Night of the Vulpine Moon
*Naruto doesn't belong to me because if it did Nagato would be Naruto's cousin and he will finally have family*
(A/N: This is all who is now in the clan: Naruto, Hinata, Neji, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Anko, Konohamaru, Konan, Matsuri, and Sasori)
(They still have to find: Itachi, Deidara, and Kisame; more will be joining soon)
Chapter 8-"Can You See Me Now"
"…so this is Pain. What's with all the piercings?" Naruto asked out loud before he was hushed by Anko who said this was the part where their friendship was put to the test and the most important part of the trip. Pain shot a sideway glance towards the group before he looked at Konan and took in her appearance. "So it's true…you truly have become the 2-tailed cat and I guess the rest of the Akatsuki that went with you received a similar fate?" Pain asked as he watched Konan nod, on the verge of tears as she waited for Pain to betray her and say that she couldn't stay. Pain nodded and walked over to Konan before he wiped a tear from her face and gave her a hug, saying that he was happy that she was safe and unharmed.
Konan started to cry harder as she hugged him back and the tension in the air died down before the others approached the hugging rain ninja seeing as he would help them. "So that means he will help us right? Naruto asked cautiously as they broke away and they nodded before Pain focused on Naruto and his fox face. "Ok that's good because I'm hungry since I've been the running and carrying everybody and haven't eaten since forever, hey do you have ramen around here, also is this person Nagato too?" Naruto asked switching topics easily making the group laugh at his excitement before Pain blinked and looked at Konan who had big eyes and softly meowed as she chuckled nervously.
"Nagato…" Pain said as Konan took a couple steps back saying that it slipped and that she was very sorry in which Pain sighed and said it was time someone learned the truth and that maybe they could help him in the end. "Learn the truth about what…also why doesn't he smell completely human, like someone is controlling him or something?" Naruto asked looking at Pain who chuckled, saying that he was observant and told them to follow him as he walked back to the village with Konan in tow. The others shrugged and followed Pain and Konan back to their village as Konan explained everything to Pain about what happened and what was going on. "So the 1, 2, and 9 tails are or were the 3 biju of the 9 original tailed beasts in which were born on the same day of Halloween and were each granted a wish that could come true, the only thing they couldn't use the wish for was for revenge, correct?" Pain asked in which Konan nodded and said that is what Naruto told her in which he said okay and continued.
"They however decided to use their wish to be reborn for they had a change of heart after living with their Jinchuuriki and wanted a new start at life. So Naruto, Gaara, and Yugito, who was the original Jinchuuriki of the 2 tailed cat, tricked Konoha into letting them go to the biju training grounds as a mission to set up a ritual that would set the biju free and their bodies merge into the 3 former Jinchuuriki." Konan said yes as they walked through the gate, Pain telling the guard they were his guest and that he would watch them as they approached the tallest tower.
"How do you and the other Akatsuki members tie into this then?" Pain asked as he sent a sideways glance to Konan who said that they might have sort of maybe joined in the cleansing ritual with the others. "We were curious as to how it would work, I mean we thought we would be able to control the biju, not become them plus it also helps with foiling Madara's plan to use the biju since 1, 2, and 9 are no longer of this world and their bodies merge with Gaara, me, and Naruto. And as soon as we find the other Akatsuki that are still out there and find somewhere to live we can deal with Madara on our own since we're more powerful than the 9 biju we were hunting and can use our full power to finally end him and his reign for control." Konan stopped when she heard Pain chuckle and said that it was too late for that before he stopped in the front of the tower.
"What do you mean Pain?" Konan said taking a step back, thinking it was trap set by Madara but relaxed when Pain shook his head, saying it wasn't a trap but that he got news that she would love to him. "Madara is no more…Yes it has been confirmed that Madara is dead and no longer a bother to us" Pain said as he looked up at the tower before looking at Konan who was staring at him before she found her voice again. "M-Madara is dead…how and by whom?" Konan asked she saw Pain sigh and say he would tell her once they got up the tower in which he looked at Konan who blinked and made an o with her mouth before she turned towards the others.
"It will be faster if we flew up there unless you're a fast runner than you can run up the stairs to the very top and meet us there but it's your choice" Konan said as she started to shift into her cat form by Nagato's surprise as the others changed too. Gaara said he would ride his sand and carry Matsuri and Sasori, Konan said she would carry Pain, Neji changed into a wolf and said he would carry Kankuro and Temari, Hinata became her black nine tails and was going to carry Anko while Naruto got a brake and flew by himself. Pain cautiously got on Konan's back and she fueled the chakra to her feet, making the flames burn hotter and faster before she jumped onto the building, leaped off, and started flying towards the top of the tower with Gaara and Naruto while Neji and Hinata ran up the stairs to meet them at the top.
All biju met up at the same time where they appeared in a room full of paper designs from paper roses to a paper bed where the group found 5 other beings laying there as if asleep. "Who are they?" Naruto asked as he got the same smell from Pain before he spoke up and said that was his other bodies he controlled. "What do you mean control?" Anko asked, tongue almost flickering as she stared at the original Pain before Konan went over to the back of the room where what they thought was a wall was really black paper to hide somebody inside. "I mean-" a voice said as they got closer to the hole in the paper. "-that I can control the bodies you see for none of those are my real body, 'Pain' you're talking to is not my real body either…" The group went through the hole of paper to see a weird machine in the middle of the makeshift room but who was in the machine was who they were looking at.
"This is my real body and to who Nagato is…I am Nagato, the former leader of the Akatsuki at your service" Nagato said as Konan went over to her old friend who smiled down at her. "You have long red hair…like my mother's when she was alive" Naruto said staring at Nagato as something clicked in his mind before tears ran down his face. "Naruto-kun, what's the matter?" Hinata asked as she saw Naruto crying but could smell happiness coming from him which confused her until he explained his conflicted emotions. "K-Kyuubi told me…before he died…that my mother had red hair and-and that trait ran deep in the Uzumaki clan. He-he told me if I found anybody…with long red hair…like my mother's than…than…" Naruto couldn't finish as he stared at Nagato hoping to answer his question and put his heart at ease.
Anko remained quiet for she already knew the truth as she remembered a long red haired woman who she talked to once about long red hair running deep in the Uzumaki clan and that a lot of them fled and grew up in different nations hiding in plain sight. She even mentioned something about having a sister whose was lost at war and her child most likely an orphan and that she hoped someone took pity on him. Everybody looked at Nagato as he looked at Naruto, smiled, and nodded saying his suspicion was correct and that he was in fact an Uzumaki and that part of his clan was still alive.
Naruto sniffed and went up to Nagato saying he was happy to have family around which Nagato chuckled and said he was just part of the clan in which Anko spoke her suspicion. "Actually…you might be closer to family then you think Nagato. I remember your mother, Naruto, talking with me about having a sister who was lost at war and had a child who would have become an orphan…" Anko watched as both Naruto and Nagato's eyes grew wide before looking at each and saying they needed something to test if they were related by blood in which they agreed until Naruto stomach started talking. "But first let's get something to eat because I'm still hungry…you don't have a ramen shop around here do you?" Naruto asked big-eyed as Nagato laughed saying that he might be family after all since he heard talk about a woman who always loved her block ramen and wouldn't share it with nobody except maybe her husband and that he wondered if her child would be the same.
The group grew quiet as they processed that and said at the same time, "that's Naruto" before they all burst into laughter as Naruto said yep before he argued that he would share his ramen but only with Hinata which made them laugh harder saying that he just proved their point. Nagato and Konan smiled at the friendly atmosphere as the group joked around with the frowning fox blonde before they said that they would go get some food and Konan changed into paper and flew out the building with Hinata and Neji who decided to help her. After they had returned with the food and ramen for Naruto who yipped in happiness, they decided to stay a few days as to catch Nagato up on all what was happening and what they were planning.
In that time, Naruto taught the rest of the group the different scrolls and gave Nagato a scroll on how to combine all the abilities of the rinnegan into his one body and some of them received weapons in the form of a staff for Konohamaru, a whip for Matsuri and a new puppet for Kankuro. They also received a message from Konoha saying that the teams had given up looking for them but Tsunade was in a depression, a lot of the Suna Anbu disappeared in the night, but the biggest news was that Itachi was seen in lightning country and brought down Madara with some cloud ninja.
Konan was shocked to learn that Itachi had found and managed to kill Madara with some of the cloud ninja in lightning country and that was where he was last seen before he had to flee as to avoid being captured by the cloud ninja. "Great now we know where Itachi is so all that leaves are Deidara, Kisame, and somewhere we can all call home" Naruto said as he slurped down his ramen at a fast rate making Nagato and Konan stare at him before the group laughed and said that he always ate ramen like that. "Its official we have to be related because I heard my aunt ate ramen just as fast, had a short temper, but was kind-hearted and determined to prove others that she wasn't weak. So I guess that makes you my cousin Naruto, I never thought I would find any of my family alive, at least I can die happily now when I do."
The group looked at each other before Hinata spoke up and asked Nagato to join the clan in which he smiled sadly and said that he couldn't because he was too frail and sick to move. "If it wasn't for this machine, I would be dead within a few hours." Hinata and Naruto both had sad looks on their faces before they blinked and withdrew within their minds for a few minutes as the group watched in interest. After a few minutes their eyes refocused before they looked at each a smile on their faces before they looked up at Nagato with happiness in their eyes. "So if you weren't sick and frail, would you join our biju clan?" Naruto asked slyly as he and Hinata approached the redhead who was giving them a look before he answered. "Yes I would bu-" Nagato started to say but was interrupted by Naruto who said "great" loudly before he and Hinata started to create some quick and ancient hand signs before their tails started to glow and a weird essence started to come from the tips which they swirled around Nagato who gasped as it sunk into him.
"What are you two doing?" Konan asked concerned as she saw Nagato's breathing hitch up before he gasped and looked at them with surprise as the group watched his features grow younger until he looked to be in his mid to late 20s and healthier than ever as the rods in his back fell out and machine he was in cracked down the middle and split to show… Naruto and the rest of the boys suddenly covered the kunoichi's eyes (to the displeasure of Anko who kept trying to look) as they realized that Nagato wasn't wearing clothes while he was in the machine. Konan blushed and kept her eyes forward as she quickly left the makeshift room to find Nagato something to wear while Naruto apologized multiple times to Nagato who was still in shock but had enough mind to cover himself.
Konan quickly came back with an Akatsuki coat that she quickly handed to Naruto before turning her back. Naruto warned Hinata that he was removing his tail from her eyes before he did and ran over to Nagato to help the man into the Akatsuki coat before letting the others know it was save to look. "What did you do to me?" Nagato asked as he clumsy got up to his feet before he took a step, trying to get used to using his legs after so long while Konan helped him, wondering the same thing. "We gave you my fox blessing in which you're completely healed and healthy enough to join the biju clan."
Nagato and Konan stared at him before asking how he was able to do that in which he answered that since he was the new white fox of the human world that he could give out fox blessings to those he believed that deserved them. "The only thing is I can only give it to someone who is related to me so since it worked that means we are closely related so you must be my cousin, cool, not that you're healthy ready to join the biju clan?" Naruto said as he watched Konan help Nagato walk towards them who were still trying to wrap their minds around what happened.
"Naruto, as I was saying earlier yes I would bu-" once again Nagato was interrupted by Naruto who said to hold that thought as he pulled out a smaller scroll and unsealed a necklace which he handed to Nagato who sighed, thanked him, and put it on, taking in the diamond shaped pendent with the Uzumaki swirl and the chibi 5 tailed wolf on the other side. "Now you're part of the Uzumaki biju clan-" "NARUTO, I CAN'T JOIN YOU" Nagato shouted out making some of them jump as Naruto blinked and said that he was still part of the clan even if he couldn't but he wanted to know why not. "I can't join because I can't leave the village without a leader or I would join you easily but rain country couldn't survive long or they would go back to being the battlegrounds for neighboring countries."
Naruto said 'o' and started to think how Nagato could run the village but join them in which he couldn't think of anything so he said that they would let Konan stay there and they will continue their journey which they all saw as best but were soon interrupted as a screech was heard and they all walked out to see a paper hawk with a package in its talons as it flew towards Konan who took the package and letter that was perched on top. Konan quickly skimmed the letter before she looked at Naruto, a brow raised as she explained that the note was talking about a group at the gate that wanted to talk to the leader about something important and that they know Naruto in which made Naruto and the group suspicious.
"What's in the package?" Naruto asked as the group watched Hinata and Neji activate their byakugan to see inside while Nagato stopped the rain long enough for Gaara to use his 3rd eye to see the people waiting at the gate in which all three smiled at the same time before deactivating their eyes. "It's okay to open for its from our old friends in Otafuku City" Hinata said giggling as Hinata chuckled and said it should have made sense in which the group asked what they were talking about as Konan opened the package. "The box is made of origami place with the scent of flowers and a tea cup design" Anko pointed out as Temari smiled when she helped Konan pull out 3 demon flowers, a tea cup, and a chibi origami fox as Gaara confirmed their suspicion by saying it was them alright.
Konan mewled in joy as she sent a quick message saying to allow them in as she asked for Naruto and Hinata's help in picking up their guest, changing into her cat form while Naruto and Hinata shifted into their fox forms before jumping out the window and going to pick up their guest. 5 minutes later, the trio returned with the flower shop owner, the café waitress, and Ayane and her grandmother where they landed and ask what they were doing there in river country as they smiled and greeted the group, not even fazed about their animal traits as they explained their sudden reason for being there. "We sensed you needed help on your journey so we decided to come by and see how we could help you in any way we could" Ayane said as she and her grandmother looked around the room, mesmerized by the scenery around them in which they complimented Konan who blushed and thanked them.
"What do you mean you sensed that we needed help?" Kankuro asked as the group nodded in agreement before they all noticed that the arrival's smiles showed pointed teeth and glowing eyes that didn't quite seem to file into the human category making Konohamaru and Matsuri hide behind the others as Naruto and Gaara looked at them. "All four of you are demons…aren't you?" Naruto said in a calm voice but anybody could tell he was uneasy as he grabbed and squeezed Hinata's hand as the four beings nodded and said that they were but that they were good demons or they would have tried something a long time ago. Agreeing that it made sense and they explained that they were about to leave but the four demons asked why they were leaving Konan and Nagato behind.
They said that they couldn't go because Nagato had to run his country in which they waved away and said that was nonsense. "You can have them join and continue your journey for we can take over and make the river country prosper for nobody would ever think about using a demon's land as a battle grounds especially since there are so many demons in the village in the first place." The group all blinked at that statement before looking at Nagato who was the most surprised at that comment in which he asked if she was serious in which Ayane nodded yes and said to go outside and look for themselves.
The biju clan either flown or ran down the tower where they saw the guard, several Rain shinobi, and surprisingly both Rain and Sand Anbu outside the tower as if waiting for something to happen but seemed to relax when they saw that Nagato and Konan was okay in which they sighed in relief. "See I told you that you had demons in your village and this isn't even close to all of them" Akuma, Ayane's grandmother said as she softly laughed while Konan and Nagato looked at some of the familiar faces around him as he noticed all of them smiling. "Even though we're demons we will listen to a human if they are good leaders and you were an excellent one and we will remember you for all you did. However its time that you find your own happiness with your new clan for you deserve it, just make sure to come visit us every so often?" the guard from the opening of the rain village said as Nagato smiled and said that he would.
They all went back to their positions as Nagato and the rest went up to the top of the tower to pack everything for the trip. As they finished packing, Nagato sighed and looked at his main "Pain" body which was Yahiko before he looked at the others who sensed his sadness. "I really hate to leave Yahiko's body behind but it's time that I let go of the past and look towards the future…goodbye old friend" Nagato said sadly as the group watched the necklace change his features into something more wolfish as Konan went over to the red head and patted his shoulder saying he was doing the right thing. The four fire country demons looked at each before Akuma whispered something into Ayane's ear before she nodded and disappeared in a puff of black smoke which the others didn't notice.
"At least let's give Yahiko and the rest of the bodies a proper burial" the café waitress named Oni said as the others nodded and carried the bodies down on their back taking the stairs slowly as to be careful with those on their backs. As soon as they stepped outside, Nagato and Konan were surprised to see a large group of shinobi and citizens alike all around, waiting for them as they made their way down and out of the building towards the crowd where they saw Ayane standing there a smile on her face. "What's this all about?" Konan asked as she noticed the other demon's smiling too before the guard spoke saying that the village wanted to thank him by giving him a parting gift which everybody was confused about as they watched everybody started making the same hand signs.
"What are they doing?" Konohamaru and Matsuri asked Naruto and Gaara who whispered that they didn't know before they all watched the demons stop on the same hand sign before crying out, "demon style: demon life regeneration" and all of them started to glow a dark red light. The light shout out from every demon and straight towards the six bodies that was still lying on Gaara (changed into a tanuki), Sasori (changed into a large scorpion), Neji, Hinata, and Naruto who all yelped and accidently knocked the bodies on the ground beside each other as they tried to avoid the beam of light that spread over the six bodies.
The group watched as Yahiko and the rest of the bodies' piercings and chakra rods all disappeared and the holes closed up as the body fully healed and looking about the same age as Nagato now. Ayane walked up to Nagato and handed him a necklace that was an exact copy of the clan's necklaces the only difference was that it had a picture of a phoenix on it that was glowing the same red as the bodies. "Place this around Yahiko's neck" Ayane said as she stepped back before Nagato and Konan looked at each and both walked over to Yahiko's body, lifted his neck, and placed the necklace on as they walked back a concerned look on their faces as the necklace started to glow.
"Rebirth" the demon's cried as they watched the bodies jump once, making Nagato cry out in anger before Konan stopped him and told him to watch as they saw the bodies start to twitch and their eyelids start to open showing their regular eyes again as Nagato had fused the power back into him with the help of Naruto's scrolls. Nagato and Konan gasped as they watched Yahiko open his eyes and look up at the sky before he blinked and turned onto his side roughly before looking around and spotting his two team-mates.
"K…Kon…an, Na…Na…ga…to" Yahiko said roughly for his throat hurt as if he haven't used them in a long time as he stared at his two now crying team-mates who were staring at something behind him. "Wh-what did you do to him and the rest of the bodies?" Naruto asked Ayane as he saw that the two former ran leaders were too choked up to ask as they slowly made their way over to Yahiko.
"We brought them back to life as our gift to you and all the things you done for the rain village and as a bonus, Yahiko now has all his memories and spirit back whereas the other 5 are back in body and part of their soul but the other part is that of demon. Yahiko also has traces of demon in him but he is the same person you remembered and loved before he died so enjoy your new life together." Nagato and Konan walked over to Yahiko and helped him up since he was stiff, sore, and haven't used his own body in many years as he looked around trying to figure out what was happening. Nagato and Konan thanked all of them as they nodded and went back to their lives as the guard and his top Anbu captain came forth to wish them a personal goodbye.
Nagato and Konan decided to give the leader position over to the two who thanked him as he looked at the fire country demons who said they had to go back but would visit rain country to make sure it was safe and prosperous. "Could someone…tell…what happ…ening?" Yahiko said as he slowly regained his voice as the duo nodded and began to give Yahiko a (short) run-through of all that had happened while he was dead much to the shock of the orange haired rain nin. "So…what are we…going to do…now?" Yahiko said as he clung on to Nagato and Konan as they walked him around, letting him get used to feel of walking again. Akki, the flower owner, finally spoke up as he smiled at the group and said that they needed to head to the other great nations before they would reach their destination.
"Travel the other three great nations and find the last of your clan, then when you reach water country you will find your new home nearby and your journey will soon come to an end." The rest of the group looked at him in surprise and excitement at his words. "Really, are we going to find a place to call our own soon?" Naruto asked excitedly as he watched the four demons shake their heads before getting serious looks on their faces as they warned them to be careful. "You will still have many dangers along the way for all of you have been put in the bingo books with high bounties on your heads so you must be quick and stealthful when you go through the other nations."
The group sighed as they nodded and said that they knew that they would end up in the black books eventually as they thanked Akki, Oni, Ayane, and Akuma for the knowledge as they got ready to re-continue their adventure at hand. Nagato appointed the guard and Anbu captain as the new leaders in which the villages accepted before they started to head at only for Temari to stop and explain the situation to the two leaders who nodded and said they would help the families move without being notice in which the Sand siblings thanked them before waving goodbye.
"I really missed a lot since my death…why does Konan have cat ears and a tail…what's with all the animal traits? Is this a side-effect of me being reborn?" Yahiko asked, his voice coming back stronger as he looked around at the group who chuckled and said they would explain on the ride as they decided who would carry who along the journey. The group decided that they would both run and fly as to see upcoming danger with Hinata and Neji's help with the use of the byakugan. Naruto and Hinata would take the skies while Neji and Konan stuck to the ground as they finally decided who would carry who before they took off. Gaara decided to ride his sand as to make it easier for the rest as each of the four main clan members received two riders; Naruto took Temari and Kankuro, Hinata got Konohamaru and Matsuri, Konan picked her team-mates, and Neji had Anko and Sasori. The 13 clan members took one last look at the wet and rainy village before they let out roars of happiness and took off out towards their next destination…that they weren't sure was yet.
The group caught Yahiko up on their lives and what was happening in the world while explaining their adventure from fire to wind to river country, making Nagato laugh when they got to the part about robbing Kakuzu. The demons smiled as they heard the group's laughter grow further away as they whispered, "good luck sweet clan" before looking at the other demons who came forth to see them off. "It's time we go help their followers in Suna and bring them here" Akki said to the demons that nodded and disappeared in black smoke along with the fire demons. All through the night, they helped 17 families escape the sandy village for the rainy one, which was the biggest shock Suna ever had when they found out the next morning. Elsewhere, in Konoha, all the Anbu, sensei, and teams had to stop Tsunade from punching Danzo and the rest of the council members through the nearest wall.
"HOW DARE YOU PUT THEM IN THE BLACK BINGO BOOKS WITHOUT MY CONSENT!" a livid Tsunade said as she glared at the elders who wore frowns on their faces as Danzo spoke up saying it was for the best. "They are dangerous, must be stopped immediately and brought back to Konoha where we can keep a watch on them and use their abilities to strengthen the village" Danzo said in which the elders nodded, completely agreeing with the bastard-I mean leader of the village's military. Tsunade growled and made another lunge at Danzo but was once again stopped by the people restraining her but were frowning at the elders who they now took a certain disliking to as Tsunade growled at the Konoha council. "That's the exact reason why they left in the first place because you old farts all decided it would be easier to try to control them and use them then let them explain their side…Naruto was right for leaving the village. He knew that you would try and use him and his friends for their abilities for your own greedy purposes saying it was for the good of the village."
Tsunade straightened up and smiled an evil smile as she look at the elders before chuckling and turning to the other teams and Anbu. "From now on the search for Naruto and the rest of members of his 'clan' has been called off and if you are to meet him along your missions then you are ordered NOT to engage in any way let alone stop them. Let this be known that if anybody has any knowledge of Naruto's friends and/or his whereabouts, destination, or forms of contact it is now strictly forbidden to discuss it with the elders unless I'm told so first and then I, the Hokage, will decide if they need to know" Tsunade said, ignoring the protest from the elders behind her as she walked away back to her office, a smile on her face, as she went to tackle the mountain of work.
"So exactly where should we head to next?" Kankuro yelled out to the biju who said that they still needed to find 3 more BCMs (biju clan members) in which they asked Gaara which was the nearest nation in which he responded that earth country was closest making Anko curse and Naruto frown. "This is going to be difficult then since earth country still hates fire country for what my dad did to them in the war plus we're in the bingo books and if they caught sight of my picture, the Tsuchikage will make it his sworn mission to bring me down." The others agreed that they would have to stay on their toes when entering the earth country as they made their way through the wet lands of the river country soon to be replaced with dry and rocky terrain.
"So who are going to find in earth country Naruto nii-san?" Konohamaru asked from Hinata's back as Matsuri hung on to him while Naruto said he wasn't sure and looked down at Sasori. "Hey Sasori, do any of the rest of the clan have ties in earth country?" Naruto yelled down in which he watched the redhead nod and said his partner, Deidara, was originally from the hidden stone village. "Knowing the brat though, he will be trying to get as far away as possible from them since he is still a missing nin so I suggest we check one of the surrounding countries for him before we head into earth country." Thanking Sasori, Naruto asked the group what was the best country to search first in which Matsuri said to try the stone country believing that Deidara would be sent there if not Iwa in which they agreed that the stone country was their next destination as they changed direction and started to head west towards Ishi and hopefully another clan member.
