Naruto ~ Silent Guardians
The end of the 4th war had Naruto and Shikamaru as the only survivors, Kurama feeling the two fading acted fast, sent them back to their Genin days to make sure the war never came to pass. AU! Pairings aren't a main focus.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything related to it. I do own all the Uzumaki Kinjustu's used in this story.
Chapter Twenty-One
"A war?" Minato's head snapped to look at his son, on guard.
"Kind of…" Shikamaru rubbed his neck before he sighed.
"What nations are involved?" Hashirama asked worriedly.
"…It is not going to involve any nations if we have a say in it. It will however involve Madara Uchiha, Obito Uchiha, Black and White Zetsu and the Goddess Kaguya. Trust us, they can and will destroy the five nations if they get the chance. We are here to stop them before they can." Naruto said, his voice dark and firm.
"Madara Uchiha huh?" Hashirama ran a hand over his face as he absorbed the words.
"Obito? Obito is dead Naruto." Minato spoke up confused, his voice sad as he spoke of his dead student.
"He did not die that day, he was found by Madara Uchiha and Zetsu. His mind was warped and filled with hatred, he unfortunately saw Kakashi kill Rin and he was overcome by her death without knowing the reason behind it. He let him self be completely taken over by Madara and Zetsu's teachings. He is still in there and can be reached, but it will be difficult." Naruto explained gravely.
"If the Obito I knew is still there then I will get him back." Minato said, eyes flashing showing his determination.
"Now I know where you get it from." Shikamaru whispered to Naruto, the blonde just elbowed the Nara.
"This is going to be an uncover operation, no nation is to find out about what is going to happen in the next hours. In time they will become the Allied Shinobi Forces, but I rather it not happen during a war." Naruto made eye contact with each person in the room seeing agreement and some confusion to his words there.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, my student. Is he here?" Tobirama spoke up suddenly.
"Ah Jiji? He is still back in the village with Ero-Sennin and Baa-Chan; I believe he is currently training Sasuke." Naruto said and Tobirama relaxed hearing his student was alive and well.
"Speaking of Sasuke, don't worry about him anymore Itachi. He knows the truth about the Uchiha Massacre and is training to get stronger so you can come home to him, so you don't have to be a missing nin to protect him any longer." Naruto explained; Itachi blinked in shock at Naruto's words before he smiled a bit and Minato growled at the mention of a massacre and muttered under his breath about Danzo.
"You should get the others, we'll meet you at the battle field." Shikamaru spoke up and Naruto nodded as he pulled out a three-pronged Kunai with a Hiraishin seal on the handle. He handed it to Shikamaru who attached it to his belt beside Asuma's trench knives and stepped away from the blonde.
"I'll meet you at the battle field Shika." Naruto gave Shikamaru an ANBU salute before he disappeared in a flash of yellow and orange.
"That was the Hiraishin!" Kushina gasped as he looked at her husband who was staring at the three-pronged Kunai on Shikamaru's belt.
"Naruto learned it?" Minato asked Shikamaru.
"Not only did he master the Hiraishin, he mastered the Rasengan in a week and then perfected it by adding in his Charka nature Futon." Shikamaru said bragging about his Hokage.
"Naruto." Minato smiled bright and proudly.
"Konan-San, could you bring down the shrine? We need to get moving." Shikamaru turned to the Ame woman who nodded and held her arms up. The shrine around the group turned to pieces of paper that reattached them selves to her outstretched arms, the former Hokage's looking impressed.
Shikamaru then led the group down a path in the forest towards the battlefield.
"Who did Naruto go to get?" Kushina asked as she held hands with her husband, happy she could be near him once more.
"The rest of the Jinchūriki's." Shikamaru said and chuckled internally at the frozen forms of those around him.
"The rest of the Jinchūriki's? You mean…" Tobirama trailed off.
"All nine of them, it will be a sight to see them all fighting together. I mean watching Naruto and Kurama fighting in their shroud is a sight to behold, but the others should also have mastered their own shrouds by now." Shikamaru rambled enjoying this a bit too much as he herded the group further down the road.
"How? Each Tailed Beast is locked within a Jinchūriki with no way to communicate, more so the Beasts will be in a rage if they are released." Mito spoke up, speaking from experience as the first Jinchūriki for the Kyuubi.
"A lot has changed Uzumaki-Senju-Sama." Shikamaru said respectfully. "The Tailed Beasts are on our side and each one has a relationship with their Jinchūriki, just be glad they are on our side this time around."
"What do you mean by 'this time around?'" Itachi spoke up, mind whirring.
"When we finish this battle Naruto and I will explain everything, now stand back." Shikamaru pulled the Kunai from his belt and threw it into the ground a far bit from the stopped group as the seal started to heat up and glow. The group had stopped on a cliff overlooking a barren field; the same field the final battle had taken place in Shikamaru and Naruto's timeline. It was fitting that they would win once more in this place.
The seal flashed and a dust cloud appeared as nine figures suddenly appeared in blurs of colors.
"I think I may throw up." A young female voice made it's way to the assembled group.
"Naruto I am going to give you a first hand experience of my Sand Burial." Gaara growled.
"Ah come on you guys! A group Hiraishin wasn't that bad!" Naruto laughed only to get growls in return as the dust settled. Naruto walked back towards the other group of ninja's with a huge smile on his lips, a small version of Kurama sat on the blonde's head with his nine tails flared up behind him.
"We're back, oh let me introduce everyone! Well first off this is Kurama the Nine Tails! Say 'hi' Kurama." Naruto pointed at the red fox on his head.
"Bite me." Kurama deadpanned digging his claws into the blonde's head amused at the horrified looks he was getting from the previously deceased Shinobi's.
"He's not a people person." Naruto explained, not wincing at stinging on his scalp.
"Naruto, are you sure having the Nine Tails out like this is a good idea?" Kushina asked worried for her son's safety and confused at how it was possible that the was outside of the seal like this.
"It's fine Kaa-San, trust me on this. Kurama is just a big fuzz ball and he loovvesss me." Naruto sang poking Kurama's cheek.
"I will bite your finger off you brat." Kurama growled only for Naruto to laugh. Kushina still looked worried until Minato put his hand on her shoulder.
"I trust Naruto and if he trusts the Nine Tails then I trust… Kurama. Thank you for taking care of my son." Minato turned a smile on the Nine Tails; Kurama huffed and flared his tails in acknowledgement.
"This is Hashirama Senju the Shodai Hokage and his wife and first Jinchūriki of Kurama Mito Uzumaki." Naruto pointed at the two for the benefit of the Jinchūriki's.
"Next is the Nidaime Hokage Tobirama Senju, then we have the Yondaime Hokage Minato Namikaze my Tou-San and my Kaa-San Kushina Uzumaki the Nine Tails Jinchūriki before me. Over here we have Itachi Uchiha, then that is Nagato Uzumaki, Konan and Yahiko of Ame who are all on our side now. Finally we have Shikamaru Nara, some of you may know him." Naruto finished the introduction.
"Hey there Shikamaru!" B waved at the Nara while Gaara came over and clasped forearms with the Nara with a smile on his lips.
"We can introduce our selves Naruto." Yagura spoke up with the others agreeing.
"Whatever you say midget." Naruto smirked.
"I am Yondaime Mizukage remember? I am not a midget!" Yagura's eyebrow twitched.
"You should know you can't pull rank with me." Naruto shot back smirking and the Mizukage threw his hands up in defeat.
"We will start with one and work out way to nine, understood?" Gaara spoke up.
"Whatever you say oh Godaime Kazekage." Naruto mock bowed before he dodged a swipe of sand from the redhead.
"I am Sabaku no Gaara of Suna, the future Godaime Kazekage." Gaara intoned as the huge tail of Shukaku moved from its place draped around the redhead's shoulder and the head of the One Tail appeared.
"I am the mighty Shukaku the One Tail!" Shukaku tried to roar, but it came out more high pitched and squeaky.
"Oh so mighty Shukaku!" Kurama roared with laughter from Naruto's head. Gaara just sighed as he was used to Shukaku by this point.
"I'm Yugito Nii of Kumo." Yugito bowed, her respect for Kage's kicking in from her Jounin training.
"I am Matatabi, the Two Tails." Matatabi purred out from her place by Yugito's feet, her two blue tails weaving in and around Yugito's ankles.
"I am Yagura of Kiri and the Yondaime Mizukage." Yagura inclined his head to the past Konoha Hokage's.
"I am Isobu the Three Tails, Yagura's partner." The turtle beast also nodded his head to the past Hokage's from his place on Yagura's forearm where he was resting.
"Name's Roshi of Iwa and this guy is Son Goku the Four Tails." Roshi said between puffs of smoke as he had been smoking when Naruto had come to bring them to battle, the Son Goku was puffing away by Roshi's feet.
"I am Han of Iwa, pleased to meet you all." Han didn't remove his hand from the front of his kimono, as it was habit to keep it there.
"I am Han's partner the Five Tails Kokuo." Kokuo was resting on the bent elbow of Han's right arm.
"Utakata, a missing nin from Kiri." Utakata sent a glance at the Mizukage who just rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively about Utakata being a missing nin.
"I am Saiken, the Six Tails." Saiken introduced himself between blowing his bubbles from Utakata's shoulder.
"Nice to meet you all! I'm Fu of Taki! This is Chomei the Seven Tails and my best friend in the whole world!" Fu grinned, hugging the form of Chomei tightly to her chest, nuzzling her cheek against his face.
"YO! I'm Killer B of Kumo and this here is the Eight Tails Gyuki! We are brother's from another mother." B started to rap, but Naruto shot forward and slapped his hand over B's mouth laughing nervously. Gyuki shook his head from his place on B's broad shoulder.
"Sorry to say B, but this is not the time to rap." Naruto said and B nodded solemnly remembering why they were all there.
"That's everyone!" Naruto clapped his hands together bringing attention back to himself and Shikamaru.
"Not quite." Shikamaru reminded his Hokage.
"Oh yeah I almost forgot!" Naruto grinned rubbing his neck.
"Sometimes I swear I don't know why I follow you." Shikamaru smacked his palm against his forehead.
"Because we are brothers, because we are survivors and because we want peace." Naruto said sagely.
"Then you go and remind me." Shikamaru smiled fondly before Naruto skipped over to a clearing a little ways away from the group, Kurama clinging at the blonde hair as they moved.
"What is he doing now?" Hashirama asked Shikamaru curiously as he stood beside the Nara.
"Filling our ranks." Shikamaru stated with a smirk as he kept his eyes trained on the blonde who was performing a series of hand signs.
"Those hand seals." Mito muttered in shock.
"An Uzumaki Kinjutsu." Kushina breathed out. "I've read about it, but I've never seen anyone use it before."
"Kinjutsu?" Minato said alarmed and his eyes darted over to his son who just slammed his bloodied palm against the ground by his feet.
"That's because even Uzumaki's and their large Charka reserves do not have enough Charka to perform the jutsu successfully, not only that the user needs to have an extremely strong emotional connection to the ones they are summoning and they need a strong mind and will to keep it together." Mito explained and this only upped the worry for Minato and Kushina.
"Uzumaki Kinjutsu:Kanzen'na memori hansha [Complete Memory Reflection]." Naruto shouted and the whole area surrounding him was engulfed in smoke. The smoke cleared enough to show Naruto standing with his arms crossed a pleased look on his face.
"Fall in!" He shouted.
"Hai!" Numerous male and female voices and one bark came in response.
"Team 7, which I am apart of." Naruto added in for the newly arrived ninja's.
"Maa, Kakashi Hatake, Jounin sensei of Team 7 and ex-ANBU Taicho." The silver haired Jounin/ANBU stepped out of the smoke; Hitai-ate was across his forehead exposing both Sharingan-less eyes and the scar down the left side of his face with his mask still firmly in place. He waved cheerfully at Minato and Kushina who were staring at him in shock, happiness and confusion at both his eyes being visible.
"Yamato, ANBU Taicho and second in command of Team 7." A man with a happuri style Hitai-ate framing his face, his short brown hair exposed behind it said, bowing stiffly to the Hokage's eyes trained on Hashirama taking in the sight of the man whose DNA flew through his veins.
"Sakura Haruno, apprentice of Lady Tsunade!" The pink haired Kunoichi was pulling on her fingerless gloves, the diamond in the middle of her forehead making her look more threatening to all those who knew the reasoning behind the diamond.
"Sai, ex-ROOT." A pale teen with ink black hair and brushes attached to his back spoke next, giving the group a creepy smile. Minato hissed under his breath, he knew Danzo had not dissolved all of ROOT and this was his proof.
"Sasuke Uchiha, ex-apprentice of Orochimaru. You better have a good reason for me to be here dobe." Sasuke snarked from his place by Sakura, he had his hand resting on the hilt of Kusanagi making Shikamaru subconsciously rub his shoulder wound.
"Does fighting a war count teme?" Naruto snarked back out of habit.
"This isn't the insane version is it?" Shikamaru asked eyeing the Uchiha warily.
"Do I look crazy? No way I would bring back that killer, this is the version of Sasuke that actually was helping in the war." Naruto gave Shikamaru a look.
"Just checking." Shikamaru smirked.
"That is Sasuke, you said he was safe back in the village?" Itachi asked eyeing the other Uchiha with distrust as Sasuke stared back at Itachi blankly, some emotions swirling in his eyes for a few moments.
"A version of him, do not worry about it too much Itachi, your little brother is safe back in Konoha. Once this is all over we will explain everything." Naruto assured the ex-ANBU.
"Team 8, your up!" Shikamaru called out and the next group stepped forward.
"I am Kurenai Yuuhi, Jounin sensei to Team 8." Kurenai bowed, her ringed crimson eyes taking in Itachi as if she was waiting for him to pull her into a Genjutsu.
"Kiba Inuzuka and this is my Niken Akamaru!" Kiba smiled, rubbing behind Akamaru's large ears.
"Shino Aburame." Shino said from behind his large collar, eyes gazed over the group before him from behind his tinted glasses.
"Hinata Hyuga." Hinata bowed to the group, her hair spilling in front of her face.
"Team 10." Naruto called.
"I'm Asuma Sarutobi, Jounin sensei of Team 10." Asuma scratched his beard and Tobirama studied who he assumed was his student's son.
"Ino Yamanaka!" The blonde said cheerfully, her long blonde bang hanging over her left eye.
"Choji Akimichi." Choji smiled at Shikamaru happily.
"I'm also part of Team 10, the newest generation of InoShikaCho." Shikamaru said, pride coloring his voice while Kushina and Minato smiled at the InoShikaCho group, as they had been friends with their parents.
"Finally Team Gai." Naruto waved his hand as Gai and Lee struck a 'youthful' pose.
"I am the Jounin Maito Gai and these are my youthful students!" Gai shouted hitting a pose in his green spandex.
"I am Rock Lee!" Lee copied his sensei's pose as well.
"Hi, I'm TenTen." TenTen spoke up, adjusting the buns on the top of her head.
"Neji Hyuga." Neji bowed his head slightly, white sleeves hanging down over his fingertips.
"Finally the remaining Legendary Sannin's!" Naruto waved his arm to the two remaining figures.
"I am the Legendary Jiraiya, the Toad Sage and Seal Master!" Jiraiya gave the group a two-fingered salute with a smile on his face.
"Jiraiya-Sensei!" Minato, Nagato, Konan and Yahiko all exclaimed in surprise.
"Godaime Hokage of Konoha, Tsunade Senju." Tsunade introduced herself before she punched Jiraiya out in anger. Hashirama wincing, feeling Jiraiya's pain at having a pissed off Tsunade on his case, but he was happy to see her so well.
"What was that for Hime?" Jiraiya whined.
"What do you think it was for you dumbass?" Tsunade raged at him, cracking her knuckles.
"Go for it Baa-Chan! Ero-Sennin deserves it!" Naruto cheered and Jiraiya just started to cry dramatically as Tsunade descended upon him, Minato shook his head in amazement at his son's nicknames for two of the most powerful Sannin's in the Five Nations.
"All here and account for." Naruto smiled cheerfully with the sounds of Tsunade pounding Jiraiya into the ground in the background.
"Now we are ready for war." Naruto turned serious as he looked at the large group.
"First thing first, we need to get Obito/Tobi away from Madara and Zetsu." Shikamaru raised his index finger in front of his face.
"And into the seal, gotcha." Naruto nodded in understanding as he pulled out a seal from his pocket, Minato stared at it trying to figure out what it was for. It was extremely complex and didn't look like any seal he had ever seen before.
"It's a soul purification seal Tou-San, something of my own creation." Naruto handed it over to his father knowing that he was inspecting it. Kushina took this chance to wrap her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly while Kurama grumbled before he hopped off of Naruto's head and onto Shikamaru's, his tails weaving around the high ponytail.
"This is incredibly complex Naruto, I'm very interested in what else you can create." Minato smiled fondly at his son, ruffling the blonde hair as he handed back the seal.
"Thanks Tou-San…" Naruto said shyly as he blushed happily. A messenger hawk that Konoha uses suddenly flew into sight and made a beeline towards Shikamaru. Kurama hissed at the bird before it landed on Shikamaru's outstretched arm. Shikamaru quickly un-scrolled the message and his face turned stormy. He patted the bird on its head before the hawk took off once more.
"Shikamaru?" Gaara asked seeing the look on the Nara's face.
"News from the others… They have found all of Orochimaru's bases…" Shikamaru glanced at Naruto who hurried over to the Nara looking just as grim.
"What happened?" Naruto asked, Itachi inching forward to hear the news.
"Apparently when he and Kabuto were killed during their failed invasion attempt, it sent off some sort of failsafe… Every base and every person within them were destroyed completely." Shikamaru's fist clenched taking the paper with it.
"No, that bastard… Karin…" Naruto hissed out, punching the ground by his feet.
"Who is Karin?" Kushina asked her son, kneeling beside him giving him another hug.
"Karin Uzumaki, she was part of our clan Kaa-San… She could use Charka chains and had healing Charka; if someone bit her they would be healed. I really wanted to give her a home." Naruto explained, the remaining Uzumaki's tensed up at his words.
"If we didn't already kill those two bastards…" Shikamaru hissed burning the scroll to get rid of the message.
"I know we can't focus on what is done. We have a war to stop." Naruto took a calming breath as he stood up, hugging his mother back.
"Obito's Charka is coming this way, he is the only one who can move freely right now." Neji reported his Byakugan facing south and Hinata's was facing north.
"Alright, the only ones who will be taking part of this part of the battle are Tou-San, Kaa-San, Kakashi-Sensei and myself. Konan create a hiding place and Shikamaru will use a Charka deflecting seal I made to make sure you aren't detected." Naruto ordered his whole body taking the form of what he was when he was Hokage in his future.
"Hai." Konan and Shikamaru agreed.
"Wait, if we are going to be fighting a war here won't a village nearby be able to sense all the large amounts of Charka being used?" Mito spoke up suddenly.
"Don't worry about that, when we were gathered you all I sent out a Bunshin to set up seals to stop our Charka from being sensed by outsiders." Naruto smiled as he handed one to Shikamaru to use. Mito nodded in understanding and Naruto's parents grinned at how much of a seal genius their son was.
The four who were going to face Obito separated from the group and watched as Konan erected a barrier that completely blended in with the surrounding area. Naruto closed his eyes and let his sense's expand; searching for any charka in the area, he grinned, as he sensed none.
"Alright, let's move down to the field." Naruto nodded his head and the four dropped down onto the barren field below. Kakashi was perched on a boulder, elbow resting on one knee keeping both eyes out while Kushina kept her sense's open as Minato assisted his son in setting up the soul purification seal.
"What is this going to do when Obito steps on it?" Minato asked in a hushed voice.
"You'll have to wait and see Tou-San!" Naruto said cheerfully as he completed the seal and backed up to stand at the base of the boulder Kakashi was perched on.
"I can guarantee it will be explosive." Naruto added in before Obito appeared a few feet away from the hidden seal, Tobi mask firmly in place.
"Don't bother with the Tobi act Obito." Naruto held up his hand before Obito even had a chance to say a word.
"Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine Tails Jinchūriki, I've been looking for you." Obito took off the orange spiral mask, showing his half deformed face and single Sharingan eye. "That's convenient as I have been looking for you as well." Naruto smirked back adjusting his Hitai-ate once more before the battle began.
"Well, well if it isn't my old teammate and sensei, how nice to see you all again." Obito said, malice in his voice and anger rippling across his face.
"Obito…" Kakashi traced the scar on his face before he blinked both of his Sharingan appearing. The silver hair copy nin disappeared from his spot in a blur, Obito tensed and whirled around in time for Kakashi's foot to connect strongly with his gut sending him skidding backwards.
"Kushina!" Minato shouted as he and Naruto dropped into kneeling positions.
"Right!" Kushina threw her arms out towards Obito and golden Charka chains erupted from her body and wrapped around Obito completely, the Kunai ends anchoring the chains to the ground.
"Now Tou-San!" Naruto shouted as he bit his thumb, spreading the blood across his right palm as Minato copied the action.
"FUJIN!" The two Namikaze's shouted as they slammed their palms against the edge of the seal and watched as it glowed with Kyuubi red light and the seals lifted up off the ground and wrapped around Obito who was struggling fiercely against Kushina's Charka chains. The seal lines burned onto Obito's body and the ex-leaf ninja screamed out, blood leaking from his mouth, nose, ears and eye as the seal did it's job.
"Is he going to be okay?" Kakashi asked as he guarded Naruto's back, a Bunshin doing the same for Minato.
"I did say it was going to be explosive, but don't worry Kakashi-Sensei Obito will be back to his old self soon!" Naruto said cheerfully as the seal markings started to dim before they disappeared completely. Obito let his head drop to his chest and with a nod from Naruto, Kushina loosened her chains lowering Obito to his knees before retracting them all together.
"Obito? You in there Obito?" Naruto stepped in front of the kneeling missing nin.
"…Where am I?" Obito grumbled, rubbing the blood off his face as he looked around at the ninja's around him.
"Minato-Sensei? Kushina-Chan? Kakashi? A mini Minato-Sensei?" Obito's eyes widened.
"Yeah, that's him." Kakashi rolled his eyes as Minato gently placed his hand on Obito's shoulder.
"Obito-Kun, what do you remember?" Minato asked gently and Obito placed a hand on his own forehead.
"I-I remember everything and oh god Kakashi, Rin-Chan. Oh god I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Obito placed his hands over his eyes as he hunched over breathing deeply.
"The seal worked, Obito is back to his old self." Naruto announced firmly.
"Oh Obito-Kun, it's okay, just let it all out." Kushina soothed the Uchiha as she hugged him as tears leaked from his one good eye.
"Thank you Naruto." Kakashi whispered to his student, getting a cheeky smile in response.