A/N's will be at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Konoha Village – 6 days before VOE
Anko barely remembered exactly when she, the Lady Hokage, and Shikamaru had returned to the village. To the trench coat wearing jonin it had all been a blur of tears from her Hokage, anguish and anger from the gaki, and even her own silence. Honestly she didn't know what to think.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Who was he? He had never been much to her before she left, but at the least she needed to talk to the kid if only to settle this uneasiness in her stomach.
She had to set things right. She had to know why the kid left. Most importantly she had to know that why when she looked into his eyes it had been like staring into her own.
Anko clicked her tongue. "Look at me… getting all flustered over a stupid gaki." She looked over at her Hokage and was grateful she at least didn't look like that.
When the village gates were finally in sight Tsunade seemed worse for wear. Old and fresh tears stained her cheeks.
The great Hokage of the Konoha Village was reduced to nothing more than a shriveling mess. She didn't speak. Not unless she had to and even then they were mumbles of incoherent words.
Sighing Anko took out a kunai. Her fingers traced over the cool metal. She wouldn't admit it, but she was nervous. This was not the way a leader entered their village. She was the Hokage. If the Hokage fell then the entire village fell with her.
She had to be strong if not for herself then for the sake of everyone else.
Her ears picked up the grunts of the pine-apple haired jonin next to her. Anko concluded that Shikamaru had almost been worse than Tsunade on the way home. Anger and frustration knotted his brows. He was pale and clammy and snapped at everyone who looked at him wrong.
Anko didn't think she had ever seen the boy like this. It was as if he had seen a ghost. "Then again," She figured, "He probably has."
Despite all of his issues though, she saw a determination in the boy's eyes. Now that he knew where his long lost friend was she knew there was no way in hell that Shikamaru would let him get away. First, they would have to get into the village. And then they would have to explain the whole Valley of End ordeal.
The purple haired jonin pinched her cheeks. Sometimes she thought she overthought things.
It would at least be interesting to see everyone's reactions about Naruto. After all ever since he had left his name had been practically taboo. The blonde wasn't exactly a pleasant topic that many people liked to discuss.
When the trio reached the gates Tsunade had at least made herself presentable. The tears had stopped, but the red puffy eyes had remained. Her mouth was set into a grim thin line.
"Here, wear this." Anko said softly. "It'll help a little bit." Handing the Hokage her hat the shadow of the large item covered almost her entire face. Both Anko and Shikamaru agreed that it was a start.
The small party had sent a letter a day ahead of themselves to inform the Konoha shinobi of their arrival. It also held vague details of the meeting. They had somewhat come to a consensus that it was better that they already know some of the story rather than none of it. It would just make explaining some things a little simpler.
Kakashi and more than a few others would no doubt already be waiting for a complete clarification. Shikamaru – whose mind had been in permanent overdrive – knew it wasn't going to be the best of reunions.
When they finally made it to Tsunade's office the aging Kage opened the door. None of them were really surprised to see a crowd of shinobi already waiting.
The silence was deafening. They all had thousands of questions. They all wanted answers. The simple truth was Tsunade didn't know. Yet she had to do something and for her the sake of her sanity she kept it simple.
"Everyone except Kakashi, Anko, and Shikamaru get out." She said plainly. Tsunade walked over to her seat and sat down. She looked at them with impatience.
"What?" Kiba who she noticed standing at the forefront asked. Tsunade glanced around. It really was exactly who she had expected. All of the infamous Rookie 12 were here as well as most of their sensei's plus the addition of Yamato.
"You heard me." She said. "Get. The. Fuck. Out."
Kiba's face morphed into anger. Even years later and all grown up he still didn't have a reign on his emotions. "I want answers! We deserve to know!" He slammed his fist down on Tsunade's desk.
Tsunade looked from his hand to the man's face. He had grown, but deep down he was still a boy. A boy trying to play in her world, her eyes morphed to anger. It was lucky for Kiba that a beautiful pale eyed woman grabbed him.
"Hinata!"
"Kiba!" She warned with no hesitation in her voice. "You will remember who you are speaking to." She had grown to Tsunade agreed, but sometimes she wondered if it had been the right way to grow up.
A lone silver haired man stood at the back. His single eye was resolute and firm before he spoke. "You heard our Hokage. It's time for you guys to leave for a little bit." His voice was small. Tsunade spoke again in an effort to help him.
"I just need to speak to Kakashi for a few moments. I will call you all back the minute we finish…okay?" She asked. She looked around and finally got a chorus of slow hesitant head nods.
As they began to walk out the door she noticed how everyone was a little bit blurry to her right now. Honestly she didn't know how she was actually keeping it together this well. She chalked it up to her just being Tsunade.
When the room was clear only four people remained Kakashi of the sharingan, Anko, Shikamaru and of course Tsunade. Kakashi stepped up to the front of the room finally.
"Is it true?" His voice held hope. It was the kind of hope someone like Shikamaru thought that if broken would send the man spiraling into depression. Again. It had already happened once. If it happened another time Shikamaru wasn't sure if there would be a man left.
It had happened right after Naruto left. The silver haired man had finally realized his mistake except it was far too late. Now years later he had come to terms with just how badly he had fucked up.
Of course this had been pushed along by the fact that Tsunade had come out about Naruto almost two weeks after he left. The Hokage had told the entire village of both his parentage and his curse. There were…mixed reactions to say the least.
Some repented after knowing whose Naruto's parents were. Mainly because Naruto's father Minato Namikaze the Fourth Hokage had been hailed a hero among the village. Even then his mother Kushina Uzumaki was loved and admired for her great skill.
Some, though, after finding out he was the demon container shunned him even worse. They celebrated his departure, burned his things, and made a memorial for the day the demon had left.
Even his friends were far from unaffected. There were those that supported Naruto and wished to reconcile with the man they had called friend. There were those – not many – who decided that it was better that Naruto left.
Those who supported him were Shikamaru, Ino, Tenten, Neji, Sai, and Shino. They all understood Naruto wasn't a demon. He was merely the container. At the same time they realized how much harder and how cruel they had been to the blonde for fear of the wrath from adults as children.
Even as young adults now they came to think back about how bad they messed up. How misplaced their ignorance of Naruto was.
Truly he had been stronger than all of them, and Shikamaru wanted to believe that Naruto had been smarter than most of them to. Yet throughout their entire lives they had treated Naruto as if he didn't matter. It was a regret they had to live with.
On the other side those who were against him were Sasuke, Sakura, Kiba, Hinata, and Rock Lee. Sasuke and Sakura hating Naruto had not come as too much of a surprise. It was when the other three had told the group it was better Naruto had gone that there had been controversy.
Kiba had known Naruto since the academy. They had laughed, played pranks, and ditched school on multiple occasions with Shikamaru and Chouji. Yet when he was told of the demon held within Naruto something unexpected happened.
For the second time ever Kiba had been truly afraid. He didn't understand. For so long he had been told the Kyuubi had decimated everything. It had destroyed part of his clan grounds and killed many of his clansmen in just a single swoop. Kiba had also felt the Kyuubi's chakra at one point. They all had. It was vile and cold.
The only thing Kiba ever chose to say when Naruto had been brought up was, "No one should have that kind of power. No one can control a power like that, especially something as animalistic and vicious as the Kyuubi." Kiba had disappeared for a day or two. When he came back, he refused to talk about Naruto any longer.
Hinata was a whole different story. She had completely changed since Naruto left. Some had come to understand that the blonde had been her rock, he had kept her sane. When he left she just gave up. She was taunted by some of her own clan for loving a demon and after a while she finally snapped.
Nearly crippling a Hyuga member after a nasty comment, Hinata had regained control of herself just short of killing the man.
It was from there on out though that she cursed Naruto. No one asked why as all she would comment was that it was his fault. It was fault and he was a demon that deserved to die. It definitely wasn't one of the nicest of partings.
Out of the three though, Rock Lee was probably the most surprising of all. When he found out Naruto had contained the strongest of tailed beasts he left without saying a word. He had disappeared for a week with no one being able to find him.
Gai his sensei had wanted to send out a search team, but Tsunade had simply waved him off. "When he has found the answers to his questions he will come back."
When Lee finally came trudging back through Konoha gates he didn't say a word. He had reported immediately to the Hokage's office.
"Did you find your answers?" Tsunade had asked hopefully.
She ignored the better part of his dress or lack thereof, his unruly hair, and the bags that weighed down his eyes. Silently she had mused whether the boy had even slept at all. Lee unable to meet his Hokage's eyes hesitantly nodded.
"It is-" He began. "It is most unyouthful what Uzumaki-san is." Lee looked almost heartbroken to say those words, but he said them nonetheless. Tsunade had to watch as the young boy had left her office that day without another word.
"Is. It. True?" Kakashi asked again with more force. Tsunade looked up out of her daze. It was unlike her to space out like that.
She took off her hat and laid it quietly down on her desk. Anko and Shikamaru stood quietly in the corners of the room as the Hokage exposed her tear stricken face. That was all Kakashi needed to see, but the woman spoke anyway.
"Of course it's true." Tsunade watched as Kakashi waged an inner war with himself. He tried to nod at her, but instead just ended up standing like a gaping fish.
His eye was clouded with emotion. He was alive. His sensei's son was alive. His student was alive. Naruto was alive.
All of these years and Kakashi was sure the blonde boy had perished and he had been sure that it was his fault as well. Now he had a chance though. He had a chance to redeem himself.
"Kaka—" Tsunade started.
"I need to see him. Give me the mission Tsunade-sama I will retrieve him." Kakashi stood straight up. His shoulders slicked back and posture became rigid. He had a purpose again. He would do this. "I will bring him back to Konoha just give me the mission and it will be done."
"Kakashi…"
"Give me the mission! Please!"
"Kakashi!" Tsunade yelled. Her voice hit the man like a ton of bricks.
He fell to the ground. Tears formed in his eyes. He ripped off his headband revealing his Sharingan eye. Squeezing them shut he shouted. "Every day! Every day I see him! I see the student that I failed, every single detail of him. I see my sensei's son. I see Naruto."
His fist pounded the floor boards. Anko who had been watching silently went and knelt by the man.
"It's my fault. It's my fault. I'm so sorry. Naruto, I'm so sorry." The man wailed.
Anko began to soothingly rub his back. She bent down next to his ear, "Hush Kakashi. It's okay. We're going to get the kid back… we're going to get him back." She said whispering softly.
Shikamaru who stood quietly looked away. This wasn't meant for him to see. Kakashi was a proud man. He was a strong man. One of the strongest in the village and after Naruto left he had thrown himself into training. Shikamaru wasn't meant to see such a strong man so broken.
Tsunade was silent as she watched as one of her strongest shinobi lay sobbing on the floor. He needed a moment. It was one of the biggest reasons she had sent the rest of her shinobi out earlier.
She knew this would happen.
It was her job to know and just as well the other younger shinobi couldn't see one such as Kakashi lying on the ground helplessly.
Anko who was knelt next to the man hesitantly continued to rub the back of the man she grew up with. They weren't exactly the closest of friends, but they were comrades and teammates. He needed someone with him now. So if she had to be that person then so be it. She refused to watch him suffer alone.
After a few minutes Kakashi quieted and Anko got back up and went to stand next to Shikamaru once again. Kakashi slowly rose back to his feet. The image of Naruto, his late sensei, and Kushina burned into his mind.
He stood and faced his Hokage with tears streaming down his face.
"Are you ready now jonin Kakashi?" She asked with a firm voice. She wanted to cry. She too felt so much pain and guilt about Naruto, but there was a time and place for that. Now was not that time. Now was the time to try and get them back.
"Yes Hokage-sama." He said stoically.
A small smile tugged at her lips. They were already on the path to get their Naruto back. "Good then we have to get ready."
"Yes. Yes I believe we do."
"Anko! Shikamaru! I would also like your opinions on this as well since you know the situation." Tsunade asked directing her gaze towards the pair.
Both nodded at her seriously before stepping up next to Kakashi. Shikamaru was the first to speak, "I assume you read the letter about the Valley of End correct Kakashi-sempai?"
"Yes… but I wouldn't mind if you explained it again. The letter seemed rushed." He said lamely.
Tsunade nodded. "This isn't a problem. Shikamaru I would like you to explain since you probably already have your own objective opinion on this."
"At the Kage Summit the five kage went to address the problem –"
"Wait." Kakashi interrupted.
"What?" Shikamaru snapped irritably. He needed to get this off his chest. He needed to tell someone of the plans forming in his head to get the once blonde knucklehead back.
"I believe it is the right time to bring the rest of the group back in." Kakashi said. Tsunade agreed with him quickly.
She signaled one of her Anbu down. "Go fetch the Rookie 12 and whoever else might be with them. I imagine they aren't far and they're probably all still together."
Shikamaru grunted his immediate displeasure and went to stand by the window. His eyes cast out to the sky.
Anko merely leant against the wall. She closed her eyes. Even her thoughts were racing. After all, this entire scenario was so insane it felt as if she was on a permanent high. She felt helpless. She felt apathetic. She felt bothered. She hadn't even known she could feel like this all at once.
"Crazy. It's all so crazy."
Looking at Tsunade, Anko watched the aging kage rub her temples. A blind man could see how much pressure she was under. In the coming days the whole shinobi world would be watching them. One mistake and their lives would come down crashing in flames.
20 minutes later
Anko didn't even know that a person could fall asleep standing. It was no wonder though; the trip back had been sleepless and restless. Nonetheless she was jostled awake when the door to the Hokage's office was slammed open.
The Rookie 12 filed into the room silently their senseis not far behind.
"They really have changed from those snot-nosed brats years ago…" She mused with a twisted smile. They had definitely had changed. Whether it was for the better or worse it wasn't really her problem.
The one called Kiba was already at the forefront of the group once again. He always had been the emotionally driven one. Over the years he had kept his hair short, but no one ever succeeded in taming the wild spikes that always stuck up.
"Are you gonna stop fucking with us now?" He spat. Killing intent filled the room. Tsunade sitting at her desk smiled sweetly, but it never translated over into her eyes.
"You may be a jonin. You may be one of our strongest jonin, but if you act like a snot-nosed sniveling brat that thinks he is higher than me I will end you." Kiba ever brash tried to keep his gaze with the Kage, but after another blast of killing intent backed out.
"My apologies…" He muttered.
A long brown haired man stepped up from the back of the crowd. "Lady Hokage if you're done with the mutt then you won't mind telling us if what we have heard is true?"
"And what if it was Neji?" Shikamaru asked.
"Well, I would be hard-pressed to believe you."
"Then what if he wasn't?" Shikamaru commented again. He rolled his shoulders and stepped off the wall. Walking right in front of his fellow shinobi he stared him hard in the face. He needed to know people who he could trust.
"I wouldn't be able to believe you." Neji said smiling. "After all, Naruto Uzumaki never stays down for long." It was almost as if a damn had broken. No one had wanted to speak his name, but now it hung out in the open air.
"Bullshit!" Kiba yelled.
"There's no way in hell he could have made it this long!"
"So the dobe is alive… heh."
"What are we going to do?"
"Tsunade-sama you can't be serious!"
Arguing pitted back and forth. Tensions that had been driving the teams apart for years washed onto the shores of the present. Even gone and missing Naruto Uzumaki still caused hell.
"SILENCE!" Tsunade yelled. A hush fell over the room. "Now, I will explain this and what happened and what will happen, but you will listen to the whole story before speaking is that understood?"
A chorus of "Hai" floated through the room.
"Now to put everything to rest let it be known, Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze is in fact alive. He is also known by his better known alias…Kuro Kitsune." Uproar almost started in the room once again, but Tsunade blasted her killing intent and the silence remained…almost.
Sasuke spoke for the first time. "Like the dobe could be anyone as strong as the Kuro Kitsune. This is bullshit." He said with complete ease.
"He was strong enough to bring your sorry ass back home wasn't he Uchiha?" Shikamaru bit back. At this Sasuke just grunted.
Tsunade gave an appreciative glance at the pine-apple haired jonin and continued. "Long story short he infiltrated the Kage Summit and challenged all of the Hidden Villages to a battle."
Curious once again, Neji piped up. "A battle?"
It was Shikamaru that replied. "Yes. In six days' time a team of three including the Kage will meet with the other five great villages at the Valley of End. There Naruto will battle each of the villages."
A girl with two buns chimed her own opinion, "I don't get it. What's the point then? It just seems stupid to me honestly. That and a suicide wish, no one can beat a kage and then some. Let alone all the kages."
Anko felt like it was her turn to say something. "The point," She emphasized," is that whoever beats him gets to do what they wish with him. Be it his death or him joining their village."
"Well then obviously I will be part of this three-man team to kill the dobe then." Sasuke took out his sword and smiled. "After all it should only be my right as the next Hokage." Sakura who was next to him shook her head in agreement.
"Sasuke's right. He's the strongest of us here and he'll finish the demon no problem." The bubble-haired girl said.
"The hell you will!" Chouji who had been silent for most of the time got in Sasuke's face. Anger brushed his features. "Naruto's our friend and we are going to bring him back!"
"And why would we want scum such as that back in our village?" Hinata spoke coolly. A mad glint shone in her eyes. "I mean that's what half of you are thinking anyway. Right… Lee?"
Rock Lee stood by the door. Everyone's eyes cast over to the usually exuberant man. His eyes looked over everyone's faces before falling to the ground in shame. A small frown marred his lips.
"Why the fuck did you bring Lee into this?" Tenten spat angrily. She put her body in front of her teammate to almost guard him. Neji held her arm. Both of Lee's teammates knew just how sensitive a subject this was for the man.
"No! Hinata's right!" Kiba who now stood by the window glared at the sky. "This is our village. People like him… don't belong here. So we go and we finish what we should have years ago. That's even if this really is that idiot."
"People like him?" Shino muttered quietly getting the attention of the group. "When did Naruto become people like them? He was nothing but a friend to all of us. You of all people should know that Kiba."
"Shut up Shino! Aren't you supposed to back me up on this?" Kiba yelled angrily.
"That's more than enough!" Kakashi said with finality. "How long are you going to bicker like children?" Tsunade felt like she had seen what she had needed to see.
"Kakashi's right. Konoha is being put on stage in front of all of the Hidden Villages and we won't even be able to show them that we're together? Especially since the man we are going to fight was once one of our own. And whether you like it or not he was once a friend to all of you! We have a chance to fix our mistakes and we are going to do it with the Will of Fire on our side. You are Shinobi of the Konoha so start fucking acting like it!"
The room was silent. No one dared to move. No one dared to speak. No one even wanted to. What were they supposed to do? Whether they wanted to admit it or not they were all confused. They didn't know what the right move forward was. It was as if they were walking blind.
Shikamaru ran a tired hand through his hair. All he wanted was sleep. He was more surprised to see that beads of sweat rolled down the side of his head. This whole ordeal was putting him on edge. He was supposed to be stronger than this. Not a nervous little genin who had just seen his first kill.
It was Kakashi who broke the silence. "Then the next thing we need to do is figure out which two will accompany you to the Valley of End Hokage-sama."
Tsunade sighed. "Yes, yes we do."
Her eyes glanced over the crowd in front of her. Who to choose? She knew they needed to be strong, but at the same time she realized this was Naruto. Naruto tended to cause a lot of emotion in people. Not all of it so pleasant.
"Who would volunteer to go with me to the Valley of End?" She decided to put out there.
"I already told you that I will be going. It's my right as an Uchiha and as the next Hokage." Sasuke said arrogantly.
Shikamaru quickly piped up in response. "Sasuke shouldn't be the one to go." He said smoothly with an air of confidence. "Not only did he and Naruto get off on bad terms last time, but if you're really trying to bring him back Sasuke shouldn't be your first choice."
Sasuke retorted," So are you suggesting you go then? You're one of the weakest regarding physicality." Shikamaru's face flushed angrily. An insult laid at the tip of his tongue, but he kept his mouth shut.
"That's enough you two and Sasuke I agree with Shikamaru. You may be one of the strongest of our shinobi, but you may not logically be the smartest choice for this mission."
She hardened her gaze on Sasuke. "And also if you pull that next Hokage and council shit on me again I'll have your ass doing D-rank missions for the next month. This isn't a democracy, this is a dictatorship and so long as my wrinkled ass is sitting in this seat I am your leader. Understood?"
Anko who had just been watching silently before stepped up. Her body moved on her own accord and she couldn't stop herself from speaking," I'll volunteer." Tsunade turned her head raised an eyebrow.
"I think I would be a fair match up against the gaki. Physically I don't believe any one in here can match him except you Hokage-sama so if use some of the poisons I possess I could at least slow him down for the rest of the team."
"That would be a wise plan of attack indeed. I also believe it is one Naruto would not see coming." Neji said aloud. "I would also like to volunteer to go with you Tsunade-sama. I feel as if my Byakugan would be of great use during the fight."
"Hell no! If anyone should go it should be me and Akamaru! I volunteer!" Kiba shouted. Tsunade soon found Hinata, Shikamaru, Chouji, Tenten, and just about everyone else including Sakura volunteering to fight.
Sakura's words were and Tsunade would quote," Even I could beat that demon's ass to hell and back. He was weak back then and there's no way it'd be any different now."
Tsunade for the most part ignored the bubble-gum haired banshee. She glanced over at Kakashi and asked a silent question with no words.
Raising a single eyebrow Kakashi just gave his famous eye-smile. "Do you even need to ask me Tsunade-sama?"
Everyone watched Tsunade intently. The room was silent. The supposed battle was six days away and to prepare properly they would need to know who's going today. That was just the facts of it.
Tsunade closed her eyes feeling a headache come on. Her fingers went and nimbly rubbed her temples and she let out a large sigh. Everyone in the room tensed. Had she come to a decision?
When the blonde opened her eyes the hazel orbs were steely. She had made her decision. For better or for worse she would have to hope she had only made the right one.
Five days later – Konoha Gates
At the gate of Konoha a crowd of people swarmed. Tsunade the Hokage stood at the forefront a grim look on her face.
"Are the two of you ready?" She asked.
From the crowd of people two men emerged. Kakashi in his standard jonin uniform gave his eye smile before taking out his favorite book. "All ready." He quipped.
Sasuke stood next to him. He wore a collared black short sleeve shirt that clung to him like a second skin. Finishing the outfit off with black Anbu shinobi pants the man carefully fastened his favored tanto to his back.
"Hn, let's just get this over with." Was all the raven said in reply.
In the crowd there were more than a few disappointed faces. Surprisingly Anko found herself as one of them. She shouldn't have been. She should have not cared at all, but she did.
Kiba grunted next to her. His eyes were cast angrily over at the Uchiha. "There's no way I'm missing out on this. I have to go." The man said with conviction.
Anko looked at him questioningly. There was going to be more to this. She had the feeling it was the kind of more that was going to get her in trouble. "You're going to do something stupid aren't you?"
The feral man didn't even look at her when he responded, but the smile on his lips was all she needed to see. "When have I ever done something stupid?"
Anko was about to answer, but apparently Neji who had overheard beat her to it. "As much as I loathe to side with you if you're going to do what I think you're going to do I'm in."
Kiba's smile faltered slightly. "If we do this will be on two different sides Neji… we don't want the same things here." His voice was apathetic and Kiba still refused to look at anyone.
"We'll see you in a few days. Don't forget Shizune is in charge while I am gone." Tsunade, Sasuke, and Kakashi all walked out of the gates towards the rising sun. They were off to the Valley of End.
Neji whose eyes never left his Hokage spoke cryptically. "That's where you're wrong Kiba. We both just want answers." The pale-eyed man let the words hang before turning around to leave. "But most importantly we just want the truth."
Iwa Gates
"Are you sure you wish to do this Tsuchikage-sama? After all he's just one man." An Iwa Shinobi asked. Onoki, who stood at the gates with is grand-daughter, merely scoffed.
Onoki went to pick up his pack. "He may just be one man, but he is one man who has made the wrong enemy. I will show him the true power of –" A large audible crack was heard. The old man stopped. His eyes widened comically and his hands went to his back. "My back! My poor back!"
Kurotsuchi next to him face-palmed, "You didn't even do anything you stubborn old man. How the hell do you throw your back out doing nothing?" She asked arrogantly.
"Why you disrespectful little brat!"
"If you need a replacement to go in your place I'm sure you could find someone who would be willing to go in your place…" Her eyes glinted with mischief.
"Damn you Kurotsuchi!"
The rest of the Iwa Shinobi sweat-dropped at the display between family members. Akatsuchi the third member of the group picked up his Kage. A small amused smile splayed across his enormous face.
"Come on Lord Tsuchikage will be late at this rate." The elderly man just grumbled in response.
His eyes looked forward. He brought up one of his small hands and waved back to the crowd out of respect. He pondered what the next few days' events would hold for them. At the very least it would be interesting he concluded.
Kurotsuchi who trailed slowly behind her grandfather and his friend watched the sun. Her pink eyes were lost in the light and her mouth was grim.
So many questions were on her mind all of them dealing with this Kuro Kitsune, with this Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze.
"To me though, he will always be Arashi."
The memories of a kind-hearted man who she had been taken with played through her mind. It bothered her that she had been so fooled. That she had been so used.
She didn't like to be fucked with and he better trust that there would be punishments, but first she would get her answers.
"Get ready Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze; I will be your executioner." She whispered bitterly to herself trudging down the long path to the Valley of End.
Kumo Gates
"Where the hell is Bee?" The Raikage yelled angrily. Throwing people left and right A looked for his wayward little brother.
"Si-sir I don't know. He should be here soon just give him a little more time." That poor soul was thrown particular far.
Darui who was on the sidelines just laughed at his old mentor. If there was one thing his Kage was it was impatient. With a backpack on his shoulder he made his way to the front of the gates towards a pale blonde jonin.
"Yugito" He nodded in greeting. He knew he wouldn't get an answer, but he took the small nod back with gratitude.
The two sat in a comfortable silence until from the corner of her eyes Yugito caught sight of something she had been waiting for.
"Finally…" She said exasperated. Darui looked over to where she glanced and smiled.
"Yo, yo, yo! Killer Bee is here you see? All packed and ready to leave!" The bulky man laughed and smiled at the crowd who slowly backed away from the rapper.
"BEE!"
"Hey big bro? How's it shaking? You ready to go give this Kitsune guy a beating?" A who watched his brother angrily shook with rage.
"LARIAT!"
Yugito and Darui on the sidelines just shook their heads. Somehow it always ended up like this. Yugito peeked at her three teammates. Silently she wondered how the rest of the villages would take to their plus one man.
Kumo would still fight fair, but the Raikage hadn't made up his mind on who he wanted on the team with himself and Bee so in the end he took both of his options. All the man said was that he would choose the third teammate once they got there.
Yugito didn't really care either way. Looking towards the blue sky the crisp morning air pricked her skin like needles. She enjoyed the chill nonetheless. Every day she just found herself grateful to be alive. The event had been over three years ago now, but she still thought about it constantly.
It was the day the Akatsuki had come for her. It was the day where she had been beaten in battle and nearly dead. It was the day she was saved by a masked man. She never saw his face or even got his name, but thoughts of the him plagued her.
She didn't like owing debts to people and she owned her entire life to a single person. She would remedy her mistake. She would pay what was due and then be done. Sighing she shrugged her shoulder pack onto her back before walking ahead on to the trail. The boys would follow behind her eventually.
"Dammit Bee get back here! Take your beating like a man!"
"Big Bro no!"
"Raikage-sama you can't kill Bee before the fight!"
"The hell if I can't!"
Or at least so she hoped.
Kiri Gates
Choujiro, Aoi, and Mei stood just outside of Kiri. The village loomed in front of them as small packs were strapped to their backs. A crowd in front of them was there to wish them well.
An elderly man who had been standing at the forefront of the crowd walked up to the Mei. In his right hand was a giant cane with the head of a beast, but in the left he held the Mizukage's hat. His hand stretched out for the beautiful Kage.
"Thank you… Great Elder." Her eyes shone with appreciation and pride as she took her rightful hat. There was no feeling better than this.
"I swear upon my title as Kage to carry out my duties with brilliance." She would never get use to leading the village she loved. This is why she would go out today to fight this supposed Naruto for her village. She would go all out and she would also get her own answers.
"Guard the Mizukage well," The Great Elder glanced at both Aoi and Choujiro. He smiled and his eyes crinkled with mirth, "Make sure the Lady Mizukage doesn't overdo things." Both men gave a sharp nod in affirmation.
Another young girl stepped out. She flashed a smile and showed her hidden teeth which were grinded down to a point. A needle point thin double sword lay upon her back. "Choujiro-sempai, you are one of the seven swordsmen of the Mist. Protect our Mizukage well."
She bowed down low, a smile all the ever still present. Choujiro, who had long since grown out of his awkward nervous phase, smiled back. "Of course." The blue-haired man fixed his glasses and glanced at his Kage.
"We'll be absolutely fine… I think." But sometimes he still tended to be afraid of the things he couldn't see.
"Have confidence in yourself. There is a reason that you are one of our top shinobi Choujiro. I have complete trust in you." Mei looked over at her companion. He was the sweetest boy six years ago and now he was one of the sweetest men. He really hadn't changed.
Choujiro rubbed the back of his head and laughed nervously. "Thank you my lady." A light blush faded his cheeks. "We'll definitely be the ones to beat the Kuro Kitsune… at least I hope."
Aoi on the side sweat-dropped and closed his eyes in frustration. "A simple 'Thank you' would have sufficed." He raised his hands in the air comically. "If I've told you once I've told you a million times an uncertain attitude will get you nowhere!"
"I swear young people these days lack the dedication to manage themselves." Mei who had been smiling froze. Her eyes darkened.
"Manage…Marriage?" Her mouth set into a thin line.
"Aoi enough lecturing." Someone finally laughed out. "Get going or you'll be late!"
Mei tensed up again. "Late…for marriage?!" Even though she was still the radiant beauty of the Shinobi lands she remained unmarried and without love. A thought crossed her mind about Nawaki, but she shook her thoughts out of it. Nawaki wasn't real, but Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze was.
Aoi looked exasperated. "It's simply my way of offering advice! Why in my day…" Smiling Mei stepped up in front of Aoi and leant in next to his ear.
"Shut up, or I'll kill you." She said sweetly.
"Huh?" His eyes widened comically and he face-palmed. Why was it always him?
Mei turned around and fist pumped the air the Kage hat in hand. "All right Choujiro, Aoi..." The crowd cheered at their Kage's antics. "Let us go!" She yelled before turning to march on. Choujiro laughing followed quickly behind his Mizukage.
Aoi stood frozen. "Aoi what are you doing?" Someone stepped up and asked. "Lady Mizukage has already left."
Aoi turned and saw the two fading figures. "Oh shit!" He cursed. Running he tried to catch up,"Lady Mizukage, please wait!"
Suna Gates
"You're late Kankuro!" Temari yelled. Her hand rested on her hip as she stared at her approaching brother. Kankuro came barreling through the crowd waving his apologies.
"Sorry! Assembling my new puppets took longer than I expected." The cat-suit wearing man pointed to his back proudly. A new wooden shell laid on his back. An arrogant smirk played on the man's face. "I'm ready to take anyone on now."
Someone spoke up from the crowd. "Lord Kazekage, have a safe journey. Represent Suna with pride." Another man came out with a mask covering half his face. "Lady Temari, Lord Kankuro… we're counting on you.
Temari smiled as did her brother. She took out her smaller fan and fanned herself. Closing her eyes she spoke, "We know."
"But Gaara doesn't really need bodyguards." Kankuro finished for her.
Gaara gave a small smile to his brother and sister. He glanced sparingly at his village and waved. "We're off."
The trio was finally off on the path to the Valley of End. Temari though eyed her youngest brother. "What's your plan Gaara?"
She was curious. He had obviously known something at the summit that they didn't. After all how would he have known that the Kuro Kitsune was Naruto? Better yet how did he get it past her?
"Plan?" He said in his monotone.
"Well yeah…" Kankuro said. He was curious to. It was the first time their brother had really kept them in the dark about something. Kankuro couldn't believe when they had gotten back to the village after the summit that Gaara completely refused to speak about Naruto.
"What is your plan to beat Naruto?"
Gaara laughed and kept walking. The two eldest siblings stopped in their tracks and looked at each other. Their brother really was acting strange.
Gaara stopped and finally looked over his shoulder at his siblings. "What makes you think we actually have a chance to beat Naruto?"
The Valley of End
Naruto sat cross legged with his eyes closed in the middle of the clearing. A thousand of clones battled around him. The shouts of fighting, screaming and blood surrounded him. Days after day he had set his clones upon each other to fight to the bitter death.
"Naruto…" A voice growled in his head.
The blonde's ears twitched. The sound of a thousand clones dispelling cloaked his ears. Decades of experience flew into memories in his head. In an instant what had been a mass massacre was gone. Silence reigned over the area.
Naruto opened his eyes. Golden slit orbs stared apathetically forward and frown marred his face.
"It's time."
A/N: Yo! Long time no see huh? Well, I finally got the chapter out and its one of my longest yet. I am sorry it took me so long to get it out to you guys though. On to better things, what did ya think? Good? Bad? Aight? This chapter was all about setting up for the big showdown and the reactions of a lot of the shinobi which a few of you have asked me for. So drop a review if you can. Tell me how ya like it or just tell me that you didn't (but tell my why...). I'm only gonna be a good writer if you critique me a little bit.
Another note y'all have been pretty fantastic about the pairings and stuff, but keep doing it! I have an idea starting, but you guys telling me what you guys would like is a big help. The one thing I didn't really get was about the whole Naruto infiltrating the villages idea. Should I try adding it to the story or no? It's up to you guys.
Keep reviewing and thanks for your time guys!
Iron Legends13