Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A/N: Hm… Why has this taken so long to post? Why have I been gone so long? Why should I bore you guys with the answers when you could be reading this new chapter? We may never know…
Putting that aside for now, I am sorry for taking so long to post this. I have my reasons for being absent but nobody should care about that. I'm back now and I'll (hopefully) start to post chapters as frequently as I used to. I'm proud of how this chapter turned out and I hope you'll all like it to. It's pretty lengthy as well, which should make up for the wait. Naruto meets Yagura and all the containers will finally meet in this new chapter. Enjoy.
Introductions
Naruto sighed miserably as he walked through the village. It was early in the afternoon and he had just finished having lunch as Ichiraku's, practically the only place that would sell him food. Now, he was on his way to the Hokage's tower to see the old man. Naruto admired the colorful scenery around him as he glanced at the banners, balloons, and stalls that now adorned the village streets.
October 10th, a day of celebration. It was the day to honor the Yondaime who had defeated the dreaded nine tailed fox demon, the Kyuubi no Yoko and saved the village. Naruto shared a birthday with the anniversary of the legendary man's death. It should have meant that today was a day to look forward to. Surrounded by your friends, opening presents, eating cake, smiles from your loved ones…
But no. Naruto had none of that.
The young child had absolutely no friends. Whenever he tried to make some they would either chase him away, and even if they didn't their parents would scream and shout until he left, often getting physical if he lingered around. Everyone hated him with a burning passion.
Naruto had absolutely no idea why. Whenever he walked into town, the people only glared at him, occasionally throwing things at him or shoving him away. He had been beaten before, but his birthday was the most dangerous because it was the only day where the villagers became drunk and brave enough to seek him out and chase him all of the village just so they could beat him down, regardless of what the Hokage would do to them later.
He wouldn't say it out loud, but he thought it was unfair not to know why he was treated this way. Whenever he asked the Hokage he always avoided the question. Had he done something so wrong as to warrant the entire village's hatred?
Still, Naruto had wised up this year. The villagers would come to his apartment like they would every year, but he would be long gone before they arrived. He wouldn't lock the door and cower in a corner like he had done before. All he had to do was evade the villagers until the festival ended. Naruto thought that the best way to do that was to ask the hokage for protection during the festival. The man was the only one who was ever nice to him, and there's no way he would turn him down when he was seeking his help, right?
Naruto expression turned to one of unease and worry when he saw two chunin guards standing outside the gates that led to the hokage's tower. Both of their bored, carefree expressions turned to looks of disdain when they noticed the "demon" approaching.
"What do you want?" One guard asked harshly, making Naruto jump at the intensity in his voice.
"Um… I'd like to speak to the hokage if that's okay…" Naruto asked timidly.
"He's in a meeting with someone very important right now." The guard bit back. "Hokage-sama will not be seeing anyone else right now."
Naruto panicked. If he couldn't see the hokage, then what would happen during the festival? Who would help him…?
"Still, why would he come here?" The guard muttered to his partner. "We're not going to war, are we?"
"Don't be stupid." The other guard replied, rolling his eyes a bit. "We're in peacetime. Besides, I hear Kirigakure has its own problems right now anyway. Maybe he came to ask the Hokage for help?"
"But couldn't he have sent an ambassador for that? Why would he come in person…?"
"Excuse me?"
The small voice brought their attention back to the jinchuriki in front of them. The guards sneered at the boy.
"What? We told you that the Hokage isn't seeing anyone."
"Well, I was thinking that maybe I could wait here until his meeting is done." Naruto smiled cheerfully at his idea. "That would be okay, right?"
He jumped when a kunai embedded itself in the ground before him.
"Oops. Must've dropped it." One guard chuckled as Naruto's expression turned fearful. The other guard didn't share his good humor.
"I said he's not seeing anyone now!" The other guard shouted at he took a menacing step towards the boy. "So why are you still here? Scram!"
Naruto did just that. He quickly ran away from the guards like his life depended on it. The guards nodded in satisfaction as they watched the demon run.
"Who lets that thing into the village anyway?" The guard muttered. "Someone should just kill it already…"
"Yeah. We'd all be better off if that thing was gone." The other guard agreed. He glanced up at the hokage's tower. "But seriously, what do you think the Mizukage is here for…?
X.X.X.X.X
Inside the Hokage's tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi was chatting with a most unexpected guest. Even as they were making small talk, the man couldn't help but wonder what had brought the Mizukage to Konoha on this particular day.
"I suppose I can understand that." Sarutobi smiled kindly at his visitor. "Kirigakure has had many troubles as of late."
"Can you?" Yagura said as he arched an eyebrow at the old man. "Konoha is having a period of great prosperity. I'm sure Konoha's little spats can hardly compare to what Kirigakure is going through."
"Believe it or not, Konoha does have its own problems, Yagura-san." The Hokage chuckled uneasily at the man's retort. Yagura had always been a little blunt and distant compared to the other Kages. "But I'm sure you didn't come here to discuss issues that have nothing to do with Konoha. I also doubt you're here to celebrate the seventh anniversary of our fourth Hokage's death. What is the real reason for your visit?"
"Ah yes, Yondaime and Kushina died on this day…" Yagura reminded himself. Maybe he'd pay his respects before he went back to Kirigakure.
Yagura leaned back in his chair, staring deep into the older Kage's eyes. He would make his request brief and simple, just like the others.
"You know I am the jinchuriki for the three-tails, don't you?" Yagura asked the man. He could see the slight discomfort in the man's eyes when he mentioned this.
"Yes…" Sarutobi nodded slowly. "But I fail to see what that has to do with…"
"And I understand that Konoha houses the jinchuriki of the nine-tailed fox, yes?"
Sarutobi's eyes widened when he mentioned this. Yagura expected the reaction and held his hand up when the older Kage was about to speak.
"I am a jinchuriki, so excuse me if I'm a little curious about those with similar conditions to mine. Even if you try to keep it a secret from the other villages, I can easily figure out where the other demon containers are located." Yagura said solemnly as he gazed at the hokage.
"…I see." Sarutobi murmured, casting a suspicious glance at the Mizukage. "Do you have some business with Konoha's jinchuriki…?"
"I've come with an offer." Yagura continued. "I would like to ask for your permission to take the Kyuubi container to Kirigakure, with me."
Sarutobi's eyes widened in surprise at the man's request. If Yagura hadn't looked so serious he would have thought he was telling a bad joke. That was the reason he had come to Konoha? Surely he didn't believe that he would hand Naruto over to him if he just asked, did he? What reason did Yagura have for asking this?
"If… if you don't mind me asking, why do you want to take the Kyuubi container to Kirigakure?" Sarutobi asked as he regained his composure.
"The jinchuriki of the Kyuubi is young, and he may not fully understand what's inside him." Yagura explained. "If you'll allow it, I'd like the opportunity to train the boy so that he can develop and use the power that is within him. I'll send you reports of his progress if you wish, and you can recall him back to Konoha at any time."
"I'm sorry, Yagura-san." The Hokage cut in quickly. "But I'm going to have to deny your request. Not only am I against the idea but the council would never agree to it."
"…Very well then." Yagura nodded, disappointed but understanding. He knew that Sarutobi must have his reasons. "Then I'd at least like to talk with the boy before I leave. I'm curious if he has any problems he'd like to discuss with me…"
"No, you misunderstand me, Yagura-san." Sarutobi interrupted him again. "I am forbidding you from having any contact with the Kyuubi container."
"…Why?" Yagura asked suspiciously, wondering why the hokage seemed so adamant against it. "I have full control over my demon. I would think that you'd welcome the idea since my knowledge of the bijuu could be beneficial to the boy."
"It's not that. It's just…" The man hesitated under the man's expressionless stare. The Hokage took a deep sigh before continuing.
His next words actually shocked Yagura.
"…He doesn't know that he's the container of the Kyuubi no Yoko." Sarutobi announced to Yagura's astonishment. "Our container, Naruto, isn't aware of his jinchuriki status."
The Mizukage blinked.
"…Come again?"
"The jinchuriki of the Kyuubi has no idea that he even is a jinchuriki." The Hokage repeated.
Yagura just stared at the man across from him in mild surprise. Eight years old today and the boy didn't know that he was the host of the most powerful bijuu that had ever existed? Sarutobi was keeping this a secret from the village?
Yagura couldn't help but wonder what reason the man could possibly have.
"Why keep this from him?" Yagura asked, interested in what reasons the man could have for keeping the issue a secret. "Are the villagers also unaware?"
"No…" Sarutobi answered reluctantly, again surprising the Mizukage. "After the Yondaime, Minato, sealed the Kyuubi inside Naruto an announcement was made to the village about Naruto's condition and that he was the jinchuriki for the Kyuubi no Yoko. Most every adult in the village is aware of what the boy is."
A cold pit formed in Yagura's stomach upon hearing these words. This situation sounded too familiar for his liking. He tentatively asked his next question.
"…How is Naruto treated within the village?"
Sarutobi chose to remain silent despite the intense look the Mizukage was giving him. Yagura, in a rare moment of unease, gripped the edges of his seat.
"How do the villagers treat Naruto, Sarutobi-san?" Yagura repeated his question.
"…You should know the answer to that." Sarutobi replied softly, not having the heart to give the man a direct answer.
"Then that means… and the boy doesn't even know why…" Yagura clenched his fists together as he thought of the boy's sufferings. He had no doubt of the Kyuubi container's harsh treatment based on the hokage's words, and the boy didn't even have a reason for his treatment.
Surely the Hokage was aware of how cruel that was!
"Sarutobi-san, do you realize how foolish that is?" Yagura asked. Even if it was in his regular, toneless voice you could still hear the incredibility in it. "How can you keep that a secret? The boy is burdened with the village's greatest responsibility, and you won't even give him a reason for his mistreatment?"
"It's not what I wanted, it isn't what anyone wanted, but I have faith that someday the villagers will come to understand that Naruto isn't the monster everyone makes him out to be. He is a very courageous, exuberant boy with a smile that would win anyone's heart." Sarutobi smiled as the thought of the boy. "Someday, Naruto Uzumaki will be seen as one of the greatest ninja in Konoha that has ever lived. I know it."
Yagura was dulled to the man's words as the Kyuubi container's name kept on repeated itself in his mind. Naruto Uzumaki…? Where had he…?
His eyes widened when it suddenly dawned on him. Yagura slammed his hands down on the Hokage's desk, making the man jump.
"The jinchuriki for the Kyuubi is Kushina's son?" Yagura shouted in a manner that was most uncharacteristic for him.
Sarutobi was surprised when he heard the Mizukage mention Minato's wife. It was only after Yagura had said her name that the Hokage remembered that Yagura had known Kushina when she was alive. They were both jinchuriki, and Yagura and Kushina had known each other because of that…
"Yes. Naruto is Minato and Kushina's son." Sarutobi affirmed.
"That's…" Yagura quickly calmed himself down as he slowly connected the dots. "Then… Naruto has someone looking after him right? Is Jiraiya with him?"
"…He's taking care of some personal business outside the village." Sarutobi answered slowly.
Yagura just stared at him. Jiraiya had abandoned his godson?
"Where is Tsunade?"
"She's still mourning."
Even his godmother had left him?
"Minato's remaining students?"
"I… I couldn't possibly ask Kakashi since he has so much on his mind nowadays… and Rin doesn't actually know about…" The Hokage trailed off, growing increasingly more uncomfortable with each second that passed.
Yagura couldn't believe it. He suddenly felt extreme contempt for the man in front of him.
"…Have you done anything for Kushina's son?"
Yagura piercing gaze and harsh words cut the man in front of him.
"I've done my best to look out for him!" Sarutobi retorted tightly. "I've told the villagers countless times that Naruto isn't what they think he is! I've punished those who've hurt him and I'm pushing them to see Naruto for who he really is. Someday they'll see that-!"
"And you've forbidden the villagers from speaking about the Nine-tails in hopes that the younger ones will not grow to hate Naruto like the villagers have." Yagura pointed out, seeing Sarutobi's intentions. "None of them even know that the boy they antagonize is Minato's son, do they?"
"If I revealed that he was Minato's son then he wouldn't be safe from his enemies?" Sarutobi argued. "I wouldn't be surprised if Iwa started a war just to get their hands on him."
"Which is why you gave him Kushina's last name, but that's no excuse for keeping his condition a secret, least of all from the jinchuriki himself…" Yagura returned in an accusing tone. "Is this what Minato and Kushina would have wanted for their son, Hiruzen?"
"You think I don't know that?" Sarutobi shouted, finally losing his cool. "Minato and Kushina died protecting Naruto, knowing that sealing the Kyuubi inside him would lead to a lonely life. But Minato and Kushina both had faith that Naruto would grow up to be a hero that the village would look up to!"
"They must've also had faith that those who were close to Naruto would take care of him." Yagura said pointedly, making Sarutobi stiffen at the accusation. "I wonder how they would feel knowing that their friends couldn't even be bothered to look after their only son."
"I… I want to do more for the boy, I really do. But there's a limit to what I can accomplish without inciting the villagers or angering the council. I want to make Naruto happy, but I also need to act in the village's best interests." Sarutobi said in a deflated voice. "It… it's not what I wanted…"
"No, I'm sure it isn't." Yagura agreed even as he glared at the Hokage. "But that doesn't make what you're doing right. You put too much faith in the village, Sarutobi-san. Humans will always fear him because of what he is. What you're hoping for probably won't be achieved until years in the future, and only if Kushina's son is extremely lucky."
"Yagura-san…?"
"I cannot agree with this, and as a fellow jinchuriki I feel that I have a right to speak my mind regarding this issue." Yagura said solemnly as his purple eyes glared into Sarutobi's. "From what I'm hearing, Naruto's childhood shares too many similarities to mine. The villagers persecute him, he doesn't understand why the village hates him, and the few people who are kind to him refuse to tell him the reason for his mistreatment. At this rate he may grow up to be like me…"
Yagura shook his head. That was something he didn't want Kushina's son to become. Out of all the jinchuriki, he had thought that the Kyuubi's container would be the most taken care of. Some prejudice was to be expected, but he had always thought Sarutobi to be a kind, righteous man who was sympathetic to another's cries for help. To his disappointment and disgust, that didn't seem to be the case. He gazed back at the Hokage.
"…Or he'll grow to hate the village and everyone in it. If this continues, he may very well end up becoming the monster everyone is making him out to be." Yagura said darkly. "And the bijuu know very well that a child's mind is easily influenced."
"That won't happen." Sarutobi shook his head. "I, and this village, will support Naruto when he needs it."
Yagura had to keep himself from laughing at that. The man's faith in the village was admirable and delusional.
"Support from the village? No…" Yagura shook his head. "The village has already abandoned him. Most would probably celebrate if the child were to disappear. I'm surprised the child hasn't fled by himself, seeing as his family has already abandoned him."
This was enough to bring out and expression of anger from the Hokage. He glared at the Mizukage.
"…I'm going to have to ask you to leave, Yagura-san."
"…Hmph." Yagura returned his glare and got up from his seat. "I had always thought you to be the wisest out of the Kages, Sarutobi-san. I would have never imagined that you would be so foolish, bowing to the council's wishes like this. To disgrace Minato and Kushina's memory like this…"
Sarutobi felt his anger increase.
"Leave."
"But first, a warning." Yagura said, stopping as he placed his hand on the door. "Isolation and loneliness will only breed hatred, sadness, and anger. All of these negative emotions will stir the beast within Naruto, until it slowly uses his sorrow, his fury, and his hatred to corrupt and change him into the demon everyone in this village fears. I should know. It almost happened to me…"
"I forbid you from seeing Naruto." Sarutobi cautioned the man. "If I hear that you've gone anywhere near him…"
"I understand." Yagura said shortly before opening the door. "Pardon my intrusion during this time of celebration…"
Sarutobi let out a frustrated sigh as his face collapsed into his hands. He rubbed his temples as his angry emotions flared within him.
Though, he couldn't tell who he was angrier at. Yagura, or himself.
X.X.X.X.X
Naruto ducked inside an alleyway when he heard the drunken voices of a few men somewhere down the street. He shook and waited for the men to walk away, only coming out when he could hear their voices no more.
"This could last all night…" Naruto moaned miserably as he came out of hiding. "Maybe I should try and find Jiji-san…"
He jumped back into his hiding spot when he spotted another group of who were passing by. A couple of them were laughing and whistling as they called out to the "demon" they were trying to find.
It was almost night time when the festivities within the village had started. Naruto had returned to his dingy apartment, knowing that there was no way he'd be welcome to the party the villagers were throwing. Unfortunately, he had found a small mob waiting for him at his apartment, just like he had predicted. Naruto had gotten away before they noticed him, but now they were roaming around the outskirts of the village, hunting for the demon the hated so much. Naruto sighed miserably after he heard the evil men leave. He looked up at the starry night sky.
He wished someone, anyone, to save him from this pain…
"Well, well… look at what we've got here…"
Naruto froze when he heard chuckling voices behind him. The boy's expression was one of terror when he saw three men step out of the shadows. Naruto cried out in fear when he recognized their attire.
"NINJAS!"
The blonde didn't think, he just ran. He didn't bother looking back as he ran down the streets like a madman, desperate to get away from the men who were chasing him.
This was a hunt, and those ninja weren't the villagers. If they caught him, Naruto knew that there was a very likely chance that he would be killed.
X.X.X.X.X
"What should I do…?"
Yagura asked his question to the tombstone before him. It was late at night, and not another soul was around. He had easily gotten into the cemetery, feeling like he had to visit two people before he left.
The grave of Minato and Kushina sat silently in front of him. Yagura sighed disappointedly, knowing that the piece of stone wouldn't answer him.
He wondered… what would Kushina had said if she were still around and knew of his current plight? What would be her opinion on gathering up the other demon containers? She had always been an eccentric one and was one of the few whom Yagura considered to be a truly inherently good person. He had only met her a few times in the past, and while he had denied it many times, as was his nature, Kushina had always insisted that they were friends because of their similar conditions.
Yagura sighed as he looked up at the starry night sky. What would Kushina want? What would Minato want? What would loving parents want for their child? What would they do for Naruto right now?
The Mizukage sighed as he thought back to his conversation with the hokage. Well, there was little he could do. It was regrettable, but Yagura would have to leave without Naruto. It really wasn't up to Yagura anyway since the Hokage believed this was the best thing to do, which was exceedingly foolish in Yagura's opinion. The man shook his head and turned to leave the graveyard.
Yagura ears perked up when he heard small footsteps echo across the ground.
The Sanbi jinchuriki slowly turned his head as the footsteps became louder. They were small sounds in quick succession. A running child, Yagura assumed. But what would a child be doing around here so late at night…?
It was then that out from the darkness, a small boy with a shock of electric blonde hair stepped into Yagura's view.
Yagura only uttered one word.
"Naruto?"
Time stood still for both jinchuriki. Yagura's surprised eyes stared into Naruto's frightened ones. The man simply stared at the boy as a rare moment of thoughtlessness came to him. His resemblance to Minato was unmistakable. This was Kushina's son. Yet, what had brought him here? The child looked like a scared animal, and Yagura noticed small cuts along his arms and face that were slowly healing up. Yagura turned back to the grave behind him.
"Are you trying to tell me something…?"
Yagura's eyes widened when a kunai whizzed passed him and he heard Naruto cry out in fear.
"Found you demon!"
Naruto panicked as he glanced between the strange man in front of him and the ninja that had appeared behind him. He had thought running and hiding in such a dark scary place would keep the ninja from following him, but that was too much to hope for. Naruto desperately searched for an escape route despite knowing that he was trapped.
"We've got you now… nowhere to run…" One of the ninja chuckled as he twirled a kunai between his fingers.
"We slay the demon tonight." The second one smiled. "We'll be heroes."
"W-Why are you doing this?" Naruto asked fearfully. He was shaking. "I-I didn't do anything to you! Why are you trying to hurt me!"
"Didn't do anything…?" The third ninja said lowly as he glared at the boy. "You killed hundreds of people! So many loved ones were lost, my parents included! And it's all you fault!"
"B-But I didn't…!"
"Shut up!" The ninja shouted as he rushed towards Naruto. "Die, monster!"
Naruto raised his arms in a vain attempt to protect himself from his attacker. He shook and waited for the ninja's weapon to cut into his flesh.
"Ghk!"
Naruto blinked when he heard the ninja's startled cry, noticing that he was lacking any injury the man might have inflicted on him and the boots that stood in front of him.
Naruto's mouth fell open in awe as he stared at the man in front of him, who was holding the ninja by the neck.
"W-What the?" One of the ninja gasped, finally taking notice of Yagura. "Who the hell are you!"
The two ninja watched as the man brought their comrade to his knees. Their friend was taller than his strangler, but it was clear that the mystery man had more strength than his appearance suggested.
Not only that, but the look in the man's purple, pupilless eyes sent shivers down their spines.
Yagura simply stared down at the man he was strangling. He turned his head to give Naruto a brief glance before turning back towards the Konoha ninja.
The Sanbi container knew what he had to do.
"I pity you, who are too foolish to understand." Yagura said without emotion. "Someone like you, who would seek to harm a mere child doesn't deserve to live."
The ninja's eyes widened as he felt eyes widened as the man's fingers sank into his neck. A small crack was heard as the man lost all feeling and his body went limp. Yagura dropped him to the ground.
"…Pitiful."
"Bastard!"
The two ninja rushed the man that had killed their friend, kunai raised to strike. Yagura regarded them with eyes void of feeling as they rushed towards him. The Mizukage raised his hands as the ninja closed in.
The ninjas' eyes widened when the man in front of them disappeared, only to reappear behind them. They felt his fingers wrap around their necks before their worlds went black.
"Hmph." Yagura grunted as he dropped the bodies to the ground. It was regrettable, but trash like them didn't deserve any less than what they got. He had met too many people like them in his lifetime…
"Um…"
Yagura turned away from the dead ninja when he heard a small voice call out to him.
The Kyuubi jinchuriki was staring at him with an unsure look on his face. The boy kicked the ground nervously as he folded his arms behind his back.
"Thank you, mister…"
Naruto's eyes widened as the man approached him with an expressionless face. Naruto closed his eyes and raised his hands to block the blows to come.
"Are you hurt?"
Naruto blinked and slowly dropped his arms to see his savior kneeling in front of him with a stern expression. Or that might have been his normal expression, Naruto wasn't sure.
The question, however, had caught the boy off guard. No one had asked him that before.
"Huh?"
"I asked if you were hurt." Yagura repeated.
"N-No! I'm fine, see!" Naruto's face broke out into a small as he turned checked himself over. "They threw a few kunai at me, but I think most of them missed! I dodged them all!"
The boy's cheerful expression confused Yagura. He had almost been killed by the men and now he was smiling, even boasting about something that wasn't true? How could this boy smile after what had happened?
Yagura was unable to keep his thoughts from voicing themselves.
"You are… strange." Yagura said slowly.
"H-Hey! No I'm not!" Naruto said angrily, not appreciate being insulted. "I'm normal! I'm anything but strange!"
Yagura just continued to stare at the boy who went of on a rant. This was the Kyuubi jinchuriki… the last demon container.
He was… different from the other containers.
Yagura shook his head as he stood up. He turned on his heel and walked towards the exit of the cemetery.
"W-Wait! Where are you going?" Naruto asked as he chased after the man who had saved him.
"Back to my home." Yagura said, stopping to let Naruto catch up with him. "I'm not welcome here right now. My home is far away, and I'd like to get back as soon as I can."
"Oh… are you from another village?" Naruto asked, noticing the plate that was sewn into the man's shirt. It was different than Konoha's symbol. His had four squiggly lines on it.
"…You're Naruto, right?" Yagura asked.
"Huh? Yeah… how'd you know?" Naruto asked curiously.
"…Do you want to come to my village?"
Naruto's eyes widened when he heard the man. The boy thought he had misheard him.
"…Huh?"
"My name is Yagura. I am the Mizukage of Kirigakure." Yagura announced to Naruto's surprise. "My home is far away from Konoha. If you want, I can take you with me. I can help you." Yagura glanced at the dead bodies behind them. "…You won't have to deal with people like them anymore."
"B-But why?" Naruto stammered, still stupefied by the man's offer and who was giving the offer.
Naruto had dreamed of a moment like this, countless times, where he was given an opportunity to leave the village. He would travel the world, meet lots of people, people who respected him, and lived happily with people who didn't hate him. And now this person, someone Naruto didn't even know… he was someone so important and he had saved him…
What reason did he have?
"Because you're not alone." Yagura replied softly as he gazed down at the boy. "You're not the only one who has suffered, Naruto. There are others like you who have experienced the same pain you have. I am one of those individuals. It is because I can understand your pain and condition is the reason I wish to help you. It's why I wish to help the others as well…"
"The others…?" Naruto wondered quietly.
"I won't force you if you don't want to. I can understand if you wish to stay in your own village rather than go to a foreign one with some stranger you just met." Yagura said without an expression. "You may accept or refuse. The choice is yours."
Naruto stared up at the man in wonderment. He was serious? Naruto felt excitement build up inside him at the prospect of leaving. Could he really go with this man? Did Yagura really want to help him? Naruto was still unsure. He quietly asked his question.
"Is it really okay?"
"As I said, the choice is yours." Yagura repeated.
Naruto nodded. His apprehension disappeared. In the end, this man had been his savior and had done more for him than anyone had ever done for him before. There was only one answer Naruto could give.
"I'll go with you, Yagura-san!" Naruto pumped his fist cheerfully. "Thank you!"
"Very well then." Yagura nodded. "Do you want to bring anything with you?"
"I have a few clothes back at my apartment. Can we go get them?"
"I don't mind."
"Yay!" Naruto cheered as he grabbed Yagura's hand and led him out of the cemetery. "I don't have much, so I pack up really quick! What's Kirigakure like? Is it like Konoha? Are the people there nice? Are you really the Mizukage?"
Yagura wasn't given a chance to respond to the questions being shot at him in quick succession. He simply allowed himself to be pulled along by the exuberant jinchuriki.
"This is the best birthday ever!"
Those words, that single sentence solidified Yagura's resolve. He had his doubts about taking Naruto with him since this would no doubt cause problems with Sarutobi. It even had the potential to go to war. But after hearing something so depressing, yet with such a happy tone, Yagura knew there was no other option but to bring Naruto to Kirigakure with him.
This was a rescue, and Yagura would see it through despite the repercussions that would surely follow.
X.X.X.X.X
Ao slowly walked down the corridor that led to where the Mizukage's… guests were currently waiting. The man let out a weary sigh as he braced himself for the introductions to come. He still couldn't believe what his Kage had done. He was still getting over the shock. To think he was able to gather seven other jinchuriki in just a week and a half was something to be amazed at, and Ao had recently gotten a message from the border that the Mizukage had returned with the eighth and final jinchuriki with him. Including Yagura, that meant that all nine jinchuriki were currently within Kirigakure's borders.
Despite his hardened nature, Ao couldn't help but worry about that.
Of course, the information wasn't public. There would have been mass panic if everyone in the village knew. Half the village was already afraid of their own Mizukage, and if the villagers knew that eight others like him were also inside the village there would be no telling what would happen. Only Ao, the swordsmen, and a few select individuals who the Mizukage trusted personally knew about their leader's actions.
Another order Yagura had given was that the jinchuriki were to be confined only until he returned to the village. None of the other jinchuriki had met one another since their arrival to the village since they had all been kept on opposite sides of the village in special locations only accessible to the elite few that Yagura trusted. A couple of the containers had been discomforted, even enraged by this development, but Ao had assured them all that they would be provided for and it was only temporary. Each of the jinchuriki had reluctantly agreed to the terms before they met one another. Though two of the seven containers that Yagura had gathered together had been more adamant against the arrangements than others had.
Luckily, Ao's bruises and mild burns had already healed up.
However, the time for the jinchuriki's short confinement was already coming to an end, much to his and the other containers' relief. Now that the final jinchurki was on his way, it was finally time for all the jinchuriki to be gathered up and introduced to each other. Ao only had limited interaction with the jinchuriki, but he had gotten an idea about how each demon container acted. Part of him wondered how each of them would react to meeting all the other containers at once.
The prospect both intrigued and worried him.
He had his objections to the idea, and again when Yagura admitted he had hid a few facts to keep the other villages and their Kages ignorant to what he was doing, but the man would have no arguments. Ao sighed he approached a door at the end of the hall.
"Mizukage-sama sure is an impulsive one…" Ao sighed as he felt a headache coming on. He could already hear the Hachibi container's enthusiastic shouts from the other side of the door.
Ao opened the door to find the room in a bit of a hectic state. He quickly located the Hachibi and Nibi containers who were in the center of the room. Bee's loud, booming voice immediately brought Ao's attention towards them. Yugito had been confined with the older boy since those two were probably the only jinchuriki who actually knew one another. Yugito was sitting on the couch, laughing as she clapped and cheered at her friend as Bee stood on top of the coffee table with a banana in his hand. The boy was using the piece of fruit as a microphone as he beatboxed and rapped to the girl using words that made Ao wonder if he was speaking the same language. Yugito was the first to notice him.
"Ao-san!" Yugito quickly got up and bowed to him. Bee stopped rapping and gave the man his attention, but didn't get off from the table.
"What up, Ao? Did you come to check up on us, no?" Bee smiled as he rhymed his words.
"Not exactly. And I see you two have made yourselves at home here…" Ao noted as he glanced around the room. Chairs were overturned, trash littered the floor, and some of the furniture had ripped.
"I'm really sorry about this. Bee's a slob." Yugito apologized, looking guiltily at the room they had made a mess of. She timidly glanced back at the older man. "Um… do you know when we'll be allowed to leave?"
"I actually came to get you two." Ao said, smiling slightly as the girl perked up. "Your confinement is now officially over. I'll be escorting you two to the Mizukage's tower so you can meet the others."
Their confinement had only lasted four days. That was half the time some of the others had waited.
"SWEET!" Bee laughed as jumped off the coffee table. "Being kept in here is freakin' boring! Are the other jinchuriki over at the Mizukage's place too?"
Bee whooped at Ao's nod of affirmation. Yugito also looked a little eager at the prospect of meeting the other demon containers like her. Ao pulled up the corners of his mouth as he led them out the door. They, along with the Yonbi container, were probably the only jinchuriki who actually looked forward to meeting their fellow containers.
"C'mon, let's go, go, go! We want to meet our jinchuriki brothers now, Ao!"
The man smiled at the eccentric teen's rapping. Yugito happily tagged along beside Bee as he led the way. Ao's smile dropped as he followed behind him.
He hoped that they would be able to keep this optimistic attitude. They would certainly be disappointed to find that the other jinchuriki weren't as easy to deal with as they imagined.
X.X.X.X.X
"…Go on."
Naruto stepped through the door as Yagura opened it for him. He was glad to be inside a building rather than out in the streets. He didn't gather as much attention as he usually did at Konoha, but that didn't keep people from looking at them. While the villagers' glares hadn't been particularly hostile, Naruto didn't exactly feel at ease in the foreign environment just yet.
The blonde quickly picked up his pace as Yagura stepped in front of him and proceeded down the hall. Naruto followed the man who had saved him without making a sound. Throughout their entire trip, despite Naruto's constant attempts at conversation, Yagura had responded shortly and with as few words as possible. The blonde was lucky if he got a response that was more than three syllables. Eventually, Naruto had just decided to remain silently until their trip to Kirigakure had ended. It concluded rather quickly to Naruto's surprise who had ridden piggyback most of the way since Yagura had been in a hurry to return.
Naruto was brought out of his musings when he bumped into the back of Yagura's legs. The Mizukage had stopped in the middle of the hall. Yagura looked down at Naruto who was staring at him curiously, wondering why he had stopped walking.
"Naruto, do you know why the villagers in Konoha treated you the way they did?"
The boy's eyes widened for a moment before his expression turned sad. It was the only conversation they had together so far, but Naruto wasn't sure if he liked the topic.
"No… I thought it was because of something I did wrong once but I can't remember what…" Naruto said sadly as he remembered the night Yagura had rescued him. Maybe it was his pranks?
The Mizukage's next words shocked him.
"I know why the villagers treated you the way they did."
Naruto's head shot up in surprise. The boy gaped at the sudden announcement.
"You do?" Naruto said in awe.
"Yes." Yagura nodded. "It's time that you were told a reason for your mistreatment, and also for you to learn that there are others like you who are mistreated for the same reason you have been."
Yagura resumed his trek down the hall before Naruto had a chance to question him further. The Mizukage knew why the villagers in Konoha didn't like him? And what did he mean when he said "others"?
Little did Naruto know that the "others" Yagura had spoken of were already in the room they were headed towards, waiting for the last two jinchuriki to arrive.
Inside the room all the jinchuriki were present, minus the Sanbi and Kyuubi containers. Even though half of them knew that each person in the room had a demon inside his or herself, that didn't cause anyone to seek conversation. Each container was casually doing their own thing while they waiting for the Mizukage to arrive.
Some of them, however, were having a harder time dealing with the silence than the others did.
Fu paced back and forth with an irritated expression on her face. She had been the first one to be dropped off inside the room so she had been the one waiting the longest, and she had started getting impatient after the third container had showed up. Occasionally she would stop pacing to swat at the bubbles that floated towards her, courtesy of the Rokubi container who stood a few feet away. Utakata ignored the angry glares the smaller girl was sending him as he blew into his bubble blower. To his surprise and relief, the tool had been waiting for him in the room he had been confined in for the last couple of days. He continued to blow bubbles as he waited patiently for the Mizukage to arrive.
Han was content to blatantly ignore all other occupants in the room as he polished a red plate of armor he held in his hands. His eye would twitch occasionally when he failed to tune out Bee's humming. Said Hachibi container stood with Yugito near the center of the room, casting curious glances at the other containers, wondering what each of their personalities was like. Yugito was a little nervous and clung to Bee's side, turning away whenever she caught the Nanabi container's annoyed glare.
Roshi was casually sipping a jug of sake he had brought back from his room with him. He, like Bee, was calmly observing the other containers in the room. He silently marveled at how all of them were brought together like this. The Yonbi container chuckled and downed more of his drink.
The last occupant and one of the quietest was Gaara, who sat in a corner of the room and far away from the other occupants of the room. He was gently rocking himself back and forth as he mumbled quietly to himself under his breath. He clutched his teddy bear in one arm as sand lightly danced and jumped around him.
While everyone was generally comfortable within the silence, one of the more vocal containers decided to break it.
"WOULD YOU STOP THAT?"
Most of the occupants in the room gazed at the girl with the mint colored hair as she marched up to Utakata. The teen gazed at her through half lidded eyes as she fumed at him.
"Stop what?"
"You know what!" Fu said, stamping her feet angrily. "Those bubbles are annoying! Stop blowing them at me!"
"I'm not blowing them at you, they just float that way."
"You're making them do that! Stop it!"
Bee and Roshi snickered as the two containers started to argue. Han's growled under his breath as their voices started to distract him from his work.
"As if that idiot's humming wasn't annoying enough…"
Unfortunately for him, Bee had overheard him.
"What was that?" Bee asked as he stepped towards the Gobi container, leaving Yugito by herself. "You trying to say something?"
"Go away. I'm busy trying to ignore you." Han growled out as he tried his best to focus on the plate in front of him.
"Sorry buddy, but Killer Bee isn't ignored." Bee grinned as he bent down so he could look Han in the eye. He glanced down at the red armor piece in his hands. "What'cha got there?"
"Armor. Beat it."
"Really? That's cool." Bee smiled, genuinely interested as he plucked the plate out of the Gobi container's hands. "What's it for?"
Bee blinked when a large shadow had suddenly overcome him. The boy stared up at Han's menacing face, a little intimidated by the boy's height. He looked a lot shorter when he was sitting down.
"Give that plate back before you have to start explaining to people how your body parts got kicked inside out, twerp." Han glowered down at Bee who held his hands up in defense as he handed the plate of armor back to him.
"Whoa, whoa! Don't be hatin' fool! It's all cool, right?" Bee smiled, trying to make piece.
His attempt at rapping only succeeded in annoying and pissing off Han even more than he already was.
Yugito watched Bee's exchange with the scary teen with a worried expression on her face. She jumped when she heard a chuckling voice behind her.
"Ah, he should know better. The minute I saw him I could tell that boy wasn't easy to get along with." Roshi chuckled as he took another swig from his drink. He smiled down at Yugito. "Hello there, young lady. What's your name?"
"Y-Yugito." The Nibi container replied, bowing her head lightly to the older man. "And you…?"
"Roshi from Iwagakure." The Yonbi container smiled.
The duo fell into silence after they had introduced themselves. Roshi chuckled and scratched the back of his head while Yugito nervously shuffled her feet. She blinked when a bottle was held out to her.
"Care for a drink?" Roshi offered with a smile.
Yugito only stared at him.
Unbeknownst to them, their voices were having an adverse effect on the Ichibi container. The sand started to react more violently as Gaara started whispering frantically to himself. He clutched his head as a scratchy voice whispered in his ear.
"I'm scared… these people are scary… are they going to hurt me…?"
Just before everyone's arguments could escalate further, they were cut short when the sound of a door opening caught their attention.
Everyone in the room blinked as a small boy with blonde ran into the room. The boy looked at each of them with a surprised expression before a smile covered his face.
"Hi everybody! My name is Naruto! Nice to meet you all!"
The other containers just stared at the boy's happy face with various looks of confusion and amusement. None of them noticed Yagura step into the room and shut the door behind him.
"Why, hello there, Naruto-kun." Roshi greeted the boy with a smile. Yugito gasped as he grabbed her arm and pushed her towards the Kyuubi container. "This is Yugito-chan. Say hello."
"Nice to meet you too…" Yugito muttered unsurely as she gave the boy a small wave.
Naruto grinned back at her as Bee made his way over to them, flashing the younger boy a peace sign as he approached. The other containers chose to ignore him as they redirected their attention towards the Sanbi container who they finally took notice of.
Yagura stared at each of the containers who in turn stared back at him. Now that they were all here… he was at a bit of a loss. He stood in place for a while before he remembered how he had rehearsed this. He took out a small box from underneath his cloak.
"Before we begin the introductions I'd like you all to pick a number from this box. Each slip of paper has a number on it, one to nine. I want you to pick the number that corresponds to you. I will go first."
Yagura reached inside the box and searched until he found his number. He held up his paper to show the others. A big "3" was written on it.
A few of the other jinchuriki nodded, understanding what Yagura was asking them to do.
Naruto, however, was clueless as to what was going on. Not wanting to be left out, he quickly followed the Yugito and Bee as they approached the Mizukage.
Yagura watched as each person picked a number. Roshi was the first to grab his slip, followed by Bee and Yugito who picked their numbers. Fu paused for a bit before picking her correct number after Utakata had picked his. Han grabbed his number and retreated back to his spot on the floor before Naruto had his turn. There were only two pieces of paper left in the box. Naruto gave Yagura an unsure look before grabbing one of the papers.
"That's wrong, Naruto."
"Huh?"
Naruto looked at his paper which had a number "1" on it. He gave Yagura a puzzled look, taking the paper that had a "9" on it when the Mizukage held it out to him.
"That is your correct number. The other one belongs to Gaara." Yagura said, pointing to the redhead in the corner of the room. "Could you give it to him please?"
"Okay…" Naruto nodded slowly, still wondering what significance the numbers had.
Deciding to save his questions for later, he quickly ran over to the boy who sat in the corner with the teddy bear in his arms. Naruto held out the piece of paper in his hand with a smile.
"Here you go! This is your number." Naruto smiled. "You're so lucky! Number one has got to mean something good!"
The boy blinked and stared up at the boy who had talked to him. Gaara silently reached out and took the piece of paper from Naruto before ducking his head, almost as if he was trying to hide from the boy.
"You're name's Gaara, right?"
His head rose again.
"My name is Naruto!" The boy grinned at him.
Gaara just stared at him with a look that was half amazed, half fearful. Wasn't he scared of him?
Yagura watched this exchange for a moment before gaining everyone's attention again as he raised his voice.
"Now, I want all of you to line up in numerical order. Number 1 on the right and 9 on the left.
All the jinchuriki quickly put themselves in the order Yagura asked them to. Gaara slowly got up from his spot and stood at the right end while Naruto stood next to Bee on the left. Yugito and Roshi stood next to each other since Yagura wouldn't be standing in the line with them. The Mizukage nodded after the jinchuriki had ordered themselves correctly. He paced in front of the assembled containers as he gave his speech.
"Now, as I'm sure most of you are aware, every person in this room has the same condition. Each one of us is the host of a tailed beast. Each one of us is a jinchuriki."
Naruto blinked in confusion. Jin…chu…riki…? What did that mean?
Yagura noticed the boy's confusion but didn't address it. He continued with his speech.
"It is my understanding that anyone who is a jinchuriki has experienced some sort of animosity by those around them for fear of what we are. Or perhaps some of you were able to find people who understand you?"
Silence was Yagura's only answer. Some of them even looked angry. Bee and Yugito were probably the only ones who had protection from their Kage, and Gaara… well, he wouldn't get into that.
"…Moving right along, since I am a jinchuriki like the rest of you I know what it's like to be hated, even by your own village." Yagura gazed at each jinchuriki. "Which is why I'd like to help each of you control your demons. I believe one of the reasons people fear jinchuriki is because they are afraid the demons cannot be controlled. That is not true."
In demonstration, Yagura raised his hand and exerted some of his demon's chakra, showing his hand to the others which was covered in a red haze of chakra.
"Now, I'd like to make it clear that I don't wish to use any of you as a weapon or try to control what you do." Yagura glanced at Gaara, Roshi, and Han as he said this. "All I ask is that you cooperate with me. Know that my actions, while they may seem unorthodox at times, will only serve to benefit you. I'm not forcing any of you to stay here, though some of you may be here until you Kage decides to recall you to your village."
"So are you saying that after this little get together is over those of us who aren't under any kind of orders are free to leave?" Roshi asked tauntingly.
"For those of you without any obligation to your village, you are free to do what you will after a year of training with me. Whether you choose to stay in Kirigakure is up to you." Yagura continued on as he answered Roshi's question. "During your stay here you will have your own rooms and will be provided with supplies as you see fit. You are free to roam around the village as you please, but I would like to ask you all to refrain from bothering or harming the village's inhabitants. Most everyone is unaware of your jinchuriki status, and I believe that it would be in everyone's best interest to keep it that way."
"So we're just supposed to do whatever you say for an entire year?" Han asked indignantly.
"…I never said that, Han." Yagura retorted easily. "All I'm asking is that you devote a few hours each day for training exercises and interacting with your fellow containers. You will have plenty of free time, and you may spend it however you wish. Do you have any objections to that?"
"…" Han still glared at him.
"Good." Yagura nodded. "I have a few more things to say, but I think we should get introductions out of the way before we move onto that. Now, if everyone could… yes, Naruto?"
Naruto blushed when everyone directed their attention towards him. He slowly put down his raised arm and focused on Yagura with a puzzled look on his face.
"Um… what's a jin…chu…ri…ki…?" Naruto sounded out the word, looking to the Mizukage for an answer.
Naruto blushed again when the others gave him looks of incredibility and surprise. Yagura mentally berated himself for forgetting to explain jinchuriki to Naruto beforehand.
"Naruto… you don't know what a jinchuriki is?" Roshi asked in astonishment. "You don't know that you're a jinchuriki?"
"Uh, well, if I'm that… thing you said, I don't know what it is." Naruto smiled sheepishly.
"If you've been given shit by other humans then the reason for that is because you're a jinchuriki." Han spoke up, crossing his arms in front of him. "You were probably hated by your village, weren't you?"
Yagura sent the Gobi container a sharp look. He didn't have to say it so harshly.
"I-I don't know if they hated me, but…"
"Naruto."
The boy jumped when Yagura addressed him.
"Are you familiar with a creature called the Kyuubi no Yoko, the nine-tailed fox?" Yagura asked him.
"Oh yeah! Jiji-san talked about a big fox that attacked the village sometimes." Naruto grinned, happy that he finally understood something the Mizukage was saying. "It got killed by the Yondaime and he saved lots of people! Why?"
"The Kyuubi was something we call a bijuu. It was a demon who loved to cause havoc and destruction wherever it went." Yagura told the boy. "The Kyuubi is one of the nine bijuu that exists. Bijuu are tailed beasts with tails numbering from one to nine."
"So there were more like the fox? Did they attack other villages too?"
"A few have attacked other villages before, but that's not the point." Yagura said, bringing them back on track. "Anyway, bijuu can't be killed. The only way to confine them is by sealing them within a living breathing human, whose body serves as a type of cell to keep the bijuu from hurting anyone. These people who have bijuu sealed inside them are called jinchuriki."
"…Huh…?" Naruto was still clueless.
"Naruto, there are nine jinchuriki alive today, and each one has a bijuu sealed inside them." Yagura said, gesturing to everyone with his arm. "And as I mentioned earlier, everyone in this room is a jinchuriki."
Naruto knitted his eyebrows to together in confusion before his mouth fell open in surprise. He quickly counted how many people were in the room with him. Including himself, the number of people in the room totaled…
...Nine.
No… it couldn't be…
"So you are a jinchuriki too…" Utakata said as he stared at the Mizukage, confirming the fact that the leader of his home country was a demon container. Yagura nodded in affirmation.
"Let's get introductions started, shall we?" Yagura said, letting Naruto connect the dots by himself. "Each of you will go in order starting from the number of your tailed beast. Introduce yourself and tell us all which demon you host. I'll begin."
Everyone gave Yagura their undivided attention.
"My name is Yagura. I host the Sanbi no Kyodaigame, the three-tailed demon beast." Yagura announced to them all. He turned towards the Ichibi container. "Gaara…?"
"I-I'm… I'm Sabaku no Gaara… I… I… mother says…"
"Gaara." Yagura interrupted him with a gentle tone. "We've talked about this. The Ichibi is not your mother…"
"I… I have the Ichibi no Shukaku… one tail…" Gaara finished quietly as he rubbed his eyes.
"I'm Yugito Nii." Yugito quickly picked up after the red haired boy. "I'm the host of the Nibi no Bakeneko, the two-tailed beast."
"My name is Roshi. It's a pleasure to meet you all." The red haired man smiled, skipping over Yagura since he had already been introduced. "I've got the Yonbi no Saru sealed inside me." He bent down to Yugito and whispered as though he had a big secret, but was loud enough to where the others could hear him. "It's got four tails…"
"Han. I'm stuck with the five-tailed bijuu, Gobi no Irukauma." Han said shortly as he rolled his eyes at Roshi's behavior.
"I'm Utakata. I have the six-tails. It's the Rokubi no Namekuji." The brown haired boy relayed to the others.
"I'm Fu!" The girl with minty green hair spoke up. She glanced at her card. "My demon has seven tails and… and its name is, er, um… oh! It's the Nanabi no Kabutomushi!"
"Yo! I'm the Killer Bee and I've-!"
"Please introduce yourself normally for once." Yugito cut him off.
"Don't interrupt me Yugito! And hey, I only answer to my awesome title, 'kay?"
"I've only known him for ten minutes and I can already tell he's gonna piss me off…" Han sighed. Utakata nodded beside him.
"Anyway, I'm hosting for the Hachibi no Kyogyu!" Bee grinned as he held up eight fingers, intent on continuing his rapping streak. "Its tail number is eight, got that mates?"
"Would someone shut him up?"
"Hey! Don't knock my rappin' yo! It's art, doncha'know!"
"Han, Bee, settle down." Yagura ordered the both of them. He turned towards the last jinchuriki. "Naruto?"
The boy remained silent for a moment before giving Yagura an unsure look.
"I'm… Naruto Uzumaki and… I have the nine tails inside me. I've got the Kyuubi no Yoko, right…?"
Yagura nodded to confirm it.
"Yes, Naruto. Yes you do."
A/N: Alright, that's it for this chapter. Very long, makes up for absence, no? I think everything went very smoothly. What did you guys think?
So all the jinchuriki have met up, and all this chapter did was introduce them to each other. The next chapter will have more introductions since we'll get to meet the bijuu themselves and see each container's relationship with their respective demon. Not only that, but I'll introduce a few other characters and get the jinchuriki situated in Kiri.
As most of you can probably tell, not all the jinchuriki get along with each other. You all didn't honestly think that it would be rainbows and sunshine with these guys just because they're all jinchuriki, right? While some like Naruto and Bee will be friendly with the other containers, it will take time for them to bond. Still, relationships and bonds between the jinchuriki will be forged as time goes on. All of them, even Yagura who was responsible for bringing them together, have their own issues and problems that will be addressed and they'll get support from those around them. You'll see how these characters evolve as the story goes on.
I've got a basis for this story and I know exactly how I want the next few events to play out. It'll be all about training and getting to know our containers for the first few chapters then we'll get to see some of our antagonists start to show up. And again, Yagura isn't under Madara's control. Other issues such as the bloodline purges and Kiri's civil war will be addressed eventually and possibly in the next chapter.
So anyway, please review and tell me how I did. I'm grateful for the support I've received so far (Over 100 reviews in two chapters, WHOOO!) and I'd be great if even more people would review. Any questions you guys have, I'll be happy to answer. I promise that I won't take as long to post the next chapter. Now if you'll all excuse me, I need to finish the next chapter of NLSC. Until next time.
Kiiam