(And we're back with the real chapter. I know my message might've worried some of you, but it's all good now. Enjoy my friends.)
Three days passed since Squad Seven returned to report their mission end result to Tsunade. The Hokage was disappointed in the turn of events, but knew what mattered the most was that Squad Seven came back alive. They were dismissed until further notice, which sat fine with them. But Naruto had other business to attend to.
Meeting up at Naruto's home was his teammates, Tsunade, Kakashi, Yamato, Naomi, Ming, and Mitsuki. Greeting them were the Airbending twins, "Welcome, everyone." Yuzuru greeted them.
"Nice of you to join us." Yami greeted.
"Thank you. So what is it Naruto wanted to see us for?" Tsunade inquired.
Naruto walked in, "I actually wanted to show you all something that's vitally important."
"How vital?" Kakashi wondered.
"So important, our enemies would kill for the knowledge I'm about to share with all of you."
"Well, what is it?" Sakura asked.
"It's not something to tell, but to show. And it's not even on the mortal plane. It's in the spirit world." Naruto explained.
"The spirit world?" Yamato asked.
"What's there?" Sasuke inquired.
"Meditate with me and I'll show you all," Naruto said, as he cleared some space for everyone. They all got down on the floor into meditating positions forming a ring. They each took the hands of the person they were in between linking up. Naruto looked at everyone, and spoke, "Close your eyes and concentrate, everyone. And let me handle the rest." They shut their eyes and concentrated, while Naruto did the same. His avatar aura started flowing through them as it traveled along the link up. This allowed the others to meditate into the Spirit World with him.
When they opened their eyes, they saw they were in the meadow of spirit world. They got up and gasped in wonder of where they were, "Is this actually the spirit world?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes it is." Naruto confirmed.
"It's so beautiful." Sakura gasped.
"Yes it is." Naomi agreed.
"Amazing." Yamato looked around.
"A place free of malevolence." Kakashi admired.
"As long as malevolent people stay out." Tsunade noted.
"So where too, Naruto?" Mitsuki asked.
"Follow me." Naruto said, as he led the way.
As they walked through the meadow, they saw multiple spirits roaming around, and greeting Naruto like an old friend. Naruto greeted them back pleasantly, as Yamato spoke, "You really are the celebrity here."
"Spent a lot of time in spirit world. I got to know a lot of the spirits here. I'm like their best friend. At least to spirits who aren't so hostile." they finally reached their destination being Iroh's Tea Shop.
"Iroh's shop?" Tsunade asked.
"That's right. The people we're meeting are there." Naruto answered, as they pressed on.
Upon entering the shop, they saw Iroh sitting at a table talking with some spirits, "Iroh-jiji!"
The old man looked over and saw his new guests, "Naruto, welcome!" he got up and embraced him, "It's been some time since you last meditated here. You've certainly gotten bigger."
"Thanks, Iroh-jiji. I brought some friends to meet you," he showed Iroh his company, "You already know Tsunade-baasan, Naomi, Ming, Mitsuki, Yami, and Yuzuru. But this is my squad Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake-sensei, and Captain Yamato. Everyone, this is Iroh."
Yamato looked at the old man in wonder, "The same Iroh of the Fire Nation and Member of the White Lotus?"
"One and the same, young man." Iroh chuckled.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir." Sakura bowed her head with Sasuke as well.
"Please, the pleasure's all mine. It's nice to finally see the squad Naruto's told me so much about." Iroh replied.
"So Iroh-jiji, how're my friends here?" Naruto inquired.
"Oh, they're doing fine. Granted they can get angsty at times, but all in all are well behaved guests."
"Who're you guys talking about?" Sakura asked Naruto.
"The ones the Akatsuki are after." Naruto answered.
"What?!" the group asked in shock.
"Naruto, are you saying..." Kakashi trailed off.
Naruto smirked and called out to the back, "Hey, guys! I'm back!"
Everyone looked and saw stepping out from the back were four men. Two of them wore headbands from Iwa and the other two wore headbands from Kiri. The first of the two Iwa shinobi who appeared to be the oldest had red hair, mustache and beard which tapered off to a point. He wore a large headpiece consisting of a three pointed crown-like ridge, bearing both his Iwa forehead protector, a ring, and a prominent black piece of armor running across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. He wore a long-sleeved light-red shirt and pants, with mesh-armor shirt and fitted black suit underneath, along with calf-length sandals. Around his waist he wore a brown sash that held a brown armor-like breast plate with a pouch in the front, a brown back plate on the back that is connected to the front with mesh armor, and armored lapels falling to the sides.
The second Iwa shinobi was the biggest out of all four and could even be taller than Bee. He appeared heavily armored, including carrying some kind of furnace on his back. He had light brown eyes and his armor extended all the way to the bottom half of his face, covering it up. Underneath the armor covering the bottom half of his face, he wore a white cloth which also covers both sides of his face and the top of his head. Aside from his red armor, he also wore a red kasa (conical straw hat) over the white cloth and it seems to be composed of the same material of his armor and furnace. He wore his Iwa forehead protector on a black cloth, and over his armor. He also wore a black gi, with the sleeves seemingly torn off and black gloves, a bronze-colored ring around his neck which he wore over his red armor, and the armor covering his arms and torso was plated.
The first of the Kiri shinobi was a tall, thin young man with pale golden eyes and brown hair that reached to his shoulders. His side parting let a large portion of his bangs cover the left side of his face. He wore a long, light blue kimono adorned with a small emblem of three bubbles on the back, and a pair of gray pants underneath, with an orange sash. The kimono hung loose, exposing his chest. In it, he carried a bamboo jug filled with a soap solution, and a pipe.
Finally the last of the Kiri shinobi who was shorter than all four of them had the appearance of a young boy and a head of messy-gray hair, pink pupiless eyes and what seems to be a stitch-like marking running from under his left eye, all the way down his cheek. He wore a gray, sleeveless shirt with the Kiri forehead protector attached to the front, short-sleeved mesh armor over which he also wears a green poncho along with a turquoise sash around his waist, paired with a green apron over his pants. He wore a pair of brown boots, and on his back he carried a staff-like pole weapon with uneven sized hooks with a green flower on the larger end.
"Naruto." the shorter one greeted with respect.
"We were wondering when you'd come back to see us." the tallest one said.
"Sorry about that. Things have been hectic as of late." Naruto chuckled while rubbing the back of his head.
"Coming from the Avatar it's natural." the old man replied.
The one in the kimono noticed the others, "Oh, you brought guests with you too?"
"That's right. This is Kakashi-sensei, Captain Yamato, Tsunade-baasan, Sakura, Sasuke, Yami, Yuzuru, Ming, Naomi, and Mitsuki. Guys, I'd like to meet some of my fellow Jinchuriki. The old man here is Roshi from Iwa and vessel to the four-tails Son Goku. The big guy is Han who's also from Iwa, and vessel to the five-tails Kokuo. This guy with the pipe is Utakata from Kiri and vessel to Saiken the six-tails. Finally we got Yagura from Kiri and vessel to Isobu the three-tails."
"It's very nice to meet you all." Yagura greeted them, while noticing Sakura and Mitsuki giving him looks, "What're you staring at?"
"You're a Jinchuriki too?" Mitsuki asked.
"Of course."
"But you're so young." Sakura noted.
Yagura face faulted before shouting at them, "I'll have you girls know I am an adult, and more importantly the Fourth Mizukage, thank you very much!"
Sasuke looked at him, "You're the Fourth Mizukage?"
"That's right. So you'd be wise to show him some respect." Iroh warned them.
"Thank you, Iroh." Yagura said.
"What're you all doing here in the spirit world?" Ming asked.
"Laying low from the Akatsuki." Utakata answered.
"It's the safest place Naruto knew." Roshi added.
"Naruto, when did you meet them?" Kakashi asked.
"During my trip with Ero-sennin, actually. At first I ran into Roushi who was just happily fishing. At first meeting he attacked us thinking we were enemies. But after a long enough scuffle, he realized I was also a Jinchuriki, and one quick sense of Raava's presence made Son back off."
Roushi explained, "In all the years I've known Son, he's never been afraid to fight anything, but once he sensed Raava he immediately subsided."
Naomi spoke to the two Iwa shinobi, "So did you two end up running away from Iwa or were banished?"
Han answered, "I actually left on my own years ago. The villagers constantly treated me as if I were some kind of freak just because I held Kokuo inside me. He was the only friend I really had."
Roushi spoke, "I actually retired from the village as a shinobi and chose to live my days out as a traveler. I assured Oonoki that I was just as strong enough and calm enough to take care of myself and keep myself from going on a rampant."
Utakata spoke up, "I left Kiri during the age of the Bloody Mist era and chose to live my days out as a wanderer where I had no responsibilities."
Finally Yagura spoke, "I ran from Kiri during the time of the Bloody Mist."
"Well, didn't you start the whole Bloody Mist thing?" Ming asked.
"No. It was not me," Yagura replied, "Many families had started an uprising on all those with bloodlines blaming them for attracting so much negative attention. When the bloodline families came to me pleading for protection. I was torn on what to do. If I helped the bloodlines the villagers would accuse me of favoritism and if I did nothing for my shinobi with bloodlines I would be regarded as a discriminator. The pressure was too much and I ended up changing into my own bijuu form and caused problems. I nearly leveled my own village. When I calmed down I only saw the look of horror on the villagers. I knew I could no longer stay so I fled never to look back."
"So that's what happened." Tsunade said.
"Naruto found each of us and warned us of the Akatsuki organization." Utakata said.
"He said they'd eventually find us out in the open of the ninja land and take us down." Han added.
"At first I thought we could take them all down if we fought together," Roushi said, "But he insisted for the time being we need to lay low than ever before. So he brought each of us here to the Spirit World and left us under the care of Iroh."
"This way the Akatsuki won't be looking for them in their own villagers." Naruto said.
"And here, we've discovered a new ability we can do with the tailed beasts we have inside us." Yagura said.
"What ability is that?" Yamato asked.
"This." Uataka said, and suddenly appearing before the five Jinchuriki were miniature versions of the tailed beasts they housed. They looked about the size of small dogs but looked almost like they were plush toys.
"Finally, it's been a long time since I could stretch out in the open." Kurama began.
Son Goku who was a miniature four-tailed red gorilla spoke, "Yes, thank goodness for the spirit world laws."
Isobu who was a three-tailed turtle spoke, "If only we had the rest of our siblings here. Then it'd be a party."
"I'm sure in time it'll come to pass." Saiken the six-tailed slug replied.
The group looked in shock, as Sakura spoke, "Miniature tailed beasts?"
"Kawaii!" Mitsuki cheered, as she got down to the floor and hugged the five small tailed beasts, "You are all so adorable, like plushies."
The tailed beasts groaned from the tight hug, as Kokuo five-tailed whale horse spoke, "This is the one thing I don't like about being this size!"
"You and me both." Kurama groaned.
When Mitsuki nuzzled Saiken she could feel his stickiness rub off on her, "Ew, you're all sticky!"
"Well, I am a slug after all."
"Mitsuki, I think you should let them go before they start feeling insignificant." Naruto suggested.
"Too late for that." Son Goku grumbled.
Mitsuki released them, as Tsunade spoke, "So you are the tailed beasts from the legends?"
"Correct. As you've been introduced I am Kurama, this is Son Goku, Saiken, Isobu, and Kokuo."
"We are five of the nine tailed beasts. You already know of Shukaku, Gyuki, and Matatabi." Kokuo explained.
"So there's one Jinchuriki and tailed beast out there?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes. And once we find them, we can bring them here for safety while I can also gain the last bit of tailed beast chakra from all nine of them." Naruto explained.
"So then you already have portions of the chakra from these four?" Kakashi asked while looking at Kurama's fellow tailed beasts.
"I have. Once I have the seven tails chakra added I can finally begin my full training with tailed beast chakra at its fullest."
"Until then we're to remain here out of the Akatsuki's reach." Han added.
"I hope you four haven't been bored here." Tsunade said.
"It's not so bad. Iroh's been quite the company." Roushi replied.
"He's certainly had plenty of stories to tell, and he taught us how pai sho can pass the day away." Utakata added.
"They've learned so well, they're truly becoming a challenge." Iroh chuckled.
"Well, at least we can relax knowing these guys won't be found the by the Akatsuki so easily." Sakura told the others.
"Do Oonoki and Mei know of the four of you being here?" Tsunade questioned.
"Indeed they do," Yagura admitted, "When Naruto found us he sent word to both of them. Mei offered to let me and Utakata back promising us protection."
"But we'd rather not risk the idea of any shinobi in the village wanting to come after us for biased reasons." Utakata added.
"Same for Oonoki offering us." Roushi said.
"Besides this world is paradise." Han finished.
"Well, as long as they know you're all right that's ok. But remember if you need anything inform Naruto and he'll let us know." The Hokage said.
"Deal." Yagura agreed on behalf of the other three Jinchuriki.
"Now that everything's settled, please come and have some fresh tea." Iroh offered.
"I could go for a cup." Naruto admitted.
"Me too." Yami agreed.
So they all sat down and enjoyed some of Iroh's tea. Even the tailed beasts were given some. Naruto smiled as he watched Kurama and his fellow tailed beasts together like they were on big family, 'Don't worry, guys. One day all nine of you will be back together again with no one trying to take your powers.' he thought.
(And there you go. So far four of the other tailed beasts are safe in the sanctuary of the spirit world, while one more Jinchuriki and tailed beast are still out in the ninja land. Will Naruto find them before The Akatsuki does? See you all again next time.)
