A/N: Ok boys and girls, here's the scoop. I took three months off to spend time with my daughter. Yeah, I know, shocker. But that doesn't mean I didn't have time in those rare moments to sit down and do a little writing. And when I say little… I mean VERY little. You have to realize, where most people posting on this site have to worry about exams and homework… I have to worry about paying the bills and keeping a roof over my head. Trust me when I say looking for a job that will do that, it's an eight hour a day thing. PLUS keeping a 12 year old entertained for a whole day it doesn't leave time to do much of anything else. Then there was laying the new tile in my living room AND finishing all the decorating stuff I had planned to do four years ago when I first moved into my apartment. I had an awesome vacation, have a CLEAN house, had some great moments with the kiddo before she went back to school (Her new nickname is Teen-zilla because of the attitude she's beginning to develop.), and top everything off, I finally have a job I just started. The hours are screwy, but I'll survive. And it PAYS, which is indicative of paying bills and keeping my apartment. In the meantime, my poor, poor Muse became extremely bored, and now won't leave me alone. I would promise that I would update more often, but life still sucks as usual and I will post what I can when I can. The only thing I will promise is an ending. Now here is something long to help out with the long wait.
Warnings: I don't own it… So yeah… If wishes were fishes… I would have an ocean.
Previously:
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!"
And now…
Chapter 86: It all came crashing down.
Sasuke entered the house and didn't bother to close the door behind him. He hurried into the living room and had embraced Sakura before she could notice he was there. It would have been a very tender and loving moment had it not been for the circumstances of Sasuke's return to Konoha. Sakura cried into his shoulder as he pressed his nose onto the crown of her head. The Uchiha rubbed his wife's back, trying to sooth her grieving sobs, even though he knew there wasn't much he could do for her. Sakura pulled him closer. "He's so angry, Sasuke." The woman whispered.
Sasuke continued to rub her back. "I know. I saw the area where he's being contained at the moment. Where's Minato?"
Sakura pushed away from Sasuke and started to walk down the hallway towards the nursery. "He brought Minato to me before… well before the volcano erupted. I knew something was wrong when he wasn't even bothering to fake his smile. He handed Minato to me, told me to make sure Minato was taken care of, and then left. At the time I didn't know what was going on. Then the earthquakes started. It was a few hours later that I found out about Myra. Tsunade told me while I was helping with the injuries from the earthquakes. I tried to talk to him and he told me to go away. At first, everyone that tried to get near Naruto was just told to leave him alone. We aren't sure what Lee did to cause the change, but," she gently opened the door to the nursery, "Lee is in critical condition and Lady Tsunade honestly doesn't know if Lee will ever walk again."
Sasuke saw the boy sleeping peacefully next to his small daughter. Sasuke felt the rush of his newly acquired fatherly protective instincts. And those instincts screamed that they didn't like this situation in the least. It was a scene of pure innocence. He shouldn't have to worry about boys being within breathing distance of Yuki until she was older, but something about Minato being in such close proximity to Saiyuki did not sit very well with Sasuke.
Sasuke reached into the crib to pick up his sleeping daughter. Before Sasuke could pull his daughter from the crib, a small growl could be heard. The Uchiha looked to Minato. The boy was wide awake and glaring at Sasuke with feral violet eyes. The boy blinked a few times to focus on the intruder and the growling stopped. Minato's eyes returned to their normal bright luster and he scooted away from Sasuke.
"He's been doing that lately. I think it's kind of cute." Sakura chuckled lightly.
Sasuke picked up his baby girl, placing her on his shoulder. "Hn." He glared momentarily at the boy before softening his gaze and turning to his wife. The boy in question shrunk to the farthest corner of the crib, scolding himself for growling at his Uncle.
It was a few minutes while Sasuke was the epitome of fatherly love and pride in his daughter. He stood in the middle of the room just holding her, bouncing her softly, and nuzzling the soft hair atop her head. The baby started to snuffle and gurgle signaling that it was time for a feeding. Sakura held out her arms. "Hand her here."
The pinkette had to stifle the giggle at the look Sasuke gave her. He was so cute when he wanted to be, especially when no one else was looking. She cherished these moments when Sasuke would let his indifferent mask fall away and be human. Sasuke placed a small kiss to the top of his daughter's head and handed her over to Sakura.
The baby girl gurgled a few times in protest of being moved from such a warm place. "There, there," the new mother cooed. "Oka-san has you." Sakura rubbed the little girl's back. "I'm going to go feed her, you going to come with me?" She asked with a smile.
"I can't stay too long. Lady Tsunade wants me to attempt to calm Naruto as soon as possible. Right now he seems to be quiet as long as no one gets too close to the clearing. I wanted to see you and Yuki before I tried."
Sakura had been at the hospital when Neji and Hinata had brought Lee into the hospital. It wasn't a pretty sight and now Sakura truly feared for Sasuke. "Please be careful."
Sasuke pulled Sakura and his daughter into a tight embrace. "I will."
The seemingly forgotten boy in the crib rolled his violet eyes. They were just as bad as HIS parents. Then the boy remembered something that tore his heart out. His mother was gone, and his father was slowly allowing grief to consume him. The Fox hadn't been seen for at least a week and Minato had been sworn to secrecy about his abilities. He had at least gotten the chance to tell his father though.
[Flash Back]
Naruto had come down from the Hokage Monument still as confused and troubled as he was when he had climbed up the damn thing. At least now he was tired. The blonde trudged along the path leading home. His hands were in his pockets, and he really wasn't paying attention to anything. It was late, or early depending on whom you asked, and there really wasn't anyone out this late, just him and his deep thoughts of how screwed up his life was. The love of his life had willingly plotted, accepted, and was leading a suicide mission. His best friend was going on a rescue mission, which was the cause of said suicide mission. And what was he doing while all this spectacular heroics were going on? Here in the village… Doing absolutely fucking nothing!
Well not nothing, he mused. He had gotten a clue from one of the birds on how to help Myra. But as usual, it didn't make sense. And to think, he was talking to the bird that actually was SUPPOSED to make sense. Naruto stopped walking and his shoulders slumped a little further. He had to figure out what the bird meant. Kakashi has a kunai he keeps as a memento and reminder of his Sensei. Did that bird even know how many people taught Kakashi over the years? Naruto started to chuckle at his own internal musings. Yes, that fucking know-it-all bird knows EXACTLY how many instructors Kakashi Sensei's had over the years.
The blonde sighed again and started walking back towards the house. There wasn't anything he could do about it this late at night anyway. He would wait until morning and then bash in Kakashi's door. "That's what I'll do." He nodded to himself.
When he had resigned himself to not thinking about life in general, go home and sleep with a certain dark haired beauty, the distinct feeling of being watched crept down his spine. Naruto kept walking, but slowed his pace just slightly. It wasn't Konohamaru. The kid hadn't tried to sneak up on him in years. It wasn't some villager thinking about roughing up the demon spawn of Konoha. Though Naruto was used to that kind of treatment from fearful citizens, it was another thing that hadn't happened in years. Naruto concentrated. The presence felt familiar but just foreign enough to make Naruto cautious. Whoever it was kept far enough distance to be on the edge of Naruto senses. The blonde sighed. I could use a good distraction. Naruto flickered out of sight.
Naruto hid himself in a tree not far away from the path he was taking, suppressing every ounce of chakra he could. After a few moments, a black figure emerged onto the sidewalk. Naruto could only see a silhouette of a kid standing in the darkness between two of the lamps that lit the path Naruto had been walking. The kid cursed his luck and shoved his hands into his pockets. The blonde had to wonder why a young kid like this was out so late. Then again, Naruto could remember several late night training sessions where he was out all night. Those were the days when Naruto was trying to get ahead of Sasuke by busting his ass with every waking moment. He vaguely wondered if the kid was trying to get ahead of a rival at the academy and thought it fortunate that the next Hokage was out and about at the same time.
Naruto chuckled. He waited until the kid passed him on the street, before he silently jumped down behind the kid. "What are you doing out this late?" Naruto said in a commanding tone. The elder blonde had to keep himself from jumping. It was a deep rich tone that sounded more like the Kyuubi and Naruto didn't know if he liked that tone.
The boy froze in place with a start. He was still in shadow and Naruto couldn't really get a good look at him to figure out if he knew this kid or not. The boy didn't turn. "Um… I'm out with my sensei training tonight." It was more of a question than it was a statement.
"Uh huh." Naruto sounded skeptical. "So where is your sensei?"
The boy still hadn't turned around. "Well, you see… That's difficult to answer 'cause I sort of ran off without my sensei. 'Cause I saw you up on the monument and well… I wanted to talk to you… Yeah…" It sounded good when Minato was thinking it up. Now that he had spoken it out loud, it sounded stupid and contrived. Not to mention that it sounded like a complete load of crap. Minato groaned inwardly. He apparently did not inherit his mother's knack for making anything sound believable.
Naruto blinked and his ego inflated. The kid DID want to talk to him. Naruto needed a calendar or something to mark this auspicious day. There was something extremely awesome about being sought out by the youth of Konoha, but the years of mistreatment still made Naruto a bit skeptical. "You wanted to talk to me?"
Minato turned around and stepped into the light. There was a smile on his whiskered face that lit up his violet eyes. "Yeah, I wanted to talk to you."
Naruto gawked at the kid that had to be about twelve or thirteen and looked almost identical to Naruto. Well, except his hair was blood orange and his eyes were deep violet almost purple. The kid looked familiar, but Naruto just couldn't quiet place him. "So what's your name kid?"
"You don't know who I am?" The boy sounded disappointed.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head nervously. "No offence kid, but should I? I mean I've been to the academy and helped with Iruka Sensei a few times, but I don't remember every kid I meet."
The boy hung his head and stiffened. His own father didn't recognize him. It hurt, but Minato had to remember that his father wasn't exactly the brightest when it came to something being shoved in his face. Minato sighed. "It's ok and we didn't meet at the academy 'cause I don't go to the academy, yet."
"Oh, so you're like Konohamaru and have a tutor!" Naruto smiled wide. "Guess you saw me and my awesomeness and thought I could teach you something cool." The kid looked up at him with an eyebrow raised. In that moment, the kid looked a lot like Myra eyeing Naruto after he had said something silly or completely off the mark.
"Ah, yes and no." the boy squirmed. "Do I have a special tutor, you could say that, but I would highly stress the word 'special'." Minato chewed his bottom lip. "I saw you and thought I would meet you this way."
Naruto blinked. "This way?" The elder blonde was confused and a little hurt. "So your parents don't like me is that it?"
Minato immediately picked up on his father's discomfort and twinge of resentment. "No, nothing like that." The boy scratched his head. "Mom LOVES you, are you kidding? Why would you think she didn't?"
"What about your father?" Naruto was concerned. He didn't want to get the kid in trouble.
"My dad?" The boy smiled big. "I don't know. What do you think about yourself?"
"I think I'm a great person. Smart, funny, and an all around good guy." Naruto scoffed. "But what does that have to do with what YOUR father thinks?" Naruto was standing there looking in a mirror. The boy gave him the foxiest, most devious grin he had ever seen. It was HIS grin. It was HIS signature, 'I'm going to get into so much trouble' grin.
"I don't know, DAD, I thought you would want to teach me something cool."
Naruto just stared. "Um… I hate to break it to you kid, but that's impossible. You're what, eleven? Twelve? I'm not THAT old. I hadn't met Kakashi Sensei OR Pervy Sage yet so I didn't even know about that kind of stuff when you were born."
Minato laughed. "I'm not that old either."
Naruto lifted a blonde eyebrow. "How old are you?"
Minato took a deep breath. This was the moment his father would figure it out. "My birthday is April 1st. I'm three going on four months. But with all the training in the Ethereal, I got to grow up a bit."
Naruto sat on the bench that was closest to him and just stared, completely dumbfounded. "You're Minato aren't you?"
The boy trotted over to Naruto and took a seat next to his shocked father, dangling his feet above the ground.
The blonde took in several deep breaths. "This is the Kyuubi's handy work isn't it?"
"Are you gonna be mad at him?" Minato looked concerned for the demon. And then there was no doubt in Naruto's mind that this was Myra's son sitting next him because before Naruto could answer, the boy started to talk faster than a cheetah on crystal meth. "Cause it isn't all Kyuubi's fault, Mama started it. She said she would ask Gramps if he would make me bigger and he DID tell her 'no'. Hell, he told me 'no' the first time I met him and asked. THEN, Gramps said I couldn't call him Gramps, even though that's what he is, but he said I had to call him Kyuubi-Sensei, which I think is stupid, but hey what can you say to a demon? Anyway…"
Naruto put his hand over Minato's mouth. "I get the point. Your Oka-san asked and the Kyuubi caved… Why am I not surprised?" he mumbled the last part.
Minato shook his head and pulled his father's hand from his mouth. "Oh… No, Gramps didn't cave. Mama doesn't know." The boy shook his head. "He told her he could do it, but wouldn't cause he didn't want me to get hurt. But when I learned the transformation jutsu that makes me look older and it lasted more than a few minutes, Gramps figured that it was something only certain people with the same blood can do."
Naruto stared at Minato. "What?"
"There's something about my blood, I guess. I don't understand it really. It has something to do with my pants 'cause I heard Lady Bird and Gramps talking about my jeans."
Naruto lifted a confused eyebrow. "Your pants?"
The boy nodded.
They sat in silence for several long minutes as the cool night air whistled through the trees. Naruto didn't really know what to think about all this. It was just one more thing that confused the hell out of him, made him a tad bit angry, one more thing that he didn't know about; one more thing that Myra wasn't going to tell him, and one more thing that was going to give him a raging headache if he thought about it for too long. "Is there anything else you know that I don't?"
Minato shrugged. "What'cha wanna know?"
"Why didn't your Oka-san tell me any of this?"
"I already told it was 'cause she doesn't know. Well not really. Something about if anyone asked her she would have plastic deniables."
"Plausible deniability?"
Minato nodded vigorously. "Yeah, that!"
Naruto rubbed his temple. There it was, that raging headache beginning to form behind his eyes. His mood was starting to sour with each passing moment. Minato felt the change in his father's mood. "You mad at me?"
Naruto looked at Minato. Fear crossed over violet orbs. Minato truly thought Naruto was angry at him for all this. It wasn't the kid's fault. It wasn't anyone's fault really. Of course Naruto had just settled into the idea of being a father to a child that was just learning to crawl and now to be presented with a teenager was a bit much to take in. But there was one thing Naruto had to realize. Minato was sensitive to his mood changes. Minato could feel his anger rising and the boy thought it was directed at him. Naruto had to stop that. "No, I'm not mad at you, the situation maybe, because it seems as if I don't matter in this family and I am supposed to be the head of the family."
Minato's eyes widened. "Oh… I thought Mama was the head of the family 'cause she was smarter than you. At least that's what Gramps said."
That was the last straw. The camel's back was now broken and the camel was about to explode all over the village. Naruto grabbed Minato's wrist and pulled him off the bench. Minato felt the anger his father was radiating in waves and dug his heels into the pavement. "No wait, I told you! Mama doesn't know anything!"
"I can't believe she doesn't know. I can't believe she would NOT tell me something like this!" Naruto pulled on the boy to keep him moving.
Minato wrenched his wrist out of his father's grasp. There was a squelching pop before the boy's wrist came loose, stumbling back a few paces. He hissed in pain cradling his wrist. Naruto's anger died in that moment and was replaced with concern and guilt. Tears welled up behind Minato's eyes, but he refused to let them fall. "It's not Mama's fault." The boy hissed and growled through the pain.
Naruto knelt in front of the boy. "She would have told me."
Minato shook his head. "She can't tell you something if she doesn't know about it."
"She has to know."
"NO she doesn't!" Minato yelled in exasperation. The boy took a few breaths to calm down and block the pain. Naruto was stunned into a moment of silence. The boy closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. Minato opened his eyes. "Look, I know about what Mama promised you. She told you she would tell you about stuff she KNEW about. Mama doesn't know about this. Gramps asked Mama if he could train me. Mama agreed to it on the condition he train you too. But she never asked HOW we were gonna train or WHEN we would be training. And no one told her either. We have a strict 'don't ask, don't tell' policy." The boy gritted his teeth, taking another breath. Minato popped his wrist back into place and gave a small sigh of relief.
Naruto blinked. "Your wrist just healed."
Minato flexed his wrist a bit with another pop. "Yeah, so?"
"You heal faster than I do." Naruto said in astonishment. "And the transformation didn't dispel."
The boy shrugged. "More stuff about my pants that I don't understand. Gramps doesn't talk about it to me. He said he would tell me when I was old enough to understand where I came from."
Naruto stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. "And where exactly is Fluffles?"
Minato stifled a laugh. "Don't let him hear you call him that. He tolerates it from Mama."
The elder blonde waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I know… 'I should be feared' and all that crap. Come on, we should get home." He started walking.
Minato stared at his father for a moment and the jogged to catch up. "I thought you were gonna show me some stuff?"
"It's late and your Oka-san might be worried with all of us out of the house." Naruto kept walking.
Minato stopped and closed his eyes. He concentrated for a few silent moments. Naruto paused and turned to look at his son. Minato looked like him in so many ways. But the scrunched up face of concentration was all Myra. Naruto shook his head. "You can feel people too, like your Oka-san."
One violet eye opened. "I don't have it as bad as she does. But I can sense the people close to me, and I can feel her." He closed his eye again. "Mostly her." He added as an afterthought. He opened his eyes and smiled brightly. "Mama's still sleeping, probably working on the new trick of hers in the Ethereal."
"So you don't have to worry about blocking people out and the weird freaky stuff?" Naruto waited for Minato this time.
Minato jogged forward to stand next to his father. "Nope, and I'm glad. Not that I mind the weird stuff. 'Cause I think some of the stuff she can do is pretty cool. Like the new thing she's trying to do, THAT'S COOL!"
Naruto knitted his fingers behind his head as they walked. "So what do you know about it?"
The boy shrugged. "It's more stuff that I've heard about, but don't really understand. I heard Papa Bear and Mama arguing about it the other day. It's amazing what adults will say when they don't think I can understand it."
"What did Oyaji have to say?"
"He thinks Mama is being reckless and not thinking it through. I know he was mad at her and a little scared." The boy tapped his chin. "Or was he worried? I can't read people like Mama can yet. Lots of emotions feel the same."
Naruto nodded in agreement.
The boy continued. "The whole argument was kind of confusing because I didn't understand what they were talking about. Papa Bear was pretty angry that Mama wanted to rip holes fabric and make pot holders. Or was it pot holes?" Minato murmured. "I don't remember much after that 'cause I was too busy playing with Moegi."
They walked in silence for a moment contemplating life in general.
"Dad?" Minato looked up at his father.
Naruto blinked as he felt an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment. He couldn't help but feel that way. He had achieved something greater than his own father. The elder blonde smirked. "Hmm?"
"What's a pot holder?"
Naruto chuckled. "I don't think it has anything to do with the kind of jutsu your Oka-san has in mind, unless she's going to use her famous 'Pie Making' Jutsu."
"Oh." Minato sighed and looked back to his feet as they walked. Finally, Minato couldn't take it anymore and had to ask the question that had been on his mind for days. He had asked the Kyuubi, and the Kyuubi had told him he was too young to worry about such things. When Minato had asked Edgar, the damn bird had confused him with statistics and the odds. Poe seemed to be the only one that gave him an answer he could live with, but Minato didn't like it one bit. The boy frowned and looked up at his father, hope shinning in violet eyes. "She's gonna come back right?"
Naruto stopped and his body stiffened. His chakra flared slightly before it seemed to swirl and go back to normal. "She'll come home Kit."
Minato's eyes widened. The Kyuubi had told Minato about the merging. It had been happening since the Kyuubi was sealed within his father and had progressed a little faster since Myra had stepped into the picture. Part of the reason Minato was so special was because of the merging. But the boy hadn't really seen his father manifest his demon traits. Minato had to think. If he was a half demon, what was his father? "You okay Dad?"
Naruto shook his head and the red of his vision cleared. He smiled falsely at his son. "I'll be fine."
Minato didn't look convinced. "I don't know. I see what Gramps says about you hiding your feelings."
Naruto rolled his eyes and knelt down. "Here, hop on. We'll get home faster this way."
A wide smile broke across the boy's face and his father's resounding trepidation about the impending mission was forgotten. "Really?"
This time, Naruto's grin was genuine. "Really." Minato threw his arms around his father's neck from behind. The elder Uzumaki stood up and adjusted the small weight on his back before taking off towards home.
[End Flash Back]
Sasuke ended the kiss, placing his forehead on hers. "I'll be there in a minute to say goodbye."
A single tear slid down Sakura's cheek. "I'll be waiting."
He cupped her cheek with his hand and gently brushed the tear away with his thumb. Sakura smiled sadly as she turned to head into the kitchen. Sasuke waited until Sakura was out of earshot as well as eye sight. "Your father is an idiot." He said with a sigh.
Minato tilted his head to one side and thought about it for a moment. Yes, he did think he father was being an idiot, but Minato could understand his father's sadness. But that wasn't what Minato was worried about at the moment. There were a few things that needed to get done and in order for Minato to get out of the house, he was going to have to tell his Uncle everything. Minato narrowed his eyes at Sasuke.
Sasuke shifted his eyes to the boy before he turned to face him. He didn't exactly know how to explain the situation to the toddler, but like any child, Sasuke was sure that the boy knew something was going on. "I am sorry I did not get to know your mother as well as maybe I should have. She was my cousin, but she was more of a sibling to me than my own brother. She made me see things in myself that I wanted to deny. She forced me back to a place I wanted to forget because I didn't want to face the possibility of losing it again. Myra made me realize that I was so consumed with revenge and death, that I lost sight of how to live. I owe her a great debt and I do not wish to repay that debt by raising her son for her when your father is perfectly capable of doing it himself. He's being an idiot at the moment, but I actually understand him. Naruto is going through the same pain I went through when my parents were murdered and the same pain your mother felt when she watched her brother being slaughtered. If he lets this grief consume him he will become the demon sealed within him."
Minato looked away from his Uncle. It was true, his father was becoming like the Kyuubi was long ago. Consumed by despair, grief, and a sense of betrayal, Naruto was going to self destruct until there was nothing left of his human heart. Even now, Minato could feel the negative emotions and darkness surrounding his father and it scared him. Minato hadn't been able to get away from his new guardian for the last few days. He and Saiyuki had been taken everywhere with Sakura. The worst thing about being around his Aunt was that she was infinitely more perceptive than Moegi. Trying to sneak out in the middle of the night to search for the Kyuubi was impossible. Minato had not been able to search for the missing Kyuubi and have him help put a stop to Naruto's rampage. In truth, the boy didn't think his Uncle could pull his father out of the grief stricken state he was in.
Naruto's baser instincts had taken over. He was more animal now than he was human and he just wanted to be left alone. Minato hoped that once it was out of his father's system he would snap out of it. But then Minato had been at the hospital when Lee was brought in. Lee had apparently gone to console Naruto, but it turned into something much more devastating. Minato was there when Neji recounted the story of Lee trying to approach Naruto. At first, first his father had warned Lee to stay back and just leave him be. But Lee had insisted on helping the blonde grieve by telling Naruto that he too, loved and felt the loss of Myra.
That had been the wrong thing for Lee to say at the wrong time. Naruto had completely lost it and attacked Lee. Neji had told Sakura and Tsunade when he had brought the broken body of Lee to the hospital that it took Hinata throwing herself in front of Lee to get Naruto to stop his onslaught. Naruto paused in mid strike, inches from Hinata's face. An expression of recognition and sadness flitted across Naruto's face before he growled and ran deeper into the woods. After that, Tsunade had sent word to Sasuke and ordered that ANBU form a perimeter around Naruto to keep people away. That was three days ago.
Now his Uncle was here, and Minato didn't think it was going to help. It was going to take Sasuke, the Kyuubi and himself to bring his father out of this blind rage. It was going to take the Kyuubi to take the beating, Sasuke to do the beating and Minato to do the talking, or something in that order. In reality, Naruto needed Myra. Minato had to trust his Uncle. He had to trust his Uncle Sasuke with the secret in order to find the Kyuubi and save his father from himself.
Minato made a decision in those long moments. There was loud pop and a billow of white smoke. The smoke hadn't cleared yet when teen boy hopped out of the crib and onto the floor. "I need your help Uncle Sasuke and you're going to need mine."
0 – 0 – 0
He was numb, numb to the pain, numb to the chill in the air, numb to everything around him. It didn't mean anything anymore. There was nothing left for him. He wanted to just make everything and everyone go away. Even the trees were an affront to his very presence. What was life if she wasn't there to share it with? What was love if she wasn't there to love him in return? What was anything if she wasn't there to share it with him? He wanted to tear the world to ribbons for denying him what he wanted. Life had been too perfect. It had been too wonderful to be real. For once in his life, Naruto had everything he ever wanted, needed and cared for in the palms of his hands, and it was all taken away from him in the blink of an eye.
He honestly didn't know what time it was, or what day it was. He didn't care either. It was dark and the moon was almost full high above him. How long had he been out in the woods taking his aggression out on the trees? He didn't want to bother with the insignificant things, like time. What was time when you had forever? It was one of those perks he got with taking on the mantle of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. What good did obtaining a power to change the landscape with a swish of the tail, if he couldn't save her? What good was having the human heart still beating in his chest if it was broken? So he had denied it. Naruto had buried those emotions so deeply they couldn't hurt him anymore.
He had taken his son, his only tie to humanity left to him, to Sakura. She would take care of his Kit now. The other Kyuubi would take care of Minato as well, that is when the old geezer decided to wake up. But what did it matter now? He was alone and Naruto found that he didn't really care. She was gone. Myra was gone and living was something he didn't want to do anymore. The people he had cared for all his life didn't matter. It wasn't like they paid him any attention anyway. They didn't care about him, unless he was saving their sorry asses. Naruto felt a twinge of guilt as he thought that way. He was usually saving the village from people that wanted him for being the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. Well now they wouldn't have to worry about it. He wasn't a Jinchuriki anymore. He was a fucking demon. He had become the demon to save her. And he had failed.
Naruto gazed up at the rabbit shadow on the moon high above him. Was that Myra high above him, making pie? Maybe if he jumped high enough he could make it to the moon, just to be with her again. He shook his head and buried those stray thoughts. He wasn't going to think about her. The more he thought about her, the more he felt the emotions he didn't want to feel. It was easier to let the baser animal take over and just exist in the world as the demon he now was.
Clawed hands came together and the seal was formed. Naruto felt his body shift and expand. That was the last anyone was going to see of the human they had once known. He would stay near the village for the sake of his son. That much he would grant them. But no more would he be Naruto. He was a demon fox now. He was the Demon Kitsune. He would protect the village and his kit. But that didn't mean he had to be nice to those that came near him. He wanted to be left alone. He wanted to be left to wallow in his self loathing for the rest of his eternity.
0 – 0 – 0
Out of the smoke and devastation of the landscape left in the wake of Naruto's rampage and transformation, rose a gigantic black and gold fox, nine tails swishing violently behind him. It roared a warning that the ANBU stationed around the area felt more than heard. They trembled and had to steady themselves as the waves of malicious intent permeated the area. Yamato looked to one of his subordinates. "Report to Lady Tsunade. No one is to come near this area. I don't think even Sasuke can talk him down now."
The masked ANBU nodded and was gone in a blur. Yamato gazed back to the area where the giant fox that was more black than gold, started to dig out large chunks of rock from the side of the mountain. The ANBU captain suspected that Naruto wasn't going far, but wasn't coming back either. He shook his head. "What are you thinking Naruto? Are you even still in there?"
0 – 0 – 0
It was bright, too bright as far as the Kyuubi was concerned. He didn't feel like moving, at least not yet. But he could tell he was being hoisted into the air by his tail. Sleepily the small fox, that felt older than he was, opened an eye. It took the fox a moment before he could focus on the boy holding him up by the tail. Minato was shouting something, but the Kyuubi's hearing hadn't quite come into focus. Didn't I tell the brat I would be out of it for a few weeks? The Kyuubi thought.
"You have to wake up Gramps! Dad has gone crazy and we don't know what to do. Mama is gone and Dad is all dark and scary. I don't know what to do, please wake up!" Minato gave the fox a good shake.
The Kyuubi, now small and feeling truly insignificant since the power transfer to Naruto, was wide awake from the pain at the base of his tail. Red feral eyes opened comically and focused on the boy shaking him awake. "Put me down Brat, before you rip my tail off!"
Startled by the fox's sharp tone, Minato dropped the Kyuubi to the ground. Sasuke, standing to the side watching in fascination and deep concern because the Kyuubi was out of his seal, had to fight back a smirk at the antics of his nephew. The small fox landed on the ground with a flop and stayed there for a moment. Minato squatted down and poked at the fox. "We don't have all day Gramps. Dad needs us."
The Kyuubi glared up at the boy. It was just too early for this crap. He wasn't at full strength yet, he wasn't what he used to be, and be damned if he was going to seem weak in front of an Uchiha. Wait, what was HE doing here? The Kyuubi's eyes shot open and he quickly stood, whirling around and growled fiercely at Sasuke. He didn't know what the hell was going on, so he would rather be safe than sorry.
Sasuke backed up a step, but didn't completely back down from the fox standing protectively between himself and Minato. Sasuke had felt the full power of the Kyuubi before, and this small fox was still the Kyuubi, but there was something different. Power still coursed through the small fox, however they were weaker somehow. There was no doubt in Sasuke's mind that this small creature could be very deadly if provoked. The best course of action would be to wait and see what the fox did.
Sasuke allowed a moment or two for the Fox to become aware of what had transpired. Sasuke used the time to understand the four month old boy rolling his eyes behind the growling fox. Minato had explained things as best he could on the way to the house. Minato had been training in the Ethereal for as long as he could remember. To Myra's surprise, Minato retained the memories and experience of his training in the Ethereal after birth. This gave Sasuke pause to wonder what was supposed to happen. The boy had explained that away too. What was supposed to happen was that Minato was not supposed to remember.
"The spirit can speak for now. The moment he is born, he will be nothing more than a babe in arms." Sasuke remembered what Edgar had said to him long ago. From then on, Minato said he didn't know why he had remembered. The Uchiha had to hide a smirk when the boy had recounted that the reason he remembered something he was supposed to forget all had to do with his bloody pants. Sasuke didn't really understand it either.
Sasuke's focus returned to the growling fox. Minato had trusted Sasuke with the true identity of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. In some way, The Uchiha felt honored and a bit humbled by the idea. It was the least he could do for his Nephew, considering there was a distinct possibility that Minato would be a permanent fixture in his house. And he suspected that with the boy came the useless fox growling in front of him. Minato hadn't really explained what had happened between the Kyuubi and Naruto, but it was enough for Sasuke to fill in the blanks. The Kyuubi had willingly transferred his powers to Naruto and Naruto had released the Kyuubi from the seal. Now for all intense and purposes, Naruto was the Kyuubi and the small fox beginning to comprehend the gravity of the situation was nothing more than a overly intelligent fox, but none the less dangerous. Under the circumstances, Sasuke wasn't going to take his chances to find out what the damn thing could or could not do.
The Kyuubi's senses started to come into focus. There was something wrong. There was something very wrong, and worse, there was something missing. The fox turned around and stared at Minato. "Where is your mother?"
The boy looked away from the fox. He couldn't say it because he didn't want to believe it. The hole in his heart was there, but he still didn't want to believe for a moment that his mother was dead. Sasuke stepped forward and answered for Minato. "Myra is dead."
The Kyuubi's eyes widened in shock and he flopped on his haunches. This couldn't be. Naruto had worked so hard for this. She was supposed to come back. She was supposed to live because the Kyuubi had given his powers to Naruto for the sole purpose of saving the girl and getting what the Kyuubi hadn't gotten. Naruto was supposed to get the girl in the end, not have his heart ripped from his chest at the very last minute. Feral eyes closed tightly and the Kyuubi reached out with his vast senses to try and locate both Naruto and Myra. His eyes opened again in shock. "Naruto has… He has fallen to the Darkness. And Myra… I cannot find her at all."
"Didn't you hear what I said Fox? Myra is dead."
The Kyuubi's eyes narrowed. "I heard you Uchiha, but there are several levels of 'dead'. Is there a body? Has there been confirmation that she is dead, or is it merely a confirmation that her spirit is no longer a part of the physical plane?"
Minato looked at his Uncle.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What are you talking about Fox?"
The fox dusted himself off and let the Uchiha brat stew for a few moments. A small finger poked at the Kyuubi and the fox turned to look at the pleading and expectant eyes of Minato. The fox let out a sigh. There was a pop and cloud of smoke. The human form Kyuubi stood tall in front of an unmoving and unimpressed Sasuke. "If you MUST address me… My name is Kitsuya. I am not the Kyuubi anymore. Naruto is. But that is completely beside the point. I asked a simple question. Did anyone see Myra's body? Do we know for sure she is dead?"
"I don't know Gramps. About a week ago, right before the earthquakes and lots of rain, I could feel Mama like always. And then I couldn't. It was like a big chunk of me was torn out. I couldn't breathe for a little while and then it was ok, but I still felt like there was something missing. Dad came home and was all sad and stuff. He hugged me really tight like it was the end of everything. He was so sad. He said that he failed me and Mama and then took me over to Aunt Sakura." Minato explained.
"Hn." The last thing Sasuke wanted to talk about was his emotions. He had done so much to suppress them, but they were trying to figure out what was going on. "Since I met Myra, there had been this pressure at the back of my mind. It was like an annoying buzzing that I got used to after a while. Like Minato said, I knew it was there, and then it wasn't. I felt something missing that couldn't be replaced."
Kitsuya put a hand to his chin in contemplation. "Then I can only speculate as to what Naruto felt. To lose his mate so soon after," Kitsuya paused and looked at Sasuke, "well, I don't want to remember what that feels like, but I know it is enough to drive you insane."
"What do we do?" Minato stood next to the former Kyuubi no Kitsune, looking up at the tall man with eyes shining with hope.
"In all honesty, the only thing that can bring your father out of it fully is to find your mother or turn him loose on Madara. But letting his frustration out on the root cause of all this despair will only allow him to revert deeper into the Darkness."
"You seem to know a lot about what is going on, Demon." Sasuke spat. He needed an outlet for the grief he was feeling and the Kyuubi just happened to be in the right place. "I'm sure you planned this all so perfectly that you couldn't wait for there to be an opportunity to tempt Naruto with the power to save the most precious person in his life. He managed to stop you at every turn. He managed to deny the temptation, but the moment that he had something that he couldn't live without and he couldn't save her with his own power he turned to the one being on the planet that COULD give him the power to do so. I don't know who to kill first. You for being the demon you are, or Naruto for being the weakling he is."
"You know nothing Uchiha." The demon growled.
"Oh don't I? I'm an UCHIHA remember? My whole clan was murdered so a deranged man could produce the perfect pawn in his little game of world domination. He fed me lies so I would think my actions would be justified. He whispered notions that if I just killed all those that hurt me I would feel vindicated. Well you know what? It didn't do a damn thing. It didn't bring my parents back. It didn't bring my brother back. It didn't do anything but cause more pain and suffering. You are supposed to feed off that pain and suffering. This would be just like a demon to want something to feed off of. So give me one good reason why I shouldn't gut you here and now?"
Kitsuya stepped up to Sasuke and looked down at him growling menacingly. "As you said Uchiha, I am still a demon. I detest you and with Myra dead at the moment, I have no reservations about eviscerating you just to watch the blood splatter across the garden. What transpired betwixt Naruto and I, is none of your business. But I assure you, it had nothing to do with the myth that I feed off of malice and despair."
The ex Kyuubi had to hide the small smirk that played on his lips. He couldn't help but think back to the moment he told Naruto his plan.
[Flash Back]
"The simple answer is that Kit is a half demon." The Kyuubi sat calmly at the kitchen table sipping a mug of tea.
Naruto stared at the Kyuubi for several seconds before he walked to the cupboard and pulled a bottle of Sake from the highest reaches of the cupboard. He didn't get a glass. He merely uncorked the bottle and took a large gulp. The blonde winced and nearly chocked at the burn in his throat. It was awful stuff. He sat down at the kitchen table. He didn't bother to put the cork back in the bottle. He took another long gulp.
Father and son had returned to the house to find Kyuubi waiting in the kitchen. The demon was greeted enthusiastically by the boy. Naruto didn't say anything. He just stabbed the Kyuubi to death with a glare. It was a clear message that someone was going to explain what the hell was going on. Naruto watched as the twelve year old boy poofed into a four month old infant. Eyes still a vivid purple, hair a lighter color of orange, and now that Naruto really looked, faint whisker marks on his cheeks. The infant in his arms yawned and was out cold in a matter of minutes. It was strange putting Minato in the crib. Questions needed to be answered, and now that Naruto had finally gotten one answer, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to know anymore.
"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.
The Kyuubi gazed over Naruto. "Don't be so over dramatic."
"Don't be overdramatic?" Naruto mumbled before he lifted his head. "Don't be over dramatic?" He said this time a little more sarcastically. "I've spent most of my life trying to prove to the world around me that I wasn't a demon, that I wasn't YOU… And now you come along and tell me that my son is a half demon and that I'm pretty much a demon myself. How exactly am I supposed to react?" He took another swig of the sake.
Kyuubi snatched the bottle of sake away from Naruto and poured a little into his mug of tea. "Be grateful I have decided I won't kill you, your mate, or your son. Be grateful I have decided I want to retire and live out the rest of my days as a Grandfather." He downed the tea and sake mixture.
Naruto blinked. "What?"
Kyuubi sighed deeply. "The 'Key' to the Yondiame's seal, currently held by the Toads, was designed for you to completely rid you of my spirit within your subconscious and harness my power for your own nefarious purposes. Had we remained at odds with each other, I would have forced you to use the key. There would have been a battle you may not have survived."
"I thought you said if it came down to it…"
"Do pay attention. I said a battle of wills. This would have been a different kind of battle. The battle field would have been in your mind, but it would have been a battle of strength and ability. You have grown Naruto, but you are still no match for me if I was allowed all my power for that battle."
There was a pause between them.
"So now what?" Naruto shrugged.
Kyuubi refilled his cup with sake. "I am going to use a loophole your father did not think of." He tipped the mug to his lips and drained the contents. "I am going to accept you as kin, declare you as my heir, and relinquish my powers to you willingly. After the power transfer, you will be able to release the seal keeping me contained, and I will be free do as I please."
Naruto grabbed the bottle back from the Kyuubi and took two long gulps wincing as the liquid went down. "Are you INSANE?" he choked out, despite the burning of his throat.
"I thought it was genius, but since there is a fine line between genius and insanity, I can see where you would think that." The Kyuubi smirked.
"This is completely crazy. I can't let you out to 'do as you please'. That would… well there would be a lot of people that wouldn't like it." Naruto's head was getting fuzzy and he couldn't really think straight.
"Naruto, you would be the one with the power. I would still retain some of the power. I'm not going to give it ALL to you, I'm not that insane. Besides, there are elements to the job you aren't exactly ready for. But for everyone on this side of the Veil, it would seem as if you had done what the Yondiame had intended all along."
"And how exactly do I explain you, huh? How do I explain some weird guy hanging around my house and my… my… What did you call Myra again?" His words were beginning to slur and the Kyuubi was realizing that Naruto wouldn't remember much of what was said.
The Kyuubi stood and took the bottle of sake away from Naruto. "Don't think about it now Naruto. I think you should go to bed and worry about it later."
Naruto looked up at the two Kyuubi's in front of him and smiled broadly. "Bed… That sounds like a great idea."
[End Flash Back]
Kitsuya came out of his memory to the slight twitch of Sasuke's hand. Sasuke was slowly reaching for his sword and the distinct smell of ozone was beginning to fill the air. The demon's fingers twitched and his claws grew an inch or more in anticipation of rendering flesh from bone. The tension between the demon and the Uchiha was so thick it could be felt miles away. Minato's fists clenched at his sides and his eyes closed to stop the tears leaking at the sides. His mother was gone. His father was going crazy and they were acting like idiots. "WOULD YOU TWO STOP? We don't have time for this shit! Dad is going crazy! Mama is missing if she isn't dead and all you two want to do is figure out who has the bigger pair of balls!"
The outburst from the boy did exactly what was intended because Kitsuya and Sasuke broke the glare aimed at each other to stare at the fuming boy. Both the Uchiha and the demon had to hide the grin and suppress the chuckle, mostly because they were both thinking the exact same thing. Myra would be pissed four ways from hell if she heard Minato cursing like that. She would reprimand the boy and then turn her ire at the closest male in her path.
Kitsuya sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "The Brat's right, as much as I hate to admit it." He opened his eyes and glared at Sasuke. "Yes, I would take great delight in tearing you limb from limb just to relieve the want for blood, but it would be uncalled for. You are not the one I want to sink my claws into for causing the pain we are all feeling. This is Madara's doing and we should remember that."
"Hn." Sasuke grunted in agreement and took his hand off his sword.
"Leave it to you to put everything into perspective." Kitsuya grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Minato nodded. "Now can we go help Dad?"
"Hold your horses Kit. There is still a question that hasn't been answered." Kitsuya looked to Sasuke. "Has Myra's body been found?"
Sasuke blinked. "Not that I know of."
"Then there is still hope. If we can get to Naruto before he completely reverts to his animal instincts, we may be able to talk him down. If not, the only person he will hear is Minato." Kitsuya explained as he started to walk into the house.
"Why would he listen to Minato? He's just a kid." Sasuke turned to follow.
"Hey! I'm not just a kid!" Minato hurried behind the two adults.
"Because regardless of what frame of mind Naruto is in, he WILL recognize Minato. He wouldn't harm his own kit, or at least I hope he wouldn't. He may recognize me, but I can't guarantee it. I can only hope that he stills sees me as the pack elder and he will respect that, which only means he will give me a warning before he attacks. I don't know how he will react to you, Uchiha. It is very possible that Naruto might perceive you as a threat and attack without warning." He stopped at the kitchen hoping for something to eat before they went to their potential death.
"Pack elder? What does that have to do with anything?" Sasuke complained. "You make it sound like he's a wild animal or something."
Minato was turning his head to pay attention to each adult in turn. Once again, he was glad that adults seemed to forget he was there.
"Demons are nothing more than animals that were imbued with the essence that created the universe before time had measure. However, regardless of the power, knowledge, or wisdom a demon may acquire, a demon is still an animal at the core. Humans are nothing more than animals that can think and act beyond instinct."
"Hn." Sasuke didn't look convinced. There had to be something human left in Naruto.
Kitsuya rolled his eyes and explained further. "Naruto has cast off his human guise and reverted to his animal core. The animal form he chose was the form of a fox, because that is what he is at the core. I can't say that I am surprised, because I'm not. I'm just thankful it wasn't a toad. I can only suspect toad instincts would be a bit more difficult to deal with."
"Why do you say that?" Minato looked perplexed.
Kitsuya paused briefly, putting his hand on the kitchen door and smirked wickedly at the boy before entering the kitchen. "Because toads are notorious for eating their young."
Minato eyes widened in horror and he gulped audibly. "Dad wouldn't eat me, would he?"
The demon smirked sinfully and continued into the kitchen. Sasuke chose to rub the underside of his nose to suppress the chuckle and followed Kitsuya. If nothing else, Sasuke had solved the mystery on where Naruto had gained his wicked sense of humor.
"Gramps? Uncle Sasuke? Dad wouldn't really try and eat me would he?" Minato stood there in the dining room for another split second before he realized that his father, though out of his gourd at the moment, still wouldn't eat him. It was a dirty rotten joke, and Minato didn't like it one bit. "HEY! That isn't funny."
Minato burst through the kitchen door and would have kept running into the kitchen had he not been stopped by the arm barring his progress. Sasuke and Kitsuya stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the kitchen. The boy instantly burst into silent tears and turned away from the kitchen burying his face into the arm that curled around him protectively. Kitsuya felt the boy's pain and sadness as easily as Sasuke could.
Sasuke was perplexed by the teen boy's emotional display. Of course Sasuke had to remember that regardless of his apparent intelligence and appearance, Minato was still only four months old. Kitsuya tightened his arm around Minato and then knelt down to be eye level with him. "We'll fix this."
If Sasuke hadn't been there to see it, he wouldn't have been able to believe the great and powerful Kyuubi no Kitsune, King of Demons, would be capable of such an act of compassion. Then it dawned on the Uchiha that it was possible that the great beast, feared by all, had been changed for the better. The same way anyone had been changed for the better just by knowing the stupid blonde. Sasuke shook his head and sighed. Looking around the kitchen he wondered if they would even be able to bring the stupid blonde back.
It wasn't the kitchen any of them remembered. The cabinets were torn from the hinges. The refrigerator was on its side on the other side of the kitchen. The stove didn't have front glass anymore. Knives were embedded in the walls. There were shards of ceramic and glass littering the floor. The solid oak table had been splintered and now a few of the legs sat in the shattered remains of the sink. The only thing left in the kitchen was the pristine white vase that held a single lavender orchid.
Sasuke tentatively stepped forward and picked up the vase, orchid and all. "I'll take this to Sakura." A small hand twisted in his pant leg and stopped him from moving. Sasuke looked down at the boy.
"No. Leave it here. Mama would like it." Minato's voice was distant and full of sadness. Another tear that he didn't want to shed, slipped down Minato's cheek dotting the floor. "It was the last thing he gave her before she left."
0 – 0 – 0
The man in the orange mask was reading over scrolls in his study. The destruction of Sound had been part of his plan all along, but it was far later in the overall scheme of things. Madara had not expected an insignificant lab assistant to Orochimaru to become such a liability, nor had he anticipated Orochimaru devising an elaborate means of taking his experiments with him to the grave. It was a stroke of brilliance, he had to admit that, but it couldn't come at a worse time. Luckily, the troops that were battle ready had been moved out of Sound and were camping on one of the northern islands, hidden from prying eyes. Thankfully, Madara had the intelligence to have the cloning technology moved from Sound to Mist. Too bad Kabuto wouldn't be around to see his creations see their full potential. There was a knock at the study door. "Enter."
"Lord Mizukage," the messenger entered. "We have received a report from First Squadron." He held out a scroll.
Madara took the scroll, dismissing the messenger. He read over the scroll with great interest.
My lord,
We are in position to extract the boy and eliminate the jinchuriki. The operation will begin in twenty four hours.
Nakamiko
Commander First Squadron
"Good." Madara crumpled the scroll in his hand. "At least I know something is going as planned."
0 – 0 – 0
In the chaos of the earthquakes, they had entered the village. The mass panic had given them the opportunity to walk into the village with a small group of refugees from one of the outer farm villages. The three shinobi, baring no crest, no insignia or mark, besides the concealed tattoos on their shoulder indicating their number in the ranks, hid within the shadows and broken buildings until they thought the time was right. Nakamiko had released the pigeon that would take her message to her Lord and Master. She watched as her brothers bedded down in the abandoned part of the village that had been set aside for the refugees coming in from around the area. She would take first watch on the street outside.
Tomorrow, they would put their plan into action. Trace was to infiltrate the ANBU headquarters and kill the traitors. Deuce would take the boy, while she created the distraction that would keep everyone busy. The devastation caused by the erupting volcano would serve as a large amount of that distraction, but when a woman thought to be dead is found walking among the refugees, it should be something that all will come to see.
The roar of the great beast in the forest outside of the village caused Nakamiko's skin to prickle. He was apparently still in a state of misery. Good, she thought. It would make him more foolish than he already was. If she could understand what true anguish and heartbreak was, she might have been able to empathize with the creature howling his lament to all that would listen. But she didn't know what it was to feel. She didn't know what it was to be heartbroken. Nakamiko placed a hand over her heart. It was an organ that pumped her life's blood through her body and nothing more. She wasn't built to love. She wasn't built to feel. She was built to destroy all those that opposed her Master. Then why was she so confused? And why did she feel empty?
Master, just the thought left her mouth tasting bitter. Madara's word was law. Madara's will was to be done without question. He had created her. He had given her life. Her life was his and his alone to take. Then why in these moments when Nakamiko could truly say her thoughts were hers, did she believe that Madara was wrong?
"You are thinking, dear sister. What vexes you so?" Trace stood an ample distance behind Nakamiko, just in case she turned on him.
Nakamiko never changed her blank expression and she kept vigil out the broken window. "I am thinking of how I should approach the jinchuriki."
"I think you should walk right up to him and hug him. That's what SHE would do… At least I think that's what SHE would do." Deuce added his thoughts from behind Trace. Deuce wasn't that stupid. If his sister were to turn her temper on them, Trace's evisceration would give him time to run away.
"He is in a state of agitation. From what I was able to find out, ANBU isn't letting anyone near the area." Trace added in the hopes she wouldn't try.
Nakamiko turned to stare at her younger brothers. She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes slightly. "SHE would be able to calm him that I am sure of. As to how SHE would act is up for great debate. I have some of her memories, but not all of them. I have the ones I need to play the part convincingly. I will be able spin a tale of how I was captured before HER original arrival to the village. Since SHE was late in arriving at the village, there will be some suspicion. I will then tell the Hokage that I have been in a well guarded prison until the recent eruption where I was able to escape the Master's, I mean Madara's clutches."
Trace raised an eyebrow.
Deuce tilted his head. "Who came up with that lame idea?"
"Do you doubt my ability to portray my original?" Nakamiko's eyes narrowed further.
Deuce stepped back, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Um… No, but don't you think that perhaps that it's a little farfetched? I mean do you really think that they are going to listen to you? What about the boy? Isn't he going to instantly know you aren't his mother?"
Trace smacked his older brother. "Dolt! Didn't you hear the part where she is going to tell them that she was captured BEFORE the original supposedly arrived in the village? Of course the boy is going to know Nakami-chan isn't his mother, because she isn't. Nakami-chan is going to pass herself off as the original. There is just enough reasonable doubt that even if they don't accept it as truth, there will be enough time carry out our orders."
Deuce pouted childishly. "Well, I still don't think they are going to buy it."
Nakamiko rolled her eyes and turned back to the window. "They don't have to believe me for long, just long enough for the two of you to do what you have to do. They will want to present me to the jinchuriki and I will eliminate him from the world as the Master decreed."
Deuce looked at Trace and shrugged before he turned and walked back into the other room. Trace stared at his so called sister. She wasn't his sister. She wasn't anything to him at all. It was only a matter of time before he could end the charade. He had wanted to end it weeks ago when they were in the midst of slaughtering the innocent people of the Unclaimed Territories. But he had seen something that he didn't really think was possible.
The perfect copy of Myra, created to serve Madara, designed to be loyal and subservient to Madara, programmed to obey Madara's every command, and devoid of all emotion had shown that she had a sense of mercy and the capacity to disobey her creator. And he wanted to see if she was capable of more. They had been told to kill all the villagers. They had been told to leave nothing alive. Nakamiko thought she was the only one of them who knew this standing order from their Master. In truth, Trace knew the order as well. He had been hiding in the shadows of the throne room when Madara decreed that all villages in the Unclaimed Territory were to be purged of non believers.
When Nakamiko had not objected or even hinted that she didn't agree with Madara, Trace resolved himself that he would have to kill her when the time was right. He saved as many villagers as he could, sending them with what they could carry to the mountains. When he found her doing the same, he realized she was having second thoughts about her programming. Madara was not a god and he was not the bastion of peace he claimed to be. Deuce was still an idiot holding true to his programming. Trace shook his head. Deuce would be the problem if he should escape, but Trace didn't think the idiot would leave the village alive with the boy in arms, but he would have to deal with that prospect when the moment presented itself.
"Is there a reason you stand there and stare at me Trace?" Nakamiko said never taking her eyes off the street.
Trace sighed. "I was just thinking that perhaps things could be different."
Nakamiko's eyes lowered to the ground for an instant before she seemed to straighten again. "It is the will of the Master than these people be purged, starting with jinchuriki. His death will break these people and they will willingly turn to the Master for guidance."
"Do you really believe that?" Trace whispered.
Nakamiko turned sharply narrowing her eyes at her brother. "It is what I know."
Though her voice had a serious edge to it, Trace could hear the doubt lingering in the statement. "Madara is wrong." He stated plainly. He wanted to test her reaction.
Nakamiko's eyes widened, startled by his words. Before Trace could see her move he had a kunai at his throat. He stilled taking in a breath. "I should kill you for uttering such lies." She hissed.
"If you did not think the same, you would have killed me without hesitation."
The kunai came away from his throat and Nakamiko stepped back, her eyes wide. Why had she hesitated? Why hadn't she just killed him without question? It was her duty to the Master to kill all those who did not follow his edicts. It was her obligation to eliminate all that did not believe in her Master. But Trace was right and Madara was wrong. This was wrong. It was something she knew in her heart all along even though her mind told her otherwise. Could she possibly trust her brother with her doubts? These feelings of doubt and confusion plagued her and she wanted them gone from her. She wanted to know the truth of everything. Since traveling with the refugees, she had seen this so called purging. If so many people thought the war was wrong, how could it be right? She composed herself while returning the kunai to her pack. Nakamiko replaced her blank mask of indifference. "I will do as I think must be done. You are required to execute the traitors. It would be a waste of a valuable resource if I were to kill you now. But should I hear you question my loyalty, or hear you speak lies again, be sure I will not stay my blade at your throat."
"I understand." He backed away from her slowly.
"Good." She turned back to the window. "We will not speak of this again."
Trace walked out of the room rubbing his throat. She did have doubts that much he knew for sure and she was letting him live with that knowledge, but she would not trust him, yet. Trace could not be sure of her plans. Was she really planning on passing herself off as Myra? Or was she planning on giving herself to Konoha? That question would be answered on the morrow, because tomorrow, Trace planned his own insurrection. He planned a reunion with a teammate who thought him dead. Trace would reveal to his true brother that he was alive and well and not a lump of flesh in a hospital bed. Trace would be able to take back his name and call himself Itachi Uchiha again.
0 – 0 – 0
Tsunade stared at Sasuke. "I can't let you go near him. I never thought I would say this about Naruto, but he's dangerous to anyone. I don't think you could get close enough to try."
"I'm not asking your permission. I was apprising you of the plan. If anyone knows what he is feeling right now, I do. If he is going to listen to anyone, he will listen to me." Sasuke stood firm to the plan. He didn't think they would walk away unscathed, but they would walk away alive if all went according to plan.
"You seem sure of yourself, Uchiha, but I cannot let you take a baby near that monster."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he glared at the Hokage. "Of all the people in the world, I never thought I would hear you call Naruto a monster. He is not a monster. He is in extreme pain over a lose he blames himself for. He changed himself AGAIN to save Myra and believes he failed."
"Nothing is going to bring her back." Tsunade muttered sadly.
"Hn," Sasuke rolled his eyes. "It would be just like that Crazy Bitch to pop out of nowhere and say it was a hoax."
There was a knock before a very shell shocked Shizune burst into the Hokage's office. "Um, Lady Tsunade?" Shizune was pale, like she had just seen a ghost, and she certainly was thinking that she had.
"What is it Shizune? Can't you see I'm busy with other matters?" Tsunade grumbled.
Shizune opened the door wider to reveal the woman standing behind the door. Tsunade's eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. Sasuke, who hadn't bothered to acknowledge the Hokage's skittish assistant, turned to see what had caught Tsunade off guard. Now, even Sasuke couldn't hold in his astonishment. There she was, Myra, standing in the doorway as if nothing had happened. She seemed a little different, but none the worse for wear.
Myra walked forward into the room. She wasn't wearing the full black tactical suit he had seen her in the night she left with her ANBU squad in tow. Myra was dressed in a pair of old ratty pants that had seen better days and a red shirt that was a size or three too small. She was dirty and grimy like she hadn't had a bath in weeks. Sasuke took a step to the side and discretely covered his nose because she smelled like it too. He noted the burn marks on the exposed flesh of her arms and legs. They weren't bad, but then needed attention. The most striking difference in her appearance was her long black hair was now cut extremely short, much like Sakura's. But the one thing that Sasuke took note of was that the annoying buzz in the back of his head that was always there when she was around, wasn't there.
No one said a word for a moment. Tsunade slumped into her chair and sighed. "Where have you been? What happened to you?"
"I have been in a prison for the last year and a half." Myra stated plainly. "I would like a hot shower, my wounds treated and then I would like to go home. When I agreed to come to the godforsaken backwoods, I didn't expect to be thrown into prison and kept half starved, weak as a babe in arms and humiliated."
Tsunade shot a look to Sasuke, before she glanced back to Myra. "What do you mean, prison?"
"It's a place where bad people are kept; however, I do not consider myself a bad person. I was never told of the crimes, nor was I given any indication that I would ever see the light of day. I was ambushed on my way to this cesspool," she spat with venom, "and thrown into a den of miscreants to fight for my survival. I managed… BARELY. A few of the other prisoners and I escaped with little more than our lives during the volcanic eruption. I made my way here in the hopes of getting back to my family."
There was a pregnant pause while Tsunade and Sasuke exchanged glances. Sasuke spun the obvious imposter and glared at her. "Who are you really?"
Nakamiko shrugged out of Sasuke's grasp. She had to maintain her cool. She was looking at Deuce's original and was seriously wishing her cloned brother had gotten some of his original's composure. "I will tell you what I told the guards at the gate, the men at the lower floor of the building and that lady who brought me in here. My name is Myra Windfeather Ravenheart. I was sent by my father and grandfather to train in this place, for what reason I can't understand. I was doing fine in the States all by myself. I got here and was kidnapped. I spent a year and a half in a hell hole doing whatever I could to survive. All I want now is a bath, clean cloths, a means to contact my father and a way home. I thought I could get that much since I didn't even get the luxury of a search party when I didn't arrive."
Tsunade stood from her chair. "If that's what you want Ravenheart-san then I will see to it that you are given what you require. I will contact your father as soon as possible to let him know of your safety."
The girl didn't smile. She kept that blank expression when she answered. "Thank you Lady Hokage. I appreciate it more than you know."
"Shizune!" Tsunade bellowed.
Sasuke fumed. He wanted to kill her where she stood, but they could use her if nothing else. She was a good copy, he had to admit that, but there were a few obvious things Kabuto hadn't gotten right in her creation. "It isn't going to work." Sasuke whispered so only she could hear.
Nakamiko turned her nose up at him. She had to pretend she didn't know him. Besides, she didn't need them figuring it out just yet. "What isn't going to work?"
"Sasuke! Do not antagonize the poor girl. Can't you see she's hurt and needs medical attention?" Shizune, still looking pale opened the door. "Shizune take Ravenheart-san to the hospital and get her cleaned up. I want her back in my office after she's feeling a little better."
"Y-Yes ma'am." Shizune gestured for Myra to follow her. "Please come this way."
Nakamiko took in a deep breath and followed Shizune out the door. Tsunade waited until the door was closed. "Well? What do you think?"
"She's not Myra." Sasuke answered the Hokage's question with absolution.
"Actually, her story is subject to some scrutiny, but…" the Hokage turned to look out the large pane of windows in her office. "…it would explain several questions I've had since Myra's arrival."
"Hn. There are several questions about Myra that I have and probably will always have, but that THING is not Myra." Sasuke pointed angrily at the door. "Or at least she isn't the Myra that I know. She isn't the woman I accept as my family. And she sure as hell isn't the woman Naruto is pining for."
Tsunade nodded. "I agree with you Sasuke. We will be cautious with her for the time being." The Hokage sighed. "I know that Naruto is grieving, but we need him. As much as I dislike the idea of you taking Minato near him at the moment, I will send word to Captain Yamato that you have permission to enter the area, the sooner the better."
Sasuke nodded and left the Hokage's office. Tsunade sighed again. She was at a loss. Nothing was making sense anymore. Tsunade gazed out the window. There were dark clouds headed for the village. It was going to rain again. "What happened to that miracle?" she whispered to the air around her.
0 - 0 - 0
Uh oh... What's gonna happen now? Good question... Stay tuned to find out.