A/N: Because my muse is an asshole and some of u guys asked about Kyuubi. So here is a bonus chapter.
It was a declaration of war.
It has to be. What else would it be?
The Raikage stared at the sealed scroll as if it would snap and swallow him whole, body leaning slightly away from the innocent rolled piece of parchment. He then reminded himself that he was the Raikage and it would be unfitting of him to show fear at the unknown like this, hence he immediately squared his shoulders, eyeing the masked ANBU of Konoha in front of him with a suspicious glare.
Cat and Hound.
Or, as stated in the Bingo Book—Tobirama Obito and Hatake Kakashi.
The infamous duo of Konoha's most lethal ANBU combination, each was related to the Nidaime of Konoha.
It was that particular Nidaime that his predecessor has chosen to take captive and tortured right here in the depths of Kumogakure's most secured prison. They tortured the man to the point that would break lesser man—all for the sake of their greed of wanting to properly seal the captured bijuu in a jinchuuriki. Their greed and cruelty were all in vain when said bijuu herself fell in love with the Uchiha Demon, taking a liking on his personality and strength that she took the advantage of Senju Madara's infiltration to unleash her wrath on their lands before claiming the weakened Uchiha Demon as her jinchuuriki.
Uchiha Tobirama was rescued. Kumogakure was left in chaos upon his escape, fearing retribution.
They waited.
They waited and waited.
The retribution never came.
It was like a ticking bomb, a form of mental torture to the leadership of Kumogakure because surely Konoha would retaliate? They all knew about the Reaper, the boy who single-handedly defended Konoha with the wrath of an angry Uchiha who has lost the one that he held dear as he reaped the souls of Kumo-nin in the process. The name of the reaper was never mentioned back then because Tobirama Kagami has shown no mercy to those he deemed as foes.
And that was when they still held the upper-hand of holding Uchiha Tobirama in their captive. Now that the man has returned, Konoha's power has surely increased—
—and Rikudou Sennin forbade, so did the wrath of people who loved the Uchiha Demon so dearly.
The wind blew the stories of the new clan in Konoha, born under the Demon's name and carried the talents of unwanted children that were honed and supervised by Kagami himself. Scouts that managed to return to Kumogakure sent out reports of the improvements Konoha's troops have displayed—their tools, weapons, poisons, medicine and defences have been receiving a massive upgrade—and everything was to be credited to the effort of the new clan that struggled hard to prove their worth to the village.
The new clan ended up as the most valued asset in Konoha. The children of the inventor's clan were behind the R&D of Konoha's military development.
As if to make it worse, Lady Mito finally married Senju Hashirama, uniting the Uzushio and Konoha, thus increasing Konoha's military support.
Then, Konoha announced their new administrative structure.
Senju Hashirama remained as the Shodai Hokage. However, his wife, Uzumaki Mito, was appointed as his loyal Shadow—becoming the Shodai Kage.
For all that was announced to the public, the Kage would be responsible as both advisor and the leader of Konoha's underworld, monitoring the darker world of Shinobi life in the village and would be responsible for the elite squads that would only answer to the Hokage and the Shadow.
Senju Hashirama looked happier ever since the new administrative structure was announced, acting like a heavy burden was taken from his shoulders. His table has considerably less paperwork as his workload was lightened to the point he could spend some time training with the children of his village. Lady Mito's effort in the darkness was shown from the survivors who managed to return to Kumogakure—each carrying tales of horrifying masked squads from Konoha, the elite assassins who were trained with the highest level of medical ninjutsu.
Konoha was getting stronger.
Kumo waited with fearful anticipation of the retribution.
Time passed. The retribution never came.
Senju Madara followed the example of his elder brother's a few years later, tying the knot with the Uchiha Demon himself as Uchiha Tobirama recovered from the torments Kumo had inflicted on him and remained a fearsome legend. Somehow, along the way, those two managed to breed their lineage, uniting the Senju and Uchiha bloodlines through surrogates that subsequently gifted Konoha with its third dojustu.
And to be honest, Kumogakure only has itself to blame for that development.
Tobirama Jiro awakened the legendary rinnegan moments before the Kinkaku Squad managed to pierce the armour of his fathers. The young boy lost it—Uchiha style—slamming down protective rage to the Earth as he stepped between his injured fathers and Kumo's prided elite squad.
That was the end of the First Shinobi War.
They lost. Konoha demanded peace.
In the midst of the peace treaty and negotiations, Kumogakure waited.
The retribution still didn't come.
Either Uchiha Tobirama was an extreme sadist or an insanely forgiving person—both options still tortured the peace of the mind of the citizens of Kumogakure.
When the Uchiha Demon assumed the leadership of Konoha after Senju Hashirama stepped down from the role, Senju Madara has remained loyal by his flank, taking over Lady Mito's role as the Nidaime Kage. Their children were their extension to defend Konoha, forming a formidable squad consisting of four rinnegan wielders that were led by one legendary former Uchiha.
The Nidaime remained in power for another two decades.
It was two decades of complete peace. Not a single blood has ever been shed during the Uchiha Demon's rule.
Then, the Sandaime was appointed.
Kumogakure desperately wished to remain invisible from Konoha's radar.
Unlike his predecessors, the Sandaime Hokage was known for his merciless reputation on the battlefield. They all knew of his stories and was aware of the fact that he was more hard-edged than his predecessors. Oh, he was a kind and gentle-hearted man—yes, that much was true—but when the situation called for it, he was a hot seething fire slamming down a cold wrath upon his foes.
His history of defiance told the world of the way he would rule. This was the man that did not tolerate any nonsense and would not be afraid to make his point.
The Sandaime has turned his back upon his birth clan, openly disowning the fearsome Uchiha Izuna when he was barely a teen of age. A Clan Head at the raw age of seventeen, he led and trained one of the most terrifying clans in Konoha while in the same time holding the rank as one of Konoha's commanders that has reaped the souls of so many talented enemy shinobi that crossed his paths. He led the elite squad consisting of the first rinnegan wielders that were born in Konoha, and enforced his fearsome reputation throughout the whole two decades of his father's rule. The Sandaime was the one that ended the mass eliminations of small clans that scattered all over the shinobi world, strengthening the trust of the smaller villages to Konoha when his commanders—his former teammates, the famed Team Demon—defended the weak without asking for anything in return.
The Raikage was deeply grateful that he listened to his gut to NOT join the allied force of Kirigakure and Iwagakure to eliminate the smaller clans that refused to submit to their allied power.
The survivors of the eliminated clans have scattered all over the Fire Country, but it wasn't long before they knocked upon the gates of Konoha and requested for the warm embrace of the forever-accepting Tobirama Clan.
Look at the last heir of the Yashagoro Clan—the last of the brilliant serpent—and the dying mother of the last heir of the Namikaze Clan. They all sought the safety of the Sandaime's clan.
But of course, the greed of Konoha's enemies never ends.
Kumo simply watched from the sidelines when Iwa tried to challenge Konoha, attempting to sabotage the infamous White Fang's mission. It would have worked. The mission would have been smoothly sabotaged and destroyed Konoha's image as a peaceful nation to the world if not because of the scrutinising eyes of the Sandaime Shadow.
Shimura Danzou noticed the sabotage attempt.
It was an immediate loss for Iwagakure when the Sandaime and his former team themselves that came for the rescue. All six former students of the legendary Nidaime banding together against the arrogant, unprepared troops of Iwa shinobi. The result was expected.
The Second Shinobi War was stopped before it could even become worse.
But the enemies never learnt.
Not a few years after Iwa's humiliating loss, Kiri made their move.
At the sidelines, Kumo collectively facepalmed.
No challenge against Konoha has ever worked before, so why would Kiri even attempt to commence that strategy?
In all seriousness, why?
Konoha already has the Niibi. Why would Kiri practically gift the Sanbi to Konoha?
All that the abducted girl from Konoha needed to do was to escape and ran to her teammates (both were extremely familiar with the Niibi at that!) where the eldest grandson of Tobirama Jiro could teleport them back home to his ancient, yet still powerful great-grandfather.
Sanbi didn't attempt to destroy Konoha when he heard the purring voice of his long-lost sister calming him down.
Uchiha Tobirama fixed the seals on Nohara Rin's body, properly sealing the Sanbi inside her.
Nohara Rin reached out for the disgruntled bijuu inside her, speaking to the bijuu with the kindness that was a resemblance to the Nidaime's gentle kindness as she sought forgiveness from the bijuu. It was her genuine heart that turned the tables. She pleaded for the bijuu's forgiveness, knowing that it was human's fault that the majestic turtle ended up as a pawn piece to their greed when he could've lived peacefully in his ocean, far away from human's interference.
Isobu fell in love with his jinchuuriki.
Matatabi purred in smug understanding.
Konoha gained their second bijuu.
The Raikage resisted his urge to send a scroll with a gigantic red scrawl of 'I TOLD YOU SO' to the Mizukage and Tsuchikage.
Nobody dared to attack Konoha when the Sandaime stepped down.
Tobirama Kagami handed the hat to Namikaze Minato.
Shimura Danzou handed the cloak to Yashagoro Orochimaru.
The new Hokage and his Shadow were appointed and not one enemy of Konoha dared to take advantage of the fragile political situation of the changing ruling power.
They all have learnt their lessons. It seemed that out of the Four Kage of the Elemental Nations, only the Kazekage have the mind that was capable to see the disadvantages of being enemies with Konoha. From the Shodai Kazekage to the Sandaime Kazekage, they all maintained a respectful alliance with Konoha.
Then, Yondaime Kazekage stepped it up even further.
The Shinobi world heard about the misfortune that has befallen the Yondaime Kazekage. The birth of his youngest son was at the same time the old jinchuuriki of Shukaku passed away, hence leaving the man with no choice but to haphazardly seal the rampaging beast inside his youngest child.
They heard how that decision has broken the man.
It wasn't long before the news reached the ancient ears of the Nidaime of Konoha.
A short trip later, little Gaara has his seals fixed, earned a godfather in the Yondaime Hokage and a future master in Nohara Rin while the alliance between Suna and Konoha was stronger than ever. The Yondaime of both villages decided to arrange their sons as playmates, using the children as the bridge of unity between both villages.
Little Naruto was building sandcastles at the very outskirts of Suna with his best friend when the Kyuubi first approached him.
The fox initially came to rant to his sibling, demanding Shukaku what the actual fuck the tanuki was thinking to allow himself being imprisoned again. However, the fox was cut short upon seeing the interaction between the tiny summon-sized Shukaku and his jinchuuriki. Gaara cuddled Shukaku to his chest while Shukaku had his tail wrapped protectively around his jinchuuriki as they indulged in a hushed murmur with each other that made Naruto pouted at them.
Kurama had seen similar interactions between Matatabi and her humans and has caught a peek of the same adoring love between Isobu and his own cherished human. The innocent love that Gaara showed to his grumpy bijuu pulled something within the Kyuubi's heart, reminding the fox of his old memories ages ago where he used to have his own jinchuuriki too.
The interactions of his siblings with their humans reminded him of his good old times with the Rikudou Sennin.
Kyuubi was jealous.
Naruto saw the tiny shift of emotions in the giant fox's eyes. The innocent blonde boy decided that kitsune should not be unhappy and offered the fox some consolations in the form of his stash of candies.
At first, Kyuubi was insulted.
The fox growled at the boy, ignoring the way his heart seemed to melt upon meeting the innocent genuine care in those blue eyes as he bolted away.
But he kept coming back.
His eyes lingered on the blonde boy on the aged Uchiha Demon's lap even when his arrival in Konoha was supposedly to visit Matatabi and Isobu. Matatabi and Isobu's voices faded to buzzed white noise as Kyuubi kept his head over his paws, red eyes fixed on the little boy that clung to Senju Madara's kimono as the old man tended to his garden. He didn't hear the chatters of his summons-sized siblings as his ears tuned into Naruto's laughter that drowned Madara's grumbling. He didn't notice the amused gleam in Uchiha Tobirama's eyes nor did he notice the knowing glance that Matatabi, Isobu and Rin have shared as he tried to stretch his massive head across the yard, being drawn into the presence of the bright ball of sunshine.
The fox huffed and looked away when the boy turned around to direct that bright smile at him.
But when Naruto was distracted in harassing his great-grandfather, Kyuubi would direct that longing looks upon the boy's back again.
Kushina has to sunshin away to the other side of the village, bursting to hysterical laugh at Mikoto's shoulder once she was far away from the disgruntled tsundere bijuu-in-denial.
Kyuubi was never aware of the bets that have been going around between his siblings and some of the humans that have seen the way he looked longingly at Naruto.
Minato and Isobu won that bet.
(They celebrated it with a gleeful high-five.)
It only took six months for the fox bijuu to finally caved to his longing and loneliness before he suddenly appeared at Konoha's gates, grabbed Naruto by the scruff of the boy's collar and demanded the Yondaime Hokage and the Nidaime to seal him inside the precious little human that has stolen his guarded heart.
Naruto was over the moon that he has another thing to relate to his best friend, his favourite nee-chan and his second favourite great-grandfather. The boy happily embraced Kurama as his lifelong bijuu partner.
Konoha gained their third bijuu.
The Shinobi world trembled in terror.
"The Hokage wished to—?"
"We would appreciate your participation in the upcoming Chuunin Exam, Raikage-sama," Cat bowed and after a brief hesitance, he took off his porcelain mask to show the Raikage his assuring smile. "The Hokage would be deeply grateful if you would participate this time."
The Raikage knew that he should have given his response, but he couldn't tear his gaze from the mesmerizing eyes of the Konoha's ANBU. The plain ruby of the left eye was the subject of legends—a horror story passed down throughout generations of Raikage—and true to the stories, even without the tomoe, the ruby of the Uchiha Demon's eye was mesmerizing on its own. There was a vertical scar that marred the left side of the ANBU's face, but the Raikage deemed that it was not as distracting as the inhuman ringed purple of the ANBU's right eye.
This was the Nidaime's great-grandson.
Obito's gentle assuring smile backfired as it sparked fear in the Raikage instead of the peaceful reassurance he intended.
This was the great-grandson of the man that his predecessor has tormented in this very land.
Is this the long-awaited retribution? Damn, Konoha did wait for a long time to drop the bomb on Kumo for taking and torturing one of their founders. It has been an extremely long time…
Which reminded him. How old was the Nidaime again?
The Raikage didn't realise that he has said that out loud.
Obito exchanged a look with his masked partner before a frown graced his handsome features.
"One hundred-something?" the ANBU murmured, tilting his gaze up to the ceiling in a focused thinking look. "I'm pretty sure we celebrated his hundredth's birthday when I was a kid."
"We stopped counting when he reached the hundredth's mark," the Hound huffed. "Like, he is ancient. I don't even know if that is the actual life-expectancy of a shinobi if we're not killed in the battlefield or if that is all—"
Obito tilted his head when Kakashi made an aimless gesture in the air.
"—Tabi?" the scarred ANBU asked, tilting his head contemplatively. "But Izuna-sama and Lady Reiko lived for a long time too. Hashirama-jiichan and Mito-baachan are still around. The only dead people in our family were the ones who were killed," he said with a mournful frown. "Perhaps Tabi might have little influence in this, I think?"
The Raikage tried hard to not flinch. Did they just address the two-tailed like it was a house cat instead of gigantic tailed-beast?
"But Tabi did have a role in their strength," Kakashi argued. "I remembered seeing Izuna-sama with a walking stick near his death while Granduncle could still race me and win."
Yes. They did address the Niibi like it was their housecat.
Konoha, what the actual fuck?
"He can race us anytime now and still wins," Obito frowned, lips curling to a pout.
"True that," Kakashi sighed, now taking off his ANBU mask too to show the defeated annoyance in his expressive eyes. Then, those dark eyes widened, and he shot his partner a mortified look. "Wait, Rin!"
Obito gaped for a few seconds before he winced.
"She is gonna hold that over us, right?"
Kakashi groaned. "I'm not looking forward to the day she would leave us in the dust when we're all old and fragile while she has Sobu-chan to cheat."
And that was the Sanbi, also referred like a mere family pet instead of a terrifying bijuu.
The Raikage hid a shudder.
Konoha is scary.
A/N: Long story short, Konoha is scary.
To be honest, I like to think that shinobi has longer lifespan than civilian if they are not killed. Like, in canon, Sarutobi could still fight in a war when he is in his 70s. To be honest, all of the deaths I remember in Naruto is that of them being killed. I don't remember anyone dying of old age. Thus, I imagine that their lifespan is like wizards in Harry Potter's universe. Dumbledore is in his 150s and is still going strong. Tobirama and Madara are still cool to fight in their 100-ish age, but chose not to because they're done with all the fighting.
BTW, three guesses who will be the Shadow when Naruto become the Hokage?