(AN: Alright, just out of curiosity... what am I doing wrong,hmm? I've got over 5,000 hits on this story, and only 55 reviews. It dosn't really bother me, since I'm still a relatively new author on this site - this time around anyway. So I'm not firmly established. But, in the space of.. oh, I suppose it's probably about two weeks... I've cranked out 16 chapters - this being the sixteenth - and I only have 55 reviews. Again, this didn't particularly bother me - it still dosn't, but I enjoy reviews immensely and am curious as to how to get more of the succulent little treats - but I just checked out a story that's been aorund roughly as long as this one... with only five chapters.. and it has over two hundred reviews. I don't know the author personally, and I've never read their work before, but they've been around several months less than I have. But.. -shrug- I suppose my readers are lazy,heh. Can't say I blame ya'll though. I'm pretty lazy myself - outside of writing (And inside of it as well unless I'm bitten by a bug of inspiration.) but, shit. I was tyring to sound like I wasn't whining. Dammit... I gotta quit talking when I lack sleep... but not alcohol. Anyway, here's the newest installment for Kage of the graves. It seems like things are finnaly egtting rolling,ja?
Kage
of the Graves:
Hushed
Conversation in the Minds Twilight
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-"Gaara, Kyuubi, can you hear me?"-
'I can hear you, Naruto.'
'As can I, and if I may - I must say that it has taken you long enough, brat!'
-'Baka fox, I've been busy. Besides, It's not like you were around enough for me to talk to.'-
'Oh no, instead of talking to me, you've simply been enjoying the use of my body.'
'Please! Can't we just be civil for a moment. I got the impression that we are under considerable stress for time.'
-'Oh alright. But you realize you've interrupted me and the fox making our usual greetings, yes?'-
'Indeed, Gaara. This is our usual form of how-do-you-do's. He attempts to make me feel insulted by his idiocy, while I remind him of how useless he is.'
'Kami, lend me strength… Naruto, we were only able to perceive a scant few of the things going on with you in the past few days. Tell us, what is happening, what is coming, and what can we do about it?'
-'Ah, all good questions I suppose. What is happening is that I have agreed to destroy myself. What is coming is a force of evil that is so vile in it's nature, that it makes the Kyuubi seem like a playful kit. What you can do about it is be silent for a moment while I discuss something with the Kyuubi no Kitsune.'-
The Kyuubi, for his part, immediately picked up on the seriousness of the situation. The brat had addressed him by his full name, and that was something he'd only done under extreme duress.
'What is it you wish to speak of, Naruto?'
-'Gaara, I want you to know that I'm not excluding you out of any negative impulse. I will explain everything to you in good time, but for now, it is necessary for me to have a private conversation with the Kyuubi no Kitsune, and that it is vastly important for the survival of us all.'-
'I understand. I shall tune you both out for the moment.'
'I no longer sense his presence within these walls, kit… tell me, what is it you wish to discuss?'
-' Oh, nothing to major… Just the end of my life and yours, and the beginning of a new life entirely.'-
'What, you got some mortal bitch pregnant while the heat was upon her?'
-'No. I am going to give you part of the opportunity you've been aching for, for years. Kyu… I have been in heated discussion with a representative to the Kami's. It seems the only way Konoha - and indeed, every other nation as well - may survive is if we merge. And I don't mean me just using your chakra, I mean that you and I would cease to exist. In essence, we would give birth to a creature that is half you, and half me.'-
'Fascinating, brat. But if you recall, I intend to destroy Konoha, why should I give up this ambition and move to the opposite extreme - saving Konoha?'
-'Because, fox, if you don't… there won't be a Konoha left for you to destroy. The Dark Legion is coming. They will lay waste to Konoha, and we must stop them. You see, only by merging together will we have the power to do this. I need all of your chakra and strength, but my body can not handle it without merging. And if we don't merge, the Dark Legion - a group of zealots who are empowered by-'-
'Maolvviset!'
-'Uh… yeah, that's right. You know him?'-
'Him? Hah! Maolvviset is not defined by gender. He can be she if that is what draws more sheep to her flock. She can be a he when she wishes, but she, or he, prefers the genderless 'it'. However, when I met Maolvviset it was an attractive seven tailed Kitsune. Granted, she was a little young for me, but there was something about her… and that is part of it's power. Maolvviset seeks to conquer the world, boy. Not just the nations of Shinobi, but the world. Once it has claimed each Shinobi, it shall order it's followers on.'
-'How do you know all this?'-
'Well, it's a long story… but… as I said, when I first cam across the vile creature, it was not vile at all - but extremely attractive.'
-'You mean you… ewwwwwww, that is so much more than I could ever want to know about an invasion force.'-
'Ugh. You are an extremely immature example of your species, do you know that, Naruto?'
Naruto recognized a subject change when it was put before him - it was just typically more fun to pretend he didn't - so with a sigh, he settled back down to discussion.
-'Anyway, this army powered by Maolvviset, is fast approaching Konoha. When they arrive they will utterly destroy this place. But we can prevent this by merging. You'll win out, in a way…'-
'And how is that, exactly?'
-'I'll finally become the man you've always wanted me to be. Ruthless, powerful, destructive and without a shred of mercy for any who oppose us. The alternative is simple however, and I believe it to be the only thing that might convince you.'-
'Oh, pray then, tell me what it is that is so terrible that I would change my mind, hmm?'
-'Oh, nothing much. I just go ahead with my resurrection anyway. You get drawn back fully into my body where you'll stay for a month and a half while I train incessantly, day in and out. When the month and a half is up, the Legion arrives and kills all of us anyway because they have vastly superior numbers and with the help of their deity, they outmatch us in strength. I'll probably make some last minute plan of action that involves no planning whatsoever, and instead is all about rushing heedlessly against the insurmountable forces that converge upon Konoha. I'll die permanently this time, and you'll be taken with me.'-
'Hmm, you're right brat, that is indeed a grave consequence. So let me get this straight. On the one hand, I give up my glorious vengeance to merge with you. You die, I die, a new us is born and the new us slaughters the forces of the Dark Legion… or I listen to you whine and bore me to death for a month and a half while you train and continue to try and convince me to merge… until our time is up. When our time does run out, you'll undoubtedly get yourself killed, and I shall die with you… is that correct?'
-'Yep, that about sums it up.'-
'Hmm. Oh well, what the hell. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I love situations like that…'
-'Yeah well, I'm not exactly fond of them myself. But anyway, so what's your answer? Merge with me, or die with me?'-
'Well, when you put it like that…' -sigh- 'I suppose I have only the one option left to me. But, before I agree to anything, you must promise me one thing first…'
-'What exactly would I be promising..?'-
'When they come, we shall give them absolute hell, Naruto. I want you to promise me that the merger will give us the ability and desire, to tear our enemies apart, limb from limb.'
-'Heh, now that, Kyuubi no Kitsune, I can gladly do.'-
Naruto had been given a personal account of what the Dark Legion would do to Konoha, and he had to admit, he was feeling at least a little bit bloodthirsty at the thought of what he would do to them - no one would harm his precious people after all.
'Gaara, you may return to us.'
'Have you two finished discussing what it is you wished to discuss?'
-'Yes, and now begins what could conceivably turn out to be a nightmare. But first, before anything can get underway, we need you to get in touch with Jirayia, for we have much seal work to be done, and little time to do it in.'-
'Yes, you see, me and the brat must return to his body within the next ten hours or so if we want to be conscious with enough time to work out the… kinks, as it were.'
'Understood, but… what am I supposed to say to him?'
-'Heh, don't worry much about it. Although… Uh, Gaara.. It'd be easiest if you allowed us to take over your body for a very short time. Less than an hour, I assure you, brother. But, I must prove to the old bastard that it's me, that the Kyuubi is also present and accounted for… What we must do. What he must do, and finally, we must draw out the exact figures and dimensions for the seal we will have to perform.'-
'You see, Gaara, the loudmouthed idiot and I must merge if the Nations are to have a chance. However, the seal we are going to use in order to do this properly and without incident - such as death - is divine in nature. Seeing that I am most definitely not divine in nature - however much my appearance would suggest godliness - it has to be done with extremely precision. It is a very big seal, and requires much time to prepare, and we simply do not have as much as we would like.'
'Understood. I shall give over control of my body for a temporary time. After which, I will resume control and begin preparations for my own countries defense - as well as the combined assault upon the Dark Legion… because I can assure you, I, nor my country, shall sit idly by.'
-'Gaara, you've been hanging around me and the fox to much. I do believe you were eavesdropping!'-
'Heh, I think you're right, kit. But we shall punish him later. Your funeral is breaking up, and people are moving on to the area where the wake is to be held. We must make contact now, for the sooner we return to your body-'
'The sooner you can begin preparations for the defeat of the Dark Legion.'
Gaara slowly opened his eyes and shook his head - slowly clearing the haze that accompanied communicating with the extra minds in his body. He could feel them even still - Naruto especially. It was a chill in his body, a stiffness in his limbs - combined with the comforting warmth of the great Yôkai that was still in temporary residence within his body. Quickly enough, he located the old Sannin speaking to the Hokage, and he began to make his way over to them both. Although, for some reason, his eyes kept drifting over to the despondent form of the recently proclaimed Uzumaki Ino. It was strange to him, for he knew next to nothing about the girl, but for some reason, every time he glanced her way, the warmth that was present from the Kyuubi seemed to expand until it suffused his body entirely with a pleasant tingly sensation. Odd indeed.
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(AN: Chapter seventeen everybody. I bet poor Gaara's going insane by now, y'know? He not only has a demon inside of him again - and not one that he's used to, mind - along with a man who has suddenly discovered that one of the most beautiful women in his age group is madly in love with him. Poor Gaara. Dealing with hormones that aren't his own, and a bickering fox who is fully enjoying having a host with an open mental link - and is happily talking the poor boys ear off. (Hey, I bet anyone would get lonely after spending so many years in a dank, dark cage in the middle of an even danker and darker sewer system that is smack dab in left feild of an 18 year old virgin who happens to be a trained killer... Damn.. just the thought of that gives me rather unpleasant shivers.) Unless something else comes ot mind, the next chapter will be about where I figure the middle of the story is. From here, or pretty closely following the next few chapters - at the very least - the pace is gonna pick up. Action will start to be seen, a bit of love may just bloom, and you get to see what my crooked mind cooks up for Naruto's new mortal appearance. Well, that sounded alot cooler than it probably will be, but hey... that's life. )
Dirtwater.
