Yo, I'm back and well...one and a half hands can do quite a bit of work when you put your mind to it! I'll explain after the chapter, hope you enjoy!

"Speech"

'Thought'

"Kyuubi"

(Standard Disclaimer)

Chapter 49: Branded

"Ugh...so this is why Obaa-chan hated paperwork," muttered the powerful Hokage as he wrote another of his signatures down on the scroll. He had to agree with Obaa-chan, how did old Sarutobi keep up with this? "Hokage-sama," came a familiar calm voice from the doorway. Naruto looked up to see his newly appointed Jounin, one Onigiri Zaiaku, looking at him with his calm golden eyes.

"And who is it?" Naruto asked as he set down his pen hoping for ANYTHING to distract him from the damned paperwork. "Your wife...and your headache," Zaiaku said with a small smirk. Naruto grinned ear to ear and said, "let them in already!" Zaiaku chuckled to himself and vanished through the huge doors only to be replaced by a shining golden blur.

Naruto's eyes opened wide seconds before he was on the ground behind hugged to death by a small golden one tailed Kitsune boy. He was born from Naruto and Hinata's wedding night, they were just incredibly lucky they guessed. His fur was a rich golden and he had the pale Byakugan eyes of his mother, they were a lovely shade of blue though. Hinata thanked the gods that he refused to wear a bright orange jumpsuit like his father had, instead he wore clothes closer to the Hyuga clan.

"Dad!" howled the young kit happily while Naruto grinned and said, "Kyuubi!" Yes...he had indeed named the young half Kitsune after his dear departed Kitsune sensei. When the village learned of Kyuubi's demise they cheered...until the heard what he died from. There were many who didn't care and celebrated that both the Kyuubi and Orochimaru were knocked off all at once but...there were some who understood. Mostly ninja were the ones that realized what had happened...many of them knew the pain of losing a sensei.

When Naruto named his first born after the beast not many took a liking to it but then again who was going to get on the Hokage's bad side? Kyuubi was a mischief maker, even resurrecting his fathers prank of painting the Hokage monuments...although Naruto's face had a gigantic sign over it that said, 'best one ever!' Naruto enjoyed that so much he had Kyuubi clean that up last. To think the kid was pulling such elaborate pranks at only seven years old.

So many things had happened...one of the things Naruto didn't enjoy was the passing of Hyuga Hiashi. His tenketsu were just to damaged to give him any more life. He had passed away a month after Hinata's wedding, he held on just to see his daughter marry the Hokage. They had the most traditional burial they could, just for his closing act in his life. It was such a solemn occasion but they thought on the brighter side. He didn't want to live in that condition. To feel weak and useless as he was the entire time in the hospital, he was free now.

Jiraiya was still spry for an old man but he was beginning to slow down. He retired a year ago to let his focus revolve around his book and live the rest of his life in ease. He had also been in 'meetings' with the Hokage's advisor, Tsunade. What they spoke of in those meetings was never divulged. Those who were caught spying were either in a massive amount of pain or were gone for weeks on end then returned with no memory of the time they were gone. On a lighter note the two Sannin seemed friendlier to each other now a days.

Tsunade had aged substantionaly and her Genjutsu showed it. She looked less to be in her twenties and began to advance into her thirties. That, however, didn't mean she didn't look scary when pissed. No one dared to anger the old woman, not even Naruto and he had to be the strongest Hokage in history.

Whenever he took his daily breaks he would run into people and learn just a little bit more about the current events in Konoha. Apparently whatever Zaiaku had told Shikamaru had worked and the dark Kazekage allowed Temari to take SHORT visits to Konoha with no real purpose behind them. Those short visits turned into weeks trips. Those weeks trips turned into a month. Before long Naruto had heard rumors of a wedding for the two.

How Temari had managed to get the deer on one knee was beyond him but...he didn't need to know details. Ino seemed to find another target for her love and Chouji found someone, everyone in that team seemed to be doing just fine.

Kiba had found a girl that...well what scared Naruto was that she was just like Kiba. It was done as a good faith marriage to another clan of canine users, not only from Konoha but also from the entire Inuzuka clan. Kiba HATED it, he fought it with all his power and that caused a big uproar. This was something for WOMEN! However in the end he couldn't win against his own clan and the Kitsune Hokage which meant he had to face the music of his bride.

They had fought for an hour and a half...then ended up making out in the middle of a training ground that bore the massive battle scars. How things like that worked Naruto didn't want to know, he had enough problems understanding Shino. Speaking of the bug user...he had a very interesting run in with a girl from Grass village who just happened to use, not destruction bugs...not bees...but spiders.

Naruto was vaguely reminded of that Kidoumaru guy Neji had reported when he got back from the rescue Sasuke mission. Naruto shivered, he didn't want to know about that. Getting off this slightly uncomfortable subject thoughts turned to the Hyuga clan and how it was beginning to flourish. The Hyuga blood spread through those who used to be of the Branch House. As a matter of fact Neji and Tenten were married just last spring, it was such a beautiful ceremony.

Neji was a naturally great leader and Tenten kept a good leash on him so he wouldn't do something over controlling. From the Hyuga's to the new Uchiha family. Dear gods...when Sasuke said he was rebuilding the clan he meant it. After their wedding Sakura gave birth to the first of the new Uchiha breed, a girl with dark hair like her father, young Uchiha Suzume that was just a month younger then Uzumaki Kyuubi.

After that they had a child about every year. They were totaled at six children as it was. Naruto shivered, how Sasuke and Sakura were able to keep up with that PROVED that their ANBU training paid off. They kept up with their kids AND their missions! He had trouble sometimes keeping up with Kyuubi and he was the Hokage! Well it seemed Kyuubi and Suzume got along ok, it even reminded him vaguely of himself and Sasuke. Rivals and yet best friends.

He heard the oddest news from Zaiaku when he came back from his latest diplomatic mission to Suna. Gaara had a girlfriend...and Zaiaku wasn't telling anything beyond that. It drove Naruto up the wall, he had to know! He went on a 'diplomatic' mission to Suna just to find out who this mysterious girlfriend was. Low and behold here was this stunning beauty clinging to the arm of a...SMILING GAARA!

Naruto forced himself not to pass out from surprise and squeezed the story out of Gaara...almost literally! It was a long story but it ended with him finding this 'beautiful diamond in the sands.' How cheesy. Naruto could have thought of that. After some catching up Naruto went back to Konoha, a story up his sleeve for his wife and kit.

Since Zaiaku was now almost his right hand man for matters to the common people of Konoha and other villages Naruto learned a lot about his relationship with Itami. When Zaiaku came in with a grumble and a glare it meant Itami had chewed him out for something, when he came in with a smile and a hum it meant...well that was something best left to the imagination.

Even thought they were never officially married Itami had given birth to a son, his hair a brilliant red and his eyes a vibrant green just like her. As they spoke today Itami was already pregnant with their second child and Zaiaku came in most of the time with a dark glare.

Hinata herself was showing signs of another young one to the litter. Naruto was ecstatic, he was going to have a true family! Even if he was the Hokage and had duties most of the time he always, no matter what, found a way to make time for Hinata and their child even if it meant working harder than he did when he was a Genin.

Naruto had begun training Kyuubi in the minor arts of the Kitsune, something he enjoyed throughly because it meant more tricks up his sleeve. Hinata gave him basic Juken training...then Uncle Neji drove him into the ground with it. He was happy though, he had a nice and big family.

I was a new period for Konoha, a time of complete peace and prosperity.

Hinata and Naruto couldn't be happier, no ninja village dared to attack Konoha with a nine tailed fox as its Hokage. "Dad you should have seen it!" said the small fox child excitedly as his father sat up and put him in his lap. "They chased me for three hours but couldn't get me!" Kyuubi said with pride as he puffed out his chest. "And what did you do this time?" asked Naruto the ghost of a smile on his face.

"He exploded a hot pink paint can over a meeting of Genin," came a soft voice from over the desk. Naruto stood up and brought Kyuubi with him just to see his wife with a small smile on her face. "Hey honey," he said with a grin as he walked around his desk and planted a kiss on her lips which made Kyuubi groan and say, "ew...mom and dad kissing." They parted and laughed while Kyuubi entertained himself by explaining how, in the greatest detail possible, he got the can to explode and cover over a dozen Genin in paint.

Naruto was impressed, but under Hinata's gaze Kyuubi had to be punished. Naruto sighed and said, "sorry but you know how your mom makes the rules." Kyuubi crossed his arms and pouted while Naruto said, "you can't have ramen for a week." Kyuubi rolled his eyes and said, "whoopie..." "And I won't be training you at night either," Naruto said which cause Kyuubi to snap his head up in surprise.

"What! That's not fair!" Kyuubi protested loudly while his father shook his head. "That's my ruling and it stands until you..." Naruto said seconds before he froze. His head turned to the balcony of his office, his tails twitched angrily behind him. "Get behind me now," he said seriously as he watched the window, his blue and golden eyes mere slits. Kyuubi, not wanting to disobey his father, raced to his mothers side and both stood behind Naruto, in his right hand was a burning Rasengan and in his other was his wife's hand. This was not a good sign.

"Can we please," came the low voice, the timber of it sounding like distant thunder. "No," icily whispered the first voices partner. Calmly striding through the streets of Konoha were two figures, both garbed in black cloaks with blood red clouds spotting it randomly. The first voices owner was shorter then the other but was still tall, he looked to be hunched over and his wild yellow hair fell across his back like a lions mane. Peaking above the collar and under the wild hair were two black slit eyes, both looking hungry for destruction.

The second voice was a tall man, his thin cloak proving that he was a lean and muscular being under his cloak. His hair was a cool blue and stuck up in clumps, like frozen icicles fused together. Wrapped around his forehead was the scratched Hitai Ate of the Hidden Mist. His eyes were a pure icy blue and under his right eye was a scar. It led down his cheek and ended in a three pronged snow flake pattern. "Why not," growled the hunched over monster.

"No Banrai," hissed the icy man. The figure addressed as Banrai grinned, several ninja were following them from the roof tops. "How about them Tsurara? Please, just one," Banrai begged, his rolling thunder voice very out of place for his childish pleas. Getting no response at all Banrai grinned but before he could slay anything he stopped and turned with a wide grin. "Is that our target?" Banrai asked, he had just felt a powerful dormant chakra.

"Yes," muttered Tsurara as he held his fingers up to his mouth in a diamond pattern and blew. From Tsurara's lips came a blast of icy wind, enough to knock down a pure steel statue. But that wasn't the true purpose of this movement. With the icy winds came shards of ice, ice crystals several feel long and several feet wide. The shards of ice flew through the air like bullets and in no time they had found their target, the office of the grand Hokage of Konoha.

"Bulls eye, to bad we were only supposed to talk to him," growled Banrai but was silenced easily by a simple hand gesture from Tsurara. "Shut up," whispered Tsurara as he simply stared at the massive ice monuments that skewered the Hokage tower. Without warning one of the ice shards shook...then it groaned from stress...then with a large blast it was reduced to nothing but light sleet that melted in the bright sun.

Naruto snarled, his body radiating power he long kept hidden unless he was within his realm. "Get out of here quick," he said as he stepped to the hole which once held a massive ice shard. "Dad!" Kyuubi said trying to break from his mothers grasp but she held firm, she knew what her husband needed to do, they had been thinking about this day for seven years. "Kit, don't worry," Naruto said turning to his son and wife with a bright smile on his face. "These guys have nothing on your old man," Naruto said seconds before he vanished into a golden blur.

Banrai shivered, this was almost to much excitement than he could handle. He just felt that power spike again, it was a fierce one! It just took one blink, a quarter of a second, and before Tsurara and Banrai was the Hokage of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto grinned and waved his hand saying, "hello and welcome to Konoha. May I ask why you deliberately tried to impale me with those ice shards of yours?"

Tsurara sneered but Banrai grinned and said with his rolling thunder voice, "we've come to speak to the Kyuubi of Konoha. A topic of utmost importance you understand." Naruto's smile vanished and was replaced by a dark glare, "do you want me to kill you here or would you like to be cliche and tell me to meet you somewhere sometime?"

Banrai laughed and drawled, "my aren't you one entertaining demon. You're lucky our leader is a very sporting man, he knows you can kill possibly two of us on your own. However, he is interested in seeing you facing himself...and the rest of us." Naruto growled and said, "kill you now kill you later, it doesn't matter to me."

"Our leader was hoping you would say that. You have five days to prepare, I understand that is a few years time in your little Kitsune realm. Prepare all you like Kyuubi, as of this date I'm personally branding you property of the Akatsuki," said Banrai, his laughing like lightning strikes in a thunderstorm. "What makes you think I won't just bring the fight to your place?" Naruto questioned, his nine tails waving behind him.

"Leader knows you won't abandon Konoha especially if it's in trouble," Banrai said with a grin. Naruto glared, "you harm even one bug in Konoha and I'll rip your throat out." Banrai laughed and responded, "that is why it is so entertaining! Remember Kyuubi, five days...oh and do bring whoever you like. I'm sure the people of this village would love to learn that their great Hokage completely failed in saving even himself."

Naruto stayed calm, his body was wanting to cut their throats right now but he held back. He would get them in time. Banrai turned and began his leave, a sick throaty chuckle emanating from him as he walked. Tsurara merely stared at the Hokage, his icy blue eyes boring into Naruto's golden ringed cerulean pools as if cutting into his very soul with frozen daggers. In a flash Tsurara had turned and left, whatever he needed he had gotten apparently.

Naruto stood there like a statue until the two monsters were out of sight, then shook his head, "oh holy shit."

Naruto sighed, his Hokage cap and robes long gone and replaced by a black shirt embroidered with his Kitsune Realm symbol on his heart and back. He wore black pants and black sandals, his old collar Hitai Ate hanging around his neck with pride. He had put word through the grapevine, Akatsuki was coming. Many became scared and ran, some ninja even turned in their Hitai Ate and proclaimed they wished to quit while they still lived.

It was hard on Naruto, no matter what he did it always seemed like he was going to get the short end of the stick sometime. Was all this bad karma from his inherited body? Damn that would suck if it was. Naruto decided that Konoha would have no part in this, he would face the Akatsuki alone because he was who they were after. Why ruin the peace with his own luggage.

Naruto's hand absent mindedly stroked the hair of his lovely wife by his side. Kyuubi was staying with Uncle Sasuke and Aunt Sakura. He would have a hell of a time with all those little kids around and with his 'greatest rival' Suzume. Then again Kyuubi enjoyed his little sleep overs with the Uchiha family, it gave him something to channel his Kitsune nature into.

Sitting here with Hinata by his side Naruto began to question himself. Why would he waste time and sit here while he could train more? Naruto pondered it and figured out that he was here for the simple reason that this might be the last moment he could spend with his wife in these close quarters.

He had no intention of bringing her in the realm to age for years while he trained. Speaking of which he needed as much as he could if he was facing the ENTIRE Akatsuki alone despite his feelings. "Hinata-chan...I should go," Naruto whispered to which Hinata sadly nodded. Slowly separating Naruto stood and helped Hinata to her feet. Naruto held his hand to the rock cliff side and with one burst of chakra the gates to his realm appeared.

Naruto unlocked the gates and they swung open without a sound. Naruto stared into the bright light that shone from his realm. The green grass was so inviting for nap but he had to train. He had to retrain himself in all of the Kitsune scrolls to see if he missed anything. Naruto turned and gave Hinata one last kiss, both of them relishing the love they shared.

Naruto reluctantly turned away from his love and began to enter his realm. Like lightning he jumped back just in time to avoid a kunai that was aimed for his feet. Naruto spun to face his attackers only to see Sasuke, a smirk on his face and another kunai in his hand. "Dobe, you think you're going to train for the Akatsuki and not invite me?" Sasuke asked while Naruto smirked.

"Well I said that to evacuate Konoha," Naruto said carefully edging his way backwards into his realm. He suddenly bumped into what felt like a shifting wall covering solid brick. Naruto turned to see a wall made of sand and coins blocking him. Naruto blinked and looked down the stream of coins and sand that led to the Kazekage and Zaiaku.

"Oh come on, is everyone against me?" Naruto asked while he scratched the back of his head. "Why didn't you send for assistance when you encountered the Akatsuki?" Gaara asked with his normal stoic expression locked on his face. "Look, I probably do need all of your help but..." Naruto said trailing off. He sighed and continued, "this is something really big. This is the Akatsuki and it is life threatening."

"So what does it matter! The glorious flames of youth will prevail! You have beaten them before have you not?" came the voice of none other then Konoha's own Rock Lee as he appeared from a blur at Sasuke's side. "Well...we have but," Naruto began but was cut off by Sasuke. "What but? If you defeated one of them before then they are still human. Even if they have no humanity left in them they are still mortal," Sasuke said as he twirled the Kunai in his hand.

"Why the hell do you want to help me?" Naruto asked while looking around at all of them, Hinata by his side watching this little display. Gaara was the first to speak as he said, "they have done something to me that I can never forgive. They killed me to obtain that demented Shukaku from me. They nearly destroyed Suna to do it too, as Kazekage I cannot let that go unpunished." Gaara's sand shifted around him, resting him in the shadows and making him seem so much darker.

"I owe you my life," Sasuke said as he spun the Kunai on his finger. "I owe you for saving my sanity, my love life, and for giving me these eyes," Sasuke said as he briefly activated his Mangekyou for show. "Defeating these morons would be a pleasure," Sasuke said with a grin spread across his face. The Kunai he held he threw to the ground and it stuck, showing how powerful his resolve was to the cause.

"I have not been able to aid you before and I want to make up for it," Lee said his arms crossed over his chest. "I may have not been your closest friend in the past but I am sure I can still help you as a normal friend. I am a ninja of Konoha after all, I must do whatever I can to aid the youthful Hokage!" Lee said energetically while Naruto smiled.

Lee had to have one of the better records on file. His missions were always carried out with gusto and he always obeyed Naruto's orders for every missions, right down to the T. Other than that Naruto hadn't gotten a chance to actually talk to Fuzzy Brows. Naruto decided that he really should get to know the Green Beast of Konoha when they had the chance.

"I want to help," came the calm and cool voice of Zaiaku next to Gaara. "I see that the head of the Hyuga clan is absent, I went to his residence to ask his assistance but he had to decline. He could not abandon his clan for more then a day let alone take on this mission lest the clan fall."

Zaiaku continued with, "I went to Aburame residence to question Shino but he as well as Inuzuka Kiba were not home, they had gone on good faith missions to Grass. Shika-Ino-Cho were in a similar condition. All of the Kunoichi willing to help were unable to do so because of...conditions."

Zaiaku straightened up and looked at the powerhouses that surrounded him, "I may not be up to par with all of you but I intend to prove my worth as a ninja of Konoha." Naruto smirked and said, "I'm not going to convince you guys otherwise am I?" All of those surrounding him and Hinata shook their heads in a negative which caused him to smile. "Alright get in before I change my mind," Naruto said which made the others vanish into Naruto's realm.

"Be careful," Hinata said as she stared into the realm. Naruto smirked and said, "don't worry about it Hinata-chan. If something does happen I know you're strong enough to protect the Kitsune clan of Konoha without a problem right?" Hinata nodded with a smile, she loved her husband because even after all this time he gave her hope and inspiration.

"I should head to Sakura-chan's house and talk to her about the healing Jutsu we found in Suna," Hinata commented as if it were no big deal. "Yeah, she'll flip at it. I should get going, see you in a few years," Naruto said with a smile as he left a lingering kiss on Hinata's lips and vanished into his realm.

Hinata sighed as she watched Naruto's realm gate vanish into nothingness, he always has to have the last word! Hinata shook her head and started her way to the Uchiha unaware of the ice cold eyes staring her into the great abyss of hell. "Death," came the icy whisper on the wind seconds before the eyes vanished leaving Konoha to live in peace for five more days.

End Chapter

Sorry if this chapter isn't all that good...only got one and a half hands and a quarter of an imagination right now. Q and A time!

Q: What happened last chapter?

A: I got that fuzzy feeling...sorry.

Q: Fess up, what happened to your hand?

A: ...table saw...no splitter...kick back...blade...hand...it's all very complicated and embarassing. Let's just say it hurt alot.

For being so long that was quick. I'd like to thank all of you for your get well reviews and I'll be working the best I can with my one and a half hand to get a new chapter out ASAP! Later all! Peace!