Author's Note: Well to no one's surprise, foxes have one the poll, with dragons coming in as a bit of a distant second. I had already planned to give Noriko dragons no matter what, so this works out rather well for me. This chapter is going to be a bit longer than usual, because as I promised, the summoning, or at least the first one, will be happening in this chapter, the fox contract will be taken care of either next chapter or in a flashback at a later date. Aside from that though, there's a fair bit of angst and fluff in the first part of the chapter as Noriko adjusts her mental views of the world and her position in it. With her inheritance, Noriko is going to begin pushing boundaries and finding out just how far she can go within the confines of the village.

I feel pretty good about this chapter, but I still expect that some of the emotional crap is going to come across a bit clunky.

The instant the Hokage had entered my apartment I practically tackled him in a welcoming hug, throwing my arms around his legs as I greeted him a bit loudly.

"Jiji!"

He made an exaggerated noise of effort at my impact before chuckling as I felt a hand ruffle my fiery hair before I tilted my head back and looked up at him with a grin. I was genuinely happy to see him, and to see that he had held up his end of the issue going by the enormous scroll he had on his back was an excellent motivator for a good mood.

"Good morning, Noriko-chan. It's nice to see such a cheerful face in the morning," Hiruzen replied warmly as I released his legs and let him step further into my apartment, not failing to notice the four ANBU presences waiting outside.

"So what's with the big scroll Jiji?" I asked eagerly. Even though I had a good idea as to what it was, I was rather surprised by the sheer size of the damn thing. I had been expecting something like a dozen scrolls, not something on the scale of the Forbidden Scroll.

Chuckling as he made his way to my kitchen table, with me trailing by his side, the Hokage removed the scroll from his back and set it on the table with a solid thud before looking to me as he spoke. "This scroll Noriko-chan," he began, "contains everything not sealed inside your parents home that they left for you. You father and mother personally made this scroll along with all the others stored inside it. I'll admit to not knowing what all they left for you, as they were rather secretive about it, but I do know that you'll find your parents journals and some of their personal items within."

"I will suggest that you go through the items inside in order, starting from the first seal to the last as that was the intended design."

I nodded, carefully running my hands over the exterior of the scroll before I reached a complicated seal that held the scroll closed. Looking up to Hiruzen for approval -not that it would have stopped me if he didn't- I grinned as he nodded before bringing my thumb up to my sharp canine and splitting the skin before I drew my bloodied thumb across the seal, pushing a bit of chakra in alongside it. Instantly the seal and blood glowed bright blue before the blood vanished and the seal dimmed at which point a seam appeared along the surface of the scroll and it opened a bit, allowing me to grip it and slowly unroll it as I moved to stand in a chair to make up for my lack of height.

Carefully I stopped opening the scroll, which was surprisingly heavy and the paper rather thick even for a scroll of its size, and looked at the first storage seal which was simply labeled 'letters'. I couldn't stop a feeling of nervousness that was eating at me a little as I gently pushed my chakra into the seal through my bloody thumb and watched with a poof as a pair of small scrolls appeared in the center of the circle, each one bearing the name of one of my parents; Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato.

With far more care than the two scrolls likely needed, I picked them up and re-rolled the massive storage scroll before moving over to the worn couch in my living room to read them. I tucked my father's message into my pocket before wiping my still bleeding thumb across the seal of my mother's message before unrolling it and beginning to read, steadying the unexpectedly rapid beating of my heart.

"My dearest Noriko-chan,

If you're reading this message than I am sorry to say that the worst has happened and I have died before I could raise you. If that is the case, than the first and most important thing you need to know is that I love you. I love you more than anything in this world and even life itself. While I hope that your father has been there for you when I am not, I know better than to make assumptions as whatever killed me likely would have taken us both. If such is the case and you are alone, I ask that you forgive us for not being there. We both love you with all our hearts and that will never change, no matter what.

Now, if you have this message than that means that either Minato or the Old Monkey have given you the inheritance scroll that we prepared for you, Nori-chan. That oversized scroll contains everything we could gather and prepare for you and was personally prepared by the both of us so that no matter what happened it and its contents would survive and be available for you. Don't worry about using it as a weapon if you have to defend it, and I have no doubt that you might. All the seals within are actually engraved on a thin sheet of steel beneath the paper to ensure that they'll last the tests of time and childhood.

But I'm rambling again, I do that sometimes and I'm sorry that I can't be there to ramble at you directly, I think that would have been rather entertaining. On to the interesting stuff though. Each seal within the scroll is blood and chakra locked to only react to you, anyone else will get a nasty surprise trying to get in and they won't be trying more than once, of that I can assure you. Now the next seal after the one this message was in will contain both mine and your father's journals which I hope will give you a look into out lives that you wouldn't get with just stories told from other people. After that the next two seals contain some outfits your father and I have gathered, more than a few of which are actually some of my old clothes from when I was a little hell-raiser. The next seal is weapons. There's a stock of standard kunai, fuuma, and shuriken inside it, but more importantly there's a supply of one hundred of your father's infamous Hiraishin kunai as well. While I don't know how well you'll take to the technique, I had him prepare a stock for you just in case. Inside there as well are between two or three swords. One is your grandfather's, my father's blade, Monohoshi Zao or the Laundry Drying Pole. It's a rather ridiculous name for a weapon, but make no mistake that it is a lethal weapon. The blade is a hundred and fifty centimeters so you won't likely be using it until you've grown up quite a bit. Included in Monohoshi's case are three scrolls detailing the techniques and the style to be used specifically with the blade. Should you master it, I have no doubt you will become a kenjutsu master.

That's okay though because that means that you'll be using at least one of my swords.

The blade that is for sure in this scroll is the clan head's blade, Benihime, or Crimson Princess. She's a beautiful weapon and will serve you well. As my heir, and thus the heir of the royal line if Uzumaki, it is a requirement that you become at least proficient with her if not master her, regardless of whether you use her or not. Benihime is reserved exclusively for when you are representing the clan as its head, so unfortunately you'll need a separate sword for casual mission use, which is something I may be able to help with. The last blade, which may or may not be in the scroll is my own personal sword. I never named it and as such you are welcome to do so at some point in your use of it. I assisted in the forging of the blade with my own chakra leaving it highly conductive to my chakra and likely yours as well. If my sword is not in the scroll, speak to Hiruzen as he is the one most likely to know its location.

The next seal contains every scrap of Fuinjutsu knowledge that Minato and I could put together. While it initially began as an attempt to catalogue the various seals we knew of, it eventually grew to become something that we planned to give you when you started learning fuinjutsu. The material begins at the easiest level in the front and the hardest material at the end. Pages edged in black denote forbidden and extremely dangerous seals that you should never even attempt without the aid of another fuinjutsu user and, preferably, master level skills for the both of you. Included within those pages are the necessary instructions for you to create your own version the Hiraishin. Still it should prove to be enough for you to learn fuinjutsu on your own if you must.

The next seal on the scroll contains all the jutsu that I could lay my hands and a few that were acquired by more dubious methods I'll admit. The jutsu are stored into five main scrolls color coded to match their respective elements. The sixth scroll in that group, the black one, contains the various kinjutsu that we have learned and feel that you could use. Knowing how things might work, I expect you to make full use of the Kage Bushin from the black scroll to help you succeed. The jutsu are stored by difficulty level just like the seals, so get to it as soon as you can.

The eighth seals contains one scroll which each contain the collective knowledge and history of Uzushio and the Uzumaki clan. This ornate red and gold scroll contains written records of Uzu that I took with me when I was sent to Konoha. The scroll is unfortunately not quite complete as there are about three years of time between when I received them and when Uzushio was destroyed in which they weren't updated.

The ninth, tenth, and eleventh seals contain things your father has prepared for you so I'll let either he himself or his letter tell you what's in them. The last seal is the one I need to stress the importance of, as it contains the true treasures of our clan.

This twelfth and final seal is special, and even more than any other its contents must be protected. Within the last seal of this scroll resides two things; the Summoning Contract that is bound to the position of Clan Head of the Uzumaki, and the memories of our people.

The large scroll is the Summoning Contract itself, and is unlabeled so even I do not know what animal it is for. Only one person may sign the contract at a time, and the last was my father who died shortly before Uzu fell. He never had an opportunity to use it before he died and my grandfather never had need to use it while he was the summoner, so among those still alive the identity of the summons is unknown to my knowledge. With signing that contract, which you do not have to do, there are a few things that you need to be aware of. One; as a clan summon and not a personal one, you should be fully able to sign on with another summon animal. Two; only those from the royal line may sign the contract, meaning me, you, and any of our direct decedents. Should someone try and sign without such a relation to us...I've been told the consequences were severe.

I can't tell you how the scroll in the black case will work as it is beyond me as much as I hate to say it. No matter what though, it is your choice whether or not to open and use that scroll. I never did, but you can if you wish to.

And that covers everything that I have left within the scroll for you Noriko-chan. I hope that you can learn about us and come to understand both Minato and I as you go through the contents of your inheritance. Above everything though, please remember that no matter what your father and I love you with all our hearts and souls.

With all of my love,

Your Kaa-san, Uzumaki Kushina."

As I read those last few words I felt a tight, clenching pain in my chest as my eyes seemed to burn before several drops fell onto the scroll beneath my mother's signature, making me stop as I slowly brought my hand up to touch my cheeks, looking on in surprise as my fingers came away wet.

"...I'm crying..." I whispered softly, honestly shocked at just how much my emotions had been undermined.

I didn't get it.

This was a woman that I had never known, never met, who had died mere hours after my birth if that.

So why did my heart hurt so bad?

Kurama stayed silent as I rolled up my mother's letter and headed back to the massive scroll on my table. Unthinking. I but my thumb and reopened the scroll before sealing away both of the letters, and then closing the scroll again.

My breathing was ragged as I wiped my eyes and headed into my bedroom to lay down. I needed to speak to Kurama. I needed his opinion on this matter and what he thought I should do.

Letting my eyes drift closed, I felt my breathing even out a little as darkness claimed me.

When I opened my eyes to the familiar sight of the sewer that was my mind, I immediately sighed before stalking forwards on my short six year old body's legs. I went straight past the bars of the seal and into the dark beyond it to meet Kurama who was curled up watching me with curious eyes.

I didn't even bother asking permission or anything as I approached and unceremoniously laid myself out across the back of one of his massive forepaws, already aware of the tears that were trying to escape again now that I was in my mindscape. I just laid there for a while, bathing in the comfortable heat of Kurama's surprisingly soft orange fur before I rolled over onto my back and looked up at the ceiling high above me.

Kurama for his part seemed content to let me stew in my own emotions for a while, simply watching me out if the corner of his eye as I put my brain through its paces till I eventually blinked slowly and held my hand up in front of my face as if I were looking for some defect in the flawless appendage.

What seemed like hours later, I finally had my head on straight enough to speak at which point I voiced the only question I had.

"Why?"

Kurama opened his eyes a crack to look at me before he grumbled, "You're going to need to be more specific Kit."

I nodded dumbly in acknowledgement and restated my question, my mouth strangely dry as I asked the massive fox that had become my new father a month ago.

"Why does it hurt so much, Kurama-tou-san? I'm not her daughter, but her words still made me so sad that it hurts in my chest. I'm not the baby that spent ten months in her womb, that she died to protect. I'm...I'm someone else who took the place of Kushina's precious Noriko..." I trailed off for a moment before sniffling a little and continuing, "I'm not a love starved, emotionally compromised brat. But all the same, why does the fact that she's gone hurt so damn much? Why do those words feel like exactly what I needed to hear? Why the hell do I love her so fucking much when I don't even know her?!"

The end came out as a shout as I placed both of my hands over my eyes to try and stem the flow of tears I as started to sob for what was eventually several minutes which thankfully passed in relative silence until Kurama finally spoke once I had calmed myself, one of his massive tails sliding up to gently wrap around and curl against my body as he gave a mighty sigh.

"Kami you're stupid sometimes, Kit."

The statement and the weariness within it nearly made me sputter in anger before Kurama's tail gave me a little squeeze to forestall any protests.

"You love her so much because you ARE a 'love starved, emotionally compromised brat' as you so termed it. You've been almost completely alone and neglected for the last six years, Kit, and for all my power and greatness, even I'm not arrogant enough that my presence can substitute for the bonds a human being needs, especially when growing up. You may have all your memories, emotions, and experiences from your last life tucked away inside your little head, but that doesn't change your situation."

I looked at him in confusion and skepticism before he continued.

"It was one of those philosophers you're so fond of reading about that wrote 'the mind is a plaything of the body' right? Well look at your situation, for all that you possess an adult mind, you are still in a child's body and as such subject to a child's life. With how the village has treated you and the way you practically cling to the ramen family and the Hokage despite your knowledge is a sign of this. So how can you honestly say that reading the words of the mother who loved you more than life itself and who did everything she could for you would not have some affect on you, Noriko? To assume you could read such a message and remain unchanged is utter arrogance."

I...I didn't have a response to that as my crying finally trailed off and my mind began to settle while exhaustion started to set in as I leaned in against Kurama's tail with a tired yawn. He wasn't wrong, as much as I didn't like to and didn't want to admit it, he was right. For everything that came with my reincarnation, I was still a six year old little girl starved of the love she desperately needs.

And to receive that love from someone I had thought myself separate from just was too much as I felt my eyelids droop and become heavy as I yawned again. As I reached the very edge of unconsciousness. I mumbled softly as I said, "Thanks...Tou-san.."

I stayed awake just long enough to hear Kurama reply, his tone soft and surprisingly kind as he said, "You're welcome, Kit..."

I slept through the entire rest of Saturday and solidly into Sunday morning before finally waking with a rumbling growl of hunger echoing from my stomach. It was more than loud enough to make me blush in sleepy embarrassment before I got up and headed to the kitchen, settling for a large bowl of cereal to start the day as I gave Kurama a mental poke to help get him moving as well. It took a bit of trying and swearing on my part, but eventually my new Tou-san awoke and swore before beginning to speak to me.

'Doing better now, Kit?' He asked.

'Yeah...much better, tou-san. Thanks for yesterday,' I replied softly as I munched my way through my food, considering my options for the day before I asked, 'So I know I planned to do summoning, but do you think I should read my father's letter first or go ahead signing the scroll?'

'Read the damn letter, Kit. If you're going to be anything like yesterday, than we might as well get it out of the way now.' Kurama replied with a snort, 'When you sign the scroll though, do make sure to leave some clones behind to be productive.'

'Hai, hai...' I replied with a roll of my eyes before focusing on my food. Soon enough I had eaten, showered, and dressed in clean clothes before I reopened my inheritance and removed my father's letter along with the fuinjutsu book and the wind, earth, and water jutsu scrolls. I set aside the letter as I held the book and scrolls in one hand, making half of the Kage Bushin seal with one hand before pouring a significant chunk of my chakra into the technique.

Instantly there was a cloud of smoke that dispersed to reveal my clone standing there with the same scrolls and book in hand and a ridiculous grin on her face. We shared a nod before she tucked the materials away and transformed into an insect and flew out the window towards the warehouse.

That was really the greatest part about the Kage Bushin in my opinion, and also one of the most confusing. When you created the clone, they were an exact duplicate of the user, including everything they were carrying that wasn't a living creature. As such, the scrolls and the book had been perfectly copied with the technique even though I didn't know what was in them. A small nudge from Kurama serves to keep me from getting off track as I put the original items away and took the letter over to my couch to read in peace and quiet.

Unrolling the scroll, I took in the elegant calligraphy strokes and grimaced, realizing that I did not look forwards to practicing that aspect of fuinjutsu. Shaking my head, I turned my attention from analyzing my father's handwriting and to the message itself.

"Hey there Noriko-chan,

In case you didn't know or hadn't already figured it out, I'm your father, Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage of Konohagakure. I don't know what circumstances have lead to you having this letter, but I'm sorry that they happened as it means that I have passed away before you could come to know me properly. If that is so, then I hope with all my heart that Kushina is still there for you. I know that's unlikely though as anything that got me likely would have gotten her when she decided to get revenge for my death. Her temper is legendary and I have no doubt she would do so without something significant to prevent it.

Whatever the circumstances are that lead you to this letter, know that I'm sorry that I cannot be there for you and that I love you with everything that I am.

Now, if you haven't already, read your Kaa-chan's letter first as she knows better than I do what all is contained in most of the seals in the main scroll. I only helped with a few of them and was responsible for three of my own compared to how many your mother took care of. The second seal contains your mother's and mine journals, which we have and will continue to update as often as possible. The third and fourth contain outfits that we put together for you, including some stuff from both of our wardrobes. As such the fourth seal contains several fully outfitted copies of my iconic coat. I'm not sure that you'll want it, but if you do they are available. All of them are mostly new and contain the full range of storage and reinforcement seals that proper clothes should have, I hope you enjoy them.

The next seal, the fifth, is mostly Kushina's work as she had the most to give in this regard as a kenjutsu master. There are weapons stored in that seal, from the Uzumaki swords to a variety of normal, if high quality, weapons. The important thing I put in there, if you weren't told already, is a supply of one hundred of my Hiraishin kunai. I don't know if you'll learn the technique, but should you do so, consider them my gift to you for your eventual mastery of it.

The sixth and seventh seals contain all the fuinjutsu knowledge and normal jutsus that Kushina and I could lay our hands on. I won't go too much into detail about them as either your Kaa-chan will explain it or you'll just read our messages at the start of the book and each scroll, detailing their usage.

The eighth seal is your mother's to work with, and I'll leave it to her. The next three, however, are mine. The ninth contains every tip and trick I've learned for training along with weights and some other materials to help you get stronger as I have no doubt that you will. The tenth seal contains some of you mother's and mine favorite keepsakes. Included in there is the signed, first edition copy of 'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi'. I had originally wanted to name you in honor of the protagonist, Naruto, however Kushina vetoed that. She apparently decided to revoke any right I had to naming ANYTHING after I created my 'Spiraling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three'.

Seriously, everyone's a critic!"

I stared incredulously at those last few lines before I snorted and broke into giggles, barely stopping a sigh of relief at the proverbial bullet I had avoided thanks to Kushina's intervention.

'And that's the man that sealed me away...how humiliating...' Kurama said in utter depression.

'Well, if we look at shinobi, all the powerful ones were weird you know. My mother liked ramen, my father sucked at naming stuff. Kakashi's a pervert. Anko's an exhibisionist. And Gai...Gai is Gai I suppose.'

'Doesn't make me feel any better, Kit.' Kurama grumbled, making me giggle a little more before I shook my head and turned my attention back to the letter.

"Anyways, Kushina at least chose something similar for you; Noriko. It's not quite what I wanted but it's good enough I suppose and I love you all the same.

The next seal contains legal information. Blood tests, medical records, everything you could ever need to ensure your position in the village and your legal right. You have the option to take up the Uzumaki clan seat on the Shinobi Council if neither of us have made it and the Namikaze one that I was given for becoming Hokage, something each Hokage's clan is given. Should Tsunade not be in the village, you also have the right to claim the Senju seat as well.

Within all that legal fluff, you'll find a little black book that was out together at Jiraya's insistence. While neither Kushina not I approve of such an object, we eventually agreed it was something essential for you to have. It is likely a bit out of date, but that book contains every rumor and dirty secret Jiraya could dig up on every individual across the Elemental nations, both friend and foe, especially those in Konoha. As I will grudgingly admit, if neither of us are there, and you have ended up on your own, it is quite possible that legal protection will be hard to come by. As such Jiraya decided that blackmail was the best thing for you to have.

Above everything though, I have to warn you to stay away from Danzo. I know that the man wants Konoha to be strong, but his methods are wrong and will see nothing but trouble for us. I ordered ROOT disbanded but I'm sure he's ignored that order. As such if you ever encounter an ANBU with a blank mask, you are to run for help as quickly as possible.

The last of my three seals contains my personal jutsus and jutsu creation notes along with some rather comprehensive fighting style guides. There's not much to say beyond that they were created by personal experience and I hope they serve you well, Noriko-chan.

The twelfth seal is your mother's and contains things relative to the Uzumaki clan. She'll take care of that so now you know what all is in the scroll and it's time to say goodbye. I want you to know that I love you, Noriko, more than I could ever tell you in simple words, but they will sadly have to suffice in this situation.

I love you. No matter what.

Your father, Namikaze Minato."

As I put down the letter, I sighed softly and wiped my eyes, chasing away the traces of moisture that had gathered there before I rolled up the scroll and put it away in the main scroll before moving to the final seal and removing the enormous Summing Contract from it. The thing was ridiculously huge! At least two and a half feet end to end and half a foot thick, the sheer size was ridiculous as I set it down on the table with a heavy thud before beginning to unroll it.

After a few feet of blank scroll, I reached the signatures of the previous clan heads, each and everyone of them written clearly in the Head's blood with their hand prints beneath them, so left hands some right. Nodding, I pierced the tip of my right index finger on a canine and began to sign my name in clear, precise kanji. While I was no calligraphy master yet, my handwriting was still head and shoulders above that of my peers and even many adults, a small mark of pride for me.

'Kit, make sure to use your left hand to make the print since that'll be the one you use to summon them if this clan accepts you.' Kurama instructed.

Giving a mental nod, I formed a Chikage Bushin, the stronger than normal clone appearing in a cloud of smoke before nodding back to me and heading to the couch. That clone had one duty, to take my place should anyone show up to see me.

With that done, I split my thumb on my canine again before smearing the blood across my left hand before quickly stamping it beneath my name, watching as the blood shimmered with light for a moment before dimming back to normal.

Reasonably confident that I had been accepted, I sighed and began moving my chakra to my left hand, feeling Kurama do the same in preparation for the jutsu as I bit my left thumb, ran through the hand seals before slamming my left hand against the floor of my apartment only to disappear in swirling cloud of smoke-

-only to suddenly appear in midair above a rough, jagged chunk of volcanic rock that held a small forest and lake upon it as I looked down and mumbled the only thing that came to mind.

"Oh for Fuck's sake."

Instantly I dropped towards the water some fifty or sixty feet below, flailing struggling to straighten my body so I wouldn't belly flop on impact. I wasn't quite quick enough though, and as I landed with a tremendous splash I felt fire lance through my feet and up into my calves as something split and broke.

Even before I made it to the surface for air, I could feel Kurama's burning youki suffusing my calves and feet to heal the damage. Just as I broke the surface and gasped for breath, trying to blink the water from my eyes, some grabbed me. Something rough, hot, and much bigger than me.

I was lifted from the water and brought before something that exhaled an almost burning hot breath on me before taking a careful sniff, bringing a set of far too large jaws into view, with fangs easily the size of my arms gleaming in the light.

"And what have we here? A little human hatchling summoning themselves to this realm? Tell me, hatchling, how did you get here? Should your answer be interesting enough I might not eat you for trespassing."

It was a long, terrifying minute as I struggled to reign in my fear at the creature before me and respond without pissing myself in sheer terror. It took a burst of Kurama's youki flowing through my coils before I swallowed and spoke, stuttering briefly before managing to calm and strengthen my voice, practically exclaiming my response.

"I-I s-si...I signed the contract!"

There was an immeasurably tense pause before the mouth before me lowered and brought the face it was attached to into view, showing enormous, dull black scales that were each the size of my torso. There were nostrils I could have climbed inside -and what a terrifying thought that was-and then there were the eyes. They were easily as large as I was tall, a brilliant, liquid gold with enormous reptilian slits focusing on me as the summon before me as I was held directly before its eyes, finally registering just what sort of trouble I had gotten myself into.

Dragons. The Uzumaki clan contract was mother fucking dragons. How on earth had they not conquered the world with a contract like this!

"Curious, you certainly smell like the Uzumaki to whom we gave our contract, but you don't quite look like one." The dragon before me rumbled.

"I-I get a lot of my appearance from my father." I said, utterly terrified though it was thankfully starting to fade to dull fear.

"Then you are only a half blood...tell me, hatchling, how is it that you successfully signed the Clan Head's contract?"

"I'm the last one..." I almost whispered, looking down at the massive clawed hand that held me.

"The last? The last what?" The dragon rumbled, annoyance coloring the deep voice.

I steeled my nerves with the knowledge that Kurama-tou-san was there with me and could hopefully get me out if things went bad before I spoke. "I'm the last remaining member of the Uzumaki royal line, and maybe the last remaining Uzumaki period."

There was a shocked silence as the enormous eye in front of me widened, the slit like pupil stretching in surprise.

There was a small rumble from the dragon as its eyes returned to normal before the hand that held me shifted and opened, leaving me sitting on the palm of the massive limb.

"That would explain our lack of contact with the human realm...Tell me what you know of the destruction of Uzushio, hatchling."

I couldn't help but be relieved with the change in my position and I sighed without reservation at the fact I was no longer in danger of being crushed before I looked up at the massive, observant eye and grimaced.

"I...I don't know much about it to be honest as it happened before my birth, but I've read about it a bit," I replied, keeping my voice loud enough for the dragon to hear me, "During the second Great Shinobi War, the villages of Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri banded together in fear of Uzushio's strength, especially their skill in fuinjutsu. I know that the clan head of the time was killed before the battle. I don't know if it was an assassination or a battle, but he died before hand and that severely weakened the defenses in Whirlpool. Subsequently, a combined army from all three villages landed on Uzu and began to attack. They did an enormous amount of damage to the village itself and they killed every single person in the village that didn't manage to escape. The cost though was that the combined army lost something like ninety percent of their entire force before defeating Uzu. There honestly might be more Uzumaki out there, but I don't know with any certainty. The only reason I'm here is because my mother, Uzumaki Kushina, had been sent to Konoha so that she could become the Nidaime Jinchurriki of the Kyuubi no Youko. When she was killed, I became the Sandaime Jinchurriki and inherited everything my parents had, including the summoning scroll."

The dragon was silent for several moments before it lowered me to the ground of beneath us, setting me by the edge of the pool I had landed in before it spoke again, something like regret coloring its voice.

"Thank you for explaining that, hatchling. I shall inform my King of your arrival and what has happened since the last contractor died. Wait here on this island and I will return soon enough with his reply to your presence. Should any other dragon arrive and question your presence, tell them that Ancalagon is speaking to the King."

And with that the dragon -Ancalagon my brain reminded me- stood and spreading enormous wings before pumping them up and down, lifting into the air before flying away and leaving me by myself to wait, a small knot of terror still squirming away in my gut until Kurama interrupted.

'That went about as well I we could have hoped I suppose.'

'Yeah. I'm still worried, but at least we're still alive. That guy, Ancalagon, he was at least as big as the Gyuki, maybe even something closer to your size even.'

'I noticed. The good news is that should they agree to the contract than we will an ally that would potentially be able to give even the Juubi a run for its money.'

'I won't let it come to that, but you're right just in case it does get that bad.'

With an almost stifling silence around me, I ran my hands through my hair before I asked Kurama, 'Hey Tou-san, any ideas on what I can do for the moment?'

'Yeah, get in here, if we're waiting then we'll be productive. I have some more seals to show you.'

'Alright, I'm coming.'

With that I closed my eyes as I sat down cross legged and entered my mind scape to see what Kurama had to show me.

Author's Note: Well that's that. The result of the dragons contract will be at the start of the next chapter with the fox contract taking place a bit afterwards or in a flashback later on. While I'm all for power being absolute, Noriko will have severe rules in place regarding when she can summon any if the super big/powerful dragons for a long time, likely well past the end of the actual plot itself. She'll be able to summon smaller ones, like dragons closer in size to Gamabunta or the other large toads fairly freely come battle, and otherwise she'll be restricted to the smaller dragons for things like low end fights and communication with the dragon realm. As for why the dragons didn't already know of Uzu's destruction, that'll be explained in the next chapter. So bye bye for now everyone.