Naruto: Shoton of Konoha

by Arch-Daishou00

: For Stormy Rebel, miss you, Joachim, and thank you: "By the actions of the traitor Mizuki. Naruto awakens a rare Kekkei Genkai. And his path has now changed. And in the darkness awakens an ancient threat more terrifying than the Akatsuki, which only stirs thought of myths from a lost and forgotten age." : huge world expansion story, OC. Co-Author: Etheral-23

39. Heirs of the Namikaze

Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto

Co-author and Beta: Etheral-23

Chapter 39: Heirs of the Namikaze

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A long groan escaped Kushina's lips as she stretched while strolling through the village. Three missions in on day, not that she'd complain given the state of things. But seriously, her mother knew how to keep people busy. A supply drop at one of their outposts, two hours of overseeing maintenance on the village wall, and finally a joint search with the ANBU through one of Danzo's hideouts. Getting back home, having a shower and changing into civilian wear never felt so good.

Would have been nicer however if Samenosuke hadn't try sneaking a peek on her while bathing. Perv kept smiling despite the righteous ass kicking he got.

That little detail out of the way, the former ANBU captain roamed the village. One was reason to burn off the excess energy she had, the other was looking for her demon hunting cousin who had been scarce all day. Lyn usually came for breakfast at her house, but not today. Given what happened the other day it wasn't like Lyn didn't have a reason for being by herself. And despite the spat and fight they had, Kushina was worried about her.

Luckily a chunin had directed her to the training grounds where he had seen the buxom redhead had been there for half of the day. A battle cry drew her attention to an open field where Lyn was practicing katas with her naginata. Her moves were sloppy, too full of anger, but she kept going through them. But more over; "Your running yourself ragged Lyn." Kushina quipped with her hands on her hips.

"Oh piss off Kushi! A girl can vent can't she!?"

Oh Kushina was very much aware of that. She used to take out her frustrations on the poor training field (more than once it needed to be remade by jutsu after she was done) but it wasn't until she was forced to take some anger management classes (with varied results) that she found knitting actually suited her just fine to keep her temper in check.

There were days she could knit as much as a circus tent sometimes...

But she doubted anything other than imagining she was killing something would help Lyn right now. Well, Kushina had come here for a reason, swearing to keep her anger in check and not let anything Lyn would say get to her, her cousin really needed a sympathetic ear right now.

"Are you really going to let things end like this between you two?"

The naginata stopped, cutting the air with a metallic ring. Lyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her words coming out filled with frustration, anger and sadness. "Ain't much left I can do, not when I already tried so much..."

Kushina honestly couldn't understand how Lyn and Kya had fallen for each other, the two were just so different, and that was saying something considering her own history with Minato. "What drove you two to be together in the first place?"

"Sheer stubbornness on my part for one" Lyn said; planting her naginata on the ground, heaving a sigh as sweat dripped from her forehead. "We kept running into each other until we just stayed by the other's side" She let out a humorless laugh, "Have no idea what she saw in me..."

Kushina pursed her lips, "And what did you see in her?"

"Ahhh" Lyn let out a pleasant sound, throwing her head back as if enjoying a refreshing breeze. "She doesn't show it, but she's very passionate you know? About the things that are important to her. Kya... she has a beautiful soul" Her smile shrunk a little, "A hurt soul I wanted to heal"

And whatever happened to said Namikaze in question left her closed off from everyone. Karin had mentioned she felt something akin to a wall when it came from Kya. The empathic Uzumaki felt really sad for the older woman to be so distant from everyone. Yet despite that Lyn literally put herself in Kya's life to help her. "For years I tried and tried and tried to get Kya to open up. Show the real her that she hides away." Lyn paused as her voiced crack a little; "You want to know just how beautiful her smile is? It was like the looking at the sun but having no glare. Warm, brilliant, breathtaking."

Sympathy adorned Kushina's eyes as heard the pain through the words. 'You really loved the woman didn't you?' Of course she did, Lyn would have never let Kya into her life so much if she hadn't fallen head over heels for her.

Lyn peered over to her cousin; "But she chose to run away. That she had to remove herself from distractions to fulfill her clan's legacy. Complete bullshit!" The buxom redhead slumped to the ground cross legged as her weapon stayed put. "I gave her my heart and soul Kushi." She spoke as her cousin sat down beside her; "She knows things about me not even Saito or Samenosuke know of. I tried so damn hard because I knew there is an amazing person behind all that pain."

And in the end Kya was still too afraid...

"I know you think there's not much else you can do" Kushina slowly shook her head, "But I don't believe that. You tried to open her heart? Well, I think you should show her yours first"

"Pfft" She wild maned woman scoffed, "I told her I love her so many times before-"

"More than that" The shinobi cut her off, her words filled with passion. "Let her know how life without her feels empty. How much you need her as much as she needs you" She held Lyn's hand tightly, "Relationships is a two way street, trust me, it's not just you trying to help her, she completes you, I can see it"

Her cousin remained silent, starting directly into Kushina's eyes.

"You didn't survive all this time by giving up"

"...No, no I didn't" Lyn replied, her voice swelling with newfound determination. "I survived Uzu's fall. I survived wandering through the lands. And I met the love of my life in that crazy, painful and wonderful journey" Her smile became so wide it threatened to split her face. "I ain't giving up, not now, not ever"

Kushina smiled with great joy, feeling closer to Lyn than she had in a long time, back when they were kids.

"Should we hug?" Kushina proposed.

"Nnnnno, I don't think so"

"Oh thank the gods" She sighed in relief.

The two actually shared a laugh at that. They cared for each other, but they were as still stubborn as they come.

Lyn stood up, patting the dirt and grass off her pants. "You know, you don't have to continue like this Kushi"

Kushina looked up at her in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Being a ninja" Lyn held up her hands the moment a deep frown marred Kushina's face. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said the other time okay. But... I still believe I had a point. We're Tsukiko's granddaughters for gods' sake; we're meant to do more"

"Lyn, I..." Kushina murmured as she stood; "I wouldn't even know where to start. After Uzu and becoming a Jinchurriki I devoted everything to become a ninja." The former ANBU casted her eyes to the ground; "And I did it for the reasons Baachan always told us never to do. Between my days in ANBU and the Third Shinobi War I've done things out of blind vengeance and hate. I almost became a real monster Lyn." She looked her cousin in the eye. "You really think someone like me can be like Baachan? I'm not… I'm not 'righteous'"

A stern gaze came from her cousin; "You were given a second chance because of Baachan's seal. You're alive Kushi. Whatever you did back in those days are done. You're remorseful, that is enough. Same calls you our princess because that is who you are. You are the princess of Uzushio, and you can be more than just some sexy badass kunoichi."

The former jinchuuriki remained silent for a moment before cracking a wry grin, "An actual compliment from you?"

"Well not sexier than me. Though I would still like to know how you hide those tits of yours."

Kushina smirked; "Kunoichi trade secret."

"Whatever," Lyn rolled her eyes; "I stand by my words."

The former ANBU grunted; "I'll... figure something out. Might do that once Naruto does too." She grinned; "Feel better now?"

"Yeah. But still feel like hitting something." She pulled out a scroll; "might as well let him out for a bit."

Kushina didn't have to wait long to find what she meant by 'him', when Lyn simply threw the scroll over the fill, this one opening and revealing its sealing matrix. Once it hit the ground Lyn prompted its release.

A burst of smoke wasn't the only thing to come out of the seal, Kushina found out the moment she heard a monstrous roar. From smoke emerged a giant beast, bipedal and wearing animal furs as a skirt, hinting that it was smart. Blue skin, a large gut, it's upper body covered in muscles, the thing had to be at least ten feet tall, with a fanged mouth, long tusks, its face was one not even a mother would love.

It growled the moment it saw Kya, stomping the ground in rage with hate in its eyes.

"What the fuck is that?!" Kushina shouted, backing away.

"Just some ogre I captured once. Let him out once in a while for training" Lyn said, placing on hand on her shoulder and rotating her arm to stretch. "I call him Dum-Dum"

As Kushina watched Uzumaki and ogre charging at each other, the former leaping in the air to deliver a devastating knee attack at the monster's face, she was briefly reminded about the Doki demons she had captured from the girl who served Orochimaru.

She really needed to ask Lyn some advice regarding what to do with them.

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Though the chirping of the birds and the gentle rays of the sun presented a very soothing and calm atmosphere for the two travelers on the road, the truth is that the air between them was anything but.

Naruto wasn't used to silent company. Well, that was not entirely accurate being on a team with people like Sasuke and Kakashi, but even then he managed to get some bouts of conversation with the latter, and there was always Sakura to fill in the silence. But this was different, especially because Naruto really wanted to get something, anything, out of his fellow Namikaze so he could understand her more.

If he was going to convince Kya to stay with them, he'd have to get her to open up. Now, Naruto was confident on his chances given he got GAARA of all people to turn his life around. Though situation wasn't the same he could count on it being much easier.

At least he wouldn't have to fight a Bijuu...

"Soooo" Naruto started, yet again, asking question. "I take it you weren't just born knowing about our clan. Someone must have taught you"

"My parents did" Kya curtly said.

"Cool," The younger blond grinned; "What were they like?"

"The Namikaze are a nomadic semi-tribal clan who has always been in-tuned with nature. As a whole we never settled anywhere and roamed throughout the nations since the warring clans' era. My parents told me the Namikaze never started from one person, but several. Individuals who sought harmony and balance with nature and the world."

'And she completely avoided my question.' Naruto deadpanned with a twitching eye. But he still listened to the history lesson being told since there was practically next to NOTHING about the Namikaze back in Konoha. Seriously his dad and his parents (his grandparents) lived there and nobody felt the urge to take down some notes!? "You told me once the Namikaze do have scrolls and books. But no library or anything?"

Kya shook her head; "No, we never were ones to house things in one place. We do have archivists, but finding them is beyond rare since they are always on the move. However they will not hold all of our history, more like some of it while another holds the other and so on. Safer that way."

"Did the Namikaze have enemies?"

"Some, but it was more of people wanting our secrets of Senjutsu."

"Ohhh right, the sage thing" The whiskered blonde said. "Yeah mom told me about it, how that Tsukiko woman was a sage. Oh and Ero-sennin too is a sage."

Kya ignored the title he had given the sannin (Though if she was honest, the man more than had earned it). "Some learn senjutsu by being taught by the animal clans, as their people are far more in tuned with natural energies than us humans. Others learn it through spiritual enrichment and working to stablish a greater connection to the world around them, that is the path our clan choose, the one I walk" There was no mistaking the pride in her voice.

Yeah, the same path that lead her to leave Lyn a heartbroken mess. Naruto bit back that criticism he so desperately wanted to throw in her face, knowing it wouldn't help matters. Instead, he asked;

"So how far along are you?"

Not the first time that day, Kya fell silent. But Naruto saw the twitch in her hands, the way her gaze hardened as she stared down the road. It was over in a second, but the frustration she showed in that moment told Naruto far more than any words could.

They continued in silent, much to his own annoyance.

Kya chose to be an enigma. But she was one that Naruto was determined to figure out.

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The night sky dazzled with stars and the moon above as the two made camp for the night. Naruto, true to the Uzumaki in his blood kept pestering his fellow Namikaze to learn more about her. And she had either diverted it to more Namikaze history or straight up went silent. This has been driving him utterly bonkers, not helped that Kurama got a laugh out of it.

So now the young blond sat by the campfire with several clones on guard. Kya had only raised a brow about that but agreed it never hurt to be cautious. After finishing up their meals the older Namikaze went to bed while Naruto went over some Fūinjutsu scrolls from his mother. 'Besides my dad, you ever heard anything about the Namikaze?' He openly asked his Bijuu. Of course he knew he'd likely get a snarky retort or silence but from the frustration he had dealing with Kya he was desperate.

"Before that wretched Uchiha bound me to his Genjutsu I paid no attention to humans and their goings on. So no, I know little of your clan" Naruto's eyes flew wide as he actually had gotten a cordial response, well, cordial given the Bijuu's standards; "You let me roam out of that damn cage brat, I can be civil at least once a day with you." Kurama snorted as he sensed his jailer's shock. "Don't expect it to be often."

'S-sure...' His thoughts were interrupted by a noise coming from the tent beside him. Leaning a bit forward he could see Kya shuffling on her bedroll. 'Is she having a dream?'

"Nightmare by the way it sounds."

His blue eyes softened in concerned. What could give Kya of all people nightmares? The woman was always so closed off, he had no idea what would be so horrifying to her that it manifested in her dreams.

Maybe... that was the reason. Whatever tormented Kya so to follow her in her slumber was what she kept hidden? He did remember Lyn saying that whatever happened to Kya in her past was her own business, something she didn't just share to other people like that.

Naruto wished there was a way to understand what she was going through, to give her the sympathetic hand she clearly needed but refused.

'Hey can't you feel emotions and stuff?' He asked his tenant, recalling the things he learnt from his mother, who in turn learnt from Mito Uzumaki. Knowing exactly what Kya was feeling would be of great help, and it wouldn't be an invasion of privacy like, say, reading her mind would be.

"Negative emotions, kit" the fox replied. "Aggression, hatred, anything related to evil. Pain gets close, but I can't feel that properly. Unless you're naturally a full empath, you'd need to form a chakra link with her to feel what she feels"

'A chakra what now?'

"That's complicated stuff, but let's just say not everyone would want that, least of all her"

Naruto turned his gaze at the shivering form of Kya once more, hearing the soft groans, she sounded like she was in pain...

He couldn't force someone to open up like that, so all he could do was just try harder. He promised he'd bring Kya back to Konoha, to Lyn, so the two could be happy together. And he never went back on his promises.

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When morning dawned the two blondes had a small breakfast and resumed their journey. And like before it was a mostly silent walks save for Naruto trying to speak with his fellow Namikaze. And said older blonde avoiding his questions for minor history lessons on their nomadic clan. However today the Jinchurriki did take note the distance in Kya's voice. As if her mind was elsewhere and not fully paying attention to anything.

"Were you having a nightmare last night?" Naruto's question seemed to make the buxom blond freeze for a moment before resuming walking.

She did not even bother sparing him a glance, and Naruto realized he'd once more stumbled upon one of the many subjects Kya did not want to talk about. After thinking for a moment, he came up with another thing that would shed some light on her.

"So, how did you and Lyn began traveling together?" He asked, and the shaggy haired Namikaze gave him an exasperated look. "I mean, come on, you two are like salt and sugar... You're the sugar by the way" He added in a completely dry tone.

Kya rolled her blue eyes, "Believe me, I was just as surprised"

"I bet she annoyed the hell out of you"

"Oh she did" Naruto bit back a grin at getting her to speak at last. "At first I wanted nothing to do with her, yet somehow, beyond all logic and reason, we kept running into each other. Our paths and goals coinciding very often" She let out a soft breath, "That and there was Lyn's insistence to take into account, that woman is as stubborn as a bull" She dryly glared down to Naruto; "Something the Uzumaki are rather famous for, and you seem to have gotten that as well from your mother's side."

"I'm not as bad as Uncle Samenosuke."

Well, there was that. Guess Kya could thank the gods for minor miracles. At least Naruto wasn't trying to sneak a peek while bathing like that lecher (Though has caught him staring at her breasts). "Then after both of us landed on the same monster contract we somehow stayed together. That was... five or six years ago."

"But you were happy with aunt Lyn right?" His question garnered a sharp glance from the buxom blond; "I get it, I'm only twelve, soon to be thirteen in a few months, and I don't really know relationships. But even I can tell you two were happy"

"It's..." Giving her reasons shouldn't feel this hard, not after telling herself over and over it was for the best. "It was better for both of us if we went our separate ways, we both have our paths and... they're not compatible. To reach the end of this path I've set for myself, I must rid myself of any attachments. Only then will I truly awaken my spirit"

Naruto stopped walking for a moment, "I don't think you really believe that" He softly spoke, "If you were really happy with her, you would have stayed around then instead of saying 'it's your path' or something like that. But no, you ended up have hurting her, and to me it sounds like you were afraid"

Those words felt like a physical blow, but Kya endured it, directing her gaze towards the younger Namikaze. "I do not expect you to understand-"

"Because you never say anything!" He finally snapped, the words coming out from his mouth before he could stop them. "You just stay silent all the time and don't even bother letting people get to know you! And I just can't understand why!"

The mocha skinned woman's reaction was to part her slips slightly, along with a soft widening of her eyes. Though a subtle reaction for most people, Kya had truly been taken aback by his outburst.

Naruto let out a soft breath, shaking his head in bewilderment. "Why do you insist on being alone when you clearly don't want to?"

Once more he was met with silence as they walked. A frustrated grunt escaped the younger blond as he kept two steps behind Kya. He did not see the turmoil glow in her eyes, which coincided with the ache in her heart. 'I'm doing the right thing.' The thought echoed in her mind as she was trying to convince herself.

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Day three of being Godaime Hokage and Tsunade was seriously wondering how her sensei endured sitting on this torture device pretending to be a chair. The last Senju already had the two junkie couches replaced for something more comfortable and was now debating throwing out this stupid chair while going over several papers. She really had to hand it to the old monkey; he did a good job securing an alliance with Kirigakure. Though upon discovering the bastard who nearly killed her daughter and orphaned her grandson for a time was the same one who manipulated the late Mizukage was unsettling.

And though despite Suna paying for reparations after their attack with Oto, things were going to rocky for a long while. Hopefully the bad blood won't get out of hand and wounds could heal from this mess. And then there was Danzo, ugh she really wanted some sake right now.

Beside her Shizune was going through several papers with Tonton lying on the floor at their feet. "So much backed up in only a few days when Sandaime-Sama went to the hospital." the young brunette uttered.

"And we get to work on it all, don't we feel special." Tsunade quipped dryly.

"You're glad to be back home, admit it sensei."

Shizune received received a small glare but her teacher slowly smiled all the same. It was good to be home again. A clearing from two throats made both look up. Seating on the new sofas were the two remaining elders Homura and Koharu. "Did you forget we were sitting here Tsunade?" Homura grumped.

"So that's why my headache wasn't going away."

Koharu was not amused; "Jest all you like, we are dealing with serious issues."

"Which am I currently handling aren't I?" Tsunade sardonically replied. "Between protecting our borders against potential Iwa advances, who knows have many minor nations' spies, and actually repairing the village infrastructure while still handing out assignments for our forces. I may be sitting here all day, but I'm not sitting on my ass in a metaphorical sense"

"And you've been doing an adequate job" Homura said. Ugh, would it kill him to actually say it like a compliment? "But there are matters you've been refusing to address, much like Hiruzen did"

Tsunade rested her chin on her palm, not even bothering to feign interest. "And those would be?"

"You let young Uzumaki leave with the Namikaze" Koharu said sternly, "When he could be doing something more productive for the village at such a moment of instability" They clearly were not pleased with the jinchuuriki leaving their borders in times like these.

"It's a clan thing" Tsunade waved it off, "He's a Namikaze too in case you forget"

"Which brings us to another matter" The male elder continued, "Much like Hiruzen, you've been avoiding recruiting the newcomers into our corps. They are very powerful individuals, and we would benefit greatly from their being placed into our ranks"

"We already have" Tsunade said with an edge in her voice, "From what I was told, they defended this village like it was their home"

Homura grunted; "We are grateful for their contributions in protecting the village. But they could do much more Konohagakure as Shinobi."

"So what do you suggest? Forcing them into service? Are we that desperate we've become like Iwa or Kumo?" Tsunade quipped sharply with a heated gaze; "Saito and the others along with that Namikaze girl do not want to join the Shinobi Corps and I will not press the issue. Yes, their skills and experience would be an incredible boon for the village. But I refuse to force them into service. My grandfather was quite clear on the right of choice in the village, and I will honor that. Same as I honor the alliance we had to the Uzumaki, Konoha's oldest allies. I don't care if it's just a handful of them either."

Tsunade wasn't budging on the matter, and there was nothing else for the elders to do but to accept it, begrudgingly so; "I suppose we should be glad the gods returned Kushina to us. At the very least we have one our best Kunoichi back along with her son and that Karin child." Koharu lamented.

'She remarks with bitter contempt.' Honestly did these old fossils get worse with age? They almost sound like Danzo. Speaking of the traitorous mummy; "I want the two of you checked at the hospital in case Danzo used the same Genjutsu he used on sensei." She barely hid the smirk forming as both elders gazed at shock at her.

"Are you serious?" Homura declared.

"Deadly, if he could compromise a Kage who's to say he did not do it to you two." She was enjoying this way too much at the sight of them squirming.

The elders exchanged an uneasy look.

"Perhaps... we have been very lenient on Danzo's policies" Koharu was forced to admit.

"How could we have known the depth of his activities? Or that he actually dared mind control Hiruzen that way?" Homura sighed to himself, "We've been comrades for far too long. I liked to think we knew where everyone stood, that in the end we all wanted what was best for the village"

The two stood up and made to leave, "You may criticize our advice, Tsunade, but you must understand that all we do is for Konoha's sake. Antagonizing each other gets us nowhere."

"And I respect the many years you gave to this village" Tsunade honestly replied. "But I think what you don't understand is that these aren't your times anymore. The game and the rules might be the same, but its players certainly are not"

They stopped right before Homura could open the door, directing their gazes back at the Godaime. "Are you saying we no longer know what's best for the village?"

"I'm saying that either get with the times, or you can stand back and watch"

Both exchanged looks before giving a quick bow to Tsunade as they left. A sigh escaped the Senju; "Maybe that will get them thinking."

"We can hope Sensei." Shizune remarked going back to the papers. "Oh," Tsunade looked over as her apprentice grinned; "Maybe Naruto will like this for a mission when he gets back. Looks like he and his friends could have fun with it."

"Hmm?" The Hokage raised an eyebrow as she looked over the mission request.

Well, if that unpredictable grandson of hers wasn't having fun on his current travel, then he was sure to be entertained with this.

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"This is not fun!" Naruto exclaimed as he narrowly avoided an enormous warhammer held by a hulking beast with muscles upon muscles, skin a crimson red, it roared with pure fury and bloodlust.

'A lot bigger than the ogre Lyn carries around.' Kya frown as the beast blocked her wind attacks. 'Smarter too.'

While on their journey to the Namikaze shrine, the two kinsmen came into a small farming village in rough shape. Several buildings were smashed while many villagers mourned the loss of loved ones. Much to her annoyance Naruto went to ask what happened instead of pressing on. Upon seeing his Konoha headband an elder woman came to him, begging for help.

A few days ago the ogre they were fighting showed up and begun terrorizing the village. Many were killed or taken when it first attacked. When it struck again a few tried to fight but were slaughtered.

So, Naruto, bleeding heart that he was, took it upon himself to swear they would take down the beast. And his tone left no room for argument; they wouldn't continue their journey unless they took the demon down.

Hence, their current situation...

Kya darted out of the way from the hammer's blow, stone cracking and sending chunks through the air. Her sword drawn in a flash, as she moved with all the swiftness of the wind, the same element coating her blade, and slashed at the ogre's leg. Dark blood poured forth as the creature howled, left leg bending as the wound forced him to his knee.

Naruto took his chance to strike, leaping to the air, materializing a spear of crystal, he jabbed the makeshift weapon into the ogre's red shoulder. But the density of the creature's muscle was too dense, his element lacking the strength and sharpness of Kya's own elementally charged sword, so it did not bury too deeply into his flesh. The ogre glared at him with those bale yellow eyes, he swatted Naruto away like a fly. His back colliding painfully against the cave's ground.

The ogre broke the spear into pieces and forced himself back up, hefting his large warhammer he roared as he brought it down upon Naruto. The jinchuuriki hastily slammed his hands on the ground, summoning forth multiple crystalline spikes, crossing over each other in multiple layers to form a barrier before him.

The hammer struck the barrier, splintering the first layer but stopping regardless. The beast growled, lifting the hammer once more, dragging pieces of broken crystal as he drove the weapon all the way over his head. But in its furious haze it had stopped paying attention to the other Namikaze, Kya dashed towards the ogre, her wind coated sword creating a diagonal cut over his back.

It roared in pain, the hammer fell limp from his grasp behind his back.

It did not have a chance to catch its breath as Kya moved with tremendous speed and dexterity, slicing off the beast's head with wind chakra enveloped around her sword. Ogre skin was nearly as tough as armor, but with the right technique it could be cut like anything else. The older Namikaze let out a sigh before cleaning off her blade.

"You're awesome." Naruto muttered as he whipped off the sweat from his brow.

Kya did not share his enthusiasm as she looked down to him; "You shouldn't overly depend on your bloodline limit." Her stern words caught him by surprise; "Yes Shoton gives you a variety techniques but limits you when using only them. You should also focus on the elements that make up your bloodline."

"Jiji told me that." Naruto remarked as he looked at the Ogre's severed head; "Still working on my wind chakra."

"And the other?" the young blond bashfully looked in another direction; "What do you have besides wind."

"Earth. But that is taking forever to learn."

Think Kya recalled Saito mentioned earth element was the most difficult to learn. But still; "Don't get laxed on either your wind or earth chakra. Harnessing those will give you more advantages. Makes you less predictable against an enemy."

"...Thanks." He was really surprised by that.

Sheathing her sword on her back, the older blonde adjusted her robes before looking around the cave. "It has been living her for some time. I'd say a few months perhaps given the time frame for when it started attacking"

Naruto looked around, and he honestly didn't see anything that might clue him in regarding the length of the ogre's stay in this cave. Sure there were a few things that showed him the monster had taken residence there, like a great bed of hay. A giant stone pot over logs where the ogre no doubt made its meals. A rack with multiple animal skins. Even a giant gourd of what he could only assume was sake in a corner next to the bed.

"How do you know?"

"You pick things up after traveling with Lyn for so long" His Namikaze cousin simply replied, approaching a corner of the cave. "The ogre first had to make sure the place was suitable for him, that means scouting the area for some time, make sure there was plenty of food nearby" She stopped, looking down at something with a frown. "And there was"

Curiously, Naruto approached her. His eyes grew wide the moment he saw what she was looking at. Bones, lots of human bones of varying types and lengths, a number of skulls which showed they belonged to multiple people. They were covered in dirt, but they all had been completely stripped from their flesh.

"He picked them clean..." He quipped in disgust.

"The species of oni-kind have a talent for that" Kya replied, "Hmm, it was alone, and it wasn't afraid to make his home near a human settlement. That's unusual..."

"Because people would come after it?" Though come to think of, he never heard of ninja taking on contracts to kill monsters. At least, not directly. The shinobi villages were more interested in missions that would benefit them politically and could undermine their enemies.

"Precisely" Kya nodded, "There's a reason demons remain far away from civilization. Yokai sightings and attacks had been far and few in between for over a century, going back to the Clan Wars era. Although..." A concerned expression form on her features. "There's been a rise on demonic activity in the last few years, they're coming closer to human territories again, and to attack out in the open during the day even like this one did, it's like something is emboldening them..."

Naruto looked at her with concern. "Like what?"

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, "It's probably nothing, maybe a coincidence" Naruto didn't like how she herself didn't sound too sure of her own her words. "Come, we must let the villagers know the ogre is dead"

---

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

---

After burying the bones into a proper burial Kya took the head of the ogre as proof the job was done. A habit she picked up roaming with Lyn on some of her demon slaying missions. Upon returning to the village they were met with enormous praise and tearful hugs as the elder offered them a place for the night and some food.

As it was nearing dusk Kya decided to stay, also in part because of Naruto's nagging. Stubborn brat...

Said younger blond in question was chatting with some of the grown-ups and other kids around a large bonfire.

He regaled them with tales of his adventures, which the children listed to with metaphorical stars in her eyes. It had to be his Uzumaki side; Lyn too was quite the storyteller when sharing tales about her exploits. Or at least, it was their Uzumaki side that made them good at dealing with children, something far beyond Kya's own expertise.

As she sat on the steps to a local Buddhist temple, observing Naruto mingling with the villagers, a hunched figure approached her. An old woman, her face wrinkly, hair long since turned gray, eyes set in a permanent squint to the point you could barely see them. She held a bowl of soup of in her hands and a kind smile on her lips.

"For you, dearie. You must be hungry after fighting that monster"

Not wanting to be impolite, Kya accepted the bowl. "My thanks" She curtly remarked.

"Why don't you sit closer, child?" The old woman asked, "I'm sure they'll love to hear about your adventures too"

"I..." She paused, "I am not much of a storyteller" She stared into the soup, "I'm more comfortable here. I don't deal well with crowds"

"Ahhh" The woman said in a sound akin to realization. "That is a shame; a pretty young woman like you shouldn't be all alone"

"I prefer it this way"

The old woman softly laughed in reply. "Many people think they do, dear. Loneliness eventually becomes much more overbearing than any amount of people in your life" Her small piece of elderly wisdom said, the woman went back to the rejoin the celebration.

Kya watched her go, sighing to herself. She just didn't understand.

The Namikaze watched the small village, the people, seemingly cheery and kind. They didn't have much but they led good lives. It reminded her... it reminded her of the place village where she was born, before...

Her eyes closed shut, a feeling of uneasiness quickly washing over her. The bowl in her hands trembled, spilling a few drops over the edges. Kya took a deep breath, reciting a mantra to the bodhisattvas, calming herself. She stared at her right hand, a bit stained with the soup, in disappointment.

So many years ago and still the mere thought of it was enough to affect her like this...

What she failed to see was Naruto observing his fellow Namikaze. Her shaking did not go unnoticed.

---

XxX ~ next morning ~ XxX

---

Mori no Kuni, it lived up to its name as the path the two enter became enclosed with a large and dense forest. His mom had explained to him the Land of Forests did not have many dirt roads to walk. This made traveling via the rivers the main route to maneuver through the land. Both were fortunate to find a ferry boat at the nearest port they could find. Kya explained they would need to reach a village on the other side to get to the shrine. But next to that, hardly anything had been said between them.

Though even the boat captain could feel the tension between the two while he steered; "Not healthy seeing a parent and child at odds." The old man muttered.

"He's/she's not my mom/kid." Both blonds chorused with a sharp glare at the man.

"Ah, sorry folks. You look so similar I thought you were related"

"We ARE" Naruto muttered, casting his angry glare at Kya, who was doing her best to ignore him by looking over the side of the boat. "Though SOME people seem to act as we are not"

The boat captain cringed awkwardly, muttering to himself as he concentrated on his task with renewed focus, "Should have kept my mouth shut..."

The journey for them to reach the land upon where the Namikaze shrine was located wasn't not a very long one distance wise; to them it felt like it had taken hours. Naruto had embarked on this travel to hopefully make some connections with Kya, and get her to actually be a part of their family, yet all his efforts had been constantly brushed aside with cold indifference or silence.

It was a bit disheartening, but even he was starting to think he wouldn't get anymore with Kya...

As for the Namikaze woman, though her intention was to merely instruct Naruto on their family traditions, part of her wonder if she could have handled the issue that rose between them more tactfully. He was still very young; he did not understand that the path she had set for herself was not wrong. Isolation was a small price to pay when spiritual enrichment was the goal.

He must have thought it so horrible, to never remain on one place, to never share any moments with friends and family, both happy and sad. But to Kya, it was liberating, it meant that she could at last detach themselves from those things that held her back. Sure, it didn't mean that she wasn't making any sacrifice. She had come to... appreciate Lyn's family's attempts to make her feel welcomed. From Saito's quiet concerns, Samenosuke's passion for life, Soujiro's bright spark and insightful mind, Kushina and Naruto's overly optimistic approach at whatever challenges laid their way, all of them were praiseworthy qualities.

It just... She didn't fit there; she didn't fit that type of life.

Which was why Kya had decided to stay away, it was for the best.

...Even if it meant no longer seeing Lyn's smile, hearing her laugh, see the love in her eyes as-

Kya's eyes closed shut, forcing away the sudden pain that throbbed in her chest. Replacing it with a cool focus towards her goal to honor her clan's legacy... she just wished it didn't feel so empty. But it would be worth it, one day.

As they reached their destination, the boat stopped next to a berth built upon a small opening into the forest, clearing down into a small road that lead to the village. They paid the old man for his services and disembarked, walking through the thick sea of trees towards the village.

The walk was brief as they entered the modest size village. Half the size of Nami no Kuni but it fit given it being a small fishing village. The people were lively chatting amongst themselves, a few looking their way but paid them no mind. Still, the thought that came to the young Uzu-Namikaze made him smile a bit; "Inari would like this place."

Kya's brow rose hearing him but said nothing as they kept strolling passed the villagers. Her gazes went to the skies, it would soon become cloudy, and it looked like those were rain clouds. Perhaps they would need to seek a place to stay in the village after they were-

A loud crash startled every including the two blondes, with every nearby gaze sharply peering over to an elderly man in simple clothes. At his feet was an open crate with several tools that had fallen out. His wizened eyes were as wide as possible with his skin a pale ghostly white. Naruto was about to remark till he took notice of Kya's face.

Recognition shone in her blues as they matched the elderly man's. Said man slowly begun to tremble badly before he took off. He ran in such a frantic pace as if the devil himself was chasing him. The villagers all peered to Kya along with Naruto who now saw her expression back to its icy indifference; "Who was that?" Both recognized each other, the young Genin could read that, by why did that old guy look so terrified?

"No one important. Not anymore." Gods her tone was so cold… "The shrine is not far."

Kya resumed walking while Naruto looked to the equally confused villagers and shrugged before following her.

---

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

---

Both walked up stone steps that led up a large hill. Even before then the younger blond could see the large top to a giant tree. Wrapped tightly around it were enormous shimenawa ropes firmly tied around its trunk, tags draped the rope with the words; 'Om mani padme hum'.

Was this a seal? Naruto had never seen one like this before.

Beside him Kya gazed at the great tree with reverence as she bowed once they reached the top. Naruto followed her lead before speaking; "What did our clan do with this tree?"

"The Namikaze bound a terrible demon within this tree. It took many of our brethren to bring it down and seal it."

"Wow" He muttered, awe at hearing the feat of his ancestors.

Kya slowly went down on her knees, her hands perfectly set atop her thighs, eyes closed in concentration. "Kneel" She instructed Naruto to do so, this one trying to copy her posture as closely as he could. "We will remain sitting her for ten minutes, meditating on our ancestors, and what it means to be a Namikaze"

Naruto looked back at the great tree. "What do you believe it means?"

Kya opened her eyes, a thoughtful expression her gaze. "Hmm... to that I ask you, Naruto, what are wind and water?"

"Um..." He pondered on her question, figuring she expected a very philosophical and flowery answer. "They are free?" Honestly, it's the first thing he ever thought of when thinking of wind. He didn't really know how to explain water though, that thing was a lot of things to many different people.

"In part" She said patiently. "They are free, for you cannot cage the wind or bind the waves no matter how hard you try. If you do, they cease to be, wind becomes air, and waves become water. Stagnant. We Namikaze must always move forward like these two elements"

"Ahh" He let out a soft sound of understanding. It made sense the way she said it. "Cause... we can't live without those things either right?"

"Correct" She nodded, "Those two elements are the lifeblood of this world, as such, we nurture and guide. We pass down our knowledge to the next generation of our kin. Our breath becomes their breath, the water in our blood passing through their veins" She spoke with such a reverence to her words even Naruto felt them.

It was the closest thing he's ever heard Kya become emotional about.

"It was my parents who taught me these things" Her words took Naruto by surprise. Her eyes solemnly looking up to the great tree. "We always carry our kin with us, through water and wind. So no matter the distance, how much apart we are, the clan is always together"

It... Was odd to hear Kya speak like that. The woman who went to such lengths to be alone all the time, talking about the importance of being close to other people at an emotional and spiritual level.

There was longing in her voice, like this was the stuff she really wanted to believe in, a far cry from her empty tone whenever she spoke about isolating herself, detaching herself from any distractions in other to 'enrich her spirit'. Kya was lonely, because she felt she had to be alone. Naruto could understand that pain all too well, but whereas he fought it with every fiber of his being, to put an end to that loneliness, Kya wanted to preserve it.

But he had seen the subtle hints of happiness when Lyn was around, he had seen the obvious emptiness in her eyes whenever she spoke about choosing this path of self-destruction that only brought her misery.

Kya was lying to herself, and she desperately wanted to believe her own lies.

"What made you like this?" Naruto muttered, making her gaze snap back to him. Two pairs of blue eyes met, one surprise, the other compassionate. "You talk about being alone like it's the best for you, but you don't buy that, not for a second. Because it means being away from people you actually care about. It means being away from Lyn"

Her hands tightened on her lap.

"Something happened to you" He stated, "The Namikaze teach how we are all together regardless of distance, but here you are, wanting to cut yourself off from everyone, even from your own clan. Why?"

Once again, Kya did not tell him.

"Is this why you have nightmares?" Her eyes widened in shock. "I saw you the other night, tossing and turning, you... looked like you were suffering"

Her hands shook; it did not go unnoticed by him.

He wanted to save her, like he had been saved. Family stood by one another no matter what; you didn't turn your back on them, even if they wanted to.

Kya stared at his hand, looking as though she was actually considering it.

He was just a child; he didn't know what he was talking about. What she went through...

Burning pain in her muscles, metal digging into her skin.

Dirt, grime, darkness, blood.

Two bodies, red pools forming around their broken forms.

Betrayed... she had suffered because her family had been too trusting, and that trust had been rewarded with betrayal fueled by greed.

She let out a gasp, her chest thundering in her chest. She had sworn to never let anyone close again, to never give them the chance to betray them.

And yet... this wild maned red head burst into her life like a storm, unrelenting, so full of energy and so very wonderful.

Kya had allowed herself to trust again but it hurt. It hurt to do so. Even if she knew it was unfounded she still kept feeling that gnawing terror, reaching her heart with icy fingers. So often she was plagued with the nightmares... How could someone as broken as her ever made Lyn happy like she had made her feel?

Lyn didn't deserve that, she deserved someone who could give her an actual future... not someone like her. Who constantly pushed her away, who repaid her kindness with coldness.

Kya wanted... she wanted to stop feeling afraid whenever someone gave her the same kindness Lyn had gifted her. The same kindness Naruto was offering her. So, isolating herself seemed like the best option no? So people wouldn't have to deal with a mess of a person like her.

"I..."

Snap, went the sound of a branch.

Her words died in her mouth, eyes widening in surprise before sharpening. Standing up, her stance alarmed as her hand went for her sword on her back.

"W-What's wrong?"

"We're not alone"

Both soon felt their danger sense flare as they leapt away from a hail of senbon that would have turned them to pincushions. "Watch the wire brat!" Kurama bellowed as his host soon saw the nearly invisible steel wire coming for them. Out of reflex the young blond grabbed the older blond to duck down just moments where it would have reached her neck!

'I would have been gone in a heartbeat!' Kya cursed her carelessness as both blond soon had their backs to one another with four figures coming out of the shaded foliage.

"Well, well..." A man with small eyes, long brunette hair and red marking on his face and chin remarked. "Two actual living Namikaze. You know how rare your clan is?" His tone malicious as was his smile. He wore hard leather over his clothes with a metal head gear. In his hand was an umbrella? "And a female one too. Guess we can have some fun tonight before selling her off."

Kya unconsciously let out a small growl before gazing at the remaining three. One was a towering man with an imposing build in simple clothes, his black hair in a ponytail and goatee. The next she wasn't sure was a man or woman with a feminine look with neck-length, light-blue hair held back by a purple hairband. The person wore purple shorts and a tank-top with orange armbands and boots. Finally was another man with short crop of brown spiky hair and small black eyes, and wears a white-clothed headband. He wore a green, armless robe with a yellow line coming down from the black collar.

Naruto paid close attention to the man who spoke and his umbrella; "You're from Ame."

"Good eye kid." The man quipped in a mocking manner; "Well, was anyways. We are the Shinobazu."

"Really?" Naruto said incredulously, "You actually named yourselves 'Dropouts'?" That earned him an angry growl for the leader of said missing Nins.

"How dare you barge into our clan's sacred grounds?" Kya spoke, anger and indignation rising in her voice, "What is it that you want?"

The man with face markings paced before the great tree, seizing it up and smiling greedily to himself. "A lot of things. Fame, money, power. Oh yeah" He placed a hand on it, feeling its rough bark. "Thanks to the thing trapped here, we'll hit the jackpot"

The Namikaze woman gasped, realizing his intention. "You... seek to release the demon?" Her fists tightened as they shook. "Fools! You have no idea what you're doing! Inside this tree lies a creature beyond your capacity to control!"

The large goateed man of the group gave his leader an uneasy look, "What if she's right, Shura? We were doing fine before, but releasing a demon seems way over our heads"

The man now named Shura gave his subordinate an angry glare. "When I want your opinion, Gantetsu, I'll ask for it" He reached into his pocket, pulling out a long folded seal tag. "We paid good money for this control seal in the black market, you can be sure the monster here will obey us"

"Oh hell no" Naruto snarled, taking a step forward. "You have another thing coming if you think we'll let you get away with it"

"Oh the brat has some spunk;" The feminine looking individual spoke with a male's voice. "We might be 'dropouts' kid, but we're a lot more seasoned than you are, genin"

The younger blond bristled before creating two crystal kunai in each hand. The move did not go unnoticed; "A bloodline limit. Looks like this kid is worth something after all." the man with the white-clothed headband addressed. "The black market has all kinds of uses for someone like you kid."

"You won't touch him" Kya growled in a surprisingly protective manner.

"Afraid you don't get a say in matter, lady. We're taking you, your brat, and the demon!" Shura grinned before giving orders; "Monju, Toki, deal with our lady. Try not to bruise her up too bad. Gantetsu, you got the kid!"

The androgynous individual and the man with white bandaged around his head grinned cruelly before leaping towards their targets. Gantetsu sighed to himself but ultimately obeyed.

Monju whipped his wires in all directions, creating a whirlwind of razor sharp metal that cut even through the ground. Kya and Naruto backed away to avoid the attack, but the from the air appeared Toki, in his right arm he summoned a large mechanical arm with claw-like fingers. With a raging cry he struck the ground between the Namikaze, causing it to burst upwards, the shockwave sending the two apart as earth and stone flew around in pieces.

Naruto regained his footing, skidding over the grass as he stopped. He looked up to see if Kya was okay, but all he saw before him was the large muscular form of Gantetsu standing before him.

"Sorry about this kid" He actually sounded sincere in his apology. "Ain't like this any more than you do" He said, popping his knuckles.

Naruto twirled his crystal kunai in his hand, "Oh yes, that makes it all better now" His voice dripped with sarcasm before he lunged at the big man.

Shura watched it all unfold with a wide smile before turning to the seals wrapped around the tree. "Finally... everyone will know my name"

Kya's eyes grew wide; "You fool!" As she attempted to go the leader her opponents got in her way.

"Sorry hun, you won't get passed us." Monju smirked maliciously.

More ropes were cut as Shura took note of a faint glow that came from the tags; 'The seal is breaking. Good.' He could feel his victory approaching, so sweet and enticing, beckoning him to achieve even greater things from here on own, with the demon under his command, no one would stop him.

The seals lost their shine the moment all the ropes were cut away, falling around the tree's trunk and over the ground. He held the sealing tag ready for when the demon would appear.

His smile slowly begun to fade when a minute passed... And nothing happened.

"The hell?!" The missing-nin hissed in growing frustration. "Where is the demon?" He paced, looking at the tree up and down. "The Namikaze confirmed there was a demon here!" He sharply turned, glaring at the older blonde, who glared back at him as his subordinates slowly cornered her. "Where is it?!"

Her intense gaze was the only reply.

"Oh you will give me what I want" Shure swore, his voice promising pain unless his demands were meant. "Because unless I get my demon, right this instant, you and that little brat will-!"

Blood burst from his mouth in a sudden cough, horrible pain piercing through his body.

Naruto and Gantetsu stopped fighting, looking at Shura in horror. Kya and the other two members of Shinobazu could only stare slack at what had just transpired.

Shura's pain addled mind could barely comprehend what was going on, his entire world was pain, a deep agony of the likes he's never felt before. He had been attacked, the damage such that his entire body was unresponsive, he couldn't feel his legs, yet somehow he was still standing.

Shakily looking down he found his answer, there was a giant root piercing his stomach.

He let out a shrill gasp, his lungs barely had enough air in them for him to properly express his pain. He felt as though his lifeforce slipped away from him with each passing second, literally sucked out of him,

"Oh my gods..." Toki muttered.

Before their very eyes, Shura's body shriveled, his skin becoming pale and wrinkle, the blood pouring from his wound receding. He looked as though he was being dried up.

"All this time" Kya muttered, her eyes quivering. "I thought our ancestors had sealed a demon in the tree, but I was wrong"

Shura's body was left as a carcass, a dry thing with skin clinging to his bones. The root swatted him away, and the corpse flailed through the air before tumbling down the hill.

"The demon IS the tree..."

The hill rumbled, and the earth ripped open to reveal more and more roots emerging.

"A Jubokko..." Kurama snarled.

'A vampire tree?!' Naruto heard about them from some stories from Iruka-Sensei.

"If you value the life of that woman, brat, get her out of here! Let it feed on these fools and go!"

Kya's danger senses screamed as she leapt out of the way from several roots shot out from the ground towards her. Sadly her opponents did not move in time. Both howled as their bodies were pierced by multiple roots.

"Monju! Toki!" Regardless of his feelings on how their group had become these were still Gantetsu's comrades! None of them deserved to die like this. He watched in horror as they shared the fate of Shura as their bodies soon became nothing but skin on bones. "NO!"

The towering man tried go for them but a wall of crystal rose from the ground as Naruto grunted with several limbs of the tree hitting it. "That won't hold forever!" He yelled as Kya ran over to him. "How do we kill this thing?!"

Kya's eyes shifted as she quickly tried to recall the knowledge she had on this particular type of yokai. Her eyebrows disappeared into her hairline as she came upon a realization. "The core! Jubbokos have a heart-like core where they store all the blood they drain! If we don't destroy the core it'll keep regenerating!"

"Well where is it?!" Naruto shouted, the crystal wall starting to show cracks.

"A jubboko is able to move it around its roots swiftly, and given its size and age then..." She stopped, slowly looking down at the ground. "It must be all the way inside the hill"

"Oh that is just fantastic..." Kurama grumbled.

The ground beneath began to rumble, the older Namikaze quickly shoved him out of the way. "Look out!" As more vine-like roots emerged, moving like tendrils as they sought their nearest victims. Kya quickly drew her sword and with a slash she cut the roots down. Blood poured forth as though this was a being of flesh rather than bark.

The tree itself heaved and groaned, emitting a sound akin to an inhuman roar.

The earth crumbled and tore apart as large roots began to drag themselves out, the hill was quickly becoming alive. Naruto jumped away from a pair of roots that speared towards him at great speed. He summoned multiple shruiken made of crystals, the weapons hitting the roots and making them recoil like they actually felt pain.

He landed on the ground and through a series of handsigns, invoked a great crystalline dragon construct. His technique soared as it struck a mass of emerging roots, tearing them to blood pieces before they could come close.

"Come on!" Kya was beside him before glaring over to Gantetsu; "Leave before you share your comrades' fate!" She soon cursed as several wooden tendrils come for her and Naruto who duck and dodge wildly. Her sword danced with wind chakra as she sliced through several more roots.

Once more the tree let out a roar, but now of anger. Its attacks grew in fervor as now all three were avoiding its attacks.

Naruto swore as he kept moving as the ground was cracked and roots shot for him. 'Can this thing harm the fish village?!' He questioned his Bijuu was he went on the offensive.

"Depends on how old this tree is. But why risk your neck out for them? They are not from your village."

'I don't give a damn where they are from! If those people are in danger I'll stop this thing!' Kurama only scoffed; 'you told me you fought evil right!? Why not act like it!' His eyes flew wide; "KYA!"

Said buxom blond dodged several tendrils while slashing threw more, so focused on what was in front of her she missed the ground behind her moving. "KYA!" Naruto's voice rang out she turned to see a root lunge for her. She had no time to move, but instead of running her through. The blood left her face as the tendrils bore into Naruto!

Naruto coughed up blood as the tendril pierced the left side of his abdomen. Kurama immediately began focusing his chakra on that area to speed up Naruto's regeneration before the tree could suck him dry. As things began to become blurry before his eyes, a figure tore the root apart with bare hands.

He looked up in surprise to see Gantetsu, his hands bloodied with the tree's blood. "Sorry about this" Naruto let out a cry of pain as the missing-nin removed the piece of root still stuck inside him, letting Kurama work faster.

"Naruto!" Kya was immediately to his side, getting on one knee to be at eye level as she placed her free hand on his shoulder, he had never seen her this scared before. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine..." He said before letting out a wet cough.

Gantetsu wildly looked around them, the damn tree just wasting letting up, the entire hill was becoming a alive with the monster's awakening. Roots and bark kept emerging, and there was no sign of them stopping...

"We need to get out of here!" He warned the others.

"But we can't let the jubboko run wild!" Kya shouted back.

"There's nothing we can do right now!" He lifted Naruto, who was too wounded to walk, in his arms. "Hurry!"

The Namikaze woman spared one last hurried look at the writhing tree, and then at the wounded Naruto in the missing-nin's arms, he's chest rising and falling with effort, the blood still pouring forth from his wound. No... She couldn't risk his life.

"Then let's go!"

And so they run as fast their legs could take them, a sea of living roots chasing after them. They descended down the steps of the hill, but no matter how much distance they put between them and the demonic tree, the creature was determined to not let them escape.

It wasn't until they reached the foot of the hill that they stopped, the cause being a loud sound of mystical energy along with a flare of chakra assaulting their senses. Turning back sharply they saw a golden barrier halting the tree's advance, a shining array manifesting on the ground around the hill. The vines and roots struck the barrier, but this one held, causing ripples like water upon the surface where they impacted.

"A seal?" Gantetsu muttered.

"A last defense mechanism in case the jubboko broke free" Kya said in realization, attentively walking closer to the barrier. "My ancestors must have placed it here as a last ditch effort" No doubt the sealing barrier extended into the earth and not just the terrain around the hill, as to properly contain vampire tree.

"Will it hold?"

Inspecting the barrier closer, she could see the sealing array glaring intensity each time the roots struck, the constant attack and pressure from the jubboko was straining the barrier.

Kya bit back a swear, "Not indefinitely"

---

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

---

Gantetsu could see the now once life threatening wound in the boy's stomach close as they ran down the steps. He spoke not a word as they made a good distance away from the shrine. They stop under a large canopy of trees as the towering man sat Naruto on his feet. "I can only guess how that wound healed so fast."

The young blond said nothing as he grunted out of soreness as Kya knelt to him; "What were you thinking?!" Her normal calm monotone replaced with anger mixed with genuine concern as her hands rested on his shoulders. "You could have died!"

"You were in trouble, you protect your family." Naruto remarked weakly as both stared at each other.

Gantetsu sat under a tree; "You have a good son."

"Naruto's not my son." The older Namikaze glance in his direction. "And I don't want to hear a damn thing from you given what your group had done. The only reason I am sparing your life at the moment is because you saved my cousin." Her words full of steely heat. Shock etched in the younger blond's eyes. She actually called him cousin...

"Well this is a delightful mess..." Both adults blinked as a deep male voice spoke up beside Naruto. Both peered back the young teen as a small red furred fox appeared on Naruto's shoulder; "Did you indulge your hero obsession for the day, brat? It nearly got us killed!" The deep voice coming from the tiny fox who berated Naruto.

"Says the surly asshole who CLAIMS he's a not a bad guy." The younger blond growled back as he sat down on the ground.

"Um, okay. Who is this?" The missing-nin muttered, squinting at the small fox.

"It can't..." Kya stammered, struggling to find the words. "Naruto, is that the Nine-Tailed Fox?"

"Uhhhhh" No way out of this, the younger blonde decided the best he could do was be upfront about it. "Yeah, we kind of have a deal"

"Nine-Tailed-?!" Gantetsu seemed to choke on his own breath, "You mean to tell me you're a jinchuuriki?!"

"Pretty much" The Uzumaki shrugged, not thinking much of it.

"...I should have stayed in bed" The bandit decided, no longer having the energy to question anything about this horrible day.

The sage in training gave the fox a long scrutinizing look, to which the bijuu barely paid any mind to. "We'll talk about that later" She said in a tone that broke no arguments, "Right now, we need to come up with a way to destroy the jubboko"

"You seem to know a lot about it" The large man pointed out, "Any ideas?"

She gave him a disbelieving look. "You want to help?" She stood up; walking up to the much taller man, though the size difference somehow wasn't an obstacle for Kya to stare him down. "After what you did? I don't even want to imagine all the lives you've helped ruin"

For what felt like a short eternity, the man remained silent, his eyes growing wary, conflicted, and finally remorseful. "I've done so many bad things in my life... I'm tired, I'm so tired of it all" He said, his voice becoming raspy, the tone on his voice thick with emotion. "The people I've hurt, I've seen them every time I go to bed... I can't live like this, not anymore" He looked into her blue eyes pleadingly. "And now I've unleashed a terrible evil upon this world, something that will hurt more people than I ever have... Please, let me make amends. I swear I want to make things right, to atone for all I did"

Kya's eyes only narrowed, she did seem to believe his words, or rather, she didn't want to.

"Tch" Kurama distracted them with that sound of displeasure he made. "Hmph, humans like you always annoy me, I can't make heads or tails out of you" At the questioning and suspicious look he got from the two human adults, he clarified. "You clearly have done evil that much I can feel in you and yet... I can't feel evil in your heart" Gantetsu only looked wide eyed; "Your comrades were another story." Kurama finished as he leapt off Naruto's shoulder.

At that the taller man grunted; "Shura was always bastard. Monju and Toki used to be good people..." Part of him knew that wasn't really true, but he had known those two since their time as ninja of Ame.

A long sigh escaped Kya as she paced, with minor glances to Kurama who stared where the vampire tree was. "We got to destroy that tree." Naruto remarked. He garnered a sharp look from his fellow Namikaze; "Hey I'm fine now, sore but fine. You can thank Kurama for that."

"Do not use my name so casually around others brat." the fox growled with a quip. "And that tree isn't as dumb as that ogre you and Ms. Broody here dealt with."

Semi-sentient most likely, clever enough to use sneak attacks Kya had to admit. "What re our options?" She turned to the Bijuu who cocked a brow.

"Run, or blow up the hill." Kurama did not mince words as he bluntly explained.

"...I don't have enough explosive tags for something that big." Naruto murmured numbly. His eyes slowly peered over to the fox that dryly looked back.

"You can't handle more tails of my power yet." Granted he only need two realistically but the old Kitsune wasn't going to make it easy for them. "And the jubboko's core must be deep in the hill" Kurama reminded them, "Destroying the area will be the only way to reach it"

"Overkill, but not like we have much of a choice" Naruto had to agree. They didn't know how long those seals would hold, and he didn't want to think about what the creature would do to the village nearby. Hell, would the tree affect the other trees in the area? Could it perhaps expand?

In a land called the Land of Forests that was very bad.

"Yeah, but where are we going to pull that power from?" Gantetsu asked with a shrug of his shoulders. "If you can't, and I certainly can't, then there's nothing any of us can do"

"...Yes there is" Kya spoke, her voice suddenly focused. Filled with determination like Naruto hadn't heard from her before. In her eyes shined a sense of duty, an intensity in her gaze that came from the drive to follow your own dreams and ideals. A feeling Naruto was intimately familiar with. "Because to stop this demon, I will achieve Senjutsu this day"

In the cloudy skies above, thunder roared.

"Senjutsu?" Gantetsu repeated.

"If you can channel enough natural energy that will give you a great boost" Kurama said, considering their options. "The question is; can you do it?"

"I know I can" She spoke with conviction, "I finally understand why I've never achieved it before. It all lead to this day, to finish what our ancestors couldn't" It was like she had stumbled upon a deep realization that had cleared all doubts from her mind. All those years trying, all those failed attempts, it was meant for this day and this alone.

This was her fate, she was finally certain.

Naruto flashed her that toothy grin of his, "I've faith in you"

Kya nodded his way, "I'll need a few minutes to meditate to achieve Sage Mode. Wait for me here"

They watched her walk away for a few feet until she reached a small clearing in the middle of the forest where a thin river ran by, feeling the area properly, trying to get in tuned with nature around her.

Looking up to the sky, Kya saw the clouds weren't going away, the thunder kept roaring faintly, and already she could feel a small drops of rain fall on her skin. But she paid it no mind; in fact, she used it to feel connected with all the aspects of nature. The earth at her feet, the air around him, the water falling from the sky.

Her arms slowly spread in a flowing motion, her feet dragging themselves softly over the grass as she shifted between poses similar to martial arts' forms. Her movements were graceful, gentle like a calm river stream. She reached out to the world around her with her chakra, feeling every bit of life. The trees, the animals, even the air itself was alive, she felt it in every drop of rain that touched her mocha skin.

Kya no longer feared failure; for she was sure this was her time at long last. The promise she made to her parents' souls, the desire to honor her ancestors. It was finally within her grasp.

At last, she could be whole.

She felt the nature chakra around her, vibrant, powerful, and balanced. In it was all she ever wanted, she reached out to it with her chakra, pulling it forth towards her, welcoming it with all her soul.

She felt it enter through her nostrils and into her lungs, through her skin and muscles, flowing through her pathways and into her cores.

'Yes...' She thought with satisfaction. She was doing it; at long last she was doing it!

Nature and her were one, just like she always dreamt of.

'Father, mother, I did it' She couldn't help smile, 'At last, your daughter is...'

The nature chakra slowly leaked out of her.

'No!' Her brow furrowed deeply as she struggled to keep the energy inside her. It wasn't her body rejecting the chakra, nor was it having a negative reaction to it like happened many unprepared would-be sages. No, the chakra was simply leaving her body as though she... she...

She wasn't worthy.

'No, please gods I beg you' She desperately reached out to the unseen, praying not to take this from him. 'It's all I have left, this promise I made, the path I set for myself, this is my purpose, the whole meaning of my life, please no!'

The last traces of natural energy left her body, leaving her feeling empty and so very much alone. And once again she was a little girl, alone, broken...

Her blue eyes snapped open, her breath was ragged, desperation, confusion, anger and sadness mixing inside her in a whirlwind of powerful emotions, so strong she couldn't stop the tears from running down her cheeks.

"No!" She shouted to the skies. "I've done everything I could to honor my clan, I-I've suffered so much, lost too much, and I'm still not worthy?!" Through suffering came enlightenment, and yet it was all for nothing...

The skies had no answers for her, only unintelligible roars of thunder while the rain kept falling. The cold drops mixing with her warm salty tears.

Kya let out a wail of despair. The feeling of failure striking right through her heart, her mind assaulted by the memories of all the suffering she had felt in her life. The days in that dark place, the pain searing her body, the bodies of her parents on pools of their own blood...

And now, she finally understood, there was no salvation for her, nothing that could make her whole again, and nothing that could take this pain away.

She was condemned to live with it for the rest of her days.

Kya fell to her knees, clutching to her head as she wept.

Naruto felt his own heart ache as he looked at her, finally witnessing all the pain Kya felt inside, succumbing to it rather than letting it out.

---

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

---

When her cries ceased, Naruto convinced a very defeated Kya to seek shelter with them. They found a small cave not far from the hill, though large enough for them to sit inside in relative comfort as they waited for the rain to pass. All the while Kya's gaze was lifeless, lost, empty, it was that of a person who no longer had anything to give their life meaning.

"...I think it's best to warn the village, maybe they can evacuate in time" Gantetsu decided, standing up and heading outside. "I'll be back soon" Truth was, he felt a very private family affair was about to unfold, and he had no place in it. It was best to give them privacy.

Kurama sat on a rock beside Naruto who glanced at the kitsune; 'What happened?' He spoke mentally to the Bijuu.

Said Bijuu was kind enough to respond back telepathically; "Something very simple. But as you humans say, emotions are complicated. You'll figure it out." With that Kurama's mini form vanished.

Cerulean turned back to Kya who remained motionless, staring at the wall with a lifeless gaze. The younger blond came over, sat in front of her. He said nothing as he was honestly unsure what to say to help his fellow Namikaze. "Nature rejected me again..." Kya whispered in an almost inaudible tone. "I'm not worthy to become a sage like our ancestors."

"Doesn't mean you should give up..." Kya's lifeless eyes turned to him.

Naruto awkwardly shifted as buxom blond only stared at him for a full minute in silence. "The gods say otherwise... I have been attempting Senjutsu since I was fifteen. And for seventeen years I've achieved nothing..." The hollow defeat in her voice was painful to hear.

Everything she has done amounted to nothing... she broke Lyn's heart for this? Tears rimed Kya's eyes. "I truly am a worthless bitch. I never deserved Lyn from the beginning." Not with all the years of kindness she gave, and Kya returned none.

"Bullshit!" Naruto rebuked with fury.

The older Namikaze barely reacted to his outburst; her eyes merely stared at him lifelessly. "Yeah, you may not open up to people, and you go out of your way to be alone. But in the short time we've traveled together I found out more about you than you imagine. You say you want to be 'detached' or some crap, but truth is that you don't, because you actually care about the people around you, just like you care about our clan"

It wasn't hard to miss the looks of sadness whenever she spoke about Lyn or the longing when she saw families, friends, and close people just being there for each other.

"I think I figured you out" He said, his voice growing softer. "You don't want to be alone because you think being with others holds you back; you want to be alone because you don't believe you're worth being with other people"

For a moment, neither said anything.

He watched as Kya's gaze sparked, no longer lifeless, but still so very much filled with pain. "I... am broken" She seethed, her voice suddenly raspy. "Not a day goes by in which I don't think about everything I've endured, the things I've lost. I feel this... anger, this pain!" She tightly pressed a hand against her chest. "I've tried to let it go, I've tried to move on, but nothing ever helps, nothing! Not even... not even falling in love with Lyn" The tears run free once more. "It all comes back to 'it', over and over again, not even my dreams are free from it"

"...What happened to you?"

Kya's face grimaced for a moment, before letting out a long tired sigh, her back straightening against the cave's wall. "As a child, I lived in a small village, with my parents. The village was very poor, but we were happy. We wanted nothing, we were content with our lot in life, I was raised to honor our clan, always listening to stories told by my father and mother" There was a brief shine of happiness in her eyes, the remnants of a time long gone. "We didn't have any 'secret techniques', no sources of power that ninjas are always salivating over... But that didn't stop the villagers, tired of their constant struggles with poverty, from selling us out to ninjas"

Time slowed for the younger blond as shock etched on his eyes. "Villages like Kumo or Iwa would pay good money for getting a Namikaze. Usually going out to smaller villages to get them so other nations wouldn't suspect. But in my family's case, we were met with missing Nin turned slavers." Her voice was heavy, full of emotion; "My parents weren't warriors. They never held a weapon in their lives but they tried to fight back. I remember my father screaming for my mother to take me and run. She did, but the villagers cornered us. Held us down as she begged for them to let us go. They just wanted their money like it could solve all their problems…"

Naruto felt like he wanted to throw up. An entire village sold out a family just for money!? He knew some villages like Nami had it very bad. But to go that far...

"Then came the torture. Day in and day out, all of us were tortured, beaten. 'Conditioning' their leader called it." Kya murmured darkly. "...My parents died right in front of me, they made me watch..." She went silent. "For what felt like an eternity all I knew was a dark cell, beatings, and lashes." Kya raised up the sleeve of her clothed arm, the one she always kept covered with her long sleeve. Scars, many scars littered her arm.

"They kept torturing me, every day, until I would finally give them something, any clan secrets that could benefit them, when there was nothing to give..." It was like a shadow had been casted over her eyes, "Night after night when they went to sleep I practiced my wind affinity, until day I was strong enough to cut the metal which they cuffed me with, and when they were asleep... I killed them" She spat with a mixture of rage and sick satisfaction. "I killed them all"

Naruto remained silent, Kya did not even need to be prompted to continue, the flood gates weren't open and there was no closing them.

"I ran" She sobbed, "I and never looked back, trying to escape the pain, the nightmares that plagued me. Shutting myself from the world, never letting other people get close, I couldn't, not after the village sold us like slaves" She sniffed, pawning at her eye. "Lot of good it did to me, nothing ever filled this... this hole in my heart. I thought that if I became a sage like our ancestors, I'd finally be at peace. I could finally move one from what happened to my parents"

Naruto pursed his lips, "And then you met Lyn"

The tiniest of smiles graced her lips, finding joy and comfort in the memory of the woman she so clearly loved but never had the guts to tell her. "She was like the sun, illuminating the world just by being there. I tried to resist it, to not open myself again because I was afraid. But Lyn" She let out a breathy laugh, "She has that way of worming her way into your life. Being with her, I... I was happy... and it terrified me"

It terrified her because that one fear always lingered. 'What if she betrays me like the village'. That damnable fear had gripped her heart and never let go. Despite the fact she did not know in her heart Lyn never would, nor would Saito and the others. But her fear refused to let up, and that made it worse. To be so certain she was safe with those people, but at the same time that there was always this little voice in her mind whispering such horrible things in her ear…

Because if she opened her heart. Just one inch, the image of her beaten and broken parents in the slaver's prison always appeared in her mind. Thus she never opened her heart. To anyone...

Naruto had seem to pick up on her fear; "Did you really think Lyn would have ever betray you?"

"I knew she wouldn't." Kya's voice broke as she spoke with torment; "She'd never do such a thing. But-" She covered her mouth as not to say it.

"Go on" Naruto gently insisted

"...But she deserved better than me"

Lyn had given her heart, and what did she do with it? Reject it...

The younger blonde took a deep breath, letting it go slowly in exhaustion. "You have scars, and they're bad, I get it. But you're not broken, Kya, you're worth people looking out for you"

She snorted humorlessly, "Why would you think that?"

"Because that's not up to you" He replied firmly, "It's the other people who decide if they want to care for you. And you know what? They already have. Lyn of course does. Uncle Saito, uncle Samenosuke, they respect you enough that they waited for you to open up to them instead of telling me"

Her eyes slowly met his.

"And I care for you too" He pressed a hand firmly against his chest, "Because no matter how many walls you put up, how much distance you take, I'll always think of you as family, whether you like it or not" He grinned widely, "You're stuck with us, because people love you!"

Her lips slowly parted, her eyes quivering as she tried to process his words. Despite how cold and uncaring she had been to him, he still...

Lyn had never pressured her; she had always been there to make her days brighter. To draw smiles from her even when the world around her seemed cruel and unforgiving. Lyn wanted to make her smile because she loved her that much. Just like Naruto wanted to let her know she would never be alone, neither by choice or circumstance.

Not because he was kin, but because he saw her pain and wanted to help her shoulder it.

It made her feel ashamed, all this time she had pushed people away when all they wanted to do was help. But she had been too afraid, too stubborn to even see it.

Her gaze went down to the hole in his clothes, the blood had dried and stained the area where he received that blow from her, all to protect her...

Kya's gaze hardened, such that it surprised Naruto by their intensity. She stood up and walked out of the cave and into the rain.

"Woah, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to make things right" She promised.

She stood beneath the rain, letting it pour upon her without paying it any mind. She spread her arms and legs in gentle wave like motions once more.

And reached out.

'This is not about me' She thought, her eyes closed as she sought the world around, feeling its energy.

The natural chakra was still strong and vibrant; she drew it forth, letting it come into contact with her in body and soul.

'This is not about my desires'

Once more the chakra began to enter her pathways and core; it felt warmth, fulfilling, and calm. But there was still wildness to it; the side of nature that could refuse to be tamed.

So she calmed it.

'I need this power not to erase my fears'

She welcomed it.

'Not for selfish reasons anymore'

She embraced it, like an old friend.

'But because... I want to protect him!'

And then... she mastered it.

The rain around her began to stop, and before Naruto's widening eyes he saw many droplets froze around Kya, as thought they had been stopped by some invisible forth.

"Ahhh can you feel it?" Kurama spoke, observing the situation with great interest. "There it is, senjutsu"

Kya's motions continued, flowing like the wind, letting the world itself move through her as she moved in it. The natural energy inside her mingled with her own in a balanced and controlled dance.

She slowly brought her feet and hands together, letting out a long breath. The essence of nature itself going in and out through her lungs. Kya felt powerful, like never before in her life. Something inside her had changed, to the point it even manifested in her body as tribal markings formed around her face in intrinsic patterns.

"She is a Sage" The fox announced without a drop of uncertainty.

The wind itself danced and flowed around her as her eyes opened. Her blue orbs glowed for a fraction of a second as she gazed back to Naruto who stared in awe. A serene smiled graced her lips. A smile so pure, warmth, no words could describe how beautiful it was. He walked over to her as the storm itself began to pass.

"Awesome." He muttered as he now felt the energy coming off of her. It was like she was different person! This was Senjutsu?! "How do you feel?"

Kya looks at her hands; "I... I can't put it to words. I feel so alive." Her voice was full of reverence and joy. "And ready to stop the Jubokko." Certainty rung in her voice.

"Do you know a jutsu that can completely annihilate such a beast?" Kurama's voiced his question as he appeared on Naruto's shoulder. "It will keep its heart constantly on the move through it body. You would have to obliterate the entire hill to ensure it is gone."

Kya grimaced as he did not have any skill that could destroy something in such a manner. And as much as she did not trust the Bijuu she knew no one else who might know what can work; "What can we do?"

"You're asking for my help human?"

Naruto looked at him; "Show me you're not the bad guy you keep going on about."

"I am not here to solve all of your problems" The fox retorted. "She has Senjutsu, I don't know for how long she can keep that state but if you're smart you can figure it out"

The jinchuuriki grunted in annoyance, "You don't have anything that could kill it, Kya?"

"I literally JUST achieved senjutsu, Naruto. I haven't made any techniques designed for raw destruction. And I'm not about to attempt something that will most likely get me killed because of my lack of experience with Sage Mode" Kya rubbed her chin in thought, "If I could channel this natural energy into an attack without risking my own body, then it's certainly doable. But as it is…"

Naruto felt a lightbulb turn on inside his head. "Can it be a pure chakra attack?" He quickly asked.

"It... could work yes" The older Namikaze slowly replied. "I can channel the natural energy into it to make it stronger"

"We can use my Rasengan!" He said with a large smile, "I'll keep it formed; you just pump it full of nature juice and BOOM!"

Crude way of explaining it aside, it could certainly work. But; "Are you sure you'll be able to keep it steady?" She asked in concern, "Naruto, I'll be channeling as much nature chakra as I can, the Rasengan will grow both in size and power, making it very unstable and harder to maintain"

"Kind of like the Odama Rasengan mom and Ero-Sennin had showed me."

"Would be like when you infused it with my chakra." Kurama quipped.

Kya cemented how serious this was "We only get one shot at this."

Naruto looked at her and then to Kurama; "We will do this." His tone steely as his eyes shone with determination.

The Bijuu remained quiet as he begun to vanish; "Show me."

---

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

---

The skies above were still cloudy but rays of sunlight came through in small sections. Naruto and Kya had dashed back to the step that led up to the shrine. They heard an inhuman roar as they saw tendrils of wood slamming into the seal barrier. "Our ancestor didn't mess around." the younger mused.

"Uzumakis aren't the only ones good at seals." Kya remarked as she stared up the hill; "Are you ready Naruto?"

"Damn right" Naruto said confidently as he bit into his thumb, drawing blood. He slammed his hand on the ground as a blast of smoke appeared, Hien's older brother, the brown scaled Jian appeared. His serpentine eyes quickly took in his sudden surroundings before looking over Naruto.

"Good to see you, kid" He floated before him and Kya, "What do you need?"

"Can you fly us over the hill?" At the dragon's nod, he continued. "We're gonna be dropping from the air and blow that monster up the hill to smithereens"

"I love everything you just said" The brown dragon replied cheerfully, earning an eye roll from Kya. Though his enthusiasm for the plan didn't stop him from tilting his head quizzically. "But why though?"

"There's a demon tree there. We need to kill it"

"Okay... you realize I can breathe FIRE right?"

"I doubt it would do much help" Kya replied, "It's a jubboko, its core must be deep inside the hill. Plus, this is the Land of Forests, any fire we start here risks spreading beyond our capacity to contain"

"Oh!" Jian's eyes widened in understanding. "I see, yes burning it would be a temporary solution at best. And the Land of Forests you said? Great Ryujin, if that thing manages to spread and infect the rest of the trees here..."

"Then it'll become forest wide monster that will swallow entire villages on its path"

Jian cringed; "Yeah that would suck." His mood brightened again; "Alright get on you two! Whatever have planned go for it!"

Both blonds got onto the dragon's back as he shot upwards into the sky. Naruto could stop the cheer that escaped his lips as they flew like the wind. Kya hid the small smirk hearing her younger fellow Namikaze before turning serious. "Naruto." He looked over to her; "Start your jutsu!"

"Got it." Lifting up his free hand, his father's signature jutsu came to life in his palm. Kya reached over and held his wrist as she begun to transfer some nature chakra into his Rasengan.

Naruto's eyes shot open as he felt pure energy flow into his arm. There was no describing in words what he felt, as if pure life itself was entering him. The result spoke for itself as the Rasengan begun to grow, and grow... Jian whistled as he felt the power coming from them. "Oh Hien is going to love hearing about this!"

---

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

---

On the ground Gantetsu had just returned to see the two Namikaze's and a dragon fly up into the sky. He had convinced the villagers to flee to a safe place as they heard the roar from the jubboko. Once in a safe place he had run back to see what he could do to help. Shock etched on his eyes as he saw ball of pure chakra rival the size of a bolder. It glowed a pure white as it spun like a drill.

He looked back to the hill as he could see the crack forming on the barrier seal. "Whatever they are planning they better do it fast!"

Both blonds leapt off Jian. They fell towards the great demonic tree, the creature heaving and emitting roaring-like sounds from bark breaking and reshaping, it sent dozens of roots towards them at great speed, but they were reduced to bloody chunks before their combined technique.

Even at their distance, he could still hear them call out its name.

"Sage Style; Rasengan!"

The attack struck the tree, and then, there was light, noise and tremors everywhere.

Gantetsu shielded his face, feeling the wind pick up violently, he planted his feet firmly on the ground but the shockwave was too strong and was sent flying backwards with a cry.

The energy of the Rasengan, the pure nature chakra Kya had overcharged it with, exploded in a great sphere of energy that tore the earth to pieces, digging further and further, flattening the hill and tearing any and all of the jubboko's roots.

At the heart of the hill, beat a heart-like core made of vines, filled with the blood of hundreds it had drank throughout the years. It sought to escape through its great network of roots, but no place was safe, the energy of the technique was destroying everything around it, turning the hill upon it had rested for so long into a crater.

The growing energy reached it, and the jubboko's heart was torn asunder, nothing of it remained.

Gantetsu grunted as he hit a tree with his back and landed on the ground. Despite the pain he gazed up to see what he could describe as a miniature moon, only half the size of their normal one sat on the hill. He could hear the sound of drilling almost being deafening as the tree and shrine was obliterated.

"Oh hell yeah!" Jian roared in cheer as he watched from above. "I love this kid!"

Within a blink the giant Rasengan faded with only a gaping crater to remain. Lying inside it were both an exhausted Naruto and Kya, whose Sage markings had faded. But not the warmth and brightness in her heart as she only smiled up to the sky. "That...was awesome." Naruto murmured breathlessly.

"Yes. It was..."

"Shame about the shrine though. Any other Namikaze shrines like this?"

At that Kya snorted, which only made Naruto chuckle. Slowly the older blond begun the same as both soon laughed brightly. This was the scene Gantetsu found while Jian flew back down with a smile; "Can't wait to tell the others about this!" He glanced to the towering human who looked wide eyed at him; "Sup!"

The missing-nin took a moment to gather his bearings, approaching them. "You're a crazy kid"

"Thanks!" Naruto replied with gratitude.

He let out a short relieved line laugh "So, it's over then" He looked at the wide creator; there was no sign of the damn tree still remaining. No bloodthirsty roots emerging to drain their blood, nothing.

"It's over" Kya assured him, slowly sitting up as she took a deep breath.

Gantetsu shook his head, letting out a weary sigh. "Shura, what were you thinking?" Steeling himself, he looked at the two Namikaze. "I can't ask for your forgiveness enough, but I want to promise you both, I'll make amends for my sins"

"What will you do?" Naruto asked him.

"Lots of villages that need help in this country" The large man replied with small smile. "Maybe I can finally do something good in my life by protecting them from whatever threatens them"

"It is a long, arduous road, redemption" Kya said, her voice even and non-judgmental. "Are you truly up for it?"

"It wouldn't be easy if it wasn't worth it" Gantetsu said, his smile becoming wider, more invigorated and hopeful. "Farewell, Namikaze heirs, I know you'll do great things to honor your clan, like you did today"

The towering man soon left as Jian flew over to help Naruto his feet, Kya slowly got up as well, giving her young cousin a long look. The former coldness of her eyes long gone, replaced with a caring warmth "Thank you, Naruto." Her remark surprised him before being engulfed in a tight hug. She couldn't fully convey what she felt with words alone, so she let her actions do the talking.

Said young Jinchurriki was greatly surprised by the act but returned the hug; "This is nice"

"Don't get used to it"

He couldn't help but laugh at her reply. 'So how was that?' He asked Kurama who snorted back but said nothing more.

---

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

---

The sun shone brightly as all the storm clouds had faded. Bidding Jian farewell the two blonds went back to the fishing village where they were met the by the village leader and elder. Both thanked them for stopping the vampire tree from destroying their village and killing their people. They were offered some money, food, and place for the night.

While both turned down the money so village could use it for what they needed, they had also remarked they had to return to Konoha. Around them the villagers thanked them which still made Kya a little uneasy. But more bearable with Naruto who took the cheer with gusto.

Her heart stopped for a moment as her gaze found him, there he was again, the old man… His name long since escaped her memory, she had been very young back then. But his face was familiar, if much older than last time she had seen it. He had not aged gently, given by the many, many wrinkles on his face, the bangs under his eyes, how pale his hair had gotten.

The villagers muttered amongst themselves, a few backing away slowly, feeling a confrontation inevitable.

The old man's lips trembled as he looked at her, his eyes shone with… shame?

"I… I know you. Kya" He said with a trembling voice. "I knew you parents, Hakoda and Taiya"

Kya remained silent.

"We, the village… we betrayed them" His whole body was shaking.

"Grandfather?" A brunette teenage young woman came close to the man muttered in confusion.

He ignored her, broken sobs soon escaped his lips and before Kya's widening eyes, he fell to his knees and bowed in supplication before her, pressing his head against the ground.

"We sold you, like cattle!" He wailed, regret and despair evident in his voice. "For money, because the village had been struggling for so long! I… I know that is no excuse, everyone there knew what we were doing…"

Naruto look from the man on the ground to Kya, he expected to find anger and hate, looking upon one of the people who had been responsible for all her pain, but instead he found pity.

"It all got worse after we took that cursed money, the fields became even poorer, every year we were assaulted by a new plague. We knew what it was…" He managed to speak in between the tears of remorse. "It was karma, the Gods punishing us for our sins"

Kya slowly approached the man.

"The village had to be abandoned in the end, there was no living there anymore. And I… I ran from there, from what we did, trying to forget it all, but I couldn't, it haunts me dreams to this day!"

She stopped before the old man, who looked up to her with a tear stained face.

"I'm sorry…" He wept, "I'm so sorry! Please, I beg you!" His body shook by the intensity of his sobbing. "Forgive me!"

The crowd could only stare in shock at what was transpiring before them, many looked at the mocha skin woman, concerned by what she would do, many taking notice of the katana in her back, afraid she might use it.

But Naruto knew Kya would never do something like that, instead, she let her words do justice.

"What you seek… is not something I can give you" She softly replied, much to the bowing man's surprise. "The pain will not go away, even if I give you my forgiveness, because you will still be haunted by your actions. You will not move on… until you allow yourself to do so"

The old man could only stare at her in silence.

"It took me far too long to realize that" She shook her head, "But the truth is, our ghosts haunt us because we make them haunt us. If you seek to be rid of them, you must find redemption on your own path. Just like I had learn my own path was filled with the pain I myself had placed there" She knelt before the old man, "You do not need my forgiveness, you need your own"

The old sniffed, mouth trembling as he prompted himself to his knees, old haunted eyes staring wide at blue eyes that once held pain like they did, but now were free.

"I intend to move on from what happened to me" She bowed her head gently, closing her eyes. "I hope you do as well" Kya stood up, beckoning Naruto to follow, "Come, Naruto"

Her cousin silently complied, and the two begun to leave the village. He turned his head back to see the old man, still weeping as his granddaughter kneeled next to him, holding him tightly. He kept looking back until the trees blocked his view.

"Do you hate him?" He sincerely asked Kya.

"I have not forgotten what he and the other villagers did" Kya admitted, "But I prefer to live my life without that pain plaguing me anymore, that means letting go of my anger"

"You really hope he too moves on"

"I wouldn't wish what I felt on anyone" She merely replied.

Naruto slowly nodded to himself, "Don't know if I could if something like that happened to me"

"Everyone's circumstances are different, Naruto" Kya explained, "I know my path now, and honestly" She gently smiled at him, "I feel I can be much happier this way"

The young blonde smiled, in the end that was all that mattered. "So, back to Konoha then?"

"Yes…" Her eyes shone at the thought, "Let's go home"

Back to Lyn, where she belonged.

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Hope you enjoyed!