I want to thank you guys again for the support you've given me, and for that thank you, and as a present to you all this chapter will be showing a lot of surprises most of you that's read the story from the first chapter have been waiting to see.

Anyway I shall say it that since this is an AU I shall be making changes in the ages, and you shall see other changes I've made from reading this chapter.

Now Enjoy...

Legend of the Kōjin no Kōtei

Chapter 3: The Pendulum Swings Part 1

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure sat behind his desk with his fingers intertwined whilst he stared from beneath the rim of his kage hat. His sharp brown eyes hardened from the years of warfare pierced into the other two pairs of eyes belonging to the two men that now stood infront of his desk. Though he sat composed with little to no abnormality in his posture one with the trained eye would see the tense of his muscles, the twitch of his hands, and guarded way he held himself. He was a kage that had been through wars since he was a child, and as such learned to always keep up his guard.

But right now Hiruzen was in a state of annoyance it had been little over a week since the attempted invasion on Uzushiogakure with the combined forces of Iwa, Kiri and Kumo, and the news of their failure had reached the vast reaches of the Elemental Nations. Naturally many people had believed that the land would have been decimated under the combined force of three supernova shinobi villages, but it seems like the Uzumaki Clan had once again proven history correct in achieving the impossible.

They had come out alive or so the two men standing before him had reported, but right now he was more interested in the report of their mission.

And he was not pleased with what they had to say...

''Can either of you please explain to me how two of my top infiltration experts could fail in a simple retrieval mission of one young girl. How could you two my own students fail in retrieving, Uzumaki Kushina amidst the attack on her home?'' he said questioning the two men. His eyes went the first one of whom wilted under his gaze. Still he felt not sympathy for the two they had failed in a crucial mission that would have benefited Konohagakure immensely, but to hear they had failed was something he not expected nor wanted to even hear in the first place.

The first man was tall with a muscular build, he wore the standard ANBU Uniform which consisted of a long sleeves black T-shirt and black pants with the ends tucked into his black shinobi sandals where white medical tape was wrapped around to secure them in place. In addition was a gray chest guard with gray shoulder guards that covered the mans entire upper torso. He looked to be in his twenties with tanned skin, he had long spiky white hair that fell to his mid back. Black eyes stared nervously back into the stony orbs of Hiruzen Sarutobi while red line markings dripped down from the bottom of his eyes and finally he had the beginning of a small wart on his nose.

The second man was much different to his fellow companion while he wore the same uniform it was a lot more loose due to the mans body being much more thin. He had the body of agile fighter that relied more on flexibility and speed then his fellow shinobi. His skin on the other hand was an unnatural shade of pale to the point it looked unhealthy to the stark white tone his skin looked to be. He had long waist length straight black hair while his most unique feature was his eyes being amber with his pupils being slits stared back at Hiruzen in a bored fashion hiding the small feeling of nervousness as he stared into the eyes of the man given the moniker as the Kami no Shinobi.

The first man seemed to gather his bearings, ''Well you see me and Orochimaru were sneaking into the underwater system, but somehow we triggered something in the Fuinjutsu defense grid because an alarm went off, and then we were...flushed back into the sea. By the time were awoke we washed up on the shore of the mainland and the battle for Uzushio ended.'' he said making Hiruzen look at him for a few seconds before nodding.

''I see...'' then he turned his attention to the other man named Orochimaru, ''And what about you Orochimaru what about your secondary objective with finding out any information regarding the Uzumaki Clan or any unusual abnormalities in their defenses?'' he asked only to raise an eyebrow when Orochimaru hesitated to answer that is until he seemed to straighten himself out, and told him bluntly.

''No I could not sensei because of one glaring flaw when I sent out my snakes to infiltrate through the water, and into the land when the whirlpools were disrupted by the Kiri forces. I didn't hear from them until I woke up, and come to find out I figured out why.'' when he received a raised eyebrow in response he continued. ''All of Uzu no Kuni was surrounded in what looked like a barrier of fire it was only for an instant sensei, but me and Jiraiya saw it. I can only theorize most of my snakes were incinerated by the flames by getting in contact with them or just by being near them.'' he said causing Hiruzen's eyes to widen exponentially.

A giant barrier of fire? To surround the entire landmass of Uzu no Kuni? No one not even the likes of Katon masters such as Uchiha Madara himself was capable of doing such a thing. Yet to hear this was a shock, and made him wonder as to what could have caused such a event to appear.

''I see, but you said most of them did any survive?'' Orochimaru nodded not surprised his sensei caught on to that.

''That would be correct one of the water snakes I sent out had relayed to me concerning the events with what happened to the main invasion force, and from what I was told it would seem the Uzumaki Clan have more ties then we actually thought. Because from what was reported by my snake, one single man stood between the combined forces of Kiri, Iwa and Kumo and Uzushiogakure.'' he said causing Hiruzen to frown in disbelief. No one, no one man could stand alone against an entire army of that size unless perhaps it was his sensei Hashirama Senju or Uchiha Madara, but they were legendary and even considered monsters even amongst himself.

''Continue...'' he ordered

''Yes well unfortunately my snake could not get a description of the man because it had to flee when he started his attack, and that was because the sea floor had been sliced in half causing a mass rupture in the sea. That was why it had to flee, and that was all I could get sensei.'' he said while Hiruzen once again felt shock flood his system.

The entire seafloor...sliced in half? What kind of being could accomplish something like that? To destroy the sea floor was different, but to slice it down in half, and cause a rupture in the sea was something else entirely. The only thing Hiruzen knew that could do something like that was the Sanbi the three-tailed giant turtle and the Nine-tailed Kyuubi no Kitsune and even then neither of those two bijuu could actually cut through the sea floor like Orochimaru had just told him. If anything it sounded as if a sword had cut through it...

But that was just impossible...no mortal man could do such a thing...

Still he left his mind open to the possibility of it no matter the sheer absurdity of it...

''I see this is unexpected...'' he muttered before he glanced to see the white haired man shift where he stood, and seeing the look on his face Hiruzen waved his hand. ''You have something to say, Jiraiya?'' he said noticing the way the man seemed to shift in his posture. Decades of training had taught him to read peoples movements, and by just looking at his student he could tell the man wanted to speak his mind.

Jiraiya just nodded before he spoke in a low tone of voice,''Was this right, sensei? I mean to do this to the Uzumaki Clan. Didn't Tsunade's Clan have a long standing alliance with them? Why break it now? Was it even a good idea to betray them like this sensei?'' he asked as doubt for what his sensei was doing. Though he had been called the dobe of his class and generation he had known about the alliance the Senju Clan held with the Uzumaki Clan, and its lasted for nearly a century.

Hiruzen sighed, and glad he'd whisked his guards out of the room before he spoke. This was after all a classified mission that wouldn't be recorded in either of his students records. Leaning back Hiruzen fished out his pipe before dipping some tobacco inside before lighting it with a small katon jutsu. Inhaling the sweet smoke he exhaled before looking towards Jiraiya.

''Jiraiya we're in a world of war where the strongest survive, and the weak perish no matter how much we choose to deny, hate or despise it that is the number one law by which we all humans follow. It's a basic concept built in every human to help us learn to survive and adapt to our surroundings. We are at our very core animals that must follow our instincts to survive, and that is what I am doing for Konoha to survive this land of bloodshed. We needed the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi in our village to keep the village in the eyes of the other shinobi villages strong enough to pose a threat. Betraying the Uzumaki while taking the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki was the only plausible answer to cut off our connections to them in order to gain a ceasefire with Kiri, Iwa and Kumo and also gain the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki back in our village as it was with the first.'' he said before taking a drag of his pipe.

Exhaling he spoke once again to his two silent students, ''But to answer your question; Was it a good idea? No it was not. But if it would keep Konoha strong so its people could flourish and the work my sensei's Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju put forth in this village alive than I would do it again in a heartbeat.'' he said causing Jiraiya to frown before looking down.

Orochimaru on the other hand gave a little scoff causing him to catch Hiruzen's eye, ''Is there something you wish to say as well, Orochimaru?'' the man in question just gave his sensei a bored stare that danced with a small manner of crude amusement.

''Yes actually, it would seem there is a flaw in your words because the Uzumaki have today proven they are not weak if they could do this amount of damage, and even survive for that matter then they are truly a force to be reckoned with. They have also proven to have deeper ties to foreign alliances that we know nothing about in regards to this mysterious man on the battlefield whom seemed to have defended Uzu no Kuni.'' he said causing Hiruzen to frown at the truth in Orochimaru's words.

''True I didn't honestly expect them to survive let alone someone unrelated to Konoha aid the Uzumaki Clan seeing as they are indeed well feared for their power in the field of Fuinjutsu. And that's not even counting the fact they are all well as a clan well talented in all fields of a shinobi. Still it is unexpected to see that they hold ties and alliances if this mysterious man is anything to go by because Hashirama-sensei never mentioned of other alliances the Uzumaki Clan held.'' he trailed on with a frown. What else had the Uzumaki Clan not told them?

Orochimaru this time did scoff before speaking when he saw Hiruzen look at him, ''Don't forget sensei of the fact that when the Uzumaki Clan learn about the breach in their defenses they will tighten up on everything. This will make a second attempt near impossible, and seeing the incident with the first retrieval of the second Kyuubi Jinchuuriki failed with our own shinobi abandoning her with the Kumo shinobi will leave them with a very bad impression of us with their leader.''

Hiruzen once again frowned, but nodded at the truth of Orochimaru's words the incident in getting Kushina the first time had reached his ears by the very shinobi that abandoned her. Now they were nothing more then a pile of ashes for leaving their potential war asset in the hands of Kumo to save their own life's. The families of said shinobi were also threatened with punishment if they so much as breathed a word to anyone about it, but it would seem that had been for nothing because he soon learned that the young girl proved to be even more elusive then he first thought.

Because he'd soon learned from one of his spies in Nanamushi that they had seen the redhead traveling with an unidentified man where she presumably sailed back to Uzu no Kuni. Nanamushi being one of the very few port towns that had an outside Uzumaki fairy-man that could transport other Uzumaki's across the whirlpool defense system that surrounded Uzu no Kuni without being pulverized by the whirlpools.

Then came the other portion of what Orochimaru said, and that actually made him feel a sliver of worry sprout in his gut. He knew the Uzumaki Clan's current head by the name of Uzumaki Kenshin, the current Uzukage of Uzushiogakure and un-official daimyo of Uzu no Kuni itself. He'd met the man merely once, but that had been enough for Hiruzen to learn that the man took protecting his clan, and especially that of his family above all else. He knew of his reputation, and quite frankly he wouldn't want to face him in battle unless absolutely needed because he knew of what that man could do with the slightest touch of his hand.

Still it left to question what Kenshin would do even he-with his other moniker as the Professor-couldn't think up a true response from Kenshin regarding to what happened in Uzu no Kuni. There were so many variables Hiruzen wouldn't be able to think up a plausible response Kenshin could make when the one he would actually make came at his very doorstep. He was a shrewd man, and one that even the Nara's wouldn't want to face in a battle of wits.

''We will just have to wait and see how this plays out...'' he said only for Jiraiya to speak after his short bout of silence.

''And what about Tsunade? What will we do about her? Right now she's in mourning over the passing of Mito-sama, and should she hear about this I fear she may react...badly.'' he said where Orochimaru in a rare moment agreed with his friend with a nod of his head.

''I have to agree sensei, with the recent passing of Mito-sama Tsunade's mental state is not in the best of conditions, and should she learn of what we did to her last living relatives she may act in a manner that may be treacherous to Konoha.'' he said causing Hiruzen to frown, but he nodded nonetheless.

Uzumaki Mito's passing had been a shock to all, but himself the woman had grown old, and to an age beyond what any other mortal could live up to especially those that took up the lifespan of shinobi or kunoichi. However Mito was not only the wife of his sensei Hashirama Senju, but she had also been a very fearsome, and terrifying kunoichi in her day, and her talent in Fuinjutsu was bar none. No one could argue the fact the woman was the only true Fuinjutsu master surpassed by none even amongst those of her own clan.

She was the inspiration to generations of Kunoichi from past to present especially to Tsunade her own granddaughter that would explain why her death had hit his student so hard. The fact she had already lost her little brother Nawaki in an explosive trap during an Iwa incursion not too long ago didn't help matters at all. So it was prudent to keep aware of the fact that right now Tsunade was not in the right mental stability befitting a loyal kunoichi of Konoha especially with her pedigree as the last living Senju to learn of what he did to try and benefit Konoha as a whole.

Even if that had failed in the end it was still prudent she not learn of what he did...

''Your worry for your teammate is well placed, but do not worry Tsunade shall not know about this until she has recovered to a stable mental level so that she can understand the action I took was for Konoha to stay afloat. Now I have much work to go over so you two are dismissed.'' he said waving his hand. Satisfied with his answer the two nodded.

''Hai sensei!'' and the two vanished in a plume of smoke.

With them gone Hiruzen sighed he took another drag of his pipe.

''You can come out now'' he said whilst he turned his gaze to his left to see the corner of his office where the light was presented in the least allowing the shadows to close in on that corner. It was there a figure melded out from the shadows until the figure was fully visible before Hiruzen's gaze. Who it was brought a relieved expression to Hiruzen's face.

It was a figure cloaked in a full body black trench coat that covered their body from head to toe with a hood that shadowed their head while a white plain porcelain mask similar to his ANBU wore, but it bore not striking markings. However that is what put this person out from the rest of his other ANBU. It was when the figure took a few steps out from the wall until he was standing infront of his desk then he kneeled down before his Hokage.

Looking down at the black clothed ANBU Hiruzen exhaled some smoke before placing his pipe away then turning his gaze to the ANBU he intertwined his hands while his brown eyes gained a cold stony edge.

''Report, Obake''

The now named Obake nodded before he stood up so that he was looking directly at Hiruzen.

''I was able to uncover the information you wanted regarding the situation in Iwa, Kumo and Kiri and it would seem both the Nidaime Tsuchikage Mu and Sandaime Raikage Z are both in critical condition while the Nidaime Mizukage Mida Hozuki is still in a state of recovery, but his physical wounds are far less then Mu or Z, but his mental wounds are far worse. I have come to find out that both Mu and Z were to lead the main attack on Uzu no Kuni while Mida was to take a group of his most elite Kiri shinobi through the Uzumaki waterways. However from the reports Mida was confronted by Kenshin and the entire force of the Uzumaki's finest shinobi. While Mu, Z and the main invasion force were blocked from entering Uzu no Kuni by both a giant barrier of fire surrounding the Isle, but also with just one man standing between them.'' the ANBU said with his voice muffled by his mask, but it was clearly a male.

However Hiruzen heard him clearly, and he frowned it seemed what Orochimaru had said was true after all. Nodding his head the ANBU continued.

''Reports given by those that were able to retreat in time indicate that this one man was the cause for defeating the two Kages in a One vs Two battle, and causing the full scale retreat for the combined forces of the three villages, but that has been unconfirmed until both Z and Mu are fully conscious to give then initial reports. Iwa and Kumogakure are both in a state of alert with their leaders in critical conditions they are calling all shinobi back for a full withdraw from all previous and current battlefields. Furthermore, Mida has already put a full scale lock down on Kirigakure, and had made no further attempt to make aggressive actions towards Uzushiogakure. It is speculated that his fight and defeat at the hands of Uzumaki Kenshin has mentally scarred him to the point of destroying whatever will the man once had to face the Uzumaki again.'' it was here Hiruzen was feeling that same sprout of worry grow increasingly bigger at what he just heard.

Although they were still unconfirmed it was still from eye witnesses at the battle who saw it, and one could not simply ignore this unless they be an ignorant fool. If there truly had been just one man that had truly defeated the combined forces of three shinobi villages while also taking down the Sandaime Raikage Z and Nidaime Tsuchikage Mu, shinobi of their caliber and ones he's faced while not at the same time both defeated at the time was just a scary thought.

What man could possibly hold that kind of power and still be called human?

Still hardening his resolve he spoke, ''And what of your secondary objective?'' he asked causing the ANBU to fish out a scroll which he placed on Hiruzen's desk. Looking at the scroll he perked an eyebrow at the ANBU who spoke.

''That scroll is my detailed report on the estimated losses resulted in this invasion attempt, Hokage-sama. The average estimate you made before the invasion was that the combined forces would lose around 30% total of the over all force while a 99% was made on the near extermination of the Uzumaki Clan excluding the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki, Uzumaki Kushina. However after going over each report from all three villages that estimate...was severely wrong, sir.'' he said therefore making the Sarutobi glance up to his ANBU operative with a curious glance.

''Oh? And how much of a difference are we talking about?'' he said whilst he took the scroll for himself.

''After going over all the specs I can guarantee a total lose from the overall combined force is at the very least 80% that is not including the bodies that could not be found. While the Uzumaki Clan hadn't suffered a single casualty due to the fact those that fought alongside Kenshin were the most elite of his shinobi and among them was some of their best medic-nin, and the rest are speculated to have been in the shelters during the time of the attack.''

Here Hiruzen's face scrunched up as he ran the information through his head while it was a complete different estimate to what he averaged it to be it still possessed a problem for him due to the fact no casualties were reported within the Uzumaki. Kenshin must have took every precaution to safeguard his clansmen, and took the full brunt of Mida and his men with the most powerful of his clansmen at his side.

''Well even though the difference in estimate is high it doesn't change the outcome; even if my plan failed with Uzushio being destroyed. The second part of it couldn't have gone any better because now with the vast weakening of Kiri, Iwa and Kumo's forces and their withdrawal of their shinobi from the front lines gives us the breathing room needed. Then when we build up our forces we can launch our offensive while still under the guise of still being under that ceasefire agreement I proposed to them. Therefore I can send in the ANBU saboteurs in to begin rigging the villages weapons, siege engines, and their very own village's defenses.'' expressing this to the ANBU wasn't a bad thing while normally he would keep such information hidden only to his War Council this ANBU was different from his other ANBU.

Looking at the silent ANBU Hiruzen cracked a smile, ''Well it seems your mission is a success. Once again you astound me with your abilities as my top infiltration expert. Your actions have once again aided Konoha during these trialing times. Just as they did when you went and retrieved that information from Uzumaki Mito.'' he said with a grim smile as he stared down at the cloaked ANBU who remained stationary during his words.

That was still a mystery as to how this one ANBU was able to get such classified information from the woman who'd lived far longer then any of them ever had. Then again Mito no matter her status was still an old feeble woman with a weakening mind that was fragile like glass. And when signs of her passing came it revealed the perfect opportunity for Hiruzen to act. He had sent this particular ANBU Codenamed Obake to retrieve all the classified information directly from Mito's mind, and while it was still a mystery to how he had done it the results had been the same.

Hiruzen was rewarded with information to Uzushio's entire defense network, the layout of its very foundations, potential weak points that he had noted, and given to Mida who spread the word to both Mu and Z enticing them to invade. Even better was classified sealing techniques meant only for the eyes of the Uzumaki Clan. After those results had been given Mito had passed on just a few days after in her sleep. While his actions with taking advantage of the situation with his late sensei's wife could be considered monstrous Sarutobi was adamant in keep Konoha safe even if that meant going to the extremes to do so.

The ANBU Obake just bowed his head, ''I just do what I must to ensure Konoha and her people stay safe, Hokage-sama.'' he said where the Sandaime Hokage looked at the man with a smile of pride.

''Too true once again you prove your loyalty to Konoha is as powerful as ever, and your Will of Fire burns ever so fiercely. You truly are just like your father tell me how is he these days?'' he trailed on wanting to know about Obake's father's health. Obake remained motionless, but still responded out of respect for his leader.

''Tou-sama is doing fine his health is stable so far, but I do fear his time is coming close'' he said in a monotonous fashion. Frowning Hiruzen looked at Obake with a curious if not a bit alarmed glance.

''Why is that?''

''Call it...a gut feeling, Hokage-sama.'' it was clear that was all the man was willing to speak on the status of his fathers health, and Hiruzen could respect that, and so with a sigh the Sarutobi Head pocketed Obake's scroll for future inspection before he looked directly towards the ANBU.

''Very well, but I'm afraid I am going to have to send you back out in the field Obake. Now that I have the information regarding most of our enemies we can set out sights on Suna, and then begin building up for the offensive. However in the meantime I want you to go out on a search and scouting mission.'' he watched as Obake stood up straighter with his shoulders squared out while his attention was directly on him.

''Who's the objective, Hokage-sama?'' and it was then Hiruzen stared straight into Obake's eyes piercing through his mask's eye holes as he stated the objective.

''I want you to go out, and find any information regarding this unknown element, this supposed man who helped the Uzumaki Clan. If this one man was able to crush the main invasion force of three shinobi villages, and defeat two kages at the same time is a man to be both feared and watched. Without information on this man, and without knowing his ties, name, appearance or skill he could become a threat to the war effort. That's why I shall be giving you all the time and all the resources you need to find this man. When you find any information or even an accurate description of the man report back to me immediately, am I understood?'' there was an air of authority he excluded when he made this order, and it was Obake who bowed his head in acknowledgment of his leaders order.

''Hai Hokage-sama!''

''Then you're dismissed'' and with a wave of his hand Obake backed into the wall only to meld away erasing his existence along with his chakra signature and scent from where he once was. Nodding with this Hiruzen went back to the documents to his desk to prepare for the eventual meeting with his War Council. However if Hiruzen had been a bit more aware he would have seen the blue bird that had been perched on his window sill the entire time he spoke with Jiraiya and Orochimaru and Obake. With his back turned the blue bird chirped a tune before it flew off with its destination in mind.

Senju Compound-Tsunade's Room

The very same blue bird came flying through the window of one Senju Tsunade only to land on the floor directly infront of said blond haired Senju who watched it with a dull gaze. She remained impassive as the bird erupted in a poof of smoke only to reveal a perfect clone of herself. In all aspects it looked exactly like her 24 year old self standing a good height of 5'8 with fair skin tone. Her body was what made her stand out as it was one befitting a Kunoichi of her status. A woman who took her training seriously with her slim yet fit build with a D bust restrained by the fabric of her clothing. Like the real Tsunade it wore the exact same clothing of a black long sleeved T-shirt and black pants where the ends were tucked into her shinobi sandals and in addition to this was the medical tape wrapped around her shins. Finally over her upper torso was a gray chest guard with gray shoulder guards.

The clone of Tsunade had her same facial features where her usual warm honey brown eyes now held a glaze of sheer dull coldness one would have never seen on her before unless on the battlefield while her light blond hair was tied up in a high ponytail with two bangs framing her face.

Nonetheless, the real Tsunade merely looked at her clone and said one simple word. ''Kai'' and with that command the clone vanished in a plume of smoke as its memories of what it had seen and heard came rushing to the forefront of her mind. And biting her lower lip Tsunade gripped the sheets of her bed as her mind began to comprehend all the information her Kage Bunshin. The debriefing of her two teammates with her sensei, and the words they exchanged, and about her condition and the words her sensei spoke with the ANBU called Obake rolled through her mind.

And each word spoken was like a dagger to the heart...

She didn't want to believe it, and had even denied it at the beginning, but...her Obaa-sama...she had been correct.

Konoha had betrayed her...

A single tear fell from her eye filled with all the betrayal and sorrow she felt as the blond haired Kunoichi struggled to come to terms with what she had just seen. What her sensei and teammates failed to understand was the fact that Tsunade had grown up under the guidance of Uzumaki Mito, her Obaa-sama. She had been her inspiration to become a Kunoichi, she had been the shoulder she cried on when she lost her little brother Nawaki, and she had been the one to help her when no one else would.

She'd built a strong connection with her Obaa-sama, and from when she was a child she would always tell her stories of her distant relatives. The Uzumaki Clan, and she'd always wished to meet them for herself, but the chance never came with her duties in Konoha far outweighing it that desire to meet with them. So the stories as a child had been the only thing she could learn about them, and through this Tsunade had gotten closer to her grandmother then most people thought possible.

She'd been there at her bedside when she was passing on praying to whatever Kami that was listening to hope she would get better, but in vain she knew it was not to be as her Obaa-sama had far out lived the normal lifespan of a mortal. Thanks in part to being an Uzumaki, but it didn't help ease the pain of losing her in the slightest. But in those last moments she had told Tsunade of what was transpiring behind their back. Konoha betraying her Obaa-sama's clan and the act someone had done something to her Obaa-sama to have released those secrets. Secrets she knew were classified information only known to the Clan Head of the Uzumaki from each generation. The fact that someone had been crawling inside her obaa-sama's mind in her state of weakness caused her stomach to churn, and to find out it was on the order of her own sensei made it only worse.

But strangely her Obaa-sama seemed...confident even to the end in something and even with the information taken from her, and given to the enemy she had been confident in her Clan surviving. Tsunade didn't understand why, but her Obaa-sama only kept a strong confidence in her Clan's survival. But now she knew why...

With the the information taken from scouting her sensei's meeting with her teammates and the ANBU Obake she learned that someone had helped her Obaa-sama's Clan survive the attack. Not only that, but had even caused the full retreat of their attacks along with nearly crippling the Nidaime Tsuchikage and Sandaime Raikage in the process. The amount of relief she felt when she heard that had nearly made her kage bunshin lose control from keeping her chakra down to such a level it left her clone feeling hollow.

But it paid off in the end...

Still Tsunade stood from her bed as she thought on what her grandmother told her seeing as everything she had said was indeed true. That infact her sensei had been willing to even sacrifice the Uzumaki Clan her last living relatives no matter the distance in the family tree made her question how deep rooted he had become. Had the teachings her grandfather and granduncle become so deep rooted in her sensei that he would do something this extreme or was protecting Konohagakure to such lengths the teachings her grandfather had taught her sensei?

Had her grandfather and granduncle's views on Konoha and the means to protect it mean to do anything to make sure it stayed protected even if that meant sacrificing their family to do so? How could she trust in something like that, and Hiruzen to expect her to stay loyal? Was he even going to tell her about this?!

Looking at the top of her dresser she saw two objects one being a scroll with the Uzumaki golden sigil locked in placed while the other was a strange hexagon like object wrapped in white cloth to hide what it was from her eyes. She remembered her grandmother passing these onto her from her frail shaky hands as she took her last breaths in the living world.

'Remember Tsu-chan if should the time ever come...take this scroll and this object, and flee never look back. Konoha...is not what it seems, and its taken me this long to finally realize that the teachings your grandfather and granduncle will eventually lead the village to ruin. I failed to realize until my last moments, but I can at least save you from the eventual ruin of the village. Take these and flee to Uzushiogakure, and if you show them this scroll...they will let you in to see the current Clan head. Give him this scroll...it will explain everything...'

She remembered crying at her bedside, but took the objects in honor of her wishes, but it was the next words that left her confused.

'And as for that clothed object...should you ever reach Uzushio...you are to give that to a man you may not know what he looks like, but when you see him you will know it is him. The object will react to his presence...Tsu-chan...it is crucial this man gets this object at all costs...you have to promise me above all else...this object reaches him. Do you understand?'

'Y-yes...Obaa-sama...I promise...it will reach him...I swear it...but please save your strength' she'd said that while not fully understanding what she meant. But still in defiance her grandmother smiled at her even as she took her final moments in the living world.

'There is no need Tsu-chan...my time has come, and I accept it peacefully...but your time is nowhere near close so use this time to find your one true place or comfort. Go and seek out your distant family...once they learn of the situation...I assure you they will welcome you with open arms...Goodbye my little Tsu-chan'

'….Obaa-sama?...Obaa-sama?!...wake up...OBAA-SAMA!'

Wiping a stray tear from her eye Tsunade pushed away those thoughts as she grasped the two objects and pocketed them inside her pack. Then reaching to her forehead she yanked off the Konoha headband from her head before looking down at it. All the hard work she put forth into achieving the rank she had...only to realize everything she worked for was for a village that would desecrate the memory of her Obaa-sama, and would stomp on the alliance they held with her clan just so they would survive.

It made her...sick to even be a Konoha kunoichi...

It made her feel...used, betrayed, angry and above all else...she felt hatred for what her sensei had done to her distant relatives, and even more so for what he and this ANBU Obake did to her Obaa-sama.

She was disgusted to be a student to Sarutobi Hiruzen...

And she was disgusted to even be a Senju!

Grooooaannn!

The groaning of bending metal sounded off in her room as the blond gripped the headband until it was clunk of metal then without a second look she tossed it back causing it to plunge into the wall behind her.

Right into the portrait of her grandfather...

Walking toward the door Tsunade only had one place in mind that she could go a place she should have went from the start, and it would only be the next day that Konoha would come find out that...

Senju Tsunade had left Konoha.

Numa no Kuni

''Again''

Uzumaki Kushina could honestly say the last week since she and Naruto departed from her homeland had been a rather eventful week. Since the start of their trip Kushina had plunged into her training with gusto so she could enhance her skills because she knew her sister was going to be doing the same exact thing, and she was going to be under the guidance of their mother and father.

But that didn't bother her because Kushina actually found herself a teacher in her traveling companion. She still remembered when she started her training that she realized her skill in taijutsu was mediocre seeing as she had no style, and only followed through with beating the daylights out of anyone that mocked her about her hair. That was why she had tried to fix her taijutsu, and even before then she had her mother and father try to teach her Uzumaki Taijutsu styles, but none of them felt right to her so that was why she'd been trying to create her own.

That's where Naruto came in after she had asked him though she was hesitant to do so seeing as he really had no obligation to do so, and was already having her traveling with him. However she was surprised when the blond accepted in teaching her, but at the time he had told her should he help her that she would not complain or he would stop the moment she did. At the time she had been resolute, and told him she would never complain no matter what she had to go through.

This led to her getting to know something else about the blond...and that was the sheer fact...that Oda Naruto was a sadistic sadist of a teacher! She had the bruises, scraps and gashes to prove it which she gained from he spars she had with the man, and every time he was able to beat her back down with the simplest of effort. And he was even restraining himself to just one arm, and so far he hadn't once hit her with his own fists.

Walking toward the down redhead Naruto looked down at her, ''Is that all you have or are you done for today?'' his answer came in the response of her grinning before she jumped to her feet, and got back in her practiced stance. Staring resolutely at the blond Kushina once again readied herself.

''Hah! I'm nowhere near finished, ttebane!'' and with that she dashed toward the blond and just as she was within 3 feet of the blond she swung her leg out only for the blond to catch her foot, but twisting her body she lashed out with her other foot to kick off the blonds arm. Then when her feet hit the ground she jumped back at the blond with a fist aimed for his head which he blocked with the same arm. He surprised her when he grasped her wrist, and with a yelp he tossed her into the air, scowling the redhead looked down as she shot up in the air. ''Tch again with his scary strength..!'' righting herself in the air the redhead flipped in the air before she came back hurtling back down with gravity accelerating her descent. With the wind causing her hair to billow began to spin her body forward.

Naruto raised an eyebrow at her tactic, and was slightly impressed with her reach in new tactics; accelerating her speed from the air with the use of gravity, and the increase of velocity with her spinning would certainly give her a much bigger boost in speed, and power. So standing where he was Naruto watched as the heiress came down toward him.

Then her leg lashed out in a drop kick where he once again brought up his arm only for his eyes to widen momentarily when he discovered it to be a feint as she actually landed on his arm. Her head snapped up to reveal her smirk before her free leg lashed out for his head which he ducked causing her to curse. Using that same foot to land on his spiked pauldron as a leverage she brought down her elbow on his head. But when his hand lashed out to deflect her attack caused her to curse before she spun behind him, and then she charged at his back.

Naruto turned around only for his hand to catch Kushina's fist, but his eyes narrowed when Kushina threw her other hand out, but she stopped just a few inches from his head. Then the center of her palms tarted glow before a spiked chain coated in blue chakra shot out he tilted his head to the side, but when he saw Kushina's hand twitch he reacted.

Turning his head back he saw the chain loop in reverse before I came toward him intent on impaling his head through.

'Impressive she's learned on changing the trajectory of her chains...but still...this is not enough...' to the redheads shock Naruto reached out with her other hand for the first time during the spar and grasped the chain halting in its intended path. Then with a clench of his hand the chain was crushed like glass under his grip. Then turning his attention back on Kushina he saw her shock and took advantage of it. Letting go of her fist he grasped her wrist and with a light yank he pulled her into the air causing her to give a small eep before he hauled her in the air before swinging her down where once again Kushina was thrown like a rag doll before she met the cold hard ground like a long lost friend.

Bam!

With her head hitting the ground she jumped up to rub the growing red lump bulging on her head. Small tears threatened to leak out of her eyes due to pain, but she sucked it up yet she was once again reminded of the fact that her teacher had monster strength!

''Oww~ That hurt ttebane~'' she gave a small whine before she felt a shadow cast over her causing her too look up nervously to see Naruto looking down at her with a impassive expression. With his hands within his robes once more she felt herself almost on autopilot as she stood up on her feet.

''Dang Naruto-sensei your strength is as always monstrous to break my chains like that is freaking scary!'' she said with a sheepish grin. Naruto on the other hand just kept looking down at the young girl as he thought on as to the reasons as to why he took up the position of helping her with her Taijutsu.

Reason being was he didn't want to see such potential squandered, and put to waste when it could led in the right direction for it to rightfully bloom. At the beginning her Taijutsu was mediocre with it being that of a crude brawler type of style with no sense of countering, blocking or deflecting attacks. However with her extreme drive she had grown in skill from his teachings to start developing her own style which he theorized would rely heavily on frontal assault along with her natural flexibility and unpredictable nature would make her own style unique and a complete unknown to today's Taijutsu styles.

He'd also discovered that Kushina seemed to have a very fast growth rate if her vast reach in adapting to this new style was anything to go by. From what he learned Kushina was the learn as you go kind of person instead of those types that learned by being told. Meaning she learned through more practical means by seeing, and practicing something until she masters it. To be honest it was starting to annoy him at how many similar traits she was showing compared to himself when he was her age, and his partner was not helping matters at all.

Another thing was her chains, a unique ability to be sure and while he had yet to discover what they could fully do he had Kushina start to mix the use of her chains with her taijutsu style so in conjunction she would have an advantage over her enemies.

But they had one weakness...and that was one of which he was going to point out now.

''Those chains broke because of the fact you lack the intent to kill Kushina. I'm sure if you were intent on ending my life they would not have broke, but with a weak resolve on ending the life's of your enemy those chains will always remain a hollow shell unless you harden your resolve.'' chastising her about this had been a point he explained to her time and time again, but every time Kushina just couldn't come to terms with killing just yet.

And in the life of a Kunoichi...no...the life she chose...was the one of a Warrior on the battlefield where ending the lives of others was an ever day part of your life. She hadn't made her first skill that was to be sure since this was proving to be so difficult to get through to her. It was easy for him to understand since back then he'd been born, bred and raised as the heir to the Oda Clan, and as such was expected to kill anyone that dared to threaten his Clan.

And while Kushina was similar to him in many aspects seeing as she was the heiress to the Uzumaki Clan she had never truly stained her hands in the blood of her enemies. Never once watched the life of your victim drain from their eyes with you being the last sight they see before joining deaths sweet embrace.

Still as he watched the redhead look away from him he knew she was still innocent, and had yet to see the the darkest corners of what mankind could do. She'd only experienced one with the attempted rape of her person. She had yet to see the more crueler and darker side of the world she lived in.

Sooner or later she would learn though...

''I-I know sensei...'' truth was she didn't, she knew it and she knew Naruto knew as well. But she continued in softer tone a voice. ''But I cant even imagine trying to kill you Naruto-kun the very thought fills me with so much pain.'' she'd meant to keep that to herself, but the redhead didn't know of Naruto's enhanced sharp hearing, and thus he heard her clear as a whistle which confused him as to why she said that.

Before the blond knew it his had was resting ontop of Kushina's head causing her eyes to widen before her face flushed red at his touch. To her embarrassment she actually dug her head deeper into his hand while an idle thought passed her by.

'His hand feels...warm'

''Still you did very well, you are progressing quicker then expected with forming your own taijutsu style, but you still have ways to go, and even further when adding your chains in to make for a conjunctionopf the two. But if you work on hardening your resolve you should do fine. Now go rest up we leave before the break of dawn.'' he said while Kushina gave a small hum on content.

''Mmm thank you sensei~'' and with that said he released her head missing her disappointed look before she stood up and walked back towards their campsite. However Naruto glanced her way, and his eyes narrowed upon seeing her the bruises on her body starting to already fade while her cuts and gashes were producing small amounts of steam as they closed up.

'Hm the beast within her is healing her wounds at a exponential rate'

He'd learned long ago of the secondary chakra source in Kushina from the first moment he saw her, and to his surprise it felt familiar to that of the Juubi, but it was nowhere near as strong nor as malicious as that beast. Still he could feel a very powerful entity sealed inside Kushina which Naruto theorized why Kenshin had spoken of her as something called a Jinchuuriki.

A Human Sacrifice...

The word left a bad taste in his mouth...what exactly had that fool Sage done during his sleep?

'Still the beast has yet to do anything harmful to Kushina's well being besides healing her wounds, and until such a time appears I will stay my hand...for now.'

'Agreed wouldn't want your little protege scarred for life by something that is anyway shape or form connected to that crazed Ten-tails would we?' Naruto felt his brow tick as his partner once again spoke his mind within his inner world. But he didn't feel like arguing with his old friend.

Besides there were more important matters to attend to...

When he felt Kushina vanish from his sight he looked to the far distance where his eyes narrowed in suspicion. For a long while now he had sensed a familiar signal similar to when he sensed the first tablet, and that started when he and Kushina first entered Oto no Kuni. But as he and his protege drew closer he could feel something lurking in the mix of this signal. It was an energy signature that was both familiar to him, but it also seemed alive in the very ground beneath him.

It was malicious, dark, full of hatred to the point of no return and at first he thought it was a dark spirit, but that wasn't the case seeing as whatever this was held a much bigger threat then some simple dark spirit. The very spiritual realm echoed as wails of agony and despair of hundreds of lost souls screamed from the vast reaches from the four corners of the realm all caused by this malicious aura. The encroaching darkness was familiar to him, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was.

But he knew one thing...whatever it was...was right there with the tablet...

'It may seem this trip may prove to be more eventful then I first thought...'

End

Okay I'm ending it here for now guys because right now my head is pounding from all the ideas I put into this one chapter. So I'm dead tired, but I will check this over for any mistakes I can see before I head to bed.

Now as a warning for you guys if you continue to read this things will begin to get more complicated as the story progresses as I just came up with an idea worthy of even Kubo-sama's attention. ^^

NOW onto other news I will be updating my two other stories soon so those that have read it be on the look out for them.

So tell me what you guys think was it Bad? Good? Horrible? A bit too much detail? Tell me in a review please ^^

Now off to bed!

Ja'ne!

P.S: I will be going over this chapter again for a secondary proofread when I wake up cause right now I'm dead exhausted and I am sure I missed something -.-

Obake: Ghost

Obaa: Grandmother

Dobe: Idiot