Chapter 16

There were trees, thick forests surrounding them. The ground was covered with blood and parts of bodies. Kunai, chains, shuriken and all sort of weapons were scattered around them. The air was filled with the scent of blood and burning wood. There were crows, biting on human flesh. The fangs of cats were red with human blood. The dogs looked thirsty and murderous as they tore through the abdomen of a female Kunoichi.

The teams of ninjas who were inspecting the scene could still feel the killing intent of the one who massacred their ninjas. The tension was high in the air, everyone was feeling frustrated, because the enemy hasn't left a single trace of their presence behind. They couldn't do anything other than sealing their bodies part in scroll to take back to Konoha.

The speed of wind picked up as trees and then branches moved back and forth as they moved forward. The sky was clear, filled with stars. The sky was beautiful and peaceful but the earth was not. It was a sign, showing and realizing that the man had turned the earth into nothing but wars. They had become monsters, hungry for more land and power, sacrificing their own blood.

"What should we do now Kakashi-senpai?" Kakashi sighed tiredly and remained silently. He waited for others who were gathered around him to say their opinions.

"We can't go ahead now; we don't have enough manpower to take down the enemy of this size." Sure it was true. The team that was massacred was at Anbu level. Taking them down with just numbers won't be possible.

"That's just a guess. The Yondaime can take down armies." That's true as well. Maybe a single man has killed all of them? They live in an unpredictable world after all. What should he do now, as a leader of this group, it's his duty to succeed in a mission, and it's his duty to make sure his men stay alive.

"What are you trying to say? Sure the Yondaime can take down armies, its because he is that powerful."

"That's what I'm trying to say dumbass. I'm saying what you fear the most. There could be an enemy powerful enough to take the whole Anbu team down. And we don't know if we would be able to defeat the enemy or not." Shisui stated. His sharingan glowing in the dark, his hands twitching towards his sword.

"Then what do you suggest Shisui? You were in the Anbu and you're now a Midnight soldier." Shisui stared Kakashi in the eye. An unbelievable look appeared in his eyes. He knew what Kakashi was asking him.

Kakashi was an Anbu captain. He has far more experience then him, he had fought in the third ninja war, he was the student of Yondaime Hokage. How could a skilled and experienced ninja like him could ask him such a thing. His eyes widened as he realized the situation they were in.

Making a decision, he quickly bent on one knee and summoned a black crow.

Konoha

It was not an unusual sight. Seeing Uzumaki Naruto doing his daily workout early in the morning in one of the Konoha's training grounds. There was nothing else for him to do. It's been a month since he arrived in Konoha. A plenty of time for him to gather his thoughts about his life and search answers about his mysterious eyes. The second stage of the sharingan that he wanted to know about, the stage that the sage had told him about but didn't tell him how to activate it.

The Mangekyou sharingan, the second stage of the sharingan. It grants three techniques to the wielder. He knew he'd used one of the technique in one of his battles. It was like a faint memory.

Sparring with Jiraiya made him realize that how strong a ninja could be, no matter how much techniques you have you will be defeated if you don't have enough experience. Jiraiya had taught him many things, improved his techniques and showed him his weaknesses.

"You always remain on alert, on tip of your toes. Like you're waiting to be attacked. You always think too much during battle. Before using any jutsu or doing any other move you started to think of its outcome. That what would happen if the opponent dodged your jutsu or eliminate it.

That's not only it. During our little missions outside of the village I've seen that you don't engage in fights in which you're not sure that you will win. You think of running away from it." Jiraiya leaned closer with a serious look on his face.

"One day this hesitation would be the cause of the deaths of your comrades." Jiraiya didn't see any sort of emotion on Naruto's face, like he had predicted. He was trained to be an assassin from the early age. The caution, that thinking from every angle. Every assassin should possess this habit to be a great assassin. But Naruto will not be an assassin for his whole life. Beast doesn't hide in the shadows.

"Uzumaki Naruto!" He turned around to see one of the Hokage's Anbu standing there.

"I'm coming in half an hour." Naruto didn't need them to say what they wanted from him.

"But it's an urgent…" He vanished from there sight before the Anbu could finish.

Hokage's office

Sasuke and Sakura were already present in the Hokage's office when Naruto entered. His eyes stayed at them for a little longer because of their change outfits. Sakura was wearing a half sleeve red shirt with high collars. Black loose shorts with long black boots. Red fingerless gloves with a long black Anbu cloak which was open from the front.

Sasuke was wearing a grey high collar t-shirt open from the front with black pants. There was a rope like purple belt around his waist with black ninja sandals. He was also wearing black cloak like Sakura's. A sword with black sheath which was strapped on his waist.

"Am I to presume that you have a very important mission for us Hokage-sama?" He stayed behind Sasuke and Sakura on their right side. He was wearing a dark blue shirt with Uzumaki crest in front of the chest. A loose black pants with black boots. The sleeves of the shirt were folded upward revealing storage seal marks. There was black scarf tied loosely around his.

"Yes, I've a very urgent mission for the three of you. It's a rescue mission. The details are in this scroll; I want you to be there by nightfall. You're dismissed." The Hokage gave the scroll to Sasuke. They turned around glanced at Naruto and left.

"A rescue mission?" The red head tilted his head to the side, as the door behind him clicked shut. Minato looked at the only person standing in his office.

"You might be thinking that why I've given you a rescue mission. Worry not, you're not going with them." Naruto waited patiently, didn't give any response. Rescue missions wasn't his category. He was trained for other stuff.

"I sent a squad two weeks ago around the border of Amegakure to investigate the claims which were made by the border patrol team. I didn't get any response and to investigate, I sent Kakashi, Shisui, Itachi and few others to find out what's going on." The Hokage threw a scroll at Naruto who caught it with a questioning look. He opened and found a message written in blood.

"Who sent it?"

"Shisui." As the Hokage predicted he observed as Naruto tensed. His body filled with tension.

"And you think those three would be enough to take care of whatever it is out there." He was being impatient.

"I know my men better than you do Naruto. They won't get down easily, they just need some raw power to take care of the threat."

"And you're sending Nawaki out there! Are you out of your mind, he can't use kyuubi's power, the seal is too tight." Naruto argued, his voice grew louder. Minato smiled inwardly, seeing him getting angry for his little brother. it warmed his heart, at least he would protect his brother.

"I've already taken care of it." Naruto face went blank.

"You must stay calm. I know you love him and he is your brother but you need to trust his strength, have faith in him. He is your only weakness Naruto. You've enemies out there who can explore that." His father looked concerned. He didn't speak.

"Now you might be thinking that I'm hiding something from you."

"Isn't this enough already? You are still hiding things from me. For how long you want to keep me in the dark?" There was no emotion in his voice. He wanted answers that's all, he wanted to fill in the blanks.

"I'm not hiding anything from you, time will reveal everything." The Hokage looked sadly at his son. Then at the portrait of the first Hokage.

"When times comes I want you to open the portrait of the first Hokage." Naruto glanced at the portrait with confusion. "For now just forget about it, if you try to open it it will not."

"Hokage-sama! Its time." The Anbu disappeared and the Hokage stood up from his seat.

"Lets go."

"Where?"

"In a meeting."

With Kakashi's team

"You remember those days when we used to make kunai from wood?"

"Yeah? Those were arrows not kunai, idiot. I think all that tension is messing up your brain. I told you didn't I, you don't have what it takes to be a ninja."

"Oh yeah? Well guess what, why don't we have a spar right now right here to see who's a better ninja."

Kakashi sighed as he saw those two friends bickering.

"Who are these two." Shisui asked as he sat besides Kakashi and handed him a bottle of water.

"They joined Anbu when I became a caption. They have good hearts. Their third friend died protecting them in the third war." Kakashi and Shisui both knew that he can't just reveal their true identities.

"Oh!"

"How much water do we have left?"

"Two or three bottles maybe. We are stuck here Kakashi. We can't go back, if we do they will be able to track us which means they will be able to find out our entrenchment as well. We can't let that happen, our defense should remain hidden.

And if we move forward we will die in vain. We don't have food, no weapons, we have injured soldiers."

"All we can do is wait for the reinforcements to come." Kakashi agreed with him. They were hidden in an abandoned house. Hidden in woods. They were surrounded, they know it. They have been fighting for three days now. And the enemy knew it, the enemy don't know their location. They were just waiting for the rat to come out of it's hole to catch it.

"We have got company!" Itachi stated as everyone tensed and took battle stances.

"We are surrounded." He exclaimed. They were collecting the remains of their fallen soldiers when they felt that foul chakra.

"Everyone be on guard, hide your presence. Don't engage in unnecessary fights." Kakashi revealed his sharingan, readied himself for fight when the wave of massive killing intent

washed over them.

"A Biju? What the hell? What is it doing here.?"

"Now we know who is responsible for this massacre." The second thing they knew was a Biju bomb coming right at them. They were able to avoid it but some were not.

"Its Six tail."

"What the hell is it doing here?"

"We need to worry about something else, like how to stop it. Itachi, Shisui does your sharingan can do something about it." Kakashi said as they ran towards the opposite direction.

"Kakashi-senpai, owl and rat are dead." That's hardly mattered to him in this situation. He looked at Shisui and Itachi. It seems they have to worry about a tailed beast as well.

"We can entrap it in our genjutsu for few seconds. It depends on our chakra reserves." Itachi replied.

"In the meanwhile we must find a place to hide." He quickly summoned his dogs as they jumped in different directions to find a place. They looked behind as they saw it coming at them. It was closing on them fast.

"Kirigakure no jutsu (Ninja Art: Hidden Mist jutsu)" Kakashi quickly cast the jutsu before the beast could catch on them. It was five minutes later when they got a response from one of Kakashi's dogs. They followed its path which lead them to an abandoned home. It was covered with bushes and moss.

They covered their tracks as Itachi waited for the right moment to cast the genjutsu with his Mangekyou sharingan. The beast stopped in its tracks. It looked confused.

"Quickly, we don't have enough time. I can hold it only for few seconds." As soon as Itachi released his genjutsu, the beast glared at him and attacked only to be met with black crows. The mist around them dispelled and there was no sign of them being there.

The Iwa shinobi that were surrounding them appeared after the beast left.

"They got away!" The only thing that was there was the mist that was dispelling.

Konoha

"Are you sure that you want me in there?" Naruto asked his father as he stopped in front of the council and war chambers. No one allowed to go inside without purpose. It was highly guarded place. There were seals engraved in the walls for protection.

Minato looked back at Naruto and said.

"You're needed in there. Believe it or not but one day your presence will be common in there. Don't try to run from your faith." A lot was said from his mouth. Naruto stared at his father, didn't expect him to say this to him. With a suspicious glance he resumed walking.

The chambers were dimly lit. There was a long table made of wood with chairs on both side. The clan heads, elders and civilian council members were present. There was a man with bulky appearance, with a scar on his left temple. He was wearing black cloak that revealed nothing.

Naruto could sense many Anbu agents hidden in the shadows. There invincible eyes stared, piercing his back. There was killing intent in the atmosphere. Maybe it was a normal occurrence because no one was bothered by it.

Seeing Naruto's discomfort, the bulky man smiled, and Naruto noticed it right away.

"Ah, Hokage-sama? I don't think the boy is needed here." An elderly woman from the civilian's side said. Naruto knew she only see him as a monster who destroyed this village thirteen years ago.

"His presence is needed here more than yours, civilian council member." Minato said without even looking at her as he took seat at the head of the table.

"So you're the one who they are talking about." The man with bulky appearance said. His full attention was on him. Minato didn't say anything. The whole hall was silent, everyone's eyes was on him, as if they were expecting something to happen. And it happened.

Because of the killing intent Naruto was on edge. His senses were on alert; his chakra was on his finger tips when it happened. The bulky man threw kunais at him. The speed and accuracy was astonishing. Naruto hadn't seen him move his hands for weapons. Naruto was about to counter the kunais when he saw his image blurring. Quickly realizing the situation, he substituted himself with the chair on which the man was sitting on.

The man appeared where he was standing before with his fist drawn that was aimed for Naruto but it connected with the chair, shattering it into pieces.

"Quite a sneaky move." The man said.

"I don't like those who attack like a snake." The man shrugged his shoulders as the Hokage asked them to sit down. No body said a thing and everyone turned their attention to the Hokage, maybe it was test for him.

"Before I proceed with our ninja matters, I'd like to hear what the civilians are here for." The elderly woman leaned in her chair and looked at the Hokage.

"Hokage-sama, many families have lost their loved ones in this war. Many have lost their sons, and they don't have any source of income. Most of them are elderly, I was thinking about giving them allowance or some sort of pensions for life time, so that they can live their lives out of poverty." The Hokage took the file from her and looked through it.

"There are lots of families listed here and the village won't be able to spend so much on them. Most of our income is being spent on war." Naruto had his full attention on the situation, it was the first time he was seeing his father handling the civilian's matters. But there was something that was missing from the matter that was going on. When a shinobi dies, an allowance would be given to his or her civilian parents or family members. It was an old rule that was formed by the second Hokage.

Naruto looked around the table, seeing no one was interested in the civilian's matters as they were chatting or discussing their clan's matters. The elder council members were nodding their heads with the civilian old hag.

"I think there is no need for that." Naruto said, drawing everyone's attention to himself.

"What do you mean by that boy? Families have been ruined, their children, husbands, wives, parents have been killed in this stupid war. And worst of all you are telling them to live in poverty because there is no need for the village to give them some amount of money so that they can fill their bellies." Naruto didn't acknowledge her presence neither her voice.

"You were saying something Naruto?" The Hokage said when the woman stopped to catch breath.

"If you look into the History of our village, the second Hokage did something for the families of the victims. The allowance would be given to each and every member of the family until they are old enough to earn themselves.

That law is still under effect and that means they are being fed. If they needed money or some kind of help they could have come to Hokage's office, they didn't. The Hokage also walks in the streets of this village, they could have complained about their situation but they didn't." The Hokage looked at the file again, frowning, doubt and suspicion enveloping his thoughts. He raised his head and looked at the old woman again.

"It seems that there is no need for more budget. You can go now." The Hokage's voice left no room for arguments as she hurriedly stood up and left. Fuming all the way with heated looks aimed towards Naruto.

"Now that this matter is aside, there is something I'd like to inform." The Hokage leaned in his chair. Naruto could tell he was thinking how to put his thoughts into right words.

"As you already know there was a village, Uzushiogakure. The village expertise were in the art sealing. The people of Uzumaki clan known as Uzumaki were targeted due to their longevity and mastery of the sealing art. Then Kumo, Iwa and Kiri combined their forces and destroyed the village. But not everyone was killed." The Hokage paused, maybe giving the chance to ask questions of make comments? But everyone remained silent, waiting for the Hokage to proceed.

"The Kage of Uzushiogakure, his wife and his children were killed but the grandchild of the Kage the village managed to escape. Someone was able to escape the village with that child. That someone took care of the child as he grew up until he married and have a child of his own." The door of the chamber opened and a girl around Naruto's age stepped inside. She was wearing a black half sleeve shirt with the red Uzumaki insignia on the front of the shirt. Black tight trousers that were reaching her ankles. A red full sleeve jacket with zip half closed. Black ninja sandals. Black fingerless gloves. Her long red hair reaching her shoulder blades were tied in a tail. Two bangs were framing her face. Pale skin just like Naruto's mother. Her eyes were the darkest blues with long eyelashes. A cute round face without any baby fat. She was five feet tall and held herself as an experienced and trained ninja.

Naruto's eyes remained on her. He'd never seen a girl that beautiful before. She looked around without moving her head. She walked as a predator stalking its prey. She sat in front of Naruto besides the man who had attacked Naruto.

"Hello everyone, my name is Kana Uzumaki. My great grandfather was the last Kage of the Uzushiogakure." She spoke and her eyes scanned every person sitting around the table until it landed on Naruto at the end of her introduction. They stared at each other. Eyes locked, it was like a battle and the one to look away would be the loser. The man sitting on her left introduced himself as a Reo Uzumaki ninja of the Uzumaki clan and vowed to protect the great grandchild of their last Kage.

"They are here not as guests but as villagers that I've vowed to protect. They will live in the Uzumaki compounds. Any questions?" None. Why would they have? They were happy that two ninjas from a powerful clan have joined their village. Even if their villages were cousins. Even the elders of the village didn't ask the duo any questions.

The Hokage felt relieved that nobody had any problem with them joining the village and becoming the members of the Uzumaki clan.

"We have received a message from Kumo. They are ready to end this war but not without a Kage summit on a neutral ground." The Hokage went ahead on the next agenda. Everyone expected the Hokage to send the Uzumaki out of the chambers before clarifying more but he didn't.

"Why they want to hold the Kage summit. Based on their conditions, the only neutral ground is the Land of Iron." The head of the Nara clan said.

"Maybe they want to apologize." The head of the Akimichi clan said.

"That's highly unlikely." Hyuuga Hiashi snorted.

"They are speaking the truth because they have recalled their forces from the border. Iwa already knows this but they haven't pulled back yet. They don't have enough manpower for the war. Their resources are getting low and their armies are tired. The Tsuchikage knows this and sees Kumo's move as a betrayal but he can't do anything about it because of the reasons that I mentioned. They know that if they turned against each other then Konoha will erase them." The Hokage's analytical mind was amazing as he had seen through the enemies moves quite clearly.

"If what you said is true then I presume that you have agreed to go on a meeting." Fugaku Uchiha said. He unconsciously glanced at the Uzumaki girl which didn't went unnoticed by Naruto. The Hokage nodded his head.

"Yes but I haven't sent a reply."

"It sounds all fishy to me." Naruto said with a frown. The Uzumaki girl sitting in front of him perked up and looked at him. Naruto knew she was looking at him but he didn't pay any attention to it. Seeing Hokage's gaze on him Naruto spoke again. He saw his father smiling slightly at him and he frowned.

"They started the war and did anything in their power to defeat us. They tried to kidnap the Hyuuga Heiress for bloodlines. And when they did they came into his village for peace talks. But we know that it was just a cover to steal the Hyuuga heiress and in return we lost the twin brother of Hyuuga Hiashi.

And now, they are doing it again, the method is quite similar but I think their intentions are not pure. They have something planned, something that will break our backbone."

"I agree with Naruto here. It's very strange and we can't trust them again. We have already seen what they truly are." Fugaku said.

"You're being too paranoid Uzumaki. But I don't blame you living a life of an assassin and spy do make you paranoid. I'm with you Hokage-sama. The Land of Iron is a neutral ground one wrong move and the samurai will act against the culprit. Besides you will have guards will you, they can't do anything there." Tsume Inuzuka said. Naruto was listening to the Inuzuka head but his eyes were on the Uzumaki girl who was staring at him when Tsume called him 'assassin and spy'. She was acting strange, and showing too much interest in him.

The next day

The sunny day was perfect to see the scenery of the beautiful village that was Konoha and Uzumaki Naruto was sitting on the first Hokage's head looking at his village. His red hair flowing in the wind. He was wearing navy blue long sleeve shirt that was in a kimono style. The black pants and black sandals. His ninja band was nowhere to be seen.

"Sasuke!" Naruto said as he sensed the presence of the boy who let himself come out of the shadows and stood behind Naruto. "Mission went well?"

"Yes. The six tails attacked us," Naruto raised his brow in surprise.

"Are you planning on leaving the village." The boy asked the strangest question to him.

"Itachi talked to you recently?" Naruto asked his own question rather than answering.

"No."

"I'm not. I've lot to lose.'' Naruto said as the face of that strange girl flashed in his mind.

"The war is over Sasuke but I think it's just a pause before the real storm hits the gates of this village. Be prepared for that." He stood up and turned to his former teammate.

"How is Sakura? You should spend more time with her." Having said that he started to walk.

"Where are you going?" Sasuke said after turning around to see Naruto's back.

"A meeting with the Hokage. Maybe a mission. I gave you time Sasuke but it seems you're not ready to tell me yet.'' The boy didn't get the time to respond as Naruto vanished. Naruto knew what Sasuke was up to. That boy desired power as much as him but didn't have the mind and resources to acquire it. He'd even clap hands with the enemy to have more power. For what? Just to defeat him, Itachi and Shisui. It was his desire to come on top.

Naruto appeared in the Hokage's office.

"Ah, you're here. So, ready for another mission." The Hokage smiled at him mysteriously as if he knows something that he doesn't. And it was not surprising for him.

"There was one thing that I left in the Yesterday's meeting. But before I mention that I want to ask you something. How is she?" Naruto looked confused.

"Oh come on. Your eyes never left her the whole meeting." Naruto sighed. The Hokage was labelling him as a stalker.

"I just looked at her two or three times, that's it. Besides I was curious who she really is." Minato's smiled widened.

"It seems my son has a crush on someone." Naruto felt two familiar hands wrapping him from behind. The voice was familiar too. He looked at the Hokage who was waiting to see his reaction.

"Mother." Naruto tried to get away from her hug when she spoke.

"Don't!" Kushina's arms tightened around him. Her voice trembling and her face buried between his shoulder blades. "You do know that how much I miss you. How much I miss you to even see you. You don't come home and your father sees you everyday." Naruto turned around and looked at his mother who was on the verge of crying.

"Please come home. Spend some time with me." The boy looked into those violet eyes, like his own.

'You should spend more time with Sakura, Sasuke.' He remembered the words that he said to Sasuke not too long ago. He wanted to say no but for once he wanted to go with her. She has been trying to bring him home for so long.

"Okay." He turned to his father. Not bothering to see his mother's happy smile as she squeezed his arm.

"You wanted to say something."

"Yes. But first go home. Come back in the afternoon for your mission. Spend some time with your mother." Minato knew that Naruto wanted to do just that but he was being stubborn.

Kushina walked Naruto to their house. An uncontrollable smile was on her face as she entered the house. Tsunade was sitting on the kitchen table drinking tea and raised an eyebrow in surprise. She smiled at Naruto who was looking grumpy and annoyed.

"That's the first sign of maturity Naruto-chan. Welcome Home." The blonde Sennin hugged her grandson.

"You're going to stay here until I allow you to go. I'll make breakfast for you." Kushina ruffled his hair and placed a kiss on his forehead. While Tsunade had her right hand placed on his shoulders. Naruto stood there not knowing what he should do. It was strange to him. The environment and all of the good attention that was being given to him.

"I've a mission in the afternoon and I need to prepare for it." That's all he could say.

"It can wait!" His mother replied instantly.

"Where is Nawaki?" He asked Tsunade. He was trying to make a conversation instead of sitting silently.

"He went on a mission. Just came back early in the morning. Sleeping now. I thought you know that they have come back?"

"Oh! Yeah! Now I remember!" His eyes never left his mother. He looked and looked as she roamed around the kitchen to make a breakfast for him. He came to Hokage's monument after having a breakfast. But he wasn't able to say no to his mother who was preparing breakfast for him with a smile on her face and singing a happy tune.

"Naruto! Milk or tea?" Naruto looked up to his mother. She was looking at him, with a bottle of milk in her hands.

"Ah, Tea mother." She smiled at him again. His heart flustered and he looked away suddenly, gritting his teeth for looking so miserable. Tsunade, although was reading a book and drinking tea but her attention was on Naruto.

The breakfast arrived and Kushina sat on Naruto's left. ''Here you go. Eat up!" And Naruto just did that. He just wanted to finish the breakfast as soon as he could.

Kumo

"The Hokage has agreed. The Kage summit will be held just as it was planned." The messenger informed Ae. The muscular Hokage nodded his head, not bothering to look up from the letter that was from the Hokage as the messenger left.

It was necessary. He was surprised that the Hokage has agreed to a meeting so soon after the war. Not a week ago his one platoon was murdered and slaughter by an unknown shinobi. First he thought that it was Konoha who had done that until the only survivor of that platoon arrived to him.

According to his descriptions, there were two men, wearing black cloak with red clouds who slaughtered the whole platoon. The Raikage knew they were not the only one capable of doing this. An organization of S-rank criminals capable of devastating consequences. And the Raikage will never forget the day when that masked man appeared in his office. He was wearing the same cloak. What were their goals? What they want? Where they live? No one knew. They were ghosts and the Raikage realized the threat they were to the shinobi Nations. He knew it was time to put away the differences and do something about that mysterious organization. He had informed the Tushekage but he didn't get any response from the old goat. He knew the old goat alone cannot win in this war. Konoha has men, strong enough to handle armies alone.

And then there's a new name rising among the shinobi world.

The Red Assassin.

The son of the Minato Namikaze. Before that no one knew if he had another son besides Nawaki Senju. Raikage sighed tiredly, it was the only option left, to unite against the organization. And it's the only way to get some information on that organization that were trying to capture the Jinchuurikis. Not trying to kill them but capture them alive. What was their purpose to kidnap them?

The only thing that he was now worried about was how the Hokage would react at the summit. The first plan was to step away from the battlefield and gather their forces. Developing new weapons and attacking Konoha with all their might as Iwa helping them in the way.

The Raikage had nothing to give if Konoha demanded something from them because they were the ones who started the war. The chance of success in the meeting would be little or none at all. The Hokage would do anything to for his people and to let go those who brought harm to his people without any punishment would be unacceptable for him.

And they haven't forgotten how they tried to kidnap the Hyuuga heiress and the brother of the Hyuuga clan head died.

Iwa

The Tsuchikage growled in irritation for being forced into this situation. On one hand logically the Raikage was true. He knew about that organization that attacked the Raikage's platoon and knew the risks they possess. Iwa also has jinchuurikis, they will be attacked. But it was unacceptable to think Iwa has to pull troops from the borders if they need Konoha in this plan. Why they need Konoha? Can't they get rid of this organization alone?

It was his people's desire to see Konoha burn, to see their people suffering. But in war both parties loose men, resources and relations.

"You are not looking at this situation from different angle. I think it's a very good opportunity to defeat Konoha once for all." Akatsuchi said in his cheerful tone to his leader. The old man looked at his assistant and raised his thick white eyebrow.

"Oh? Care to elaborate? How we can defeat Konoha by going to this summit as a defeated village?"

"Listen old man, the Hokage has agreed to come. And the Hokage will be there with two or three bodyguards. During the Kage summit we will attack him and take him down. And besides your prodigal seal master has succeeded in creating a seal that will stop his signature jutsu and without that the Hokage will be vulnerable." The old goat went into thinking pose, trying to gauge the plan from different angles.

"And what about Suna and Kumo and Kiri? If we have luck on our side, we will have Raikage on board but what about the other two? They surely will side with Konoha." Akatsuchi's grin widened.

"And that's where our jinchuuriki will come in handy. We will take both of our jinchuuriki with us but won't reveal them. At the right time and on your signal we will have Jinchuuriki crashing the party. The other villages won't reveal their Jinchuuriki. Kiri doesn't have their Jinchuurikis, Suna's Jinchuuriki is a child and Konoha's jinchuuriki is Hokage's child. The Hokage will never bring his son to the summit." The old man has to admit that it was a very good plan but…

"But what about the Samurai? They will be against us as well."

"And that's where the Akatsuki will come. We already are in business with them. They just need money and we can easily provide them. They will take care of the other threats."

"Prepare the arrangements. Send an apology letter to Konoha and pull the troops back from the borders. I'm going to Kumo. I want to discuss this with Raikage." The bulky Assistant nodded and left the office.

Konoha

"Mother I think I should go now. It's getting late and I need to prepare for tomorrow's mission." Naruto stood up as he said. His mother frowning but nodded her head. Before Naruto could say anything she hugged him again. Naruto sighed, thinking again for the hundredth time what he should do. He was hoping for Nawaki to wake up so that he can talk to him but the kid didn't.

"You know that you can come here whenever you want, don't you?" She looked at him, not releasing him from her embrace. He knew his mother was waiting for him to do something. He wrapped his arms around her gave her a lose hug. He heard her giggle as she stepped back ruffled his hair. He was head taller than her, she tiptoed and he knew what she will be going to do and he wanted to step back to avoid it but he wasn't able to. An unfamiliar force gripped him and made him frozen in his place as she kissed his forehead. He unconsciously closed his eyes. While his eyes were closed he heard her.

"I love and always will son." He didn't bother to open his eyes and look at her face. He vanished.

The last thing that Kushina heard from Naruto before he left broke her heart.

"I don't believe you." Her smile left her face, eyes filled with tears.

"Don't give up Kushina. You've made progress, eventually he will come around. He loves you but doesn't want to admit it. Didn't you see his reaction to your touches and hugs? He is stubborn. Just don't lose hope." Tsunade smiled at her daughter in law.

"Yeah, I think you're right." She wiped her eyes and gave a little smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"The mission is an S-rank, considering you will be facing Orochimaru. It is a very urgent message and I don't believe that our man will be alive when you get there. You won't be alone in this mission…"

"Who is accompanying me?" The Hokage looked at Naruto with grin.

"Kana Uzumaki."

"Oh come on." His father laughed at his reaction. Naruto looked like a small child, grumping.

"Why are you being so annoying recently? I DON'T want to go on a mission with her. I don't know her and you're sending us on a mission to collect some info about Orochimaru, an S-rank criminal, a former Konoha shinobi, a sannin and a former Akatsuki agent."

"I'm not asking you to highlight Orochimaru's accomplishments." The Hokage turned serious.

"I know you like her Naruto, don't deny that and it's a very good chance for you to know her better. Uzumaki Clan is at the brink of extension and I don't want that." Naruto narrowed his eyes at his father.

"Just tell me, what are you suggesting? Can you promise me that she won't get in my way? That she is powerful enough to take care of herself…" Naruto stopped in rant when someone cleared throat behind him. And it was the second time in a day when someone sneaked upon him. First his mother and now…

"I can assure you Uzumaki that I'm strong enough to take care of myself." He turned around to look at the girl standing with an amused smile on her face.

"I'm Kana Uzumaki by the way. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand. The Hokage was sitting silently with an amused look on his face.

Naruto shook her hand. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it with a little smile on her face. Her dark blue eyes innocently looking at him.

"I can promise you I won't be in your way in this mission. You see I've been trained from a very young age and I'm doing missions as I grew up. I hope I'll give you some support and help if you needed." Naruto could feel his hand getting cold and turning white. But he didn't show any pain or discomfort.

"Well nice knowing that and it really caught me by surprise." The girl looked slightly surprised by his reaction and words. She released his hand and they both turned towards the Hokage.

"Well I don't have anything to say. If you have any questions you can ask." The girl shook her head while Naruto spoke. His voice turning emotionless and his expressions turning stoic.

"Am I allowed to kill him." She glanced at him. Feeling cold all of a sudden and a chill running down her supine by listening to his voice.

"If you can, then yes by all means." The red head turned to address the girl.

"I'll meet you tomorrow at 5 in front of the gate." Naruto pulled out a scroll from his storage seal and handed it to the Hokage.

"I know you won't be here when I'll come back. But I want you to have it with you when you will go. Open it now if you want to but take it with you." The Hokage took the scroll.

"What is this?"

"It's a way for me to crash on a party." Having said that he vanished from the office.

…./