Hey there guys! Sorry for the wait! I really did not mean to keep you waiting so long! I was kind of busier than I thought I would be, but hey, at least you get a fight scene! I'm really sorry about the grammar problems, as I do not have a beta, but there aren't that many. Sorry for the lack of Naru or Hina in this chapter, but this is really starting to become much more than that at this point, huh? Don't worry, it will be full of it in the next chapter, and by the end I will try to make it so satisfying! Thanks for sticking by me guys, Happy New Year!

Chapter 7: The Meeting with the Fox

The Nine-Tailed demon fox was the strongest of the juubi's. He could level mountains and cause tsunamis with just a swing of one of its mighty tails. It's very name scared other beasts into hiding and it commanded total control over the rest of the known world. That was until several years ago, when he met two unreasonably strong individuals…

Flashback No Jutsu

It was a very hot day for the Kyuubi. Being a huge chakra demon tends to make you hotter than everyone else on a normal basis. He was lying in a rather large forest in the middle of Fire Country after leaving Wind Country. He stopped here on his way to Wave Country, where he could hopefully cool off. He was rather happy, as all his fellow bijuus were all trapped away in some pathetic human or another. They were mostly all stupid enough to throw themselves into the throes of strong villages looking for bloodshed. He was perfectly fine with the idea of bloodshed, but attacking a place with a lot of power tended to be dangerous. He was surprised the Nibi and the Hachibi were caught, the Nibi being the only rival to his intelligence, and the Hachibi being the only one who was content with sleeping in the bottom of the sea for millions of years.

Then again, the Hachibi might have let himself get caught, just to get a free place to sleep.

Nevertheless, Kyuubi was now the last free bijuu, and his rule was uncontested. He was sure that this made him the most powerful being in existence right? Wrong…

The Kyuubi's ears twitched as he heard the branches breaking behind him. He released a small amount of killer intent, which from him was still a lot, to deter the wayward traveler. It worked, as the figure stopped for a few seconds, but it continued its path toward the 'great fox'. When it came within the sight of the fox, now up and tails roaring, it appeared to be a man in a black cloak. He had no distinguishing features other than his spiral orange mask that covered all of his face. It revealed an eyehole, but that was the extent of the mask.

Kyuubi roared and released a bit more of his killer intent, which caused the man to visibly shake, but that was as far as he went before he started to speak.

"Greetings, Great Kyuubi. I see that you're in a great mood as of now?" the man asked with a jest. A playful tone evident in the way he spoke. He was once again a picture of the perfect calm before the giant red beast. His body mannerisms were small to nonexistent as he craned his neck to stare down the fox.

Kyuubi chuckled in his head. The mortal had brass, he would give him that, but he was still too rude in front of a greater being.

"WHO DARES TO DISTURB ME IN MY REST?"

The man simply responded, "Sorry, where are my manners? I know everything about you, Kyuubi No Yoko, but you simply know nothing of me… I am a simple ninja from… ah… the Village Hidden in the Leaves, in fact, it's not too far from here. I am here to offer you a little… proposition… if you will… You will attack the very village I just described for me, while I go to run some… errands… As for my name, its… ah… let's not worry about that for now", he ended with a smirk from behind his creepy mask.

The Kyuubi chuckled again, this time out loud, as the small mortal continued to talk. He reared back one of his claws and swiped at the man, creating a large crater where he once stood. A single black cloak blew from the wreck and Kyuubi laughed before laying back down to enjoy the rest of his evening. As he was lying back to rest his head in his arms, he saw the man sitting there, as if nothing had ever happened.

The man now stood at eye level with the fox's lowered head, dwarfed by the said eye. His visible eye swirled as he chanted his next words.

"Oh Great Kyuubi! It seems you have gifted me a great opportunity today! I get to use my newest toy…"

These were the last words Kyuubi heard that day…

XxX

The Village shook as tremors were heard all around.

The Uchiha, the loyal wielders of the legendary doujustu trembled as their eyes registered the threat…

The Senju, the proud warriors of a thousand techniques cowered as they sensed the horrible chakra…

The Shodai Hokage geared up as he walked through his new village, his subjects trembling around him. His younger brother, Tobirama, walked beside him, also geared for battle. On his other side, he felt his hand grabbed by another, one much softer. He turned to see his soon to be wife, Mito Uzumaki. She trembled a bit as well, but her eyes showed the Uzumaki determination and he knew she would follow him to hell if need be. Knowing what was about to happen, the Shodai half expected that to be similar to where he was heading. The three powerful ninjas approached the exit to their newly formed village, a small gate the size of a tree or two, when a small, young boy ran up to them and grabbed their hands. The Shodai turned to see who it was, and when he saw who, he chuckled.

"Hiruzen, why are you here?" Hashirama asked with a smile, trying to keep his voice as calm and gentle as possible. The other two saw this and followed suit.

"It's a little dangerous out here right-", Tobirama started, as a loud roar erupted through the area. People could be seen passing out in the entire village from the sheer KI alone. Tobirama flinched, but continued anyway, "-now. Go back in your house, little monkey."

"Yeah, Hiru-kun. We will be back shortly." Mito said, patting Hiruzen on the head. He calmed down a little from her touch but broke away, his determination anew.

"No way! I wanna go too, sensei! I know what's out there! I wanna protect my village! I am not afraid!" he yelled.

The three were stunned, before laughing. Shodai looked on at his brother's student, and decided to try to gift him with a few of his techniques if he returned. He squeezed Mito's hand at these thoughts, looking at her belly, the smallest hint of sadness coming across his face.

He turned back to the young Hiruzen of the Sarutobi clan and smiled, before bending down to his level.

"Tell you what, Hiruzen. We need to go out there and fight a really bad monster. Because of this, we have no one to protect our fair village. Can you do this for me? It's a very important job I can give to no one else."

Hiruzen looked on at the Shodai, trying to detect any signs of lying, but found none. His face brightened up, before becoming resolute, "I promise Hokage-sama!" he yelled, before turning and running off screaming about his will being stronger than even the fire of his country.

"Will of Fire, huh…" Hashirama thought, "I find that very interesting…"

The three set off for what would be known as the Valley of the End.

XxX

Hashirama arrived at the deep valley near the giant waterfall. It was mostly empty, but he could feel the evil chakra reverberating through the area. He stepped onto the water and looked around, getting himself ready for the fight he was about to undergo. When he reached the middle of the lake formed by the giant waterfall, he heard rustling behind him. With a speed almost naked to the human eye, he turned, and saw his fiancé.

"Mito… I thought I told you to stay behind…"

"Since when do I ever listen to you?"

Hashirama chuckled, "of course"

Waves rippled throughout the pond as the earth shook. Mito, who was still standing on the bank of the lake, fell, as Hashirama stumbled on the water. Birds flew away to safety and the animals of the forest started making noise as they sensed the danger that came their way. Without a word, Mito appeared next to her husband and fell into a defensive stance and the Shodai Hokage responded by putting his back to her. A roar shook the area and from the top of the waterfall giant footsteps could be heard.

"Ready honey?" the Shodai asked.

"Ready as ever" Mito responded.

XxX

Hiruzen was scared as he could hear the sounds of battle. His sensei was returned to the village a while ago by a kage bunshin of the Hokage. He looked over the body of the future Nidaime and tried to heal the many cuts and bruises across his body… Who exactly could do this to him?

XxX

Hashirama and Mito fell back from the last attack from their opponent. They were breathing heavily as they felt the pressure that was being put on them. Hashirama pulled out a kunai to prepare for the next attack that he was sure to come. This person was the only person who could push him this far.

Before them was probably the most scary thing that a ninja would ever think to see. A Mangekyou Sharingan, fully matured and blazing, was coming from the strongest Uchiha known during the time, Madara Uchiha. He was standing on top of the strongest bijuu at the time, the Kyuubi No Kitsune… They were fighting as if they were a perfect team, almost in perfect unison, but something about them seemed… wrong… they were too in unison…

The demon/ ninja duo lunged forward and launched another attack. Kyuubi slashed downwards and created a ditch with his claw. The two ninja were barely able to escape as they jumped out of the way of the attack, but right before them appeared Madara, finishing his hand seals for his Grand Fireball technique. He released the jutsu point blank on them midair, and they were completely engulfed by the flame. The fire reached out and consumed the formerly tree filled forest for miles ahead, leaving not even ashes in its wake. When the smoke cleared, nothing remained.

Back behind the waterfall appeared a charred Shodai and his fiancé. They both breathed heavily as they tried to catch their breath.

"Im-impossible… how could they be this strong…" Mito asked.

"I don't know… Madara wasn't even this good when we fought most recently… He seems to have gotten sloppy in his technique, but in return he seems to be able to see everywhere… Even the Sharingan can't do that…"

At that moment footsteps appeared from the back of the cave. When they looked up, a man in a black cloak and an orange mask walked forward. His eye showed the Sharingan clearly in the dark cave.

"Well, that's because I'm controlling them, my dear Hashirama…" he said, almost laughing, "if you look over a story from the third person its easy to see everything that's happening…"

Hashirama jumped up and got back into a defensive stance, "who are you?" he screamed.

"Who I am doesn't matter… what matters now what's about to happen to you…" the man said, then raised his hands, his palms pointing towards the ninja couple

"Wind Style: Great Gale" he said, as a huge gust of wind whipped through the cave and pushed them out. Mito and Hashirama landed squarely in the middle of the lake, standing on top of the water, while the masked man simply floated high above using the wind chakra. Behind them they could hear the roar of the Kyuubi and feel the chakra of Madara.

"How are you controlling them?" Hashirama snarled at the masked man. He got no response however as the masked man just sent a blade of concentrated air towards them. When they jumped out of the way, they were met with taijutsu attacks from Madara and a chakra infused tail whip from the Kyuubi. While it missed Mito, Hashirama was hit head on and thrown away at high speed.

"Well that's one problem" the masked man said, then turned to look at Mito, "Now what shall we do about you?" The Nine Tails and Madara loomed over the female Uzumaki, eerily still, awaiting orders from their leader.

"Ah, I know, how about I crush you under my beast? Does that sound good to you?" he asked, raising his hand. Like the strings of a puppet, the Nine Tails rose from its sitting posture and immediately moved above the still weakened Mito. She looked up in fear as the beast completely dwarfed her with just his claw alone. The man slowly lowered his hand, and the Kyuubi's paw followed obediently until it lightly touched the tip of her head. She reclined to a laying position, but the claw followed until it was over her entire body. The masked man was milking her death.

"Hahahaha! Any last words Uzumaki trash?"

Mito remained silent.

"Then die!" the masked man said. He was about to finish his hand's decline, when he heard laughter ring throughout the air. When he heard it was coming from Mito, for the first time that day he was confused. "What's so funny?"

Mito continued to laugh, but managed to stop laughing long enough to answer, "N-nothing… it's just that I didn't actually think that his plan would work..." No sooner had she said that, did a giant seal appear around her and expanded outwards from her. Soon it enveloped both the giant beast and her, with her at the center.

"I would think that warning bells would go off when I let you try to squish me while I'm still on the water"

The seal started to glow after she said that and the Kyuubi's chakra started to sink and flow into Mito. The Kyuubi roared in pain as he started to shrink into a smaller size. After a few seconds, he was half the size he used to be, which was still pretty big. It was around this time that the control on him was released, and he was able to remember what had happened to him. With a snarl, he swiped at the masked man, which lightly grazed his torso, before becoming fully sealed in the body of the young seal master.

"Ha… Ha… I did it… Now it's all up to you… honey…" she panted, before passing out and sinking into the lake. Madara was sent the order to attack her, but tree roots sprung up and trapped him. Symbols on the roots started to glow green, and for a second the Mangekyou Sharingan in Madara's eyes was deactivated.

"Wood Art: Style Cancel Jutsu"

Madara started to writhe in agony before finally stopping. When he was fully done, the roots retracted and released him. He sprang forward into the lake and reemerged with Mito in tow. He lay her down on the bank of the lake before turning around and looking at the wounded masked man that was floating in the air. His Mangekyou Sharingan reactivated and KI rolled off his body in spades. Hashirama joined him at his side and the ninja released KI that would scare a tailed beast. The two ninja stood firm and tall as they stared dawn the masked man. As the memories came rushing back to him, Madara's eyes narrowed.

"Why couldn't you release me sooner, Senju…" he asked, not taking his eyes off of the masked man.

"We had to get rid of the Nine Tails. We couldn't take the risk of letting him go free from the control and running on a rampage. We saw a chance and we took it."

"Ah, I see"

"Indeed"

The masked man was starting to go insane by now, "You know, whatever! I don't even care how many people are on your side. You can't beat me."

"We'll see about that. You got me by surprise last time, but now I am fully aware of your powers. Even without Hashirama setting me free, I would have been released soon anyway, wouldn't I have been? The amount of chakra you need to pull off that genjutsu is large, and I can see that you don't have nearly enough left to do it again."

The masked man was shocked. The weight of the situation was starting to dawn on him. Maybe these two actually got their reputation for power by earning it…

Hashirama was the first to attack. He focused chakra in his legs and used it to enhance his jumping power. He accelerated through the air and reached the masked man in almost no time at all. He reared back a fist and pushed it into the skull of his enemy, but his attack went right through him. As a matter of fact, his entire body went right through him. Hashirama landed on the other side of the lake near the waterfall and looked up incredulously.

Madara scoffed, "Always punches first, think later… huh Hashirama? Direct attacks won't work on this one. I don't know how, but somehow his Sharingan is allowing him to warp space and time. When you attack him he can make himself intangible."

Hashirama laughed, "The Sharingan… always going to be a pain in my a**… Well then how do you suppose we beat him, oh mighty planner?"

"Well, all jutsu have drawbacks, his is not having unlimited chakra. He was already drained by controlling both me and that overgrown flea bag. Eventually he will run out of the chakra he needs to execute that little trick of his. All we have to do is not let up on our attacks."

"So you want us to continue to attack until he gets tired… ingenious plan…"

"Do you have a better one?"

"No, considering you stole mine just now."

"Dobe" replied Madara.

"Teme" said Hashirama as he prepared another attack. His hands flashed through some hand signs, and when he was done he screamed, "Water Style: Water Dragon No Jutsu"

A dragon of water appeared from the lake and lunged toward the masked ninja. It flew right through him and collapsed back into harmless water.

"Try again, Hashirama" he said, before performing the wind blade technique. Instead of one blade this time, though, hundreds shot from all parts his body.

Wood Style: Barrier Tree Jutsu. Hashirama said. A wall of tree roots sprang out of the ground and shielded him from the brunt of the attack.

Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu. Madara said after completing hand seals. A gigantic fireball came forth from his mouth and enveloped the wind blades as well as the masked ninja. When the fireball passed through, the man was unscathed.

"Actually, new plan, this is getting sad. Let's go all out", screamed Madara to his partner. His Sharingan mutated to a new form and purple bones of chakra started to form around his body. He started to float in the air in said chakra until finally it formed a big skeleton of pure purple chakra. Madara continued to float in the middle, then clapped his hands together, "Level 2." Thicker chakra formed over the bones and stuck together in the gapes of the skeleton. It started to form a sort of armor and eventually only the yellow "eyes" of the chakra being could be seen, "Level 3." The armor cocoon whined as two pairs of hands emerged from the either side of it. The armor split and now four eyes could be seen. With one looking each way, the technique looked as if it was a conjoined soldier. One pair of arms held out its hands and a sword formed in them. The other pair put its hands in a cup form and a chakra shuriken formed.

"My strongest technique… Susanoo…" Madara said. The massive chakra beast turned and threw the shuriken at the masked man, of which it promptly passed through. The attack was responded with more wind blades down on Susanoo, which did nothing as well.

"You're gonna need more than that, you Uchiha disgrace." Said Madara, which angered the masked man. A blade of wind formed around his arm, making him a blade arm. He charged forward and swiped at Susanoo at lightning speeds, which had no actual impact. Susanoo turned and slashed with his sword while he was in the middle of a swing and scored the first successful attack on the masked man, sending him crashing backwards through several trees.

'Finally a hit!' Madara gasped, 'But why?' he didn't have long to think, though, as the masked man reemerged from the wreckage and charged back at him again. He used an earth jutsu to collapse the ground around Susanoo, and Madara was forced to release the jutsu in order to escape the attack. As soon as he was free, his armor was slashed several times by the wind blade from the masked man, whose mask was now cracked. Madara attempted to pull out his kunai, but the man was fast. Before his hand even reached his holster, it was cut by the wind blade, and he had to pull it back to keep it from being cut off.

Hashirama was watching the battle with a scrutinous eye. He had seen when Madara had gotten in the only successful hit, but he was puzzled as to how he had done it. What did he do? Did Susanoo's sword have special properties? No, otherwise the shuriken would have it as well… Damn… what exactly was different about the time when the sword attacked and when all the others did?

By now Madara had several scratches all over his body. He was bleeding from many places across his body and the masked man was just continuing his onslaught. What the hell was that Senju doing? He had very little strength left to do more than the occasional block, but that was nothing before the never ending speed of the man. He was now bordering on unconscious from the lack of blood. He could see through blurry eyes that the masked man was readying his finishing attack when a glowing tree sprang from the ground and enveloped the masked man.

"I'm sure you're familiar with this one? It's the one I used to stop your jutsu earlier… Wood Style: Style Cancel Jutsu"

The masked man tried to phase through the attack but found out he couldn't.

"Having trouble? You can't phase, or do any jutsu for that matter, while you're in contact with that tree. I figured out your weakness, goodbye Uchiha scum" said Hashirama as he readied his next jutsu. It was a sealing jutsu he learned from his wife. As he was about to be finished, the man started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Hashirama asked, stopping on his last seal. By this time Madara was just getting up from the onslaught put on him. His eyes were still blurry, but his Sharingan was still activated. He looked over to the Shodai and his prisoner, and those same eyes grew wider.

"Hashirama! Finish your technique now!"

"Too slow" the masked man said, before biting down on his tongue. A small seal in his mouth that he was filling with chakra sprang to life from the activation code, his own blood. Within seconds, everything in a one mile radius was enveloped in fire…

For about ten seconds…

"Repel" was the one calm word said, before the fire receded into a compact ball the size of a marble, and was sent high into the sky. The masked man was lying unconscious on the ground, and Hashirama was bordering on doing the same. He looked up at Madara and saw a change in his eyes… they looked like rings? He was confused as he collapsed on the ground, finishing the seal in his descent. The man was locked in a cage of several elements, some of which required a kekkai gekkai to release.

Madara looked over the two, exhausted.

"Heh, we're even now, Hashirama…" He said, before collapsing as well from chakra exhaustion. His eyes closed for the last time that day. He died as the only Uchiha to reach the eye level of the Rinnegan…