The Eternal Chimera

by superfish01

Kushina and Minato have their owns secrets that only each other know about. How do these secrets affect Naruto and the reason behind the Kyuubi attack? naruxfemkyuu naruxfemhaku. 2 girls only, not harem. Rating to be safe. Discontinued fic. Please read final chapter for an explanation.

21. Chapter 21

The Eternal Chimera – Chapter 20

So...I didn't think I'd get the opportunity to write another chapter so soon, but here we are. Be warned, I'm not quite all there, I've been receiving some heavy pain relief recently, so there might be mistakes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

XXX

Tsunade Senju,

I was asked to write you two letters by Naruto's sensei, Jiraiya; one personal, one asking for a political and economical bond. This being the personal, letter I really don't have a lot to write myself, but I might be able to speak on their behalf. Also, perhaps I should introduce myself. I am the woman who was formerly known Yuki Fujikaze, an alias that I used as an actress. My actual name is Koyuki Kazahana, the Daimyo of Yukigakure.

Perhaps I should start by telling you that both sensei and student were doing well when they left Yukigakure after completing the mission here and helping me return to power after overthrowing my tyrannical uncle. It's funny, but I had no desire to even return to my homeland, for fear of my uncle, but somehow he managed to convince me that the endeavour was worthwhile.

'Heh, sounds like the brat.' Tsunade thought as she smirked to herself.

He told me of his dreams to become Hokage as well as his desire to have a large family. Actually, that brings something else to mind. He told me that he didn't have any real blood, family, but he had since inserted themselves in place of family members. Kakashi is someone that he obviously considers an elder brother, but he told me that he considered you his mother.

"Stupid brat!" Tsunade choked out as her eyes moistened.

He made brief mention of the jounin that were in his life and how they could be considered crazy aunts and uncles. Moreover, he mentioned the names of two girls, Rei and Haku. When I asked him who they replaced, he stopped for a moment. His exact words were 'they don't replace any one, but they're important to me'. The look that crossed his face was adorable.

'Blackmail material.' Tsunade thought. At least for a while, it'd lose its effect when the inevitable happened.

Also, I have included a photo. A happy-snap that Jiraiya took as we were departing, I only hope that Rei and Haku understand and don't kill him or me (that piqued Tsunade's interest, who made special note to find the picture). That was simply me giving him my thanks for providing me with the courage to reclaim my country and as a good bye before he left.

On a final note, one of my guards, Fubuki has asked me to inform you that she is proficient in hyouton jutsu. Jiraiya had asked if she was related to Haku. She stated that she isn't, though would still like to offer the chance to the girl to learn a bit more about her ability and vice versa.

I one day hope to meet in person. Perhaps I might be able to arrange a visit in the future, but for now, I will leave it to letter correspondence.

Yours truly,

Koyuki Kazahana.

"The brat has been busy." Tsunade said to herself, then managed to find the picture of Koyuki leaning down to kiss the boy who had a stunned look upon his face. Tsunade developed a rather Cheshire grin before considering exactly what she could do with this, no doubt Shizune, Haku, Rei and Kakashi would all be interested in seeing this photo.

For now she had other work to check on, particularly a report from one of her ANBU regarding Tayuya's probationary period. She had been integrated into Konoha's shinobi corps after the council had decided that the information as well as how it was used was enough to secure her a second chance. She had been integrated into Kurenai's team; Tsunade had picked the red-eyed jounin particularly because Kurenai could not only teach her a great deal about genjutsu, something that she clearly excelled at, but also acting as a proper lady should. Her cursed seal had been sealed by Kakashi. She had protested at first, arguing that she should be allowed to use the seal to fight Orochimaru, but Tsunade and her own Sensei, the Sandaime were hardline about the thing, as was Anko Mitarashi, who was asked to give her own personal experience as evidence. Both stated that the seal only made the person stronger based on their own negative memories, this was not the way of a Konoha shinobi, there was strength to be found in the bonds formed through hard work and perseverance.

After all this process Tayuya had been put on a probationary trial period; one supervised by an ANBU. As she reviewed the report she realised it was everything that she expected to see, while Tayuya's personality had yet to change a great deal, still being a rather abrasive person, she showed no signs of a duplicity, Tsunade could safely declare her a Fire country citizen as well as a Konoha shinobi.

She asked her an ANBU to inform Kurenai of her student's change in status as Tsunade filed the necessary paper work, a chore that Tsunade hated above all else. Later that night Team Kurenai had celebrated Tayuya's official welcoming as a Konoha ninja. They had a meal as a team, Kurenai paying for the meal for her team. Many of the Konoha rookies were there, most notably the members of the Sasuke retrieval team, to show that there were no hardships anymore, she was their ally.

There was good natured teasing all round that night. Asuma was the loudest amongst them, constantly ribbing Shikamaru. Asuma was a firm believer that a man was always secretly after a woman like his mother, so the most hearty guffaws were heard when the two people that were sitting closest Shikamaru were Ino and Temari, the two of them seemingly having a less than private contest to win the lazy chuunin's affections. The day that Temari had rolled into Konoha as a permanent place in their diplomatic corr had been memorable. She had managed to aggravate Ino as well as scare the life out of Shikamaru when she asked him on a date out of the blue. It even came around that Tayuya herself may have been interested; though that earned a verbal spraying like no other, though a blush lit her cheeks.

"Are you kidding? Why would I get involved with anyone so troublesome? I'd much prefer someone a bit calmer and less likely to explode." Shikamaru retorted, arms folded.

"Typical Shikamaru, lazy as hell, probably why you're eating so much ramen these days, too lazy to even chew your food." Kiba called out across the noise, joining in on the good natured teasing.

"I also sleep at mission ops so I don't have to wake up as early to get there or be bothered walking home or back again." Shikamaru added. He said it with a slight hint of sarcasm, but considering whom it was, it was more than a possibility.

XXX

While his friends were enjoying a night off, Naruto was being run into the ground by his acting sensei. Jiraiya had made Naruto a compromise. Jiraiya needed to do some actual research into the Akatsuki, and he didn't think that he could complete his objectives with Naruto in tow, so he offered to leave Naruto behind with a caretaker sensei. When Naruto asked who he had in mind Jiraiya answered easily.

"Seijuro Hiko." Was the swift reply.

Naruto knew that this was a golden opportunity; a chance to work with the sword master would not be passed up. After Jiraiya had explained, Seijuro readily accepted the genin as an interim apprentice. From day one Naruto had been worked into the ground. Each day Naruto would create a multitude of clones and the clones sole purpose was to practice the techniques that Seijuro had to teach him. The real Naruto worked on his physical abilities, from running laps to sit ups and push ups. Seijuro handed Naruto a sword to train with, made out of the same material as his chakra bracers, the more chakra you pumped into the sword the heavier it got. The idea was to be able to pump chakra in, get used to the weight until you managed to use it at a reasonable speed, and then increase the weight again. Naruto had remained with Hiko for close to nine months when one morning before training Seijuro spoke to Naruto about a change in his regimen.

"You're picking up skills at a terrifying rate, before long you will be able to learn the succession skill of the Hiten Mitsurugi, the one that will declare you a master. Before then there is one other training that you must undergo." Hiko informed his charge.

"And that is?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"Dragon form mastery. Currently you are only able to transform when you feel that call to go wild after intense battling, with this training you will be able to feel that call all the time and be able to unite with nature at any time you please." Hiko explained.

"That sounds awesome!" Naruto exclaimed.

"There is a risk. This training balances you ability to hear the call as well as retain your humanity and not simply act upon it. If you fail and completely give into your animalistic urges, then you will remain an animal forever. For one such as you, that is most dangerous, without the ability to kill you, and you rampaging as you pleased..." Hiko explained, trailing off at the end. Naruto heard his warning, but still didn't look deterred.

"I'll do it. I'll master this." He declared.

"So be it. While your clones are still practicing the sword techniques, we will work unlocking formeshift." Hiko told him.

"Formeshift?" Naruto quizzed.

"That is what the ability is called, to be able to shift into your dragon form at anytime." He answered. "The way to unlock formeshift is simple. We fight until you have shifted form, then once you have reverted, you must meditate, trying to remember exactly that feeling." He continued not waiting for a response.

"The call is at its weakest right after reverting. Normally the fastest way to be able to shift is to battle again, but you are going to focus on hearing that call, if you can hear it right after, then that is the half of it, the other half is not succumbing to the madness that follows." Hiko gave a lengthy explanation, Naruto nodding and giving other signs that he understood as his sensei continued.

And so it began. Naruto made his clones, and they got to work practicing their sword work, refining a few new techniques that Seijuro had taught him as well as keeping in practice with old ones and learning how to incorporate the old and the new into his fighting.

When Seijuro was happy, he pulled Naruto to a separate area. It was a little ways down and out of the living area that he and Seijuro usually inhabited and took him into the labyrinth to where there was a large pool of water at a dead end. After w quick hand sign the water drained away, Hiko jumping down the where the water once was, Naruto following closely behind. Naruto looked around and saw that he was in a giant room, easily two or three times the size of the chuunin exams arena. Hiko walked to the centre before turning to Naruto.

"And now we fight." Was the only warning Naruto received before Hiko's fist collided with his skull as it sent him flying. Naruto flipped in midair and landed feet first on the wall. He grinned at his sensei before launching himself off the wall, the wall cracking under the pressure.

He collided with his sensei who nodded in appreciation of his students attack. They continued in a similar vein for more than an hour, rarely using jutsu, it seemed as though both preferred an all out taijutsu match as neither summoned a sword. Then midway through the fight it happened, Naruto shuddered, he stopped, his eyes became slitted, then he doubled over, his transformation had begun. Arms turned into claws, a tail sprouted and clothes seemed to disappear in a flash of green light.

At the completion of the transformation Naruto spread his golden wings and roared at Hiko, the man amused by the sight of a golden dragon, when the rest of his kind were either black or red. It was now Hiko's turn to transform, his transformation seeming much faster than Naruto's. By the end Hiko stood facing the golden dragon. Where Naruto was big, Hiko was gigantic, where Naruto looked ferocious, Hiko looked to be the epitome of terror, his gigantic black form seemed to terrify the smaller dragon. Naruto did what any animal backed into a corner would do, he attacked.

He rushed forwards, fangs bared, lunging at Hiko's neck. The black dragon easily evaded, using his sharp claws to tear at the golden dragon's metallic hide, a terrible metallic screeching could be heard as Naruto's metal hide protested, but eventually submitted to the harsh attack, leaving long gashes in his side.

Naruto roared his pain before unleashing a torrent of white hot flames. Hiko, allowed the hit to connect, no dragon had ever had breath hot enough to harm another dragon, they were fire resistant after all, lightning was the only element that could stand up to them even at low levels. So it came as a surprise when Hiko felt a scorching pain, through the pain haze he used his tail to lash out at Naruto, effectively stopping the molten stream. When the flame attack had stopped, it became apparent that Naruto's flame attack was more potent than usual, pools of white molten metal were surrounding Hiko; Naruto's fire had been hot enough to melt the metal hide clean off his body.

Hiko appraised the smaller dragon carefully. Naruto had been sent into a wall by the last strike, so he was still picking himself up. Naruto was far wilder than he could have imagined. The golden dragon had swayed his head looking for its opponent, when it found his target it rushed in, the speed it showed had surprised the black dragon and the cost was for inattention was the compromising position that Naruto had now gotten him in. He had him pinned down on the floor and was slowly prising the black dragons mouth open. Just as Hiko's mouth was opened he saw when Naruto was trying to do, breathe his fire right down his throat, there was little doubt in Hiko's mind that he would be dead if he let that happen.

At the least second Hiko managed to overpower the smaller dragon, Naruto's flame striking the ground and splashing sideways, melting some of the ground. Hiko didn't wait any more, he spread his wings and charged right at Naruto, ramming him into a wall, with his smaller form ground between the larger dragon and the wall, Naruto had no room to move, so he couldn't avoid his tail being grabbed nor could he avoid being swung by his tail, crashing into the wall at various point before being released and crashing into a wall, where he slumped before reverting into his human form.

"God dammit that hurt." Naruto managed to groan.

"Quit your complaining, you dealt almost as good as you got." Hiko told him. "Now sit. Try and remember that feeling. Try to remember what it felt like to be so highly attuned with animals, as closely connected to a nature as almost any human could ever be. Meditate, try to bring back that feeling, but do not give in to it." Hiko commanded.

Naruto did as he was told; soon he had managed to reign in his breathing and was in a deep meditation.

"Owowowow!" Naruto cried out as Hiko whacked him hard upside the head.

"I said meditate, not sleep." He warned.

"I wasn't I swear, Naruto said as he held his head.

Naruto started again, this time actually focussing on what he was supposed to do. It was another half an hour before either one of them spoke again.

"I can feel it. That call, it feels so wild, like I could do anything. It feels amazing, it's getting stronger." Naruto told his sensei. He suddenly threw his head back and inhaled deeply, when he opened his eyes Hiko knew he had gone too far, they were slitted, just like his transformation.

"Naruto, resist the urge to transform. If you shift now, you may never revert to your usual form." Hiko urged.

"It feels so…wonderful." Naruto continued.

"Feel it, but master the feeling, do not allow yourself to succumb to it." Hiko pressed.

"I can feel everything, the call to go wild; it's what helps us sense others. I understand it now."Naruto said in wonder.

"Naruto, you have to stop, it's winning." Hiko urged with a hint of desperation in his voice, but his pleas fell on deaf ears, it was too late. Naruto had succumbed, he was transforming. Hiko jumped back, when Naruto had finished his transformation he looked right at Hiko.

Nothing but pure bloodlust lay in those golden pools, promising carnage and destruction, Hiko transformed as well, hoping to literally beat some sense into the crazed boy. They fought again, this time the battle was far more vicious, Naruto aiming for vitals every time he struck. After an hour of fighting, it became apparent to Hiko that Naruto was not going to come out of this trance. Once again he used Naruto's tail and threw him around the arena. This time, he reverted into his human form and uttered an apology to Naruto who was getting back in his feet.

"Sorry kid, has to be done." He said before flashing through a few hand seals and announcing a jutsu "Raiton: Raimari!" He called as a ball of lightning appeared in his hand. Naruto was in no position to dodge and the ball struck him full force in the chest. He recoiled from the strike, but managed to still move after the hit.

"No way. That's supposed to kill." Hiko's eyes darkened before he took things to the next step. "Raiton: Dai Raimari!" Naruto was still reeling from the previous attack, and couldn't get out of the way, the ball of lightning was three times as big as the first, and it had the desired effect. Naruto roared before slumping over, dead.

Hiko didn't wait around to see what happened, he knew that the boy was also of phoenix heritage, so he did the only logical thing, he started running. When Naruto combust to reincarnate it would consume all the oxygen to fuel the fire, if Hiko was still inside this cave when all the oxygen was consumes he would die as well.

He could feel the heat that Naruto was putting out, more importantly, he could feel the drain on the oxygen supply, it was getting harder to supply his muscles with oxygen to keep them working, but it wasn't far now, he knew the exit was insight. As he made his way towards the exit he ran past Jiraiya. He had to double back and get the man that was walking into a death trap.

"I'll explain later, just run!" He said as he grabbed Jiraiya's arm and pulled him along for a moment before the sannin managed to get things into gear. By the time they were clear of the area they could still feel the heat coming from the cave, from far down the line, and they were gasping for air.

"What the hell happened? And where is Naruto?" Jiraiya demanded.

"That was Naruto. I was trying to achieve formeshift with him, so that he could access his draconic form at any time. Unfortunately with that comes the risk of being trapped as a dragon forever. When he started rampaging I killed him. Hopefully when he reincarnates he will be in his human form once again." Hiko answered.

"And if he isn't?" Jiraiya tested.

"Then we will cross that bridge when it comes." Hiko replied calmly

XXX

When Naruto woke up he wasn't sure how long he'd been out, after a quick check of the living area and not finding Hiko, he went outside. There he found both his sensei sleeping under the stars.

"Glad to see you're comfortable." Naruto greeted with a grin.

"You're human again, thank Kami." Hiko answered after he'd woken up.

"Ero-sennin? You're back early." Naruto observed. "Thought I was supposed to be here for a full year."

"I came to get you. I did some snooping around Akatsuki. I found that they're starting to collect the Bijuu, both Yugito and Gaara have been identified as the first two targets. I've warned the Kazekage and reinforcements have been sent from Konoha to assist, but the Raikage insists that Yugito will be fine on her own and she isn't being given and additional support." Jiraiya informed.

"What? But if all these guys are like Itachi Uchiha, then she's gonna need help." Naruto said.

"We've got a few days before the pair that's being sent out to her mobilise, so you have time to recover and then we can head out." Naruto remained silent for a moment before he looked at Hiko.

"Are you ready to try again?" He asked.

"Are you sure that's wise? What if you lose control again?" Hiko asked.

"It won't happen. I know what I need to do now." Naruto countered. Hiko looked at him for a long moment before agreeing. The trio moved back the large room that Naruto and Hiko had originally fought in. When Jiraiya had found out that the training involved all out sparring until Naruto transformed, he decided to spar with Naruto. Then Hiko could take over when it was necessary.

As Jiraiya fought his student he noticed the marked improvement in the boys speed, making him ask if he had removed any of the chakra in the bracers. Jiraiya was pleased to hear that he had actually made them ever so slightly heavier in his time with Hiko and was already accustomed to that weight. As the fight wore on, Naruto started showing signs that he was getting ready to transform. Hiko was surprised to hear that Naruto was actually delaying his transformation as he'd been fighting with his golden eyes for some time. If that was the case then he may well just pull of the training. At some point it all became too much for Naruto to control and he made a full blown transformation. Jiraiya was amazed, but even more in awe when Hiko had transformed.

The pair fought each other for some time until Naruto reverted into his usual form. He didn't even need to be told this time. He just sat down and meditated. This time it only took ten minutes for Naruto to hear the call again, unlike half an hour like the previous time. His eyes were golden again, but unlike last time, his breathing was laboured; he was resisting the transformation.

It was one of the most bizarre things that Hiko had ever seen when completing this training. Midway through the struggle Naruto's hand turned into claws, with a great deal of effort he managed to revert them back to normal human appendages, but his struggles were still far from over. Not long after he had reverted his hands a pair of giant golden wings erupted from his back, before a tail burst from the base of his spine. In due time he managed to force both of these changes back to normal. Perhaps the most bizarre was when his head started transforming. This time he knew what he was feeling and actively resisted the transformation in process, it was quite a disturbing sight to see the boy with horns coming out of his skull, with his face elongating and shortening constantly as his body tried to transform, but his mind willing it not to. He remained like that for a full ten minutes before he completely forced the transformation back and slowly regaining control of his breathing.

"You've beaten it, haven't you?" Hiko asked with a smile. "You can hear the call, but it doesn't control you." Hiko confirmed.

"Yeah. The call is there, but I'm not answering, so to speak." Naruto replied before getting up. "I also feel so in tune with everything. Like I can sense every living thing for miles to come." Naruto said in amazement.

He walked away a little bit, then transformed, before instantly reverting, marvelling at how the call was still present even after reverting from his shifted form. Naruto then looked right at Jiraiya.

"We'd better start making tracks if we wanna help Yugito." Naruto told him.

XXX

Naruto and Jiraiya were moving through canyons, Jiraiya was leading.

"So how is it that you know how to find Yugito?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know where she is. I do know how to track the Akatsuki members that were looking for. One of the assigned pair is Kakuzu, he's hell bent on collecting bounties. I have a few informants in the bounty collection office. They told me that he is currently within lightning country." Jiraiya replied.

"So what? We started at the bounty collection area and see what clues we can find?" Naruto guessed.

"Normally yes, but I went and did something a little unorthodox. I hired Yugito for joint mission a mission and requested our meeting point to be set up in an area that I'm familiar with. So at best we have Yugito and I that know the layout as well as hopefully having the advantage over the two Akatsuki." Jiraiya answered.

Naruto looked flabbergasted at Jiraiya's audacity.

"You're using her as bait?" Naruto accused.

"You make it seem so black and white. They would have caught up with her in the first place and she would have been alone when fighting them. She would have had no chance. Her opponents are Kakuzu and Hidan. Hidan I'm sure you're already aware of. At least this way we'll be able to assist her." Jiraiya explained.

"And you know that they'll appear for her at this location?" Naruto asked seeing the flaw in his sensei's plan.

"As far as Hidan and Kakuzu are aware, she is on a solo mission." Jiraiya replied.

"How are did they come by the information?" Naruto asked sceptically

"Did you so easily forget my informant at the bounty office?" Jiraiya answered with a grin.

XXX

"Well, well, well. It seems as though the information that the bounties office provided was accurate." Kakuzu muttered to himself.

"Such a pretty thing. Almost seems a shame that we have to hurt her. Almost." Hidan, the silver haired men contributed.

"So you two are the ones that are mean to capture me? You don't look like much, maybe I won't even need the help taking you on anyway." Yugito taunted

"Keep the chatter for after we've stripped you of your Bijuu." Kakuzu ground out, growing impatient with the banter rapidly. He punctuated is comment by rushing forwards, his fist cocked back and ready to strike. Yugito dodged the strike and developed a feral grin.

XXX

Naruto and Jiraiya were still travelling when all of a sudden he felt his attention draw to a particular area ahead of them.

"Dammit, they've started without us, and it's getting pretty serious." Naruto told his sensei as he felt a massive flare of demonic chakra.

"Dammit. I didn't think that they'd get there before us. We still have another fifteen minutes before we get there at top speed." Jiraiya ground out, realising that his plan may have actually worked against them in putting Yugito in a secluded spot on her own.

"Screw this for a joke!" Naruto cried out before his body enlarged before he was standing in his dragon form. He flew over to his sensei who grabbed onto his leg before Naruto put on a burst of speed. In less than five minutes they were at the scene. They got there in time to see a giant purple cat with two tails fade and be replaced with a tired Yugito. As she struggled to stand a girl with green hair covered her while she got to her feet before collapsing again.

Hidan raced in for the girl, but stopped in his tracks when he heard an ear splitting roar. He quickly dived out of the way of the flames that threatened to consume him.

"Son of a bitch!" Was all Hidan had to say about the matter as he watched the new arrivals, Jiraiya landing then Naruto transforming.

"This may be problematic. Another Jinchuuriki and Jiraiya of the Sannin." Kakuzu surmised.

"Quit your bitching. I'm immortal and you're near enough as well." His silver haired partner countered.

"How many of his masks have you killed?" Jiraiya asked the green haired girl.

The girl didn't bother asking about how he knew, she just answered.

"Two, the earth mask and the wind mask. Nibi-san managed to kill the earth with a raiton, then used her demonic fire to kill the wind." She informed.

Jiraiya smiled before addressing Naruto.

"Hey brat. You take the immortal. The three of us will work on killing the correct mask, then just sating alive, after that you can go nuts." Jiraiya told him.

"Don't let him drink your blood. If he does he can perform some sort of ritual where any damage he does to himself his done to you as well." The green haired girl offered one last piece of advice.

"Just one extra reason." Naruto replied as he and Hidan started squaring off. The green haired girl wasn't sure what he meant, but decided not to let it trouble her right now.

And so each of the dances started. Hidan was the first to make a move, his body doubling in size before the three masks attached to his body flew off in different directions. The four figures looked at their opponents before each using their own jutsu. The lightning mask threw out an attack at the green hair girl, who simply avoided the attack. Jiraiya, being the more potent of the two threats to Kakuzu was being targeted by the two. The fire and water masks each launched their own attacks, Jiraiya throwing up Doton: Doryuheki at the last second before he formed a rasengan and used it to bore through the wall he had just made as well as aiming for the fire mask that was behind it. The rasengan managed to only score a glancing hit, leaving only superficial damage on the hard as steel hide of the tiger-like mask.

Meanwhile Naruto had summoned his sword. He had managed to strike a clean blow right through Hidan's heart, yet all the ninja did was just sign in contentment.

"I thought you just heard, I'm immortal. You can't kill me. Then this should be an interesting battle, because you can't kill me for the same reason." Naruto smirked.

"Don't give me that bullshit." Hidan just laughed the blonde's claims away.

"I really don't have anything to gain by lying to you now do I?" Naruto countered.

"So then, let's see who's blessing is stronger, mine or yours." Hidan finally relented, a glare settling over his features.

Naruto didn't respond, he simply shot forwards; he had removed the chakra from his bracers and was now channelling it into his sword. For a person wielding such an ungainly weapon, Hidan managed to do it with such ease, despite how heavy it must have been.

More surprising to Naruto was that the blade wasn't simply sliced in half as Samehada had been.

"Surprised? There are few weapons in the world that are like this. Kusanagi that Orochimaru wields is one other; weapons that have their origins within the heavens are not so easily broken." Hidan told him as he pressed the attack, growing frustrated as he could not hit the ex-Jinchuuriki.

Naruto didn't bother to reply, he was too busy trying to dodge the several blades at the end of Hidan's scythe. So this was a weapon made by a God. It certainly lived up to his expectations, annoyingly so, yet Naruto was not about to simply give in just because of this minor setback, he would struggle around this until he figured out a solution.

Jiraiya was getting fed up of being on the defensive. Between dodging Kakuzu's relentless Ninjutsu techniques from the earth grudge fear masks and holding his own against the man in straight out taijutsu at the same time, he was almost seriously considering resorting to senjutsu, just to be over with the whole thing, but he also knew not to play his trump cards too early.

"Katon: Gokakyu no jutsu." Jiraiya called out, fully expecting the attack to be countered by a water attack from the shark-like mask. His wish was granted when his attack and his enemy's sent up a massive plume of steam. Jiraiya took the cover to summon a toad that whipped out a tongue, apparently not feeling any pain as it felt through the steam for its mark. It quickly found its mark and latched on firmly, preventing the tiger like mask from moving.

"Odama rasengan!" Jiraiya practically roared as he attacked from above, destroying the heart contained within the mask, removing Kakuzu's fire element from the field.

The water mask didn't bother to let its counterpart's demise phase it; it simply took Jiraiya's concentration on the fire mask as a chance to send a high pressured water attack at the man. Jiraiya was saved by the now free toad tongue; it latched around his waist before pulling him out of the way.

"Let's see you use your water to counter this." Jiraiya challenged. "Gamazuru, gimme some oil." The toad complied instantly "Katon: Gamayu Endan!" Jiraiya announced. The realised that evasion was out of the question, while the attack didn't have the same effect when combined with Gamabunta, the only real option left was to try and counter with a water technique. Unfortunately for the mask the oil ramping up Jiraiya's already deadly fire style techniques easily overpowered its own water jutsu, its last resort doing little to reduce the power of Jiraiya's attack. The flame stuck true and for all of three seconds the mask withstood the onslaught, but eventually started melting, the attack didn't relent until all that remained of Jiraiya's opponent on the floor was a puddle of goo, which could have easily been mistaken for the oil that the toad had spat out.

The green haired girl and the Bull mask were currently sitting at a stalemate. While the mask had yet to penetrate what appeared to be a very effective wind barrier, Fu herself had little that she could use to land a hit on the surprising agile enemy. Added to that Kakuzu was interrupting her at every opportunity with hands busting through the ground when she tried to land a counter after the mask had left itself vulnerable.

She was more than grateful when she head Jiraiya's voice call out a technique to aid her as she came under fire from both the mask and Kakuzu at the same time.

"Doton: Yomi numa!" He called from the distance, Kakuzu's had instantly retracting to free itself from the swamp and the ensuing chakra drain, the Bull mask had to with draw as well, lest it get pulled into the swamps depths.

"Thanks, the name is Fu. That thing's lightning style jutsu is something to be watched." She advised as she repositioned next to Jiraiya, watching him appraise his new opponents.

At that moment a hand burst out of the ground right at Fu, Jiraiya quickly stepped in front, announcing his jutsu.

"Ninpo: Hari jizo!" Jiraiya called out, causing Kakuzu to hiss in pain before retracting his hand. While Jiraiya was immobile using his defence the Bull like mask aimed its Raiton: Gian right at the stationary sannin, but was cancelled out as this time Fu defended Jiraiya with an intensely powerful wind shield.

"I just want to make one thing clear. Even though I appreciate your help, I need be the one to land the killing blow on Kakuzu." Fu told Jiraiya as she eyed her opponents.

"We'll see what we manage. If I see a killing opportunity then I'm taking it, I'm not going to pussy foot around with an S ranked missing nin." Jiraiya answered. Fu didn't like the answer but decided not to answer back.

Naruto was still trying to find a way to actually kill Kakuzu. He had tried to reduce the man to a cinder, but the man had evaded his techniques. He was fairly certain that his flame attack in his dragon form would have a similar result, added to that the lightning mask was still alive, so a stray blast could well kill him.

"This shit is boring." Hidan cursed as he continued the fight. "I have never fought so much without offering a single sacrifice to Jashin-sama." He complained.

"Just wait. Just as soon as your friend is defeated I'll give you a good fight. Who knows, I might actually find a way to kill you." Naruto offered with a fox like grin.

Jiraiya had moved from only attacking the Bull like mask, to attacking both Kakuzu as well as. The mask was now being forced to defend its master as Kakuzu was slowly starting to tire after fighting Yugito, then Fu and finally a combination of Fu and Jiraiya.

Jiraiya just smiled as he formed his plan.

"Follow my lead." Jiraiya called to the kunoichi before racing off to meet Kakuzu in a taijutsu battle. Fu charged after him, the Bull like mask racing in to defend its master; Jiraiya smiled when it followed his plan.

The bull like mask got to Kakuzu first; it doubles over to unleash a thin but concentrated blast of lighting at near point blank range. Jiraiya managed to duck the attack before using his own jutsu.

"Doton: Yomi numa!" The bull mask had not reacted in time and was now a sitting duck for Fu's attack.

"Mokuton: Toko Mokuyari." She cried as she lashed her arm forwards. Her arm grew a wooden lance at an astonishing speed, easily piercing the head of the mask and subsequently destroying it, but the attack didn't stop, it pressed straight on, now aiming for a surprised Kakuzu. While the attack had hit the mask in the head, it was on all fours and bogged in the swamp, meaning that it was at about Kakuzu's chest height. Kakuzu saw the danger he was in too later. He managed to avoid a lethal hit, but was skewered on the spear. Jiraiya acted on a moment's notice, forming a rasengan in his hand before burying it just to the right of where the spear had penetrated. Boring directly into his heart, making the man crumple before Jiraiya cared to relent his attack.

"It seems as though the sannin really are all they're cracked up to be." Hidan observed as he saw his partner killed by Jiraiya.

Naruto didn't bother responding, he just developed a very predatory grin. Then it started, his eyes slitted, his body started changing, wings and a tail sprouting, the rest of his anatomy changing until Hidan was staring down a giant golden dragon.

"Mother fucker. Seems that Deidara really was telling the truth, and here I thought that he might have accidentally detonated one of his bombs in his head." Deidara swore as he took in his situation.

The dragon spread its wings at Hidan and roared; displaying its ferocity, but Hidan took it in his stride but remained firm. Naruto used a flame attack on the silver haired immortal, but the man was fast enough to dodge. In his new position Hidan had to jump a low slash of the dragon's claws before ducking under the wing that swiped at him, but the tail that lashed out was too large to simply be avoided, so Hidan help up his scythe to block the hit. Amazingly the scythe withstood the harsh blow, but Hidan was sent skidding across the floor, stopping twenty or so metres away.

Hidan looked at his foe, now looking virtually impossible to beat, with both the seven tails jinchuuriki and Jiraiya waiting on the sidelines to intervene. As Hidan looked at Naruto he noticed how strong the metallic scales look, even the wings looked relatively resilient, though somewhat softer than the scales.

Fu was eager to lend a hand to the boy that had apparently turned into a dragon, but the old man had advised against it, so she was stuck on the sidelines with Jiraiya and a now barely conscious Yugito. The three watched as Hidan's scythe clanged uselessly against Naruto's metallic hide, leaving nothing more than a few scratches.

Hidan was avoiding the strikes that the dragon made rather well, when all of a sudden he changed his targets. His scythe extended far past Naruto's body and lashed out at Jiraiya. The sannin barely avoided the hit, but was nicked by the outer most blade on the scythe.

Hidan quickly brought the scythe to his lips and drank Jiraiya's blood, his body going black while skeletal looking markings appeared all over his body. Normally Hidan would take his time in both drawing out the circle and killing his target, but he was short on time, once he entered he didn't even hesitate, stabbing himself in the heart with a stake. Fu, having already seen the technique was already acting; she forced the stake lower, to strike at his left kidney. Jiraiya fell over, feeling his kidney rupture inside, the next thing he felt was a crushing grip all around his body. When he looked at Hidan he saw Naruto's giant, clawed hand wrapped around the immortal's body.

"Naruto, stop, if you crush him inside the circle then the old man dies as well. Whatever he experiences while in that circle, so will the old man." Fu called to the dragon, desperately trying to avoid having it be the ultimate cause of his sensei's death.

The dragon craned its neck and looked at Jiraiya before it lifted Hidan clean off the ground. Immediately after Hidan's feet left the ground Jiraiya felt the crushing grip leave him. He look at Naruto with Hidan in his grip before he paled and felt like he was going to be sick when he realised what his student might be considering.

Hidan looked to be in absolute terror. He too had deduced his fate and was begging to be spared.

"NO...PLEASE NO...PLEASE NOT THA..." His screams of terror were cut short as Naruto great jaws opened before clamping tightly over the man biting him cleanly in two before chewing then swallowing. He looked at the lower half of the immortal before opening his mouth once more and devouring what was left. Fu looked on in horror before turning and vomiting, even as a ninja, there were some things that were too terrible to bear witness to.

Fu quickly ran to Jiraiya and checked on him. He was in serious trouble, his kidney was punctured and with the amount of blood that pumped through a kidney per minute it was conceivable that he would die long before help could arrive. Naruto lumbered over to his dying sensei before he growled softly. Fu watched the emotions pass through the creature's eye, then widened as it brought its wing in front of it before using its claws to puncture the flesh there. Blood rained on Jiraiya, it poured into his mouth, Fu wasn't sure why it had done what it had done, but was even more shocked when Jiraiya swallowed the blood in his mouth, before opening his mouth again, allowing it to fill and swallowing again. The open wound started to smoke before it started to close over before her eyes. Jiraiya regained some of his colour and even managed to stand; the wound was still bleeding rather heavily, though the bleed was lessening by the second.

"We need to head to Kumo. I'll be fine after drinking your blood, but Yugito looks like she has a severe case of chakra exhaustion. I don't think even you can help that. If her chakra stops flowing then she dies." Jiraiya spoke to Naruto as though he were still human.

Naruto's giant head nodded before he gingerly picked up both Jiraiya and Yugito before motioning to Fu to stand on his back. Fu jumped aboard; Naruto was about to head off when Fu called to him.

"Wait! Pick up Kakuzu's body. We need it as proof of his death." Fu insisted. Naruto roughly grabbed the corpse before taking to the skies. He had never been to Kumogakure, but there was little doubt in his mind from the sheer number of people he could sense in one location that he was going the right way. Within the hour Naruto was approaching the city that was aptly named, the clouds feeling so close right now.

The on duty guard was the first to notice the rapidly approaching form in the sky.

"Wha…what the hell is that?" He stammered out as he saw the looming figure grow larger at an alarming rate, telling him it was moving fast.

"Send word to the Raikage." The other guard told him as he prepared to intercept.

Jiraiya saw the people scurrying down below, scrambling to mount a defence as they flew closer.

"You got enough in you to defend Naruto with that wind shield of yours?" Jiraiya called to Fu.

"Yeah, why?" She called back.

"You see a giant golden dragon about to land right outside your gates, what's the first thing you think of?" Jiraiya called.

"Right I hear ya. But what about attacks other than raiton based jutsu?" She asked.

"Don't worry 'bout them. The kid will handle them. Just don't let any lighting techniques get through." Jiraiya ordered.

By the time it became apparent that it was a dragon approaching them the Raikage was already at the main gates.

"A dragon? Not something you see every day." The Raikage muttered as his brother came up next to him.

"Well whaddya no, that thing aint so slow, and it's even got a golden glow." The large man rapped, a large vein appearing on the Raikage's head.

"Bee, even now, do you have to rap?" The Raikage ground out.

"Got no choice bro, this is the only way I'm gonna use my voice, yo." Bee replied.

"Never mind, intercept that thing. Don't use lethal force just yet. If it wants to land then out here then let it, but if it shows any signs of attacking then respond in kind." The Raikage ordered.

His ninja began hand signing for jutsu. They fired the jutsu as a collective mass, some were water attacks, others lightning based, surprisingly there were even a few wind type moves as well. They noted that the dragon would take a wind or water hit over a lighting hit.

"It's avoiding lighting based attacks, change to raiton imme…wait, is it carrying people?" The Raikage suddenly noticed Fu riding on its back as well as the dragon clutching at several other figures.

"Hold fire, wait and watch, remain on guard." The Raikage change the order that he was about to give.

Naruto held back for a moment when he realised that the jutsu had stopped; then he flew in stopping not more than twenty or so metres from the front lines of the Kumogakure forces.

"Raikage-sama, the dragon, it's holding Yugito as well as Jiraiya of the sannin. The girl I'm not sure of." One of the ANBU had dropped back to deliver the message.

Out on the frontlines Fu was a bit more frantic than the composed Kumo ANBU.

"Medic, get a medic, NOW!" Fu called out as soon as she hit the ground. "This is your ninja, isn't it?" She called to the Kumo shinobi forces.

Shi, a Kumo jounin realised exactly who it was that the girl was referring to and moved forwards to meet the girl.

"What happened?" Shi asked.

"We fought with Akatsuki. Hidan and Kakuzu forced her to transform into the Nibi." Fu informed.

"They pushed her that far? Those guys must be good." Shi commented.

"Good? The entire group is made up from of S ranked ninja!" Fu replied incredulously, who did these people take Akatsuki for; any one of their members could be a kage.

"Right now she's exhausted her own chakra and is relying on the Nibi's, but that is slowly poisoning her." Shi made his assessment, ignoring Fu's last comment.

"Then find an antidote." Fu snapped, as though it were the simplest thing in the world.

"That is only a bandaid solution. It covers the effect, but not the cause. We need to get her chakra up to acceptable levels, then we can start working to counteract the demonic chakra." Shi told her. "What were the two of you doing helping Yugito anyway?" Shi asked, as he picked up Yugito.

"I was tracking down Kakuzu; he is a missing nin from our village when I came across them fighting. A short at some point that dragon and the old man rocked up helping us." She gave him the short version.

"Old man? Don't you recognise Jiraiya of the Sannin when he graces your presence?" Shi asked slightly amused.

"That explains his ability; I thought it was strange that he had such high ability even at his age." Fu muttered to herself at the new information. Shi didn't bother responding, he simply rushed off; the longer he delayed in treating Yugito for chakra exhaustion, the longer she had to rely on toxic demonic chakra.

Jiraiya had met with the Raikage, who was now appraising the man. He looked worse for wear; the puncture wound was still bleeding rather heavily. While Naruto's blood was still healing the wound it wouldn't hurt to have a medic look over it as the Raikage offered. Jiraiya laughed to himself at that, there was a time when the Kumo nin would have used his weakness to kill him, but then again he himself wound have never gone to the aid of a Kumo kunoichi himself. With the coronation of a new Raikage after the previous, particularly with the fallout over the Hyuuga incident things had changed.

"Thanks for explaining the situation, Jiraiya-san, you and your student will be given temporary admission into Kumogakure." The Raikage said as he got a grasp for the situation after Jiraiya's brief explanation.

Jiraiya backtracked over to where Naruto had landed and spoke to him.

"Well are you going to revert? You can't stay like that forever." Jiraiya told him, forgetting that he actually could now. Naruto scratched his stomach and growled lowly, Jiraiya getting the distinct impression that he didn't want to transform yet after eating such a large meal; the logistics wouldn't work.

"If it wants, your pet can stay out here for the time being." The Raikage offered, a mischievous twinkle present in his eyes.

"Yes, that's quite alright. In fact, it's actually rather well trained. It won't attack anyone, and you could probably allow children to take a ride on it, I don't think it would mind." Jiraiya said as he walked away.

"Truly? I'll make sure to pass that around the village, the children would love something like that." The Raikage responded.

Naruto heard both men laugh uproariously as they walked into the village followed by Bee, though he wasn't sure what they were laughing about, he had a sinking feeling in his stomach that he was certain wasn't related to his recent meal.

XXX

All through the day Naruto was pestered by young children who had come by to look at him. At first he didn't mind them treating him like a zoo, but at some point one of the children had been brave enough to walk up and start petting him. Seeing no response in the dragon, the boy quickly took to climbing the dragon, which then encouraged many other children to follow his lead. Before the end of the day more than one hundred children had clambered their way across some part of their body.

Naruto knew that his sensei had something to do with this, and swore that he would get him back one way or another.

His opportunity came when he sensed his sensei coming out of a geisha house rather late at night. Naruto took to the sky, the ninja guards didn't bother trying to raise the alarm, the dragon had proved to be quite tame through the day. The dragon located his sensei though mostly sensing his life force, an ability that had gotten far stronger since achieving formeshift.

The dragon landed right in front of his sensei, the man being started for a second before he developed a sheepish grin.

"Hey…err…Naruto…now I know you're not upset about me spreading word about you being a kids' playground now? Are you?" Jiraiya asked nervously. Naruto just grinned, though to Jiraiya all he could see were gleaming rows of large white teeth. Jiraiya didn't wait; he simply turned around and started running as though his life depended on it.

Naruto gave chase, taking to the sky once more, though this time flying low. Jiraiya thought he was home free, then the next thing he knew he was buried next deep in something that felt like mud, but smelled one million times worse.

"Did yo…did you just…GAKI I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Jiraiya roared to the sky as he realised exactly what he was covered in, he could hear the growling laughs of the dragon as it leisurely flew away.

It was at this time that Fu made an appearance, she saw Jiraiya, who called out for help, but chose to ignore the call as she dashed back to her apartment. She returned a less than a minute later with a cloth around her face and something swinging from her hand. Jiraiya looked at her for a moment before he saw a bright flash, then watched as she walked away.

"You…you little…I'M GONNA KILL BOTH YOU BRATS!" Jiraiya roared for the second time that night.

XXX

Naruto walked into the village feeling as though all was right with the world. He felt much better after having purged his meal from his body. The chuunin guards did try to stop him when he entered the first time, and nearly cried with laughter when he declared that he was the dragon from earlier. After a quick demonstration and two gobsmacked chuunin later he was allowed to pass into the city without further incident.

The first place he headed was to the Raikage Tower; surprisingly he was ushered though with little waiting time.

"So, Naruto-san, I expect you're looking for your sensei." The Raikage enquired.

"No, I can find him without too much issue. I was wondering if you would mind if I visited Yugito-neechan while she was in hospital." Naruto asked.

"I don't mind, visiting hours in the hospital open in about an hour. I'll have Samui be your guide." He offered as he called for the chuunin in question. Minutes later a buxom blonde kunoichi in her late teens appeared in the office, she took a quick glance at Naruto before she bowed to her leader and accepted her orders.

"So, do you know what Yugito-neechan's favourite food is?" Naruto asked as they wandered out of the building.

"It's sushi, though I'm not sure if she'll appreciate it so early in the morning." Samui offered.

"Trust me, when you get lumped with hospital food, you'll love it when someone brings in your favourite." Naruto told her.

"You sound as though you're speaking from experience." Samui replied.

"I've had my fair share of stays in hospital." Naruto replied casually. Samui decided not to press the boy she barely knew for further information, but instead took him to the sushi place that Yugito frequented.

They picked a variety pack and made their way to the shinobi hospital. Unlike in Konoha, Kumo had two main hospitals, one for shinobi and another for civilians. The shinobi hospital had a higher concentration of med nins who could take care of the ninja related injuries.

After consulting the receptionist and then finding the correct ward and room they managed to find Yugito sitting propped up in a bed talking with the green haired Fu.

"Mmm...sushi." She groaned as both Samui and Naruto entered the room.

"See, I told ya she wouldn't mind after having to put up with whatever it is that a hospital defines as food."Naruto said to Samui, who simply raised her hands in surrender.

"So, how are Hisa and Rin coming along?" Naruto asked.

"They are doing well, now that they are both chuunin." Yugito informed.

"Chuunin? I wonder if everyone else back home is a chuunin yet. Wouldn't be surprised if one or two have made it to jounin already." Naruto thought out loud.

"Ah that's right, you're still an ickle genin, aren't you?" Yugito teased.

"You're only genin? But even before you transformed you managed to stay ahead of Hidan!" Fu exclaimed.

"Transformed? Into what?" Samui asked, intrigued.

"That giant dragon that you saw outside the village." Yugito replied offhandedly.

Before anybody could make another comment Jiraiya walked in.

"Ah, here you are." Jiraiya grinned evilly. Fu and Naruto shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"Brat we have to get moving. We can't stay still for too long. You have to do some training." Jiraiya told him. "And before we even do that there are formalities that must occur with Kakuzu's body.

"I'll take that. I'm sure the village elders would be pleased to have that back in their possession." Fu offered. "I'll make sure that the bounty is paid out to you." Fu told him as Jiraiya handed her a scroll.

"Tell them to pay it to the village hidden in the leaves." Jiraiya grunted as he felt the scroll slip from his grasp.

XXX

Naruto and Jiraiya remained within Kumogakure for the time being, Naruto had managed to write a letter to Konoha and posted it himself, the image of Jiraiya covered in dragon excrement included; he was sure Tsunade would get a kick out of that.

In the time that he was there Yugito had completely recovered and had a sparring match with her. It was painfully clear that he would need to touch up the fighting style he had inherited from his mother; he might even need to consult the phoenix summons to can some assistance as time wore on.

The highlight of his stay had been a swordfight with both Darui and Karui. Both were students of Killer Bee. Naruto had originally asked to spar against Killer Bee himself, but he delegated to his two chuunin students. Both students were defeated by Naruto, but when he realised that Bee was likely on a level similar to that of Hiko's he was grateful he hadn't sparred against the eight tails Jinchuuriki.

Fu had stayed a short while and spent a little time getting to know Naruto, though any time she had was cut short by her own insistence that she needed to return to her own village.

XXX

Naruto and Jiraiya had made their way to back to the cave where Hiko lived. The man was outside of the cave, apparently awaiting their return.

"You've returned, that's good. You've mastered all the basic techniques of Hiten Mitsurugi, and you have achieved formeshift. There are only a few things left for me to teach you. After that, the rest is up to you, to rebirth the dragons and lead well.

Naruto looked into his mentor's eyes and realised that he would have to step his game up like never before.

XXX

"Welcome back, Fu." A Taki village elder greeted within the confines of a council room.

"It is good to be home elder." Fu greeted cordially.

"I trust that you completed your mission?" Another elder enquired.

"I have." Was all she offered before unsealing the body of Kakuzu.

"Congratulations on killing Kakuzu. He was an S ranked ninja, you should be proud." Another elder offered.

"It wasn't me that landed the killing blow. I had skewered him on my endless wood lance jutsu, but it was Jiraiya of the Sannin that landed the killing blow." Fu reported.

There was a charge through the council chambers.

"You have disgraced us?" The first council member spoke.

"My Lord?" Fu was surprised; she had after all completed her mission.

"Kakuzu was originally charged with the assassination of the first Hokage. He knew the importance of this mission, yet he still failed. We sent you to clear our name of that tarnish by killing him, yet what do you do, you allow a wretched leaf ninja to take the kill. And as if to add salt to injury it was Jiraiya; the student of Hashirama Senju's student." The council member told her.

"My Lord

"For this failure, you are sentenced to jail." A third elder commented.

"Prison for failing a mission?" Fu was astounded.

"No, failure for bringing total and irreparable disgrace to Takigakure." A fourth elder commented.

"NO!" A young boy yelled. "This is completely wrong what you're doing!" He continued.

"You dare interrupt, Shibuki?" The fifth elder called. "This is the same fate that awaited Kakuzu when he disgraced us the first time. Why should we allow this girl's failure to slide when he was punished the same way?" The elder tried.

"Kakuzu became a missing nin after he was sentenced to imprsisonment for his mission failure. Perhaps it was the council's failure of its ninja that lead to the creation of Kakuzu as we know him today. He would never have used the earth grudge fear if the original council had never tried to imprison him." The boy Shibuki argued.

"You being are awfully brave for a mouse, Shibuki. Have you forgotten our traditions, the traditions that your father upheld." The first elder reminded him. "You cannot oppose our ruling to punish the girl when all five of us vote unanimously.

"My father was a man of his people first and foremost, if you are unwilling to learn from the mistakes of the past, then I won't allow you to bring the same shame your predecessors did. Fu, as leader of Takigakure. If you feel that she must be punish then I hereby exile Fu." Shibuki gave his edict to the green haired jinchuuriki. Te council members were outraged. They could not do anyting as he had not opposed their decision, but imposed a stricter method, even if it was partially a farce.

She understood that he was doing her a kindness. She understood that if she remained she would be imprisoned, yet it still hurt to have to leave, this was her home for many years, a home she had helped develop. She turned on her heel, moving to her house. She gathered anything that she could not part with and set out. She thought about going to Iwa, but had heard rumours that the people there weren't very friendly to their jinchuuriki. In the end she opted for Konoha, she might be able to meet Naruto there once again.

XXX

"So Hidan and Kakuzu have failed." A shadowy figure summarised to seven other figures in the room.

"That is correct. Kakuzu fell to the Nanabi and Jiraiya. It was the Kyuubi that beat Hidan." The two different halves of Zetsu commented in alternation.

"Guess we'll have to go and pick up the pieces, literally. Then Rin can work her magic." Kisame said, though being quite literal about picking up Hidan's pieces.

"Impossible, there is nothing left to pick up. The Kyuubi transformed into its dragon form. Then ate Hidan." The two halves reported. Deidara broke out in a cold sweat when he heard that.

"Regardless of the loss, it does not change our next target. Rin, Deidara, Sasori, you are to move out and capture the Ichibi. Be warned, as Kazekage he has a whole ninja village at his command, use it to your advantage." The shadowy figure ordered.

"Hai, Leader-sama." All three intoned with a bow as his image flickered out.

XXX

End Chapter

So the stage is set. I'm still working on exactly how I want to do the next chapter. I know what I want to do, but even in my head it doesn't flow correctly so it might take me a while to get it how I want it.

Besides that I've been typing with one hand after nearly having my arm ripped off at work, leaving it severely injured. The only thing I really have to do while I'm off work is to sit and write fanfiction or watch anime...can't play games which is a bummer.

Right so I'll try and post when I can. Cya for now.

Cheers,

Fish