Author's Notes: The following is a fan based parody of a fan based parody. Naruto is owned by Kishimoto Masashi. Lord knows that if I had anything to do with it, I certainly wouldn't have been killed by that androgynous Hyuuga pretty boy. Still, a game over is a game over. Fortunately, the internet comes with infinite lives. Jiroubou, Tayuya still locked up over there and gagged?

That webbing still has her, Kidomaru!

MASHARDSERS! LL HULL WHU!

Oh, good. ...Where was I?

Legal mumbo jumbo.

Right, right. Support the official release and go write some smutty fanfic, I guess. On to the next level!

—oo000oo—

Chapter 3 Freedom

Having enjoyed a good meal, Naruto left Karui and Haku to relax while he went to see his friend. Tapping on the door, Naruto waited to be invited in. "Enter, Menma-kun."

Naruto did and sat down across from Heero, taking the offered cup. "Going to have to come up with a new alias now that this one is compromised. Natas?"

"Nah... Arashi."

"That sounds good." Usual procedure is to use the new name when he was no longer around to keep it from being tied to him. "So, Menma-kun, what really brought you here?"

"I need to get some ryo."

"...Surely you know to keep some on you by now," Heero muttered.

"I do and I do have it. But for what I plan, it isn't enough."

Heero tilted his head and said, "You have me intrigued. I never thought you would actually go into the espionage field."

"I don't, I just need use of it for a time. I'm trying to find a group of people, Heero, a group that has been in hiding for forty years. You know that won't be easy."

"...Why Menma-kun, are you implying that you are going to use the collective spy networks around the continent to find them?"

"I would never imply that, Heero-san. Such a thing is highly illegal and even if it wasn't, it leaves the owners of said networks wanting my head."

Heero just smiled. "Well, I suppose I could come up with something, especially if I knew where you were headed."

"Out to sea, need to drop off Haku in Kirigakure eventually."

"Yes, yes..." The two watched each other closely, trying to see what the other was thinking. Such is the relationship of ninja. "Well, if the ocean is your destination, then I do believe that there may be a prosperous bandit camp along the way. Seventy five minutes east, eighteen minutes south from the border in Hi no Kuni."

"Thank you Heero," Naruto said with a bow of his head.

"Now about the fee, for the information and the stay..." Naruto was already ahead of him, he cut his palm and bled into the cup he was given. "...Three ounces of Uzumaki blood, worth a small hill of gold from those in the medical arts and alchemist." Naruto licked his palm and saw his chakra trying to fill the place of Kurama's. Trying, it was slow going.

"I trust that is enough to buy your silence as well?"

"And then some."

"Then I would like you to get a few things for me."

"What?"

"Rings. And I want them to look like this." Naruto placed a design on the desk. "There is a plentiful metal I have in mind for it. A certain mine in Tetsu no Kuni has found almost more of it than they know what to do with."

"Titan ore, I know it. I could have these to you in a few days...at least, without this part. Are you sure?"

"Yes. I need at least ten but no more than twenty."

"Why?" Naruto just smirked. "Might take me a week or more just to find someone that can craft it as you want. Another week to get them."

"I have nothing but time. I'll send you a message in two weeks on where you can ship the rings. And Heero... That ring you helped me pick out..."

"I know, you gave it away."

"...What am I thinking now?" That got the elder man to laugh.

—oo000oo—

"So, Naruto, who are these people, really," Karui asked later in the afternoon, the three of them sitting in the onsen, relaxed. "Clearly if the Hyuuga were trying to get him to let them do business within Yu no Kuni once more, they are more than just inn keepers."

"Clearly," Haku agreed. "But I instead question if Naruto can tell us at all without us having to be killed in return."

"No, no," Naruto corrected. "Heero and Anzu are not part of anyone's information network. They are information brokers with...ties to things."

"Wait, you don't mean the Kage Group, do you," Karui questioned.

"Why yes, yes I do."

"Huh, and here I just thought her a pleasant inn mistress...with a sword hidden in her broom."

"When Yugakure decided to give up being a military village, there were hundreds of shinobi that took up different vocations," Naruto explained. "Anzu-san's family had always owned this hotspring, it just needed some work in restoring it to a proper inn. Then the other inns started going glamorious and expensive while they didn't have the funds to do it. So, they didn't. Frankly, I'm glad for it. All that gold and money makes me sick. And others agree, they bring in enough money to survive with no problem. They just find it boring during the off peak months."

"Wait, are you telling me that the head of the multination wide information broker network, the ones that with a whisper can start a war or end it, do it because they are bored," Karui demanded.

"No, of course not, that would be just silly. They're the regional heads." Haku took it with a shrug, Karui took a moment to chuckle instead. " So, what do you think is the chance that a Hyuuga ambush is waiting for us outside the city?"

"The Hyuugas will keep their hands clean of that," Haku stated. "If anything, they will have hired mercenaries and possibly a team of nukenin under an allias. I am actually more concerned about if we should even be talking about things here. Walls have ears afterall."

"Oh relax, just don't let anything too juicy slip and we'll be fine," Naruto told him. "They're good people, they won't dig it out of us. They'll listen but that's all."

"That would be correct," Anzu stated as she walked in, dressed in a robe and holding a tray filled with a clear glass bottle and cups. "Menma-kun, I brought some drinks. Would you care for some?"

"I don't get drunk," he said with a smirk.

"That is good, this is a sipping liquor. It's called...Scotch. Very strange on the tongue to say and drink but it isn't bad, I feel."

"So it's one of those foreign drinks," Naruto stated as Anzu poured the drink into the four glasses. Naruto moved over, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around himself as he got out of the water, and took the offered glass. Sniffing it first, he pulled back at the potent nose it had. "Smells powerful."

"That it is," Anzu said, taking a sip from her glass...before Naruto exchanged his for her's. "Why Menma-kun, its like you don't trust me."

"I do trust you, Anzu-san," Naruto replied. "Old habits just die hard. Please, you were going to inform my friends of the prohibited activities within Hana Onsen, correct?"

"That I was," she replied, easing herself into the water with him. "To begin with, there is no fighting within the Inn. Second, the rooms you rent are the rooms you use. The three of you has a three room accommodations which means that no one shall be sharing a bed with anyone. Third, this is an onsen, not a love hotel. There shall be no 'illicit' activities in the water. Fourth, when a meal is ready, you are all expected to be there, or you will warn me before hand that you shall not be. Lastly, that room my husband was in shall not be entered unless invited in. You are guest, that room is for clients. Am I understood by all?"

"Of course, Anzu-san," Naruto said, leaning against a rock with his drink in hand and his eyes closed.

"Yes, Lady Anzu," Haku answered, bowing his head.

"Got it," Karui replied, taking her drink and trying a swallow. "Wow..."

"Yes, it does have quite the kick," Anzu said, covering her mouth as she chuckled. "I have seen some take a single drink before spitting it and the contents of their stomachs up. Granted, those individuals usually had more to drink before hand. Now please, enjoy your stay here in Hana-Onsen and relax." Settling herself in a relaxed position, she enjoyed the afternoon air.

—oo000oo—

Darkness had long since set in and most of those within Hana-Onsen were already asleep. Most. A certain kunoichi from Kumogakure slid open the door to her room before looking into the common room they shared. Casting about, Karui stepped through, wearing an oversized tee shirt and holding a pillow. Taking a step, she listened carefully for any indication that someone else was awake. Another step... Crick. Karui crouched down, pressed against the wall, almost invisible in the darkness. Nothing. Passing Haku's room, she krept closer to the door to Naruto's. Inching up beside it and flicking her wrist, she now held a ninja tool, the mix between a flat blade and a pick. Starting at the top of the seam, she drew it down slowly. The tool suddenly felt resistance only twelve centimeters down, something was on the other side of the door but wasn't part of the frame. Careful probing found it was paper so she pulled back the tool and held a finger close to it. Gently easing chakra through the crack, she caressed it softer than a lover. When she was sure it was only tape and not a seal, possibly a decoy, she put her tool back through and cut it. Naruto was going to know she entered anyway.

Continuing down, Karui came to the door lock. Again, she pulled back and used her chakra to determine there was nothing there beyond the mechanism. A quick flick of the tool and the lock was undone, having already practiced on her own door to familiarize herself with it. Down she traveled until just before the end, she found more paper. This time though, she could instantly tell it wasn't the same as tape. Fairly certain of what it was, she still used her chakra to probe it. She could instantly feel there was a seal there. However, she was familiar with this seal, it was a common and well used one. When placed on an entry point, say the seam of a door, and activated, the seal did nothing until the paper was broke. It instantly alerted the one that activated it, even forcing them awake if they were asleep. Naruto had probably placed these on his windows as well. And while it was almost impractically easy to disarm them, you could do that only if you touched them, by pulling them off. Which she couldn't from the outside. Exactly why they were used.

Easing back, Karui removed the tool and stood from her crouch. Taking a deep breath, she returned the tool to where it had been hidden and readied herself. One last glance around and... Jerking the door open, she raised that pillow and threw it at Naruto's head before slamming the door shut once again and turned for her room. "Oh dear, and here I thought I was going to have to remind you that such activities were forbidden," Anzu said, surprising Karui that the woman somehow snuck up behind her and had her sword ready to help her discipline the young woman.

"Karui!" Naruto pulled the door open and almost ran right into Karui's back. "...Hello."

"Naruto, someone snuck into our room," Karui said as she spun around. "They tried to pants me!"

"...Clearly," he muttered. "Evening Anzu-san. You weren't planning anything with that sword, were you?"

"Sword? What sword? I'm just an inn keeper, why would I be up in the middle of the night, holding a sword?" Sure enough, when next the young adults looked down, they only saw her broom. "I was looking for the person that snuck into your room, Menma-kun."

"Uh-huh. Well, best of luck finding them, Anzu-san, I leave my safety in your capable hands." Stepping back into his room, Naruto shut the door, opened it once again and handed the pillow to Karui. "As I don't need a second pillow." Then he shut the door once again and the hiss of entry being sealed filled the air for a moment.

"...Young lady, I thought for sure that you were going to try and have your way with Menma-kun at some point."

"What ever gave you that idea," Karui dismissed. "Not like I thought Naruto looked good standing there in his boxers."

"...Yeah, whatever was I thinking. Well then, good night."

Karui watched her go before smirking and eased herself to Naruto's door again. As silent as death itself, she released the lock and was about to try and throw the pillow at Naruto's head once more when it was thrown open and a pillow hit Karui instead, knocking her on her back. "Maturity, never heard of it," Naruto said, taking his pillow back and shutting the door again.

—oo000oo—

"Hello Anzu-chan, thanks for contacting me," a man said, walking into the inn the next afternoon.

"Think nothing of it, scum-san," she stated, her kind words not reaching her eyes. "You will pay greatly for this, afterall. Menma-kun is this way." Anzu led the man to the common room where Naruto was relaxing and having some tea. "Remember, Scum-san, you will pay, no matter how this conversation turns out for you. Especially if Menma-kun becomes upset with us."

"He understands the game," the man said before walking in. "Naruto."

The red head sighed as he dropped his head, not really surprised. "Jiriaya. How did you know?"

"You were always fond of the two of them," Jiriaya stated. "It wasn't that hard to think that you would show eventually. Had to promise them a favor just to get them to agree to tell me when you showed up. I just didn't think you would have a Kumo nin with you when you did. A kunoichi at that."

"Yeah, the Raikage wants her to woo me over to Kumogakure. Told me that herself too. You know, I'm kinda glad you're here, there is something I want to ask you. But...you go first."

"Don't mind if I do," Jiriaya replied, sitting down. "So...I might be able to have the Council resend the order of Banishment. No restraints, Naruto, no lies, from now on everything will be up front with you. I even have your inheritance to give to you."

Naruto palmed his face and shook his head. "Jiriaya, I don't think I would've given a damn what the Council said about, banishment or not. I certainly don't now if they decide I can return. I'm the one that made the decision to leave, not them."

"Yeah, I know," the elder man said tiredly. "I was just hoping, though. I just...don't want my last apprentice not even allowed into his own village is all."

"It was never mine, Jiriaya, I see that now. I may have been born there, and I may have been trained there but that no more makes it my home than this inn." Naruto took a drink and was quiet a moment. "The fifth or sixth year, that was when I realized I was thinking something wrong. You don't get respected because you're the Hokage, you're Hokage because you're respected. And in that, my dream flew farther away. Coming back and you telling me the truth, that only made me understand that it was out of reach to begin with. Even with everything we did for them, to keep them and their home safe, not just fighting Akatsuki either, Kakashi got an all but ignored grave, you got a respected marker with no visitors. And...do I really need to tell you what I got?"

"You got nothing," Jiriaya stated. "You had a stone next to your parents but then someone broke it."

Naruto just stared at him, not even upset. "Ten years away and still some of them hated me. Even as they celebrated my father's sacrifice. I can't call a place like that home."

"Not everyone hates you, Naruto," Jiriaya tried to convince. "Time away has healed a lot of wounds."

"Jiriaya, it doesn't matter anymore. It is done."

"...Stubborn like your mother, you are. Here." Jiriaya set a scroll on the table. "This is the most of your inheritance. Your parents had a house and land and everything that was inside is in that scroll."

Naruto slowly took it and looked it over a bit before grabbing the wooden grip on both ends and pulling it apart. One end came off and Naruto inspected the seal there in. "You're getting predictable, Jiriaya. A tracking seal in such an obvious place?" Naruto was sure there were others so for now, he pulled out a cloth with a seal sewn into it and wrapped the scroll before putting it in his bag. Jiriaya instantly lost connection with the seals when the cloth was wrapped around it.

"We trained you too well, gaki," Jiriaya muttered with a smirk. "I'm still going to try and get it changed to a travelling permit like I have and Tsunade had. That way you can come home and see that house. You might just like it."

"Heh, scorch the lands and salt the earth."

"Not even going to let me have that little a hope?"

"What did you expect? A house I never lived in within a village I don't belong in is not going to change my mind, Jiriaya. So...sell it, burn it, give it away. I'm not going to use it. Ever. Actually, give it to Itachi. Under the condition that if he lives there, Sasuke doesn't."

Jiriaya sighed, more or less expecting this but still hoping it wasn't coming. "...Tsunade wants to know if you know why Fuu, the Jinchuuriki from Taki, has gone missing."

"...I do."

"Mind telling?"

"Yes I do."

"He's taking them, isn't he? Did he already take the Fox?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"He did." Jiriaya frowned as he stated this. Even with the reason for it gone, Naruto was sure they would still hate him. Or is it... "Your turn Naruto. You wanted to talk to me about something?"

"I did... Did you get close to Uzumaki Naruto?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"The kind that matters. Did you get close to Uzumaki Naruto or did you get close to the son of Namikaze Minato?"

Jiriaya blinked a moment, unsure what to say. "What brought this on?"

"Sasuke. I haven't just been walking around, Jiriaya. I've been thinking. About my mistakes and the right choices that still turned out wrong. I asked Sasuke to look after Hinata as my friend. But looking back, at every interaction, not once did either of us say we were friends. We were barely tolerated allies. I might have ignored it before but if Sasuke hadn't pushed me like he did, I'm not sure I would have lost control and did that. So, I analyzed every relationship I had." He touched his index finger, one. "They...hate me because of Kurama. Nothing about me, though at times I didn't help it, every last one of those people hated Kurama." His middle finger, two. "My classmates, they hated me because their parents hated me." His right finger, three. "Kakashi, he never paid any real attention to me until he was forced to with our mission. I'm not saying he hated me, I'm saying that he didn't care, not that I was the son of his sensei nor that I was the jinchuuriki. I can't ask him if he even wanted me around but I would." His pinky, four. "The Old Man. Even with everything I did, he was always there. I want to think it was because he liked me. Yet he did things for me before even I knew who I was. So at least part of it was because I am the son of his successor." His thumb, five. "And you. I know that you were supposed to be my godfather, Jiriaya. And I never saw you until everything went to shit. So, I have to ask, if I wasn't the son of Namikaze Minato, would you have even given me the time of day?"

Jiriaya sighed, it was. Naruto wasn't sure they would hate him if they found out the fox was gone. He just doesn't want to be liked though he was no different than when they hated him. "I can't say that who your father was didn't start it off Naruto but surely you don't think that is the only reason."

"Not now," Naruto replied. "And don't mistake this as me being upset, I'm not. I still respect you, Itachi-sempai, and Kakashi. Respect and like. But the number of people that, within the village, like me because of me, is seven. Just seven. Hinata, Ayame, Tuechi, Konohamaru, Udon, Mogi, and Iruka-sensei. I don't want to go back and find out the number of people that will tolerate me because they found out who my father is, or they want their jinchuuriki weapon, or some other reason. Because not one of them know me, want me. Sorry Jiriaya, you did too good a job showing me things around the continent. I know things now. Especially how a person should be treated." Naruto was quiet a moment before saying, "I still have Kurama with me." They both knew he was lying, but this way would be easier for Naruto. They would still hate him.

Jiriaya scratched his head, rather unsure what to do now. This wasn't the most thought out plan to begin with and it all went awry almost from the start. "...In that case, let's stop talking about the village and just talk."

"I agree, Ero-sennin," Naruto said happily. "So, now that you're here, you going to join me in just walking around or are you going to go your own way?"

"Sorry, Naruto, even in this time of peace, information is power and I got a feeling you'll be calling out the destinations if I join you." Naruto actually smiled at that.

"Got that right."

"...So, Karui is trying to woo you, huh? Have you slept with her yet?" There it was, that perverted grin of Jiriaya's, Naruto felt better just seeing it. Like they were still on the road a year ago. He almost expected to hear Kakshi giggle as he flipped a page of one of his books and see Itachi off to the side, going through a kata.

"No. I thought about it once or twice, she's a pretty woman and I'm alive after all, but no."

"Naruto, there's no one to save it for now, your first."

"Except for someone that does mean something to me. So my first relationship ended in heartbreak. That doesn't mean I'll just hop into bed with a prostitute or a kunoichi trying to sway me."

"Gaki, you're in your twenties, I think it's time to let it go."

"But I'm no longer a ninja, now am I? I beat the odds, Ero-sennin. I had a ninja career, frankly compared to the achievements of most, a full career, and I got out alive. I think we can afford to take a few things slow now, don't you?"

"...Maybe. I worry, is all."

"You don't have to. You, Itachi, and Kakashi trained me well, turned me into the man I am today. Oh dear, saying that I guess there is something to worry about after all." Both men started laughing at that.

—oo000oo—

A few hours later, Haku and Karui walked into the common room to find Naruto and Jiriaya talking animately, slightly flushed face. "...And that jutsu just exploded in my face," Naruto said with a laugh, standing at the moment with this big grin. "I go flying through the air and land twenty feet away! Sempai was running over, thinking I broke my neck, before I jumped up and shouted 'That was awesome!" Naruto was laughing hard as he saw back down, reminiscing. "I miss those days, where it wasn't all about stopping Akatsuki."

"We did have some fun," Jiriaya agreed. "Oh, we have company, hello."

"Master Jiriaya," Haku said with a bow of his head. "I didn't realize Naruto arranged for you to meet us here."

"He didn't, I just know the gaki," Jiriaya said as he got up. "Hmm." He gave Karui a scrutinizing gaze before grinning. "Not bad, gaki, you could definitely do worse than her! Not enough upstairs for my taste but..."

SLAP!

"I happen to find Karui-chan lovely as she is," Naruto stated, leaning over to look at the man now lying on his back with a handprint covering most of his face.

"Jiriaya, you're still a pig," Karui nearly shouted.

Jiriaya suddenly sat up, legs folded, and still smirking. "Still feisty. She's a good match, gaki, I approve!" Suddenly he pulled out his notebook and started jotting down notes. "Yeah, this is gonna be good, our hero leaves his home in banishment and finds comfort in the arms of a member of an enemy village. I might not even have to add fluff to it to sell it as a romance novel!"

Naruto began to laugh as Karui grabbed a large bamboo folding fan from the wall, folded it up, and swung it at Jiriaya's head again and again. "Actually Haku, I find this a little comforting. No matter how old you get physically, you can still act as young as you feel."

"That's one way to look at this."

"Baka, baka, baka, baka!" Karui stepped back and was about to as if he had enough, before Jiriaya faced her and grinned.

"Harder, Mistress!"

Naruto laughed at the poor girl as she got the most disturbed look on her face. "Eww, eww, eww, I feel so used," Karui almost shouted as she dropped the fan and ran from the room.

"...So, which is it, the alcohol or a pain tolerance from all the beatings from Tsunade?"

"A bit of both," Jiriaya said cheekily. "Haku, you're still in this room so that must mean that you want a drink." He poured a glass and moved it to him. "Drink up, young man."

The young man from Mizu no Kuni shrugged and sat down to join them. This should be entertaining at least.

—oo000oo—

When Jiriaya woke the next day, he wasn't at all surprised t find Naruto and company already gone. Easier that way.

—oo000oo—

In the trees overlooking the camp, Naruto clicked his tongue as he looked over the bandits. "...Forty six, forty seven...forty eight." Watching for any sign of shinobi training, Naruto observed their patterns, seeing a few celebrating a little. Probably a successful raid. Dropping down, Naruto walked back over to Karui and Haku. "I'm going to need you guys to wait here for a bit."

"Why, what's up," Karui asked.

"I believe Naruto-san plans to attack the bandit camp ahead," Haku stated.

"I do. And I'm not asking either of you to help," he stated. Looking back to the camp, he finished with, "And they have just turned down my clone's oh so polite request that they surrender. Too bad."

"Why not," Karui almost demanded.

"Because you only agreed to travel with me, not to become part of the fights I go looking for. No worries, there's only forty six of them." Stepping back and turning around, Naruto paused by a tree to think about how best to do this and figured to just overwhelm them with speed. Pulling out a dagger and a kunai, he crouched down before throwing the kunai so it would land in about the middle of the camp. Karui wondered why before he vanished and a moment later, cries of pain that were quickly silenced were heard.

Naruto appeared in the camp and looked up to see he surprised three of the bandits. As they started to move, Naruto appeared to vanish to their eyes almost right as their throats were slashed. Coming to a standstill meters to the side, Naruto raised a hand and activated the seal he had behind his right ear. The little thing almost instantly caused a headache so he began moving again. When he had killed the three before, his vision had been massively blurred as he moved almost so fast he eyes couldn't properly take in light. That is a drawback of using the Shunshin and why clear line of sight was almost always required. That is what the seal behind his ear was for. It took all of the things he had seen and placed an after-image of them in his mind so that he could still see. It wasn't perfect, if he didn't see something then it was useless, but the problem was almost always solved just by stopping a moment and continuing on. Thirteen seconds after entering the camp, Naruto straightened himself out and deactivated the seal. Glancing around and only seeing bodies, he created several clones and had them begin to police the camp. Usably weapons and armor taken to be sold, gold and ryo taken, and stolen supplies and livestock, if there was an indication of where they were taken from, would be returned. If not, he would bring them with to the next town and sell them as well. No prisoners, fortunately. Either they had some morals or he caught them at an off time. Still, for a group this small and with no shinobi among them, they were rather successful...

Naruto froze and looked around. Too successful. How the hell did they avoid Konoha for so long while within the borders of Hi no Kuni? Making a dozen clones, he had them scatter in all directions looking for patrols, hunting parties, or even another camp. Could there be more? Better send a message to the Hoka...

"Right, not my concern anymore," Naruto grumbled. He'd warn the magistrates of the area and allow them to decide how to handle it. And if he came across the rest of the band, then he would take it into his own hands. "...This is going to take some time to get used to." Seeing as it would be another half hour to go through everything, Naruto started removing the bodies from the main cooking fire and went about preparing lunch.

—oo000oo—

"So, they're likely part of a larger group," Karui questioned as she took a bite of a roasted satsumaimo sweet potato.

"Looks like. Actually looking now, I am starting to see how they avoided being destroyed until now. Probably don't cause enough trouble to draw Konoha's attention nor warrant someone hiring Mizu, Taki, or Kusa to deal with them. Meaning they have to be spread out. Should've kept one alive," Naruto said with a sigh.

"Probably led by a nukenin then," Haku stated. "Someone that's an expert in avoiding too much attention. Zabuza-sama did the same with a team of nukenin, kept them spread out to draw less notice and so that if one group was discovered, no one else was."

"If they become a problem, I'll deal with it," Naruto stated, finishing his meal and taking a drink from his canteen.

"...Naruto," Haku started slowly, glancing around. "I can't help but wonder what happened to you. We are...surrounded by the bodies of men you killed and you just cleared them from around the fire and started cooking."

"...A battle happened, Haku. One I didn't lose but I certainly didn't win." He didn't elaborate, he got up and went to gather the sealing scrolls for the items."

Karui watched him go before taking another bite of her sweet potato. "Guess you didn't hear too much in Konoha. Seeing all this, it's rather easy to tell why he earned the name Naruto of the Bloody Blade."

"I hate that title," one of the passing clones stated.

"I never heard of that," Haku told her.

"He's had it for about four years. Akatsuki named him it, I know for sure but little else. Certainly not the why."

—oo000oo—

Fuu groaned as she pulled herself up from her rack and almost dragged herself to the sink of her cell. She felt worse now than when she went to bed. Splashing water on her face, she looked at her reflection and groaned. Even if she had never drank before, she had seen enough hangovers to know what they looked like and that they weren't pleasant, and that was exactly what she felt and looked like. Seeing that the tray with her breakfast hadn't been placed inside yet, she sat on the rack once more and waited. After nearly a half hour, she got up and moved to the door, hesitating a bit before hitting it. To her immense surprise, the seal that hurt her whenever she touched it didn't activate because it swung open. "Uh..." Tentatively, she leaned out just a little and looked down the hall to see there were no guards. She nearly jumped back, unsure what it was they were planning this time but it scared her. "A trick," she muttered, almost afraid to look out the door. If they caught her out of her cell, they would hurt her for trying to escape. Well, more than they normally did. "It's a trick, a trap, no, no, no, the Warden, he would..." She looked out again, still open, still no guards, before pulling back.

Hunger and fear raged inside her, one wanting to leave, the other to stay. Finally, hunger won out. Slowly, ready to sprint back into the cell, she took a step out. No alarms, no guards coming from their hiding places. Did they just leave while she slept? No, they would never leave their weapon. Coming to the stairs, she slowly climbed up them, her cell the last and deepest of this prison. Still the alarm remained silent, not even the one that senses Bijuu chakra activated. Coming to another floor, she heard some noise and tensed. Slowly stepping forward, Fuu raised her hands to the guard and said, "I surrender, may I eat now?" The man practically screamed bloody murdered as he tried to get away from the 'freed' jinchuuriki. Soon a swarm of guards descended on her, still the alarms were silent.

—oo000oo—

The Warden of the Prison grabbed Fuu by her collar and pulled her bruised face up to his. "For the last time, where were you these last six weeks and what happened to the Shichibi!?"

"I don't know, I swear," she said, wincing as she expected another blow to land.

"Harlok, enough," the voice of the leader of Takigakure, Shibuki, said as he entered. "You have done enough." Fuu almost looked relieved when she heard him. "Fuu, it's been a long time."

"...I couldn't say," she muttered. "Being locked in a cell alone for so long makes it hard to tell how much time has passed or even what is real and what isn't. How long has it been since you had me locked away?"

"That wasn't my choice, Fuu," he said weakly but she only stared, waiting for an answer. "Four years, three and a half months." The young woman wondered if the look of regret on his face was genuine or not. "Fuu, I believe you that you remember and know nothing. In a moment, a specialist will come in here and use a technique to read your mind to confirm it." He waited a moment, hoping she would say something but only received silence. Turning to the door, he said, "Enter," before moving to the side.

A man wearing a blank ceramic mask with his only revealed feature his combed back blond hair entered and walked up to Fuu. "The more you resist, the greater the damage will be," he warned as he grabbed her forehead. The young woman instantly began to wince but tried to stay relaxed and before long, he pulled away. "Nothing. She went to sleep possessing the Shichibi and woke up in her cell without it. No clue to the identity of the one that did it."

Shibuki sighed but nodded. "Thank you. Warden." The man stood at attention at being adressed. "You will see to it that Fuu's wounds are dressed, there will never be a repeat of this, and she will be allowed all the amenities of a loyal Taki shinobi, am I understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do not expect to hold onto her long, as Fuu no longer contains the Seven Tails, there is no longer a reason to keep her here. I will see to it that she is released." As much as Shibuki would have prefered to just release Fuu then and there, the Council of Taki was the one that forced this decision in the first place. He had to get them to agree, which shouldn't be a problem now.

—oo000oo—

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO!?"

"Exactly what we said," the first of the three elders answered. "If it is discovered that our bijuu was taken right from under our noses and then the girl just dropped off without any notice, the village will become a laughing stock."

"Of all the... She has only ever been a loyal ninja to Takigakure," he ground out. "And with this era of peace coming, there is no reason to keep Jinchuuriki anymore!"

"Peace is a temporary condition between wars," the second elder replied. "It will all come crashing down eventually. More over, when we capture the Seven Tails again, we will need a host for it. The girl is already trained."

"...I don't believe this," Shibuki nearly growled. "We are shifting the work our ninja do away from only combat and you don't even believe in it enough to give a single woman a chance!? No. She will be freed or I will see to it that you and yours are ruined," he threatened.

"You would burn up more favors than you have to do that," the last countered.

"Not so many as you think. A single whisper to the right ear and your families shall be nothing. Need I remind you that I have a friendship with the strongest player in the 'alliance'?"

The three frowned as they glanced to one another before the second elder said, "None the less, the girl stays in the prison, under the conditions she previously 'enjoyed'."

Shibuki glowered at them, and was tempted to just have at least one executed. "Then excuse me, I need to speak with Uzumaki or the Mizukage to perform a 'Hiashi'. Set your affairs in order, you won't be welcome in my village before the end of the week."

"Now just wait a..." Shibuki stormed out, ignoring everything else they had to say.

—oo000oo—

Fuu had just been thrown into her cell and the door slammed shut. For the longest time, she had just laid there before dragging herself up to sit against the wall. She wanted to believe that Shibuki would keep his word but she didn't. She was not getting out of here and the one companion she had to make this hell a little better was now gone. Dropping her head to her knees, she sat in despair for a time before she suddenly jerked away, her elbow had been touching the door. Eyes blinking in surprise, she knew that the seal had been activated so why wasn't it hurting her... Unsure of what her eyes showed her, she reached out with a hand and cautiously touched the door once more. Nothing. It only hurts those with Bijuu chakra. She slowly began to smile. If that seal wasn't working then maybe...

Fuu glanced around before focusing on her back, on how the chakra felt when it moved through her body. And slowly, a pair of insect like wings began to take shape. They were unstable, she certainly couldn't fly on them, but she instead focused on the door. She knew of the seals to monitor her, any chakra usage was immediately detected and punished before. But yet...no one came. That smile began to grow. Her chakra control felt terrible right now but if everything went back to how it was then they would take her out once a day to train and stay in shape. Can't have a weapon that was useless afterall.

—oo000oo—

Another day, another time getting thrown into her cell and left there, then her real training continued. Practicing the moves she learned to use with the Seven Tails. It was almost laughter worthy how they thought her nearly helpless right now. Especially as her room became more and more filled with little red and white balls of chakra. "...Can't really call this a Bijuu Dama anymore," she mused as the spheres began to coalesce. This was the easy part, the hard part was refining it into the attack. Though once she perfected this, she would finally escape this hell. Opening her mouth and swallowing the orb, she closed her eyes and tried to force the ball into the right shape within her. So far nothing but it was only a matter of time.

She didn't even hear him open the cell, just him suddenly saying, "Hello Little Bug." The voice made her eyes snap open as she saw him. She didn't know his name but she knew his face, his voice, and how he hurt her like no one else had ever. "Our little 'Takikage' is raising hell in trying to get you free. So, before he does, I thought we should have some last fun together," he said cruelly.

Rage, rage like she had only ever known while under the influence of the Seven Tails filled her and that Jinchuuriki Dama slammed into place before demanding to be released. She didn't hesitate, only screamed, "DIE," as twenty years of repressed hatred and anger finally found escape and with it, a quarter of the prison that held her just vanished.

—oo000oo—

The sound of fighting filled his ears as he tied to stay alive. Something that wasn't easy when you were missing an arm and leg and a rebar was stabbed through your chest. He didn't know who attacked them but they couldn't have hit them harder. Many of the prisoners were escaping their cells and were trying to overwhelm what guards remained. Suddenly the sounds of fighting changed to a buzzing and screaming before everything became deathly quiet. Only the sounds of feet stepping closer. "Not how I wanted to find you," said the last voice he wanted to hear right then. Fuu crouched down and almost teasingly touched the rebar before suddenly grabbing it and twisting, getting a groan. "Come now, you could do better than that." She didn't even look up as her red silks suddenly lanced out and killed some people that came running by. "What, nothing to say, 'Lord Warden'?"

"Fuu, you have to understand...

Another jerk of the bar. "I do understand, 'Lord Warden'. Oh, I could never understand anything more than I understand this." Another twist. "...My, doesn't this seem familiar, 'Lord Warden'? Why is that?" He whimpered in pain. "Now I remember. We have done this so many times before. Except...you were in my position and I was in your's. How does it feel, 'Lord Warden'?"

"Fuu, please, I.."

"I don't want to hear your pathetic snivelling, father," she snapped, holding up her free hand to show it now covered in electricity. "I didn't do all this for whimpers. I did all this to. Hear. You! SCREAM!" She grabbed the bar with that lightning wreathed hand and she got what she wanted.

When finally the destruction was done, Fuu stood outside the burning prison, the bodies of guards and her father impaled on spears, lining the road to the building. "...That was actually relieving. Thousands of ryo would be saved a year on therapy if people just got the chance to finally destroy their demons." She suddenly held out a hand like she was holding a glass, an expression she had seen others do for lost comrades while out in the field. "Lucky Number Seven, where ever you are, I wish you well, I will miss you, and I mean this in the best way possible, I hope we never meet again. And to you, who ever took her from me, I raise one to you as well. Without you, this would never be possible. I owe you my freedom." She wanted to stay and watch the place burn but knew she had to leave quickly. It would only be a matter of time before someone from the village would eventually come and see why they weren't sending reports. It was only for half a heartbeat that she was tempted to go see Shibuki as her wings formed and she took to the air, disappearing into the night sky. "I'm free," she muttered, tears beginning to form as she didn't see the daunting task of exploring her now unknown future, she just knew her past was now just that, the past.

—oo000oo—