"Sure, let's chat. I hope your last words are better than that Uchiha I just dealt with."

"You killed Madara? Impossible!" said Konan.

"No, Konan, he's not lying. I can feel it, Madara is gone."

"Are you two sure you want to spend your final moments confirming he's dead. You're both going to greet him soon enough. But whatever, no more talking" stated Naruto before he started to form a rasenshuriken.

"Wait, there are no need for hostilities Naruto." to which Naruto laughed but curious, he disabled his jutsu.

"You formed an organization with the expressed purpose of murdering me. You can't fathom the need I have to be hostile toward you. Add to that you killed my sensei and… I'm finding it hard to be anything but hostile toward you."

"First of all, I didn't kill Jiraiya, Madara did. Secondly, Jiraiya isn't dead, he's resting in a private room secured by chakra masking seals so Madara wouldn't know. I never intended to kill sensei nor did I just want to murder you for the sake of murdering you, it wasn't personal."

"You strapping me to a table to rip something out of me is the definition of personal. Also, what do you mean sensei?"

"Jiraiya trained both of us and our late friend when we were kids. Not long but long enough to survive. As for the bijuu, we only wanted them as a means to bring peace to the lands. I asked this of Jiraiya but I'll ask it of you, Naruto how would you achieve peace?"

"I don't want to talk about peace with you. That's Jiraiya's deal. I'm not interested in having a philosophical discussion with you. You and those like you, I can't stand people like you. Suffer some pain and decide that entitles you to do whatever you wish. Speak of grandiose goals like peace but expect other people to make the big sacrifices, to give their all while you only give enough to insure you're around to reap the benefits. Bijuu and jinchuuriki didn't ask for any of this but you hunted us. Those scorned by the very people we protect, isolated with a potentially hostile being sealed in you isn't exactly fun but that wasn't enough, was it? When you decided it, our lives meant nothing. Why would you care, we've already been sacrificed once, right?

"You are right, Naruto. When we started the plan to capture and extract the bijuu we didn't consider their containers anything but unfortunate souls that had to pay a steep price for the good of all, to my lasting shame."

"... "

"What is it, Naruto?"

"Just… what the entire fuck, man? I've been training for years to fight people who had, in all honestly, been portrayed as just shy of demonic. You capture my friend, kill sensei and… It's a lot to deal with. I don't know what this is and I'm starting to feel really bad about what I did to your shinobi. And now you want to talk about peace, how am I to talk about peace? I just committed mass murder! This is what I've become because I thought I needed to in order to deal with you. What the hell do I know about peace? I've never known it, I've had to swim in hate my entire life. I just…"

"I understand, Naruto. The shinobi world can twist us into something unrecognizable, it has to me to the point I just continued the very cycle I intended to stop. When we lost our friend Yahiko due to a double cross from Hanzo I gave into madness and eventually proclaimed myself a God. And while I've had my doubts about Madara, I just was so sure of my path. You may not believe it, but the Akatsuki weren't a bad group of guys. I wish I had directed them towards a better goal but their lives will just have to be added to an already long list of regrets." Nagato says and then pauses as if considering something , then smiles softly. "Don't let your actions weigh too heavily upon you, Naruto. At least allow me to make amends, I don't want to be the thing that forms you into something unrecognizable." said Nagato, much to Konan's dismay.

"Nagato, you can't, it's too taxing."

"But I have to, we haven't been very good protectors of Ame, Konan. If we want peace we should have started here and you still can. This is the least I can do." Nagato said before turning toward Naruto, "Naruto you are blessed with great power and I can feel you have room to grow. Just don't become arrogant like I did and believe yourself a God. Mercy is harder than wrath, forgiveness is riskier than hatred but I request you do what I could not. Find that which can bring us together" Nagato said with a smile before performing Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life and was enrobed in a bright light. Moments later, the light died down and what was left was a dead yet smiling Nagato and a teary Konan.

"What did he do?"

"He erased your sin. Every shinobi killed today, Nagato attempted to bring them back to life so you no longer have their deaths on your conscience. If you excuse me, I need to see toward my friend" Konan said, preparing to remove Nagato's body. Naruto gave a slight nod, still out of sorts regarding the events of the day. So deep in thought, Naruto didn't notice Konan was gone as he aimlessly wandered around the large room that contained Nagato. Naruto eventually turned to look at the Gedo Mezo, feeling strangely drawn to it.

"Naruto, go to that statue and channel some of my chakra into it while touching it." said Kurama.

Naruto, trusting his friend and partner did just that and immediately blacked out. Moments later it awoke in a dark room with only illuminated by a few candles at the opposite end. It was faint but Naruto could sense a presence, or multiple presences. He was startled when he heard a voice beckoning him forward. Sensing Kurama wanted him to follow, Naruto approached the voice cautiously until he could see an older man with eyes like Nagato.

"There is no need to be wary of me, besides, it's been too long since we've last seen each other." After the man said that the dark room became fully illuminated and Naruto saw Shukaku, Matabi, Isobu and Saiken and Naruto found himself on top of Kurama.

"Old man, is this really him?" asked Kurama.

"Yes, it is." he said with a kind smile. "It's nice to see you again, Asura"

One Month Later

It had been one month since Naruto had entered the Gedo Mazo and it has been a trying month with the new information and abilities he has. He was heading back to the village with Jiraiya but between the two were two cloaked figures. Naruto, Jiraiya, and an army of clones spent their time in Ame doing something that might upset the balance of the five great shinobi villages. After speaking with Hagoromo, or as Naruto called him, "Super Gramps" Naruto knew he had to discover a way to stop the bijuu from being sealed again. The obvious answer were seals but design said seals would not be easy. After consulting with a hesitant Jiraiya and even seeking advice from Kushina and Minato, the four fuinjutsu users came to the conclusion that if the tailed beasts were connected to an area or realm like animal summons then they couldn't be sealed in someone, they could always just return to their realm. Creating the seals to make their preferred roaming grounds in the elemental Nations an artificial realm was a master work of time/space fuinjutsu.

Since being acknowledged as the reincarnation of his son, and the son they all preferred, the bijuu selected the Senju compound to be the place they'd return to if they were ever at risk of being summoned and because they can actually control their sizes, it won't cause a panic if they should.

"Welcome back, Jiraiya-sama, Naruto-sama. Who are your guests?" the guard asked.

"That is currently classified but know they are under our care until Tsunade says otherwise" stated Jiraiya. Not willing to question the sage, the guard waves the four on and they head to Tsunade's office. When the four arrive in her office, Tsunade was in the middle of a meeting with Hiruzen. A customary shout at Jiraiya to use the door only distracts Tsunade briefly before she asks about the two cloaked individuals. The two reveal themselves to the shock of the current and former Hokage.

"How is this possible?" asked Tsunade.

"It's thanks to Naruto" replied Minato which causes Tsunade to look at her son with a mixture of emotions.

"I didn't use the Edo Tensei if that's what you're wondering. Kaa-chan, we have a lot to talk about, it's been an eventful month." Before he could continue, all in the room felt Kushina's unrestrained killing intent, directed toward Hiruzen. Minato tried placing a calming hand on her shoulder but it did little to quell her output.

"How could you? I left my family for the sake of this village, we sacrificed our lives and our son and you dishonor us with mistrust and cowardly put mind altering seals on us. You actively violate your own laws along with the laws of the Fire Daimyo and disgrace our only child. He may have forgiven you but I never will and that goes for the rest of the trash in this village. Minato should have taken Naruto and run, leaving this place to its fate."

"Kushina!"

"Shut up, Minato. Just because you feel they were worth it doesn't mean I have to. Even your own sensei couldn't be bothered with your son. He flung him off a cliff! Thank Kami Naruto and Tsunade found each other and he managed to have the few friends he did. Hiruzen, you allowed this village to torture my son, I'll never not hate you for that." she says and then shunshins away.

"Minato, I'm sorry, I've thought a lot about what I'd say to Kushina and you should we ever meet again but I have no explanation nor any excuses. I could have done more for Naruto, I know and I didn't. I'm ashamed at my past actions against him, you'll never know."

"Hiruzen, you've made mistakes and while I was angered by them, you've attempted to make amends. Sometimes being Hokage leads you to do things you never otherwise consider. Kushina may never forgive you but I do." Minato replied to Naruto's scoff causing Jiraiya to narrow his eyes at his last apprentice.

"Naruto, now is not the time."

"I didn't say anything, sensei so I'd appreciate not being admonished like some child."

"You didn't but you were going to." said Jiraiya.

"So, we're back to judging me on things I might do in the future? Don't worry, teach me a jutsu and I'm sure Yondaime-sama will pardon you." Naruto replied

"We're getting off track. Naruto, please just provide your report." said Tsunade

While Naruto explained everything that happened in Ame, including being able to bring his parents back partially due to them sealing a chakra imprint inside of him and also due to his yin-yang release, Kushina had gone to catch up with her longtime friend, Tsume. The two spoke for hours after Tsume stopped apologizing for not being there for Naruto, which Kushina informed her wasn't her fault. Kushina stayed until late before heading to the Senju compound as her and Minato's home needed a thorough cleaning before it'd be inhabitable again.

Since they would have to announce the return of the Yellow Flash and the Red Death, Hiruzen had suggested telling everyone they faked their deaths to prepare for the threat of the man that attacked Kushina. Seeing it a better option than, "my son has godlike abilities" Minato agreed and would inform Kushina later that night. They had also agreed to make the announcement in three days time, which Naruto instantly asked to be assigned a mission out of the village, which was promptly denied. Once his debrief was completed Naruto went to spend some time with Hinata, informing her of the return of his parents and all that entailed.

The three days came and went, though there was a constant feeling of tension within the Senju compound but nothing came to ahead. Shizune, Tsunade and Kushina had all tried to talk to Naruto about what had him so on edge and he eventually relented, telling them about the assault on Ame. While he's killed before, and everyone he killed had been brought back, Naruto was dismayed at his show of force and the number of ninja he slew. While all three sympathized, the person best suited to help Naruto deal with the guilt of killing that many people is the last person he'd open up to so outside of some comforting words and hugs, the three were at a loss as to what to do and Minato wouldn't push the issue as he knew his son tolerated him at best.

Currently, the townspeople were gathered in the center of the city, being addressed by their Hokage, many shocked at what she just said. Before words of doubt could be raised, Minato revealed himself to a wave of cheers, the sound enveloping the village.

"Thank you, thank you," Minato said using a voice projection jutsu.

"Roughly 16 years ago, a tragedy befell our village as the kyuubi was unleashed upon us claiming many and changing the lives of others forever. That day was one of compounding tragedies as it was the to be the day my son was born. The kyuubi, has actually been in Konoha almost since its founding. The first container was the wife of the Shodaime, Mito Senju, nee Uzumaki. The second container was my wife Kushina Uzumaki but during the birthing of our son, a masked man attacked us and freed the kyuubi from her seal. While I also able to fight the man off, I unfortunately had to seal the kyuubi in my son to save the village.

Kushina and I were ushered to a secure location where we recovered slowly in a medically induced coma, in secret and have spent that last few years recovering our physical strength. As happy as I am to be back I must express my shame that what was to be my final wish was ignored by you, that instead of a hero you made my son a pariah. Yes, Naruto Uzumaki Senju is my son and for those of you that still hold antipathy toward him, I hope you can heed my words this time. Naruto was the real hero of that day as he never allowed the kyuubi to escape and kept you all safe from it since the day of his birth. Thank you" Minato said before flashing away to a stunned silent audience. Many disgusted at how they treated the son of their great hero, others wishing his words to be false.

Two days had past since the announcement of Minato's return and Naruto was fighting a growing sense of annoyance. When Minato outed Naruto as his son, anytime Naruto was out in public he'd be mobbed by villagers seeking to apologize or get in good with him. They had also taken to calling him "Namikaze-sama" which multiplied his annoyance with them. He'd normally talk to his friends about this but they were all on missions, even his former ANBU squad. Hell, even Kakashi had been gone since he returned from Ame. So, Naruto was spending some time with Gamakichi at the Senju waterfall, trying not to calm himself. It was almost starting to work until his visitor arrived.

"Naruto, can we talk?"

"Sure. Kichi, why don't you go on back, I'll catch up with you later."

"Ok, later, bro."

"What can I do for you, Minato-sama?"

"So, you're still calling me that?"

"What else am I to call someone of your station, Minato-sama?"

"Some people try tou-san. Others dad, or maybe even father."

"I'm sorry to have disappointed you, Minato-sama."

"Naruto, we can't keep doing this. I don't know how to apologize to you, I don't know how to earn your forgiveness because you won't tell me. Aren't the villagers treating you better? Isn't that a start?"

"No, it isn't a start. No villager has dared to mistreat me since the invasion nor would they. I had demonstrated I wasn't weak. How can I accept their change in behavior when it fits perfectly with my growth in ability? Where was all that when I was too weak to stop them?"

"It isn't perfect but Naruto they have changed, that has to count. You can't hold a grudge against them, they were acting out of ignorance, grief and fear."

"So?"

"You are not that heartless, Naruto."

"Why shouldn't I be? I was an orphan, I essentially had no one until I met my friends and even that couldn't offset the village leader plotting against me. Why is this so important to you? Why do you care? If I haven't attacked them yet it's highly unlikely I'm going to now. I'm a loyal Konoha shinobi and now that you've requested it they claim to see me as a hero. You've gotten everything you want, Minato-sama."

"Except your love and forgiveness."

"Pfft, you have the love of every villager here, and since they are what really matters that should be enough."

"Naruto, I know you don't believe me and I know why but son, I truly am sorry." Minato said and then flashed away.

"Aren't you being a bit unreasonable, and keep in mind I'm a being of pure malice."

"Onii-chan!"

"Do that again and transmigrant or not, I'll kill you."

"You're no fun, Kurama. But no, I am not being unreasonable. He wants to apologize for the consequence but not his action, which he'd do again. He wanted to sacrifice his son for his village so fine, he gets his village but not his son. He doesn't get to have it both ways, he doesn't get to…"

"Win?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"You know, I really didn't give him much of a choice. Once he severed the contract between Obito and me, I could have ran but I was pissed and lashed out. Naruto, I wasn't going to stop and no matter how justified I felt at the time, that doesn't negate their right to defend their existence, even if they are in the wrong on some cosmic scale."

"Granted. Still, I can't He gambled with my life. He didn't know you'd be cooperative, hell he didn't know the process of bijuu becoming partners with their jinchuuriki but he had faith I'd figure it out? How? That's just bullshit. He did what a Kage would do, not what a father would do and left me to figure it out. His decision and I become scorned while my mother was forgotten, like he just squared up and fist fought you all on his own. It all just pisses me off."

"I can tell. And here I thought you had gotten a handle on that temper of yours."

"I did but that flashy bastard just fucking infuriates me to no end. Especially his, "I'm so reasonable" tone of voice. He doesn't even have the decency to look all that masculine, fucking femboy looking bastard!"

"Ok, you're spinning out right now and it isn't a good look. First, you look a lot like him so I wouldn't take many swipes at his appearance. Secondly, I can't wait for you to figure this out anymore. You aren't mad at him, not entirely. You're the same kind of self-sacrificing idiot he is and don't bother denying it, put in his position you'd do the same and hate yourself for doing it. You hate them but fear what you'd do if you admitted as much so you become irrational when it comes to Minato."

"Because he doesn't even care! He's so willing to forgive them, to justify their actions. He doesn't give a damn about me? What parent could forgive people that treated their child like trash for years? He just acts like it was a big misunderstanding. "Oh, forgive them Naruto!" Forgive them? I used to drown here, they all wanted to pretend I didn't exist. They tortured me and he doesn't even care. So, since he sided with them, once again, I'll never forgive him."

"If that's your decision but you being agitated will only cause problems so at least meditate until you calm down."

"Awww, I knew you cared onii-chan!"

"I'm going to kill you, brat!"

He didn't know how long he had been meditating when he felt the disturbance of unknown chakra signatures but he was up and prepared. Thanks to Kurama he felt their negative emotions, whoever these eight people were, they intended to cause harm. He quickly flashed to inside the compound, his mind instantly operating like an ANBU. He knew Tsunade was home and while she could more than handle herself, his first priority was to protect his Hokage. Finding her in the kitchen, he created a shadow clone and immediately had her flashed away to a secret command location, his clone would explain everything for him. He ran to his room and grabbed his kunai holster. Seeing Shizune he informs her,

"Eight hostiles on the ground, I'm going to confront." She nods and follows him.

The night was ideal for an ambush, there was a new moon and low visibility. The eight members moved slowly but purposefully through the wooded areas of the compound. Their target was the Namikaze Jinchuuriki and then any damage they could cause as they fled while the other team executed their target as well. They were confident they could catch the jinchuuriki unawares, even had the best genjutsu users in the unit with them. They would not fail Iwa and would get revenge on that damned fourth Hokage through his son.

Jinchuuriki, Naruto once realized, were not trained to be good shinobi and as such were vulnerable to advanced shinobi tactics, such as a nighttime assassination with mediocre genjutsu practitioner covering for them. He, however, was an excellent shinobi even if he had be tasked with being more superweapon as of late. But these fools would learn, Naruto Uzumaki thrives in the shadows. Shizune and he made it to the entrance of the wooded area he felt the chakra signatures. Flashing a few signs lets her know his general plan. He'd be going high in the trees, flushing them out and she could pick off those fleeing. Inevitably some would some would stay to fight but that's fine, they'd realize the mistake when it was too late.

He took off in the trees not making a sound, masking his presence. The first target would be the genjutsu users as they wouldn't notice he or she was gone until his attack commenced. He had lucked out, they didn't have her in the center but toward the back, he just had to be patient and let them past. Slowing his breath he stilled himself, perfectly. The eight past by him, none noticing the ninja wire slowly descending into the night, not even its intended target, until it was taught around her neck. The wind chakra came to fast and it claimed her head, instantly ending her technique. Two of them noticed the subtle disturbances of a silent kill and turn, to be greeted with two shurikens coming at them. One held up a kunai to block, the other tried to dodge, both sound tactics against ordinary shurikens. These were not ordinary, not only were they infused with wind chakra but they also had seals inscribed on them that made the wind increase the circumference of the shuriken's attack range and killed one of the assassins as he was not prepared for his kunai to be cut through nor for the shuriken to continue and sever arteries in his neck. The other also received cuts to the neck but not deep enough to kill, however the momentary distraction was enough as Naruto stabbed him in his neck before disappearing into the trees.

The exchange was fast, brutal and efficient but it didn't go without notice as the five remaining hostiles turned to see three of their members killed. They avoided the volley of kunai that rained down upon them and realize they had been compromised and were at a disadvantage. "We need to get out of the trees" one said, stating the obvious and the quintet took off. Keeping their senses on high alert, none would say it but they were disconcerted that they couldn't sense their attacker but figured they'd have an advantage in an open area. Running as fast as they can, the group could see the clearing and their confidence began to grow. That is until they were separated by a powerful blast of wind. Three of the group managed to make it out of the wooded area, each debating whether to go back to save their comrades.

Had they not been looking toward the wooded area they may have seen Shizune emerge from the ground. Had they been more alert, two of them may not have had their throats slashed with her chakra scalpels. Had the last member not been so angered at seeing his "elite" group of killers picked off he might not have engaged in taijutsu with the longtime apprentice of the best taijutsu user among the Sannin. He might not have overextended on a right cross only to experience a great deal of searing pain across his back, only to lose all feeling in his lower body, the sign of paralysis taking hold. He might not have had to look up helplessly at the sadistic smile very few have ever seen Shizune dawn and even fewer survived to speak of it. But all these things did happen and he'd soon be at the tender mercies of Ibiki for his bad luck.

Shizune then saw Naruto emerge with one of the bodies and a bloody jade kodachi, created from the crystal release she surmised. "Did you leave any of them alive?" she asked to see him drop the body he was carrying and scratch the back of his head.

"Kinda. I mean, he's alive," pointing to the body he just dropped, "but I think I broke his jaw a little." to which Shizune could only roll her eyes.

"I assume you have clones collecting the other bodies?"

"Of course, this ain't my first rodeo, dattebayo!"

"No, I suppose it isn't." she said only to see his face contort, first in worry then in fury. "What's wrong?"

"Hinata activated the siege protocols at the Hyuuga compound. The timing is too convenient, meaning these guys weren't alone."

Hinata was not having a good day. She had been sent on a two week long mission, which was easy enough except she had to squeeze in some clan business while gone. The trip back was miserable as it was hot and balmy and just miserable. She was glad when she returned to the compound except she was immediately assaulted with internal clan issues that needed her immediate attention, which meant no Naruto time for her. Finally, she managed to finish her business, take a shower and prepare for bed. Not an hour into her sleep was she alerted, through a seal on her wrist, that intruders had breached the compound's walls. She immediately flashed through a series of hand signs to activate the siege barriers and activated her byakugan. Seeing the four intruders, she grabbed her sword and ran off to face them. Unlike her service weapon, the sword she was carrying now was a Jian. It was a gift from Anko when she made ANBU and Hinata fell in love with the forms when wielding the weapon as it truly fit with her natural grace and agility.

The four intruders knew they had been discovered, all cursing the bad intel they had been given and were surrounded.

"Surrender or death, these are your only options," the four heard the waif say. All knew who she was, the new clan head but more importantly to them, the girlfriend of the junior Namikaze. Patriotism and shinobi pride demanded they not give up so the four rushed her. The exchange between the four assailants and the clan Matriarch could be described only as a dance as each assassin attempted to stay out of range of her sword but none could manage to penetrate her defenses. One attempted to perform ninjutsu just to be immediate cut on his hands. The dance went on for less than five minutes as Hinata dipped and ducked, bent backwards and slipped their attempts while managing to knick each of her opponents until they all dropped.

"This isn't a normal blade. It's coated in a rare type of venom and the small cuts I gave you are more than enough. Gentlemen, your end won't be pleasant and while not long it will feel like an eternity." she then looked to the head of her security, "We clearly need to revamp our security measures if four Iwa assassins can get in here without much problem." Dropping the siege barriers Hinata made her way to the Hokage Tower to inform Tsunade of the intrusion, or her ANBU on duty if she was not in.

Tsunade couldn't help the headache she was feeling. Attacking her own property and a clan head was simply too much Oonoki would have to pay. They had planned for this, they being her advisors and ANBU commander just in case Oonoki's irrational hatred led him to do something stupid; it had. She knows he'll remain professional and is perfect for the job but a part of her is reluctant to give the mission to Naruto. She takes a long look at her son, seeing he is remaining professional but there is something in his eyes. Not rage but something beyond anger. She sighs, knowing what she has to do.

"Oonoki, went too far this time. Naruto, I'm assigning you a three pronged mission in response. I expect you to have it completed in no longer than six weeks." She throws him an ANBU mask, "Welcome back, Gama."