-AN-

Sort of a cooldown filler chapter here. I didn't think about it, but I have more going on all at once than I anticipated, hence the longer chapters. Whoops. Welp, That's how it runs sometimes, let's get to it.

-Story Start-

Naruko noted that it didn't take long for her to get used to the weirdly always well lit room that she found herself in with her mother. Kushina. Kami was that weird to say. To think the woman who gave birth to Naruto was also somehow sealed inside of him. Probably just as big of a mystery there as it was how she came to be. But, as she laid on her back, head resting in her mother's lap, Naruko told her story from when she was created till now. From torturing Danzo, to figuring out she had a sense of self, to leaving for Taki and meeting Fuu. It's here that Kushina finally pokes her in the cheek.

"Can you tell me about her? You seemed more than a little worried about her." Kushina could tell that this Fuu person must be very special to the young soul, even if she didn't realize it herself.

"She's an airhead, full of energy, super cheerful and willing to try and get along with everyone she can." Naruko looked away shyly, "She's, nice. A really good person. Too good really."

Kushina giggled for a moment, "Just nice? With as worried as you were, I was sure she was a bit more important to you than that."

"She's….yeah. More than nice." Suddenly it was the hardest thing in the world to admit that she had feelings for the mint green haired girl. Everything had started to feel different once she was reunited with Naruto. "I…well…it's hard, to say it out loud ya know?"

Nodding, Kushina runs her fingers through Naruko's long hair, "What's holding you back?"

"Well." The same thing that had stalled her from wanting to get involved with Fuu in the first place. The same thing she still struggled with since she came to realize she had her own free will. "I'm not a real person. Even if I'm somehow created or summoned again, it'll just take a few good hits for me to go away again. I can't stay by her side and-" A finger flick to the forehead silenced her, "Ow! Hey, what the hell?" And how was she feeling pain in this place anyway? What bullshit world rules were they running here?

Kushina held up her hand, prepared to unleash another finger flick of doom, "Enough of that. You said that Fuu told you that you're just as real as anyone else. And I happen to agree. So you're currently available body is a little fragile, we can fix that." A kind smile on her face, and gently poked the younger girl in the forehead. "Like, totally a promise, kay?"

"You're so sure about that. How?"

"Mother's intuition."

"Hmmm…I guess…" None of her memories gave her hope about that, but she'd let Kushina have hope.

"So, what about the rest of the world? What has happened in the last 16 years since I died?"

Naruko hummed as she thought about what she could or should tell her. Anything about the Konoha council would probably piss her off to high heaven. Or Naruto's treatment in that village, or Jiraiya…well. There were more than a few things she probably shouldn't bring up. "Well, Naruto and his friends have rebuilt Uzushio, there's a new capitol city that's thriving and the ninja fortress is coming along. They've allied fully with Spring, Rice, and Hot Water. Suna is mostly there, while Konoha is...Konoha and Kiri is working towards it. Iwa seems to be up to it's usual antics same with Kumo. Oh, Naruto has this weird habit of saving nations or in danger princesses pretty often. No clue how that works really. But he's strong. Really really strong. Plus, he's started to rebuild the clan, he's picked up a few Uzumaki clan members, all women, and he's brought along a couple of girls from Konoha who are super devoted to him." Watching Kushina's eyes widen the longer she goes on, Naruko grins, "Plus, there are some little ones on the way."

"Little ones?"

"Yup, one from the Spring Daimyo, Koyuki, and the other from a woman he saved, Kotohime. Both love him completely, and are extremely devoted." Naruko had odd feelings about having those memories, now that she and Naruto were separate individuals.

Kushina nods absently, "Just a moment." Gently raising Naruko's head and laying her back down so she could rise alone. Kushina takes a few steps away calmly. Naruko watches on, curious, as Kushina suddenly bursts into motion. Weird fans decorated in Uzumaki colors in her hands, she does a weird victory dance that sends her twirling and cackling back and forth. "Grandbabies!" Dance become more acrobatic as she jumps and flips through the air, confetti burst from somewhere to rain down around them, "My son has children coming! I'm going to be a grandmother! Ohohohoho!"

"Uh…" This was their mother? She was an absolute loon. Well, at least now she knew where they got the crazy from.

Settling onto the floor softly and primly wiping her dress down, Kushina returns to kneeling on the floor, gently placing Naruko's head back in her lap. With a blush on her face and coughing once into her fist, Kushina looked away as she motioned for Naruko to continue, "Please, what else has been happening?"

Guessing it was best to ignore that bit of insanity, Naruko pressed on, "Well…Besides Naruto kicking the shit out of the sannin, building a bomb large enough to take out villages, and being recognized by the toads in order to undergo Sage training? I think he's been pretty busy all things considered." Naruko reached up and gently poked the blushing woman in the cheek, "Wanna tell me what that was all about?" Nevermind ignoring that craziness, she needed answers.

"It's a mother thing…" Giggling, Kushina waves Naruko's odd look away, "I think, all things considered, you've done so well for yourself up until now. If only one of us could have been there to guide you."

Naruko shakes her head, "I mean, that was all Naruto. Not me."

Shaking her head, Kushina returns to gently stroking the girl's hair, "I was referring to how well you have been dealing with things. Unsure of who or what you are, yet you still somehow made a friend, built a connection that you were willing to fight and die for. For how short a time you have been, alive, you've done some real work in trying to improve that girl's life." Here Kushina does frown a bit, "Yes, your methods leave much to be desired. Extreme to the max I'd say. But well." Smirking, Kushina thumps her own chest once, "I can't say I haven't done my own set of extreme things when it came to those I love." Kushina did her best to reassure the girl below her, while her mind wandered to other topics. Naruto actually built the seal based bombs? That would have taken more than just her notes in order to do so. Unless he created them completely on his own, which would be worrisome. It was one of the pillars that caused some of the greatest rifts between the Uzumaki and the rest of the world. Never mind their abilities regarding sealing away the biju or rendering enemy biju useless. Something to think on more.

Naruko was focused on what she had said in a different way, "Can you tell me? About some of the things you've done?" She still thought of herself as a monster, nonhuman. Maybe hearing more examples could help ground her a bit more.

Kushina nods instantly, "I would be happy to pass along whichever knowledge that I can to my beautiful daughter." Looking up and thinking, missing Naruko blush, Kushina snaps her fingers, "Let me tell you about the time Jiraiya peeped on some of us girls in the bath…"

-b-

Today found Uzushio to be humid and warm, heavy clouds floated overhead and blocked the sun, but no rain as of yet. As the citizens all continued with their day as normal, one young man was doing his best to make sense of what his brain was telling him and trying to make him accept. Groggy but awake, Naruto is trudging his way down one of the main roads followed by a worried Karin and an irritated Jiraiya.

"Naruto, I'm really thinking you should return to bed. Whatever has you so worried can be checked on by someone else." Karin walked on his right side, a green hannya mask on her face and thin green chakra covering her hand as she runs it along his spine and the back of his head. Sure he wasn't injured physically, but he was working through some major mental strain. Any relief she could give would probably be appreciated.

Jiraiya had his arms crossed as he walked along on Naruto's left, "Listen to the girl gaki. This can wait can't it?" Idly he noted how as usual the city crowds parted around Naruto easily. He was still aware enough to keep a smile on his face and greet those that greeted him with ease. But to any ninja present they could most likely tell that the kid was worn out. "If it's that serious, I can go take care of it for you."

Shaking his head, Naruto sighs with some relief as Karin's work does lessen his headache a bit, "One of my clones lasted waay longer than it should have, finally dispelling yesterday. It was the overload of about a month's worth of information getting dumped on me all at once that knocked me out."

Jiraiya nods, "So your clone did something, not bad right?" The shadow clone technique was a kinjutsu for a reason. Though the elder was sure none of the previous users ever thought they would run into this sort of problem. Granted no one had been able to make them in the numbers that Naruto could. That was bound to cause some problems.

"No. Yes. It's confusing." Having a memory of his chest opening up so he could literally eat two full grown men was more than a little disturbing. Did all of his clones have that ability? Or was that just Naruko? Just what the hell was she?

Karin brought up something else, "Who…who is airhead-chan?" Surely his clone wouldn't have somehow picked up a new girl that Naruto himself was now going to have to care for and bring into the fold without their permission. That would be a major drag.

Naruto shook his head, "Don't know really. Still sorting through all the memories. Pretty sure though that she is a Jinchuriki like me. From Taki." He didn't miss both Karin and Jiraiya pausing for half a step before catching back up with him. He wished he had more complete answers for them. "It's easier, you know, when I just use clones for construction or repetitive tasks. My mind filters most of it out easily. But this? It was like a whole separate person's mind was added to my own. I'm having a weird time feeling like I should look down and see tits."

Karin finally lets up with her healing as she feels like she's done as much as she can, "Mental feedback? Overwriting?"

Jiraiya shook his head, "I'd think more of like, phantom body syndrome maybe. I think the Yamanaka deal with the same thing if they have to mind walk someone of the opposite sex for an extended period of time. It'll clear up after a while."

Naruto sighs and thanks the stars for that small miracle, "Good. I'm very happy with my own body thank ya very much."

Jiraiya thumps him on the shoulder, "So where are you leading us?"

Motioning ahead as the road begins to clear as they start making their way to a more suburban district, Naruto notes that they are getting close to the Hotaru clan compound, "The Uzumaki shrine. Apparently Naruko and Fuu decided to pick a fight with a couple of Akatsuki members."

"Fuu?"

"Naruko?"

Naruto nods to them both, "Naruko, the name my clone took while she was on her own. And Fuu, the Jinchuriki. Naruko sacrificed herself to send Fuu to the Uzumaki shrine with a hiraishin tag and the last of her chakra." And wasn't that a kicker. She was supposed to send Danzo to him, but instead decided to leave a present for Sasuke to vent his frustrations on later. Odd choice, but one that worked out for her in the end. It further highlighted that she have her own will and made her own decisions.

In his head, Kurama grumbles, 'That a version of you was able to use a bijudama is more than a little interesting, the little monster.' He meant it as a compliment, though the grumble from Naruto clued him in that it would be received as anything but.

'Most likely because her body was all chakra just like you would be, she could do stuff like that. Doubt I'd be able to pull that off.'

'Not without dying.'

'That's what I figured.'

Looking up as they pass the Hotaru clan grounds, waving and getting greetings in return from a few of the curious aunties out making their rounds, Naruto spies the Uzumaki shrine just ahead of them. "I'm taking a long nap after this."

Karin nods and leans into him, "You need it." She'd make sure to help him relax later, maybe with Honoka's help.

Walking the rest of the way in silence, Naruto pauses as they come upon the rebuilt and cleaned up Uzumaki shrine. Built much like a temple manned by the fire monks, colored in the Uzumaki usual blues and reds, it was an imposing sight. It gave off a peaceful aura to him though, and he kept forgetting and was suddenly reminded that he needed to spend some time here in order to replace Mito with his own shade. Coming to the bottom of the steps, his group is greeted by a gently smiling Mito as she exited the shine and bowed deeply to him. Returning her bow, Naruto begins to ascend the steps, "Is she here? Fuu?"

Mito nods, "The poor dear was rather beat up and worse for wear. She's very tired, so do take good care of her."

"I promise."

Mito stands aside as Naruto and the others reach the entrance, "I don't have much energy left, your next visit might be my last."

Sighing, Naruto pauses to fully face her and bows deeply at the waist, "I'm sorry I've been so busy and keep putting this off. I know it's a strain for you."

Mito waves him away as she begins to fade, "You are doing well, young Lord. I believe in you." And then she was gone, leaving Naruto and the others alone, though Jiraiya pokes him in the shoulder.

"Was that, really Mito Uzumaki?"

"Yup, in the…well not flesh. But you get it." Continuing deeper into the shrine, Naruto comes upon the dark skinned and battered form of Fuu. Resting as comfortably as she can against the altar, Naruto motions for the others to wait as he comes forward. Fuu shakes awake, flinching at the sight of the new ninja before locking her gaze onto him first with hostility, but then slowly with some recognition. Kneeling down in front of her, Naruto offers a smile, "Hey there, airhead-chan."

Tears beginning to fall within seconds, with a sob Fuu reaches forward and latches onto Naruto with all that she's worth. "I'm sorry…" Burying her face into his chest, she accepts his gentle hold of her as he caresses her back. "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't need to be. Everything will be alright from here on. You did well." Naruto wasn't Naruko, nor was he going to try to be. He felt more, normal, now that she had dispelled, but he could part with that part of him easily enough if it helped his felling Jinchuriki.

"No I…I fucked up. I wasn't strong enough. I was arrogant and thought my biju would be enough for me…" Another heavy sob racks her frame as she fists her hands into his jacket, "I should have listened to Naruko. She wanted to come straight here and I…I…" Unable to finish, Fuu finally collapses fully into him as the emotional toll catches up with her.

Naruto however waves away her concerns, a gentle smile still on his face, "Don't need to beat yourself up so much. Naruko knew her time was limited, that she got you here safely is more than enough." Naruto pushed her away a bit and held her by her shoulders, "You're here. Safe. Now we'll get to fixing things, one step at a time." Unsealing a soft cloth from a pocket, Naruto offers it to her and she accepts it easily enough, beginning to clean up her face.

"Thank you." Fuu takes a minute to sit back and just watch the kind boy who shared her girlfriend's face. Unable to help herself, she giggles as she relaxes a bit more, "Naruko was right, you are a good big brother."

Chuckling and grinning, Naruto nods, "Cant' say I have a lot of practice with it, but thanks." Of course, now he had a whole new host of problems to deal with. Could he recreate Naruko as she was? Did he just have to rely on being lucky or was it like summoning? Did that mean there was possibly more different versions of him floating around in his clones?

Fuu watches his face contort as he concentrates and mentally decides to ask the one thing she really wanted to know more than anything else. "Can you…" Pausing as his blue and purple eye latch onto her, Fuu looks away with some embarrassment, "Can you re-summon Naruko?" She wanted her best friend and girlfriend back, more than anything right now.

Tilting his head left and then right as Karin and Jiraiya waited patiently behind him, Naruto thought hard about it. It wouldn't hurt to try after all. "I'll give it a shot, I can't promise anything though. It might just be a newer verion of me after all."

Fuu shakes her head quickly as Naruto stands and backs away a bit, "I'll know if it's my Na-chan."

"Of course you will." Closing his eyes in order to focus, he decided he would treat it more like summoning than just making a clone. Actually making the cross seal with his hands to help focus, he begins to well up chakra while poking around in his mind.

Deep within him, Kushina and Naruko look up as a tone rings loudly around them, much like a bell. Kushina sighs, while Naruko watches her with some confusion. "What was that?"

Kushina helps the girl stand, coming up herself and bringing her daughter in for one last hug. "I wish I had more time. I have so much to tell you and Naruto. So many things to explain to you."

Naruko felt herself becoming lighter and started to understand what was happening, "He figured it out."

"Something like that." Kushina held her hands as her body slowly became less and less corporeal, "In the lower levels of the temple, there is a tome there detailing a long and, bloody, history of the Uzumaki. Find it with Naruto's help, and you may just find some answers there."

Nodding, Naruko squeezed Kushina's hands, "Thanks mom. For everything. I hope I get to see you again."

"Not until you're old and grey young lady. Make sure of that okay? You and your reckless brother." Watching Naruko fade away, Kushina sighed and wiped away her tears. Happy that she got to share her feelings with even just a version of her child, it was more than enough, and maybe, more than she deserved.

Appearing within the Uzumaki shrine, Naruko stumbles and with a start realizes that she's more complete than before. "What the…" Her mental holes were gone, she could remember not just Naruto's life, but her own after she had gained independence. She didn't need to hunt around to figure out her emotions or feelings, it was all here. Sure she still had no clue what she was, but time could fix that. Looking around quickly and catching sight of Naruto grinning at her, she ignored him in her search for Fuu. "Fuu!" Said girl was already flying, spearing her in the middle before latching on with arms and legs to hug with other girl with all her might. "Fuu!" Taking control quickly, Naruko kissed the girl she was in love with happily and deeply.

Watching on from the sidelines as the two girls assured each other that they were alive and in one piece for the most part, he looked away as things devolved into a crying filled make out session. This lets him catch Jiraiya whipping out his book, pencil scratching away as he made notes and giggled. "Really? Now?"

"Inspiration comes in all forms apprentice." That the boy's clone could become this! Surely this opened so many possibilities for the future!

"I mean." Naruto did nudge him once, hard, "Technically that's my...sister? So weird."

Shrugging and ignoring him, Jiraiya keeps writing, "Not like she's given me an ultimatum yet, so I'm free and clear."

From where they had collapsed into each other's arms and sitting on the floor, Naruko doesn't look but gives Jiraiya the finger anyway, "I'll rip your balls off and stuff em up your ass Pervy sage."

Book disappearing, Jiraiya grumbles, "No respect, no respect at all."

Kurama laughed up a storm in Naruto's head, 'I LIKE her!'

'Of course you do.'

Standing again and helping Fuu up, Naruko turns to face everyone present. Both girls held the other's hand tightly, refusing to let the other go. "I uh…" Looking at Naruto nervously, she presses on with some silent encouragement from Fuu, "Thanks. Ya know? For bringing me back. I'm not really human, and you don't owe me anything and-"

Stepping forward, Naruto calmly chops the stressed out girl in the forehead, "Chill out. Your airhead-chan wanted your big brother's approval, so this was the least that I could do."

Fuu can't help but pout, "I'm not an airhead…" She was summarily ignored by the newly minted Uzumaki siblings.

Naruko sighs heavily and releases some of the tension that had built up in her shoulders, "Sure it's temporary, but I'll take what I can get. I'm still a clone after all, just a being made of chakra." Something she would need to look into now that they knew she could come and go when needed.

Nodding, Naruto does agree with her, "We can figure out how to give you a permanent body one way or another. Stranger stuff has happened."

Jiraiya coughs into his hand to gain their attention, "There's always blood clones. Dangerous things that." Seeing both blonde teens turning his way, he continues, "Takes some work and is a major forbidden technique. You'll have to harvest your blood over a long period of time, because you're going to need a lot of it, and a lot of chakra as well. But, it'll create a real flesh and blood body, completely autonomous from you."

Naruto continues to just watch the sage with a blank look, "And do you know how to do the blood clone technique?"

"No, but I'll go dig up the scroll. Konoha has a copy I'm pretty sure." Jiraiya knew by this point, now that a solution was in sight, none of them would rest until they got it done. Guess that meant he had work to do as well. "You'll also need a better handle on chakra natures, including natural chakra, yin and yang release as well. So no more putting off the toads."

Karin joins in and comes up to Naruto's side as he nods quietly to the sage, "We can get started in my lab as well, drawing blood every few days and storing it away for now." She happily accepts Naruto's arm encircling her waist.

Bouncing in place in her excitement, Fuu turns to a visibly confused Naruko, "You hear that Na-chan? You're gonna get a body." Still super excited she begins to shake the girl back and forth.

Letting Fuu do as she wanted, Naruko watched Naruto and the others, "You're going through a lot for the life of a clone."

Karin is the one to answer right away, "Well, you know how he is, we never hesitate to help family. And that includes you. So it's an easy choice."

Naruto nods and focuses intently on Naruko, "No matter how you came to be, you're here now." Searching her eyes for something and noting the immature rinnegan there, Naruto continued, "It's weird. You're a clone sure, but not completely me. There's more in you…" Naruto pondered over it as he felt about her chakra, "There's me, Kurama, and something else."

Naruko thinks on that for a moment, so she was a mixture of chakra? Naruto and Kurama made sense. The last? "Maybe it's mom?" Seeing Naruto's eyes begin to widen in shock, Naruko nods, "Yeah uh. Kurama isn't the only one sealed in you. Mom's in there too."

'What the hell!? Where is she! Kushina you brat!' Kurama began to rage as how in all these years could his last container not come and see him at least once. All her talk about filling him with love and whatnot. Bah.

Naruto shook his head slowly, "No way." Was it his dad then? Did he leave a portion of her in him for some reason? Was he in there too? So many new questions with no readily available answers.

Naruko could see the confusion and just nodded, "Guess old dad left you a little gift?" Not like they had played with his seal at all, still feeling like they had a long way to go before trying anything with it.

Naruto eventually nods at that. "Smartass old men leaving us with new puzzles to figure out." If he ever got the chance, he'd slug his old man one. Maybe he'd abuse the shinigami mask just once for that. It'd be worth it. Looking up and seeing Fuu continue to shake a tired looking Naruko back and forth, Naruto walked forward and brought both of them into a hug. Getting a squeak from Fuu, Naruto laughed, "Give me some time, I'll figure out how to make this right."

Naruko nodded as Naruto pulled away, "I…appreciate it. And uh. Sorry about the weird memories."

Naruto shrugged as he began to grin, "Don't worry about it. Just, ya know, maybe hold off on anymore fun time under we figure out how to give you a permanent body huh?" Naruto winked at Fuu who was beginning to visibly blush, "I'd rather not have anymore memory dumps of your sex life. Please and thank you."

Blushing herself, feeling shame for the first time, Naruko points dramatically at him, "Delete those memories! Scrub them out! Those aren't for you!"

"How the hell am I supposed to do that? It's my brain, I can't just carve them out."

Naruko rages some more, "Then I'll dispel and do it for you!" Seeing Naruto laugh and back away, Naruko produces a kunai from somewhere, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Somewhere not getting brain shanked?" Seeing the murderous look into Naruko's eyes, Naruto shrugged and decided to go for broke, "You know, for such a surly attitude, you sure turn into a kitten when motivated." Jumping away and running, his laugh echoes in the inner chamber as Naruko chases him with kunai aimed to maim him.

"Come back here and let me purge you!" A kunai left her hand and just barely missed him, but she raced on while marveling at the easier chakra control.

"It's your fault, not mine!" Naruto didn't really know how to feel about having all of these extra memories, but he couldn't deny that Naruko had wonderful taste in women.

"Call it new sibling love! With a kunai!"

"Can't we call it even, you have all my memories right? Right?" He saw a glazed look into her eyes for a moment before she shook it off and started rushing after him even faster than before, though now with a light blush.

"Mine are more precious, I'm your baby sister aren't I?" She couldn't let Fuu figure that part out either. She didn't want the other girl getting jealous or anything.

"You're using that to your advantage now? No fair!"

"Life's tough, get over it asshole!"

Fuu sighs and puts her hands on her hips, "Can you not kill each other right after you've gotten together?!" Watching the Uzumaki siblings chase each other around the temple, Fuu sighs and turns to the others. "I sure hope this doesn't become a regular thing." She was more than happy that things worked out somehow, even if temporarily. She'd give thanks to the kami later. Hearing a scream but not able to tell which one of the two made it, she turned to the glasses wearing Karin, "Are the Uzumaki usually like this?"

Karin has no issue nodding right away, "We're a hard hitting and chaotic family, but tight knit and loving." Karin walks forward to pull the other girl into a soft hug, "Welcome. To Uzushio and the family. Something tells me you aren't going anywhere." Karin steps back, before both are distracted by Naruto flying overhead.

"It's not my fault! I'm not a pervert!"

Flying over them next, nails now claws and eyes fully red, Naruko is grinning up a storm, "I'm gonna rip those precious memories out of you!" Karin, Fuu, and Jiraiya flatly ignored that her mouth was way to wide and had too many teeth as well. Thinking hard on that would lead to madness, and they didn't have the energy for that today.

Karin is the first to comment on things though, "We've unleashed some new form of chaos on the world..."

Jiraiya nods, "One Naruto was bad enough, but a second one? And a woman? Might just be the end of the world." Receiving a kick in the shin for his thoughts, Jiraiya watches as Naruko finally catches up and tackles Naruto. He considers that she was probably why Naruto had been so unbalanced lately, but that would be something else to figure out later.

-b-

Half a world away, the Raikage is in a meeting with a faceless messenger ninja who the burly man hands over a letter to. While he was still waiting on an update from Yugito that should be coming any day now, he'd like to have a backup plan just in case. Noting the headband, A steepled his hands together, "The Land of Sky was once a good friend to Kumo, before Konoha destroyed you. It'd be best to send you off with another warning. A new nation is on the rise, one that you helped us put down. There's a chance they will be looking for vengeance, and it'd be best for you to crush them first." A motions to the letter in the messenger's hand, "The letter has the details. The Uzumaki have returned, and Uzushio needs to be crushed. Do so, and Kumo will aid you in crushing Konoha." Getting a bow from the silent messenger, A waves the man away who efficiently turns and leaves the room. Confident on his call, he summons his next appointment. Samui and her team enter next, all of them coming to attention before his desk.

"You called for us, Lord Raikage?" Samui's voice was firm while her gaze held firm.

A nods, "Yugito is still not expected back for some time yet, but I have a new mission for you." Seeing them all nod, he grins, "In case Uzushio fends off Sky, and in the wild case Yugito somehow fails, we'll need to get in contact with Iwa." Here he reaches into his desk to produce a small scroll that he hands to the team leader. Offering them a stern look, A continues, "This letter is for the Tsuchikage alone, and you are to return asap with his response. Understood?"

They all nod as Samui slips the scroll away into her pouch, "Of course Lord Raikage."

A waves a massive hand towards the door, "Then get going. No time to lose here." Watching them leave, his mind turns inward. While it was almost impossible to think that Yugito could fail as the woman was specifically made to be able to pull off missions like this, he did consider the other half of the problem. That Maelstrom was a bleeding heart type, and if he got wind of Yugito's story he'd find a way to spare her. Granted, that did give A the ability to use her some more in the future, so that was a minor plus. Groaning as he leaned back for a moment, he considered that between Sky prodding them into action, and rebuilding some type of alliance with Iwa, Kumo certainly had nothing to fear from the small island nation. Worst came to worst, he'd gather up as many of the smaller villages as necessary and crush the Uzumaki just like his predecessor did. Maybe finally they could get a hold of the fabled Uzumaki hidden scroll.

-b-

Another world away and in his office as well, Onoki sits alone as night descends on his village after sending his grandchildren away. Troubled and thinking over his next move, he decides that he needs a bigger threat to send after this whelp who was making his life difficult. Young though the Maelstrom may be, he was proving to be cunning and powerful. Onoki knew better as well, given the chance this kid was only going to become more powerful as the days pressed on. Sighing and realizing he was going to have to bite the kunai so to speak, he reached for a fresh piece of paper and a pen. Beginning to pen a letter, he decides that he's going to call in that Akatsuki group for a hit. He hadn't used them in a long time, but this was becoming their level of problem. But it didn't matter. He didn't need some new village upsetting the balance the five major villages had. Everyone important won so long as their system stayed just the way it was. To break this balance would almost assuredly send the world into another war. One Onoki could admit privately to himself that Iwa might not come out on top of next time.

Across the village an upset Kurotsuchi is packing and sealing away equipment. She had spent weeks patiently doing just as she was told and being chaperoned on missions, but no longer! "Old man wants me on house arrest. Bah. Fuck that. I'm going to find that Maelstrom asshole and put him down." She had a score to settle with the Uzumaki, and word was Uzushio was alive and well. Diplomatic channels were raving about them, newer tech and ideas, thriving economy, the works. Good for them. She had a target now. Now the question was, was she going to go alone or bother bringing that Suzumebachi girl again. She'd rather not spend months lost again if she could help it. "Plus being alone on the road kinda sucks." Muttering to herself until she remembered that it was partly Suzumebachi's fault that she failed last time anyway. Girl even admitted that her heart wasn't in it. She didn't need that for her next attempt. Sealing everything away and deciding to travel light, she nodded and decided it was better to go it alone. She was focused this time, and she wouldn't lose.

-AN-

For anyone hoping for some type of twincest, ya'll can crush those dreams right now, ain't gonna happen. Coming up? Naruto finally gets a move on, and Tayuya gets a few tests as a temporary leader for Uzushio. We'll have a few chapters focusing on other teams and places as well, while occasionally poking in on the Uzumaki head.

-OMAKE-

Isaribi was having a wonderful day, the golem were performing perfectly, she was able to ride the waves and explore the coral reefs with no issue, and now, relaxed and sunbathing on a soft sandy beach, she got to enjoy some well deserved downtime. Dressed in a blue and orange tankini, she stretches out some more and wonders if maybe she should get back to the city. Maybe she could go get some lunch and come back for a picnic. It was a wonderfully warm day today, staying inside would be such a waste. Enjoying the warm sun on her skin, she moaned lightly and stretched. Maybe staying right here was a better idea.

Not far away and trying to calm his nerves as he had been been sent to check up on the undertow leader for some reason, Gosu wandered his way along the beach that he was told she would most likely frequent. Berating himself that he hadn't made a real move on the woman, he resolved that today he would do so. Absolutely. Yes. "What's the worst that can happen? She says no? I'll have an answer at least." Of course, that almost meant the crushing realization that the woman who had captured his attention all this time might not want anything to do with him outside of just being friends. That almost sent him firmly into leaving the thought alone. Steeling himself after seeing a shock of purple hair, Gosu mentally firms himself up. "Can't assume the worst. Man up!" Whispering harshly to himself, Gosu slaps his cheeks before loudly calling out to her.

Isaribi hears the voice of her friend and jumps up, grinning and running towards him, "Hey Gosu! What're you doing all the way out here?"

Gosu watches her, the soft looking skin and modest chest all on display was a lot for him, and he ends up stuttering, "Ju-ju-just here looking for an extremely beautiful woman, that's all. Ah. I mean. Looking for you. Ya. I uh."

Caught off guard, isaribi chuckles and realizes with a start that Gosu had the hots for her. Mentally smacking herself as she just knew this had been going on for a while, she decides to roll with it. Uzushio was her new lease on life wasn't it? "You aren't so bad looking yourself. So ya found me. Now what?"

Embarrassed, Gosu shrugs, "I was uh, sent to check up on you."

Isaribi holds up her radio, "Someone could have just called me." Isaribi sighs as she considers the situation for a moment, "Who sent ya?"

Gosu starts to fold in on himself a little as he thinks on it himself, "Ladies Koyuki and Kotohime, on behalf of Lady Tayuya apparently." Lady Tayuya was one of those that no one wanted to say no to if they could help it. She seemed to work just as hard as Lord Naruto these days. "She left on a mission and left instructions with the others."

Isaribi sighs and turns away slightly, arms held around her middle, "Meddlesome women need to leave me alone." Granted, she wasn't going to make a move herself, having just been so happy to have the freedom that she has now. Grinning at her friend and maybe love interest, she hooks a thumb towards the water, "You ever been to the reef?"

Gosu shakes his head, "Not a lot of free time. Nothing but missions and patrols."

Isaribi jogs towards him, grabbing his hand with a bright smile and dragging him along behind her, "Today is the perfect day to do so! Let's go!" Cheering, the woman decided that yeah, Uzushio was a land of fresh beginnings. Might as well make sure her's was well worth it.