Naruto (United): You would go so far?
Edelgard: The Church is too powerful and It's unfair for those with crests to be valued higher than those that don't.
Naruto (United): I mean I get it. I understand but there has to be a better way than to do that.
Edelgard: I wish there was…
Naruto (United): Perhaps we can find a way…I'd be willing to help. If given the chance.
Edelgard: Naruto….
Menma: *stares* I'm not liking the gut feeling I'm getting about these two…Just start the chapter.
United I Stand
Chapter Ten: Ending the Mission
Anko and Inoichi stood small chamber with a remorseful Fū sitting in front of a saddened Shibuki. Almost immediately after Naruko fell unconscious, the remaining villagers hailed the Konoha shinobi as heroes.
However, their jubilation changed into fury when they saw Fū was still alive. Despite Fū's claims of innocence, the villagers called for her blood. It was then Naruto and Menma took Naruko to the hospital while the pair of Jōnin led Fū and Shibuki to the latter's office, where they all now sat.
"Fū…" Shibuki began after Fū explained all that had occurred. "What happened today is a horrible tragedy. Many lives were lost and the villagers, despite you trying to warn them, want you dead due to your involvement in all of this."
"But that's not fair," Anko said. "She tried everything to try and save them and yet they want her punished?"
"There must be more to it than that," Inoichi said. "The way they looked at her, yelled at her…There's more to this."
"There is," Shibuki said to the two Jōnin. "Fū holds the Nanbi inside of her."
Both Anko and Inoichi looked surprised by this but then saddened as well. "I see…" Inoichi said. "I understand now."
"Really?" Shibuki asked.
The Jōnin nodded and replied "We know that containers for the tailed demons exist. I can understand why the villagers treated her so terrible. However, that should not cause her to be executed."
Fū put her hands into her face and said "I did everything that I could…This isn't fair…"
"I know," Shibuki said. "However, despite my personal feelings on the matter, I have to do what is right for the village…"
"So that's it?" Anko asked. "You're going to kill her for doing the best she could under those shitty ass circumstances?!"
"Shibuki-san," Inoichi said. "I understand the heavy circumstances of all this. The grief and fear that the villagers are facing are blinding them to the good she tried to do for them. There must be a way to solve th-."
"It's okay," Fū said, interrupting Inoichi softly. "The villagers never liked me because of the Nanbi…It's been like this my whole life. Every time I did something wrong. No matter how miniscule the problem, I would be unfairly punished by everyone…I screwed up and I need to atone…"
"Fū…" Anko murmured with a frown on her face.
Fū took a deep breath and looked at Shibuki with watery eyes and said "I'll take whatever punishment you'll give me. Even if I am to die. I have nothing left to live for any way."
Shibuki shut his eyes for a moment then opened them and said "I will not take your life. You were forced to what you did and despite trying to work it to save everyone. However, you still worked with a group of traitors and I can't let that slide. Fū, with a heavy heart, I herby revoke your status as a shinobi, along with your citizenship to this Takigakure no Sato."
The two Jōnin stood in silence as Fū's body began to shake before a soft sob was heard.
"I am so sorry," Shibuki said. "I wish there was some other way that would keep you save and keep the villagers happy through their grief…But this is the only way…Please relinquish your Hiate-ite."
Through heavy sobs, Fū removed her headband and placed it on the desk in front of the leader. "You have three hours to vacate this village," Shibuki said.
Fū nodded, her face pained but understanding. "Inoichi-san. Anko-san…It would be best to for you and your team to leave as well but I request that your team guard Fū until she is clear of the village."
"We will," Anko said. Fū stood up and walked to the door, tears streaming down her cheeks while Anko and Inoichi turned around but Shibuki's voice rang out.
"Fū…Thank you for your service and I wish you all the best…"
"So we all heard the voice," Naruto stated as he sat beside Naruko's bed. Across from him, Menma leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
"I mean, we all know who the voice could belong to but why would they help?" Naruko asked with a frown. "What would they have to gain in helping us?"
"I mean, self-preservation obviously. We die, they die," Menma replied. "Simple as that."
"Should we try talking to them?" Naruto asked.
"Since I'm not getting any sleep anytime soon, let's have a chat…" A dark voice said suddenly within their heads. Without warning, there was a flash of crimson in the trio's eyes before Naruko and Naruto's bodies slumped while Menma fell face first to the ground, all of them unconscious.
The trio woke up in unison and found themselves in a sewer in front of a large gilded jail cell. "Where the hell are we?" Naruko questioned with a frown on her face.
"My current home," a voice said. The trio looked to the cell and saw the silhouette of a large hulking figuring, a pair of glowing crimson eyes staring down at them.
Naruto raised his arm with his mouth wide open before he lowered his arm while Menma took a step backwards and Naruko outright began to shiver. They could feel so much power radiating from the figure behind the cell.
They then watched as the figure began to glow then shrink until it took on a humanoid form and with an explosion of energy, the trio then saw a man.
The figure was a tall and muscular man with pale skin that glowed with crimson scars across his chest and shoulders. He had waist-length, spiky blood-red hair that was tied in a pony tail with two cheek-length bangs framing his face, revealing his three whisker marks on each cheek and his crimson eyes.
The figure was shirtless but wore black Hakama pants and had red medical tape around his bare muscled stomach. "Hello Kits," The figure said with a smile, revealing his fanged teeth. "I don't need to introduce myself, do I?"
"What the fuck is this?" The trio asked in unison.
"As I mentioned, since I'm not getting any rest, might as well talk and save some curiosities," The Kyūbi said as he summoned a chair in front of the bars and sat down on it. "So let me start. Yes, I am the Kyūbi no Kitsune. No, I'm not such a bad guy but I can be a bit of a battle hungry brute as you can tell by my battle scars. And I think that Anko woman is very attractive and I wish to have my way with her."
"I'm sorry what?" Naruko asked.
"Ok…I think I like him," Naruto said with a grin.
Menma remained silent.
"Now onto serious business...I love to fight. I love the feel of my nine-blades slicing through opponents, as well as having my nine-tails crush mountains and causing general chaos among you humans. Well, that's how it used to be before…" The Kyūbi then paused as he leaned back into his chair.
"Before what?" Naruko asked.
The Kyūbi stayed silent for a moment then replied "Well I saved you, not only to save my life because you right were Menma. Any of you three die, I die. But I have a deeper reason and that is your mother…"
"Our mother?" Menma questioned as Naruko and Naruto looked on in shocked.
"Yes…Uzumaki Kushina…She was my jailer before you three," The Kyūbi replied.
"Bullshit!" Naruto yelled as he took a step forward. "I can't believe that!"
"It is true…" The Kyūbi replied gruffly. "Despite that outburst, you hear the truth in my word, don't you?"
Naruto paused before he looked down to the ground as Naruko said "He's right…I don't sense any lies in his words…"
"Tell us more," Menma said.
"She and I didn't get along in the start but somewhere along the way, I began to see her as my daughter and someone that I swore to use my chakra to protect…But instead, I lead her to the Shinigami's embrace," The Kyūbi replied softly. "I won't dare to deny that…However, the night of your original self's birth is not what it seems."
The three were silent for a moment, unable to figure out what to say to this man next. Finally, Naruto spoke up and shouted "Then tell us. Tell us everything about that night!"
"Tell you? Why would I need to do that when I could show you?" The Kyūbi asked with a toothy grin.
Rain: And that is the end of this chapter. I do apologize that it is short like this but I've been ill since the start of the new year and just recently began to write again so I'm getting back into the swing of it. The next chapter will deal with both the fallout of what the trio will find out and Fū's situation. Until then.
Fū:….