If there are fans of Warhammer 40K in the room, go check out my profile. I added a humorous story on it. It's more or less the Emperor of Mankind vs Khârn the Betrayer vs the most awesome characters the setting has to offer.

Disclaimer: reading this means you're awesome. Or a fan of the Han. Probably both.


Chapter Eight:

Lucky Seven

"That's the Cursed Seal of Earth," Jiraiya explained, after he had finished examining both Naruto and Sasuke. "The counterpart to the Cursed Seal of Heaven. I met one or two of Orochimaru's followers marked with it. It turns them into mini-dinosaurs when they call upon it's full power."

"Can you remove it?" Naruto asked, sitting on the ground. After leaving the hot baths, doing their best not to reveal the legendary pervert's presence to the local kunoichi, the trio had relocated themselves to a training ground. "I feel like dog on a leash."

"You are." The self-proclaimed super-pervert was nothing like Naruto imagined. Of course, the blonde had seen his Bingo Book entry, learning he was the writer of the glorified porn series called Icha Icha Paradise, and one of the best ninjas on this side of the continent. Yet he seemed… bipolar. He behaved like a clown one second, then as a stern teacher the next. "Orochimaru's chakra is kept inside the seal, allowing him to locate you if he wishes… or influence your brain."

Jiraiya sneezed. "The Evil Sealing Method will reduce its influence, until I can develop a more permanent method. The dampener will be fueled by your willpower, meaning you gotta be careful to keep your emotions under control. The Cursed Seal answers to its bearers' intents, and might be triggered if the call is powerful enough."

"I can keep it in check," Sasuke stated.

"Me too," Naruto shrugged. "I've more willpower than needed."

"We'll see." Jiraiya began a long, long hand seal sequences. "I will also remove Sasori's additions to the Yondaime's seal. The process will be... painful."

He wasn't joking.

Naruto's skin burned, pain flaring through his nerves. The sensation was similar to being flayed alive with a kitchen knife. Sasuke was in a similar agony, but unlike the Uzumaki, his chakra allowed him to resist the procedure better.

After a few seconds, the pain was too much to bear and the blonde began to hallucinate. A vivid living dream replaced reality.

The world was blurred. The land was black and white, the buildings shapeless shades. The rain was powerful, falling down upon a crowd gathered atop a tower. A man, which was nothing more than a mirage to Naruto's troubled mind, was standing higher than the rest. His eyes were shining with a silver, inhuman haze.

"A slave once told me he dreamed of freedom," the speaker with the strange eyes explained with a strong, deep voice. It was probably enhanced by a sound-based technique, and the echo added a supernatural edge to the speech. "My father dreamed of a nice, long, happy life. A peasant dreams of the same exact existence as we speak. In his darkest roots of the Leaf, Danzo Shimura dreams of a world where Konoha rules almighty. In the high mountains of Cloud, the foolish Raikage dreams of a powerful, everlasting Kumogakure. My dream is very different."

The speaker raised his hands and clenched his fists. "I dream of a sea of fire. An inferno that will overwhelm the nations of Earth, drowning the old world in divine flames. Crimson clouds will cover the skies. The oceans will boil. The streets shall be filled with the blood of millions. The end shall come. But my dream does not end there. From the ashes of the Shinobi World, as the gods once created mankind from clay, Akatsuki shall shape a new one, better in every single way. By our will, we shall turn this blue planet, into a red planet."

The man extended his arms. "Why do I dream of the death of this world? The reason is simple. This is a truth that was revealed to me by heavens. No animal is born free. Not even man. We are born shackled with the chains of misunderstanding, hate, nationalism, pride… Through these illusions we cause war and strife. Only through pain can we achieve enlightenment. Only through suffering can we shatter our chains and free ourselves. We are a new beginning, my followers. We are the Samsara, we are the world's salvation. Through our efforts, we shall guide the rebirth of Earth. Through our will, mankind shall learn true suffering. Pain.. to the world!"

"Pain to the world!" The crowd cheered in unison, the people raising their hands to acclaim their leader, their prophet, their god. "Pain to the world!"

"Soon, the old idols shall fall. The Leaf, the Sand, the Stone, the Mist, the Cloud, the Waterfall, all of them, shall be reduced to dust before the Akatsuki's might. The nine Tailed Beasts shall be one once more, and what the Sage of the Six Paths once did, we shall undo it. None of their keepers shall escape our sight. We shall pursue them on foot, in the sky, in the sea. They can run, but they cannot hide."

The speaker glanced at the blonde. "Not even you, Naruto."

Oh fuck he can see me, he can see me! The next second, the blonde awoke, Jiraiya and Sasuke watching over him. "So…" the Sannin raised an eyebrow. "Was it a nice dream?"

"Yeah…" Naruto smirked sarcastically. "I think I saw Akatsuki's boss. He's a nice guy."


Writing a report about his vision was quick, although he forgot parts of the preacher's speech. The man believes himself a prophet or deity, he told Sarutobi. I know, the Sandaime had replied, unfazed.

"One line… one circle…" Naruto continued giving the instructions to his friend. "Damn it, why does it take so long?"

"A summoning array is never easy to create," Fuu pointed out, as she used foreign blood to draw symbols to the ground. "Summoners aren't that common, you know, and the art is difficult. Especially when you do not have chakra to use yourself."

"Which is why you will provide it," the teen replied, as Fuu finished. He would have asked for more assistance, but Jiraiya would never agree to what he was about to do, and Han was occupied drilling taijutsu lessons into Sasuke's skull. "According to the book I read, this should teleport us to the summon's lair, by using the summoner's blood as a focus."

"And to whom does this blood belong?"

"Anko. I stole it from the hospital's reserves." Fuu blinked. "Yes, we're going to the snakes' lair."

"Are you insane?" The girl clenched her fists. "They work for Orochimaru!"

"With Orochimaru," Naruto corrected, stressing their independence. "This is risky, but also the only way I have to locate Anko. The snakes might be Orochimaru's summons, but they worked with Konoha during the Second and Third Ninja War, and let's not talk about all the years Anko summoned them without causing trouble. I doubt every single snake is hostile to us. And seeing how Orochimaru uses his summons as meat-shield, one or two might be willing to betray him."

"And if they inform Orochimaru?"

"The pentagram has a fail-safe," he said. "I am unable to activate it due to my lack of chakra, but you can. If you complete the same hand seal sequence you will use to activate it in the first place, we automatically return to Konoha."

"… this is still insane."

"Exactly. Orochimaru will never expect it."

Fuu groaned, and began the sequence. "You're crazy," she repeated.

With a cloud of smoke, the duo vanished from the leaf, finding themselves atop a mountain of gold. Literally.

They had landed on a sea of silver and golden coins, contained inside a cave of black stone. Florescent crystals provided light on the ceiling, allowing them to see the creature glaring at them: a gigantic red cobra, easily the size of a large building.

"Who are you to wake up Smaug the Devourer?" the serpent hissed dangerously, its yellow eyes shining malevolently. "Are you thieves?"

"We're tourists," Naruto deadpanned instinctively, before suddenly realizing just how idiotic it had been.

The reptile stayed speechless for a few seconds… and then exploded into roaring laughter. The spectacle both confused and terrified Naruto, doubly so when the creature swirled around him and Fuu. "That's… that's the first time I've heard such an answer," the animal admitted. "Amusing. What are your names, tourists? I will sense it if you lie."

"Naruto Uzumaki. The girl is called Fuu." The blonde inhaled sharply. "We attempted the reverse summoning and we ended up… where are we exactly?"

"The Ryūchi Cave, the Serpents' Realm. This area is Smaug the Devourer's nest, little one, and you disturbed my sleep." The creature shrugged. "But you're too funny to die. Feel fortunate I am in a merciful mood."

"Thanks," Fuu nodded. "Where can we find the local authority?"

"Do you think me for a tourist guide, brats?" The cobra laid on his treasure and faked sleeping. "Unless you have something to give me in exchange for my help, leave me alone before I decide to eat-"

"I will pay you 10,000 Ryo if you help us."

Smaug glanced at Naruto. As expected, his greed got the better of his pride. "30,000. In cash."

"10,000 in cash immediately, the rest after the service is done. I need to be sure you aren't trying to trick us."

"Deal." The beast chuckled. "You would make a crafty snake, Naruto Uzumaki."

As promised, the snake guided them through a long, long string of tunnels and caves, each illuminated by crystals. They crossed paths with snakes of different stature and colors. Most were normal sized, many were bigger than horses… and one's mouth was bigger than a small house.

After a walk, they arrived inside a gigantic library. Scrolls and books were piled around them, across a cave easily as big as an entire district. A colossal white snake was resting on a throne of black stones, inhaling the smoke of a giant pipe. He was wearing a pointed black hat and a crystal necklace, and its eyes were two crimson orbs.

"That's the White Snake Sage, our elder and spiritual leader," Smaug explained. "He has collected more knowledge than any creature alive on this earth. His wisdom is peerless, his guile legendary, his power almighty and his love for screwing with minds terrifying. Respect his authority or you will suffer." The snake shuddered. "Pecking order…"

Deciding not to delve on the subject, Fuu pointed a finger at the tunnel behind the throne. "Where does it lead?"

Smaug, much to the girl's astonishment, paled. "To the dragon's lair," he whispered ominously. The animal turned around, delivering a last sentence before returning home. "Don't forget my pay… if you survive, that is."

Naruto locked eyes with Fuu, and the girl gave him a light tap. "You go first."

Cursing, the young man approached the throne, bowed, and attempted not to piss on himself when the giant snake glanced down at him. "Greeting, honored White Snake Sage. I am-"

"You are Naruto Uzumaki, son of Kushina Uzumaki, grandson of Kiryu Uzumaki, student of Anko Mitarashi and Yugao Uzuki, follower of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shinobi of Konoha, Jinchuuriki of the Nine Tailed Fox. Called Atlas by others. Owner of a platypus, and suspected sadomasochist." The snake released a cloud of smoke from his nostrils. "Prepare to die."

Naruto paled in dread, before grabbing a flash bomb. Fuu jumped at his side, her fists clenched. "Bring it on you old-" The serpent laughed loudly, catching him off guard. "What?"

"You should have seen your face!" The Sage teased him mercilessly. "This trick never gets old!"

Naruto dropped his jaw, shamed to have been played for a fool. Curiosity however won over anger. "Wait, this isn't the first time you pull it off?"

"Nah, I pull it on every new visitor to see how they react. If they cower I eat them for real, if they stand up, I listen to what they have to say. I can't allow weaklings in this realm, you understand." The Sage snorted. "You should be used to it. Didn't Yugao pull something like that on you once? Anko gave her pointers."

"I should have guessed Anko was behind that somehow…" Naruto crossed his arms, warily eyeing his surroundings. Fuu's eyes did not leave the animal, and she said no word.

"Nice to see you're prepared for a sneak attack, but don't worry, if I wanted to eat you, you would be in my stomach as we speak." The White Snake Sage inhaled from his pipe, in a similar way than to Sandaime's. Naruto found the scene hilarious, but managed to keep his amusement under control. "You must wonder how I know so much about you. Do you have any guess?"

"You sent snakes to spy on me?"

"Smart. Reptiles all over the world gather information for me each week. We are the second greatest spy network on the continent, behind the Spider Clan, although if you want our knowledge, you will have to earn it." The Sage locked eyes with Naruto. "Don't worry. I didn't tell Orochimaru everything I have on you."

"And you won't tell me everything you have on him either."

"No," the snake confirmed. "Your feud is none of our concern, us summons, although I'm not stupid enough not to keep an eye on the Elemental Nations. A war between humans is always an opportunity to expand our influence. Arranging the death of rival summons, recruiting new summoners, stealing powerful weapons… it has been our way for countless centuries, long before the Hidden Villages were founded."

Naruto smirked at the last words. Obviously, summons weren't that different from humans. They had their own wars to fight for supremacy. "You must know why I am here?"

"No. I know Jiraiya wanted you to see the toads first, however."

"Why? Because they're his summons?"

"No, because he's a moron. A talented moron, but a moron nonetheless. A senile amphibian smoked weed and mushrooms, prophesied you would arrive at Mount Myoboku… and here you are in the land of the Toads' bitter rivals." The White Sage snorted. "Serpents will be better suited for you. You remind me of Orochimaru when he was your age."

The comparison chilled Naruto to the bone, and the giant snake noticed. "Orochimaru… isn't who he used to be. His madness has been caused by a variety of factors whose list is too long to discuss. He used to be quite polite and… sane. Now even my grandson Manda, one of his oldest companions, is having difficulties working with him."

"I see…"

"But obviously Jiraiya isn't behind your visit." This wasn't a question. The Sage was stating a fact. "So why did you come? I admit I am curious."

"I wanted info on a friend, and maybe a counter to Orochimaru. A giant creature that would be willing to help me beat him, although without chakra this seems impossible," Naruto admitted. "I would have figured something out."

The Sage placed his pipe to the side and watched the young man carefully. "Do you know how reverse summoning works? Without using a summoner's blood, I mean."

"I am summoned before creatures with whom I share affinities?"

"Exactly. The ritual automatically sends you to the animal species with whom you are naturally aligned with. In your case, your guile, desire to achieve more power, your attempts at solving your problems with your brain and reliance on dirty fighting mean you would have either been sent to the Spider Clan or us. However… this does not mean any clan has to take you as a summoner."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "I guessed that already. If someone like me can try reverse summoning, why isn't there more summoners? I've heard most summons kill human visitors."

"True. In fact, Orochimaru was the only person in the past decades who has received a contract from us, which your sensei Anko Mitarashi signed later. We ate the rest. Smaug didn't earn his nickname for devouring chickens." The White Snake Sage chuckled cheerfully, amused by his own lame joke. "Most summoners think a contract means they can use us as they wish. Is it the case?"

"No. There is always a price to pay." Naruto crossed his arms. "You ask for something in exchange for your clan's help."

"Smart boy. The snake contract means while you can summon us, I can summon you as well should my clan need manpower. This will take precedent over any conflict you may have in the Elemental Nations. Secondly, our clan obeys the law of equivalent exchange. Unless you are respected enough among us, which currently isn't the case, you will have to pay for our help. The price will depend on the service asked. Consider a contract to be… a mutually beneficial collaboration. Finally, you won't be able to summon any other animal, until the contract is broken."

"I see…" He didn't expect anything else, having gleaned info on summons before attempting the ritual. "Can summoners summon each others?"

"No, or else Anko and the Leaf would have had Orochimaru killed by now," the White Sage answered flatly. "Since you interest me and will be useful, I allow you to form a contract with us, if you're willing. However, as you lack chakra, you will have to find alternate sources to fuel the ritual. I believe you should be smart enough for this."

"Thank you," Naruto nodded, already pondering different options. "And you said you had a spy net-"

"I will not give you any information on Akatsuki and Orochimaru," the Sage destroyed his hopes. "My clan has a non-aggression pact with this organization and as such I will not do anything that could endanger it. I can give you access to your family's history, but since multiple Akatsuki members are intrinsically linked to it, this shall be limited."

Naruto clenched his fists. "And Anko Mitarashi?"

The White Snake paused. "She isn't part of our accords with Akatsuki. I can give you her current location… for a price."

"What do you want?" Naruto asked warily.

The White Sage, astonishingly enough, grinned. "I've wanted to do this for a long, long time."


"That was immature. Very immature."

"It wasn't my idea," Naruto told Tenten, taking a coffee break together at her home. "Admit it, it was funny. I thought Jiraiya was going to have a cardiac arrest."

"Understandable. I would have had one if you teleported with a giant white snake right in front of me, shouting 'White Snake Sage, I choose you' for everyone to hear. How did you manage to pull that off?"

"No idea. The giant snake took a little of my blood and did all the work." He guessed it was some kind of advanced summoning. Hopefully, Orochimaru couldn't do that, or else the Leaf was screwed. "He made me sign a scroll bigger than you, but since I don't have chakra to make the summoning possible, I've been researching alternate solutions. I've read blood can be a viable alternative to chakra. This is how animals were summoned back when the Sage hadn't taught anyone how to use chakra. Unfortunately, the bigger summons need human sacrifices."

"This is completely impractical. Signing the contract didn't bring you anything. What is the point in having a skill you can never use?"

"Because it can be helpful. Yes, I can't summon anything myself... but my teammates can use my blood to summon snakes themselves, which could potentially save our life."

"Have you not considered the snakes might turn against you?"

"Snakes are mercenaries at heart." Naruto crossed his arms. "The smaller ones obey a command dutifully because the summoner is stronger than them. Some obey because they are friends with the summoner… and the bigger reptiles trade for their service. At least one would kill Orochimaru in a heartbeat if I paid him enough, and Manda, the strongest of all snakes, only work against a hundred sacrifices. The toads aren't that much better. From what I heard, Toad Boss Gamabunta refuses to obey Jiraiya whenever he feels like it." Naruto shrugged. "A friend of mine summoned snakes inside Konoha for a decade and they never caused trouble. They don't really care about which flag they fight under as long as they're paid for it."

Tenten frowned slightly, as she brought the coffee to her lips. "Speaking of Jiraiya… did he… well, the rumors-"

"He peeped on you," Naruto told her flatly, making his friend spit out her drink. "I've never had the displeasure of meeting a man more perverted than him. This is… unfathomable."

"That bastard!" Tenten clenched her fists. "I'm going to castrate him!"

"I can do it for you, if you erase my debt…"

"Sorry, the pleasure will be mine alone." Tenten grinned. "Don't worry, what I've in mind is good for you." She placed a sheet of paper on the table. Naruto glanced at it. The symbol represented a complex sealing array, looking like an open eye. "I called it the Anti-Ninja Field."

"What does it do?"

"It sucks in every source of chakra within a twenty meters radius."

Naruto stayed silent, glanced at Tenten, before finally settling on seizing the paper and memorizing every feature. "How?"

"It creates an imbalance between Yin and Yang, the positive and negative aspects of energy and matter. The imbalance needs to be corrected, and nearby chakra is absorbed into the seal until the energies are balanced." The kunoichi finished her cup. "At worst, techniques should either be nullified or weakened when used within the radius. At best, ninjas nearby will be killed by chakra depletion. It is impractical for most people, as their chakra would be absorbed, killing them…"

"But I don't need it to live," Naruto finished.

"Yes." Tenten smiled kindly. "This will give you an immense advantage over enemies. I need to find a safe way to make it work, but once it is completed-"

He hugged her, making her squeal in surprise. "You're awesome!" he said, with tears in his eyes. "No, you're the most wonderful friend ever!"

"I know," the girl grinned, breaking off the embrace. "But that doesn't mean I'll go easy on you!"

"Sometimes…" Naruto smiled sadly. "Sometimes… I forget you're the sweetest girl I know."


It was while going on a walk, as the sun was almost set, that Naruto noticed it in the skies.

The creature had the shape of a giant beetle, easily the size of a human. It was strong and beautiful, its body covered with green scales. It was flying aimlessly under the moonlight… until it noticed the blonde genin. The ninja backed down in dread, when the giant beetle landed in front of him. "Don't worry, Naruto! It's me!"

"Fuu?" Naruto stared, astonished, at the creature. "What happened to you?"

"I took over her body for the night." While the voice came from the same source, it was different. A deep, bug-like noise. "Enchanted. I am Chomei the Lucky Seven Tails."

The teen blanched. Am I speaking to a Bijuu? "You broke the seal?"

"No… it's…" Fuu's voice fell silent. "We have an agreement. I let him use my body like it wants from time to time, in exchange for its chakra."

"I wanted to fly," the creature said flatly. "Do you want to fly, Naruto Uzumaki?"

"Come on, it's pretty wonderful!" Fuu insisted. "Nana will hold you and…"

"And nothing else." It suddenly grabbed the teen with its strong hands, flying before the blonde could resist. "Cease to move or I drop you. Enjoy the view."

Naruto closed his mouth and obeyed.

The sunset was beautiful from above. The lights reflected on the clouds, forming a great, wonderful tapestry of colors, almost hypnotizing. "Beautiful…" he whispered, feeling the wind blowing on his face.

"Yes." The Nanabi grunted. "Fuu, give me more control. I want to blow up that ugly Hokage Monument."

"W-wait, no!" Fuu panicked. "Why would you want to do that?"

"It blocks my view of the twilight."

Naruto decided not to push the issue and changed it. "So… you want to speak to the Nine Tails? Something like that?"

"No. I never liked Kurama. He boasts the number of tails shows the order of power, and as such he is entitled to rule over all creatures." The oversized beetle snorted when Naruto frowned. "Nanabi, Kyuubi… they are titles men gave us. We have real names. I do not mind my title, for seven is a happy number."

"I see…" Naruto shrugged. "So I'm not the only one to dislike the Nine Tailed Fox?"

"He is a nine-tailed asshole," Chomei summed up with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. "Good to see it did not influence you. Tell me, why is this place called the Hidden Leaf? There are more trees in Taki."

"According to history books, Madara Uchiha named the town the Hidden Leaf after the Shodai created the buildings with his Mokuton." Naruto snorted. He was slightly surprised the Bijuu could be so… civil. "He defected soon after."

"You should have done the same. The Hidden Villages bring us Bijuu and Jinchuuriki nothing but suffering. We share the same boat." It grunted. "Is it not, Fuu?"

The girl stayed silent an instant, and her blonde friend couldn't repress his curiosity. "What happened in Taki?" he asked.

"Nothing," she lied through her teeth. "Nothing at all."


Sasori glanced at his partner, covered with bandages. "How long until you are at full strength again?"

"A few days, I would say… aesthetic surgery isn't that bothering, and Kimimaro is surprisingly adapted to flesh alterations." A blade of bone grew out of Orochimaru's arm, which surprised the red scorpion. He had expected blood to flow. Obviously, the Kaguya bloodline reduced the damage done to the body. "With this enhanced vessel, Sarutobi-sensei will surely fail."

The puppeteer snorted and glanced at the bottles piled next to the Sannin. "Has the quota been fulfilled?"

"It has been shattered." Orochimaru chuckled. "We have enough Samsara to fuel an army."

"I will smuggle it inside the walls once my agents are ready." Sasori chuckled. "Deidara has finished preparing the bombs."

"Oh? I guess we will see who is the better artist soon then," Orochimaru teased his partner, who shrugged. He wasn't in the mood to discuss his rivalry with Deidara. "What about the Nanabi and the Gobi?"

"I asked for reinforcements, and we will have them."

"And Naruto-kun?"

"Alive. My agents will move when Naruto expects it the least." Sasori glared venomously at the Sannin. "What madness possessed you? You could have killed him."

"No… I was certain he would survive the procedure, and it will allow me to restrain him anytime." In truth, the reason Orochimaru had infected Naruto with the Cursed Seal was to better control him. Once addicted to the Seal's chakra, he will come to me begging like a dog, the snake thought with amusement. With the Kyuubi under my control and Edo Tensei, I will be able to defeat Pain… after Konoha is wiped off the maps, of course. Myriads of plans took shape in his mind, each more cruel than the last. I will enjoy having Naruto rip you apart, he mused inwardly, upon glancing at Sasori. "This was a calculated risk."

"If you keep acting like a loose canon, you might pay the price for it." The puppeteer snorted. "How many soldiers will Edo Tensei provide us?"

Orochimaru grinned behind his bandages. "More than enough."


Naruto glared at Sarutobi. "You stole Perry from me."

"It came to me first," the Sandaime chuckled, the animal resting on his lap. With this pose, the old man could be mistaken for an evil mastermind. "When do you intend to extract its venom?"

"Soon. I'm building hollow projectiles to deliver it." Naruto sat in a chair, locking eyes with his mentor. "You summoned me at this late hour to speak about Anko, am I right?"

"You will be happy to learn a rescue mission has been launched." Sarutobi interlaced his fingers. "The coordinates the White Snake Sage gave you confirm our own investigation. Akatsuki has a base near Kusagakure. Jiraiya believes this is an experimentation lab."

"You realize this might be a trap."

"I assume every recovery mission is a trap. Which is why you won't be part of it."

The boy's heart stopped beating briefly. "Why?" Naruto clenched his fists. "I gave you the info in the first place!"

"Orochimaru will be able to locate your Cursed Seal, warning him of the operation." Sarutobi inhaled the smoke. "And before you try to worm your way into the team, which you probably intend to, let me tell you the ANBU is on its way as we speak."

You farsighted old bastard… "How many people have you sent? Anko is probably closely guarded."

"I sent the best… and Yugao is part of them." Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "As much as I hate to say it… you are too precious for Konoha to risk now. Especially since I need a counter to Gaara in town."

Here they were. The real reason he was brought to the office. "Suna is scheming behind our back?"

"Yes." Sarutobi inhaled sharply and dropped the bomb. "The Kazekage is planning to invade the Leaf during the Third Exam, in three weeks. Jiraiya's contacts informed me Gaara has been ordered to release the Ichibi on the populace during his match."

Naruto fell silent, the implications dark and disturbing. "How many forces do they have?"

"Around 8,000 ninjas have been mobilized, according to our spies. Jiraiya informed me they were recruiting mercenaries who may be affiliated with Akatsuki, so by the end, we might face an army of around 12,000 men. Half of what we have and on our territory, but if the Ichibi is allowed to roam free, numbers will not win."

"But… but you're letting the Kazekage inside our walls? And Akatsuki is behind this? Are you insane?" Naruto paused, upon realizing how stupid he had been to speak like this to his direct superior. "Sorry."

"Naruto… what would you do if you were in my place?"

"I would put the Kazekage under house arrest," he said after a short pondering. "Our image on the international scenery might take a hit, but the invasion could be avoided. I would have Gaara killed immediately."

"A spy of mine convinced me Akatsuki infiltrated the command structure of Sunagakure." Itachi had been quite clear on the subject. "The invasion will happen, with or without the Kazekage. If we capture him, the population will take it as the proof of our treachery and the war will be declared by Orochimaru's proxies. At this point, all we can do is damage control."

Naruto got it immediately. "You intend to trap the attack force, slaughtering them and keeping your losses at bar minimum?"

"Yes. And perhaps obtain the Shukaku, if things go smoothly." Sarutobi began to explain his plan. "If the operation works, Suna will be crippled and without a Jinchuuriki. An easy prey for Iwa, who will start a war with its neighborhood. Both being associated with Akatsuki, they will bleed themselves out while we focus on the string pullers."

"You will exploit Orochimaru's own plan to your advantage…" Naruto whispered, impressed by the guile, and slightly horrified. The Iwa-Suna war would be a bloody one, and thousands would die. Better them than us, I guess. "But what do you intend to do exactly?"

"I cannot tell you everything, only your role in my scheme." Sarutobi lit his pipe. "What do you think of Gaara?"

"He's a psychopath. Letting him roam free will result in incidents."

"He will not be removed before the Invasion's day, or else Suna will suspect we have been warned and react unpredictably. However, as unstable as he is, Gaara is a lonely Jinchuuriki. With luck, you and your friends may be able to convince him to switch sides. If he cannot be convinced to defect… you will have to remove him on the day of the Third Exam. Keep him alive, if possible, so we can extract the Ichibi. Otherwise, kill him." The old man frowned. "Do you feel able to complete this S-Rank mission?"

"Anyone can be killed with the right preparations." Naruto narrowed his eyes. "What else?"

"Orochimaru's pride will probably cause him to seek me out during the invasion," the Sandaime admitted. "And it is possible Sasori will try capturing you during the confusion. You will have to be on your guard."

The teen nodded. "What about the Mizukage? What side will Kiri take?"

"Kiri's new administration… had proved to be particularly interesting and helpful. You will see for yourself when the Mizukage arrives tomorrow." The old man grinned. "Tell me... would you mind participating in important meetings?"

Naruto dropped his jaw in shock. "You mean, with the Mizukage and Kazekage?" It was kind of the Hokage to propose him this, since he could have ordered instead.

"Alongside my meetings with my advisers." Sarutobi inhaled from his pipe. "Let's be honest. Neither Han nor Fuu trust me, and considering their troubles with authorities, I can understand them perfectly. You are my liaison with these two, and the intervention of two Demon Vessels might be pivotal in the invasion. As our Jinchuuriki, you are one of the pillars maintaining Konoha as a war deterrent. I believe it is time for me to associate you more closely with our chain of command. Your presence in meetings with the Kazekage and Mizukage would remind them we have the Kyuubi, giving us the upper hand in debates."

He's grooming me, Naruto suddenly realized. For a command position. "I am honored by your proposal, Hokage-sama. I accept."


"This is it." Yugao glanced at the black construction, near the destroyed bridge. A dark bunker of metal and steel, hidden by trees and partly dig under the earth. "Orochimaru's hideout."

"Fu," Torune Aburame told his partner, a member of the Yamanaka clan, "How many chakra signatures?"

"Ten. Mitarashi's, eight unknown, probably civilians, according to their low reserves… and Kabuto Yakushi's." Fu clenched his jaw upon dropping the traitor's name. "No one else."

"It does not appear they expect us, but let's be careful," Kakashi ordered. "Torune, Fu, behind. Yugao, you and I will be the vanguard."

While Cat nodded, she noticed her mentor was slightly preoccupied, glancing at the remains of the bridge. "Senpai?" Yugao asked.

"Sorry," he shrugged, focusing. "It brought back bad memories." This was the bridge Rin and Obito sacrificed their lives to destroy… the Kannabi Bridge. I promise you… I won't let another comrade fall today.

"The night is upon us," Fu noted, as light faded away. "We better hurry."

The four ninjas moved in silence, entering through the base's windows. Yugao found herself briefly wondering what had pushed Danzo, the ANBU's leader, to add his own bodyguards to this mission. Could it be because he expected Akatsuki members to be nearby?

The base's interior was… deserted. There wasn't a soul inside, and in all evidence, it hadn't been occupied for quite a while. This is too silent, Yugao thought. What could they be doing there?

They finally reached a large, brightly lit white hall. It seemed to be an hospital room, with nine people laying on beds, their vital signs recorded by a computer… and the doctor operating it.

Fu instantly pushed a kunai against the individual's throat. "Raise your hands and do not try anything," he said. "This does not have to be difficult."

Kabuto Yakushi did as he was told. "Ah, my fellow Root… have you come to pay me a visit?" he asked, sounding friendly and confident. "It is nice to see you again."

Yugao ignored the traitor's words and focused on his 'patients'. They were six men and three women, different in appearance, clothing, and age. Anko was among them, her eyes wide opened, empty, lifeless… and crimson in color. "Anko, it's me…" the ANBU began, trying to wake her up.

"They suffered body modifications," Torune whispered, upon glancing at the comatose patients. "Interesting. My insects sense one of them had a few muscles replaced with metal."

"You drugged them?" Kakashi asked Kabuto. "Answer me!"

As Fu Yamanaka pushed the kunai closer to the throat, nearly drawing blood, Kabuto adopted a fake smile. "Me? I did nothing. I was simply tasked to monitor them yesterday."

"What is it? An illusion?" Yugao wondered out loud. "A Genjutsu?"

"Limited Tsukuyomi."

The group put itself on guards, as a deep, stoic voice resonated. Slowly, an individual wearing black robes and a spiraled mask walked through the room's wall. His demeanor was calm and serene, inhumanly so. "An illusion that reads the heart's desire and traps the victim in a convincing simulation of it. A Genjutsu so perfect, one has to sacrifice his dearest dream to escape it. To sum it up… this is a self-inflicted prison. A living fantasy where one wants to spend eternity within to escape the despair of real life."

"Who are you?" Kakashi clenched his fists, ready to attack anytime.

"I am so many things, Hatake… you wouldn't comprehend half of them." The masked man shrugged his shoulders. "You can say I am… a magician. I turn the impossible, into the possible."

Yugao recognized him. "It was the man who evacuated Sasori and Orochimaru…" she said, the sentence chilling the room's air. This person was the affiliated with Akatsuki's leadership, and was not to be underestimated.

"Why are you here?" Torune asked.

"I can return you the question, Root. Why did Danzo send you? Is it for Mitarashi… or the Samsara, perhaps? He wants to be strong and young once more… I am sorry to disappoint him."

Although Yugao had no idea what they were talking about, the desire to free her friend was too strong to ignore. "Release the hold you have over Anko."

"Why? In her dream, she achieved her deepest desires: defeating Orochimaru, being respected by everyone… it would be cruel of me to take her out of her ideal world." The Akatsuki member chuckled, his tone betraying his insanity. "Perhaps would you like to have a perfect life too? Your lover can be reborn in your fantasy."

It took everything she had not to cut him in half. Yugao touched her pommel threateningly, managing to reign in her anger. "Why are you here?" Torune asked one more time.

"I expected the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki to locate her eventually," the masked man shrugged. "After all, she was his sensei, and he is surprisingly stubborn. I thought he would get out of the woods to find her… I guess Sarutobi was too smart to give him freedom." The man locked eyes with Kakashi.

"Hatake, your purpose has ended… and it is time to enjoy your reward." The masked man extended his arms. "Your paradise awaits you. A world where Obito Uchiha, Rin Nahora, and Minato Namikaze are alive, an illusion where you can pretend you never failed… your dream will come true inside the Limited Tsukuyomi. To all of you, the gate to a perfect world is open. You simply have to surrender your will to me."

"No," Kakashi replied, betraying a hint of surprise at the man's knowledge of his life. "You're coming with us."

"Fair well… if you refuse my black mercy…" The hole in the mask revealed a crimson Sharingan. "You shall drown in true despair."

Anko's knife moved to slice Yugao's throat.


A/N: thanks ABitterPill for betaing.

On the reviews/PM I received:

- I do have an idea for the pairings, but I'm going to tease many of them for all their worth. This way it will leave me room to take whichever option I want if I change my mind. That and it will provide humor.

- the 'Naruto's condition being impossible' issue: it will be addressed in chapter 9, and actually has an explanation that is coherent with the manga. I'm mostly going to expand on how the Sage taught people how to use chakra and the 'Juubi is the progenitor of all chakra' background.

- Jiraiya will have a bigger role as a sort of parental figure/big brother figure than in the manga. At least there will be more on-screen bonding scenes.

- Naruto will be an 'anti-superpower' kind of fighter, like the Templar Order from Dragon Age, or the Equalists from Legend of Korra (aka someone specifically trained and equipped to take down a specific threat).

On the chapter:

Sorry, no Han today. Gotta focus on the other characters too. Rejoice, he appears in the next chapter.

Rare are the stories that develop the snakes beyond 'selfish greedy evil bastards loyal to Orochimaru only' (the excellent Daybreak series is one of the most brilliant example where the snakes are humanized and befriended by the main cast). It falls apart when you realize Anko used them for years inside Konoha without any trouble. I believe that they are mercenaries who simply happen to be employed by the antagonists.

Yep, Orochimaru had Kimimaro cured and took his body as his own (boy it sounds wrong). Considering he stated he would have preferred this body instead of Sasuke's, I believe it makes sense.

The Limited Tsukuyomi is actually a canon technique and the main plot of the Road to Ninja movie (I would suggest checking it out: while it in no way the greatest Naruto movie ever and it missed a lot of opportunities, like developing Menma/Evil Naruto, it provides very good character development for both Naruto and Sakura). The technique is a lot more efficient and vicious in Atlas due to Tobi having done field-testing in the background.

On the story as a whole:

I originally intended for the invasion to start around chapter 9, and the story to end around chapter 16. Since I've added a lot of things to my original mapping of the story, I think I will expand the story so it lasts around 25 chapters. The training arc will last until chapter 10, and the Invasion will start at the end of chapter 11.

Would you kindly leave a review?