Chapter 4

In The Desert Outside Sunagakure

Ichibi growled. His Jinchuuriki had once again proved to be too weak! "Damn you, Gaara! I don't want to die! You stupid, sand-eating sonovabitch!" he cried out. His words meant nothing as he could feel the boy dying, whatever the creature had done to him was sucking the life force out of his redheaded host.

Gaara wasn't responding to him, not even manifesting in his own mind at the seal's gate. "Where are you pipsqueak?!" Shukaku, the ichibi tanuki, shouted. His words were lost. But something began to happen.

The tanuki almost danced as he watched the bars to his prison melt away!

"I'm finally gonna get out! No more Jinchuurikis!" he shouted in early celebration. As soon as his chakra-comprised body made its way out, something appeared before the gate. It looked like the creatures on the outside, only this one was much bigger. It was easily ten feet in height and had what looked like a fan membrane along the top of its head. The creature looked at him and he could hear it.

"What are you?" it asked. Perhaps "hearing" was not the right word for it. The creature spoke in Shukaku's mind with images and thoughts. The tanuki looked at the creature askance for a moment before an evil, if slightly deranged, grin appeared on its face. "I'm gonna get out and kill everyone and everything! And I'm gonna start with your ugly ass!" he declared as he charged the creature.

Shukaku's height far dwarfed the creature before him and he aimed to stomp on it. "Whatever you are, I'm sorry, but you drew the short straw, bitch!" he shouted as he brought a sandy foot down. The creature, while stomped on would not be squashed, as stubborn as the worst cockroach, and seemed to start eating the sand of the Ichibi. The Bijuu looked down to see itself being consumed and let out a roar!

"AAAARRRRRRGGGGG! I won't be consumed again! I'm never gonna accept being sealed again! You hear me? Huh?!" he challenged as he began to absorb the creature and the prison around himself sand swirling throughout the mindscape.

Unknown to the Ichibi, there would be side-effects to absorbing the creature and his former jailor...

In Konoha

"I've just received word from Sunagakure that Gaara, the Kazekage is missing. He went to investigate some kind of ruins and no one has heard from him since. They sent a letter to ask for an assault force to be sent as they don't have enough A-Rank ninja on staff. Kankuro will be waiting in Suna for your arrival. Hurry up and get over there!" Tsunade ordered as she slammed a palm on the table. All the ninja within charged out of the door, stumbling over each other as they prepared.

Temari had a pensive look on her face as she thought about her brother's fate."Don't worry too much, Temari, you'll find your brother and bring him home alive. I know it," Tsunade said calmly as she watched the kunoichi's spirit rise.

"Thanks, Hokage-sama," she replied as she darted out the door to ready her gear.

Naruto rushed to his bedroom, the first time he'd stepped into his shamble of an apartment in over two years. Even tho he'd been home for nearly a day, he didn't have any interest in coming here as he had outgrown everything and the rooms were far too small. It was a drawback to having stayed in a castle for so long.

He heard movement and darted to the right, standing on the wall in a crouched position as his eyes met what caused the disturbance with a glare. "Tora? How the hell did you get in here?" he asked the strange orange cat. For a moment he stroked his chin. "Nawww... couldn't be!" he declared as he tossed the cat outside.

"There's no Land of Cursed Springs here in my world, or I would've heard about it in class by now," he thought as he dusted his hands. Had he looked at the cat he might have seen its eyes widen to saucers as it scrambled back up the wall only to be met with a closed window.

"Well, I'm all packed," he noted as he picked up a small satchel which held a four-hundred page book. Each page canvasing a storage seal. Ranma had Jiraiya create two of them when he first saw what a storage seal could do. 'Now the whole group has them back home,' Naruto noted until he caught himself. "When did I start thinking of The Musk Dynasty as home?" he wondered. He gave a shrug and stood up, putting the satchel over a shoulder and walking out of the room.

It only took Naruto five minutes to hop along the rooftops to the main gate of Konoha. There, he was met by Hinata and Hanabi, both looking at him pensively. Naruto landed softly, not a single sound was made as his foot alighted on the ground. "Hey girls. What's up?" he asked, feeling anxiety as he gazed at them.

Hinata moved to speak, but was silenced by Hanabi. The girl was only twelve, but she already possessed her father's attitude. The one that says everything and everyone in the world is below me. "Uzumaki-san, father has declared you have taken an interest in marrying the both of us?" she declared. It may have been a question, but Naruto wasn't sure so he nodded anyway.

"Tell me one good reason as to why I should accept your offer?" she demanded.

Naruto looked her in silence for a long while, and eventually squatted down to the ground as he stroked his chin in thought, eyes completely narrowed. "I'm the strongest ninja in Konoha?" he offered.

Hanabi crossed her arms and glared. "Something that you can actually prove beyond a doubt, knucklehead," she stated, losing her patience. "How about the fact that no man in his right mind would accept you two as his wives unless his life was at stake?"

Hanabi smirked and nodded. "Why would you say such a hurtful thing about Hinata-chan?" she demanded. She had already told her older sister she felt the blonde was just using her and would throw them away once he got to political power. After all a sewer rat would always strive to be an eagle; and the Hyuuga were the gods of the sky in this village.

Naruto looked at the girl like she was crazy. "I was talking about you! You're sister is full of confidence problems, but she has the boobies to make up for it," he said the last as he was suddenly behind Hinata, groping her large "talents". "But, you... You're still flat-chested. You're a heartless ruler and have no emotions for your own family. But!" Naruto said the last as loud as he could, suddenly appearing in front of Hanabi again. "If your genes did this to Hinata! I can only imagine them doing the same for you!" he declared as henge'd the girl into an older version of herself, looking similar to Hinata but with twice the size breast.

Naruto couldn't help himself as he molded the fleshy orbs into his face, making the girl blush. "PERVERT!" she cried as she tried to punch the blonde. I say "tried", but her fist made full contact with his head. However, for some strange reason it was like hitting diamond and her fist swelled and reddened.

Naruto touched a hand to his head where she struck and rubbed it, a confused look spreading over his face. "Huh? You say something?" he asked. Inside he was cackling like a madman. 'Remind me to thank Lime for that one!' he shouted at the Kyuubi who was sitting in a cage, tails flashing back and forth as Naruto laughed.

Hanabi stormed off and turned back for a moment as the other team members for the assignment were arriving. "Don't think this is over, Naruto-baka!" she huffed and turned back to storming down the street. No one had the good graces to mention that she remained in henge form. Hanabi blushed slightly as she felt the breasts bouncing with gusto at ever step she took. "Why should I blush for that idiot pervert?" she wondered and let it drop as she released the henge on her body.

Hinata looked down at her two feet, pushing her fingers together, lost in thought. 'Naruto-kun thinks I have confidence problems? Maybe I do... But, how do I get over them to make him like me for me and not just my breasts?' she wondered.

Her thoughts were pushed to the side as Kakashi and Gai arrived, Kakashi taking the lead on this mission. "Okay, new information has arrived. We're going to be facing an unknown number of enemies as we attempt to retrieve Gaara, the Kazekage, and the original rescue party. A little over 100 ninja were send to retrieve Gaara but none have returned. It's our duty to find Gaara, return him and find out what happened to the other ninja. If any are still alive we need to bring them back with us, if possible. Otherwise an execution order is in effect. Leave no open ends. Understand?" he asked.

Team's Asuma and Kurenai looked a bit squeamish as did Sakura at the prospect of killing allies. Especially in cold blood just because they can't keep up. Kakashi sighed. "The lives of ninja are not easy. Sometimes we have to do things that go against our better judgment. But in the end we follow all of our orders to the letter."

Naruto looked ready to protest, but as he saw all eyes land on him to shout out something he relented and nodded. "Understood, Kakashi-sensei," he stated matter-of-factually. 'This is so not what I signed up for! I miss being a martial artist! Training to get stronger, finding new rivals and friends and pushing yourself beyond your limits. That's what I want in life. Maybe I made a huge mistake," he thought morosely. Hearing the fox within growl at him didn't help.

Everyone turned a surprised eye on Naruto and slowly all agreed, even Temari to everyone's surprise. "Alright, let's move out! It should take around three days to get there," Kakashi stated as he took to the trees running full speed. The rest of the ninja did the same, racing towards Sunagakure.

Elsewhere: Ruins of a Village

A young kunoichi, considered a hero in her village, was wandering about. The streets of the village she was in were completely bare. She stood a tall height of 5'7" with slender, lithe muscles. Her blonde hair was long and straight, tightly bound in a high ponytail. As she strode through the streets she kept feeling an eery sensation of being watched.

Her instincts were going haywire as she heard none of the sounds of a striving, healthy village. "What the hell, Nibi?" she asked quietly of her sealed partner. The two-tailed cat bijuu was on alert as much as her Jinchuuriki. "It's like everyone just got up and left," she noted as she walked into yet another empty street.

Without warning a wall was destroyed to her right as a scythe bearing three blades, reducing in size as they descended, rocketed her way narrowly missing the ninja. "Fuck me... I can't believe I actually missed her, Kakuzu!" shouted a man with an exasperated look on his young face as a hand ran through his sliver hair. He was wearing a black robe with red clouds outlined in white patterns, a ring on one of his fingers and a set of combat boots. He pulled the scythe back to himself, catching it with ease. "Oh well, guess you can't catch the cat all the time."

To his side a man with threads crisscrossing his neck and what was visible of his chest, also wearing the same robe, scoffed. "Shut the hell up and take her down before I kill you, Hidan."

The now named Hidan glowered at his partner before turning back to his target. "Hey girly. Why don't we do this the easy way and you surrender?" Hidan offered.

The kunoichi, known across the country as Yugito Nii, fell into a ready stance, her fingernails elongating into hardened claws. "Now why would I want to do that?" she asked.

"Kitten be careful, something about that sliver-haired guy's chakra is way off," the cat inside related. Yugito could only nod, but the cat understood.

Just as Hidan was about to charge forward a giant bolt of lightning came down, striking Kakuzu's body and leaving him on the ground, burning. Hidan's head spun left and right as he looked for Kakuzu's attacker. "What the fuck?! Kakuzu, you better not fucking be dead," he shouted at the downed ninja.

Kakuzu refused to make a sound or move a muscle. Hidan growled low and took his eyes off of Yugito one time too many. The cat jailor struck hard and fast, pulling a demon windmill shuriken and cleaved the man in half.

Hidan's top-half fell to the ground as he stared at the kunoichi is shock. "W-What the fuck?!" he screamed as his torso fell hard, his scythe clattering to the ground as well.

As Yugito started to right herself, thinking Hidan was dead she turned to look for her timely savior. A teenager, a few years younger than Yugito (who was currently 24) stepped from behind a building with a cocky smirk. "Who.. Who are you?" She asked.

The boy's Sharingan eyes flared, glowing red with dark black tomoe slowly swirling. The Nibi within Yugito made to protest. "Kitten, run! Run away now!"

That's when the world went insane. Yugito found herself standing in her own mind, locking eyes with the Nibi. "Wha? How did I get in here?" she asked. The cat looked into the darkness and hissed.

Yugito spun around, peering into darkness, seeing nothing... Softly, faintly the sounds of footsteps could be heard...

Pit.

Pit.

Pit.

Pit.

The same boy as before made himself known. His Sharingan boring a hole into the two watchers. "Interesting. You don't have a seal holding back the Nibi?" he asked.

Yugito took a moment to take stock of the ninja's appearance. She wanted to make certain to memorize it in case she ever met him again. Of course that was if she survived this encounter. The teen was slightly taller than her, standing 5'8", was wearing a kimono top let loose at the front to expose most of his chest. His hair was tied into a samurai's topknot and was pitch black. If there was any questioning his lineage before, it was confirmed and certain now that he was an Uchiha. His black pants were baggy and ended at mid-calf. His feet wore thong sandals made of rope and on his back was a short sword referred to as a chokuto, placed for quick retrieval.

"Uchiha..." Nibi growled as the boy continued to stride forwards.

Sasuke was unperturbed by the giant cat and walked right up to it, hypnotizing the beast. His right hand reached up to it and he squeezed, making the chakra construct dissolve. "I don't want to talk to you, cat," Sasuke declared to the empty space it once was.

Yugito's eyes widened as she felt the extra chakra and senses granted by the cat's sudden departure. Yugito, being Jinchuuriki all of her life had never realized that life inside her head was so stuffy and cramped. There were downsides to the situation as well, such as her normally immense chakra supply was now down to nothing but human levels. Granted S-Class, but no longer endless. "What did you do to her?!" she demanded.

Sasuke merely smirked. "I moved her. You won't find her again. Trust me," he informed with a malicious grin on his face. The look only increased as he watched the blonde fall to her knees, water beginning to trail her cheeks.

"W-What do you want?" she pleaded, tears in her eyes as she looked up at him. For the first time in her life, Yugito was alone. Well and truly alone! There was no comfort in those emotionless Uchiha eyes. No she wouldn't find solace there, even as she jerked her face away from his piercing gaze.

Sasuke's visage grew hard as he peered down on her, seeing the broken, distraught woman as so much garbage. "I want you. I though that should be obvious."

"M-Me? But what for? I'm a female Jinchuuriki, we can't have children! We lose control of our seals in childbirth. Everyone knows that!" she cried, hoping her fears were wrong.

Sasuke scoffed and looked at her with disgust. "No, you pathetic worm. I wouldn't procreate with the likes of you if I was forced," he said harshly, the words almost making Yugito wince. "No, I want your service. I demand your loyalty and subservience for the rest of your life."

Yugito's eyes widened. "Never! I'm a loyal ninja of Kumogakure!" she declared, her resolve growing again.

Sasuke smirked at her. "If you returned to your village without the Nibi do you really think they would want you? You were only useful to them because you were strong and could control your bijuu's powers. Now you're nothing but an average ninja that can't even keep tabs on a demon that's glued to your body!" he accused, pointing a finger at her.

The downed blonde began to consider what he was saying and looked up, fire still burning in her eyes. "No! I'd rather be a failure in my home village than a traitor!" she declared, standing to her feet.

Sasuke scoffed and turned away from her. "Well, I guess I'll just have to seal you too, then," he said as his hands flashed through a series of handsigns. "Good-bye, Yugito Nii," he said with a disturbing grin.

The next instant Sasuke was gone and she found herself locked in a cage in the absolute dark with no food, no water and company...


On the outside only an instant had transpired and Sasuke was wandering over to Hidan. "Hey, idiot. I see you're still alive," he stated.

Hidan glared at the boy. "Shut your fucking mouth, brat! As soon as I get to my legs, I'll kill your ass!" he declared.

Sasuke shrugged and placed the legs onto Hidan's upper body, watching as the man tried to hold himself together. "Well, I seem to still be alive," Sasuke taunted.

Hidan glowered but remained silent for a few moments until he noticed Yugito was standing still, drooling with expressionless eyes, as if she was brain dead. "Hey, what the fuck did you do that girl?" he asked.

Sasuke closed his eyes like he was wasting his time. "It's none of your concern. What you should know is that I am going to be your master now," he declared, as he channeled chakra between the two halves of Hidan, healing the Jashinist.

"Now why the fuck would I obey some pipsqueak?" he asked snidely.

Sasuke looked the man in his eyes. Because, I'll do the same thing to you as I did to her," he explained as his tomoe began to spin. Hidan raised his hands in a placating gesture as he shuddered. "Hey hey! I may be immortal, but I don't want to fuckin be a vegetable!" he declared before Sasuke could lock him within himself.

Sasuke nodded to the ninja. "Then allow me to place my seal on you." Without waiting for permission, Sasuke flashed his hands through 500 handsigns and slapped his palm onto the immortal ninja's chest. "The moment you decide to betray me you will find yourself locked in your own mind."

Hidan's eyes widened as he was instantly locked within a cage in the dark with no food, no water, and nothing but darkness and a set of bars before him. "What the fuck?! Where the hell am I?" he called out.

End of Chapter