What to say about Sinatra? His music is classic, elegant, upbeat and very clear. I could be in the foulest of moods and listening to him would make me feel better. My second favorite song is by him, and was written by Paul Anka, called My Way. I used I've Got The World On A String for the last chapter because Naruto realizes just where he stands in the world. He has power, youth, and a heart. So I thought that song applied very well. Anyway on with the story. This chapter is the last before I do a time skip and this chapter in itself will have a bit of a time skip. I hope Shikamaru's situation was found to be rather intriguing. I don't own Naruto a Japanese genius does.

Caution: This chapter has YAOI lemon.

Chapter Five: Unite and Reunite

Ah, he gave me more, he gave it all to me, say can't you see
How can I tell you about my loved one?
You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs.
But I look around me and I see it isn't so. Oh, no
Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs.
And what's wrong with that?

Silly Love Songs, Paul McCartney and the Wings, Wings at the Speed of Sound.

Shikamaru gazed out his bedroom window, despair and gloom soaking him to the core. The past couple of days were beyond comprehension; he did not mean to be arrogant, but he was sure that very few ninja had ever had to deal with what currently weighed down his shoulders.

Keeping the reason why Sasuke was found secret, keeping Naruto's lively hood secret, and now Ichirou's as well, keeping all of Kyuubi's actions in the village's leadership secret, were far to great for someone of his caliber to bear.

It seemed that with all the secrets that were revealed even more become hidden.

Undoubtedly there was an unwanted little orange guest sitting just outside his bedroom door with more information only he was to know. Opening his bedroom door he looked down to see the little fox with a scroll in it's mouth, staring back up at him.

He picked up the fox and walked back into his room. He set the little kit down on his bed and removed the scroll from it's mouth. The Fox kanji was printed nicely on the front and the area for blood to be smeared was clearly indicated.

Biting his thumb and smearing the blood over the outlined area, he sighed as he began to read the letter. Drifting along the text with his eyes, he groaned.

"Your more trouble gone, than you are here Naruto."


"So where is it that you would like to go?" Itachi asked as they walked down the moonlit river that flowed north.

"To see him." Ichirou responded, playing with the feather that tied his hair into a short tail. His eyes gleamed with a triumphant ambition. "It's been eight years, I can finally go and see him, my little brother." He shuddered a little with excitement.

A common love among the two was for their younger brothers. Itachi, god forbid had only made one miscalculation in his life, and that was the scar he left his brother with. He wanted Sasuke to be ambitious, with a desire to avenge, not to lust for power and revenge. It was a cruel fate that his one mistake was so great.

Ichirou was not fated as cruelly, but his father had been and it was his father's mistake that remained to haunt; that was the condition he left the council in. The council was going to kill his brother and him to extinguish a threat; apparently Ichirou blamed the council for his father's death so he was going to use Naruto's control over the Kyuubi to eradicate them.

That was the theory the council came up with so they had an excuse. In the end Ichirou planned with the Third a way for him and Naruto both to live. Ichirou would pretend to die and leave the village, so the council would not find Naruto to be a threat anymore. The plan ended with him almost being killed by Naruto no less and the Council still tried a few years later. A half success so the Third Hokage had put it, but it lead to Naruto's ultimate safety in Konoha.

"What is your suggestion towards finding him?" Itachi asked thinking of a plan himself.

"Kyuubi is a fox demon, apparently Naruto is now as well, foxes are mischievous intellectuals, so I would start by asking one of them." Ichirou suggested.

Their shadows remained on the water for a moment after their figures vanished.

Itachi was thinking the same thing and now the only issue was to find a fox. It was night so there would be little issue of finding one stalking around and it was also spring; the time when nature called loudly for reproduction.


A vast distance away Naruto was dealing with the same call.

It had been a few hours since they had arrived at Kyuubi house and Naruto thanked his curiosity for the distraction. There was only so much house to explore though and every time Naruto walked past something reflective he noticed the blue in his eyes was fading to an almost feral and lust filled gold.

After the sun had set small rotting pieces of wood flowed over the pond. A strange fungi grew on all the logs that released a calm, phosphorescent green light over the exterior of the flat. Looking at the edges of the cliffs that created the sanctuary holding Kyuubi's home the same fungi grew on all of the rotting trees. Kyuubi said that it was call foxfire.

All the rooms of the house had a view of what was beyond the cliff and they were all connected by bridges. It was styled very elegantly, with traditional Japanese architecture. Gold and Rubies were used where ever they could be, as a sign of Kyuubi's eyes and apparently Naruto's as well. Door handles, to the bridge railings were encrusted with the expensive and luxurious materials. It matched the pink of the Sakura trees very well and was in perfect contrast to the greens, grays, and blues that also surrounded the house.

When Naruto had first entered the home there was a main room that was simply an enclosed bridge circling around one of the small islands, growing another Sakura tree. It was a very charming entrance, there was a wall and roof that made it seem like a room and no railing around the part that opened to the water surrounding the island and the ceiling only covered where the floor went, so the tree would be exposed to the sun. For once in his life, he felt welcome.

He was then lead around the railing-less room and out the walk way opposite of where he entered. After another bridge he entered a living room that greatly embraced the magnificent view. You could see forever, it was far better then watching television or reading some manga. Mountains and valleys stretched over the view as he watched the sun set off to the right just below the clearing rain clouds, forests and rivers wound around each-other and the air was more clear than any. It was an endless masterpiece of nature.

After seeing the living room he was lead out the right of the room across another bridge that split into three going left, straight and right. Kyuubi lead him to the left, the room he found to be closest to the cliff.

The room also embraced the view with no wall concealing what faced over the cliff. A terrace with an over hang accented the view very nicely and allowed access to one of the larger Sakura Islands. A few harsh and ragged desert plants were growing in planters on the terrace that supplied an unusual, but beautiful contrast to the soft Sakura trees. Kyuubi said that the room would be his room and the other door would lead to his own on-suite.

After Kyuubi showed him how to unseal the belongings he had stored Naruto went to decorating his room. It did not take long, from how little there was, but he was happy to have a picture of his team and some items to help him reminisce about the few good times in his life.

And now here he was exploring the rest of his new home trying to ignore the potent smell of fresh earth, rose water, and salty blood that came from Kyuubi. He wanted to ravish the fox-boy so badly the only way to keep himself controlled was by staying on the opposite side of the house. Ever since the sun had began to set he felt exceptionally excited.

With the excitement, he felt that it was wrong for him to lust for Kyuubi so greatly; the issues were countless.

One, was that Kyuubi was male; Naruto had nothing against homosexuality, but his bravado he felt was tainted by the lust and it had always been a large part of who he was. He was the tough guy with hard skin. The fact that they were not human did little to comfort him.

Two, was the love he still held for Sakura; he felt that he was betraying her if he loved Kyuubi and he felt even worse because the care he had for the topic was fading. He was in love with her, but the more time that past he felt it was just some immature childhood crush. He knew her well and realized that he was treated more like an annoying little brother than anything.

Three, was that he was incredibly young; the demon was almost a thousand times his age with endless knowledge and he was still a naïve child. For a being of power and knowledge and a being of feral behavior and ignorance to clash in a game of love was just silly.

Fourth, and most important, was that he hardly knew Kyuubi; to have a pure desire to love someone whom you knew nothing about was immature and pathetic. He was ashamed to conceive it, but it reminded him of Sakura's love for Sasuke.


The rest of the house consisted of a steam room, a vast and ancient library, an elegant kitchen, a formal dining room, a small dojo, a rock garden on the largest of the Sakura Islands, Kyuubi's bedroom, two large spare bedrooms, a small bathroom off the living room, and a weapons room. It was laid out very well, with the rooms in proper conjunction to each-other and had a very relaxing and classy feel.

The bedrooms where what took up the right side of the pond and everything else took up the left. All in all, Naruto thought it was going to be a wonderful place to live if nature would stop screaming to his loins and heart about something he was unsure of.

He tried denying his feelings for Kyuubi and occasionally would orally express the sentiment as he wondered around the other half of the house. With all his reasoning against a relationship with Kyuubi he felt he was just making excuses, since when did he care what people of thought of his sexuality, why should he worry about Sakura when she never returned the emotion, he was immortal now he had the time to catch up to Kyuubi and with all that time he could easily get to know the fox.

Kyuubi kept him ignorant of the horrors in his life so he would remain innocent and had given his own blood to give Naruto the strength to avenge. He gave Naruto his true being for the first time in his life and was the reason Naruto was free to be happy. He showed genuine concern and care for someone who was usually treated in the opposite and harsh fashion.

What reason was there not to love him?


Kyuubi was sitting in the living room meditating or what appeared to be. He could hear Naruto's thoughts echoing through his head and had a wild grin on his face.

Will you shut up and just talk to me about it. We can't ignore nature forever Naruto, it's more powerful than your will, Kyuubi interrupted his ranting.

I want to know right now, how you keep me out of your head, Naruto replied trying to change the subject.

I'm not telling you until you come in here and talk to me about this first, Kyuubi answered.

You know exactly why I cannot come in there, Naruto thought, anger beaming through his mind.

I'm going to need to tell you this a thousand times aren't I? Naruto just follow your instincts, they will never lead you wrong.

They killed my brother, Naruto's thoughts took on the same deep tone Kyuubi's did as they echoed through Kyuubi's head.

Naruto understand this, the only time your instincts will lead to trouble is when you are hungry. You were not a demon when that happened, you were simply influenced by my chakra. There was no hunger. You thought the Hokage had betrayed your brother and you, so you attacked him. Your brother defended the Hokage which is where it all went down hill. That was a situation composed purely of bad luck, Kyuubi assured Naruto.

Now will you come in here and just help me deal with the situation. I'm having a hard time dealing with this myself, Kyuubi thought. You smell like fresh rain, sweet blood, and grass, it's driving me crazy.

Naruto almost reluctantly began the short journey confused about smelling like sweet blood. He had no choice but to believe everything Kyuubi said, because he had yet to be incorrect and everything Kyuubi had ever told him to do had made his life better. From his childhood to the present, so why change his direction now.

He entered the living room a minute later and breathed through his mouth; Kyuubi, funny enough, did the same.

"So, how are we supposed to go about something like this? Your over ten millennia old and I'm twelve so, you start," Naruto said sitting down rather far away from Kyuubi.

"There is no planning nature Naruto, it just happens. Once I am done talking we are going to let go and simply follow what our bodies desire. I personally have not had much experience with something like this because there has never been another fox demon out there. Understand that I am as new to this as you are okay."

Just great, Naruto thought as he waited anxiously for Kyuubi to finish.

"Now on three we just let go okay, just follow your instincts." Kyuubi took a deep breathe. "One…Two…Thr–" Naruto was on top of Kyuubi's lithe form before he could finish. His mouth was plastered to the fox's mouth and golden tails intertwining with Kyuubi's crimson appendages. Kyuubi gasped not a moment later and Naruto took that opportunity to slip his tongue in and feel the prominent canines that lines Kyuubi's mouth. It was surreal and blurred, but it felt more right than the sun lighting the day.

Kyuubi mewled into the kiss as they rolled on the floor. It was already clear that Kyuubi was going to be the Uke. Naruto had more power and was more feral than Kyuubi was, so naturally the first time he would lead.

As they rolled on the floor Naruto wrapped one of his arms around Kyuubi's chest and reached his other arm up to the fox's red hair. The kiss was pure and their chakras mingled with each other tangling them together more than their tails. It was after a minute that air made itself known to be a necessity.

While they broke apart to breath one thought mutually ran through both their minds, Bedroom. Naruto was already on top so he gave Kyuubi another kiss and lifted him up and dashed out of the luxurious living room. Once he was at the part where the bridges divided he again dashed left towards his room.

Once they were inside the room Naruto place Kyuubi on the bed hastily and began to try stripping him. Kyuubi almost laughed at his efforts and lifted Naruto's chin directing the teen's attention to his face. Kyuubi brought his other hand up and snapped his fingers. In a quick burst of harmless flames Kyuubi was nude. Naruto quickly followed suit by doing the same.

He again leaned over Kyuubi kissing him deeply and passionately. The crooks of their lithe and maturing bodies laid well with each other and brought a never before felt warmth to their hearts. Their lower regions grew with the friction and gently ground into each other. It continued like that until the need for air once-again made itself aware. They broke apart and Kyuubi slid himself up to allow Naruto to enter him as he wrapped his legs around the boy's waist.

Naruto was mildly confused at to what the gesture meant at first. A morbid memory made it's way into his head from just a few nights prior and because of that he knew that he would hurt Kyuubi if he entered dry. He tried to think of a solution quickly before he did it anyway. "The Aloe Vera plant." Kyuubi suggested, pointing to the small plant in the corner of the room with a clawed finger. Naruto's image disappeared for a moment before returning to his previous position with one of the plants barbed leaves in hand. It happened so fast gravity hadn't the time to lower Kyuubi's limbs.

Naruto squeezed the plant over himself and Kyuubi's entrance. He spread it around, coating himself and Kyuubi, then threw the plant out the open terrace so fast it skipped across the water and right over the edge of the cliff; however, before it even skipped once Naruto had already sheathed himself.

A wave of ecstasy washed over both of them; nothing could compare to how right they felt. All their worries, all their pains, all their stresses were gone just like the Aloe Vera leaf. The gentle light the room's lanterns cast, the luxurious style that emanated from every object surrounding them, and the softly foxfire lit Sakura tree just outside the room in all their grace, could not mirror the warmth and peace that pulsed through Naruto and Kyuubi. It was a moment of absolute serenity.

Naruto pulled back slowly allowing the Aloe Vera to coat Kyuubi's insides. He was on the verge of just letting go and thrusting in and out of Kyuubi as fast as he could. The ringed muscles enclosed him without any complaint and the feeling was incomprehensible. An almost too week sense of calm supplied his patience though, allowing him to let Kyuubi become accustom to the intrusion.

He sunk back in to his hilt causing Kyuubi to gasp from pleasure and release a wave of chakra. He repeated the motion over and over again doing his best to hit the same spot as he tried to stretch Kyuubi. He loved the feeling of Kyuubi's chakra wash over him every time he struck the area, with every touch Kyuubi would lose control of his chakra and release it in a massive wave of pleasure.

Kyuubi, as a playful gesture to make Naruto move faster, bit his ear as Naruto thrust into him. Naruto gave him a questioning look with his gold-slit and hazy eyes. When he gave Kyuubi the naive and innocent look, his ear was dragged down by Kyuubi's mouth as he tried to make better eye contact. "Faster," Kyuubi ground out as held Naruto's ear in his fangs. His own ears were flattened on his head creating mild friction to the sensitive spot of where they folded.

Naruto complied with his demand and sped up his pace. Kyuubi let go of Naruto's ear and began scratching the same sensitive fold, while using his other arm to hold onto Naruto. A deep purr escaped Naruto as Kyuubi scratched his ears, the skin was tough enough not to be split by the powerful claw and because of it's endurance it was even more sensitive to the touch. As he moved his ears would wave forward and Kyuubi would scratch in rhythm.

Naruto used one of his hands to stroke Kyuubi with hopes of furthering his pleasure. Breathing was all that was heard with the occasional squelching noise from Naruto and Kyuubi's nether-regions. It lasted for another few minutes until one final thrust from Naruto hit Kyuubi's prostate and Kyuubi released himself. Not two thrusts later Naruto did the same from Kyuubi's contracting muscles and released deep inside of Kyuubi.

They stayed like that for a moment before they sunk into each other for another kiss.

Normal and rational thought suddenly flooded Naruto's mine. Once they broke apart Naruto sheepishly, stated, "Sorry." He pulled out of Kyuubi not a moment later and looked away in shame. One of his ears wilted a little with his lack of confidence and his now blue eyes gazed at anything that was not Kyuubi.

He was unsure of what to say or do after something so personal. In all his life no-one had ever embraced him or kissed him and now all of a sudden to have someone so perfect and caring thrust into his life, he lacked the experience to know how to react.

Kyuubi turned Naruto's chin gently to face him again. Naruto continued to avoid his gaze. "Don't be. We followed what nature told us and we both enjoyed it. It was meant to be this way. Now let us get cleaned up." Naruto's confidence returned with the few reassuring words and he kissed Kyuubi again.

He pulled Kyuubi out of his bed and started to drag him towards his bathroom, when he got an idea. "I was thinking the same thing," Kyuubi said as the idea echoed through his mind. Naruto turned and dragged him towards the terrace. He stepped onto the Sakura Island in front of his room holding Kyuubi's hand behind him. Kyuubi followed after and they gently slide into the dark water.

They both remained silent for a moment before Naruto weakly and nervously said, "I'm not sure if this is the…uhh right thing to say, but I guess I…love…you?"

Kyuubi was momentarily stunned by the words, he thought Naruto would feel too awkward after something like that to speak to him. Certainly he had helped make him comfortable with his assuring words, but for Naruto to confess such an emotion and to come to terms with it so quickly was an unusual feat. It was a strange relationship, but it felt right and proper. So Kyuubi returned the words with caring hug. Naruto was surprised by his reaction and enjoyed Kyuubi's surprisingly soft, spiky red hair on his shoulder. It felt so gentle and care free. Kyuubi's pointed ear tilted into his own when he said, "It means more than you know Naruto. I love you as well."

They swam in silence embracing the scenery occasionally bumping into one of the foxfire logs while holding hands under the water. "Why is it so warm here even when it's winter?" Naruto asked to make small conversation.

"Well, this mountain was once an active super volcano. It erupted one spring with such power and ferocity that it exploded into an ash cloud so enormous the earth's climate was unusual for a few decades afterwards. Acid rain and no sun light destroyed all life within hundreds of miles which is the reason this place has become so remote and far away from any civilization. And because of it's eruption it became dormant, which means there haven't been any signs of it erupting in the next couple hundred thousand years. Magma still runs through the mountain though and that keeps the earth warm, which is why it is so pleasant hear even during winter." Kyuubi answered.

He furthered his answer by explaining why it was called Kitsune no Metsuki, the Fox's Sight, "Occasionally dark red clouds of smoke are released from it's peak in the shape of a fox. You can see forever from the peak and that's why it is call the Fox's Sight."

As an after thought Kyuubi tossed in, "It was that eruption which gave birth to me and the eruption itself was called 'The FoxFire.'"

Naruto was confused by how Kyuubi could just come to exist from a volcanic eruption, but given recent events he could believe the story.

Soon they left the water and finished cleaning up in the steam room. It was calm and quiet with the occasional snicker from Kyuubi when Naruto couldn't dry his ears without them twitching out of his grasp. After they were dressed Kyuubi took Naruto to the library and selected a few scrolls for him to read. Kyuubi spent the rest of the night answering Naruto's questions regarding the scrolls he read.

Before the sun appeared from the left of their masterpiece view, Naruto and Kyuubi were laying in their individual rooms sifting through recent events as they drifted off to sleep.

The following couple of nights were peaceful as Naruto settled into the new lifestyle. They spent much of their time together except for sleep if they did sleep, Naruto learning the ways of a fox demon, essentially his place among the world now and Kyuubi almost berated into him the importance of discreteness with his power. "You only ever should be just above someone's level of power and skill when you fight them. If people knew that you could destroy mountains and drown civilizations, people would seek you out and try taking your power. Only Madara and perhaps a few others in this world actually have the ability, but that is still to many. Lead people to believe your powerful, but not beyond comprehension." Kyuubi said that this patience and discipline would make him an unstoppable force and a being of graceful modesty.

Kyuubi also explained to him what all the planning and hiding was for, and the reason Naruto would have to learn to control his power. Kyuubi was going to use the Akatsuki to become a whole being again.

Madara had created the organization with the desire to seal away all the Bijuu and use their power to manipulate the world. Kyuubi had a plan of using Madara's own goals against him. Once Madara had all the beasts, Kyuubi was going to reseal them into himself and become a whole being again.

Kyuubi was a master at infiltration and learning secrets, so in the short time he had investigated the organization before he was used to destroy Konoha, he learned what it was that Madara was planning to do. The man's goal was to recreate the Jubi and seal it within himself to become the second Jubi Jinchuriki.

And Kyuubi, was not going to let that happen.


"We're getting close." Ichirou said looking back over his shoulder at Itachi as they cautiously walked down the narrow path. Itachi replied with a nod and continued to follow. They both had previously commented on the unusual warmth for the time of year, especially in such a northern and remote place, but what alarmed them the most was the amount of chakra in the air.

Something Ichirou was afraid to speak of was the weak feeling that was slowly overtaking him while the chakra continued to intensify as they travelled. His skin was cold and almost brittle, while on the inside he felt like he was simmering in an intense heat. It had been two hours since they could sense the chakra and ever since Ichirou was embraced by the ocean of power, he felt the strange frigidness and heat. His state of health did not redirect him however, the devotion for his little brother pushed him forward.

It was another ten or so minutes before Ichirou really began to be concerned by the feeling. He was a very reserved and calm Shinobi when he was focussed, who never let any emotions distort his facial features, so it wasn't emotions that Itachi had taken note of when he said, "We should stop. Your going through something, that I am clearly not." Ichirou's ears were tapering and his fingernails were dull claws.

Ichirou calmly looked back at him and yet another feature made itself apparent. Ichirou's eyes were no longer their usual sapphire blue, but an elegant and feral red with narrow pupils. "What are you talking abo–COUGH COUGH!" He loudly wheezed then suddenly fell to the ground from pain. Itachi was by his side not a moment later checking him over for any injuries.

His face was scrunched up in a painful expression, teeth hissing at the pain, revealing slowly growing canines. What the hell is wrong with me? Was Ichirou's last thought before he blacked out.

Itachi was confused and worried, but kept himself composed. He lifted Ichirou up and continued down the narrow passage knowing that his companion and mentor would wish to continue; however, after only a few steps someone appeared before him in a flash of fire.


It had been Naruto's sixth day at Kyuubi's home when he suddenly woke from a strain on his nearly endless amount of chakra. He felt as though he was performing a vast number of extremely demanding Jutsus that were using incredible amounts of chakra. His breathe was staggered and a cold sweat had built up on his forehead.

Naruto's state greatly concerned Kyuubi and after twenty minutes of the strain only increasing, Kyuubi had come to his bedroom with a glass of blood and practically poured it down Naruto's throat. After that had been done Naruto felt less strained and no longer sweat, but the drain on his chakra still remained.

It continued to build, but was far less exhausting than before Naruto had ingested Kyuubi's blood. Right before the two hour mark hit it weakened by a considerable amount and they both were relieved. That lasted until loud coughing echoed from the narrow passage entering the crescent flat and Naruto passed out.

Who ever that was, is causing this and they must be very skilled for me not to have sensed them. Kyuubi thought as he sealed Naruto's room to prevent anyone from entering. He left a clone in Naruto's room as a secondary precaution and dashed for the narrow passage.

In a flash of fire he vanished.


Blood.

The essence of unconditional love. A binding care for one of the same nature. What happens when blood obtains a consciousness of it's own? When is becomes aware of it's brothers and sisters?

For blood to become enlightened it has to travel through the veins of someone familiar. As time passes this familiar person, their essence will become another aspect of the blood. Then the blood has to be run through the veins of whom it first came from, only then will it be changed.

And when it becomes aware of others, of it's relatives it will wish to change them as well. That is the one of the natures of fox blood.


His heart pumped blood carelessly through his throbbing skull, the tendons holding up his head pulsed with pain whenever the slightly dense liquid flowed around them. An uncomfortable sleep makes for an unpleasant mood and this was the unfortunate state for Naruto when he came to.

He gently opened his eyes to adjust to the light and looked around his luxurious room, it was morning an odd time for him to wake up. Kyuubi sat in a chair directly in front of his bed looking at him with concern, "Unpredictable as usual and what caused this turn of events is even more peculiar." Naruto was confused and the expression formed it's way onto his face.

"You have been in a strange sleep for the past two weeks. You did something that normally takes ten months, in two hours," Kyuubi explained.

"And what might that be?" Naruto asked wincing as his voice sent vibrations throughout his aching head.

Kyuubi stood up casually, "Come for a walk with me first."

Naruto did not argue he just got up and summoned his clothing very carefully and was surprised that his headache was beginning to fade. They left the elegant room and Kyuubi led him to the front of the house. They travelled in silence back into the stone passage and ignored the entrance they came from and continued straight down what was the right path from the T-shaped intersection. The stone walls began to take on a purple and blue hue as they travelled.

Naruto interrupted the silence after his patience had come to a calm end, "What was it that I did and where are we going?"

Kyuubi just looked over his shoulder and gave Naruto a knowing smirk, "You'll see when we get there."

The path began to descend and wind strangely, the height of the stone walls shallowed and more scenery came into view. During one of the rather sharp left curves Naruto could see where Kyuubi's house was situated because of the gauge out of the cliff and the gentle waterfall flowing over the edge. The house itself was hidden because of the angle, but it was easy to understand where the beautiful flat was and even with the descent in altitude the view remained nether worldly.

The stone passage opened up not long after to a very large shrine. The curved roof accented the square pond that surrounded the square structure very nicely. From pillar to pillar cream-colored curtains gently rustled in the wind obscuring what ever was in the shrine. The flat plot of land was shaped by a wall of stone that extended for almost break neck heights to the left and a curved cliff, similar to that of where Kyuubi's house was lining the right and framing the temple beautifully. A variety of chakra signatures made themselves known once they had come out of the rock passage. Two, Naruto recognized, but could not fathom, some others he could not recognize, but one stood out; it was familiar and comforting to him. Another thing he could not understand was it's similarity to his and Kyuubi's chakra.

"What is this place?" Naruto asked instinctively sniffing the air. The scent that invaded his nose was familiar as well, but his mind could not place the scent.

"This is the shrine to the Fox. Go look, someone is waiting for you."

Naruto gave him a skeptical look before walking towards the shrine. Stepping down the stone slab stairs and over the glimmering quarts slab that made a thin bridge over the pond he pushed away the curtains and stopped breathing.

"Sasuke? Shikamaru?" He gasped out. The next person he saw confused him even more and slightly angered him. "Itachi?" There was also a woman with deep blue, almost violet hair dressed with an origami flower, and a man with vibrant orange hair and multiple piercings lining his face, he also had the strangest eyes Naruto had ever seen, they had various circles surrounding the pupil and where almost hypnotic. They were both dressed in Akatsuki cloaks along with Itachi.

The possible threat the Akatsuki members posed did not intimidate him, he felt more than confident that Kyuubi and him could handle them if it was necessary. The thought was a mild arrogance, but Naruto had good intentions.

Everyone was looking at him with a variety of expressions. Sasuke's face was surprised, Shikamaru was indifferent as usual, Itachi gently smiled, the blue haired woman also smiled and the orange haired man gave him a curt and polite nod.

A voice broke out from behind the group, it sounded hoarse as though the person had just woken up. "Who's there?"

Naruto's heart was about to jump out of his chest when Kyuubi put a hand on his shoulder and gestured for him to go. The group of people moved away and reveal a bed. The occupant gently leaned up and stared at Naruto. His deep blue eyes shocked and expressing an emotion beyond that of happiness.

"Naruto."

Naruto was utterly speechless. In the matter of what seemed to him to be only a week, his entire life had been shattered, his biggest goal in life became an impossible feat, but in that same week, a new life had been forged for him, one with friends, and now with family, and another, greater goal.

Ichirou's physical appearance for the most part went ignored by Naruto as he ran to the young man hugging him deeply. Ichirou returned the embrace with a pure and genuine smile gracing his face. He closed his eyes gently and thanked god as he held Naruto close. It was a reunion of blood and family.

After a moment he opened his eyes and they landed on Kyuubi who stood in the background of the few people talking. Kyuubi gave him a mischievous and foxy smile then turned heading back up to his luxurious flat.

So knowing, Ichirou thought. The fox had protected his brother far more than anyone had and was the one who brought his brother to peace. Ichirou felt he owed a debt to the fox and voiced his gratitude in the time Naruto had been asleep. He was in no shape to do much, but felt he had to inform the fox of how greatly he thought of Kyuubi's actions. He was surprised to hear that Kyuubi desired nothing and that his reward was simply people in his life. Ichirou would forever feel as though he owed his life to Kyuubi.

"H-how?" Whispered Naruto after leaning back staring at his brother. It was the only speech he was capable of from such surprise. He had just noticed the deep red, black tipped fox ears that laid on top of Ichirou's spiky-haired head, incredibly similar to Kyuubi's. His eyes were still the deep blue he remembered, but with the fox-slit pupils. One bushy, red, cream tipped tail wagged unconsciously behind the twenty-two year old.

"Well, long story short, your chakra recognized my blood as family so attached itself to my chakra and changed me. You should know how painful it was," Ichirou said smiling down at his little brother.

"But-but? How are you alive?" Naruto stammered out.

"Well, thats a long story to." Ichirou answered.

"And why are Shikamaru and Sasuke here. And why isn't Sasuke attacking Itachi. And who are the other two? Why are there Akatsuki here?"

"Wow wow, hold on a second there," Ichirou laughed. "Well, Kyuubi told Shikamaru to come here and bring Sasuke and I don't know why before you ask. Why Sasuke isn't attacking Itachi is their business and another long story so ask them later. And the other two are Konan and Pien. They work with Itachi and I in Akatsuki."

Naruto paused to let what Ichirou said to sink in, "Wait! Your a member of Akatsuki? Your a criminal!"

He was beginning to panic. The thought of his brother being a member of the organization that was out to manipulate Kyuubi was a horror beyond that of his past. If his brother were to become a threat, he felt that he would not be able to do what was necessary. To realize that he had a sibling was a shock, but to now see him alive and breathing, to see blood and kin, to see the other fruit his father's loins bore was beyond anything. But if his brother was really a criminal, a member of Akatsuki, a true traitor to Konoha and threatened his friends, he would not be willing enough to kill Ichirou after a living a life where he thought he was alone.

Reading the horror on Naruto's face like a children's book led Ichirou to say, "Hold on a second there Naru. We are members of Akatsuki yes, but we are a part of the organization to be close to Madara and watch his actions. Pein over there," He said gesturing to the vibrantly hair colored man, "is currently the closest person to Madara and the man does not even suspect Pein to be a traitor. So do not worry, we are apart of the group to aid in the elimination of the threat that is Madara."

The speech's emotion was a mixture of care for Naruto and the stern Shinobi Ichirou was. It settled Naruto and he just hugged Ichirou again.

The reunion was interrupted by Shikamaru, "Okay now that we are all here, I'm pretty sure that everyone has some questioning and explaining to do. Naruto would you mind telling Kyuubi to come back down here?"

"Why don't we all just go back up to the house?" Naruto suggested. "I'm kind of hungry," Again Naruto forgot just what it was that he would need to eat.

I'll be back in a moment Naruto I have to go and get something and stop forgetting what you have to eat, Kyuubi chimed in.

"Naruto, you do remember what you have to eat right?" Ichirou seemed to play off of Kyuubi's thoughts.

"Oh, whoops." He sheepishly grinned, "It's the only thing I can't seem to get my head to wrap around."

Sasuke chose this moment to voice his thoughts, "I may not know what he has to eat, but as usual the moron forgets everything."

"What was that?" Naruto injected angrily.

"So those ears are only for show then?" Sasuke taunted.

Itachi interrupted the childish argument, "I apologize for my brother's behavior, he is not in a very pleasant mood right now."

"For your information, Sasuke, it's blood that I have to eat. Don't think that just because your brother is here that I will not attack you."

"Naruto just leave it alone, Sasuke has had a rough past couple of weeks," Ichirou tried to soothe.

"Big words let's see if you can back them–" Before Sasuke could finish his sentence he felt a Katana pressed against his neck.

"These ears and these tails aren't just for show Sasuke." Naruto said in his ear.

"Enough," Came the soothing and elegant voice of Kyuubi as he appeared before them in a flash of fire. "Naruto remove your sword, don't let words get a rise out of you and Sasuke do not provoke him, especially when he is hungry."

Naruto lowered his katana with a glare directed at Sasuke. He stepped back and faced Kyuubi.

"You all have questions that certainly border on the same reason for curiosity. So I will start with explaining why Sasuke and Shikamaru are here." Kyuubi snapped his fingers and draping over his arm appeared a number of gold and red cloaks. Upon a closer look at the cloaks one would see a dark-grey silk inlay, with pockets stitched in the most ergonomic place. The exterior was mostly a deep gold with dark red embroidering.

"I plan on creating an organization with a goal to end Akatsuki or more specifically Madara. An organization that will aid in the prevention of future wars, domestic and national. I, in essence want this group to be the medium that will house the issues countries and groups have with each other. This group will be Chuukaibutsu."

He looked towards Shikamaru, "Shikamaru, you have exceptional tactical skills, you plan things out so quickly and so well that you are capable of fighting on par with Shinobi far beyond your level of skill. I have deduced this over the past few weeks with how you dealt with Naruto's situation, the planning you made with Tsunadai regarding Naruto, and how you got yourself and Sasuke out here without much suspicion. You I want as an asset to this group as the strategist, everything that members learn they will inform you of."

Then he turned his eyes to Sasuke, "Sasuke, your eyes have the potential to surpass your brothers and even Madara's, not to mention that your overall skill is beyond exceptional for your age. I know this because of your recent and rather dramatic battle with Naruto and from previous quandaries Naruto has had with you. I want you as a member because of your potential of being able to fight on the same plane as Madara."

He continued to speak looking at whom ever he mentioned, "Ichirou Namikaze and Itachi Uchiha your unexpected arrival two weeks ago, combined with the fact that Ichirou is now a fox demon like Naruto and myself is a wonderful addition. You both are exceptionally skilled and powerful, although Ichirou is going to need some lessons with how to control his power much like Naruto."

"Pain, you are a possessor of the Rinnigan, the most powerful Dojutsu and blood-line in the world, you are exceptionally close to Madara and he does not suspect you to be a traitor. You are an addition that is critical to knowing what Madara plans and currently the most powerful Shinobi in the world with those eyes."

"Konan, you excel in a unique justu of your own creation, using origami manipulation. You are also very skilled and are brilliant at spying using your manipulation of paper. All together we have eight members, including Naruto and myself."

He then held up the cloaks on his arm, "These are what you will wear when going on a mission that Chuukaibutsu has requested of you. They have the alias that you have chosen embroidered on the back, just above the name of our organization." He then gave one to each of the new members, except for Pain, whom he gave seven to and Naruto and himself did not receive any at all.

"Where is mine?" Naruto asked.

"Back up at the house waiting for you to compose an alias. Now one thing that should be known about these cloaks, I do not plan to direct a group that can crack under pressure from an interrogator so when these cloaks are removed you have no memory of being a member of Chuukaibutsu. A fox will appear to take them when you are finished and when you are needed a fox will appear and offer you the cloak and your memories will return, it is as simple as that. Now everyone except Naruto please travel up the path to mine and Naruto's home." They did as Naruto held his tongue rather impatient and slightly angry that he had been left out of the loop for so long, albeit unconsciously.

Once all the members were out of ear shot, except for Ichirou with his new vulpine ears, Kyuubi spoke, "I have a little bit of news regarding our actions a few weeks ago."

Naruto gave him a look that demanded a clearer answer, "And what is this news. I'm getting tired of having all this information dropped on me at that last moment."

"Well, this is ten months in the making so it's not last minute and it's, again, been caused by the fact that we aren't human."

Naruto continued to give him a demanding glare, "Yeah."

Kyuubi's face began to show signs of anxiety and unease. Oh this can't be good, Naruto thought, as a few ideas ran through his head. Non of which were what had actually taken place.

"In nine and a half months I'm going to bear a child and your the father."