A/N: Author's Note:
Ethorin: No, this story is not dead. I just have had a MAJOR case of writer's block.
Piffsheep: I will be sure to continue this story. Thanks for reviewing.
EzzBomb2010: I will.
Piffsheep: I promise. Thanks for reviewing.
Lady Knight Keladry: Thank you. I just couldn't figure out how to work that scene out. I figured "Why not?"
Fayneir: Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Lily887787: There may be some romance in the future. I can't tell you. Sorry.
Saruke101: Thank you for your review.
HikariNoTenshi-San: I'll try to make the chapters longer.
Usa-san: Thank you. I'll try Usa-san.
RougeNya: I figured it was time to show more than just Gaara and Naruto's current state. I agree with you there.
Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever, owned anything related to Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto series.
Legend:
"A Human is talking."
'A Human is thinking.'
"A Demon or Summon is talking."
'A Demon or Summon is thinking.'
"A jutsu is being performed."
Chapter Four:
-Mt. Sobou-Hana: Hogosha no Tani-
Two hours passed before Naruto and Gaara saw another Jinchuriki pass through the light barrier and enter Hogosha no Tani.
This Jinchuriki was dressed in a long-sleeved purple shirt with purple pants and brown armor. He wore a large headpiece consisting of three large, pointed, crown-like ridges. This headpiece held his forehead protector and a ring.
A prominent piece of black-colored armor ran across his cheeks and over the bridge of his nose. A brown bag was tied to this man's waist, most likely carrying ninja tools.
'So he hails from Iwagakure no Sato*' Naruto observed.
"That man holds the Yonbi no Saru, Yousen," Kouji said, "You can tell that because that man's hair and beard are the exact shade of red of Yousen's fur. It is in the same exact style as well."
'Thanks for the information Kouji-sensei.' The blonde-haired Jinchuriki thought.
It was then that the Yonbi Jinchuriki started to approach them with a blank look on his face. Both teenage Jinchuriki noticed that he moved his hand to his pouched and stopped ten feet away from them.
"I didn't expect young folk like you would get here first," The red-haired man said, "I suppose my old age has made me rusty… Anyways, my name is Roshi. I am the great-grandson of the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, and the Jinchuriki of the Yonbi no Saru, Yousen."
It was only common courtesy that had Naruto and Gaara responding to Roshi's unasked questions.
"Sabaku Gaara. I am the youngest son of the Fourth Kazekage and the Jinchuriki of the Ichibi no Tanuki, Shaui." The red-haired sand-manipulator said.
"Uzumaki Naruto. I am the Jinchuriki of the Kyubi no Yoko, Kouji." The blonde-haired Seal Mistress said.
As soon as she had said her last name, Roshi's black-colored eyes had widened. He then started to examine her, taking in her physical appearance and looking for flaws. What did she say that would cause the Yonbi Jinchuriki to start scrutinizing her?
Gaara, seeing Naruto's discomfort, stepped in front of Naruto. His body shielded Naruto's from Roshi's sight and made him focus on the glare on Gaara's face.
"Don't get so defensive kid," Roshi said with a laugh, "I was only starin' at the girl 'cause she is an Uzumaki-"
"What?" Naruto asked, interrupting Roshi.
At this moment, the Yonbi Jinchuriki looked at them was a confused expression on his face. Eventually understanding replaced the confusion on his face before he sighed.
"You kids dunno what an Uzumaki is, do ya?" The black-eyed Jinchuriki asked.
"No," Gaara said, "Why don't you explain?"
XXXXXXXXXX
-Yawa no Kuni: Mt. Sobou-Hana-
As his bubble started floating down from the sky, Utakata turned to look at his imouto. Seeing her asleep with a peaceful expression on her made the black-haired Jinchuriki smile. He really did care for her.
"Were here Amaru-imouto," Utakata said as he gently shook her, "It's time to get up."
It took a minute but eventually Amaru opened her eyes and yawned. She then turned her eyes on her "older brother" and saw an amused expression on his face.
The red-haired girl pouted before leaping off of his bubble, landing on the ground on her hands and knees. After that, Amaru turned to look at her brother with a wide grin spread across her face.
"Come on Utakata-niisan," She said excitedly, "I can't wait to meet the others."
"Calm down Amaru-imouto," Utakata said, "We'll see them soon."
It was at that moment that Utakata detected another person's chakra nearby. He quickly pushed Amaru behind him as he heard the sound of footsteps. He readied his bubble blower just as a blonde-haired woman emerged from behind a particularly large boulder covered in moss.
This woman's straight blonde-colored hair was tightly bound with white bandages to keep her hair out of her face. She wore a tight black and white shirt with blank pants and black sandals. A slashed Kumogakure no Sato forehead protector lay on her forehead, a length of red-colored beads around her arm, and a red sash around her waist.
"Who are you?" The black-haired Jinchuriki hissed.
Here the woman smiled, revealing that she possessed cat-like teeth.
"Nii Yugito," The blonde-haired woman introduced, "Niece of the Third Raikage and the Jinchuriki of the Nibi no Bakeneko. Who are you?"
As Utakata relaxed a bit, he saw Amaru peak her head from behind his blue kimono*. A huge smile was spread across her face as she looked at Yugito.
"I'm Amaru and this is Utakata-niisan!" The red-haired Jinchuriki introduced, "I hold the Reibi no Menhiru, Donsu, and Utakata-niisan holds the Rokubi."
"It's nice to meet you Amaru, Utakata." The blonde-haired woman said.
XXXXXXXXXX
-Mt. Sobou-Hana: Hogosha no Tani-
"So, let me get this straight," Naruto said, "You're telling me that I am from the Uzumaki Clan, a clan of long-living Seal Masters, who were feared across the world for their skill."
"Yes." Roshi confirmed.
"You're telling me that my clan is also distantly related to the Senju Clan, making me a distant relative of Tsunade-obaasan?" The blonde-haired girl asked.
"Yes." Roshi confirmed.
"And you are telling me that all of Kouji's known Jinchuriki have been females from the Uzumaki Clan?" Naruto questioned, feeling a little dizzy.
"Yes." Roshi confirmed.
With all of her questions asked, the blonde-haired shinobi turned to her friend Gaara and smiled. She then proceeded to faint into his pale arms.
XXXXXXXXXX
-An unknown location-
Steam, colored pink by blood, swirled across a bloodied clearing that had been scattered with melted ninja tools and the bloodied corpses of ninja from Iwagakure no Sato.
The only thing alive in this clearing seemed to be a heavily armored man with a furnace on his back. His armor extended all way to the bottom half of his face, covering it up. Underneath the armor covering the bottom of his face, he wore a white cloth that covered both sides of his face and the top of his head.
Aside from his red armor, this man also wore a red, conical straw hat over the white cloth. Over his armor, he wore a slashed Iwagakure forehead protector, and a black gi.
The furnace on the man's back slowly reabsorbed the pink steam through two holes located at the top of it. After it had done that, it slowly emitted a light, white-colored steam.
"Pathetic fools." The armored man sighed, "They should've known better than to believe they could capture me…"
"They were defeated quite easily by your Steam-based Ninjutsu," The Gobi no Irukauma commented, "… Now that the trash has been removed, can you continue on to Mt. Sobou-Hana Han?"
'Of course.' The brown-eyed man said.
It was then that Han left the bloodied corpses of his former comrades for the vultures that had started to gather in the trees. He thought that the vultures would be fed for quite a while. The number of bodies in that clearing assured it.
XXXXXXXXXX
-Yawa no Kuni: Mt. Sobou-Hana-
As Fu glided down to the ground, the Nanabi's chakra dissipated, taking her out of her partial Biju Mode. When she landed, the green-haired Jinchuriki stretched her now human limbs.
'Thanks for lending me the chakra for my partial Biju Mode.' Fu thought.
"It wasn't a problem… Your Biju Mode hardly takes an ounce of my chakra since we made our agreement two years ago." Sarin responded.
'And I felt guilty for misleading you Fu. I want you to meet your fellow Jinchuriki before it happens' The Nanabi thought.
It was at that moment that Fu realized the full implications of what was happening. Sure, she knew that this was going to happen but she couldn't picture life without Sarin inside of her.
Even though they bickered and grated on each other's nerves, they really did care for each other. He had saved her from doing something she would have regretted and filled her with a purpose. Sarin gave her a reason to go on.
As this revelation hit Fu, she felt tears flow from her orange-colored eyes. Her heart broke as the grief overwhelmed her and forced her to her knees. She would miss him when he was gone.
Sarin's warm, comforting chakra entered her body and allowed Fu to try and compose herself. After a minute, the warm chakra left and she stood up.
When she entered the moss-covered opening to the tunnels within Mt. Sobou-Hana, she felt her back and legs begin to itch.
Unknown to her, microscopic white spores had been ripped from her skin by an intangible barrier. Before these spores could defend themselves, they were destroyed by a flare of Demon chakra.
XXXXXXXXXX
-An unknown location-
"Our spores on the Seven-tails are gone…" Zetsu said in shock. "How could this have happened?"
Author's Note:
Name:Han.
Rank: Jonin.
Classification:The Gobi Jinchuriki.
Current Occupation(s):Blacksmith
Birthdate:March 22
Age:24 ½
Height:Six feet, two inches
Weight: 201 pounds
Gender:Male.
Blood Type:O.
Chakra Nature(s): Wind, Water, Boil.
Known Jutsu:
Body Flicker Technique
Body Replacement Technique
Clone jutsu
Steam Clone Technique
Transformation Technique
Weapon(s):
Steam Furnace (1)
Name: Roshi.
Rank:Jonin
Classification:The Yonbi Jinchuriki.
Current Occupation(s): None.
Birthdate: May 29.
Age:59.
Height: Five feet, five inches.
Weight: 187 pounds.
Gender:Male.
Blood Type: O.
Chakra Nature(s): Fire, Earth, Lava
Known Jutsu:
Body Flicker Technique
Body Replacement Technique
Clone jutsu
Earth Clone Technique
Lava Geyser
Lava Release: Lava Globs
Lava Release: Quicklime Congealing Technique
Transformation Technique
Weapon(s):
Curved Kunai (45)
Important Information:
1. Iwagakure no Sato (The Village Hidden in Rocks) is the Hidden Village of Tsuchi no Kuni.
2. Kimono are a Japanese traditional garment worn by women, men and children. The word "kimono", which literally means a "thing to wear".
3. Obaasan is the Japanese suffix that means "Grandmother".
4. Gobi no Irukauma (Five-tailed Dolphin-Horse) is the title that was given to the head of the Demon-Chimera Clan.