A/N: Been awhile since a chapter for this fic has turned out this short. I honestly thought it would be longer...oh well! I guess I can take down the discussion thread on the facebook page about who the new teacher will be...not that anyone tried to guess. *sigh* But I AM happy to talk with those who've 'liked' the page and share their thoughts ^^

*I tried to get all the typos, I really did.


Chapter 52

Month Five

Kushina wasn't the only one to see that pillar of chakra. If was seen and felt by the inhabitants of the crater, miles away. Without really needing to think about it, they all just sort of picked up and began a mass exodus in that direction, letting the pull of chakra guide them.

They talked as they traveled. The triplets had come back, announcing the spell was finally complete, and between this and the evidence of Raiden and Aimi's success, there was an air of accomplishment and success to everyone. There was laughter, joking, camaraderie. A lot of the tension the trainees had been living with for the past few months left them. It helped that the teachers, in an effort to end their time with their children on a high note, were seen playing pranks and rough-housing with the various Sasukes, Narutos, and Itachi's children. Rasta-Sasuke of course stood apart from all this.

Wyatt also announced that he was just about as ready as he could make himself; much of how he performed magic was done on the spot. He encountered a thing and devised defenses or attacks based on what he saw. He'd always operated that way, he told everyone.

When they all reached Kushina by the end of the day, there was further rejoicing. She disappeared with Minato for a few hours, only to come back pink-cheeked and completely mellowed out. There wasn't one Naruto who failed to wrinkle his nose in disgust and embarrassment…until it was noticed that Fugaku and Mikoto were also missing. Then they ribbed the Sasukes mercilessly. Not a few Chidori and fireballs were cast. Kirin was threatened by Jailbird-Sasuke.

The triplets approached Jiraiya for help. Ryota said he needed to create sealing scrolls able to contain enormous amounts of chakra. They of course knew how to create normal sealing scrolls, the ones meant to square away extra weapons and such. Every Genin did. What Ryota described needed an expert. Jiraiya was happy to comply. He worked with Ryota long into the night.

Demon sat cuddled by Sasuke and stared pensively at the darkly glowing pillar of their children's chakra. "When this is all over, we should take a vacation. As a family. We should pamper Raiden and Aimi, feed them till they bust, and just…love them to death." He tilted his head back to see Sasuke's face. "What do you think?"

"I know how you feel. They've been asked to do too much. They've really had to grow up these past few months."

Demon resumed staring towards his children with a sigh. "You think they'll ever be safe? That there will ever be a time when someone's not after them?"

"Honestly? I think there'll come a time when people are too afraid to come after them."

"Ha! You're probably right. Once upon a time you and I were feared in the land…"

"Maybe not feared, but recognized. We were 'the Duo', remember? Good times." Sasuke leaned down to nip Demon's ear. "Let's go do what our parents were doing."

"Are you kidding? We just got back from doing what they were doing an hour ago."

Sasuke sighed dramatically. "Knew it. You're getting old on me. It's all this training."

"Dude, how many times are you going to use the 'getting old' ploy whenever I refuse sex? Don't I screw you enough?"

"Seeing as I'm looking at a gray hair on your head right now…and you do screw me enough, yes. But then again, I can never get enough of you."

"Liar. There's no gray hair."

"No, really it's right here."

There were a few minutes of silence.

"Is there really a gray hair?" Demon asked.

"It's okay," Sasuke consoled. "I'm told decreased libido is the first sign. Then your dick stops getting as hard as it used to and-"

Demon stood and slung Sasuke over his shoulder. Lewd comments were thrown their way, to which Naruto hoisted his middle finger. Sasuke chuckled.

"Just for this I'm going to use the clones," Naruto griped.

"I was lying about the gray hair, you know…"

"Too late."


In the morning, the pillar was shown to be thinning and diminishing. An hour later, Raiden and Aimi materialized in the center of the make-shift camp and were heartily praised and congratulated. Aimi went directly to the food Sasuke held out to her.

"-A few kinks to work out," Raiden was saying, "but I think we've got the majority of it figured out. Wicked cool, too, look!" Raiden created a clone of himself and directed it to attack Aimi.

Aimi's back was turned while she was eating. The clone sent some sort of thrown lightning jutsu. A shield of earth sprang up and blocked it, all while Aimi continued to chew.

"I did that," Raiden crowed. "I can use her chakra to protect her from stuff she doesn't see coming or from things she can't ordinarily protect herself from."

Mikoto smiled thinly. "And if that's true…" She hurled a powerful, inverted Genjutsu at Raiden without warning.

Aimi turned swiftly with a rabbit leg in her mouth, eyes red. The Genjutsu was shredded completely, all while Raiden blinked in wide-eyed ignorance of anything having took place.

Those watching were impressed. Very impressed. "Can you cast Genjutsu?" Mikoto asked Raiden.

"No. But with the connection I can just about dispel any one thrown at me…if Aimi doesn't get to it first."

"Speaking of the connection," Kushina added. "I see you can maintain it without physical contact. That's fortunate."

Aimi finished eating and sucked her fingers clean. "It's stronger with physical contact, but this works too."

An awkward silence fell, as everyone looked at each other. Their time together was short now, and everyone knew it. Ryota cleared his throat. "I need to harvest each of the five chakra types from all of you. I've laid the scrolls out over there." He pointed to a small hill a few hundred yards away.

Raiden went to him and clapped him on his shoulder, noticing how drawn his cousin was looking these days. "Sweet, you finished the spell?"

"Yeah. You'll be donating chakra to each of the scrolls. Give a lot, but not all you've got, 'kay?" Raiden nodded. To everyone else, Ryota said, "I need the rest of you to give me what you have, a hundred percent."

All the Sasukes and the triplets gathered at the Lightning scroll and began funneling their chakra at the circle of kanji drawn on it. Jiraiya, Shouta, Chibi-Gaara, Akiko and Fugaku gathered at the Earth scroll. The Narutos and Minato could be seen at the Wind scroll, while Itachi, Mikoto, Yukio and Akane could be seen at the Fire scroll. Kushina and Asami were at the Water scroll.

The Sasukes switched from the Lightning to the Fire scroll and added chakra there too. The Narutos went from the Wind to the Water scroll, and so on. Everyone gave what they could, where they could. When they were done, Raiden stepped up and added a healthy dose of each chakra type to each huge scroll. When he finally stepped back, the triplets gathered the scrolls in a large pile. Ryota made them vanish with a whispered incantation.

-oOo-

Another day was taken to let everyone's chakra stores replenish themselves. Once breakfast was consumed, and the obligatory post-breakfast copulations were out of the way, they gathered and sat comfortably enjoying the brisk weather.

"So now what?" Raiden asked into one of the silences.

Kushina looked to Mikoto, who nodded. "Now," Kushina said. "We bring the final teacher. But first let me explain why you need him."

They all sat and prepared to listen. Everyone, besides the teachers themselves, was curious as to who this new teacher could possibly be.

"You've all come a long way," Kushina began. "You've fought your teachers well, each other well, and have learned all we can teach you. But you can still improve. Especially given who and what you're all going up against. We, the other teachers and I, would be remiss if we didn't give you every tool we could to succeed. To that end, we reasoned that you needed someone stronger than all of us, someone to push you that extra mile."

"Someone cunning, who thinks like the enemy," Mikoto added.

"Someone who's entire life has been one war or another, who has lived through countless battles," Kushina said.

"And who can give you insights to the workings of Madara's mind," Mikoto finished. "He is going to be much harder on you than we have been. Under his tutelage, you will become seasoned, hardened warriors."

Wyatt raised his hand. Kushina nodded at him to speak. "Aren't we seasoned hardened warriors now?"

"Compared to how you need to be," Mikoto answered, "you are still soft."

Incredulous glances were exchanged between the trainees.

Kushina smirked. "The only one I can say who is truly hardened is Blondie. But then he was always the best-"

A cacophony of outraged, jealous yells erupted from the Narutos. Minato attempted to sooth their ruffled feathers.

Psycho-Sasuke spoke over the din. "Who is this last teacher?"

Mikoto shook her head. "If we told you, you'd know how he was to be retrieved, and we don't want anyone becoming concerned."

Kenji narrowed his eyes. "Where's he being 'retrieved' from?"

"Classified," Kushina answered.

"Well, when will he be brought?" Yukio wanted to know.

"Right now," Mikoto replied. "It will be a mission that only Kushina, Aimi and myself will execute."

Raiden gave his grandmothers a steady look. "Why do you two need to go? Aimi's brought all the other teachers by herself."

"She'll need our support for this one," Kushina said. "And Raiden, we'll need you to remain connected to her from here, in case she needs additional assistance…or in case something happens to Mikoto and myself, and we are unable to protect her. You are only to help her if the situation is dire, is that understood?"

Raiden understood only that his sister was walking into danger. "I'm coming with-"

"You're staying right here," Mikoto snapped.

Demon stood up. "Mom, I think I have a right to know where you're going. I can't let you take my kid into the kind of danger you're implying."

Kushina strolled forward and was pleased to note that her son didn't flinch or tense up. "I will take my granddaughter wherever I wish to take her."

"Sasuke, back me up here," Demon called. He saw Mikoto glance at her son, though, and knew that Sasuke probably wouldn't.

"Sorry, Demon." Sasuke sounded contrite. "Don't worry, Aimi's in good hands."

"Indeed she is." Kushina took Aimi's hand while Mikoto took another.

"Where are we going?" Aimi asked. Mikoto leaned down and whispered in her ear. Aimi paled visibly. Her lip trembled, and she looked at Raiden with large, dark eyes full of fear.

Both Mikoto and Kushina fixed Raiden with a stare. "It's extremely important you don't come after us," Kushina said. "We need you here. Your promise on this, Raiden."

He hesitated, but gave a single nod. "I promise. Wai-" he shouted. He'd wanted to ask a question, but it was too late. They'd Boomed. A moment later he screamed in shared fear with Aimi, and anger at sensing where they'd gone.

Demon and Sasuke, and everyone else outside of the teachers, quickly gathered around him. "What is it?" Sasuke asked urgently. "Where'd they go?"

Raiden pulled at his cheeks. "Akatsuki. They went to Akatsuki's world."

The trainees sucked in a collective breath. "Son of a bitch!" Demon growled.


They came out in a night time scene and were instantly drenched from a sizzling downpour of rain that scalded their skin. A blistering wind blew about with gale force so that Mikoto and Kushina were soon covered in blisters. Aimi's lavender chakra leaked from her pores to give her protection. She cast an invisible shield over her grandmothers, one that molded to the shape of their bodies, and that afforded them some protection and relief.

They were in a jungle. An incredibly dense jungle of tall prehistoric ferns and monstrous trees. Almost immediately vines and other plant life lunged for them. Kushina seized control of the scalding rain and boiled those coming after her. Mikoto fried the rest with an amplified katon. Aimi's chakra prevented any of the plants touching her; they withered away from her deathly aura in quick order.

They looked around. "Are we near Akatsuki?" Kushina shouted to be heard.

"No," Aimi said after a moment. "Oh, god, granny, do we have to go to them?"

Mikoto refrained from backhanding the girl and chose, instead, to explain through lips stiff with anger. "Yes, it's necessary. Do you honestly think we would be here otherwise? You weren't chosen for this elite and highly dangerous mission just for your ability to access the teacher, Aimi. Despite your ruthless and violent tendencies, you are the least warlike of the students. You have uncertainties and insecurities that crop up in stressful situations and it is past time you got over them."

Aimi hung her head.

"Our plan is simple," Kushina intoned. "We get to Akatsuki, get to Madara, and you take us into his timeline quickly. Right now, before we begin, I need you to prepare a Genjutsu to cast at the teacher."

"What kind of Genjutsu?" Aimi asked.

"Not really a Genjutsu," Mikoto amended. "More like a condensed ball of memories and information, one containing all that the teacher would need to know in order to help you. We don't have time to sit in his timeline until he's caught up on decades of history. Need to be in and out and off this world as quick-"

Several large black creatures jumped from a shadow and threw themselves at the trio of talking humans.

Mikoto was cut down. Kushina leapt back and sent a bar of scorching water at two of them. It bounced harmlessly off their carapaces. Aimi screeched shrilly in fright, before gathering her wits enough to send chakra from both her hands at the charging aliens.


"I…I don't know if Granny Mikoto is alive," Raiden was whispering. He was acting as a radio, transmitting information along his connection with Aimi, and relaying the information to the silent crowd of family and teachers around him. "Granny Kushina is shielding herself with chakra…her shield just gave out. They're too strong, too many…no wait-"

The crowd inched a little closer, breaths held.

"-Aimi," Raiden sighed in relief. He was sweating profusely, worry and transferred fear making his voice wobbly. "Aimi's over her initial shock now. She is killing it over there…Way to go, sis!" Raiden shouted as if she could hear him. He jerked his fist in approval.


"Nyaag!" Aimi roared, sweeping her arm toward the new wave of aliens. Her chakra washed over them in a rolling flood, wiping them and the plant life around them out.

Some of the aliens thought to sample Mikoto's carcass, only to be startled by flames erupting from her entire body. She turned over, a long gash over her face and her right eye missing. The aliens, at first startled by this sign of life, proceeded to walk right through the fire.

Aimi directed her chakra at them, obliterating them where they stood, but stopped short of harming her grandmother. The rest of the aliens hesitated, stopped. They stood motionless in the hot storm of wind and rain, almost invisible in the night. Aimi saw Kushina rush to Mikoto's side. She joined her, glancing about fearfully for another attack.

"Status?" Kushina asked sharply.

In answer, Mikoto stood up. The gash ran from her right temple, over her chin, and halfway down her neck. Bone showed at her cheek. Her left eye held an unflinching Sharingan, though, and she seemed steady enough.

"Aimi," Kushina barked.

Before folding, Aimi transformed. She wanted to be as prepared as possible. She would not be caught unawares again.

-oOo-

Madara and the rest of Akatsuki watched as the vine unwrapped itself from Zetsu's hand. "Well?" Madara asked.

"Through the complex root system on this planet, I'm able to pinpoint their location. It would seem that they are four days from this very spot. They have one of the children with them, the one with that chakra that destroyed so many of our minions."

By minions the dark half of Zetsu meant the aliens. Having displayed their superiority on that fateful day, Akatsuki now commanded their entire race. They had an army hundreds of thousands strong, possibly over a million. They brought Akatsuki food and guarded their tree shelter from predatory animals. Not that Akatsuki couldn't do this themselves…but it was nice to have subordinates.

"Were any destroyed now?"

"Yes," Zetsu answered. "And the plants fear the girl."

Nagato scratched his chin. "Why are they here? Who is with the girl?"

Zetsu shrugged in answer to the first question. "I have an image of a red-haired kunoichi, and a woman with Sharingan. She strikes me as Uchiha. The red-haired one has strong chakra. Very strong."

"And Raiden is not with them?" Madara asked. "You are certain of that?"

"Positive."

Madara clapped his hands briskly. "Well! They are obviously here to destroy us or attempt to do so. Lets-"

Aimi materialized right in the center of their little confab, with Mikoto and Kushina to either side of her. Madara and the rest reacted instantly, though they were heartily surprised.


"Ohhhhh, shit!" Raiden squeaked. "Granny Kushina's taking on Konan and Deidara…sweet, she soaked Konan's paper shit, and now she's duking it out with Deidara…man, granny Kushina is hella strong! Did you guys know she was so-"

"What about mom?" The Sasukes shouted in unison. Rasta-Sasuke sat apart from the entire group, gazing up at a cloud.

Raiden paused. "Granny Mikoto's just socked Kakuzu, Hidan and Kisame with a massive joint Genjutsu thingie…damn, Orochimaru just stepped in and she's facing him…oh no."


Madara let the chaos erupt around him as he and the girl stared at each other. He wondered what her name was, but didn't really care. He began a leisurely walk toward her, noting the long, white, curly hair and the Sharingan she carried. He looked behind her and hid his smile.

Aimi recalled past encounters with Madara and realized she'd never actually cast a Genjutsu at him successfully. She devised one now, specifically tailored to what she could see of his mind, inverted it, reversed it, then inverted it again. She hurled this invisible, undetectable Genjutsu at Madara, just as Sasori's bludgeon came down on her head.

"What the fuck?" Sasori murmured in shock.

A ball of fire engulfed his weapon, which consisted of solid rock, and heated it until it was melted to a puddle of lava-like consistency. This glowing orange goo seemed to lift itself and soar toward his face.

Aimi turned at hearing the scream right behind her. She felt Raiden's presence in her mind. –Careful, sis-

Madara paused, sensing something had been slipped over his senses, but unable to detect anything at first. He frowned…then his eyes widened. "No…"

Aimi had returned her focus to him. Her Genjutsu safely in place, she let it expand and explode to its full effect and watched as Madara's face grew slack. "Now!" she screamed.

Kushina and Mikoto landed at her side and she tugged them with her into Madara's timeline.


Raiden sagged, unaware that he'd been holding himself stiffly. "They're gone. I can't even sense Aimi. I think our connection is severed or something."

The rest of his listeners sagged with him. "Were they all right?" Itachi asked.

"They seemed like they were," Raiden confirmed. "Lucky none of the Bijuu were released, neh?"


That oversight, if it had indeed been an oversight, was seen to the moment Madara broke out of that Genjutsu. He took a moment to contemplate it, wondering how on earth such a Genjutsu could even exist. He would never admit that he'd gotten out of it purely by chance. His red eyes narrowed to slits. Under no circumstances would he let that girl best him in such a manner again. He would fight her blindfolded before he did that.

He looked around. His cohorts were standing as if expecting him to do something. "Where are they? Don't tell me you let them escape!"

"They vanished," Konan said. "They disappeared into the air behind you."

Madara actually turned to survey the air behind himself. "I doubt they'll come back…they probably only wanted to test themselves against us. Released states, just in case, though. And call our minions." He paused. "I love saying that word, minions. We've come up in the world, wouldn't you say?"

The others agreed that they had as they each released their demons and proceeded to wait for the possible return of their attackers. Before long, droves of aliens began gathering around them.


Aimi carefully watched the river of moving images and stopped it when her Granny Mikoto told her to. "I'm glad I studied clan history well," Mikoto said. "Quickly, Aimi."

-oOo-

Aimi stepped into the image, and saw the surprise on both Madara's face and the one chosen to be the new teacher. She made sure she was in her normal form, with her Sharingan in place, so as not to arouse suspicion in them.

"A kinsman," Madara commented. He was much younger, and apparently a lot less evil. "I've never seen you before. Who's child are you?"

"Uchiha Sasuke's child," Aimi answered respectfully. She bowed toward the teacher. "I need your help, please."

Madara and the teacher looked at each other. "Sasuke?" the teacher said curiously. "I don't know anyone named Sasuke, do you Madara?"

"I don't." He turned to Aimi. "But I will of course help a relative in need."

Aimi steeled herself against his smile, remembering what he was truly like. "I just need him. I'll bring him back shortly." She bowed again.

The teacher shrugged. He let his hand be taken by the pudgy girl and then he was in an odd place with obviously wounded women present. He looked at the one who had a single eye, also sporting Sharingan, and felt at ease; he concluded that he was amongst relatives of the child, and so-

"Now, Aimi." Kushina gestured toward the man who stood calmly.

Aimi shot the condensed ball of memories and information into the teacher's brain with a hard mental shove. The teacher's head snapped back, then forward, then he stood still with his chin on his chest.

It seemed like a long time passed. Aimi and her grandmothers waited without speaking. When the teacher at last lifted his head and looked at them, he seemed just as calm and pleasant as before, but with a hard glint in his eyes. "I see," he said quietly. "I now understand everything. I would never have believed Madara capable of these things. I agree to help prepare you."

"Good," Mikoto sighed. She turned to Aimi. "Am I right in thinking things will be worse for us the moment we step out of this timeline?"

Aimi took a moment to sense Madara's surroundings. She felt her insides quail at all the Bijuu. "Yes. They're released, all of them. And there are more aliens. A lot more."

"Do you still have your connection to Raiden?" Kushina asked. When Aimi shook her head, she frowned. "Right. Try to Boom us the second we step out, clear? The very second."

"I'll try," Aimi quavered.

-oOo-

In the end, she performed admirably. They stepped out andwere immediately set upon by aliens, while the Bijuu lumbered toward them. Aimi froze them all in their tracks, stopping time. The devastating chakra attacks the Bijuu had collectively launched hung large and menacing in the night sky, aimed toward them.

The teacher turned, searching among the horde for one face, and found it. He walked up to Madara's frozen form and stood looking at him. "When she sends me back, I'll make sure to stop you before you can do all those terrible things," he said quietly.

Aimi hurriedly Boomed them a moment later.


The transition from night to day had Aimi and the three adults with her blinking in the bright light. The students all stood, avidly taking in their first sight of the teacher. Raiden, Demon and Sasuke ran to Aimi and hugged her. Fugaku went to Mikoto, with Wyatt right behind him, and Kushina went to Minato and received his relieved hug that she was safe.

Konohamaru squinted. "That's the teacher?" He looked around. "Don't we have enough of him?"

Juro spoke up. "Yeah, seriously, he looks just like uncle-"

The teacher stepped forward to introduce himself. "Forgive me for not speaking sooner. I had to take a moment to come to terms with the fact that this is all that remains of my clan." He gave a short bow. "I am Uchiha Izuna."