It's time for chapter six! This means (at least...I think it does; I can't actually remember,) that I've written more chapters for this story than any of the others I've posted on here. However, that doesn't mean much... Especially since I've got about thirty chapters written out at the rate I'm going.

Now, once again, I'd like to respond to some reviews:

Duelwarrior: Would it surprise you to say that I thought of doing that? Let it be said, however, that an unhappy "Nekomata" is a very, very dangerous person. Particularly while the protagonist is nowhere near his full power.

plums: I'm sorry you feel that way; (and also for not addressing this complaint earlier,) I tend to write about 2k sized chapters now, since five pages seems decent for something like this. I can't count the number of times that I've started reading a fic and then realized two things:

1. The chapters are about 20k long

2. I have fifty more chapters to go

SO, with that said, I try to stick to a point where that doesn't set in and make a reader potentially give up hope of ever reaching the story's end/waiting for the next update.

If the "not enough words" benchmark is really that important, my honest suggestion would be to leave this story and come back to it when there's more to it.

SinOfDisaster: Thank you! And I guess you're right. As someone who was never sheltered as a child, even canon!Naruto knows deep down that everything dies; it's just a matter of time. I've simply taken that to an extreme-he now prefers to beat time at its own game, or to help it along the way. I will say, however, that RIB:ASOSS!Naruto/Kitsune is decisively more dark than grey. (It may take a while to see, but it's definitely there. Just wait for the Chunin Exams.)

...

And, speaking of the Chunin Exams, I think we all know what arc comes after the Nami no Kuni one.

ON WITH THE SHOW!

"Team Seven, reporting back from our mission to Nami no Kuni." Kakashi announced the words, and several of the working ninja around the Genin team looked up to find a certain orange-clad shinobi that was distinctly absent from the group.

"What of Naruto? Where is he, and why is he not with you?" The Hokage's questions came, as the three ninja knew that they would, and they could not defend themselves.

"... I don't know." Sakura admitted.

"We lost him." Sasuke stated, no emotion showing through the mask that was the standard facial expression of the Uchiha clan.

"Rather," Kakashi began with no uncertain amount of dread, "he lost us. We waited for him for two weeks; I'll give my full mission report in private."

The aging man was, certainly, shocked. This had never happened before; a Hidden Village that lost its Jinchuriki? The thought was absolutely horrifying, particularly for Konohagakure no Sato. They only had one demon-holder, and it was the strongest of the nine, so such a thing should have been guarded against at all costs! Kakashi should have known better than to let the boy out of his sight; it was part of the reason that the man had been made his Jonin-sensei: the Sharingan was partially known for being able to control the Kyubi! "How could you have- I don't understand the-"

"Allow me to explain..."

The dual-toned voice, in split octaves, was unmistakable. So, too, was the all-black uniform and armor; the sleeves were ripped on his shirt's shoulders, baring his allegiance to the one and only Village Hidden in the Leaves. Red eyes, as cold and impersonal as death itself, seemed to glow against the contrast of the black Kitsune mask... He stood to his full height after dropping from the ceiling, muscles completely relaxed and at ease. He would expect no attack here, certainly? Or was it that he was so confident and self-sure that he believed himself to be invulnerable in this situation?

In truth, it was a little of both.

"...On second thought, Hokage-sama, I don't think I will. Have fun with this one, Hatake-san."

The only difference in detail was incredibly minor, almost going unnoticed, and only the ever-searching eyes of a stunned Sarutobi Hiruzen managed to pick it out from the rest: a single black ring that rested on the left hand, on the finger next to the pinky. It had almost managed to escape his notice, but the soft gleam had caught his eye when it was struck by light. He remained silent, however, in respect to the man's privacy; perhaps, given his social disadvantages, he did not know what finger a marriage ring went on?

He certainly hoped so, in any case; whatever woman could catch the eye of the emotionally dead Kitsune would have to be a combination of beautiful, ruthless, and more-than-likely an S-class kunoichi.

"Fine." Kakashi scowled beneath his mask, but his tone remained distinctly calm. "Meet me on the bridge in the southwestern side of the village at noon... I have important news to tell all three of you, and do not be late!"

The irony of such a statement was not lost on anyone in the room, but that number had been drastically reduced upon Kitsune's arrival; almost all of the hidden Anbu soldiers, be they known to the Hokage or not, had vanished. This was noticed by most people, save for Sakura and a few Chunin whose detection skills weren't trully up to par. For Sasuke, this was when a large section of the proverbial puzzle clicked into place... In fact, he believed that most of it was now complete.

'The Anbu...they put the attempt to spread the news of Kitsune's return over their appointed task of guarding the Hokage. It's clear that he receives far more support from them, at least in spirit; he wasn't sealed away for being too powerful, at least not in the physical sense. He was the Anbu Captain of Han Roku, effectively the strongest soldier in Kurojutsu. Does this mean that he also presided over all factions of the Anbu as leader and Commander? Following that line, was he sealed away because they feared that he was plotting a coup against the upper echelon in Konoha?'

Sasuke's thoughts would have been frighteningly accurate, save for one or two errors, if there weren't several massive questions that were brought on by the answers that they were supposedly provided by. It seemed as though, when he got the chance, he would need to pay a visit to the Uchiha's ancestral spirit...and not for a good reason. There wouldn't be enough time to do that now, however, so he decided to simply eat at a restaurant before he would go to the appointed bridge.

The news had spread like wildfire; in the Anbu barracks, one would have thought that all the elite emotional training had gone out the window. It was for a simple, and yet so strange, reason: Kitsune, the Dark Lord Kitsune, had returned from the dead after approximately eleven years. Kurojutsu, having been disbanded after his 'death,' was especially excited; their leader had returned, just as he had promised, and that meant that he would be there to lead them... There was much rejoicing.

However, in the far underground of Konoha, beneath even the sewers or the deepest of taproots, something far different was happening. It was not to be entirely unexpected, given the nature of the private above-ground celebrations, but still just as strange in its nature: a teenage boy, perhaps a year older than Kitsune, (or, perhaps, not) was plotting. His skin was a near-sickly white, his eyes and hair the deepest of inky blacks, and his clothing was just the same as Kitsune's own; rather than a sword, however, he wielded several tipless tanto knives and a paintbrush... Officially, he had no name.

Of course, officially, he also didn't exist.

Kitsune, however, had given him a name upon recruitment...well, no. 'Recruitment' was the wrong word, as he'd been with the man since before the beginning; in any case, his Commander had given him the name of 'Sai.' When asked why, the given answer had been far simpler than anything that he may have expected:

"You are my general, my right hand, my greatest and truest of weapons, the Sai that breaks the swords of my enemies."

Such was the truth, then, and thus he was Kitsune no Sai. He held no complaints about his position, not that he would have voiced them anyway; he worked for Shimura Danzo as one of the man's Ne operatives, an Anbu sect that was entirely loyal to the man and on par with the Kurojutsu of old. While Anbu and Kurojutsu attempted to suppress emotion, Ne generally succeeded in eradicating it to near-extinct status.

Such was the tale of the boy in the earth, awaiting the time when he would be free to walk the world once more; until such a moment as that, however, he would simply continue to plot and plan for his Commander. It was his fate, always and forever, to do such things...how else would the wielder know where to stab with their Sai?

At noon, after everything had been done with, they met at the appointed bridge; how did they know it was this specific bridge, when it was surrounded by at least five others?

They didn't obviously, but that was unimportant. The only thing that currently mattered was that they were all here, gathered together, for whatever announcement Kakashi was going to make...if he actually showed up on time, that is. The two Genin and former Anbu were leaning against the railings of the bridge, facing one another, with Sasuke and Sakura opposite of Kitsune.

"In all likelihood, he's going to nominate us- -that is, the two of you- -for the Chunin Exams; they're a series of three tests meant to determine if you have the ability to become a Chunin, though not all of those who complete the three tasks will manage to attain the rank. It's a very strange and delicate system, in any case, and you will need to follow my lead if it's going to happen..."

That was when Kakashi arrived, official-looking documents in his hand, giving his trademark eye-smile; he was clearly grinning beneath his mask, and he explained why; Kitsune, it seemed, had been correct in his assessment of the situation. They were to be at the Ninja Academy in one week for the first of the Chunin Exams, he believed in them, and much of the rest of the useless drivel a leader spouts when he is offering encouragement to his subordinates.

"Kitsune, you'll need to remove your mask for the exams; even for you, the hassle of explanations is too great to allow a supposed Genin to go in while wearing a black Anbu mask. And, with that said, I'll see the three of you at some point!"

The man vanished, only Kitsune's eyes managing to track him down the path he'd gone on, and the black-clad ninja growled in frustration. "Hatake is right, unfortunately, and you will need to be ready for absolutely anything; we don't know how these exams are going to turn out for us, or if there will even be a home-field advantage. As irritating as it is, you both need to train for the next five days before taking the sixth day off... And, a week from now, we will begin."

"Father?" Sakura asked, knocking on the door to his room; upon receiving confirmation of his presence, and permission to enter, she walked inside.

Sozetsu Haruno was an aging man, perhaps twice as old as Hatake Kakashi, and had fought with the man's father on his Genin team. It was part of the reason they had so much mutual respect...and, it seemed, the last Hatake was teaching his daughter. "Yes, Sakura-chan? What is it?"

"Kakashi-sensei recommended us for the Chunin Exams! Also, I'm back from the mission in Nami no Kuni!"

The laugh seemed to shake many years from his body, and his pink hair shook with him. Despite his paralyzed legs, he still found ways to enjoy life... And, in sparring with his daughter, had proven that his disability didn't make him lose any advantages as a ninja. In fact, one could argue, he'd become an even better shinobi thanks to his lack of mobility. His eyes, as keen as ever, could take in any situation's detail. His sign-making speed for the casting of jutsu was far increased. His skill with a sword hadn't diminished at all, though he now preferred a lance of some kind in its place.

This was the man who had been Kame, one of the four specialists in Han Roku, with Inu, Itachi, and Kitsune. However, that was only one part of him...the other piece to his puzzle was that of a caring husband and devoted father.

"The Chunin Exams? I remember going through those. The one where I advanced was in Kirigakure, although I took them three times; they're very difficult, but I'm certain that you'll be able to handle them much better than I did."

"Yes, about that...would you be willing to train me for a few days, dad? I'm not sure what the exams will be, and I don't think that it can hurt me if I get a new perspective on my training."

For Sozetsu, the answer was obvious. He couldn't teach her the few special Haruno techniques, passed down for generatons, but he could certainly give her some pointers in her chakra control and the basic application of her already-existing techniques. Perhaps he could even teach her a jutsu or two?

The next five days were filled, for Sasuke, with dangerous training; despite his desire to find the Uchiha no Yokai, the ancestral spirit of all Uchiha, (even those from before the founding of Konoha) he had yet to actively seek it out. On the sixth day, however, it seemed that Fate was impatient...the spirit came to him as he slept, though it was hardly a spirit at all, and waited for him to wake up.

It was a woman who could have been any age from fifteen to thirty, with a truly timeless look to her face. She wore a full-body suit, likely formed of thin mesh, that was marked in certain areas with blood-colored symbols and markings. Her eyes were red, an even deeper shade than Kitsune's. Her skin was alabaster, as though she'd been indoors for her entire life, and her white hair went to the small of her back; her expression was calm and contemplative, but that was before her face twisted into a sick and demented smile... Her laugh, when it came, was a single expulsion of air through clenched teeth; it was harsh, and created a loud "KSSSH" sound as it emanated.

"So they found one another..." Kitsune grinned, calmly watching the scene unfold. He'd told 'the spirit' to do no harm to him until after he returned home from the Chunin Exams. "...I'm not sure that's a good thing."

[It's bad. It's very, very, very bad. Unfortunately, though, it can't be taken back; if he's not killed by her training, then I'll eat my own tails.]

Laughing at the fox's doubts was only good for a minor distraction from the scene before him; it was simply too good to miss.

This was the revered (or, at least, he revered her) warrior who had survived for uncounted centuries, several thousands of years; she could manipulate blood with her abilities, and was also the host to the vicious chakra of some demonic source...it was the wife of the Rikudo Sennin: Shiro. In truth, she was also one of the few that Kitsune believed to be trustworthy. Only with her help would his ultimate plans come to fruition, and she was also his ancestor of two sides...

Believe it!