Chapter 16
'This breeze is quite nice,' Naruto thought as he sat in the Namikaze Estate backyard. He'd decided that since his body was still recharging after his fight with Roshi he would stick to meditation. It had been one whole day and Naruto was still troubled by the fight, no matter what he did he could not take down Roshi. Was the power gap really that far? 'Partially. You saw that Roshi was even taking hits from your uncle and still getting up to fight. Son Goku is much too proud to actually bond with his Jinchuuriki but Roshi still seemed to have great control of the old monkey's powers. His experience as well as prowess and strong will is what would have netted him the win against you and nothing more. Your progress is exemplary loathe as I am to compliment an Uchiha, especially one related to HIM.'
Was that Kurama's way of cheering him up? He had no idea he cared so much. 'Hardly, I'm just tired of you moping. I'm pretty sure the damn water level in this sewer is rising. Are you redirecting you whiney tears to my prison?' it was a mocking tone and Naruto could tell he totally made it up. Still antagonistic he noticed.
He felt the wind combing through his now much longer hair, feeling like a brush of air. Much like the rest of his family he felt at one with nature, obviously not to the degree both his father and uncle were but he still felt a certain connection and it relaxed him. With his sensory abilities he could feel the residual chakra all around him and had half a mind to attempt 'that' but knew the hidden dangers of something of the sort. The only recorded shinobi to succeed at 'that' was Hashirama and Naruto didn't feel up to that legacy.
He notice the familiar chakra signature approaching from behind. A presence that had always been like a calming warmth in his times of doubt and sadness. He didn't react when the slightly smaller than his own body sat next to him and leaned into him. "Are you okay now? You feeling better?"
"I'm fine for the most part. My ego's bruised a bit but I'll get over it I suppose. All that work on my abilities. Even the Rasenshuriken wasn't enough. I feel so weak."
"But your not. If you think anyone else in our generation could have done what you did to him you're a fool, and I know your not a fool. Even Axel-sensei stated that you'd done a number on him. He SHOULDN'T have been able to move anymore with what you did, the only reason was because of his particular Bijuu and his willpower. It was the same as with Hinata and Rock Lee in the exams," he knew she was right. Sometimes willpower trumped natural genius or strength. He merely kept staring straight ahead in thought.
He vaguely felt her playing with his hair. "It's gotten longer. A lot longer since the exams. You don't quite look like your uncle or grandfather but your getting there," she noted absentmindedly. "Kurama says I look like a blond child version of some guy named Indra. Apparently one of our ancestors. He's the son of Hagoromo actually."
"My, he was a handsome man then wasn't he?" he couldn't help like the light blush at what she was implying. "Yeah, must have been if I'm this good looking," he stated with a cheeky grin receiving a playful smack on the arm.
"Sasuke went out with mom and Axel-sensei. I don't know what mission it was but they also brought Uncle Minato and Lord Jiraiya. Any idea what's going on?" she asked.
"The return of a certain weasel. Or so they hope. Expect Sasuke to be a changed man when he gets back because what's about to happen is going to be life changing for him."
"I don't understand. What weasel?"
"Hmmm… I guess it's fine to tell you. Itachi Uchiha should be back home by tomorrow. His long espionage mission is finally over," he stated and could feel her shaking. "Big brother's coming back?"
"Yeah, will you be okay to see him?" he stated as he held her close to him.
"I don't know. He slaughtered our clan. I don't think I hate him but I need to know what really happened that night. Do you know if Sasuke was told whatever truth it was?"
"I doubt they told him. He needs to get his anger out before he listens to the truth. If I know my uncle, he'll allow Sasuke to have a small skirmish with Itachi and then step in when Sasuke gets too rowdy and stop him. That's just my uncle's style."
She looked down deep in thought. "Enough about that though. I'm not fully healed but how about a light spar? Just some taijutsu. What do you think?" he asked trying to take her mind off the fateful meeting coming up. She smirked up at him and silently accepted his challenge. They quicker than a civilian would be able to keep up with jumped apart from each other and took their stances.
Somewhere in the forests of Konoha
Axel was walking around in what seemed to be circles and with what seemed like no destination in mind as he had a map in his hand. His entourage followed behind him knowing that even if he had gotten them 'lost' finding an actual marker of some kind by being above the tree line would be simple. It's not like they even needed that with the Yellow Flash around. Going back to certain markers to restart the journey was easy enough when you have a walking transporter. They all noticed Minato couldn't help but place his palm on certain trees here and there as if sensing something. He was enjoying feeling the chakra flowing through the trees as he could feel the resonance with his Mokuton.
"Dammit, why did our clan have to have some dumb hideout in the middle of nowhere. Who the hell came up with this idea? I swear if it was father I'm going to give him a good whallop when I see him in the afterlife. It's almost as lame an idea as putting Kurama under a genjutsu and attacking the village," Axel complained as he turned yet again only to come to a stop.
Minato, Jiraiya, Mikoto and Sasuke stopped as well and looked to where the man was now staring. It was a crow on a branch with what looked to be a Mangekyou Sharingan in its eye. It looked like a four bladed pinwheel. 'That smart ass weasel! He thinks I can't find my way! Whatever, this was getting annoying anyways.'
'Ahahahahahaha! The great Hope's Kage is directionally challenged and can't even find his own clan's hideout! Ahahahahahaha!' he heard the taunting from Kurama and couldn't help the slight increase in temperature around him in annoyance. "Will you shut up ya overgrown cat!" he yelled out loud randomly. The present party couldn't help but look at him like he was a maniac. If one looked closely they'd even see that the crow seemed to have a sweat drop. "I swear I'm not crazy this time!" he yelled as he dashed after the crow who took flight towards the hideout. Turns out that they actually weren't too far off, the Hokage just kept turning the wrong way every rime he got close.
Axel walked into the hideout but asked Jiraiya to keep watch outside, clan secrets and all, he noted. Jiraiya readily agreed and the rest followed Axel in until finding a room that had what looked to be a throne-like seat and a familiar figure sitting there. Though the last time Minato saw him the boy had an Akatsuki cloak on, he noticed that the cloak was laying in a heep on the ground. "Lord Axel, it's been awhile," he greeted in his deep baritone voice that instantly had Sasuke and Mikoto freezing in place.
One had tears streaming down her face while the other had rage in his eyes. "Hello mother, little brother."
Mikoto took a few steps forward, a hand outstretched as if she was reaching for him. Her Sharingan had even activated to make sure he was real. She never thought she'd see her baby boy again. Even when Axel assured her of what was happening on this mission multiple times she just couldn't believe it or wrap her head around it.
"Yes, it has been some time. I hope things are going well? Your not too sick are you?" that caught the mother's attention. "What do you mean by that Axel?" she asked. "Itachi has come down with a terminal illness since the night of the massacre. There's no way even as powerful as Minato is that Itachi should have had to flee when he and Kisame attacked him. Itachi's illness seems to be a self inflicted disease that was meant for him to punish his own sins. He's been slowly trying to atone this whole time by killing himself. At least I find it too convenient to be a natural illness based on the timing."
"It's the truth. I'm terminally ill and not longed for this world. Merely using my Mangekyou temporarily cripples me every time. I go into coughing fits of blood with every use," Itachi confirmed with a grimace. This isn't quite the way he wanted his mother to see him if they were ever reunited. He also felt like he didn't deserve to see her ever again, after all she was to be his last victim that fateful night. If it wasn't for the blond man across from him he would have committed yet another sin with which he would never forgive himself.
"Tch," they all heard from next to Mikoto. It was Sasuke as his body was rippling with rage. Axel knew this would happen and Itachi knew it too. It didn't matter how much Sasuke had changed. The moment he saw his murderer of a brother his vengeance would come to the forefront of his mind like a tidal wave that would smash through his love of everything that was important to him. He could now have his revenge. Axel and Minato did nothing as lightning engulfed the boy's hand. Mikoto was still in shock upon learning of her eldest's coming death and Sasuke was now charging toward Itachi. The older teen merely jumped back out of the throne as the Chidori pierced through it. The hand was quickly pulled out of the stone and he engaged Itachi in a fierce bout of taijutsu using a style that threw off Itachi temporarily.
He didn't remember Sasuke ever relying on lunges and swipes. It was as if he was using his hands more like claws and even his feet acted the same. It was as if his little brother had the agility and instincts of a beast. Very well honed, battle primed instincts at that. He knew how to not waste his momentum whenever he missed an attack. If Itachi sidestepped, Sasuke could at the most efficiency possible turn his body in the precise way to gain the most power behind the next hit and so on and so forth. What the hell did Jiraiya teach the boy? He was told by Jiraiya that the boy ended up being his apprentice but this didn't seem like Jiraiya's style of fighting.
This continued on for about five minutes of them taking a back and forth pace of battle, Sasuke never gaining an upper hand but surprisingly never being thrown on the defensive. Itachi was thoroughly impressed, he was expecting this progress from a sixteen year old Sasuke, not a… fourteen year old now? He missed another birthday recently if he recalled correctly.
"I'm happy to see the progress you've made. And you've done it without tempering your hatred. I'm pleasantly surprised little brother," he stated as he tossed Sasuke away but he landed in a crouch and pounced again with no wind up time needed. He really was agile.
"Don't call me that! Not after everything you've done! Everyone you've killed! Do you know what pain you caused!? What mom and Satsumei went through!?" he suddenly stopped his attack as if realizing something and everyone else narrowed their eyes at his sudden change.
'Am I doing this for me? Or is it for them? It doesn't matter who I do it for! He has to pay!' he thought as he resumed his offense, finally taking out a couple of kunai. Itachi noticed that his style of attack hadn't changed much, it was as if his kunai became a set of raging claws. One wreathed in fire and the other engulfed in lightning. He pulled out his own kunai and enhanced it with fire. They clashed multiple times and Itachi noticed Sasuke was much better at weapons combat than taijutsu as he was having a harder time defending. Clearly having a weapon in hand suited his taijutsu style as it wasn't much of a change of combat style.
Sasuke finally jumped back placing his kunai away and flew through hand seals. "Fire Style: Flame Pride jutsu!" it was his new ability and it fired out a pack of fire balls that transformed into lions of flame and flew at Itachi. He dodged but was surprised to see them pursue. He took a few more rounds of dodging their pursuit until he had Sasuke upon him with a crackling tanto. The attacks all hit at once. They heard panting a bit away and noticed that Itachi had substituted with a Shadow Clone.
"Don't think your tricks will save you from my wrath! I've seen enough shadow clone bullshit from Naruto and Lord Fifth!" he yelled as he dashed again with another Chidori in hand. It was impressive he could conjure it so quick however the glory was short lived as he felt himself lifted up by the wrist and his charge ended. "That's enough Sasuke," came the voice of Axel.
"No! He must pay for what he did!" he yelled as he struggled trying to kick away at the Hokage and nothing doing anything to phase the older man. "Are you disobeying your Hokage, your CLAN HEAD?"
"The whole clan of seven? Real great clan head you are! I never accepted you as clan head!" he shouted in pure rage and disobedience. Mikoto now realized what her decision back in the day may have done but her son just never showed it. The tone she heard from her love next was cold and held a certain tone of disappointment and regret, it frankly scared her both ways.
"I see. Then it's time I show you why I'm the head and why your acceptance means nothing," he declared as he grabbed Sasuke by the skull and slammed him into the ground, hard as hell. They heard him groan in pain. How much force did he apply to that? "Now, sit quiet and listen while the grown ups talk, CHILD. You know nothing of the sacrifices that Itachi has made for both you as well as the village. He is a true hero to which you could learn from."
"Lord Axel, maybe that is a bit too harsh. Of course my little brother is only confused."
"No. This was a long time coming. Frankly I'm just glad he didn't defect at some point but clearly he hasn't given up his feelings towards you. To some extent he's still a flight risk. I must rectify that now," the Hokage answered as he released the boy.
"Let us explain everything that happened, Mikoto and Sasuke, " he stated as Itachi walked forward to start the conversation. "As you know mother, I was the go between for father and Lord Third while Lord Axel was away with his training. You had already been able to sense the rising tensions with the clan and even young Naruto could as well. I could see the trouble on his face and had talked to him about it once."
Flashback
Itachi had come back from an ANBU mission when he noticed that Naruto was sitting on their porch kicking his feet to and fro. The boy was clearly troubled and it tore the older boy's heart just a bit because he could tell that the boy was much more intelligent than his age would suggest. He could tell something was wrong and Itachi knew it. He approached the boy, taking his mask off before Naruto could commit it to memory. Just because this boy may be his leader one day didn't mean that Naruto should know his ANBU identity yet.
"Hi big bro Itachi!" the blond boy of sunshine greeted upon noticing the Uchiha prodigy. "Hello Naruto. How are you, what with everything going on," Itachi asked back. He knew he need not mince his words much with the blonde. He was much more mature than many knew. He saw the sadness in his eyes and the frown before it was all replaced by the signature Namikaze smile everyone knew from the current Hokage.
"I'm fine!" Itachi's eyes softened at this. "You don't have to lie to me. I can tell that your feeling great sadness. You can talk to me about it."
"I just want to see my mom and uncle again. I want to see Big Brother Kakashi again, and I even want to see Bushy-Brows again."
Itachi could understand the first three but had to think about the last one and concluded it had to be Guy. While he was a bit surprised he didn't judge. Naruto could miss who he wanted for whatever reasons he wanted.
"I see, but it seems like something else may be wrong. I see more than just the feelings of loneliness, you also seem worried. What for?"
"I don't really know. Everyone here looks at me with pride but they all seem to have this intensity. At least the shinobi do, I'm not sure about the civilians. But it's weird, its like the calm before the storm. I don't know how else to describe it!" the boy exclaimed as he almost broke down. Itachi took him up in a hug. "It'll be okay. We'll get through this. You don't have to worry about anything."
Flashback end
"If a young child like Naruto at the time could sense that something was happening there was clearly an issue. I spoke to Lord Third and the council of Elders at the time. Lord Third had reinstated them temporarily while Lord Axel was away to help with day to day decisions and unfortunately Danzo would end up taking advantage of this," he let that hang in the air for a bit.
"What do you mean Itachi?" Mikoto asked, finally gaining enough of her voice to talk.
"Actually Mikoto, let me take over from here. You had fought and killed Danzo the day of the Konoha Crush, correct?" Minato started. "Yeah, Lord Third died in front of me and I awakened my Mangekyou."
"You also reported he had something like ten Sharingan along his arm and one in his head. You said you couldn't be sure of the exact number however that doesn't really mean much as you should be questioning how he got more than one in the first place," Minato explained allowing her to put the pieces together.
"You mean to tell me he was the one who made my son slaughter our clan so he could collect Sharingan?" she asked, her Mangekyou coming to life. She couldn't help it and Itachi was surprised to see this. "Mother, you have them too?"
"Yeah, unfortunately. Like Minato stated previously it was my fight with Danzo. Watching Hiruzen die in front of me was like watching a parent die."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you mother," he stated with as much emotion as his stoic self could offer. "It is what it is as long as you can assure me this isn't what you wanted."
"I never wanted to kill my clan but it was the only way I could think of to quell the rising coup. While I didn't suggest it, when Danzo came to me I was under the impression that Lord Axel was on board with it."
"I wasn't but at the time technically Danzo was under my authority. I understand one hundred percent and can't personally hold anything against you Itachi," Axel commented with his arms across his chest as he looked away. "Now do you get it Sasuke? Your brother isn't the monster you've been led to believe."
"Then why did he want me to hate him so bad!?" he screamed as he tried to struggle against the foot currently holding him down. Axel continued to keep as much pressure as needed on him though so no matter how much he struggled it didn't matter.
"Simple. He wanted you to be a hero to the village one day by killing the traitor and avenging the clan. Sasuke, Itachi has only ever wanted the best for you in what he could provide you while making sure you continue to live. That night when he applied the Tsukuyomi to me and I allowed it to work on me, I saw everything. You were a boy bogged down by the fact your father only ever paid attention to Itachi for his accomplishments. Ironically while this wasn't what Itachi wanted, it would allow you to persevere and achieve acceptance without being in his own shadow. He wanted you to grow up and achieve your own fame and repertoire. If it meant he had to sacrifice his own life then so be it," was Axel's answer.
Sasuke was at a loss. This was most of his remaining family telling him that the man who slaughtered his whole clan was actually a good guy but yet he still couldn't believe it. "SASUKE! Itachi has only ever loved you and the clan however he avoided a fate much worse. What do you think would have happened if the Uchiha clan had rebelled?" Axel asked.
"W-would you have slaughtered them?"
"In a heartbeat. I would have made their deaths as brutal as needed to make my point. I'd given them a chance to negotiate. Itachi gave them a merciful death as well as prevented a coup. Your brother is a hero on both sides of the isle. I need you to understand that while he could have possibly asked me personally, he was panicked. There was not much way to avoid what happened. I've avoided a couple of wars but the Uchiha hierarchy had been power hungry for awhile. I'd say there were probably a few from when my father was around who passed his mentality on at the time."
"Itachi… do you still love us?" Sasuke asked as everyone could clearly hear him struggling against his still emanate rage. "Of course. More than anyone."
"You'll never hurt mom again?"
"Never. I didn't want to in the first place. It was the only way to protect you though. It was by pure chance that all three of you were put in Lord Axel'a estate that you were never targeted."
"Oh yeah. I would have immediately walked into Root's base and annihilated literally everyone in the most painful ways possible if my estate was attacked because I know there was only one organization who would dare," Axel confirmed with both hands on his hips.
"Fine, but I still don't trust you," Sasuke relented as he looked at Itachi in the eyes and saw relief. "All I ask is you give me a chance to prove myself."
"Alright! I'd say this was a mission accomplished! Let's go!" Axel stated as he piggy backed Sasuke without his consent but the boy was still a bit fuzzy from having his skull slammed into the concrete so he couldn't protest much.
They returned with Itachi in tow and the Hokage could feel the hatred rolling off of the civilians. This was going to be interesting.
By the time he'd deposited his entourage into the Hokage tower and brought Itachi up to the roof, almost everyone had gathered in front of the tower. Clearly they wanted an answer as to why a known traitor was roaming their streets without any bindings. They obviously wouldn't attack for fear of incurring the Hokage's wrath but they would damn well demand an explanation and the man was more than happy to oblige.
"Civilians and Shinobi of the Leaf! I'm sure none of you are happy at this current development! After all why is a known traitor walking amongst us and so freely? I however am exonerating Itachi Uchiha of all wrong doings in the case of the Uchiha massacre!" he declared with a voice enhancing jutsu. This recieved many boos and shouts of 'kill him!'. Why did this seem like something he'd already dealt with? 'The council chambers on the day I took over. The more things change, the more they stay the same.'
'Indeed, humans are a species that have a truly difficult time changing their ways. While the method in which they live tends to change, their viewpoints often times do not. It's something only one of your position can truly understand on the global scale. For instance even though you have an alliance with the Raikage he could just as easily betray you at any moment you hand a Bijuu out and he doesn't get one.'
'Heavy is the head that wears the crown I guess.'
"Enough! Itachi Uchiha was merely following his orders that night! Danzo Shimura was acting rogue and had Itachi commence with a mission that would end in the slaughter of the clan! In the meantime since his supposed betrayal Itachi has been on a long term espionage mission for the Leaf keeping her safe from the outside! If you want more information, the details shall be unclassified so at the very least the shinobi may understand the truth!" he yelled and went back inside the tower not really caring much for their reactions, Itachi following closely behind him.
"Lord Axel, I feel like this may have been too soon. They clearly still see me as a horrible person and I'm not sure if you convinced any of them otherwise," the weasel stated in doubt merely gaining a shake of the head.
"Itachi, don't worry about that. From now on you are under the protection of the Namikaze clan. You'll be living with us at the estate and after we have Tsunade try to treat your illness if it's even possible, if you still wish to continue the life of a shinobi ill find a suitable rank for you."
"He's right kid. You're a hero whether the village looks at it like that or not and you'll be treated as such. After all if it wasn't for you we wouldn't have the information on the Akatsuki that we do have. And if I'm correct you have more, don't you?" Jiraiya stated from across the Hokage's office.
"For now Itachi, I want you to take time to rest from your long mission and get reacquainted with your family. You have a little sister after all who hardly knew you for very long before the massacre. I'm sure she'd like to get to know you a bit."
"Very well Lord Axel. Shall I use some of my free time to compile information on the members of the Akatsuki that I've met?"
"At your leisure. I know you're a busy body like myself so you'll probably do it just to pass the time. Just try to take it easy. Also don't expect Sasuke to warm up to you. He was kind of the one you traumatized the most."
Axel picked up a report on one of the battlefronts. It seemed to be about the border to the Land of Wind. Everyone had vacated the office and Jiraiya even left him to his planning. It wouldn't be until Shikaku had entered the office a little later that he found Axel slumped over unconscious. He called for ANBU to get Tsunade and she was there faster than a flash one might say along with Mikoto and Minato. "What the hell happened?" he asked.
She placed a palm over his head. "I can't be one hundred percent sure but it seems like his chakra circulatory system seems to be… poisoned? A chakra illness of some kind?" she deduced as Minato took in a sharp inhale of breath and widened his eyes in fear. 'Not again. First mom, now him!?' he thought with pure terror. "We need to get him to the Hokage ward ASAP. Minato, if you would?" she got no reply from him. She noticed he was stock still, she waved a hand in front of him. "Minato!" nothing.
"Minato!" when this elicited no response she slapped him, HARD. He stood there rubbing his cheek and looking right at her. "I know your scared but we need to get him to the Hokage ward now. I can't do much if he's here. I need hospital equipment to stabilize and analyze him. Now, flash him and I," Minato wouldn't argue or hesitate any longer. Clearly Tsunade knew what she was doing so he would do as told and hope for the best. He placed a hand on Axel and one on Tsunade, Mikoto placed a hand on him as well gaining raised eyebrows. "Where do you think your going?" Tsunade asked.
"With MY master to fix MY man's health. I am not leaving him alone while he's like this. There is nothing you can do to stop me," Tsunade knew it to be true merely by looking into her eyes. It was the same fire all those years ago that inspired her to teach Mikoto medical jutsu in the first place. No, she wouldn't be dissuaded and she was ready to fight, possibly use her Mangekyou if needed.
She gave a heavy sigh but relented. "Fine, but you do everything I ask, when I ask. No if's, and's, or but's, understand?" she asked. "Crystal clear!" Mikoto saluted and then Minato flashed them to the Hokage Ward.
"You'll need to head back home Minato," She stated as soon as they were standing in the ward. "But-"
"No buts. I can't have any distractions. I promise you I won't let him die but I need you gone for now," she interrupted with her hands on both his cheeks. He looked to the side mulling it over while biting his lip and then he was gone in a flash. How he could make it so that those in contact with him didn't go with him, she didn't know, must be based on chakra usage.
The two medics looked toward the currently unconscious blond and began taking his Hokage robe and his undershirt off. Luckily, since he wasn't heading out to battle anytime soon he decided not to wear his armor. It would have made it more difficult to strip him down. Mikoto carefully and gently placed his clothes neatly folded to the side.
"Okay, now like I said it seems to be some kind of chakra illness. I couldn't really get anything past that," Tsunade explained as she hooked him up to an IV drip and placed an oxygen mask on him. He wasn't quite out of breath but his breathing patterns were abnormal and she was taking no chances if it got any worse.
The first thing in her mind was to analyze what was happening TO his chakra. "Mikoto, activate your Sharingan please," perks of an Uchiha medic? They could catch ALMOST everything that was wrong from the outside, and if by some chance it was involving chakra flow, the Sharingan would know as it could see chakra.
'Two chakra flows. One is obviously Axel's evident by the blue aura and the dark orange aura is clearly Kurama's. It's almost as if Kurama's chakra is eating Axel's. I don't understand, I thought they were in perfect sync, Axel wouldn't be able to use the Bijuu Bomb without.'
"Well? What do you see?" the Slug Princess asked as she took some blood tests. "I think his and Kurama's chakra are battling each other. I remember a similar incident in the first few years after he had Kurama sealed in him. He had to constantly drain his own chakra so that Kurama's chakra had to focus on restoring his own instead of tearing his body apart. I thought this was all solved."
"And how did this problem previously get fixed?"
"He went outside the village and trained up to eight tails and gained a certain amount of cooperation with Kurama. I don't understand why this is happening."
"Hmmm… well, that's not the only problem we have. His cells are also rapidly multiplying and killing themselves. It almost looks like he's using my Mitotic Regeneration. Didn't his real mother die by some chakra illness?"
"Yes, but he never elaborated with me on that. The only thing I can really say is that throughout my entire time of healing him it's gotten steadily harder to seal up even superficial cuts and such," Mikoto responded with worry. She'd hadn't thought too terribly much of it at the times it happened but now she realizes she should have addressed it sooner.
They could only look on at him as they waited for all the blood tests to come in and then he flat lined.
Axel's mindscape
He wasn't sure exactly where he was, at first he was in the temple in his mindscape but then he blinked and he was suddenly somewhere else. It was definitely old with structures and buildings from a far more ancient time.
He'd found a large shrine that was much, much larger than Kurama's temple was and golden with silver. There was a dark eerie presence, something truly malevolent was here. He walked into the temple and looked in many rooms finding nothing. He moved on until he got to a very large room with a statue in the back. It looked like the image of Hachiman that he saw in the scroll. This would be where the malevolent feeling was coming from, it would seem.
Then he noticed her, right in the middle praying on both knees to the statue. His eyes watered as they widened. "M-mom?" Axel asked in an uncertain tone. She stood up and turned to him with the Namikaze smile, the original Namikaze smile and it was still as beautiful as he remembered from his childhood.
She was a five foot five woman who's face merely looked like Minato except much more angular and a bit more slender in the face, basically a gender bent version of him. That thought made the man snicker. Her eyes were the brightest of the line of cerulean that all Namikaze's get and she had a dark forest green kimono that had a lion's pelt wrapped around her waist. This was Kaeda Namikaze-Uchiha.
"Your not supposed to be here so soon baby boy," she admonished in a melodic, almost angelic voice. The kind that could put anyone at ease. "Yeah, about that. I may have inherited your knack for getting ill. I think I have a chakra disease similar to yours," he stated with a grimace. He couldn't help but look down in shame. After everything that he'd fought through and overcome, it would be a disease that took him out.
She walked up to him and pulled him in a hug. Her head luckily was just high enough up she could rest it in the crook of his neck. "My, how my baby boy has grown. I remember when I had to kneel down to hug you. Heck, I remember when I could pick you up and carry you. Your taller than your father now, actually."
"I get it. I'm a giant apparently. I'm taller than my sensei now. It's cuz of how much I eat. I train myself into the ground everyday that the only two who are willing to join me are Minato and the brat."
"How is my little Mina?" She asked as she stared into his eyes. "He's fine now that he's alive again."
Her eyes widened a bit. "Your idiot father didn't tell me my youngest died when he returned to the pure lands. I'm gonna beat the crap out of him when I see him next," she stated with the most devilish face he'd ever seen. Were those spirits coming out of her mouth!? And those eyes! She was more terrifying than he remembered. Her facial features turned to curiosity. "So what happened to my ball of sunshine?" she asked and he had to try and figure out where he'd heard that from but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"The village was attacked. Minato as the Hokage had no choice but to make the ultimate sacrifice. He used the Reaper Death Seal and was about to take half of Kurama with him but I forced him to seal the furball in my gut," he waited to see if there would be a retort from said fox and heard nothing. 'Are you even there?'
"Whoever this Kurama is won't hear you. This is a space-time jutsu space that only allows you and I to talk. Speaking of, who is Kurama?"
"The nine-tailed fox Bijuu."
"You're a Jinchuuriki now?" she asked almost shedding a tear. She knew the fate that was being a Jinchuuriki. To be ostracized and never to be loved, be hated for something you have no control over. She had been in a similar position until she changed her identity and got married the first time. It was a front that allowed her to have friends but that was it. "I'm fine mom. The village seems to love me even after my heritage was revealed to the public. Apparently father's role as the greatest traitor to the Leaf means nothing in the citizens' eyes when it comes to Minato and I. Though we weren't worried about ourselves. We just wanted Naruto to have a decent life where he could have friends and people to love."
"Who is this Naruto, and am I to assume he's the one you call brat with such an affectionate tone?"
"He's your grandson. He's my godson and he's like the son I haven't gotten the chance to have," he stated pulling a scroll out that had a picture sealed in it. When she looked at it she couldn't help the smile that came to her face. In the middle was Axel as what looked to be some family pillar with his arms around Minato and Mikoto's shoulders. Minato had a hand on Naruto's shoulder and an arm slung around Kushina. Mikoto's hands were each on one of her children, while Satsumei held Naruto's hand and Sasuke had both hands in his pockets looking away from the camera. Jiraiya was behind both Minato and Axel and had an arm slung around each of them. Everyone had smiling faces, even Sasuke. The brightest smile though was form the young blond boy in the middle, it was like the sun was shining at her. She pointed her finger at him.
"That's him, isn't it?" She didn't need to ask to be honest. She could even see which two he was the child of. The red head was beautiful and she passed her round cherub cheeks upon the boy while Minato gave him their signature blond hair and blue eyes. "He's such a handsome young man," she said with tears in her eyes. The blond man didn't need to ask why she was tearing up, she wanted to be there with them. She'd really wanted grandkids back when he was younger and he could see she still did. She was both happy that that dream had come true and sad that she wasn't there to participate it. "You think that's good, wait till you see this one," he said smugly as he pulled another photo out of just the Namikaze trio. Naruto's hair matched its current style and she couldn't help the déjà vu.
"He looks like Indra Otsutsuki."
"Did you know my ancestor by any chance?"
"Never met him. By the time I was a wanderer and exploring the nations Indra had died many generations before. Heck, I'd say I was almost five hundred years too late."
"Mom, if you don't mind me asking just how old are you?" He was walking on thin ice and he knew it when her eyes turned into glaciers. It was almost as if he'd broken a taboo as the temperature of the area around them dropped several degrees to the point even he shivered a bit. "Sweetheart, I thought I taught you never to ask a lady her age?"
"I'm sorry, I'll shut up now," he stated with a cloud hanging over his head. "Well, I was about five hundred and thirteen years old when I died. Eight of those years were spent happily married to Madara just the two of us and the last five was with you two. A shame I only had three years with Minato. The fact he was intelligent enough to talk at that age was quite impressive and I would have liked to see him in a year or two after that."
He just listened to her ramble on and on about them and the childhood they did get with her. He didn't mind her rambling, he rather enjoyed just listening to her. "He's almost mastered Fujin," he stated shocking her.
"But, it took me decades to create the sword and invent the moves!" she yelled excitedly as she grinned at the prospect of how great her grandson is. "Yeah, he's incredible. Naruto is the strongest shinobi recorded of that particular age. He'll be fourteen this year and I think he'll still get vastly stronger by then. He's got his friends Satsumei and Sasuke as well. They're prodigies in their own rights. Satsumei basically has super strength and is an incredible medic as well as the second summoner of the Phoenix clan after me. Sasuke has gotten the Lion clan," he stated and for some reason his eyes were drawn to the pelt around her waist. He thought back to the pelt that Sasuke wore when he returned from Raion no Su.
"Mom, where did you get that pelt?" she was perplexed by that question. She thought she'd told him back when he was younger.
"The Lion clan. They were my summons. I thought you knew," she stated with a tilt of her head and curious stare. "I had no clue. I didn't think somehow Sasuke of all people would have been compatible with the clan you fought alongside."
"Well, if you really want a brain buster. I'm the one who raised the current boss summon," his mouth gaped at that.
"You know how Sasuke is required to take care of his own cub? Or at least I assume so, if they haven't changed their practices."
He gave a nod. "Well, my cub happened to be the current boss. The boss before hand was the elder Regulus."
"Do you mean it's possible that Sasuke might be raising the next boss summon?"
"Very well possible. If he starts to grow into a bipedal lion over time then I guarantee you that he's going to be the boss."
"Such a fascinating clan. Oh, Minato and myself are sages by the way," her face lit up yet again and she started jumping up and down. "That's awesome! I'm so proud of my boys!"
"Whoa, calm down mom. It's not that impressive. After all we didn't do it until we were eighteen. Satsumei did it at the age of thirteen."
"What!? There's a thirteen year old sage! That's incredible! She must be amazing!" she exclaimed as she seemed to dance around him with excitement. She'd always loved seeing the younger generations surpass the older. "Yeah, she's quite incredible. She's the daughter to whom has my heart," he stated in a far off tone he didn't necessarily mean for her to pick up on.
"Oh. Is my little boy in love?"
"Yeah. I guess so. The funny thing is I think I've loved her since I met her. Thirty one years I've known her and never once did I make a move because I put my feelings and happiness below the interests of the village," he stated with a sheepish grin while rubbing the back of his head. "Axel, I knew out of the two of my sons that you would be the most sacrificing but that doesn't mean you have to give up happiness for everyone else. I could see the savior complex of yours developing even at the age of four. Please, let others help you. Don't rely on just your own strength. Let others in, please," she stated as she placed a hand on his chest allowing her chakra to radiate into him. He could feel her emotions and knew her heart was aching for him. He didn't want to see his mother like this, feeling pain because of him.
"TO be fair, I still say that Minato sacrificed more than me by using the Reaper Death Seal. My opinion though."
"Hmm… and you may be right. But to an extent he also gave up. You didn't, you kept fighting even through the sacrifices. As much as I love you both I'm more proud of you. Please do what you can to protect all that you love but try to take care of yourself," she stated as she stroked his cheek. She seemed to have an epiphany though as her eyes widened. "What's wrong mom?"
"Are you aware your developing whisker like marks on your cheeks?"
"What?"
"They're excessively miniscule but they are there. Your synching with Kurama so well that your becoming fox-like slowly."
"I see. That's kind of cool. I like Kurama so I don't mind."
"I see. It also gives you something to have in common with young Naruto if they become visible."
Outside Axel's mindscape
"Oh good, he's steadied back again," Tsunade breathed as she felt relief. She couldn't lose anyone else precious to her so this was not something she would fail.
"I think we'll have to take shifts. We can't both be at this all the time. As we are the only two permitted to operate in here it only makes sense to take shifts," Mikoto suggested. "I agree. We can't both be exhausting ourselves at all times. Very well, I'll have a schedule put together and we'll go from there. In the meantime since we have him stabilized you head home. I can keep him in this condition for now. He's better like this than an hour ago."
Mikoto WANTED to argue but she was frankly exhausted, clearly Tsunade was still the best medic because even though she looked slightly winded from her ministrations she seemed to be ready to go three more rounds of healing, bare minimum. Maybe that was her will power to save her surrogate son but still, it was quite impressive regardless. Tsunade truly was incredible and it was genius of Axel to call her back when he did. Whether it was foresight as to his condition or just improving their chances of victory during the war, it didn't truly matter as she was an incredible factor of Konoha.
"Fine. I need some rest anyways. My chakra reserves aren't as high as yours," Mikoto relented as she went to exit the ward and heard a slight chuckle. "Perks of being both Senju and Uzumaki I suppose."
By the time she got back to the estate she had been instantly assailed by everyone except Itachi and Sasuke who were sitting on opposite couches listening in.
"For now, he's stable but there's just not much we can do until we get more blood tests. It's as if Kurama's chakra is eating his own. It's weird because we're under the impression that those two were in perfect sync by now" she explained and Naruto couldn't help but look down toward his seal. "It's not anyone's fault Naruto. It's not Axel's or Kurama's, we suspect it has something to do with your Namikaze heritage. Specifically whatever chakra illness your grandmother had in her last years," she assured while ruffling his hair. "Now, Kushina, have you already started preparing dinner? I need something to take my mind off of this."
"Yeah, you can help me finish up," she responded with a sympathetic smile which was returned with a grateful one. "Let's get to it then."
"I'll be out on the porch if anyone needs me," Minato said quickly as he walked outside, Naruto hastily following him. He wouldn't let his father be alone right now.
When they sat down they remained in silence for awhile until Minato spoke up. "You know, I'd hoped that if either of us had inherited our mother's knack for getting sick it would be me. It always made sense. Him having to take care of me. He was always the stronger one. He could deal with it, ya know?" he explained imitating Kushina's verbal tick gaining a chuckle from the boy. "I never put the pieces together that it wasn't necessarily a genetic disease but more like a genetic predisposition to reject chakra sources implanted in oneself."
"You couldn't have known."
"If I'd taken his half of Kurama with me then maybe this wouldn't be happening," he stated with regret.
"And then we would have been without our greatest asset forever. Who knows the way destiny would have played out. It was possible you may have never been resurrected. Don't forget its because of you placing your chakra in his seal that you're here now."
"Maybe, but I still can't help the bit of regret. Growing up we'd always been the closest of family. We leaned on each other in the hardest times. We drank together after every mission, past every exam together, we even went into the ANBU together, no matter how small my time in there was. We did almost everything together."
"You wish you could take his pain away," it was a statement of understanding and not a question. Naruto felt the same in that he didn't want to lose his uncle and he didn't want to see him in pain. He knew how cruel this world was to some extent though now. He was already preparing himself to lose his uncle, just incase. He didn't want that stray thought but he couldn't help it. He was practical if nothing else. He only hoped it wouldn't crush his father if it happened.
They'd been outside for about ten minutes now and could smell the aroma of dinner wafting through the screen door behind them. "I think it's time to eat son."
"Let's go dad. I'll have to pack away extra for Uncle Axel since he can't be here."
"Indeed you will."
Two weeks later- Hokage's office
Minato was sitting in the Hokage's chair donning the hat. He'd had to retake the position as Axel still hadn't woken from his coma. He'd seemed to be slowly fighting off the infection but hadn't shown any signs of becoming conscious.
"Based on the last reports that Ax was scanning over before he went into his coma the next big front seems to be the border to the Land of Wind. I've had Jiraiya-sensei scout it and I've sent a few squads just to keep watch and indeed Iwa seems to be using it as a route into the Land of Fire. The only problem would normally be having to go through the Land of Rivers. These are however not a normally aggressive people. So, most likely they probably won't even stop Iwa," he stated as he looked at the gathered shinobi in the office. Naruto's team, Shikamaru's team, and Shino's team. The jonin were all out at other spots fighting off other attacks. Mikoto and Tsunade had to stay in the village to monitor Axel's health constantly, the only other high powered shinobi left in the village being Itachi but he wasn't cleared for duty yet.
"Have we gotten any more information back from this scouting Lord Fourth?" Shikamaru asked.
"It would seem that Jiraiya-sensei had entered farther into the Land of Rivers and found that they've created a veritable fortress as a base. Again, the Hidden Valley Village shouldn't be letting this happen but I'm assuming they aren't doing anything on account of not wanting to be involved in the war. I'd like to respect their wishes if at all possible, it's what Ax would have wanted. IF they interfere though, they will become enemies."
"So, what shall we do about this fortress of theirs? Surely we can't let them keep it father. If they can continue to send reinforcements there, they'll have a constant point of attack."
"Indeed. I'm sending all three of your teams out on a joint mission to end that fortress. Use any means necessary, blow it to kingdom come if you have to. I don't care what it takes. We can't let them have a fortress so close to our borders. Now, Naruto will naturally be the leader of this mission as he has the highest rank and Shikamaru and Shino will be his co-leaders. They'll act as advisors of sorts," he stated as he looked to them for more questions.
"Lord Fourth, is there anything else we need to know, such as terrain or a possible motive for taking this position?" Sasuke asked surprising everyone. He'd been more lenient on Itachi than was expected and as such had taken the chance to learn strategy and tactics from him. This also included that motive could also be important in war.
"I can only assume that Onōki is getting desperate. I will say that he's also attacking from the Lands of Rice, Waterfalls, Rain, and Grass as well. The most surprising was Rice but seems like he's trying to hit us on as many sides as possible. Regarding terrain, you'll come across mostly rivers with small bits of forest in between. Frankly it's a bit more akin to a marsh in my opinion due to the spread of the land but that's beside the point. Be prepared for a vast amount of water and possible swimming. If there're no other questions then your all dismissed except Naruto."
They all left with a few lingering but a couple of Mangekyou staring at them got the point across, 'leave'.
"Whats wrong father?"
"It's your uncle. He's either in constant pain or he's fighting something."
"He's in a coma, how is he fighting something?"
"Well, I don't think he's fully unconscious. I think it's just his body. You know how you have your mindscape with Kurama, right? Well I think it's similar with him. I think he's fighting something in there and it's showing on his physical body. There's cuts appearing on his body that shouldn't be there and he seems to be showing signs of his chakra fluctuating in a way that only happens during combat. I don't know what to make of it."
"Father, this sounds insane, you do know that, right?"
"I'm aware but I'm also aware that we live in the world of shinobi, and that we happen to be related to Hagorom Otsutsuki and that apparently we could be related to some God of War that could be just a giant cluster of malevolence and chakra. What's your point?"
"Fine, you make a better point. So, what do we do about it?"
"The only thing I could think of would be to figure out how to safely extract Kurama. If his body is rejecting Kurama like implied then that's the obvious solution. The only problem is that the only Jinchuuriki to have survived extraction is your mother. That's it and only with immediate medical attention as well as her incredibly powerful life-force. I don't know if it would work with Ax and even if it did, who would we place Kurama into?"
"You have two choices, me or mom. If my uncle can adapt to his chakra coils being forcibly expanded like he did that night, I don't see why I couldn't. Also mom had Kurama before, it shouldn't be too hard for her to re-adapt to that amount of chakra. Food for thought but anyway I have a mission to lead now. Was that all Lord Hokage?" he asked the last part with a teasing tone. "No, that was it. Get out of here brat," Minato responded as he tossed Naruto a tri-pronged.
"I won't help you complete the mission, however if it's a bust and there's no way to complete it, this is so I can help you get everyone out alive. I refuse to send children into war and treat them like we treated Sakumo Hatake. Sometimes life is more important than success," he added before picking up war data that seemed to pop up out of nowhere. 'Tch, I'd use shadow clones here but I feel like it's not the greatest idea considering this is extremely important info.'
Village Gates
Naruto flashed to the village gates to wait for his team but saw everyone was there waiting for him already. "Everything good sunshine?" Satsumei asked worried. He merely had to raise an eyebrow, was the tone his father used that dire sounding? "For the most part everything is fine. It's nothing to concern yourselves with for now."
He stood there in deep thought for a moment until Shikamaru placed a hand on his shoulder gaining his attention. With a nod toward the gates Naruto got the message. "Alright everyone, are we ready?"
"Ready and able Commander!" everyone saluted in a teasing way and he couldn't help but shake his head. They were about to leave when someone ran up to them in a surprising uniform. She wore the basic blue long sleeved shirt and pants of Konoha as well as a… chunin flak vest. She also had her signature fan on her back.
They all recognized her as they'd all gotten to interact with her quite often. "Temari, is there anything I can help you with?" Naruto asked as Shikamaru took his side. "Lord Minato has sent me as back up. He figured you could use some help and had said that Lord Axel's untimely coma was the reason I wasn't given my test to enter the ranks yet. He said this was a perfect chance to test me. Handed me a chunin flak vest and sent me here."
"And your one hundred percent ready for this? I have no problem bringing you if my father deemed it acceptable but I'm not brining you if you don't think your ready for this. This is war and I'm not losing anyone because of incompetence."
She gave him a challenging smirk. "What do you take me for, an amateur? I'll be fine. Again, I'm backup, not one of your front line fighters."
"Fine, let's go. I'm not slowing down for anyone so you all keep up or be left behind," Ino was about to comment something about 'cocky', but then she noticed how quickly his whole team took off. She almost couldn't keep up. And so they all headed west for the Land of Rivers.
Axel's mindscape
The only thing visible to the normal human eye would be the giant gashes that were appearing all over the gilded temple. It seemed there were two invisible forces that kept clashing and releasing shockwaves as well as stray blades of wind. This went on for a few minutes until they separated.
By now Axel had discarded his cloak as it just kept getting cut up. Kaeda looked perfectly calm and composed while Axel seemed winded, far more than he was really used to. He'd had a hard time steadying his breath. That damn odachi of hers was annoying. Naruto never wielded it so effectively. The question was why did she still have it?
"I may as well be a chakra projection… or maybe a spirit projection would be more accurate. Essentially the night before I died I sealed part of my soul and chakra into both you and Minato for the day you would need me."
"Do you women just all read minds or am I just that freaking obvious!? Also, why didn't you help on the night of Naruto's birth?"
"First, yes, definitely all mind readers, at least when it comes to men. Second, even I can't fight the Shinigami. I wouldn't have been able to save him therefore the seal didn't activate. And now that he's alive again he no longer has that seal as it's not even the body he was born with. Now, enough questions. Have you caught your breath yet?" she asked but didn't give him any time to answer as she dashed at him almost quicker than he could keep up with and went to bisect him to which he barely brought his claymore up in time to block. The only reason he could keep up right now was because he had his Sharingan active and while he tried to dual wield he quickly found she was much physically stronger than he remembered her being, even stronger than Tsunade so he was forced to use a two handed grip to remain even with her.
'What the hell is with this demonic strength of hers? She's almost overpowering me! I'm the physically strongest in Konoha! Damn woman,' that was apparently the wrong thought to have as she doubled her efforts as he noticed her eyes narrowing. She definitely read his mind just now and he would be punished appropriately. 'What did I get myself into?'