Hello again everyone. First off, I'd like to apologize for such a long delay in updating this story. My computer went on the fritz and it took me a good while to get it up and running again, and unfortunately, all of my story data was stored on just my desktop (something I will be remedying in case of future issues). And even when I got my desktop back…I've been really too tired from work to really sit down and do anything with it. I will try to keep new updates coming at a reasonable pace from here on out. Again…my apologies to all.

Now, without further ado, I present to you, the next chapter of my little tale. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: In the Distant Horizon…

"So, why didn't you tell her about our new…living arrangement?" The demon fox asked as he joined Naruto by the window.

"I'm…I'm just not quite ready for that, yet." Said Naruto as he looked to the fox that was now literally his other half, "But something tells me that we're not gonna be able to keep this a secret for long." He looked back out at the horizon. "Fuck! I am SO screwed now…"

"Heh!"

They stood silent as the watched the sun disappear behind the forests surrounding The Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Somewhere in an undisclosed location…

…Three men sat around a table bickering back and forth. The Tsuchikage, Raikage, and Mizukage couldn't really decide on what was more annoying. The fact that some unidentified person had requested their presence in a meeting in the middle of Kami's nowhere, or the fact that this same individual was late to a meeting that he or she had setup! To make matters worse…none of them were informed that the other 2 Kages were even going to be there! It took a good 30 minutes before they were finally able to convince one another that not one of them had set the whole thing up to eliminate the competition.

"Tch! This is turning into a complete waste of time! For all we know, whoever summoned us here could be attacking our villages as we speak!"

"Get a grip, Tsuchi-shithead. Besides…who'd wanna take your sorry ass village? The only things there of any value are rocks and shinobi with rocks for brains."

The Tsuchikage stood and slammed his hands down on the table and stared down the Raikage. "Oh really! This coming from the man that can't seem to get his hands on one weak little girl! It doesn't say much for YOU now DOES IT! And correct me if I'm wrong but…wasn't your last attempt thwarted by a single chunin?

The Mizukage opened his eyes, "That chunin you're talking about is no ordinary shinobi. He was part of the team that took down Momochi Zabuza and Haku some 7 years ago. Plus he's even managed to take out one, or more, of the Akatsuki group. All while he was still ranked as a genin. Added to that, he's been trained by the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, as well as that he's the jinchuuriki of the nine-tail demon fox. Say what you will but, you have to admit The Hidden Leaf have some powerful shinobi."

"Which is exactly the reason why I called you all here tonight." said a voice from out of the darkness beyond the table.

The three Kages turned toward the direction of the new voice in the room. "Ah…so our gracious host finally decides to show himself huh?" grumbled the Earth Kage.

"Ah…yes. I do apologize for my lateness, gentlemen. I had some matters that I needed to attend to before I arrived." came the reply as the cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows.

"Save your sorry excuses and keep your even sorrier apologies!" the Tsuchikage barked. "All I know is that you better have a good reason for calling us all here to this rat hole and making us wait, and you better make it quick. My patience is already at its limit from having to sit here with these two!"

"As I said, The Village Hidden in the Leaves is the reason I've summoned all of you here tonight. Or…more to the point…the destruction of The Village Hidden in the Leaves…is why you're all here tonight."

The room fell silent for a moment before the Kage of the Stone Village erupted into a fit of laughter. "HAHAHAHAA! Oh now that's rich! The little masked stranger thinks he can take out the Hidden Leaf! more laughter" After a few minutes his laughter finally died down to a light chuckle to himself. "So, just how do you intend to pull off this little fantasy of yours? Surely you know of the debacle that was the Sound and Sand villages' attempt."

Unfazed by the Tsuchikage's laughter, he continued. "As the Mizukage stated, Konohagakure does indeed have some very powerful shinobi in its ranks. Even with Uzumaki Naruto not withstanding, there are still numerous, and prominent, ninja within the village that could, and often do as many have found, to be quite formidable. Some of whom have their own Akatsuki kills to their credit."

The man leaned forward and placed a scale covered hand onto the table top, his other reaching for the hood that covered his head and face. "And as far as my memory of the result of the Sound and Sand Villages' attempt …I remember exactly what happened that day" responded Yakushi Kabuto. "I was there…" With that he removed the cloak he had been wearing up till now.

Though hardened by their respective trials they had faced on their way to becoming village leaders, the three Kage's couldn't help but be a bit taken aback by their host's appearance. Every inch of his exposed skin was covered in white scales. His left eye possessed a slitted pupil, while his right remained relatively normal looking, aside from a very odd coloring which they couldn't even come up with a name for. Around both eyes were the markings that Kabuto's former lord and master Orochimaru had. By all appearances, he had become something more monster than human. Kabuto only smiled grimly at their reactions.

"Good…now that I have you attention, gentlemen, I'll continue. Yes…you're right about our last attempt's complete and utter failure. No doubt about it. Allying ourselves with Sunagakure was our first mistake. Their military strength was already dwindling at the time and too much of the plan hinged on a single shinobi that they couldn't even control. Plus, we had also severely underestimated the strength of the Hidden Leaf's forces. Of course…we cannot dismiss the possibility that the obsessions that Lord Orochimaru possessed may have had some role in the plan's failure, as well."

"That's a keen observation and all but, I think I speak for all of us here when I say…what's this all have to do with us?" spoke the Mizukage.

"Quite simply…I want your help in destroying the Village Hidden in the Leaves, once and for all. I would have thought that was pretty obvious at this point. Konoha is far too powerful a village for a single rival, or even two, to defeat. But four…four could stand a chance." Kabuto replied.

The Mizukage simply nodded. "It was…I simply wanted to be sure that was your intention. However, aren't you forgetting the alliance of the Leaf and Sand? Since the Fifth Kazekage's induction and with aid of the Hidden Leaf Village, their strength is returning to what it once was. If they were to get involved, then what you intend to do would be that much more difficult."

"And if things go as I plan…they won't even know until they see the fires all the way in Suna…and by then…it will be far too late. However, rest assured, I've already accounted for that possibility and have a plan for them as well."

The three shinobi leaders settled back into their seats as they thought and considered the offer. What the young man, or rather what was left of him, was suggesting was no small feat, and not something to be considered lightly. The Hidden Leaf had more than proved its strength during the last great ninja war, and it's accomplishments since could not be ignored. Sealing a powerful Bijuu, repelling an invasion by 2 shinobi villages, even if it had been at great cost, namely the 3rd Hokage, and even defeating several members of the Akatsuki group. These were achievements worth taking into account. And then there was the Sand Village. Gaara of the Desert was a fearsome opponent who's power had only grown exponentially after taking part in the failed attack against the Leaf, to say nothing of their growing military strength.

The Raikage's voice broke the silence. "What's in it for us, aside from the obvious elimination of the leaf?"

"Well, for starters, you can finally get your hands on a Hyuuga." Kabuto stated matter-of-factly. "Beyond that…I leave to your imaginations, gentlemen."

"And what's in it for you? Surely there's something YOU want out of all of this." said the Tsuchikage in a much calmer tone than he'd been using until now. "I'd find it hard to believe that you wouldn't want anything out of this deal."

"…" Kabuto silently raised his hand before his face and stared at it for a moment. "It is my wish to surpass Orochimaru (notice he didn't say "Lord"). I plan to succeed where he failed. But yes, you're correct. There are a few things I desire from this. None of which you need to know right now."

He returned his full attention back to the three men at the table. "So, gentlemen…what do you say?"

The Raikage, Mizukage, and Tsuchikage, looked across the table at each other, then back at their host. All three of them nodded.

"We're in."

Beneath his mask, the Mizukage's lips curled into a sly smile. 'Perfect…with this I can kill two birds with one stone.' Uchiha Madara couldn't have planned for this opportunity if he'd wanted to. This could finally be his chance to utterly destroy the leaf and ensure that Sasuke would remain his. "So, what's this plan you have in mind…Lord Kabuto…?"

As Kabuto explained his plan to the three ninja leaders, a young fox sat hidden in the shadows and listened as intently as the others. His orders had been clear: to follow and monitor the new leader of the Hidden Sound. Now it seemed, the threats that his master had instructed him to watch for were beginning to reveal themselves. He would need to report this, and soon. But for the moment, he lay still and observed. He needed to gather as much information as possible before returning with the news.

Back in Konoha…

…A certain blonde shinobi yawned as he stared down the bane of his existence. If he wasn't already so tired…he'd be all over the mangy mutt like a tick on a dog…no pun intended. Instead…

"…Mind telling me again, before I neuter you, why you dragged me out here into the middle of the woods in the middle of the night?"

"Training, Kit." Was the kitsune's simple reply.

"Training? …TRAINING?! Don'tcha think something like that coulda waited till…I dunno…MORNING?!"

"That depends…you feel like you're ready to run through the village yelling 'HEY! Me and the nine-tailed fox are fused now and he's gonna teach me demon stuff!!' yet?"

"Wha-? HELL no I ain't gonna be doing that! You gotta be totally crazy!"

"My point exactly, Kit. So for now…any training you get from me is going to have to be in secret…and the best time to do that is at night away from prying eyes. And believe me, brat, you're gonna need a lot of training now. You've got my powers now, and if you don't learn how to use'em, you're either gonna get yourself, and me, killed, or someone else…or worse."

"Whattya mean 'worse'?"

"You really don't wanna know."

Kyuubi looked up through the canopy at the stars peeking through the leaves of the forest trees.

"But…I think you'll do fine. You've grown, you know." ,he said with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

'"Huh? What're you talking about, dog breath?" Naruto hadn't expected the fox to say something like that.

"I've watched you since you were an infant. I've seen, felt, heard, and experienced everything you have. Every joy, every pain, every success, every screw up…every laugh and every tear you've ever had. I've watched your whole life…and through it all, you know what I've seen? That you've grown into a capable shinobi over the years…and into a good man, as well. Of all the people in this world for me to have to give my powers to, I can at least take comfort in knowing it's you. I know you'll use them well…and hopefully wiser than I have. I think you have what it takes."

After a few more moments of his star gazing, he snapped his attention back to his prison turned second self and protégé.

"Alright…enough with the mushy shit…let's get to work." And with a growl and a wicked grin, he lunged straight at an unsuspecting Naruto.