The next morning Naruto got up and got ready for the big announcement.
" Well guess I'll go and find Gaara and the others and see if they'll come. I wonder where they've been?" Naruto said
He knew the Suna Sib's were staying at Tsunade's house, but most of the time they never saw them and when he did they were leaving to go train, so today Naruto was surprised to find them in the backyard practicing.
" Hey Guys." Naruto said waving to them
Temari and Kankurou stopped their spar at Naruto's voice.
" Naruto we didn't wake you did we?" Temari asked concerned
Naruto looked into the sky where the sun was, " Iie, normally I get up earlier than this. I need to ask you three something. But first I want to know where you've been?"
" I thought it'd be best to stay out of your problem Naruto. Suna had to deal with Shukaku, so Konoha need to deal with Kyubi." Gaara said
" Yeah bro said to leave you all alone, so we were out practicing mostly. Though I think Temari might have made a few trips to the Nara compound too." Kankurou said smiling and then receiving a fan to his head.
" Oh ok, so would you want to come with me and the others today?" Naruto asked
" What's going on today?" Temari asked
Naruto opened his mouth, but Gaara answered, " You're going to tell them."
Naruto nodded to Gaara's words.
" Yeah we're going to tell them about the absorption and Otou-san, so I don't have to walk around using Henge all the time. Also with Oba-chan saying I'm the next Hokage I'll have to have the villagers trust or I'll never be a great Hokage like Otou-san was." Naruto said
" Well you won't have to worry about that." Temari said smiling
Naruto looked at her confused.
" From what Shikamaru has said you're equal with the Yondaime right now and you're not even Jounin, so you'll be a great Hokage." Temari finished
Naruto smiled at her, " Arigatou Temari, so will you come?"
" I'm going. I don't want to miss the villagers having heart attacks for anything." Kankurou said
" Kankurou SHUT UP! Of course we will come Naruto." Temari said after hitting Kankurou again with her fan
Naruto looked over at Gaara he knew the Kazekage didn't want to get involved, but Naruto was like him. Gaara finally nodded to Naruto and Naruto smiled even wider.
" Great the announcement is this morning at 9, but Oba-chan wants us to meet earlier to make sure everything's alright. So be there at 8:30." Naruto said
The three nodded and Temari and Kankurou resumed their spar as Gaara watched and Naruto went back inside to wake up Yuuzyou and have breakfast.
As Naruto headed back to his room after his morning shower he got dressed in a black t-shirt with his Chuunin vest over top of it and blue ninja cargos. He went over to wake Yuuzyou up. He had moved the kit to the end of the bed when he returned home last night and there he still was, but instead curled up in a ball. He was on his back with his paws and tails spread every which way.
Reminds me of how I sleep. Naruto thought
He reached over and petted Yuuzyou on his stomach, which created a smile on the foxes face. Naruto then gently shook Yuuzyou and finally woke him up.
" Yuuzyou come on you've slept long enough. If you sleep any longer you're going to miss breakfast." Naruto said
That woke the kit up instantly and he was on his paws with drool hanging out his mouth
" Foooood." Yuuzyou said
Naruto started to laugh at this, Now if I could get him to try Ramen.
Naruto turned to leave grabbing his Hokage jacket and backpack. Stuffing the jacket in his backpack. Yuuzyou then jumped on Naruto's shoulder and rode him to the kitchen.
" Ohayou Mina" Yuuzyou said seeing the food
He jumped off Naruto's shoulder and headed to a plate filled with bacon and sausage on the floor. Luckily Tonton was sick and hadn't seen the breakfast Jiraiya had made this morning. As Yuuzyou started eating Naruto and the adults started talking.
" So are you ready Otouto?" Tsunade asked
" As ready as I'm going to be. I just hope this doesn't go bad." Naruto said
" I'm sure everything will be fine Naruto-kun." Shizune said
Jiraiya snorted, " I still say be ready to have a lot of patients in today with heat attacks."
Tsunade whacked him upside the head, " Will you stop with the heart attack scenario. Nobody will be sent to the hospital, so stop saying baka things." Tsunade said
Naruto chuckled at Tsunade and Jiraiya fighting, I wonder if they've always been like this or if this is a thing they've started since we brought Oba-chan back. Naruto thought
The rest of their breakfast was relatively quiet, except for the numerous smacks upside Jiraiya's head for trying to do inappropriate things with his hands.
Man you'd think Ero-sennin would learn after the first time. Naruto thought
They cleared the table and Shizune washed the dished as the others finished getting ready. Naruto who had been ready sat in a chair in the living room with Yuuzyou on his lap waiting for the others.
Once the three adults were ready they left and headed to the Hokage Tower, where the announcement was going to be made. Naruto looked up into the sky noticing how nice it was. There were a number of clouds in the sky, but nothing to worry about.
" Bet Shikamaru is cloud gazing with Choji right now." Naruto said out loud
" Probably." A voice from behind him said
Naruto turned to look and the Suna Sib's were walking up to them.
" Temari are you going to go find him?" Naruto asked
" Iie, I called Mr. Crybaby and he's suppose to meet me at the Hokage Tower, so if he's late he's going to meet my fan up close and personal." Temari said patting her fan that was on her back
Naruto grew worried as Kankurou rubbed his head from where Temari had hit him numerous times earlier that morning.
" So Naruto how much longer will you have to keep the Henge up?" Temari asked
" Hopefully once we tell them today what has happened I can keep it off from now on. It hardly uses up any of my chakra it's just a pain in the ass to have to use It." Naruto said
" HAI, but for now it's needed." Tsunade said
" I know, I know." Naruto said back to her
Yuuzyou then jumped off Naruto's shoulder and started to runoff.
" Yuuzyou?" Naruto asked
The kit stopped and looked back
" Yuuzyou where are you going?" Naruto asked
" I'm going to go play with some friends Naruto-sama. I'll be careful." Yuuzyou said
" Alright, but remember to watch out for the poachers traps. There still might be some hidden in the unprotected area of the forest." Naruto said
" Hai!" Yuuzyou said and ran into the forest
" Why would there be poacher traps in the woods?" Kankurou asked
" Many of the villagers in Konoha hate kitsunes so much so that they place traps in Konoha Forest to catch them or kill them." Tsunade said sadly
" I guess it would be the same with Suna long ago if we had Tanuki." Temari spoke looking at Gaara
Gaara nodded that she was probably right. The cork to his gourd then came off and all of it trickled on to the ground till it surrounded Gaara's feet. As soon as it was there it was gone. In a moment a number of large waves came back to Gaara with the tops engorged with something. As the sand started to form back into his gourd to other saw the object had been a number of bear traps. Most were still open not being set off and others were shut stained with blood.
" Gaara?" Naruto asked
" Shukaku said he could only tell of one trap with kitsune blood on it. The rest are of other forest animals." Gaara spoke
" But how?" Naruto asked
" Any ground has sand in it. It's just deep underneath of us. If I use Shukaku's sand and mix it with normal sand I can control the sand in a wide area. Now you don't have to worry about that kit or any other kitsunes getting hurt for these horrible devises." Gaara said
Naruto smiled at him, " Arigatou Gaara." Gaara nodded
" Well can we get going now or do you want us to be late?" Jiraiya asked
" Hai, Hai, but what about the traps?" Naruto asked
" Goukyuu no Jutsu" Jiraiya spoke as the metal traps were set in fire and started to melt from the intense heat
" THERE! Now can we go?" Jiraiya said
Naruto nodded and the group walked off to the Hokage Tower.
As they got to the tower Naruto saw all of his friends were already waiting for them at the front door. Hinata came up to him and kissed him on the cheek.
" Ready?" Hinata asked
" As ready as I'm going to be." Naruto replied
Most hadn't noticed the backpack Naruto was carrying, but a certain lazy genius did.
" Naruto what's in the bag?" Shikamaru asked
" Nooothing." Naruto said
Tsunade eyed him, " Otouto what's in there?"
" Oba-chan there nothing in here." Naruto said hoping she'd believe him
As Jiraiya looked at the bag he noticed it wasn't fully zipped and the object in the bag could be seen, it was white.
" Gaki you brought the jacket?" Jiraiya asked
" I thought I told you…" Tsunade said
" Demoooo, Oba-chan if we're going to tell them about Otou-san we should tell them about you choosing me as the next Hokage." Naruto protested
" Gaki, Tsunade is right about this one. I think that it's best left told for another day and leave that in the bag you brought it in." Jiraiya said
Naruto glared at him angrily that he couldn't show the villagers finally. A hand touched his shoulder and it was Sasuke.
" Naruto they need time to adjust to the news you're going to tell them today. It might hit them hard and you telling them this will make it hard on Hokage-sama to actually make you Hokage." Sasuke said
Naruto looked at him and saw the reasoning in his words, " Alright." Naruto said
" Good now lets head up to may office." Tsunade said
As the group got into Tsunade's office she turned to talk to them and caught Naruto with the jacket now on.
" OTOUTO!" Tsunade shouted
" Demoooo Oba-chan." Naruto wined
Naruto then received a smack upside the head, " ITAI! Sakura-chan that hurt."
" Well maybe it knocked some sense into you. Tsunade-sensei, Jiraiya-sama, and Sasuke-kun all told you to wait. So why are you causing trouble?" Sakura said
Naruto started at Sakura, " Because it's my choice and I want to wear it." Naruto said defiantly
Sakura rolled her eyes at Naruto childish behavior, " Hinata he's your boyfriend try to reason with him." Sakura said
Hinata looked at Sakura surprised and then at Naruto, who was glaring at Sakura now. He didn't like her bringing Hinata into this conversation. Naruto was still glaring at Sakura when Hinata started to try and get his attention.
" Naruto-kun." Hinata spoke, but Naruto still glared at Sakura.
" Naruto-kun." Hinata said a little louder, but still didn't look at her
Hinata was getting a little annoyed that Naruto wasn't paying attention.
" Naruto!" Hinata said louder
Most of the others now were surprised Naruto still wasn't reacting to Hinata calling him. Hinata for the first time in her life was getting angry that Naruto was ignoring her and it was getting on her last nerve. Finally she had it
" UZUMAKI NARUTO YOU WILL LOOK AT ME!" Hinata shouted
Naruto looked at her surprised by her tone and volume in her voice. Everyone else was also surprised that 1. Hinata could shout and 2. She had gotten man at Naruto.
Oh my god I just shouted at Naruto-kun. Hinata thought
" Hinata-chan?" Naruto questioned shocked at her tone
Hinata was still breathing hard from being angry. She then put out her hand opened and looked at him angrily.
" Give me!" Hinata said
Naruto looked at her upset, " Hinata-cha…"
" Don't Hinata-chan me! Give it!" Hinata said
Naruto sighed in defeat.
He took off the jacket and placed it in Hinata's hand. She took it and handed it to Tsunade, who hung it beside of her Hokage rode.
" Now that that's taken care of lets head out to go tell the villagers the reason why we gathered them." Tsunade said
" Well I'll see you all later." Jiraiya said
" Ero-sennin where are you going?" Naruto questioned
" I need to do some things I'll be back in a little bit." Jiraiya said as he left
" Sukebe." Naruto and Tsunade said
Everyone nodded and followed Tsunade out on the balcony.
Naruto and the others stayed back as Tsunade went forward to address the villager below. Naruto then looks up into the sky.
I feel something strange, but everything looks fine. Naruto thought
Gaara saw Naruto looking up and also felt something was amiss.
" Naruto do you feel that?" Gaara asked
Naruto looked at Gaara, " You feel it too?" Naruto asked and Gaara nodded
" Everyone I want to thank you for coming on such short notice and so early in the morning. The reason I called you here is I have some important information to tell you about…" Tsunade announced, but was interrupted by a claps of thunder
Everyone looked up into the sky to see it turn from sky blue to black as night. On top of that the bright morning sun turned from yellow to blood red.
" KYUBI!" a voice said from high above
Everyone looked up to see a silhouette on the head of the Yondaime on Hokage Monument. Few could make out who it was, but Naruto could.
" Itachi." growled Naruto
When Sasuke heard his brother's name he looked up at the silhouette angrily too.
" Kyubi why don't you show then the true you or are you scare?" Itachi asked
Naruto moved forward, but Itachi disappeared from his sight and then reappeared with a struggling Tsunade in his arms.
" LET HER GO ITACHI!" Naruto shouted
Itachi was having trouble-holding Tsunade.
" Izanagi no Fuujin." Itachi said
With that the loose rocks around them rose up and surrounded Tsunade and created a ring around her upper torso. She tried to spread her arms to break the rock prison, but it was useless.
" It's no use Hokage-sama, the Izanagi no Fuujin is an unbreakable seal. The only one that can release it is the one that placed it or by the death of the one that placed it."
Tsunade glare at Itachi while he looked back down at Naruto.
" So Naruto-kun how have you been? It's been while since I've seen you." Itachi said
" Itachi I repeat let Oba-chan go!" Naruto said angrily jumping on the railing of the balcony
Naruto then heard some sounds behind him and when he looked back he saw a number of ninjas in black and red had captured all of his friends including Akamaru, who had what looked like a leash made out of chakra around his neck. Naruto was surprise he wasn't struggling or trying to help Kiba.
" As I see it Naruto-kun you have two choices." Itachi said smiling
Naruto looked back at him filling with rage and releasing the Henge. This caused a number of the villagers to gasp at his appearance.
" 1. You can some up here and save the Hokage from being killed since you couldn't save Sarutobi and were the cause of the Yondaime's death…" Itachi said pausing, " … or 2. You can go and try to save your friends."
Naruto looked between Tsunade and his friends not knowing what to do.
Chikusyou, what do I do. I don't want Oba-chan to be killed, but I don't want my friends hurt either. Naruto thought
It was then Naruto heard a scream and looked back to see the ninja that had been holding Sasuke was on the ground dead and a very angry Mangekyou using Sasuke walking towards Naruto.
" Sasuke what did you do to him?" Naruto asked
" It's like a version of your Gingatsu, but make them view their worst nightmare." Sasuke said
Flashback
Sasuke saw Naruto looking between them and Tsunade and he also saw the conflict in the boy's eyes.
Great Itachi knew just what to do. We're all important to the dope that if he chooses one and the other gets hurt he'll feel responsible later. On top of doing this in front of the villagers, so they see his new appearance before everything's explained. I need to get out of this baka ninja's grasp, but how? Sasuke thought
Sasuke then remembered a Gen-jutsu Orochimaru had thought him
Never thought I'd be grateful he taught me this. Sasuke thought
Sasuke activated the Mangekyou and used his one free hand and made the appropriate seals.
And I'm glad I learned one-handed seals too. Sasuke thought
As low as he could speak Sasuke spoke the jutsu, " Akumu no Zigoku."
Feeling Sasuke moving the ninja tightened his grip on him, but he felt something funny along with losing sight of his fellow ninjas. It wasn't until the whole place was pitch black that the ninja started to worry. Sasuke head then turned to look at the man with one eye.
" You'll regret capturing me." Sasuke said
" SHUT UP!" the ninja spoke
But at that moment the skin around Sasuke's visible eyes started to peel revealing a snake's eye. Then man's eyes widened at what he was seeing and his grip loosened on Sasuke. Sasuke's whole face was turned towards the man now and he could see it was all peeling away revealing the face of a snake underneath. The man stopped holding Sasuke as he started to back away from him. The creature then turned completely around and when he did this the body of the snake formed. The ninja looked up at the snake that towered above him fear holding him in place. The snake tongue flicked in the air as it looked down at the tiny ninja. It smiled and then opened it jaws wide and they came down over he ninja. Before they closed the ninja screamed.
End Flashback
" What was it?" Naruto asked
Sasuke shrugged, " It's different for each person you use it on, but if not released it will kill the person." Sasuke said
" He taught it to you didn't he?" Naruto asked knowing Sasuke knew whom he meant
Sasuke nodded, " The only good reason about being with him for nearly three years. You take care of our friends. I'll deal with Itachi."
Naruto looked at Sasuke, " Are you sure you can handle him?" Naruto asked
" Dope just go and help Sakura and the others." Sasuke said jumping up to where Itachi was with Tsunade
Naruto turned to help his friends, but the ninjas were gone along with them.
" They had to run away didn't they?" Naruto said
In the far distance he could see their figures jumping from rooftop to rooftop and then going over the gate walls and heading into the forest.
" Bad move bakas. The forest it my territory." Naruto said smiling as he rushed off after them
Back on top of the monument Sasuke was facing Itachi
" Otouto so you finally wish to try and go against me again?" Itachi asked
" This time you will die Itachi! You've grown weak, where I have grown strong." Sasuke said
" With Orochimaru's help?" Itachi asked sarcastically
" Iie, with the help of Konoha and my friends." Sasuke said and Tsunade smiled at his remark
Sasuke you are a true Uchiha and will be able to bring pride back to the Uchiha name. Tsunade thought
Sasuke stood straight with one arm to his side and the other extended with his palm up and hand bent slightly. Itachi just stood there with a relaxed stance. The two stood waiting for the other to make the first move. It started suddenly when Itachi rushed forward as Sasuke now moved hair flying in the wind. Sasuke in mid run pulled out a kunai as the two collided the rocks on the ground shook from then impact. As Tsunade watched Itachi stopped the hand Sasuke had the kunai in and was gripping Sasuke wrist, so the kunai could not progress any further and make contact with his shoulder.
" So what Otouto? You think if you can immobilize my arms you will be able to beat me?" Itachi asked
" Iie, I was actually aiming for you're heart, but decided to make you death long and agonizing." Sasuke said
He then twisted his body and was able to get out of Itachi's grip and skidded back a few feet to gain some distance between him and his brother again.
Mina – Everyone
Goukyuu no Jutsu – Grand Fireball
Izanagi no Fuujin – Seal of Izanagi
Akumu no Zigoku – Hell's Nightmare
