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: Hello Everyone! And we are back with the newest installment of the story!

Zesu: So I get to cat sit for this chapter.

K51: Well...I guess that's a good way to put it. Anyway, announcements about times at the end of the chapter. Hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 28: Cat-Sitting


I simply shrugged my shoulders at the rising form of a certain Jashinist. "Hidan. Enough, you haven't even touched me..." I waved a hand at him, obviously bored. "...you're finished." His only response was to spit out a glob of blood in my direction. "Screw you, you bastard! Crushing organs! Cutting open flesh! I'm supposed to be doing that to you!" To my surprise, he rushed me. Scythe in hand and screaming bloody murder.

Activating my Mangekyo, my Susanoo's ribcage erupted from the ground to shield me. The familiar hollow sound echoing the area around us. The sudden shield forcing Hidan backwards and me to smirk yet again as two skeletal arms appeared attached to the ribcage. "Like I said, I'm on a whole other level than you. Give it up!" His only response was to grip of his scythe and begin to swing the large weapon above his head. "Screw you!" I tsked at the obviously stubborn nin. 'Dammit, I'm wasting time.'

~Back with my clone~

It was a standstill. Even with his multitude of elemental jutsu, my second state and Sharingan was his downfall. Kakuzu was on the defensive, barraging him with solid slugs. Just as he had dodged a curved jab, he managed to backflip from any continuation. "Kuso. It looks like we'll have to continue this later." I was about to respond when he sped to his partner and held him in a one-armed headlock. "Hidan. We are leaving. We can't just loose members in a losing fight. He obviously still has more techniques and jutsu. And I'm not gonna worry about a one on one."

He glanced up at me one more time. "We'll be back for the Nibi. You can't protect them all. The Ichibi, Gobi and Yonbi. You are running out of time." I swore I could see a smirk under that mask. With that, he jumped off, with a swearing Jashinist in one arm. It took me a while to register the situation until I finally collapsed against one of the surrounding trees; sliding down to the roots. I pushed a hand through my darkened locks to rest at my neck with an exasperated sigh.

"No dead Akatsuki. But one is safe." Another clunk against the wood as my head fell back. "Dammit." "U-Um..." I opened my eyes slightly to see the girl around my age kneeling next to me; fidgeting uncontrollably. "Hm?" My slight response made her jump before she raised an inquisitive look at me. This, causing me to sigh. To her surprise, I reached out, gripping her chin between my thumb and index finger. She obviously flinched at my Sharingan. "Easy." Before she could say a word, I had activated my Mangekyo and it went black.

~Yugito's mindscape~

'At least it isn't a sewer', was what went through my mind when I arrived. Same color as Naruto's but instead of pipes and water, it was a cold stone flooring with equally cold sides along the walls. I smiled. "Homey, I guess...

I reached, what looked like, where Kyuubi would be in Naruto's mind and to my benefit, I made out massive set of steel bars and a single slip of paper. 'The same as Naruto's'. Casually approaching, I was met with the Nibi. Two, long blazing tails faced me; completely engulfed in blue flames. It also has a right yellow eye and a left green eye from what I could make out when it finally faced me. I was just allowed to raise an eyebrow when it slammed itself into the cage bars in an attempt to sever me in two.

I calmly stood my ground, hands loosely perched in my pockets as I stared at it with a bored expression. This only spurred it on further, continuing to lash against the barrier containing it. I let out an irritated sigh before finally speaking up. "Nibi, please calm down." To my relief and slight surprise, it stopped mid action; blinking in shock. "Wha-What?" The voice was strangely soft and...feminine. This causing me to smile. "Glad to know at least one tailed beast is reasonable. Anyway, I came here to talk to you..."

I eased myself down to sit upon the cold stone. "...I believe you know about the two that attacked. Correct?" She simply nodded causing me to smile again. "Good. Anyway, I don't want you to freak out okay?" It did something reminiscent of an eyebrow raise but nodded nonetheless. "I used to be in it." Surprisingly, she didn't freak out. "Why did you leave?" Again the soothing voice of hers. "I realized what they were really doing. Attacking villages. Ripping bijū from their Jinchūriki. Discusting. I left with all their information and made myself protector of any Jinchūriki. I believed that if one person, no matter their history, no matter their reasoning, can help beings looked upon as monsters."

To my awe, it nodded. Hopefully, understanding. "You wish to help us bijū? Why?" I stood to my feet, determination etched into my features. "I understand the feeling of being seen as a monster. And you have consciousnesses and minds. Ideas. Feelings. Everything! No one! No one is allowed to take that from you! And I will do whatever I can; give up my life if I have to, to save as many as I can." She was now gazing down at me; inquisitive eyes searching me for lies or doubts. Nothing. I activated my curse mark; 'I had found out using this form helped win arguments.'

The familiar spikes protruding from my collar extending in a cloak to my calves. Similar spikes emerging from my forehead, elbows and Achilles heels. Obsidian locks fading to an ashy grey. My skin taking on a dark ivory tone and Sharingan eyes meetings the widened green and yellowed eyed gaze. She unconsciously backed up; her form beginning to tremble until, to my astonishment, the massive feline 'bowed.' Bowed! Now I was the one in awe and frozen in place. Feeling incredibly awkward, I itched my cheek and cleared my throat.

Immediately, her head shot up, causing me to jump with a slightly girlish cry. "U-Um...why?" She raised to her full height. "You look similar to him." I raised an eyebrow. "Eh?" She made what sounded like a giggle at me. "The Sage. The Sage of the Six Paths." My eyes widened to the size of plates. "Th-The Sage?" She only answered with a nod. "I sense a chakra within that seal at your neck. Kurama?" I nodded. "He fixed it..." She lowered her head to my level and I waved my hands, a little flustered.

"A-A-Anyway. About what's-her-face? Your container? Where she from?" The mammoth of a cat sighed and before my very eyes, she began to shrink. And, change. Before my very eyes was a woman, seated cross-legged. Not a bijū. She had light blue hair; blacks streaks running through it. The same colored eyes. Clothed in a simple white t-shirt and baggy camo shorts. "Ahhh. Much better." A single eye twitch from my side grabbed her attention. "What?" My only response was a large intake of air in attempt to shake me from my stupor.

Still in my curse form, I managed to sit myself about a couple feet in front of her. "So...?" "Yugito Nii, of Kumogakure." I only raised my brow. "So we're going in the same direction...I'll escort her back to Kumo safely. You have my word." I finished, lifting my hand to her. She breathed out slowly, but moved to shake my hand nevertheless. "I will trust you Uchiha Zesu. Do not disappoint." She sighed crossing her arms over the legs bent at her chest. "Zesu?" I stopped, mid rise, staring at her with newfound curiosity.

"Take care of her. We...We never really had a very close relationship together. Only the typical jinchūriki/bijū thing..." I could see the genuine worry on her face as she buried her face into her legs. The same vulnerable, afraid, nervous aura... Before I could register my own movements, I had my hand atop her azure locks and was ruffling her hair. Slowly, her face rose and returned my grinning face with wide eyed. "S-Sage?" I gently flicked her in the forehead, which she immediately cradled with a pout. "Stop it. I'm not him, okay?" I rose to my full height as she did the same. "Alright. I have to bring Yugito back. I'll see you around." And with that, I vanished.

~Back outside~

A sharp intake of breath alerted her than I had at last ended. Ever so nervously inching towards me, until I finally opened my eyes. No longer the familiar blood red; now black. I lifted myself from the tree I had rested upon as my eyes landed on the blonde in a pathetic excuse for a defensive stance. "Conserve your energy. I'm takin' you back to Kumo." Before she could even blink, I was carrying her on my back and casually moving along.

"Why'd you help me?" Her voice was calmer than before, relaxed even. "I saw an unconscious young woman being carried off by two shifty lookin' guys. What would you have done?" To my surprise, her arms tightened around my neck. "You're lying. What's the real reason? And why'd you use that weird eye Jutsu on me?" I let out a long groan. I didn't have time for this.

"I would've thought Nibi would've told you." She immediately jerked up; still in my hold. "Yo-You know?" I managed a shrug. "Just go and talk to her. I'll get you to Kumo. Deal?" All I got was a nod and she slumped against my back as I pushed chakra into my feet to speed up my trek.

~Kumo gates~

I had finally made it. Exhaustion was an understatement for how I felt when I finally arrived. Immediately falling to one knee with a certain blonde Jinchūriki peacefully sleeping on my back. Of course. Of course I had to be stopped by the guards. "Halt! Present your ID and your reasoning!" I resisted the urge to groan, somehow maneuvering into my pant pocket and present my Identification Card, which one of them took a bit too quickly. "I'm here as an ambassador from Konoha. And I also managed to secure one of your bijū's safety."

At the mention, their heads perked up simultaneously. Yugito's sleeping form was still perched against my back as I leaned over for one if them to remove her. They did not do so. Instead, the very same guard slipped my ID into my pant pocket and smiled. "Well, Uchiha-san. If you'd be so kind to escort her to Raikage-sama, we'd be very grateful." I sighed, maneuvering the still slumbering woman on my back and made my way past them; grumbling about foul treatment to guests.

~Raikage's Office~

Uchiha-san! You can't jus-" She wasn't able to finish as I kicked in the large oak door to arrive to an obviously pissed off A. Beginning to shake in what I proposed as irritation; the secretary retreating away. "Dammit Zesu! What the hell is your problem?! Kicking in my door, eh!" Deciding to humor him, I 'matched' his anger. "My problem?! Not only did I drag my ass to your village as an ambassador to peace, I took down two missing-nin! Saved your Jinchūriki! And continued to drag my ass here! So don't go yelling at me when I have the right to do so!"

He sat there, dumbfounded at me. Jaw slacken and Kage hat slightly leaning off to the side. "Er...I...uh..." Seeing him in such distress was too much for me as I burst out into a fit of laughter. "Easy A. I'm kidding. But I do think I at least deserve to kick in a door." He raised his arms up at me. "Are you kidding me?! You deserve much more! Not many can take on two missing-nin and live to tell the tale. Not to mention Yugito is safe."

I felt her shift her weight on my back, still asleep. "Zesu. We'll have the treaty discussed tomorrow. I'll have Mabui escort you to the apartment I arranged for your stay. And about Yugito, I'm sorry to ask, could you watch her for today. The Nibi should have managed to heal most her injuries, so just bring her with you." I raised an eyebrow, deciding to humor him a bit more. "I guess trusting a disabled hormonal teenage girl to a hormonal teenage boy isn't such a bad idea. Alrighty! Cya, Oji-san!" Taking my leave just as he had managed to register my last words. "What?!"

~Hotel~

I finally got out if the shower, a towel hanging loosely around my waist with another slung over my shoulder. "Ahh. Nothing like a long steaming shower." Twisting in some impossible way to hear a resounding pop along my spine and neck. I clicked the bathroom door open; a translucent cloud of steam following me overhead. I noticed Yugito curled up on the single bed. The armor I felt unnecessary for her to wear at the time now littered the floor on the bed's left side.

Just as I managed to open one of he storage scrolls I had packed, a long groan interrupted the sweet silence I always loved. "Nnggh. Where...am I? Zes-..." I turned to see an awake but slack-jawed blonde jinchūriki. "Oh. Hey Yugito. You're finally up." It took her a few more minutes to actually catch up to what I had said and her face erupted in a crimson blush rivaling a certain Hyuga girl.

"Wh-Where am I? Why am I here?...Why are you naked?" I sighed, running a hand through my still wet hair. "I met up with the Raikage. We discussed and agreed upon you staying the night. You're obviously not ready yet. The bath is ope-" She was in the separate room faster than I could finish my sentence. I shook my head, returning to my scroll. "Women."

~Later~

I had decided my outfit needed a makeover. Now a shredded-sleeve, black vest with three red stripes streaking along the abdominal area. A plain mesh long-sleeve underneath accompanied by a pair of loose fitting black pants, ordinary black shinobi sandals. My blade sat loosely at my side, resting inside its hilt. Gray stained red fingerless gloves covered my hands as I raised it to knock on the bathroom door. "Yugito. I'm heading out for a second. I'll bring back something to eat." I heard the sound of water being sloshed about and a few seconds later. "O-Okay!" I guessed I had startled the still bathing Kumo-nin but shrugged it off and walked out.

~Random Kumo street~

I scratched my head with one hand; the other occupied by a plastic bag full of foodstuffs. "In all my years of owning a cat, I hope it helped with picking out her food..." Memories of my veteran of a feline devouring plate after plate of sushi, causing me to almost break into a fit of laughter if not for a loud screech. "Dammit Omoi! Would you shut up?!" I paused mid-step as I followed the noise. "Karui?"

The blade wielding redhead whirled around to me and froze instantly. "Y-Y-You!" I smiled sheepishly at her, offering a small attempt at a wave. "Nice to see you again." She broke out of her stupor, a bit of a blush on her flustered face. "Y-Yeah...sure." Her teammate perked up, casually eating a lollipop. A white haired guy with relativity the same outfit; give or take the male to female outfit differences.

"Oh. You must be that guy that destroyed Karui in the Jonin Exam. I'm Omoi." I took the hand he had outstretched to me and shook it with a half smile. "Don't you think you're being a bit harsh?" To my surprise, he jerked his hand back to hold his head and babble on. "Oh no. I probably pissed you off. Then you'd kill me. Then the Raikage would declare war against the leaf. Then-"

Thankfully, Karui took care of that with a swift elbow to his head. I nodded graciously to her before finally turning to their other teammate. Wearing a typical kunoichi outfit with a small tanto strapped to her back. Oddly cold blue eyes topped with a bob of blonde hair and an 'impressive' set of assets. She offered me her hand without even shifting from that calm expression of hers.

"Samui. A pleasure Uchiha-san." I took her hand with smile. "Good to see one of you three is relatively normal. And please, call me Zesu. I detest such formality." She only half shrugged. "Alright, Zesu. If you don't mind, might I ask your reasons for your stay in Kumo?" Shifting the plastic bag slung over my shoulder. "I was sent by the Hokage as an ambassador to discuss peace between Kumo and Konoha."

She nodded, raising a finger to her chin. "Makes sense with the Raikage taking a liking to you. A relatively wise choice by the Hokage." I chuckled, not sure how to respond. "Would've gone better if I hadn't run into two missing-nin." Her eyes widened slightly, lowering her hand. "I see. It is good you survived. Being one of the last Uchiha and a chosen ambassador."

I mimicked her previous half shrug. "I guess. I managed to ward them off and rescue a woman they had captured. Her name was Yugit-" "Yugito?" Genuinely surprised at the blonde showing much emotion I scratched he back of my head. "Uh. Yes. Do you know her?" She cleared her throat and straightened her outfit causing me to sweatdrop.

Is she really trying to keep a composure after that outburst? "Yes. We all did. She's a good friend of ours...how is she?" I motioned to the hotel I was staying at. "She's doing fine. She's staying with me for the night. I was actually getting her something to ea-" I was stopped mid-sentence by Karui grabbing the front of my vest. "You even think about trying anything you bastard..."

I simply pushed her off. "Karui. I'm not the type to cheat." Her eyes widened then lowered as she unconsciously rubbed her arm. "Sorry. Just a bit overprotective." With a small wave I stopped her. "It's alright. Well, I should be getting back. Yugito's probably getting hungry." Before they could voice a reply I had shunshined away.

~Back at the hotel~

I clicked open the door, depositing the bag onto the desk the hotel provided for each room. "Yugito! I didn't know what you liked, so I just got some sushi." I heard a long groan before she got off the bed; bed-head claiming her hair and dressed in one if my shirts and a pair if my pants. I chuckled. "That's the last time I leave my scroll open."

This caused her to blush a bit, crossing her arms. "Sorry. I just don't really have a change of clothes." I waved it off. "It's fine. Here..." I pointed to the sushi I had taken out and I noticed her eyes widen. "I guess you like sushi, eh?" She nodded almost as ecstatic as a child on their birthday. "Well. Let's eat."

We decided to sit on the mattress and eat. Both of us sitting cross legged facing the window. "So Yugito?" She turned to me with a tail of salmon poking out from her mouth. "Hm." I couldn't help but laugh. "How was having a bijū inside of you?" I saw her out down her chopsticks, a frown beginning to form on her lips. "It...wasn't the best. I was treated as a weapon. Training till I was able to fully 'utilize' Matatabi. I was like a tool..."

I gritted my teeth; a small growl emitting from my throat. "It wasn't until the Fourth Raikage adopted me did I feel like a somebody. Until then, I was a jinchūriki. Nothing else." Fresh tears began to flow from her feline-like eyes. She tried rubbing them away with a dry laugh. "S-Sorry. I thought I'd be over this already." I put down my own chopsticks, reaching over to give her a sideways hug. "Nah. You, out of anybody, deserves to let it out every so often..." She just nodded, continuing to rub her eyes.

"Y'know Yugito. No matter how many times I hear the sickeningly depressing story of someone who had a bijū inside them... I'm always just as angry at the village. Naruto and Kyuubi. Gaara and Shukaku. How can they just think that someone with chakra sealed inside them is a monster?! And they aren't even just chakra! They're are living things with emotions and minds! We have no right to bind them or order them around!"

By this time I was standing in front of her; voice louder than I'd think was wise to speak. "Bijū have names, lives, emotions! We humans are ignorant! We think we are all knowing, all powerful! We are nothing! How dare we play god!" I finally stopped, panting with my hands on my knees. I looked up and froze to see Yugito with even more tears cascading down her face. But this time, with a smile.

"T-Thank you. Thank you Zesu. That's probably the nicest thing someone has said about me and Matatabi..." She patted her stomach with a smile. "She says she is truly thankful someone feels like this." I let out a laugh. "I've known suffering Yugito. I can't say it'd compare to yours but we've all suffered. In the small amount of time, I'd like to know more about you. As not just a friend..." I leaned down to her level with a grin. "...as maybe a brother." She only smiled at me with a nod. "I'd really like that Zesu."

And we did. Throughout my time in Kumo, it was majorly me standing before their council with A by my side. Blah. Blah. Ally with Kumo. Blah. Blah. Why should we? Basically talking to a bunch of eighty year old ignorant jerks. But I worked my charms eventually. Turns out, Kumo is relatively a militaristic styled city. I stated having Konoha, a strong player in the shinobi world as an Ally would prove useful. Eventually, they accepted the treaty and alliance.
My life with Yugito was fun to say the least. I had ended up staying at her place. We'd gotten a lot closer over the week. I met up with Samui's team multiple times. Always as entertaining as the last. I even met another jinchūriki. The Hachibi. Name was Killer Bee and had this odd way of speaking. Nonetheless, a great sparring partner. Which, is exactly where I ended up at the current moment.


K51: And there you have it! This chapter is finished!

Zesu: So I fit right into Kumo, eh?

K51: Pretty much yes.

Zesu: Still wondering about Hakura y'know.

K51: All in good time my friend. Also, I have a few things to address.

1. Concerning posting. I will try to do as best I can. College and classes y'know. But I make sure to type some stuff in between classes.

2. Concerning Zesu as a character. Thank you whomever addressed this in the reviews. I understand Zesu had been getting a bit more powerful. I will make sure to balance. But just know, he isn't the only. And he is not invincible.

Alrighty. That's all today. See you next time!