Contract of the Shinigami

by KyuubiGoku

Naruto nearly died at Final Valley, but Fate still wants him alive. The Shinigami finds interest in Naruto and makes Naruto it's first summoner. Watch Naruto as he shows the world what it's like to have the Death God for a summon. Incest warning NaruKushi. Uzumaki Eccentric.

40. Chapter 40

KG: Okay so we're back with this thing and I'm...sober. Yeah I remember I got drunk off cream soda and well I ended up in some woman's apartment. No I was not getting married at the time so get off my back! Also OH MY GOD! DAT NARUTO MANGA! No spoilers, but damn!

Naruto: Hey sir welcome to King Burger may I take your order?

Man: WHOPPER!

Naruto: ahhhh my ears! Sir, what's your-

Man: WHOPPER! NO ONION! LARGE FRY!

Naruto: Oh dear god! Hey hey Chewbacca, bleedin' from the ears here dammit now calm down! Alright we're just in a lone author's house selling food not missiles governor now drive around!

KG: Naruto, what the hell are you doing?

Naruto: You're fuckin' job that's what! Why do people insist on yelling at this damn drive through? Why are we even doing this?

KG: I thought it would be funny.

Naruto: It's not!

KG: Oh brother. Well anyway let's get started.

Music of the Week: Down by Jason Walker.

Quote: "Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy," by Khalil Gibran.

Naruto: Alright ma'am apparently you want some pickles! Ma'am are you trying molest me via drive-through? What are you saying? HELLOOOOOOO!

---

Two weeks later

Naruto and Sasuke snorted as they looked around and noticed themselves surrounded by various thugs, bandits, and swordsmen. "Kill them! Kill them both!" one of them shouted while Naruto rubbed his chin with a small grin on his face. The blond was very different from his usual look. For one, he wasn't blond. His hair was silver and his eyes reflected the symbolized silver, crystal-like features of the moon. The seal on his hand had expanded across his face while his sword was cloaked with white fire.

Sasuke cracked his own smirk as he placed his sword on his shoulder. "You would do well not to get in our way. You're not worth our time," Sasuke said with a confident grin while the men sneered.

"Aww come on Sasuke, can you blame them? We did just do what most said it was impossible to do and destroyed their crime syndicate. Not really hard to do, but these people pissed me off. Knowing that my mother had to actually seduce one of these...assholes. Makes me sick!" Naruto growled out while the men quickly backed away from the surrounding presence in the air.

"Hey my mother did it too. So did Yugao-san," Sasuke and Naruto quickly swung his sword as Pakura, Kimimaro, Dan, Yahiko, Suiren, and Gari dropped to the ground on one knee acknowledging their Shikyō. "That doesn't make me the least bit happy either. You guys think you can help us out?" Naruto asked while Sasuke chuckled.

"Please. Like we need help. You just want them to have some fun of their own," Sasuke said while Pakura stood to her feet. "We are grateful Shikyō-sama," she said as she got up and turned around. The ex-Suna kunoichi held out her hand as a large fireball suddenly came into being. Suiren chuckled while she tapped her cheek, her hand resting calmly on her sword.

"Hmm how shall I kill you?" Suiren asked and the men shivered. Gari, Kimimaro, and Dan shifted into their taijutsu stances while Yahiko folded his arms. "The things that you have done to this nation will be your end. You will understand true pain," he said and the six charged forward into the large groups of people as noise assaulted Naruto and Sasuke's ears.

Suiren smirked as she clashed with a few people as the sparks flew off her sword. She quickly stepped to the side and blurred from their view. The men gasped before Suiren appeared behind them with her sword. "Be silent. Ichikai: Kagiri( One-hit Shot: Siren Slash)," Suiren spoke before a trail of water blazed across the ground cutting her opponents across the chest as they dropped to the ground. Suiren gave a small bow before flipping her hair. "Not enough," she said.

"Tsubaki no Mai( Dance of Camellia)," Kimimaro said as bones sprang from his body. He took them into his hands like swords before dashing forward. He sailed through the air before coming down elegantly. He then swung his body into the body of one person making him bleed in various places before Kimimaro ran off through the crowds to go get another. The men shouted their aggression as they tried to take Kimimaro apart. Kimimaro jumped over one and killed another before rushing in with an overhead throw. One man flicked a kunai at him, but Kimimaro easily blocked it with one of his bone blades while he held out his opposite hand. "Tenshi Sendan( Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets)," Kimimaro called out blasting bones from his body into the heads of many as he watched them drop to the ground.

"Weak," was all Kimimaro said with a shake of his head.

"Shakuton: Kajōsatsu( Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder)," Pakura said swirling her fireballs around before launching them forward. Pakura scorned people to death by the tens of hundreds while Gari exploded their bodies. The former Iwa-nin smirked before he kicked one person to the side. He then went straight for another. The men swung their swords, but Gari dodged them all easily with a look of annoyance on his face. He jumped over one and grinned as his hand touched the man's head. "Bakuton: Jiraiken( Explosion Release: Landmine Fist)," Gari called out and the man shouted before he was engulfed in a large explosion while the others backed away.

"Shikyō-sama, how is it?" Gari asked while Naruto strained his eyes trying to take in everything from a single point. He would be honest, he was getting a freakin' headache from trying to make sense of everything, but he had to work this ability the most. "I'm fine. Keep going you guys!" Naruto persisted and everyone listened.

Suiren and Dan sliced through the people easily as they watched each other's back. Gari grabbed Pakura and sent her into the air while Pakura quickly came swirling down with a heel kick and rebounding to punch someone else in the face. Kimimaro kicked one person to the group while the groups of bandits gasped at their brutality. They threw an explosion tag kunai towards Kimimaro while the bone-user narrowed his eyes; however he saw Yahiko quickly grab the tagged kunai. He effortlessly ripped it off before sending it into the air. It quickly exploded causing the bandits to cover their eyes. And because they did this, they didn't see Dan drop down with his sword before he quickly weaved his hands through them all until he landed softly on the ground. "Live. Fight. Survive. Fall before my sword," Dan said as he slightly sheathed the sword getting them to drop to the ground. The six opened their eyes showing their silver color.

"Time to end this. Yahiko-san, aid me," Pakura said creating a large fireball. Yahiko nodded taking a handsign. "Suiton: Mizurappa( Water Release: Wild Water Wave)," Yahiko shouted sending a burst of water to collide with the fire to bring a thick mist over the area. Naruto and Sasuke jumped back while Dan stood in the center.

"It wasn't pleasant to meet you, but now I must say goodbye," Dan said slamming his hands together.

"Raiton: Setsudan Arashi no Jutsu( Lightning Release: Severing Storms Technique)," Dan hollered as lightning poured from his body before it went into the misty clouds and the screams of many men could be heard as the lightning gave a spectacular show to Naruto and Sasuke. The other bandits watched in shock and horror while they comrades burned and then dropped to the ground lifelessly. Naruto could see their souls filling up the place, but he could also hear their shouting as they vanished away into his sword never to be seen again.

"Damn you brat! Kill them dammit!" a lead bandit shouted before the men found their resolve strengthened as they charged at the group. "Here they come," Sasuke said closing his eyes. Naruto quickly touched the seal on his hand making it glow brightly within the palace while the lead bandit chuckled.

"See if you can stop this brat!" he shouted and Naruto sighed. "Guess I'll be taking the payment for Itachi now. Seriously Sasuke, sometimes I wonder if we were lucky to get this SS-rank mission," Naruto said while the lead bandit gasped. He turned his head as he noticed Naruto right behind him. He looked back as he noticed the fallen men on the ground covered in their own blood and even the blood of others and he could see Naruto's sword glowing in white flames. He felt a bead of sweat drop down his face before he turned his head.

"W-What are you?" he asked while before he winced as he felt Naruto's sword plunge through his chest. "You know I heard how you had your "fun" with lots of women in the village making their husbands actually watch as you did what you did. You will learn your place and death will be your teacher," Naruto said before he ripped the man's soul from his body and watched him fall to the ground.

Naruto then sent it into the air before it was caught by the Shinigami. "My payment Shin," Naruto said while Shin claimed the soul and then quickly disappeared. Naruto's eyes slowly returned to normal before the blond suddenly dropped to the ground. "Shikyō-sama!" Naruto heard his summons call while Sasuke quickly placed his hand on the blond's shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Sasuke asked while Naruto's hair changed to normal. His seal regressed back into his lone hand while he chuckled. "Guess I can't use it just yet. I didn't think it was going to be so hard. Shinigami said that I had to keep using you guys every change that I could get to get stronger myself, but trying to see through all your fields of vision is annoying. My eyes hurt," Naruto said with a chuckle while everyone glanced to each other.

"But even so, Pakura you went overboard. You hardly left anyone for us," Suiren said looking back at the charred men and Pakura did the same. "You'll just have to be faster next time. Also Shikyō-sama, you'll have to get out of here. Your team is waiting for you," Pakura said while Dan and Kimimaro waved goodbye and went back into the sword. The others followed after them while Naruto and Sasuke felt the entire floor underneath their feet shake. Explosions happened all around as the base slowly began to be consumed by an intense inferno. Naruto and Sasuke glanced to each other before Naruto sighed again. He opened out his hand to create the Jikūyugami. The two teens stepped through the purple portal while the base came crumbling down to the ground.

Outside, Kushina, Yugao, Kakashi, and Mikoto looked out at the burning tower along with two teams of Anbu. The anbu just stood speechless while Kushina gave a light smirk of her own. Kakashi gave an eyesmile while Yugao groaned. "So they were thinking to take out all of us with them? I can't say I'm surprised," Yugao said while Mikoto frowned.

"Kushina, Naruto and Sasuke are ten seconds late," Mikoto said while Kushina chuckled. "Still a stickler for time aren't you dattebane?" Kushina asked smiling while Mikoto shrugged her slender shoulders. The anbu just stood amazed as they watched the flames dance around in the skies.

"What is wrong with these six? Is this the team that Tsunade-sama created? They just took one of the hardest missions that the Anbu has ever been given and they're...laughing about it. Uzumaki-sama and Uchiha-sama just sent their sons to deal with it. Did we...let the Kyuubi jinchuuriki get too strong?" the lead anbu thought to himself before he suddenly felt a slight shiver across his body. From behind him came Naruto and Sasuke. The anbu felt like they couldn't even move. Stiffened by the careless smiles on their faces.

"Sochi, apparently Mikoto-chan thinks you took too long," Kushina said while Naruto gently kissed his mother's forehead. "Really? Sorry about that Mikoto-chan. Sasuke and I will be faster so we don't disappoint you," Naruto said with a thumbs up. Mikoto chuckled gently before nodding her head.

"Well as Kushina seems to like to state falsely, I'm supposed to be a stickler for time. How did you do Sasuke?" Mikoto asked while Sasuke sighed to himself. "It's not like anything important happened. They were all pathetic anyway," Sasuke said without a care in the world.

"Maa maa Sasuke, don't say that. They were just unlucky to run into our team is all," Kakashi said getting a small laugh from the others. "So Anbu-san, wasn't I right? Hinoken doesn't need any help. As you can see...," the anbu captain and his squad watched dumbfounded as the large structure dropped to the ground and exploded pushing the fire skyward before he turned back.

"...we had everything under control the entire time. We appreciate your efforts, but in the future please try not to get in our way. It could mean the end of a mission," Kushina said before the six suddenly disappeared while the Anbu and his teams were left in the cold, dark forest at night. "T-Taichou...," the captain looked back and he noticed one of his subordinates shivering slightly.

"Is that...really the Red Death and her son? What kind of team are they?" the young anbu asked while the captain looked back. "Just forget it for now. But relay this report to Godaime-sama. We must keep an eye on the Hinoken Butai. Their eyes, they were looking down on us for some reason. I don't know why, but they...they had better not look down on the anbu. They think that just because they were hand-selected by Hokage-sama that they are better than our unit? The anbu has been a longer running squad than Hinoken has. I will never allow myself to be looked down upon. Especially not by Kakashi or Yugao. Both of who were a part of our teams. Kuso!" the anbu captain said punching the ground.

"I didn't want to believe it, but it's because I served under Yondaime-sama. I felt her power and I felt Mikoto's power. It wasn't easy as they masked it very well, but they aren't normal. Koharu-san was right to be weary of them. The Perfect Edo Tensei," the anbu captain said in his mind before he and his squad vanished out.

Meanwhile, the team dropped to the ground and leaned against the trees. "Sochi, I'm not so sure about this," Kushina said while the others glanced her way. Naruto nodded as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He leaned against an opposite tree and slumped to the ground. "Yeah what are the defining characteristics of your Sage mode? You haven't even mastered it, but supposedly it is something that all summons give to their summoners. Were we really supposed to act that way?" Yugao asked and Naruto shook his head.

"Shin said that I would come to understand my duties to the realm of the Dead and when I do that then I will find the truth to this sage mode. He said that with it I can see things a lot more clearly. Apparently I had to...create a situation where uneasiness was in the air to show how far I got. Shin said that the Death Sage Mode is supposed to be about collecting Honshou to fully flood my body and compress it to a single point. I tried that, but all I get is my hair turning silver along with my eyes," Naruto said dejectedly.

"But I wonder why we had to be the ones to create that uneasiness," Kakashi said folding his arms. "Maybe because death centers around uneasiness. If Naruto-san is going to be having the Shinigami at his side then there will come a time where he can't be uncomfortable with death to not do what needs to be done," Yugao theorized. Mikoto and Sasuke glanced to each other. The older Uchiha patted her son's shoulder.

"So how are you feeling Sasuke? After that mission?" Mikoto asked and Sasuke sighed. "Very tired actually. It took more chakra than I was willing to admit then," Sasuke said leaning against the ground while Mikoto sighed sadly before sitting next to her son.

"So what now?" Kakashi asked and Kushina clapped her hands together. "Well we're finished with the mission and sochi just sent Dan over to deliver the scroll to Tsunade for the completed mission so I suppose we could go home. We have Itachi watching over Yuri and training her even more. We're going to have to make some changes though. Kakashi, I want you to send a letter to...Sochi, what was her name again?" Kushina asked.

"Koyuki Kazahana-chan!" Naruto exclaimed while Sasuke and Kakashi suddenly felt a light rush of remembrance. "I see. Alright then, Kakashi, send a letter to Koyuki-san that we'd like to pay her a visit. Hopefully she hasn't forgotten my sochi's cute face," Kushina said while Naruto suddenly blushed and lowly growled.

"Not funny Kaa-chan. Not funny at all," Naruto and the group slowly forgot their earlier plight as they slowly began to relax for the next morning.

Hokage Mansion, Next morning

"Koharu...what is this supposed to be?" Tsunade asked looking at the stack of papers that had been abruptly placed in front of her. Papers showing the human body, the chakra network, as well blood sample test results. Right in front of Tsunade was Koharu and Sakura, carrying the same documents. She looked at the two of them sternly and Sakura found herself dwindling underneath her teacher's eyes before Koharu cleared her throat to bring Tsunade's attention back to what they wanted to talk about. "Tsunade, I feel that it would be in the village's best interest if you watched Uzumaki Naruto more carefully from now on," Koharu spoke and Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

"Oh? And why should I do that? As far as I'm concerned, what Naruto Uzumaki does is none of your business," Tsunade said harshly getting Sakura to recoil slightly. "Normally that would be the case, but it does involve our business when it comes down to his knowledge of certain things. Such as...kinjutsu," Koharu said with a narrowed eye. Tsunade's face scrunched up for but a moment before she kept it from being seen.

"Hmph, and what kinjutsu could the brat possibly know, other than his Rasenshuriken which is quite amazing by the way. It seems to be on a larger scale than what chakra is able to produce," Tsunade said with a sudden smile when Naruto showed her the technique. It was already labeled a kinjutsu by her, and only for dire situations, but the mere fact astounded her to a great deal. "That is exactly what's concerning," Tsunade's smile left her face as she stared at Koharu while Sakura looked between the two of them, still feeling uneasy.

"Really? What's concerning about the brat's growth?" Tsunade asked and Koharu placed a paper down calmly and withdrew her hand. Okay fine, Tsunade would indulge these two a little. She didn't know what the point of all of this was, but she might as well find out. Taking the paper, Tsunade read across its lines for a few seconds that would enable her to think a little more rationally.

Once she was done, Tsunade placed the paper down to the table. "What is this?" Tsunade asked and Sakura walked up. "Tsunade-sama, you know of the reports of tampered graves over the year. There was even a report of Asuma-san's grave being tampered with and it wasn't by us," Sakura said and Tsunade then proceeded to laugh.

"You both think Naruto would go to grave-robbing? Sakura, I thought you knew your own teammate better than that," Tsunade said placing her head in one of her hands. "Tsunade be serious here. The graves for Mikoto Uchiha, Hinako Hyuuga, Yuna Uchiha and Dan Kato have been disturbed. There aren't any corpses there. Hiruzen was our Sandaime and I don't think that there was a mission so difficult that he couldn't inform the council of it. You're too trusting of Naruto Uzumaki's word. We know Kushina Uzumaki died and we know how she's back," Koharu said while Sakura nodded firmly. Tsunade clenched her hands, but refrained from taking any action just yet.

"Tsunade-sama, this isn't Naruto. I didn't think his promise would take him this far. To actually use the Edo Tensei," Sakura said and soon silence reigned in the office. Tsunade stared at them both blankly while they allowed that knowledge to seep in. Honestly when Tsunade had found out Mikoto was alive she really had been serious about getting off the sake. She knew that if she was going to even comprehend this then she would have to let it go. She knew that made Shizune ecstatic. Since then Tsunade had been more productive, but what they just said seriously made her want to start, but she wouldn't. No, she'd just settle for...laughing.

Sakura and Koharu watched as Tsunade clutched her stomach while the tears fell from her eyes. "Seriously? You think the brat would use an Edo Tensei? You really must be mistaking him for my bastard teammate, Orochimaru. The brat would never do that Sakura. Honestly, what's the matter with you? I'd smack you over the head, but that might make it worse," Tsunade said and Sakura blushed in embarrassment while Koharu merely had enough of this.

"Tsunade Senju," Koharu spoke and Tsunade instantly stopped laughing. She looked up at Koharu to see the councilwoman steeling her eyes at her. "You'd do well to remember who you're addressing with that tone councilwoman Koharu. I can just as readily take away your position as Sarutobi-sensei gave it to you," Tsunade said, but Koharu ignored the threat for the option of continued talking.

So, Tsunade straightened up and glared while she folded her arms. "Over the two years that Naruto Uzumaki has been gone from the village, I believe that he came to see that he wouldn't be able to bring Uchiha Sasuke back forcefully without the power of the Kyuubi and knowing that he would never break a promise to Sakura he decided to give Uchiha Sasuke the incentive to stay. As you can see Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Yuna are back. His mother and a way for Uchiha Sasuke to "revive" his clan," Koharu said while Sakura stiffened. She then remembered how Sasuke acted around Yuna as well as that kiss to the cheek she'd seen her give Sasuke. Sakura suddenly grimaced while her eyebrow twitched.

"What? But they're cousins! That's sick!" Sakura said while Tsunade rolled her eyes. If she thought that was sick just wait until she figured out the Uzumaki clan head and clan heir were together. Yep Tsunade knew and quite frankly she really didn't give a fuck. "I would almost be inclined to agree Sakura-san, but for different reasons. I don't know how, but some way Uzumaki Naruto got information and found out about it. Who knows the number of sacrifices he's used to try and come to this result. It's clear that we've underestimated him for far too long," Koharu said growling while Tsunade sighed. It was so sound a theory that the only way Tsunade knew the truth was because Naruto had shown her the contract that he had as well as the proof behind it.

"It is the only logical explanation," Koharu said and Tsunade snorted. "Okay, so supposing that Naruto did do this then do you really think that Mikoto, Kushina or even Hinako wouldn't have told me about such things.? Do you really expect me to believe that?" Tsunade asked while Koharu smiled.

"And that is why it's dubbed the Perfect Edo Tensei. As far as we know an Edo Tensei resurrected person is unable to bear children, but Hinako seems to make this possible. This seems to be a product of his work which leads me to suggest that these bodies are kept around to the utmost of their usage. I honestly can't explain why, but you would have to at least acknowledge that something is going on here," Koharu said while Tsunade sighed once again for the umpteenth time. Sake would be good right now...ahh who was she kidding? The reality after she drunk herself down would be an even bigger headache on top of the alcohol.

"Man if it isn't one thing it's another. Don't think I still haven't forgotten what I learned a few months ago Koharu. I still haven't forgiven you," Tsunade said while Koharu widened her eyes.

"There was nothing between myself and Dan Kato!" Koharu protested heatedly while Tsunade just shook her head. "Yeah sure, whatever the hell you say Koharu. Alright I've heard you and I'll take this into account, but you'd better watch yourself. You're not in charge of the shinobi, I am and I will not have you stirring up trouble on some personal vendetta of yours," Tsunade said before everyone heard a tap on the window. They all looked at they noticed nothing, but the wind howling outside. Tsunade narrowed her eyes before standing to her feet.

"Alright then, both of you get out! I'm busy and I need to look this information over. Shizune, escort them out!" Tsunade called and Shizune quickly came through the door wanting Koharu and Sakura to leave which they quickly, and quietly did, without any complaints. Koharu glanced back to Tsunade with a curious gaze until she just shook her head and walked off leaving the Godaime Hokage alone.

Seeing that the coast was clear, Tsunade opened the window and a rush of wind suddenly filled the room as Dan dropped to the ground. "Yo Tsu-chan," Dan said with the same familiar grin while Tsunade just grumbled to herself. "This is all your fault you know," Tsunade said leaning into the chair while Dan blinked and tilted his head to the side.

"That would be...what now?" Dan asked seemingly confused, but Tsunade could see the lone smile on his face that told her that he knew what she was talking about. "Your damn prank is now coming to bite me in the ass Dan. So, what do you have for me?" Tsunade asked and Dan placed a scroll on her desk. Tsunade looked at it before taking it into her hands while Dan looked out the window. Tsunade then furled up the scroll and placed it on the desk.

"So they finished their S-rank mission. Well I can't really say that I'm surprised. I did form them after all," Tsunade said beaming with pride while Dan sweatdropped. "And that's just supposed to mean anything?" Dan asked himself before waving to Tsunade as he vanished out of sight leaving her alone. Tsunade flew back into her chair and placed a hand over her eyes. No Tsunade, no alcohol. You swore off that since all this started. Dammit!

Uzushiogakure

"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu," Itachi said sending a large fireball roaring through the ground towards Yuri while the young Uzumaki quickly snarled, her two tails thrashing around violently while her red, slitted eyes narrowed. "Suiton: Suijinheki," Yuri shouted exploding the water to cover her body as the fire mixed with it creating a thick mist. Yuri growled while her red chakra cloak flared violently.

"Where are you Itachi-sensei?" Yuri asked with a small grin on her face before she noticed a kunai to her neck. She didn't have to turn around to know that Itachi was right behind her. "That is the end Yuri. We're stopping here," Itachi said while Yuri snickered.

"Is that what you think Itachi-sensei? Not even close!" Yuri said and then proceeded to shout releasing a wave of chakra forcing Itachi to jump back into the air. He glared at her before he noticed Yuri blur out of sight and appear behind him. She sent a kick his way, but he blocked that one until he felt stung by one of her tails that slapped him across his face. Itachi went sailing through the sky while Yuri grinned; however that grin didn't stay long as Itachi vanished in stray mixture of crows. Yuri snarled before she backflipped and skidded across the ground. She slowly huffed before giving a light grin across her face.

"Katon: Hōsenka Tsumabeni( Fire release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson)," Itachi said flinging a dozen shuriken before blowing fire over them sending them rushing towards Yuri's location while her red eyes looked over what he was doing. She quickly jumped in the air and watched them sail past her before she turned around and blocked one of Itachi's kicks. "I see that Shikyō-sama and Kushina-sama have trained you well," Itachi spoke while Yuri grinned.

"Mada mada dattebayen!" Yuri said as she fluidly ducked under Itachi's body before her tails wrapped around his body. Her first tail tied his legs and her second tied his hands. Yuri quickly grunted before she sent them both spiraling down to the ground while Itachi narrowed his eyes. "The Front Lotus? You learned this?" Itachi asked while Yuri nodded.

"That's right and I think this is gonna hurt you, a lot more than it's going to hurt me!" Yuri said as they quickly slammed into ground in a small crater bringing up dust. Yuri slid across the moist ground while looking up to see Itachi's body sticking out of said ground. She smiled while she scratched her cheek. "You can stop with the faking now. I know I didn't get you," Yuri said calmly as she watched Itachi's body fade into an array of crows. Yuri just nodded and quickly her chakra cloak receded before she turned and noticed Itachi sitting on a tree branch. Itachi just jumped down while Yuri stood to her feet.

"By this time you should already be high chunin if that. Why aren't you taking the Chunin Exams?" Itachi asked while Yuri shrugged her shoulders. "Well I don't really care about ranks or whatever the hell the rest of that is. I just want to get stronger for my family. Nothing more, nothing less," Yuri said while Itachi raised an eyebrow.

"What about Konoha?" Itachi asked and Yuri...paused. Did she even really have someone in Konoha? Other than the Hyuuga clan there wasn't anyone that she particularly associated herself with. In their eyes she was still a genin, but the looks she got from a few people crept her out. She had kept that to herself because she didn't want to start anything.

Itachi could see that look on her face, but chose to leave it alone. He'd notify Naruto and Kushina about it later. "I guess Konoha is alright. Nothing bad, nothing good for me," Yuri said shrugging her shoulders once again while Itachi merely nodded slightly. Soon the two heard footsteps as they turned to see Rin and Haku along the dirt road coming over to them in the "training ground" for Uzushio. "Is something the matter?" Itachi asked while Rin scratched her cheek.

"No not really. It's just that it's been two weeks since Shikyō-sama and his team left on their mission so I think it's time we gather the Uzumaki and have them test Yuri-chan. Shikyō-sama asked for us to remind you in the event that they were not back in those two weeks," Rin said and Itachi slowly nodded.

"Wait, testing for what? Am I going to be chunin?" Yuri asked, she would have denied the rank merely because she didn't want it. "Well yes and...no Yuri-chan. You're going to test for the rank of Fuinjutsu Adept. Those are chunin-level fuinjutsu users or higher. Shikyō-sama and Kushina-sama believe you're ready. Naturally under the supervision of Risa-san, Tayuya-san has become a fuinjutsu specialist which, if I remember correctly, is a person recognized to teach fuinjutsu to anyone else after having had time in their craft. Yura-san is doing it as well," Rin said and Yuri's eyebrow twitched.

"What about Guren-neesan or Fuka-neechan?" Yuri asked and Rin gently smiled. "Fuka-san is already a fuinjutsu specialist. Guren-san is somewhere between a Specialist and Expert rank, so we'll just call her a Special Expert in the rank of fuinjutsu. Yukimaru-kun's going to become a novice," Rin said while Yuri just slowly nodded.

"So...what rank is Risa-obachan?" Yuri asked for some reason scared to know. Rin sighed while she sweatdropped. "Risa-san is a fifth-degree Master fuinjutsu user," Rin said only know that because Risa and Kushina had told her to go over the rules of official Uzumaki ruling for their little exercises. She noticed Yuri shrink underneath those words. The young Uzumaki wasn't sure how strong that was supposed to be, but it sounded amazing, in every aspect of the word.

"So how do I become that strong?" Yuri asked excitedly. Rin and Haku glanced to each other, but Itachi cut them off from being able to speak with his own words. "It takes a lot of time, effort, and creativity. Another thing the Uzumaki were known for was their creativity and their connection to the spiritual aspects of the world. The other half of a person's chakra. They were increasingly adept in it and if you wish to be that strong then you must continue to practice," Itachi instructed and Yuri gave a firm nod before she noticed Haku take her hand.

"But now is the time to come back and eat," Haku said and Yuri's stomach slowly grumbled before she agreed with that as well. "Ahh alright. Just give me a second. I had to pick something up near the beach," Yuri said hopping off getting Rin, Haku and Itachi to raise their eyebrows, but the elder Uchiha's eyes suddenly narrowed as he watched her go off.

It didn't take Yuri that long to go to where she needed. She looked out at the beach, her red hair swaying in the breeze of their home before she knelt and took a few flowers. Something of her trying to make another poison or at least another healing ointment.

Yuri spent about five minutes on the beach just picking flowers while she hummed to herself. It would seem that Naruto and Kushina were right. "Yuri Uzumaki, jinchuuriki of the Sanbi, I'm going to need you to come with me," The defenses of their island had to be upgraded. First Tobi and now this. Maybe now was the time to at least think about a special type of seal against those of Akatsuki.

Yuri didn't turn around as she had drastically improved her sensoring capabilities. Right behind her was Konan merely looking at the girl in fleeting interest. "Oh I remember you. You were one of those people who was talking when I was taken by that other asshole. Do you really think I'm so weak that you'll use me to get to Nii-chan again?" Yuri asked while Konan took a step from behind the tree.

"Unlike last time, you are now more crucial to our plans when you made the decision to become a jinchuuriki. You have brought this upon yourself, this unhappiness." Konan spoke while Yuri tilted her head to the side. "Who says I'm unhappy? I've got my family, Nii-chan, and other friends. What makes you think that just because I have a bijuu now that I'm not happy? You got it all wrong lady," Yuri said standing to her feet. Konan didn't let the words affect her in the slightest before she held her hand up.

"You will come with me willingly or forcefully. It makes no difference to me, but do not provoke the wrath of God's Angel," Konan said while Yuri suddenly frowned. "Quite modest aren't you? I'll be honest, you're not that cute to be called an angel. Course I'm probably not either. I don't know of any angel that kills humans. Aren't you supposed to be, I don't know, holy...white...pure...something like that?" Yuri asked placing one hand over her hip. Konan arched an eyebrow, but did nothing more before closing her eyes.

"They did tell me that you had a mouth, but I had assumed that it was from your family. Nonetheless, you will know the truth," Konan said and soon Yuri jumped into the air as three paper birds blew under her. Yuri raised an eyebrow before she noticed paper swirl all around her form. Slapping her hands together, Yuri took an inhale of air. "Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu," Yuri shouted blowing flames over the dozens of paper getting them to burn. Konan quickly jumped back into a tree away from the flames while Yuri grinned.

"An interesting tactic, but my paper is special. You won't burn it so easily," Konan said before Yuri found herself dodging a hail of paper shuriken and kunai that came blasting for her. Yuri quickly sailed through the air before the young Uzumaki popped a soldier pill into her mouth restoring her lost chakra. She landed on the ground soon after, but she noticed Konan still looking at her rather bored.

"You know, you could give me some monologue or something. Even the guy who kidnapped me had more personality than you. You know a little something maybe?" Yuri asked, but Konan said nothing. Yuri quickly stood on her hands and swung her legs to block a kick from a paper clone of said Akatsuki female. The young redhead Uzumaki growled while Konan frowned. She swept her hands from the ground getting Yuri to fall before she twirled her body on the soft sands of the beach in break-dance sweeping the clone off her own legs before she vanished in an array of paper.

"Disappear," Konan said as she snapped her fingers. Yuri widened her eyes before she noticed tags for explosions all around her. Did she mix those in with her regular paper?

The tags ignited blowing up the beach and Yuri while Konan merely watched on. Her emotions had dwindled a great deal to things like this. Internally she felt struggle with herself for taking on a girl possibly ten years off her age. Not to mention the fact that she was ripping someone from their family, but this was all for the sake of true peace. Or maybe that's what she told herself.

Soon Konan was taken from her thoughts as the air became saturated with chakra. She looked out and noticed one tail from Yuri while the young redhead snarled. "You're going to pay for that!" Yuri snarled out, her body slowly recovering from the small injuries that she had taken. Konan narrowed her eyes while Yuri dropped on all fours. She quickly ran at a considerable speed, in Konan's eyes, and bashed the tree she was standing on making it fall to the ground in a loud crash.

"Impressive. I had underestimated you," Konan said while Yuri quickly jumped into the air. "Futon: Daitoppa," Yuri shouted and Konan was prepared for the onslaught of vicious wind before she noticed the wind form around Yuri's fist as she quickly appeared in front of Konan. The blue-haired woman's eyes widened before Yuri socked her in the stomach.

"Futon: Daishinkūken( Wind Release: Great Vacuum Wave Palm)," Yuri hollered and Konan felt a burst of compressed wind crush her body before Yuri's punch send her flying across the water away from the island. Yuri grinned, but she knew that she didn't hurt this woman. No, she was too good to be hit with that. So, Yuri stepped on the water before she ran forward picking up the water all around her. She could sense where Konan was by this time while the female Akatsuki member emerged from the water. She glared forward before she noticed Yuri dashing at her with great vigor. Konan quickly stood up making paper surround the area as Yuri quickly ran around her in a circle. The water followed her movements and rose up along with her while Yuri cocked her fist back. She sent it forward, but found it easily blocked by Konan before Yuri was kicked in her side. She fell into the waters below with a cough while Konan landed down. She quickly created a clone and the water exploded while Yuri quickly popped out.

"This is the end," the Konan-clone said as it grabbed her throat. Yuri coughed as she was lifted off the ground while she glared forward. She then gasped as she looked down to see a paper sword had sliced through her stomach. Yuri chuckled slightly making the paper clone raise an eyebrow. "Why do you fight?" Yuri asked and the question threw Konan off while she narrowed her eyes at the girl in front of her.

"That has nothing to with this. You should just give up," Konan said while Yuri chuckled. "Really? I think I can still keep fighting. It's obvious that you're not going to kill me since that would only make you wait longer for...whatever you're doing. So maybe I could kill myself," Yuri said while Konan closed her eyes.

"You would readily kill yourself just to stop us? It doesn't matter what you do. We will get the Sanbi. You are only delaying the inevitable," Konan said while Yuri chuckled. "No, I'm delaying your stupidity. What do you see the bijuu as?" Yuri asked coughing since her throat was still in the hands of another.

"Merely a means to an end," Konan said while Yuri suddenly smiled. "Aww that's no fun. You know they offer the most interesting conversations. Did you know that they have names? Did you know that they have feelings? Did you know that the Sage of Six Paths created them?" Yuri asked suddenly smiling. Konan frowned before she noticed Yuri red hand grab her arm.

"You don't seem like a bad person," Yuri said while Konan mouth twitched. "I'm here trespassing on your island, trying to kill you and you say that I'm not a bad person?" Konan asked and Yuri just suddenly smiled.

"Yep dattebayen!" Yuri said with a friendly smile while Konan frowned deeply. "You don't know me," Konan said and proceeded to knee Yuri in the chin. Yuri went sailing through the air before she smirked.

"Damn, I couldn't get closer. Oh well," Yuri said before she...exploded surprising Konan while the woman jumped back. She landed on the water before she looked around at the deserted field. "Did she really kill herself? Pain-sama won't like this," Konan said to herself.

"Yeah right. Like I'd actually kill myself. I am not dying a virgin!" Yuri's voice echoed and if Konan wasn't...Konan then she would've had the decency to blush or at least look sheepish at those words. She looked down and noticed a large seal over the water. Konan widened her eyes before it exploded in a large-scale of water while Yuri emerged from the waters below. She coughed before the bands that kept her hair in pigtails came apart letting her hair fall to the ground. She chuckled while sticking her tongue out. "You know she's not dead right?" Sanbi asked while Yuri snarled.

"You can't let me have anything can you?" Yuri asked before she looked up and noticed Konan glaring down at her. On her back were wings of paper, but the lower half of her body was gone entirely as she flew in the air. "You are resourceful. I will leave a bouquet of flowers on your grave after you die," Konan said as she held her hand into the air.

"Nah, I'd really rather just get laid. You can keep the flowers," Yuri said before she placed a hand over her mouth. God, too much time with Fuka was really starting to work on her nerves. "Before I kill you, I have to ask this, why did you say that I wasn't evil?" Konan asked and Yuri shrugged her shoulders.

"No idea really. I can just see it in your eyes. You can try to hide it as much as you want, but Risa-obachan commented on my intuition skills and said that out of all of us Naruto-nii and I were the best at discovering these types of things. You're a good person. I don't know what happened to you or what your plans are, but this isn't it," Yuri said and Konan glared at her dangerously. "And what would a mere child know about our plans?" Konan asked while Yuri smiled.

"Well for one it won't work, but other than that it's wrong," Yuri said like it wasn't that much of a big deal. "We're trying to stop fighting. Trying to stop war, trying to stop all the pain and suffering that this world has to offer now," Konan spoke up while Yuri chuckled.

"Naruto-nii told me something. 'The end doesn't justify the means.' While you might think this is the right thing it isn't. There are plenty of ways to go about peace, but killing someone who hasn't wronged you isn't it. If anything it makes you a hypocrite," Yuri said and suddenly she dodged a hail of kunai that slammed against the waters around her before she noticed large stacks of paper form into a single spear-shaped object. Yuri grimaced before Konan spoke.

"Fall. Shikigami no Mai( Dance of the Formula Paper)," Konan said before she flung it forward at an insane speed. Yuri's eyes focused on its speed before she backflipped across the water. She watched it appear in front of her and quickly prepared to block. Yuri gasped while she saw explosion tags over it. Yuri quickly jumped back, but she found her legs trapped by a whip of papers before it sent her under the water while Konan slapped her hands together. A booming explosion ensued underneath the ocean floor while Konan narrowed her eyes slightly. "I did what was necessary," Konan spoke closing her eyes. It was finally over and without much chakra lost on her. Now she just had to...find the Sanbi jinchuuriki in all this water before she died of drowning. Fuckin' great.

Konan landed to the water and performed a handsign before she gasped. She wasn't given even a second beyond that as she felt herself pulled underneath the water. Konan growled as she looked to see a long red arm swinging her around before slamming her into the rocks. "HA! How do you like that?" Yuri asked mentally while she grinned. She quickly went to her second tail before using them both to propel forward while Konan emerged from the rocks. She glared at Yuri while the Uzumaki girl smiled. She quickly opened her mouth and Konan was forced to block a shot of compressed water that slammed against her soggy paper. This wasn't good. She had to get out of here. "This girl is becoming an annoyance," Konan thought to herself before she noticed Yuri roar sending a booming wave of water through the water. Konan quickly pushed her chakra into her legs and shot forward to get to the surface while Yuri smiled.

"Sorry, but you're in my domain now!" Yuri smirked blasting for Konan. She quickly let out a punch and then slammed Konan in the chest. The woman coughed while Yuri grinned, but she seemed greatly annoyed once Konan vanished in more paper. Dammit enough with the paper already!

They quickly began to spread before they wrapped around her face. Yuri widened her eyes before she found herself asphyxiating while Konan held up a handsign. Yuri gasped as a chilling feeling of lightning coursed through her body knocking her out and sucking away her chakra. She fell through the water while her cloak left her. Konan grabbed her arm and swam forward emerging from the water with a cough before she flung Yuri out as well. Konan looked at her unconscious form before shaking her head. "Looks like you were wrong about me," Konan said before paper started to surround Yuri's form.

However...

Konan looked very surprised when she noticed Yuri's body dispel in dozens of crows. Konan frowned deeply now. She was very, very, very close to trying to blow herself, Yuri, and her interloper all to hell. Konan turned around and she noticed Itachi holding in his arms. "Itachi, you're supposed to be dead," Konan said trying not to sound so surprised, but Itachi read through the lines well.

"It was too long since Yuri was gone and we could hear the explosions happening. You should leave. Shikyō-sama will be very angry with you if he finds out that you've been here attacking his family," Itachi said while Konan shook her head.

"Either you hand her over or I kill you and take her from you. It's obvious that you're back by some unknown way, but now you're an enemy of Akatsuki and you will be treated as such," Konan said while Itachi's eyes never left hers. "They are coming Konan-san. The entire family is coming over here and even your skills aren't able to handle Risa-san. Even you know how strong she was. If you don't want that then I would suggest that you get out of here," Itachi told her and Konan didn't let it affect her very much.

"I am God's Angel. I cannot be defeated by her so easily," Konan said and Itachi turned back as he noticed a large purple portal come from behind Konan. Itachi sighed and turned around. "Oh well. You had your chance. Looks like you took too long," Itachi said walking off and before Konan could offer a retort she was slammed in the back of her neck rendering her immobile and unconscious. Naruto stepped out of the portal and folded his arms while looking down at the fallen woman in front of him.

"Good thing Risa signaled us and we were able to get here in time," Yugao said before Kushina placed a chakra restriction seal on Konan's body. Naruto then proceeded to pick her up over his shoulder. "True, but could you imagine if we didn't?" Kakashi asked and no one really wanted to imagine that.

"Itachi, how is Yuri?" Naruto asked and Itachi nodded obediently. "She is hurt, but she will be fine. We had training before she was attacked so I'm sure that she was tired already before fighting. She must've had it hard," Itachi spoke while Naruto fondled Yuri's hair. He smiled before nodding.

"But if they have enough information to know that she was here then we're not really a secret are we?" Sasuke asked while Kushina took a step forward. "Sasuke, Naruto patrol the outer reaches of the island. Don't let the civilians catch on as we don't need them to be riled up for something that doesn't truly concern them. Kakashi, Yugao, go with Itachi and take Konan-san to some containment," Kushina said before she felt a hand on her arm.

"N...No Kushina-obachan!" Yuri said struggling to breath. Everyone glanced to her while Yuri looked at the unconscious woman. "She's not evil! She's a nice person!" Yuri said still finding it hard to breath before she slipped back in to unconsciousness. Naruto smirked and kissed Yuri's forehead.

"Hmm let's set her in my room. She wouldn't be able to do anything to me anyway and I can incapacitate her easily if the need ever comes. Plus...we need some information out of her anyway. After all, that's how we operate isn't it?" Naruto asked and they nodded though Yugao was a little hesitant to do so.

"Yeah that's how we work. Now let's go so I can get started on that letter," Kakashi said while the others agreed and shot off towards the island leaving the ocean behind.

Nighttime

Konan squirmed as she opened her eyes and she noticed the dark ceiling of the room she was in. God her head was killing her at the moment. Well she had been taken out at the base of the neck, which was pretty much a guaranteed takedown into unconsciousness, but she didn't think that it would really hurt that much. It was such an annoying feeling that had welled up inside of her.

"Oh no, I didn't undress you. That's a little crass don't you think? Trust me on that much. Kaa-chan and Risa-chan did that. They said your clothes were wet from the ocean so they are drying. Sorry for the hard hit, but I figured that since you're with Akatsuki then I assumed it would take a lot of force to make you unconscious," Naruto said while Konan slowly relaxed, but refused to drop her guard around the young man in front of her.

"You didn't kill me?" Konan asked and Naruto shrugged. "Well that would make us no better than you wouldn't it? We don't run that way," Naruto said while Konan looked at her sheets.

"We were prepared to just throw you in our sealed cells until we could deal with you, but Yuri-chan told me you weren't a bad person so that kind of swayed us a little. If she says you aren't then you aren't I suppose. It's the only reason that you're also not tied to that bed right now," Naruto said and Konan blinked. She thought back to the young Uzumaki before she heard clattering. She noticed Naruto placed a cup of warm tea on the nightstand for her and then reeled back. "Sorry if everyone went to bed already. You were out for most of the day. Yuri came in to see how you were and stayed with me for a while, but then left," Naruto said rubbing the back of his head. Konan just watched him with a small glare.

"You should let me go now. When he finds out that I'm gone you won't be as lucky with him as you were with me," Konan said while Naruto chuckled. "Oh I don't know about that. I'm been pretty lucky so far. Sorry, but this is your own fault. Don't go blaming me for it," Naruto said folding his arms while Konan sent him another glare, but Naruto matched hers with his own.

"So are you going to tell me who 'he' is or do I have to guess? Well I'm sure that Nagato might miss his best friend," Naruto said and he noticed Konan undoubtedly widen her eyes and if she had chakra then he was sure that she would be racing towards him trying to slam his head into the wall for that information. Fortunately for her, she just settled for the completely confused look on her face. "How do you know that name?" Konan asked heatedly while Naruto frowned.

"What are you going to do even if I do know it? I know where you guys are located. I could go take care of him right now if I wanted to, but how am I supposed to do that to family I wonder," Naruto said while Konan's sudden surprise was cut down to curiosity. "What are you talking about? How do you know all of this? Answer me!" Konan said while Naruto frowned.

"I didn't hear a please in there," Naruto said while Konan frowned. "You're not really in a position where you can force me to tell you anything now are you?" Naruto asked, but he and Konan knew the answer to that question. Konan held her head down while Naruto stood to his feet. "Don't want to see her now?" Naruto asked mentally and everyone knew he was talking to Yahiko.

"No Shikyō-sama, this will be enough for now. Jiraiya-sensei wasn't lying. She really has grown into a beautiful woman, but she can't see me just yet. I appreciate this," Yahiko said in return while Naruto went for the door. "You can try to escape if you want to, but that chakra restriction seal isn't coming off except by an expert fuinjutsu user. Good luck finding one that isn't one of us," Naruto said offering Konan a wink before closing the door. Konan heard his retreating footsteps and she placed her head on her pillow then closed her eyes.

"Nagato I fear this is one person that even you shouldn't trifle with," Konan thought to herself before she turned to her tea. She was rather hungry and thirsty. They wouldn't poison her, would they? Maybe just a sip.

Konan ended up drinking the cup clean before the tea's essence put her to sleep. It was night and it was obvious that she wasn't going to be going anywhere for a while. Might as well be a little happy that she wasn't chained to a wall or anything. It really could've been a lot worse.

Meanwhile Naruto entered his mother's room and found her opening the sheets for him. "So she finally woke up did she?" Kushina asked while Naruto took off his shirt and pants leaving him with a T-shirt and some boxers. He hopped into bed with the Red Death and smiled. "Yep, but I'm sure that she's going back to sleep. I'll know if she gets away from us. Now can we sleep please?" Naruto asked while Kushina licked her lips.

"What if I want to fool around dattebane?" Kushina asked while Naruto snickered. "Then you'd have to be tired when we try to think of the exams for them to take," Naruto said while Kushina smiled. She quickly gave her son a chaste kiss to the lips while Naruto easily returned it. Kushina snickered while Naruto gave a warm smile. Naruto wrapped one arm around his mother while Kushina laid her head on her son's chest before both fell asleep.

Next Morning

"And the reason we're not chaining the fuckin' bitch up is for what reason now?" Tayuya asked irritatedly while the others gathered around. "Well other than the fact that the sealing chamber is still under construction is a part of the reason. We didn't include that because we didn't plan on taking any hostages here," Naruto said.

"And killing her?" Tayuya asked. "She's a good person Tayuya-neechan!" Yuri said and Naruto pointed to said redhead while Tayuya groaned aloud and banged her head against the wall talking about her family. Risa had seemed to let her daughter's cursing slide this one time.

"So where is she now?" Guren asked and Karin looked out the side of the hall. "Komachi-san just went to check up on her as well as deliver her breakfast. That was about five minutes ago and she would've returned to us before that time if Konan-san had left," Karin said while the crystal-wielding Uzumaki nodded with that.

"But still Yuri, how did you hold off an S-rank shinobi? That was amazing," Yura said while Yuri chuckled sheepishly. "Lots of diversion tactics in that one nee-chan," Yuri said while Yura sighed and held her head in her hands muttering 'what am I going to do with you?' It was something that made the others laugh if only slightly at the sudden ordeal that Yura would be dealing with.

"So how was your mission Sasuke, Kaa-san?" Itachi asked serving both some tea. Sasuke snorted while he rested his head in his hand and his elbow on the armrest of a chair while Yuna leaned on the headrest above him. "I don't see how it was that hard to take them down. Why did the anbu take so long to get that done?" Sasuke asked and Kakashi smiled.

"Well apparently they weren't able to go to the extreme lengths that we did. It was very risky, but at least we got it finished," Kakashi said while Naruto chuckled darkly. "And they will NEVER be doing that again, will they Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked straining himself while Kakashi held up his hands defensively hoping to quell his blond partner for now. "Maa maa Naruto, it was for the good of the mission," Kakashi stated trying to defend himself. Naruto just lowly growled about lowly bandits keeping their damn eyes back in their sockets where they belonged and not glue to his mother, though Naruto couldn't deny staring at his mother as well. God that dress got him hard.

"However Shikyō-sama, I do believe that we have to discuss the person that you spoke of. The one you and Jiraiya call Nagato. If he's the leader of Ame then he's the leader of Akatsuki, but I want you to know that while the way he's doing things is a waste I still think that he's really trying to achieve peace. In his...own way," Itachi suddenly vouched and everyone sighed.

"Though that they are able to get here is concerning. We haven't really thought about the island's security have we?" Fuka asked while Guren shook her head with Yukimaru in her lap. "Unfortunately not. I've been busy dealing with Konoha's own security barrier problems that there wasn't much of a time to go over this island's, but I think I see the danger to that. The whirlpools are still weak of a defense barrier around this time so it is possible that she was able to come here," Guren said.

Soon everyone heard footsteps and turned to see Komachi appear from out of the halls holding an empty tray. The young blonde woman could feel the eyes upon her, but Yuri was the one to ask everyone's question. "How is she Komachi-oneechan?" Yuri asked and Komachi twitched slightly from the suffix given to her name. She still wasn't used to that, but ever so slowly it became pleasant to her ears. "Ah...after eating her food she had decided to take up meditation for the time being. I pointed out to her that she is allowed to leave her room if she so desires to stretch her legs or read; however she merely wishes to be left alone," Komachi spoke answering her while Yuri nodded appeased by the answer.

A few minutes of silence went by for everyone before Kushina clapped her hands. "Alright then Yukimaru-kun, Yuri-chan I want you both to go with Zabuza and Rin to continue your training. Yura and Tayuya will go with Itachi for today. Remember we can't stay here for very long so we'll get as much training in as we can," Kushina said getting the others to nod agreeing with her.

Yuri groaned, but she and Yukimaru hopped to their feet as did Yura and Tayuya. Itachi guided the latter two outside while Zabuza grumbled before taking his large sword and urged the two young Uzumaki to follow after him and Rin. The groups disappeared from the Uzumaki clan section of the island while Kushina stood to her feet.

"Alright so how are we going to test them?" Kushina asked while Risa, Guren, and Naruto slumped back into their seats. "Well I taught Tayuya nearly everything that there is to be learned from the books and even making the improvements to much needed seal-making. She understands the structure, principles, and coordination it takes to apply chakra to seals, advanced seal theory and the only thing that holds her back is her own imagination at this point in time. The thing is, where to do it? I would suggest study center just under the Uzukage Mansion. Are we planning on having them take any type of physical exam?" Risa asked and Guren leaned back.

"Well Yukimaru has also improved from what I've been able to show him. He should learn how to apply seals on and off the battlefield. It'll make him revise his thinking as well as show me his innovative thinking. So I'm for the physical aspects," Guren said while Naruto chuckled.

"Yuri-chan and Yura-chan are more than ready to move to the next level of their individual aspects. Hmm I think I have a good idea," Naruto said with a sudden grin across his face. Kushina, Guren, Fuka and Risa raised their eyebrows towards the young blond.

"First, we're going to need some proctors," Naruto said and for some reason Karin slowly grabbed Komachi's hand and tried to inch her for the door. Komachi didn't see the problem, but a light shiver when down her body as she turned and noticed Naruto's eyes gleaming at them both. Oh fuckin' hell!

Sometime later

A knock came to Konan's door while the blue-haired woman gave a small sigh of her lips. She noticed the doorknob shift and she saw Yuri come through the door. "Ummm yo," Yuri said while Konan blinked. She watched the young girl come in and make herself comfortable. Konan soon tuned the young girl out and closed her eyes to meditate. The room was silent, uncomfortably so. The only things Konan could hear were the sounds of the wall clock ticking and the sounds of various footsteps across her prison. Yeah, for her this was a prison. No matter how much free reign she was given, if she couldn't leave willingly then it was still a prison, but she had to applaud that no one told her otherwise. Not even Naruto. Course she knew that if the situations were reversed that she wouldn't be as trusting to let someone roam like they were letting her.

Konan opened her eyes and she noticed Yuri just looking at her with her head on the back of the chair. "It is rude to stare," Konan said while Yuri suddenly smiled. "Well I just wanted to be sure that you weren't dead or something. You know, I'm taking my F.A.E soon," Yuri said and Konan's stoic face belied the confusion of her mind at the acronym of words that Yuri just used.

"Yeah, I'm so gonna pass and make Nii-chan happy!" Yuri said and Yuri took Konan's silence as means that she didn't know what she was talking about, which she really didn't so Yuri had to clarify. "Oh, it's my Fuinjutsu Ascension Exams. It's where a person moves up in the ranks of the world of fuinjutsu," Yuri said excitedly and Konan just sighed.

"Hmmm, why are you talking with me? I just tried to kill you yesterday," Konan said and Yuri blinked. "Well I don't know about you, but I don't care about holding grudges. That's a waste of time. As far as I'm concerned you and me were just disagreeing. You wanted me to die for your cause and I...wanted to live for my cause. In the end, my want to live was stronger than your want for me to die. Sorry, but that's always going to rule out dattebayen!" Yuri exclaimed while Konan frowned.

"Would you keep living if your death led to peace?" Konan asked and Yuri paused. She looked up to Konan and scratched her cheek. "Heh well that's a tough question. I honestly doubt that just the deaths of a few people would lead to peace. I'm not going to lie. I think it's possible, but not the way you're doing it," Yuri said while Konan raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" Konan asked and Yuri tilted her head to the side. "You really don't know. Wait, you were collecting the bijuu and you don't even know anything about them?" Yuri asked while Konan frowned indefinitely.

"The bijuu are merely constructs of chakra given a physical form. Nothing more, nothing less," Konan said and as such she became subjected to a pluck to the head. Konan looked as she noticed Yuri having done the action. Not having chakra then she could do little to protect herself from it. Not to mention that her body was sore so she couldn't react without it hurting.

"Bzzzt! Wrong answer! Try again!" Yuri said and Konan was greatly annoyed at having her intelligence of things questioned by a fifteen-year old, but Konan kept herself cool and composed. It wouldn't do good for her not to do so. She was ready to ask for Yuri to explain while she leaned back. "Well I suppose I can't fault you for that. Only those who have ever had one of these guys inside of them could possibly understand. So...do you wanna be a jinchuuriki?" Yuri asked while Konan's frown quickly turned into just a blank look. So basically the same only more contemplative.

"Taking your silence I guess you wouldn't. That's right. You wouldn't want to be hunted down like an animal by hunters. Same is for me, Nii-chan, and that other weird guy in Kumo. Well I guess even if you did take Nii-chan's bijuu he would surprise the hell out of all of you," Yuri said a sudden dark chuckle at sort of wanting to see that. Konan shifted in her bed slightly.

"If I could help bring the world to peace then I would readily die to do so. It's selfish to do otherwise," Konan countered and Yuri smiled. "Well aren't I entitled to be a little selfish? Why can't I live the life that I want to live? Unlike Nii-chan or that guy from Kumo, I asked to be a jinchuuriki. I knew what I was getting myself into. You were one of the things that I knew I would be facing in my life and I accepted that," Yuri said with a smile before she turned serious. She then held out her fist to Konan. Konan looked at it while Yuri smiled.

"Come on, close your eyes and focus. Nii-chan taught me this. Connect with me," Yuri said and Konan glared at her before she slowly took up her hand and placed it over Yuri's fist. She didn't know why this conversation was even happening, but it if was to prove a point then Konan would indulge this girl a little. She would seek out the truth herself. So, Konan closed her eyes.

Very soon Konan opened her eyes and noticed she was directly in front of a gate. "Glad you made it!" Konan looked up and opened her eyes slightly more in surprise to see Yuri on top of the Sanbi. "Why did you bring this woman here? You do know she's trying to kill us right?" Isobu spoke while Yuri grinned.

"Hey she's not a bad person Iso-chan!" Yuri said while Sanbi sighed. "I really wish you wouldn't call me that. Also you really are too easygoing at your age. Too young for you," Sanbi said swirling his tails around while Konan looked surprised the most.

"Why have you brought me here?" Konan asked and Yuri grinned. "Well I really don't know. Maybe I didn't like your description of my friend here. Sure he's difficult, but I like him! He's not just a construct of chakra. He's my friend, the Sanbi! He gets tired, he sleeps, laughs, gets angry, and many other things. Sorry, but I refuse to stand for you generalizing my friend like you did," Yuri said while Sanbi snorted. He looked at the woman in front of him before closing his eye.

Konan was...greatly confused. This wasn't a genjutsu. She was in the full presence of the Sanbi and it felt strange being at the front end of so much chakra with no way to defend herself. "It's humans like you that really anger me," Sanbi said while Konan looked up. "Peace, peace, peace. You talk so much about it, but your methods say otherwise. You don't care who you have to kill to get what you want. You don't care who you have to step on to get what you want. You even take my brothers and sisters like their nothing but cattle to you. How dare you!" Sanbi spoke and Konan couldn't help but take an unconscious step back. She didn't lose the stoic expression on her face, but a bead of sweat did fall from her face.

"What we're doing is all for peace. We truly want peace," Konan said finding it strange that she was conversing with a bijuu, the thing she was supposed to be capturing. "Hmph, yeah right. You don't even know enough about us to know the sheer stupidity of what you're trying to do by gathering all of us. If you brought us together then your world wouldn't know peace. Hell this wouldn't even be a world anymore, but you don't care. Your species hubris extends even more than Kyuubi's does. You think your entitled to everything. Even our lives," Sanbi said while Yuri leaned up.

"Naruto-nii and Kyuubi-san told me about it. Once the bijuu are formed they do make a weapon, but not the type that you're thinking," Yuri said and Konan turned to her. "Well then what do you make? What are we striving to attain?" Konan asked and Sanbi opened its eye to glare down at her.

"You're creating the very thing that Tou-san died trying to protect the world from. You would create the Juubi!" Sanbi said and Konan had no idea what the hell a Juubi was. A Ten-tails? There was another bijuu from them all? Suddenly Konan was assaulted from head to toe by images of a large beast. A monster, a demon if you wanted to call it that. Power enough to rip the fabric of the world apart. A thing incapable of fully being controlled. The immense destruction it caused as well as the hundreds of thousands of people screaming or running in terror before they were destroyed by blast shots that came from nowhere, but tore the lands apart. Konan watched as Amegakure was destroyed effortlessly. Soon after that was Konoha, then Iwa, Kumo, Kiri, and Suna. Nothing was left standing except the lands were covered in piles of ash. It roared to the open mood in front of it before it casted its lone glare at her. Opening its maw the beast released a wave of power burying the land under countless flames. A monster with no emotion, little intelligence, no morals, and too much power, but she also saw a tree. Like a large tree. A very, very large tree. That tree radiated pure power alone which made Konan shiver. She had no idea what is was, but the other stuff...Dear sweet Kami!

Konan dropped to the wet ground while she shivered. "W-What was that?" Konan thought to herself. Seeing her shake like a leaf, Sanbi snorted. "Hmph I've had enough. Yuri, take this woman from my presence. I'm going to sleep," Isobu said and just like that Yuri and Konan were pushed out of the shared mindscape.

Konan's hands dropped to the sheets of the bed and she noticed drops of water. She touched her eyes, no she wasn't crying. She then went to her face and wiped off the sweat. She had been sweating hard. "I sure don't know what you just saw, but you don't look so good. Hey we're all having dinner tonight. You should join!" Yuri said hopping up and then leaving the room, and Konan alone.

Time passed very slowly for Konan, but she was thankful for that. What she had seen would never leave her thoughts. Just what was...that? Was that the power that the Juubi possessed? Did Nagato even know about this? Was that what they were making? No! No! NO! They couldn't make that thing. They just couldn't make it! If that vision was real then Konan didn't want to be anywhere near it. Seeing what it did to Amegakure when it wasn't even complete was...disturbing.

Three whole hours passed before Konan had any sort of contact with anyone else as the door knocked. It slowly opened and Naruto peered through. He noticed Konan's state and quickly got worried. "Oi are you okay? Do you need a doctor or something?" Naruto asked grabbing Konan's shoulders. He shook her slightly while Konan turned to him.

"I...I...I saw...," Konan shivered before Naruto quickly laid her back. "Saw? What did you see? What's the matter?" Naruto asked and Konan shivered.

"T-The Juubi I think," Konan said while Naruto and Kyuubi frowned deeply. The crimson fox gave a sharp snarl that it knew Naruto didn't miss. "Oh so you saw that too huh?" Naruto asked and he was able to take Konan's thoughts from what had happened as she turned to Naruto.

"Well don't worry. I don't think it will matter now," Naruto said and Konan turned to him for clarification. "Well Kyuubi isn't made of chakra so that makes him non-compatible with the other bijuu now. I don't think it would work and even if it did then the Juubi wouldn't be able to handle the power of Honshou," Naruto said and Konan having calmed down, from a drink of water, began to speak.

"Honshou?" She asked and Naruto smirked. "Power of Life Konan-san. I guess if I had to truly give it a comparison then I would tell you that it was just like Yang chakra, the power that governs vitality right?" Naruto asked and Konan didn't know what to say, but just shook her head.

"I can see it in your eyes," Naruto said and Konan's amber eyes stared at him while the blond rubbed the back of his head and gave a cheeky grin. "You really do want peace. I see that in you very clearly. You're just like Ero-sennin told me you were," Naruto said and Konan was left bewildered by the word.

"Ero...sennin?" Konan asked and Naruto just allowed for a friendly grin to sport his face. "Well I guess you know him better as Jiraiya-sensei," Naruto said and Konan looked at him.

Naruto then heard a melodious chuckle as he looked down to see Konan smiling while doing her best to try not to let it out, but Naruto could see it well. He smiled and scratched his cheek. "That does sound like Jiraiya-sensei. A fitting name for him," Konan said while Naruto snickered. "Your laugh is very nice," Naruto said and Konan widened her eyes before she turned her head away in embarrassment. She was their prisoner, this wasn't the time to be laughing, but she heard lots of laughing outside and she wouldn't lie and say she wasn't jealous.

"Is that really what we were creating? That...monstrosity?" Konan asked and Naruto scratched his cheek. "I hate to break it to you, but yeah that is. Whoever told you about it only told you half-truth," Naruto said while Konan suddenly gave a look of sheer disapproval.

"Uchiha Madara," Konan said angrily while Naruto glared. Grabbing her shoulder, he turned Konan to him. "Where is he?" Naruto asked dangerously while Konan looked away.

"I do not know. I doubt even Leade...Nagato knows where he is, but he's the one who turned us to this plan," Konan said while Naruto snarled. He slowly forced himself to calm down before speaking again. "Konan-chan, listen to me...," Naruto said and he missed the small shirk Konan did to that suffix of her name, but she paid attention regardless.

"That man is not Uchiha Madara. I don't know how I can convince you of that, but his name is Uchiha Obito. He's pretty much five years off age if not a little bit younger than that. He's around Kakashi-sensei's age," Naruto said while Konan widened her eyes. She looked away for a second before looking back to Naruto.

"He talks about you a lot. He believes that he's worked up a theory about why you have been a thorn in our plans," Konan said and Naruto nodded, but continued to listen. "Apparently he speaks something of you creating a Perfect Edo Tensei and he seeks to learn what you know. How I don't know, but he's greatly disturbed by these things. He also...lost his arm months ago," Konan said and that was something that caught Naruto and Kyuubi by surprise.

"Huh?" Naruto asked and Konan nodded. "His left arm was pulsing and he didn't know why, but he was sure that it had to do with you," Konan said and Naruto thought back to the fight where he slammed Obito's damn face into the ground with his rasengan to his back. Soon it all became clear to Naruto as he turned back to her.

"The human body can't handle Honshou in any form. It's too potent to do so. I do remember pushing it into his body forcefully. So he lived by cutting off his arm," Naruto said to himself, but Konan heard him. "He also replaced his arm with the arm from a dead man in Kumo. It now grants him the ability to utilize Black Lightning," Konan emphasized and Naruto placed a finger to his chin.

"Just like that Darui guy from Kumo. That might make him even more dangerous than I originally thought," Naruto said before shaking it off. "Hey, but what's this about a perfect Edo Tensei?" Naruto asked and Konan quickly elaborated.

"The Uchiha thinks that you were able to bring people to life through the use of perfecting the Edo Tensei. A way to keep them around even should the caster die. A way to make them just like they never died. No, even more powerful than that," Konan said and Naruto quickly placed a finger to his chin.

"Does the guy take me for that fuckin' Orochimaru-prick?" Naruto asked, but the more he thought about it the more it made sense. As to his understanding the Edo Tensei required a sacrifice or a host for the revived person to inhabit so it wasn't any better than what he was doing...was it?

"Well sorry to break it to you, but that's not me. Konan-chan, if you really want to bring the world to peace then help me!" Naruto said and Konan turned to him as she locked eyes with his. They stared at each other deeply before Konan looked down. "I am Nagato's only loyal friend. I couldn't do that to him. No matter...how wrong that future might be," Konan said while Naruto grinned.

"So then, help me convince him to do so," Naruto said and Konan turned back to him. All she got was Naruto's beaming smile for confirmation and Konan looked away. Soon both heard the door sliding open before a gasp cam. "Oh my. Sochi flirting with the enemy, how bold," Kushina said and Naruto, along with Konan, blinked simultaneously. Both noticed the predicament that they were in. Konan staring in Naruto's eyes, the sheets of the bed messy, and Naruto's hands on Konan's shoulders. Konan just blinked once more while Naruto looked between Konan and Kushina.

"NO! N-N-N-NO this isn't what you think it is! I swear Kaa-chan, we were just talking. Tell her Konan-chan!" Naruto said while Kushina chuckled. "Oh it's 'Konan-chan' now is it? Oh course sochi wouldn't want his mother anymore. I understand," Kushina said while Naruto gawked.

"No, no that's not it dattebayo!" Naruto said before Kushina closed the door. Naruto quickly moved to run after his mother before he felt Konan grab his arm. He looked back and he noticed her looking at the sheets. "Do you truly believe in the day where people can understand each other?" Konan asked and Naruto grinned.

"Damn straight. I'll do all in my power to do so. You'll just have to believe in me," Naruto said and Konan tried to keep a stoic face, but it was rather hard to do so. She just let him go and watched him run off. Konan was left looking at her sheets before her gaze turned her to look out the window at...nothing in particular.

Nighttime

Everyone was eating their dinner and talking with each other while laughing was heard. Risa and Tayuya were in each other's face about Tayuya's cursing again. Komachi's eyebrow was twitching while Naruto held food to her mouth for her to eat. Kushina and Risa were talking while Guren and Fuka spoke of other things. Kakashi and Rin just laughed at seeing the interactions. Yugao was doing the same while Itachi and Mikoto just sighed at the rowdy bunch. Yuri and Yura were reviewing some things with Yukimaru. Karin and Yuna were speaking about something to do with Kusa's current economy.

At another table, Zabuza, Haku, Juugo and Suigetsu were trying to eat peacefully, but it seemed to be very impossible at this time. "Naruto, would you please cut this out?" Komachi asked while Naruto's grin just widened. "Ahh Komachi-chan," Naruto said while Komachi's sighed. She shook her head while Yuri and Yura pouted. Yuri was ready to speak before everyone else heard footsteps in the halls. A few turned while they heard a familiar voice.

"Mind if I...join in?" Everyone turned as they noticed Konan coming from the halls. Naruto and Yuri beamed while the others seemed confused. They then heard a chair creak and turned to see Itachi hold out a chair for her with a light smile etched on his face. Guren quickly prepared some food and placed it in front of Konan while the young blue-haired woman calmly sat down. Yugao and Kakashi didn't say anything, but both weren't really on edge. If the need arose then they could put her down, but for now they would trust in Uzumaki fuinjutsu to keep her under control.

There had to be something said about Uzumaki. They were always willing to have a good time. Even a captive enemy couldn't sour their mood and just like that they all continued in their dinner like Konan was merely an extension of goodwill that kept going forward.

Konan looked down at her food contemplating this new sudden revelation since being taken by these people. which was really strange since she wouldn't normally do this. Something was going on and Konan wasn't sure what it was, but she felt like she couldn't complain with it. It made her very happy in some ways. She didn't know whether it was that vision of monstrosity that made her change her tone to what she was doing or if it was the fact that she actually spoke with a bijuu, something she had originally thought lacked any sort of intelligence whatsoever, but those times that she had been thinking she had thought about the things she had done for the sake of their so-called dream. She wondered if she deserved these things, but what could she do? Coming to think about it, death was such a loose term around her. Such a term that she felt the term 'alive' or 'life' were a single rarity that she never had the true feeling of knowing, but she got that here. Even if she was a prisoner she didn't feel like it. She just kept seeing a house full of family and friends laughing the night away. It seems so opposite of her nights alone when Nagato was gone or even when he was there with her in their tower.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and Konan turned her eyes to see Itachi looking at her. "You were never truly with us were you?" Konan asked and Itachi didn't shy away from her gaze. He had died already and now he was living. That past of his life was finished. "No I wasn't," Itachi answered honestly while Konan just looked at him before looking back down to her plate.

"Somehow I always knew. You didn't seem like the type of person to get involved with those like us, or I at least believed that you saw different to our goals. I never called you on it however. Maybe inside I wanted you to betray us so that we could stop this, but I never spoke up about it. Now I guess I'm glad I didn't," Konan said and Itachi turned forward, but Konan soon felt another hand on her shoulder. She turned and noticed it was Naruto.

"Konan-chan, when we're finished go to your room and wait there. There is someone who really needs to talk to you," Naruto said and Konan could see the power his blue eyes held as they more or less forced her to nod. Seeing her agree, Naruto pulled back and continued to chat with the others while Itachi leaned back. "I will say only this Konan-san. Keep an open mind and don't let other opportunities pass you by," Itachi said and Konan didn't feel like thinking about this anymore. She just took her chopsticks and ate in the warm atmosphere of the people around her.

Later

Konan sat on the edge of her bed, in the dark, while she looked at the time. It was ten minutes from midnight and she knew that when she didn't appear before Nagato in little over four or five days with Yuri in her hands then he would coming looking for her and woe to the places that he would search for her. Though Konan was sure he wouldn't go that far and attempt all concentration on himself. He wouldn't expose their activities just like that even if they had made themselves rather an issue once they had kidnapped the Kazekage. There wasn't much keeping them hiding except for the fact that no one wanted to fight an S-rank shinobi, let alone an entire group of them.

But what was she supposed to be waiting for? She didn't understand.

Soon Konan's room slowly lit up in a light. She didn't cover her eyes because the light was coming from behind her. She couldn't mistake this for the moon because it was warm and it was even more bright than that. "Jiraiya-sensei was right. You really have become a beautiful woman, Konan." a sudden voice said and Konan twitched. She resisted the urge to bite her lower lip as a wave of familiar emotions washed through her face. She shivered slightly while the person behind her chuckled.

"Come on, I don't think you were one to be so cold to people," the voice said and Konan turned her head to see Yahiko staring at her with a small smile on his face. Time seemed to stop for Konan as she stared at his presence. "Ya..hi...ko," Konan said while Yahiko nodded slowly. He then noticed Konan pulse her chakra as if to get rid of the possible genjutsu in front of her. She did it once, twice, thrice and many more times which made Yahiko give her a deadpan look.

"Please stop doing that," Yahiko said and Konan just opened her mouth, but words died in her throat. Konan stood to her feet and stared at her friend while Yahiko held up his hand and placed it on her cheek. "Konan,...I'm angry with you right now," Yahiko said and Konan widened her eyes.

"W-What?" Konan asked and Yahiko sighed before his hand dropped. "It's good to see you again. Really good to see you. I never thought I'd get the chance to do this again, but it looks like I was wrong. I will have to thank Shikyō-sama from the bottom of my heart and so should you," Yahiko said and Konan soon paused.

"How do I know you're really Yahiko? Just because I can't dispel you doesn't mean that there might not be a genjutsu over me. If this is Naruto-san's doing then, captive or not, I will make it clear of the boundaries in which he does things. You're supposed to be dead and gone from this plane," Konan said while Yahiko folded his arms. "Well then I'd just have to stop you, but yeah how for you to know that this is me? Hmm I figured that had I spoke of Jiraiya-sensei then it was enough, but perhaps I should do a little more. Let's see, you share my birthdate, February 20, and blood type, O. My hobby was, and still is, fishing. Hmm, we...shared a kiss one time before we had more than five members of our organization and I remember that you have a cute dimple on your...," Yahiko grinned while Konan looked at the ground.

"That will be enough," Konan said shivering before she dropped to the ground not even caring that tears were falling from her eyes. She tightly closed her eyes to keep them locked in place while Yahiko just looked down at her. His eyes softened before he sat on the bed and caressed Konan's hair. He let her go on for that. How long she was going to do it, he didn't know, but he would bide his time. What he wanted to talk about was important.

A full five minutes passed before Yahiko was given an indication that Konan was finished as she had leaned up and turned to look at him stoically, like the scene he just bore witness to had never existed. "Now what did you mean that you were upset?" Konan asked while Yahiko stood to his feet before lightly bopping Konan on the head.

"I told you and Nagato to stay away from him! I told you not to get involved with him, not to trust him! You actually went with this plan for the bijuu? What's wrong with the both of you?!" Yahiko asked angrily and Konan felt uncomfortable. She was still trying to process all that was in front of her, but she could at least deal with his question.

"When you died Nagato changed. He became colder, more of a tyrant. I admit that I didn't help much, but I didn't think there was much I could do. As his only friend left I had to support him. I didn't know what he would do without me," Konan defended even if it wasn't much of a defense to go by. Yahiko sighed and passed through Konan getting a shiver from her before he looked out the window. "This wasn't Akatsuki's purpose Konan. You know that! Killing people who had nothing to do with us. That wasn't what we were taught. Once I became Shikyō-sama's summon I was able to catch glimpses of his memories that he shared with me. You actually went far enough to attack Suna's Kazekage?!" Yahiko asked while Konan bristled, but kept firm with it.

"But I didn't...," Konan was cut off by a hand from Yahiko. "Your organization, your responsibility. Somehow I feel this falls on me as well. Actually recruiting S-rank criminals, the sheer...idiocy of your actions is insane," Yahiko said throwing his hands up. It was the first time in a while that he was like his child self though Konan allowed that for various reasons.

"But you're the one who said that the world wouldn't know true peace until it knew true pain," Konan countered calmly and Yahiko then stopped. He reigned in his emotions and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, that's right. I did indeed say that. I still believe that, but I'm beginning to have a different take on it," Yahiko said and Konan just looked at him before Yahiko turned back to her.

"You're not going back," Yahiko said and Konan raised an eyebrow which asked for elaboration. "You're not going back to Akatsuki Konan," Yahiko said before Konan folded her arms.

"Yahiko I have spent the last four or five years without you. I can make my own decisions," Konan said defensively. Yahiko frowned before he turned to her. "I honestly want to believe that, but so far I don't see much evidence of that Konan," Yahiko admitted and Konan lowered her gaze at him more, but he didn't care either way.

"Look, I don't doubt that you can, but I question that honestly. Tell me, who have you captured?" Yahiko asked and Konan at least had the decency to look away.

"I haven't captured anyone just yet. The Six-tail jinchuuriki still roams around in the world I think," Konan said while Yahiko sighed. "I swear, you and Nagato. How is he doing? What's been happening since I was gone?" Yahiko asked and Konan quickly composed herself.

"Nagato has assumed control over Amegakure. He leads along with me and we try to keep the peace where we can. He killed Hanzo, but he also wants to find Danzo for what he did to you. He believes in your philosophy and wishes to carry it out. He wants to assemble the bijuu into a kinjutsu technique to strike all the nations. People will buy the weapon from him when no shinobi are around to take mission and over time they will be afraid of the weapon's power providing temporary lapses of peace through the thing known as the Cycle of Hatred," Konan said while Yahiko placed his head in his hands.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! Nagato doesn't know what he's doing," Yahiko said while Konan went back to her terrifying memory. "Then that thing that I envisioned. It was real?" Konan asked and Yahiko shivered.

"Horrifyingly real Konan. We're just lucky that we got away to stop it in time, but continue on," Yahiko said and Konan decided to do so. "He also converses with Uchiha Madara...," Konan paused once she saw Yahiko's glare and slowly nodded.

"...Uchiha Obito," Konan corrected and Yahiko calmed himself while she continued on. "And he says that through your death he has seen just how broken the world is. He said that he would be the one to bring the world to peace since he had evolved past the form of a normal mortal. He sees himself as a god living in a mortal world while I'm the angel," Konan said and Yahiko scrunched up his face.

"How humble of the both of you," He said while Konan looked down. "Nagato is hardly a god. Hehe, even with all his power Shikyō-sama isn't even a god," Yahiko said while Konan looked up.

"That name comes up repeatedly. What is a Shikyō?" Konan asked while Yahiko then gave a small smile. "Sorry, but I can't tell you that Konan. Until you prove that you're worth trusting to him then you will know. And you'll know because he will tell it to you himself. But Konan, you're right. You're old enough to the point where you can make your own decisions. I can't do that anymore, but you'd better take my words of warning. You do take a tailed beast then I will not hesitate to follow Shikyō-sama's orders and bring you down. Have a nice night," Yahiko said and Konan twitched when she felt Yahiko kiss her forehead. How he switched between threatening her to comforting her was just plain weird, but Konan felt a little better.

"Good night Konan," Yahiko said before he faded from her view leaving Konan alone. She was once again alone in her room, but she couldn't stop the light smile on her face. Touching her forehead she found it to be very warm. She sat on her bed before her head slowly went to the pillow for sleep. She would have some things to do tomorrow.

Next Morning

"Are you sure about this? We don't trust you enough to let you have access to your chakra and not run away even with this...revelation you claim you've had, but I certainly won't complain if this is what you wish," Yugao said with her sword in hand. Standing across from her was Konan forgoing her Akatsuki attire as she had gone before Risa for some borrowed clothes. "That is fine. This will increase the efficiency of the training that I wish. I only ask that you not hinder yourself because I do not have my chakra," Konan said before she tried remembering a taijutsu form that she had been wanting to practice. For her, Taijutsu might've been nonexistent since she only used her origami jutsu to work for her and lead her to victory. The results of that were why she was here right now asking for assistance.

"Alright then, if you're so insistent. This doesn't follow any sort of protocol at all, but if everyone's watching then I don't see a problem with it. Honestly I never thought I'd be helping our enemy with their taijutsu form. Something is very wrong here. But anyway, here I come!" Yugao suddenly called out before dashing towards Konan while Konan quickly assumed what she wanted to do.

Nearly everyone watched the scene of practice between Yugao and Konan. "Where are Sasuke, Itachi and Yuna?" Mikoto asked anyone willing to answer so Haku spoke. "They said that Yuna-san and Itachi-san were going to help Sasuke-san with his newly awakened Mangekyou, Mikoto-san." Haku said and Mikoto nodded with a light sigh.

"So what are we going to tell Konoha? We'll have to turn her over eventually," Kakashi said folding his arms and looking out at the scene of Yugao training Konan with her taijutsu form. "I don't deny that, but can we actually do that? She is one of the leaders of Amegakure supposedly. Doing that would put a blow to Akatsuki, but do we really want to anger the leader of Akatsuki and Ame all at once?" Mikoto asked while Kakashi sighed.

"No, I guess we wouldn't want that. They are all a group of S-rank shinobi and who knows how strong the leader of that is. Then there is Obito. To be able to control the Kyuubi then he's definitely gotten stronger. Especially if he's had his arm replaced with one from Kumo like you said he did," Kakashi said and Mikoto nodded.

"Yeah the color of his arm wasn't exactly aligned with the rest of his body that much I know, but be careful of that black lightning. It was very difficult to redirect it into the sea. Just be wary of it," Mikoto advised and Kakashi nodded thankfully as did Rin. Rin leaned on Kakashi's backside while Kakashi looked back at her. He gave an eyesmile before turning forward.

"Oi Yuri, you're supposed to be studying! Where are you going?!" Yura asked coming from the halls while Yuri groaned. "We've studied all freakin' day nee-chan. Cut me a break!" Yuri said sitting on the couch with a sigh. Yura sighed as she placed her hands on her hips.

"You are such a child even at fifteen. I knew I spoiled you too much," Yura said only getting Yuri to stick her tongue out at her before turning back. "Hey, anyone seen Nii-chan and Kushina-chan?" Yuri asked and Kakashi pointed towards the very top of the hills of the island.

"They are up there somewhere. Who knows what they could be doing," Kakashi said with a sudden snicker before Mikoto slapped his shoulder. "A dirty mind you have Kakashi. You should correct that," Mikoto said while Yuri pouted.

"Why does Kushi-chan always get to do it? I haven't even done it yet!" Yuri said while Yura sputtered with a blush on her face before she punched Yuri over the head. "Oh shut up you little pervert!" Yura growled out while Yuri glared at her. The Uzumaki girls tightened their fists and sneered at each other enough for lightning to go between them. Rin, Mikoto and Guren sweatdropped while Kakashi just gave a small chuckle of his own.

Top of the Island

Just like Kakashi suspected, Naruto and Kushina were at the top of the island with Naruto sitting cross-legged, his hands resting on his thighs. Right with him watching him was Kushina, his summons and the Shinigami. Naruto took a deep breath before he pulsed his Honshou. Instantly Kushina and the others noticed the grass around Naruto's body whither away while the young blond's seal quickly began to pulse away. Kushina felt hot in the back of her neck, but ignored the feeling. "Again," the Shinigami spoke in a hardened voice and Naruto nodded.

"Pakura-chan, let's go!" Naruto said and Pakura nodded firmly. She floated over Naruto before she switched to a cross-legged position as well. Pakura looked down until she felt a pull from Naruto's Honshou. It quickly surrounded her body before she felt herself merge her soul with Naruto's. Naruto's body twitched before Pakura all but vanished out of sight. "Open your eyes," the Shinigami said while Naruto opened his eyes and stood to his feet. The others backed away slightly while Naruto held out his hand. Instantly a white fireball came forth before he threw it at a tree making it burst in flames.

"Shakuton: Hitoma( Scorch Release: Fireball)," everyone heard Naruto say, but they also heard a bit of Pakura in his voice, while the blond gave a small grin. Pakura gave a grin of her own before Naruto suddenly fell to the ground. He coughed violently before he felt a heavy pounding against his head. Naruto resisted the urge to screech, but now it was unbearably painful. The Shinigami closed his eyes and gave a heavy sigh. "Valve, if you would please," Shin said while Kushina stepped forward. She quickly grabbed over Naruto's head and her hand blazed with white fire before she ripped Pakura's form from Naruto's body allowing for all the pain to stop. She noticed Pakura huffing furiously before setting her down.

"Pakura-san, are you okay?" Dan asked and Pakura nodded. "Y-Yeah just need to catch my undead breath," Pakura said, but she knew now wasn't the time for jokes once they heard Naruto punch the ground.

"Kuso, that's happened again! Why can't I do it?" Naruto asked while Shin frowned. "It is because you're hesitant," Shin said while Naruto looked up in surprise.

"Hesitant? Hesitant in what?!" Naruto asked angrily, but a hand from Kushina calmed him down. "You feel as if you're taking life and not returning it from where you got it. You feel that you're causing things to die and that they will stay dead if you don't return that energy. Remember Honshou is known as the Power of Life. To use these techniques then you're essentially drawing life from the things around you making them die, but when you use it then it slowly seeps back into the living world as chakra for things to keep living until you're empty or you can't contain it anymore. Because of your hesitance you're causing an imbalance between yourself and your summon. Remember these aren't your abilities, but your summons being channeled through your body. You must have complete focus and concentration for it to work or the end result will be you losing your soul or Pakura-san losing hers, never to be returned again. Basically it's a very real life or death gamble," Shin said while Naruto and Pakura glanced to each other.

"Gomen Pakura. Looks like it's my fault," Naruto said before he noticed Pakura shake her head. "No Shikyō-sama it was my fault. I can keep going for as long as you wish," Pakura said and Naruto smiled. He could see the determination in her eyes to help him succeed and the blond then looked at the ground for a second. He closed his eyes and offered a light chuckle of his lips. Everyone turned to him while Naruto stood to his feet.

"Pakura-chan, come here," Naruto suddenly said and Pakura slowly stood to her feet before presenting herself to her summoner/lord. The two looked in each other's eyes for a second before Naruto quickly took the handle of his sword into his palms and raised it over Pakura's head. Shin narrowed his eyes while the others gulped. Did Pakura do something wrong?

Kushina was ready to stop Naruto if he was going to do something that he would regret before everyone noticed him touch her shoulder with his sword. "Now that I think about it after Fujikaze you were with me the longest Pakura-chan," Naruto said and Pakura blinked before gently bowing her head.

"It is always a pleasure to serve you Shikyō-sama," Pakura said while Naruto gave a gentle nod. "Kimimaro, you come here also!" Naruto said and Kimimaro quickly walked forward then knelt on one knee. Noting the act of submission, Naruto cleared his throat. He turned to Shin for a look of confirmation and the Shinigami merely watched on, slightly intrigued. Naruto then turned back and his sword flared.

"Before, you were my summon. Before, you were a mere Tamashi. Through the power of the Shinigami, I name my summon, Pakura, a Shikon." Naruto said while Pakura widened her eyes before Naruto's fire outlined her body. The clothes that Pakura wore were instantly replaced with a new attire. A pure, white cloak covered her old clothes just enough to be at her ankles. On it was the symbol for the Shinigami and Shikyō. A mix of her old clothes with new designs. Two black lines appeared on her face before they trailed through her new clothes and to her hands. On her back came a large scroll that appeared out of the white fire as well as a single magatama appearing at the center of her neckline.

"Shikyō-sama," Pakura said in surprise before she balled her fists. Pakura bowed in earnest while Naruto patted her shoulder. He then turned to Kimimaro and proceeded to do the same thing. "You are my Shikon," Naruto said while the flames consumed Kimimaro's body as well.

Warm. This feeling was absolutely warm for the Kaguya as he experienced the same changes that Pakura had. Instead of a scroll tied to the back of his clothes there was only two seals that suddenly attached to his arms and the palms of his hand. The small dots at the top of Kimimaro's head expanded only a bit through his face in a peculiar line. He bowed lowly while Naruto finished.

"My first Cleansing Shin!" Naruto said while Pakura and Kimimaro glanced to each other. They didn't know what to say before Naruto sheathed his sword and massaged his shoulders. "Well time to try this again," he said. He gave a small grin before Kushina bonked him on the head.

"Which will be happening right now. Next time tell people what you're going to do before you do it. Come on Sochi, we're going to be busy these coming days. Tsunade just sent us a scroll that states you, Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura-san, and some other people are going to the Land of Demons," Kushina said while Naruto tilted his head to the side.

"Why there?" Naruto asked and Kushina smirked. "Apparently a shrine was under attack and they're asking for help. Tsunade feels that there isn't a need to bring all of us so Yugao, myself, and Mikoto are going to stay behind. Once you get back then we'll begin with the Fuinjutsu Ascension Exams here on the island. Hopefully everything will be done and we'll be able to finish on," Kushina said while Naruto just nodded with a sigh. Naruto sat cross-legged again and closed his eyes. He was taking life, but he was then giving it back. This wasn't wrong. It...wasn't wrong.

Naruto would get stronger. Stronger to protect his family. He would keep doing it until he felt like he was on the verge of breaking. The trees withered around him while their leaves dropped to the ground. Naruto's hair quickly stared to turn silver as the blond opened his eyes. "Alright then, Suiren-chan. You're next!" Naruto said and Suiren nodded stepping forward.

Not even five minutes later, both were screaming in pain before Kushina ripped Suiren away from Naruto's body. Oh god, this was going to be grueling process!

---

KG: Well I guess I stopped it where I needed to. Ummm I guess I've got nothing more to talk about. A lot of you were surprised that I named Shion a Uzumaki. Well there is only one more person that I want to bear the Uzumaki name and it is someone who people should know, but sorry I ain't spoilin'! Who knows, maybe, just maybe you can figure it out. No, it's no one who's already dead. No it's not Konan people! Come on now! Well good luck if you really wanna figure it out. Bye bye!

Naruto: NO! NO! NO!

KG: What is wrong with you?!

Naruto: NO!

KG: Stop yelling man. Oww my ears!

Naruto: IT'S COMING!

KG: What's coming?!

Naruto: (Points) THAT!

KG:...oh fuck all kinds of-

Naruto: DUCK!

CRASH!

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