"Thanks again. Dr. Kal'tsit sends her regards for Emperor & Penguin Logistics."

The lupo nodded, taking back the signed table from the factory manager.

Another day, another Rhodes Island shipment.

She walked back to the car, tail swishing, ears flicking. Her expression was stoic, giving the impression very little got to her, orange eyes with blue hints scanned the clipboard, checking off the last box. Opening the car, music blared, spilling onto her like molten gold.

At the speed of light,

We can stand on our feet.

You go after my lead.

Why do you keep waiting?

At the speed of light.

Don't you lie to your worries.

You go after my lead.

I'm already here.

"Hey, Tex,"

Texas pulled into the car as the red-head bobbed her head to the beat, finishing the last of her sticky & gooey apple pie treat, twirling the fork. Her partner gave off restless energy, emitting cheerfulness as if nothing could get her down.

"Exusiai." She said, easily.

Her wings & halo flickered with light, red-brown eyes beaming.

"Boss is gonna be happy: all of our stuff is done ahead of schedule. No gang wars this time!" She cheered.

She nodded, agreeing in spite of the absurd statement that'd have strange looks given. Emperor would be pleased for a while. Minimal complaints were a bonus alongside that. Texas started the car, pulling onto the street. For once, her co-worker quieted, playing with her phone. Whenever she did, it was either her playing some mobile game or writing song lyrics.

Moments like these, she appreciated. Not that she hated Exusiai, but driving & knowing the territory of Lungmen wasn't her friend's strong suit. Even before she came to the city, she investigated the various routes that could be taken as a driver. Especially after that one late delivery, going past a highway route in favor of a bakery of all places for apple pie, humming cheerfully all the while, oblivious. Thankfully, the owner of the facility had been understanding with no complaints or bad reviews besmirching the reputation of Penguin Logistics.

Still, they had pointedly said that while it was understandable, repeated occurrences would put contracts in doubt. It wasn't the manager flaying them, but informing in a matter-of-fact tone on the consequences. More than PL tanking in reputation, contractors would lose their jobs, suppliers affected & engineers would look to hawk their skill elsewhere. Her co-worker listened quietly, instead of complaining.

Exusiai had insisted she could do the job, that she could drive Lungmen's streets easily. Texas learned her lesson: don't let that happen again. Her co-worker wasn't lazy or indolent. She was hard-working, whether it was answering calls, dealing with paperwork or warehouse labor, contract work as a lawyer in spite of how absurd that one sounded. She was also a fine markswoman, one of the best she'd seen since her mafioso days. That was a fact she could attest to.

They made their way through the streets, through intersections & one highway before arriving at their offices.

Exusiai hopped out, stretching her muscles. Texas didn't blame her. It had been a long morning, going from one delivery to the next.

"Huh. Bit of a backup, there." She said, looking onto the other street that the PL office sidled on. Cars were honking & it seemed people were arguing much further back, getting out of their cars to look to the sky, strangely.

Thank goodness they avoided that. Exusiai's complaining would have driven her up the wall. Siracusan stoicism had it's limits.

"Let's inform the boss, alright?"

It took Texas a few steps before realizing that her co-worker wasn't following. She bit back the annoyed sigh.

"What're you looking at?" she said.

Then, she noticed that the rhythm of the city was dimming. More people got out of their cars, engines falling silent. Following her co-worker's gaze, it went to the skyscrapers & clouds just above them.

Above, bursts of indigo & yellow went off behind clouds, far above the sky. What was that?

There were cracks and rumbles that echoed in her ribcage, her ears flattening against her skull. A catastrophe? No, there would have been a warning at least, Messengers would have been scrambled. The city had the most advanced detection systems compared to anywhere else.

She grabbed her friend's hand, knocking her out of stupor. "Exu, we need to go, now, get to the shelters and – "

Whatever she said was lost in a burst of electricity, crashing lighting. Indigo & golden colored lights drew her attention, forming a violet hue. For a brief moment, she thought she saw two people in the clouds.

Her fur stood on end, moments before a violet light descended near them & she tackled her friend to the ground, eyes squeezing shut as the world exploded into white light.

(*)

"He's alive, Naruto!"

He stared, dumbfounded. Relief flooded through him at Sakura-chan's yell. Haku hadn't killed him! He wiped his eyes to smother the tears. He sniffed hard. He was supposed to be a hero, a after all!

Zabuza's words surfaced in his mind. "Haku was too gentle."

He argued with the bastard, challenged him to spars anytime he could. But deep down he could admit that he cared about his teammate.

(*)

"Let's have a chat, Naruto Uzumaki."

Naruto knew the voice, Rasengan forming on his palms before he blew out the wall where Tobi was - it's not just intangibility, he thought as the man vanished above, reappearing on the roof.

Given his knowledge of time-space mechanics, he had caught on to his trick since first seeing the technique. He'd been musing on the mechanics of the technique.

A wooden cage formed around him, breaking through the hotel floors and walls. "Kakashi-sensei, Tenzou-taichou." he said easily.

The glance was brief from the man. "You alright, Naruto?" he said, before focusing on the threat before them.

"I'm fine." Naruto said, remaining tense & wary.

Why was he here? For what reason?"

A deep chuckle and a baritone voice spoke. "Now, now: If I wanted to capture him, we wouldn't be talking now.

"One's thing's right - you won't be getting anywhere near him." Kakashi said.

Tobi tilted his head. He met a Sharigan eye, static crackling hitting the air and warming his skin. "The Copy Ninja. Deadly as ever." he drawled, unphased by the threat.

"You don't expect to catch Naruto so easily with us around. Talk: why are you here?" Yamato said.

"Very well. To the point. I want to speak with Naruto."

The simplicity of the statement made them blink in astonishment, before hard skepticism took over the pair "Hm, not like you'd believe me anyway." He shrugged, catching their reactions.

Kakashi nodded. "Forgive us as the last several months have said otherwise: Akatsuki's activities of abducting and extracting Bijuu. Even then, how do we know you don't have something else in mind for him?"

"Trust is a rare thing in this world & you've little to prove your sincerity." Yamato said pointedly.

"Fair," Tobi tilted his head, "I do have something to say to him whether you will believe it or not. This would be interesting to you." Thi was said pointedly to the blond.

"...how so?" Naruto said, carefully.

"The truth of Itachi Uchiha."

The silence was filled in by falling snow, howling wind. Naruto blinked.

"What truth?" Kakashi spoke now, brows furrowing.

There was almost a smile, ironic, in the voice of Tobi. "That is what I said, yes."

"Itachi Uchiha went rogue, slaughtering his clan and torturing his brother, leaving Sasuke as the only survivor. Everyone knows this."

Naruto hadn't been able to describe it then. He could only describe a sort of wrongness, that pitted in his stomach, given his knowledge of the Uzumaki clan's extermination by Cloud and Water.

"Let's say it was more ordered."

"Ridiculous," Yamato scoffed, "be direct. You said you were here for him is all."

"What if I were to tell you that Itachi Uchiha had only slaughtered his clan under orders given to him by Konoha's elders and higher-ups? What if I were to tell you of the history of the Uchiha Clan and the hatred that consumed them, including Sasuke?"

(*)

Naruto awoke to clouds & whistling wind.

He flailed briefly before a strange calm took hold, high above in the skies. Twisting his body as much as he could, he looked around, gravity bringing him close to the earth, the sight of the indigo hue ahead eased him.

Partly, he hoped the fall would knock Sasuke out so he could drag him back to the village, no fuss.

Gods, this was gonna suck. He was already burnt out in terms of chakra. He knew people talked like he had the powers of a god, but no, he was just mortal like the rest.

I'll do as much as I can, kid.

Kurama's reassurance was tested with him meeting the ground.

He slammed into the earth, blacking out briefly, tumbling through foliage & trees, sending bark & branches flying as snapping & cracking echoed that he released an agonized scream, eyes squeezed shut.

Chirping birds & silence greeted him. He tensed up & groaned, certain his wounds had wounds & bruises had bruises.

"…that asshole." Naruto said, flatly.

Kurama snorted, agreeing. How're you feeling, you alright?

The demon fox's deep voice was soothing. Man, they'd come a long way from wanting to kill each other. The concern provided a balm among all the pain.

"Peachy. Fantastic." He said, dryly. Were Sakura-chan here, she'd be verbally ripping into him.

Well, thank Father then. The extension of my Chakra to you and the Uchiha prevented the worst.

At that, Naruto got up. Well, he tried to, only to hiss as he fell back on the ground. Instead, he brought together his hands.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." He invoked, channeling what scraps of chakra he had left.

Three clones of him popped into existence.

"Boss!"

"What'dya need?"

"You two: go and scout the area, find Sasuke & see where we are. The last should go and find shelter."

The first two vanished and last clone hung around for a moment.

"Boss, just wanted to say you look like crap."

Naruto gave them a Look, a very Tsunade-raised eyebrow look.

The clone raised their hands in defense.

"Just saying. Not to mention the hoodie is ruined, man. That's a real good one." They said, vanishing moments later.

He was gonna stay here. Lying. In pain. "I really, really liked this hoodie. The rust orange lining the hem is a perfect color, makes the black really contrast."

With a glance, he could tell it was torn to bits, holes & smothered in dirt, all that was left of his Chuunin flak vest was shredded bits excepting a few scrolls barely held in.

It's an improvement over the jumpsuit. Orange isn't a bad color in hindsight, depends on the gradation.

He couldn't help it, the chuckle escaping his lips. Kinda strange to feel like that in this moment.

Minutes later, he received a 'ping' from one of his clones.

His former friend & teammate was found, the image of an abandoned house coming to mind, equally ragged as he was. That brought a mixture of emotions. He disagreed with Sasuke on his ideology in pursuing further destruction of the Ninja World. Yeah, he was angry too with the system, but didn't think it was the best way forward to achieve peace.

He blinked as the clone signaled it's intent to keep watch, two returned to him. "Yo, boss, doing better now?"

"A little. What's up?"

Sharing looks, one said. "Didn't find anyone. Forested area, large field. There's an abandoned village not too far."

Naruto hummed, he coughed a little & grimaced, the clones helped prop him up and he spat aside a wad of blood, assisted through foliage & out into a field, cold and misty.

The sight reminded him of the first C-rank mission, unsettling & foreboding.

Geez, kid. I know Mito & Kushina were tough, but you're really pushing the limits.

'Yeah. Look, can you – '

I know. I'll look after the Uchiha and you get some rest. I'll be able to detect any threats. He could feel the eyeroll directed at him.

Kurama grimaced as he took over. Naruto fell into unconsciousness, the red energy blanketing him.

"That prick really did a number on the kid."

Hell, even he felt it.

Ruptured organs, broken & cracked bones. He pulsed his chakra to the body, beginning to stick & pull the flesh back together as the clones hauled up his container's body.

One of the clones spoke up. "You got it from here? Cuz there's somethin' else we wanted to bring up, but…"

"Didn't want to worsen the boss's state." The other stated.

They marched to a hill overlooking the field. Kurama took a moment, blood-red eyes, slit, studying them. "And that is?"

"We're not in the Valley of the End or the Elemental Nations."

This gave the fox considerable pause. To emphasize this, one of the clones brought out a worn down book, pages ripped, but the script was alien to his eyes.

He shook his head. No, first priority is recovery.

It was a good idea: rest first & then assess their situation, gather information, put together a plan of action. He huffed as the clones dispelled. To echo that Nara brat, how troublesome.

Partly limping, he made his way to the dilapidated house with the Uchiha. He was delighted that the Uchiha had taken such damage, approving of the vast improvement that the kid had made in these years. Many thought Naruto should just forget about the traitor, he knew his mind better -

Kurama froze upon entering the village outskirts.

He whirled about, glaring as he released a smothering amount of bloodlust & killing intent.

What was that?

Carefully, he scanned, seeing nothing in the distance. There was definitely a presence here. The thought made him grim. Naruto was in no state for combat, nor him.

Retreating was the only option. No point in fighting when you can't.

Upon reaching the house keeping the Uchiha, he retracted his senses minutes later.