School's started back up for me, I hopefully only have a year, maybe a year and a half of college to go but I've picked up more responsibilities at school and more hours at work. I really don't know how my free time is going to work but I'll try to continue to work on this during slow times at work, but homework comes first! Wish me luck!

O0o0o00o0o0oo

It took Temari an hour to suitably calm her companions and make sure they didn't wake Gaara. Kankuro was still sour over the whole situation, but his love for his brother ran just as deep as Temari's and he was willing to risk his village and honor for a fraction of a chance of 'fixing' him.

The Uzumaki had patiently explained that he would not be fixing the seal or getting rid of the demon inside of their brother, but instead he would be calming the demon. He believed that both the sealing process with the combination of the priest's energy had driven the demon mad.

"The nine demons we know today where once made for a purpose by the Gods. Each was created and charged with the task of maintaining a sort of balance over their region. I will merely remind Shukaku of his responsibility." Vulpe stated as he shifted in place, adjusting Gaara's head. The red-headed didn't even stir, his eyes moved rapidly underneath the lids of his eyes as he caught up on years of missed out REM sleep.

"I must ask that you tell no one I am an Uzumaki. There is a boy here by the name of Uzumaki Naruto and while he knows of our relation the rest of the village save for the Hokage does not. It must remain this way until we decide to announce otherwise. Do you understand?" Vulpe stated seriously, his mask making his request seem to be more of a command.

All those awake nodded their heads in agreement.

This man held their loyalty and would gain their undying trust and gratefulness if he managed to calm Shukaku.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Gaara had woken nearly fourteen hours later and while the black markings around his eyes hadn't faded, he seemed saner. Vulpe had taken that moment to bid farewell to his newest allies and made his way to ANBU headquarters. He was sleepy, but there was too much to do for him to slack off.

He met up with Ibiki and the Hokage in a room with a large privacy seal carved in the center of the floor. While the seal was active they would be, for all intents and purposes, in their own private little sub-space.

"Certain facts have come into light about several major incidents that have affected Konoha; most notably, the Uchiha massacre, the attack of the nine-tails, the disbandment of ROOT and the genocide of several other small clans. I have come into possession of several pieces of evidence that, by themselves are circumstantial but together are very damning. I have made mistakes in my old age, mistakes that I regret and need to rectify for my successor and…for me to rest easy…when my time comes. Nao, you will be a key player in my plans. Ibiki, I have called you here because you are just as vital but will not be in as much limelight as Nao." The Hokage took a deep breath.

"The actions I wish you to perform will go unnoticed during the chaos of the chunin exams. If everything goes as planned, hopefully Suna will be with us, if not, your orders will not change. During the third match of the chunin finals, Kabuto will activate a mass-effect sleeping jutsu. The civilian evacuation will have already been in effect and only those in the stands will be at risk…over half of our forces will be concentrated there and I need you both the escape unseen in that chaos." The Hokage turned to face Naruto.

"Nao, you are to use the attack as a cover to assassinate every civilian and shinobi council member that has betrayed Konoha-make sure to make it appear as the death happened due to the invasion, I don't care how but in no way is this to come back to haunt us. You are to also use this time to infiltrate ROOT headquarters. You are to capture several of ROOT ANBU and hand them over to Ibiki immediately. While there, you are to also plant as many explosives as possible and gather any information or documents you can find. You main priority is to find any notes on the silencing seal-if we can figure out the counter to that seal, Ibiki's task will be that much easier." The Hokage nodded to Naruto as he bowed. He did not see the maniacal grin on Naruto's face, but he could practically feel the eagerness to clean out the rot that infected Konoha roll of Naruto in waves. "Do not bring down ROOT as of now. There are too many that have been forced into service or are ignorant of its darker heart."

"Ibiki, you are to do what you do best; when Naruto brings you your…guests, I want you to start immediately. I'm giving you full clearance-do whatever needs to be done; finger screws, teeth drilling, arson, I don't care. I need the names, places, events and supporters that are connected to ROOT. Once you have a list, take care of it-quietly. Once we have enough evidence, we'll release it to the public." Ibiki copied Naruto's action, bowing deep. Like Naruto, you could feel his eagerness fill the air.

"Dismissed."

O00o0o0o00oo

Temari passed the scroll onto the Hokage, her brothers and sensei stood behind her in silent support.

"So…his body was found" the Hokage muttered, his voice heavy with relief and sadness.

Temari nodded, her eyes slightly red. While she had hated her father and was relieved that his death would bring so much good…he was still her father and her Kage. She mourned not for losing the man he was, but for losing the man he could have…should have been.

"Ibiki is acting as ambassador here and the council has taken up the Kazekage's duties in Suna until a successor is found. Suna is crying out for revenge for its Kazekage's death and none of us like being taken for fools. We are at your command, Hokage-sama." Temari bowed formally, those behind her followed suit.

"We have already informed those stationed here of the change in plans and circumstances. Already most of our shinobi have infected Orochimaru's followers with a slow acting poison. It will not kill them, but it will weaken and slow them down significantly."

"We thank Suna for its Temari-san. Vulpe has already informed me that he has agreed to help you…or should I say Gaara-san?"

"Hai" Temari whispered, her body nearly shook with anticipation.

The Hokage gave her a slight grin before he motioned towards the shadows. Silent and graceful, Vulpe stepped from the shadows.

"Please follow me, I will begin immediately." Naruto motioned them towards the door. They shuffled out and eventually ended up on the higher levels of the Hokage's tower where Naruto opened an old and weathered door.

The inside of the room was circular with a glass dome ceiling that allowed the sky to peak in. The floor itself was black tile and clean, a futon lied in the direct middle of the floor.

"Please go lie down on the futon Gaara and get comfortable. The rest of you are welcomed to watch, but please do not interfere or make much noise. I'm not sure how it will look on the outside but please, do NOT interfere." Naruto removed his mask, allowing those present to see his face.

Gaara did not hesitate to lie down. He could sense a kind of kinship with the man before him and even more convincing was the silence he heard whenever he was within touching distance. Shukaku would quiet when this man was around and he had no doubt that his sand would not react to his presence.

"Now Gaara I need you to look into my eyes and whatever you do, don't struggle." Naruto's ice eyes flashed gold and before he knew it, Gaara was standing at the entrance of a shrine.

"I guess it's no surprise that your mindscape was influenced by the priest." Gaara startled, not expecting to see Naruto standing beside him, also looking at the entrance of the shrine.

"Shall we go face your demon, Gaara?" Naruto smiled, his face looking decidedly foxier.

"Ah." Gaara agreed as he started his walk into the shrine.

The building was decrepit, falling apart with cracks and water stains seemingly everywhere. The floor was uneven and it seemed like they walked forever making many twists and turns before they reached a doorway. The door was huge and rusted, barely standing on its hinges. Chains where wrapped around the door were and large locks kept the door tightly closed. The whole contraption was rusted and falling apart with age and neglect. Behind the door they could the sounds of movement and the clinking of even more chains could be faintly heard.

Neither of them doubted this was the door that led to Shukaku.

Gaara didn't even hesitate. As soon as his hand touched the door, the chains fell into dust and the door fell inwards with a pained grown, slamming into the ground loudly and blowing up dust and sand. Both Naruto and Gaara stepped into the room.

The room's interior matched with that state of the door. The whole room was made from cold stone and faint dripping could be heard as water dripped from the ceiling. Old and rusted chains hung from the ceiling, shackles were half-way pulled out of the walls and the floor was grimy and cracked. There were no windows or light source, but one could see the room none the less.

In the corner stood a balding priest; his ceremonial robes were incrusted with filth and blood and it had numerous tears and holes in the fabric. The priest had turned around at their entrance, allowing them to see his ghastly face. He may have once been and attractive man, but he was no more. His flesh hung from his bones in layers, pulling his face down and exposing his eyeballs to the air, turning them red in agitation. He had no lips, showing his gapping maw of razor-sharp teeth that where blackened from decay. In his hand he held a leash his chipped and dirty claw-like fingernails curled possessively around the handle.

Naruto and Gaara's eyes followed the leash's path to the floor. An enraged tanuki withered on the floor, its claws digging into the flesh around its next as it tried to pry the chocking collar off its neck. It snarled in anger as the priest turned his eyes from the interlopers to his captive, smiling in cruel delight.

"So, the Shukaku never was the problem then." Naruto spoke into the silence. "You have chained a child of the Gods down with the holy powers gifted to you. How shameful, to siphon the powers of a demon in order to grow stronger. It corrupted you even more then you already were, mortal."

The priest hissed, his human mind long gone, before he bang to wildly laugh. Spit ran down his chin as he continued to laugh, no bothering to swallow and his lack of lips incapable of keeping his spittle in check.

"Yesssss. The power of Shukaku was too wondrous for me to pass by! When the boy sleeps at night, I chip away at his identity and put mine in place. Soon, soon the boy's body will be mine! Already I can use his eyes! HHAHAAA! The power! The others had no idea! No idea! HHAHAAA! I just had to wait and someone else did all the work for me! I couldn't use the body immediately, oh no, but soon! Soon my patience will pay off! It has been so long since I have been able to…" His eyes grew distance before they snapped back into focus, the insanity returning with them.

"My vows! What a waste! What a fool I was! By becoming a priest I did get the respect I wanted, and the power of the Gods! But for such a high price!" the lipless man attempted to smile, but only succeeded in twitching the corners of the skin that surrounded his mouth. "And the people! SHEEP! They could do nothing on their own the fools! Constantly coming to us, constantly bothering, bothering, bothering us! No peace, no chance to do what we wanted! They questioned and questioned until we had to silence them..hhe...hahahahahahahaAHAHAHAHAHAA! THE STREETS RAN RED WITH BLOOD! But I made it, yes, I made it. Yes, it ran red with blood. Red, red like wine. Ooh, sweet, sweet wine! HAHAHHAA! So many RULES!" the man spat out. "Sins they called them! HA! They were pleasures!"

"What have you done?" Naruto questioned softly, in horror. The once-man only laughed wildly.

"When I get out of here, I will drink once more! HahahahaHHAHAHAHAHA! DRINK AND DRINK!" the man yelled wildly, scrapping his nails down his face, pulling harshly at the falling skin.

"You have forsaken your vows and your duty for the momentary buzz of alcohol? You trapped Shukaku, the demon chosen to balance the deserts of your home, for power? You disgusting excuse for a human being." Naruto's voice was deadly and flat, almost seemingly bored with the man's obvious insanity.

"Fool! I am no longer a human! HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH!" the man laughed wildly again, only coming back to his senses with the demon he had chained himself to began to attempt to chew through the leash. He stopped abruptly and kicked the animal viciously in the side, causing both Shukaku and Gaara to yelp in pain.

The priest's eyes quickly shifted to Gaara, as if seeing him the first time.

"How convenient for you to bring the boy to me! I will just finish the job now! Don't worry boy, I'll take good care of your body." The priest turned to fully face Gaara, "And your sweet sister."

Now Gaara would be the first to admit he hadn't been the nicest to his siblings. He also would admit he never had even said a kind word to his sister and had in fact, threatened her on several occasions. But he had taken pains to never harm her and had always protected her, usually using the excuse of the mission. But somewhere inside of him, he cared for his sister. She had taken great lengths to be kind and soft with him, and he remembered several times she had made dinner for him or had looked with him with a soft look.

Because of this, he had a rather large soft spot for his sister.

His darling, beautiful and pure sister.

His sister who this asshole just threatened to rape.

.

..

…

….

The man didn't even have a chance to scream before Gaara's sand was on him, slamming him into the wall and leaving behind a bloody smear.

"Shut up." Gaara deadpanned.

The leash fell from the priest's dead hand, shimmering into dust before it even reached the ground. He had forgotten one rather large issue when he had taunted Gaara; they were in the boy's mindscape, where Gaara was God.

Shukaku grew before their eyes; the mangy raccoon-dog grew into a larger, more majestic version of himself. Ragged fur smoothed out and jagged lines swirled and twisted in a pattern of dots and lines. His tail fluffed out and waved contentedly behind him as his cute, tiny ears swiveled around in a curious matter. His bright eyes blinked from his black 'bandit's mask' markings on his face and his nose twitched before he abruptly sneezed from the dust.

So a deep rumbling voice echoed around them. There was no doubt that this was the voice of Shukaku even if his mouth didn't move. This is the boy whom was chosen as my carrier. Forgive me child, for the troubles my corruptive power has caused. 'Twas not my intentions.

Gaara stared at the demon, face blank and silent.

Do not look so morose child. Not all is rotten with my burden. I am known as Shukaku the One Tailed, created to balance the lands of sand and sun. Shukaku licked a delicate paw as the temple around them begun to change from its decrepit state-the cracks slowly began to heal and what was once rubble began to rebuild.

Even now your mind begins to heal. How fortunate my own, that the damage is easily repairable.

"We came originally to remind you of your responsibilities Shukaku. There are things you need to discuss with you container, yes?" Naruto spoke out, watching as the ceiling which had been dripping from a multitude of holes, healed and sealed itself back up.

Yessss, that there is. Shukaku turned to look completely at Gaara, who seemed almost disturbed to see an animal talk. Perhaps this would be easier if I was in another form, yes?

Shukaku began to change before their eyes once again. Paws made way for hands, fur changed to tan flesh, demonic markings became tattoos and in a few seconds a man of apparent desert descent stood before them. His face was long and narrow with dark eye markings framing his aqua eyes. His was lithe, with long, sinewy muscles, large hands with long nails and a fanged smile. His ears were pointed and obvious sign of his demonic descent, while his sandy hair fell in coarse and jagged layers to his strong jaw. A light cloth was wrapped around his body and was thrown over his shoulder.

"Perhaps this is less intimidating, my own? This is the form I often took before the tradition of demon sealing came to be." His voice was dark and full of power but his false human form made him more approachable.

Gaara still said nothing, merely looking at the demon that he thought was to blame for his hellish childhood…but, he wasn't was he? A priest was instead…in a few seconds, Gaara's world had been altered even further.

"Perhaps a more formal introduction is needed, we've never been introduced have we? As I said, I am Shukaku the One Tailed. I was charged with the task of keeping balance within the lands of desert and sand by the Gods. As the first of seven, I am the Scribe among my brothers and sisters."

"Scribe?" Gaara echoed faintly.

"Yes, each of us seven were given not only a region, but a job amongst us. They were kept secret among us so that we would not try to influence each other or become jealous of the other's duty. To perform our duty, we were all gifted with a special ability none could copy or learn to perform our task. My duty was to record all that occurred of great significance, in order to do this I was given the gift of an all seeing third eye." Shukaku held his palm open, sand gathered into a floating ball above his hand, taking on the form of an eye, complete with blinking lid and eyelashes.

"How did you become so twisted from your original purpose, Shukaku?" Naruto asked.

"For the first few centuries of my existence, the peoples of the sand knew of me and would build small shrines to leave gifts in hopes of favor, they would pray to me and hold festivals for good weather and crops and all was well. But as the towns grew and trade increased, tolerance lowered. While I was not worshipped, my shrines and well wishers were seen as barbaric and heathens for their ways. Less and less came to my temples and asked for my aid from fear and shame. Soon more 'acceptable' religions began to move in to replace what once was. I did not mind, and I continued my tasks. This made the priests angry and claimed I was evil and cruel, why else would the desert be so harsh when I had to power to make it better?

More and more began to agree with their way of thinking and they demanded I abuse my power. I tried to explain I could not just change a land just because they wished it so, but they did not listen. Eventually they decided that if I would not give them the solution they so desired, then I would be forced to help them. A high priest came up with the idea of imprisoning me into a mortal cage so that the human that held me would have access to my powers."

Naruto and Gaara listened with rapt attention on how the process of creating a jinchuriki was born.

"They first captured me and burned my body into sand, they placed my remains in a special jar that would not allow me to reform and so I was trapped. The priests began their experiments of sealing, using lesser spirits first. They failed many times. The seal itself was an issue-to create one of proper strength but would still allow access but wouldn't leave me in control, then finding someone to apply it let alone finding a person willing to house a demon. It took them even longer to realize that age was a factor as well. The older the quicker they died but none wanted to sacrifice a child. It didn't take long for the priests to convince the people it was necessary.

"Eventually the succeeded but the priests were greedy and wanted the power for themselves, but they could not control the demon directly. Therefore, they decided that they could be sealed with the demon as well and take over the child's body. It worked and many priests underwent the process for power. But the people rebelled, their children were not only to be sacrificed but their identity wiped? It was not something they would stand for, not a sacrificed they were willing to make. A war broke out, many died and in a fit of desperation, the head priest sealed himself with my ashes into an urn, knowing it would not be long before the temptation was too great.

"He was right of course. A mere two centuries later Gaara's father had sacrificed his own unborn in an attempt to create the perfect weapon. It backfired as you know; the priest's insanity and my weakened state were disastrous combination for Gaara."

"And here we are" Naruto finished for him.

"And here we are." Shukaku confirmed.

"There is no need to bargain or remind me of my duties, young one. I will begin teaching Gaara immediately; he is my current proxy after all."

"I…I don't want this" Gaara said, his voice was broken but his face was still cold and still even as his fist clenched.

"I am sorry my own, but I know not how to remove myself from you without death preceding first." Shukaku apologized. "Why I may materialize into the outside world, our bond would still remain."

"And when I die?" Gaara demanded.

"Then I will either go with you or flee, I am unsure of how the process works. I do not know if you can even die." Shukaku stated plainly.

Gaara's breathing began to speed up in panic. Never die? To watch those few he cared for die while he remained? That…

"That's not an option." Gaara stated calmly.

Shukaku frowned in sadness for the young one, but kept quiet. Perhaps it was best to let him have this one hope.

"I apologize Shukaku, but we must return. My work here is done and you seem to have your hands full repairing the damages." Naruto waved a lazy hand around, indicating the still healing mindscape.

"Hmm, yes I suppose I do. We will talk later Gaara." Shukaku waved as everything faded out of focus.

O0o0o0o0o0o

Gaara blinked his eyes, startled by the bright light that he awoke to. After seemingly spending hours in a dark and dank dungeon, his eyes protested at the brightness. It had seemed like they were there for hours, but the sun hadn't even changed position from when he had first laid down.

He propped himself up, finding his body was surprisingly heavy and he felt lethargic. He looked to his side, surprised to see Vulpe up and moving already, even if he seemed to be stumbling a bit.

"Gaara?" Temari asked hesitantly.

"It's done." Gaara confirmed tone still monotone but a hint of awe was present. Perhaps one day he would tell her the full tale but for now, for now…he just couldn't bring himself to.

He turned his body to fully look at his sister. He looked at her, really looked at her. How her eyes held worry and relief, how her hands shook and how she chewed at her lip seeming to hold herself back from going to him. She seemed to actually care for him, but he still couldn't bring himself to trust, to hope. Not yet.

"What happened?" Kankuro asked, his voice noticeably hoarse.

"That is not my tale to tell I'm afraid." Vulpe stated calmly as he replaced his mask back on his face.

"I will see you on in the upcoming battle, until then." Vulpe bowed to those present in the room before he seemed to faded from view.