Another Chapter is here!
Enjoy!
The Sealing R&D building didn't really stand out in the grand scheme of things. It was basically a two-story building that looked so plain that Naruto overlooked it virtually every time he passed it, even during his pranking days. Hiding in plain sight at its finest, he supposed.
Naruto really didn't know what to expect going inside of it. But he certainly wasn't expecting be caught in a rib-crushing hug. Much less by a tall woman with glasses and a scientist coat, her hair put up in a ponytail and her skin slightly tanned.
"Umm… this is weird," Naruto said, his head nestled within her bosom and his voice muffled. "I don't think we've met, have we?"
"Haha… I guess we haven't." The woman finally set him down, allowing him to breathe again, and then crouched down so that she was on eye-level with him. "My name is Narue Tsuda, I'm the head of the research team handling the masks left behind by your ancestors. It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Uzumaki-kun."
"Oh." He scratched the back of his neck, a slight blush on his cheeks. She had been… soft. "So I guess you're happy about that, huh?"
Giddy was a more accurate word, judging by how brightly she smiled. "It's a really great project, and I was so lucky that the Hokage chose me for it. It's not every day someone gets to breakdown some of the oldest seals found right in our own village—the ciphers and the layers could take an entire lifetime to unravel."
Well, as long as she's happy, Naruto thought. He wasn't sure what about that made her so enthusiastic. Seals were useful, but a lifetime to work out how a bunch of lines on paper did the things they did wasn't his specialty. "The Hokage told me I could reclaim the rest of the Beasts."
"Genbu, Kinja, and Seiryuu." She rose to her full height, towering over Naruto again. "Follow me. I want to show you something first."
He followed her through a sealed door and into a section of the building that was colder than you'd expect. It was a long corridor linked to different rooms, walked by a number of other people who wore similar coats and had badges pinned to their chests. They entered into one room that was separated by a glass panel from another, which had the masks within them.
"Now, Uzumaki-kun, tell me what you know about the Sealing Arts?" she asked as she sat down at a computer.
"Mostly that if you write them down properly and put chakra into them, they do things like create a storage space, barriers, or explosions."
"That's true at their basic level, but they can do soooo much more than that." Narue brought the masks up on the computer screen, showing a smattering of different seals that looked like a jumbled mess. "For example, your ancestors managed to apply several seals that aren't visible to the naked eye off-hand to the back of the masks, which we're only able to observe now thanks to the advances in technology—note that this was around 100 years ago."
When she hit a key, the masks peeled off on the screen like an onion. This revealed that the smattering of seals made more sense in eight layers, when they weren't overlaying one another. The view then sorted them into two rows, with the top-right layer being the seals that he saw on the back that he was supposed to place his blood on.
"See?" Narue pointed to them. "From what we can gather, the application of blood to prove legacy and insertion of chakra unlocks the functions of the lower ones and activates them like a set of programs. The reason that they possess sapience is likely because of these lower layers, acting as memory partitions and storing information to be used at a later date. And eight layers is just the total number we found on the Divine Beasts, while the Priests and Priestess have over thirty at an estimate, and we're still working in determining many the others have."
"So that's why they remember us?" He crossed his arms in thought. "And they'd likely remember those that came before me and Karin-chan too, back when they were first made."
Her ponytail bobbed as she nodded her head again. "We don't understand more than 5% of the sealing arrays at best because your ancestors used a cipher in their work, without a key or primer left behind. It's a travesty that such work has been left unexplored. And the legacy-seal is vital to its functions, because it's somehow interwoven throughout the layers in a way that would cause a cascading failure if we tried to remove it through normal means, so we can't ask them ourselves. I applaud the safeguards, but things like that make it so that great work is lost throughout history once they're gone."
"Is it really okay if I take them while you're doing this?" he asked.
"We've got the seals on the Divine Beasts all registered on-file," Narue said, rising from her seat. She then went through the door and picked up the remaining Divine Beast masks. "Even if you get them destroyed by accident, we can copy the sealing work now to replace any masks that get damaged beyond use, but they won't retain any of the knowledge the old ones had."
Narue handed them over. "That being said, be careful. The masks can be replaced, but you and the other girl are the only two known Uzumaki left. It's bad enough that you're both active shinobi as is."
Naruto frowned. "What's bad about that?"
"Even during times of peace, you can still catch a stray kunai and die," she pointed out, which wasn't exactly wrong. "Despite not having any real knowledge of your clan's culture and history, if something happens to you both then your clan dies entirely with you—whether it's on the battlefield or due to something like an accident or illness… unless we lock you up and have you breed like a bunch of rabbits."
"…I don't think we're old enough to have kids," Naruto pointed out cautiously.
"Just throwing it out there.…" She sighed. "Well, I won't keep you longer. But when you get a chance, come back and visit. We can use your help in communicating with them. That way we can learn more about them and your culture all at once."
"I'll keep it in mind."
[0-0-0]
Jiraiya leaned against a tree, beneath the shade, as he waited for Naruto to arrive. There was tension lining his frame as he ruminated in silence over what he had learned post-Invasion. The Old Man had intended to make him the next Hokage, explaining that was part of the reason he had him be so visible during the conflict—reminding everyone that the Toad Sage was still there and loyal.
Even though he wasn't a fan of the idea, he had to admit that he had the best chance in terms of prospects. The only real issue that could be made against Jiraiya personally would be his writing and peeping habits, things which he had shown he could push aside depending on circumstances. While he wasn't as well-known among the younger generation, the older generation that made up the bulk of the more experienced and higher-ranks of the shinobi population did know of him—if not personally, then by his deeds.
Tsunade wasn't qualified at the moment, due to a number of issues. Her reputation in terms of gambling alone was detrimental. And, if she had gone years without healing anyone, then chances were that her skills had began degrading.
Kakashi was another option. He had loyal service for around two decades to the Leaf, an impressive track-record, and the respect of most of his peers. While his habit of being late was something widely-spread, it never applied in the case of urgent missions. The only real issue was that he was too young, and didn't have that much experience in working with the younger generation as a Jounin-leader—though Naruto and Sasuke's performance spoke highly of him in that aspect.
Danzo… he really wasn't an ideal option during times of peace. Leaving aside his known feats and accomplishments while active in service, he earned the reputation of being a war-hawk. There would be a lot of internal and external issues if he was allowed to take the Hat.
That didn't change the fact that Jiraiya didn't want the Hat. Not unless it was absolutely necessary. But he couldn't make that argument while the Old Man was still on the mend. It could wait until after they retrieved Tsunade and Shizune.
His information network had her pegged as entering a casino in Tanzaku not too long ago, accompanied by a young woman with dark-hair and a small pig keeping them company. It was a fair distance from the Leaf, but they should be able to get there in ample time with Naruto's masks.
Thinking of Naruto, Jiraiya stood up straight off the tree as a black-haired boy passed through the gate. The Transformation matched that of the photo just about perfectly. Good. That would make things harder for Akatsuki if they came searching for him, according to the Old Man anyway. That was another can of worms they'd have to deal with later on.
"You're the guy who came in on a toad in the woods," Naruto said as he approached, dressed in a tanned tunic and beige pants while in disguise. It seems like he took the note about a change in clothes seriously. "I didn't know that there was another Toad Summoner active besides Gama."
Right, he didn't know about the disguise, Jiraiya thought as he rubbed his chin. There… really wasn't a point in hiding it anymore, was there? Not now, anyway.
"That was actually me in disguise." He performed the Transformation technique on himself to become 'Gama' again. Naruto leaned his head back in surprise until Jiraiya dropped the disguise again. "Anything you said while I was like that, I know already. You won't be breaking confidentiality."
"Okay, but why'd you hide who you really were?" Naruto asked.
"Because we had to keep things a secret," he said. "If Orochimaru knew that I was around, he wouldn't have likely came out of hiding, and chances are he would have changed his plans in a way that would have caused even more deaths and losses. If the Old Man died because of that, I can't say that things would be as neat as they are without the Hokage, and Karin-chan likely wouldn't be receiving as decent treatment as she is if someone didn't vouch for her."
"I guess you have a point…" Naruto looked down at that, rubbing the back of his head. "So, if you were Gama and were there all those times…."
Jiraiya picked up where he was going. "Yeah, I know how much she means to you. And, to be honest, she reminds me a little of Kushina. She isn't as much of a spitfire as your mother was growing up, but they have the same smile."
And both would go to insane lengths to protect you, he thought to himself. The Toad Sage understood the scope of things as they were now about her. While it was a shame that Orochimaru had gotten his hooks into her in the first place, there was still a chance to save her before he twisted her into someone who couldn't be saved like him. Her actions that day proved that much to him, even if things surrounding her would be a little rough until they settled in the future.
Naruto perked up at that. "You really did know my Mother too?"
"And your Father," he added. "I can't tell you about him under the Old Man's orders, for now anyway. It'll likely be a distraction for the mission. But sometime after that we'll sit down and have a talk about it, okay?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
"Then, getting formal introductions out of the way, I'm Jiraiya," he announced. "I'm the former pupil of the Third Hokage, Toad Sage, one of the three Sannin, and the Sealing Expert in charge of the seal your mother left you. I'm usually outside of the village to handle information gathering, but I've popped in a few times to observe you and make sure that the Nine-Tailed Fox didn't have a detrimental effect on your mental health over time—like what happened to that boy from Sand."
"Is… he doing okay?" Naruto asked abruptly. "There's been no mention of him since that fight."
Jiraiya supposed it made sense for Naruto to be concerned about the treatment of a fellow Jinchuuriki, even if he had been trying to kill them not too long ago. After they had swooped in and sealed his sand away, storing it in a security scroll and placing it in a secure location far away from where the boy currently was, Jiraiya had to place a number of overlaying seals just to make up for the lack of mental safeguards in the boy's seal. While Kushina worked with Minato to perfect Naruto's seal to a high-degree, and left a key for him to use if there was a need for it, Gaara of the Desert's seal lacked any arrays meant to effectively filter the Tailed-Beast's influence, allowing it to attack his mind to the extent of nearly driving him insane.
If anything, the overlays would hopefully make him more compliant as a sort of carrot and stick approach to keep him on his best behavior. Whether or not he would regain mental stability without its influence was another question. They really couldn't risk letting someone go inside of his head with the beast within him having as much free reign as it did, but considering what they found out about his past from his sister's mind… he'll probably be better off in the Leaf's custody than in his own village.
"He's alive and on the mend," Jiraiya eventually told him. "Maybe when he's in his right mind again, he might be able to enjoy a normal life when things settle down. He probably wouldn't even have that option if you and your friends didn't stop him when you did. Between that, and the fact that you're a Chuunin now, you've done well for yourself in a very short time. Your parents would be proud."
Naruto grinned brightly at that, scratching his cheek nervously. Then, after a moment, he cleared his throat. "So, I went over the mission documents. We're supposed to retrieve two women for the Old Man right?"
Jiraiya nodded. "They're both Leaf shinobi who have been out of action for some time now. With the Invasion over, we're working on pulling in assets from all over the different nations that aren't active to handle some of the workload. They're both extremely skilled in medical techniques, but we'll have to travel far and fast to get to them before they leave the last place they've been spotted."
"If they can help the injured people and Karin-chan too, then we should hurry," Naruto said, pulling out the bird mask. "Suzaku's recovered from that day and should be able to carry us far enough if I don't need to do any fighting."
A shrill cry was loosed as the vermillion and gold adorned bird came into existence once more. Jiraiya mounted it with his young charge at the helm, and they took flight through the air towards where his information network last spotted the two. He wasn't expecting trouble, minus some resistance from Tsunade, but they would be able manage if it did crop up.
[0-0-0]
Kabuto stood over the prone form of his master's so-called elites, adjusting his glasses as he observed their efficiently battered and broken bodies. The Sound Four, as they were to be known, had to be punished for both their failure to keep Lord Orochimaru safe and their musings on fleeing the ranks of Sound.
Thus it fell on him to do so, now that he'd recovered from the corrosive influence of Naruto's Nine-Tailed chakra. He had been careful not to do anything lethal, if only because they were still useful. But their blood painted the hard-floor beneath his sandals to the extent that sanitizing it would be a necessity after he had finished up. "Now, have you all calmed yourselves down?"
"Ngh…" Tayuya struggled to look up at him from the floor, the tendons her legs severed in a way that he could later put back into place. Her flute lay abandoned on the ground, in the opposite direction. "What's the damn point in sticking around when his soul burned to ashes? He's beyond dead and gone."
"While this wouldn't be an issue had you been more attentive in your duties, Lord Orochimaru did have a back-up plan should the Invasion end in such a sorry state," Kabuto told her, and by extension the rest of them. "As his Right-Hand, it falls on me to fulfill this task, but I can't have my efforts hindered by all of the infighting around the Land of Sound, thanks to the rumors of his demise being so widespread."
That was the unfortunate problem when you gathered your forces by sheer power and charisma. The moment that you were weak or disposed of, the foundation you built your power upon fragmented and collapsed in on itself. Now the Land of Sound had several different factions, all once under Lord Orochimaru's banner, starting to turn upon one another using resources and assets that weren't theirs.
That just wouldn't do. "As you can imagine, Lord Orochimaru will be displeased when he returns to find things in such disarray. To that end, I'm tasking you four with corralling these rogue elements while I focus on his return. Succeed and your failure may be overlooked."
"And if we fail, you'll kill us," Kidomaru guessed. "That about right?"
"Oh no, killing you would be a waste of research materials." He smirked. "I'll dispatch Kimimaro to bring you to me alive. You'll wish for death soon enough afterwards, I promise."
They stiffened upon hearing that. It was true that Kimimaro may not be in the best of health, but he was the loyalist and strongest agent of Orochimaru next to Kabuto himself at present. And he'd be more than willing to drag them back… minus arms and legs.
"So, I take it you know what you'll cooperate without the need for further convincing?"
They agreed wisely.