TWENTY SEVEN
War: Part X
"This is it?" Naruto asked.
He and Sasuke stood in front a hole in the ground. A shrug was the only answer he got from Sasuke, so rolling his eyes, he went against his better judgment and decided to hop down in the random hole on the out skirts of the Fire Country. Landing swiftly on his feet he moved forward a few steps to allow Sasuke to land behind him. Turning to the raven, he step to the side and motioned for him to show the way. Sasuke made a small grunt that he didn't think Naruto heard and started making his way down the long narrow hall. Naruto didn't know how long they had been walking but after a while, Sasuke opened a large door that led into a huge open laboratory.
"This is as far as I know," Sasuke said walking into the lab.
"I should be able to find it in here," Naruto nodded and started looking to the file folders to the left while Sasuke just leaned up against the closest wall.
After several hours of searching, Naruto finally found what he was looking for. He opened the scroll and read over a few of the contents. He got lucky; Orochimaru had finished his research on the Shinigami seal. Naruto smiled and rerolled the scroll.
He turned to Sasuke, who miraculously was still leaning against the wall, "I've found what I have been looking for. Thank you for your help, I would not have found it otherwise."
Sasuke nodded and pushed himself off the wall, leading him to the same entrance they had came into. Once outside Naruto spoke once more, "There is one more thing I need you to tell me before we part."
"Which is?" Sasuke asked.
"I need you to tell me where the Uchiha's Nakano Shrine is," Naruto said, "I would ask Itachi but I don't have a way to contact him."
"Nakano Shrine?" Sasuke repeated a little confused, "What do you need there?"
"There is information in the shrine that I am looking for," Naruto explained.
"The information there can only be acquired by the Sharingan as well as entering the shrine," Sasuke said.
"I see," Naruto replied crossing his arms to think for a moment.
Naruto and Sasuke stood in silence. Naruto's mind was twisting and turning while Sasuke stood watching him. After a while Naruto noticed the other was watching him and gave him a questioning look.
"You've changed," Sasuke said.
"I guess I have," Naruto replied turning towards him.
"What are you planning? What are you after?" Sasuke asked, "And why does it involve the Uchihas?"
"I can't answer that," Naruto shook his head, "the only way for you to know would be to come with me."
"I would have to see for my self," Sasuke huffed.
Naruto shrugged, "Your choice."
"I will show you were the shrine is then," Sasuke said walking in the direction of the village.
"We need to make one stop before we go to the shrine," Naruto said catching up to the other.
000
"What is this place?" Sasuke asked.
"An Uzumaki Shrine," Naruto stood just to the left of the younger raven outside an abandon shrine on the outskirts of Konoha. The shrine was partially destroyed and crumbling at its base. Naruto glanced around, no one was around for miles, but they were still inside Konoha so he couldn't help but be on his toes.
"Stop being paranoid," Sasuke said mocking him, "No one is around."
"What do you…" Naruto was about to ask before a raven interrupted him, and a moment later he was inside a familiar genjutsu.
"Itachi," Naruto smiled.
"Naruto," Itachi said stoically, "I only have a moment but I came to warn you."
"Warn me?" Naruto asked.
"The war. It had started. The Shinobi Alliance has gathered its troops in Suna, while Pein has gather over a hundred thousand white Zetsu underground."
"When are they set to move out?" Naruto asked.
"In a week or so," Itachi replied.
"I see," Naruto nodded.
"Pein will also be asking you to return in a few days, so what ever you are working on, hurry and finish," Itachi said, "I'll be waiting for you."
With that Naruto found himself staring at a younger Uchiha, "we must hurry. The war. It has started."
Sasuke nodded, "that is why the village is so empty."
Naruto nodded in reply and headed into the shrine. On the back wall were a several Shinigami masks Naruto looked among them, but asked Kurama for his help in determining which mask would lead him to the actual Shinigami. Once the right mask was found, Naruto nodded to Sasuke indicting to him to move on to the next place.
000
The Nakano shrine was in worse condition than the other. There was nothing left standing aside from the large stone with a sharingan in the center. Using a jutsu, Sasuke was able to move the large stone with minimal effort and once inside Naruto knelt at the small stone on the back wall.
"Sasuke," Naruto called, "can you decipher this?"
"Only some of it," Sasuke said kneeling beside him.
"Do what you can, while I work on this," Naruto nodded standing up.
Naruto pulled a small green scroll from his pouch the same one used to seal Sasuke and Kabuto a few months ago. Naruto rolled the scroll out flat on the ground revealing four sealing circles. Making a few hand signs, Naruto unsealed four bodies from the scroll.
"Who…" Sasuke was about to ask before Naruto cut him off.
"Criminals," Naruto stated and continued what he was doing.
Kurama I will need you to heal me so I don't die. Please.
Since you said please, Kurama sarcastically replied.
Thank you.
Naruto pulled the mask he had gotten earlier out and placed it one his face. Naruto's body became engulfed with blue flames that eventually morphed into a Shinigami behind him. He then called forth the souls he was searching for as the Shinigami sliced open his stomach. A similar wound appeared on Naruto's stomach.
"Gah!" Naruto cried out in pain, almost doubling over.
Kurama…
I got it.
Naruto's stomach immediately started healing. Breathing heavily, he removed the mask and noticed four flames floating in front of him. Naruto then knelt down and placed his on the ground. Using the blood he had lost earlier and his chakra, Naruto worked fast and carefully as he created sealing circles around the bodies he a placed.
"Edo Tensei no Jutsu," Naruto said as he slid his hands into a seal.
Sasuke watched in amazement as the four flames that were released earlier rushed in the bodies of the acclaimed criminals, as screaming and wailing followed. Sasuke didn't know whom Naruto was summoning, but who ever it was had immense amount of chakra. Naruto would have a hard time controlling who ever it is. After a few minutes the new bodies finished forming, revealing the four previous Hokages.
"Naruto," Sasuke said a little surprised.
"Did you finish getting the information?" Naruto asked before Sasuke could say anymore.
"Yes, the parts I could decipher," Sasuke nodded handing him a small piece of paper.
"Good," Naruto replied then turned to the four figures standing in front of him.
After a few moments the figures came to life.
Kurama, do you sense him?
Yea, my other half is in him. However, why did you bring back all four?
I need to know some things.
Be careful. They are very powerful, especially Hashirama.
More powerful than me?
Possibly.
"Naruto?" Sarutobi asked, "Sasuke?"
"Hello, Sandaime," Naruto smiled then turned to the blonde haired man beside him, "Tou-san."
"Naruto?" Minato asked then glanced at the other three beside him.
"What's going on Naruto?" Sarutobi asked, "Why are we here?"
"I summoned you," Naruto replied, "I am looking for some information."
"At least is it not Orochimaru again," Tobirama shook his head, "I can deal with a kid."
"What do you mean?" Hashirama asked.
"Well, this kid took care of Orochimaru a while ago," Naruto shifted his weight to one foot and crossed his arms.
Technically, Itachi…
Shut up…
"You?" Sarutobi asked.
"How did you remove the seal, Naruto?" Minato asked.
"Aw, don't underestimate me, Tou-san," Naruto shook his head.
"Who are you?" Hashirama leaned over to look past his brother and student.
Minato met his gaze and looked back at him, "The Fourth Hokage."
"The Fourth!" Hashirama replied excitedly, "There is a Fourth! The village is stable then?"
"Um, I don't really know," Minato laughed and scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I died before the Third and was sealed."
"Ehh?" Hashirama replied, "You mean you weren't sealed with the Third?"
"Uh, no," Minato shook his head, "different incident."
"Then who is the Fifth?" Hashirama asked.
"Your granddaughter Tsunade," Naruto replied.
"Oh dear," Hashirama replied suddenly looked somber, "Is the village alright?"
"Define alright?" Naruto asked.
All the Hokages caught the tone of Naruto's voice and looked over at him.
"That coat," Sarutobi stated, "You aren't…"
Naruto only shrugged in reply.
"Why?" Sarutobi asked taking a step forward.
"What's going on?" Tobirama asked.
"That coat is a representation of a high level group of rogue shinobi called the Akatsuki," Sarutobi explained, "Naruto is wearing it, so that must mean he is a member."
"Third in command actually," Naruto replied causally.
"Then why have you used my jutsu to resurrect us?" Tobirama asked.
"Like I said earlier I am looking for information and I can get that information from you," Naruto explained.
"And why would we give you any of that information you knowing that you are a rogue shinobi?" Tobirama asked.
"Depending on the answers I get to my questions, I'll either use you to aid the Akatsuki in the war," Naruto said, "Or you will be free to defend witch ever side you choose."
"A war?" Sarutobi exclaimed.
"Yes," Naruto nodded, "We are currently in the middle of the Fourth Great Shinobi War."
"Then we must go aid the leaf," Sarutobi urged.
"Not yet," Naruto shook his head.
"You think you can control us?" Tobirama bit back.
Naruto raised an eyebrow when Tobirama started to try to leave. Naruto brought his hands up into a ram seal; bring Tobirama to a complete halt. The elder man's body started to shake as he tried to move out of the bindings, but in vain.
"It seems you under estimate to boy's talent," Hashirama laughed.
Hashirama is on a totally different level, I don't know if I would be able to stop him if he wanted to leave.
"Let's indulge him," Hashirama nodded, "Ask your questions."
Naruto glanced over at his father only to find the elder looking at him with a disapproving look. That look hit him harder than he thought it would. Minato hadn't spoken. His mother had said that Minato loved the village more than anything, and the fact that his son was a rogue shinobi, probably hurt a lot.
"Itachi Uchiha," Naruto said, "He massacred his clan by order of the Leaf. Is this true?"
"Yes," Sarutobi nodded.
"What?" Sasuke yelled.
"Sasuke," Naruto glanced behind him with a warning glare, "Sarutobi, please explain."
"Itachi was special," Sarutobi explained, "Even when he was little his reasoning was more like a Hokage than a clan leader. He was never bound by the idea of his clan; he worried more about the village than anything else. When the time came, we entrusted everything to him and he carried it out considering it his mission. He murdered his family, and stopped a coup as well as the war that would have followed. He even spied on the Akatsuki for us, on the condition that I would protect Sasuke within the village."
"So its true," Sasuke whispered.
"This is why I couldn't tell you what I was searching for earlier," Naruto turned to Sasuke, "It was not my place to tell you this. Itachi isn't going to be happy that you know the truth. He wanted you to think it was all his fault and not the village's."
"So the Uchiha were finally annihilated," Tobirama said, "it was their curse, I figured they would try something sooner or later. There were rebellious forces that followed the will of Madara."
"I was going to ask you about Madara," Naruto turned to the younger Senju but was cut off before he could finish.
"Wait, what do you mean the Uchiha's curse?" Sasuke asked.
"Even before Konoha was founded, the Uchiha and the Senju have been at odds with each other. Many believed that the Senju treasured love above all else while the Uchiha treasured jutsu above all else. However this isn't true," Tobirama explained, "No other clan treasure love more than the Uchiha, and that is why they sealed themselves off from it."
"What?" Sasuke said.
"When a member of the Uchiha knows love its like something they were blocking arises, and they awaken something stronger than the Senju's power of love," Tobirama continued, "However when a Uchiha looses that love, a hate even stronger arises and changes that person. I've seen if happen many times, and there is a certain symptom."
"The Sharingan," Naruto stated.
"Yes," Tobirama nodded, "a special chakra sprouts inside their brain and affects the optical nerve and causes that change in their eyes. The stronger their emotions are, the stronger their optical powers become."
"Like Madara?" Naruto asked trying to redirect the conversation.
"In Madara's case, he really loved his littler brother so when he lost him, his optical powers became immensely strong," Hashirama chimed in.
"Madara was the leader of the Uchiha clan before Konoha was created. He was very powerful and often sought power above anything else," Tobirama explained, "after he lost his little brother, his only goal was to become more and more powerful."
"He created Konoha along side of me when the Senju and Uchiha finally made peace with one another," Hashirama continued after his brother, "however he continued to talk of this bigger dream, saying I wouldn't understand it. He eventually left the village to pursue this dream. Multiple times afterwards, Madara kept attacking the leaf even using the Kyuubi, eventually reaching our final battle where I defeated him."
"The Valley of the End," Naruto nodded glancing at Sasuke.
"Why are you asking about Madara?" Minato asked eyed his son carefully, speaking to him for the first time.
Naruto turned to his father and smirked, "I've been working with a man who claims to be Madara. He's an Uchiha that's for sure, however I kind of doubt he's the legendary Madara. So I plan to use this information to my advantage. This dream of his, well, its actually not half bad. However it's very unrealistic and improbable."
"Why's that?" Tobirama asked.
"What is his dream?" Hashirama asked
Naruto sighed, "His dream was to rid the world of shinobi and place everyone under an infinite Genjutsu so the fighting will forever cease. It's unrealistic because to accomplish this, he would have to revive the ten tails, gather everyone in one place and cast a genjutsu on them…"
Naruto trailed off while he was explaining. He had realized something.
"He doesn't need to gather everyone in one place," Naruto thought while speaking to himself, "he's planning on using the moon as a mirror. That's why I was to ensure that Nagato stayed alive. He needs the Rinnegan to summon the moon."
"The ten tails?" Tobirama repeated.
"The nine tailed beasts were actually created by the Sage of the Six Paths when he split the ten tails," Naruto explained, "The Akatsuki has been collecting the tailed beasts for several years now."
"Then you are…" Minato started to say.
"No longer the Jinchuuriki for the Kyuubi," Naruto shook his head.
"How did you not die after the extraction?" Hashirama asked.
"I have no idea," Naruto shrugged.
Lair…
Shut. Up.
"However," Naruto turned and pointed to his father, "For the Juubi to be revived to the strength we need all of the Kyuubi."
Minato narrowed his eyes, "You revived me just to get the other half of the Kyuubi."
"Essentially," Naruto replied with a sly smile, "However since you are a revived spirit, I doubt you will die once the Kyuubi is extracted from you."
When his father didn't reply, Naruto continued, "Shodaime-sama, what can you tell me about Madara? Why does he hate the idea of shinobi so much? Why does he want to destroy a village he helped established?"
"What are you planning, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked.
"Lets indulge the boy, Hiruzen," Hashirama chucked, "I will tell you what I know.
"Lets see, I first met Madara when I was still a kid. Of course when we met, we didn't tell each other our full names, but never the less, we knew. He was an Uchiha and I was a Senju. You see, before the Villages were established, clans like the Uchiha and the Senju were always fighting. The conflict between our two clans was known throughout the land. But Madara and I were different; we had both lost brothers in that fighting. Child death was very common then. We imagined a world where children like ourselves wouldn't need to fight and where our families would be safe from harm. We dreamed of creating a village where children could run free and feel safe. One day our fathers had found out about Madara and I's friendship and order us to kill one another. I ignored my father's orders, Madara, however, decided our dreams of a peaceful world were impossible, and therefore ended our friendship so that we could kill each other without reservation.
"Over the following years we continued to meet in combat. I could never bring myself to kill someone I still considered a friend, and Madara could never defeat me. In time, we both became leaders of our clans. I sent Madara a cease-fire request in order to establish peace between our clans and make our dream come true. However, thanks to Tobirama who killed Madara's last brother, he declined the request. Wracked with grief, Madara made one final stand against me but was defeated. Tobirama attempted to kill Madara to finally end the fighting, but I stopped him, knowing that would only renew hostilities between the Senju and Uchiha. At Madara's suggestion, I offered to kill myself in order to achieve a peaceful resolution, but before I could, he stopped me.
"After that, the Senju, the Uchiha, and all our affiliated clans came together to found a village of peace, where children would never need to die in battle. Madara and I became friends once more, and decided on the name Konohagakure for our village. At Tobirama's insistence, the Hokage position was opened up to a vote, and I was elected into office. I wanted Madara to become my adviser so that I could improve his standing among the villagers and someday succeed him as Second Hokage, but Madara felt that position would inevitably go to Tobirama, which would in turn end badly for the Uchiha. With his position in Konoha rapidly diminishing, Madara decided the village was a failed experiment and abandoned it, intent on someday returning to face me in battle yet again.
"It was peaceful for a while, but then as promised, Madara returned to fight me. I spent the entire battle trying to reason with him, but eventually Madara became too tired to even keep his sharingan activated. In the end, to protect my village, I kill Madara and my wife Mito sealed away the Kyuubi within her self.
"Madara's idea of peace was different than mine. He envisioned a place where he was in full control so the peace would never be lost. However when I was elected Hokage, I believe that he saw my move to power as a step toward the Senju controlling the Uchiha. At some point before he left the village, he talked about he a learned of a way to unite the whole world, and that Konoha was a failed experiment."
"What?" Sasuke butted in.
At the sound of another's voice, everyone in the room looked to the owner of that voice.
"What is it?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke pointed at the piece of paper he handed to the blonde earlier. Naruto lifted his hand and opened the paper, quickly scanning over the contents.
"You think this is where he got that from?" Naruto asked.
"He is a Uchiha, so it would make sense," Sasuke shrugged.
"It would make sense," Naruto nodded and turned back to the first Hokage.
"The stone tablet behind me is part of the Uchiha shrine," Naruto explained, "Only those who have the sharingan can decipher it. Sasuke was able to read some of it and believes this where Madara could have possibly gotten the information about uniting the…"
Everyone looked at Naruto when he stopped short. He looked down at the piece of paper once more and read it again.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi…" Naruto mumbled, "this is where he got that from. It all makes sense now."
"What makes sense?" Hashirama asked.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi is the genjutsu that Madara plans to use. In order to do that, he needs the chakra from the ten- tails, as well as the God Tree," Naruto smiled as he explained, "that's why he needs Nagato who can summon the Ten-tails as well as the tree with the Rinnegan. Madara's mind was influenced by the information he got off of this stone tablet." Then turning to Sasuke he asked, "Who wrote it?"
"Legend says that the Sage of the Six Paths wrote it," Sasuke replied.
"Sage of Six Paths?" Naruto repeated, "Why would he write instructions on how to place the world under an infinite genjutsu?"
Naruto shook his head when no one responded to him. Turning to the first Hokage, he ask, "It seems as though Madara believes the only way to achieve peace in this world, is to rid of this world all together."
Hashirama nodded in agreement, "have you made your decision?"
Naruto furrowed his eyebrows and closed his eyes, turning his away from the others.
When there was nothing by silence, Minato took the chance to ask his son the question that had been nagging him the whole time, "Naruto, why did you leave the village?"
"I didn't leave the village," Naruto shook his head.
"You didn't leave?" Hiruzen confirmed.
"No," Naruto continued, "When I was fifteen, right after I returned with Jiraiya from a training trip, the Akatsuki attacked the village with the intention of abducting. Unfortunately they were successful. I was taken and had the Kyuubi extracted from me. Everyone expected me to die, but for some reason, I didn't. When I came to, the leader of the Akatsuki offered me a position and I accepted."
"Why didn't you just go back to Konoha?" Minato asked.
"Why would I want to go back to a village that didn't want me?" Naruto rebutted.
"What?" Minato replied.
"What else could you expect? After the Kyuubi attacked Konoha, the villagers and shinobi did nothing but hate me!" Naruto shot back.
"That's my fault, Naruto," Hiruzen chimed in.
"Your fault?" Naruto repeated.
"I knew the villagers would feel that way about you," Hiruzen shook his head, "but I thought what I decided then was the best, but I should have done more for you. I didn't tell you about your parents, but I should have and I should have told you about the Kyuubi earlier. And lastly, I should have protected you more."
Naruto didn't reply. He just looked down away from him.
"Naruto, I never wanted that for you," Minato shook his head, "Your mother was right. I should have come up with a different plan so that I would've been there for you. I'm sorry, Naruto."
After a moment, Tobirama broke the silence, "What is your plan, kid?"
"You three can do whatever you want," Naruto ordered, "but Tou-san, you will come with me."
"Alright," Minato said knowing that he wasn't in full control of his body.
