Operation Kill Everything Redux

by Charlywood

Indefinitely shelved until further notice...

5. The More Things Change

HaruxRan
A.K.A: TwoxHands / Black Naruto

O. K. E

[Operation Kill Everything]

Thoughts/Flashbacks

"Talking"

Altered/Demonic/Summon Speak

Chapter Five: The More Things Change…

He hummed thoughtfully as he continued to investigate the scene although he was sure that he wouldn't find anything else to add to the information he'd been able to decipher thus far. The tall, large built man moved around the scorched land of the forest, the grass telling him that an intense fire style jutsu had been used at some point. However, that had been before the husk of the corpse had been sliced into pieces with the precision and skill of a true blades master; a depraved blades master, but a master of blades nonetheless.

That in and of itself was interesting since it clued him into the fact that Sin Kurokami could be traveling with another party and whoever this person was, he or she was not to be trifled with or underestimated, was more than deadly with a weapon, and most likely took an immense amount of pleasure in destroying their enemies so completely that the corpses could barely be identified. Also, whoever this person that Sin had hooked up with most likely lived in Tanzaku Gai or close to it.

In the back of his mind, where he intended to keep the distressing thought, his keen ninja intellect and experience picked up on the fact that this bloodthirsty Kenjutsu artist was in all likelihood now traveling with the Northerner Sin Kurokami.

The situation, it seemed, had become dire in no time at all. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but the thought of his godson…Minato only born child traveling with Sin Kurokami and this Kenjutsu user unsettled him the more he found out about the situation. Even with the knowledge and comfort that he had one of the most extensive spy networks in the Elemental Nations, there was still no guarantee that Naruto could be found in a timely manner or at all if the Kurokami knew how to avoid being hunted. A hunter knew how to keep themselves from being hunted.

Although he hid it well, Sarutobi was more than a little unsettled about Naruto's wellbeing as well. The responsibility of running a village during his retirement and the pressures of a council that was slowly, but steadily gaining in power because of unfortunate events. There needed to be some positive results and they needed to come soon.

He managed to loosely fit the pieces of one the one bodies together, just without the head; since it was missing and likely taken to be used to collect a bounty. If Sin Kurokami was noted as anything, it was a bounty hunter; although if he remembered correctly he thought the man had only applied his occupation to known missing-nin. This was different…

Despite the fact the body was professionally cut into more than several pieces and the head had been taken on top of that, he could tell from what was left this person had been one of Danzo's Root agents. He'd assumed that the severely melted thing in the corner of the clearing had once been a mask. Another sign that Sarutobi was losing in his power, Root was supposed to have been disband a long time ago.

These ever building variables would not do any favors in finding Naruto any sooner…

There was also a second body present that was thankfully intact, though headless just like the first. The corpse did wear the standard Root Anbu attire as the other but, had been spared the gruesome death of his comrade. Instead, the body was proofed to have been pierced by a multitude of shuriken, and he'd given up counting the wounds somewhere around forty.

What was more was that he was able to figure out that this corpse did not die here but, somewhere else; in all likelihood he'd been killed inside the borders of Tanzaku Gai.

There were some remains of drag marks that hadn't been covered over, as well as three sets of footprints; including the smaller feet of a child that had to be Naruto. Sin and his cohort may have covered the signs of where they left to, but they did nothing to hide the fact that Naruto was with them. It was like Sin was taunting them in a way.

That arrogant, cocky little…

Jiraiya let out a small sigh as he ran a hand through his thick, white mane of hair in thought. He was able to confirm that Danzo had gone after Sin Kurokami after discovering his possible whereabouts and that Naruto was in the man's possession but, his agents had failed…badly. Another thing was that Anbu, even Danzo's Root operated in packs of three or better.

"So then…where is the third member of Danzo's ghost troop?" Jiraiya asked to no one but the surrounding forestry as he pulled out one of his larger pre-made sealing scrolls. The Sannin stood up enough to grab the corpse beneath the arms and lifted it up, pulling as much of the decomposing body of the Root agent as he could over the sealing matrix of the scroll. He began to focus his chakra and easily applied it to the scroll causing a blue light to emit as the lifeless husk was sealed into the scroll as a result. He watched as the seal matrix evolved appropriately to show that there was an item inside of it and rolled the scroll back up tying it off.

"I don't know how the team Sarutobi sent out missed this area. Even though it's been some days, the slight saturation of chakra remaining in this area still stands out." Jiraiya thought with more than a little disappointment as he figured that whoever made up the team didn't care enough about Naruto to see him returned to the village and thus didn't even try to properly search for evidence or clues regarding the Jinchuriki.

Jiraiya bit his thumb and formed the proper sequence of hand seals before placing both hands to the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" After executing the summoning technique, a medium sized cloud of smoke burst into existence and cleared to reveal a nameless courier toad.

Hai, Jiraiya-sama; how can I assist? The toad inquired upon recognizing the white haired ninja.

"Easy, take this scroll to Konoha. Deliver directly into the hands of the Hokage and no one else." Jiraiya added emphasis to last words of his statement as he finished scribing a quick note detailing what was in the scroll and his thoughts about the item therein. He then held the scroll out to be taken up by the toad's tongue, which wrapped around it, and pulled it safely into its gullet to transport.

I understand, Jiraiya-sama. It will be done. The nameless toad saluted with a webbed hand and disappeared in a cloud of smoke just as it had appeared.

Jiraiya hoped that the bit of foreign chakra he'd sensed on the body would provide a clue that the old man could work with. Other than that, he didn't have the time for this, and he'd get his spies to work on gathering any information they could; he had better things he could be doing.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya couldn't help grinning to himself as he hefted the toad summoning scroll to its place on his back as he proceeded out of the forest. "One thing's for certain…I know Danzo is going to be pissed when he finds out." The old Sannin laughed in a silly manner to himself. He never liked that man, so any slight against him and his schemes brought the hermit some measure of joy.

+ + + Konoha - Afternoon – Unknown Location + + +

Danzo didn't feel a compulsion to sneeze due to someone unknowingly speaking or thinking about him at that moment. At the moment he only felt the compulsion to hurt, if not outright kill one of his shadow operatives; especially the one before him. He decided that he cared little if it was considered in bad taste to kill the messenger.

Danzo didn't humor frivolous idioms, especially idioms that were considered stereotype; even by his long lived standards.

Perhaps, maybe, if this shadow operation had not ended in another failure which was now becoming a long list of failure ops that was plaguing his current season of the Root Administration. Despite what many around Konoha would believe, he wasn't as cold hearted as those that knew of his existence.

So he didn't get those unique Tenchogan eyes or the Kurokami at all, so his operatives hadn't been efficient enough to retrieve the Yondaime's legacy; he could deal with that as opportunity in those respective regards would come along more than once. What he could not deal with was the fact that the team of specialists he sent out to handle this mission had not only failed…he'd lost the former Hyuga Queen that had been under his control as well!

He didn't like it and he was sure Hiashi Hyuga wouldn't like it either. The biggest worry would be if Hitomi returned and the Hokage became aware of it, but there was nothing he could do about it until that bridge had to be crossed.

Danzo internally seethed. He and Orochimaru had worked in tandem for many years before he managed to escape the village. The event was something that truly couldn't be helped, as his cooperating with the Snake Sannin had nearly been uncovered as well. He was certainly knowledgeable in his own right, but his sealing knowledge was both limited and specialized.

The seal that would have allowed him to control those with bloodline limits while not sacrificing their abilities and mental faculties hadn't made it passed the planning stage. It was in this aspect that Danzo had come to appreciate that Orochimaru was a great scientist in a way that Tsunade was considered the greatest medic or that Jiraiya was considered a Fuinjutsu master of the Elemental Nations.

Despite that, the crippled leader of the Root organization appeared the very definition of calm. Just as any other time his operatives failed him, he knew that he would eventually get to tie up loose ends from this, but for now he'd have to cover his tracks and cut his losses.

Danzo focused his single eye back to the bearer of this unfortunate news. "What else were you able to confirm?" He inquired of the blank masked operative whose mask was oddly shape, but far from resembling the animal themes that usual ANBU used.

The operative who knelt before the old war hawk seemed to relax when it no longer seemed he would be violently struck down by his leader.

"Well, that's the odd thing sir," he began; catching Danzo's attention although looking at him one couldn't tell it. "Jiraiya of the Sannin was investigating the scene where Hitomi's partners were killed. I was unable to investigate afterwards since he cleaned the scene after but, the men that the Hokage sent didn't even investigate it."

Danzo only stared at the operative, "Of course they didn't, now tell me something I don't know."

The Root agent remained kneeling as he continued with his report. "Jiraiya said that Kinoto may have been killed by a Kenjutsu Master and he also did not die where he was found. There were rumors of a fight taking place within Tanzaku Gai, originating from the only ninja supply shop there; a place called 'The Traphouse'. The owner is a Saeko Busujima and it is likely that she struck him down; this is who Sin Kurokami is likely working with."

Danzo blinked his lone eye in fascination of the news as his mind was already working on how to follow up on this situation. He made a mental note to have the place looked at.

"Terai's body was damaged beyond repair. It's likely that both Saeko Busujima and Sin Kurokami killed him in collaboration as his body was sliced into many parts and severely burned by a fire element jutsu; his head was also taken. Sin Kurokami is known as a bounty hunter; therefore it is likely he took his head in for possible payment." The Root operative announced much to Danzo's inner delight.

'Good,' Danzo thought. 'If that's true and he wanted to turn over the head immediately they would have to go to the Bounty Station skirting the borders of Fire Country. They might be close.'

"Also, Jiraiya sealed Kinoto's corpse. It is likely that he may have it examined for any information the body could provide. He's also suspecting that there was a third member to the team that was sent on the mission."

"No concern, I doubt that they will find anything of use linking him to us. I doubt they will find anything useful at all for that matter…" Danzo trailed thoughtfully, already deeply considering his next move. "Anything else?"

"Hai, Jiraiya sent the scroll containing Terai's body with a note via toad summon to the Hokage; it is likely that he will soon know."

Danzo tried, but failed to hold back his sigh. 'Back to the drawing board it seems…I've got time.'

+ + + Uchiha District - Konoha + + +

Kushina was speechless as she sat with Mikoto and Izanagi Uchiha in a large, ruined room that had served as the council chamber for the Uchiha clan head and its council that had formerly been made of the clan's elders, as well as those of royal Uchiha lineage. Resting on the square table before her were several dust covered scrolls, all rolled open; their words mocking her thoughts.

Mikoto sat beside her best-friend quietly as she allowed the red head to digest the tale she had just provided while Izanagi also sat nearby, having not had much reason to speak since the two began to engage in conversation.

Izanagi felt nearly as surprised as Kushina did, with the exception that the grim tale had happened to her and not to him. Truly, the clan had fallen if Fugaku, the elders, and Shisui allowed themselves to take part in such a petty ordeal in such a cruel way. They had no right…that mess was between the Yondaime and Kushina-san was their business. Izanagi thought to himself, not understanding why they had done this for a little extra leverage in the village.

However, it was the actions of Sandaime Sarutobi that had really thrown him for a loop. The Uchiha never would have figured the grandfather-like Sandaime to be so…corruptly involved with actions concerning Konoha as well as Whirlpool.

Before he could fall further into his thoughts, he was addressed. "Izanagi-kun," Shisui's blood cousin looked up to see Mikoto looking at him.

"Yeah?" He inquired in a clipped manner that wasn't quite like him but, Mikoto ignored it for right now.

"How about getting a glass of water for Kushina-chan?" She asked while Izanagi noticed that Kushina still hadn't said anything and was staring off into space with dulled eyes.

"Sure." Izanagi swiftly turned around, his open robe flaring out behind him with the movement as he exited the large room to retrieve some water for the Uzumaki, closing the door behind him to go about the simple task. Walking the hallways he reflected over the last hour of conversation that he had been witness to; it was tragic but, if Kushina was as resilient as Mikoto made her out to be then she would come to terms fairly quickly.

Kushina wasn't forced to wait for answers after being reunited with her girlfriend as Mikoto decided to be straightforward. She dove right in by telling the red head what was going on with her memory, why, and for how long. It turned out to be nearly ten years of misguided persecution.

Kushina was reminded about her relationship with Minato; that much the Uzumaki woman remembered, but not much beyond that. Mikoto went on to tell Kushina about how she had broken off her engagement with Minato six months prior to their wedding date and after also telling Kushina about how she had ended all relations to the Yondaime, which the red head faintly remembered. Mikoto had firsthand knowledge of that time due to the fact that her friend had forced her way into the Uchiha District in tears to talk to her about it.

That led to Mikoto unsealing the scrolls from a storage seal tattooed on the underside of her upper arm made to appear like the Uchiha crest. The Uchiha matriarch continued to explain that Kushina had brought her the scrolls...scrolls which told the tale of Konoha's betrayal of Uzushiogakure involving the council, Sandaime Sarutobi, and much later, his future successor Minato Namikaze. It was the last time they had spoken.

The scrolls told a lot. The fact that Konoha had intercepted intel of the massacre to come to Uzushio two months ahead of time and purposely did nothing. The motivation or hope was to have Uzumaki refugees relocated to Konoha and bring Uzumaki Fuinjutsu to Konoha; strengthening the village. However, they severely overestimated the prowess of Uzushiogakure's Uzumaki and their minor clans to survive the combined might of three countries.

Despite their mutual benefit, Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki's marriage remained one of contractual obligation and survival. Mito had refused to reveal Uzumaki Fuinjutsu to him or anyone aligned to Konoha. Kushina remembered her grandmother warning her of Konoha's schemes and trespasses against their family when she was younger but, she hadn't understood at the time; Mito had spoken of it far too cryptically and she was more trusting back then.

The information in the scrolls came directly from the Brotherhood of the Hokage, the Journal of the Fire Shadows; a diary containing entries of thoughts, feelings, plans, and dreams by all of Konoha's Hokage to date. It was likely that Sarutobi was still making entries after taking up the mantle in place of a Fifth Hokage.

They told of Hashirama's failure involving the Uzumaki, as well as Sarutobi taking up his predecessor's ambition. Later entries would speak of Sarutobi's own conspiring failures involving the Uzumaki and his passing the task onto Jiraiya's student, Minato. An abbreviation was written that explained Minato's willingness to continue the effort as reason for Sarutobi making him the Yondaime Hokage. A side note gave reason why Orochimaru had been looked over and it wasn't because of his experiments; one reason being because he would not have been as easy to control.

It wasn't false that Minato was a good Academy student and a competent ninja. He'd been skilled enough on his own to become a Jonin even outdoing certain ANBU, but even having invented the Rasengan, learning Fuinjutsu and Summoning from Jiraiya; he was still far from Kage level influence.

Before that…when Sarutobi discovered his interest in Kushina, the last Uzumaki in Konoha while both were in the Academy; the third began to groom Minato while Jiraiya helped endear Kushina to him. Sarutobi staged Kushina's kidnapping by the hands of Cloud-nin and positioned Minato to rescue her. Minato never noticed the red hair she left behind as a trail until after the fact, he found her because he knew where the Kumo ninja would rendezvous. This event would endear Kushina to Minato and would be marked as a mission success.

When the time neared for Minato to take on a Genin team that would contain an Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake in a few year's time, Sarutobi opened the Forbidden Scroll and introduced Minato to the Second Hokage's most coveted and destructive technique besides the Edo Tensei…the Hiraishin no Jutsu, just as Konoha was steadily being pulled into the war against Iwagakure.

Not even Orochimaru knew that the Second Hokage had invented the Hiraishin and Minato was credited with its creation. All that and more had been in the scrolls, but Kushina found that only bits and pieces would come to back to her on its own…Mikoto had a feeling why that was the case.

You broke it off with Minato when you gathered all this evidence and began to see through him and the actions of the village; you left him, however you discovered you had become pregnant a few months prior. Izanagi remembered Mikoto telling Kushina as he pulled a cold pitcher of water from the fridge and went for a glass in a nearby cabinet.

You got a separate home afterwards but, when you went back to him later on I knew something was foul. However, I had no proof. You were closely watched; Sarutobi and his wife wouldn't let me know about you. The Yondaime, made a deal with Fugaku to give the Uchiha more power within the village for his making sure you remained compliant. They had Shisui Uchiha place a Genjutsu on you. When I killed him, the Genjutsu must have lifted.

I'm not sure where you were or what you were doing from the time Minato died until now; besides his taking your son and placing him in the orphanage…but, my suspicion is that he may have had you doing the village's dirty work.

Izanagi felt a chill run the course of his spine as he thought about it, but it was replaced by a flash of heat. He felt angry for the Uzumaki woman and her son; who he knew had strayed out of the village recently. No village should conspire against its own people and doing so with allies wasn't uncommon, Uzushio had been a small but powerful hidden village in its time. Konoha had obviously felt threatened with the other villages.

He was stressed by the actions that took place during the massacre, but at least Mikoto had their dealings in it well planned out ahead of time and now they remained to rebuild the clan because of its success.

However, he didn't know that his cousin Shisui had willingly become Fugaku's personal 'Fuck Boy', as he liked to call blind followers of others. He always figured his cousin to be one of the few open-minded clansmen…like Itachi or Naori. How wrong he had been…

At least Itachi had an excuse; Fugaku had Itachi shoulder stresses that not even the clan as a whole could carry together. Izanagi knew his second cousin must have figured his open-minded, opportunistic, and revolutionary thoughts and opinions would be pointless to voice since they wouldn't be considered by his uncle or the elders.

Itachi had been the most aware of them all, and Naori was a close second. Shisui didn't matter since he'd allowed himself to be controlled by the narrative. It had been too late though, Fugaku's actions made Itachi into a pessimistic weapon…left only to see the worst of the world.

"Itachi…you could have come to me, I would have listened, and helped. I bet he considered me too young to comprehend or maybe he just stopped trusting others entirely, but shit didn't have to happen like this; if anyone deserves to be here for the rebirth of the clan it was him. Please believe, I won't allow shit like this to repeat itself…" Izanagi muttered in frustration to himself as he walked the halls back to the council chamber.

Neither woman turned their attention over to Izanagi, their conversation taking another serious turn during his absence from the meeting chamber. He set his gaze on Kushina as he approached the table with a relaxed gait. As he neared the woman, Izanagi could feel his heart rate pick up in response to Kushina's troubled aura due to her stress. Combining his own concern with recent events of the Uchiha, just thinking about the recovery process felt tiresome; however…it was all worth it in his mind.

"Here Kushina-san, take a drink of water, take your time; we got your back." Izanagi stated with strong, reassuring words as she looked up to him and he passed the glass into her hand. He even ghosted a comforting smile to the woman as he did. He couldn't feel her stress or emotions on the personal level that she did, but he could feel it nonetheless and he was finding himself feeling rather deeply about it. It was a bit odd for him as he rarely had strong feelings over situations or others that didn't directly involve him but, something in Kushina's expressive eyes the first time he saw the pain in them made him feel connected to her for a reason he'd yet to understand.

Mikoto shifted her gaze to the younger Uchiha as he tried comforting Kushina and she was glad she allowed him to stay. She was Kushina's best friend and didn't want to risk seeming insensitive or inconsiderate, having Izanagi present was a great comfort since he was on the outside of their familiarity, and serving as support was something the young man did well.

Kushina managed a light smile at Izanagi's consideration before taking a drink of the cold water and pausing in a moment of thought.

Kushina's thin eyebrows furrowed as she took another drink of the refreshing liquid, a faintness of the fire that Mikoto used to see in her eyes flashed through her violet hues fleetingly as she remembered something else. "Not…Naruto," her frown deepened as she revealed an unknown fact. "Bastard changed his name…his name was meant to be Kazuki Uzumaki after Whirlpool's founder, not Naruto after Jiraiya's damned book." She recalled with obvious distaste.

Mikoto and Izanagi had the decency to look surprised.

"Kazuki?" Mikoto quietly parroted.

"The Yondaime Hokage renamed your boy…" Izanagi said with a disappointed sigh. The more he found out, the more his love for Konoha dwindled. It was a much grim foundation Konoha was built upon than what he originally thought.

Kushina placed the empty glass down on the table by those damnable scrolls. "My boy was taken from me when the fool sealed Kyubi inside Kazuki. It has been ten years since all this? What happened to my boy, what's happening with him?" The red head asked next, noticing the slightly haunted expression in both the Uchiha's features.

Both Uchiha remained silent. Izanagi didn't figure it his place to say, especially with all that had been revealed, and Mikoto had to take a moment to think about how she was going to explain.

"How bad is it?" Kushina asked through a sigh and apprehensive eyes.

+ + + Konohagakure Outskirts – Miscellaneous Storage Shed – Later That Night + + +

"Here we are." Hitomi said.

"Huh…" Sin glanced around the small forest clearing which was just like any other. The only exception was the existence of a small tool shed at the edge of the clearing.

"That's pretty clever." Saeko admitted as she followed Hitomi to the entrance of the shed.

Naruto looked up at the shed with some skepticism as he followed the others. He'd seen it before because he liked to come out around this section of forest when he could manage to get away from the village because it was very quiet and secluded off the beaten path. "I know we're not all going to be staying inside of this shed." He commented.

"Yes and no, Naruto…you'll see." Hitomi opened the door to the shed and allowed everyone inside before closing the door behind them.

Inside was about what one would expect of the inside of a shed. Constructed entirely of wood, the walls were decorated with many tools that a 'tool' shed would hold. There were shovels, hoes, fertilizer, seeding, bags of weed eater, buckets, gloves, and other tools in the corners of the shed.

"So many options for makeshift weapons and explosives," Saeko spoke thoughtfully after the others took a brief glance around. Sin just shook his head at how the swordswoman was; being well trained in the art of making anything into a weapon.

Naruto glanced around briefly, but focused on Hitomi as the woman proceeded to take hold of a claw shaped tool hanging on the wall. She gave it a pull and to Naruto's surprise it didn't detach from its hook when grabbed.

A clicking sound resonated, gaining everyone's attention as a panel in the corner of the shed activated and slid open to reveal a trap door that led down into darkness.

"Is that what I think it is?" Sin muttered in question, speaking to himself more than Hitomi as he gazed into the dank hidden portal.

"This will take us down…into the quarantined tunnels I mentioned…before," Hitomi turned to face the others. "As I said…Hokage and ANBU have all but forgotten…about these passageways. Also…this area we're to stay in is…special."

"Special?" Naruto repeated absently followed by a curious look, watching with Sin and Saeko as the Hyuga descended into the darkness quietly, ignoring their curious glances.

Saeko glanced at Sin but, he just shook his head at the lingering question in her eyes. If it was important then Hitomi would inform them, his body language expressed to her. "You're up." Sin's firm words brought Saeko out of her brief stupor as she looked at the hidden passage again.

She flinched but went forward. "Yeah, yeah." And with a sigh, she leapt down through the opening forgoing proper use of the ladder. Despite the drop and lack of light she landed on her feet with the grace of a feline with her clothing fluttering around her. "Waiting on you!" She called while stepping back without missing how her voice bounced off the walls and echoed through the tunnel system.

Sin motioned Naruto forward with a silent hand motion and he followed the young blonde as they both stepped down the ladder into the dim tunnel one after the other. Once Sin's feet met the hard floor he heard the panel slide back into place overhead as if knowing there were none others. The residual light that poured in from the shed's windows above was cut off, dimming their surroundings even more. Hitomi gave a nod before turning as she flared her chakra a bit and the area was lit by torches that lined the tunnel walls with flame.

The stoic Hyuga proceeded to lead everyone through the corridors in silence as the other three followed just as quietly. After a while the Hyuga decided to continue with her explanation now that they could breathe and take their time. The first part of their plan to find shelter and discreet passage into Konoha was accomplished and things would only get harder from here.

Hitomi kept her gaze forward, expression unreadable as Sin fell in step beside her as they passed by a few door-less rooms that were empty and void of any items and decoration. They were all concrete and relatively square with grey walls. As she led them, Hitomi was able to feel the man's eyes glancing her way on and off again. Sin knew the woman could be serious and unreadable; she mostly had been since they met. Added to that was the fact she was a Hyuga and it was in her blood to be all but stoic and serious, but she seemed even more so now than before; especially considering how she had asked for their express help in recovering her daughter.

Hitomi, knowing why he was looking at her in such a way, decided to get on with it. "Konoha has a vast array of underground tunnels," she began, effectively bringing everyone's attention back to her person. "They were once used for travel out of the village for shinobi to get in and out of Konoha quickly on missions of the most importance. Some were used in contingency plans should the village ever be attacked for the protection of civilians. However, the tunnel system was eventually deemed obsolete…and forgotten. Danzo has a separate underground area as a base of ops for his Root and ANBU has their own dedicated area beneath the Hokage Tower, all separate from the tunneling we're in." No one said a thing, so she continued.

"There were events of a disturbing and tragic nature within this underground some years ago." She spoke after a moment as the group patiently trekked deeper and deeper through the tunnel system, her words gathering everyone's attention once more.

"It was here that Orochimaru was discovered performing genetic experiments on Konoha residents...mostly children in an asinine attempt to create and recreate kekkai-genkai. All his experiments were sadistic and cruel in nature as...all his test...subjects died painfully from his detestable methods. He had been doing so for several years and it took so long to notice the disappearances because he used orphans mostly or people that wouldn't be missed; like civilian vagrants and drifters, tourists, and most anyone who was single without a family or loved ones. That's why I say its 'special', as these tunnels are left forgotten as if they're cursed." Hitomi held an expression of stoic disgust though no one could tell as the dim lighting hid most of her features.

"He sounds a little touched in the head." Meanwhile Naruto was heard from the rear of the group gasping as Saeko was heard speaking the words with disgust in a tone that likely matched Hitomi's facial expression at the time. Hitomi found reason to nod, agreeing with Saeko's assessment.

"Least we won't have to deal with any unwanted visitors," Sin sighed knowing of Orochimaru's reputation. He came to hear a good bit about Orochimaru's exploits through his contacts in the Elemental Nations and he would agree with Saeko that he was one deranged individual. Despite the tainted reputation, that man was considered one of the best scientists in the Elemental Nations; though a mad one. He was also considered the foremost expert on ninjutsu. However, the man's methods left much to be desired. Motivated as he was by immortality and gaining knowledge of every jutsu in existence.

Sin internally snorted at the thought since he believed it was nothing more than a pipe dream, a foolish man's foolish pipe dream. Truly pathetic, too bad I wasn't strong enough. He supposed…Talk about reaching for the sky, though...I just feel bad for anyone who ends up with their lives in his hands; like those of his village.

"Indeed." Hitomi responded simply as everyone nodded in agreement. Naruto was a little bothered by the Hyuga woman's true tale and shivered, suddenly feeling like the spirits of the lost lives were with him. He noticed, offhandedly, that Kyubi was relatively silent and had been since leaving the bounty station on Konoha's border where Sin had turned in a Root's head for some 'quick cash', as the man had put it.

"Anyway, I figure that we do some remedial planning before turning in for the evening and set a timetable to make this thing a success." The Genjutsu user suggested as Hitomi led them around a corner into another lengthy corridor with open rooms.

"We can use an area to sleep and eat in…as well as one of the larger rooms for training Naruto. The tunnels were conveniently…constructed so chakra signatures couldn't be tracked from outside them, but we should still keep things to a…minimum. The torches will remain lit and a small chakra flare will turn them off and on." She explained in her usual neutral, methodical way.

She then addressed Sin's statement. "You've decided to enter Konoha then..." She inquired in a way that wasn't really a question at all.

Saeko furrowed her eyebrows below her purple bangs at that. Yes, she had been over the rough draft of the anti-rescue mission plan with Sin, but she still hadn't thought that he would go in to Konoha himself.

"Aye, no choice. We can do this quicker that way." Hitomi shook her head causing her dark hair to sway additionally. That much was true and no plan was entirely without risk. This one was just high risk, high reward.

"Very well," Hitomi barely kept from yawning. "I'm going to…get some rest. I'm feeling weary from the hasty travel." The Hyuga woman proceeded a little further down the corridor and entered one of the rooms to get her desired rest in.

"I'll join you." Saeko did yawn, but before she joined her in sweet bliss, the violet haired swords mistress turned to Sin. "What about you, Sin-kun?"

"Well," he scratched at his cheek. "If Naruto isn't too tired I was planning to continue with training before deciding to turn in." He looked down to the ten year old and noticed he seemed excited by the prospect. "How 'bout it, Naruto?" He asked although he knew the answer.

"I'm in-ttebayo!" He answered while nodding feverishly.

Both young adults laughed at the blonde's enthusiasm. "We'll try not to wake you two up, oya?" Saeko smirked at Sin's speech and nodded her understanding.

"Am I correct to assume we'll work out the kinks about the plan some more?" She inquired, beginning to undo her blade strap from around her waist, her thigh showing through the slit of her ankle length skirt. She was very ready to simply close her eyes and regain some of her energy.

"Oya oya," Sin retorted while removing two of the smaller scrolls from his right pant leg and tossed them to her. "Bed rolls. You'll get no sleep lying on pure concrete." He smirked.

Saeko caught both scrolls with an appreciative nod as she finished removing the sword harness from her tapered waist and followed where Hitomi had gone. Knowing that Sin was watching her 'wiggle' with every step, she accentuated the sway of her hips as she sauntered into the room with Hitomi.

"Fucking cock tease," Sin growled, though he knew Naruto probably heard. The gaki had sensitive hearing, for all the good it did him.

"I should just…go in there and…" He trailed, but laughed it off. He'd never truly plan to rape a woman let alone go through with the act. Saeko just liked to play games with their closeness and it was a losing match for the Kurokami.

"Welp!" Sin looked down to a more than interested Naruto. "You're almost through the basic stances and maneuvers Naruto! If we're fortunate we can start on advanced stuff, continue your studies, and...Well I'll see what else we can work in. This room over here will be perfect to train. Let's get to it, shall we?" Sin winked at the whiskered blonde with a grin.

Naruto's eyes lit up with a determined flame as he gave a stiff nod. "I'm ready sensei," He saluted.

Naruto and Sin stood across from each other in another empty space provided within the tunnels. Sin was dressed in his usual attire while Naruto had changed into some training clothes provided by his master. A pair of shorts, a sleeveless shirt, black leggings for support with the same support style material around his wrists and forearms, and was completed by a pair of black shinobi shoes similar to those that Sin himself wore.

"This will be a normal spar, use what you must to defeat my clone. The spar we used before arriving here was of Genin level, you defeated it…so, this go around I will create a low-Chunin level clone. Show me your progress."

"Hai shishou!" Naruto responded firmly, inwardly grinning because he had a few new tricks up his sleeves that Sin was unaware of; which very well may give him an advantage to defeat his clone.

"Shadow clone jutsu," Sin muttered without using a hand sign and an exact copy of him shimmered into view like glitter, rather than with the customary puff of smoke. It was known to the group that Hitomi had showed Sin the Shadow Clone jutsu, the woman shocked that he hadn't known it. He learned and adapted to it quickly due to the fact that it was pure manipulation of chakra. Sin's best skill besides genjutsu and shurikenjutsu was chakra manipulation at its purest form, leaving him able to quickly use it without hand-signs, and close to removing the customary smoke that accompanied it.

Sin stood off to the side as he slipped a scroll from one of the holsters along his pant leg and unraveled it to its last entry mark to continue noting stats on Naruto's training in number form. "You may begin." He said calmly.

Clone Sin took up the stance of his new Jyuken mixed taijutsu style leaving the man in a crouch with his right arm stretched out behind him and a flat palm, while his left arm stretched out before him and palm flat but angled downward.

Naruto mirrored this stance, but everything was reversed.

Naruto and clone slowly approached one another in creeping, sliding motion; their feet barely leaving the ground as they closed in and circled each other.

"Ha!" Naruto acted first, bringing his support foot forward, and winding his striking arm back before bringing it forward in a palm thrust aimed at the groin. The clone avoided it with a spin before facing Naruto again while hopping to switch his stance from dominant to weak in a feint.

Naruto didn't bite as the clone switched his stance. The clone lashed out as it stepped forward and struck Naruto's face with the back of his fist making the jinchuriki take a step back. The clone scooted forward quickly, going for the same strike, but Naruto ducked under it and grabbed his forearm.

The jinchuriki leapt up using the clone's arm as leverage and brought his leg up to kick the clone in the face. However, the clone saw it coming and easily grabbed Naruto's smaller leg to turn him upside down. Naruto used the momentum of being turned upside down to propel him enough that he could throw his palm, charged with chakra into the clone's gut making him grunt.

The result saw Naruto freed and he flipped himself over to land on his feet in a crouch, quickly sliding forward the jinchuriki was fast enough to throw his forearm into the clone's stomach. He followed up with a knife handed strike which was blocked as the clone grabbed his wrist to stop it, but Naruto brought his left hand forward and palm thrust the clone in the same area as his first hit.

The clone stepped back, looking at Naruto with appraising eyes. "Very good, Naruto. You have improvised well and are able to think on your feet. I'm glad you ain't let our size differences bother you. Now, let us continue!"

The real Sin smirked at his clone as he wrote on the scroll without looking, watching how it attacked with increased speed and strength. 'Good, let's see how he adjusts now…'

Naruto the cloned Sin whirled and danced around each other, both trading and avoiding strikes with sidesteps, spins, and dance like maneuvers involving foot techniques of alternating feet positions.

The clone hopped lightly on both feet, shifting his head this way and that to trick Naruto into thinking where and how he would come at him, his body swaying as if in a dance as he avoided another palm thrust and the fist that followed it.

Meanwhile, exertion was showing on Naruto's visage as he found it harder to pin the clone down and taking a hit almost every time he tried and missed. Naruto back flipped away as the clone lashed out with a reverse spinning crescent kick that would have had the jinchuriki eating the heel of his foot.

While in mid-flip, Naruto unleashed five shuriken at the clone, all of which the clone swayed to avoid. "Grrr!" Naruto sounded determined and frustrated as he landed, but continued forward; darting at him on all fours. As he got close, he threw himself into a roll and went between the clone's legs to avoid being kicked.

Naruto bounced to his feet and kicked at the back of the clone's knee, making him fall into a kneel. At the same time, the blonde grabbed one of the shuriken that had stuck into the hard floor nearby while jumping up and aiming to stab the object into the clone's head.

Clone Sin leaned backward aerobically and stopped Naruto's arm at the wrist by crossing his forearms over himself, leaving the two in a brief stalemate. Naruto, knowing he wasn't going to overpower him even with chakra started to slide back, but the clone leaned back and went into a handstand while twisting his lower half in a half-rotation, kicking out with his right leg to strike Naruto in the chest before quickly doing so with his left.

Naruto was thrown back, rolling across the ground until he forced himself to stand. The clone flipped himself off his hands onto his feet and began shuffling toward his opponent while using the same swaying dance like movements.

The two engaged again.

Naruto ran at Sin full speed and jumped up to dropkick Sin's clone with both feet, but the clone just grinned, and Naruto went right through his body just as the Root agent's windmill shuriken had.

Sin's clone stomped down on the ground and pivoted around on the same foot, using his free leg to sweep up in a diagonal up angle, however he missed grandly as Naruto wasn't there.

Meanwhile, the real Sin stood speechless off to the side. 'When did he..?' The sensei trailed off in question, holding his scroll and pencil down at his sides.

Before the clone could figure it out, Naruto rose up from the ground behind him quickly striking the back of his knees, and once more forcing it to kneel. Naruto then proceeded to deliver a quick volley of chakra infused palm thrusts to the clone's body while using the same dance like foot maneuvers that the clone had used previously. While this would mess with the chakra flowing through it, slowing it down, and messing with its ability to mold chakra and use any jutsu; it wasn't enough to dispel it.

Naruto ended up behind the clone again and clamped his hands over the clone's ears with his palms flat and began forcing chakra into the clone.

The clone began to involuntarily spasm as it was quickly and thoroughly overloaded with foreign chakra. The Tenchogan in its eyes disappeared until they were purely white and rolled up into the back of its head…where it finally dispelled.

'Wha…ohh,' Sin shivered as the memories came back to him. The man found it to be entirely unpleasant.

"Well now…how's that?!" Naruto called out with a smug grin as he walked over to his sensei after gathering his shuriken. He folded his arms over his chest, waiting to be appraised.

Sin cleared his throat and closed his mouth, shaking off the surprise. "Well, I…who taught you that, Naruto?" He inquired, unable to critique his student until he got his answer.

Naruto chuckled conspiratorially. "Hehe, Hitomi-san taught it to me before we got here. She woke me up in the middle of the night one evening and said that it would be good for me to know a support or defensive jutsu. She's an earth affinity, but she said it would be simple for me to learn…she said it's called, Iwagakure-no jutsu. Surprised?"

"Hell yeah, I'm surprised." He couldn't believe that had happened, but he also wouldn't be mad with Hitomi for teaching Naruto the technique. He did wonder why she had done so though.

"Well…" He brought the scroll up and scribbled a few more things down, silently impressed with what he was seeing. "You're taking to the taijutsu styles well, although you did leave openings and had wasted movements at times, but you're still starting out so it's to be expected. Although…we might have to go to the clubs at some point and get you learning how to dance, just because you can copy the movements doesn't mean it didn't look good," he teased.

"Moh, sensei…" Naruto pouted while uncrossing his arms.

"I also see you're applying my chakra manipulation skills as well, but you're wasting a lot…and I emphasis 'a lot', of chakra…still, you're a beginner. I'm really impressed with how you think on your feet and can improvise. Improvising, I believe, can't really be taught and you're a natural at it." Naruto beamed at hearing more positives.

"Also, your aim with thrown weapons is getting better. All in all, I'm pleased with what I've seen tonight. So…not bad…my student." Sin grinned easily.

"Haha, thanks. I'll take it!" Naruto bowed to Sin and Sin bowed to Naruto in return

"So…" Sin folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall. "You really learned that submerged earth jutsu overnight?"

"Hai shishou…you're not mad that Hitomi taught me the jutsu, are you?" The jinchuriki inquired carefully, remembering how the Hyuga woman had mentioned that it could be a problem.

Sin shook his head, but he sighed. "Nah, I ain't mad…but, I do wish she had asked my blessing." He frowned lightly then. "It could be seen as disrespect."

"Oh…" Naruto lowered his head.

Sin tsk'd when he saw the look on Naruto's face and his head dropped. For a reason that he had yet to figure out, he hated seeing a look like that on the talented boy's face. He'd let it go, but he did plan to bring it up with Hitomi later, he couldn't not do that. He would simply set things straight and let it go. "Ah, fuck it!" He exclaimed getting Naruto's attention again as he threw his arms out.

"Come on, gaki, let's just get some rest…tomorrow's another day for us, eh!"

Naruto smiled widely and nodded. "Hai!"

+ + + Later + + +

Naruto...ruto...Damnit, wake up boy!

Naruto woke up with a bit of a start hearing his name being called repeatedly, the words echoing through his mind like a hollow pit. As his eyes cracked open he awoke somewhere other than where he recalled laying his head for the night. He took a quick look around the wet, dank area. "This is the sewer representing my mindscape. Of course," he trailed. The blonde decided to follow the sewer tunnels that he knew would take him to Kyubi's cell.

After silently maneuvering the twists and turns, it wasn't long before he found himself in ankle deep water, standing before the mighty steel bars that kept the fox woman separated from him. Just as he arrived before said bars, Kyubi's otherworldly form appeared to meet him.

Naruto frowned. "You know that was really irritating. Calling me out like that while I'm trying to sleep..." Naruto said petulantly as he folded his arms.

Kyubi just smiled, revealing pearl while teeth and razor sharp canines. No need to fuss, boy. Your body is still sleeping plus this has to do with your training and could not wait.

The altered kimono wearing fox demon replied with mirth as another mischievous glint flashed through her golden eyes with red slit pupils. Nine tails that Naruto hadn't really noticed in their initial meeting fluttered listless behind her as she folded lithe though toned arms beneath her bust, causing them to perk up further with the action.

Naruto might have been a ten year old boy who was still growing, but he could feel the blood rushing to his head. Truthfully, if she hadn't mentioned training him, he probably would have had a nose bleed...not even his Oiroke no Jutsu was that good.

"What about my training, you going to teach me something good?" He inquired as he stood on the opposite side of the bars from Kyubi.

The vixen gave an affirmative nod, only to frown thoughtfully after. I will, but not quite yet. When I mentioned training I was meaning your sensei...I need to speak with him and I need your help to do so.

"Oh," Naruto's mood dropped, but not too drastically. He even grinned in his own foxy way as he inquired, "you gonna give him some pointers huh?" He laughed a little.

Kyubi smirked.

Oh yes, something like that. Now listen, here's what is what... she stepped a little closer to the bars until her breasts were lightly pressed against the metal prison bars.

Naruto again received a head rush as he nodded, unable to keep from experiencing the lightheadedness of such a sight once more. However, he listened...then he blinked. "Kigan, what's that?"

Kigan is an ability of my own creation that I used to get me through thousands of years of human existence and prejudice; especially once shinobi came to be. It has a few uses and one of its uses allows me to enter another's mindscape via eye contact; from there I can do anything from communicate to someone, steal knowledge, take over the mind or simply destroy it altogether.

"Wow that sounds like a great ability." Naruto said, clearly impressed by Kyubi's explanation of the Kigan until... "Say, you're not going to hurt sensei though...right?" He had to ask. Sin had easily become someone of importance to the whiskered blonde since he'd taken him in and began training him.

I'm not going to hurt the man...at least, not yet. She smiled devilishly. Naruto seemed to dislike her words and frowned, ready to retort until she cut him off. I'm teasing you, now I'm only going to use the Kigan to speak with him and nothing more...can you trust me to keep my word?

Naruto blinked and seemed thoughtful. "Well, kaa-san said to have faith in you and we made an agreement...so yes, I trust you." He added a determined nod to go with his words.

Kyubi flinched just slightly when Naruto mentioned Kushina, but she said nothing and neither did Naruto; though he clearly saw it. Good, now I'll need your help too...so this is what we'll do. Kyubi said in a rather conspiratorial manner.

Naruto shifted and sat up, no longer asleep after his speaking with Kyubi. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes then glanced over to Sin who was asleep, flat on his back, and lightly snoring. While Hitomi and Saeko had stayed in a separate room, Sin and Naruto slept in the same area they used to train; training until it was time for bed.

The blonde pushed the cover to his bedroll aside and got to his feet. He had the haori style coat that Sin had gotten for him hanging on the wall by a nail close by. He wore a fitted black shirt and a pair of dark purple shorts which was part of his training attire. He began padding over to Sin as silently as he could and knelt down to the softly breathing young man and reached out to shake his shoulder.

However, Naruto gasped and startled when Sin's hand shot up and grabbed his wrist while his eyes were still closed.

"What are you doing up, Naruto?" His sensei inquired with a tired drawl, finally opening his eyes after spreading his senses to catch a hint of the time. He had difficulty due to the make of the tunnels, but was able to tell it was a few hours into the a.m.

Sin sat up, releasing Naruto's wrist while giving a lion sized yawn and rubbed his eyes.

"S-sorry, sensei." The blonde began rubbing his wrist with the apology before proceeding, "I have to um...well...pee." Naruto lied.

"I see." Sin nodded, looking at the adolescent and for the first time Naruto noticed that his master's eyes had a faint white glow in them through the darkness. "I'll take you up to the forest then."

Now boy! Do it! Kyubi said and he quickly allowed the vixen control over his body. Sin could immediately feel that something was off. Along with chakra already in the atmosphere that only his eyes saw, he noticed a red aura beginning to travel from Naruto's belly before coursing through his chakra system to his eyes.

"Naruto, what do you think you're-..." Sin stopped dead in his tracks when Naruto suddenly turned around to face him as red chakra continued flowing to the jinchuriki's eyes.

Sin Kurokami's mind immediately went blank when he caught sight of the Kigan within Naruto's eyes. He barely registered intense red slit pupils with deep orange irises and a black sclera. The unique, intricate double bar patterns and rings that made up the Tenchogan became undone in Sin's eyes until all that was left were pure white orbs.

Everything faded to black for Sin, but he could feel his world spinning off its axis. After a moment it all suddenly screeched to halt, but it only lasted for a moment. As if an invisible hand and pencil were drawing, his environment began to take shape until he could recognize the colorless outlines of buildings and the surroundings as Konoha just as the Hokage monument appeared in the distance. Once that was done, everything was given color and the world came to life around him; instantly assaulting his five senses.

Naruto watched Sin lay back down without a sound. The blonde yawned and decided he would go back to sleep.

+ + + Sin Kurokami's Mindscape – Dream Konoha + + +

He could smell dishes of curry and fish from nearby stalls as the ingredients were cooked and grilled in the open air.

The sound of children playing in their innocence while their parents and other villagers conversed was unable to fully drone out the song birds and chattering squirrels.

The clear skies gave way to a bright sun, causing him to squint beneath the rays of light as puffy white clouds drifted over the village.

He took a deep breath, feeling light headed from the sudden experience, and was practically able to taste the crisp air on his tongue as he did.

An attractive young woman brushed against him slightly as she passed by. The exchange became interesting when he turned to apologize to the brunette with grey eyes who only blushed at him and offered a shy apology in return. As she continued on her way, she emphasized the sway of her hips.

...Is this beauty, Kurokami? Sin turned and immediately found himself face to face with Kyubi herself. She was dressed more maturely than when she had been with Naruto.

She wore a black with gold trim top that generously showed her bust as it hugged her torso, with circle rip patterns in it that showed flashes of flawless milky skin below the fabric as it fell short of her belly button showing a gold navel piercing. A pair of low riding black pants was like a second skin on short toned legs that supported a firm, apple bottom with the left pant leg cut off up to her backside. She wore a pair of shoes similar to Sin's but they were tan and open toe with a heel. She wore a choker that looked similar to Sin's chain necklace which had a gold pendant of the kanji for seal.

She had her crimson red hair straight and wavy down her back with a part to the left side of her head where her hair fell over her left eye as it draped over her shoulder, stopping at the valley of her breasts. Sin was nearly unable to believe his eyes when he was witness to her ethereal appearance and goddess like allure.

He blinked, unable to keep from licking his lips, and suddenly feeling hungry for a special sort of cuisine. "Not compared to this. Naruto was right...you truly are a vixen goddess." He trailed in a near breathless tone. "I almost feel privileged. Almost." He finished with a grin.

Fufu. Kyubi laughed softly as she graced him with a mischievous gaze of approval while jostling her hair as she runs her hand through it, only to have it fall over her eye once more. Well, aren't you bold? Sin's ears twitched at the way her voice seemed to carry on the wind.

"I try." He responded, but decided the banter could wait. "So, this is your doing...but, why?" He inquired as he glanced around the active Konoha proper. None seemed to notice them as even the people walking the footway stepped wide births around them unconsciously. "Something to do with Naruto, no doubt," he added as he and the demoness held eye contact.

Fufufu, Naruto has become both of our worlds, wouldn't you agree Kurokami? Kyubi smiled a bit deviously. It was pretty as well, but with such severely pointed teeth, pretty was not the appropriate word for anything that was decidedly Kyubi; at least that was how Sin felt about it.

Sin held up a hand. "Feel free to call me Sin of you like." The charcoal haired Ronin suggested, but then asked," Kyubi isn't your real name...it's simply a title ain't it, demoness?"

Hmhm, are you not the type to ask and forgot a beautiful woman's name? The demoness giggled conceitedly as she sauntered her way towards him when he shrugged, a cat that ate the canary smile gracing her visage. Tsk-Tsk on you, not for nothing my young sensei. Kyubi had a clawed finger trailing Sin's jaw line lightly as she looked up into his unique eyes. Naruto is my jailer and I haven't even told him my true name yet. However, kudos for discovering the truth; Kyubi is indeed just a title although your human counterparts use it in a disparaging manner when they speak of me.

Sin smirked at the clawed hand just as she withdrew it from his face, immediately deciding that he liked Kyubi's style. If he were a weaker and much more inexperienced man, he'd be a horny mess of male putty in her hands rather than just a horny mess. He could banter with the best but, he could see she could be all business by looking closely into those kitsune hues.

"So, what's on your mind about Naruto that you got the gaki to ambush and illusion me in the midst of the a.m? Oh and don't worry...I'll inquire about the technique you used on me before long." He winked to let her know that it hadn't slipped his mind, even with her being one huge mental distraction.

Kyubi just licked her lips and smirked as she graced him with a respectful glance. My, you are astute. About Naruto, there are a few things...but come, walk with me while we talk. She looped her arm around Sin's right bicep without giving him a chance to answer as she gently brought him with her as she hung off his arm.

Sin tried, but stiffened up when she took hold of him. When he felt himself becoming nervous, he remembered himself, and quashed the feeling. It was interesting to find that it took some effort, and decided not to completely let his guard down.

Whoa, Sin thought. She is strong...I was unable to even attempt to resist. He felt her generous bosom press against his arm and decided he probably wouldn't have resisted anyway. Then he noticed something strange about the Konoha construct she had brought him into.

Everyone they passed looked at them with awe and admiration, even bowing when they walked across their paths as others moved aside to let them by unhindered.

"Kyubi, why are these people like this...actually, why did you choose to use Konoha as a visual make-up for this?" Sin inquired, unsure about something for the first time since this meeting began.

Fufu, you'll soon find out, but to fully understand there are a few things we need go over. Kyubi advised as they walked passed an adult couple. He could overhear the couple talking about how they would name their first born after one of them. Sin for a boy and Kyubi for a girl.

It was a very odd experience for the Kurokami, but he was patient and knew the demoness had a reason, so for now he followed her lead. Sin allowed Kyubi to continue guiding him through Konoha where they fell into a comfortable silence for a brief moment with only the sounds of outside, and the constant admiration of civilians and shinobi alike interrupting it from time to time.

You know, I've been sealed inside Naruto since he was given life. I've been with him from his infancy to the present, seen him at his happiest, and at his lowest. Because of this I don't think one could appropriately appreciate him, let alone teach him... Kyubi trailed off as they entered the park grounds outside of the Academy. The fox demoness sat down on the old tree swing that Naruto had once favored with a smile. Sin folded his arms over his broad chest as he opened his ears and listened.

Don't get me wrong, I have confidence in your ability to teach and make the blonde a great success, but your motivation to do so isn't properly focused yet...I will provide you with that focus. Kyubi gave her head a gentle swing causing her hair to be tossed before falling back into place over her left eye.

"Very well. I don't see how that could hurt and I'm all about being focused. How will you accomplish this?" Sin inquired rather innocently.

We've already begun. She spread her arms out to her sides, letting him know she meant the image of Konoha they were in. I bet that blind admiration felt good, yes?

Sin answered honestly. "It was a bit odd, but it was a powerful feeling, yes." He answered while unfolding his arms.

Kyubi nodded as a smile showed on her perfect, heart shaped face. All Naruto ever wanted was to be seen, recognized...loved… she trailed.

Sin's visage turned to one of understanding as he quickly figured it out her meaning. "To be loved...he simply wants to be appreciated and they shit on him instead." He said, suddenly feeling anger well up inside him.

Hai, you continue to impress me. Do you think you can handle a day in the life of Naruto Uzumaki, from beginning up to the present? It's the only way I let you continue training Naruto and the only way you can understand the boy. Kyubi advised.

Sin sighed and didn't even think about it. "Let's do it." He said with resignation, already knowing that this wasn't going to be pretty.

I heard em all like a terror where lies lead you, these people are see through. Being real is the greatest glory life, 'cause fake people never tell a story the same way twice.

A young Naruto, bright eyed and excited by existence as he was fooled by citizens of Konoha. Forced into a dead end alleyway where he experienced his first time being deceived and beaten. The other villagers cheered on the misguided perpetrators as they dedicated their wretched actions to the Yondaime Hokage.

Pay attention, and listen carefully. There's a difference from the fallen and half-breeds, humans and demons.

Sin got to experience the mistreatment by the hands of the old matron of the orphanage as she encouraged the other foster kids to tease and beat him up. Being starved and having what few possessions he did have taken from him and broken or thrown away.

A God given ability to change so many lives, some people join the mobs while I just run because I don't have so many lives.

Sin experienced the pains of attempted poisoning by high ranking shinobi. Calling for help and begging for mercy as he sensed the masked individuals who he knew were supposed to be his guardians stand idly by.

When I meet a person that's genuine, my arm extends to them, try to make friends with them, value they opinion. Oh, lord.

The Kurokami got to experience being kicked out of the orphanage and having to starve for nearly a week without food, water, or shelter until he wised up and realized he had to survive. He got to experience Naruto questioning his existence and where he came from, if his parents had died loving him, or if they were truly alive and left him to rot because they had hated him as much as the villagers.

I might sin again 'cause no one's perfect, keep waiting for it all to improve…I promise it's worth it.

Sarutobi doing the bare minimum and providing him with bi-weekly stipends of money to live on. Taking him out to eat one time and trying to convince him it was safe to live in the rundown apartment building in the Red Light.

Put my heart and soul in it. Still, I had to wait for the love in it and separate the hate from it. My life, a lot of hot and cold in it, a little of both. Uzumaki Naruto there's nothing easy in it, I get hated in bulk in it.

Pulling pranks on those that mistreated him or spoke ill about him when they thought he couldn't hear, and always listening to the other parents telling their children to stay away from him, not to play with him, and that he was nothing but trouble.

My blood's still flowing, my promise is much more than skin deep, while the assholes stuck paddling up shits creek.

He sensed the lies coming from the third Hokage when he asked about having parents or if there was something that made him different so much that it made him hated. Being lied to as he was told nothing was known about them.

Street smart, y'all don't have no book sense. I'll lead the flock; y'all can just follow my footprints.

He experienced unlocking his chakra for the first time with Itachi Uchiha's help and accidentally creating the Oiroke no Jutsu by mistake when trying to perform the Henge jutsu for the first time without guidance.

So, where's my just due? For years I been holding back all these tears.

He Felt something come over him enough to make him leave Konoha's walls for good and later met Sin in his hotel room. He experienced meeting Kyubi, then Saeko, and finally Hitomi.

Y'all eyes ain't on the prize that mine on. I figure I'll live as a legend, if they kill me then I'll die as an icon...

By the time Sin finished experiencing Naruto's memories, his mind felt as if it were ready to implode. He didn't even notice when Kyubi's short form stood from the old, rickety swing and stepped before him. She looked up at Sin, studying him with firm eyes. Naruto had a harder life than most growing up and she'd yet to know how it would affect the Kurokami; she did not need him going off the deep end.

Sin's brow creased angrily and a single tear shed, falling along the contour of his cheek leaving a streak. A satisfied smile graced Kyubi's pink lips as she leaned up to the tips of her toes and placed a kiss to his jaw line, catching the tear with her soft lips. Sin was unable to fully appreciate the feel as the red head brought her fingers to her lips after tasting the salty substance.

Yes. She confirmed with an approving nod as she stepped back, satisfied by the knowledge it afforded her. I believe you're properly focused now. The kitsune demoness grinned darkly as her nine tails danced behind her in a pleased fashion.

Sin silently shifted a hardened gaze onto her and Kyubi nearly experienced a chill from the strength and displeasure she saw in his eyes. It was intense by any human standards. "Hai. Thank you for that. You lit a fire within me that wasn't there before, even when I knew his village had run him off before I found him. I'm just that much more capable now... "

Fufufu, I wouldn't have it any other way. You're no feeble minded human, if I found you lacking I wouldn't have gone through the trouble, and simply told the boy to leave you from the start. She gave a saucy smile. Now, there are just a few things we need to go over to make sure you get Naruto to progress properly as he grows.

"...And those few things are?" Sin furrowed his eyebrows as he continued to hold the shorter woman's alluring gaze.

You…I can sense it on you; there's a fire in you that you've been holding back...unleash that blaze Kurokami and stop fucking pretending, you're not a sheep! And stop restricting yourself, because you're not like them, and it's going to do more harm than good. The kitsune demoness sneered at him leaving Sin speechless and almost breathless.

Kyubi took a breath to regain her composure and gave Sin a knowing smile. You're only loyal to yourself, your friends, and Naruto. Act like it! Kyubi's eyes gleamed.

Sin knew he shouldn't have been, but he was surprised. "…I-," but Kyubi stopped him.

"No stop, just stop it…I want you focused on action, not excuses." Kyubi shook her head, pointedly ignoring Sin as he frowned at her for cutting him off. "I will lend a hand and Naruto can indeed learn a lot quickly, it's in his genes. He has a great potential and a limitless ceiling. I've been around since the creation of modern ninjutsu, so I know a thing or two."

Kyubi smiled just then as she eyed Sin closely, unknowingly causing the man some discomfort with the gleam in her eyes. "This brings me to my second concern, which isn't really a concern, but more of a…thing."

"…And that thing is?" He slowly inquired, having a bad feeling about this.

"We need to engage in melee…a battle, or spar if you will…" She said without hesitation, folding her arms beneath her bosom.

Sin instantly became nervous. "What?! But, why is that?" He asked, nearly losing his composure and yelling.

Kyubi shrugged and maintained her composure, looking over her sharp nails as if looking for a chip. The answer was the most obvious thing in the world to her. "I need to test you…of course." She muttered.

"…-But," he tried.

"No buts, Kurokami!" The Konoha scenery immediately fell away to look like a training field. They stood on grassy turf, a small lake in one corner of the square area, a patch of trees in another, sandy terrain in a third corner, and some rocky terrain in another. "We will do this…I know who I am, but you have the advantage of being in your mindscape. If you think it or visualize it, then you can will it to exist…utilize your knowledge against me. If you're to be Naruto's master however, I need to know firsthand what you are capable of."

It was at that point that Kyubi's attire changed into a sleeveless gi top with a red sash, shorts that ended high on her thighs with white tape around her feet up to her shins. She remained barefoot and her hairstyle changed to become straight and long, ending at her lower back with her nine tails waving freely behind her.

Sin; momentarily speechless just gave a sigh, remembering whom it was that he had been talking to. He closed his eyes to try something himself and his clothing changed with his thoughts as well. Rather than his normal attire he ended up wearing a black jersey style top with the number one on front and back and his name, basketball style shorts that ended below the knee with black leggings up his legs to his thigh showing beneath, and his custom high-top shinobi shoes that were black with a strap over each forefoot of the shoe. The last addition was the arm supports that were also black and went from his wrist all the way up to his bicep.

Sin nodded to himself at his personal changes and then glanced around to see what he was working with concerning his surroundings. He was experienced enough to know that one's environment could be just as much a weapon as anything and that aspect alone had gotten him through several encounters before. "…So, this is really happening…" He spoke more than asked as he brought his eyes back to the demoness sealed within Naruto.

"You would do well to acknowledge it, sensei," Kyubi replied coyly though acutely. "This is just a test, but it certainly isn't a game." This would be her first time doing something like this. It was as the days passed, continued to be sealed within Naruto as he joined with Sin and the female sword master that she realized this part of her extensive life was going to be paved with new experiences…as well as the passing spilling of blood. So she would prepare to adapt to deal with experiences that would come to pass as she was brought on an adventure, different than any she had been through when her father was alive, and much different than any she had ever cared to take herself during her thousand years of travels before being sealed; where she had manipulated the human race, especially the men to live and do as she pleased.

It wasn't quite like babysitting since Naruto was her only true responsibility, but both he and his sensei would need to know how to be manipulative, cruel, hateful, and unforgiving on a level that may have to match her own…that being, inhumanly heartless.

She idly wondered, as Sin began to stretch and take up the newly invented stance for his bastardized and altered Jyuken mixed Taijutsu she had seen from his mind, when he would realize that he was in over his head…that he was simply along for the ride and held no real control?

As Sin rushed her, using a unique speed technique and interesting footwork, she had a single thought; a fitting thought that had occurred to her more times than she could keep track of in her many years.

The more things changed…the more they stayed the same…

AN: So we end another chapter. This is the first half of this mini-mini arc where the group will try to get Hitomi her children; everything takes place in the next chapter, 'The More They Stay The Same'. Kushina and the Uchiha are addressed, will Kyubi find Sin worthy, what does Izanagi have planned, Naruto's progression continues, will Sasuke wake up?, and more.

I want to let you all know that I also planned to make all this one chapter, but as it neared 40 pages I realized I couldn't do it and certain things HAD to happen (this chapter), before the attempt to get Hinata and Hanabi out of Konoha. So, I don't want you all to get too irked about the slow build-up of the story…it's all ready to be kicked off with chapter 6 and it won't take a month or so to be put out because it's written, and chapter 7 and on is well planned out.

I love that I'm getting follows and favorites as well, just would like to see some more reviews. I suppose there hasn't been a lot to review about, leaving the only thing to comment on being my writing; I must be good there? Seriously though, I don't mind if you even nitpick at stuff, I just wanna know what you think. I'm not really looking for them, but even suggestions are cool…ya know, anything to get the gears turning a little quicker is great.

Until next time…As we continue on…