I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

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Ryuu looked around through the fog as he and Fu walked. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and he smiled.

"This fog seems to go on forever," Ryuu said.

"Yeah," Fu nods. "It's kind of spooky."

Just then, a young Ryuu walked into view from the fog, a stuffed Three-tails dragging on the ground behind it. Ryuu and Fu both stopped, staring at the child.

"Welcome back," the child said, Ryuu glancing from him to Fu. "Don't worry, she's real. I'm the only thing that's a Genjutsu right now."

"Genjutsu?" Fu asked.

"I was caught in a Genjutsu before you found me," Ryuu said. "It...It was like one of my nightmares."

"My fog finds the weakness of the hearts of anyone found inside of it and turns it into a powerful Genjutsu," the child said.

"Your fog?" Ryuu blinked before his eyes flicked to the stuffed turtle and widened. "You're the Three-tails!?"

The child nodded. "Chomei said I could trust you, but that you'd lost your way, so I used my fog to help you find it again. And now you're back."

"Chomei said that?" Ryuu asked, looking to Fu, who shrugged. "What do you want?"

"I want to live freely," the Three-tails said.

"That's not possible," Ryuu said.

"I know," the Three-tails said. "The Akatsuki want me. Orochimaru wants to use me against the Akatsuki. And now you all want me. Why?"

"We want to protect you from the Akatsuki," Ryuu said.

The Three-tail cocked his head to the side. "You have no idea the kind of power they command."

"I know," Ryuu said. "They're monsters."

"You don't know the half of it," the Three-tails said. "You need to get far stronger than you are now if you want to protect us tailed Beasts. You especially will have to stop holding your own power back."

"I...I don't think I can be strong enough without having the will to kill mercilessly," Ryuu said. "I chose to be like I used to be. I'm not as strong as my brother."

"There's more to being powerful than being a killer," the Three-tils said. "You're right about one thing. You're not as strong as your brother. I've never met him, I only know him from the memories of him you keep in your heart. But your power doesn't come from being your brother. It never has. You're you. That's all you've ever been. And until you accept that, you'll never be able to unleash your true power."

Ryuu remained silent for a long while. "Once we've beaten Orochimaru's goons, will you let us relocate you somewhere safe?"

The Three-tails was silent for a long while. "Ask me again after you win. I'll tell you my name then too, and my plan to escape the Akatsuki."

Ryuu nodded and the boy faded into the fog, which began to press in on them before fading. Ryuu looked around before he and Fu extended their wings, flying into the air, Yomo meeting them instantly, cawing happily and circling Ryuu's head.

"Yomo!" Ryuu smiled.

"He was worried sick when we were looking for you," Fu smiled.

Ryuu smiled, carefully petting Yomo before the three of them turned, flying back toward the others, Ryuu following Fu. After a few minutes, they landed in front of the others, who turned to them, smiling.

"You made it back," Kakashi said. "Ang Guren?"

"She's still alive," Ryuu said. "Kakashi, Yamato, I'm sorry for earlier. You were right. I was starting to turn into the thing I hated most. Thank you for helping me see that."

"You're welcome," Kakashi said. "I've sent Hinata and Sai to scout the area and see what's going on with this fog, and I've sent Pakkun to report back to the Hidden Leaf Village and see what Tsunade's orders are."

"The fog is a sort of barrier created by the Three-tails," Ryuu said. "It senses the weakness in the hearts of those caught inside, then turns it into a powerful Genjutsu."

"How do you know that?" Kakashi asked.

"I was caught in one," Ryuu said. "Then after, the Three-tails used another illusion to communicate with us and ask for our help keeping Orochimaru's goons from capturing it, along with the Akatsuki."

"I see," Kakashi mused. "I expect Lady Tsunade will tell us to protect it as well. For now, we'll rest and wait for a response."

Ryuu nodded. "Is everyone okay?"

"We're fine," Yamato assured him.

Ryuu returned the gesture and walked over to Kabuto. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course," Kabuto said, following him.

"He seems...different," Yamato muttered to Kakashi. "I can't quite put my finger on it. I think he seems shaken."

"Probably," Kakashi said. "He said the fog creates a Genjutsu from the weakness in its victims' hearts. Well, for Ryuu, that would be his guilt and suffering from those he's killed. But he's not different. He's simply gone back to being how he used to be. Before Orochimaru."

"I see," Yamato said. "That's right. I sometimes forget he was Orochimaru's prisoner for years. He's strong to be able to carry that so well."

"Ryuu was always the strongest person in the room," Kakashi said. "Even when half his body was blown off."

"I think that was when he was at his strongest," Fu smiled.

"Well, if it was, it was because he had you there with him," Kakashi said.

"Ryuu was strong before me," Fu said. "It's part of why I fell in love with him."

"Even so, there's no doubt that you make him stronger," Yamato said.

"Stay by his side, Fu," Kakashi said. "If he really has gone back to how he used to be, he'll need you."

Fu nodded. "I'll always be by his side."

"Kakashi Sensei!" Hinata called out as she and Sai landed in the clearing with them. "It's like you said, that's no normal fog. The whole thing is teeming with chakra."

Kakashi nodded. "Ryuu says the Three-tails can create Genjutsu illusions in it, and that it used one to speak with him."

Hinata nodded just as Ryuu reverse summoned Yomo back to Tsunade with his report on his conversation with the Three-tails.

"I let Tsunade know Pakkun is on the way, and to send her reply with Yomo," Ryuu said.

"Alright," Kakashi nodded. "That'll help us come up with a plan faster."

Ryuu agreed, then wrapped his arms around Fu, sighing heavily. He didn't want to fight anymore. But he had to. He would do anything to keep Fu safe. After a few more minutes, a watch cycle was established and they all began to rest. However, thirty minutes before his watch was supposed to start, he flew to Naruto, grinning knowingly at him as they both left to cause trouble, Fu remaining behind to take over Ryuu's watch until he got back.

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