Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Shadow Skill I only use them for entertainment purposes.

There was silence in the only broken when a soft voice to his side asked, "Naruto-kun is something the matter?" Naruto turned to Hinata who had just entered the kitchen. When she entered she noticed a strange figure dressed in a black cloak and immediately went into a defensive stance and activated her Bloodline Limit. To her surprise she could not see the chakra pathways of the individual, but could still detect it was not an illusion, "Who or what is this?" she thought. Vocally she asked, "Naruto-kun?"

"It's alright Hinata-chan," Naruto addressed his wife, "This is Darkness, the one who taught me Shadow Skill." Hinata relaxed her stance and turned off her Byakugan. Naruto then turned back to his new guest and asked, "Was that really true? Are they going to bring it back?" Darkness gave a silent nod. "Hinata-chan would you go get Tsunade Ero-Sannin and Aunt Isalia. I have some rather disturbing information for them."

Noting the seriousness in his voice Hinata made no objection, "I'll get them here right away." With that she left the pair but not before giving Naruto one last glance.

Once Hinata left Naruto said, "You'll stay at least until they can here the details?"

"Yes," Darkness answered.

"Can you stop them?" Naruto asked, "I mean can you send Kyuubi back if they succeed in bringing back to this world?"

"No," Darkness said, "Everyone has a limit to their power. They will use the power of the other Tailed Beasts to bring it back."

At that moment four new people entered the room. Three of them had a look of surprise and aw when they entered. Hinata had told them that Naruto wanted to see them, and it some how involved the one that taught Naruto Shadow Skill. Needless to say all three immediately dropped what they were doing, playing poker with each other, and came here. The first one to speak was Isalia, "Are you really the one called Darkness mentioned in our legends?"

"Yes he is," Naruto answered, "But now is not really the time for that. I called you here because Darkness has just shown me some rather disturbing images."

"And what images are those?" Tsunade asked.

"The Akatsuki are going to move to get the Tailed Beasts," Naruto informed, "And that includes the Kyuubi."

There was a simultaneous gasp from the four at the mention of the Kyuubi. It was Jiraiya that asked, "How can they do that? You said the Darkness here sent it to the demon world."

"The ones you know as Akatsuki have discovered the ancient rituals that brought the Tailed Beasts here to begin with," Darkness answered.

"And what are these rituals?" Tsunade asked out of curiosity.

"The foundation of your summoning techniques," came Darkness' cryptic answer.

"How do you know this?" Isalia asked.

"I detected the use of the runes that involved the ritual," Darkness answered, "I then observed what was taking place. I then gave my memories of the event to Shadow Claw."

"Why?" Hinata asked worried about her husband.

"Shadow Claw will be necessary," Darkness replied.

"What does that mean?" Tsunade asked, she really did not like the cryptic answers.

"It means that I'll be needed," Naruto responded, "Darkness won't give you straight answers to his motives unless he is willing to do so in the first place. And then he is rather up-front about it. How long ago were the images?"

"I observed them three days ago," Darkness said.

Catching onto what Naruto was doing, Jiraiya asked another question especially about images, "Have they begun to move yet, and what are the order of their targets?"

"Yes," Darkness said.

Naruto continued, "They are going to Canyon County first. Apparently that one will be the first Tailed Beast they get. Something about it being the most isolated."

"Canyon Country has some pretty rough terrain and many remote areas," Jiraiya mentioned.

"What about the others?" Tsunade asked.

"They are holding off on taking the one in Wind Country," Naruto said, "They said something about it being to public at the time."

"The others will be taken on the order of connivance," Darkness said, "And the Nine Tails will be taken last. They will need the power of the others to hold it."

"Why are they after the Tailed Beasts anyway?" Isalia asked, "From every story that has been told no one has ever been able to control them in their true forms."

"I do not know," Darkness admitted. "Their motives are their own."

"Where are the other Tailed Beasts?" Hinata asked. "Are they in their true forms or are they in vessels like Naruto-kun once was?"

"They are all over the continent," Jiraiya answered, "Some are loose, a couple are in vessels, and the others are sealed away in objects like Shukaku once was in Suna."

"Speaking of Suna," Tsunade said, "We must send word to the Third in Suna. And also warn Suna about the Akatsuki." The others nodded in agreement, "And then we need to start tracking down the other Tailed Beasts." There was a noise behind them and the five humans turned to it. When they turned back Darkness was no where to be found, "Where did he go?"

"Where ever he came from," Naruto sighed, "He used to do that when I was learning Shadow Skill. He comes delivers the information he's willing to share then leaves the moment your back is turned."

"Anyway we must send out a team to Suna right away," Tsunade stated, "Then we should send a team to Canyon Country."

"I would send more than just one team," Naruto said, "Remember these guys are S-Class Missing-Nins and a Tailed Beast as well."

"Which one is in Canyon Country?" Hinata asked.

"Last I heard from my sources it is the Four Tailed Wolf," Jiraiya said. "I'm going to contact my other sources and try to find the locations of the other Beasts." With that he disappeared in puff of smoke.

"I must return to my office and prepare the teams and inform the Jounins and the Council," Tsunade said. "The meeting will take place in an hour. Both of you are to be there." Tsunade's order was directed at Hinata and Naruto, who nodded in response.

"And I must send a message to our tribe," Isalia said leaving out the door. "Something like this will also affect us as well."

Tsunade was about to follow Isalia out when she paused and asked, "Naruto, why did you send for just us? The entire Council should have been told about this."

"The truth is," Naruto said, "I didn't really trust the Council with this kind of information. I was worried about their reaction at the prospect of the return of the Kyuubi." That seemed to satisfy Tsunade as she left the couple alone.

Naruto's statement about not trusting the Council made her think about her father as he was part of the Council, "Naruto-kun about what you said about the Council?"

Slowly moving towards Hinata Naruto said, "I trust your father Hinata-chan, but not with everything I'm afraid." Hinata could not say anything in response because she was well aware that Naruto trusted very few people will all aspects of his life, Kyuubi was one and always will be one of those aspects that is hard for Naruto to trust people with.

An hour later many Jounins and the Council were in the Hokage's office confused as to why they were summoned in the middle of the night. Once the last person, Kakashi, arrived the meeting began. "As of an hour ago one of Jiraiya's contacts informed us that the organization Akatsuki has begun to move again." There were several murmurs among the crowd, "They are targeting the Tailed Beasts," subconsciously several people glanced in Naruto's direction, "Because of that I am taking the following actions. I am sending a team to Suna to inform the Third and warn Suna of the development." She paused and looked at Kakashi, "Kakashi, you Naruto and Neji, along with Anbu Team 5, will be assigned this mission. You are to gather your members and leave at once."

"Yes Hokage-sama," Kakashi saluted, "Neji Naruto let's go." Neji gave a silent nod and left. Naruto glanced at Hinata one last time and soon followed

"Next I am sending a Anbu teams 8 and 11 to Canyon Country," Tsunade continued, "The contact said that there is a Tailed Beast there and that is Akatsuki's first target. I am also assigning a Hunter-nin as a tracker to the mission."

"Yes Hokage-sama," The two Anbu Captains, one of which was Sasuke, replied in unison. The two left the office to gather what was needed.

"As for further actions," Tsunade said, "Jiraiya is currently contacting his other sources to find locations on the other Tailed Beasts, when they report back I will be sending out more teams to investigated them." She then turned to the Council, "As for the village itself I am classifying this as a current A-Class threat to the village. And to inform you that I want you to keep this only among the shinobi and only give the details to Chunin level. We do not want a panic because some Gennin doesn't yet know to keep their mouth shut. The civilians will react badly if they know about the Tailed Beasts being involved."

Hiashi stood and spoke for the Council, "We shall abide by your decision Hokage-sama. I believe I can speak with everyone here when I say this news worries me. And if it worries us then we can imagine what it would do to the civilians." He glanced at his daughter in thought of what people would think of her for marring Naruto if they learned of the current situation. Even though the part of him that was a shinobi knew she could handle it the part of him that was a father was still worried about his daughter.

"I thank you for your cooperation," Tsunade said, she then gave one last order, "As of right now all Jounin and Anbu are on standby for immediate departure once further information comes in. Those with Gennin teams will be called only as a last resort, but do not be unprepared. Dismissed." The room saluted and everyone left.

Once outside the Hokage's office Kakashi addressed the two younger Jounins, "Gather your equipment for an extend time away. I'll gather the members of Anbu Team 5."

"Actually," Neji interrupted, "I should get at least one member of the Anbu Team."

"Oh and why is that?" Kakashi asked.

"One of the members is Lee," Neji said. That was all Kakashi needed to hear, only a person who had been around a person like Rock Lee and Gai could have the patients for their antics. And while Kakashi could deal with Gai he often had difficulty dealing with his young admirer.

"Very well," Kakashi said, "We will meet at the West Gate in one hour."

An hour later Naruto was the last to show up. He was only a few minutes late but was still asked why he was late. He responded, "Hinata came after the meeting ended."

The silent message was not lost on any of the people there. "Are you sure you will have the energy to keep up Naruto?" came the casual/implying remark from Kakashi. Said remark earned the Jounin a glare from both Naruto and Neji. "Well now that everyone is here let's head out."

Three days later the seven Konoha shinobi arrived outside the gates of Suna. There they were greeted by several Suna Jounins. A single Jounin came forward and addressed them, "I am Ryshu," the Jounin said, "We have been informed of the threat from the message we received prior to your arrival. The message also said that you would go into greater detail once you arrived."

"That is correct," Kakashi said, "We will inform you of everything we have once we meet with our Third Hokage and your Kazekage." Along the way Naruto had told Kakashi that he was the contact that Tsunade talked about. He informed in of the meeting in private and asked not to reveal that he was the source. Kakashi agreed to take the lead when ever a question was asked about the detail.

"Very well then," Ryshu said, "Follow us and we will take you to see them. Be warned though, several of our citizens are suspicious of outsiders. Do not do anything that will provoke them."

The group was led to the Kazekage's office and upon entering the room they saw the Third with his usually Anbu Guard as well as the Kazekage with his personal Guards. Neji and Kakashi immediately recognized the three Suna Guards. Two were the ones that slipped them the note several months ago and the third was the recipient of the note. The two older siblings gave them a scanned the Konoha shinobi as they approached while the youngest just stared on passively. That is until Naruto, who was at the back of the group came into view. Naruto was still wearing his Hunter-nin mask so his face was hidden, but if it was not, his eyes would have met those youngest sibling. The moment only passed for second but it did not go unnoticed by several people in the room.

Once everyone was seated on a cushion the Third addressed Kakashi, "The message from Konoha said there was a threat to us care to explain in further detail."

"Yes Hokage-sama," Kakashi repleied. He then went on to inform those present everything that he had been told.

After several minutes of Kakashi talking the Kazekage spoke, "I thank you for this information and warning. It is just first step in our new cooperation. Now if you will excuse us we must discuss this issue."

"Of course Kazekage-sama," the Third rose and bowed to his Suna counterpart who returned the bow.

As the Konoha shinobi left there was another silent exchange between Naruto and the youngest guard. Once the room was cleared with only the Kazekage and his guards remained, the only female addressed her little brother, "Is something wrong Garra?"

"The Hunter-nin is strong," Garra replied, "Stronger than the others."

"Do you know who he is Baki-sensei?" Kankaru asked.

"I believe that is the one know as Shadow Claw," the Kazekage answered.

"Are you serious?" Temari asked, "He doesn't seem much older than Garra."

"He's different," Garra said, "Though I am not sure why, I just know he is."

Out side the office, Kakashi asked Naruto, "Is something bothering you?"

"Yeah," Naruto said, "The one with the red hair he was odd."

"He is powerful," Kakashi admitted, "Neji and I ran into him before."

"Its more than that," Naruto responded, "there is something about him that make his different from other people. I'm just not sure what."