-AN-

Not going to lie, if not for all of your support/reviews/theories I probably would not have gotten this far with the story. So thank you all, for loving my hobby as much as I do apparently. Mushy stuff over, let's blow something up.

-Story Start-

Naruto sighed as he looked out over the ocean at dawn. Their vacation was only meant to be 2 days, but had turned into a full week of lazing about or partying. Only now, finally deciding to get up and get back to work, the group found themselves on a boat borrowed from a man in Wave and navigating to where Karin and Tayuya remembered the Southern sound base was located. Hinata was tagging along for doujutsu backup, while Ino was pulling Koyuki duty. This early in the morning however Naruto was alone at the bow while Tayuya and Karin navigated their way. On the horizon he could just make out an island with jagged rocks pointed at the sky like demonic fingers. That was most likely their target.

Hinata quietly made her way next to him, staring out over the sea in silence while the sky transitioned from dark purple to a mix of orange, yellow, and blue. "Have you thought up a plan?" Much like her, the question was quiet.

Naruto nodded, "Tayuya says this early in the morning no guards will be outside. So I'm going to spam clones and have them transform and infiltrate the base. Think you can scout with your eyes and give me an idea of how many enemies we have to worry about?"

"Of course."

"Good, then I'll neutralize them and they we'll set about freeing prisoners and giving them their options. Karin says there are records here she'll want to raid, might have information on other bases or prisoner movements."

"Sounds like this should be quick, with any luck."

Here Naruto turned to her and grinned, "If it's luck, then we've got this in the bag." Watching the sea breeze tussle her hair as she smiled in return, Naruto had the urge to reach out and hold her hand. So he did. Calmly taker on of her hands into his own, his smile became softer, "Thank you, for being here through all of this."

Blush blooming on her face, Hinata could do nothing but nod. He was holding her hand, he was touching her! If they didn't have a mission to complete she could pass out happy right now. "O-o-of course, Naruto. I meant it, I want to be by your side." That she wanted to be so much more went without saying. Her dreams lately had been much more, spicy in nature.

"Well you're welcome to be here, for as long as you want."

Behind them in and in the wheelhouse Karin and Tayuya watched quietly. Karin with a smile while the look on Tayuya's face was something more pensive. Karin noticed this and hip checked her friend, "Maybe you could just like, talk to him?"

"I don't do mushy."

"Start with something he can help you with, like the seal."

"I…maybe. Now's not the time."

"You're making excuses." Turning to walk out and join the others Karin turned red eyes towards Tayuya, "He's not Orochimaru, or Kabuto." Leaving, the shorter girl jumped and latched onto Naruto's back with a laugh. Naruto and Hinata joined her, sharing a joke while their hands parted. Tayuya watched the scene in silence while she considered her own options. She hadn't considered she could have the seal removed. This lasting mark that showed Orochimaru owned her. If that could be removed then what? Shaking her head and noticing they were within spitting distance of the shore, she cut the engine and let the boat coast it's way towards beaching itself on the shoreline.

Naruto turned back towards the other Uzumaki, "So I'm gonna infiltrate with clones and take down whoever stands in the way. Quietly. I don't want them panicking and killing prisoners." He didn't want everyone thinking he only had explosives to use after all.

Karin nodded, "There's an entrance just past that outcropping ahead, and another on the other side of the island under a false rock."

Hinata had her Byakugan active, eyes scanning back and forth rapidly, "I see fourteen guards, they don't' seem like ninja but they're all armed. I don't see any ninja at all actually. But there are a lot of prisoners….like really a lot." It didn't make much sense here, why have so many prisoners but so few guards? That was asking for a prison break. There were what looked like a couple thousand people below their feet.

Tayuya frowned, "They must have raided somewhere recently, there were no more than a couple hundred prisoners here last time I was through here."

Naruto shrugged and made his seal, "Doesn't matter, we're freeing them." Making clones a dozen at a time to keep the chakra flares low, the clones would salute and transform into some type of insect before flying off.

Karin grabbed Tayuya and hopped out of the boat to the rocky beach, "We can get to the other entrance, it's closer to the warden's office where records would be stored." Naruto nodded and made a dozen clones to specifically aid them. Within a breath they were gone and dashing to the other side of the small island.

Hinata watched quietly as the Naruto's found the entrance and made their way inside. "The facility is massive Naruto, but I don't see any major traps or seals in place. Looks like the only thing protecting it was that no one knew it was here."

"So close to wave it's amazing no one figured it out. But I guess with Wave not having ninja and Konoha having priorities elsewhere it makes sense." Naruto made another brace of clones before instructing them not to transform, just head in. By now the previous clones will have started to take down guards.

Hinata nodded, watching as several guards were either taken down silently with kunai or in one case where a guard was getting handy with a female prisoner, that particular Naruto clone brutally twisted his neck. "All but one of the guards is down for good." Naruto nodded and motioned for them to go, "Let's get inside then, is there any large gathering space?"

Hinata nodded, "Yes. Once you get towards the center the entire base opens up into a gigantic open room. We can gather people there for extraction."

Naruto nodded and formed a single clone with new directions and had it dispel. The clones were to give the prisoners their options for how they wanted to leave. Keeping it vague in case people wanted to go their own way. From there he and Hinata dashed inside, Hinata directing him through torch lit hallways and down stairwells. They passed a few Sound guard corpses before they opened out into the dark and dank space that she had mentioned. So far down and deep below the water line, it probably could have fit Konoha's Hokage tower, but now the room was filling with people who were being directed by Naruto clones. Sighing at the ragged state of everyone he could see, their work was cut out for them it seemed. Making two clones while Hinata continued to scan for threats, he turned to them.

"You go to Koyuki, let her know we hopefully have incoming refugees." Pointing at one that saluted and flashed away, then turned to the other, "You head to wave, let Tsunami and Tazuna know the same."

"On it boss." It too flashed away.

With a grimace Naruto then began to make hundreds of clones at a time, spacing them out because he had to make sure they had the extra chakra to make a hiraishin jump with a passenger. 'Hey Kyuubi, might need a hand here.' There were easily a few thousand people here, guess Hinata was right about there being a lot of prisoners. That was way more than expected and they weren't going to fit on the little fishing boat they had borrowed.

Grumbling but sending out a tendril of chakra, the Kyuubi complied, 'I told you little monkey, for this you need not ask.'

'It's Naruto you grump, get it right.'

The Kyuubi considered that. The boy had been true to his word, and was doing his best to keep his actions honorable. Perhaps….'I have a name as well, Kurama. Address me as such. Naruto.'

'Sure thing…Kurama.' Not hiding his surprise at all, Naruto reminded himself that he needed to have a sit down with the Ky-no, Kurama one day soon. Continuing to make clones who would pair off with a prisoner and explain their options to them, he could already see some of them flashing away. Hinata finally pointed down towards the middle of the space where a clone was holding a bleeding man on the ground. The guard was missing his legs below the knee and raging at the clone. Nodding at each other, they both jumped over the rail and descended to see what the issue was.

Naruto came forward first as they hit the ground, drawing the attention of everyone in the immediate area, "Whats the deal, I thought I gave orders to neutralize all of them."

The clone turned back with a frown on it's face, "This here is the warden…he's been a little extra when some of the prisoners. Thought you might want to give him a special send off." Clone tossing a new seal on the man's back, he groaned as his chakra was locked away and he was paralyzed. Naruto himself however got the full force of this clone's memories. And none of it was pretty. What the prisoners described about this guy made Naruto want to drag a rusty kunai through his gut.

Someone, a woman who was holding torn rags around her frame stepped forward. Malnourished and thin, hair greying in some spots, Naruto gave her his attention. "Is it true? You're giving us options to go wherever we wish?"

Naruto shrugged while looking around at the sea of faces watching him. There were no ninja here. Just civilians that had been caught in the crossfire most likely of one conflict or another. This was the ninja world right now. More worried about themselves than the lives they trampled on. He wanted to change it, even if he could only do so this small bit at a time. He amplified his voice with a little wind chakra and made sure to make eye contact with the woman and many of the others around her, "I can't take you just anywhere, but I am giving you choices. There's a place to the north, you'll be far away from wars and conflicts. It's quiet, most likely you'll be farming or something, but it's peaceful. Or I can take you somewhere I'm rebuilding, a chance at a new home we can build together. Something for us, the people this world tramples on. Conflict may come, but I vow to protect each and every one of you who decides to stay. The last thing I can do is drop you off somewhere in Hi no Kuni near a village or town and you can find your own way from there. But the choice is yours, I won't pressure any of you." Scanning his gaze across everyone gathered, he smiled slightly as several bowed before speaking to clones and being flashed away.

Below him the man struggled to look at him, groaning in pain. He was very fat, bald and if Naruto had to guess, hadn't had to struggle for much in a long time. "You think you can get away with this?"

Naruto nodded, "Kinda already have buddy." Watching the space empty out quickly after making his announcement, He made a single clone and unsealed a v2. Handing the bomb scroll over to the clone the doppelganger saluted and walked to the middle of the space to wait. Naruto sighed, "Remember, 1 hour."

"Got it boss, one hour."

Naruto just sighed as Hinata tapped his shoulder, "Karin and Tayuya are done and returning to the surface."

"Okay, that's our plan too." Seeing the last of the prisoners being whisked away, Naruto turned to the warden. Taking out a kunai he considered the downed man for a moment.

"Hah, going to torture me? Some man of justice you are."

Flipping the kunai to the clone just in case, Naruto shook his head, "You aren't worth the time old man." Jumping away with Hinata, they left the lone guard to his fate. As Naruto and Hinata returned to the surface to board the boat, they helped the others pushed it back off the beach and out to sea. They had another stop to make.

Far away to the north Koyuki and Sandayu were watching over villagers and staff helping process and aid prisoners that had been brought to them by Naruto's clones. Sandayu turned to his Daimyo, "Seems Naruto was quick to get started on helping people."

Koyuki nodded, "He's made it clear that he won't compromise. Rebuilding Uzushio, saving and improving peoples lives, taking the fight to evil like Orochimaru. He won't stop."

Sandayu sighed as he could see an interesting gleam in Koyuki's face. Whether she knew it or not Naruto was rubbing off on the woman. Sandayu hoped nothing to crazy influenced her. They both turned as Ino jogged towards them from down the hall while accompanied by a Snow nin. A clip board in her hand.

"Final count seems to be 732 people dropped off with us. Most are willing to work wherever we can find them work. But all of them are going to need time to recover and rebuild their strength."

Koyuki nodded, "Okay, let's follow the plan. Start settling everyone in the aid station for now and bring food and supplies in from the nearby towns. Spread the word among the population as well. Ino, please assist where you can. We might need extra temporary shelters."

Ino saluted with a grin, "Will do!"

Koyuki watched the pair turn and jog away before turning back to the window to watch the activity below. This was just the beginning, they'd learn and adapt quickly to streamline the process. She wondered idly if the letters she sent reached their destination yet.

Back south and with another Naruto clone, it was talking with Tsunami while she stood before a large warehouse. Behind them through a open barn style door they could hear the din of people milling about. Tsunami sighed as she assured the clone, again, that everything would be okay. "We've been preparing since you left. We have enough food and medical supplies for everyone."

The clone however still looked stressed, "There's like, 1500 people we dropped off Tsunami. That's like, way to much."

Tsunami again waved him off, "Father has been having fun ever since you've returned, he's taking all of this as a challenge. Plus all of wave is happy to give back to you and pitch in. We're your people now, use us as you need to. Also, I believe I'm supposed to receive a hiraishin seal from you?"

"Uh yeah." Handing a paper seal over to Tsunami who slipped it into her kimono, the clone looked uncertain, "That's….a lot to think about."

Tsunami just smiled and bowed to Naruto while behind her someone began closing the door, "It's the mantle of a ruler. Heavy are the robes as they say." Turning away from the young man, Tsunami issued orders to several people as they closed the main doors to the warehouse. The clone was left alone to think.

"I don't know how boss is going to feel about that…" Dispelling, he was glad it wasn't his job, technically.

Inside Tsunami looked over the veritable sea of people before her. More able bodied prisoners where helping out where they could. There were several hundred families that were able to be completely reunited in all of this, but there were even more singles and orphans with no where to go. Her father had mentioned that if there were those willing and able to work that they could be sent to Uzu right away, and as she threaded through the mass of tents and blankets and supply crates, she reached the back of the space where a fake wall was situated. Another set of smaller barn doors were open, where rail cars were sitting and waiting. Someone she recognized from her father's work crew was sitting and waiting, "Heya Tsunami." He was waving to her.

"Hello, I don't think anyone will be making the trip today. They should be allowed to rest for now, regain their strength."

"You never know, give some of those fathers or young sons some motivation and they might just try to get straight to work."

Knowing the foolishness of men, Tsunami nodded to that, "Be that as it may, no one should leave here today from this group. How go efforts over there?"

"Tazuna made me keep my mouth shut, it's a surprise."

Tsunami sighed but turned away, "Fine fine. I'll keep things moving on this end, have those chakra sensor's acted up at all?" Seeing him shake his head in the negative, Tsunami turned away with a smile. She had work to do.

Back on their borrowed boat and steaming full speed away from the island for the last hour, Karin had everyone's attention while Tayuya piloted them along. She had been pouring over the records and notes that they had pilfered from the warden's office.

"So apparently the old Sound base in Rice has been converted into a prisoner storage location as well. Orochimaru has relocated to a different location and several other bases have seen lower security levels."

Naruto grinned, "Must have felt the pain after the failed invasion. So does that mean Rice is next on the list?"

Karin nodded, "It'd be the smart bet, though we'd have to travel through Hotspring country again to avoid Fire country."

Hinata was leaning against the wall, "It would give time for Spring and Wave to process and move the refugees."

Tayuya was grinning as they motored along, "Sounds like another Sound base is in sight then."

Naruto himself nodded slowly, certain clone memories coming to him in spurts. Wave was already working through refugees when he first arrived. Something told him Tazuna was behind that. They only told him there would be a surprise for him when they returned to Uzu eventually. "Well let's get going, the island is about to disappear and we don't wanna get caught in the blast."

Karin looked up, "How big can it be?"

Naruto's grin became feral, "Very." the shudder the went down everyone's spine was ominous.

Back on said island, the Naruto clone had planted the scroll into the earth pointing upward while the warden had been spitting and cursing him out for almost the full hour now. The clone had gotten bored which was never a good sign. The warden however was losing his patience, not having to put up with such treatment since Orochimaru had installed him here.

"You're going to rot for this kid. The longer you sit here the bigger chance Orochimaru comes for your head. By now someone is on their way and you and your little whores are going to be captured, tortured, and then killed. Well, maybe. Watching the girls get turned into baby factories while you watch is an option to." Legs giving an agonizing twinge of pain, he almost missed the boy turning mismatched eyes to regard him like an insect.

"You know. I never understood the whole 'bad guy has to monologue his plan' thing. But right now, I kinda get it." Beginning to pace around the scroll, he flipped the kunai given to him through the air before catching it again. "You're exactly what's wrong with this world."

"The fuck do you mean? What do you know?"

"I know enough. You trample over those you deem lesser than you, obtain and horde power to lord it over others. You don't care about people or their lives, only your own. If someone has something you want, you go straight to torturing or killing them to take it. You don't consider families destroyed, lives lost, people erased from history."

"Why should we care? The strong take from the weak, that's how things work."

"The strong should protect the weak. The strong should be helping the weak become strong. We can build bonds between each other, if we just take the time to listen for once."

"Listen? Listen! What bleeding heart crap is that. Look at you! Did you talk to us before coming in here and killing us? Of course not. You have some strength and so you came in and took what you wanted. I'm sure you've tasted all those girls as well." Screaming as the kunai lodged in his hand and locked it to the ground, the clone's eyes were glowing.

"Yeah, best to keep them out of your mouth tubby. Though yeah, we came in to destroy everything you've built. In fact…" Placing chakra into the scroll to begin it's detonation, the clone walked over to kneel down and stare the man in the eyes. "Before I draw my last breath, I'm going to tear down everything men like you have built and horded. I will slaughter you to the last, I will bathe in your blood if it means even just one more child does not have to suffer. That one more family can stay whole. That no more people will know what it means to lose everything because someone with a god complex decided they wanted to take whatever they could."

"You're mad. You'd be going against the world."

An orange glow was building up behind the clone, casting shadows on his face while his blue and purple eyes shined brightly, "I never once said I was fully sane. Let the world come again. They tore us down once, I'd like to see them try it a second time. I'll blow them all away in beautiful cleansing fire." There was a fraction of a second of the scroll unrolling and then there was fire and light.

Far away Naruto and the girls have to close their eyes as there is an intense flash of light from the island. Then came heat and sound as the explosion rocked the ocean waters and a shock wave buffeted them even at this distance. Finally able to look back, they all stared in awe at the mushroom cloud that was climbing into the sky. Naruto himself just sighed because of course his clone decided to get melodramatic at the end. It had to be Kurama's chakra doing something.

'Maybe subconsciously you're a drama queen.'

'Denied.'

'Stage one is accepting the truth.' Feeling the beast chuckle and fade away, Naruto turned to the others. Hinata had seen his work before so wasn't to surprised. Karin and Tayuya however were looking with something between awe and fear.

"That was amazing! How the hell did you do that? Can you make more? Can you show me how to do that?" Tayuya was of course all game to blow things apart.

Karin however was quiet, "Is that what becoming a seal master allows you to be capable of? No wonder the rest of the world was scared of the Uzumaki."

Naruto nodded, "Yeah that was a bomb based on seals and heavy metals. I have a few more now that all do different things. But that one does the most damage without leaving a lasting effect on the environment. I think." He still needed to do more research on that last part.

Hinata turned to Naruto and places a hand on his arm, "It's probably best then that we're going north now, that's a lot of attention."

"Oh yeah, gotta stay ahead of those fuckers."

Tayuya raised an eyebrow, "Those fuckers?"

"Oh uh…right. I forgot I never explained my, other, problem." Taking a deep breath he decided he might as well get that over with. "Well, on top of my shitty village upbringing, they used me as a sacrifice to seal away one of the tailed beasts. The Kyuubi, to be specific. Goes by Kurama actually."

"Wait wait wait. You have a demon sealed in you?" Tayuya's eyes were wide.

"Yup, been with me all my life."

Karin however was curious, "Soooo, if you know it's name, does that mean you talk?"

"Even when I don't want to."

'You need me.'

'You're getting very chatty.'

'You try to stay sane locked up in darkness with no one to talk to. I'm trying to make the best of a shitty deal.'

'I guess that's a good point.'

Karin however was thinking about it, "Well, you've shown you aren't crazy, and you don't seem like a demon. So it doesn't bug me. Though I'm curious about why you need to stay away from someone."

"Yeah, so there's this group calling themselves Akatsuki that want to steal the demon from my gut. Don't know why yet."

Tayuya just turned back to piloting while thinking about her own issue. "Well, it's an super powerful demon right? So it can't be anything good." He was so trusting with them. He didn't have to tell them about this. Just like she didn't have to tell him about the seal. But. Right. Feelings. "You're super good with seals right?"

Naruto heard the tone change in Tayuya while the others just looked at him. "Yeah, pretty good. Not a master yet, but I think I'll get there."

Ushering up whatever courage she had, Tayuya reached back with one hand and pulled her hair over one shoulder. Pulling down the back of her shirt slightly she exposed her curse seal. "Orochimaru's work. It's called the curse seal, let's me get a power up that makes me crazy strong. Only it doesn't last super long and it's hard on the body. It also let's him subjugate and use me if he's nearby. Think you can remove it?"

Naruto walked around the table where Karin had spread the reports and papers from the prison out and started to poke and inspect the seal. "I'd have to really take a look at it, make a secondary copy so I can play around with it. But I might be able to keep the good stuff and get rid of the Orochimaru crap. I can't promise a time, but yeah, I'll add it to the list of things I'll do."

"It's…not a rush or anything. I'd appreciate it though whiskers."

"Heh, sure, we'll get to work on it while we travel to Rice."

Hinata looked at Karin who was watching the two with a smile on her face. Her own feelings undisturbed, she wonder briefly if she should pull Karin aside later and see where she sat on the Naruto train. Hinata was finding she wasn't as possessive as she once believed. Her original hope of enacting the clan restoration act now moot, she still knew there was a possibility of Naruto having multiple wives. She just wanted to make sure they were all able to get along together at this point.

-b-

Far away and unaware of what was happening offshore, Tsunade had several visitors to her office today. Kurenai, Kakashi, Asuma and Inoichi all stood and waited on her while she unsealed a scroll addressed to her with an unknown sender. Checked and double checked for strange seals and traps, it had eventually been deemed safe and read the letter attached to it for herself. Dumping letters out onto her desk, she handed them out to the appropriate people. Inoichi received two, Kakashi received two, while Kurenai and Asuma received one each.

"These are letters from our missing ninja. Naruto, Hinata, and Ino are safe, but have yet to decide when they will return. They've sent letters to you all in order to update you and hopefully assuage any fears you have. Go ahead and rear them now or later, I'll be here if you have questions. I'll answer what I can for now." Not that she herself had much information. Other than they were alive and their letters were delivered through an anonymous ninja courier service. Which usually meant a Daimyo was involved. The obvious choice was Spring. However the Fire Daimyo had also taken quick interest, which meant they could be with him.

Inoichi, Asuma, and Kurenai all bowed and turned to leave, trusting that their questions will be answered in the letters provided. Kakashi however stayed behind, a troubled look on his face.

"Lord Hokage, do we know who tried to kill Naruto?"

Tsunade shook her head with a heavy sigh, "Unfortunately no. We still have no leads." Seeing the sensei seem even more down trodden, she doesn't get the chance to reassure him as he turns and walks out of her office. He was taking this hard she realized. Hopefully he didn't feel like he failed another comrade, she'd have to talk with him alone soon to make sure.

Outside Kakashi pulled free the letter addressed to him, pocketing the letter addressed to Sasuke and Sakura. Maybe Naruto could give him some good news.

Hey sensei. I didn't get the chance to say goodbye or anything, and I'm sorry about that. But well. I'm alive. Still blowing things up and taking care of Hinata and Ino. I can't tell you what I'm really planning, but It's gonna be amazing once it's done and I hope I can show you one day. It's thanks to you after all that my life has made such a great turn around. You are an amazing sensei, the best really, even if you are kinda a pervert. But I'll make sure to check in from time to time and who knows. Maybe we'll meet again soon in the future. Oh, make sure to tease Sasuke and Sakura for me, but they can't have any little Uchiha's yet until I get back. Sasuke can't start that party without me.

Do not trust Danzo or Jiraiya. I can't explain now but please. Take care of yourself. Oh, and check up on the Ichirakus for me will ya? Let em know I'm alive and miss em.

Letter ending, Kakashi read it again before lighting it on fire. He didn't know why Naruto didn't trust his godfather, but if he felt the need to warn him then he would listen. Jumping off to catch up with his students since both were most likely having dinner at said ramen stand, maybe tonight would be a good night for teasing. Heart a little lighter, the jonin sensei of team 7 was gone in a swirl of leaves.

On another road Kurenai was reading her own letter, a sad smile on her face as she read what her student had decided for herself.

I'm sorry sensei for leaving without saying anything. But, you know I wasn't happy in the village anymore. If I didn't have you or Naruto there, I probably wouldn't have stayed there much longer. Or more likely, well, you'd be getting a different kind of letter by now. I'm happy out here, safe. I feel like we're doing something important, something real. I can't believe there was a time I would have complained about D rank missions and yet now. Well now I understand.

Please tell Kiba and Shino that I am okay and that I do miss them. Try to help them understand that I needed to follow my own happiness and it was nothing against them. They were like big brothers to me and I appreciated that. I needed it. I hope one day we can meet again on good terms. Though maybe Kiba can tune it down and be a little nicer to girls. I'm sure his sister is going to end up breaking a sandal on his head one day if he keeps it up.

I'm going to continue towards my goal. I wanted to be by Naruto's side and I am. Now I have to work and make sure I'm strong enough to actually deserve to be here. I'll be working hard everyday just like you taught me. I hope I can make you proud when we meet again.

Well since Kurenai had nothing else to do she decided that maybe today would be a good day to catch up with Asuma. Or maybe Anko, her old friend had been in an odd mood lately as well.

Inoichi himself just sighed as he finished reading the letter from his daughter, stuck between pride and sorrow. He wanted his daughter to pursue what she wanted in life, yes, but he missed his little princess. He had thought he had a few years at least before he might have to give her up forever. He could only hope things would be settled enough soon so that she could come home and visit them. Opening the door to his home and spotting his wife, he smiled sadly and handed the letter over to her.

Hey Dad, hey Mom. I guess this is the part where I apologize for leaving huh? I didn't think it all the way through you know? But, Naruto has this crazy amazing plan to do some real good and I want to be here. Honestly I'm so far glad that I came. We're about to start something that's going to change a lot of people's lives. I wish you could be here. Naruto just puts off this aura that he can accomplish anything and everything. I just, get swept up in it. It feels good too, to know that being a ninja means I can actually help people. That I'm not just a tool. I don't know who tried to kill Naruto but they messed up badly. He's never been so motivated it seems.

I'm good though I promise. And I'm going to train and get super strong and when you next see me I hope we can hug it out and I can tell you everything I've been doing. I hope it'll make you proud of me. I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye and I'm sorry if I worried you to much. But I'm in good hands. Mama I think you'd like Naruto he's really sweet. Caring. Motivated. Sorry Daddy, I know you don't wanna read about my feelings with boys but Naruto is different. I hope you see that. I'll write as often as I can even if we can't receive letters from you.

I'm happy and I'm growing strong. I hope you're doing okay. Love you both.

Hugging her husband and crying, the Yamanakas couldn't truly fault any of the kids. Inoichi had an idea of just how hard things were for Naruto and knew Ino was never going to leave him alone once she learned about his story. Comforting his wife, he considered what they would do next. There wasn't much other than to wait. And keep Ino's room clean for when, not if, she and her apparent boyfriend came to visit.

-b-

In somewhere cold and very dark, Danzo sat behind a large desk and contemplated where everything went wrong. The fools on the council getting greedy he expected, had even planned for. But they didn't hire the assassin. Someone else had done that, but he couldn't track down who. It was vexing to him that he couldn't sniff the culprit out. He had everything planned out. He would get close to the boy. Use the listening seals on the fake book in order to learn what motivated him, what worried him. Gain information so he could get into the boy's mind and become the confidant that Hiruzen was. But someone went to far. One explosion and all his plans were moot. Years of back room deals and underhanded tactics to usurp control by gaining control of one of the largest power sources in the nation. Down the drain. He doubted Naruto would fall for Danzo trying to get on his good side now, most likely everyone with a leaf headband would be a no go for the boy. Which meant he would need to switch to plan B. Making a hand motion, a root ninja appeared bowing before him.

"Yes sire?"

"Bring me that boy."

"At once." Like a shadow, the ninja was gone and Danzo had a moment to think. The Uzumaki was still a child, a young boy at that. He could use other options. With another motion a second root ninja fell in place before him. A teenage dark haired girl.

"Yes sire?"

"I have a mission for you. Seduction and compliance. Do you understand?"

"Target sire?"

"The Uzumaki. That foolish Hokage thinks he is with the Fire Daimyo. I know better. You will head to Spring country. Disguise yourself as an orphan while you search. You're first phase is to make contact and hand him this scroll." Reaching into the desk, Danzo retrieved a real Uzumaki scroll. Handing it to the ninja, Danzo kept his face carefully neutral, "You will explain that your clan were once retainers of the Uzumaki, and you wish to continue the bond. Use everything you have, body included, towards this task. I would rather not lose this asset just yet."

"How shall I contact you my lord?"

"You will not. I will contact you through other agents, understood?"

"Yes my lord. Is there a time limit to this mission just in case?"

Danzo shook his head, placing on hand on his desk to tap a finger idly, "None. Find him quickly, bind yourself to him. Bare children for him if needed, even if we can't have him, children of an Uzumaki would be invaluable."

"What is my name for this mission sire?"

Hmmmm…Names always had meaning didn't they? The boy wasn't all that bright, so he could have a little fun, "Kiyohime."

"Understood my lord. I Kiyohime will hunt down, seduce, and bend to my will the Uzumaki."

"Good, go." The ninja departed without a sound and Danzo relaxed only slightly, glad that he always had some other angle to use. Looking up and hearing footsteps, he was rewarded with another dark haired and very pale boy who bowed before him.

"My lord?"

"Sai, I have a mission for you."

-AN-

Cutting here. I'd like to say we're getting into the fun stages, but ya know, I just have so many ideas of where this might go.

-OMAKE-

There were a lot of things Mei Terumi regretting as herself and her people retook control of Kirigakure and begun the long task of rebuilding. A long life of battle and hardship, the loss of Kiri citizen lives, the lack of dating while on her campaign. But no more! Now the new Mizukage and the ability to implement changes to how their village would be run from now on, she was determined to make time for herself. She was only 27, still plenty of time to find someone who could appreciate her. Sure she would appreciate that maybe they were stronger than her, but a woman didn't need to be picky. Humming to herself and beginning to doodle on a report about livestock numbers, she missed her assistant sigh.

Next to her Ao frowned as his leader started to drift off from doing her paperwork. As was happening more often as of late, she got distracted if she had to sit in one place for long periods of time. "Perhaps, Lady Kage, a change of scenery would be good?"

"Change of scenery?" That snapped her out of her daydream about a tall dashing blonde whisking her away in his arms. Was Ao saying there was something wrong with her looks? She considered herself quiet the bombshell. Tall, well proportioned, long flowing hair, why would she change anything? Why she was voted in the top 5 most beautiful kunoichi in the latest ninja monthly! Just under Tsunade herself!

"What do you mean by that?" Tone sharp, she did not want to have to toss the man out the window so early in the day.

"I just mean, Mei, that maybe something new might be good? You've been stuck in this office all morning."

New? NEW? So even he considered her old now? Oh the balls on this man! "Ao, call me old again, and I'll kill you, painfully." Feeling the man freeze up she returned dutifully to her paperwork. She wasn't old, she had time to sort her love life out. Besides, she had gotten wind that this new S rank ninja, the Orange Maelstrom, was on the prowl. Hmmm. She wondered if he was single.