has some small ties to Kaminari no Kuni and other countries." Komura replied.
"We need to consider bringing him back." Shikaku replied with a yawn "That kid had more connections to the outside world then any other person here. He managed to make us lose ties with four different nations, just for banishing him on such weak charges. Imagine what he could do if he managed to bring in all of the powers of the nations that support Yugure. Konahagakure would be buried alive against that massive army."
The council room then fell into a massive argument that lasted for several hours before the meeting was adjourned with them agreeing to meet early tomorrow so that they could make some final decision on the matter before the representative arrived. Leaving the room Hinata appeared scanning the area to make sure that there was nothing left that could cause any difficulties later. Stopping she saw a note sitting on the chair that Kitsune had been sitting in. Picking it up she saw that it was addressed to her, and slowly she opened it to see a simple message waiting for her. All it said was "Tomorrow he shall return." Frowning Hinata tried to decide what it could mean. There were plenty of people that it could refer to, but she hoped that it was Naruto. The next day the council was meeting again, still arguing over the matter when Tsunade saw that the representative would be arriving shortly. Before she could say a word a bright flash of orange appeared and Naruto stood in the council room, a dark grin on his face.
"Well I am here to collect your answer." Naruto replied as the councilors stared.
"IT'S NARUTO! CAPTURE HIM!" Homura and Komura shouted as several ANBU agents appeared, but they stopped when red chakra started to swirl around him.
"I wouldn't if I were you." Naruto said "I am a diplomat from Yugure, and if you attack me then you will all be killed and no nation will support you for attacking one who is promised not to attack unless attacked first."
"Stand down." Tsunade ordered. At first no one moved until an ANBU in a fox mask appeared, a blade out and aimed at one of their throats.
"You will follow Hokage-sama's orders or you will be dealt with accordingly." she said as Naruto grinned. With that several more ANBU appeared, forcing those that answered to the council to stand down and return to their posts.
"Now that this bit of unpleasantness is settled, what is your answer?" Naruto asked as he looked at them, many meeting his gaze, some defiant while others smiled at the gaze, others looked away, not wanting to face the cold look that the blond was giving to many of them. It was a few moments before Tsunade spoke.
"Naruto. We haven't reached a decision yet."
"Is that so? Still arguing about whether you want me back?" he chuckled as he looked at Tsunade, sending a shiver down her spine with the dark look he fixed her with.
"Yes. If you would like to go out and eat while we finish our discussion..." Tsunade suggested.
"Fine. But only if the fox masked ANBU comes with me." Naruto replied as Tsunade nodded as the ANBU appeared, walking to stand next to Naruto. Walking out of the room Naruto whispered "You look good my vixen."
Hinata for her part blushed underneath the mask as they walked, heading to the one place that he always loved to eat at while he had been in Konaha, Ichiraku Ramen. Walking up to the bar Naruto took a seat while Hinata removed her mask. Once they were settled Naruto tapped the bell that was to get their attention.
"Be right there!" a woman's voice shouted. Grinning Naruto started rubbing his hands in anticipation while Hinata shook her head at his child like antics.
"Welcome to... NAURTO!" Ayame shouted as she leapt over the counter, hugging him tightly as Teuchi ran out grinning.
"Ouch..." Naruto gurgled as he was crushed in the arms of the older woman while Hinata smiled at the welcome.
"Ayame-chan. You might want to let him go, otherwise I'm going to have to revive him." Hinata sighed as Ayame blushed before letting the blonde go. Once on the other side of the counter, and Naruto had retaken his seat, Teuchi asked them what they wanted.
"The usual for me and keep it coming." Naruto grinned.
"A Miso ramen for me please." Hinata smiled as the ramen chef and his daughter went back to start the meal.
"So Hinata, how much of a commotion did Kitsune cause when he declared war?" Naruto asked.
"The council has been arguing about letting you come home since the announcement. It is evenly split at the moment."
"I see. If they do take me back then things are going to turn out better, but some of them are still not going to like what an alliance with us is going to cost them." Naruto chuckled.
"What do you mean?"
"The civilian council will be disbanded, and the elders will lose almost all of their power."
"Really?"
"Yeah. This is a shinobi village, so it should act as such." Naruto nodded as Teuchi and Ayame walked back with the ramen, which Naruto stated eating with gusto.
"Be careful not to lose a hand." Teuchi laughed as the ramen was gone in a matter of seconds.
"So Naruto, how have you been?" Ayame asked.
"I've been well. I work with Yugure now, so things are different but better." Naruto replied "So how have things been here?"
"Not too well. You were our main source of income so we are barely making the rent as things stand." Teuchi sighed "We might have to close down soon."
"Or you can just move to where I live." Naruto replied with a grin.
"Where is that?" Ayame asked.
"Kumogakure." he replied "It's Yugure's main headquarters right now. And you would be doing massive business there."
The pair looked at each other, both trying to decide what to do while Naruto and Hinata continued to eat until a pile of twenty bowls was sitting in front of Naruto and Hinata had her one.
"Thanks for the meal." Naruto grinned as he left a pile of Ryo on the bar to pay for the massive meal.
"Of course Naruto. Hope you stop by again before you leave." Teuchi shouted.
"I'll try." Naruto grinned as he and Hinata walked off, heading back to the Hokage Tower. Once inside Naruto quickly noticed that there was a lack of noise coming from the council chamber and Hinata started to look nervous.
"Better get your mask back on Hinata-chan." Naruto said as he opened the door, and Hinata disappeared into the shadows again. Once he had taken his seat Tsunade looked at Naruto and mouthed an apology to him before she stood up.
"Naruto Uzumaki, I unfortunately must say that your banishment will not be removed."
"I thought so." he nodded "Then we are at war then Hokage-sama. Know this, if any Yugure member comes across a Konahagakure no Sato shinobi we will not hesitate to attack and kill them. As of now there is no more negotiations."
"And what is to stop us from capturing you?" Danzo asked as he raised a hand and ten ROOT nin appeared around the blonde, all ready to strike.
"Do you think that wise, attacking a foreign diplomat?" Naruto asked "I seem to recall that I have an hour after I leave the meeting hall to be out of the village, and the next week to be out of the country before you can legally attack me." Tsunade smiled at this while Danzo was mentally cursing the blonde for knowing the law.
"Still there must be something that we can offer you that would stop such an event from occurring." a civilian began.
"Save your breath. I told you the terms, and you choose not to follow them. There is no negotiations, there is no changing the bargains. You have no hope of stopping me from leaving." Naruto replied as he stood up "Now by your leave I will be going now. Until we meet on the battlefield again." Turning Naruto walked out of the door while Danzo gave a hidden sign for him to be followed and killed once the opportunity presented itself.
"Things could not have been much worse." Tsunade sighed as many of the shinobi council nodded.
"Things are still bad." Danzo remarked "We are now at war with an organization that we know next to nothing about. There must be something that we can use to stop this, or at least delay this until we are better prepared for battle."
"There is none." Inoichi replied "I was checking his mental patterns while we talked, he never lied to us and I think that he is the one that wants Konahagakure destroyed."
"WHAT?" Tsunade exclaimed.
"It's not too much of a stretch. He was banished for doing his job, for doing what he was supposed to do, and he probably has plenty of resentment towards us. He has every right to want to destroy Konahagakure, and he now has the means of doing it. He has been effectively cutting off our allies one by one. At the moment our only ally is Kawa no Kuni and they aren't going to be much help. They have cut us off from so many of our former allies that things are starting to look grim." Shikaku replied as many of the shinobi councilors nodded.
"This isn't important right now. What we need to do is figure out how we are going to prepare for the battle that is sure to be coming." Danzo replied as they all nodded, beginning to discuss ideas and strategies.
Outside of Konaha, Naruto stopped, looking over his shoulder at this place that had been his home, taking a mental picture of it before he walked further down and his agents appeared.
"Report." Naruto ordered.
"We have gathered all of the intel that you requested. Our members that are undercover there will be sending regular reports to you about the changes that are being made."
"Good. Stay in the area, and try to spy on the council as much as you can without being caught. I want to know any possible plans that you can get, and kill those fools that are following me." Naruto grinned as walked, listening to kunai striking flesh, killing the ROOT nin that were tailing him. Once he was certain that things were in hand Naruto Hiraishined back to Kumogakure, walking out of his room to see what news they had on other pressing matters.
In Oto, Orochimaru was reading reports on how this new group Yugure was causing such chaos.
"Strange. They have yet to approach us yet." he noted as his right hand Kabuto walked in.
"They may not intend to ally with us. Or they may mean to leave us alone." Kabuto remarked "However I do have some news on this group."
"Really?"
"Yes. They apparently have declared war on Konahagakure no Sato." he grinned as Orochimaru followed suit.
"Perhaps we can ally with them yet. Do you know where they are located?"
"They should be in Kumogakure, but getting in is a problem." Kabuto replied "As you know they have increased security along the border of Kaminari no Kuni, and they are very cautious."
"I see. Well send them a letter, tell them that we wish to ally with them." Orochimaru grinned "And who knows they may have some interesting candidates for new bodies." Chuckling the former sannin began planning what he would do once Yugure accepted.
In one of their many hideouts Akatsuki was having a meeting concerning their recent disaster concerning the Ichibi.
"We have lost one of our members now." Pain noted as the other members looked around at each other.
"And he may be alive." Deidara noted "I didn't find the heart when I went back. He may have been captured."
"Unlikely..." Pain replied "Itachi, Kisame. You both have confronted Yugure before. Tell me, would they just take Sasori?"
"I don't know..." Itachi began "It is hard to say what they will and won't do."
"Yeah. They are rather difficult to predict." Kisame nodded.
"I see. Well be cautious with future dealing with them. We cannot afford to lose too many more members, especially if we hope to combat the nations once we start capturing the jinchuruki. There are only two left that can be captured, which is why I want you Deidara and your new partner Tobi to go after the Sanbi." Pain ordered as a new shadow appeared.
"Hello everyone. Tobi is a good boy!" Tobi exclaimed as he waved at them, with most of the older members sweat dropping at this.
"Why me..." Deidara sighed.
"Also, I want you all to start focusing on Yugure, find out all that you can on their numbers, abilities, and locations. I intend to see these imposters destroyed. No one will come between us and world peace." Pain said as the meeting ended with him returning to his Deva body in Ame.
"Konan."
"Yes?" the blue haired woman asked.
"You said that there were representatives from Yugure on our borders?"
"I did. I haven't let them in however."
"Good. We will see if we can capture them and find out what they know about this organization." he said as he turned and started walking into the tower, the other five bodies appearing.
"Of course." Konan nodded as she followed behind her old friends body.
AN* Ok, while this chapter was more for setting the stage for future events I still felt that I could have done a slightly better job on this. So please leave your reviews so I know how you feel about this chapter.