Me: Sorry for the long wait lovely readers, I try to disperse my time among each of my stories evenly while continuing the drafts for my extensive list of other things to start on. I'm getting better with updates though and promise to devote more time when I can while I can. Anyway I hope you enjoy this next chapter and hopefully it will answer some questions you might have on our heroine. I own nothing of Naruto except for my O/C and the storyline. I also like to think I own the new improved version of the ten tails. "Incomplete" by the Backstreet Boys is the song for this chapter.

Chapter 4: My History

Sumara felt the energy leave her body as soon as she began the jutsu, her chakra, her very life essence flowing into the man she needed to revive if she ever wanted her covert mission to be a success. It could seem counterproductive to replenish the Akatsuki's ranks with such powerful ninja, but Sumara and Shin had both agreed that with the information recovered by Team Asuma, they could easily be disposed of if need be when the mission was completed. With that confidence she was sure that she could pull this off, whether this jutsu nearly destroyed her or not. Unlike the forbidden reanimation jutsu where a sacrifice was needed to revive the dead and a tag needed to control their actions, this jutsu was much like another jutsu one Lady Chiyo had used in order to bring back the Sand Village's current Kazekage, Gaara. The user was not meant to survive, yet miraculously the raven haired female had accomplished this feat just five years prior when she encountered her longtime partner and friend. She could do this, she thought this as she looked into the bi-colored orbs of the man named Kakuzu, just before she faded from consciousness and into a familiar darkness only she could experience, the darkness only seen by the ten tails jinchuriki...

She awoke slowly, her coal eyes blinking open carefully as she adjusted to the feeling of suspension within her own body and mind that was caused by the void around her that was not of her creation, bound by a seal she did not cast. This darkness was unlike all others in that you could see everything in it without difficulty, everything was it's own light, including the beast who inhabited the void constantly.

"Sumara dear, you've returned to my dwelling so soon." It wasn't hard to find out where the voice came from. To her right she looked upon the creature who had been such a major component in her life since her very birth. The great creature was of black silken fur, enormous like any tailed beast with a certain otherworldly beauty to it. Upon it's midnight fur was various white markings that looked random to the untrained eye, but when it stood from it's relaxed position lying upon the ground, the various different markings connected, forming the very apparent tri circular pattern over it's body, little comma like indications every now and then that reminded her of her own sharingan, of course this look was only achieved when those ten black, serpentine tails fanned out perfectly. His paws were enormous, armed with claws that could tear mountains in half. His muzzle was long and also armed, made apparent by the tusk-like eye teeth protruding from the lips like that of a saber-toothed cat, though the form was obviously that of the most formidable of canines. The entire being was surrounded by that same purple and black shadowy chakra that had spooked so many before when it had clung to Sumara. Most vividly remembered however, were the intelligent yet frightening eyes that seemed to belong to much more than just some great monster, black outlining the snow white irades that held slitted pupils at their centers.

The entity did not scare Sumara though, she had been acquainted with it her entire life. "Sorry to intrude Juubi but I had to perform the jutsu again," she says with an apologetic bow. The great wolf did not seem angry however, simply curious.

"I am aware, I can't say that the toll of performing it is worth the trouble, but I understand your desire to win the hearts of the Akatsuki," he replies in a cool, knowing tone. "It would seem you'll be with me for the remainder of your recovery time in the physical realm around you, but time passes differently here so you shouldn't get too bored." With that said he lies down once more, great powerful legs bending under him and tails merging into one, a great mass of power and flesh combined into one form. Then he nods his massive head, gesturing for her to take a seat and rest as her body healed, to which she kindly accepted. Sitting cross-legged before him she sighs, wondering just how long it would take for her to heal this time around. It had been a while since she had been in this situation though, able to speak so freely with the great spirit and actually ask questions. She wasn't going to let it pass so easily.

"How did I survive?" she asks bluntly. "The last time I did the jutsu I mean. I wasn't...immortal then, so how did I live?" It was a legitimate enough question, after all she had developed the jutsu herself so it wasn't as if years of research had been put into it. She knew only what she had experienced. The ten taiils however seemed not to know himself.

"You wish to know how you survived and I will tell you what I know positively. I did a great deal to keep you alive indeed, I can't exactly allow my jinchuriki to die you know. And your will to live has always made the difference as well, however, even that along with my great power is not enough to cheat brother Death." The great spirit was infinitely powerful, all would acknowledge that, but he openly admits that even he is limited to the world of the living. "The pendent which you keep so close to your heart, constantly around your neck and laying between your breasts," he begins, nodding to the silver beads that disappeared beneath her shirt, "represent your dedication to a religion that revolves around a god, one of death and destruction but also respect and honor as well as love and honesty. Though I try not to indulge in such foolish human ideals, perhaps you truly carry favor from your deity. You have cheated Death so many times even before becoming a missionary for the temple, that I cannot deny that there is some force unknown to me that wishes you to live."

"And those memories I try to recover from my childhood, before I met Sakumo?" she inquires.

"This strange figure you have described to me, this man of darkness and yet also light, could very well be your beloved Lord. It leads me to believe that he has had a part in reviving you each time you have neared death." He recalled those images that Sumara had relayed to him so many years ago. A man seated upon a throne of skeletons of every type, cloaked in black and clad with a crown that seemed to be the skull of a dragon, golden scythe worthy of a legendary name in hand. Glowing crimson eyes set in what seemed to be black shadows on what would be a beautiful face, ebony locks of silken hair framing it and hanging slightly in his line of sight. He believed this was the deity she so lovingly worshiped. Jashin. God of war and destruction. He often wondered if his own creation may have had something to do with the Lord...

"Juubi?"

"Yes child?"

"I've always wanted to ask but...is this your true form?" She had assumed it was but for some reason she felt uncertain nowadays. Her doubt is confirmed when he shakes his head.

"Long ago I was a great behemoth of a humanoid creature, tails, no, branches of ashen flesh instead of fur and eyes that were much too big for my ugly mug."

"So, what changed?"

"The first of the ninjas child. The Sage of Six Paths, Hagaromo. Our battle was great and he a formidable opponent but in the end I was bested and was forced to surrender. It was even more impressive considering he had the mentality that he was battling his mother, who in her greed had merged with my original form called Shinju. Because I admitted defeat though he was so merciful as to offer me a deal: he created the moon from the earth, and inside sealed what is thought to be my true body, what so many seek to control today. In exchange for creating this false rumor and keeping my existence hidden, I agreed to have giant reserves of my power drained and formed into nine lesser tailed beasts, weakening me greatly. Also I was never to walk the earth in my own body again, I was to take on a new form which is the one know reside in, bound forever to a jinchuriki, luckily, of my choice. Honestly though I prefer this form which suits me better. And so he taught me the jutsu in which I was to use to seal myself within my host of choosing, so long as they were of decent of him. That said every jinchuriki I have dwelled within since that day has come from one of two clans that spawned from his two sons, the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan."

"And, this is where the feud between our clans began?"

"Correct. The elder son craved knowledge and equality and so began the Senjus. The younger son sought after power beyond human reach, creating the Uchiha clan. Both are masters of powerful dojutsu, equally formidable. The rinnegan and- "

"The sharingan." He nods.

"Together they create an unstoppable force, one of which the great Elder Sage was easilycapable of and defeated me with. Should a Uchiha of bitter blood wish to find me, I fear we may be looking at the end of all that I was sealed away for." Sumara did not become offended by this comment, she knew well that here clan was one of hatred and greed and had long been cursed with these traits, which she only presumed was the cause of their near extinction. The Senju had lead the Leaf Village for years in the first, second, and fifth Hokages and had done well to teach the third as well as influence the fourth...she had no doubt if there was ever a day that the ten tails was ever discovered and sought after, it would be by a Uchiha.

"Why then? Why choose me as your jinchuriki?" she asks.

"Because in the few years I searched for a proper Uchiha host after my previous one had passed on, I could feel within the womb of your mother something very special, a powder that had great potential and would hold me just fine. But with my presence in your developing body you changed much differently than your siblings which you already know from your increased growth rate that left you fully grown at just over a year of age."

"Which is why they abandoned me and left me to die..." thought to be dead she was left on her own just months after being born, every record of her birth destroyed, as if she never existed. Juubi wasn't one to be tender and caring even though he tried to be for the sake of himself and his host, but he gave her comfort with gentle touches.

"I don't question why they chose to desert you child, it has brought me closer to you as my jinchuriki and has let you grow into a powerful ninja, a once beloved wife and mother, and a dear friend to all who you encounter. I would have scoffed at such things at one point in my existence, but I know now that humanity needs idols such as you to revere."

A solemn smile reaches the raven girl's lips, sad yet happy memories of her oh so secretive life flowing through her mind. She missed her old life and regretted the decisions she'd made, yet when Juubi spoke of them, she felt that things couldn't have been any other way. Her accelerated growth gave her the wisdom and experience of someone twice her age and so the older citizens of the Leaf were the ones she avoided, the ones who would remember her and possibly condemn her for her sins. She longed to speak with Kakashi, or even the old pervert Jaraiya, but Shin was her family now and she owed it to him to get him a life in the village once more.

"They await your arousal Sumara, you must wake. We will talk again soon, but you have a mission to complete." She smiles and nods to the great wolf, grateful for his presence within her.

"A thousand thank you's Juubi." As always their goodbyes were short since they could converse at any time through thoughts if they wished and the Uchiha found her eyes closing and her consciencness transitioning as her body awoke.

Darkness took over the ten tailed beast until he was no longer visible, gravity seemed to increase on her and the air became colder. She was ready to open her eyes...

Me: That's all for now little monsters, we'll get to the real action in the next chapter so be prepared! I'd love to hear your guys' opinions on what you think Sumara's story is and how she's associated with the characters. I welcome any guesses! Review please and see you next time!