Just so it's clear, I still don't know that much about Naruto, so I'm making this up as I go, finding what I can about each character, and fitting it in as best I can. It's definitely not perfect, so feel free to put in as much criticism as you will. It helps.

It's been about a year since Nathaniel returned home after going through, numerous, vigorous amounts of training from members of La Justicia all over the world, just to get him in peak condition, physically, mentally, and spiritually. His return brought many who lived in Pueblo Rosa the feeling of fortune, especially his adopted father, Diego, who took pride in seeing that his son had come a long way in just four years. In some ways, Nathaniel was the envy of every young man in town, as he was everything a young Nobleman should be, just and able, a pillar of society...and of course, the man that every young woman wants. And quite possibly, especially the other golden pride of the town, Lyssandra Hernandez. Ever since Nathaniel became the ward to Don Montoya, she had taken a bit of a liking to him, finding how he was originally shy and bashful quite adorable...

Little would she know the truth behind that.

And as the years went by, she even saw that he grew to be a charming man at a young age. Before he had left on his journey and done his training to be this town's protector, Nathaniel saw a good friend in Lyssandra and really enjoyed her company. There was something about her that showed that she was brave and strong and...well, it couldn't be denied, beautiful even as everyone adored her as the proclaimed princess of Pueblo Rosa. But as many of the men there were working hard to win her heart, it seemed as if it had already been won by Nathaniel, whom her feelings for had grown over the years.

"So what have you seen during the time you were away?" She once asked him as he was writing down in a book with a brown leather cover. He was also sketching down certain figures that resembled a few people that he met during his travels. The first of which resided in one of the earliest parts of his journey, where he came across a place known as the "Dragon Kingdom", where he came across an expert Wushu Fighter, who practiced a benevolent fighting style which he said represented "the Song of Life." Nathaniel didn't fully understand what that meant, but he did like his style, especially when it came to fighting with twin short swords in a paced manner. The next person who Nathaniel sketched was someone he met east of the Kingdom, said to have been an ex-mercenary who was looking for a new line of work, a new calling in order to bury the past. His mastery over polearm weaponry was second to none, as Naruto had never seen anyone handle close combat weapons like him before. And when he traveled to a place known as "the New World", he did meet a growing hero amongst outlaws, a tad bit older than him, and was an expert sharpshooter with weapons the Elemental Nation would have never even taken into consideration. Nathaniel met him during his time trying to get his reputation and legend as a vigilante going, and they grew to respect one another, which is how he got to be the third sketched figure in his journal. The fourth sketch was a woman, a female archer who resided on an isolated island, far from the Nations that Nathaniel originated from, governed by Samurai to keep the peace. She was a silent warrior, snipping those from afar with her bow and arrows, a weapon she especially modified to be fitted with a blade to be used in close quarters. That archer taught Nathaniel a thing or two, as did he in various forms of Martial Arts, and they grew to be allies ever since. The last sketch was his Shaman Friend, Guyasuta, who helped him achieve the symbiosis he has with the Fox. He too grew up to be a warrior in the ways of his people and said to Nathaniel that if he ever needed assistance, he would answer.

Every one of these sketches of people, landscapes, symbols and runes, languages, designs for many things. They hold a special place in Nathaniel's mind and soul.

"Many things I had learned about, and have recorded in this journal," Nathaniel replied. "It was all part of my training. Hearing and seeing many things, cultures, kingdoms, cities, and so on. The people I met, each of them are unique in their own way. They all have their senses of honor and tradition, and in some cases, each and every one of them is in the right. Because they all stand for one thing."

"Really? And what is that?" Lyssandra asked.

"Justice."

The last question she was asked was, "And is that what you stand for?", which made Nathaniel smile brightly that day.

Things have been quite peaceful in the town of Pueblo Rosa; people were safe, crime was at an all-time low, and the Dons and Young Nobles were all respected and honored, as they're the ones who practically keep the village intact. However, like all things, peace wasn't bound to last. At least...not in the way they thought, as when Nathaniel was soon to reach his fifteenth birthday, some strange...uneasy-looking people arrived in town. Nathaniel, his father, and the rest of the Nobles were partaking in a meeting with the other Dons and Wards when it seemed as if the whole town's attention was turned to the beings that showed up. Cloaked Beings that bore Red Clouds, most of them did not even look relatively...human. When they arrived, they brought with them the feeling of danger approaching, people uncomfortable around them as they walked through the streets. And when the constabulary tried to confront them, that's when things went all the way down south.

Bodies of law enforcers were sent flying across the road, crashing into buildings and even staining the ground with their own blood as the cloud-bearing monsters left the civilians terrified by their unimaginable strength and power. When the massacre was finished, and the screaming stopped, the town seemed to have found itself defenseless with the group of killers having now gotten their full attention.

"Let's make some things clear, you...primitive-minded fools." One said aloud, heading blonde hair, tied in a ponytail with a long bang covering his left eye. His Accent was terrible. "We've come here for one purpose. You have been harboring...a certain individual from our lands, someone of great significance to us. Surrender him, and we shall leave you in peace. If not...we won't waste time burning this place to the ground."

To prove his point, another one of the beings, carrying a 'greatsword', as the best way to put it, used the weapon to slam a carriage into a store, breaking both apart in the process. Another wearing a black mask and grey hood seemed to move faster than the eye could see, as he slammed himself into another building, which then toppled over in reaction to his strength before he simply walked out of the rubble, carrying two hearts in his hand. A third member who looked the least human, having pale blue skin and black markings under each eye, seemed to have this power that summoned a great and sinister wave that began flooding the streets, knocking buildings off their foundations. Anyone caught below the tide didn't have any big chance of survival. A few of the cloaked beings stood idly by as their allies decimated part of the town, one of which had black hair, pale skin, and seemingly red eyes with deep grooves underneath, was observing the area as if he were in search of the one they were looking for. Though the memory was scarce, he had a pretty good idea of who it was, as he stood by another member, who wore a orange, swirling mask.

It was horrible, seeing what was going on. Never in its lifetime has Pueblo Rosa suffered in such a way that it appears as the wrath of God. Nathaniel knew that they were from the Elemental Nations, based on the Headbands some of them wore. And it seems as if they were here for him, the one that this town has been harboring. But why? What great significance did he really bear? And that's when he remembered, the only reason anyone from that damn continent on the other side of the world would want; for what he held, deep within him, what he bonded with, the reason his childhood was hell.

"Nathanial, you shouldn't do this." Diego said as he and the boy were under their manor managing to get away from the town under attack. Nathanial was arming himself with his vigilante gear, not that he would actually go and fight them. He planned to surrender so that the rest of the town would be spared. He didn't want to, but it was the safest way to keep everyone else safe.

Putting his semi-finished sword into its sheath, the blonde said to his adopted guardian, "They are here because of me father. I ran away from people like them, four years ago. But I can't let them go to extreme lengths just to get to me."

"You know why they're here. For the being you harbor within you." Diego replied. "You told me about what it's capable of, and the bond you share with it."

"It's the only reason why anyone would come after me. I don't know what they're capable of, but they made it very clear that they don't mess around. I have to stop them."

"...I understand, son." said Diego with a sad nod. "But the last thing I want to lose right now is you. There has to be a better way than this."

Finished with his gear, Nathaniel faced his father while saying "If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears. Otherwise, I'm going over there now."

Diego stayed silent, looking deep in thought as Nathaniel prepared to leave.

Some time had passed to near dusk and now about a third of the town lay in smoldering, soggy, and desolate ruins. The cloaked beings, though small in numbers, have managed to put their residence under their thumb, rounding them up at the town square as they looked over them, growing impatient that no one has given up who they're looking for yet.

"I'm bored." said the blue, fanged one. "And I can't stand this heat. The Jinchūriki better show up or I'll drown all these fools."

"Take it easy, Kankuro." The masked man said to his ally. "If the Jinchūriki is as brave as I believe him to be, then he should come here...any minute now."

"You know, I'm a little surprised that you decided to take part in this mission, Tobi." Said the blonde, ponytail wearer. "You're not usually THIS excited about hunting down one of those freaks."

The one known as Tobi replied "Things are changing, Deidara. In far greater ways than we can even acknowledge. The balance in the world has shifted in a way, that...I had to cast aside my humorous facade and get serious. Here and now."

The others were looking at each other as if they had gone crazy. What could've possibly changed in the world that it even made Tobi of all people get serious? Was it that they were in a different land? Or was it something else? Questions that they had to think about later, as Tobi walked around their hostages, who they forced to kneel before them.

"I honestly envy these people." He said, looking at the people saw him with confusion and fear. "They have such simple lives. Never had major conflicts. None of them could understand what it's like to be ready for war. Like us."

Amongst the crowd, Lyssandra was there, kneeling like the rest of the people. But unlike them, she had a face of determination and a growing rage towards her would-be attacks. Especially the masked one.

Chuckling, Tobi just went on about how he felt about the people. "I mean, their constables, their weapons, this town alone just shows that they are...submissive. Makes sense that the Jinchūriki would hide himself here. No one would suspect a place like this, let alone on the other side of the world."

The one with grooves under his eyes knew who the Jinchūriki is. Word caught up to him, that he escaped Konoha years ago after unlocking some sort of power that got him out of another of the Village's annual festivals. With that fest came a hunt, one that would've left the child scarred and docile enough for him to be easily manipulated, had he not run. He sometimes wonder what could've been different had he stayed. Perhaps if he lives through what's coming, that question will be answered.

"And is this not simpler?" He heard Tobi say, as he looked to see the masked man walked around the people, who were scared to meet his gaze. "Is this not the natural state of all innocents? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that they crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. These people were made to be ruled." He looked down on them all, passing Lyssandra's piercing gaze. "In the end, you will always kneel."

Hearing enough of this nonsensical prattle, Lyssandra stood up and made herself noticed to the cloud bearers.

"Not to you." She said. "Not to monsters like you."

Tobi looked back at his allies, who replied with either smirks or smiles, except the one with grooves under his eyes. Turning back to meet Lyssandra in the eyes, he replied "There are no...monsters like us."

Shaking her head, Lyssandra held her ground, straight and unshaken.

"There will always be monsters like you."

"...Well, I like this one." He said to himself as he turned back to the grooved ally of his and said into his ear. "Make an example of her."

Itachi never liked senseless killing. What he's done before, he wanted to believe it was for the greater good. Except this. But, he had to make it look good if he wanted to avoid suspicion. So, stepping forward, he faced Lyssandra and had a shuriken in hand. She didn't have time to react, and could barely see it being thrown at her...but then, the weapon shattered in midair, followed by a gunshot echoing.

"STOP!" a fierce voice echoed, coming their way.

The sound of a pair of horses riding towards Times Square made everyone's attention turn to Diego and Nathaniel coming in, the latter dressed as the black vigilante that saved the town some years ago. It was a surprise to all those who were there, the town's people and especially Lyssandra, to see that Diego's ward was the one who kept the Pueblo Rosa standing for so long, and to see what Nathanial was doing right now. Getting off his horse, the boy presented himself to the cloaked figures.

"I'm the one you're looking for." He said to them, with Tobi walking forward and meeting him face to face. The masked man seemed to have recognized him, with the markings on his face, the blonde hair, and the face of the Kage who put him through some trouble years ago.

"The Jinchūriki of the Kyūbinokitsune." He said to the boy. "A pleasure most rare to see one of your kind sacrifice themselves."

"I know why you're here, what you want. If I go with you, then I want you and your thugs to leave and never come back."

Looking back at the rest of his allies, Tobi nodded before facing Nathaniel again.

"You have our word then, boy. We're done here."

And with that, all of the cloaked beings began to disappear in puffs of smoke as Tobi took hold of Nathaniel and the two disappeared together. The Town Folk all began to get back on their feet as they saw that the danger was no longer present, and Diego simply stood there with the most serious expression on his face. He had to pull the act so that no suspicion could be drawn from Nathaniel's surrender. The plan they had wasn't the best, but it was the only one they had to ensure none of them would be injured or worse. Now Nathaniel was on his own...or perhaps not. But no one else needed to know just yet as Lyssandra ran over to Diego, looking quite upset by this turn of events.

"You allowed those fiends to take Nathaniel without so much as a threat!" She cried out. "How could you let this happen, Montoya? Has all this time made you a coward of all things?!"

"Trust me in, Lyssandra. I have faith that my son will be able to prevail against those hooligans." He said to her, unfazed by her insult. "This may be the first of many battles yet to come."

He stood still as he said that, and the girl was confused by what he was staring at. Ahead of them, before the two were just miles of open sea. But Diego knew that there was something else, making its way to its destiny...

Nathaniel seemed to have blacked out the moment that smoke engulfed him and the mask-wearing weirdo. When he came to, his hands were bound and he had a moment to look around and had a pretty good idea where he was. The Trees, and the grounds, while it was probably not in the same Lands he once lived in, there was no doubt in his mind that they brought him back. Back to the same place he escaped from 4 years ago and hoped he never had to return, the Elemental Nations.

"I must admit that it was a clever idea, hiding within the western lands." He heard Tobi say as he lifted his head to see the masked man. "Two years, we've spent looking for you. Almost got killed a few times before, but it was worth the effort since you turned out to be no trouble at all to capture. Quite admirable of you, I'll say."

But the one known as Deidara butted in and said to the masked man "Tobi, just get on with it. It's been a long day and we need to move on."

Despite him wearing a mask, Tobi seemed to give Deidara a half-hearted glance.

"...Yes...Let's get on with it."

Pulling Naruto be his restraints, the masked one continued to take the captured Jinchuriki back to their hideout, all while Itachi watched from where he stood, showing the littlest of emotion that he has shown in years. He had no quarrel with Naruto. In fact, he found it a great shame upon him and the village that they both came from, for both of them to be in the position that they found themselves in now. He knew what the boy had been through in the first ten years of his life and a part of him wished things were different. And he hoped that the Akatsuki would've abandon this mission the day he ran to the western lands. Yet, here they are, about to make Naruto their first sacrifice for their so-called mission of peace.

With that in mind, they wasted no time in restraining the young Naruto in chains spread across a rock table surrounded by a large circular sealing formula with several ceremonial rocks surrounding it.

Tobi got in the boy's face, creepily removing his charismatic facade to display a dark, grim side of himself as he said "I want you to know that a part of this is...a little personal. But this is the main reason why you were born. To give your life for a greater good that only we can accomplish. A life not forsaken, but a purpose served. You will be the first of sacrifices we make."

Nathaniel held a solid glare toward Tobi...and without warning, he spat in his one good eyehole. The masked one reeled himself, holding a hand over the hole that the boy hocked a loogie.

"Bullseye." Naruto quietly said.

The rest of the Akatsuki were holding back their laughter or were confused by what they saw. Because as far as they knew, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, has been able to hit Tobi for as long as they've been part of this organization. Tobi walked away from the blond Jinchūriki, rubbing his eye in irritation. But it wasn't the spit in his eyes that bothered him the most, it was the fact that the boy managed to land the spit at all.

The group stood by as they watched the ritual begin, the circle glowing red as Naruto breathed slowly, keeping a straight face...before he began to feel intense pain. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly, feeling like he was growing weaker by the second...But then, it was over. The circle powered down and Naruto was barely conscious, drained of his energy.

The red cloud-wearing rogues were looking dumbfounded. This wasn't supposed to happen. The extraction powered down and no tailed beast seemed to have come out of the boy. What the hell happened?

"...Is that it?" Deidara asked before Tobi and Itachi quickly went over to the bound Naruto. Taking the blonde by his face, he examines the markings on his face, rubbing his thumb on them to see if they were fake or not. They were very much real. Unbuttoning Naruto's shirt, he could see the seal on the boy's stomach was not tampered with, looking as if made yesterday. The Jinchūriki's body was fine, but spiritually, something was off. The Fox...it just wasn't there.

"What is this?" Tobi asked, sounding almost frantic. "Where is it?!"

Confused by all this himself, Itachi asked "Could the boy be a fake? Someone to lead us astray?"

"No. I recognized him from the day he was born. He's had the fox. He could not have just removed it!"

"K-...Ku...Kura...ma..." Naruto said very weakly, getting the attention of the two. "Ku...rama...wants revenge...for what...you did to him...Uchiha..."

That made Itachi look up to Tobi in even more confusion and shock. But the masked one did not want attention to be drawn back to him just yet.

"Where is it?!" Tobi asked, sounding almost angry, but what it really was was fear. Grabbing the blonde by the hair and yelled "WHERE IS THE KYUUBI?!"

As if right on cue, the entire place began to shake and rumble as if the entire place was having an earthquake. None of them could've suspected what happened next, as the roof of their hideout...was literally ripped off. The Kyuubi no Kitsune, the very beast that they were looking to hunt down...revealed itself in its entirety, now more monstrous than ever. In fact, the thing looked like it was entirely made in flames this time around, and it sure as hell wasn't like that before. Nevertheless, the Akatsuki were forced to scatter when they saw the beast coming to slam its claw directly into the chamber. For 15 years, the hideout of the Akatsuki stood where it is as the group readied itself in waiting for the start of their crusade...and it took only one basic attack from the Nine-Tailed Fox to make it all go down in flames...literally. With this happening, Tobi believed it would've been a minor inconvenience as he only needed the fox contained long enough for them to move up their plan. For it to be out in the open, seeming free of any host, that was enough for him to try and take its mind again, looking to get up close and personal...only to be swatted away by one of its tails as the Fox roared ferociously, recognizing the one who made him his slave. Tobi landed hard against a stone slab as his mask cracked from the impact. That was twice he had been hit, with looking to the rampaging demon fox.

"How is this possible?"

Growling, it raised its claws, looking to leave this organization to burnt cinders, but most of all, it would make that masked buffoon suffer more pain and agony than he ever has before. The rest of these so-called ninjas were but a mere annoyance for him to smack away like flies and insects...to which, Kurama did do just that. It's rage and newfound power, they were both found to be relentless in the vengeance that its distributor was putting on such a small part of these vast lands. As its rage let on, the exposure of its bursting energy, its chakra, flowed over the chained Nathaniel, who clenched his fists tightly and opened his eyes to show a face of wrathful determination. Pulling at his restraints with sudden strength, Nathaniel broke the chains off ever so easily. Getting up from the slab, Naruto started to head for the exit, and any of the ninja that were still in the place, injured or otherwise, tried to go after him, but he quickly knocked them away. Looking up at the Fox in its majesty, he caught its eye as well and stretched out his hands towards the beast. Kurama raised its head, opening its maw, and the sound of energy charging up within it echoed through the valley...before it sent a great, fiery blast that sent tremors all throughout the land.

It was likely the entire Elemental Nations could've heard it by now.

Anything that with 50 miles of the area was becoming scorched in mere seconds. Most of the main members of the group have already fled while those who remained turned to ash. Naruto was in the center of the fire flash, but it did not affect him one bit. In fact, he was completely unscathed from the blast. The only others who were still alive around the vicinity were Tobi and Itachi, who managed to miraculously take cover. Yet, when it was over, and the burning stopped, he rose to look and see the blonde standing there, black cape flowing in the cinder-filled air, a cold hard expression on his face. This was the boy who suffered the first ten years of his life, that much he knew. But could the last five have been enough to have made him into...this?

"Naruto...you've gotten stronger." He whispered as Naruto was about to turn to see him...

Only for a blade to be run down into his shoulder before being pulled and cut through his side, courtesy of Tobi. And the very weapon he used to do it was Nathaniel's unfinished sword.

"I find it fitting that one such as you...meet their end by a very weapon they were carrying." He said. "And I've been waiting to run you through for a long time. Thanks to you, the Kyuubi is free and I'll have much to do after I catch it. One way or another, it ends how I intended. It's power...being mine."

When he let go of the blade, the masked one expected the boy to fall limp with the sword cleaved down his side. But with shaking hands, Nathaniel took the weapon by its edge and gripped it. Tobi wasn't ready for what came next. With unimaginable strength, for a boy his age, Naruto ripped the blade from his side and tossed it in the air before grabbing it by its handle and stabbing the Uchiha behind him. And that makes three strikes in one day for Tobi.

"The Kyuubi and I...are one."

Pulling out his weapon, the boy slashed Tobi across the chest, a spray of blood came a second after. That makes four, the mask falling from Tobi's face as he leaned back and fell to the ground. With that, Naruto turned to walk away, but even he reached his limits here, with the beast outside of him now, and his wound still open. The boy dropped to his knees, but still held his sword tightly in hand as he felt gravity do the rest of the work and fall. Itachi saw everything, and felt something he hadn't felt in a long while...pure utter shock. He continued to watch as a fiery claw from the Kyuubi scooped up the downed Naruto and raised him up from the earth. The Fox looked and growled towards the Prodigal Son of just another dead clan before taking the boy and just seeming to vanish within the rising smoke...