Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor am I affiliated in any way with it, other than being a fan. Those rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I do own the OC's and any techniques and weapons I add to the story.

A/N: I have officially done it! I hit 200 reviews! And the first ten chapters of the story have hit 1000 or more views! Whoohoo! (Sets off several fireworks, and ends up setting garage on fire and has to put it out in a hurry) Okay, this is going to be difficult to explain to my parents… Maybe they won't notice? ….. I am so screwed.

Now, back to the story, hope you all enjoy the back story with Felix and Drakmus.

Chapter 24: A Discarded Name

"What were you after today Markus?" Felix asked himself as he, Sasuke and Naruto, the latter being carried by the two former, headed back to the village. "Why are you working with the Akatsuki, and whoever else is after the jinchuriki?"

Flashback

Felix had been five years old when an incident had occurred in the Elder Dimension. One of the higher ranking nobles of the Shikokkyo clan had tried to assassinate several members of the Ruling Council. The attempt had failed, and the man had been put to death, and that should have been the end of it. However, the ruling council had then sent several knights to exterminate the Shikokkyo clan in retaliation. The attempt ultimately failed and about a quarter of the clan had survived, including the young Xackary.

Needless to say, there had been an uproar against the Elder Dimension's Ruling Council, and it did not help when they denied ever trying to have the clan destroyed. All of the knights that had been captured testified that they had indeed received orders to destroy the clan. Slowly, a group had been created to overthrow the Ruling Council, and it gained support from several clans. Secretly, one of the clan heads who offered support to Victor, the leader of the planned coup was Will Yoshoryuu, Felix's father.

But the ruling council had very strong forces, so much preparation would be required in order to stage a successful coup. One such preparation was the creation of a weapon, one with enough power to defeat any foe. They took a newborn child whose chakra coils were not developed from an orphanage. His mother had died in childbirth, his father having been taken by an illness. This left the child parentless and nameless.

They then took chakra that had been stripped from the bodies of several minor demons and sealed until they had a vegetative chakra beast with enough power to rival the strongest of the fragments of the Jyuubi, and in a process that took a little over a month, fused the mindless chakra creature with the child. This was not the same as sealing, this was a method that actually made the chakra beast and the child one, though the child would only have his appearance changed when using the power.

Of course, before the coup could have a chance of succeeding, they needed to make sure the child could mature, so all plans were to put on hold until the child reached the age of at least ten and had full use of his power. So until then, Will had volunteered to take the boy in for five years until he was ready for Victor's training, and gave Felix and his elder by seven years brother Kyle the responsibility of caring for the child for the first five years of his life, and making sure that the boy could live a happy childhood despite the burden he had been given.

To that end, Felix had decided that the boy needed a name, and was the one who gave one to the child. So began the life of Markus.

Over the next five years, Markus had developed a brotherly bond with Felix. The two were like brothers to each other, and it was rare to see them apart. But Markus had been distant with just about everyone else. He was cordial towards Kyle, who had always tried to treat the kid well, and Xackary, who had been a friend with Felix, and most of the rest of the Yoshoryuu clan, but he was almost always distant with everyone else. Despite the fact that his bond with a mindless creature that had been made of the chakras of minor demons was kept a close secret, he knew he was different, and had no interest in befriending most people, since he knew several would want him killed for what he was. The only one who he had trusted completely and unconditionally was Felix.

Then five years into Markus's life, Victor and some of his men had come and taken him to their compound to begin the boy's training, and Felix began seeing less and less of Markus. However, whenever he did see his friend, he noticed that Markus had started becoming more distant with him as well.

Then, three years after Markus's training began, Kyle had stumbled upon Victor having a conversation with one of the coup planners, a genjutsu specialist. He had eavesdropped out of sheer curiosity and what he heard made his blood run cold. Victor was asking the genjutsu specialist to use his talents to stage another incident of the Ruling Council committing an atrocity in order to gain more support for the coup.

Kyle then snuck into the most private office of Victor and found several files detailing that the Shikokkyo clan member that had attempted to assassinate the Ruling Council members had done so under a genjutsu, and the knights that had been sent to destroy the clan were also under a genjutsu that had been almost undetectable, and they actually believed that they were under orders. It was all a ploy for Victor to justify his bid to seize power.

It was after Kyle had made the discovery that he had been discovered by Victor's soldiers and he had to make a quick escape that cost him his left hand. But he managed to get away with his life and the files. He had then told Will everything about the falsified evidence, and that the Ruling Council had committed no crime. Upon hearing of Victor's treachery, Will immediately ordered the Yoshoryuu clan to prepare for battle. Despite having just lost a hand, Kyle insisted on fighting as well, and Felix, despite being the young age of thirteen, was already at the level of half of the clan's adults and was also allowed on the strike team.

That same night, the strongest of the Yoshoryuu clan attacked the primary base of operations of Victors planned coup. Despite having been expected, the Yoshoryuu clan was not considered one of the Elder Dimension's strongest for nothing, and they defeated all resistance with only a few casualties. What happened next was something Felix would never forget, even if he tried.

"It's over Victor," Will said as he pointed Elemental Infinity at the wounded coup leader. Four other members of the clan, including Felix and Kyle stood behind their clan head. "Surrender now, and I can promise you a fair trial from the Ruling Council."

"Don't give me that," Victor said as he struggled to rise to his feet. "Even if my trial was fair, the Shikokkyo clan would call for my head, and my crimes more than given me a death sentence already. Besides, I still have an ace up my sleeve."

"Enough!" Will shouted and he rushed Victor, only for a blur to come between them and deflect Will's sword, knocking it from his hand and it skidded along the ground, stopping at Felix's feet. Before Will could react, the figure's hand turned into some kind of mutated dragon claw and plunged though his heart. Will was dead within a second.

"M-Markus?" Felix asked as he watched his father's corpse hit the ground. Tears flowed from his eyes as he asked, "Markus, why would you…?"

"It was my duty," Markus said simply, wiping his bloody hand on his shirt. "I was created to serve Victor. That is my purpose in life, what I was born for. I am a weapon, a demon, nothing more."

"That's it? Why would you waste your power to serve that scumbag!?" Felix demanded as Victor laughed at the clansmen who were also enraged at the death of their clan head. "Why… why did you kill Father!? What the hell is wrong with you?" Felix's fists clenched in rage as his eyes tightly shut as he faced the ground. "I… I thought we were friends, no, I thought we were brothers!"

"You were just my caretaker. Any bond we might have had before has ended," Markus said coldly.

"You bastard!" the remaining two clansmen besides Felix and Kyle shouted and they charged Markus, intent on avenging their fallen leader. Markus effortlessly killed the first one and knocked the other down. His hand was about to tear the man's throat out.

"Stop!" Felix shouted, rushing Markus and picking up Elemental Infinity as he went. The blade immediately sent Sage Chakra into Felix, and his speed shot up, surprising Markus. Before the boy could dodge, Felix swung upward in a diagonal blow, cutting Markus from his right hip to his left shoulder. Blood spurted from the deep wound and Drakmus jumped back, clutching his chest where Elemental Infinity cut it. Felix panted, his face having grown scales, along with the back of his hands, and horns jutted slightly from his forehead, a result of him balancing Sage Chakra imperfectly. "You… you are not the Markus I once knew," Felix said as he stared at Markus with his now slit eyes and grit his sharpened teeth.

Markus narrowed his eyes at Felix and said, "I see. In that case, I have little use for the name you have given me." Marcus cast a sign, and burning letters of Hellfire spelling two words, MARKUS and DEMON, materialized in the air. A wave of his hand caused all but the D in DEMON to dissipate, and that D joined the letters of MARKUS as the rearranged themselves. Markus smirked as the final result came. DRAKMUS.

"This will be my new name," Markus/Drakmus stated. "I have no use for Markus any more. That naïve child is long gone. I have discarded him."

"Good, now I won't have any more feelings against killing you!" Felix shouted and he charged Drakmus, casting a few hand signs as he went. "Summoning Jutsu!" A large red dragon appeared and the base was broken apart. Unfortunately, Drakmus and Victor had escaped that night.

Felix took over as clan head then, as were the laws because Elemental Infinity had chosen him as its new wielder after Will had died. Though any Yoshoryuu could safely hold and use the blade once they mastered all five elements, the weapon would only give Sage Chakra to the first person to lay hands on its hilt after its previous master had perished that it deemed worthy. As per the clan laws, whoever that person was would lead the clan.

Needless to say, Felix was one of the youngest to have the role at the young age of thirteen, but thanks to some help from Kyle, he was able to lead the clan fairly well for the first few years. At the age of sixteen, Felix met Drakmus and Victor again and with the aid of several other knights, he was able to defeat them, and Victor died with Elemental Infinity through his heart. Felix took a grim pleasure in killing the one responsible for twisting Markus's mind.

Stripped of his master, Drakmus had vanished, never to be seen again.

End Flashback

"Until today," Felix thought as they reached the village. "What caused you to become like this, Markus? And what are you after now?"

….

The invasion had ended and Konoha came out better than it had the last time. There was barely a quarter of the casualties of last time on Konoha's end, thanks to several factors, including the fact that Sand was on the side of Konoha this time, along with some help from Iwa, as well as because of the knowledge of the invasion beforehand allowing Konoha to prepare accordingly, and finally because they had Tsunade this time, who helped kill some of the giant snakes alongside Jiraiya, and healed some of the worst injuries on the battlefield.

Of course, the hospital was still a little crowded, a fact that was not lost on the sore Naruto, who hated the place already, mainly due to the poor food quality. Fortunately, his healing factor and Kurama's chakra once again helped him recover within a day of admittance into the place and he was released. Kin had been taken out of the hospital by Ibiki and Anko once she had recovered. She had gone quietly, and was willing to give all the information she had on the Sound Village, and all the bases she knew of (she has no idea how much easier she made things on herself with her cooperation). Due to her compliance and disinterest in working for the Sound Village anymore, Minato was willing to have her released and gave her the option of joining the Leaf after a probation period, and she chose to accept, as long as the village did not screw her over like the Sound Village had done.

Temari was also released soon, though not before she had a visit from Shikamaru, when she asked him why he had saved her when she had been cornered by the Oto jonin who had managed to injure her, and he simply shrugged and said he had felt like it. Gaara was also let out after he had been healed of the concussion Drakmus had given him.

When Lee was finally let out under the admonishment to take it easy, Gai had been pleased that the flames of youth could never be kept down for long, and he and Lee had done the unbreakable sunset genjutsu in the hospital waiting room, making the therapy division a very happy group as they started counting the money from the flood of patients.

Unfortunately, Kabuto had made his escape during the invasion after his master had been incinerated by his four opponents, and no one was able to catch him. Oh well, not everything can go right…

The Mizukage had left a few days after the excitement ended, once the political business between Kiri and Konoha had ended. She was not pleased with the fact that Minato had refused to order Zabuza to at least return Kubikiribocho, but Konoha had offered a decent bit of compensation that settled things.

Xackary, Borace and the Kazekage had arrived a little after the departure of the Mizukage. The Kazekage was given his memories back by Felix, since the knowledge he had of the future was not sensitive, and Gaara wanted his father to remember what had happened between them during their fight in the future. The Kazekage had met with Minato and Onoki to discuss plans for the future battles with the Akatsuki, and those from the Elder Dimension. The Kazekage then signed treaties with both other kage to strengthen the alliance. Xackary meanwhile had dismissed the souls of the reincarnated Hokage, allowing them to return to the Pure Realm. Soon after, the Kazekage took Gaara, Temari and Kankuro back to Suna, while Onoki left with his escort, Han and Roshi going with him, the latter agreeing to stay in Iwa to train in light of the developments involving the Akatsuki.

About a week after the invasion, Felix called a meeting between him, Ceilia, Xackay, Borace, Naruto , Itachi, and Sasuke to discuss the matter of Sasuke's involvement with the future. Sasuke explained that he had his memories back and knew that Felix was somehow responsible for the second chance they currently had. It was easy to figure out because he had no memory of Felix in the past life, or of Ceilia, but Ceilia had come into the picture only recently.

Surprisingly, when Ceilia had shown up, she was dragging Kakashi behind her by his hair. "What are you doing Ceilia?" Felix asked. "He is not supposed to be in on this."

"Is there something you would like to share with the rest of us, Itachi?" Ceilia asked the Uchiha as she tossed the anime weeping Cyclops into the midst of the group. "My third eye saw the traces of your chakra, so don't bother trying to lie to me."

Itachi sighed as he realized that the jig was up, Felix's eyes on him. "Well, I may have… used the Pulse Imprint Jutsu on him…" he said guiltily.

"YOU WHAT!?" Felix shouted, before he forced himself to be calm so fast he would seem bipolar. "Great, another complication," he muttered as Naruto sighed in resignation that he was going to have a talk with Kakashi about Obito. "Never mind, we can discuss this later… And we WILL discuss this Itachi," Felix glared at Itachi. "You have betrayed my trust by using that jutsu on someone without my knowledge or permission, so don't think that you will be getting out of this. The information Kakashi had was very sensitive, so I can't ignore that either."

"So can we move on to the part about why time has turned back on us?" Sasuke asked. Felix apologized and launched into an explanation about how the future had gone to hell very fast after Sasuke had died last time, and Sasuke winced at the memory. Felix then explained how the reset button had been hit, and how Sasuke's memories had been restored. There were a few comments as the explanation went on from Naruto, Ceilia and Itachi about the parts they played thus far.

"I see," Sasuke said before he turned to Naruto. Then, with no warning, he slammed his fist into Naruto's gut, causing the blonde to double over and look up at Sasuke in shock. "Why the hell didn't you restore my mind sooner? Did you really think that I would turn bad again, that I would not take remembering these things well? Naruto, the last thing I did before you turned back time was come between you and your death… didn't that mean anything?"

"Yeah, it did," Naruto said. "And I knew that you were not going to go bad again if you remembered."

"Then why?"

"Because, I thought about it, I really did, but when I remembered what your past life was like, and knowing the pain that you felt after losing comrades myself… I just couldn't bring myself to have that wound reopened in you. That's all…"

"I see…" Sasuke said and his expression softened a little.

"Ahem, now that we have you up to speed," Felix said, bringing attention back to himself. "Now we need to discuss the matter of Itachi's stupidity. Sasuke, if you don't mind leaving, there is a piece of sensitive information that may be brought up that is not for your ears."

It was Felix's turn to get slugged in the gut, this time by Naruto. "Hell no, I think we kept the teme here in the dark enough already," the blonde said. "Lack of trust is not going to help us here."

"Fine," Felix wheezed. "So tell me Itachi, what possessed you to restore Kakashi's memory?"

Itachi resigned himself to explaining his reasons behind his actions, wanting to better understand how Sasuke had fallen the last time and having found out about Obito in the process. Sasuke was surprised to find that detail out, he had never learned that it was not Madara himself manipulating him.

At the end, Felix sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is the last time I teach someone not from the Elder Dimension that jutsu… I will let it slide this time, due to your reasons for using it, but I won't be so lenient if it ever happens again."

"Well it's not like you can do anything," Naruto sniggered. "Remember, I traded blows with Itachi before time was rewound, so how would you punish the guy if he fought back?"

"I would have thought Konoha's number one prankster would know that there are more subtle ways to make someone suffer miserably, and besides, I could always get someone else to do my dirty work."

"Good point," Naruto sniggered.

….

"How. Could. This. Happen!" Raizen shouted at both Drakmus and Jess as he broke a table under his armored fist, causing Jess to wince, and Drakmus to lower his head in supplication. "We had four jinchuriki waiting to be captured, all within our grasp at some point, and yet all slip through our fingers! Not only that, but Drek had even gotten himself killed! The only thing that went as we hoped was the extermination of Orochimaru! Explain yourselves. Now."

Wincing, both Jess and Drakmus told of how their attempts to take the jinchuriki had failed. To say Raizen was not pleased would be an understatement, and he even went so far as to accuse Drakmus of having held back against Felix. Drakmus did not like this and assured his master that he would not have shown Felix any mercy. He had discarded his former name for a reason.

"Oh well," Raizen said. "At least Sasuke has his memories back. Even if he has no intention of joining us now, when the time comes, he should only need a little… persuasion." With that, Raizen opened his eyes slowly, and under the shadows of his visor, the Sharingan he had been given by Obito were clearly visible.

….

"Sasuke," Kakashi said to the young Uchiha the moment they were alone.

"What is it, Kakashi…. Sensei," Sasuke replied, surprising Kakashi with the sensei part a little.

"Listen, I want to know, just how did you manage to see the light again?"

"This is about Obito, isn't it?" Kakashi blinked. "You want to know how you can bring him back, right?"

"Nothing gets by you, does it?" Kakashi eye smiled.

"Itachi and I met up again after Kabuto brought him back. With a little help from me, he was able to subdue Kabuto and get him to release the Edo Tensei. Before he returned to the afterlife, he was able to give me some final words that started to reach me. A few other things happened after, but it was ultimately him who made me remember what he would have wanted. How you could help Obito… well I am sure you know where I am going with this, though I don't know if that's the best idea."

"Yeah, I do," Kakashi said thoughtfully.

"Just don't dwell on the idea. It may not even work, and if it doesn't you need to be prepared to kill Obito if he continues after his fool's dream and tries to drag the rest of the world with him."

"You don't have to remind me," Kakashi sighed.

A/N: So far, I am getting mostly positive feedback on my thoughts of the idea of giving Naruto the Rinnegan, though I have also had a few protests on the idea. I would like to be honest and admit that it's one of the things that I want to do with this story, I am just a bit over worried that I will be pissing off my readers over it.

So keep supplying your thoughts on the idea, and please keep reviewing! I am not so naïve to think that I will have 300 reviews by the time I have posted chapter thirty, but hey, a guy can hope, can't he? Maybe if I come close, I can live with that.