And here we have the next act of Sealkeeper; number forty-eight. It's hard to believe, but Sunday will actually mark the one year anniversary for this story and my return to writing.

I was originally under the impression that I had posted this story on the twelfth and was actually looking forward to posting a chapter that day but it looks like I was a bit wrong about that and I'll just have to settle for pointing it out a bit early.

Not much more to say, really. I considered adding more scenes and pushing off the actual update until Sunday but I think you've all waiting long enough.

With thanks to ncpfan for all his help, I welcome you all to tonight's show.

Raise the curtains!

The early afternoon sun was pleasant against his pale skin, touching it for the first time in who knew how long. Which was to be expected, of course, for one typically did not go outside without a shirt.

Or, at least, he didn't.

Partly because he didn't have much time to do so and partly because shirts were rather helpful in keeping his seal covered.

Well, both of them, really, but they came so close to each other that it could be difficult to tell them apart at times.

Still. The less people saw them the less questions that would arrive, questions that he really shouldn't be answering. The truth about his second seal should not be known to mortals and even the gods were displeased by its very existence.

That much he remembered from his time with Mito.

Mito- now there was a name he had not heard nor thought for some time now.

Idly, he wondered what had become of her, though the answer was simple enough.

She was in her seal, the same place she had always been. The only difference was that his own seal no longer rested at the edge of that one.

Actually, that didn't make much sense, did it?

No, the seals were still connected, they had to be- it was the same seal, just spread over two physical locations with two separate chakra systems in order to fully contain its prisoner.

Now that he thought of it, how did that work? Two seals, he could understand, but from what he knew it was a single seal in two parts now which kept Mito locked away. Perhaps he should really look into the sealing arts, if only so he understood how his own seal would operate. His use of it was simple enough, he wanted something to happen and it did, but exactly how it went about doing so escaped him and he hadn't before bothered with the details.

Thinking of it in terms of the great Kyuubi no Kitsune, however, made it feel just a bit more important.

Especially considering that he was a bearer of her seal.

The very seal that was now almost indistinguishable from the seal that would take his desires and translate them into functional seals so long as they had a base component to work with.

That could very quickly go horribly wrong if he wasn't careful.

A shiver tore its way down his spine.

Why was it now these thoughts struck him? He had been experimenting with the seal to find some way for Sai and Hinata to add and remove, respectively, specific seals, but not once had any similar thought crossed his mind.

Was it because he had last thought of Mito during his spar with his sister and before that not since he had found the Wolves? Had she simply been so far from his mind that he had not considered the consequences of tampering with his own seal- not that he had any intention of that, mind you- when all he would need to do so was to with it done?

He had to wonder just how conscious he had to be in order for the seal, which fed directly from his chakra system as far as he could tell, to determine it a valid desire of his and change things without his knowing.

Was a simple dream enough for it to set to work, potentially releasing the Kyuubi no Kitsune, turning the seal into a bomb powered by her, or even tearing apart space and time?

Seals, be default, dealt with the manipulation of special reality. It was a terrible power, even in its most basic of uses, one that could not be underestimated. And yet this whole time he had not so much taken it for granted but rather had not considered the true power it possessed.

Removing or modifying seals would be seen as a grand achievement by the world, something a most skilled Sealmaster would be required for, but that was nothing compared to the true, and now he realized absolutely terrifying, potential held by the ink that had been applied to his right arm.

Then again, perhaps he should hold off on that, even if just for a short while. If this had unlimited potential would it not be better for him to come up with uses he might have for it before he learned of any supposed limits that might otherwise force him to abandon ideas before trying them or determining the seal wouldn't actually work and therefore produce faulty seals that otherwise would have been perfect?

Yes, he'd let himself have some time without limits before learning what others knew of the sealing arts. Once he knew things were truly possible he wouldn't have to worry about being convinced otherwise and missing out on such wondrous opportunities.

He was pulled from his musings by a shout nearby, that of a small child. Curious, and now noticing all the stares he was getting from walking through Konoha without a shirt, he decided to investigate. One back alley followed by a side street had him on one of the less sued roads of Konoha. It was curious , as the buildings that were on one side were the very buildings of the market district.

Why they hadn't built them back to back facing the main street and each steet directly next to it he would never understand- perhaps people preferred their shopping areas to be crowded and noisy?

Of course, that really wasn't important at all.

What was important was the image of a young Sarutobi being held aloft by what could only be a Suna Shinobi. A young woman- slightly older by his estimations- stood somewhat behind him with her arms folded and one hip cocked, waiting impatiently so she could continue on.

The whole noble routine was going to be a bit difficult to pull off with him shirtless, perhaps he should take more of a Wolf approach?

No, too aggressive. These were guests of Konoha, after all, he'd just have to improvise.

Pity, things were so much easier with a plan.

"Sarutobi!" He called as he walked further into view. That drew the attention of everybody there, as was the point, but it also gave those who were perceptive enough a moment to realize their situation.

The blonde was one such person and her eyes quickly darted to the young boy her brother was holding by the shirt.

She did a remarkable job keeping her composure but she did pale noticeably. Invasion or not, with the current Hokage being of the Sarutobi clan anything against them was a rather bad idea.

"I understand your desire to welcome our allies to the village but perhaps next time you might want to go about it in a less energetic manner, no?" Konohamaru, not about to argue in his current situation, nodded rapidly and, with the Suna Shinobi distracted, managed to squirm out of his grip. He wasted no time in running to the perceived safety of Naruto.

"Your uncle's probably treating his team to lunch about now, you could likely manage to get in on that if you're fast enough." He shooed the boy off with those words and whether it was to get a free meal or just to escape the area only he could really say.

Naturally, he would claim it to be the meal, as he wouldn't run away, but that really wasn't important.

As soon as Konohamaru was gone Naruto turned his attention to the foreign team and his face went from that of a somewhat disappointed yet not truly upset elder to a grin- more of a smirk- that could only be described as vicious.

"Not the smartest are you, Bunraku?" It could have been a sign that he knew what kind of a Shinobi he was or a jab at his outfit, neither of which would have pleased the Suna Shinobi. "Raising a hand against the grandson of the Hokage and the nephew of a former Guardian Twelve? A very, very bad idea."

Naruto's grin widened just a bit as the potential consequences of his actions were realized by the puppeteer. "You're welcome." He said, drawing attention back to himself. "Who knows what might have happened to you should I not come around?"

Kankurō scowled and even his sister seemed a bit displeased with what he was saying.

Naruto wasn't bothered by the reaction.

"Captain?" he asked, much to the confusion of the two Suna Shinobi. "Care to help me enlighten our guests?" Without hesitation a Shinobi wearing the mask of a wolf dropped from one of the market buildings and landed next to him.

The buildings only went up three- and on rare instances four or five- stories up and there were empty lots between the building itself and the side road they were currently on. All in all, not a bad jump, but what was more impressive was that he was able to hear them from that distance and was willing to respond to the redhead's request.

Neither foreigner would let themselves think on just how much he resembled their brother and how terrifying it was to see someone so similar smirking at them.

"Of course, Naruto-Sama."

That, more than the man's willingness to answer the young man's call, made the elder of the two uneasy. Kabuto, more interested in puppetry than the outside world, never bothered with any of the political lessons. She, however, liked consider herself more than familiar with those of any importance in the grand scheme of things.

Not once had she ever heard of someone by the name of 'Naruto' and she could think of no reason for an ANBU to be referring to him with such respect.

The wolf mask turned from being angled barely towards the young man to being directly at them- Likely right between them in order to get that effect.

"Performing such actions on a Shinobi would have been bad, a civilian would have been worse, but you chose an academy student belonging to a prominent Shinobi clan to whom the Hokage belongs."

"And how close were they to you taking action?" Inquired Naruto, the smirk never leaving his face.

"We could have intervened at any moment." Answered the Wolf. "But I was holding my squad off until the puppeteer actually struck him. "

Kankurō, knowing just how close he had been to doing so looked understandably uneasy. His sister, however, focused on another part of his answer.

He had said 'squad', the boy had called him 'captain', they were likely surrounded. Her eyes darted from side to side in an effort to locate them, looking in areas both obvious and ridiculous. At first, she couldn't make them out at all but almost as if knowing she was looking they began slowly showing themselves without fully emerging from their positions.

The color drained completely from her face.

Not because they were surrounded, that had already been established, or even because she couldn't immediately find them- she was a combat type, not a sensor or tracker- but because they all had the exact same mask, that of a snarling wolf.

These were not ANBU as she- and no doubt her brother- had assumed, no, these were Wolves. The very group their supporter for the invasion had chosen to ally themselves with instead. A supporter that, if her father was to be believed, held grudge enough against Konoha that it was he who proposed the invasion in the first place with the goal of wiping it from existence.

Somehow, this obviously Konoha- aligned group had managed to convince him to forsake such goals as it better served their own interests.

It went without saying then, that it was a terribly stupid idea to anger them within their own territory.

Almost as if sensing her rising unease in the presence of Wolves who came to heel at the sound of his voice he waved his hand in a vaguely dismissive gesture.

"Thank you for your help, Captain, I can take this from here." With only a nod the man obeyed, quickly followed by the rest of the Wolves.

It did not comfort her as much as she might otherwise believe it would have. For while they were now gone it had only further illustrated the power this young man held amongst them. That had been a Captain not the highest of positions but certainly not a grunt, which meant the person standing across from them looking like a shirtless version of her youngest brother was not low on the totem pole.

Not when he as giving them orders during what was obviously a patrol.

They had been acting under current orders- that was, to patrol- and yet he had modified that and they accepted without question.

That took substantial influence.

But she had no idea who he was-

And perhaps that was why.

There was only one name known to them in relation to the Wolves, the Daimyo of Nami no Kuni himself; Tsukiyomi.

Did she believe this to be him? Of course not. Walking down Konoha without a shirt and being no older than her own siblings? Preposterous.

The fact that the Wolf had referred to him as 'Naruto-Sama' helped a bit, too.

There was no way anybody would chose a name like that to hide under.

She'd ponder whether or not that might be the point of choosing it but already she realized she was probably overthinking things. The young man had a connection to the Wolves, that was good enough for now.

"You, you're with the Wolves, aren't you?" She questioned simply.

He cocked his head slightly to the side.

"Perhaps." He eventually answered, his smirk growing until it reminded those looking on very much of a wolf who had cornered his prey. "Is there a reason you need to know?"

"My father's looking to get in contact with them. An…acquaintance…of his informed him that they currently stood behind them and suggested he do the same.

"Oh? Interesting." The smirk dropped from his face, leaving a serious expression behind so quickly it was almost jarring. "I wouldn't worry about finding them, if they're interested they'll find you."

"And how would they know we were interested in the first place?" She questioned, once again cocking a single hip and resting a hand on it. "I don't suppose they just approach everyone that catches their fancy and expect them to be agreeable, do they?"

Naruto scoffed.

"Of course not, that would be foolish, but, like I said, you don't need to worry." The smirk returned briefly. "They already know you're interested."

Was that admission, perhaps, acknowledging that he really was with them? Or was that a hint that they were still being watched. Earlier had already proven that they were unable to detect the hidden Wolves which meant it was possible they had never left at all.

Or, perhaps, they had been contacted by the same person who suggested them to her father the Kazekage, in which case it would confirm that he was, in some way, associated with the group.

"Now, I would suppose you're father's…Acquaintance…" He said the word as if it amused him, twirling it on his tongue and letting it drip off like he tasted something wrong with it that no one else did. "Made some additional suggestions. I'm quite curious to see if those, too, found themselves heeded by your father."

Well, no doubt now. Definitely some sort of Wolf.

Temari swallowed nervously before answering, well aware that it wasn't the most favorable of responses. Not exactly the kind you want to give in enemy territory- or what came very near to it.

"My father was accepting enough of the suggestions, though there were many who were less so. It's entirely possible that they might disregard the advice delivered to them."

Kankurō shot her a look ,well aware that she had practically admitted to the invasion still being planned and knowing that her words may have just locked them into a particular course of action- one that might have them against their brother.

That was not something either of them would want, psychotic killer who could crush them with a thought or no.

Naruto, on the other hand, tilted his head once more.

"Your father's going to need himself some strong allies soon, it's not going to be easy keeping a hidden village active when it has no Shinobi force."

It was spoken far too plainly, the truth rather than a possibility, and both Sand Shinobi knew it. Their father, too, was aware just what the actions of the council might cost them but the fools were so shortsighted and desperate to repair the damages done to their village over years of their Daimyo's neglect that they couldn't see their path would end only in ruin.

Of course, not everyone there agreed.

Slinking from his tree in a flow of sand Gaara stood across from Naruto, arms crossed over his chest and teal eyes narrowed.

"Suna doesn't need a Shinobi force." He declared, his voice somewhere between grinding stones and shifting sands. "They have me."

"Patriotic." Commented Naruto. "But not enough."

"Patriotic? No, but so long as they provide targets I'll stay with them. I prefer the sand and Sunagakure is convenient to me."

"Alright, so not patriotic, but that doesn't change the fact that you alone can't make up for the absent Shinobi forces of an entire village. At best you'll be reduced to a minor village."

"Then I'll just crush all the major villages until we're the biggest."

Naruto gave an amused smirk, having no trouble recognizing a Jinchuriki when he had been in contact with the Kyuubi herself.

"How arrogant you must be, Shukaku, to believe such when even the minor village of Takigakure possesses Biju greater than yourself."

Gaara's hand immediately shot up to grasp his head, pain flaring as his inner demon raged. Kankurō and Temari both backed up to the side of the street, moving slightly behind their brother so they wouldn't be caught by any potential crossfire.

"M-mother," Gaara stammered. "Mother demands blood."

Naruto shook his head as if he were disappointed in the response.

"Then your mother is a fool." With deft flicks of his left hand the bandages that were ever-present on his right arm fell slack and were pulled away from the skin with ease.

Gaara's teal eyes looked up to the Shinobi across from him just as Naruto pushed chakra through the seal matrix that covered his arm, lighting it up so that it could not be missed.

Within Gaara's seal Shukaku immediately froze. He knew not what his container was seeing, being the lesser of all Biju, but even so his instincts screamed at him about the danger it posed to his existence.

Shukaku, more than anything, desired to continue upon this earth.

Sand that had begun gathering behind Gaara, ready to be used, suddenly fell flat, trembling like puddles upon the ground as the single-tailed beast likewise coward before the unknown threat. This went far beyond knowing he was going to be sealed or having one of the other Biju angered at him and seeking recompense, no, this was something that trespassed upon the realm of the gods and even he could see such.

"N-No, no!" Teal eyes widened farther than they ever had, staring in disbelief at his fellow redhead. "Stay away!"

His reaction brought a smirk to Naruto's lips, satisfied that it seemed so easy to cow the Biju who had far too much influence upon its container. Temari and Kankurō, on the other hand, felt all warmth leave their bodies, a freezing dread grasping fast upon their souls.

"G-Gaara." Temari managed. "What's wrong? What is it?"

"Mother's scarred, it scares mother!" His breathing became fast and shallow, panic like he had never felt settling in. Mother had always been there for him, making him greater than all around him. There was nothing that could threaten him so long as he remained in her favor-

Or so he had thought.

Never before had he felt so weak, so vulnerable.

He hated it.

Hated it like nothing before.

But for now he knew fear and its all-encompassing grasp. Previously spared its presence he found himself paralyzed by it, uncomprehending on how he was supposed to cope against one of mankind's most base instincts when it had been stripped from him oh so long ago.

"She fears it, she fears him, I won't let him erase us!" He continued, his voice frantic as his limbs trembled with a desire to flee supported by adrenaline wasted upon frozen muscle.

As much as he wanted to, he could not move, not in the presence of his first remembered predator.

He did not mention the rest of his mother's words, it had been hard enough to find the ability to speak the others. And while Shukaku's initial terror was bad, the conclusions he drew about the situation made everything worse.

The Biju comprehended nothing but the fact that before them stood a threat with a power in the domains of the divine, there was really only one conclusion to draw from such-

They stood in the presence of a god.

Gaara could have sworn he saw it after that revelation. The being's smirk seemed oddly pointed and purple eyes sparkled ion amused threat, waiting for him to dare make a move against it. Skin, pale as the moon, almost glowed in the early afternoon sun and lent him an ethereal quality. Finished with the arm depicting symbols Gaara could not hope to recognize blazing with power waiting to escape skin, the thing across from him was suddenly very much a creature above his understanding.

The redhead wouldn't understand that he was overreacting based on the sudden flood of fear and the gibbering of the weakest- and least stable- of the Biju that he chose to believe. He would only understand that his mother believed it so and his eyes confirmed it for himself.

He was no match against this creature, he would not dare make a move out here in the open when iit was so clearly expecting it.

No, that would not be conductive to his continued survival.

He would live now, escaping its wrath to draw further breath, but it would always be a threat, a being that could crush him at a whim.

It was a very real threat, one that couldn't be allowed to exist, but it would-

For now.

Just until Gaara had some way to guarantee his victory against it.

For the first time since his childhood the young man actually began to think, began to plot, and began to act like a Shinobi instead of a force of nature.

And so, Gaara, Shinobi of Sunagakure, decided on his first move.

Falling as though a marionette with string cut he landed upon his knees and draped his body over them, laying prostrate before the predator in hopes of extending his life long enough to eliminate it.

His siblings starred on, unable to comprehend the situation or their brother's actions.

That was fine, they didn't matter, if they wished to anger this being they were welcome to it. In fact, that was preferable, as then he may get to bear witness to his opponent's strength and gain insight as to how he might bring about his defeat.

Kankurō continued to struggle, moving his gaze from his prostrate brother to the young man who caused such an event and being unable to decide upon a course of action. His elder sister, luckily, came to his rescue.

"Our apologies, Naruto-Sama," She borrowed the form of address she had heard earlier. "We meant no disrespect. I pray you understand that the desires of the Biju are not our own and that we wish upon you no harm."

Naruto shot her another terrifying smirk before turning and walking away, slowly rewrapping his arm.

"Remember, then, to behave yourselves." He looked over his shoulder one last time and each one of them felt as though he was looking directly into their own eyes. "For the Wolves will be watching."

And with that he turned down one of the alleyways to rejoin the marketplace, three Suna Shinobi left behind to wonder who the hell they had just met.

A knock interrupted their meeting, his secretary popping her head in to announce a visitor.

Well, not really. The only thing it interrupted was the semi-comfortable silence that had fallen between the two former rivals. They still were, in a way, but the game they played at this point was minor and done more out of habit than anything else.

"Yes, yes, send them in." Hiruzen hadn't even been paying enough attention to hear the name of his visitor, his attention more on the paperwork he was trying to finish up for the day. There had really been no point to postponing it if he and Danzou were continuing the meeting despite having nothing else to discuss.

It really was familiarity more than anything that had them scheduling the same meeting for the same time on the same day of the week for the past decades. Even if it amounted to nothing these days the habit was ingrained by this point and it just wasn't worth the feeling of something being off that would accompany any attempt to change things at this point.

Of course, the one who did step into his office was a welcome surprise.

For the most part, anyway.

Hiruzen was still fond of the boy but was a bit put off by how he was changing. The fact that he had created a rift between them when he used to consider the boy and his family his own further added.

The chance to see him and possibly mend those relations, however, was always welcome.

"Ah, Naruto, good afternoon. What brings you to an old man's office on such a fine day?" A bit more relaxed than he was when Naruto had a chance to establish their relationship for any conversation between them but that was the benefit of speaking first.

Not that he really expected his own set tone to stick for the duration of the meeting, it probably wouldn't last through the young man's first sentence.

"Hokage-Sama." Responded Naruto, ignoring the fact that he was still shirtless- Hiruzen wasn't even going to ask- and starting off in his fully professional tone.

A pity, really, Hiruzen- and no doubt Danzou who had turned to look at the hokage's second (uninvited) guest- would have enjoyed a game of words with the young man. Before he could think too much on it Naruto continued.

"Suna's forces are preparing to move." He didn't' come right out and say it, but that was pretty damn close and further set the tone of today's encounter.

In his own seat sitting at an angle on the Hokage's right Danzou gave a rolling nod.

"Quite," He commented. "We've noticed increased activity of Suna for weeks now. This is nothing new." One brow raised as if asking whether or not he knew of something new to add to what they were already aware of.

"They plan an invasion to occur during the Chuunin exams."

Hiruzen blinked twice as he processed the words before briefly narrowing his eyes at his two guests. In the end, however, his face relaxed and a single brow rose in silent inquiry.

"I just encountered the Kazekage's children. Despite his best attempts the Shinobi, supported by the council, of Suna are planning on using the third event as a cover. I had already been informed as to the planned invasion and was just waiting to see if Rasa would call it off. He's thus far been unsuccessful."

"And how, Genin Uzumaki, did you come to learn of this?"

"I have…friends…beyond our walls who learned of a supporter who was to aid them in this endeavor. They have been…persuaded…to rethink their actions against Konohagakure. The result of them withdrawing their support should have been enough to dissuade Suna from any attempt as to do so would result only in the decimation of their Shinobi forces and condemn Sunagakure to a minor village at best."

"And you wouldn't happen to know why they've continued anyway, do you? Those of the sand are usually far more focused on survival than anything else and I find it hard to believe that even in their situation they would take such a gamble when the odds are against them."

"Of course, Hokage-Sama." Naruto gave a shallow sweeping bow that almost seemed mocking but Hiruzen was more pleased that the young man was expressing anything in his presence at the moment than irritated by any perceived insult. "They're banking on the Kazekage's youngest son."

No more needed to be said, both leaders understanding immediately.

"Sabaku no Gaara." Muttered Danzou. "Figures they would trust our destruction to the Ichibi." He snorted. "They should know better, though. Ichibi is indeed formidable compared to normal Shinobi and even to other Biju when at home in the sands pf Kaze no Kuni but outside its domain its power is severely reduced. Jiraiya would probably be able to fend it off and we have Naruko who's been trained in accessing the Kyuubi's chakra-"

"Mito." Cut in Naruto almost before he realized he had spoken. To Danzou's raised eyes- really there were simply some questions that were too obvious to waste words on, especially when those talking were of such similar mentalities- Naruto elaborated a bit more. "The Kyuubi goes by Mito and is quite fond of the form of her first jailer. There are slight discrepancies to differentiate between the two but the resemblance is easy enough to see."

When the old Sarutobi's brow started to raise with his own question Naruto just pointed to the exposed seal over his heart that had very nearly fused to his other seal. Hiruzen nodded in understanding. Naruko was the Jinchuriki but there were those aware that two bore the seal.

"Very well," Continued Danzou. "Naruko has been trained to access Mito's chakra and that alone will likely be sufficient to defeating the Ichibi. Suna is foolish if they think they'll succeed."

"Perhaps they won't achieve victory, but there will still be substantial collateral damage in any battle a Jinchuriki is a part of, especially one as unstable as Sabaku no Gaara, we'll need to find a way to minimize it if we can eliminate that threat entirely."

"I may be able to help there." Commented Naruto, his gaze resting upon his bandages. "What does Konoha think about having a second Biju in their possession?"

Hiruzen stared at him like he had grown a second head but in his seat to the side Danzou just grinned.

Oh, yes, Naruto would make a fine replacement when the time came.

See you all for the next act.