"So that's what it's like getting called out by a Bijuu." Naruto commented after a moment. "Not something I'd ever thought was going to happen."

"Get used to it." Yin Kyuubi growled.

"He does raise a valid point." Hiruzen spoke, slowly, seeming for all the world like an unconcerned old man. "Conflict between ourselves will not help us. Regardless of our histories and our grudges, I'm sure we can all agree that letting the Akatsuki take Bijuu and strengthen the Juubi is in no way good for us."

"Tch." The Raikage grimaced. "Any who would hunt our Ninja is Kumagakure's enemy."

"Especially our Jinchuuriki." Onoki seemed appropriately severe as he said the words. "Their behaviour is unacceptable."

"Taking a proactive stance to a proactive problem is simply common sense." Mei added.

"They killed me." Gaara said.

For a moment, silence hung in the air.

"You're all a bunch of fucking drama queens, you know that?" Shukaku spoke. "Really. Fucking ominous pauses, continuing where everybody left off? Kyuubi was right, this is some Asura and Indra level drama going on up in here."

"Okay, that's twice now those names have been mentioned." Naruto frowned. "Who's Asura and Indra?"

"What, you don't know? They're-" Shukaku began, only to be interrupted.

"Not. Important. Right now." Yin Kyuubi growled. "Make your alliance first, then the history lesson can come."

Hiruzen looked between the gathered Kages, one by one. With a nod, he held up his hand, placing his palm on the Hokage hat in front of him. "Then, as I was the one who requested this Summit, I shall be the one to put the motion forth. We face a threat to us all, spread out over all our territories, and we must be able to act freely to pursue it. I propose an alliance, in accordance to the second and third Pacts of the Great Nations."

Onoki straightened. "Agreed." He said the word like he was gargling marbles, obviously displeased.

"Agreed." A answered, a heavy air about him.

"Agreed." Mei continued.

"Agreed." Gaara answered with a note of finality.

Mifune nodded. "So it is, so shall it be." He sighed. And, almost invisibly, smiled. "I will invite you to utilize the resting areas of the Land of Iron, considering that the details of this alliance will likely take us well into the night."

"I thank you, Mifune-dono." Hiruzen tipped his head. "There are still other matters to deal with, regardless." He turned to Inoichi. "Anything we should know?"

"A few things." Inoichi frowned. "I've only taken a skim, but you're not going to like any of it, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen frowned. "Report, then."

Inoichi nodded. "First, and most important, is Uchiha Madara."

A- a feeling ran through the room, dark and dangerous.

I, along with everybody else in the room, turned to Naruto.

He sighed, before thumping his knuckles against his stomach. "Seriously, Kura-chan, the dude's been dead for like eighty years. Stop shouting and calm your shit."

"... Actually..." Inoichi interrupted, face twisted in a grimace. "That... is an assumption which I must correct. Hokage-sama? Zetsu's memories show Uchiha Madara being alive only fifteen years ago."

Silence, again.

"He was what?" The Kyuubi asked.

And-

And it had been quite some time since I had felt such rage. It was an almost tangible thing hanging in the air, thick and cloying to the point that everybody could feel it.

Inoichi's answer was a series of one-handed signs, going through them with quick, efficient, and practiced motions. He didn't even speak as he pressed his palm against a wall, a wave of Chakra sweeping out before structuring itself, forming what seemed like a transparent plane of glass-

Right before it shifted colours and showed an image.

It was... an old man. Old in a way that few were, in this world. He had a wild mane of hair, which was grey-white. A face that was wrinkled with loose skin, but also one that possessed a hint of nobility. One eye was covered, the other in plain sight; and it was black in the way that only an Uchiha's could be.

"It is him." The Kyuubi's rage simmered, boiling upwards. "No question. Seeing him like this... He lived long enough to grow old." The rage boiled over. "HASHIRAMA!" There was a sound like thunder, except it was entirely too unnatural to be anything so mundane. "YOU DENIED ME MY REVENGE, AND YOU LET HIM ESCAPE! YOU COULDN'T KILL HIM-" All at once, everything went quiet, and the rage transformed into something else.

"No." Yin Kyuubi said the word softly, carefully. "That's not what happened."

"Uh..." Naruto glanced around. "Yinkura?"

There was a sound like a rush of wind.

A few seconds later, Isobu's voice came through. "I... don't think he wants to talk anymore. He just ran off."

"Any of you three know what that's about?" I asked.

"Nope." Shukaku answered.

"Nothing." Son Gokū shrugged.

"Sorry." Isobu apologized.

"The last time any of us had a proper conversation with him was... two hundred and fifty something years ago." Son Gokū continued. "After the Sage of Six Paths passed away, he just started being more and more of a loner. He used to be pretty close to Kokuō, but... Well, they stopped talking."

Kokuō... Ah, Gobi.

Well, whatever.

"Leave him, then." I said. "Whatever's got him worked up, he can't accidentally leave the spatial pocket, so he'll be fine."

Naruto frowned. "Yangkura is being quiet, too. Which is weird."

"Then whatever it is, it must have happened before they split."

"Drich-" Naruto looked at me, actually concerned. "This is Uchiha Madara. Yangkura is never quiet when it comes to that guy. This is the bad kind of weird."

"Do you think you'll be able to get an explanation out of him?" Hiruzen asked.

Naruto considered it, before shaking his head. "No. Not right now."

"Then there's nothing you can do at the moment." Hiruzen said.

"Wait a bit before you talk to him." I advised. "Let him figure it out. He may even come to you, considering the circumstances."

He hates Madara that much that he may actually do it, too.

"What else is there?" Hiruzen asked, turning to Inoichi.