Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto

Co-Author and Beta: etheral-23

Chapter 50: The Lost

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Deep under the bowls of the industrialized Amegakure village laid a vast network of underground caverns. All stitched together resembling a deadly labyrinth which could spell the doom for any unknowing traveler. This place was restricted for all save the core members of the Akatsuki. And within the larger of areas sat a menacing giant mummified earthen-colored demonic statue with nine closed eyes, each the size of a man. Large spike-like protrusions on its back, its wrists bound in chains.

This monstrous looking thing exuded a foreboding aura, just looking would cause someone to feel this thing should not be. That it was wrong, it was unnatural.

And it was key component of Akatsuki's true plans...

It sat in a meditative position as two figures stood at its feet. Tobi paced with his arm crossed and eye closed in thought. Close by Zetsu observed; "I don't like this," the masked man remarked.

"Bai Shen strokes the ego of leader, he is not to be trusted," the plant man reproached in a severe tone.

"What do we know of him?"

"Only that he is an ancient and powerful demon from a bygone era of this world. He seeks only destruction and death, but little else is known." Tobi swore Zetsu sounded more annoyed of that fact.

This devil was clever enough to keep his movements hidden from even their constant surveillance over the nations. A daunting feat both praiseworthy and extremely troubling. "And this Cult of Jashin?"

Zetsu shook his head; "Hidan only ranted and raved in his madness but never fully explained. And we know little. Only that other madmen like him pillaged and ravaged with wanton abandon."

"Damn it."

"What I do know from events that can be pinned on Bai Shen, is that he seeks to spread chaos and discord. Either because of his fanatical devotion to his god, or because he takes joy out of pain and suffering, we cannot say" The white half explained.

"So we have little to go on regarding what his intentions are with Akatsuki" Tobi pointed out, coming to a stop. "Our goals will spread untold chaos and destruction through the nations, could it be why he sought us out?"

"We have to consider the possibility that he's kept an eye on us for some time" Black Zetsu brought up, "I'd even say he arranged for Hidan to come under our organization's notice, so he might keep him inform"

The notion was utterly insulting to the masked man. "I refuse to believe that bloodthirsty brute was a spy"

"Regardless" White Zetsu intervened, "He's here now, and we should get rid of him, as swiftly and efficiently as possible"

"He is already filling Pain's head with nonsense" Telling him he was the incarnation of their god, some foretold herald that would usher in a new age. Pain's delusions of godhood made it easy for him to believe it, and even though he was still smart enough to keep that demon from getting too close until he needed it so, he had yet to refuses Bai Shen's request to join them.

He would fill Pain's head with sweet lies; most likely manipulate him away from their goals.

"If we get rid of him now, that'll raise suspicion from Pain"

"We will worry about that, after" Tobi could swear Black Zetsu actually sounded nervous. "He is a threat, you need to listen to me and remove him immediately!"

"Awww... and here I wanted us all to be friends"

A voice echoed in the chamber, sending the occupants on alert.

White Zetsu's eye widened, "Bai Shen..."

A fissure appeared in the very fabric of space close to them, looking like it manifested from the swing of a bladed weapon and cut into the air itself, spreading a red pulsing wound. It opened, and from it came out the demon in question. His half-mangled visage smirking at them as he stepped forth.

Instantly, Tobi and Zetsu took a stance, for they feared a fight was imminent.

"I assure you, my friend, our goals align more than you think" His smile was savage, the gesture of a predator.

"I know how you work, Bai Shen" Black Zetsu growled, "What could possibly make you think you can deceive us?"

The demon's gaze shifted to the humanoid plant, "I wasn't talking to you"

The masked man cocked a hidden brow.

"You seek a better world than what you've endured. Something many have done when learning the harshness of reality."

"Tobi..." Black Zetsu muttered.

"Your gaze shows much to me, lad," Bai Shen slowly advanced; "You bear the eye of true pain, loss, and grief. The world took something precious from you. Something that meant more than even your own life. Or rather," he leaned in; "someone."

Tobi's eye narrowed dangerously; "You know nothing of me." His voice gained a dangerous edge.

The demon agreed with a nod; "True, I know not who you really are. But I do know a lost soul when I see one. As well as the rage of vengeance that I can feel radiating from your heart like a star in the heavens." He exhaled in blissfully; "You are no fool, you do not seek petty wealth that consumes the greedy and weak minded. You. Want. POWER. Tangible and real; the kind of power to reshape the very fabric of destiny itself and the world. Breaking the shackles that caused you your pain. And have your revenge."

"Obito!" White Zetsu roared in a near panic, trying to get him to listen..

"Hmm, so your name is Obito eh?" The man leaned closer, and yet Tobi let him, listening to his words for some reason he could not understand. "But that is not your name anymore isn't it? It belonged to someone else, someone who is dead now..."

The masked man remained silent.

"This world killed him. This world killed all you cared for" He muttered, the tone of his voice dripping with venom. "And you want it; you want aaaall that was taken from you... I can help you get it back" He seethed the last word through clenched teeth. His mangled face turned to the humanoid plant, "While he… has made sure you will never get it"

Zetsu bit back a curse.

"Always moving at his suggestions, always playing his game. A game you were dragged into and made a pawn of. Moved by invisible strings as the puppeteer tells you are in control"

The visible Sharingan observed every small detail of that disfigured visage, searching for the slightest tremor, the smallest twitch, the simplest falsehood.

He found none.

"Think about it! Were all of your moves of your own making? Was any decision you ever took formed without him whispering in your ear?"

"Don't listen to him" Black Zetsu warned, leaning closer as well. "I've seen his work across the centuries. Lying and deceiving, luring people with false promises. Playing everyone for fools, lead to their own demise without even knowing" His voice stopped short just of pleading, "This is what he is here to do!"

Tobi kept his silence; his form was still as a statue. As two different demons whispered in each of his ears.

Then, his silence was broken by one single word; "Centuries"

"Hmm?" The Zetsus blinked in confusion.

"You just said... centuries"

Pure amusement danced on Bai Shen's disfigured face as he saw dread slowly etched on Zetsu's visage. "You told me you were created at least several decades ago," the demon noticed Tobi's voice had changed from a deep tone to a young softer one. Dropping the final portion of his guise; "That's what you told me when I was recovering under Madara's care."

"Obit-"

"Obito Uchiha is dead," Tobi declared as his real voice rose in volume. "He died with Rin that day"

Zetsu stepped backwards while the masked Uchiha came forward. "It was always awfully convenient, lead to the right place at the right time. Particularly that day" He seethed. "You helped me get out, just in time for me to see her die"

"Secrets tucked away all so he could manipulate you towards their real goal," Bai Shen quipped leaning against the demonic statue.

"Shut up!" Black Zetsu snapped.

"You said centuries," Tobi repeated with mounting anger in his tone. "Why would you have said centuries? That was no mistake, no slip off the tongue. You are far older than you pretend to be, Zetsu. Knowing things in such detail, of events and places you could have had no way of knowing"

White Zetsu spoke in desperation; "He playing us against one another Tobi. I'm your ally... We're in this together, to fulfill Madara's plan!"

"Are we?" The masked man chocked out; "Is it truly Madara's plan, or were you lying to him as well?"

Black Zetsu hissed.

"What are you hiding for me?!"

"Say" Bai Shen shrugged from his post, idly inspecting the edge of his scythe. "Why don't you use your freaky eye to read his mind?"

The Zetsus finally succumbed to panic. "Wait, no-!"

But it was too late, the Sharingan spun rapidly, piercing through their own eyes and delving into the depths of their minds, keeping them in place with a genjutsu so they would not run away.

And there... Tobi learnt everything.

Plans stretching back from countless centuries. Endless plots, deceptions, moving players around, inciting conflict, feeding the flames of hate and division. Tobi saw all Black Zetsu did and more. The pieces all began falling into place; the Uchiha, the Senju, the Sage of Six Paths, Madara, and a mad woman veiled in white. Whose power could shatter the very earth itself.

...Rin

Obito Uchiha broke a second time.

Faster than what was humanly possible, the masked man grabbed the humanoid plant by the shoulder, and in a swirl of space being bent, took them away to somewhere else.

The Zetsu's no longer found themselves in the cave that housed the Gedo Statue, but in a realm composed from an innumerable amount of randomly arranged and differently sized rectangular prisms amongst a dark and seemingly endless void, where there was absolutely no source of light, and yet still it was not completely shrouded in blackness.

They fell against the cold floor of one of the great prisms, it was not made of earth, there was no ground, and nowhere they could sink to and escape.

And Tobi's enraged figure tower above them, his Sharingan blazing with a hatred that would shake even the gods, stared down at him. Zetsu remembered that eye vividly, that killer intent that inspired such dread, and the slaughter that followed... the same eye Obito had when he witnessed his whole world die.

"You..." No demon in hell, no spirit in the earth, could match the rage Obito held in that moment. "YOU KILLED HER!"

Zetsu died in a blaze of black fire, the sound of the roaring flames dwarfing the cry for his Mother. All those long and arduous centuries of plotting, of waiting for the right pieces to appear... and he had failed his task, he had failed his one true purpose.

Black and White Zetsu burned in hellish fire, their ambitions reduced to ash along with them.

Tobi remained there for a moment, staring down at the patch of scorched floor where Zetsu used to be, and at the black blames that would not be put out for seven more days.

Then, he instinctively warped back to the cave, where a bemused Bai Shen was waiting for him.

He stood there, unmoving for what had to be a small eternity, as the sorrow and rage slowly built up inside him once more after having unleashed it all in that hateful strike to cut down the one who had manipulated him all along.

Obito ripped his mask of his face and screamed; a haunting sound that echoed throughout the entirety of the cave at a disturbing volume. He screamed until his throat hurt, and then kept screaming more.

The demon priest saw a human man in his late twenties with a rather average face, but with the left side was badly scarred and left eye closed. He watched the boy roar as his legs lost their strength and he fell to his knees. Hunch forward he slammed his fist into the ground over and over till drawing blood. Pain and grief surged throughout his being, tears gathered in his lone remaining eye.

He neither paid attention nor cared that Bai Shen came around to stand in front of him. The demon soon sat down before him; "Let it out son. Let it out..." He spoke with genuine compassion and empathy. "You saved not only yourself but the entire world by destroying that creature. And now, the abomination known as Kaguya Ōtsutsuki will never return." He leaned forward and patted the Uchiha's shoulder; "Be proud."

But Tobi felt no such feeling. No accomplishment or gratification, only a fervent and desensitizing anguish within his heart. "All I only ever wanted… was to see Rin again." His voice horse and full of grief.

"Ahh," Bai Shen acknowledged with warmth; "Love is a powerful emotion. And something I can respect wholeheartedly. It can grant people to do miraculous feats thought impossible. And bring ruin more earth shattering than any wound felt. Is that what was promised to you?"

"To be with Rin- and live in a world far from this hell..."

Bai Shen nodded; "A good dream. But that's all it was, a detachment of reality, an illusion. And the Rin you would have been with would have been just a mere reflection of the woman you love." He interlocked his fingers on his lap; "What if I were to offer you the real Rin?"

"With what?" Tobi remarked in monotone. "Pain's power?"

At that he chuckled; "My son we are already reviving brother Hidan as we speak. Soon he will be reborn within a form worthy of his utter devotion to our lord."

Obito's dead gaze stared at him.

"We can bring her back, my son" He promised with utter sincerity. "All you need to do is... help us usher a new age"

His lips barely parted as he replied, "You... You just want me as your pawn too"

"Oh not my pawn, child. Our lord's" He said it as though it was the most wondrous thing in the world. "We're all pawns of our master's great design, but we will be well rewarded pawns"

Tobi avoided his gaze.

"I know you've been used, my boy, but I swear to you upon my soul we shall be upfront about everything, all shall be laid bare before you, should you choose to join us"

"Why do you even need me?" He bitterly asked.

"Because unfortunately, we are not ready to make our glorious return... just yet. We need all the allies we can muster. And you possess a set of skills that will be very useful to us" He patted his shoulder, "Not to mention, you know how to better manipulate that false godling"

Obito's gaze shifted to the demon once more, "Pain... what part does he play in your plans?"

"A fool" He said with gleeful disdain. "But a very useful, and highly dangerous, fool. It's in both our interests to make sure he does not grow out of control"

Obito looked away shaking his head as leaned back as sat upright staring his lone eye at the priest; "Is your god even real?"

"Our lord is very real. As so are the other gods," Bai Shen acknowledged; "But our goddess... is feared by the very gods themselves," His smile held both joy and madness. "And her reckoning will be felt throughout the pillars of heaven, the dregs of hell, and the lonely Earth." He extended his open hand to the Uchiha; "Bringing a real tangible future for us all. Where you and Rin can have real peace, away from this hell."

The Uchiha stared at the hand for the longest of moments. Memories of the past washing over his mind as he recalls a happier time. Rin's smiling face, her laughter that lit the whole world just by being heard.

This world ceased to be real, it ceased to be worth it, without Rin in it.

Madara promised him a dream, Zetsu lied to them both. There was no peaceful rest, no sweet fantasy come to pass, just the ambitions of a would-be god.

"…What would your god do?"

Bai Shen grinned predatorily. "She will remake this world completely"

That sounded better than a dream.

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"Look into my eyes… and find the truth"

So he did… and witnessed things so terrible, wrapped in a horrid vision of devotion and wonder that would break lesser men.

But Obito was already broken, he had nothing left.

Nothing but a promise, not of a dream, but of a new reality.

Tobi slowly lifted his hand and grasped the demon's.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Naruto groaned as he laid on the couch at home dressed in a simple shirt and pants; "How the hell can I still ache after four days of rest?"

"You fought against one the deadliest groups in the Elemental Nations," Saito addressed sitting on a chair beside the couch reading a scroll; "Not even you are going to be in fit shape for a while."

On another chair Samenosuke sipped some fresh brewed tea made by Karin who was in the kitchen. "You can take a break once in a while kiddo."

Kushina leaned back on the couch beside her son, arms crossed and a look of annoyed frustration on her face. "I'm still waiting for everyone to talk about how awesome I am for taking down freaking GORO. They could at least update my Bingo book entry..." She muttered. "This is why I became a ninja!"

"For fame?" Karin deadpanned from the kitchen.

"You mean the big guy who trashed your ass and nearly killed you?" Lyn drawled, sitting on another chair as she rested her feet on the coffee table. "Doesn't sound too glorious a tale Kushi"

"Well of course it wasn't a one-sided fight, but I took down of the biggest monsters in the Elemental Nations. That warrants talking!"

"It's just been four days, mom" Naruto said, once more disturbed he was sounding far more patient and mature than the actual adult. "Also, it was you and Kakashi-sensei"

"Well when I'm telling it, it was just me. Riding a dragon. Wait no! I TURNED into a dragon..." She slowly grinned, "Yeah"

"...This is the woman who adopted me," Karin quipped with a hint of despair in her tone as she returned to the main room with a tray of food and more tea.

"Hey I'm the cool mom 'ttebane!"

Both Naruto and Karin felt their eye twitch in-sync; 'More like the crazy mom.'

Snatching a rice ball from the tray Samenosuke took a bite; "Well at least a lot of folks can rest easy now with the Leash in ruins." He grew somewhat solemn; "they ruined enough lives in the nations."

All could agree to that as Karin sat on the floor beside her adoptive brother on the couch, handing him a rice ball. "The Godaime is also being quick to hunt down all the folks linked to them with all the Intel we found."

"You can call her grandma here you know," Naruto droned before munching on his food.

"I will not" Karin refused out of the mere fact that this woman was the Hokage and therefore had to be addressed properly. Something that flew over the head of most in her family. "Anyway, finding their associates would also lead to slaves sold, hopefully it can lead to families being reunited"

"Gods willing" Saito said hopefully.

"I can't imagine what those have gone through" Soujiro softly said, momentarily spooking Naruto, as he didn't even realize the shaggy haired boy was in the same room as them. Though his expression as calm as ever, there was a touch of softness, compassion and pity for the people who had suffered under Blood Leash. "Ripped from your home like that, sold like an object" It was the closest he had ever heard Soujiro speak with anger and indignation.

"Well, I know what the first one's like..." Lyn muttered, glaring at her cup.

All the adult Uzumaki present knew exactly what she felt.

"Maybe... Maybe we should organize a trip to Uzushio one of these days" Kushina softly said, and she immediately got their attention. "I used to do it often, back in the day. To pay my respects. I think it'd do the kids good to see the land of their ancestors"

Samenosuke expression grew crestfallen; "That place is a ruin now, hime."

"It's still home," Kushina reproached; "And the kids deserve to see it."

The other adults gazes grew lost in their own memory; "None of us have even thought of venturing home since we escaped it as children," Saito spoke gently.

"I saw the shoreline maybe a year or two ago," Lyn murmured staring into her cup; "couldn't muster the strength to actually go there... It just hurt too much."

Once more Soujiro spoke up with wisdom belying his age; "Returning to Uzushiogakure might prove to be cathartical for you all."

"I love you kiddo but you seriously need to get out more," the buxom redhead drawled.

"My son's not wrong though Lyn," the Uzu swordsman omitted; "we have not set foot home in decades. Nor has any of the younger generation of Uzumaki that secretly thrive around the nations."

"'Thrive'" Samenosuke said the word with disdain, "I wouldn't call what we had to go through 'thriving'" Hiding constantly, going from one place to another, doing whatever they could to make sure they wouldn't go hungry.

"Some got it better than we did" Saito pointed out, "Benjiro-san in the Tea Country as we recently learnt. Years ago we ran into Takuma and his family as traveling smiths. Lyn met Eiji through the fox clan"

The long haired man tightened his grip on his knees in frustration. "And we had to go our separate ways because we thought it was 'safer'"

Relatives Naruto had only heard about, but he already knew he wanted to desperately meet them.

"And how many others can we say for certain did have a good life after we lost our home?" The roguish Uzumaki defied. "We were only lucky enough to remain alive; I don't want to think about how many of our kin weren't so fortunate..."

Saito paused for the longest moment; "Then maybe it is time we start finding them." He drew everyone's surprised gazes with his words; "We've hid ourselves long enough. I am tired to being afraid, Kushina" Saito spoke, and though his tone was soft, it was filled with frustration and passion. "Afraid of facing our past, of fearing anything will jump out of the shadows to finish the job. That the notion of us being a family again will spell our demise"

The family fell silent for a moment.

Saito's gaze softened, "I want the clan together again. We all do"

"I'm sure as hell am all in for getting our clan back together. But how the hell would we even be able to find everyone?" Lyn waved her arms idly. "The Uzu spread themselves out everywhere."

"There must be a few hundred of our clan, still out there" Kushina said, sounding hopeful.

"We... do have some great trackers affiliated with us" Karin said as a thought came to her. "The foxes and wolves, their noses are legendary"

"It's a possibility we pondered before" Saito said with a wave of his hand. "But to carry such an endeavor would require diverting a lot of their resources and assets, which they may not be able to spare considering they have enemies on the prowl. Not to mention such a massive activity can draw the wrong attention"

"Then we get the dragons on board" Naruto pointed out, as though it was obvious. "They can help a lot too!"

It couldn't be he was the only one who had thought about it.

But the awkward looks aunt Lyn and uncle Saito were sharing already let him know there was more to it than he thought.

"Yeah, about that" The wild maned Uzu woman scratched her cheek, "The wolves and foxes are not exactly on... speaking terms with the dragons"

"Wait, what?" Both he and Karin looked surprised at the fact. "But we heard they fought together during the Sound-Sand Invasion!"

"They put aside their differences because there were Kurokiba present, everyone puts their grievances aside to kill those bastards" Lyn grunted, "But the moment they were done, Yuri and Genjou left without so much as a goodbye to uncle Genryu"

Karin cocked a brow at the two; "Why?" At that even Kushina cringed turning away; "What happen between them?"

"It's… complicated" Saito said, as he would have had to gone into details of what Tsukiko-baachan had been doing. And it wasn't easy to talk about uncle Genryu's mistakes, particularly when his source had been the wolves, who had a reason to be biased. "Suffice to say arranging a meeting would cause... conflict."

"Would a mediator for whom all three clans respect be of assistance?" Soujiro addressed with reason.

"Well we know a few" Naruto spook up "Sasuke have the tiger contracts. Ty Lee is always going on about how awesome their boss is"

"Normally the Tigers are solitary by nature. I never even heard of them allying with any animal clans," Saito explained.

Kushina shivered; "And I've met Boss Rajah with Mi-chan. Unless it's something serious, you DON'T summon Boss Rajah."

"Ty Lee's brothers then? They seem cool." Least when Naruto met them when Sasuke summoned them from time to time.

"They'd have to be of actual renown for them to be considered a good mediator" Kushina pointed out, "No; I think the best choice would be the Toads..."

"The toads are allies with the dragons though" Samenosuke argued. "Some conflict of interest there"

"But amongst the clans, they are known as the most law abiding, they keep their oaths. Not to mention Gamamaru-sama is widely respected, he has mediated between many clans in the past"

As the ideas were being thrown, every was getting into the spirit more and more, optimism surging as their goal became more plausible the more they talked about it.

Of course, that didn't mean everything would go smoothly.

"We still need to convince the chiefs to agree to a meeting in the first place" Saito said, holding his chin. "Uncle Genryu might listen if it comes from us. And I'm sure Great-Grandmother Meihui will agree with our intent"

"I might need to smooth things over with Yuri" Lyn shrugged, "And um..." She gave Naruto and uncomfortable look. "Can you promise your furry companion won't be 'present'? It'd actually be better for all parties involved if he isn't, particularly with the fox clan present"

However before the blond could utter a word, Kurama appeared on Naruto's stomach dryly glaring at Lyn who tensed up; "Summoning me out like this does not make me disappear from blondie you idiot." Kurama grumped before continuing; "Unless you ban Naruto from going I'm there regardless. So this will be awkward for everybody." In a blinked he vanished as everyone stared wide eyed.

"Anyone else noticed he's getting more causal with that... And us," Karin quipped idly unnerved.

A low growl came from Kushina's throat.

Naruto scratched his head; "But he's right though. His consciousness isn't gone while being 'Chibi Kyuubi'." He ignored the killer intent coming off his Bijuu over the nickname; "He'll still be there."

"Oh this will be a fuuuuun meeting," Samenosuke sassed leaning back on his chair. "Best 'NOT' to summon Yasaka for everyone's sake."

"She'll want to come given the importance of this," Lyn bemoaned with her hands on her face. "Fuck it, I'll deal with it later."

"Genjou will perhaps attend if I ask him" The master swordsman said. If only to say 'No' at uncle's face in person, but those were details for later.

Kushina nodded to herself, leaning back on her seat. "Okay, we'll see about asking them today. Kids, I'll want you to attend the meeting. You're holders of the contract, and prominent heirs of the clan, this will help as experience for you"

"Can I bring Sakura?" Her son asked.

"We'll bring both her and Sasuke, better you all get your head start in politics now"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Pure wonderment glowed in the eyes of the kids of Team seven behold enormous mountains all around them. Flora as big if not even bigger than a human blanketed the entire area. Nostalgia glows in Kakashi's eye along with Kushina; "Can't remember when I was here last," the silver haired Jounin murmured.

"Think it was when Minato was name Hokage," Kushina giggled as old memories came to her; "He got tipsy with just two shots."

Tsunade stood close by her grandson; "Longer for me." She could not help but smile down to Naruto; "so what do you think of Mount Myōboku?"

"This place is awesome!"

The land of the Toads, neutral ground deeply respected by many among the animals clans. The very air felt calming and welcoming, blowing a gentle breeze around them. A low purr came from both Abhay and Ajeet; "We've heard tale of this place. But never thought we'd see it," Ajeet gazed in awe beside their summoner.

"OH! Can we stay here!?" Ty Lee exclaimed brightly while being held in Karin's arms.

Jiraiya chuckled; "Think you'd guys would scare the tadpoles." He paid no mind as Fukasaku and Shima jumped on his shoulders; "For those who haven't met them yet, these are the elders of the Toads."

"Imagine our surprise hearing you all wanted to arrange a meeting like this," Shima quipped; "Least you gave us a day or two to set things up."

Gamakichi rested on Naruto's head with Hien flying around them; "You guys are going to love this place!"

Ty Lee's brothers gave the Toad elders a respectful nod; "We give thanks you allowed us to come. Lord Rajah is interested in whatever will come from this meeting," Abhay addressed.

"You can stand at witnesses, but only that" Fukasaku said, not as a warning, but more stating a fact. These proceedings involved the dragon, fox and wolf clans and their associates. "But with some fortune, you can return to your clan with good news"

"Lord Rajah always said the eastern clan always made things difficult" Ty Lee pointed out, in a surprising moment of insight. "Things soured before any talks about an alliance with them could be considered"

Once more Naruto and Karin were hearing about the dragon clan being responsible for the bad relations between them and other clans, and it did not sit well with them. Particularly for Naruto.

"Everyone's talking about it, but I still have no idea what happened"

His query made the others exchange a few looks. Shima sighed, "Let's head to the Meeting Grounds, we can discuss more on the way"

As they were guided through a large path surrounded by a thick veil of bamboo trees, Jiraiya started. "The animal clans have a very similar dynamic to us humans. There are enemies, there are allies, there are grudges, and there are oaths"

"The dragon clan for the longest time lead a large group of various clans to preserve the peace, and hunt down any threat that might pop up to us and the world" The elder male toad continued, "Such as wild or ancient demons"

"The clans employ humans to act as our eyes and hands in the world, to go to places where we can't reach" Shima added, "In times of conflict, humans may call on us for aid, and the same is expected of them in turn. Sages in turn are our greatest allies, those who help us in ensuring the balance of the world"

"Not all clans dedicate themselves fully to the same cause though; they're people as well" Kushina pointed out, "With their goals and interests to preserve. The affairs of each clan are left up to them. There was a time in which the foxes and the wolves were part of our alliance, Tsukiko-baachan was a great upholder for peace and a voice of reason everyone respected" Her gaze soon became downcast. "And then she disappeared..."

Fukasaku sighed, "So someone had to step in and take the reins. Genryu, as chief, did so. But the loss of his sister had been too recent, and as the challenges piled up, his responsibility grew too heavy. He lashed out, demanded obedience instead of honoring oaths, and expected the other clans to do as he said"

Naruto's lips parted slightly as he took in those words. From the times he met Genryu, he seemed stern, sometimes he had a temper yes, but at the same time he's very kind. To think of him that way... he had trouble wrapping his head around it.

"Things reached a tipping point when Genryu took a personal interest in what kind of people the other clans contracted, called them unworthy. Said some of them were little more than mercenaries and thieves" Jiraiya grimly said. "And demanded their contracts terminated"

Abhay huffed, "That is a great insult to any clan. He acted as though he was their leader"

"One such groups of humans that brought that argument to light was an ally of the foxes, the Manji clan"

That made Sakura and Karin gasp in surprise, "Tha Manji clan?! They're meant to be the best archers in all of the nations!" The pinkette said.

"And the best thieves..." Karin added.

Fukasaku grunted with a nod; "You both are correct. As many who hold themselves to a high standard, there is just as many who are less inclined to virtue in the Manji. And many only see the second, thus their tarnished reputation. But the clans hold different ideals of what is virtue. To the foxes, it is the guile and cunning in the Manji they approved of, never mind their less licit activities"

"I don't know the details outside of what maw-maw told me," Kushina lamented with a mournful shrug; "All I was told was that uncle confronted Yuri and Genjou. And things had gotten more than a little violent." The redhead weakly murmured as both Toad Elders dryly glanced back to her; "Okay really violent."

A huff came from Shima; "That's being polite about it, dear. Suffice to say relations between the Dragons, Foxes, and Wolves was all but severed. And the same happened between others clans. Everyone just grew tired of Genryu's authoritarian attitude."

"But you guys are alright with the dragons, right?" Naruto questioned with some sliver of hope.

"We too were irritated with your uncle's antics, but we've always tried to remain neutral as best we could. We too have common goals after" Fukasaku explained. "And the Dragons had been silent with the other animals clans ever since. While we understand Genryu's pain of losing his sister, we don't condone his actions."

Ajeet faintly growled; "Even Lord Rajah was disgusted by it."

The group fell into a silence as they continued the path with Jiraiya at the lead. Naruto mentally processed everything he had just heard; 'You have opinion on this?'

Kurama scoffed lazily; "Genryu was an arrogant fool in thinking he could tell YURI of all people what to do and whom to associate with. That woman has and will do whatever she wants."

'You met uncle before?'

"Goes without saying brat. And despite us never getting along, I respect his views on dealing with evil."

That was the first time the blond Uzumaki ever heard Kurama having some respect for anyone. Though he was brought out of musing as he and his group came to an enormous clearing within the forest area where mountains could be seen on the horizon. Naruto saw Chief Toad 'Bunta beside what had to be the oldest toad he ever saw. Rivaling his fellow kin's height with brown skin, a white belly, and wrinkles everywhere, he wore a professor's hat with tassels and an orb on top of it. His face bore a kindly grin as he squinted in their direction; "Welcome to Mount Myōboku. And it does the heart good seeing you once again Kushina."

The redhead gave a bow with a wide smile; "I feel the same Gamamaru-Sama... YOU?!" She quickly dropped all formalities seeing the familiar white haired figure that came to her house weeks ago.

Tomoe gave a chuckle, standing at Gamabunta's and Gamamaru's feet; "We meet again." She squeaked as a golden chain wrapped around her and quickly dragged her over and in front of the redheaded Uzu woman who glared. "Well you must have a few questions"

"I have more than a FEW questions for you 'ttebane!"

Far from threatened, the ageless woman only laughed sheepishly. "It always surprises me how shishou's lineage could give birth to such rowdy individuals"

"Kushina, let her go" Jiraiya said, like he was dealing with a misbehaving child. "She's a sage too, and is here to take part of the proceedings"

That made the Uzumaki woman do a double take, "You are?"

"I'm a friend to the toads and dragons" Tomoe said with a gentle smiled, still uncaring that she was wrapped in adamantine chains. As these came loose, she merely patted and stretched her clothes. "I too would like for them to link lost hands" She folded her hands into her white and blue sleeves. "And from what I understand, you have another purpose in mind for this meeting"

"We want the dragons and the other clans to get along again" Naruto spoke up, "That way they can all help in finding the Uzumakis!"

Her red eyes looked at him, and Naruto took more notice on how... inhuman they looked. It wasn't just the way her pupils were shaped into slits like an animal, but there was something about them that made him feel the woman wasn't fully human. She looked at him with nostalgia. "I would dearly wish for that to happen, I am very fond of your clan. And it's what shishou would have wanted"

Something about her made him a little uneasy and intimidated by her; "As you should be kit. She is a hanyō," Naruto's brow rose at Kurama's sudden words; "I can smell the Oni blood in her veins."

Tomoe spun around on her heels to gaze at the ancient toad; "We have everyone."

"Then let's start this thing already," Gamabunta grumped lighting his pipe. "My Sake's getting cold" In a blink Fukasaku leapt off Jiraiya slamming his hand on the ground as he landed with an eruption of smoke blasting outwards.

Raising from the smoke was Genjou with Saito, Samenosuke, and Soujiro on his back. Beside the Wolf chief was a white and black wolf of equal size. "Gamamaru-Sama," the three wolves gave a bow to the ancient toad.

The wizened toad chuckled; "Haven't seen you three in a long while. Genjou, Tobe, Cheza."

A feminine giggle came from the white wolf; "It has been far too long. You've gain more wrinkles."

"Cheza," the black wolf abolished.

Cheza huffed; "Oh calm down Tobe. You always were too uptight. And we're among friends here. At least with the Toads."

The second great cloud of smoke burst into existence, bringing with it the fox clan's envoys. The great black fox Yuri was at the head, with Lyn standing on her head, where she waved happily at her family. She nudged her foot at Kya, who as an up and coming sage was brought along to oversee these proceedings, the Namikaze was perfectly still, with a serene expression of tranquility, almost like in meditation. After further prodding by her lover, she opened her eyes to give her a dirty look before formally greeting the others with a bow of her head.

Well, at least she was learning to be more social, Naruto thought.

At the side of the fox chief were two other foxes of immense size. One held a soft pinkish tone for its fur, while the other had a grassy golden fur that almost seemed to glow. What drew the eye more were the number of tails these foxes had, far more than Yuri's singular tail.

Kitsune, the young genin realized with a bit mouths open. Foxes that blurred the line between mortals and spirits, not quite the zenko, the heavenly foxes, in service to the great god Inari, but earthly beings that could either are helpful guides, or fiendish tricksters.

The golden furred kitsune turned a very heated, very powerful gaze upon Naruto, almost like it could look through him. In fact, that was exactly what he thought the kitsune was doing. Feeling Kurama inside of him swell with anger, and then... just deflate, retreating to the corners of his mind where he could barely feel him.

The kitsune huffed, and proceeded to ignore him like he wasn't even there.

The act was not unnoticed by the others, but most was wise enough to keep quiet.

"Kyaaaa... that was a scary look" A young voice came from the foxes' entourage, and it was then that the others noticed a young woman wearing a very revealing navy blue kimono walking towards them. Standing on platform sandals, her clothing was lined with black fabric and golden embroidery, a large black obi tied around her waist, the fabric long enough that it fell to the sides. Her sleeves weren't connected to anything, just strapped to the middle of her arms, leaving her arms bare, and showing a prominent bosom. Her large golden-colored eyes glinted with interest, as a foxy grins tugged at her lips.

The most eye-catching trait however, was the pink-shaded flair of Uzumaki red hair that fell with two long bangs framing her face; and in two long tails arranged from the large blue ribbon behind her head. Crowing her head were two large, fox ears, along with a long bushy tail coming from her back.

Lyn leapt off Yuri with Kya and grinned widely as she skipped over to them, introducing the young lady. "Family, meet another cousin. This is Tamamo! Her father Eiji is from the clan! Turns out he ended up with the foxes after the fall of Uzu"

"Father could not make it here today, his duties have him occupied" With all the posture and refinement one would expect from a high class noble, she bowed perfectly. "Tamamo Uzumaki, it is a great joy to meet my kin"

Then all that was over in a second, as she moved with blurring speed to pick up not just Naruto and Karin, but also somehow Soujiro, never mind the fact the latter was over the wolf chief not a moment ago.

"Kyaaaaah! You are all such cuties!" The fox woman cheered as she glomped them all in a tight embrace.

Sakura dryly stared alongside Sasuke; "Not sure if they can breathe." The rosette feeling ting of jealousy at the older teen's endowed breasts. 'Do all Uzumaki women have big boobs?' Then she paused for a moment thinking of Karin. 'Still too young, doesn't count,' she sourly assumed.

Said glasses wearing Uzumaki was having empathic overload being overwhelmed by the sheer love and warmth bursting from their newly introduced cousin. And much like Yuma she radiated a joy for all life.

The pink furred kitsune chuckled then spoke in a lyrical voice; "My precious Tamamo loves to give hugs." Finally the three youngest Uzumaki felt like they could breathe again as their older cousin let them go. "Pleasure to meet you all. I am Haruki." She turned her gaze to Gamamaru; "Hello old friend."

"Haruki;" the old toad gave a nod before looking to the golden kitsune; "Yasaka, welcome."

"Gamamaru-sama," Yasaka spoke in a regal maternal tone. Her gaze not looking an inch towards the humans. More specifically, Naruto, who slumped forward with Gamakichi leaping off his head.

"Maybe I shouldn't be here," he muttered.

"Nonsense child," Haruki reproached kindly; "Understand that we have no grievances with you of any kind. Only for that good for nothing fool that is sealed inside of you."

Yasaka gave the blond the briefest of glances before looking away.

'Well this had gotten awkward already,' Kakashi mentally mused.

And it was only going to get worse from here…

Tsunade grunted before turning to her daughter; "Bring them out."

Letting out an explosive sigh Kushina bit her thumb going into the familiar hand seals. Slamming her hand down the seals of summoning appeared with an explosion of smoke. The wolves and foxes tensed as Genryu appeared beside his daughter Kamiko and; "WHERE ARE MY BABIES?!" The entire mountainside shook as ears winced from the booming feminine voice that rang out from the next dragon that TOWERED over everyone present. With scales the purest white and golden slit eyes that gazed all around herself.

Samenosuke chuckled rubbing his ears; "So Maw-Maw came in dragon form."

Now, Naruto thought he was used to giant creatures before. From the giant summons of the toads like chief Gamabunta, not to mention the wolves, foxes, and yes of course, the dragons. He had even fought a giant enemy before in the form of the Shukaku. So at this point in his young life he was pretty sure he saw a lot.

That was until he personally met Meihui, his great-great-grandmother.

If he were to compare her size with something, he'd compare her to a good chunk of the whole length of the four Hokage heads in the mountain (Tsunade-baachan's head was a work in progress). If Gamabunta, Genryu, and other giant summons of their class were the size of one of those heads carved in the cliff, than Meihui a head and a half in terms of overall size, with a body length that could touch the other three heads.

So yeah, Meihui was big... ridiculously big.

Well what else did he expect of an ancient dragon?

Said ancient dragon lowered her massive head capable of fitting a whole house in her maw, and cooed with absolutely joy with love in her eyes, as she gazed at the newest generation of Uzumaki adoringly. "Ohhhh look at you all, I could you just eat you up~"

And then she did.

She scooped them all four with a giant serpent's tongue, enveloped them in its fleshy grasp, and brought them to the depths of her maw.

Sakura panicked, Sasuke stared wide eyed at the sight of their teammate and his relatives being devoured by the great dragon.

"Maw-Maw let them go!" Kushina stomped on her foot.

"I just need to bathe them for a little while!" Her voice didn't even sound muffled, the four people in her mouth were barely an inconvenient to do so as she kept them underneath her tongue. "I did this with you all the time. Whenever your parents or grandparents were busy, I would keep you in my mouth all day to keep you safe"

"We're in Mount Myōboku! What possible dangers are there?!" Kushina yelled back waving her arms around.

"Uh Meihui," Haruki spoke delicately though slightly panicked with her daughter in the ancient and extremely eccentric she-dragon's maw; "could you please let my daughter and the other kits down now?"

A loud immature whine came from Meihui that made everyone wince; "but I haven't had any babies to play with in ages!"

Sweat-drops and deadpans came from everyone present save Gamamaru who only guffawed spiritedly; "You haven't changed a bit my old dear friend!"

The ancient dragon turned her head and smiled showing a row sharp long fangs; "Gamamaru-kun! You're almost as old as I am now!"

"You're the most ancient thing here, by FAR" Yuri quipped dryly shaking her head.

Clearing his throat as loudly as possible Fukasaku, garnered Meihui's attention; "The tadpoles won't hear anything if they in your maw. You can play with them during the break."

"Oh fine," the white scaled dragon groaned, moving her tongue she brought out the four young Uzumaki who were soaked from head to toe in saliva. "But I expect to speak with my babies quickly as possible."

Three out of the four made a disgusted groaned while Soujiro blinked; "That was an experience."

"My fur…" Tamamo whined and squinted much like Naruto beside her.

"Everyone in our family is crazy aren't they?" Karin bemoaned with a cringe.

Jiraiya thumbed over to Meihui; "For reference, she is the whole damn reason the Uzumaki even exist. So the craziness started with her."

"She is?" Sasuke had to frown at that.

Meihui laughed with pride, "You stare at the one who started it all for the people of the whirlpool, little Uchiha" Her scaly lips formed into a smile. "Many, many ages ago when I met an outstanding human sage, with the reddest of hairs" She recalled with great nostalgia. "So smitten I was, that I became his wife, and bore his children. The first Uzumaki"

Naruto and Karin, who were in the process of cleaning themselves from all the dragon saliva, stared up in awe. "Wow"

"So that means... you're the mother of the clan" Karin muttered breathlessly.

The youths were seeing her in a brand new light, this great dragon held not just a close bond to their side of the family, but she also held an enormous significance to every single person to bear the name Uzumaki.

The Clan Mother...

Tamamo's reaction however was different, more subdued. She was every honored to meet her, but it did not look like she was surprised.

"Um... I-I have to ask though" Sakura timidly brought up, her sense of tact telling her to not go for it, but her curiosity was stronger. "How was it even possible to... well, you know?"

At that, Meihui threw her head back a barked out a laugh that made the air shake. She then coiled around her, her entire serpentine form shining, until it became long bands of light that circled upon each other. Her massive being shrinking ever smaller until she it became a blob of light the size of a regular human.

The light took a more shapely form before dimming and leaving another person in its wake. Her looks were ageless, in the sense one couldn't pinpoint a proper age to her no matter how much they looked at her face. Clad in robes made from the finest silks that fit her inhumanly gorgeous figure and breasts to rival Tsunade. Soft porcelain skin, long bangs of pearly white hair falling over her shoulders; her eyes still the same gold with slit pupils. Draconic horns sprouted back from her head.

"It's easier when you can shapeshift" The woman said, Meihui's voice coming from her lips.

"...Oh" Not that the rosette thought about it, she did hear about some animals possessing the ability to shapeshift. True shapeshifting, take another form down to their very being.

To Karin, even though it was all very fascinating. Couldn't help but wonder some things.

Meihui was the clan mother? Amazing. She was also Tsukiko's mother? Okay, could be explained by her falling for another of the Uzumaki descendants over the many generations but… something still didn't seem to fit for her. She didn't have a clear idea as to what, it was her instinct bothering.

After leaping off of Genjou Saito was at his son's side removing the saliva that drenched him. He no sooner found himself glomped into a powerful hug by Meihui. "Oh I missed you all!" she detached herself from the man before going into a succession of hugging the adult Uzumaki. She had stopped to Kushina who found herself buried in the clan mother's endowed bosom; "Never frighten me like that ever again! Do you hear me Kushi!"

"Sorry maw-maw," the redhead woman muttered in a muffled drone.

Tobe's tail tapped impatiently; "Can we get on with this meeting and get it over with already?"

"Still a sourpuss with a poll jammed up your ass little cub?" The black wolf snarled from Meihui's quip as she turned to gaze at him. "I haven't seen my dear children in ages so shut your maw."

Chuckling Samenosuke knelt down beside Naruto and Karin; "Now you see where our dear hime gets it from"

...That actually explained a lot now, having met the ancient dragon and Uzu Clan mother.

"Tobe," Yasaka reproached; "Let her be."

"I believe" The oldest toad's soft spoken words were enough to bring all the bickering to a halt, and draw everyone's attention. "That it's best we get started" That was all it took for everyone to take their place, for Gamamaru carried great authority and respect, there was no doubt why he was chosen to lead this meeting as an intermediary.

Tsunade motioned for the kids to stand back a bit with her, the tigers, and Kakashi, Tamamo cheerfully waved at them with a fang grin and skipped over to the foxes' side, while Saito returned to the wolves' and Kushina took her place with the dragons.

Naruto was being overtaken by the sheer enormity of it all, as it was truly dawning on him this was politics from ancient clans he was experiencing firsthand, possibly the most important one he had witnessed himself.

"I call this meeting to order" The great toad sage spoke, Tomoe, Jiraiya, and the other elders stoop in front of him as the mediators. "Proceeding; Gamamaru, elder. Fukasaku, elder. Shima, elder. Jiraiya, sage of the toads. Tomoe Gozen, sage, Lotus Master"

The last title was unknown to many of the younger generation.

"We have gathered here this day" The eldest toad continued with a wave of his hand, "That we may seek to reforge the broken bonds of old allies, and once more welcome them into the fold of this sacred brotherhood. As said by the Grandmaster Zhang Guolao; the White Lotus shall stand for unity and harmony. By the ancestors' souls, and in the name of gods, may this meeting carry that same spirit. So let it be"

"So let it be" The words were echoed by the great players in attendance at once.

"Now..." Gamamaru smiled, "Who would like to start?"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

So how about that folks? Zetsu is destroyed, and thus no possible Kaguya Resurrection. That should further cement this as a no longer following Canon don't you? Welcome to the world of the unknown, let's have some fun.