Finding old friends and making new ones

I own nothing save for oc's, all other content goes to respective owners

In the following weeks, Naruto got everything sorted for the army, at least organization wise. The army was split up into legions consisting of 5,000 soldiers each, of varying types, from the lightly armored spear men to the most colossal of the Fire Gargoyles. Now he needed all the officials he would need to help rule all the countries. First, he needed Draco and Kuroi. How he would find Kuroi would be a adventure in its own right, but Draco, he knew exactly where he was.

A beach on the edge of Fire country

The dragon sat on a beach chair, reading a book and wearing sunglasses. Naruto came up to Draco and without even turning his head he knew Naruto was there.

"About time you showed up. This is a new record on how slow your are at finding me." Draco sighed out

"Hey, you try walking a few hundred miles, it isn't easy." Naruto replied

"So, whats the reason you came?" Draco asked

"Are you really that stupid? I'm here for you, come on man, we got countries to unite." Naruto said

"The trial is as far as I can go with your fate. I'm sorry." Draco replied

"Say what?" Naruto asked

"The deities forbid it. I would love to, but not with banning me from my chess board for eternity is a strong enough argument." Draco explained

"What if I got you a new chess board and pieces, better than your old one." Naruto offered

"Better?"

"One that will be crafted of the finest materials, and give the most exhilarating game." Naruto replied

"Well lets hope your carpenters can make it." Draco said

"Some of the people in my army can. Is it a deal?" Naruto asked

"Get it to me by the end of the year and you got a deal. Long live the emperor." Draco jokingly said

In the woods somewhere in Fire country

Kuroi sat up against a tree thinking. Minato died saving the village, but he saw him do it, no one else did. How someone could selflessly kill themselves to save him was unbelievable. He then felt a hand on his shoulder, and instantly got on all fours to transform into his wolf form. When he looked again, its only Naruto.

"Buddy, what the hell? I was just trying to get your attention. I didn't think you would try and kill me over that." Naruto said

"Sorry Naruto, I didn't know it was you." Kuroi solemnly replied

"Look pal, I really need your help." Naruto said

"Why my help, I failed you before?" Kuroi quietly asked

"You didn't fail me." Naruto tried to say more, but Kuroi cut him off

"Do you know how many people died cause I couldn't stop that thing? Because of me, all those people dead, including Minato! I'm no good to you or anyone!" Kuroi exploded

He then sat down next to the tree, and Naruto came over to sit next to him.

"Look, theirs a reason I need you. In three years my heads going to be on a silver platter if you don't. The reason why I need you is the portal is getting out of hand. The only way to find it is to scour the globe. I need you cause your one of the few people I trust." Naruto explained

"Why do you trust me?" Kuroi asked

"Your my friend, why not?" Naruto asked

"What do you need my help with?" Kuroi inquired

"Well part of it has to do with rebuilding Konaha." Naruto answered

"Okay, fine you got me hooked. Its not like you could complete that goal." Kuroi replied sarcastically

Back at Naruto's base

"I am officially eating my own words." Kuroi said amazed at the army Naruto assembled

"What better way to rub it into Xitherions face than purify his own evil army for the exact opposite it was designed for?" Naruto asked

"None officially." Kuroi replied

One of the logistic staff came up to Draco, and handed him a chess board. The dragon had to admit it was pretty ornate, it was made of oak, but decorated with silver edgings and gold dragon symbols on it. The black chess pieces were made of ebony wood, and the white were carved skillfully out of ivory. When Draco set it down to play, the pieces magically set themselves up, and floated about the board over the spaces they were supposed to be. He didn't even need a opponent, the board could move the other set of pieces.

"So, how do you like it?" Naruto asked

"This will keep me occupied for a long time." Draco replied, and instantly found the board a competent player

"So what is my position?" Kuroi asked

"I want you to be my chief adviser." Naruto replied

"WHAT?" Kuroi asked flabbergasted

"You at one point lived in the underworld, and you know more about it than I do. You'll be perfect in helping me not only find it, but preventing massacres like what happened to Konaha." Naruto replied

"So this whole thing is just so you can save your ass, and help people against getting invaded like they did here?" Kuroi asked

"Ya, pretty much, though I never expected any of this." Naruto answered

"How are we going to sway people away from a system of government that they have been under for who knows how long?" Kuroi asked

"Easy, make them feel safe. Everyone's probably scared out of there minds thanks to konaha. Though we are going to need people on the inside of those places." Naruto said

"I've heard of someone who could help build Konaha." Draco said, still not looking away from his chess game

"Who would that be?" Naruto asked

"Long ago, in the Underworld, there was a famous architect named Deivion. He constructed many massive and imposing building, before finally coming to our world. He then was employed by several ambitious rulers to build them fortress's that not even greater demons could break into. He created ten, in which have gotten the nickname 'the ten great holds'. Rumor has it he's retired in a cottage somewhere in Fire country." Draco explained

"Get all available scouts in here now." Naruto ordered, and 24 leather armor wearing soldiers came in, "Alright, I want you all to discreetly scour the entire country, find every cottage and mark everyone you find on your maps. Good luck." Naruto ordered, and they jumped out of sight

30 minutes later: In a distant location of the fire country

One of the scouts didn't find any cottage in his long search. Just when he was about to give up and go back to base, he found one. It was small, probably only one room on the first floor, and on the second maybe a bathroom and a bedroom. He was busy putting it on his map, not noticing someone behind him. The person took out his sword, and sliced off his head., and then left it in a box with a note. The hunter-nin's were on the prowl. It took a while, but another scout found the body, and brought both the box and the map back to Naruto.

Back at the base

The previously mentioned scout came back long after the others. Naruto took the box, and found the severed head and a note.

"Dear Naruto, step out of that fortified shack of yours and you will be hunted down where ever you go. Signed, the hunter-nin. Just my luck, I get them on my tail." Naruto said

"Maybe you should lay low till the heats off." Kuroi suggested

"No, times a commodity that we can't waste, I'm going to the cabin that he was killed then work my way from there." Naruto replied

"Are you mad? Thats where they most likely will strike." Kuroi proclaimed

"Wrong, thats the one they think I'm going to stay away from. So I'll blind side them by going there." Naruto replied

"Just come back alive pal, I don't want to lose a friend." Kuroi said

"Don't worry, I will, besides, if I can survive fighting a greater demon from the depths of the Underworld, I can survive a few Hunter-nin..." Naruto said as he left, though right when he got out, "I hope."

Same cabin: 2.5 hours later

Naruto sighed as he walked to the cabin door. He wrapped a few firm knocks against the wood door.

"Who is it?" A old, crackled voice asked from inside

"Deivion, my name is Naruto Namikaze, I'd like a word with you." Naruto replied

"How do you know my name?" The voice asked again

"I've heard of your work, and I'd like to talk about a few things." Naruto answered, and he heard a sigh

"Very well, come on in." The voice replied, and Naruto opened the door

He walked in, and there were several display cases of blue prints scattered throughout the floor. He saw two seats by a fire and one was filled. He looked about 89, his skin somewhat still smooth, but worn with age. His face looked friendly, high cheek bones, wrinkled cheeks, and seemingly safe green eyes. Most of his hair was gone from his head, save for on the sides.

"I never would have expected someone of your age to look for a old geezer like me." Deivion said

"Well people my age don't have a threat of being excecuted." Naruto replied

"Really? What for?" He asked, curious

"Well, I was trying to save a hidden village, but it got destroyed in the process." Naruto answered

"Well no duh, your just a kid." Deivion

"Okay, your not helping, I need you to help me rebuild Konaha." Naruto said in desperation

The old man looked like he was hit with a ton of bricks. He then sighed and stood up, grabbing the chair to help get up, and then looked at one of the blueprints.

"Do you want to know the reason for my retirement? I love my work, I really do, but when I was tasked to build and design the 'Great' holds, they were my greatest triumph, and biggest failure. It took a decade to complete each, give or take a few years. They are the most magnificent buildings in this world, towering wall, massive towers, extremely ornate and extravigent palaces, for what? The decendents of those rulers that asked me squandered them, corrupted there beauty by using them to safeguard there oppressive regieme's. I swore never again to build anything, in fact this cottage is the last I've built, and now, I cannot bring myself to build again. I'm sorry child, I cannot help you." Deivion said, with Naruto extremely surprised he didn't keel over from how many breaths he used to say all that

"Its not there fault entirely. You know theres a portal coming up from the underworld, thats how you came here. Now its out of control, and those rulers decendents probably got corrupted by new arrivals in some way. Besides, if you rebuild Konaha, I'll get you all the materials you need and a workforce. I will make sure as long as I live it will not be corrupted and make sure your legacy will not be anything other than it should be." Naruto said

"A lot of big talk from someone so small." The builder sighed

'I am making a lot of promises, I know that, but if you help me and I live I will make sure I'll see them through.' Naruto thought to himself desperately

"I'll think about it, you talk a lot of good talk, but in my experience, you can easily fabricate something and not follow through with it." Deivion answered

"Thank you for your time." Naruto said and left

As soon as he left the cabin, Naruto was lifted into the air by something. Now he realized what had happened, one of the hunter-nin's had found him, and now had him by the neck.

"Boss, I we found him." the one that was holding Naruto said

"You gave us quite a night boy. I didn't expect you to come where we killed your crony, but then again someone your size destroying Konaha is suprising enough." The leader said to Naruto

"For Kami's sake, I didn't do it, it was a fire gargoyle under the control of a greater demon." Naruto replied

"That is the biggest load of croc I have ever heard. The excuses they make are getting less and less sympathetic. Well, lets take that head of yours, I hope you didn't need it for something." The boss said, and readied his sword

He was just about to cut Naruto's head off when he was hit by a fireball. The force of it sent him back twenty feet into a tree. When his eyesight finally centered, he saw Deivion, now with a cane with a dragon head on it. He also wore a worker helmet.

"Leave now old man, or else." The leader hunter threatened

"Thats the thing about you hunter-nin's, your all bark and no bite." Deivion replied

"Thats it!" The leader exploded and charged at him at blinding speeds

He was just about to slash him in half when Deivion smacked his cane right into his nose. The force of him moving so fast and him swinging the cane instantly broke the nin's nose. He fell flat on his stomach, and when sliding stopped when his head hit the foundation of the cottage. The nin got up with a nasty headache and extreme pain in his face. He then made several attempts to slash at him, but all were forced to the side by whacks from the cane. Meanwhile the other nin was slowly choking Naruto to death, till Naruto did a mid air roundhouse kick square to the stomach, knocking a bit of wind out him. It gave Naruto enough time to escape his grasp.

"Damn that smarts. Okay kid, time for me to get your head." The other nin responded to getting kicked

Another whack from Deivion's cane knocked the sword out of the hunter-nin's hands, then when he tried to pick it up, he got whacked in the face with the heavy end of the cane. His pain multiplied as it hit him in the nose. As he sorta staggered, he got hit in the head with a fireball from the dragons mouth of the cane. The force and the heat of the fire finally ended the Hunter-nin. The other and Naruto saw this, and were scared.

"So, you want some too?" Deivion asked

"No, I'll not disturb you two. See ya." The other hunter nin replied and bolted

"Thanks. Why did you save me?" Naruto asked

"I thought of what you said, and I hope you keep your promises. Besides... retirement was getting quite boring in my opinion." Deivion answered, and smiled

"Well, want to come back to base?" Naruto asked

"Yes please, I'd like to get started as soon as possible." Deivion happily replied

7 hours later

Naruto helped the senior up the stairs to the base and Deivion's face was filled with joy. With the orgianization of the army, he thought there was bound to be a core of engineers, and there was. 2 legions assembled in front of him, and Naruto desginated him Chief construction advisor, president, and foreman, though that was only on his badge, Naruto shortened the rest to save his lungs. Deivion then like a true construction leader was instantly barking orders to them and they hustled to there new jobs.

"I haven't done this in so long, and how much I missed it. You there, I want quality steel stakes for this, not those slag pieces of crap!" He yelled as he cane walked slowly off

"So, this is just the start?" Kuroi asked

"Yep, this is just the start." Naruto replied, as he smiled as Deivion make the 2 legions lives a new living hell

MHG: Next chapter will be a filler chapter, but one thats primarily fighting, so it should be entertaining. But who am I to judge my own work? Its your job to review it, not me. Have a great day everyone!