Last time, the battle between the Jinchurikis has come to an end with Naruto beating Gaara down while also regrettably killing Ko. During that time, the Sandaime Hokage had defeated his former student Orochimaru along with the Shodaime and Nindaime Hokage at the cost of his life.
Kumo
Currently, Naruto was lying inside a hospital room in Kumo, sleeping from chakra exhaustion. It's been a week since he returned from Konoha, barely being able to escape Konoha's shinobi or Danzo's root division. As he slept, he kept dreaming about what happened after he defeated Ko and stopping the sanbi's rampage/slavery.
Dreamscape
Naruto and Gaara were both laying on the ground as they were exhausted from the battle that they just underwent with Naruto coming out of it victorious.
As Gaara lied on his back, exhausted, battered and bruised he heard footsteps. He slightly turned his head towards the source of noise to see the person that caused him both his defeat and pain.
Limping towards the fallen red hair Jinchuriki Naruto moved closer and closer to Gaara as he held his left arm. Using Chidori so many times, along with performing too many risk factors had ware his body down to the point of being almost unmovable. As he got closer, Gaara glared at the blonde that came inching his way closer to him.
"… My existence… it won't be put out… It won't be put out!" Gaara yelled out
As he got closer, Naruto could remember the look that Gaara had before, cold, uncaring, loneliness. The look he used to have when he was a child. He remembered on how Haku felt as she explained her pain of being alone which he understood just as well.
"A world where one's existence is called… unnecessary." Haku said
Continuing to limp towards him, Gaara with wide eyes cried out in fear, "D… Don't come closer!" as Naruto had his hair block his eyes.
Naruto looked up to reveal a sad facial expression, "… Being alone… being incomplete… what you must feel… What your pain must be… unbearable… I… many others… can understand that…" where Gaara widen his eyes at seeing Naruto's face.
As he got closer he saw that Gaara's attention was fully on him. "But… even with… that… I… never gave in… I… I continued to move forward… till I found them…" Naruto mind went to his memories, on how when he was just a child he was always left alone just like Gaara where he was beaten, starved, and such to the point where anyone would just accept death for a chance at peace. Yet for Naruto, he continued to live on in hopes to find what he was always looking for, acceptance.
"I was able to find people… people who knew the truth about me… where… even then… they accepted me…" thinking about Samui, Yugito, Killer Bee, Karui, Omoi, and other Kumo shinobi and citizens.
"So… that's why… I… came to you… to not… only help you… but… to save you… just like they did… that's why… I'm giving… you something…" the blonde shinobi said as he took another deep breathe.
"I'll give you… my friendship…" said with a smile
Gaara just looked at the blonde with a stunned look, "… I tried to kill you and yet you are willing to offer your friendship to me. Why? Why do all this just to offer me something as ridiculous as friendship?" asked out of wonder
"Just like I was given a chance… I'm offering the same thing to…" Naruto answered
Gaara just thought about what Naruto told him where he can't help but remember what his uncle told him about love and friendship.
"Is that what makes him so strong?" Gaara thought to himself
It was then that he remembered what he did to Ko where he narrow eyed the blonde, "You said that you give me the chance for friendship but you didn't give the same chance to that Konoha shinobi you killed just now. Why give me that chance when you could have given it to him?"
Naruto just looked depressed about it before he answered with solace in his voice, "I tried to reach him but the only thing I could see and feel from him is his own death. He wanted freedom, freedom from our curse and the curse of a shinobi. Unlike us, he never had the choice to live the life he wanted. So I gave it to him where I will always regret it now." Gaara just took in what Naruto said as he thought about everything he learned over the years.
It was then that Gaara's siblings, Kankuro and Temari arrived at their brother's side. Both looked at the blonde kumo shinobi wearily before they heard Gaara say enough fighting. They looked surprised at seeing Gaara in such a condition.
Kankuro helped Gaara lean on his body for support, "Alright then Gaara… let's go." Where the three immediately left.
Once they left, Naruto was about to go as well but suddenly stopped since he was too exhausted. He was about to fall on the ground when a tail caught him and lifted him off the ground. As he was being lifted from the ground, a sudden wave of kunai and shuriken came flying out of nowhere.
Nova notice this where he immediately dodged it while assuring Naruto's safety, Nova fired a medium sized fire blast around him. This caused several of the hidden shadows to move back. Taking advantage of this, Nova flew up into the sky while placing Naruto gently on his back. Once high enough, he started to fly away from the area where he heard Naruto muttered to him to head north towards Kumo.
End Flashback
Nova headed north away from Konoha. He flew just above a mountain's height for about half an hour before the dragon notice a smoke signal. He was going to ignore it when light was glimmering in its eyes. Deciding to get a closer look, he moved down where he saw a small group of people. Getting closer, it saw several of them wearing the same headband as Naruto where he guessed that they must be associated with him.
Getting down in a clearing, Killer Bee and Naruto's friends came to his side where Samui helped him off the dragon. After placing him down, Ei went up to the dragon and bow his head as he thanked the dragon for bringing him to safety. The dragon nodded where he then puffed away in smoke.
Samui helped Naruto lean against her as he was still awake just exhausted. Ei walked up to him where he then asked him on what happened between him and the two other jinchurikis.
"I've fought both of them where I defeated Gaara of the sand. Once I defeated Gaara, I fought against Ko where he too fell." Naruto stated
"So what are their condition?" Ei asked
"Gaara was exhausted but he is fine where his siblings took him just before Nova helped me escape from Konoha or root shinobi. Ko… I killed him where he was destroyed by a giant explosion." Naruto answered
Ei nodded his head where he heard the explosion from a distance where many wondered on what it was. He was also curious to know on how he did but decided to wait later on since he can see that Naruto was exhausted. Getting the answers, Ei ordered all of his Kumo shinobi to head back home while also instructing Yugito and Cee to guide the Daimyo back home since the two guards that were assigned to him had disappeared during the Invasion on Konoha.
Week Later
The morning rays where shining down at the hidden cloud village as a certain blonde boy was struggling to get out of bed. Normally, he would be up and about but he couldn't since of the news he heard just a couple of days ago.
After getting out of the hospital he made his way towards the Raikage Mountain where Ei resided. He knew that Ei would want a detail report about what happened in his battle with the Jinchuriki.
Arriving at the Raikage's office, he waited for a bit for Mabui to let him in to see their leader. Waiting for a bit, Naruto was allowed to enter where he greeted Ei with respect. Cutting the casual talk, Ei wanted to hear what happened where Naruto explained. Naruto explained in detail, where Mabui wrote down the critical points, on how he tracked Gaara and Ko, the battle that came to be with him summoning his dragons to where he found out what Ko wanted which was death to be with his family, and finally his offer of friendship to Gaara.
Taking the death of the Sanbi Jinchuriki into consideration, Ei applauded Naruto for surviving such a battle as well showing his rage on Danzo's root project since even though Ei would do anything to strength Kumo, he is not the type of person to kill citizens to obtain soldiers. Once it was over, Ei ended the conversation with Naruto where he excused himself. Before he left, Ei informed Naruto about something which he paid attention.
"Sandaime Hokage has died in battle." Raikage stated
Hearing those words Naruto felt a bit of a pain in his heart since he still held some respect for the old man. Although Hiruzen lied to him all his life before he was brought to Kumo, he was one of the few people that treated him kindly while encouraging him to move forward through the darkness.
He also learned the attempted kidnapping of Hinata Hyuga where he heard that the two shinobi guards that were supposed to protect their Daimyo left their posts in order for Kumo to obtain the Byakugan. It was stopped of course where Ei would handle the situation. The Raikage informed Konoha that it was against his orders to do such an act while also abandoning their post which Ei would personally punish the two guards, which he demoted them and gave them hard labor and pathetic missions to do for the next to 3 years.
Getting out of bed, Naruto dressed himself since the Raikage has summoned him this morning for something important. Putting on his normal shinobi attire, including his bow behind his back, he went out.
Arriving at the Raikage Mountain, Naruto walked up the spiral stairway towards Ei's office. Seeing Mabui there, he informed her of his appointment which she told him to wait for a bit. Nodding in understanding, Naruto waited in front of the office in order to see what the Raikage has for him.
It wasn't long before someone else came up to the office. He looked to see that it was his best friend, Samui. Seeing Naruto, she moved towards him since she was curious on why he was here early this morning as well. Asking the questions Naruto replied to the bleach blonde girl.
"I'm here because Ei has asked me to come here for something important. What about you?" Naruto asked
Remaining monotone, Samui replied, "The same as you. Maybe he has a mission to give us since it has been nearly two weeks." Where Naruto nodded in agreement
It was then that they both heard Mabui that both were now allowed to enter the Raikage's office. Walking, they both acted professional towards their leader, who was working out with his dumbbell. Standing in front of him, Ei looked at the two for a moment before he started to speak to them.
"Now… I know that you two are wondering on why you two are here this early in the morning?" Ei questioned getting a nod
"Well, with the incident during the Chunin exams in Konoha. Many believe that there shouldn't be any promotion since off all the chaos that ensued. However, like me, there were many lords, Daimyos including both the Sandaime and Mizukage that saw the two of you battle against your opponents. With my vote not counting, many has seen the value you two put in the Chunin exam where they agreed that being genin rank would be a waste on you two. So I am here to say that you two are no longer genin but are now, from day forward, Chunin. Congratulations you two." Ei smiled at their achievement
Naruto smiled where he even saw Samui smirk a bit at the news of being promoted. Ei called Mabui to come in with the items he asked for. Walking in, Mabui handed Ei the official Kumo Chunin uniforms where Naruto and Samui looked pleased to see.
"Let these uniforms remind you the responsibilities that only a chunin carries with them whenever you are on mission." Ei said
Both Naruto and Samui nodded where Ei handed the two the uniforms. As Samui got hers, she looked pleased before hearing a puff. She looked to her side to see that Naruto had disappeared. She looked at the Raikage and Mabui, who both also had the same wondering look on their faces.
Dragons Land
In a circular pattern, five dragons stood tall as in a puff of smoke Naruto appeared in a formal stance. Looking around, he was surprise to see that he was surround by dragons. In front of him, he saw 5 dragons that look old for creatures of an ancient race or something. As he looked around, he heard one of them call out to him.
"Young Uzumaki…" getting his attention, "... we've have heard from Nova and Kira on how you defeated both the Ichibi and Sanbi with your own skills and have tried to help them. You even showed a bit of tears when you couldn't save the Sanbi jinchuriki. You've shown compassion and strength beyond your years. For this, we are now granting you your birthright as a true Uzumaki, the Uzumaki scroll of sealing…" where the lead dragon used its tail to place a large human size scroll whose width was fat, indicating a lot of jutsu.
Carefully looking at the large scroll, Naruto gazed the large piece of literature with wonder as he went to touch it. Before he could however, the dragon pulled it back from him where he looked at the giant creature with a questionable look.
Guessing on what Naruto was thinking, the noble being answered his unsaid question.
"Unfortunately… you can't use this just yet." The dragon stated
"What do you mean?" Naruto finally spoke out his voice
"You see, this is a special scroll that your ancestors created along with entrusting its contents to us. However to gain access to this scroll, you need not one Uzumaki to open it but two Uzumakis to unseal the scroll." The dragon said
"Two?" where the dragon nodded
Naruto thought about it since in order for him to open the scroll, he needed to find a long lost relative or wait until he has a child. The second option wasn't something he wants to do until later in his life.
"I guess I'm going to be trying to find another Uzumaki." Naruto declared
The dragons nodded in understanding since Naruto has been the only Uzumaki in decades to summon them. Along with that, they also know about the destruction of Uzu no Kuni where they know that many Uzumaki members would have fallen in battle while a few would stay hidden.
Before the dragons could conclude the meeting, Naruto did ask them something. "Ano… even though I could guess on why there a seal that needs two Uzumaki. But if I'm able to find another member of my clan can there be a way to change the requirement to the scroll from two Uzumaki to one since I don't know if the clan member would want to be a fuin master or shinobi at all." Naruto asked
The dragons looked between themselves where they nodded in agreement since it was possible. With that, Naruto now has a new mission for himself. He needed to find someone who has Uzumaki blood for him to be able to unlock the secrets of his family scroll. Not only that, be he needs to also study the scrolls that he got from his lost home in Konoha, the home where he would've grown up in if his parents were alive. With that, the dragons returned him back to the Raikage's office. Once he left, a few looked at each other with a knowing and questionable looks.
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Raikage's Office
Ei was giving orders to some of his shinobi to have scouts and sensors to look around the village and possibly the rest of the lightning nation when another puff of smoke appeared in his office.
When the smoke disappeared, it revealed Naruto in deep thought. Before he could wonder on where he can start his search, Ei woke him from his stupor as he demanded to know on what he went to.
Taking a moment, Naruto explained that he was summoned by the dragons where he was given the right to learn his family's hidden techniques that they've guarded for decades. Hearing this, Ei was willing to let what happened half an hour ago go since Naruto would be able to gain access to any lost jutsu that the Uzumaki clan once held.
"Although… there is a bit a snag about that." Naruto stated
"A snag? What kind of snag?" Ei asked as he dismissed the shinobi to call off the search for the young jinchuriki.
"In order for me to access the scroll there has to be a second Uzumaki. In other words…" Naruto said before Ei finished the sentence for him.
"… You need to find another member of the Uzumaki clan. Is that correct?" where Naruto nodded in agreement
"The problem is that I don't know where any other clan members are." Naruto admitted
Ei gruffly agreed since Naruto was the only known Uzumaki that Kumo knows, along with Konoha. Before they could think about the problem, Mabui, who was there since the beginning added her thoughts to the conversation.
"Raikage-sama…" getting both men her attention, "… if we need to find an Uzumaki or someone with Uzumaki blood in their veins then there is one person that we can try and find." Where Naruto and Ei looked at her.
"You must remember Raikage-sama about the first attempt to obtain the Kyuubi and who the the Kyuubi was eventually sealed in where she did have descendants." Ei widen his eyes as he understood on what Mabui meant where he too had to arguably agree.
"Who are you talking about Mabui-san?" Naruto asked
"She is talking about Konoha's number one medic… the master of elixirs and medicine… the princess of Konoha, Tsunade Senju." Ei responded
"Tsunade Senju?" Naruto confusedly said
"Hai… as you know about the Senju clan, she is the descendant of Hashirama Senju, the Shodaime Hokage. But even though she is his descendant she is also the descendant from the Uzumaki clan as his wife was from the Uzumaki clan." Mabui explained
"So, she has Uzumaki blood running through her veins. Then I need to go and look for her." Naruto muttered loud enough for the other two to hear.
"That's easier said than done. No one has Tsunade in years. In fact, the last time I saw her was years ago before you came to Kumo and that was by chance." The bulky Raikage stated
"Well, I've got to try since she may be key to unlocking my family hidden secrets." Naruto said
Thinking about it, Ei excused Naruto to give him some time to think things through since this was bit of serious matter cause on one hand, if allowed Naruto to find Tsunade to unlock the hidden scroll of the Uzumaki than Naruto's skills in fuinjutsu would undoubtedly increase to new levels and provide Kumo with a true Fuin master at last. While at the same time, letting Naruto go on this search could cause a risk since Konoha or someone who is interested in the Kyuubi Jinchuriki would try and kidnapped him but of course he was going to send someone along with him. As he continued to think about Ei knew that he needed to make a choice between the safety of one of his future promising shinobi or the chance to increase Kumo's strength.
Konoha a week back
Kneeling on a roof, overlooking a hot spring bath that was currently being occupied by a few woman bathing, Jiraya ogled them with his telescope. Seeing the young naked women body through the small gaps of steam he lechery chuckled at the site. As he was watching he notice presences of two recognizable figure right behind him.
"I see you still haven't given up on foolish things. Haven't you… Jiraya…"
"I'm just doing it one more time…" Jiraya said who was peeking at the women before turning his head to see two of Konoha's shinobi elders.
"Homura Otchan. Koharu-sensei right…? What business does a committee advisor have with me?" asked Jiraya
Both the elders began to explain the events after the attack. News about the Kazekage's death have been confirmed from the sand as they figured out that Orochimaru was the one who killed him. Suna immediately declared its defeat since they were manipulated by Orochimaru to attack the leaf where Konoha accepted since they had other worries than declaring war on Suna.
Jiraya looked at the two elders, listening on what has happened recently. "As for the business that we are here for? We have something to tell you. You probably understand why." Homura said
"So you say… even though your faces don't look like it, the talks with the sand are going well. Hasn't it been concluded?" Jiraya stated
The relationship between the sand was of little importance since there are other matters to be looked at such as possible attacks from the other shinobi nations since Konoha knows that both the Raikage and Mizukage where here to witness the chunin exams and knows that Konoha is currently weak because of the attack.
"With everything that has been said and done there is still one thing we need. We need a strong leader. In other words, we need the Godaime Hokage." Koharu stated where Jiraya narrow his eyes to it, "At an emergency meeting with the feudal lord of fire it was decided that you Jiraya should take up the mantle." Finishing her sentence.
Immediately, Jiraya responded with a disgruntled look, "Unluckily for you, I'm not the type for it."
Koharu explained on how important the decision was since Jiraya is one of the three legendary ninja that Konoha has produced. She even questioned him on who would be a better pick than him.
"If you guys are so deadest on having a sannin as Hokage, there is another. Tsunade…" Jiraya stated where the two elders looked at each other without saying a word but look like they were readying each other's mind.
"That is true… she does qualify as well yet we don't know her whereabouts." Said Koharu
"Then I'll go look for her and bring her back. That shouldn't be a problem right?" Jiraya stated
The two elders weren't as confident of Jiraya's words as they were their own. But after hearing that Jiraya would put his word to finding and bringing the legendary kunoichi back, the two were alright with it. Of course, Homura wanted Jiraya to have some Anbu shinobi to help him find her.
"Don't bother. They'll only get in the way. I won't run away like that. Besides this would give me a good chance to not only look for Tsunade but also find out where the kid currently is located." Jiraya said with a bit of regret in his tone.
"What child would that be?" Koharu
"The one that all of Konoha forsaken because of what his father did to him if you remember." Jiraya remarked
"You're talking about the Jinchuriki of Kyuubi no Yoko?" Homura answered
"You should really be calling him by his name you know… especially since it's his son…" Jiraya remarked as he looked toward the Hokage Mountain where the past Hokage's faces were sculpted, more directly to the Yondaime face.
Both looked unpleased since it reminded them on what happened years ago with losing the biju as well as the Yondaime Hokage's heir.
"To think that the Yondaime's child has survived after the incident. I was certain that he perished all those years ago since we couldn't find his body or received any word about the boy in the search." Homura stated
"Yes which I have to say that the Raikage has improved in keeping things like this a complete secret." Jiraya commented
"Agreed and look on what he achieved. The boy not only proved to be a powerful shinobi but a prodigy that could one day surpass his father." Koharu stated where she recalled on what they witness Naruto's chunin battle.
Naruto has grown from the lonely, detested child that was considered to be a plague into a prodigy shinobi that surpass their wildest dreams. In the preliminary matches, Naruto defeated Rock Lee whose skills in taijutsu surpassed most Konoha chunin, including the forbidden inner gates, with his own taijutsu skills. The chunin finals, he defeated Neji Hyuuga who was the prodigy of the Hyuuga clan with some of their own techniques that he figured out.
Then later defeat their most prized prodigy, the final Uchiha of Konoha, Sasuke Uchiha where he not only surpass every aspect of Sasuke's skills but also used his own psychological problems against him. In the end of the match, Sasuke received a serious wound on his left shoulder while having his right forearm being cut off with his chest being sliced open. Currently, Sasuke was in intensive care where the medics where able to save his arm after getting him in stable condition.
But the worst part of it all was the fact that their Jinchuriki, Ko who held the Sanbi, was killed in action. They found out about it when Danzo explained that Naruto had killed the young boy with a powerful attack while Ko was in his bijuu form. They already know of the evidence, that being the loud destructive explosion that occurred outside the village that shook the area. It was only when Danzo's men found pieces of the former root nin with using a blood tests to know that Ko was killed, which also crippled their strength.
Of course, Danzo secretly didn't tell them that his men where close to recapturing Naruto when he escaped on his dragon where his root nin weren't able to follow.
"Well, Konoha's lost became Kumo's gain with them not only gaining Minato's legacy but also having with them a person who has a summoning contract with the dragons." Jiraya stated as he recalled the power of the dragon that appeared over Konoha as it ruined not only a road along with several building from the force of the attack but also devastated the snake summons as well.
"In any case, we'll deal with the Kyuubi Jinchuriki later on once we reestablished Konoha security first." Koharu said
Jiraya looked peeved when the old woman said about Naruto but decided not to bring up the issue since he has more important matters to attend like find Tsunade and the well-being of the village.
With that, he went to take his leave since things are going to get interesting soon. What Jiraya doesn't know is that something interesting has already appeared in Konoha, an appearance in the form of two figures wearing long black coats with red clouds wearing a straw hats that covered their faces.
Till Next time