A/N: Damn is it hot around here! Summer is here and OH how I hate the heat. Lucky for me I am going to be staying inside where I have cold water, tea, and soda at my fingertips. It also means that I am going to be writing a WHOLE lot more. I actually have the time at the moment so I am going to take FULL advantage of it. My Muse is cooperating for the most part, which is a good thing. Must be the lack of daily stress, or it could be the nachos I had for dinner.

Warnings: All Hail Kishimoto! For he is the true owner and operator of Naruto and his friends. I have merely borrowed Naruto and Co. to fit my own nefarious purposes. (I so love the word 'Nefarious') I shall return Naruto and friends eventually relatively unharmed, but not necessarily unmolested. Did I mention this is an Adult story with Adult themes? If I didn't, and I know I have, You have been warned... Cary on. Oh, and review for Pete's sake!

Previously:

Tsunade looked stunned. "Is that even possible?"

"Yes it is. But it is extremely dangerous." Rai bit out furiously.

Myra rolled her eyes. "He's just worried I'm going to do something extremely reckless and get myself killed… again."

"Ahem." One of the waiters interrupted before Rai could say anything further. Myra looked up and the waiter motioned with his head that other guests were arriving.

Myra nodded to the waiter and stood strait again. "Well I hate to cut this short, but I have other guests that are clamoring for my attention." She sighed. "I will be in your office first thing in the morning Lady Tsunade. Dad, I am going to need a new tactical suit if I'm going anywhere, and a new set of sticks. Now please, no more talk of war. This is a family event. Enjoy the meal and enjoy the calm before the storm."

Chapter 85: A Crash Course in Training.

Myra handed everything she had to Tsunade. "It's all outlined in my report."

Tsunade picked up the older and started to read, though it was a bit difficult. Myra had typed out the report, but it was in English. Tsunade's English reading skills were lacking in the same way Myra's Japanese writing skills were atrocious. "Why don't you give me the basics?"

Myra sighed. "The gist is this. I summarize that a small ANBU force consisting of stealth and explosive experts could infiltrate Sound to the main power plant. The power plant is more than just a means to generate electricity. It's a volcanic regulator. You see Sound sits smack dab in the middle of a caldera, or supervolcano."

Tsunade's eyes went extremely wide. "You want to blow the volcano."

Myra expression didn't change. "My estimates say that it would destroy Sound completely, part of the unclaimed territory and the after shocks would affect most of the region for several months. But the damage would be contained in Sound. Orochimaru had plans in place should he ever be invaded. He would wait until the invading force was well within his borders and set the power plant to overload. According to Karin, there is a massive amount of explosives set around the main magma chamber. Should the power plant overload, it will trigger a chain reaction that will cause the caldera to implode. The rapid expansion of gasses and heat would then cause the gasses and magma to be pushed through the hundreds of pipes and be channeled into all the prisons, bases and labs, effectively destroying all of Sound and her enemies. Kabuto doesn't even know because despite Orochimaru's fondness for his personal Medic, he didn't trust him. Karin knew because she organized the entire thing."

Angry, narrowed eyes bore into Myra. "You expect me to allow you to slaughter thousands of innocent lives? And more importantly possibly endanger thousands more because of your obsession to destroy Sound?"

Myra took in a deep breath to calm her ire. She bit the inside of her cheek so she wouldn't say something sarcastic. "I would hope, Lady Tsunade you would do what needs to be done. It may not be right, but it needs to be done. And if it were such an obsession as you claim, why did I bother to write the report and bring it to you?"

Tsunade composed herself as well. "I cannot allow these extreme measures to be taken. The risk is too great. How do we know that the plan Orochimaru implemented isn't designed to start a chain reaction within the volcano system causing the entire volcano chain that runs straight through the Land of Fire to the other coast to start exploding all at once? Have you considered that?"

"It is a risk I am willing to take."

The Hokage stared at the girl in utter shock for a split second. Tsunade's brow furrowed in anger and her eyes hardened. "Then it's a good thing you aren't in a position to give orders."

"No, I'm not. You asked for my advice, and I gave it. Maybe Shikamaru and your other advisers can give you an alternative plan. I would like nothing more than to do this without the loss of life. But in a time of war there are three rules. Rule One: people die. Rule Two: you can't do shit about rule one. Rule three: better them than us."

Tsunade looked over the mission brief for a few moments while she considered Myra's words. She came to the last page where the statistics were outlined.

Mission Success Probability: 80%

Casualties for Sound: 90%

Casualties for outlying areas: 30%

Team Casualties: 95%

Tsunade's eyes widened again. "This is a suicide mission!"

Myra swallowed. "It's a 'Hail Mary' (E/N#1) mission. The odds of succeeding are acceptable. Casualties for Sound and outlying areas are acceptable…"

"No!" Tsunade threw the brief on her desk. "It is NOT acceptable for the mission to be a success and the team to die."

"There isn't enough time for the team to get in, set the explosives and get to a safe distance from the main explosion. The power plant is heavily guarded. The stealth experts would be able to get us in. Getting out would be difficult if the alarms start. Unless there is a miracle and the team is able to find alternative means of faster transportation, they couldn't reach a minimum safe distance in the time allotted." Myra kept calm regardless of how she was feeling.

"Surely if you can get a safe distance from the plant…"

Myra let out a sad sound. "I don't think you understand the magnitude of this explosion. Sound IS the epicenter of the caldera. The power plant sits to the northern most tip of the magma chamber. The entire country Orochimaru called Sound will become a heated mass of gasses and rubble in a matter of minutes after the power plant explodes. We would be able to get a safe distance from the power plant explosion, but when the magma chamber erupts, there won't be anywhere to run."

Tsunade took a deep breath calming her frustration at the situation. "I will have a few more people look at this plan and see if it's a viable one."

Myra nodded and turned on her heels to walk out the door.

"Myra?" Tsunade's voice hinted of concern.

Myra turned and blinked at the Hokage. "Yes ma'am?"

"You still plan on leading this mission regardless of the outcome, don't you?"

"Yes." The woman at the door answered with conviction.

"If you don't come back…" Tsunade's fist tightened.

Myra smiled. "Hey, impossible I'm used to. Miracles take a little more time. So I figure by the time the team gets to the power plant and places all the explosives, I will have found my miracle."

0 – 0 – 0

"It is an acceptable operation." The black silhouette on the screen from the Land of Fire informed Tsunade.

"I concur. The Land of Lightening will be prepared for any fall out." A second silhouetted figured squirmed uncomfortably.

"I understand the magnitude of this situation, but I am not sure I agree with the methods." A female voice from the Land of Water came from another screen.

Tsunade glared at the female silhouette. The Hokage was not sure if the Land of Water's Diamyo was involved with Madara or not, so she wasn't going to take the chance. It was all to be blamed on Orochimaru and Kabuto (E/N #2). "I am not overly fond of the methods either, but we've had our analysts go over the information with a fine tooth comb. We have sent the information to allied nations gathered here to see if another solution can be found. All of your ministers, advisors, and tacticians have said the same thing. If Kabuto is building an army, then it must be dealt with by any means necessary. Konoha is willing to send the team, but only with the approval of all the nations involved. The main explosion and resulting after shocks will affect everyone but Sound will be destroyed along with the technology Orochimaru and subsequently Kabuto was allowed to cultivate to serve their own nefarious purposes."

The Diamyo from Water nodded solemnly. "Then it seems I have no other choice but to agree."

The Fat silhouette from Wind nodded on his screen. "We agree as well. We have enjoyed a prosperous time of peace and it must be protected at all costs."

The young boy from Earth hung his head. "I'm not sure what I should say, but it seems that my advisors agree with this plan." The boy, though hidden by a screen to give him a black silhouetted appearance on the monitor, seemed to spring up and brighten on the screen. "Oh, and I am supposed to say that we have sent orders to the Tsuchikage to assist if possible."

Tsunade hid her chuckle at the boy's enthusiasm, but didn't manage to hide her smirk. "Any help from that old geezer would be appreciated."

"Then it is approved. You have an agreement from the Five Countries to proceed." The figure of Mifune appeared on a sixth screen. "I would like to extend my best wishes in your success."

All the Diamyo's nodded in agreement and the screens blipped off. Tsunade exhaled the breath she had been holding for quite sometime. She exited the communication room and was met by Kakashi. "They agreed to this madness."

"This madness was endorsed by several advisors from several different places. I wouldn't have brought it this far had I not gotten the same answer. Had there been a doubt in anyone's mind that it wasn't worth the try, I wouldn't have gone as far as I have. The entire Konoha Counsel is in agreement. The Five Countries are in agreement. Kabuto and Madara cannot be allowed to continue building this army. It is as Myra called it, a 'Hail Mary' mission. The chances of it succeeding and dealing a great blow to Madara are better than normal."

Kakashi considered for a moment. "But is she ready? Myra has no experience with teamwork. She is used to doing things on her own."

Tsunade nodded. "That is why she is training with Naruto and anyone else that will let her play whack-a-shinobi." Tsunade chuckled and then fell silent. "She hasn't told Naruto she may not be coming back."

"It isn't wise to keep something like that from him."

"No it isn't. Naruto has become keenly aware of people keeping things from him. Fortunately, Myra is the best at keeping her secrets secret. And she isn't the only one keeping secrets from him. That boy has to learn that he can't allow his emotions to play a factor in his actions. Or at least think before he acts. Although, I will admit it makes him easy to predict."

Kakashi laughed. "I never thought I would ever hear anyone tell me that Naruto was predictable."

"He is very predictable in certain situations and predictably unpredictable everywhere else." Tsunade sighed heavily. "I need you to go through every ANBU you have. I need three of the best at stealth and explosives you've got. Myra will be taking lead and Sai will accompany as her second. Send Sai to give her the news the mission is a go."

"Understood." Kakashi nodded and was gone in a puff of smoke.

0 – 0 – 0

Sai stood next to Naruto in shock. "You are letting her beat you?"

Naruto leaned against the tree. "Yep."

"But how is that going to teach her anything?" Sai blinked.

"It's a demonstration of insurmountable odds."

Sai thought that over for a moment. First the artist realized that Naruto being around Myra had rubbed off on the dumb blonde because Sai didn't know Naruto had a vocabulary like that. Second, he really didn't understand whose odds were insurmountable. "Then shouldn't you be the one winning?"

Naruto shrugged. "I thought about it, but it's better if I let her have her way."

Out of the center of the dust cloud in the clearing a kunai came flying towards Naruto. Sai reactively hit the deck. The kunai 'thunked' into the tree not a hair's breath from Naruto's head. Naruto didn't flinch, but his eyes shifted to glance at the kunai still wobbling from the impact. "Perfect aim Rabbit!"

The dust cloud settled. Sai was stunned at what he saw in front of him. Myra was wearing a full black body suit that hugged her every curve. There were places that were obviously reinforced by armor, but the way the suit melded to her body the armor was barely noticeable unless you got up close and personal. She had a belt that hung low on her hips and looked to be compartmentalized to keep small things in. On her feet were some strange looking boots and not the open toed sandals preferred by most ninja, of course Sai had to remind himself, Myra wasn't most ninja. The most striking feature of the boots where the long silver shaft that started at the ankle and stopped at her knees. She was also carrying two long wooden sticks in one hand. Sai thought it had to be extremely hot in all that black.

Myra looked fit to be tied. Myra narrowed her eyes at the casual looking blonde and completely ignored Sai. "What are you talking about? I missed."

Myra stomped towards the blonde. Sai wasn't exactly sure how to deal with this situation, so he interrupted. "Um… Myra-san… I have…"

Myra turned her glare at Sai. "Fuck off a moment Fly Boy I'm busy with Pretty Boy!"

Sai blinked in surprise and thought best to keep quiet for the moment. Naruto stood tall from his causal leaning position against the tree. He turned a charming smile in Myra's direction. DAMN did she look glorious when she was mad?

Myra took a deep breath and stood toe to toe with the blonde. She tilted her head up slightly to glare at Naruto. An idle thought broke through her anger, When did he get taller? She growled in frustration at her errant thought. "You said you wouldn't hold back." She poked him in the chest with one of her eskrima sticks for emphasis.

Naruto rubbed his chest. Her face was flushed with anger and she was breathing heavily from her exertion. He couldn't help himself. Naruto reached out to pull her into a mind-numbing kiss.

Quicker than lightening, Myra rapped his knuckles none too gently. Completely pulling his mind out of the gutter, Naruto retracted his hands, shaking away the pain. "Ow!" That hurt a lot more than he thought it would.

She poked his chest a little harder this time. "Don't hold back, or you will be sleeping with the Kyuubi in the garden."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't?"

Myra's eyes narrowed to mere slits and her nose flared as she took a quick breath. "Watch me!" She growled out. She spun on her heels to return to her previous position in the center of the clearing. She stopped about two steps later realizing she had told Sai where to stick it for a minute. He had obviously come to give her the news she had been waiting for most of the day. Myra twisted her neck to remove a few kinks. She let out a frustrated sigh. "Sai, you have news for me?"

Sai blinked. "Tsunade says we are a go."

It was imperceptible to Sai, but Naruto caught the slight fluctuation in the temperature around her. It was something he was beginning to notice the more that he was around her. The more time he spent with her, he could read the tell tail signs that she had something heavy weighing on her mind. He knew it was the upcoming mission. She had told him that the mission was going to be dangerous. She had even tried to tell him there was a chance she wasn't going to come back. Naruto had been ready to start ranting and raving right then and there.

[Flash Back]

Earlier that morning

Tears had settled in her eyes but refused to fall. "You can't."

"Why can't I? I'm the one that is supposed to be saving the world! Not you. I'm supposed to protect my precious people!" He was barely keeping his anger in check.

"Love, you are going to wake Minato, and I will be very cross if you do." She tried to sooth him.

"I don't care if I wake up the whole damn village! You are NOT going. I won't let you kill yourself…"

Myra placed a hand on his chest and let her chakra flow through him. Naruto pushed her hand away from him and stood from the bed. "Don't do that!" He turned to her with a nasty glare. "I want to be angry at you. And I don't give a crap if it hurts you or not. I want you to know how this pisses me off. I want you to understand that if you don't come back it's gonna kill me."

Myra placed her hands in her lap. Her eyes cast to the floor. "And my leaving you and Minato here with the possibility of not coming back is killing me too. I had to look at the situation with objectivity. I had to separate myself from my heart in order to realize the truth of the situation. This one strike could bring down everything that Madara is trying to accomplish. It could stop him in his tracks." She let out a breath. Myra looked up at him. Sorrow, sadness, and her love for him were written in her expression, but it changed just as quickly to mild anger. The lights around her flickered slightly. "And before you go all sanctimonious on me, you would do exactly the same thing if giving the chance. How is it any different?"

Blue eyes did a quick sweep of all the lights in the room before he blinked at her. "Because I'm the one doing it." He said with finality and as if that was the answer to everything.

The fire of defiance danced in her eyes as she countered his argument. "I ask you again, how is that different? You can gladly sacrifice yourself for the betterment of mankind, but I'm not allowed? Talk about a double standard. Look, I have faith in you and I believe in you. I know without any doubts in my mind that you will protect Minato. He will grow strong and be happy. I want to be there for that. I have every intention on coming back. I mean come on! I've already come back from the dead for you once, how hard would it be to do it a second time?"

Naruto just stared at her. She was joking to hide her fear and doubts about herself. Myra needed him to have the same belief and faith in her that she did in him. He sat on the bed next to her, pulling her into his chest. "If you don't come back I will find you." He vowed.

Myra wrapped her arms around him holding him as if her life depended on it. She smiled into his chest. "Nah… you'd wait for me."

Naruto placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Always."

[End of flash back]

Even after accepting her possible fate, it didn't mean it didn't scare the shit out of her. Myra's back straightened. "Alright Pretty Boy, if you don't want to sleep in the garden, I suggest we get back to work."

"Myra-san, may I?" Sai raised his hand. "Since we are to be together on this mission, I would like a better understand of your abilities."

Myra slowly turned to Sai with a cold stare. Sai suppressed the urge to step back. Naruto suppressed the urge to laugh. A few leaves drifted on the wind that seemed chillier despite the blazing sun over head. "I want you to come at me with everything you've got."

"I could seriously injure you should I do that." Sai kept his voice monotone and unconcerned.

"Did you ever go easy on any of your other friends?" Her stare remained cold.

"That is different." Sai said plainly.

Naruto shrugged. "I tried to explain it to her."

"Obviously your mouth got in the way and you didn't explain anything." Sai smiled falsely at Naruto.

Myra giggled. "Actually it was his tongue." Myra turned around to see Naruto turning several shades of red. Sai's eyes brows were raised curiously. She shook her head. "Please explain it Sai."

The artist nodded. "To spar with people I know and consider friends is much different. I know their strengths and weaknesses. I know how and when to avoid a certain move and when and how to hit back. It is a matter of training with people you trust for years. I have neither spared with you, nor witnessed you in battle. I can not accurately gage how effective an all out fight would be."

Myra took on a thinking pose. She had not really considered that. She had gotten use to sparing with Lee. His fighting style was similar to her own and they knew when to duck and weave. "I will concede to your point. We will start out slow and work our way up."

Naruto pouted. "Why didn't you concede to my point?"

Myra raised an eyebrow. "You made a completely different point and I was not in the mood to call my father and explain to him why I needed yet ANOTHER tac suit." She smiled sinfully.

Naruto's cheeks heated again.

"Naruto, I think you need some shade. Your face is really red." Sai pointed out.

Myra stifled her laughter. Naruto narrowed his eyes at Sai and grumbled incoherent things about nosy artists ruining perfectly good alone time.

Sai started to stretch a little. "Would you like to start with hand to hand before we incorporate any jutsu?"

Myra tossed her wooden eskrima sticks in Naruto's direction. "That works for me." She turned and head back to the center of the clearing. She took a few more steps and looked over her shoulder. "Sai, you know I'm not going to be upset if you kick my ass."

Sai smirked. "I am not going to hurt you Myra-san. I wouldn't dream of kicking your ass."

The area around them suddenly became cold. Naruto rolled his eyes. "Bad move."

There was a blur of movement and Myra had wrapped her knees around Sai's neck. Myra flipped her body weight taking Sai to the unforgiving ground. He landed, splayed on his back. The sudden and unexpected impact knocked the air from his lungs. Before Sai had a chance to take in a breath, Myra's knees and full body weight were on his chest preventing the act of breathing. Red rimmed brown bore into black. Nothing but cold killing intend poured off of her. "You better kick my ass Fly Boy." She whispered almost seductively. "Because I will kick yours if you let me."

Seconds ticked by for what seemed like an eternity to the gasping Sai. Myra jumped off his chest. Sai coughed a few times while getting to his feet. He looked to Naruto first, who merely shrugged as if to say you did it to yourself.

Sai turned an emotionless glare at her. "You are very serious about this are you not?"

Myra smirked. "No shit."

Sai dusted himself off. "Then I apologize for not taking this as seriously as I should have."

Myra smiled. "Apology…"

Sai's fist connected with her jaw.

Myra was knocked back a few steps. She rubbed at her jaw and flicked her tongue out to lick the blood from her lip. When she looked back at Sai, there was an evil glint in her eyes that bespoke of pain. "Oh now it's on!"

0 – 0 – 0

There was a nagging at the back of his mind. He needed to do something even though Myra had told him not to. This was one of those times when he needed someone to talk to and he didn't think Sasuke would be the right person. He had been laying awake for a while now and the nagging wasn't going away. Myra was curled up next to him sound asleep. It didn't even look like she was dreaming. The sparing match with Sai had turned into an all out brawl. Naruto would never call her "sticks" stupid again. Once she let her lightening nature course through the silver plated Eskrima sticks, Sai had a hard time defending. Naruto chuckled. He hadn't seen Sai show any emotion, but Myra got him to show anger. Sai was livid when Myra broke his hand.

The fight was over by that time anyway. Myra was exhausted and since Sai couldn't use his Artsy Ninjutsu, they called it quits for the day. Myra healed his hand and was smiling as Sai walked out of the clearing. He was headed back to the hospital to get his hand treated properly because he was going to need it. Sai was actually concerned that he couldn't feel his fingers. Myra just kept smiling until Sai was out of sight. She wobbled and Naruto was there to catch her. She had fainted. It was about two minutes later that she came around. She blinked up at Naruto, who had her in his arms, hurrying back to the house before anyone could notice her collapse.

It was in that moment that the doubts started to roll over him. Why did I have fall for a woman just as stubborn and determined as I am? He thought as he gently got out of bed. She slept better when he was around. Of course he slept a lot better when she was around. And he wanted to keep it that way for as long as he could. There were five more days before everyone left and he would be stuck in the village just in case. Just in case of what? Naruto thought idly.

Naruto had gotten dressed and was walking through the streets of Konoha before he really knew where he was or where he was going. It wasn't until he was standing at the top of the Kage Monument overlooking the village that he sat down and dangled his feet over the large effigy of his father. He would know what to do.

"He would tell you that allowing Myra to lead this mission would benefit all of mankind. She isn't doing this because she wants to. I should know, I can read her better than anyone. She is doing this to ensure a future for you and her son." The bird he had not seen in weeks perched on his shoulder.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "What would you know Bird Brain?"

Edgar chuckled. "I know everything. I am the Spirit of Knowledge. It is my duty to know."

"If you know everything, then tell me the answer to the problem. Tell me how I can make sure the team gets back alive!" The blonde yelled hotly.

Edgar let out a sigh. "I know of many ways. But I must know, is it the team you wish to save, or only Myra."

Naruto glared at Edgar. "All of them."

The bird tilted his head and stared back at Naruto. "You cannot lie to me boy, I can see into your heart. I can see that you could care less if the other's return, as long as she returns alive."

Naruto looked away. Was it true? Did he really care less? Naruto took a moment to think. He set aside how he felt about Myra. He tried to think of this mission like any other. Naruto went over the plan again in his head. He would want Myra on the mission so he knew it would get done. He would want people there to back her up that could be of assistance to her. But the more he thought about it, and the more he agonized over it, he came to the same conclusion. He opened his eyes and stared at the bird. "I would want them all to come back. Yes, Myra specifically. Would I care if the others were killed, YES! It matters to me how many come back. They all need to come back alive. I would be really pissed off if someone got hurt or even died. I would be even more pissed off if it were Myra. Could I forgive Sai if he came back and Myra didn't, probably not. I'm not going to fool myself into believing that I wouldn't be bitter and upset and even hate him. But I accept that as part of who she is and what she has to do."

There was a long silence, as the large black bird seemed to consider something. "Kakashi has a kunai he keeps as a memento and reminder of his Sensei. I suggest you ask him about it." The bird ruffled his feathers and dove off the cliff face leave Naruto to continue to ponder life in general.

0 – 0 – 0

The large black bird perched in a tree near the edge of the village. "I told him what I could."

A young male figure, not much more than thirteen stopped his training for a moment and looked up at the Hokage Monument. He was dressed in black for the most part. His shirt was black and his shorts were black, except for the orange and red flames dancing at the bottom of his shorts. The boy's shaggy blood orange hair was in desperate need of a trim. His violet eyes seemed to glow through the darkness and see the blonde standing high atop the mountain. "You think it was enough?"

"It was more than enough. I don't think he is THAT dense?"

"You obviously don't know Naruto very well." The human form Kyuubi appeared in the moonlight next to the boy.

"He'll get it. He has too, right?" The boy turned worried violet eyes to the Kyuubi. "What is he getting again?"

The Kyuubi sighed. "Come Brat, we have more to do. If he figures out Knowledge's cryptic message, I will most likely be lending him the chakra to do it."

The boy continued to gaze up at where he thought Naruto would be. "Kyuubi-san… Does he know yet?"

The Kyuubi's line of sight went from the boy's to Naruto's figure on the Hokage Monument. "He knows nothing of your training as of yet."

The boy took off running. "Then I guess now is good a time as any!"

"Get back here, Brat!" The Kyuubi yelled half heartedly. "I am not going to stand here and train myself!"

"You aren't going to go after him?" Edgar ruffled his feathers.

The Kyuubi smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. "No."

"But didn't Myra tell Naruto?"

The Fox shook his head. "Myra knows that I expressed a interest in training Minato, but she does not know that I started his training the moment she allowed it. We started training in the Ethereal while the boy slept. But training in the Ethereal over develops the mind and does little to nothing for the body. I taught the boy how to transform into his Ethereal Image, and like his father he took to the transformation like a fish to water."

Edgar stared at the Kyuubi in disbelief. "Accelerating a human's physical growth could…"

"I know. I was the one that warned Myra to begin with. However, since then I have discovered something extremely interesting about Minato."

The large bird tilted his head. "Oh, and what is it that?"

A pleased grin spread across the Kyuubi's face. "Minato is far from human."

0 – 0 – 0

E/N #1: The term "Hail Mary" has become generalized to refer to any last ditch effort with little chance of success. It is also a reference to the Catholic prayer "Hail Mary".

0 – 0 – 0

Oooo… Cliffy…

0 – 0 – 0

Next time: Chapter 86: It all came crashing down.

"So am I his father?" He steeled himself for the answer he didn't want, but needed anyway.

"Yes."

Naruto's eyes snapped to the Kyuubi, though he was secretly relieved. "But…"

The Kyuubi held up his hand. "It seems that where you have no outward appearances, besides the whisker marks and certain personality quirks, you carry the blood of a full demon fox."

Naruto took another gulp of sake.

"There is more."

Naruto groaned and his forehead hit the table with a small thud.