In Konoha, Naruko was sharing a dinner with Kiba, who Shikamaru had sent in his place, at the best dango place in town.

Naruko grinned at the joke Kiba told. But then she stopped and shuddered, feeling cold all of a sudden.

"Naruko, are you okay?"

Naruko couldn't speak.

~:~

In the Pure World, there were several gods who bowed before Kami. Among those were two who had an interest in the life of one Uzumaki Naruto.

Inari, an androgynous fox god that loved the Uzumakis for a lot of things (especially for their penchant for mischief), had once possessed Uzumaki Naruto. It was because Naruto was facing off against another possible Champion named Uzumaki Nagato-and Inari honestly couldn't bear to have the remnants of a once-great clan fight.

Plus, Kami-sama wanted them alive for some reason, so Inari never planned to let Nagato die.

Inari also happened to have created the Ryuumyaku, and planned to let it die anyway (Inari liked to travel to possible times for the shinobi world. Plus, Mahâkâla [the god of time] was more than happy to let Inari meddle if it fit. Nobody seemed to appreciate him anymore, so he could go down and pretend to be a mortal all he wanted), because it did not fit in the world.

But Inari had to make it seem natural. So Inari went to the Shinigami, the only one among the Minors that truly cared about the Uzumaki family.

Well, Inari wouldn't say the Shinigami cared; rather, he was interested in the Uzumaki clan. And his interest applied to this child with the air of the Rikudo Sennin's idiot son about her; enough interest to let Namikaze Minato out of his stomach and summoning both him and Uzumaki Kushina-plus switching Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama's directions to attack as Orochimaru's mind slaves and enslave them to stopping the snake freak.

(Yes, even in the Pure World Orochimaru was a snake freak. Spitting yourself out of yourself? EW!)

I need help, Inari told the Shinigami. I need to make the Ryuumyaku die. The ley line of chakra must be destroyed.

I cannot help with much, the Shinigami replied. But this Mukade has tried to evade my grasp for too long; he should have died before he opened the Ryuumyaku. Plus, that Uzumaki child interests me.

Inari grinned. So what should I do?

Kami-sama didn't mind you possessing the girl before, right? So long as you do not say your name, I do not think Kami-sama would mind much. Just don't add another tail!

But that will store her chakra when she gets her blood-clone from the toads! Plus, I think Kami-sama has an interest in keeping the Uzumaki girl alive. The last time I tried to peek at her future, Kami-sama stopped me. Inari pouted.

Then don't peek in her future, the Shinigami replied as though it were obvious. If you must give her another tail, then do so. But use herpower; that fox has given her enough lessons in fighting like her kitsune will once her kitsune reaches fifty.

Thank you, Shinigami. And with that, Inari once more descended.

~:~

Naruto felt that person again. It entered her, settling comfortably.

As though it knew it was going to be welcome afterwards.

You're very smug.

Is that any way to speak to the one saving your life? The person chuckled. Chakra whipped out of Naruto and the thing crumbled. Naruto's body took a gasp. I almost forgot that humans needed to breathe, the person commented idly. Just so you're informed, you're getting another tail later!

NANI?!

Hush. Busy!

Utakata stared at her in shock.

~:~

Utakata could see Naruto's chakra changing. Well, a few parts-the parts that had been a deep-almost-purple. Now? They were all purple. Her chakra had a mix of colors in it. It mixed beautifully with the silver, red, green, light blue, and yellow colors, but still.

People's chakra didn't normally change color in a couple of seconds.

"Sorry for the scare," 'Naruto' said in a light tone. "C'mon, old man, let's kick this guy's ass!" She smiled cheerfully at Minato, who smiled unsurely back.

Two Rasengans were made and put together.

"Oodama Rasengan!" It smashed through Mukade. "Now, Shiki! Chouza!"

They followed her instructions. Kikaichu flooded the air as Shiki used his bugs to eat away at the chakra, and Chouza held the puppet-man down.

Utakata briefly thought of how sad it was that the city was already in ruins, but then 'Naruto' turned to him. "Utakata! Destroy the strings! Jiraiya, Gamabunta! Crush the guy's shell! Yamato! After he's done that, create a trap like I did! I'll reinforce it! Kakashi and Kakashi…oh, younger-Kakashi must've gone to help Saara. Then, older Kakashi! Read your porn if you want, I have nothing for you to do!"

"Hai!" everyone shouted.

"What about me?"

"Just sit there and look gorgeous!" And that was the final straw-not even a prostitute would mention- "Because I'm sure that's what you do whenever you're with the scary lady!"

"You're not Naruto, are you?" Utakata asked after he destroyed the strings.

'Naruto' smiled as her hands flashed in the signs for Mokuton. "It's a secret, Utakata-san," she winked elaborately. Wood extended from her hands, slipping into Yamato's wood and augmenting the strength, allowing Chouza to let go. Half of Shiki's kikaichu went back bloated with too much chakra. Gamabunta left after seeing he was no longer needed.

"One more Oodama Rasengan!" 'Naruto' barked. She created a Rasengan without needing a bunshin.

Minato created another Rasengan, stretching his chakra reserves.

Together, they made Mukade disappear-disintegrating the puppet utterly.

Rather anticlimactic, when Utakata thought about it.

"Sensei!" Younger Kakashi raced forward, brushing Older Kakashi. Younger Kakashi blinked.

Utakata blinked, too, when 'Naruto' smirked.

"Now he won't remember Older Kakashi," she whispered to Utakata. "We of the future should be leaving." She made her way towards the Ryuumyaku.

"I'll seal it," Minato offered.

"Oh, yeah," 'Naruto' said out loud. "It has to be like that because you sealed it…which made Mukade unseal it and bring us all here." 'Naruto' looked like she was happy.

~:~

"I'm happy to have seen you…Shiki, Minato." 'Naruto smiled as Minato sealed the Ryuumyaku.

They began to glow white, returning to their time.

"Shiki, when you hear of an orphan's plight from Kahara, you'll adopt her because you won't have any children!" It was Naruto, and not the person inside, that blurted this out. "Thank you, Minato…for showing me some of your awesome skills!"

"Naruto," Minato said, standing and setting an arm on her shoulder. "If you are my daughter, I am proud to be called your father."

"Remember about that book, boy!" Jiraiya ordered. "Also, mention Mukade a couple of times around me. Just don't mention anything to Kushina."

"Or Kahara!" chimed in Naruto. "She probably won't take it well!"

Good-bye…

Humans are such saps. I suppose this doesn't damage the timelines. For some reason, the person inside Naruto sounded like she was sad. And possibly crying.

I am NOT crying. Just…letting out some emotion…alright, I'm crying, dammit. Humans are so emotional! The person inside of Naruto sniffed.