Disclaimer:

First off, I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR NARUTO SHIPPUDEN! AND I NEVER WILL. I only own my characters and that is it. So don't sue me please! Kishimoto, love your work so please no lawsuit my man.

K51: Heya! We are back with another chapter. Now with this next chapter, there is a surprise.

Naruto: Eh? Like what?

K51: Shh. Secret.

Naruto: Whatever.

K51: You're no fun man. And in the end I think you'll love me.

*Naruto rolls eyes*

Zesu: I have a bad feeling.

K51: Oh yeah. Zesu I want you standing over there.

Zesu: Why?

K51: Cause I fear for my life.

Zesu: *sigh* Just start the chapter.

K51: Oh don't you sigh at me boy! Anyway, audience, here's the next installment of the story.

Chapter 26: Rumbling Thunder

~ A few weeks later~

Naruto had been learning both under myself, Kakashi, and Yamato. Increasing his skills in a fitting Taijutsu stance, new wind techniques for his repertoire , and kenjutsu katas from myself. I had purchased him a double-edge, black metal tanto with a red sheath and a small whirlpool symbol on both sides of the scabbard. He did progress into his wind element quite a bit while using Kage-bunshins and he managed to form small wind blades along his Rasengan. My shoulder had healed to the point I didn't need a cast, but the injury still limited me for now.

I had also been utilizing the Rasengan, after using my Sharingan to copy and practice, in the same manner as he was. I managed to give it a slight orange coloring and small flame patterns emitting from the technique. I made it a small competition to push him, which worked out perfectly. I had also been having more conversations with the fox since Naruto allowed him to utilize the blond boy's sense. His training as a jinchurki started there, which was co-operation with the bijū's chakra.

~Back in present time~

A certain blonde-haired teen stood panting in a sea of smoke as his kage-bunshins had seemed to run out of gas. I sighed, deactivating my Sharingan and caught him mid fall. Kakashi was casually under the tree I was previously next to, reading his little book. "Look's like he's tired himself out. Want to go get something?" He closed his book and strolled over to me with Naruto leaning on my good shoulder.

Kakashi gave an eyesmile and easily took the weight off of my hands and hefted the blonde over one shoulder. "Hai. Ichiraku's?" I managed a shrug; beginning to make my way out of the training ground. "Kakashi?" I heard a 'hm?'. "What do you hope to do with his Rasengan?" It was a long silence except bird chirping until he responded. "It's like I told him. Applying the chakra nature to the technique. Just like the Fourth intended..."

I glanced back at him, a bit confused. "The Fourth Hokage? So then it was passed down to him...but why hi-..." I stopped abruptly, alerting Kakashi enough for him to cast a curious glance at me. "Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Same haircut. If I am not mistaken, I'd say he was Naruto's father..." I noticed Kakashi now avoiding my gaze which I immediately narrowed my eyes upon. "Hatake. You know. Don't you?"

I heard a simple 'hm', as he seemed to be checking Naruto for some reason, until he finally spoke up. "You're right. He and a woman, you've probably never heard of, were his parents. I took it all in, trying to piece what little events I had seen the Namikaze in to determine or remember his partner. "An Uzumaki. Ku-Kushina." He gave a hesitant, but slow nod.

"I can slightly remember her and a bit of Minato. So they were his parents...?" He nodded again. "Hatake?" He raised an eyebrow. "Take him to get something to eat. I need to have a chat with someone." With that, I shunshined away in a column of gravel.

~at the Hokage office~

I arrived in the small office with Tsunade behind her desk while Shizune frantically made attempts at sorting other papers in the room. I gave a small smile to her which she matched with one of her own before returning to her work. "What can I help you with Zesu?" Tsunade's voice sounded impatient and exhausted. Something I sympathized with. "It's about Naruto."

She nodded. "His training is going along well, I suppose?" I gave a short nod but picked up. "It isn't about his training. It's about his parents." I noticed her immediately stiffen at the mentioning. "Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze. Correct?" She narrowed her eyes at me. "What about it?" The question had a tad of venom in it, but I ignored it. "Why does he not know? He has every right."

She huffed, unconsciously rubbing her temples. "He was going to be told when he got to your age. The-" A fist suddenly making contact with her desk stopped her mid sentence. "So, you determined when an innocent child was to be told who is parents were?! He has every right to know them!" "There are reasons he was not told." I growled. "And why might that be?" She let out a groan, quietly complaining at the predicament she was now in.

"I don't think you should have any business in this, Uchiha-san." I narrowed my now Sharingan eyes at her. "I have taken it upon myself to be a guardian to him. The boy is already fifteen and even before that, he should've known! He would've had guidance. When his parents were gone, for whatever reason, why was he so alone?! Huh?!"

She sighed, attempting to keep herself composed. "Naruto Uzumaki is not under your care. He is a shinobi under his own. Like I said before, there were reasons he was not told at a young age. The name Namikaze isn't very liked because of the Third Shinobi War. Especially Iwa. Kushina was targeted by Kumo. If the brat went around with the name, he could've been targeted. Nothing could be done."

The air in the room was getting harder to breath in from the pressure I was emitting. "Nothing could be done? Nothing could be done?! There are countless options that could've been used! If only your stupid council thought of him as a human being and not a demon. Then maybe he could've lived with the name and the villagers protect him. If it wasn't for the ignorance and stupidity of this village, Naruto could've had a better childhood than he ever could've!"

I stopped to catch my breath, my fist planted into her desk as she sat continuing to listen to me. "When I was in the Akatsuki I found a something that I thought would be the solution to the grief and depression I had after my clan's massacre. A jutsu. Created by one of our late Kage..." The Slug-Sannin's eyes grew wide as she shot from her seat and shouted.

"The Edo Tensei? Are you insane?" I shook my head, calming myself down. "No. I never planned on using it for myself. I wanted to keep it away from the organization. When I heard of Naruto's parents I-" "NO! I forbid you from reincarnating Kushina or Minato! You will be branded a missing-nin and you'll have two forces against you." I sighed, closing my eyes.

"I will not use the jutsu, Tsunade. But I will also not be handing the scroll over to you. I understand it's costs and repercussions. Even if I would be more than happy to revive someone. I will not perform it." This seemed to calm her a bit, as she plopped back into her chair and returned to rubbing her temples. "Tsunade. I'm sorry. I'm just...frustrated. And I shouldn't have been yelling at you." She waved it off before reaching for a document. "It's fine Zesu. That seal on your neck contains a bad aura. It might be the reason for you snapping all of a sudden."

I nodded. "Yeah. I would've handled it better." She suddenly tossed the folder she previously held. "Well, now that you're here, I should give you your assignment. I caught the document she now tossed and gave her a confused look. "Wait. With my arm like this, I can't do much. Also, I was ordered to train and supervise Naruto. The Kyuubi-." She simply shook her head. "No. With your shoulder, the muscle tissues and nerves just need to recover from the stress from the injury. Anything physical is healed at this point. I don't know what happened after that accident, but in all my years of medical ninjutsu, you healing is close to only one person."

I narrowed my eyes, trying to remember what exactly had happened. "Naruto?" She nodded. "His healing factor is beyond many. Possibly from the fox. For you, I don't know." I put my thumb and index finger to my chin and thought, but then it hit me. "Hakura's blood transplant. She must have some sort of clan genetic gain and it somehow passed along to me." I shook my head at the blonde as she narrowed her eyes. "Strange to me. She is of the Terūmi clan, correct?" I nodded. "I don't really know anything of her clan except for the Mizukage. Must be relatives or something. Anyway, with your mission."

I flipped open the file, keeping my ears open for her instructions. "I will have you as an ambassador to Kumo. I'm working with the other countries one at a time in treaties and ties. Suna, after the Kazekage incident is more than ready. So, I need you to head to Kumo and present them with the idea. Sound easy enough?" I was about to complain, but she stopped me. "I understand your relationship, but I'm sorry. There is nothing I can do. You are well liked with the Raikage after the Jonin exams. You are a Konoha shinobi and you need to act like it."

"You are skilled enough that you could easily take on a group of bandits with your arm like that. This is why I chose you while everyone else was busy. You'll have no problem. You can inform Hakura and stay the night, but tomorrow morning is when you leave. Dismissed." And with that she went back to her paperwork, leaving me standing still, holding a mission file and with a blank expression. Explain to Hakura? Kuso.

~at the Uchiha residence~

I shunshined to the front steps and froze, knowing something was wrong. The door. It had been kicked open; hanging slightly off its hinges. I unsheathed my blade and sped into the house at speeds even the Fourth Hokage would marvel at. "Hakura?! Where are you?!" My breathing was becoming more ragged but the second, my eyes ablaze with my Sharingan as I pushed over furniture. The place was trashed and it looked as if there was a struggle. "Hakura?!" I called out again, more frantic. I made my way to the bedroom finally, lifting the mattress, searching the closet and searching the bathroom. Nowhere. Has she been captured? Did they take the bod- NO! She isn't dead! I just...need.

The door was demolished, furniture had been flung about the house, the table was broken and everything was out of place. The bedroom was ransacked and it was obvious the intruder was searching for something, or someone. My heart was racing at the thought that began to bubble into my head. It all pointed to one thing. Someone had broken in and did something. I couldn't bring myself to utter it but shook my head. It could've been Akatsuki or some missing nin hearing of me. "I need to alert the anbu about this. I let out a large chakra signature, giving a reason for the anbu to be alerted to my location.

"Hakura!?" I let out one last time as I rushed to the door but crashed into an unknown object. "H-Hakura?" She lifted an eyebrow at me, glancing at the broken door and how exhausted I was. "What? Did you have to go to the bathroom really bad? You didn't have to break down the doo-" A surprise hug interrupted her as I held on for dear life. "I...I thought..." She sighed, beginning to run her fingers through my black locks.

"Shhhh. I'm fine Zesu-koi. It is nothing. Don't worry." My breaths became less ragged; my body coming around to the thought that she was alive. A sudden shunshin alerted me to the newly arrived anbu. "What was that chakra spike for?" I breathed out, calming myself. "My apartment has been broken into, I thought my partner had been injured." He nodded, a few more anbu arriving behind him, but scattered out again after he sent out an order. He returned his gaze to Hakura and I.

"I will notify the Hokage. Thank you for alerting us." I nodded as he shunshined away in a leafy spiral. Still holding onto her, I laid my head on her lap as she ran her hands through my hair, smiling down at me. "Hime?" She raised her crimson eyebrows in response. "I have a mission sending me to Kumo. As an ambassador between villages. I'm sorry..." "Nah." Her sudden reply surprised me as I stared up her, wide-eyed. "You have an important mission that could bring two villages of great power together. I'm nothing but proud."

I sighed, a small smile making an appearance on my face. "How about this? We go have a nice dinner as a celebration and a goodbye event. Sound good?" She giggled, before giving me a nod for an answer. "Alrighty. C'mon. I have everything valuable hidden. We don't have to worry about break ins really. How about a picnic? It's been a while since I did anything remotely romantic." She rolled her eyes, giving me a small peck on the lips as we both rose. "Zesu-koi, I don't care if you never do anything relating to romance. I'll always love you."

I gave her a faint smile, ruffling her red locks. "I can't stay upset around you, can I?" She gave me a proud exaggerating pose and puffed out her cheeks. "Yeah! I'll always help you out!" I sighed, taking her arm in mine. "C'mon, Hime. Our romantic dinner begins." I gave a slight purring sound at the stressed word as a small blush rose on her cheeks. "Baka! Let's go already!"

~On the Hokage Monument, Second Hokage's head~

I sat next to her, the blob of red hair now perched on my shoulder, as we watched the sun set outer the horizon. "I'm going to miss you again Zesu-koi." She rubbed her head against my arm, forcing a sigh to utter from my breath. "I know. You won't be the only one. I hate leaving you alone. In the back of my mind I always think that you'd..." I trailed off, unable to continue with the thought.

She immediately caught on, reaching up to cup my cheek in her palm and move my head to face her. Surprised, I gazed at the lavender orbs that were now piercing through my onyx ones. I blinked, beginning to utter her name but I stopped when a sudden barrier appeared. A soft, red barrier that connected with my lips. We stayed there for about a half a minute until we separated. "Zesu. I will always love you. Nothing will happen. I promise you that. We will survive this together. I promise."

I sighed, resting my forehead on hers. I was happy. I had found something that could replace everything that I had lost. My parents, sibling, clan; all lost but one little Terūmi managed to save me. The Curse of Hatred that haunted my clan for so long passed me. I managed to escape it's grasp. Unlike the other clan members that weren't so lucky. I felt blessed by her. I sat there in peace for a long time...

...that was until an unfamiliar chakra spike neared us. I managed to turn my head and jump with Hakura in my arms, avoiding a flurry of shuriken. One managed to catch my foot, earning a few curse to slip from my lips as we landed. I ripped the jagged metal from my body, earning another curse and moved my head to catch our attackers. But what I saw, stopped time all around me.

Cloak. Black with red clouds. "Akatsuki." My onyx eyes were wide in shock as I felt the red-head behind me shift uncomfortably. A gruff, stern voice stirred me from my thoughts. "I have come for you Zesu Uchiha." Suddenly, I narrowed my eyes. That voice. I had never heard of it. Was this the one person I had never met in Akatsuki. He had his hood off so his features were plainly seen. He had spiky, shoulder-length, red hair, with a chin-length braid hanging in front of his left ear. He also sported a chin goatee while he also showed signs of age, as wrinkles etched his face. His eyes were a family lavender to my fiancé, but I ignored it.

"Who are you? What do you want?" He tilted his head at me, emotionless as before. "That is no concern to you." He surprised me with his hand sign speed and summoned nine kage-bunshins. I knew combat was the only available option. He'd catch us if we ran, even in the village. We were surrounded. "Hakura! Alpha!" She nodded as we went back to back. I had us ready to take on the group clones that were not surrounding us. "So, you have grown... No matter. Kill them!"

I activated my Sharingan, taking on five at once, dodging strike after strike, my sword ready as I pierced one through the gut. Spinning in place, I planted a foot on another's chest and pushed off into mid air. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" A massive fiery ball slipped from my mouth to engulf two of the clones. I landed and entered a fist fight with two more clones. Big mistake. A couple well-earned palm strikes to one of them with my hands ablaze, knocked one off.

I was about to continue when I heard him again. "I wouldn't continue if I were you." I froze, turning my head to see Hakura with each arm held behind her my one clone. The original had a small blade to her throat. The one I was about to fight managed to get a good hit into my cheek before catching me in a full nelson. "K-Kuso." I uttered, a bit of blood leaking from my swollen jaw. Man that guy hits hard.

"Don't! I'm the one you want! Right!? Leave her alone!" He only shook his head and before I could utter another breath, the blade ran its course...right along Hakura's neck...

Time froze around me.

My Sharingan wide in shock.

Small red bubbles bursting from her neck as she slumped to the stone ground.

"No. No. No! NOOOOO!" My chakra was now physically seen and blasted the clone off of me as I practically ripped its arms apart. The last clone dropped her unconscious body. Big mistake. I appeared right infornt of him, arm engulfed in an earthen spear. "Doton: Amū Doryūsō!" I skewered the clone, dispersing it along with splattering my face with blood. I lifted myself up, letting the technique crumble away as I faced the original.

"So this is the true you. An accursed demon. Like your entire clan." That was it. I let it out. The curse mark engulfed me in purple flames, my Mangekyo glaring at him like the Shinigami himself. The familiar form Stage 2 form erupted from me, my skin taking a dark grey color with my sclerae turned black. Several spikes protruded from my skin; elbows, knees and shoulders. Two burst from my forehead, curving upwards while a large demon-like tail swished behind me. My nails and canines grew sharp as I grinned sadistically a the Surprised red-head.

I sped towards him like a rabid animal, one flaming claw in hand and made an upwards swing. He barely managed to evade, but his cloak was ripped apart. He pulled the fabric from him, tossing it away as he went into an unfamiliar battle stance. He sported a pale green sleeveless shirt and black pants. I roared, sounding more like a demon with every passing second. Rocks and dust rose from the ground around me as my chakra literally shook the land I stood on. He narrowed his eyes and sped multiple strikes to me.

I avoided all of them with little effort and caught the man's neck in one of my clawed hands. Holding every bit of my adrenaline from crushing it right then and there. "So, this is where I end...Hah..." I growled at him, my Susanoo bursting from the ground. It's decals were different from before. The aura around it was more hollow and demonic. Along with the crest on its forehead, two horns could be seen as well as dark marks similar to my curse mark. I roared, shaking the ground and smashing both of it's fists into the earth.

"Who are you?" He grinned, odd as he was staring at practically death itself. "Sekirei...Uzumaki. The father of Hakura. A child born of rape." My eyes were wide in shock, my fanged mouth hanging. "You...You were her 'father'? You were the one to do that to Mei..." He nodded, struggling to though. "Akatsuki sent me to kill her and change you...I couldn't let the Uzumaki blood be tainted anymore by her presen-." I threw him into the ground, still holding onto his neck as he cursed in pain. "You will never know how much pain Mei, Hakura, or myself has felt! You will never! But let me give you a bit of an idea..."

My sickening laughter, made him stare at me in shock, my killing intent radiating through the area. I rose my other hand as it began to how red. "Let's see if you, can take the heat..." It pressed itself against his chest as he let out a spew of curses, then blood curdling screams. The sound of searing flesh was music to my ears. The smell of burnt skin, filling my nose. Slowly it plunged into his chest, closer and closer to his heart, until finally I grasped it in my hand as grit his teeth.

"You die." In not even a second's time, I crushed his heart, blood erupting from his mouth and splashing my face and chest. "Good riddance." I rose slowly, my Susanoo dispersing as I turned to Hakura's bloodied body. But something was wrong.

Every Jonin, Chunin, The Rookie 9, Kakashi, Anko, Naruto, and the Anbu squads at battle ready. Tsunade had Hakura in her lap, hands glowing green, but she was staring at me in shock. "Z-Zesu..."

K51: Wow...that was a lot.

Zesu: ...

Naruto: Zesu...

K51: Today is a short conversation. Please review and favorite. Thank you for reading.

Next Chapter: Hakura's Death? The Curse of Hatred Reborn?

Jutsu List:

Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu: Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu

Doton: Amū Doryūsō: Earth Style: Earth Flow Spear Arm