Happy Holidays to those that are celebrating them! Even if you're not, and you're reading this, I hope you're having a wonderful day. I am celebrating Thanksgiving (though it might have passed by the time this chapter is up, so it may be Christmas already or damn well close to it), and I'd like to say what I'm thankful for (whether it be either holiday). I'm thankful for having all of you; my readers. You all help me whether you know it or not. So as a special treat, I'm giving you this chapter.
Chapter 10: A Fact You All Must Face
Naruto and Jiraiya stared each other down for the longest of times as the ground around them began to break apart. Jiraiya glared at Naruto with a fierce look of determination on his face while Naruto gazed back at him as coolly and impassively as he could. The winds blew and shifted through the two powerful warrior as they sized each other up. Jiraiya glanced off to the side, seeing that Kakashi, Jaken, Fu, Hoki, Sasuke, and Sakura were all safely around the three tree stomps where their powerful energies weren't reaching fully.
Kakashi and the others were in awe at the level of energy the two were putting out just by standing there. It was on the level of the Hokages and still rising! Naruto looked to be doing it subconsciously, balancing his own level of power with Jiraiya's output as Jiraiya seemed to not even try himself. Sakura's legs gave way as the very air around them became dense and hard to breathe while Jaken and Hoki were helping her up. Sasuke was sweating as he himself was struggling under the amount of power the two were showing. He was more than sure that these two were far beyond the power than his brother! Hoki wasn't fairing much better than the other Genin. He knew that Fu could handle their power due to her being a Jinchuriki, but he couldn't take much more.
These two were simply unreal!
As if a starting signal had been called, the two shot at each other faster than Sakura could follow, but what she didn't expect was for the two to simply stop at each other and glare at the space between them.
"What on Earth…? Of all the times!" Jiraiya complained as he glared at the space in-between himself and Naruto with his fist cocked back about to knock the boy's jaw loose with a charka-powered punch.
Naruto said nothing as he gave the space between them an intense narrowed gaze with his clawed hand reared back, about to jump over Jiraiya's punch and stab through the man before throwing him away with his fur pelt.
Crouched between Naruto and Jiraiya was a stoic ANBU Black Ops member, who was knelt facing Jiraiya as if Jiraiya and Naruto weren't about to have a completely epic battle that would change the landscape of Training Ground Seven forever.
"Jiraiya-sama, Hokage-sama requests your presence immediately. He says that it is of the utmost urgency, and that you are to bring Kakashi Hatake and Naruto Uzumaki with you to the Council chambers in the Hokage Mansion to meet with him." Thhe Bird-masked ANBU said as Jiraiya got stood to full height with a look of disappointment. He had really wanted to bury the kid's face in dirt, too…
"Fine, fine. Go tell the Old Man that Jiraiya is a-comin'." Jiraiya said as the ANBU nodded and disappeared in a blur.
"I guess our little sparring match is cancelled." Naruto said as Jiraiya looked back at him with a grin.
"Postponed. Village take over approved or not, I'm still gonna beat the brat right out of you." Jiraiya said sternly as Kakashi walked up to them looking slightly disappointed.
"I wanted to see an epic battle between the two of you." Kakashi said childishly as Naruto raised a brow at the playful behavior.
"Too bad." Jiraiya replied as he patted Kakashi's shoulder.
"So, what was the Anbu here for?" Kakashi asked as Jiraiya's cheeky look was replaced by a more serious one.
"Emergency meeting… and Naruto's been invited." Jiraiya said, as if puzzling why Naruto had been called to the meeting as well.
"Well then, let's go. Perhaps we'll get back with enough time for you two to have a friendly little spar." Kakashi said as he covered his Sharingan eye while Naruto raised a brow. Was that thing like a personal camera or something?
"Allow me to provide the transportation." Naruto said as Kakashi and Jiraiya turned to him.
"Wait, my Lord! What are we to do whilst you're gone!" Jaken said while he scrambled toward them.
"I want you to fight that Kin girl and watch over her. Take out anyone who dares to interfere with my orders being carried out. Remember, no harm is to come to her, or I will personally see the perpetrator dead by my blade." Naruto said calmly as Jaken gave a cruel and sadistic smile. Jiraiya shiver as a chill went down his spine from seeing the very cruel imp-like smile the young servant had. No wonder the guy's name meant Cruelty…
"Well, you've heard my Lord! Get to searching for the girl, and do nothing once you've found her. Simply contact me, and I will deal with things from there." Jaken said as Sasuke and Sakura looked to Kakashi.
"Naruto's right, that girl does need to be found. I have a feeling that we'll need her under watchful eyes." Kakashi said as Jiraiya nodded in agreement.
Naruto held out his hand, and the two men grasped it. Before they could ask how he knew any transportation jutsu, they saw themselves faded into a blinding white light. They lost all perception of themselves as the only thing they could feel was the feeling of floating on air. That feeling didn't last long though as soon their vision returned to them. Kakashi grasped at his head to stop the spinning while Jiraiya grabbed his stomach.
"We have arrived." Naruto said as he stepped away from his sickly looking elders.
"I think I'm gonna hurl." Jiraiya said as Naruto raised a brow at him.
"Pull yourselves together. Fu didn't get sick and I traveled a greater distance with her, Hoki, and Jaken." Naruto said as Kakashi and Jiraiya straightened up, trying to look as manly as possible.
They walked through the empty halls of the Hokage Mansion as Naruto glanced about. Normally there was a mess of ninja or secretaries scrambling to get things done, but today it all seemed was hollow and vacant. Jiraiya guided them through hallway after hallway until they were in a part of the mansion which Naruto knew he had never seen before. It wasn't long before they reached a door as Jiraiya opened it.
Naruto followed behind Jiraiya and Kakashi as they entered the room. Naruto's eyes first landed on the aged Hokage, who was giving them all a wonderful smile as he gazed upon them entering. The second Naruto noticed was another aged man standing next to the sitting Hokage. This man looked oddly strict standing beside the kind and elderly Hokage's chair. He seemed to have a permanent frown etched into his features as he narrowed his eyes at Naruto. Naruto only gazed back impassively before he moved his gaze to the last person within the room. This one was a woman of old age. She seemed to be just as stern as the man opposite of her on the old Hokage's other side. Naruto was quite sure that in her youth, the woman must have been beautiful.
"Sarutobi, who is this man here? You didn't tell us a young Lord was attending this meeting." the man next to Sarutobi said as he gazed intently at Naruto.
"This is actually young Naruto Uzumaki, Homura." Hiruzen said as Homura's scowl deepened.
"I may be older than you, Hiruzen, but this young man looks completely different from that boy Uzumaki." Homura said as Hiruzen sat back in his chair.
"Yuima." Hiruzen said simply as Homura and the old woman looked at him.
"Yuima?" the old woman echoed with a skeptic look on her face.
"Yes, Koharu, Yuima. He pulled a Yuima." Hiruzen said as Homura looked at Hiruzen with a raised brow.
"So in a week's time Naruto Uzumaki has changed, near completely, from the person he was when we last saw him?" Koharu asked in disbelief as Hiruzen nodded.
"It only took Yuima two days under Jinzo-sama's special training back then, so why is this so hard to believe." Hiruzen said as Jiraiya stepped up.
"Minato was a snot-nosed brat before my training him." Jiraiya said as Homura gave him a hard look.
"He was still one after your training. I mean, did he really have to go and be a hero?" Homura said as Naruto raised a brow again.
"Are you Naruto Uzumaki?" Koharu asked as Naruto glanced at her.
"Yes, I am Naruto Sesshomaru Uzumaki." Naruto said as everyone heard his inflection on the middle name.
"There you have it; from the horse's mouth." Hiruzen said as Naruto gave him a swift glare.
"Dog. Don't compare me to those pitiful creatures. I and my kind are far superior." Naruto said as he crossed his arms.
"Yup, it's Uzumaki; he still runs off at the mouth and is as disrespectful as ever." Homura said as he glowered at Naruto.
"Boys, please have a seat at the table. The others will be arriving soon for the meeting." Hiruzen said before Naruto could make a blatant threat to the stern old man.
Naruto, Jiraiya, and Kakashi all took seats on the right side of the table next to each other. Naruto was about to ask what the meeting was for, but the door opened as a gang of people filed into the room.
The first was the ever calm, and noble Hiashi Hyuga, who walked into the room with a keen eye on all present. He sat in his chair opposite Naruto while the others came in.
The next three came in one behind the other. It was the Ino-Shika-Cho trio of the past generation, since Naruto remembered Ino's dad talking about his old days and how Ino would be apart of the new generation whenever he would stay at their house. Inoichi Yamanaka lead the way in striding with confidence with Shikaku Nara trudging behind him lazily while Choza Akimichi came in last with a joyful smile. Naruto couldn't help but see the teamwork the three had in well… everything! Hell, they even sat down together in perfect synch!
The next two in were Kiba's mom and a guy Naruto knew had to be either Kiba's Dad or an elder brother, but with the way he was holding Tsume's hand and guiding her to her seat it definitely had to be Kiba's Dad. The guy seemed to be just like Kiba, though only older. In fact, Naruto could swear he remembered this guy from somewhere…
The man seemed to the standard Jonin uniform of Konoha, but over his flask-jacket he wore a brown wolf's pelt. His metal headband plate rested atop a brown wolf-fur headband. He had long black hair which was kept in a ponytail, and dark blue eyes. He carried a sword around at his waist. His ears were slightly are pointed and his fangs were slightly visible over his bottom lip. His shoulder guards were also made of wolf-fur. Naruto wasn't exactly sure why, since the Inuzuka clan devoted themselves to dogs.
The man and Tsume took seats opposite him just like all the other clan leaders. The man glanced at him and gripped Tsume's hand tighter as Naruto could sense some emotional distress directed toward him.
The last three to enter were the head of the Aburame clan, Shibi Aburame, who Naruto was also creeped out by because the man was quieter than even Shino and had more bugs. Another man who walked in behind Shibi with pride in his step. Naruto had never seen the man, but shrugged him off as a lesser clan head.
The last person to walk in however caught Naruto's eye. This man was like no other. He practically reeked of foul play and lies. His aura was so unbalanced in darkness, that Naruto almost coughed on it as it permeated the air. It was like that of Orochimaru's but even worse than the snake's. Naruto knew then, as the man walked to his chair at the polar opposite to the Hokage's seat, that this man must have been Danzo Shimura.
When all were seated and accounted for, Danzo looked about like an aged old man as his one un-bandaged eye landed on Naruto.
"Sarutobi, you did not tell us that young Hatake or this young Lord would be in attendance. Who is he, if I might ask?" Danzo said kindly as all eyes turned to Naruto.
"You may call me, Lord Sesshomaru." Naruto said as a gleam entered Danzo's eye.
"Well then, I'm pleased to meet with you, Lord Sesshomaru." Danzo said kindly as Naruto merely gazed at him with disinterest.
"Now then, let this meeting begin. The reason that Kakashi and Lord Sesshomaru are hear is because they both hold some key information that we will need." Hiruzen said as Tsume's husband turned to the old Hokage.
"What do you mean key information?" the man asked as Hiruzen turned to him.
"What I mean, Lord Koga, is that we are in for more than just the Chunin Exams this time around. The Sound… and the Sand plan to… ambush us." Hiruzen said as not one eyes was left un-widened.
"What? But why would the Sand betray us like that? We've done nothing to them to deserve this?" Inoichi said heatedly as he rose from his chair.
"This is the ninja world, boy. People do things like this all the time." Homura said gruffly with a shrug. Naruto was sure that Homura must have lived through some pretty bad times to shrug off talks of an invasion. Inoichi simmered down as he sat glancing at his two teammates.
"Now then, the true question is; what are we going to do about it?" Koharu said as she stood beside Hiruzen.
"And that is why I asked Kakashi and Lord Sesshomaru here today. They have both encountered Orochimaru, and I'm sure both have an idea as to some of the things my fallen student are planning." Hiruzen said as Naruto shifted his gaze toward the old man.
"Aside from branding the Uchiha with his Cursed mark, and controlling the Sound village, I don't see anything else. Oh, and coaxing the Sand into this attack." Naruto said aloofly as the others looked at him with wide eyes, though Danzo, Homura, and Koharu were narrowed in suspicion.
"And how exactly do you know all of this, Lord Sesshomaru?" Danzo asked in a pleasant tone as Naruto glanced his way.
"Observation and speculation. Only someone famous could have founded a village two years ago, made it known enough to get into the Chunin Exams, and be on friendly terms with the very village it's taking money from. I must admit, only Orochimaru has the guts to move so wildly in design and possibly the charm to get it all done." Naruto said as Hiruzen nodded.
"It seems that Naruto has just confirmed your information, Jiraiya. So… Orochimaru really has convinced the Sand to join him, then…" Hiruzen said with a sigh as he slumped back in his chair.
"Well then, what will we be doing to stop this invasion from happening?" Danzo said as Homura nodded, everyone looking toward Hiruzen for guidance. Naruto scoffed at them all as he stood to address the room.
"I think this entire meeting over such a small issue is a farce. If I were in control of this village, then I would do nothing to stop them. Let them come and challenge you on your own lands. If they are fool enough to believe that you would not know of such treachery, then they are brave enough to be cut down when we use the home field advantage against them." Naruto said as Koga and the others gave him a searching look.
"What do you mean, do nothing? I understand you want to do battle, Lord Sesshomaru, but what about the children-" Inoichi said as Naruto scoffed again.
"What about them, Lord Inoichi? We know they will attack. We can only assume it will be during the Final stage of the Chunin Exams. So, we have the teachers of the Academy and other various ninja escape with the civilians and students. The too young, and the too old go into safe zones, and we crush the enemy with our might. The Hidden Leaf is your village. If they dare to invade it, then let them come and try their hand against ours." Naruto said as he turned and gave an unwavering look to Hiruzen, who nodded with as much determination and conviction as he could muster.
"Lord Sesshomaru is right! Let these uneducated children come and try their invasion. We will give them their lesson first-hand; the Hidden Leaf has not survived disaster after disaster by sitting on it's hands like scared children!" Hiruzen said as he slammed his fist into the conference table.
"Right!" The clan heads chorused as Naruto sat back done and lightly crossed his arms with an approving look on his face. He always did approve of carnage…
"Well then, I believe that business is settled. Now onto the other reason that this meeting was called." Hiruzen said with a weary sigh as he took out his pipe. He looked at it for a second, as if truly seeing it for the first time, and crushed it in his hand. Everyone around the table, even Naruto, looked surprised and shocked at Hiruzen's sudden action.
"I'm an old man, and though I may not have many years left in me, I will protect this village with whatever power these old bones have left. In three years, Lord Sesshomaru here plans to take control of the village, but by then he may have control over other lands as well. He wishes to start an Empire under his command, and our village may not be the first or the last. I asked you clans and my advisors here to see who would oppose his rule and who would stand with him to prevent bloodshed. He says that if our village were to peacefully join him under his banner, he would not be a tyrant or kill needlessly. He has no desire to change the good and traditional thing within the village. He has even claimed to welcome all challengers to his throne, though he has promised to violently put them down in battle." Hiruzen said as Naruto closed his eyes and waited for everyone to get over their apparent shock that he would be controlling their village. As soon as they had, though, that was when the fur started to fly.
"What in the world?" Inoichi exclaimed hotly as he slammed his hands to the table and stood up, Shikaku and Choza next to him as he did. Danzo and the others seemed to be able to convey their surprise and anger at the situation while sitting though.
"Sarutobi, jokes like this aren't funny!" Danzo roared from down the table where his one eye was narrowed in hatred.
"Hiruzen, you can't be serious!" Homura said as he and Koharu gazed at their teammate.
"I am serious, and I am not joking. Lord Sesshomaru, you have the floor to say whatever you wish to quell their fears like you did mine." Hiruzen said with a critical look at Naruto. Naruto nodded as he stood up, presenting the image of a mighty nobleman that had seen battle and simply waited for more.
"I have no real reason to hide anything from any of you here, so I will say it now and clear the air of any confusion." Naruto said calmly as Inoichi glared at him.
"You're trying to control our village! What's there to be confused about?" Inoichi bellowed as Naruto merely glanced at him.
"I am Lord Sesshomaru, but most of you may know me by another name. I am Naruto Sesshomaru Uzumaki. I was born here in the village to Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, so I believe that makes me Naruto Sesshomaru Namikaze Uzumaki. Exactly an hour after my birth, the greatest Tailed Beast of the Nine, the Nine-Tailed Fox, was sealed within me, killing both my parents." Naruto said as the others at the table only gazed at him in silence. Most of the clan children did come home to their parents and told them that Naruto had changed dramatically, but they would have never figured this much! And for him to know of his parents, and how they died along with the sealing meant that this had to be Naruto. Inoichi and the others sat down slowly as they took in everything he was saying.
"I know everything of my life, that includes the one who sealed my memories at the age of six." Naruto said as his eyes narrowed, "I have been… changed, as all of you can see, and I have new ambitions. I want control over the continent, and nothing will be able to stop me. So I'll cut all of this short, and offer you all a choice; join with me, or band against me and wait for the evitable genocide that will follow the latter decision?" Naruto said as he cast a slow and dogged look around the room. The room was in complete silence until Hiashi coughed into his fist and stood.
"We of the Hyuga clan will join you, young Lord Uzumaki. While we do not wish to be conquered in anyway, I will follow you like I did your father and Lord Hokage here." Hiashi said as he gestured to the aged Hokage who smiled at him.
"Hiashi, how could you? This could all be some elaborate bluff, and you just signed your clan over to his banner." Choza said with a stern look as he said with his arms folded over his belly.
"Trust me, Lord Akimichi, if my eyes would have seen a bluff or any form of lie to be had, I would not have made my decision." Hiashi said firmly as he showed his Byakugan for good measure. Inoichi sighed as he stood next.
"Lord Hyuga is actually right, Choza. Even I could not sense a mental form of lie in his brainwaves, and I had been using my Lie Detection jutsu since he first started talking. Either he really believes that he'll wipe us out, or it's as true as the sky being blue. He has no deceit in his words, so like Lord Hyuga… I too w-will join you, Lord Uzumaki." Inoichi said as he gave a formal bow to Naruto and Hiruzen. Shikaku stood next as Choza gaped at his two closest friends.
"I'm not about to simply hand over the lives of my family without at least knowing what you're capable of. I've talked to my son, and I must say that what you did at the Preliminaries was something I don't thing a normal kid would stomach. So tell me, and the rest of us here, what you can really do." Shikaku said as he gave Naruto a calculating look.
"Aside from the fact that I'm an all-powerful Demon Lord now?" Naruto said as everyone but Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Kakashi looked at him in shock.
"Demon Lord? What on Earth that?" Homura asked sternly as Naruto glanced at him. Now Homura had seen many things in life, but that one glance from those cold and merciless eyes told him everything he needed to know about why he shouldn't try and kill this demon of a man in his sleep like he had planned to.
"A Demon Lord, or Daiyokai is a very powerful type of demon. We are far superior to the common demon types that simply possess or devour humans." Naruto said as Danzo narrowed his visible eye at him.
"Oh, and just how powerful are you compared to that of the Tailed Beast, Lord Sesshomaru?" Danzo asked snidely as Naruto sent him a look that made him feel like Death was leaning over his shoulder whispering words of "soon" to him.
"Not even the Kyuubi which is sealed within me can compare to my power. It, or rather, she has submitted herself to my will and shall do as I command." Naruto said calmly as wide eyes nearly burst from heads.
"So you in your own right are all-power, and now you have the Kyuubi, who is apparently female, submissive to your power?" Shikaku asked in shock as Naruto merely nodded while everyone else was gazing up at him in shock and surprise. The Kyuubi made female to his power! Shikaku sighed as he saluted Naruto, "What is your will, my Lord?"
"Shikaku!" Choza yelled as Shikaku quickly cut his eyes to his normally jovial teammate and long-time friend.
"Choza, look at the situation! Naruto isn't even standing here with so much as a flinch as he talks about his power in the face of some of the most powerful people in the village. We all knew the kid would grow strong one day and become Hokage, but with this change I think he might really have the power to pull off his new plan of conquering the rest of the Great Ninja Villages and countries. He just said that the Kyuubi is bent to his will, and that he has power of his own! Inoichi has yet to catch him in a lie, and you can't stop brainwaves from giving away your lies! That means that everything Naruto is saying is true, so what would you have me do? My family is most important to me, and I won't have them die senselessly when we can be apart of something greater!" Shikaku yelled at his friend, shocking everyone as Choza sat there gaping.
"I'm… Listen, I'm not saying that we should fight his overwhelming power, Shikaku. But I have yet to see any sort of kindness out of this new Naruto before us. I would and will never subject my clan to the rule of someone like Hanzo the Salamander, Orochimaru, or even Danzo here. No, I won't have them bow to someone who would squash anyone speaking out against his rule as soon as its uttered openly. Naruto may have been a kind boy, but this change is not looking to be one for the better in terms of his attitude. I can sense the darkness, the bloodlust, and while he controls it well, I just can't see the boy he used to be in him." Choza said with his eyes closed and his arms crossed, but they could all tell he was looking directly at Naruto for the boy's reply.
"Then allow me to quell those fears you have, Lord Akimichi. While it is true that I have changed almost completely, do not forget that I am still me at my core. I can change my look, and my attitude. I can change my abilities, and my speech patterns, but I am still Naruto Uzumaki. I'm just a Sesshomaru now. And this Sesshomaru does not go back on his word. It is true that I would crush all opposition, but that is only if we can't find a more peaceful solution to things. Even I understand the value of life and sacrifice. Since I have changed, I've learned this to be an important lesson for me. I once only cared very little for the lives of others and, upon obtaining this sword…" Naruto said as he grasped the hilt of Tenseiga with his thoughts lingering on his past-life, "When I realized the power of this sword, I assumed that I could conquer death itself at any moment I so pleased. But someone…" Naruto said as his thoughts lingered on Sesshomaru's mother, "showed me that life in itself is fragile and that those I care for need to be protected. This person helped me take the final step in my maturation, a prerequisite for me becoming a great person on his own, and a requirement for my obtaining this sword." Naruto said as he clasped a hand onto his Bakusaiga. The others looked to both his swords, feeling a power coming off them similar to that of the swords wielded by the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. The first sword Naruto had grabbed held a sense of peace, while the second was like destruction ready to happen.
"I don't believe that all power within a system should be handed over to a single person. In my rule, I would put power where it should be, in the hands of those that I feel would run things effectively. That means the ninja of this village, with the civilians have a voice for their percentage." Naruto said as Choza opened only one eye to look at him.
"Fine, I and my clan will join you as well, but only once I see some of the old Naruto again. We will not stand in your way." Choza said gruffly as he stroked his chin in thought.
"I will not submit to the likes of you! Not only are all of you fools for doing so, but he is a demon! Being a Demon Lord is only more reason why you shouldn't bare your necks to him and his ilk! He walks in here and expects us to simply submit to his will!" the only man Naruto didn't know the name shouted as Naruto and everyone else looked to him as he stood from his chair.
"Lord Unkai Kurama, please see reason. Though I don't like what Naruto's proposing, I agree with the fact that instead of the bloodshed of all we should find out who would give into his rule peacefully. He has already revealed more than enough power just by saying that he has fully control over the Kyuubi's power. Please, try and see reason-" Hiruzen started before the guy Unkai cut him off.
"No, you must see reason, Lord Hokage! We have defeated the Kyuubi once, we can do it again! This boy having power over it means nothing!" Unkai raved as Naruto leaned over to Jiraiya.
"Who is this vermin? I've never seen him before, nor have I heard of the Kurama clan." Naruto said calmly as Jiraiya glanced up at him before returning his eyes to Unkai's ranting.
"The Kurama clan is a clan of extremely skilled genjutsu users. This talent in genjutsu is due to the bloodline ability that the clan possesses. However, once every few generations, a member of the clan will be born with such enormous skill in genjutsu that their illusions can actually produce tangible effects that occur in reality. The genjutsu is so powerful that it causes the brain to make anything that happens to the victim within the genjutsu physically real, allowing the clan member to potentially kill their opponents with illusions." Jiraiya explained as Naruto glanced down at him with narrowed eyes.
"Such a frightening power is not without its drawbacks to humans, however." Naruto said wisely as Kakashi nodded, having heard them the whole time like a few others who were listening silently.
"The user of said power can rarely control the full extent of their abilities, and as such their subconscious will often regulate that power, leading to the creation of a second personality in control of that power. This personality then overwhelms the original, turning the individual into a monster that is a danger to everyone around them. They were originally one of the more prominent clans in Konoha, but the number of ninja in the clan has severely dwindled in the last three decades, mostly because of the Kyuubi attack and the last Ninja War." Kakashi said as Jiraiya nodded in agreement.
"Unkai wasn't always the leader of the clan. His nephew, Murakumo Kurama, was the clan head before his death. Murakumo and his wife, Uroko Kurama, were killed by their daughter's power." Kakashi said as Naruto raised a brow at the information, but said nothing.
"Murakumo was eager to remedy the predicament of his clan's standing in the village by having his daughter's develop into her full potential as a genjutsu-user. Murakumo approached Sarutobi-sensei a few years back, and petitioned for a special tutor to oversee his daughter's training; hoping that she could overcome her frail condition by focusing purely on her genjutsu." Jiraiya filled in as Naruto scoffed.
"There has to be more to it than that." Naruto said as Hiruzen spoke.
"Yes, there is" Hiruzen said, getting the attention of everyone who had been listening, "Some time after I approved the training, a fire engulfed the Kurama clan's household. Among those killed were both Murakumo and his wife, Uroko. The cause of the fire was Yakumo, Murakumo and Uroko daughter. It was because of the powers she could not control Ido."
"Ido?" Naruto said in confusion. Naruto glanced back at Hiruzen before looking back to see Shikaku having an argument with Unkai while Danzo looked to be at the end of his patience.
"An independent, sentient, and malicious personality that existed within young Yakumo's subconscious. It used Yakumo's own powers against her will and started the fire that killed her family. Yakumo, however, as she is unaware of the Ido's existence, was and still is initially convinced that her parents were killed on my orders. I plan to, one day, find someone strong enough to break the Ido's hold over her spirit and tell the child the truth of what happened."
"That the deaths of her parents were caused due to the Ido that lives in her subconscious?" Naruto said as Hiruzen sighed, but nodded determinedly.
"Yes."
"Enough! It is obvious that some of us need more time than this one simple meeting can allow in order to figure out what we want to do. Let us all journey back to our clans and families to see what they think of this. Spread the word of what's going to happen and have the people decide what they wanna do." Danzo said as he got up to leave but two ANBU blocked his path.
"I determine when these meetings are over, Danzo. Now sit." Hiruzen said firmly as Danzo gritted his teeth at him, but did as he was told. Hiruzen sighed as he leaned back into the comfort of his chair, "Now then, I have something to say. You are not to tell anyone of what was spoken this day. None of it! The village would be up in arms and senseless panic over what we're speaking over. The reason I call all of you here was to get your opinion on Naruto's rule, though it seems that most of you don't wish any senseless bloodshed when we can all simply have peace."
"Sarutobi, you can't be serious?" Danzo said as Hiruzen narrowed his eyes at him.
"I am. I will not stop progress, and if that is what the clans want, then all that's left to convince are the villagers." Hiruzen said with an attentive frown at Danzo.
"Lord Hokage, if I may?" Naruto said calmly as Hiruzen nodded before Naruto stood once again.
"After during the month of this reprieve in the Exams, I plan to journey over to the Hidden Waterfall in order to liberate it from the control of some flea that two of my servants told me about. I shall return by the end of the month, and after this invasion and the Exams, I will be leaving once again to take control of more lands." Naruto said in such a calm tone, as if stating facts of life; like the sun shining or water being wet to the touch. It made them all a little uneasy at just how calmly Naruto could converse about taking control of entire villages and countries.
"Know this: I do not, nor have I, for the last few days considered myself a ninja. I have no need to hide among the shadows, or strike down my opponent in the middle of the night whilst he sleeps-"
"If only the kids now-a-days still did fight from the shadows!" Koharu said in a huff before the room went silent. She looked about and sweat-dropped as every eye was on her, "Umm… I said that aloud, didn't I?" they all nodded as she sighed, "Sorry about that…"
"We understand, Koharu-chan." Homura said as he patted her shoulder while Hiruzen patted her hand in his own. Danzo nodded at the opposite end of the table with his eyes closed and his arms crossed while Shikaku and the others shrugged.
"Like I was saying: I'm no ninja. I don't need shuriken or kunai. I have no need for tricks or illusions. I am a Demon Lord, and if any of you in this room believe that you can stand as my equal…" Naruto said, trailing off as he flooded the room with his demonic energy, his eyes turning crimson-red and his faint purple whisker-markings broadening. Everyone's eyes widened as they felt pure and terrifying perfection wash over them like a tidal wave of blood. The bloodlust, the compassion, the perfect balance of good and evil, love and hate, peace and carnage. It was so… unreal!
Naruto stopped the flow of power as Unkai gripped the edge of the table to stay in his seat, his hands shaking and his breathing erratic. Koga and Shibi looked to be pleasantly surprised as they sat back in their chairs, their arms folded while they both looking at Naruto like he was giving them good show all the while bashing in his power like a tanning bed. Danzo was about to shout for his ROOT ninja to kill Naruto when he realized that after the current of energy had settled, his backaches had simply melted away. In fact he, like the other three elders in the room, felt five to ten years younger!
"Naruto…" Hiruzen said a slightly awestruck voice as he flexed his muscles, no longer feeling them ache or hearing his joints crack as he did so.
"That was but a taste of the power I wield. Follow my rule and you will know true perfection instead of the mere youthful feeling that you all have now, or you may fight against me and die doing so." Naruto said before he walked out of the room, the ANBU too frightened and awed at his power to stop him, but mostly not stopping him because they weren't ordered to do so like with Danzo.
"Hiruzen, I must admit that I had planned to kill the boy in his slumber, but now I believe my plans may have changed course a bit…" Danzo said as a gleam entered his eye. Hiruzen didn't respond as he flexed his fingers before letting his charka rise. Everyone still in the room felt the very air around the grow dense under his power as he continued to flex his hand repeatedly, looking at the appendage curiously as if it had appeared out of thin air.
"This could be a great opportunity for us…" Hiruzen said to himself as he was still looking down at his less wrinkled skin.
A good opportunity indeed…
"Master Jaken, I think I've found it!" Hoki yelled from a rooftop as Jaken and the others turned to him from their search of the hotel the Sound team had to be staying.
"How do you know it's this one?" Jaken questioned as he jumped along the roofs to get to Hoki.
"Because I see that Zaku fellow in the window." Hoki said as Jaken landed next to him. Jaken looked, seeing the boy Zaku scowling out at nothing while he gazed out at the window, both the boy's arms in slings.
"Yeah, that's the Zaku guy alright, Master Jaken." Sakura confirmed as Jaken nodded. Sasuke stood off to the side with Fu while looking as uninterested as ever.
"Why's Naruto want this Kin girl anyway?" Sasuke asked as Sakura shrugged while Jaken rounded on him.
"Fool, it is not your place to question my Lord's motives! You are merely to do as he commands!" Jaken shouted as Sasuke didn't even seemed fazed by it.
"Though you have to admit that you're curious as well, Master Jaken." Fu said as Jaken sighed and sat atop the roof.
"Yes, that I must. If I had to harass a guess though, I would say that it has something to do with that Orochimaru and his Cursed Mark." Jaken said as Sakura and he looked at Sasuke, who reflexively placed a hand over his mark.
"Why is Naruto interested in this thing?" Sasuke said as he showed them his Curse Mark. Fu and Hoki looked at it and the seal around it in awe as Jaken stroked his chin.
"I would say that it's because my Lord wishes to remove that taint from you and that Anko woman, mostly anyone else why the thing on them as well. Heed my words boy, that mark is not power nor is it any good for you. That thing is little more than a parasite sucking of both your sanity and your aura. It's slowly making you a more insane, irrational, and darker being. It will only lead to your destructive should you choose to keep it once my Lord has found a way to remove it." Jaken said sagely as he gazed up at Sasuke.
"And how do you know it's so bad?" Sasuke shot back as he was rather curious about Jaken's knowing all this. He figured there had to be something wrong with the damn thing after the way it nearly made him want to rip off his own head just to stop the pain from the Chunin Exams.
"Because unlike you humans, I and Lord Sesshomaru can sense and see a person's aura at will. It comes in quite handy when dealing with lesser demons or priestesses." Jaken said as he held up a hand. A flame appeared in his hand and he twirled it about until it became the Staff of Two Heads. Sasuke only scoffed at the display. Show-off…
"You're making this up. There's no way this thing can be as bad as you say. I haven't felt anything change about me, so you must be lying." Sasuke said, trying not to show himself being a bit creeped out by the thought of a parasite sucking on his chakra, or any sign of weakness by referring to the pain the mark had put him in.
"Then tell me this, Sasuke Uchiha: do you feel like your thirst for power is greater than your want to kill your brother? Because if it is, then not removing that thing will only cause you to never reach your brother's level of power." Jaken said as he held the staff on side of him while Sasuke gaped for a second.
"And how do you know that?" Sasuke demanded as Jaken didn't even back away from him when Sasuke got in his face and held him by the collar. He had faced the likes of Naraku and Inuyasha at the side of Lord Sesshomaru, and this boy was but a mere human given a small taste of demonic power.
"Your brother doesn't have a mark that gives him power, does he? No, he acquired power by training. However, training as a human can only get you so far. Serve under Lord Sesshomaru's banner, and you will gain true power. You could become a God amongst insects, and have your brother bowing at your feet for all eternity." Jaken said as Sasuke froze for a moment before gaining a glazed over look while imagining what Jaken was saying. Jaken grinned cruelly as he knew just a few more well placed comments would have the boy kissing at the feet of his Lord for a simple taste of true power.
"If he gives me the strength to defeat my brother, then I'll happily bow at his feet!" Sasuke said, the Curse Mark and his hatred for his brother warping his mind into a lust for power at any cost. Jaken only smiled at him as he nodded. Humans were so easily manipulated…
"This boy is a fool. Lord Sesshomaru will give him power, but by the time we get that parasitic mark off his neck, his mind will already be too warped to change. I'll just have to be sure that a bigger part of that warp is loyalty to Lord Sesshomaru rather than this lust for power." Jaken thought as he coughed into his hand to gain everyone's attention, not that he didn't already have it with the way he and Sasuke were talking.
"Now as for your first task; I want all of you to go in there and get that Kin girl! Remember, not a hair on her head is to be harmed or else we'll all suffer Lord Sesshomaru's wrath." Jaken said as they all shivered at the thought.
"Yes sir, Master Jaken!" Hoki, Fu, and Sakura cried before they blurred into an open window of the hotel building while Sasuke grunted, dropping down to the street and entering through the front door like a casual guest. Jaken cackled to himself evilly as he rubbed his hands together. This all was just too easy…
Jaken gasped though when he saw that gray-haired boy Kabuto waltz into the hotel. He was sure that the boy was working under Orochimaru, mostly because Lord Sesshomaru had shared his suspicions with him. The boy was obviously there to collect the Kin girl and the Zaku boy for their master, but Jaken wouldn't allow it.
"Besides, if my Lord finds out that I failed him and allowed this Kabuto to take the Kin girl away, he'll knock my melon right off my shoulders." Jaken said to himself with a gulp as he hopped off the roof and went into the hotel.
"Naruto, I see you've come to see Lee in his time of need." Gai said as he struck an energetic pose. Naruto simply continued walking up to him as though he hadn't seen it.
"Time of need? I wasn't aware that anything was wrong with him. I was told that he and Hinata Hyuga were too perfect, and were being kept for observation." Naruto said coolly as he stopped in front of Gai, both standing just outside of Lee's room.
"Yes, and that's why it's his time of need. The doctors can't explain how he became so healthy or fit, even though the change isn't that much thanks to his training. He still can't use ninjutsu of genjutsu, because his coils are still the same as before. I was hoping to see you in a week's time if the doctors hadn't found an answer by then, but I'm glad you came by. As the one who healed him, I was hoping you'd have some answers for me and them." Gai said, his face serious and his tone reflecting it.
"I see… Then allow me to explain. You see, I don't know any medical techniques or medicines like healers do. That being said, I use my own body's healing mechanisms to get the job done." Naruto said as Gai nodded, though his eyes glanced down at Naruto's stomach.
"The Kyuubi?" Gai asked, a tentative frown on his face as he looked Naruto right in the eye.
"Yes, a few days ago I would have needed the Kyuubi to heal my wounds, but no longer. I now have my own powers of healing. You see, if I'm badly injured I'm able to use my pure fighting spirit and eminence output of demonic aura to completely regenerate the injuries." Naruto said calmly as Gai's eyes widened.
"How so?" Gai said, forgoing the question of demonic aura, since he could practically sense the gentle darkness rolling off Naruto.
"While in possession of this sword" Naruto said, placing his hand on Tenseiga my own body is in a constant state of regeneration, though I have never endeavored to find out why. Also, my demonic power allows me to focus on the aura of ours and manipulate it as I would like. I've never had much of a use for the ability in past times, but it serves it's purpose as a healing measure." Naruto said, casting a quick glance at the door to Lee's room. Gai nodded to him, before he placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Thank you, thank you for helping him. His injures… I told the doctors what happened when we found him in that burnt down room, and they said that if you hadn't healed him he would have never been able to continue as a ninja." Gai said, a tear in his eye as Naruto gazed at him with a raised brow.
"Tell me, Might Gai, why is it that Lee is a shinobi in the first place?" Naruto asked as Gai's snapped on him in an instant.
"What do you mean?" Gai demanded with a slight edge in his voice.
"I would have thought someone like him to be a simple fighter, not a ninja. He could become a great slayer if they were still about…" Naruto said, though he had muttered his last statement.
"Fighter…? Slayer…?" Gai echoed in confusion as Naruto turned from him slightly.
"A noble fighter, one who does not fight dirty, but defeats their opponents with skill and power. Slayers were demon slayer a long time ago. They traveled the lands slaying common demons and evil spirits that caused trouble. You and Lee could be good at doing either." Naruto said, and just as he was about to walk away Lee's door opened.
"But I want to become a ninja!" Lee shouted, his head bowed and his eyes clenched shut as Gai gaped at him.
"Lee, you should be rest-"
"No, Gai-sensei! I really do want to become a ninja! You and I have worked too long and far to switch goals now. I've always wanted to prove that I could be as splendid a ninja as anyone else. Please, Lord Uzumaki, don't make me give up my dream!" Lee said loudly as he bowed lowly to Naruto's back. Gai only gaped at him more.
"Lee, what are you doing? And what do you mean, Lord Uzumaki?" Gai asked in shock as Lee looked up at him, but didn't get up from his bowed position.
"He saved my life, Gai-sensei. Not just my life, but my dream as well. He healed me when those medic-ninja didn't know what would happened to me after I got hurt by that Gaara of the Desert. I will not rest until I can return his kindness and grace toward me. I will serve him until the day I die. That I promise, I will not break that promise without good reason." Lee said with conviction as Naruto didn't even bother looking back at him or Gai. Gai seemed stunned for a whole minute before he smiled at Lee.
"You do that then, Lee. But of you Naruto, I ask only one thing. I know I have no right asking this, especially since you've already done so much for Lee, but please hear me out." Gai said before he slowly bent his forward body at the waist in a formal bow, "Please, don't take Lee away from me. He's more than a student to me, he's like a son. Please, let him train under me."
If either of the two had moved in front of Naruto, they would have seen his smile at how close the two were. One with a near impossible dream and the guiding mentor helping him every step of the way. It warmed his heart that those sort of bonds weren't only in the romance novels that Ino liked to read.
"Do as you wish…" Naruto said simply after a moment of silence as he walked away from the spandex-clad duo. Lee and Gai smiled with animated tears in their eyes before hugging each other.
"Oh, Gai-sensei!"
"Lee, my young protégé!"
"I didn't mean that!"
"I don't think he knows about our connection to him." Koga said as he and his wife Tsume walked back to their clan compound.
"Is that such a bad thing…?" Tsume asked quietly as she rubbed at her arm, finding the ground more interesting than meeting her husband's gaze.
"We may not have thought it would happen, Tsume, but we accepted it as a possibility none the less. We have the clan's honor to uphold!" Koga said sternly as Tsume finally met his gaze with a glare.
"I don't care about the clan honor! I love you, Koga! In nine thousand years there hasn't been a Inu-Taisho to rule over the clan and now you want me to simply give myself and our daughter over to him!"
"Yes, because you both accepted it as a part of not only being in the clan, but as your duty to the clan! I told each of you what might happen, but both of you waved me off thinking it wouldn't! Now that it has you think I'm not broken up about it! Do you honestly think I enjoy the idea of losing you to him!" Koga said just as loudly as he and Tsume glared at each other.
"Then what the hell are we gonna do, Koga? I… I could handle it, but Hana…" Tsume said, gazing off to the side as she couldn't bare the thought of her daughter fulfilling that obligation to the clan.
"I'll think of something…" Koga said, sounding like he already had an idea, but wasn't very sure if it'd work.
"Look Koga, let's… let's not fight. If our time together really is growing that short, then let's spend it the best way we can." Tsume said, linking her arms with Koga's one as she leaned into him.
"Of course, my Queen Bitch." Koga said with a chuckle, his somber face turning into a grin as Tsume gave him an annoyed look.
"Come on, my King of the Mangy Mutts." Tsume said as she dragged her husband along the way home.
What they didn't know was that someone in the shadows was watching them with a predatory smile as he slinked back into the shadows from whence he came.
Naruto walked along the hotel's way, trying to find Jaken's scent, but when he did he didn't expect to come to a literal battlefield in the middle of a hotel. It was a single hallway actually, but the way the fight was going, Naruto was sure that it would soon be expanding further. Naruto walked through the hallway, seeing Sakura and Sasuke downed with minor cuts and chakra exhaustion. He walked further down the hall to see Hoki clutching at his like as if it were on fire with Fu by his side tending to him.
"Fu, what is going on here?" Naruto asked calmly, though on the inside he was seething. No one harmed his servants and he was the only one that got to kick Sasuke's ass!
"My Lord, we're so sorry, but that grey-haired guy from the Chunin Exams was just to strong for any of us to take on, even together. Master Jaken is doing battle against him now, but the guy has these chakra scalpels that can cut through bone, muscles and other internal organs with ease. He cut through Sasuke's legs and Sakura's ankle tendons like child's play and then he hurt Hoki by cutting through his leg with a poison kunai. Master Jaken and I were the only ones left and Master Jaken said to take care of them." Fu said as Naruto surveyed the area coolly.
Murky blue flames, and water were scattered everywhere. That meant that Jaken was forced to use both the Staff of Two Heads and his own abilities in combating Kabuto. Naruto turned from Fu and took up a swift pace to get to where the battle was still going on. Naruto could sense that Jaken and Kabuto were almost evenly matched, but he wasn't sure which would win now that Kabuto was using both unknown techniques and showing his true power.
It wasn't long before Naruto had to turn a corner and could see Jaken and Kabuto battling one another at the end.
Jaken used the Staff of Two Heads to block a poison scalpel strike and countered with the flames from the head of the old man. Kabuto leapt back to avoid them, but was burned on his leg due to the flames giving chase. He healed himself rather quickly as his hand went green, but it wasn't long before the healing green glow turned a sharp blue as he lunged at Jaken, swiping at the imp-ninja's arm. His chakra scalpel sliced clean through the tendons of the arm, but Jaken managed to kick him back before he could continue the assault on his inners. Jaken twirled the staff with one hand and unleashed a torrent of water with the head of the old maiden. Jaken's pupils went small, his irises turned a yellow color and the whites turned a green color all the while he was gathering his demonic energy. He felt the tendons in his arm reattach themselves and heal while Kabuto used Earth-style ninjutsu stop himself from being drowned by the water.
"Give it up, little man, there's no way you'll beat me. I can sense your dark chakra being used to heal you, and you won't be able to keep it up for long. I can hack away at you internal organs all day, but how long before you run out of power to heal them? Just step aside and I wouldn't have to kill you." Kabuto said from behind his mud wall while Jaken's breath became ragged.
Using the Staff of Two Heads required a lot of demonic power, and healing injuries with only will power took just as much. The boy Kabuto was right, he wouldn't be able to keep it up for much longer, especially since Jaken's human0like body was still not used to using demonic energy.
Kabuto himself was feeling the strain as well. He hadn't used this much chakra since he was still in Sasori's loyalty. Taking down the Uchiha and the pink-haired girl were easy, but that Waterfall boy and the Jinchuriki were just a bit more difficult. It was only thanks to this staff-wielder that the girl hadn't joined in the fight, or else things would have been finished by now. He also lost sight of Kin and Zaku when the fight began just outside of their room. Things were not looking good, especially since he himself was running low on chakra.
"Jaken, why have you not finished this yet?" Naruto asked as he walked onto the scene. Both Jaken and Kabuto watched Naruto's calm arrival with as much fear and awe as the other, and Jaken was his servant!
"M-My Lord, please forgive me, but this boy is quite strong. I still have not fully adjusted to this form, and this form is still not fully comfortable in handling my demonic power." Jaken said as Naruto stopped just behind him.
"This is bad! Fighting the servant was more than enough, but fight Uzumaki is suicide at the least! If he injured Lord Orochimaru so casually, then he'll have no quarrels killing me." Kabuto thought with gritted teeth from behind his wall of earth.
"Humph…" Naruto scoffed as he held up a hand at Kabuto's mud wall, "Allow me then, Jaken."
"Toxic Flower Claw…" Naruto said as his hand began to glow a acidic green and from it burst a power stream of poison, melting through the wall quickly. Kabuto, seeing it do so, jumped back repeatedly to avoid the poison.
"This is bad! I have to do something to sat least stay alive." Kabuto thought as Naruto stopped shooting poison energy at him, gazing at the grey-haired boy as impassively as he could.
"Please, Lord Sesshomaru…" Kabuto breathed out as he went to his knees, placing his fist on the floor as his forehead touched it as well, "Please allow me to serve you!"
Jaken looked gob-stopped and Naruto's eyebrow rose to staggering heights as they both looked at Kabuto.
"And why should I let you live, Kabuto Yakushi, let alone serve me?" Naruto asked, the suspicion in his voice giving it an edge that made Kabuto believe that his head would be rolling soon.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I would be a great asset to your ever growing influence. I know a great many things about the medical world and I know a great many secrets about Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto said, never picking up his head as both Jaken and Naruto narrowed their eyes at Kabuto's calling Orochimaru his Lord.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, calling forth all the knowledge he had on Kabuto and saw that some things just didn't add up. He knew that Kabuto was obviously a spy for Orochimaru, but had skills not even Orochimaru could. He could practically see Kabuto's aura fluctuate wildly in his nervousness of survival.
"There's no time to talk about this here and now. However, you will meet with me in the Hidden Waterfall village in a week's time. It will be there that I will determine whether or not you shall serve under me." Naruto said, turning from Kabuto and starting his walk back toward the others, "Jaken, retrieve Kin and maybe that boy from this place and let's go. Our business here is done."
"Wait, what will I tell Lord Orochimaru! He needed those two for his plans!" Kabuto said wildly as he looked up from his bowed position. Though he wished he hadn't as Naruto cast an icy look from over his shoulder as he stopped.
"You will tell him whatever you must. I'm taking both of them, and you will do nothing about it." Naruto said as resuming walking, his fur billowing behind him with his every step.
Kabuto had no clue when, but sometime after he got out of the village and was making his way back to Lord Orochimaru, his face broke into a grin and crazed laughter began to pour out of him as he thought about Lord Sesshomaru.
Yes, being employed to the Killing Perfection would work out rather nicely if all of his plans fell in place…