I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.


Introductions

Ryuu stopped and sighed, removing his weapons and raising his hands, the weapons piled neatly on the ground in front of him. Behind him, all of Ame stopped and looked around, unsure, before doing the same. Konan and Nagato simply stood there since it was well known that both were their own weapons. After a moment, every shinobi in Konoha was around them. Kakashi and Yugao landed directly in front of Ryuu and looked between him and the former Akatsuki members silently.

"Madara tried to take the Rinnegan," Ryuu stated. "Figured it would be best to keep them safe."

"Can someone explain to us why they're even alive?" Iruka demanded.

"Because I decided that they would be better allies than corpses," Ryuu stated. "And aside from that, because they saved the village, in the end. At the risk of angering Madara Uchiha, they decided to side with us."

"Yes," Iruka nodded. "That's true. But they are also the ones who killed everyone they saved. I don't care who they brought back, I will not allow them to enter this village."

The shinobi around them all drew weapons and Kakashi sighed.

"Well, looks like it's decided," Kakashi sighed drawing a kunai. "It's going to have to be a fight."

"No," Tsunade said flatly, landing on a branch off to one side. "Nagato and Konan are welcome, along with Ame. In this war, we'll need all the help we can get."

"But-" Iruka began but was cut off by a death glare from Tsunade.

"It wasn't Ryuu who chose for them to live," Tsunade stated. "It was Naruto. If Naruto believed they deserved another chance, so do I. And besides, we need the intel they have regarding Madara and his plan."

Iruka watched her for a moment then lowered his weapons. Slowly, the other shinobi all did the same. Finally, the last shinobi lowered his and Ryuu picked his own up. They all went to the village and found the citizens waiting to see what the commotion was. There was a murmur throughout the crowd as they spotted the new arrivals. Tsunade explained the situation to them and that she had made a decision to accept their aid for the war and the citizens all returned home, although no one agreed with the decision.

"We need to be ready," Ryuu said after he, Nagato, and Tsunade had gotten back to her office where he reported on Naruto's training so far along with Madara's attack on Nagato and Konan. "Someone has been sending reanimated shinobi after me but I don't think it's Kabuto. The ones we know Kabuto summoned had no sleeves but these did. It's an old Mist weapon according to Chojuro. But I have no idea who it could be."

"How strong are the people they send?" Tsunade asked.

"One could both control others' movements and shift between dozens of chakra silhouettes that surrounded him in order to dodge attacks," Ryuu stated. "Plus, several have had swords made from dragon scales, which are lethal. I have one sealed away in a scroll, if you want to look at it."

Tsunade nodded and Ryuu unsealed the ninjato, carefully handing it over.

"Impressive," Tsunade mused. "How strong?"

"Cut through my Susanoo like butter," Ryuu stated.

She handed it back and he resealed it just as the village alarm shouted.

"Madara can't have regenerated so quickly," Nagato growled.

"No," Ryuu said shaking his head as the three of them sprinted out, following the flood of shinobi. "It's worse."

When they stopped at the edge of the village, three shinobi were waiting, everyone from Konoha and Ame too afraid of them to fight. Ryuu growled in annoyance, dropping to the ground in front of the village and glared at Aeron, Akuma, and Koi.

"Why hello again Ryuu," Aeron greeted. "Isn't it funny how we keep meeting like this?"

"No," Ryuu growled. "It's annoying. You were supposed to die the first time and stay dead. This isn't how the world works. You once decided to give me some help. Do it again. Who is reviving you?"

"Tell you what," Aeron chuckled, pulling his armor off as the other two did the same. "Beat us without your Sharingan and we'll tell you."

"It's a trap," Nagato stated.

"Obviously," Ryuu nodded. "Tell you what. I'll agree but the moment someone else shows up, the deal's off and I'm using Sharingan."

Aeron nodded and Ryuu drew Fu's kunai, crouching and readying himself. Aeron charged forward, slashing at Ryuu and Ryuu blocked the blades with one knife then jumped, flipping and sending a kick downward at the top of Aeron's head. Aeron spun out of the way and Ryuu landed, instantly jumping again as Koi and Akuma both slashed through the space he had occupied. He spun, blocking Aeron's blades again, the force of the impact blasting him into the ground, Aeron standing over him, their weapons sparking as they fought against each other. Aeron grinned and Ryuu pulled both feet back, kicking him and launching him away. Then, Ryuu spun to his feet, leaning back from a slash from Akuma before stepping forward and slashing at him. Akuma caught his arm and Ryuu slashed at Akuma's leaned back, the knife barely missing before Ryuu drove it back the other way at Akuma. Akuma used his free arm to block Ryuu's forearm where there were no blades and grinned.

"Nice try, boy," Akuma grinned.

Naruto grinned as well and leapt into the air, flipping over Akuma and making him spin to keep a grip on Ryuu's arm. Just as he did, Koi, who had been about to stab Ryuu in the back, instead stabbed his brother under the right shoulder blade. Akuma screamed in pain, releasing Ryuu who spun, leaping back and making hand seals.

"Fire Style, Dragon Flame Bomb!" Ryuu shouted before exhaling a massive wall of flame at the two. It grew into a dragon as it neared them and Koi growled in annoyance.

"I think not," Koi snarled holding out his hand and blasting the wall of flames with the same jutsu he had used the day he had died to defend against Tenten's weapons.

"Is that it?" Akuma asked as Koi wrenched the knife out. "We're still alive."

He stepped forward and the ground below them both cracked and dropped a couple inches, the cracks glowing and angry orange. Both looked down, eyes widening just as the ground exploded skyward, a flurry of enormous dragon-head-shaped fireballs flying out and obliterating both.

"What the fuck was that?" Aeron demanded as his brothers began to regenerate.

"That, was a clone using a well-placed trap seal filled with fire style jutsus," Ryuu stated. "You two are out."

"The fuck we are," Koi snarled. "I told you, I don't do honor."

He charged forward with Akuma hot on his heals. Just as they did, a dozen Ryuu clones exploded out of the ground around them, Mangekyo Sharingan active and slammed their palms into the pair, seals spreading over them and immobilizing them.

"Why...you...obnoxious...brat!" Koi seethed, slowly beginning to move.

"Overcoming my seals with brute force?" Ryuu blinked. "And without your armor too. That's impressive. But that's not the way this works."

He sprinted forward, using one of Fu's kunai to split Koi's head then placed another layer of seals on him. Then, Ryuu turned to Aeron who chuckled and pulled his sleeve off, tossing it to Tsunade.

"You may want to examine that," Aeron stated. "Now, let's test out our taijutsu shall we Ryuu?"

Ryuu nodded, putting his kunai away and sprinted forward. Aeron met his charge, jumping and spinning, right heal whipping around at Ryuu's head. Ryuu ducked under it and placed his hands of the ground, flipping his feet out in front of himself and kicking up at Aeron. Aeron flipped, pushing off of Ryuu's feet and trowing himself into the air, spinning as he did. Ryuu leapt at him as he fell and both threw a punch, their fists meeting and the bones inside of Aeron's breaking as Ryuu's hand cracked. Aeron noticed and flipped, kicking Ryuu into the ground and landing on his feet and uninjured hand, his other regenerating. Ryuu stood and Aeron saw the cracks repair themselves and narrowed his eyes.

"What are you?" Aeron demanded.

Ryuu stared at him for a moment then pulled his shirt over his head and threw it aside, exposing his scars and the truth of his arm.

"I am the result of a madman deciding to save a life," Ryuu stated. "I am glad he did, but in doing so, he left me only half human."

"I see," Aeron nodded. "Well, where were we?"

Aeron sprinted forward, throwing a punch at Ryuu and Ryuu dropped, spinning and kicking at Aeron's legs. Aeron flipped over Ryuu's kick, driving his feet downward at Ryuu. Ryuu rolled out from under it then spun to his feet, stepping forward and throwing a punch at Aeron. Aeron ducked under it then leapt away, groaning.

"No," Aeron growled. "It's my...fight...You...can't."

"What's going on?" Ryuu asked.

"He's wiping...my...mind," Aeron growled. "My...father...You need...to seal...me...now!"

Ryuu nodded, activating his Mangekyo Sharingan and sprinted forward, reaching for Aeron with his left hand. Just before he reached him, Aeron's eyes went black and his skin turned to it's old color and complexion. Then, he grabbed Ryuu's hand by the fingers, beginning to squeeze.

"Damn!" Ryuu snarled, jumping and kicking at Aeron.

Aeron raised his other arm, blocking the kick and Ryuu held his hand out, a pulse of chakra shooting out and blasting Aeron away. Ryuu landed on his feet and groaned, healing the bones Aeron had crushed. Aeron stood, a katana appearing from a seal on his right palm. Ryuu drew his tanto and created a vacuum blade around it. Aeron charged at him and Ryuu sprinted forward, slashing at Aeron. Aeron blocked it then jumped, spinning and kicking Ryuu in the back of the head. Ryuu sailed forward, flipping and landing on his feet, glaring at Aeron.

"I've had quite enough of you, boy," Aeron stated. "These reanimated shinobi have proved to be inferior to you, even my own sons. So now, I will deal with you directly.

"But...Father..." Koi managed to growl.

"Be silent, you worthless brat," the man snapped. "You have failed me times beyond counting. You and your brothers. I have no further need for you."

He held his hand out and both brothers exploded into ash. Ryuu blinked in surprise, looking back at Aeron as he turned toward Ryuu.

"My name is Helios," the man introduced, bowing. "I'll be seeing you very soon, you impudent son of a bitch."

And with that, Aeron exploded into a cloud of ash as well. Ryuu curled his hands into fists for a moment then walked over to his shirt and pulled it on, putting his tanto's harness back on over it.

"Helios, eh?" Ryuu growled. "Alright. I'll see you around mother fucker."

"Why does he have it out for you?" Tsunade asked.

"I killed all of his sons," Ryuu stated. "With some help from Fu an Team Guy. Now he wants revenge."

"I see," Tsunade nodded. "Nagato, we should go work on the details of your staying here."

"Agreed," Nagato nodded. "See you around Ryuu."

Ryuu nodded and everyone left except Yugao.

"You okay Ryuu?" Yugao asked. "You seem...mad."

"I'm just tired of killing old faces," Ryuu stated. "It never ends. I think someone's finally gone and they pop back up again later on in order for me to have to fight them. When does it end?"

"I don't know," Yugao admitted. "But I'd bet after Kabuto and Helios are dead."

Ryuu nodded and sighed.

"We'd better get going," Ryuu sighed. "I need rest after using my Mangekyo Sharingan as much as I have and I need to rest if I'm going to fight Helios."

Yugao nodded and They returned to the village, Ryuu going home and going to sleep.


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