Chapter 56
One Month Earlier…
"You are stretching yourself thin again. I thought we discussed this years ago when you were training, doing missions as yourself, and doing Kitsune missions." Sakumo frowned at the Kunoichi lying on the couch in his personal office at the Hatake Compound.
"I'm aware." Minashi, the original said, knowing that the privacy seal she'd personally painted on his walls would keep their conversation secret.
"Not only do you have a Blood Clone of your current self about to try out for ANBU, but you are also leaving a Kitsune overpowered Shadow Clone at my side, while you yourself travel tomorrow in a blood henge with the Sannin and Minato to meet Kushina at the Kawa/ Ame border."
"Yep." Minashi answered, popping the 'p' at the end. "Tsunade is also aware of what I'm doing. She knows to be prepared for dealing with my exhaustion."
Sakumo sighed and rubbed his temples. "When you return from Ame, Kitsune will be receiving mandatory leave. I do not want to see her as a shadow clone, a blood clone, or even a blood henge. She will disappear and 'take a vacation' to Azamuki for all I care. Understand?"
"Hai." The blonde sighed and let the silence encompass the room. Sakumo looked at his small pile of paperwork he'd taken home before looking at the blonde still laying on his couch. 'Paperwork or Minashi?' He debated, before realizing he already knew that answer.
"You aren't here just to be scolded for overworking again." He said, getting up to sit with her. Carefully Sakumo picked up her head- mindful of her hair- and placed it on his lap. Running his fingers gently to avoid snarls in the locks, he waited for his surrogate daughter/ friend/ advisor/ ward, to talk.
"My generation is about to be born over the next year." She admitted after a few more moments of silence.
Sakumo hummed, but didn't interrupt. Inojiro had already warned him of such.
"I think I might have inadvertently changed my brother's birthday."
"How so?" Sakumo asked.
"Ten months from two weeks ago was October." She admitted shakily, causing coal eyes to shoot down to see the blonde's chin quivering. "Kushina was already in Suna when she was supposed to conceive Naruto. Even if it was when she got back, they wouldn't have had time with the Seal for Gaara." Minashi choked and Sakumo saw the tears falling from her eyes down her temples and into her hair, arm covering her eyes or not, he could see them.
The Hokage looked sadly down at his charge. In a smooth movement, he lifted her smaller frame up until she was sitting sideways across his lap. Her face buried itself into his neck automatically and just like when she was a kid. He held her tight since it was how she was holding him. Sakumo felt the tears dampening his shirt, but just held the grieving adult turned preteen. He didn't know how to comfort her in this. She knew the timeline better than anyone, especially since she hasn't told anyone the entire thing in detail. But to learn that she'd inadvertently delayed her brother's own birth must be eating her alive. The last hope that she would get 'her' brother back.
Sakumo would never admit it out loud, but this was probably for the best. Kushina and Minato would eventually have a child with the progress of their relationship, but just like all of Minashi's previous comrades; their current counterparts would be different. Too much must have changed because of her. He couldn't say any of this aloud though, it would tear her further apart. He would not do that to one of his most precious people who has sacrificed so much already.
So he just held her, let his shirt catch her tears, and held her until the blonde had cried herself to sleep.
It was an hour before sunrise, Konoha was just starting to bloom with life. While a Hidden Village never really slept, there was still the nightly hours that were calmer than those under the sun.
In the first rays of the sun peaking over the trees, two figures were walking towards the gate. One with a small travel bag filled with camping and supply scrolls, the other with only his White and Red hat sitting on his head, the rest was his standard Jounin uniform.
The two arrived at the gates just as they could see the sun rising over the treetops. The Yondaime looked at the Kitsune Masked ANBU and took in the newest addition to her standard ANBU uniform. The haori cloak went from her elbows and down to the back of her knees. The Beautiful silver Haori was covered in Red stitching with flowing, curling, and dancing all over the hems. On the back in clear elegant script was her Title.
Mt. Azamuki Sage
Sakumo had heard the story about the cloak during their walk over. Every Summoner that completed the hardest discipline to become full Sages, received the cloak. Kitsune had already personalized the interior of her own with protective, cleaning, and storage seals. She also told her companion of her twin's own cloak and how she'd added similar seals onto them. She admitted thought it had been lost during the war.
Due to her description of the Haori, he wasn't as surprised to see Minato arrive in a red Haori with black flames dancing at the bottom. He wouldn't be surprised if in Suna, Kushina too wore her own Azamuki Cloak.
Yet, the Hokage tilted his head when the Sannin arrived and only Tsunade wore a deep blue Haori with White trim.
Coal eyes blinked taking it in before looking to Orochimaru.
"I can understand Jiraiya not having a Mt. Myoboku Haori, his Headband is the fact that he is still an advanced Sage. Why do you not have one?"
The slim Senju let out a sigh of annoyance. "Like Jiraiya, I have not been able to get perfect Sage Mode. I begin to grow scales if I do not have one of the elders assisting me." The snake Sannin then pointed to his throat where Sakumo saw the addition. It was a violet metal choker necklace. Yet, when Sakumo leaned forward he saw what it was. Polished scales carved to resemble a snake with golden eyes wrapped around the Shinobi's throat until it was biting its own tail.
"This prevents me from turning to stone much like Jiraiya's Headwear."
"So until you can perfect Sage Mode those tools protect you then from turning to stone." Sakumo nodded.
"Correct."
Kitsune raised a brow at Tsunade. "And how did you perfect Sage mode?"
The Senju Clan Head just smirked. "Perfect Chakra Control, patience after thousands of hours dealing with these two and shinobi patients; Sitting still was almost too easy."
Jiraiya's and Orochimaru's faces darkened just a bit in petulant jealousy from the smug look on their Wife's face.
Kitsune snorted a laugh at them fondly. "That it does."
Sakumo cleared his throat. "Back on track. You all have your orders, you have a communication scroll and have the Communication cuffs, plus spares to share with the Akatsuki leaders during the coming battles. So, all that's left is to wish you all safe travels and come home alive. You all have precious people here and many more great things to accomplish."
The Senju brood nodded, shook Sakumo's hand and lept away. Minato gave a respectful bow before following after his sensei. Kitsune looked at Sakumo and crossed a fist over her chest before bowing deeply to the Yondaime.
"As we leave the limbs of the great tree, we will carry her flames with us on our journey to light the way."
Sakumo jolted as Kitsune slowly rose back up to meet his gaze. Intense cerulean met equally intense coal. The Yondaime Hokage opened his mouth and responded to his Shinobi.
"The Fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, guide your flames back to the great tree."
The old farewell the Shodaime had created when the first war began, fell from Sakumo's lips with ease. It had been something Hiruzen had taught him in passing, never thinking he'd ever have to use it, but then again, Kitsune was his most surprising shinobi.
A moment later, Kitsune disappeared into a shunshin to catch up with her team.
Landing on a branch, Kitsune arrived in front of the four other Sages. With only a glance, the Five Konoha shinobi picked up the pace. Kushina already had a day's head start on them.
The days passed with ease as the five Konoha nin kept their chatter to the Telepathic Communication cuffs. They stategised for the battle against Hanzo. They gossiped about the trio of adorable kids the Senjus had left at home in the care of Hiruzen and Biwako.
Minato and Kitsune talked sealing theory to pass the time between mission chatter and gossip. Jiriaya would join in every so often. Then they would all join together to talk Ninjutsu creation. While Tsunade wasn't into it as much, she was still a powerful shinobi and could lead in her own theories of the effect and strain it could do to a person's body.
After only three days, the group arrived at the Kawa borders. Kitsune and Minato perked up when they felt Kushina activate the respective seals they had placed on her before she'd left for the Suna return. Minato was gone in a blink, just before Kitsune could grab his shirt. Instead, she took the three senju on a ride. They landed with ease to see Minato smirking at Kitsune's masked face.
"Beat you." He chuckled.
"I let you. You do not have enough chakra to take all three of the Sannin with you on a ride." Kitsune defended herself. She would not admit that he'd reacted just a hair quicker than she could touch him.
"Children, we have a mission." Tsunade scolded, her maternity bone activating, causing Kushina to smirk and snicker at her boyfriend. Kitsune noted that Kushina wore a similar Haori to the one the masked ANBU wore. Putting thoughts on Kushina's clothes and the need to get back at the blonde Namikaze aside, Kitsune huffed and leapt into the trees.
Minato couldn't help the smirk on his face before turning and giving Kushina a kiss in greeting.
"Hello." He smiled and the Uzumaki felt her stomach flip like every other time he smiled at her like that.
"Hi." She blushed back.
"Come on kiddies!" Jiraiya called out from the tree him, his husband, and wife were already standing in. "We still have a ways to go!"
With practiced molding of chakra, the Namikaze and Uzumaki pair followed the Triad Senju.
Dusk was settling around them as the Konoha Sages landed in a clearing before the mouth of a cave. Kitsune was the one to step out from the group first, between one step and the next she was in Sage mode. Violet eyes peered through her mask and sent her senses deep into the cave. Her head tilted as she followed the familiar feeling of Nagato moving around, Konan at his side, but...Yahiko. He had to be the third signature she felt approaching them from deep within the cavern system.
'Three incoming.' She sent back to her teammates via the com-cuffs. She felt them also go into their respective disciplines at different intake rates. Jiraiya was the fastest among them, being the longest practitioner. Minato came in a close second tying with Tsunade. Orochimaru and Kushina taking the longest, but not by much.
Kitsune's head snapped up when she finally saw the people belonging to the signatures she'd been tracking. A young man with orange hair and brown eyes, a young woman with Blue hair and orange eyes, a shorter young man with bright red hair and violet Rinnegan eyes.
She heard Jiraiya's intake of air before it was released with the visual proof that his once students were okay.
Kitsune though was focused on Yahiko, leading between his friends. He surprised her by signaling the other two to stay by the cave while he approached Kitsune, who was also further ahead in the clearing than her fellow Sages.
"I am Yahiko, Leader of the Akatsuki." He introduced, searching her mask for her eyes.
Kitsune didn't make him wait. Reaching up, she removed the mask, revealing thin black lines from her eyes to her jaw, Violet feline slit eyes, and black shadow decorating around her eyes.
"I am Kitsune, First Fox Sage of Konoha, Personal ANBU and advisor to the Hokage."
Yahiko nodded once and waved to the two behind him. "I'm sure you've already heard of them through your comrades' reports. This is Nagato and Konan, my friends and co-Leaders."
Kitsune glanced at them before turning slightly to introduce her comrades. "You know of one of my friends and comrades. Senju Jiraiya, Toad Sage. His Wife, Senju Tsunade, our Slug Sage. Their husband, Senju Orochimaru, our Snake Sage. Jiraiya's first student, Namikaze Minato, the Yellow Flash, Konoha's second Toad Sage. Lastly, Uzumaki Kushina, Konoha's Red Habanero, Third Fox Sage of Konoha."
Kitsune watched as Yahiko took in their active Sage states. Jiraiya with his incomplete stage, giving him more toad-like features. Tsunade with her smooth blue lines decorating from temple to temple over her eyes and bottom lip to collarbones. Orochimaru with his sharp purple eye markings and white scales decorating his cheekbones, enhancing his already sharp looks. Minato with his Orange lids and Golden toad eyes. Kushina with her almost swirling purple feline slit eyes and black shadows elegantly decorating the eyelids.
"Why are all of you in active Sage Modes?" Nagato asked from his spot.
"Proof." Kitsune answered. "Proof that Konoha is not messing around. We promised six sages. While two are not at Perfect Sage Mode, they still have advanced control over Natural Energy and Sage Chakra." With a mental message the other five dropped their Senjutsu and moved closer. Kitsune remained in her own Sage Mode. She was the one with the longest experience and the furthest sensory reach.
Yahiko nodded and looked at the approaching Jiraiya. "You abandoned us."
"I came to check in on you three the first chance I got. All clues and evidence I could find, only made the news I had been told, truer. I believed you were dead. As soon as I learned you were not? I pushed to be updated and included on this mission and any information regarding it."
Konan stepped forward and walked past Yahiko. She looked up into Jiraiya's regretful face before stepping closer and enveloping him in a hug.
"We've missed you sensei." She said softly. Jiraiya's face scrunched up and he wrapped his arms tight around the young girl he first saw as a daughter.
"I've missed you three so much. I am so Proud of how far and strong you have gotten." The Toad Sennin choked.
Yahiko couldn't hold his Leader facade any longer and caved to the pleading look Konan was sending him. With a fond chuckle, he moved forward and was wrapped by familiar strong arms smelling of oil and ink. He felt Nagato quickly join in their hug.
Once released Yahiko couldn't hold back his grin and leer at their Sensei.
"Sooooo Sensei~~~" The Orange haired man looked between the three Sannin. "You got the girl and the guy? I thought you only chased skirts?"
Jiraiya burst out laughing and patted his shoulder. "Yahiko, when you love someone, what equipment they have no longer matters."
"True, and not to be rude, but can we take this some place more secure?" Tsunade asked with a raised brow at her taller Husband.
"Of course." Yahiko beamed and waved them towards the cave. After ten minutes of jogging through weaving passages, they came to an open cavern where tents and man made caves were set up for various needs.
"Welcome to the Main Akatsuki Base. We have a few more scattered ones in and around Ame, but we keep the majority of our forces here and it's also where we train recruits." They continued to walk a little deeper until they were in a medium sized cave that had desks, tables, and file cabinets set up in a semblance of an office.
The three leaders grabbed a seat at the largest table in the middle, the Sages joining a moment later, all except Kushina.
Kitsune wasn't entirely surprised. The Redhead had been staring silently at Nagato the entire time. But this continued silence as she just stood there and stared at Nagato was finally noticed by the other two Ame-nin.
"Is something wrong?" Yahiko asked as he went to stand up again, but Kushina finally opened her mouth, shocking the trio with what came out.
"Fuso and Ise did escape." Kushina said thickly, her throat tight with tears, eyes suspiciously wet with them.
"Who?" Yahiko asked, but Kushina's eyes were on Nagato.
Kushina was frowning at him now. "But...Those aren't your eyes Nagato…. You were born with your mothers Sky blue eyes. She always lorded it over Ise-san who had hazel eyes."
Nagato had stiffen before practically leaning forward to hear his fellow redhead clearer.
"Who...are you?" Nagato asked with emotions hidden in just those three timid words.
"I am Uzumaki Kushina, Daughter of Uzumaki Miyuki, Granddaughter of Uzumaki Miku the Fourth child of Uzumaki Ashina, Leader of the Uzumaki Main family."
"How do you know me?"
"You are Uzumaki Nagato, son of Uzumaki Fuso, grandson of Uzumaki Tsukiko, Great Grandson of Uzumaki Mika the Third Child of Uzumaki Ashina. When you were just a tiny little newborn I would babysit you since our mothers were closer to the same age and best friends, even if they were second cousins or something like that." The Uzumaki Princess waved it off.
"I'm part of a Clan?" Nagato asked the same time Yahiko frowned and asked "What do you mean those aren't his eyes?"
"Yes." Kushina answered Nagato while Kitsune grabbed the trio's attention with a small flare of chakra.
"If you three wouldn't mind, I would like to place a privacy barrier. There is much to talk about."
"Hai." Yahiko frowned even as the Ravenette stood up and started placing her hand on all three walls, ceiling, floor, and then set up four seals in the corners of the entrance. With a soft cry of 'Fuuin', A shimmering barrier covered the entrance to the cave, completing the privacy barrier.
"Now, we can talk." Kitsune returned to the table. "Kushina is right, those aren't your eyes Nagato. This is another reason Konoha wanted to align ourselves with you. We have reason to believe that a Very powerful and Very old enemy of Konoha got their hands on you when you were just a child, before your parents' passing, and replaced your eyes with his."
Minato and Kushina secretly shared glances. They hadn't heard anything like this before. The Blonde glanced at his sensei and the man's partners, noticing the lack of surprise on their faces. It answered that they were filled in on this.
"Who?" Konan asked worriedly.
"Uchiha Madara." Jiraiya answered. "He was the only Uchiha ever powerful enough to go toe to toe with Hashirama."
"I've gone through Grandmother Mito's Journals." The Senju Princess continued. "She mentions that while Hashirama was dying of his wounds with his ex-best friend, she had withheld the knowledge that when the search parties went to their battle sight, Madara's body was gone. She mentioned that Hashirama had also been missing a patch of his skin that wasn't just from a standard battle."
"It had been bitten off." Orochimaru continued when Tsunade's eyes closed at the memory of reading all those journals. "Mito-sama recorded it and wondered if Madara had somehow preplanned the fight and knew how to awaken the Rinnegan."
"Awaken the Rinnegan?" Minato asked, frowning.
"Hai." Kitsune answered for the five shinobi not in the know. "The Rinnegan was only legend because the Rikudo Sennin was the only ever rumored wielder. There were tombs in the Uchiha records though that hinted at how it could be obtained. When Madara awakened strong enough eyes, he was able to read those secrets and devise a plan to awaken it himself. Thus, while he had the eyes of the Sage of Sixths paths, he was still missing the DNA of the man's younger son's descendants. The descendants that were rumored to have the power of his strong body."
"The Senju Clan." Jiraiya clarified for the Ame trio.
"Yet, only the descendants of the Sage could ever wield any of his power. Indra, his first born, inherited his strong eyes. Ashura, his second born, inherited his strong body. The Hyuuga, are descendants of the Sage's younger brother Homura, and inherited his byakugan eyes. Yet, few know that there was a third child born that inherited the Sage's strong and vask chakra."
Nagato's eyes widened. "The Uzumaki."
Kitsune smirked proud. "Hai. The third born of the Sage, Kamera, His only daughter born many years after his sons were already grown adults."
"How do you know all of this?" Yahiko asked reverently and a little suspicious.
"I'm older than I look." Kitsune huffed in good humor, a little private play on her physical age of twelve, and went to continue when Yahiko opened his mouth and put his foot in it.
"Kind of figured that already. Nobody looks that good without help to hide the wrinkles." The orange haired brat grunted.
Dead silence.
Minato bit his lip and shot his superior and friend nervous looks. He's lived a training program when Koichi had made a comment about the Vixen's age. Even as the fearsome Yellow Flash, he never wanted to be on the Ravenette's bad side.
Kushina just sighed, already knowing the brat was a dead man. Kitsune could deny it all she wanted, but the woman held Uzumaki blood somehow, and their tempers were legendary.
Tsunade felt when both Jiraiya and Orochimaru grabbed her arms, knowing that she could have been indirectly targeted with that comment because of the Seal on her forehead. But she was too focused on Kitsune, she wanted to see what the woman would do. She did have the most creative revenge plans.
Kitsune just stared at Yahiko with a blank face, emotions carefully hidden.
Kurama had no such reservations. The Fox was rolling around in his cave laughing his ass off.
"You boy, are very lucky." Kitsune said so deadly calm, the Orange haired youth didn't notice the threat in it. Nagato was just as clueless. Konan recognized the hidden fury of another female. She reached up and slapped the back of her best friend and crush's head.
"Ow! What was that for?!" He exclaimed pouting at the bluette. Konan just gave him a dry look.
Kitsune had a slight outer body experience as she watched the two. She could see it then. What Nagato of her time had meant. Yahiko and Naruto were very similar. Even in how their women handled them. Konan held herself with a quiet confidence, so reminiscent of Hinata it almost made Kitsune want to cry. She missed her sister in law, she missed holding that tiny form of her nephew. She missed her brother the most.
Clearing her throat from where it had gotten tight, it also got the attention of the Ame trio.
"To answer your question, I know this because I have been studying and in contact with some of the Bijuu. Currently I'm the protector and trainer of both the Ichibi and Kyuubi Hosts. But I've had the most contact with the Kyuubi. In my time spent with him, he's told me the stories of his father, the Rikudo Sennin. This including the history of the Four Clans descendant of the Sennin and his brother."
It was also where Minashi and the Reanimated Hokage had created a theory that Zetsu was from the Sage's time. The Time of the Otsutsuki Clan.
"With this knowledge I am able to know that those eyes you possess are not your own, and will cripple your chakra network should you ever actually fully awaken them. They are powerful, but power will always come with a price." Kitsune warned knowing all too well.
Her and Naruto paid the price with their parents' death, for their Father's wish to give them the Kyuubi's power. Sasuke paid his price by murdering his innocent and pacifist brother, losing his sanity, until Minashi and Naruto could put him back together. Itachi lost his best friend for the price of power and lost his family for further power. Her Kakashi had lost all who were precious to him for the price of power.
While each of their powers were different, there had always been some sort of price. Even Kitsune herself had paid the price once more. She'd sacrificed all her precious people for the power to turn back time. She sacrificed her war torn and veteran skilled body for the power to change history.
"What are we supposed to do then?" Yahiko frowned. "Nagato can't be a shinobi without his eyes. And if what you are saying is true, then we have a legendary Missing-nin that will come for his eyes."
"Why do you think we brought Tsunade?" Kitsune smirked. "It's not only because of her status as Sage and Sannin. But because she's the best damned Medic in the Elemental Nations."
"What will you do with them if I agree?" Nagato asked with a cautious look on his face. None but Kitsune felt when he fed chakra into his eyes. Not enough to cast a jutsu, but enough to help him read her.
Cerulean blue met Rinnegan. She remained quiet as she felt his curiosity flare his chakra as he looked at her closer and closer with the Rinnegan. Suddenly his eyes widened as he looked at her navel.
"You-"
"Nagato." she said sharply. "Those eyes are powerful. They can see past many secrets. You would be smart to keep those secrets to yourself because they are there for a reason."
His wide eyes held hers. Kitsune couldn't call up Kurama's chakra in warning, not with Five chakra sensitive Sages around her.
"I'll make you a deal Nagato. I'll tell you, and only you, my past. My reasoning for wanting your eyes. I'll tell you in greater detail of what you saw in my chakra and beneath my Blood Henge, and why it is there. In exchange you will allow Tsunade to transplant your eyes with a spare pair she brought along from an organ donor. After that you will make sure Konan and Yahiko do not resist our aid any further. But then again, once you hear what I have to say, you will make sure of that without this deal."
"What?" Yahiko frowned upset that she was going around him. Konan looked curious between the Ravenette and her best friends.
The Sannin silently exchanged glances, a little in disbelief that she was just going to tell a still stranger the truth, but then again she did the same with Rasa.
Kushina and Minato were both shocked. Kitsune would just tell a complete stranger her past?
Minato's memory tickled with deja vu. Hasn't she done something similar before?
"Why me? Yahiko-"
"Does not hold what I need." She interrupted. "I respect your friend for leading a rebellion against a man you three are not quite strong enough to defeat, but you are the one with eyes that hold a power that you will never fully understand. You are the threat to my duties as Protector. I am trying to eliminate that threat without the loss of your life. Uzumaki's are rare. I will not let the clan die out if I can help it."
"Nagato?" Yahiko gripped his friend's shoulder.
Rinnegan eyes looked to brown. He saw the worry, but willingness to allow the shorter man to make a decision on his own.
"Okay." Nagato answered. "How will we do this?"
Kitsune held out her hand. "Take my hand. Yamanaka Inojiro taught me one of his clan jutsus-" Lies, Ino taught her "I can share my memories with you."
With a pit in his stomach Nagato looked at the open palm. He had a sudden feeling he wouldn't like what he was about to see. Yet, he still took it. Trusting this stranger who was trusting him with the secrets she held.
Death. All around there was just death. The death of their Akatsuki members. Konan was trapped in Hanzo's grip. Blank masks were aiding the Salamander. Yahiko was dead, Nagato summoned something with the Rinnegan.
Manipulation, deceit, a new Akatsuki, Pein, using Yahiko's body, planning to destroy Konoha, capturing Bijuu, killing sensei, destroying Konoha….Meeting them- The Kyuubi containers-. Telling his story. Leaving the twins with their dead master's dream to find peace.
A fourth war led by madmen. So much more death. A weak Konan arriving at the truly hidden village of the shinobi alliance. Hearing how Tobi and Madara got Nagato's eyes. Being there when Konan passed away from illness she'd been fighting since her attack.
An impossible seal. Changing fate. Changing time.
Nagato gasped when everything finally stopped and he jerked away from the table, falling and scrambling away. The emotions had been so overwhelming. Not only Minashi's own, but those of Konan's. He knew how she had the memories, He'd learned it in the memories, but it didn't make it any easier to bear.
Bile rose up in his throat. He ran for a trashcan and emptied his stomach. Tears streamed down his face as Yahiko and Konan rushed for him.
"What did you do?" Yahiko demanded even as Konan stayed on the floor with a sobbing Nagato.
"Power comes with a price. Will you pay that price?" The Ravenette asked still sitting calmly in her own seat, her trembling hands now clasped in her lap.
Kitsune ignored the worried look in both Minato and Kushina's gazes. They were her friends.… Was her past truly that horrifying? Or was Nagato just weak stomached?
"NO!" Nagato screamed, scrambling to his feet. "Get these cursed eyes out of my head!" His raised voice startled his friends. They'd never seen their quiet friend look so terrified and heartbroken all at once.
"We will." Kitsune's voice remained calm. "We have time. Until then, we should break for the evening and begin planning for the battle against the Salamander ahead of us in just a couple weeks time."
Nagato swallowed thickly. "Alight, but I want these eyes out of my head now."
"Nagato-" Yahiko frowned worried.
"Yahiko, I've never asked much of you. I've always followed your dreams because they became my own. You are my best friend, my brother. Please believe that we Need Kitsune and the Konoha Sages. We need their help. So please, do not ask about what I was shown. It is her story. Just trust in me as your friend to know that teaming with them is the right thing to do….For Everyone."
Yahiko softened at the still fearful violet eyes looking up at him.
"Okay." The Leader said softly.
Silence befell the room as Yahiko escorted a trembling Nagato back to the table. Those pain filled eyes looked to guarded cerulean.
"How...How are you still sane?" Nagato asked, breaking the silence. "How can you be sane after everything you have lost; after all the pain you have had to endure?"
All eyes moved to Kitsune who calmly held the younger Uzumaki's gaze. Her own trembling hands finally calmed through sheer will.
"Because I am a Shinobi of Konoha. For as long as there is one Will of Fire burning, I will Endure until that flame can be shared, igniting more flames to stand up and Protect those Precious to us. This is because I believe that one only becomes truly strong where they are protecting someone or something precious."
Silence once more filled the air, but it wasn't awkward with worry or fear. This time it was filled with pride and awe. Kitsune hated to break it up, but she needed things back on task. Clearing her throat, she broke the silence as she glanced between Tsunade and Nagato.
"Do you have the energy to do the procedure tonight?" Kitsune asked Tsunade aloud for the ame trio's benefit.
"Yes." The Senju Princess stood up and moved to Nagato. He looked up at the slightly taller woman. "Shall we get you ready for a new purer set of eyes?"
"Please." Nagato whispered shakily standing. Tsunade placed an arm around her distant cousin and headed for the Barrier. Suddenly a shadow clone of Kitsune was beside them.
"I'll be placing a protective barrier around the operating room." It answered Tsunade's silent questioning look. The Blonde nodded and the trio were gone.
Yahiko's head snapped to the rising Kitsune woman.
"What did you show him?"
"She said her past." Konan said with worry and curiosity mixing together.
"My past is not a pretty thing." Kitsune answered looking into Yahiko's gaze. "There is no one that knows the full thing. Only bits and pieces, as that is all I will ever allow anyone to see. This is not because I don't trust my precious people, but if anyone ever got ahold of the information that I have, in complete detail, you might as well kiss the elemental nations as a whole goodbye."
"You make it sound like you have information that could end the world in the wrong hands." Yahiko joked nervously. He was still a little derailed by Nagato's reaction to what she showed him.
Kitsune just stared at him. The remaining Sannin twitched with grimaces on their faces. Minato and Kushina looked on startled, yet so much more making sense about her relation to the Hokages.
Yahiko's face fell when Kitsune didn't deny it. The young man paled. "Why the hell did you tell Nagato that then?"
"He only knows what he needs to know of my past. Just like the Kazekage of Suna knows what he needs to know of my past. Just like even the Sandaime and Yondaime only know what they need to know of my past. No one knows my complete past except myself. This protects them as much as it protects myself. Now, enough about me, we have a Nation to free of a tyrant."
The following hours passed in tense discussions as the Five sages talked to the Ame leaders. The Konoha-nin shared their plans on taking on Hanzo, their plans to manipulate him into a seal trap. How Kushina and Minato would be aiding the Akatsuki forces against Hanzo's own army. Each would be taking on a Commander's position and leading two different flanks across the field. Yahiko and Konan would be taking on Hanzo's own elite shinobi with Nagato.
"Are you sure Nagato-san will be able to handle an intense fight like this right after vision surgery?" Orochimaru frowned, Minato nodding in agreement.
Jiraiya grabbed Orochimaru's hand and locked eyes with his husband. "I am not an Uchiha, I could not teach my student anything about his dojutsu. Instead, what little he was able to use of it, was for sensing and copying ninjutsu. Nagato is a strong Suiton user like all Uzumaki's are. With the addition of Yahiko's energy, it wouldn't surprise me if he was a strong taijutsu user as well, and some of the better kind of Taijutsu practitioners. Ones that learn from experience."
"Will he have the energy to fight though?" Minato questioned, concerned. The Akatsuki Leaders needed to work with Minato and Kushina to take on the Elite forces of Hanzo.
"Yes." a voice said arriving beside its owner. All eyes moved to the Kitsune Shadow clone. There in its hands was a small jar with floating Rinnegan eyes in a special solution Tsunade had whipped up at Kitsune's request before they left. Just like they had travelled with a jaw with the replacement eyes.
The Clone handed the jar over to the Original. Cerulean eyes held the jar up to her face and just stared at those cursed eyes. Her right eye began to twitch as memories plagued her from the war.
"Nagato is an Uzumaki." Kitsune continued absently, still staring at the eyes with guarded, but twitching eyes. "Especially being a member of the Main family, he has an innate healing bloodline. Uzumaki's with the Red eyes are the ones with their full healing Bloodline. With just a transfusion of blood, or in emergencies a bite, they can share their healing ability with others. Mika's line held the full bloodline. So did Miho and Miku's line."
"Really?" Kushina perked up.
Kitsune absently nodded, reviewing the memories of the research her and Tsunade had done years ago on the Uzumaki clan, and information they had found on Uzushio. Not to mention she may have called upon one of her Uzumaki ancestors without anyone's consent or knowledge. Well, all but Kakashi, but she never could hide anything from that man.
"There are reasons for Uzumaki's having three eye colors in the Family Tree. They are identifiers. Blue is the most common among the Uzumaki Branch members. They will vary depending on the shades, but will always be able to match the colors of the ocean."
"Red eyes on Uzumakis were the Identifiers for those carrying the full healing Bloodline limit. Uzumaki Ashina was a Red eyed Uzumaki."
"Uzumaki Sara, the Whirlpool Daimyo's daughter, Ashina's wife, was a Blue eyed Uzumaki and Second or Third Cousin Removed of Ashina's."
Yahiko's head spun. "Whoah whoah whoah, wait. What?"
Kitsune shot him a momentary glance before looking at the floating eyes again. 'Kami I think i actually hate these eyes.'
"Clans interbreed. Keeping it a time or two removed keeps birth defects away. Plus the Branch family was much further in distance. That and regular Civilians of the Island had been married into the family before. Case in point, Ise a brown haired fisherman with hazel eyes. Fuso's Red hair and blue eyes won out over his weaker Civilian blood."
Kitsune then smirked and sent a look to Minato. "There are cases though where other Clan's blood is strong enough to overpower the Uzumaki blood; Namikaze being one of them."
Minato smiled fondly. "My Imouto is my half sister. Her father is an uzumaki main family member." He then frowned. "But she doesn't have Violet eyes like Kushina."
"Because Namikaze Seina was blue eyed. In addition, Namika Uzumaki, a branch family member, was blue eyed. Michi Uzumaki, the youngest son of Ashina was violet eyed."
"What does the Violet eyes signify then?" Kushina frowned. She hadn't heard any of this before, being too young to get this deep into her clan's own genetic history. It also made the Uzumaki Princess curious on where her friend and superior learned this.
"Violet eyes are the identifier of the mixed blood. You still have the Healing bloodline, but it cannot be shared. So you just have a boost to your own healing rate. There is also a second bloodline that you do have an easier access to, than any of the other Uzumakis."
Kushina lit up with understanding. "The Sealing Chains!"
Kitsune nodded. "Yes and no. The Chains are specific to the wielder and have proven to only manifest in Daughters. This is why Mito could access them. It does not mean that the other Uzumaki couldn't access them, but it took more control training and more manipulation training. They didn't come as instinctual."
"Uzumaki Miho, the Niidaime Uzukage, was recorded as one of the strongest Uzumaki's in their clan history. Not only from her master of her own Healing bloodline, Her creation and Mastering of Fuuin-taijutsu, but also because she'd gone the extra mile and manifested her own Adamantine Chains with a recorded count of ten different lines. Hers were also not the Sealing chains, but Barrier Chains. She was the reason Uzushio lasted as long as it did against Kiri, Iwa, and Kumo."
"Great Aunt Miho really did that?" Kushina whispered in awe. She has vague memories of a woman dressed in a sky blue robes with pretty red eyes, but that had been over a decade ago….and she'd been so young. She'd been trained and raised in the compound before splitting her time between training with Great Aunt Mito in Konoha and training at home on Uzushio. Then there was no Uzushio.
"H-h-how do you know all this?" Kushina asked, tears brimming her eyes. She has longed for information like this.
Kitsune didn't answer her. Her focus was on the jar where she'd started taking her Wind infused chakra and writing a seal on the glass case.
"There is a reason for the information I hold. There is a reason why only certain people will know what they alone need to know. I will not disclose my source." Kitsune answered absently. "It would put everyone you love at risk."
Kushina's hopes dropped, but it didn't sting as much as she thought it would. Kitsune was her friend. Mysterious nuggets of information and all.
"Just what are you doing and would you stop that!" Yahiko finally broke. He'd been getting creeped out more and more, the longer Kitsune stared at his best friend's floating eyes.
"I hate these eyes," Kitsune mumbled. "So much power in these eyes. So much needless bloodshed spilled to create them." She finished etching the seal onto the jar before setting it down on the table. Eyes never leaving the jar, she then proceeds to astound even Jiraiya who knew just how skilled she could be in the Sealing arts.
But as the glowing blue chakra appeared in the air with every stroke Kitsune made with her finger, the power of the seal became more evident.
Yahiko's own senses were sparking at the power display. "What are you doing now?"
"Opening my personal pocket dimension."
"WHAT?" The three Seal Masters exclaimed, yet sure enough Kitsune stopped and activated the seal, making the seal on the jar light up in tandem. A small blinding light later and the jar was gone.
Kushina's eyes just about popped out of her head. "What...How...Huh!?" She whined.
"A little trick I learned from an enemy of mine once. Bastard had a personal pocket dimension he could travel to. It sparked my curiosity and that is never a good thing to do if I have the time and supplies to let that curiosity flourish. It took me and a few thousands of hours with Shadow Clones to crack it. Took me forever to realize that I already had one, it was just a matter of creating a place to basically reverse summon the items to the room."
Kurama sent her a mental tug to let her know the eyes had arrived safely. He would be guarding them since her personal Pocket dimension was connected to a door hidden deep in the back of Kurama's cave.
"Where?" Jiraiya asked like a true practitioner of the art; always willing to learn more.
"My own mind." Kitsune finally looked at them instead of where the eyes had once been sitting.
Orochimaru's jaw dropped with the three other seal masters'. Yahiko looked confused, Konan just looked from Kitsune to the shocked looks of their elders.
"Holy shit." Kushina whispered.
Minato's own mind was going a mile a minute just before he leaned forward and his blue eyes were practically twinkling with fascination, curiosity, and the burning desire and determination to know How.
He even got as far as opening his mouth to ask her a string of questions, when footsteps echoed as two signatures returned to the room. The barrier letting them in as Kitsune had keyed it to their groups' own Chakra signatures.
"Nagato!" Yahiko exclaimed and leapt up with Konan to embrace their best friend in a tight hug. Eyes still bandaged, Nagato could only open his arms and pray his friends were gentle.
Tsunade's reassuring hand was on his back, keeping him on his feet as she had guided them back.
"Careful!" the Senju barked. "Uzumaki healing or not, he will need at least two full days to recover before he can test his sight. So his balance will be off until then." Honey brown eyes looked to her comrades before eyeing all but Kitsune's eager or dumbfounded looks. The blonde let out a sigh.
"Okay, what the hell did you do baka-Vixen?"
"Stored the Rinnegan eyes away in the pocket dimension I have sealed in my mind." Kitsune shrugged and waved absently to the four stunned shinobi before her. "These four decided to have mental breakdowns about it. It's not my fault they aren't as awesome as I am."
Tsunade just stared before deadpanning her friend deeply.
"Or their not as crazy and would never attempt a stupid idea as risking their own sanity for such a thing. Not to mention it is something I'm sure even Sensei would claim being impossible, and he's the Professor."
"But he's no Seal master." Kitsune shrugged.
"My point still stands. He is smart enough to not create, test, and use insane ideas on one's own mind."
Kitsune slowly turned to the Senju. "Because he isn't an Uzumaki. Why do you think they lived on an island? Uzumaki's were known for dying by their own experimental accidents when testing a new seal. Why do you think they never over populated their island? Why do you think it took three Great Nations to take them down when they had a tiny Fraction of the thousands upon thousands of shinobi that stormed their home?"
The Ravenette chuffed in mild amusement at the dawning surprise on the Senju's face. "There is a reason Mito never felt comfortable with you going to Uzushio, Tsunade. Your Great-Aunt Miho knew this and did as her elder sister asked. While you, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya took missions while stationed in Uzu, you were never there when they had scheduled seal testing."
"The Uzumaki's didn't participate in Wars because they had enough trouble as it was NOT killing themselves with their own curiosity. Especially those with larger reserves. The larger the reserves an Uzumaki had, the more they could do with the Sealing arts."
"There is a reason that while there are seal practitioners in konoha, they never get past the beginner stages. They do not have the creativity, nor Chakra capacity needed to experiment with Seals. Which is a requirement in getting the Seal Master's title. Creating one's own unique seals."
Minato, the longer the ANBU talked, the paler he became. His mind drifted to big blue eyes identical to his own. The fact that she was a Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi; The strongest of all the tailed beasts. Her own reserves were already large….but she was friends with the Fox...She would be able to access his chakra.
"Oh sweet Kami." The blonde whimpered. "We left Minashi in Konoha unsupervised. She has practically unlimited Chakra. Kushina….Mina-chan wouldn't accidentally blow up the village while we are gone...Right?" Blue eyes looked to his girlfriend with true terror.
Minashi had always had Someone with her...but all three of her adult watchers were in another country. Sakumo was busy as Hokage, and who knows if her teammates would actually stop her. Minato's mind flew into terrified mother-hen mode faster than his Hiraishin.
Kushina paused in her swirling thoughts of her clan because of what Kitsune was telling them. Violet eyes swung to Minato's own Cerulean ones. His eyes were so blown wide, that she could barely see any blue in them. He was truly scared of what their creative little imouto could and would do if she didn't have someone keeping her in check.
"The kit is too busy to experiment." Kitsune chuckled, smirking at the blonde. Minato and Kushina looked at her surprised.
"What? Why?" Kushina asked, holding back the whine in her voice. She almost wanted to see what devious little prank her sister would pull next while unsupervised. The ones during the war were all so mild compared to those she'd kicked off with. She knew her little sister was cooking something up since it ended and she didn't want to miss it.
"Thank Kami." Minato sagged in relief. He had a good idea of his imouto's skills, but he also knew how she was when her curiosity was spiked. The towering tornado of cutting wind and water from their clashing wind and water Rasenshurikens during her training trip, was proof enough.
"Sakumo-san is allowing her and Kakashi to take the ANBU exams with Ryouta and Kenji."
"What the fuck!" Minato jumped up snarling. Scared Mother-hen mode switching right to overprotective brother mode. "She's twelve!"
Kushina just blinked before pouting. Mina-chan hadn't told her that. They were sisters, they were supposed to tell each other everything.
"Thirteen actually." Kitsune reminded them.
"Barely." Minato glowered.
"She's also a Jounin. Kakashi would have been one, instead of just field promoted Tokubestu Jounin, as well if Sakumo hadn't delayed the Jounin exams to prevent his son from taking them mid-war."
Minato grit his teeth frustrated.
"And if you've forgotten Minato, Dragon-sama has been after all four of those brats since they graduated the Academy. I wouldn't be surprised if all four pass and end up on the same team."
"But-" Minato hissed before Kushina took his hand and pulled him down beside her.
"She's strong. We've watched and helped her train, Minato-kun. Kitsune-sama has personally trained her. ANBU will only make her stronger."
"She's still a kid." He whispered. "It feels like yesterday that she was barely five and asking to be picked up and carried to school every time."
"Enough." Kitsune finally barked. "We're wasting time that we could be using to rest."
"I agree." Konan said with an arm around Nagato's waist.
"We'll meet again after lunch." Yahiko stated. "Especially since we've been up so late for Nagato's surgery. We'll let the morning be a day of recovery, and start training in the afternoon."
With that the Ame trio and the Six Konoha nin headed out of the makeshift office for their respective sleeping quarters. Kitsune being the only one to have a tent to herself. After so many years now, she was sadly getting used to it. Even as Minashi she was required to keep a personal tent seeing as male and female teammates couldn't share tents unless it was part of their covers, or in emergencies. That rule was in place to prevent pregnancies more than anything.
Kitsune didn't mind, it allowed her to place privacy and silencing seals, just in case her nightmares kicked in. Laying down, the time traveling Uzumaki was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow; The Pocket Dimension seal draining her of chakra.