Somewhere near the border of wave and the sea sits a solid black sphere. By what can only be considered defiance of gravity it seemed to hold itself seventy meters in the air.

"I apologize for calling you all so suddenly. But something has happened that requires or immediate attention. I'm sure Katsuo has heard since he was wave recently, one of our very generous benefactors has been killed."

Daisuke stopped chipping away at the wooden block in his hand, "Son of a bitch. All that time and effort--wait which one?."

"Gatou."

"oh, well good riddance then. I was getting tired of his incessant bragging. Annoying little blowhard."

"He was also providing us with the bodies of very...favorable people, he was the biggest contributor to our supply of chakra."

Shinji scoffed and shook his head. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but at the rate we were moving at before it would've taken us another half century to get anywhere favorable."

Katsuo stood up, "Maybe not. I've found a chakra source...a big one, I believe it's a tailed beast, I stumbled across the host whilst in wave...he's a child. No older than fourteen, one of us could easily grab him."

"And what about those crazies?, whah were they called?, the Akatsuki or something. Aren't they looking for tailed beast as well?." Daisuke asked, "We have more than enough power to crush those uppity brats if our lord requires it so." Shinji said loudly, "We are out numbered Shinji, I've also heard they move in groups of two so they could theoretically get the upper hand if they were to catch any one of us alone." The leader said, their voice low, "Then we start moving in packs of two. Our group is completely even, Daisuke with Katsuo and you wi--"

"I'm not teaming up with Katsuo...I'd prefer to team up with the boss." Daisuke said, "will you let your sexual desires go for once?, we've just lost a great...eh, ally and you're worried about getting in the bosses pants." Shinji snapped.

"Bite me you geriatric buzz kill."

Shinji went to strangle the teen but was quickly stopped by Katsuo, "Hey, you know he doesn't mean it...he likes to joke, don't you Daisuke."

Daisuke said nothing, continuing to chip away at the wooden block for several seconds. "Yeah whatever."

"Now. Starting tomorrow you will begin searching, any powerful chakra source bijuu or otherwise will be recorded and analyzed before capture." The leader said as they stood up, their thick metal bracelet coming together and making a light jingle sound that suddenly seemed to ease the tension in the room. The symbol on their chest glinting as the light hit the many small jewels embedded in the fabric.

They walked over to what appeared to be an egg, held up by a limb made of red and black pulsing flesh, "The coming of our lord is just over the horizon."


"How are you doing Gaara?."

The red head continued to stare at the massive dunes below. The sky had turned a deep orange, a color he liked. Kankuro began walking away, "Sorry for bothering you i guess." He muttered, "Dreams." Gaara suddenly said, "I've been having dreams."

Kankuro nodded. Not quite sure how to take the news, Gaara was known for being an insomniac, staying up for days on end and taking solider pills when he felt even remotely exhausted, "What...kind of dreams?."

Gaara went silent again and listened to the wind. He had never noticed how vast the desert was, maybe it was because he could traverse it so easily that it only took him a day or so to reach the border, but it wasn't just the desert, he was starting to notice things that other wise would've been insignificant to him. The brown gourd strapped to his back felt heavy, so heavy that sometimes it made him uncomfortable.

Not to mention the now growing discomfort. Something was wrong but he didn't know, "A wolf...chased and devoured by a wolf, I had this dream a month ago...that was the first time I had slept in years...I didn't enjoy it very much."

"Well what do you think the dream means?." Kankuro asked as he looked back to Temari who simply nodded, mouthing the words, 'keep going.'

"A long time ago, father told me that I was the carrier of a perfect defense. Mother proved it to me when uncle tried to...I...don't remember so well."

Gaara rubbed his temple. The headaches were back, "I'm sorry mother...what was I saying, I can't remember...hmm. I-I-I, my head hurts...I'm going to bed."

"Would you like some help?." Temari asked, "No...th--" he stopped himself, as if he had caught himself in the act of doing something unbecoming of him. He simply shook his head and continued walking, "Oh and Gaara, father wanted us to remind you we'll be leaving for the exams tomorrow."

Gaara said nothing.


"Happy to be back?." Hiruzen asked as he sat down and looked at Naruto, he nodded, "I wasn't very homesick but the situation over there wasn't very ideal...had to do some hunting just to eat properly." Naruto replied. "That's good to hear, you know I was reminiscing about my childhood recently. I used to be a bit of a brat, causing trouble for my teachers and what not. Especially in school, did you like the academy?."

Naruto looked around the kitchen for a moment. "No, not particularly." He replied simply, Hiruzen nodded, "...why not?."

Naruto looked at him for a second. "I...I, why do you think?, why are feigning ignorance?."

Hiruzen frowned. He hated to be forward, especially with a matter as heavy as this, "Naruto your treatment and behavior towards the villagers has been...undesirable, I know that you have never seen eye to eye with them but--"

"They're getting what they deserve." Naruto snapped, his finger nails digging into the worn wood of his dinner table, Hiruzens frown grew deeper, "They're people Naruto, hell most of them aren't even Shinobi, they don't know about the in's and outs of chakra like you or I. They're blinded by ignorance, give them a chance--"

"I gave them plenty."

"Naruto please y--"

"Graffiti on my door, breaking my windows and personal belongings, telling their children to inflict harm on me, barred from entering their stores...avoided like some disease ridden dog...they will suffer...and I will enjoy every minute of it."

"You know I can't sit by and let that happen. This village is my home Naruto...and I will protect it from threats...external or internal."

"Then you will burn along with them you old fool."

An intense silent entered the room. Hiruzen said nothing as he stood up and grabbed his hat, walking out of the apartment silently, Danzo grabbed his cane and followed him as he left the apartment, "So?."

"So he's worse then I thought. It seems like he hit his tipping point years ago and there's no turning back."

"You think the fox is involved?." Danzo asked, "I have no doubt, we can't do anything to...major yet. Especially with the exams just over the horizon." Hiruzen responded. Danzo stopped, "So this a green light yes?."

"yes. Begin operation fox hunt."

Naruto grabbed the dinner table and threw it against the wall, watching it shatter into pieces. He had, for the last ten minutes in a blind rage destroyed his apartment. "The nerve of him. Coming in here preaching to me like some..."

Naruto didn't finish the sentence as he punched a hole through his wall. "Bastard. Bastard, bowing down for a bunch of cowards."

An aura so powerful that it could only be considered alien flooded the apartment complex, the roof shook and floor cracked. Naruto clenched his fist, "all of them, every building, every picture, every body will burn."

His aura crackled with a thin black lightning, only one word could describe him right now. Seething.