Chapter Twenty-Five - The Aftermath

The Konoha's council chambers were in an uproar as everyone tried shouting over the other. All of the heads of Konoha's major clans were in attendence even if they were injured, such as Shibi Aburame who lost his left arm in the invasion. A few civilian representatives were allowed in the meeting since the civilians were also affected emotionally and economically.

Hiruzen just watched silently as he let everyone vent their emotions, while also waiting for Naruto to arrive. The boy had neutralised the Suna Jinchuuriki and his summons had decimated the invading force with ease. Most damage to the village was in terms of infrastructure instead of lives, as the Elder Beasts had prevented any major loss of Konoha ninja. However, many were complaining of that too, something he chalked to shock as they were still coming to terms with the fact that they were invaded during such a long-standing neutral event.

Just as the shouting was reaching a crescendo, the doors to the room opened and Naruto walked in with Yoruichi and Erza. He didn't bother acknowledging the hushed whispers that now filled the room at his entrance, or their thoughts on the nodachi resting diagonally across his back.. No one questioned his arrival, however, as they knew better than to question the boy in the presence of the Hokage.

"Ah, you've made it, Naruto-kun," Hiruzen smiled and weakly moved around in his chair.

He is wearing bandages under his robes as he was injured severely by his former student during the fight. Zaraki was able to kill both the former Hokage and the previous Prince. He and Yoruichi had helped him in fighting and eventually killing Orochimaru but he had suffered a stab wound into his stomach. If not for A's female bodyguard healing him he likely would have died.

A left with his bodyguards and his participating teams, Samui and Yugito being promoted to Chunin for their performance in the Exams. The man will be sending a formal agreement for closer ties after learning that Yugito and Samui were protected by Naruto when they were unable to dispel the Genjutsu quickly enough.

"I had to get the prisoners situated into makeshift cells," Naruto answered with a shrug.

"Ah, how are they doing?"

Naruto had been able to capture the Sound Four before they could escape the village after their leader's supposed second death. Tayuya is also a quarter Uzumaki, surprisingly, so Naruto has been taking extra steps in ensuring the girl's cooperation despite her obscenities. He was able to get a few questions in with the truth seal, however.

"Orochimaru still lives." Naruto surprised the room with that statement and the whispers grew a bit louder. "The seal he has put on his most promising underlings are meant to keep him alive, and when he dies he can come back with the life of the one his seal is on. Considering the ones I captured are alive, that means he has others with this seal."

"How trustworthy are these statements," Hiashi asked aloud with a small raise of his hand. "How do we know they're not lies?"

"Sssss."

A whisper graced Naruto's ears but it couldn't be heard by the others. His eye twitched at the incoherent sounds. Not now.

"My seals prevent lies from being told." Naruto glanced at the man and nodded his head. "Do not worry, I am not so easily tricked. But from what I can glean, Orochimaru will be weak for a long while. He may have to seek out medical treatment because he does not have anyone that can heal him when he sustains some damage."

The last part is said to Hiruzen as the man had kept the specifics of the fight quiet as if it is learned how powerful Zaraki, Yoruichi and others under Naruto's clan really are it will cause fear in the village. Hiruzen remembered during his time as a Genin that there was a lot of distrust for the Uzumaki as they did not move into or live close to the village like the others. And they were powerful back then as well, so no one really cried when Uzushio was destroyed.

"From my knowledge, there is only one medic that he would seek out," Naruto hinted further.

"Tsunade-chan," Hiruzen sighed and hung his head a bit. "Not even I know where she is."

"Sss."

Naruto but his tongue. He's not lying.

"Look at the towns where gambling is the biggest and she is bound to be around," Naruto shrugged in response.

"I will send out someone to talk to Tsunade after the meeting. How about the children of the Fourth Kazekage? With Rasa dead, Suna is claiming they were manipulated by Orochimaru and did not know. They want his children back as their Kage position is hereditary."

Naruto nodded his head in understanding. "Gaara and his siblings are being watched at my compound. They have relaxed and are cooperating and have no desire to fight us anymore."

"Excuse me, Hokage-sama," a man raised his hand. This is Kizashi Haruno, Sakura's father and a former shinobi of the village. He is now a general foods trader, owning three of the largest marts in the village and therefore one of the most influential civilians. "Do you not think it is more reasonable to have the siblings watched by our own jailors?"

"Sssss."

Naruto ignored the whisper this time as Hiruzen took a breath of his pipe and shook his head. "No. Jiraiya is not in the village to handle a Biju and none of our jails are able to handle anyone of importance like Kage children that will be used to bargain the surrender of a village. As such, I had allowed Naruto-kun to take care of them in his home. Not only is he a Fuinjutsu expert, he is the only one the three children trust to watch after him."

"That is also concerning, as Uzumaki-san has stated plenty of times his clan is not loyal to Konoha," Koharu now spoke up. "How can we trust someone such as that to handle the children of our enemy? How do we know he won't let them go?"

"Sssss!"

"You are the same woman who backed Danzo for the last two decades," Naruto tilted his head with a faux confused look despite the venom leaking into his veins from the angry whispers. "That man has been excommunicated for working against the village and making decisions behind the Hokage's back. How can we trust your word over mine? You could be just as much a traitor as the former advisor."

"How dare you," Koharu glared her squinted eyes at the boy. "I have sacrificed more for this village than you ever could."

"Sssss!"

"My clan built this village," Naruto shrugged his tense shoulders. "My parents gave their lives for this village. My great aunt held the Kyuubi and my mother after her for this village. You sacrificed your service as a kunoichi of the village, surviving one war and not participating in the other, and you lost a son in his service to the village. You are not better than me or anyone here."

The room is quiet as Naruto just stared at the woman after finishing his tirade. The woman looked like she was struck when he mentioned her son, and while it may be seen as low he had gotten tired of her attitude and did not care what hurt her feelings. "I have suffered over ten years in this village due to the prejudice of the fox inside me. All it took was me saying I am the son of the Fourth Hokage and everyone began bowing and licking my feet like I was the Sage. I have sacrificed just as much for this village in my youth as you did in your years of service during the war."

Many shifted uncomfortably in their seats as they had forced the memories of their inaction out of their thoughts. It all came back, and even Hiruzen bowed his head as silent tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Do not question me when I still do what I can for this village. I could have left and forgotten about all of you but I stayed. I stayed for Hokage-jiji, for the Ichiraku family, for Hinata, and for Konohamaru. I do not care a single bit for any of you because none of you have done anything for me when I needed it."

Naruto now turned to Hiruzen. "I expect the paperwork to be finished by this weekend, Hokage-jiji. Let me know when you plan on leaving."

Hiruzen nodded at the boy's words. He had told the blonde after his recovery that he wanted to retire as Hokage and pass it on to someone else. He also wanted to retire to Uzushio to get away from the village that he cannot see as the same as the one of his youth. Not anymore. The blonde understood but handed in his resignation as a shinobi of Konohagakure and planned on heading to Uzushio as well to lead his people.

He will still sign a peace agreement that will prevent Konoha from seeking the Kyuubi or any type of demands against the Uzumaki but allow an embassy for each in both villages. Who is the ambassador for Konoha remains to be chosen, as Naruto will not trust just anyone, but Hiruzen had a good idea on who he will try to convince.

"Will do, Naruto-kun. See me tomorrow morning, though."

Naruto nodded and, with a glance around the room, left without another word.

Iwagakure, Earth Country

Kurotsuchi opened the door into her grandfather's office while stretching her back. She had just slept in after returning from a mission on the border of Iron as they have been getting reports of weird occurrences happening. Entire areas being covered in frost, villages disappearing entirely. It was all weird, and she was to help guard the Earth Daimyo's envoy that was meeting the Iron Shogun about it.

"Yeah, gramps, what's up," she asked the man as she closed the door. She glanced at Akatsuchi to the right and gave a brief nod in greeting.

"Konoha had just been attacked," the elderly leader responded without looking up at his granddaughter.

Kurotsuchi held her breath and gathered her emotions before speaking. "What happened?"

"Orochimaru led an attack consisting of Oto and Suna to invade Konoha during the finals of the Chunin Exams." Ōnoki now shook his head and grunted. "They're pretty weak, I'm sure, so I want to test their borders a bit."

Kurotsuchi nodded her head but her worry wandered in thought to Naruto. "And what of their Biju? Won't they be a problem?"

Ōnoki paused in thought. "He may be, but if he arrives you are to run on sight. Do not engage him."

Kurotsuchi nodded her head. "Understood. What team am I leading?"

"You will not be leading this mission," Ōnoki groaned as he reached for a paper he had put to the side. "Maya Kazagumo-san will be heading this operation. You and Akatsuchi will report to her."

Kurotsuchi blinked at her grandfather with wide eyes at the name he said. Maya is a woman who she did not get along with. Not only did the woman make fun of her for being the Tsuchikage's granddaughter and trying to seek recognition, her tactics were barbaric and suicidal. She had been the sensei of two Genin teams before but they had all died. It got so bad she was not allowed to lead any Genin in any missions.

"Are you sure, gramps?"

"Do not question me, Kurotsuchi-chan," Onoki looked at his granddaughter with a stern stare. "You both are dismissed."

She bowed to her grandfather before spinning around to leave, slamming the door open and rushing off without looking back for Akatsuchi.

As she walked to the meeting destination, she couldn't help but think fondly of her blonde love. She hasn't been able to send a message mostly out of fear of her grandfather intercepting it or someone else from Konoha. She missed the boy so much but she also hoped he would not show up at the border.

Naruto

"Are you okay, Naruto-sama?"

Naruto had opened the door roughly and moved it to the side, entering without Yoruichi and Erza. He smiled at Yachiru as she innocently asked the question. Zaraki is on the couch asleep, bored after all the fighting is done.

"Yeah, Yachiru-chan, I'm fine."

Naruto patted the girl's head with a small smile before leaving the room as Yoruichi and Erza entered and closed the door behind them. They glanced sadly after their Prince as he walked away but decided to leave him alone.

"Yoruichi!" Yachiru whined out before pointing a finger in the direction the blonde left in. "Why is Naruto-sama upset?"

Yoruichi sighed and sat down in a chair. "He's upset from the meeting, Yachiru-chan. Some mean things were said."

"Does Zaraki-tousan have to kill them?"

At that, Zaraki snorted and bolted up into a sitting position, his singular eye scanning the room. "Who do I have to kill?"

"No one, Zaraki-san," Erza raised her hands as she tried to calm the man. "Yachiru-san is just getting overzealous."

"What happened," the man asked Yoruichi.

"Just some bickering, some rude and insensitive things were said, so Naruto-sama is just upset," Yoruichi told the man before raising her hand as soon as he got to his feet. "Do not leave this house, Kenpachi-san. The Prince has not authorised it and he would not be happy if you went out and killed someone."

For Naruto, he travelled passively through the halls until he got to the section that was reserved for the prison seals that will house each of the Sound Four. He picked the one that held Tayuya and entered.

As his vision refocused on his new environment, he could see the pink-haired woman sitting on the floor while playing her flute. The tune is lovely, especially since she wasn't commanding her ogres anymore, but it slowed to a stop when she realized she wasn't alone.

"What do you want now fish-bitch?"

Naruto actually chuckled at that one. "Good one. I think you're getting better with your insults." He sat in a chair and turned it to face the girl. "But I'm here to continue my questions. You said Orochimaru had been told that Uzushio would be involved. One of my people said that he mentioned the same thing."

Tayuya went quiet, not looking up from her hands as they fidgeted with the flute. "Yeah, so what?"

"Who was it," Naruto asked dangerously. "I have no fears of you lying, but you will answer me."

"I don't know the slick bastard's name!" Tayuya gripped her flute briefly as she shuddered. "He just appeared one day to talk to that Snake. He gave information on the weakness of Konohagakure during the Chunin Exams. He supplied little information about you or those who would be there, he especially refused telling Orochimaru about Uzushio."

Naruto nodded his head slowly. "But you have clearly seen him. What does he look like?"

"A tall bastard, brown hair he keeps slicked back, and dark eyes I couldn't really tell the color of. He wore glasses a few times but he mostly came without them. He wears the same uniform as those four pussies you keep around."

The enforcer uniform. She just described Sosuke Aizen.

But he wouldn't betray me. He has instilled so much devotion to me in the Fourth Division that it is horrifying.

There is something more. If he betrayed you, why did he keep Uzushio hidden? Why go through all of that just to make sure Konoha was targeted?

Naruto is silent as he thinks about this. "Thank you…Tayuya-chan. I will add some luxury into your cell in a few hours as appreciation for your cooperation. I will come back to remove your seal tomorrow then see about getting you accommodation in Uzushio if you choose to continue cooperating."

Before the girl could respond, he released himself from the seal.

Meanwhile

"Orochimaru failed," Gin chuckled in amusement.

"It was expected," Sosuke shook his head as he looked over the map of Sky.

Fourth Division is currently in Sky trying to influence more of the local villages to accept the rule of the Division. This would grant eventual control to Naruto when the villages have been indoctrinated to be loyal to the Uzumaki Prince. It's a long process, especially if they wanted to keep such dark details away from their young Prince.

Sosuke knows his Prince is strong and a very decisive leader, but he is also very innocent when it comes to some things. He won't approve of the methods Aizen and the Fourth Division takes to ensure loyalty to the village. He is fine with that but he won't risk what their predecessors did not foresee.

"How much damage did he even cause?"

Gin hummed as he glanced back over his report. "Destroyed a section of the village walls with his snake summons, as well as most of a district. The counts currently amount to approximately fifty-seven deaths and seventy-three injuries. Most of the statistics are civilian numbers with less than a third being shinobi."

Aizen scoffed with a smile that is mixed between amusement and disappointment. "If this is the capabilities of the smartest Sannin then I do not have any fear of Jiraiya or Tsunade if they ever become an issue."

The Next Day

"Ssss."

Naruto ignored the sound as he sat in front of his long nodachi, which is approximately five and a half feet in length with a four-foot curved blade. He just stared at it with a narrowed gaze. He had been like this for fifteen minutes already, unmoving from his spot even as the whispers continued.

The scabbard is grey with multiple seal markings that are meant to silence and contain. The type of seals you put on unruly prisoner cells. The handle is wrapped with a red braided cord but in the middle a silver metal eye is revealed to stare back at Naruto. The tsuba is a nine-pointed star, in which the points curve up along the blade.

"Sssssss."

Another incoherent whisper graced Naruto's ears as his vision of the weapon blurred for a second.

"Stop."

"Sss."

The whisper is quieter, almost sounding like a child chastised, and the nodachi shudders in and out of reality.

"I told you to be quiet. Contain yourself."

This time the world shook violently but Naruto did not react or take his eyes off of the spot the nodachi used to be. It melted and moulded into a familiar shape, taking final shape just as the world stopped shaking violently. In place of the nodachi is now a thirteen year old Naruto.

However, unlike the real Naruto, this one has black eyes with a blood-red pupil and its hair is longer and unruly, reaching his shoulders. He does not wear a shirt, instead exposing his toned pubescent body, and wears a black hakama with grey tabi. The whisker marks that had always been so thin outside of the Biju transformation are now thick and dark on the twisted grinning face.

"I contain myself all the time, onii-sama," the child grinned cheekily, his voice now coherent from the whispers, before pouting. "You sound so ashamed of me."

Naruto is silent as he watched his younger self pout and look around the room. This is his zanpakuto's spirit, a manifestation of the troubled emotions he had at a younger age when he crafted it. The manifestation of his anger and hatred for everyone, including himself. The spirit even took on a different name, a name that he wanted to strike fear into others.

"I cannot be ashamed of who I am, Khahrahk." The name sent delightful shivers through the zanpakuto spirit and the deranged grin flashed back onto their face. "We do not deserve any emotion like that. No pity, no embarrassment, not even hatred. But I cannot be proud of who I was, the road I would have travelled that seems so similar to the one Sasuke had tried."

"Don't compare us to him," Khahrahk warned with a fleeting moment of annoyance. "We are so much better. We are meant for so much more."

Naruto nodded his head. "We are. But what that future is we cannot agree on. You want to bathe the world in blood and consume the souls of those we cannot twist into subservience."

"And you wish to be boring and try to be nice to everyone!" Khahrahk whined before folding his arms with a grumble. "You act like no one deserves the shit that comes to them. Don't forget what the village alone did to us."

"I can never forget," Naruto whispered quietly. "But there's a difference between forgetting and moving on. I do not wish to let the past bind me from my future."

"Hmm," Khahrahk strummed his hands on the floor impatiently. "So other than telling me to be quiet, like I already know, why are we in this room together?"

Naruto hummed to himself as his eyes unfocused from his surroundings. His mind travelled to Tayuya, to the village, even to Jiraiya.

Tayuya is cooperative, even more so now that she has an actual bed in her cell and is free of the Seal that was given by the Snake Sannin. He had moved the seal onto a small glass ball using a seal transfer technique that is typically used for moving explosive sequences from seal scrolls onto locked doors or collapsed tunnels. The ball had turned a toxic purple and a scream had wailed when he shattered it on the ground.

He will do the same to the others when he gets the time but he is not sure if he wants to send them back. He is thinking of sending Tayuya back to Uzushio with him but he is also waiting for the arrival of one last person. The previous member of the team when they were known as Sound Five. Also the team leader once upon a time before getting an incurable sickness.

As for the village, he is tired of being there. He has had tons of questions from various people about his summons and the wreckage they caused. But if he was honest, he would take property damage over losing more lives of innocent people but not everyone agreed sadly. Many wanted him to help pay for reparations but he ignored that mostly.

Then there is Jiraiya. The man had been obsessive over his location and activities. He was passively hostile with Yoruichi and Zaraki when he met them, almost losing his life if it wasn't for Naruto holding Kenpachi back. It became so bad that Hiruzen had to send the man to find out if any of the other countries were going to capitalise on their lapse of weakness.

"Nothing in particular if I'm honest," Naruto ended up saying with a sigh. "If we are to work together then we need to cooperate. For that, I want to spend time with you."

Khahrahk tilted his head adorably even if his eyes were ominous. "I am always at your command, onii-sama. Whenever you desire our power it is yours."

"Our power," Naruto repeated with a chuckle and a shake of his head. "We are monsters. Wolves in sheep's clothing."

Khahrahk grinned malevolently at the defeated tone Naruto gave. "We are not monsters. The monster is the Sage that turned on his mother. The monster is Danzo when he turned on his village. We are just a necessary evil for the protection of us and our people. We will never allow another Uzushio Massacre to happen so long as we breathe."

Naruto is silent as he listens to Khahrahk speak, knowing that even with the path he has chosen now that the zanpakuto spirit is right.

This is the aftermath and the revealing of Naruto's zanpakuto spirit. I had the idea for it in my head but it was my beta DualEquinox whom helped me finalize the details. The abilities will slowly be revealed in the coming chapters but as you can see, Naruto and Khahrahk are not seeing eye to eye but the spirit still obeys Naruto.

PraetorXyn: I feel like Ashina would not like the Senju because of their beef with a single clan, as the Uzumaki have fought and defeated countless clans, but in particular Tobirama because of his sudden interest in seals (Hiraishin and Impure World Reincarnation). Yachiru is cute and enables her tou-san. As for Gaara, if there are techniques like what Orochimaru used in canon on Naruto to stop him from using Kurama's chakra then I don't see why it not existing in different forms for the Uzumaki.

ecoBlade: Ah yeah I was confused lol but I do have a few non-dragon type monsters added for that kind of reason. I had tried getting some similar Ancient Beasts to the summoning monsters (like Dalamadur with the Snake Summons and others) and there would be a lore reason.

iamshinydragonmist: what's wrong with Ichigo and Renji D:

Freddielebron: Aizen. When Aizen was working with him, he gave the necessary components to make sure Ashina was resurrected. The old prince is insanely strong, he led the Uzumaki for 30 years, but Aizen does not see it as taboo to use the man for his own purposes.

777torn777: The Power of Youth could not overcome the power of titosaurus :(

Poseidon-sensei: Thank you I'm glad you enjoy it. I try to give characters some personality similar to how they are originally but this is also a new universe so not everything is possible. Aizen is my favorite character in my story so far. There is so much I have planned for him :) Fem!Itachi is one of my favorite pairings. Really, it's any Uchiha with Naruto as I think they are all basically Tsundere's. Isane is my favorite girl in Bleach I like tall mommas xD

Solitare1: I'm not familiar with YuYu Hakushu as it wasn't my favorite weekend anime when I was a kid. I liked Inuyasha more. I believe Neji needed more dealt to him and while it is nice in canon that Naruto does it I feel it is best delivered by Hinata since it is her that he abuses. I'm glad you are enjoying the story so far :)

Guest 1: I never stated when it happened. Calm down bro

Guest 2: For character :D

Guest 3: Only Genin there and they don't know better

Guest 4: Why learn or have anything of you don't plan to use it? Who in the Elemental Nations would know the specific incantation to open the scroll and have Uzumaki blood to do so? That may be true, but who would try to face the Jinchuuriki of the strongest Biju? Why waste an army on a single person? Not feasible when the target has a power that can decimate armies and whatever else he has yet to reveal.

Guest 5: Might as well change the age a bit since everything else is aged up. The events of the Sage and Kaguya were stated to happen four or five thousand years before now. Uzumaki were alive and well before then.

Guest 6: It is an anime trope to describe your technique as it happens. It's part of the laws! XO

Guest 7: Because Naruto likes the Grand Scheme Array :(

Guest 8: The toads Jiraiya can travel through do not need to be summons. Could be a toad he can sense in the area that is capable of his travel.

Write Your Wrongs: I think so too :D