Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine, only the OC's are.

Minty Fresh Shock: I know the first few chapters are crumpity (i.e. bad), so I'll probably add a disclaimer to chapter 1.

Disclaimer: This story will get better. Give it a few chapters.

Something like that?

Great Saiyaman: My story deviates completely from the manga. At the time I planned and started writing this fic, the manga only went up to Naruto's return from his training. Thus, everything that happened in the manga after Ch. 247 did not happen in the story, 'k? If I go with the manga's "Oh, we already killed the demons…la dee daaah!", then the story is fuxxored (pardon my 1337). Thus, the story will follow a completely different path from the manga, I imagine.

sephynarutocloud: If you control Nyurr, you must be inside of his soul, right? You're not alone (grins wickedly). Look behind you.

Shang: Edo has his scary bits, but he's not as scary as Gaara. In terms of power, once they all can control their abilities, Naruto, Gaara, and Edo will be about the same strength.

Ps. Gaara in this story is not as strong as Gaara in the manga. At least, not quite yet.

Tenshi no Hana-chan: Nyao

#1 Hisssssss!

#2 - There'll be more SasuSaku as the story progresses, if I have it move any faster, it'll be hideously OOC.

#3 - I see what you mean

#4 - Lots of OC's, I know. I'll make it work, I promise. I like Maiyuu too. As for Raina: over the break I developed her character a lot more. Now she'll be even better.

#5 - Get used to it, hon. ShikaTem is probably what'll happen in canon.

#6 - I'm no good at short fics. I like sweeping epics.

(Narrows his eyes, hisses madly) TOSS CATS TO YOUR DOGS! INSOLENCE!

AnnieThePipster: I know, I know, my dear. Grammar…I'm not horrid at it, but there's always little mistakes hiding around. Having a beta should help with that, methinks.

LittleShadow :Dirty person…The cats…evil? You'll see. Yes, many things are happening. Rest assured, things will calm down somewhat fairly soon. Orochimaru makes his move, Akatsuki makes theirs, Grandfather does a pirate jig? Who knows what will happen? Meeheeheeheehee! Old men are cool. Especially old asian men with beards. Boo-yah! When I'm old and bald, I'll still have a beard, and that'll make me smexy.

demon-lulu: Sakura vs. Kabuto? I hadn't planned on it…we'll see if it works into the story.

P.s. Because of the extreme delay in updating this, Ch. 21 has been cut into two chapters. Thus, the story is being pushed forward slightly. (i.e. the Nhaki scene I've been talking about will occur in Ch. 23.)

One reason this is so late is that I just got Dynasty Warriors 5 and Dynasty Warriors 4 Empires. Another reason is that I've been reading Half-Blood Prince (The ending makes me so mad). Another reason is that I've been reading the Teen Titans fanfic These Black Eyes. It's incredibly fun, and I believe it's the longest story on ff dot net (270 chapters, 2.2 million words, and still only through act II. I've read the first 160+chapters.).

This chapter was a pain. I'm not too thrilled with it, but I'll edit it if neccessary. Meh.

Chapter 21: Recovery and Revelation

That night, the rain had still not let up. A long haired man sat quietly, listening to the downpour. He looked up, opening his vibrant yellow eyes.

"Kabuto."

Orochimaru's voice was soft, but it carried over the storm nonetheless.

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama?"

"You sensed it," Orochimaru stated, rather than asked. "There were many watching that final match."

"I felt slightly uneasy, nothing more."

"There were no less than five members of Akatsuki present, as well as Grandfather…"

Kabuto stared at his master. "Akatsuki and the de facto leader of Hidden Rain. The demon vessels certainly draw attention."

"Indeed," Orochimaru mused.

Orochimaru massaged his temples. "One thing that I found strange, though…Grandfather was present, but there was no sign of his bodyguard."

"The swordsman?"

Orochimaru only nodded.

"Perhaps his attention was elsewhere."

The sennin grunted at that.

"With regards to the match," he muttered. "I was most intrigued. This Nekoarashi Edo seems like he would make a fine tool. No replacement for Sasuke-kun, of course, but a useful tool, especially considering Nova's failings as a weapon."

Kabuto gave no answer.

"Once he is out of the hospital, I would like to make him an offer," Orochimaru stated. "Before Akatsuki or Grandfather or anyone else makes a move on him."

"Of course."

"He may feel like opening up to people after that little 'incident'. It is an excellent oppurtunity to find out just what motivates him."

The pale man smirked broadly before continuing.

"Everyone wants something. We just need to make the right offer."

He turned to the corner. "Isn't that right?"

From a shadowy spot in the corner, Yogo Nhaki glared at Orochimaru, his mask lying in his lap.

"I assume you want me to listen in on him," the young Sound-nin breathed. "Very well. I'd like to hear his story for myself."

"I thought you might."


The next morning, Nekoarashi Edo slowly regained consciousness. He was in a bed, a soft bed, for the first time in who knew how long.

A hospital, he thought. Hmmm, the rain stopped.

He realized something else. Oh gods, do I hurt.

Edo opened his eyes, wincing at the bright light overhead. Blinking several times, he sat up, glancing at his surroundings. He was sitting in a white bed with clean sheets. His shirt had been removed, revealing a torso covered in several tattoos. His feline idol stood to one side, covered by his coat.

Someone must have brought it in.

"Oh, you're awake," came a soft voice to his right.

Edo glanced over. The voice belonged to Naruto's pink-haired teammate. Sakura, he recalled.

She was in a chair next to another bed, this one occupied by Uzumaki Naruto. The blond was snoring blissfully, unaware of his surroundings. Also next to the bed, asleep, was a young dark-haired girl Edo did not know. She had fallen asleep in her chair, leaning her head down onto Naruto's muscular uncovered chest.

Edo raised an eyebrow. Sakura glanced at the two sleeping figures and smiled wanly. She seemed quite tired.

"She wore herself out treating him," she explained. "Wouldn't leave him alone. She was worried sick."

"Guess she really cares about him," Edo ventured.

"That's an understatement," Sakura sighed. "Hinata's been crazy about Naruto since they met,"

"Only this idiot," she jerked a thumb at Naruto. "Is too thick to see it. I think he's getting there, though. He's very protective of her."

"Uzumaki Naruto is protective of everyone," came a new voice. "It is the source of much of his strength."

Gaara stirred from his position against the wall. Nyurr was nowhere to be seen.

Edo suddenly thought of something as he looked at Hinata. "You said her name is Hinata? Hyuuga Hinata, perhaps?"

The kunoichi looked surprised. "Yes, that's right. Why?"

Edo blinked. "No reason," he lied.

The missing-nin looked at Naruto. "Guess he had a lot of visitors, huh?"

"You had a few yourself."

"Oh?" he raised an expressive eyebrow.

"Your teammates came in last night and stayed for a while," Sakura gestured. "They brought in your belongings."

"I sensed they were agitated somehow," Gaara stated. "They mentioned that they wouldn't be able to stay long."

"They left you a letter."

Edo's eyes flicked to his bedside table. On it were not one, but two notes.

"Two of those Cloud hunter-nin came to visit you as well. The younger ones."

"Takame and Raina," Edo's face was tight as he spoke.

"They came right before your teammates left," Sakura said. "The dark-haired one left you a note."

Edo scanned both notes.


Well, Bro?

How about meeting me for lunch sometime? I know a lovely spot near Lake Midori. We can discuss the old times and the future.

Takame


Edo shook his head. This was so like Takame, to offer to meet a missing-nin that he was supposed to be hunting for lunch. He knew the place the letter referred to. They had good curry. Knowing Takame, if he wanted to meet for lunch, he also wanted a fight. He held up the second note, this one from Nazo.
Edo,

I regret not being able to deliver this message in person, but it would seem that our past has caught up with Maiyuu and I. Grandfather has found us, and I cannot involve you anymore than I already have. You have problems enough of your own. With Hyousai's little tantrum, the Kaiin (Mystery Seal) on your temple has completely vanished, and with it its protection. You must be careful, Edo. With any luck, we'll meet again soon.

p.s. I'll have those gloves finished in about a month. I'll find some way to get them to you.

p.p.s. Maiyuu says hello to you and all the rest.

Nazo


Edo was puzzled. "What's Maiyuu playing at? Say hello to all the rest?"

"Don't you remember?" Gaara asked.

"Remember wh-" Edo retorted, than stopped as movement caught his eye. A fluffy dark tortoiseshell cat had just leaped up onto the bed. Quickly and efficiently, she made her way up the bed to perch on Edo's shoulder. She began licking his ear briskly with her rough tongue.

With a chorus of meows and purrs, over a dozen cats of various ages and sizes emerged from under the bed, resting themselves on the end table, the bed, the windowsill. One even perched atop the curtains on the window. Nyurr scampered out from under the bed, pursued by a small black kitten. Nyurr ran for the safety of Gaara, climbing him at top speed. The black kitten followed, and engaged in a pitched battle with the tan kitten on Gaara's head and shoulders.

Gaara twitched slightly, but suffered through it. After about thirty seconds, the black cat lost interest, jumping down and curling up at the foot of Edo's bed.

"Friends of yours?" the Sand-nin asked politely.

Edo smiled broadly. "Yes, these are my nakama. I'll introduce them to-."

They were interrupted by a loud yawn from the bed. Naruto shook the sleep from his eyes and grinned blearily. He sat up slightly.

"Aw, man, I'm exhausted. How about some ramen?"

Naruto's movement caused Hinata to shift in her sleep.

"Naruto-kun," she mumbled.

Naruto noticed Hinata, looking down. He blushed furiously.

"Hinata-chan?" he blinked.

Crack!

"Itai…What was that for, Sakura-chan?" Naruto moaned.

"You idiot!" Sakura fumed. "You had everyone worried sick!"

Hinata shifted again, and opened her eyes. Her gaze traveled upwards, her eyes meeting Naruto's. Realizing now what she was resting her head on, she jerked away, sitting upright. Both of them shared a deep blush.

Edo's lip twitched in a smile.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. He noticed Edo watching him.

"You okay?"

Edo laughed. "Thanks to you."

His visage turned serious. "I must apologize. My carelessness put you all in danger."

"Don't worry about it," Naruto grinned. "No harm done."

"No harm done?" Sakura said incredulously. "You two fell from nearly fifty feet onto solid ice. You had several broken bones."

Naruto looked at himself, then at Edo, who nodded. "We're fine now."

"And I still don't understand that."

Naruto, Gaara, and Edo shared a three-way glance.

A voice at the door caught their attention. "Knew I heard something. Oi, they're awake!"

Kankurou sauntered in, followed by Temari, Shikamaru, and Neji.

"I suppose I do owe you all an explanation of some sort..."

"Let's hear it, then!" Naruto said eagerly.

Edo nodded. "First, I believe…introductions are in order?"

Introductions were quickly made, for the most part.

"That's right, I almost forgot," Edo rapped on the side of the bed. "Everyone present themselves!"

The cats looked up, yawning.

"Please?"

The beasts relented, jumping up onto the bed and grouping up. A large black male leapt up to Edo's other shoulder. The tortoiseshell sneezed.

"All right then," Edo stroked his chin. He began jabbing his finger at his companions "We have Buraan, Anri, Tera, Kaelas, Kokou, Suzu, Yuki, Torafu, Nami, Kikai, Kouri, and Tia."

He gestured to the male on his shoulder. "This here is Gurao. He's what you might call the second-in-command of this little troupe."

"Yow!" Gurao commented.

Edo then patted the small tortoiseshell on his other shoulder.

"And this is Torikushi, my partner in crime. We've been working together for about eighteen years. She's my anchor to reality."

"But," Naruto interrupted. "She doesn't look that old."

"The Nekoarashi clan raised cats of incredible intelligence and lifespan," Edo explained. "Don't know how they did it, but these guys could all live as long as any human."

"I think Kiba-kun's family does a similar thing with their dogs," Hinata offered tentatively.

"Oooh," Naruto nodded. "That explains why Akamaru's still so tiny!"

"Well, then," Neji began uncomfortably. "Who might these two be?"

He jerked his thumb towards a pair who appeared to be stalking Neji's long ponytail.

Gaara looked over. "The tan one's mine. I don't know the black one."

Torikushi purred in Edo's ear.

"Well," said Edo, translating. "That's Sen. She's a fairly new arrival to the group, it seems."

Neji edged away. "Whoever they are, could someone get them away from me?"

"I'm afraid not," Gaara sighed. "Nyurr won't give up. Just let him chew on you a bit and get it over with."

Neji glared at the two kittens as they munched happily on his hair. Naruto laughed at the ridiculous expression on Neji's face and Hinata smiled.

When the kittens had finished, Edo cleared his throat.

"Back to a more serious subject, I suppose." Edo looked up at the ceiling. "I suppose everything goes back to my father, Nekoarashi Shinji, and the Raikage, Sorasento Ryouji."


"The Raikage sent my father on a mission to Tokoronai (No place), an island on the outskirts of the Water country. An island of survivors, Tokoronai and the surrounding islands are home to survivors from some of the advanced bloodlines of Mist Village. Shinji was to retrieve the container of the panther demon Hyousai, which was rumored to be kept hidden there. He was instructed not to return without it."

"Now, Tokoronai is well hidden, so as to prevent the full wrath of Mist village from descending on it. Thus, my father had great difficulty located it, but finally managed to do so by bribing a smuggler who often made trips to the island."

"Shinji found himself in the middle of trouble all at once. He was swept into the middle of a battle between islanders and a group of highly skilled bounty hunters, who were after the handsome price on their heads. Thinking quickly, my father sided with the islanders. He managed to turn the tide of the fight by killing the hunters' leader, a giant of a man named Buyo. Afterwards, he was approached and questioned by several of his new allies. Before he could answer any of their questions, however, more mercenaries from the same group began attacking a nearby village. Shinji and the others rushed to its defense. After nearly an hour, the attack was over, the enemy routed. For his part, my father was given a very interesting offer."

"Many of the islanders thought that the safest thing to do would be to kill or imprison the interloper. However, the head of the Mizukoru clan claimed that Shinji's coming to the island was destiny, and offered my father a room in his estate."

Edo stroked his beard before continuing.

"My father accepted, thinking that infiltrating the islanders was the best way to complete his mission. And so, Nekoarashi Shinji moved into the Mizukoru Estate, as a guest of the clan head."

"At first, my father only thought of completing his mission, but as the months went on, he found himself growing more and more attached to the community. He also found himself growing closer to his host's daughter, my mother, Mizukoru Hyouko. After nearly a year, he asked her father for permission to marry. My grandfather agreed, almost as though he had been expecting it for a long time."

"Shortly before my birth, my grandfather spoke to my parents. He wanted to perform a ritual, binding a demon contained in a local shrine to my body."

Shikamaru interrupted. "Sounds troublesome. Why would someone do something like that?"

"To make a weapon," Gaara answered tonelessly.

Suprisingly, Edo shook his head in negation. "No. I wasn't a weapon, just a byproduct of fate."

Edo closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his knows, as though trying to recall something. He opened his mouth and began to recite.

First Stormchild

Two Tails

Born of two lands

Father: Feline Guardian

Mother: child of panther and hail

Child of this Impure World

He will stand with them

Saviors or Destroyers

"That's the gist of it, I believe, though I may be missing a bit somewhere. A bit melodramatic, I admit," Edo shrugged. "But the crazy old man wasn't just making it up. He showed my parents that passage in the clan archives, and was able to convince them."

"What do those lines about Father, Mother, and Child mean?" Neji queried.

"My father is the feline guardian referred to in the passage. The leader of the Nekoarashi clan is always called 'Guardian. My mother's name, Hyouko, has a dual meaning. It can mean either 'panther child', or 'hailstone child'."

"So they went through with it, then?" Sakura asked.

"My mother's father performed the ceremony himself, sacrificing his life in the process. It was he who gave me my name: Edo. It means 'this impure world'. A fitting enough name."

Edo was silent for a short time.

"His was only the first death in my lifetime," he sighed, looking up at the ceiling.

"The power of demons is not something given lightly. Someone must always be sacrificed." Edo looked back down. "Who was sacrificed for you, Naruto?"

The door creaked open slightly.

Hinata blinked. "Naruto-kun? What's he talking about?"

Gaara looked as if he were about to say something, but Naruto raised his hand.

"It's all right, Gaara. I kind of expected something like this would come up."

Naruto looked at the curious faces surrounding him.

"One thing I have to ask of all of you: Please don't tell anyone else what I tell you here."

"Why not?" Shikamaru grumped.

"I'd rather tell people myself. I don't know why… I just feel like it's my responsibility to tell people about this." Naruto said quietly. He took a deep breath. "What do you know about Kyuubi?"

Neji answered. "A nine-tailed fox demon. It attacked Konoha over fifteen years ago, killing many shinobi, including the Yondaime, before being destroyed."

"It's not quite as simple as that," Naruto said. "The Yondaime wasn't able to kill Kyuubi, so he sealed him away, dying in the process."

"Where?" Hinata asked.

"Inside a newborn baby."

Naruto took another deep breath.

"Me."

Silence greeted the announcement. Silence broken only by a quiet chuckle from Neji.

"Neji-niisan?" Hinata asked.

"It's nothing, really," the Hyuuga prodigy answered. "It just explains a few things. Like how he could call on chakra with his tenketsu closed."

Naruto smirked.

"But is it safe?" Shikamaru muttered. "I mean, this guy-" he pointed at Gaara. "-has a demon inside him too, and well, he hasn't exactly been very... stable in the pas-OOF!"

Shikamaru was interrupted by Temari's elbow striking his gut.

Gaara raised a hand. "I can answer this. Naruto and I discussed it when he visited Sunagakure with that white-haired lecher."

There was a slight indignant noise from behind the door.

"Naruto and I both have demons, true, but the manner in which we recieved them differed. The Kyuubi was sealed within Naruto, whereas Shukaku possessed me."

Shikamaru winced. "The difference being?"

"Possession is less sophisticated than sealing, and is more dangerous. With possession, one can access the demon's powers at an early age, but they are incredibly difficult to control. The demon can take over if it's vessel falls asleep. Sealing has a kind of buffer between the demon and the mind of its container, making it harder for them to lose control."

Naruto's face scrunched in confusion, though he nodded as though he understood the explanation. He looked to Edo. "How about you?"

"I think it was sort of a combination of sealing and possession with Hyousai," he answered. "I can sleep without losing it. The only danger is when I'm angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

Hinata, who had been silent for a time, spoke up. "Naruto-kun, d-does that mean you've had to live with a devil inside you all your life?"

(Devil?) Kyuubi griped at Naruto. (I'm a demon, thank you very much.)

(That's just semantics.) Naruto replied.

He looked at Hinata, then nodded.

"But," Sakura protested. "Something as big as that...someone had to know about it, right?"

"Most of the village does," Naruto answered. "Why do you think most of the adults glare at me like that? It's not just because I'm Konoha's number one prankster."

Edo chuckled softly.

Hinata's eyes widened. "They blame you...for what Kyuubi did?"

"Yep."

The girl's pale eyes narrowed. "But that's ridiculous!" she protested loudly. "You're the one keeping him from hurting people, aren't you? Don't they understand that?"

Naruto blinked at the force of her words.

You're not a demon, you're just...Naruto-kun..." Hinata trailed off, slightly embarrassed by her outburst.

Naruto stared. "Hinata..."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Shikamaru shuffled, clearing his throat before he asked his next question.

"If the village knows about Kyuubi, why were we never told? Pops never said anything about-"

"That's because," interrupted a voice from the door. "They were forbidden from ever mentioning it to the younger generation."

The door swung inward, revealing three adults. Hatake Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Hyuuga Hiashi entered the infirmary, shutting the door behind them.

Hinata looked at her father, who had spoken. "Otou-san?"

"The Sandaime forbid us from speaking to the children about the sealing. He said it was to protect Naruto from more hatred than already existed."

"Didn't work too well, did it?" Naruto muttered sullenly.

Hiashi sighed.

"The Yondaime, however, was of a different mind," Hiashi continued. "He wanted Naruto to be thought of as a hero for bearing the burden placed upon him."

Hiashi looked straight into Naruto's eyes.

"I confess that at first I neither understood nor agreed with the Yondaime," the Hyuuga leader inclined his head. "But over the years, you have been a very interesting figure, Uzumaki Naruto. Your actions have spoke loudly to me."

Nekoarashi Edo simply stared at Hiashi unblinkingly.

"No demon that I know of," Hiashi went on. "Would put himself in harm's way to protect others, like I have seen you do."

Naruto grinned and rubbed the back of his head as he remembered intercepting an ice pillar that had almost flown into the stands during his bout with Hyousai.

Kyuubi of course, had a response to Hiashi's compliment.

(I think I want to eat him.)

(Behave.)

Naruto returned his focus to Hiashi. "Er...thanks, I guess."

Neji slapped his forehead and shook his head.

Kakashi looked over at Edo. "Oi."

The long-haired ninja shook himself out of his reverie and turned a green eye from Hiashi to the copy-nin. "Mmmm?"

"I think you were telling us about yourself, weren't you?"

"I might have been," Edo nodded slowly. "Where was I?"

Jiraiya sat on the floor, crossing his legs. "I believe you had just been born."

"Ah, yes," Edo smirked. "Once I was born, things became much more interesting."

Next Chapter: Tale of the Cat

Next Chapter, Edo's story continues, and we learn many things about the people in his life. When it's over, you'll like the Raikage even less.

Oh yeah, a pretty interesting fight coming in chapter 23. Hell, chapters 23-25 will have plenty of interesting stuff.

Here's a list of the cats: names, name meanings, appearance, sex, and where I got the name from.

Name Translation Appearance Sex Name Source

Torikushi Trixie Black Tortoiseshell F My current cat
Gurao Groucho Heavy Black M My brother's cat
Buraan Blanche Orange/White F My first cat
Anri Stanley Black w/ white splotch M My second cat
Tera Stella White/Black F My dad's old cat
Kaelas Kaelas White, 2 black stripes M Dorklotus
Kokou Jaws of Death Gray M Dragon Man 180
Suzu Bell Tabby F harukakanata
Yuki Snow Big and white F LittleShadow
Torafu Tiger Stripes Striped M Dragon Man 180
Nami Wave Orange F LittleShadow
Kikai Strange Splotchy M Akemi
Sen 1000 Black F Just something I thought up
Kouri Ice Blue-gray M Kouri Noyami
Tia Tia Red F The-Black-Prince-Thomas

If anyone wants it, I've got a list of all the arcs in the story, as well as the songs I would choose as their intro/ending themes. Pretty much spoiler free.

This arc is called The Third Vessel: Dragon Exam

The Intro song is Haruka Kanata

The Ending song is Free Will (The Ninth One Piece Ending)