Naruto was on one of his supply runs. They were still in Tsume no Kuni because Jiraiya had to investigate some rumors about uprisings around the border to stone. It looked like they would stay here for another week so Naruto had to manage groceries and training mostly on his own.

Jiraiya was supposed to be back tonight. The good student that he was Naruto looked for some wildlife to catch for tonight's meal. Just yesterday Kurama had awakened again, cautioning him that he would still not be able to help much that he had the feeling that one of his siblings would be in the near vicinity.

Keeping that in mind and comparing it to what he knew, he focussed his sensing on the big chakra signature. Coming up with some strategies to keep the safehouse out of focus.

Improving the seals around it and even establishing a seal-based Genjutsu. Considering all those accomplishments he could sleep pretty well. Unfortunately, his supply run brought him into unprotected territory. Naruto could not remember why but today it was like he was drawn to the big signature. Coming to a standstill in a big valley of barren land he was wide-eyed as he recognized the person standing opposite the land.

The red hair, beard, and mustache. A long-sleeved kimono in magenta showing a mesh shirt underneath. A ridge resembling a three-pointed crown sat on his head. His dark eyes looked at the blonde Shinobi and with a mocking tone raised his voice.

"You are a bit lost fox, aren't you?"

"I don't know. I just travel around getting to know the people of different nations. You have to be Roshi, Jinchurikii of Son Goku aren't you?" Naruto replied.

The red-haired former shinobi of Iwagakure raised a brow. "You mean the four-tails? Didn't even know that beast as a name."

Naruto's expression changed instantly. The curious glance was switched to a focused one.

"Do you mean to tell me that even after Son helped you survive Uzu." seeing his surprised face he added with a smirk "Oh yeah, I know who survived the attack that nearly wiped out two ninja villages."

"What does it matter? Your clan is nearly dead. What does it matter if that beast did his due to help me survive" Roshi spat in Naruto's direction. Something the blonde did not take very well.

While the Naruto one year younger would have leashed out this one just shook his head as his anger fell and was superseded by disappointment. "You know I had hoped, that the years after that made you smarter. Seeing you here without a headband, I wanted to reach out my hand in forgiveness. Talk from one Jinchurikii to another. Warn you even. But…"

He was interrupted by Roshi's mocking voice "But? What do you even think you could do brat? I am a veteran of the last great war. Have complete control over the four-tails chakra. What could a mere boy even do against me?"

Naruto began to chuckle. Something that irritated the old man even further.

"What you laughing at brat!"

It took ten seconds for Naruto to relax as he looked at the other Jinchurikii. Disappointment was replaced with an expression Roshi had never expected. Pity.

"You. I pity you. Roshi. You missed out on something remarkable. The Biju are far older than we are. One of the only living beings to have witnessed the sage of the six paths and be able to tell the whole truth and not those myths and legends. And you. Having more than three decades to learn from your partner." Naruto shook his blonde head. "You threw that away with pure human ignorance."

Roshi was furious what did that brat think he was doing? He was beginning to channel the chakra of his Bijuu, even against the urging of the four tails to not engage and listen. As if he would listen to that overgrown monkey! Switching into a version one three-tailed state Roshi wanted to get this over quickly and not even wanting to do without the chakra he claimed from his Biju.

"Oh no, you won't" Naruto nearly whispered as he moved through Handseals ending up clapping his open hands together. " Mokuton: Hotei" Wooden Hands sprang out of the ground holding a hald ram seal. Roshi was surrounded by three of those things building a triangle. Wondering what would happen, it hit him a second too late, as his Biju chakra was sapped away by force. Straight to the wooden fingertips. As Roshi was struggling to stay on his feet. Naruto had a no-nonsense kind of look.

"You won't use borrowed chakra that you stole from one of the nine against me Roshi" He stated calmly. "No, if you want to fight you will do so with your own power."

Roshi was baffled, let alone panted a bit to get this much chakra sucked out of him to throw him out of his Biju cloak was not only unexpected but it hurt badly. Looking at the blond he took out his famous curved Kunai. "I won't need this chakra you fool. It would just have cut the time you would be in pain in half. Now, you will suffer!" He charged at the teen with the raised Kunai slashing at him. Naruto had his sword unsealed and the clangs of metal could be heard in the clearing. Some clones of Naruto engaged him while others set up his analyzing scroll. The fight was on.

Unknown cave

The setting for this Akatsuki meeting is a large, dimly lit underground chamber with rough stone walls. A circular table made of the same dark material dominates the center of the room, surrounded by seven high-backed chairs with armrests. Itachi and Kisame take their seats at the table, facing the holograms of Pain, Tobi, Konan, Zetsu, Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara. The holograms float above the table, each in a different position depending on the individual's preferences. Dim red lighting illuminates the area, casting long shadows across the room and adding to its ominous atmosphere. Pain's voice was echoing the hall.

"Thank you for your report Sasori, Deidara. It looks like the Kyuubi and Ichibi Jinchurikii are unreachable for the moment. I will look into those matters myself if need be. While our newest member is looking for leads on those that have fallen off our radar, I need all teams to engage with those who are not protected by a village at the moment. We do have intel on the four through six tails. The Sanbi will reform in approximately one and a half years. Kakuzu, you and Tobi should take up some bounties for the foreseeable future. After the failure in Hi no Kuni I would advise to take contracts outside of the land of fire."

The hologram of Pain looked at Danzu and for a moment you could think to be able to see a miniscule amount of disdain as the leader started. "Danzo, you and Zetsu may do information gathering about the missing suspects or how we can extract those that are currently not attainable and protected by their villages." Getting two nods he looked at the others.

"All other teams you may engage and capture your targets. While we can't seal them for the moment we have some of the nine tails chakra already captured. Enough for the final Jutsu to work. Only the seven, eight, and ninetails are too strong to be sealed inside of a prepared object, so use the urns I gave you to capture the Biju and bring them back to base"

Kiasme looked at Itachi and smirked. "Finally, some fighting again. I was getting restless as did Samehada." He looked at his wrapped-up blade that seemed to agree with the sentiments of the shark-like men. "Say, Itachi. What was our target again?"

"The Yonbi, last known location Tsume no Kuni. Retired old ninja with the Yōton." Itachi answered in his monotonous voice. While in his head he had already prepared the message for Shisui.

Naruto vs Roshi

Naruto dodged another molten rock. Roshi had entered his Lava Armor form after Naruto had used not only his homing Shuriken but also his sword to seal away his beloved curved Kunais. With the enemy now using Yōton freely and Lava and metal, even the charka induced and hardened through seals part Naruro had not only sheathed his sword but also sealed it away. With the temperature rising and small patches of grass still in flames thanks to molten rocks, one of Naruto's Shadow clones had unsealed a swimming pool of water out of his scroll. Rolling to the side the blonde evaded another rock as he saw Roshi with a raised fist and completely engulfed in Lava trying to punch him.

Changing direction was out of the question but as he heard the splash of water he tried something. Using some hand seals and the precognition of his Sharingan he summoned A Wall of Ice. Just at the right time for Roshi to impact the Ice. A sizzling sound as it began to melt. Stomping with his feet on the ground and using a one-handed seal the wall of Ice burst in Roshi's direction trying to impale him with ice icicles. After ten just melted on his armor the eleventh one pushed the Jinchuriki back and the next pierced his tigh before it melted away. Jumping away Roshi panted a bit.

"Hyoton? Mokuton? You call me a thief and seemingly you possess so many Kekkei Genkai that you can only have them through thievery!" Roshi spat as he tried to catch his breath.

Naruto stood still. Thinking what the other man said before he blinked once. "Well, you sound a bit peeved right now. Melting Man! You need to cool down you know!" Using his Hyoton: Chilling Breeze to unleash a hurricane gust with freezing temperatures in Roshi's direction.

The Veteran was nearly caught before he substituted himself with a log that was frozen solid shortly after. Naruto was shocked and in his mind sent a prayer to this brave log before he looked at Roshi who used some hand seals himself. "I will definitely not cool down you prat! Just die. Lava Release: Errupting Earth." He put his hands on the ground and First, the earth began to rumble, after that Naruto looked around what the Justu would do.

"Come on old man. Is your fire cooling down? You are not the youngest…" Before Naruto could finish his senses picked up that his feet had sunk into the ground and it was getting really hot right under him. Not thinking for another second he switched with a clone and witnessed that a blink later the clone was swallowed by a gaping crater that was filled with lava. A miniature volcano right out of nowhere. Naruto pointed at the crater and wanted to scream at Roshi as he could feel it happen again and this time he used a Shunshin to get into Roshi's guard and attacked him with a Chakra engulfed fist. He could feel the heat but It had the intended effect that Roshi's Jutsu was canceled.

Roshi was standing again and spat out some blood. "I will melt you. And while my village and I had cut ties I am sure Iwa will have someone that could be the new vessel for the Kyuubi. The beast will be of use again. We will crush Konoha and get our revenge!" He laughed just for a second or two as the temperature in the area dropped and he could feel a pressure building up. Killing Intent hit him so strongly that he needed to take a step back.

"You won't lay a hand on my friend." Naruto nearly whispered as orange chakra bursted out forming a skeleton before muscles and clothes followed. It looked like his avatar was a samurai of some kind if you counted the classic samurai armor as an indication of the avatar that got to the size of a tailed beast. Six fox-like tails grew out of its rump, with a drawing-like motion the avatar held a Katana made out of chakra in his right and a Chakra-Gunbai in his left. Swinging the Gunbai Roshi was pushed back from the wind pressure alone. As he looked up he saw the sword coming near and he barely managed to dodge as the sword managed to split a good size of the ground.

"I will free Son out of you. and watch your body burn Roshi!" Naruto screamed as he engaged again swinging the sword again. The ground began to rumble as Roshi was finally able to summon some of his Biju Chakra. Not that the enraged Naruto cared much. The ground rumbled thanks to the movements, explosions, and attacks of both of them.

In a small town in Tsume no Kuni

Jiraiya was staying clear of the prostitute who had made a very obvious offer to him, but he had given a promise to hold onto. One that he was very sure he did not want to betray. His Investigation of the increased activity of Iwa was finally done. Did his student ruffle some feathers? Well, yes he sure did but Jiraiya knew Onoki. He would try to flex his muscles and while the increased activity showed that he had a solid force, there were only a few of them noteworthy. Just as he was about to order another Sake before getting ready to leave to rejoin his student. He felt it. Kami, Jiraiya had the suspicion that not only Tsume no Kuni felt that but also the outposts in Stone and Fang. It felt like an earthquake and shortly after came the shockwave. His mind was with Naruto in an instant. putting some Ryu notes on his table he rushed out.

In a different part of Tsume no Kuni

"Damn did you feel that Itachi" Kisame spoke excitedly. "Sounded like a strong enemy waiting for me to fight him."

Itachi looked at him and shook his head in something like disgust before he made his way out of the inn they were staying in slowly moving in the direction where they both felt the blast while Kisame tried to persuade him to go faster.

Moments before Naruto vs. Roshi

After Naruto had activated his Susanoo Roshi had trouble staying alive. The young blonde had unsealed his Gunbai and sword to better direct his Susannos attacks. Channeling their powers into that of his Avatar's weapons. Roshi had switched to the version two cloak with all four tails. In his mind, he knew that he would have to go that one step further if he wanted a chance to win. That one last step. The veteran reached out to his seal, drawing in all the chakra he needed to complete the transformation. While he was not in synch with his Biju, should he be? He had trained himself for over a decade to achieve this state of power.

With a mighty growl, red hands stopped the chakra sword of Naruto who disengaged at this very moment.

Roshi, in the form of Son Goku, looked at Naruto who looked like he was lost for words. " What is it, kid? Did you think you could win? Or how I could achieve this without having a partner?" The now four-tailed Ape mocked Naruto. " Time to blast you to oblivion, you are a pathetic excuse, not even able to draw on your batteries." Opening his mouth many multicolored particles flowed to the middle forming a ball of pure malice.

In his mind, the awakened Kyyubi warned " Naruto. While I appreciate that you want to free that blasted Ape, you have to evade that attack, as long as your Jutsu is not perfect you won't be able to stand the strongest attack of a Biju, even if it is just with the power of the Yonbi!"

Naruto stretched his feelings out to his Gunbai and the seals on it. Loud and clear he answered his partner as he looked right at the Bijudama, putting his sword away with his Susanno imitating the steps and using both hands to grab the Gunbai. "You know Roshi, let me show you pathetic and just bring it!"

With a deep growl, Roshi in the full-tailed beast state fired the ball at the blonde. Moving quickly at him, the Bijudama ripped a path into the ground. Shortly before it reached the blonde he aimed and swung at it pouring his chakra into the one seal he had already identified. For a moment everything was silent. "Reflect," Naruto whispered. The Gunbai of the Susanoo was encased in orange honeycombs. Swinging it like a bat the ball connected with the honeycombs. Standing still for a glimpse of a second before it was reflected at Roshi twice as fast.

" WHAT!" he brought out before the ball impacted him. The explosion started with a blinding white light, directly followed by the sound blast, which rattled not only the grounds but also the shockwave forming shortly after de-needled trees far away. A big cloud of dust covered the position where the form of the Yonbi was seen last. Naruto's Susanno had deactivated pouring complete chakra into the Jutsu to be able to reflect that ball. Naruto panted. Looking at the cloud he had his eyes closed. He swung the Gunbai unleashing a gust of wind that blasted away the results of the explosion. Showing a bleeding but still standing Roshi. But he was without his Biju mode, no Lava Armor mode. His Kimono was ripped in many places. The man looked at the blonde in disbelief.

Black eyes looked into red ones with three spinning tomoe. Roshi witnessed Naruto sealing his Gunbai away. In a very fluid motion, he unsealed his katana. Another puff of smoke unsealed one of Roshi's curved Kunai. While looking at the bloodied man he seemed to whisper before he threw it at Roshi. But not in a straight line instead he threw it parabolic only for it to land before Roshi's feet.

"Pick it up." Naruto's voice was cold and nearly as sharp as his blade. While he still looked at the blonde he picked up his favourite weapon. "You should have treated him better," Naruto said as he laid his right hand on the hilt of his still-sheathed sword.

Roshi readied himself, confused he looked at his Kunai. At the same time he witnessed a yellow flash he noticed a sealing matrix. The next moment he felt he sharp pain in his midsection as the Kunai was ripped out of his hands. Naruto was standing with his back to the Jinchuriki. Legs still standing before they fell over in the opposite direction of Roshi's upper body. Roshi looked at the blonde's back. The shock had numbed his pain. He witnessed as Naruto flicked his blade. Drops of his blood fell onto the scorched ground. He could observe as he used a part of cloth between his fingers to wipe the remaining blood off as he sheathed his blade. Only then did the blonde turn looking down at Roshi. Roshi's curved Kunai is still in his hand. "I strongly suggest you make your peace." were the only words before he moved through hand seals. As he finished an ethereal blue flame encased his right hand as he put it on Roshi's stomach before it seemingly moved straight into it. Then he pulled.

With the pull came the pain. Roshi screamed as the Biju was ripped out of him. The mass of Naruto's hand looked small before he threw it to the side showing Son Goku that was half its usual size. The Yonbi was looking at the scene as his former Jinchurikii's screams got silent. The black eyes searched for those of Son. A flash of realization crossed Roshi's face. In a hoarse near whisper, he said. "Gomen. Son…" The Biju looked at Naruto as he flicked his wrist and the curved Kunai embedded itself into Roshi's heart.

"BOSS!" One of his clones flashed to his side. Then he dispelled itself. Naruto sorted through the transferred memory and looked straight at the Yonbi.

"I am sorry but we get company shortly and I would not like for them to find you and me in this state." He unsealed a big scroll and opened it.

" I think I understand Uzumaki. I consent." Son said getting a tired version of the foxy grin before he was sucked into the big scroll. Which closed at the very moment three people got to the clearing at the same time but in different positions. The remaining clones of Naruto joined him one of them holding another big scroll and resealing it. While Naruto took the big scroll and secured it to his belt horizontally like his sensei. It would be a problem if he would try to seal this scroll into himself. Closing his eyes as the three others tried to assess the situation he thought out to his partner. "Kurama. Do you think I could borrow some of your chakras?"

" I am barely back to one tail worth Naruto, you know the seal? And your stupid Bijudama ballgame? You could absorb one of the fingers maybe?" Kurama answered in his mind. Opening his eyes again he saw that Jiraiya had joined him looking wide-eyed at the corpse of Roshi. He eyed the two men in the Akatsuki cloaks and was channeling Chakra. As Itachi crossed eyes with Naruto Kisame readied his blade. Naruto felt himself drawn into Itachi's Genjutsu.

In the Tsukoyomi

Naruto opened his eyes and found himself in a big green meadow. Sitting on a bench looking at the Naka river. To his side, Itachi sat in his civilian clothes and looked at Naruto. He was also the first person to speak. "Would you mind explaining?"

Naruto looked into the blue sky "Would you believe me that I am just that unlucky?" Here in the Genjutsu, his body felt not as sluggish as on the outside for that he was grateful as he looked at Itachi scratching the back of his head.

"I would." Itachi sighed.

"You would?" Naruto answered opening his eyes and looking at the Uchiha. Who was now the person looking into the sky?

"Yes I would, you are just that kind of person Naruto. Could it be that you killed Roshi because he was not properly treating his Biju?" Itachi asked.

"Yeah… but how?" The blonde asked and Itachi chuckled.

"You explained some of your ideas to Shisui and me remember? Those ideas got me to spy on a bunch of monsters and claim-to-be-kami. Remember? Kiri went well by the way."

Itachi cleared up and looked at the blonde ruffling his hair.

Naruto smiled brightly. "You observed that the Kiri people used my prepared tags?" Naruto tried to clarify. Getting a nod from Itachi. "Great. As soon as Isobu reforms we will evacuate him from there." He took a short break before he continued "Regarding, Roshi, yeah that was the reason. In the end, he had remorse so I gave him a quick death. I won't tell you where his Biju is though." Itachi nodded thankfully. "Okay give me everything." And that Itachi did. For nearly four hours they talked, planned, and lastly joked.

Before they prepared to part Itachi signaled Naruto to listen closely again. "This Tobi person, claims to be Madara Uchiha. He was the one who slaughtered most of the clan after I got the mission to do the rest. His signature also matches your sample." Naruto's look changed into a brimful expression.

"I had hoped to let you step out of the shadows Itachi but, we need you to stay there for the moment. I hope you understand. The tactical advantages alone." Naruto sighed this time seeing Itachi nod he radiated his gratefulness before he looked at the Uchiha.

"Let's get some drama in Itachi."

Getting a nod from the Uchiha, Naruto channeled chakra to his eyes and with them entering the Mangekyou state he broke the Genjutsu forcefully.

Back in the Outside world, Jiraiya was about to move towards Kisame who was about to do the same thing as Itachi broke down and screamed. Quickly covering his bleeding left eye with one hand. Kisame looked at his partner and Jiraiya turned on his heel and Shunshined them both away. The only one who knew that the blood was just a Genjutsu was one blonde teen who was sluggishly moving to the wooden hands that were still standing holding a half ram seal. Laying his hands on them he began to absorb the chakra. As Jiraiya looked on the wood slowly got drier, visibly decaying before crumbling to the floor into ash. Naruto sighed. He had split the Chakra and donated a bit to the Kyuubi. Moving to Roshi he watched as Jiraiya sealed the remains. Wordlessly he flashed the both of them to their safehouse.

Hidden Akatsuki Hideout

Itachi and Kisame were back in the same hideout looking at the holograms of Konan, Pain, Tobi, and Zetsu with Pain speaking. "So we have to assume that the Yonbi is out of reach for the moment." Pain did not sound amused in the slightest.

Tobi picked up the conversation and his usual aloof attitude was gone and replaced by an angered voice "How is that even possible that a team of such accomplished shinobi fail with such a mundane task."

Pain would not have it. "I am Kami and I will deal with him as soon as I want to deal with him." Tobi just snorted and used his Kami to disappear, taking Zetsu's hologram with him.

Konan looked at Pain. "I get the feeling that he can become a problem," she commented on the retreat. Pain gave a dismissive wave of his hand.

"If he is becoming a problem I will deal with him myself. Itachi and Kisame. I want you on bounty-hunting duty too. It seems that for the moment the Jinchurikii are too hard to catch but we will achieve peace in the end." Pain dismissed them shortly after.

With Naruto and Jiraiya in their hidden Hideout

"... Well I can see why you wanted to kill Roshi after all of that." Jiraiya nodded. "Good thing that Roshi was retired and officially not aligned with Iwa. If he would have been an active Iwa Shinobi still, that could have provoked a war."

Naruto looked out of the window. "I couldn't care less Jiraiya. How Biju are treated in our time is too bad to let it stand." The blonde said with a sharpness in his voice that surprised the Sannin.

"Calm down Naruto…" he started only to get interrupted by the blonde.

"Calm down? No, I won't calm down. We spoke about your dream to bring peace back into the world and I wholeheartedly will try to reach that goal not only as your student but I intend to break the cycle of hatred that holds our nation's ransom." He turned and looked Jiraiya straight in the eye. "Jinchurikii are treated as monsters or tools. Biju are treated as mindless monsters or even just a very big chakra battery. Kurama and his siblings once had been created through the sage's hand to protect the nations from an evil unseen since those days." Taking not one but three calming breaths to calm down a bit in the end he fixed Jiraiya with his blue eyes."I don't aim to be Hokage Sensei. I aim to be the one who not only revives the Uzumaki clan but brings peace to the nations. Liberate Kurama's siblings and make sure that I make it very hard to seal them away again. Do you even know what could happen if every intel that is true about Akatuski comes to pass?"

Jiraiya looked like he was back in the academy as his student started his rant. He was overwhelmed by the intensity of Naruto looking at the chakra that was leaking out while he was at his emotional peak. But in the end, he came up empty with an answer to his student.

"Thought so. The nine Biju were once one entity called the Yuubi. Don't start me on the maths I am still confused about that myself. So the sage, after battling his mother who unleashed this beast onto this world used the power of the fabled Rinnegan to create the nine Biju. So they can help his sons spread Ninshu into the world and protect the regions he assigned them to. If this Pain person not only has the Rinnegan but is also responsible for collecting the Biju he may be trying to revive the Yuubi. I won't have that. And if that means I would have to retire as a Konoha shinobi to protect the village from the political backlash I will do so proudly and without any regret."