Underverse
For three days they traveled over ice and snow. They would travel from sun up to sunset and sleep in the shelter.
On the fourth day Naruto paused.
"What?" Mica asked stopping next to him.
"Do you feel that?" Naruto asked his goggle covered eyes on the distance.
"You mean the ones that have been following us?" Mica asked.
"No. there ahead." Naruto pointed to the rock formation ahead that was covered with layers of ice.
Mica reached out with his vunla enhanced senses and shook his head. He wasn't as strong as Naruto with it, and while he could enhance his abilities and with effort vunla lightening, Naruto was truly mastering the use of it and being on the wilds of the tundra seemed to deepen the blonds connection.
Naruto and Mica looked at the snow and ice covered rock formation. "What do you think?" The blond asked.
"I think we should wait for Master Kyu to reappear. We don't know what could be there and it would be wiser to wait for him. For all we know it could be a giant snake den in there." Mica said.
Naruto sighed and nodded. "We'll set up the shelter over there." The blond pointed to another outcropping of rocks. "We can use the rocks to shelter the tent from the elements."
Mica nodded. He pulled the scroll that held the shelter and after smearing a bit of blood on the seal, the shelter was once more set up and the silver haired wind user slipped inside.
Naruto sighed. It was his turn to hunt, but he was getting sick of tundra rabbits. He desperately wanted ramen, but they were in the middle of nowhere and he didn't see an Ichikaru Ramen stand anywhere.
"Hey, I'm going to see if I can catch some dinner." He said passing the shelter, the dome shaped tent was larger than the simple tents he remembered having when he was a genin for Konoha, and he liked it better. With a modified seal, you could have it set up in second and stored in a scroll.
Mica stuck his head out. "Stay away from that rock formation." He warned.
"I wasn't…" Naruto tried to argue, but Mica just gave him an even look with his golden eyes.
"Fine." Naruto huffed and went off in the opposite direction.
Mica stuck his head back into the shelter. He had gotten the small fire started and was melting snow for cooking water.
"I know him. He'd have charged in there and we'd be in trouble." The silver haired teen muttered. "Where the hell are you Master?"
Suna"Hello Haruno."
Sakura spun about and saw a figure standing further back in the alley. "Lord Danzo." She said relaxing. "Mother said you would be in touch."
"She's right." The silver-armed man said.
"The Hokage continues to waste effort on Uzumaki. She's put me on a squad with Hatake and the two Hyuga whores. All three are defending him, and Hokage has injured nin's for speaking out against Naruto since you've been gone milord."
Danzo nodded. "What transpired on this recent mission?" he asked.
Sakura told him of the Akatsuki removing Shukaku from Gaara, of the death of Chiyo.
"Study those scrolls very carefully, they might be of use." Danzo said. Sakura nodded eager to please the man who saved her mother from poverty.
"Lord Danzo…how is Sauske-kun?" she asked eager to hear news of her crush.
Danzo paused before responding. "Sauske is working to perfect his Sharingan. When he is ready we will move and take Konoha back from the demon lovers and the weak."
"W-will you tell Sauske I am getting stronger for him?" she asked.
"Of course Sakura. Remember to use the ROOT members I have in Konoha still to pass on messages."
"Of course milord. I do all this so the day comes I will be married to Sauske like you promised, and Konoha will be yours, like my father promised all those years ago."
The pink haired girl smiled, then her whole stance changed as did the color of her eyes, they became a sickly yellow-green "It is so hard to play weaker than I am. I've had to allow that Hyuga whore strike me and play the simpering twit."
Danzo smiled. "You have been one of my operatives for years Sakura. Your training and conditioning has allowed you to switch personalities as needed. The famed Haruno inner persona has helped you gather Intel and be one of my best spies since your academy days." He sighed.
"I just don't understand your fixation with the Uchiha. While breeding would be fine, your fascination with him is some concern."
Sakura smirked. It wasn't a friendly smirk either. "I believe Sauske-kun can be the best ninja in the world. Once his Sharingan is fully developed. I don't need a husband who talks, but he will bring me fame and fortune. After he's been used for breeding, you can kill him and I will raise the children in the ways you've shown my family since before I was born Lord Danzo." She said with a bow.
Danzo shook his head. "A dangerous game we are all playing, with too many wild cards on the table. Orochimaru isn't concerned with the Kyuubi container…and I…"
"Sakura?"
Danzo stepped back into the shadows seeing the young Nara genius with the Kazekage's sister.
"Oh…Shikamaru. There you are. I got lost and turned around…" Sakura said trying to lie her way out.
"Save it Haruno." Sakura looked up and saw Hanabi with Kakashi standing on the building on either side of the alley looking down.
Sakura snarled and sensing danger tossed several smoke bombs down and then threw a couple explosive tags down. She slipped away with Danzo.
Hanabi managed to keep the others from crossing the tags and the time it took allowed the pair to escape.
"Damn that woman. I knew something was up when I saw her hovering around Chiyo-san when she died." Temari snarled.
"And now Danzo and Orochimaru have the techniques she had written in her clan scrolls." Shikamaru said. "How troublesome."
"Sakura managed to gather them up and make sure the blood seals never connected, those are some dangerous rituals that just got into enemy hands." Kakashi said landing next to the others.
"So what are we going to do?" Hanabi asked. She had noticed Sakura missing and had broken off with Kakashi. Shikamaru and Temari had followed them and they heard the talks between Danzo and their pink haired traitorous teammate.
"Team 9 will remain on their patrols until they hear otherwise from the Hokage." Kakashi said. "We need to tell Lady Hinata what just happened. I'm sure we'll be taking Gai back to Konoha with us."
Shikamaru sighed. "And it looks like I will be heading back sooner as well. We'll need to change the defenses again, and start combing the population for ROOT operatives."
"Not to mention inform the Hokage about the situation with Akatsuki and what happened here."
The Nara prodigy looked at Temari. "I need to stay here until Gaara and Kankuro are back on their feet." She said reluctantly. The last year with Shikamaru had been a mental battle and she found it fun, his mental abilities held qualities she'd come to enjoy.
Hanabi sighed. "Hinata will blame herself for allowing Sakura to live."
"The thought of the Haruno clan with a kekkai genkai is frightenting." Kakashi said. "Their inner persona seems able to shield them."
"We should have realized it back during the chunin exams a couple years back. How she managed to throw off Ino's mental possession." Shikamaru said, a thoughtful look on his face.
Kakashi nodded. "Back then we chalked it up to Naruto's cheering her on and her hot temper, and I never bothered to look into it."
"Its troubling how much effort Danzo's gone into to undermine the Hokage and gain control of the Uchiha."
"Its not only the Uchiha that Danzo's tried to get control over." Kakashi said. He looked at the others as they walked. "Danzo for as long as I can remember has tried to get first the Third and then Lady Tsunade to give him control over Naruto. Till his escape, he's worked to gain some measure of power over Naruto."
"Shikamaru groaned. "We need to get Sakura's mom in for questioning."
They saw Hinata with Team 9 and Itachi and went to tell them what has happened.
UnderverseThe howling wind outside kept the pair awake for some time. Naruto managed to take down a deer, and the meat had been smoked. Mica took the antlers and was carving something since he couldn't sleep when there was a flash over the fire.
"Master!" the silver haired hanyou yelped getting up and his cry woke Naruto from his semi-doze.
"About time you baka fox." He muttered.
"Stow it whelp." Kyu said and both boys saw his features had changed a bit. He was more vulpine in his features.
"What happened Master?" Mica asked stoking the fire up to give more light and warmth.
"Yeah, you screamed and vanished." Naruto said.
"I did not scream. And I didn't vanish." Kyu said. The shade took a seat on the ground, his back to the door.
"Some things have happened and not all of them good." Kyu said starting off. "First things first. I wanted to tell you what happened when I went to see Tsunade."
Naruto listened as his mentor told him what had happened. He was happy that Tsunade and his friends hadn't betrayed him like he thought. He listened about the execution of the council and of Hinata being the vessel for the spirit of vengeance. "She's been on a rampage punishing those who have done you harm kit." Kyu said.
Naruto didn't say anything and Kyu continued with the trial and escape of Sauske and Danzo to join with Orochimaru.
"The old woman's got Team 9 looking for you. I told her that you are both here and being trained by me, I didn't tell her old the super pervert what I was teaching you exactly."
Naruto nodded absently, his mind absorbing all he'd learned.
"So, you can go back." Mica said. Naruto just grunted "Hn."
"They will need us to help deal with the snake and his ilk. He's managed to make several alliances."
"Damn pedophile." Naruto muttered. He'd never like the snake sannin after the forest of death incident, and it became worse after the search for Tsunade with Jiraiya.
"Now that home matters have been filtered in, let's talk about what happened a couple days ago." Kyu said.
"After I vanished on you both, which I am sorry about. But I was forced into Kami's court."
Both Mica and Naruto looked at him in surprise. "What you felt kit was your bond with Gaara thru Shukaku. The big desert rat got himself removed from Gaara, and your friend from Suna died."
"G-Gaara's dead?" Naruto looked at the shade in surprise.
"No. He was, but another mortal sacrificed their life-force for his. Gaara remains amongst the living. Now, the reason I was drawn to Kami's court was because of my position. Kami has decreed that without a successor Shukaku's domain will be held by a steward. Once a new One tailed lord has been decided upon, then Kami will release those lands and vassals to the new Shikaku."
Naruto was confused, but Mica raised his hand. "Why isn't Gaara seen as Shukaku's successor. He was his Jinchuriki."
"The two were constantly in conflict. While the runt here will be my successor on the physical plane, I am, until he has all my power be Regent."
Naruto looked at the fox shade.
Mica put a hand on his shoulder. "You suspected this. Why so surprised?"
"I…I…I don't want this." Naruto said looking at Kyu.
"Won't have to worry about it for a long time kit. Live, grow old, have a dozen of fat pink babies that you mortals seem to spawn."
Mica snorted. "I don't know. Some vixen's I've seen have spawned several batches of their own."
Kyu and Naruto both snorted and the tension ebbed away. "Seriously kit, its not something you need to worry about for a century at least, unless your stupid and die."
They were silent for a bit. "You both made good time. I'm surprised you didn't enter the tomb entrance."
"Mica wasn't sure and thought it better for wait until we knew what happened to you." Naruto said and Mica shrugged. "You were feeling pulled to it. I thought it better than to walk into a viper's den or worse."
"Good thinking. There are creatures around the Tundra that are very dangerous." Kyu said.
"Oh yeah, so far we just seen rabbits, a couple of deer and wolves." Naruto said.
"That is because a lot of the fiends here are nocturnal or subterranean. I would have passed you both up if not for my vunla senses." Kyu admitted
"Now then, both of you rest up, we'll head out at first light. It might take time to navigate the tombs. It's been a long time since I was down there, and we don't know what might have moved in since then." Kyu said giving them both a look and smirked at the grumbling teens who said they didn't need a nursemaid.
Mica and Naruto returned to their sleeping rolls while Kyu thought of things he hadn't said, his eyes watching the two sleeping boy he'd taken on as his apprentices.
Konoha
Tsunade was not pleased. She stood in the observation room watching as Ibiki and Anko worked over one Ira Haruno. Her eyes narrowed as the woman screamed and yelled.
"LORD DANZO SHALL CRUSH YOU ALL!"
Tsunade turned to Shizune. "Prepare the ANBU to take in the whole Haruno clan." She said. "Its obvious with the head family corrupted we may need to see the others as well."
Shizune nodded and went to follow her orders.
Tsunade listened as the female Haruno swore that Lord Danzo would crush them all and return honor to Konoha.
Tsunade sighed. "We need to find out what she knows. Hinata."
The vessel of vengeance seemed to melt out of the shadows and appeared before the interrogation chair. "Leave us." She said and Ibiki and Anko joined Tsunade and they watched as Hinata's hands went to the now struggling Haruno's temples. "I made the mistake of allowing your daughter freedom. You Ira Haruno will receive no mercy, and now I know to watch out for your hidden persona, there will be no mistake." Hinata's vengeance voice spoke out.
"Your soul is stained with the blood of the innocent and the taint of corruption. Look into my eyes."
Tsunade watched as Hinata's black Byakugan eyes blazed with black fire and Ira Haruno screamed as the spirit of vengeance shredded her mind and soul. Anko watched in shock as Ira's body went limp.
"Twenty-seven souls need to be purified. They are traitors." Hinata said her cold unearthly voice intoned looking at the Hokage.
She put a hand out and black fire traced the names onto a scroll. Tsunade's eyes hardened seeing some of the names. "Ibiki." She said.
The Special Interrogation Jounin looked at the list and scowled. "Take Teams 10 and have the Elder Ino-Shika-Cho trio go with you. I want them rounded up and in prison before noon."
She looked at Anko. "You will join Shizune and ANBU in gathering up the remaining Haruno clan. They resist kill them."
Anko raised an eyebrow. "We are at war Miturashi. Move it." Tsunade said. She looked at the woman now laying limply on the interrogation chair, her eyes burned out. "Hinata?" she said after Ibiki and Anko were gone.
"I-I'm alright Lady Tsunade. I let my anger get the best of me and burned out her mind stripping the information away." Hinata said turning back towards the fifth Hokage, her eyes once more normal.
"You want to talk about it?"