Hinata points to the cliffside that overlooks the village.
There's only one face on the Hokage monument.
Naruto looks around, although they're still a good distance from the village itself and only the gate can really be seen. It's different. It's similar enough that he missed it at first, but the wall is definitely not the exact one they're used to.
"W-why's the Hokage monument only have the First's face?!" Naruto panics.
"I don't know. A genjutsu perhaps?" Hinata activates her Byakugan and scans the area. "Or… not. All of this is somehow real."
"Sensei, where are we?" Yokumaru sticks close to his fellow students.
"We don't know yet. But we can find out." Naruto forms a Shadow Clone, releasing Kurama once again. "Alright, Kurama, what's going on?"
"As if I'd know. I'm just as lost as you are."
"But, you knew about the formula, you knew how to activate it!"
"It was a lucky guess! Just because I knew it doesn't mean I knew what it'd do." Kurama huffs.
"So how did you know it?" Naruto's getting pushy.
"It's a long story, one that I've no intention of telling you about, so drop it." The Fox is clearly agitated and anxious about what they'd just been through.
"Please, Kurama." Hinata pleads. "If you know of a way to undo whatever it is that happened…"
"Well, I don't. So you better figure it out." With that, Kurama dismisses the Shadow Clone he was inhabiting.
Naruto clicks his tongue. "Damnit, why's he gotta be like that…"
Hinata places a hand on his arm. "If he says he doesn't know, then he doesn't. Forcing him won't accomplish anything, so for now let's see what we can find on our own."
"You're right. I guess our first order of business is… going into the village?" Naruto looks nervous, the uncertainty of the situation getting to him.
The kids are even more nervous. Hinata leans down and smiles warmly. "It'll be fine. We'll protect you no matter what happens, okay?" The kids nod firmly in response.
The five go forward, hand in hand, but after taking only a few steps, Naruto and Hinata spring into action. An attacker. They grab the kids and jump back as a flaming sphere comes roaring right at them.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball"
Just as it's about to head right towards them and impact the ground, a torrent of water comes rushing directly at it.
"Water Style: Water Bullet"
The collision of fire and water fills the entire area with sizzling steam, blocking their vision.
Hinata immediately activates her Byakugan to track her assailant. "If the Fireball misses, then the Water Bullet masks their presence. That means they have a sensor who can see through it." Right on cue, she sees shuriken and kunai from all directions flying directly at them.
From her position, she knows that she can't hit all of them, and Naruto doesn't have a visual. Her Vacuum Palms won't get all of them. This is exactly the situation where the Revolving Heaven thrives and while she hasn't mastered it, she's been able to master something else. Something that uses the same principle and came to life during her training in Mount Myoboku, thanks to Naruto.
She gathers chakra throughout her entire body, pushing it out as much as she can to cover the entire area around them.
"Rasentengan"
A version of the Revolving Heaven that doesn't require the user to spin to create a defensive perimeter, and a version of the Rasengan that's formed around the user's body rather than their palm. A technique possible thanks to the Hyuga's clan intricate chakra control.
The shuriken are blown away and some of the steam directly around them is, too, although not all of it.
"Keep it up, Hinata." Naruto places a hand on her back and the two combine their chakras. He sends his Wind nature through her and it gets added to the Rasentengan, increasing its speed and force, creating a whirlwind that disperses the steam entirely.
"Wind Style: Rasentengan"
Gaining their visibility, they now see who their assailants are.
One man with brown slicked back hair and dark grey armour, and next to him a man with white hair and piercing red eyes, and blue armour with white fur collar. The man in blue is unmistakable.
"Lord… Second?"
Tobirama Senju steps forward. "I'm mildly impressed. It would appear you're not entirely inept as far as intruders go. Perhaps you have the skills to back up your brazen intrusion."
"Intrusion?" Naruto somewhat relaxes his defensive stance. "Whatcha talking about, you know us! We fought side by side, so what was all this for?"
Tobirama tilts his head. "What are you babbling on about? I've never seen you in my life. You have the Byakugan yet I don't recognize you as any of the Hyuga, you somehow possess the Nine-Tails' chakra. We'll take you in and Yacho Yamanaka can figure out the truth. Your compliance is unnecessary."
"If you wanted to know, you coulda just asked!"
"As if I'd take your word for anything."
The man in grey armour chuckles. "So stern, Lord Tobirama." He bites his finger and smears it on his palm. "Allow me to handle this." He slams his hand on the ground and from the following puff of smoke, a large monkey appears. "Let's get to work, Enoudai."
Enoudai looks at his opponents. "2 teenagers and 3 children. Have you grown soft, Sasuke? I told you this village life would make you rusty."
"Don't be fooled by their appearance. That boy possesses the Nine-Tails' chakra." The man takes a stance, one of his palms behind him toward the large monkey and opened upward.
"Oh? So he's like those blasted Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Very well then." Enoudai grabs his hand and transforms into an intricate black quarterstaff, a golden colour adorning the tips.
The man spins the staff around and assumes a battle pose. "Leader of the Hidden Leaf's Sarutobi clan, renowned as the Mountain Leaper, Sasuke Sarutobi will face you in battle."
"So dramatic." Tobirama sighs.
He rushes at them, swirling his quarterstaff.
Hinata moves to grab Kotori and jump back to get her to safety. "Sasuke Sarutobi? But that's… Lord Third's father." Naruto does the same with Shoto and Yokumaru.
Sasuke catches up with them and swings to hit them both but they dodge swiftly to the side, but the tips of the staff are still pointed at them. Few know of the Monkey summons' ability and it's usually their downfall. The quarterstaff extends rapidly, ready to strike them in the back but they dodge again, with Hinata ducking down and Naruto jumping over it.
Sasuke is both annoyed and impressed. "These kids… they know…" The staff this time expands, growing thicker and more massive than before, to strike them mid-dodge but Hinata gets out of the way in time, and Naruto uses the staff's larger form as a platform to get further back.
They skid on the ground and put the kids down.
Shoto brings his hands together and they turn a darker brown. "We can help!"
Yokumaru takes a step back in fear, his breathing intensified.
"It'll be fine, Yokumaru." Kotori summons an adolescent Lightning Condor by her side.
"R-right…"
"A Teshin and... a Hoyouku? I thought they'd died out long ago." Tobirama observes from the back.
"You three stay back." Hinata doesn't take her eyes off Sarutobi. "Sasuke Sarutobi, Tobirama Senju, we're not your enemies!" She calls out to them. "We don't wish to fight you."
"I don't think they're giving us any say in that, Hinata."
A torrent of water comes surging from behind and above Sasuke, aiming right at the group.
"Water Style: Water Bullet"
Seeing this, Naruto springs into action. He gathers chakra and inflates his cheeks, letting out a torrent of his own, but of darker liquid.
"Toad Oil Bomb"
The oil clashes with the water and stops its progress. The dirt road in front of them is now soaked in both liquids.
Tobirama forms a single seal that Naruto has grown very accustomed to "I'm done playing around." and summons two more of himself to his side.
"Shadow Clones"
Sasuke smirks. "Your new jutsu, huh?"
"That's right, now let's see how well it does in battle." Just as Tobirama is about to spring forward, he sees his foe do the exact same seal.
"Multi Shadow Clones"
The forest is filled with dozens, if not even hundreds of the unknown to them blonde. On the road, atop the tree, on the bark. And all of them material Clones, all of them ready to pounce.
Tobirama looks slack jawed. "That's… impossible."
Sasuke tries to keep all of them in his line of sight but it's simply impossible. "But how? This is a jutsu that even Lord Tobirama has yet to use in combat."
Tobirama feels anger welling up in him. "You… just who are you?"
"Oh, so NOW you wanna talk?"
The three Tobiramas weave chakra and each fire a highly pressurized stream of water from their mouths, much more so than before.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave"
The water reaches far and completely cuts through the surrounding trees like they're nothing.
Many Clones are caught in the attack, but many manage to jump through and head right for Tobirama. "Alright, if you won't stop, then I'll force you to!" The remaining Narutos gather chakra in their hands, expanding greatly as he comes raining down.
"Massive Rasengan Barrage"
Tobirama and his Shadow Clones manage to damage even more clones with their Water Severing Wave, but not all of them. Sasuke jumps high and expands his quarterstaff to reach as many as he can. Enoudai's staff form clashes with the Rasengan and they come to a standstill. "This jutsu is impressive, to be able to withstand the Adamantine Staff…"
Naruto's Shadow Clones come crashing down on the ground, their Rasengans making a huge impact in the ground, leaving behind a huge dust wall.
The real Naruto and Hinata are still laying back, lying in wait for a chance to strike. Hinata spots movement from the corner of her extended vision. "Naruto! To our left!"
Tobirama emerges from behind the trees, just as Sasuke emerges from the dust.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Destruction"
"Water Style: Great Waterfall"
Sasuke spews out an intense flame that covers the entire path, while Tobirama summons a huge vortex of water. Both of them aimed right at Naruto's group.
Naruto barely reacts to the high level ninjutsu thrown their way. "I'm done playing around." His voice is even and the kids are somehow more startled by their usually cheerful sensei sounding like that, than they are of the deadly ninjutsu heading their way.
Naruto becomes engulfed in orange chakra, ready to unleash Kurama's might.
However, before he can, the infernal flames and surging water are stopped. The ground around them breaks and large trees emerge from the ground, completely blocking Sasuke and Tobirama's attacks.
"Sage Art Wood Style: Forest Tree Barrier"
When the trees submerge back into the ground, two new figures make their presence known. A dark-haired man clad in red armour, and a woman in red robes, her bright red hair tied in two buns with what appear to be sealing tags hanging from them.
Hashirama focuses his gaze on his two friends, full of rage. "Tobirama. Sasuke. Were you trying to kill these children?" The ground under him cracks as he sounds out a wave of killing intent.
Sasuke falls to one knee from the pressure. "Lord… First…"
Tobirama manages to stay on his feet, but his knees are heavily buckled. "Elder Brother… They are an unknown entity…"
"No, Tobirama, they are known entities." The red haired woman bows to Naruto and Hinata. "I deeply apologize for the rude welcome." The woman gives off an air of elegance and refinement. Hinata is polite and aware of social etiquette , but this woman is different. Almost like what a grown-up Hinata might be like. "We must go someplace isolated, away from prying eyes."
Hashirama calmly walks over to the nearby trees that were damaged in the scuffle. He places a hand on one of them and forms seals with only one hand.
"Sage Art Wood Style: Restoration"
With that, every single tree that was cut down by Tobirama's Severing Waves begin growing back to their original size; the trees currently on fire by Sasuke's Fire Style grow over the flames and snuff them out. The forest is back to how it was previously.
"Tobirama, take us somewhere safe."
Thanks to Tobirama's Flying Thunder God, they were able to immediately go to a remote location. The redhead sits down and motions for Naruto's group to do the same.
She turns to Hashirama. "Dear husband, would you allow us some privacy?"
"Of course." He nods and goes outside, motioning for Tobirama and Sasuke to follow him.
Once they close the door, Tobirama stares at it as if he'd somehow see what's happening inside. "Elder Brother, do you think this is wise?"
"I agree. I don't doubt her ability to defend herself, but is trusting these strangers truly wise?" Sasuke shares in the future Second Hokage's worries.
"She said she's aware of their purpose, but wouldn't divulge any more information. If she won't share it, then that just means it's sensitive information. I trust her completely."
"You're being naive, Elder Brother. If this information would affect the village in any way-"
"Tobirama." The Hokage stops his brother with a glare. "Drop it. That's an order."
"... Yes, sir." He begrudgingly agrees.
Inside, the redhead looks at the door, with a light smile. "I imagine by this point Tobirama has been told to quell his worries." She then turns to her guests. "I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Mito Uzumaki, and I have been expecting your arrival for some years now."
"You… knew we were coming?"
"Not of you specifically, but I knew someone would." Mito takes out a scroll, one ancient and torn. "I once visited the mysterious Temple of Stone's Song and found this scroll, among some others. The writings inside this scroll activated upon your arrival. I spent years studying its secrets and discovered it to be a space-time ninjutsu, however the method of activation was unknown to me."
"Awesome! So that means you're our ticket outta here, right?" Naruto nearly stands up from his seat.
"But maybe before that, there's something else for us to accomplish. If we were allowed to enter and activate the Temple's seals where others weren't, there must be a reason for it."
"I'm not certain as to how. If you're here, then you're already aware as to how to activate it and thus can do it once more to return." Mito nods to Hinata. "Perhaps you're correct and it's no mere coincidence that you were transported to the Hidden Leaf. Our meeting is meant to happen, although I cannot fathom as to what our meeting is for."
"Excuse me, Lady Mito." Hinata chimes in. "But you said you went to the Temple, correct? Then how were you able to enter? There's supposed to be powerful seals in place that prevent entrance, and yet the five of us were able to enter freely. And now you say you were able to, as well?"
Mito sighs. "That, unfortunately, I do not know. I'd suspected it was due to my being an Uzumaki, but other members of the clan were unable to enter."
Naruto is sitting down cross legged, in contrast to the others in the room. "Maybe that's why we got sent to you- 'cause you're an Uzumaki. Maybe this is where we get answers." He lightly turns his head to look to Hinata.
Hinata nods. "The Great Beasts."
Mito's expression turns serious. "Why would you want to know about that? How do you even know about them?" Naruto and Hinata look between each other, unsure how to continue this conversation. Seeing this, Mito reassures them. "Whatever has happened, wherever you are from, you've my word it will not leave this room. If they've re-emerged then you should know how imperative it is to stop them."
Hinata tries not to reveal too much. "I'm not sure how much we can say without saying more than we should, but the Great Beasts are a threat where we're from. Someone has brought them back from their seals and… we do not have anyone who knows what they are or how to prevent their emergence."
"I see. That is worrisome, indeed."
"So, you do know about 'em, right? I've already fought two of 'em, but they were still weak from the gates."
"I know some, yes. As much as one can know history dating back hundreds of years. They were monstrous beings, rivaling the Tailed Beasts in strength but lacking their sentience and ability to co-exist. They ran rampant and often clashed with the people of the land or the Tailed Beasts. Sometimes even both at once, leading to a certain degree of cooperation. That remained until a clan of Sealing users imprisoned then in the summoned gates of Rashomon, said to connect our world to another."
"If these gates are the same as the one I saw, then someone's figured out how to unseal them and call them back from that other world." Naruto recalls the little bit that Kurama and Gyuki knew about them. "That means we just gotta find someone who knows about the gates, right? And maybe we can seal them for good this time.
"Yes, did we see one come out of a gate, which I presume is the Rashomon. I've heard of them told in stories. Supposedly the First Hokage is able to call upon them?"
Mito nods. "Correct. I taught him to summon them. However, summoning them and opening them are two vastly different aspects. The seals placed on the Rashomon are ancient and powerful, and require decades of dedicated study. I'm renowned as a master, among the best of the Uzumaki clan, and yet even I could not fathom how to open them. Whoever it is you're facing is powerful and the knowledge they possess likely does not end there."
Naruto tightens his fist. "So it's not much more than we already know. 'Cause it sounds like our main option is to get rid of the guys who do know how to open the gates."
"Lacking the ancient knowledge of the Rashomon's seal, that is one possible course of action, yes. Another, is to delve deep into their psyche and connect to the person inside of them." Mito closes her in contemplation.
"Wait. Whaddya mean, 'person inside them'?" Naruto leans forward.
"That is one of the secrets about the Great Beasts that has been preserved even moreso than their existence." She opens her eyes. "The Great Beasts used to be people."
None of them see or know how tense Kurama got upon hearing that. He scrapes the ground with his claws with a hint of panic in his eyes. "Did you know something, Tamamo? Is that why… that place..." He prays Naruto doesn't pay him a visit right now, because he won't have the mental fortitude to keep a conversation.
Hinata and Naruto are unable to hide their surprise. "Those creatures… are people? But how?"
"In a certain way, they can be likened to jinchuriki, the hosts of the Tailed Beasts. Long ago, chakra was more abundant in the world, especially with the presence of the Tailed Beasts. Some tried to take advantage of their strength and absorb it into themselves, but it proved too much. The more they absorbed, the more monstrous they became, until they eventually turned into Beasts of their own. Devoid of the emotions they once had, they rampaged, guided only by the foreign chakra that now ran wild within them. It wouldn't be until much later that shinobi found a different way of containing the Tailed Beasts, but the damage was already done. A new threat, arguably greater than the Tailed Beasts now roamed the world."
Hinata grips her pants as tightly as she can. "That's terrible."
Naruto stares at the ground in disbelief. "For all these years, those people have been like that, with no way of getting back to normal?"
"Perhaps you hold the solution, ones who've traveled through space and time. Perhaps you are the ones to finally free them and put an end to their suffering. I, however, fear I cannot help you any more than I have for I lack the knowledge to do so."
"Then, do you know how we're supposed to get back to where we belong?"
"I would assume the same way you arrived here. Go to the Temple of Stone's Song and activate it."
"Then we would best get going." Hinata goes to stand up. The kids follow. "I fear what would happen if we stay longer than we're supposed to."
Mito stands up, as well, and goes to open the door, allowing Hashirama, Tobirama, and Sasuke to enter the room. "I'm inclined to agree. I hope I have helped to an extent."
Tobirama looks annoyed, although he always does so nothing's really changed.. "Have you finished?"
"We have, yes." Mito turns to Hashirama. "I've a request, dear husband. They need to reach the Temple of Stone's Song immediately. I was hoping Tobirama and Sasuke could act as escort."
"What?" Tobirama nearly laughs at the suggestion. "Why would I bother going deep into the Land of Earth for this lot who we know nothing of."
"I know enough of them, and I ask that you take my word that they are to be trusted."
Hashirama nods. "If you trust them, then that's good enough for me. You two are to leave right away."
Mito places a hand on Tobirama's chest. "I know you've a strong sense of duty, dear brother. I know how much you love this village and I can assure you I share in that love and would tell you were there any danger to it."
Tobirama scrunches his nose. "Don't do this to me, Mito."
"You're a brave, kind man and I trust you implicitly and I ask that you do the same. Those children are our allies."
He clicks his tongue. "Fine, I'll do it." And begins walking to the group.
Sasuke laughs and joins them. "You've left seals around the Land of Earth, correct?"
Tobirama approaches. "Of course I have, don't insult me." He beckons Naruto's group to get together as they already did before, and they all disappear in a flash.
Hashirama and Mito watch on as they leave. The Hokage turns to face his wife and presses his forehead against her and rubs her shoulders. "Is there anything you can share?"
"Do you trust me, my love?" She wraps her arms around him.
"With all that I am."
"Then just now know the Hidden Leaf you've worked so hard for is in safe hands." She leans in to kiss her husband.
He smiles and holds her close. "That's good enough for me."
The group of now seven are steadily making their way to their destination. Thanks to Tobirama Senju's precautions in placing seals as regularly as he can, they're extremely close to the familiar Temple, mere minutes away even.
"Just so you know," The Senju is leading the charge. "I don't trust you one bit. Make one move I don't approve of and I won't hesitate to attack."
"Yeah, yeah, you've said that already. Look, the sooner we get there, the sooner we'll be outta your hair and you won't have to worry about us again, alright?"
He scoffs. "We'd already be there if you'd trained your charges better in the ninja arts."
Naruto grumbles, but Hinata places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
The kids can't help but take the words to heart. They have to admit, they've had it somewhat easy since Naruto appeared in their lives. They're significantly better, but are they really doing everything they can to improve? Or are they taking it slow because Naruto is too nice to them?
After about half an hour, they're finally in front of the Temple of Stone's Song. They managed to avoid any main roads in case of Hidden Stone patrols, which was an easy task given that they have a sensory type, but you can never be too certain. Tobirama's powerful, his range is probably greater than most others so he should be able to sense others before they can sense them. They're right in front of the entrance with no enemies in range. They're completely safe unless…
"Dust Style: Atomic Dismantling"
A massive chakra signature suddenly appears out of nowhere. The one person who can't be detected.
Everyone jumps back, managing to avoid a large translucent pillar of light that encompases the area. Filled with a flash of light, it disappears and the ground where it landed disappears with it as if it was reduced to nothing.
A man floats down from the skies, his entire body wrapped in bandages. The one person in the entire Hidden Stone that Tobirama isn't able to detect. The First Tsuchikage's most trusted shinobi- Mu, the Null-Man.
"Tobirama Senju and Sasuke Sarutobi. What a surprise to find you here."
"Ah!" Naruto points to the new arrival. "It's the mummy guy!"
"We don't have the time." Tobirama immediately springs into action, forming seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet"
He draws water from the air itself, a skill that not many Water Style users can pull off. A large serpentine creature heads right for Mu.
"Then I won't waste your time, if it's so precious to you." Mu is unfazed.
"Dust Style: Atomic Dismantling"
The Water Dragon getting blown provides a curtain of water that rains down on the area. Tobirama stands face-to-face with his foes, keeping him in place. In the short time it took for that to happen, the others took advantage of the situation and made a run for it. Naruto created three Shadow Clones to carry the kids faster.
Quick to act, Sasuke is already wielding his Adamantine Staff and uses its properties to swing at Muu from a great distance, trying to keep him at bay while they make a dash for the entrance.
Mu deftly floats around it, having the full control of his flight to move in every direction. Sasuke keeps thrusting, expanding and extending the staff until it gets extremely close to hitting him, which was never actually his intent. He just had to get the staff close enough. He just had to get the sealing formula close enough.
"Hiraishin Slash"
Tobirama appears from nowhere and cuts Mu on the arm. He swings once more for the head but Mu falls down to avoid him. The Stone Jounin grunts in pain and frustration.
"To think you'd have already marked the staff in that brief window. You're as annoying as ever, Tobirama."
As Tobirama falls to the ground, he smirks. "Thank you for the compliment." In an instant, he's already by Mu's side and goes for another slash, but the other man's prepared. "Keep moving, Sasuke!"
He can't predict where the Senju will come from, but as long as he doesn't stay still, his own movements can't be easily predicted, either. Tobirama appears several times, but Mu skillfully parries with his own swordplay. He does suffer a few more injuries in the clash but not as severe as they could have been, and Tobirama doesn't get out unscathed, either.
When Tobirama skids back in preparation from another attack, Mu immediately cuts the bandages on his right forearm where the Hiraishin formula was placed. He stabs the bandages, cutting the seal so it no longer functions.
"Why are you here, Tobirama? Who're the kids?"
Tobirama's expression or tone doesn't change in the least. "They're my illegal children from multiple affairs. I'm taking them on a vacation."
"Humour doesn't suit you." Mu spits out and weaves his chakra.
"Earth Style: Rock Shelter"
He slams his hands on the ground as an earthen dome appears around Tobirama, ready to enclose him. He's swift enough to dodge out of the way, but Mu has already finished weaving another set of hand signs.
"Earth Style: Stone Bamboo Shoot"
Four spikes of rock jut out in an attempt to pierce him, but he's made his own preparations.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave"
The torrent of water isn't strong enough to cut through them as it did with the trees, but it allows him to propel himself away.
"Didn't even try Lightning Style. You wound me."
"And you haven't even tried your Dust Style again. Do you believe you can beat me without-" He stops mid sentence. His eyes widen. "Unless you can't. Sasuke, watch out!"
"Too late." Mu smirks under his mask.
-x-
Mere metres in front of the entrance, Sasuke begins forming hand signs after hearing the warning. "There's no way he already managed to do that, is there?". As if on cue, a second Mu appears in front of the main entrance to the Temple.
"Earth Style: Rock Golem"
A giant humanoid made of earth and rock emerges from the ground and goes to strike directly at them, but Sasuke is already done.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Destruction"
He spits out a stream of fire that expands to cover nearly half of the building in front of them, creating an inferno that even they can feel despite not being the targets.
"Don't slow down for anything, leave him to me!"
As instructed, they keep running towards the fire as it eventually dies down. The Rock Golem is damaged but not destroyed. Mu's Clone managed to fly up to avoid the fire, his body covered in a stony exterior. Sasuke expands his staff strike and Mu swings his rock-covered fist to meet the Adamantine Staff. Tobirama once again appears from thin air to stab him in the shoulder.
"Damnit." Mu grabs the sword to try pull him closer, but Tobirama just teleports a few centimetres to the side, freeing himself. "You slippery bastard."
Down on the ground, Naruto and Hinata are charging forward while the Shadow Clones carry the kids. They join their hands and extend them forward towards the Rock Golem, chakra gather and swirling in their palms.
"Gentle Step: Massive Spiraling Lion Fist"
The Rock Golem manages to withstand for a respectable time, but their combination proves too much and it shatters, allowing them safe passage. Mu can only watch as they step over the threshold of the Temple.
"What? They can actually enter?!" Mu's anger grows. "What are you two planning, Senju?!" He shouts out.
-x-
Inside, Hinata once again leads them to the main hall, the same as they saw it before. Naruto lets Kurama take over and he once again sings the activation melody. And once again, the seals glow along with his humming right up until he finishes the song. They disappear from sight and a blast of energy is released from the temple that washes over everyone on the outside.
-x-
Tobirama, Sasuke, and Mu can do nothing to really protect themselves from the wave but it seems like they didn't need to. Nothing happened to them. Physically.
Tobirama lands on the ground next to his comrade, confused. "Sasuke? What were… we here for?"
The other man looks equally confused. "I'm… not sure. We were here to intercept Mu, right?
Tobirama rubs his head and looks to the Hidden Stone ninja, who seems to be in the same boat as them.
"Let's get out of here." Tobirama grabs his friend by the shoulder and teleports them away.
Mu lands on the ground and looks around. "Damnit, what just happened. My head's splitting apart."
After some minutes, a group of Hidden Stone shinobi come rushing toward him. The shortest and youngest approaches first.
"Lord Mu, what happened? What was Tobirama Senju doing here?"
Mu looks uneasily at the Temple of Stone's Song. "I don't know, Onoki. I don't know."
Naruto, Hinata, and the kids don't feel any different. There was a flash of light just like before but they're still in the same place. Did it work? Should they have been transported to the Hidden Leaf again, or are they meant to be here?
Their questions are answered when the radio activates and Akatsuchi's panicked voice comes through. "Naruto! Hinata! Come in!"
Hinata answers. "Akatsuchi! We're here!"
"Oh, thank goodness. You've been silent for 10 minutes, what happened?"
"What? Just 10 minutes?"
"Well, yeah?"
The Temple begins to rumble. The ceiling breaks and chunks of stone fall and break on the ground. Kotori lets out a yelp. Naruto grabs Hinata's hand and begins running to the exit, along with his Clones who're still carrying the kids piggyback.
Yokumaru holds on tight. "Didn't we go through enough?"
Hinata is able to see which bits are about to fall and leads them around, avoiding the dangerous paths. When they reach the exit, Akatsuchi is there, standing a bit at a distance, having moved back once it started rumbling.
They make a dash for it and get as far away from the Temple as possible, unsure what's happening- whether the ground is structurally unsound, whether it'll fall over and crush them.
Much to their surprise, rather than falling, it rises up. Many of the parts shift and move around; stones fly around larger stones as if magnetically charged. One particularly large piece attracts five smaller ones, and another larger piece attracts five more. The more the stones move around, the more obvious it becomes what they are.
A humanoid shape.
The once-Temple now stands at a massive height, perhaps even higher than the Tailed Beasts. It roars, letting out green smoke around its body.
Great Beast: Sessho-seki.