Chapter 29 Whirlpool Days

Naruto slapped a seal tag on the back of the neck of his shadow clone.

"Remember to stay out of sight when training. Try doing our wind nature to the Rasengan okay? I'll work on it more when I get back. I don't expect you will have completed the jutsu by the time I get back though."

The clone nodded back at him, "Understood."

Minato nodded and picked up his pack from the floor and set out. He checked out at the village gates and began walking down the road in the direction of Wave.

Because he was aware of it now, he soon felt a nature chakra saturated individual following him from a distance.

Naruto sighed and released his resistance seals with a thought. He crouched down on the road and then took off in a shunpo.

He felt Jiraiya's shock as he raced off. The man began to quickly follow.

Minato sensed the man speed up and try to catch up to him. Minato in turn began to link his shunpos until the surroundings blurred past him in a mass of green and brown. Soon Jiraiya was left in the dust trying to see where Naruto had gone off to.

Jiraiya stared off into the distance in shock as Naruto disappeared. The kid just outran him. Him! The great Toad Sage! One of the Sannin! What kind of speed was he cultivating? And was he really that adverse to him to run away with all his might? Jiraiya had wanted to apologize and offer training for the Chuunin exams to make up for the time he had missed. The Sandaime had also asked him to keep an eye on Naruto. But now he wasn't sure if he could even do that… Jiraiya wryly smiled as he considered Naruto's speed. It seems that he had taken after his father in more than one way. That speed was worthy of the son of the Yellow Flash.

Naruto panted harshly as he reached the edge of the Great Bridge of Hope/Team Seven Bridge. It had taken a lot out of him to outrun a Sannin. He smiled as he gazed at the bridge, he wondered how Zabuza and Haku were doing.

He had come to Wave first to visit Inari and his family before he left to Uzu. He slowly meandered over the bridge, taking his time and admiring the beautiful sea from atop the giant bride.

Soon enough he had reached Tzauna's house. He smirked and knocked on the door.

"Yes, who is it?" Tsunami called opening the door. SHe gasped as she saw Naruto standing in her doorway with his hands in his pockets.

"Why its Naruto-kun! Have you come to visit us? Inari will be so pleased!"

"Aah. Yeah I've come to visit, pardon my intrusion."

"No, no, not at all. Please come on in and make yourself at home. I'll get the tea set up right away!"

"Ah thank you for your hospitality." Naruto said stepping into the home.

"Inari! Come see who it is!" Tsunami called into the house.

"Huh who is it?" Inari asked walking down the stairs. "Ooh! Naruto-niisan!" Inari quickly ran up to Naruto and tackled him with a hug. Naruto, who was used to Konohamru's constant attacks, received him with ease.

"Hello Inari it's been a while, huh?" Naruto said stealing the boy's hat and ruffling his hair fondly.

"Yeah niisan! It's been too long! Where are the others though? Did they come too?"

"Unfortunately it's just me this time, but next time I'm sure they would love to come along. Where's Tazuna at?"

"He's in town, the people have recently voted him as the mayor of Wave. He's been really busy recently!" Inari bragged.

"I see…" Naruto plopped Inari's hat back on his head "Congratulations to Tazuna then!"

"Un!"

"Naruto. Did you just come here to visit?" Tsunami asked

"Yeah. I'm going to be traveling to Uzushio so I just dropped by to say hello. If it's not too much trouble, could I stay the night?"

"Of course! You're welcome anytime Naruto."

"Ah thank you!"

That night Naruto had a cheerful dinner with Tazuna's family. The man had come back home and given Naruto a friendly pat on the shoulder and then proceeded to break into the celebratory sake. Naruto asked about the situation in Wave and was pleased to hear that the people were doing better than ever. It seemed that the bridge was really helping out. Naruto then regaled the family with tales of his Chuunin exam adventures and invited them to come spectate the finals that would be happening in a month. Inari and Tazuna happily agreed.

Then Naruto told them about his training trip to Uzu.

Tazuna spat out his sake and Tsunami whacked him on the shoulder disapprovingly. "You're going to Uzushio?" He asked in wonder. "Boy, do you know how dangerous that is? The island is cursed! Even sailing near it causes unexplained accidents to happen to sailors! Its known as the island of death around here for a good reason!"

"Ah don't worry Tazuna-san. I'm a real Uzumaki. I should be safe from the curse, in theory." Said Naruto sipping his tea calmly.

"Oi, oi. That's not very reassuring kid."

"Maa. What is life without any danger?"

"But still… A real Uzumaki huh? Haven't seen one of those in a long time. But aren't they supposed to have bright red hair though?"

"My mother had bright red hair but I get my looks from my father I suppose."

"Huh. I see. How are you going to get to the island kid? No self respecting boatman from here will take you anywhere near the place."

"Oh really? Hm… I was hoping to borrow a boat but I suppose I could just run across the water."

"Run across? How? Wait. Wait." Tazuna waved his hands in front of him. "You ninja and your ridiculousness. Of course. Never mind me."

"Woah you can run on water niisan?" Inari asked with wide eyes.

"Haha yeah its a basic skill for ninja."

"Can you teach me? Pretty please?"

"I don't know Inari… It's pretty difficult to get the hang of and I'm not sure if I'll have the time before the tournament starts."

"Aw… But maybe some other time?" Inari asked hopefully.

Naruto patted Inari on the head and laughed, "Haha, sure! Maybe some other time."

Tsunami and Tazuna looked at each other and smiled at the kids.

The next day Naruto got up bright and early to travel to Uzushio. He waved goodbye to Tazuna and his family and ran at a brisk pace over the ocean in the direction of Uzushio.

He absently thought about the curse mark situation as he ran. Perhaps he should have told Sasuke the truth after all? The boy seemed to be reaching the limits of his patience and this new development with Orochimaru certainly wasn't helping his mental state. And had he been too passive in dealing with Danzo? The traitor couldn't be allowed to go uncheck for much longer. Thinking about it a little more Minato made up his mind. He would tell Sasuke the truth after he returned from this trip. It was better to do it soon before Sasuke completely snapped.

Mnato was glad that he was going to Uzushio to learn about their fuinjutsu. There was no better place in the world to study how to remove the curse mark Orochimaru had placed on the Uchiha. He felt a sense of awkwardness visiting Uzushio like this. It was Kushina's homeland, he would feel like a stranger stepping foot on the island even though he was now an Uzumaki. Kushina had once mentioned how she didn't want to return to the island to see it in ruins. She would rather keep the memory of it being whole and lively with people.

Soon the island came into sight, interrupting Minato's thoughts. There were several churning whirlpools surrounding the island protecting it from smaller ships that Minato could see from a distance. Minato pondered the situation for a bit. Then he had an idea. He ran up to the edge of a whirlpool and then launched himself over it with a great jump. In midair he twisted around and fired a quick burst of wind behind him, clearing the large whirlpool.

As Minato stepped foot on the island he felt a familiar spine chilling sensation. The cold feeling of the Shinigami's touch washed over him briefly and then disappeared. Minato let out a breath. It seemed the island had accepted him even though he was only half Uzumaki. He quickly made his way off the white beaches of the island and up a hill overlooking the former village of Uzushiogakure.

The grand village was in ruins as expected. The white walls surrounding the village were broken down in places. The majority of the buildings bore marks of being destroyed by various jutsu. Compared to Konoha the buildings were much more rectangular in shape and stacked together in a much neater fashion. It was clear that people of the arts had lived here once. The buildings looked meticulously designed to be perfectly symmetrical and geometrically perfect. There were markings of faded fuinjutsu everywhere. Carvings of the whirlpool symbol were littered all over the place. Minato could also see seals lining the streets and painted in every nook and cranny of the buildings.

Speaking of the streets… He noticed bones lying about everywhere in various positions. He couldn't distinguish between attacker and defender with all the bodies simply lying about.

He frowned. He couldn't leave Kushina's village in this state. He formed as many shadow clones as he could. A mass of blue and black overtook the entire village. He nodded at the nearest clone and they all set off gathering bodies and setting them down in the large courtyard in the middle of the village.

And thus Minato's first three days on the island were occupied with gathering all the bodies he could find. Food and sleep were of little concern to him. Though he did pause a few times to Eat supplies he had sealed away in a couple of scrolls.

He caught glimpses of what life must have been like before the destruction of the village. Fuinjutsu seemed to facilitate every aspect of life in the village. There were minor seals for warming food, maintaining room temperature, emitting light, in fact there seemed to be a seal for everything. Minato truly wished to be able to see what Uzushio had been like during its heydays.

"I could show you."

'Hm? Kurama? I thought you were napping…?'

"I could show you what Uzushio was like. I have enough of Mito's memories to do so."

'You would do that for me? Thank you... I appreciate this. What would you like in exchange?'

"Hmph. You understand me at least. I want this blasted collar off of me. I can't scratch my neck and its itchy."

'Hahaha! Of course I'll see what i can do to retrieve the seal key from the toads. I hope you are aware by this point that if you try to escape you will kill us both.'

"Tch. Of course I know. Damn your sealing skills. Now. Here. Shut up now."

Minato rocked in place as he was suddenly assaulted with a flood of information. Uzushio in its prime was a sight for sore eyes. Smiles everywhere, great looming buildings that boasted beautiful fuinjutsu carvings, sparkling fuinjutsu tags being part of everyday life. A sea of red hair and never ending fuinjutsu symbols. It was in a name, a village of science and discovery. Minato had tears running down his face by the end of the memories. He felt shaken that such a village had been eradicated to protect their discoveries and advancements. It had been so beautiful, almost like an ideal village. Though he kept in mind that Uzushio must have had its darkness as well. And yet… it was all gone. Minato felt an unnamed grief for the Uzumaki. So much loss…

Minato stood in the middle of the courtyard building a gigantic pyre for all the bodies he had found. He thought back to the three days of backbreaking labor he had just gone through. He sat down on an unbroken bench that overlooked the courtyard. Minato felt like he had been driven by an unknown force towards the location of every dead body. He had dug through rubble for every single bone he could find. He pondered the last jutsu that had been used on the island.

At some point he had discovered the Kage of the village. They were surrounded by guards and fallen around a massive summoning circle. Reading the summoning circle was a complicated feat that took him nearly half of an entire day. But he managed in the end. The Uzumaki had summoned the Shinigami himself and offered themselves up as sacrifices in exchange for the deaths of their enemies once they had realized there was no chance of victory. Minato idly wondered what would have happened if he had brought the Shinigami mask to Uzu. Said mask had been sitting in a heavily sealed box in a secret compartment of his home. Perhaps he would have been able to commune with the Shinigami with the mask considering how much his influence had touched the land.

He shook his head. Minato turned towards the clones who were piling bodies on the pyre. He inhaled deeply and stood. He approached the pyre and stared at it for a moment. He took another deep breath and lit it with a quick fire jutsu, dismissing his clones. He watched the dancing flames with distant eyes and slowly fed body after body to the fire.

That night he fell asleep in the courtyard to dreams of dancing symbols and a shining village. He woke with tears trailing down his face.

He sat up and wiped his face, then he went to the small river that bisected the island and Washed up. After he had eaten he stood and walked back to the courtyard where he had spent the night. He looked at the pyre. It had burned itself out sometime during the middle of the night. Minato sighed, it felt like a huge weight was off his back now that the deed was done.

He wandered through the now familiar streets of Uzushio and compared what he saw with Mito's memories. Once again he was hit by grief looking at the fallen buildings where they had once stood tall and proud. He soon found the building that he was looking for. The Uzumaki archives. The building looked untouched by battle, it seemed that many Uzumaki had given their lives to defend the building. He remembered the circle of bodies that had ringed the building when he first arrived.

Minato walked up to the building and placed a hand on the door. A bright fuinjutsu array appeared and prevented his hand from actually touching the door. Minato's eyes flashed over the fuinjutsu. He bit his thumb and let a few drops of blood well up then he placed his hand on the door. Another complicated array popped up. He smirked, well the Uzumaki were rightfully paranoid weren't they? The new seal that appeared could only be undone with Uzumaki seal techniques. Thankfully Kushina had taught him all that she could of Uzumaki sealing methods to help him create the Hiraishin. Minato easily formed a custom seal key in his hand using chakra and slammed it onto the door. The door slowly creaked open and Mianto stepped inside the archive.

There were giant shelves filled with scrolls and books stretching from floor to ceiling dominating the entire archive. The ceilings were extraordinarily high too with massive sky lights illuminating the shelves with a soft golden glow. The building was much larger inside that it looked from the outside. Dust floated softly, dancing in the still air of the archive.

Minato gaped in wonder at the wealth of information spread out in front of him. He didn't doubt that his month on Uzushio would not be wasted. Mianto formed ten shadow clones and scattered them throughout the shelves. He was trembling in excitement. There was just so much to learn from the Uzumaki! He hadn't even visited the Kage tower archives where the more powerful seals were stored yet! He inhaled shakily and grinned wildly. He wished Kushina were here to revel in all the information with him.

He reverently walked up to one of the shelves and stroked it gently. He felt the faint humming of security seals inscribed in the wood and chuckled. He cracked his knuckles. It was time to get down to business.

"What were you thinking! Dispelling all those clones at the same time!? If it wasn't for me you would have died! Don't make more than ten and dispel them one at a time! You fool!" The Kyuubi roared.

Minato groaned from the voice ringing through his mind. His brain felt like it had turned to mush under the amount of information he had just absorbed. He had been too excited and caught up in learning that he had formed more clones to maximize the amount of information he could absorb.

'Sorry Kurama…. I got too excited and forgot myself ehehe.'

Minato laid on the floor and cradled his pounding head, slowly sifting through the mass of information he'd received. He was giddy with what he had learned. He felt like a child in a candy store with all the fuinjutsu knowledge surrounding him. He had set a goal to read everything in the archive by the end of the month so he had been racing through scroll after scroll. He did leave the archive to train his body in order to not regress while his shadow clones continued studying though.

He suddenly started as an interesting piece of information reached the forefront of his thoughts. Minato groaned and stood slowly, still holding his head. He made his way to the back of the archive were there was a strange symbol faintly written on a small section in the corner. The symbol looked like a small fox twisted into the number nine. Minato gently stroked the mark. Suddenly the walls trembled and shook. Minato backed up hesitantly as a section of the wall gave away and revealed a small nook that contained a stand with a single large scroll set upon it.

Kurama gasped in his mind. "That scroll! Is that what I think it is?"

'Huh? What is it?' Minato asked.

"The summoning scroll for the Kitsune of Budo no Mori… I thought it had been destroyed… SO this is where Mito put it."

'Hoh. So it's a summoning scroll huh.'

"It's not just any summoning scroll fool! It is the summoning scroll for Kitsune! Think about it for a moment!"

'Does that mean… You're a Kitsune? Can you be summoned with this scroll? Is that how the masked man summoned you?'

"No! You fool! I am greater than a Kitsune! I am the Kyuubi! The great and terrifying Nine Tailed fox! He summoned me with a different technique!"

'Ah. Sorry. But you can be summoned with this then?'

"Feh. As if anyone has enough chakra to perform such a feat aside from you. Sign it immediately. I want out of this seal. This method won't kill us."

'Ah but… I was planning on resigning with the toads somehow…'

"FOOL! The Kitsune are superior in every way compared to those silly toads! They are masters of genjutsu and fuinjutsu. They are speedy and nimble and master trackers. The Hatake brat's hounds can not compare. You want to be a hunter yes? Then these are invaluable companions. They may be crafty and tricky but they are loyal like none other. Sign. Immediately. You have no need of the toads."

'Ah but the toads have sage mode and the key to your seal…'

"So? Ask the old pervert for the key. Guilt him for it if you must. The foxes have their own sage mode as well. Sage mode is simply drawing on nature chakra. It is not exclusive to the toads."

'I see… How do the Kitsune teach sage mode though? It also pains my heart to sign with a clan other than the toads. I had many friends from the toad clan.'

"Bah. Kitsune feed you a special Inari sushi that opens your senses to nature chakra. You will most definitely survive considering that the sushi only allows for a small trickle of nature energy at a time. Think of it as a more advanced food pill. Also, you are not Minato anymore are you? You are Naruto. Your friendships with the toads have ended."

Minato lowered his head. That was true. this was a new life now. He was Naruto now and not Minato. He said so himself.

'Very well… I shall sign with the kitsune of Budo Forest.'

Minato took the scroll from the stand and unrolled it. He noticed that there were no names before him. He tilted his head curiously, 'I am the first summoner of the Kitsune then?'

"Yes… this scroll has not been used before. You must prove yourself worthy of the Kitsune as their first summoner."

'I see. I will do my best to live up to expectations then.'

'Tch. You have sealed the great Kyuubi. There is no more you can do to prove yourself to them.' The Kyuubi thought sourly.

Minato bit his right thumb and signed 'Uzumaki Naruto' as his name, then he dabbed each of the fingers in the blood and pressed his finger prints onto the scroll.

'How much chakra should I use to summon?'

"First summon the smallest Kitsune you can to inform the clan of the new summoner. Then leave the archives and use all of your chakra."

'Alright then. Here goes.'

Minato formed the ever familiar signs, bird, boar, dog, dragon, hare, horse, monkey, ox, ram, rat, snake, and tiger. He slammed his hand down on the floor and a puff of smoke appeared. When the smoke cleared a small fox the size of Kakashi's Pakkun appeared. The fox was bright orange and had white tipped tail and feet.

"Woah! A summoner? Wow we've never had a summoner before! What's your name?!" A high pitched voice chirped excitedly.

"Ah hello. My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I am honored to be your first summoner. What is your name if I may ask?"

"My name is Kiku!" The small Kitsune titled its head, "But thats not the name of your soul is it?"

Minato stared at the small fox in surprise. Kurama chuckled in his mind, Kitsune were incredibly smart. Unlike those dumb toads. "Ah My soul… Is Namikaze Minato. I think of myself as Naruto now though."

"Okay Naruto! I'll be going back to inform everyone of our new summoner! They'll be so excited! I know I am!"

"Thank you Kiku." Minato bowed to the small fox.

"Oh my! So polite too! They'll love you!" The fox disappeared in a puff of chakra smoke.

Minato huffed a breath of amusement. He followed Kurama's instructions and made his way out to the open courtyard of Uzushio and began the hand signs for the summoning jutsu.

He slammed his hand down on the ground and pushed all of the chakra he could manage into the jutsu. He was lifted high into the air as a great explosion of smoke occurred in the courtyard. Minato fell on his butt as he gaped at the creature he summoned. A giant Kitsune even larger than Gamabunta sat crouched in the middle of Uzushio. The Kitsune was white in color and had a black tipped tail, ears, and paws. The Kitsune yawned widely making Minato cling to its head with chakra to not fall off.

"Hm…? A summoning? I wonder… How many years has it been since we created that scroll?"

"Human. Lend me your mouth for a moment."

'Huh? How do I do that?'

"Release control of your body."

Minato frowned slightly and did as he was told.

"Kosai! It's me! Kurama!" Minato shouted in a deepened voice.

The Kitsune glanced up at its head. It's great tail came around and wrapped around Minato's body gently bringing him in front of the eyes of the giant fox.

"Kurama? Why are you in that human? Is this our new summoner?"

"Feh. I was sealed as you know, into this human, by himself. He is our new summoner."

"Hm… I see." The fox yawned again. "You woke me from my slumber. But I suppose gaining a new summoner is worth it… Now. I suppose a test is unnecessary if he managed to seal Kurama… I would still have him groom me though."

"You lazy bum! You haven't changed a bit! That's no test!" Kurama yelled through Minato angrily.

"Mm… but he needs to be capable of such a thing if he is to be the summoner of the Kitsune. No?" The fox said lazily laying down in the courtyard and placing Minato on his head.

Kurama shouted in indignation as Mianto began moving obediently and started scratching behind the Kitsune' s ears. In Minato's experience it was simply easier and faster to just bend to a prideful summon's demands.

"Oh… He's good. Knows the spots." Kosai purred as Minato shuffled around on his head. Minato snickered to himself and formed several shadow clones to speed up the grooming process as Kurama grumbled to himself. Kurama was secretly deathly jealous of Kosai. The lazy bastard was thoroughly enjoying Minato's ministrations. After an hour of grooming, the Kitsune stood sleepily and yawned again. "Mm… Thank you for the excellent grooming. I sense you will be a wonderful summoner. Well. Until next time I suppose." He pulled Minato from his head with his tail and set him on the ground politely and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Minato dusted himself off and smiled. That had been much easier compared to dealing with Gamabunta. He would miss the toads but it seemed being the summoner of the foxes would be interesting as well.