A/N: Thanks to everyone! Because I know you're reading and you like the story… I know you do cause my stats are GINORMUS! So I will take that as a sign that people like the story. Meanwhile… Thanks to Wandering Maverick (again) for the help.

Normal

"Speech"

Thought

Kyuubi

Warnings: I do not own Naruto. Rated "M" for language and adult situations.

Chapter 72: Plans to Move

"My Lord! You gave me the task of keeping Lady Midoriko safe. This new intelligence from Konoha proves that the Leaf ANBU returned to Konoha. Alive or not, he returned and reported that Lady Midoriko was here. They will mount a rescue operation to attempt to retrieve her." Kisame kept his gaze at the Madara.

"This island we call home is the safest place she could be. What makes you think we can't remove the threat before it gets here?" The Mizukage paced around Kisame.

"I am only thinking of her safety and yours. The Nine Tail brat will be on that mission to retrieve Lady Midoriko. I saw the fight with Pein. It wasn't pretty and the boy came out of that fight without a scratch. Even our best shinobi have no chance of stopping him. He will get into the palace and he will retrieve her. I am suggesting we move Midoriko to Sound. Lord Kabuto would be more than capable in assisting with the birth, and they would never think to look there. In the meantime, we set a trap for the Nine Tail boy here in Mist." Kisame waited for the answer he was hoping for. Madara had become paranoid in his old age and Kisame was playing to that paranoia.

Madara smirked under the orange mask. "You may have a point Kisame. None of the medics in Mist are equipped or experienced in the potential difficulties of a demon spawn birth. Kabuto may not have been my first choice to play nurse maid to my dear Midoriko, but I'm sure he will have to do. Make the arrangements to leave as quickly as possible. I will deal with the Nine Tail Jinchuriki when he arrives." Madara let out an evil chuckle. "I never thought that my first gift to Midoriko and MY son would be a new pet."

"Yes, Lord Mizukage." Kisame bowed out of the throne room and headed straight for Midoriko's chamber. Before he entered the chamber, he glanced outside the window into the garden. Two large black ravens were sitting on one of the many pagodas in the garden. The larger of the birds turned and glared at him. It was an errie glare. Kisame had seen many birds in his time, but this bird had an air of intelligence and understanding.

Kisame stood watching as Midoriko, in a flowing red kimono approached the birds with a hand full of bread. It was then he recognized the birds. He was going to use the birds. They would be able to get a message to the right people. Kisame walked through the doors and stood behind Midoriko, seemingly unaware of the importance of the two large ravens she was feeding.

"Aren't they beautiful?" She asked as the smaller of the ravens pecked bread out of her hand.

Kisame shrugged. "They're birds. We have to get ready as quickly as possible. We are going on a trip. There is a special doctor in Sound that is going to take care of you during the birth of your Little One."

Midoriko turned in panic to Kisame. "But I thought…"

He shook his head to signal that someone may be listening. And it was true that someone was listening. "We are going to the Sound village where you can be safe. The Mizukage is staying here to deal with a possible invasion, which is why you are being moved." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two birds turn to each other. "We are to leave as soon as you are ready."

Midoriko nodded sadly. "I will be ready in about an hour."

"We are going to take a boat to the north of the Fire Country and then travel through the unclaimed countryside between the Fire Country and the Lightening Country. It's very cold right now so please pack warmly." Kisame added.

Midoriko allowed the smaller bird to finish. "I will." She turned and went in to her chamber to begin packing. Kisame started to follow her.

Kisame stopped a few feet away from the birds and spoke aloud. "If they come here, it's a trap." He waited until he heard the flutter of wings before he continued into Midoriko's room. She was hurriedly putting together clothes she thought she would need. Kisame stopped her. "Keep it simple and warm." Midoriko nodded and was silent while she packed.

0 – 0 – 0

Two very tired and hungry ravens perched in the tree near the Tazuna's house, where the rescue team was staying. Tsunade, being the old lady she was, had originally insisted they stay in a hotel rather than camp out. Naruto, being the anxious brat he was, wanted to keep going. Sasuke didn't care one way or the other, but since Tsunade offered to pay for the hotel, had taken the side of the Hokage.

They were in the Wave Country and had chartered a boat to take them to the Water Country at first light. At first they had difficulty with finding a boat master that would take a group of ninja to the Water Country, but after Naruto's quick chat with Tazuna, they had a boat and a place to stay. Tazuna would not hear of Naruto and friends staying anywhere else. The Leaf ninja were greeted by a smiling Tsuname when they arrived at Tazuna's house. There was much chit chat about the comings and goings of the now developing Wave Country. Iniari was off in college to become a businessman and run the bridge building firm Tazuna had started.

It was late and Tsunade was awake in her room. A bottle of sake and the map Shikamaru had given them lay out on the floor. She was studying the map intently when she heard the tapping on her window.

Kunai in her hand she went to open the window. The large raven hopped inside and perched on the map. "So NOW you want to help?" Tsunade scoffed.

"Don't get snippy with me Hime, Myra is in danger. While being held captive by the Old One, she was in no danger, now that she is in danger I am obligated to see to it that she is out of danger." Edgar scratched at the map.

"Why come to me, why not go to Naruto?" Tsunade sat on the floor next to the map.

Poe fluttered in the window, landing on the Hokage's shoulder. "It was wise not to tell the Fox Boy about his child to be. He is agitated enough as it is. If Naruto were to know of his son, it would be difficult to keep him under control and calm. Though the Kyuubi has agreed to never try to take control of Naruto again, when they are of single thought and action, there is no difference between them. They would both agree to protect Myra at all costs. Nothing besides death would keep Naruto from finding her."

"I see. Why is Myra in danger?" Tsunade looked at the map.

"The Old One is having her moved from Mist to Sound." Edgar said bluntly. "He is also setting a trap for Naruto in Mist. Madara believes he has the girl and her child. He wants his pet."

"Why Sound?" Tsunade frowned.

Sasuke appeared at the door. "Kabuto."

"I knew that the Mizukage had an alliance with Sound, but what would Kabuto have to offer that Madara wants?" Tsunade gazed at Sasuke.

"Kabuto is a trained medic ninja, and despite the fact that he's crazier than a loon, he's well versed in strange medicine. If I couldn't have the great Tsunade or Sakura treating my wounds, and Kabuto was on my side, I would want Kabuto patching me up." Sasuke gave Tsunade a sideways smile. "If Madara sent word that Kabuto would have first look at Naruto's offspring, Kabuto may have welcomed Myra with open arms."

"They will be traveling at break neck speeds. Her companion gave us the route they will be taking. They left Mist by boat earlier this afternoon. They should be making port tomorrow morning." Edgar hopped over the part of the map where they would make port. "From here, they will take the road to the north of the Fire Country. However there is a catch, if we ambush before Sound sends word that the Lady Midoriko has arrived, it may tip off Madara that something is wrong. If we ambush afterwards, it may be too late. Myra is very close to giving birth. The little one is going to wait as long as he can, but he says it is difficult and he is loosing strength. We have a few days at most."

"It's a boy?" Tsunade looked upset.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "He can talk already?"

"The spirit can speak for now. The moment he is born, he will be nothing more than a babe in arms. It is a sign the boy will have great potential. Minato favor's his father's side of abilities so far and a few from the Kitsune, but for the most part, he will be a true blending of both mother and father." Edgar beamed.

Tsunade had a shocked expression. "Minato?"

"A honoring of Myra's departed brother and Naruto's father." Poe cooed.

Sasuke went stock still. He knew that Myra's brother was named after the Yondiame. But now so many things about Naruto made sense. Sasuke had always thought that the Yondiame couldn't have picked a random orphan out of the pool of children born that day to seal the fox into. It wouldn't hold up to the Yondiame's character. The Yondiame chose his own son for the task of keeping the village safe from the nine tailed fox. The only person the Yondiame could have trusted with the job. "So it is true? I had always thought it was, but something had always kept me from seeing it."

Tsunade sighed. "You don't know anything Sasuke. We need Naruto rational. Hitting him with Myra's pregnancy will be enough to send him over the edge. A double knockout punch will be too much for him to handle. He was supposed to find out on his eighteenth birthday, but that came and went. With Myra gone and him still grieving I didn't want to make it any worse. I was about to give him his inheritance when Hiashi was discovered. It all got a bit complicated from there. So for the time being, I am planning it as a birthday present for his son."

The door squeaked open and Naruto stood in the door way fuming. His hair was wild and his eyes blazed red. "My son?"

Tsunade gazed up at Naruto in shock. "It isn't nice to eves drop." She snapped.

"It isn't nice to keep secrets. WHAT is going on?" Naruto kept his stare directed at Tsunade.

Sasuke hadn't wanted to keep the information from his friend, but thought it was best for all involved if Naruto didn't know. "Myra is pregnant with your son."

Naruto spun around to face Sasuke. "And you thought you wouldn't mention it until when? When we got there? HOW LONG were you planning on leaving me out of the loop?" Red feral eyes bore into the young Uchiha.

Sasuke had to take notice of the blonde. Naruto had never really given Sasuke a reason to be cautious or even scared. But this reaction from Naruto gave Sasuke that reason. "Until it was necessary for you to know."

"I THINK IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO KNOW THE MINUTE YOU GOT BACK!" Naruto practically roared.

"Naruto, please… calm down." Tsunade tried to scold him like a mother would.

Naruto turned back to Tsuande with a snarl. "Calm?" Naruto chuckled much like the Fox. "I will be calm when MY FAMILY is safe." Naruto clenched his fists and started to tremble with the anger and rage he was feeling.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "We didn't tell you because we needed to actually have a plan that was a little more sophisticated than "let Naruto loose". AND we needed you thinking with a clear head."

"I am not going to risk Myra getting hurt!"

"Are you so sure about that? Look at yourself, you're ready to tear out of here and take on the world alone. It doesn't work like that. And don't go pulling the "MY FAMILY" bullshit on me. Myra is MY family too so you aren't the only one worried." The two glared at each other dangerously.

"NARUTO! SASUKE!" Tsunade bellowed. "This is not the time to argue about this."

Naruto let out a long and strong breath, as his demeanor calmed realizing that as much as he wanted to rage out of control, HIS Rabbit...and now HIS kit were in danger. His fists stopped shaking, and his body slowed it's trembling. He opened is eyes slowly, and while still their bloody crimson, the wild fire once blazing in them seemed to now be focused on one thing. "We WILL talk about this further. But for now...The danger MY," Naruto growled out through gritted teeth as a challenge to Sasuke to say anything else, "FAMILY is in takes precedence." he said, his voice never losing it's menacing tone. "Make your plans Hokage, Uchiha..." Naruto shot them each a nasty glare. "I'm leaving in the morning with or without you, plan or not, I WILL bring her back." He concluded, as the door closed in finality of his foreshadowing statement.

It took a few moments for Sasuke to compose himself. He shook his head. "Was he this bad when he was trying to get me to come back?"

Tsunade blinked, trying to get the color to return to her face. "No, he never scared me when he wanted to go after you. And even when I did have information on your whereabouts, or he heard a rumor that I knew to be true, he didn't make me feel like the evil bitch for keeping the information from him."

The female raven still perched on Tsunade's shoulder shook her head. "I warned you Hime, boy and fox are closer then they have ever been. Naruto wasn't just calming his own anger... He was calming the Kyuubi's as well."

Sasuke raised a thin eyebrow. "So we got off lucky?"

Edgar ruffled his feathers. "I am surprised the two of you are still alive."