Chapter 9

Minato and Kushina found themselves standing in front of the leader of their village, the Hokage. He had his finger intertwined with his chin resting on top of them. His hat covered most of his face, but Minato could tell that his face was serious.

"Report." The Sandaime said not even looking up at the two jonin in the room. Said jonin looked at one another and nodded, then turned their attention back to their leader.

"Hai." Minato started and the hokage finally looked up at him to show that he was paying attention. "Upon our arrival at Seishingakure we discovered that the village was no longer abandoned."

Sarutobi gave the man a question look. He was certain the Seishin were wiped out, so it wasn't them. Who would still be there? Minato caught on to the man's look and chose to continue.

"It would seem that the Fuma clan has taken refuge there." The blonde haired shinobi stated, and as he thought the Hokage looked even more confused. There was no reason for the Fuma to be in Seishingakure. They worked for the daimyo in Rice Country. There was something greater at work here.

"But that's not all we discovered." Kushina said following up Minato in the report. The aging Hiruzen figured there was something to this, there had to be. The Fuma and Rice Country had a good thing going, why would they have left?

"Perhaps you should start from the beginning, and tell me everything that transpired." The leader of the Hidden Leaf said still not really understanding the whole situation.

"Very well. Minato said giving pause to ready his story. "As you said, our mission was to discover if the rumors about Seishingakure being occupied was true. About five miles from the village we ran into some trouble…"

Five days ago, on the border of Fire Country and Seishingakure:

"We shouldn't be far now. Just a few more miles." Kushina said as she jumped through the trees rhythmically. Minato simply gave her a nod in agreement. He was wondering why the Hokage wanted them to go on this mission. Seishingakure was abandoned ever since the Seishin massacre. The most they thought to find was scavengers, or at worst missing-nin. It was well known that the Seishin were wealthy and had some of the greatest secret jutsus known to man. So, it wouldn't be to weird to find looters. Then Minato had the all too familiar feeling of being followed.

He looked over to his love and she gave him a quick nod. Good she knew, and then it was just a matter of finding out who it was that was following them. Minato quickly moved his hand to his pouch and pulled out one of his signature hiraishin kunai and threw it behind him not even looking back. In a second he heard metal hitting metal, which meant they deflected the kunai instead of evade it. Good, just what he wanted. In a flash of yellow light he was gone, only to appear above the two ninja with his thrown kunai already back in his possession, and a second already pulled from his pouch. He threw the said kunai at the two targets which dodged by jumping to the ground having the two kunai land safely behind them. But, they didn't quite know who they were up against, so when the looked up at there attacker all they found was an empty branch. They then felt a sharp edge against their throats.

"Who are you, and what are you doing near Seishingakure?" Minato asked, his voice very serious. Both ninja looked back at the blonde haired shinobi in horror. They had never seen anyone move so fast. But, they kept up a serious façade.

"We could be asking you the same question. What are you doing near Fuma territory?" The man with a huge zanbato on his back said has his fingers danced with you hilt of the blade.

"Fuma? But I thought you were in Rice Country." Kushina asked appearing out of nowhere atop a large tree branch.

"True, but no longer. Judging by your headbands I would say you are from Konoha." The Fuma girl with orange hair said. Minato spared Kushina a quick glance, and she gave him a small nod. He slowly lowered his kunai and put them away before speaking. Konoha and the Fuma had no dealings so innocent until proven guilty right. But, that did not mean Minato would lower his guard.

"Yes we are leaf-nin. We were sent by the hokage to investigate the occupancy of Seishingakure, and apparently the rumors were true." Minato said taking a couple steps away from the two Fuma.

"Yes, the Fuma clan has taken refuge in Seishingakure." The huge man said while taking his hand from the hilt of his massive sword, as there was no immediate danger.

"But why? Hasn't the Fuma clan been working with the daimyo of rice country?" Kushina asked before she jumped from her perch to land safely by Minato. Something seemed wrong here. It was obvious to Minato that this was going to be much more than a recon mission.

"The Fuma clan no longer works for the daimyo. He has banished us from rice country." the petite Fuma girl said looking angered. Apparently the Fuma and the daimyo of rice country no longer got along.

"Last I heard Fuma themselves were the military force of rice country. Why would the daimyo get rid of his military power?" the blonde haired jonin asked wanting to get down to the main points.

"It's all that bastards fault…" the sword wielding Fuma said clenching his fist at his side. Both Minato and Kushina gave each other a confussed look, then turned back to the two ninja in front of them for an explanation. The orange haired girl noticed their confused looks and stepped forward to speak.

"Six months ago a man by the name of Zukai Hebi came to the daimyo's palace. He said he was a traveling ninja from rock country, and he was here to give the daimyo his services. The daimyo made him a guard almost immediately. Two weeks later while the daimyo was traveling to fire country to see it's daimyo he was attacked by bandits. Coincidently Zukai was one of his bodyguards and killed every last one of the bandits with ease. He praised Zukai calling him "My new favorite ninja." And the daimyo also liked to point out that the Fuma didn't kill any because we set up a defensive formation around the daimyo. Zukai quickly became the daimyo's right hand and since then has been persuading the daimyo every which way, this including establishing a hidden village." The orange haired girl said with venom in her voice. Minato listened on in shock he couldn't believe that rice country would actually establish a hidden village. They were rather peaceful, and never participated in wars; they had no reason for a hidden village the Fuma should have been enough.

"I can tell by your expression that you think that a hidden village in rice country is ridiculous. Well so did the Fuma and that is why we were banished." The large man said clenching his fist even harder. The smaller girl was biting her bottom lip in anger. Something was definitely wrong and Minato needed to find out what it was.

"I see, well then it seems that we have to do something about this Zukai." Minato said turning his head slightly to Kushina who gave him a little smile and nodded. Both Fuma looked on in shock. Why would Konoha help, this was not their problem. But, the Fuma needed all the help they could get. The two bowed at Minato in a respectful manner.

"Thank you, but this is not your problem nor is it Konoha's." the larger man said while still bowing his head.

"Nonsense. It seems to me that this Zukai character is attempting to build up his arms as quickly as possible. I could only imagine what he plans to do with it." Minato said very seriously. Any man who is trying to build up forces as fast as he can can only be out to cause problems.

End Flashback

Sarutobi looked at his two Jonin with a serious expression on his face. He had seen what men who wish to gain power do to this world. They leave nothing but death and hate in their wake. He knew just as well as Minato did that this Zukai had to be stopped.

"One more thing Hokage-sama." Minato paused to be sure he had the professor's attention. "The blood sample worked on that door."

The Hokage's whole expression changed. He was now listening with anticipation. He had sent Minato with a small sample of Tenzen's blood in a hope to open the door to the Seishin's temple. Perhaps they found scrolls to help Tenzen control his power.

"And, what did you discover inside?" The Sandaime asked with high hopes. Minato gave Kushina a quick glance before he answered the Hokage's question.

"Foxes. Lots of them."

End chapter 9

Sorry that took so long, but I actually had a little trouble with this chapter. I hope it's not as bad as I think it might be. If it is let me know and if you liked it let me know. Next chapter will be the last one before a mad time skip. Because I want Tenzen to grow up a little and start being a ninja already.

Question: What would you like to see more of in this story? Or what do you want to see less of?