Chapter 2
Tsunade was staring out the window of the Hokage's office. Seven years have passed since Jiraiya took Naruto to go on a three-year training trip, only to come back a year early with Kushina and her other son, Menma. Along with the traitor Sasuke Uchiha, who was later bailed from prison by the stupid councilors to continue his training with Kakashi. She had to beat the information out of the pervert to find out what had happened to Naruto.
Flashback(Hokage's Office)
"I won't ask again, Jiraiya. What. Happened. To Naruto?!" Tsunade commanded as she prepared to use her super Senju Strength to bash the pervert's head.
"Jiraiya boy said that Naruto was ambushed by bandits and died falling off a cliff in Wave Country, Lady Tsunade." The old toad Fugasaku explained from what Jiraiya told them when Naruto's name suddenly was crossed off the Toad Contract.
"Then Jiraiya can kindly explain why the Lands of Wave and Spring decided to send me letters a few months after he left. Saying that they have resigned their trading with Konoha because a witness in Wave saw Jiraiya shoving a Rasengan into Naruto and let him fall of a cliff into the sea." Tsunade then pulled out the old letters to Jiraiya and the Toad Elder at what he had done.
"You lied to us, Jiraiya boy! The child could have been great, especially for the prophecy the Great Toad Sage spoke of years ago." The old bearded toad scolded Jiraiya as he smacked him with his cane.
"The Prophecy spoke of one child, old toad Fugasaku. I believe that child to be Menma. He now holds all the Kyuubi's chakra since Naruto had died. Menma will be our savior against all of Konoha's enemies. He even brought back the Uchiha, where the other brat had failed to do." Jiraiya tried to convince Tsunade and Fugasaku.
"You and your stupid Prophecy!" Tsunade cries as she punches the super perv out the window. Sending him flying into the ladies' side of Konoha's Hot Springs Resort.
"Forgive us, Lady Tsunade. We did not realize that Jiraiya boy would go to such lengths to ensure the prophecy's fruition. We thought it would motivate him better at being a true sage." Fugasaku bowed in shame at their involvement at Naruto's demise.
"Don't be down on yourself, old toad Fugasaku. I will become a great sage so that no one will ever be hurt again like the Kyuubi did to Konoha years ago. The blonde twin Menma proclaimed. The only thing that made him different from Naruto is that he didn't have the whisker marks on his face.
"We shall see, Menma boy. However, Jiraiya will be punished for his actions. We will only help when Konoha is in extreme danger. Don't summon us for any other reason, except maybe to talk." Fugasaku warned before he went back to the Toad Summons realm of Mt. Myoboku.
Tsunade looked at Kushina who stood silent in the corner. She made no remark on her other son, but only could be seen shedding several tears. Still under the effects of the sealings placed on her by Jiraiya.
The moment was interrupted when music was heard in the village plaza. Tsunade and Menma looked out the window to see a foreign woman wearing a straw hat next to a transportable shopping cart where a music box was playing an eerie tune.(A:N Tia Dalma when she is in Singapore in 'At World's End')
Tsunade, Kushina and Menma walked out of the Hokage tower and over to the woman's stall where she was gathering a crowd with her music and merchandise. "Welcome to Konoha, stranger. What's your name, and why are you selling here instead of at the marketplace?" Tsunade asked.
"That Tsunade-hime, is Tia Dalma. One of my old contacts from my spy network." Jiraiya explained to them. Having magically appeared, but with bumps and bruises on his head and face.
"I always knew the wind would blow you back to me one day." Tia Dalma said as she strode toward Jiraiya. Jiraiya grinned, until she picked the pervert's ear and began to pull.
"You owe me for the item I lent you! Where is me compass?" Tia Dalma demanded.
"Ow-ow, I-I lost it! Three years ago while on a ship to Kumo where my agent and I were attacked by Kumo ninja and it fell into the ocean. Otherwise, I would have used it to find Tsunade after the Oto/Suna invasion on Konoha." Jiraiya quickly explained.
"What's so special about a compass, Jiraiya sensei?" asked Menma.
"It has the unique ability to not point North, but to the thing the wielder wants most." Said the pervert after Tia Dalma let go of his ear.
"You have betrayed the compass, Jiraiya. It be a bad thing for you." The merchant woman warned. She then noticed that Jiraiya had bindings covering his right palm.
"Let me see your hand." Jiraiya paled at the mention of that and extended his left hand. But a quick glance from Tia Dalma, he gave in gave her his right hand.
Removing his bandages, the Hokage and the rest of the crowd looked to see what was hidden on the Toad Sage's hand. What they saw scared the crowd and bewildered Tsunade at seeing Jiraiya had caught something like leprosy. A large black spot was leeched onto the palm of his hand.
"You be cursed, Jiraiya. After betraying me compass, the black spot is upon you. The black spot is a sign of death to any who be at sea. Land is where you are safe, Jiraiya. So you must carry land with you." Tia Dalma goes to her cart and pulls out a large jar filled with sand as she hands it to him.
"Is this really going to help me, Dalma-chan?" asked the skeptic mega pervert.
"If you don't want it, give it back."
"N-no, No. I'll keep it." Jiraiya clutches to the jar like it was his new special edition of Icha-Icha Paradise.
Tia Dalma then prepares to take her cart and travel to the next village to trade. However, she is stopped near the gate by Kushina of all people. Surprising Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Menma who was getting irritated after the Hokage kept mentioning his worthless twin brother.
"Wait. Before you go, do you have anything that can tell me about my son, Naruto? If his soul is at rest and with my ancestors. I never meant to abandon him and wish to tell him that." She spoke with tears forming again in her eyes from grief for her loss, and pain from the Jiraiya's seal.
Tia Dalma smiles as she opens her hand. "For the answers that you seek, payment is required."
Kushina is surprised by this since she is not carrying her money pouch with her. However, she pulls out a necklace that holds the friendship ring she and Mikoto Uchiha had made when they were both worked together and became known as the duo kunoichi. The Red Death and the Blue Flame. She is sad to lose it, but her strong need to put her son's soul at rest was even stronger.
She hands the necklace to the woman who then examines the ring. "An item be made from a friend's love. The payment is fair." She pockets the ring away and pulls out a crystal necklace. Tsunade recognizes it as her grandfather's necklace she gave to Naruto.
"Where did you get that?" Tsunade asked fervently.
"A man who go by the name, Ryunami. A man of the sea. A great sailor, and one who be called Sea Lord of Wave Country. He finds it on the body of your child as he was drifted out to sea. Along with one of the weapons of the Seven Swordsman of the Mists. The child barely drew breath, but he made Ryunami promise to help him mother and warn against the coming storms. The child gave a mighty cry to the gods of the Heavens and Seas before drawing his last breath. The sailor came to me and gave me the necklace to give to you." She placed the necklace around Kushina's neck before Tia Dalma drew her in close to whisper something in her ear.
When the merchant's hand left the Uzumaki's neck, the Jiraiya's seal was washed away. Causing Kushina to keel over and collapse to the ground. Tsunade, Shizune, Jiraiya, and Menma went to help pick Kushina up while Jiraiya turned to stare at the witch.
"What did you do to her?" he demanded to know.
"She be free from her imprisonment. Soon, the chosen of the Seven Seas will come to end the terror of the Red Clouds, and the balance of Land and Sea shall be restored. No man has power to command Destiny, only choose it for himself. Remember that, Jiraiya. Remember that." Tia Dalma speaks in a haunting voice as she enters her cart as the music slows down. When it stopped, the cart explodes, leaving nothing behind. But no body was found as the winds blew as if they were laughing and clouds appeared in the sky.
Rain came pouring down as the two shocked sages couldn't comprehend on what just happened. Kushina came to, as the years of mental confinement had taken a toll on her mind. She cried to the heavens and she hugged Tsunade with all the strength she had in her.
Flashback End
After that, Kushina ripped Jiraiya a new one. With Tsunade's help. She would then move out of her late husband's compound. Taking with her all items related to the Uzumaki Clan, and would for the next several years stay at the Senju Compound with Tsunade and Shizune.
Menma decided to not go with his mother and stay at the Namikaze Compound. Taking up his father's inheritance and continue learning from Jiraiya, the Toads, and his father's notes. Menma still believed that his father and brother's sacrifices were worth the effort, and that he would fulfill his destiny as the Child of Prophecy by protecting Konoha Village like his father and sensei Jiraiya would want him to.
Now, Konoha was preparing for War against, Oto, Iwa, and Kumo. Although Jiraiya was able to subdue and kill their traitorous teammate, Orochimaru. The snake's second in command, Kabuto took the reins of Oto and prepared to take vengeance for his master's death. Iwa and Kumo were happy to jump aboard at taking Konoha off its high horse.
The rest of the Elemental Nations were neutral to the upcoming War while also dealing with their affairs. The Akatsuki had captured 7 of the nine Biju, with Gaara surviving his Biju leaving his body while Kumo's remaining jinchuriki was in hiding. Also, the nations were getting updates in the Bingo book on new high-class individuals calling themselves the 'Seven Sea Lords' that now control the seas and water trade routes.
With Konoha's former alliances broken and leaving them on their own, it was suggested by the Council that they call on the help of one of these Sea Lords. Tsunade warned that Konoha was already in debt to the Fire Daimyo for losing many trading partners, they needed to kindly coerce the Sea Lord that they can pay them back for their services. While ensuring Konoha's survival.
Tsunade picked Kushina Uzumaki, who got back into shape with her sword, chakra chains, ninjutsu, and fuinjutsu to make a comeback for this crucial mission. Jiraiya and his apprentice, Menma Namikaze, would also join the mission to Hot Springs Country to ensure Ryunami's cooperation. Along with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Menma's girlfriend Hinata Hyuuga.
The Slug Sage promptly hoped that Jiraiya, Menma, Sasuke, Sakura, or Danzo's not so secret Root would not make a mess of things. Konoha might be on its last legs and Tsunade was quietly preparing to abandon ship if the situation came to it. She would not go down with a corrupt village that refused to clean up its act, even with her having taken lead.
Scene Change(Hot Spring Country Coastline Bathhouse)
Kushina, Hinata, and Sakura were wrapped in bathhouse towels that covered their bodies while exposing most of their legs after the bathhouse guards took their clothes and their gear. Jiraiya was enjoying seeing the hot girls and milf's figures while only wearing a short towel around his waist. Menma and Sasuke were not with them because the perverted Toad had sent the two to retrieve a certain artifact that could help Konoha if things should go sour.
The ladies looked around to see a lot of men in tubs of healing waters, staring at them wearily as if they were expecting an ambush. Hinata squeaked when seeing several men having barnacles on their faces and upper bodies. The large bare-chested guard with an elaborate tattooed back led the Leaf ninja group to the end of the room where steam was being produced beneath the vented floors. Two women with long hair kept in buns held by steel chopstick pins and wearing their black attendant oriental robes moved to the sides of the man whose back was facing the Konoha group. The attendants are the Tsuchi Twins, Lian and Park Tsuchi. The older sisters of the deceased Sound ninja, Kin Tsuchi. Deadly assassin's and present attendants, bodyguards, and lovers to the Sea Lord that the Konoha ninja were about to meet.
The Sea Lord had the Executioner's blade, the former weapon of the Demon of the Mists, strapped to his back. He turned to show he wore black robes layered with a shoulder guard and an armor-plated belt, both the guard and belt were decorated with blue dragons and aquamarine gemstones(A:N fun fact, the aquamarine March Birthstone was used as talismans to keep sailors safe at sea). His fingernails were long and shaped like dragon claws, his skin was tanned after sailing so much. But his most distinguishing features were the bandage wrappings covering half his face, like Zabuza to Sakura, his piercing blue eyes, and short spiky hair that was red as Kushina's but with golden tips at the ends. This was Ryunami, the Dragon of the Waves and Mists , Sea Lord of Wave Country and currently the Land of Hot Waters. Captain of the Chimera.(A:N look up Sinbad's Ship from Dreamwork's Sinbad movie)
Kushina and Jiraiya bowed in respect to Ryunami with the two kunoichi following their example. "Toad Sage Jiraiya, Princess Kushina of the Uzumaki. Welcome to the Land of Steam." The Sea Lord takes a whiff of the air through his bandages.
"More steam." He informs Lian who pulls a rock tied to some string to inform the bellow workers down below to send more steam. Not knowing that the workers were subdued by Root ninja led by Sai.
"I understand that you have a…request for me?" questioned the suspicious captain.
"More of a proposal, Ryunami-sama. My companions and I have been sent by the Hokage and the Konoha Council to ask for your aid in a venture with promise for financial satisfaction or anything that you'd require." Jiraiya spoke for the rest of the group.
"Hm, it's an odd coincidence then…"
"Because you happen to not have anything better to do and are in need of some action to relieve your boredom?" Kushina snarked back. Scaring Jiraiya who wished she could not be her true self anymore.
"No… Because earlier today my old friend, Sao Feng, had his temple broken into by two thieves that tried to make off with his family's most prized possession." Ryunami pulled out a rolled-up map that he kept safe in a seal on his arm that was hidden in his long sleeves.
"The legendary Mao Kun Map. Navigational charts, the route to the Farthest Gate. Wouldn't it be amazing if this venture of yours took you to the world beyond this one?"
"It would certainly be a great adventure to write a story on." Laughed Jiraiya who was sweating nervously, but the steam and heat of the bathhouse hid his worries.
Ryunami puts the map back into his sleeve and seal before narrowing his eyes at the infamous mega pervert. He gives a hand signal as his men pull out two bodies who are now gasping for breath after being submerged for so long while their hands were bound by seals and ropes wrapped around 3ft long poles. It is Menma and Sasuke.
"These are the thieves. Are their faces familiar to any of you?" Jiraiya, Kushina, Sakura, and Hinata shook their heads in denial. Kushina furiously wondering why Jiraiya would send them to steal charts that were not a part of this mission that she was made aware of.
Ryunami pulls out the Kubikiribocho from his back and aims for both the men's necks. "Then I guess they have no further need of their heads." He was stopped when Sakura and Hinata sputtered that he'd not kill them, blowing their cover.
Ryunami keeps the blade in his hand as he walks in a stalking manner in front of them. "You come into my city, and you betray my hospitality."
"Lord Ryunami I assure that I had no idea—" was as far as Jiraiya could say.
"That they would get caught!" Some of the men began to surround them as Ryunami went back to settle in his steam bath. "You intend to attempt a voyage to the Land of the Dead, Davy Jones' Locker. But I cannot help but wonder…who is it that you seek to bring back to the world of the living?"
"My father, Minato Namikaze, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi." Menma proclaimed, unashamed that he had messed with Jiraiya's and the Council's plans.
Ryunami frowned as he walked over to a vacant tub filled with water. "The only reason… I would have the 'God of Shinobi' returned from the Land of the Dead, is so I can send him back myself!" he yelled as he sliced the tub in two. Splashing water everywhere as it seeped through the crevices of the wooden floor.
"What did Sarutobi sensei do to you?" asked the bewildered Jiraiya.
"He robbed me of my family! And now you wish to have me work with him and the Yellow Flash to fight your war... It's true, that the Seven Sea Lords are feared by all the Great Hidden Villages. But what can we offer? What can one village do against two nations, a small country, and a group of terrorists that are bent on claiming all Biju for themselves in order to unleash a greater threat?" his words stunned the group as he knew what the Akatsuki were planning when Jiraiya could not figure out with his entire spy network. Even when he learned that Nagato and Konan, two of his former students that he believed to be dead, oversaw it along with the masked Uchiha calling himself Madara.
"You can fight!" Kushina walked forward with Jiraiya trying to stop her. But she shook him off. "You are Ryunami, Dragon of the Waves and Mists. You command an age of exploration where bold captains sail treacherous waters. Where waves aren't measured in feet but as increments of fear, and those who pass the tests become legends. Yet you would cower in your bathhouse while the few I do care for are subject to the coming horrors of War!"
Ryunami and everyone else were stunned by the princess' words. The Sea Lord caressed Kushina's chin as his clawed nails dug in a little before he gave a walking examination around her. She blushed at his quick look at her while Menma frowned at someone looking at his mom that way as Ryunami then settled back to his steam bath where Park Tsuchi had his chair ready for him to sit down in.
"Kushina Uzumaki. There is more to you then meets the eye isn't' there? And I can't help but want to learn more about you… Very well, I will have you sail with me on the Chimera to World's End. As a show of my appreciation, enjoy the pleasure of seeing one my brides dance to your amusement." Ryunami clapped his hands as the Tsuchi Twins sat at his chair sides while he twirled his blade within his fingers.
The bathhouse men cheered as music began to play as steam covered one of the doors of the room. Who the Konoha nija saw come out of the fog made them widen their eyes and their mouths gaped open in shock and confusion at seeing the dancer. Especially Kushina, Sasuke, and a Henged Itachi Uchiha who was with Kisame to collect Menma and the Kyuubi.
A young woman with long straight flowing obsidian hair that fell to her lower back, let drops of moisture fly into the air as she danced. She had onyx black eyes, with fair perfect skin that went with her curvaceous figure as she swayed her hips and danced her way into the center of the room. She wore a black and blue harem bra with a matching black long skirt that showed off her long slender built legs, and a black choker necklace that had a string connected to her right armed bracelet. It was Kushina's best friend and Sasuke's and Itachi's mother, Mikoto Uchiha.(A:N inspired by rocky-ace illustration… rocky-ace/art/C-Mikoto-Uchiha-816408832 )
Mikoto was brought back from the dead by Calypso using Kushina's friendship ring to bring her back healthy and alive. She vowed to stay by Naruto's side, who is secretly Ryunami, and she trained while getting to know Naruto on a deeper level. Enough that she became one of his lovers. Naruto knew that the Konoha shinobi seeing Mikoto alive would amuse him and his men as he felt the killer intent seething from the male Uchiha's in the room.
Naruto's training with Arashi's clone, since he could not fully leave the Dutchman, and Naruto's shadow clones had unlocked Naruto's Uzumaki genes. Changing most of his hair color and enhancing his sensor abilities that could have been amplified if the Kyuubi was still sealed inside him. He now was a master in wind and water Ninjutsu, as well as recreating the ice bloodline in honor of his friend Haku. He also is a master of Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, and Fuinjutsu, while also having the ability to be immune to Genjutsu thanks to his training. His eyes gleamed as he spotted a bare-chested man with scars along his face, but the tattoos on his shoulders and arm were bleeding. Which they shouldn't be.
When the music died and the former matron of the Uchiha Clan finished her dance, the crowd cheered in applause as she gave a bow with a smile on her face. She then walked up to Naruto and gave him a kiss on his bandaged covered cheeks, irritating Sasuke and causing Kushina to blush that her best friend had gotten herself a better man then Fugaku. Naruto then stood up from his chair and had the twins and Mikoto stand close to him as he gave hidden signals to them so that they'd prepare for the upcoming ambush.
"I trust that you have been entertained. If you wish to join my crew aboard the Chimera, please do not fight what happens next. Weapons!" Many of the bathhouse men pulled out their weapons from their tubs as Naruto twirled his blade one handed, and his women pulled out their weapons. Lian and Park pulled out their steel chopsticks as their hair fell to their lower backs, having them ponytailed near the ends in honor of their deceased younger sister. Mikoto's bracelet and string disappeared and she pulled out from the smoke her signature katana, the Kurikara(A:N Blue Exorcist Rin's sword).
"Ryunami I assure that we mean you and your men no harm!" Jiraiya exclaimed when Root appeared, protecting the Leaf Nin while some killed those that held Menma and Sasuke captive as the two clan heirs joined in the protective circle. Kushina was not happy at seeing Danzo's drones here. But they did bring back Kushina's and the others their gear. Not knowing that one of them place a seal on her clothing so that Danzo could eavesdrop in.
After Naruto and his women let the Konoha ninja change, he grabbed the fake man that was spying on them and held him in the Executioner's Blade's execution circle. "Drop your weapons, or I kill your man!" he commanded the Root and Leaf group.
"Jiraiya and Kushina did not know this spy and the Toad replied, "Kill him, he's not one of ours."
"He belongs with us." Itachi replied, releasing his Henge and Kisame slashing several guards before standing between Ryunami and the members of Konoha. The rest of Ryunami's men had fled out the back. Sasuke was furious to see his family murderer here, while Mikoto looked sad at her older son's choices in life.
Naruto used his ice bloodline to freeze the spy solid, who revealed itself to be a White Zetsu Clone, before he shattered the spy into a million pieces. He frowned at seeing Itachi here, but was very happy that the Monster of the Mists finally showed himself. The Kiri swordsman betrayer did not know that the bathhouse was built on top of a deep section of the shoreline of the seacoast.
"We are here for the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. Please allow us to take him with us." Itachi politely asked.
"Come on Itachi. I wanted to test my metal against the Dragon." Kisame complained as he gave his shark-like grin.
"Itachi! I am now stronger than when we last met. This time for sure I will kill you!" Sasuke declared as prepared a Chidori to pierce his brother's empty heart.
"Sasuke, what your brother did was to keep the peace in Konoha. I wish that he and those involved had spared the women and children. But knowing Danzo, he would not let anyone steal his growing power until he claimed the Hokage's seat." Mikoto spoke in a calm voice that surprised everyone now that they knew that this was really Mikoto Uchiha. Instigating Sasuke to cancel his jutsu.
"Mother…I—" Itachi tried to speak. But Mikoto lovingly smiled at her older son which made Sasuke angrier that she would not avenge her clan.
"I know, Itachi. You were put in a difficult position ever since Sarutobi and the village made Naruto's life unbearable. You only wanted to help Konoha in removing some of its corruption so that the Will of Fire could burn bright and true again. However, the ones in charge of the village only let their greed and pride grow as they milked at our sacrifice for Konoha. Turning Sasuke into the once loving son and your brother, into a savage beast bent on vengeance and only fueled by hatred. You should have made it clear that love was the only way to save our clan and himself."
"Never! I don't need love in order to restore the Uchiha Clan! After I kill Itachi, I'm going to kill you, mother! I could never love a weak woman that would forsake being a warrior over a housewife and now a slut. Father was the only family I ever needed." Sasuke seethed to her, seeing her heartbroken face at his declaration. Itachi was now showing an angry look in his eyes at his little brother's rant.
"Wow, and here I thought my family was messed up." Snarked Kisame. "What do you say, Ryunami, let these tree-huggers have their lovers spat while we fight to show who is the greatest of the Swordsmen of the Mists? Samehada is anxious to taste your chakra." The sentient sword growls in glee.
"Unfortunately for you, you have another date, Kisame." Naruto then shows his left arm that has a kraken tattoo wrapped around it. Smearing blood onto the mark using his clawed nails, Naruto summons the one person that Kisame was not anxious to see. Out of the smoke, the infamous Devil of the Seas stood before the Akatsuki and the Konoha shinobi.
Kisame tried to make a run for it, but his feet were coated in ice chakra, curtesy of Naruto. Mikoto then pulled out her blade as blue flames danced along it and she cut off the arm holding Samehada as well as the sealed Summoning scroll for the Shark Summons. Davy Jones held the shark man in his crabby claw as Kisame squirmed in his hold while also feeling the burning pain of his burnt stub that once held his favored hand.
"Ahoy there, Kisame. You have a dept to pay."