Uzukage Mansion, Garden (Three weeks after the battle between Tasu and Danzo)
Naruto sat on a bench in the garden as he watched his two adopted children play in the fields, hide and seek apparently. The garden was not that large but was still big enough for the kids to run around and play. They looked differently ever since they came to Uzu. Yukan's hair had been cut back so it was shorter now and currently wore a black shirt and red pants, the latter with the Uzumaki symbol on the front. Chisai's hair had been cut back so that it went down to her neck but was currently tied into pigtails. Right now she wore a blue kimono with multiple small whirlpool symbols on it. Naruto had to admit that watching them made him feel so much better; not worrying about responsibilities, just relaxing with his family.
"Your majesty?" A voice asked.
Naruto looked up and saw that it was Shizuka Uzumaki, a member of his clan and one of the Salbei Meisters. He was young, the youngest out of all the Meisters since he was only seventeen. His red hair was wild but went neatly down his head and to the top part of his back. His blue eyes were dark and held much wisdom for someone so young. He currently wore the normal Salbei Meister uniform, which consisted of light grey armor on top of a black jacket. He wore matching black pants and had a black cape strapped to his shoulders. Shizuka was also Naruto's personal bodyguard and assistant and probably one of the most loyal members of the Salbei Meisters.
"Yes Shizuka?" Naruto asked looking up at him.
Shizuka bowed. "My apologies for interrupting you but Tasu gained conscious and I am here to give a report on his mission that he finally gave."
Naruto nodded, allowing Shizuka to proceed. "He reports that Danzo is dead, which we have confirmed through our spies, and that he has recovered the right arm that contains Senju DNA along with the sharingans implanted into it. However he could not recover Shisui's eye since Itachi was there and Tasu still needs time in recovering from the after effects of Genjitsujunjo."
The last part made Naruto raise an eyebrow. He knew that Danzo wouldn't be an easy opponent for Tasu to defeat, but he hadn't figured that Tasu would be resort to using his most powerful technique in order to win. But what also got him was the fact that Itachi was there. "What was Itachi doing there?"
Shizuka shrugged. "Hard to say Naruto-sama. We can only assume that he was there to retrieve Shisui's other eye since he posses the left one, if our theory is correct. This would also mean that Itachi could swayed to our side-"
"No" Naruto said. "If the files that Tasu took were correct, Itachi is loyal to Konoha and would never betray them despite of all their faults." He sighed as he watched the two kids talking to each other. "However we shall keep an eye on him to see if he tries anything."
"Yes your majesty." Shizuka said and turned around to leave but before he left he said, "Also Naruto-sama, Konan said she is ready to speak to you whenever you feel like it."
Naruto sighed. It had been two weeks since a tired and weary Konan was spotted flying towards Uzushio. And when she landed or collapsed she was crying as well, screaming that Nagato was dead before passing out from exhaustion. Of course Naruto wanted to know what happen and could've easily found out using the Rinnegan. However he was concerned that it might be painful for Konan who at the time was exhausted from flying to Uzu as well as the mental strain she went through with Nagato's death. "Have her come here and talk with me. Perhaps the garden will lighten her mood." He said.
Shizuka bowed to the order and left. A few minutes later Naruto saw a blue hair woman with a paper flower attached to her hair and a piercing underneath her lip walking towards him. He noticed that she was now wearing a blue kimono with red stripes instead of the worn out Akatsuki outfit she came in. Her eyes widened when she saw Naruto. Naruto had come to Amegakure once or twice, but only for private meetings between him and Nagato, which Konan couldn't come to due to security reasons. So it couldn't be helped that she was shocked at how young Naruto looked.
When she realized that she had been staring to long she bowed. "Naruto-sama" She said with respect.
Naruto offered her a friendly smile. "Naruto is fine Konan. I don't want the friend of a clansman to use such honorifics with me. Come and sit."
Konan hesitated at first but nodded and made her way over to the bench. She sat down and the two were silent as they watched the two young Uzumaki kids play around. Naruto couldn't help but notice that Konan stared intensely at the children, watching their every movement and the smiles on their faces. Naruto remembers how Nagato told him of the terrible past that he, Konan and their deceased friend Yahiko. To her this must be a rare sight to see children so young and happy.
Finally Naruto said, "If you don't mind me asking?" He asked softly, low enough for the children not to hear but for Konan to hear. "What exactly happened?" He asked carefully, knowing full well that this was a touchy subject for the woman and he didn't want to cause her grief.
Konan's eyes darken but she nevertheless began telling her tale. "It was Obito. He must've realized that we were betraying him somehow. He came unexpectedly and grabbed me from behind in front of Nagato. He force Nagato to use the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life jutsu to resurrect…Madara Uchiha" She said the last part with a little bit of doubt, like she still couldn't believe it.
Naruto nodded. The Sage of the Six Paths told him of the technique but ordered him not to use it. The reason was because Naruto, who had the Rinnegan for only a short amount of time he wasn't prepared to use it because of the toll both mentally and chakra it would take out of Naruto. He was able to revive people like Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen and Mito due to the plan that the Sage had for them. "What happened next?" Naruto asked.
Konan gripped the kimono as she continued. "Madara was fully revived but he seemed annoyed about something when he looked inside his shirt. Then he turned towards Nagato, who was near death. But before Madara could do anything Nagato used Shinrai Tensei to send me away from Obito, telling me to escape and find Uzushio. I wanted to reply back but the look he gave me…was the same kind of look he gave me when he agreed to your plan." Then she looked directly at him. "Before he died I think Nagaot fully believed in your way of peace."
Naruto nodded and got up, which got Yukan and Chisai's attention. Naruto turned to them and smiled. "You two stay here and don't get into trouble. I need to show Ms. Konan something." He said with a soft voice. Neither kids argued and continued playing while Naruto left the garden followed by Konan. The two walked down a long hall that soon passed over a room where there were several people sitting on couches and sofas. Konan eyes widened when she recognized a red hair man sitting next to a brown hair woman. "Is-is that the Kazekage?" Konan asked.
Naruto nodded while looking forward. "He came he a week after you arrived to have Shukkaku removed from him. The sealing worked but Gaara still needs to recuperate after the ordeal. Your two Akatuski agents failed to capture but they escaped from my agents, though one of them lost an arm in the process. However without Nagato we won't be able to use the Gedo Statue and the other biju sealed within it."
Konan raised an eyebrow, confused. "But why not? After all you to posses the Rinnegan."
Naruto sighed. "True but there is a flaw to that. Over history the members of the Uzumaki clan that had the Rinnegan were all born in separate years then the last one. This is because the person before the others can summon the Gedo Statue unless the first person dies. Nagato activated his Rinnegan before me so only his eyes could summon the Gedo Statue…unless they were destroyed, which I doubt Obito and Madara would allow. And even though that these eyes are infused with Rikudou's eyes I still can't summon the statue because I'm not experience enough to do it. Because of this our plan is thrown off and we'll have to improvise with what we got and hope we can acquire the powers of the other Biju later on."
Konan's eyes widened at the plan revelation. "From the sound of things you want to revive someone." She said.
Naruto smirked as he suddenly stopped, confusing Konan. She looked up and saw that they were in front of a large door with several seals on it. Judging by the symbols they were very complex and high level seals. 'Whatever must be behind these doors' Konan thought. 'Must be very important.'
Naruto made the correct hand signs and soon the seals disappeared, allowing the door to open. Inside Konan saw a large laboratory. Everywhere were flasks with tubes inside of them, sucking in glowing liquid and all of it was going to one place in the center of the room. And in the center was a coffin, with holes in it that the tubes went into. Finally Konan spotted a large table to the right with dozens of cases and flasks sitting on it. Some of them held sharingans, one had a pale arm with a face of the Shodai Hokage while all the others had liquid and mush in them. Near the table and pounding some mush was Tasu. The man stopped what he was doing when he noticed Naruto and Konan. "Ah Naruto-kun I wasn't expecting you." Tasu said and then he spotted Konan. "Konan-chan?" He said with a little bit of sympathy and then he bowed. "You have my condolences for your loss." He said respectfully.
Konan bowed her head in thanks before following Naruto to the coffin. Like with the door there were several high level seals placed on the coffin. Naruto formed some hand signs and the seals were release and then the lid to the coffin slowly began to open. When it was fully open Konan peered inside and gasped at what she saw. "Is that…?" She asked as she looked at Naruto. The young blond nodded and then reclosed the lid and activated the seals, which firmly latched onto the lid.
"So you can see why we need the chakra of the other bijus. However given the current situation we may have to move the plan and rethink our strategy. Shizuka!" Naruto said. At that moment the said man appeared kneeling before Naruto. "Is everything ready?"
Shizuka nodded. "Yes Naruto-sama. We've gathered all the members of the Salbei Meisters, identified all special battle potentials of the enemy and the Gate of Paths is ready to begin transport. Just give the word and we shall go." Shizuka said.
Konan raised an eyebrow, wondering what was going on. Naruto turned to look at her and said, "I know you want to return to your village and I understand that. But I need you to stay here and assist Tasu." When Konan asked why Naruto explained. "I know that you have skills in medical surgery like helping Nagato with implanting the chakra rods into the corpses. So you in avenging Nagato, help us achieve the goal for peace that we all seek."
Konan stared at Naruto for a moment, thinking of what he said. 'This is what Yahiko and Nagato would want.' She thought to herself before looking at Naruto and nodding her head. Naruto nod back and turned to look at Shizuka. "Inform the Salbei Meisters to be ready for battle." He said before walking out of the room. "The Schattenreich…are going to invade Konoha."
Amegakure, Pain's Tower
Obito now watched the Village hidden in the Rain with his right eye, which held his sharingan, and his left eye, which held one of Nagato's Rinnegan. 'This feels good' Obito said as he began to adjust to his new vision. He was no longer wearing his Akatsuki cloak but now a blue cloak with the Uchiha symbol on the back. He also switched his mask with a white mask with spirals and three tomeos on it. Instead of one eyehole he had two.
"You seem to be in a good mood Obito." Madara said as he approached his partner. Madara was still wearing his usual cloak underneath his red armor. Strapped to his back was his Gunbei and strapped to his waist was a kama (Look it up). His long black hair covered his right eye while his left eye was revealed along with his sharingan.
Obito sighed before getting up. "I might as well after seeing how much of a fight Nagato put up besides using that technique. I'm surprise you didn't take his other one." The mask man said.
Madara tightened his grip on his sleeve in annoyance. "Like I told you a long time ago, the Sharignan's full potential can't be used without both eyes. And it seems like the tablet was wrong about the Rinnegan being the sharingan's next stage of evolution; I really do need Senju DNA to awaken it." Then he looked out towards the village. "Still who could've known where my body was and been able to take out the DNA."
"More importantly who was Nagato working with?" Obito asked as he headed back inside. "Obviously it had to be the people, the Schattenreich, that captured the eight-tails, seven-tails and one-tail. Though why he would side with them I still don't know."
Madara raised an eyebrow. "From what you told me we only have five of the biju and the enemy has three. What of the nine-tails?"
Obito sighed and turned to face Madara. "The nin-tails jinchuuriki was taken by the same people almost five years ago from Konoha. There is a chance they might have sealed it as well but we do not know for sure. Zetsu seems to be unable to get inside the Whirlpool Nation. Right now however I'm sending him to Konoha to check some things out."
"Why Konoha?" Madara asked. "Without the nine-tails they are not worth worrying about."
"I've noticed that the village has had an advance genjutsu placed on it for a while when I implanted Nagato's eye. I want to know why it was set up and for what purpose." Obito explained. "I'm also going to call the other Akatsuki members and let them know plans have been changed. What will you do?"
Madara sighed and walked towards the ledge of the building. "I think I'll head to Konoha and see what's going on. Who knows, it might be worthwhile?"
Obito nodded as he watch Madara head off towards Konoha. While he was doing that Obito walked inside and performed a few hand seals and muttered, "Assemble"
A few minutes later deep within a cave eight figures appeared around a lamp. "What the hell is this about now?" Hidan asked.
Sasori, now showing his true form since Hirako was destroyed, ignored the immortal's question and looked around. "I don't see the leader or his partner." The puppet user said.
"That's because I called this meeting." Obito said catching everyone's attention. Itachi's eyes widened a little in shock before going back to their regular emotionless look. Kisame cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out why that voice sounded so familiar. The others beside Zetsu had confused looks on their faces. "Tobi, what the hell? Why did you call us and how?" Deidara asked, still angry about losing his left arm to those strange men who protected Gaara.
Tobi closed his eyes, sighing a little bit. Then he opened them, revealing his sharingan, which startled most of the members. "Actually my real name is…Madara Uchiha."
Everyone, besides Itachi, was shocked by this revelation. After a moment of silence Kakazu finally spoke. "Well I guess I'm not the only one who cheated death."
Hidan glared at his partner. "You actually believe this guy?" He asked.
Kakazu shrugged before Itachi spoke. "According to the stories, Madara was known for his great power and infamous acts to the Shinobi world. It is no surprise that he would be still alive or even here with us." 'But why is he revealing all of this now? Could it be that I took Shisui's other eye from Danzo before he could recover it? And what happened to Nagato?'
Deidara scoffed. "I don't really care who you are as long as I continue showing off my art to the world." He said.
Obito rolled his eyes but then said, "Zetsu has located the location of the nine-tails along with the other three bijus that we are currently missing. But first head towards the Mountain Graveyard so we can prepare for the invasion."
This made everyone raise an eyebrow but then what caught everyone's attention was Kisame chuckling. "I don't know about the rest of you but if you're the one leading this then I'm all in for it."
Obito nodded and then faded away, which was soon followed by the rest of the Akatsuki members.
Konoha, Hospital Autopsy Room
Kushina, Tsunade, Hiruzen, Minato and Shizune all stared down at the remains of Danzo. When they saw the smoke rising far from Konoha, Kushina automatically dispatched a team of jonin lead by Minato to go to the sight and see what happened. What they found was a large crater, several burned bodies of Root agents, a old facility and the body of Danzo with half of his chest missing, his right arm gone as well as his left eye. The facility had also been raided by the force that had killed Danzo, though Minato's team managed to find some interesting stuff such as the location of some of Orochimaru's bases and empty capsules for sharingans no less.
Tsunade sighed before speaking. "Well from what we can tell his right arm was most likely cut off with a blade judging by the cut here." She said pointing to where the shoulder would be. "However this hole, I'm not positive but judging by the smooth edges of the hole it seems like it was blasted off by some sort of sealing technique."
Kushina nodded. "I agree and my guess would be that it was a space-time technique that did it. But still…to have killed someone like Danzo, it makes me worry what other kind of skills Naruto's people has."
Hiruzen was silent, staring down at the face of his rival. Despite their disagreements and opinions of preserving the survival of Konoha, Hiruzen had somewhat respect for Danzo. Finally he said, "We can only assume that Naruto wanted Hashirama's DNA and the sharingans. However we still do not know for what purpose."
Suddenly an anbu came running in, and though you couldn't see his face you could tell his was sweating like crazy. "Hokage-sama! Naruto Uzumaki has been spotted floating above the village!"
Kushina's eyes widened and so did Minato's. Before anyone could react the two ran out of the room as fast as their feet could take them. They ignored the other's call to slow down and wait, the urge to see their son overpowering all other logic. They continued running until they were outside of the hospital where dozen of people were looking up in the sky. For floating up there was indeed Naruto Uzumaki, wearing his armor, black cape and uniform. His Rinnegan scanned the entire village and wherever he looked people almost flinched under his gaze.
Kushina was stunned, no shocked as she looked at her son and how much he grew over five years. In fact he almost looked like his father for a moment except for the whiskers and the eyes. "Na…ru…to" Kushina murmured to herself as she continued looking upwards.
Minato was also staring at his son in shock but then something wormed into his head: Wasn't the barrier that Kushina set up still working? That's when a horrible thought came into his mind. But before he could say it a dozen or so of jonin, including Shikkaku, appeared before Minato and Kushina. "Hokage-sama! What are your orders?" Shikakku asked.
Kushina however said nothing, still looking at Naruto. Seeing how saying anything to her was futile Shikkaku turned to the other jonins. "I want everyone to be ready for an attack! Even though he is still outside the barrier doesn't mean he isn't a threat."
"No…" Murmured Minato loudly, which caught everyone's attention including Kushina. "He's…he's already inside the barrier." He exclaimed in horror.
And at that moment dozens and even more beams of light struck the village, but did not create explosions however. People screamed in terror while ninjas try to organize their forces and escort the villagers to safety.
High above where he was floating, Naruto looked down with an emotionless look in his eyes. Then he said, "War…are such bitter affairs."
