Episode Four
Land of Sky
Naruto leading to the family through the streets of Helio, the port they landed in after their near two week journey, heading towards the inn and send along a message to his contact. The others had been quiet and avoided talking with the household leader, who's clearly troubled by the events that had transpired.
Shirin was the only one who knew how to break him from his funk, either his mothers or aunties. Sighing to himself, now knowing he had to act as mediator, "So, papa… where are we going now?" Naruto abruptly stopped, turning back to the group and the older members and Shirin noticed him zoning back in, "Ah, Shirin…? Didn't I already tell you?" upon receiving a negative shake.
Naruto smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck, "Ah, right. My bad. Well, we are going to meet my contact. First we are going to find an Inn, then the two ladies will keep watch whilst I go confront them."
"Can't we go with you?" Ayao asks, somewhat meekly. "No, this is adult stuff that cant be done by children." Naruto explained sheepishly, "…though, I might take Shirin with me. Nah… in a few years maybe. Your too young… yeah…" speaking to himself at the end. His eyes loose focus for a moment before, nodding to himself, and regaining focus. "So, we'll go market and enjoy the rest of the day before I check on my own mission nearby."
That night in the back of the shadiest bar, in the darkest part of the town, Naruto sat with a cold beer, of the local speciality, unknowingly to the general population he was speaking with his new occupant. "So, Naruto, how long have you been working solo?"
"Does it matter, Ino? You may be sitting shotgun for now, but this doesn't change the fact that you are still on thin ice." Naruto's response was equally cold as it was clipped. Kurama's voice came next. "No need to be so hostile, Otto, I'll keep watch over our guest. Just focus on getting my grand kit home."
"Right. Not like I can do anything in here. Can't even look through your memories." Ino sighed and Naruto could easily picture the blonde's pout, and ignored it with practice ease. "Eighth blade." A new voice catching Naruto's attention, glancing up to see a woman who could be mistaken as the bar maiden or, in Ino's words, a hooker. "Ghella…" Naruto soft smile could be seen through the darkness.
The hazel haired woman with an hourglass figure, that his new passenger was certainly not jealous of, sat down with her equally brown eyes locked onto his blue and a level of professionalism settled in.
Ghella reported firmly. "Sir, my report is as follows; The Ebony Knights have retreated from the area to the north, having suffered casualties from a skirmish with suspected remnants of Sky Shinobi."
"That can't be good." Naruto murmurs, staring into his cup, Ghella continued her report. "We have been trying to infiltrate and find out what it but until then…"
"Go about it slowly and steadily. Don't rush it." Naruto instructed, looking directly into her alluring eyes. "I'll be able to strike in a few months probably."
"A few months?"
"Yeah…" he nodded, "…I have to, escort my group back home."
"You're going home?"
"Yes." He takes a deep swing from the beer before him, "Well, I shall inform mi'lady of your imminent arrival." Ghella states with a bow, her sizeable chest jiggled enticingly. "Thanks. Keep in touch." Naruto says as he stands, placing a healthy amount of ryo upon the desk. "We'll take the direct route. Watch our backs, ya?"
"It'll be a pleasure to be working with you." The woman smiled so sweetly, were it not for the gagging from the blonde within, he might have fallen for her charms that he had forgotten she had.
Hidden Leaf
Jiraiya appears within the Hokage's office, and before she could speak up he does so "I need a team, retrieval focused, I know where he's going and if we leave in the next hour, I can get us there before he does."
"ANBU!"
Ten minutes later…
"Thank you for the prompt arrival." Tsunade spoke up to the shinobi teams before her. Team Nine, Team Ten, save for Ino who's body is running on life support as her mind has yet to return, along with the remaining two members of the debunked Team Seven. "Jiraiya has located Naruto's destination and plans to ambush him before he gets there."
"Shouldn't we bring more shinobi?" Shikamaru glancing at those gathered. "Based on what we saw in Wave…?"
"We don't have the time nor means for anymore than this." Tsunade pauses before clicking her fingers. "Actually, I will send our premier swordsmen with you and will join you for this mission."
Kakashi offered a casual glance to the corner, noticing the stiffening in the shadow of said corner, Tsunade continuing, "Between them and Tenten, his swordsmanship should be a null factor. Kakashi should be able to neutralise his ninjutsu and counter with Genjutsu."
"The rest of us?" Neji questioned with a raised brow, not understanding his place in this propsed formation.
"After he is subdued, secure his party and escort them back here. No harm is to come to them." Tsunade orders earning nods, though she continued. "Oh, a word of warning though, the Uzumaki Solid chakra manipulation…" causing many to stiffen, recalling the diplay from the last encounter.
Tsunade maintained her briefing posture. "The woman if the clan are far more adapt at using it. It is incredibly rear for men of the clan to awaken it. As it chakra based, do not expect anything less than an A-rank Stonewall to block them…" raising her hand to forestall the Hyūga, turning to him. "…your revolving heaven will not block them. Many Hyūga have made the mistake of assuming to the contrary."
Neji nods once. "Understood, Lady Hokage."
Tsunade finished the briefing. "Meet Jiraiya at the east gate in ten minutes. He will be squadron leader of this mission. Dismissed," As soon as they all left she continued, "Cat. You are dismissed. Meet your former captain as a Jonin."
The shadow vanishes to partake in this retrieval mission. A deep sigh escaped the aged leaders lips as she pulls out the sake bottle from her bottom draw. "Even when you aren't here… damn gaki."
Land of Forest
Five days later...
Just within the border of Forest, from the Land of Birds, Naruto had created another safe house for the family. Perhaps safe house is a bit of a stretch, as it was starting to look more like a holiday home by the day. Naruto and Shirin's mood have both improved the closer to home they've gotten which has inadvertently improved the mood of the others.
Not wanting to burden the others with the continuous pressure of travelling, it was decided to make another base. At least that is what Naruto told everyone but in actuality, he had received word from his own contacts that one of his associates may have let slip where he was heading.
Said associate has been punished and demoted, but that also means that his network had gone into full lock down after confirming that yes; Jiraiya of the Toads has caught wind of their suspected destination. In a note he received a day ago, it was confirmed that he was spotted the Land of Vegetable with a group of leaf shinobi with him.
He thought perhaps he could cut through Marsh, but their ninja would no doubt be troublesome and cause a big stink about his intrusion. So what if he had basically destroyed half their village? They shouldn't have launched those raids against his home in Demon.
He shelved the idea for now.
After the initial construction of the home, he and Honoka put up the permanent cloaking seals and he input the nature chakra to shield the whole place from prying eyes. The only problem was that another sage was searching for him and would no doubt notice the slight increase in nature around the house. This limited his options.
He will have to fight and throw off their trail.
Turning from the window overlooking the forest out ahead of the hideout, Naruto confronts his family with a stern visage but a tired sigh slipped his lips. "Look, we have more enemies looking for us."
"Can't we just hide like last time?" Ayoa asks, looking so innocently it was barely resisted by the veteran shinobi swordsmen at the front. "No unfortunately." Naruto sighing again running his hand down his face, "Our enemy this time is a sage like me. He'll be able to pinpoint me, and this place, the closer he gets. So I will be confronting them away from here."
"…but dad?!"
"Nii-san!"
"Naruto…!"
"Silence!" the calls all fall flat as he sighs tiredly, hands eventually landing on his hips. Naruto began explaining. "Firstly, before you all cry out trying to 'help' let me remind you all of a few things." Naruto looks to his son, "Shirin. You and your friends are getting better, I will not deny, but none of you can handle Jonin level opponents. Chunin perhaps but not combat tested Jonin." That shut down all the kids, Naruto smiled softly at them. "Besides, I need you to ensure that everyone gets home. In worse case."
Shirin swallowed very heavily, at the prospect of leaving his daddy behind. Though, he needed to be strong, so responded calmly. "Right."
Naruto turned to the new mother, speaking up. "Kiyota; similar reason. You and your daughter are vulnerable. She needs you more than me. You and Honoka are the kids final line of defence. I can trust you with that, yes?" Kiyota sighs and nods, her daughter sleeping blissfully in arm. "I will, nii-san."
"Honoka…" Naruto looking to said woman who was semi-glaring at him. "…if the Leaf get a hold of you…" he trailed off and she recoiled as if hit, before meekly nodding. Naruto sighs again, he's been doing that a lot without his wife around to calm his fraying nerves. She always kept him in task, straight and narrow, but without her guiding influence and care. He felt lost. Unsure if he was doing the right thing. He only hoped this went to plan. Praise the log this all goes well.
Random Forest Clearing
It took four days of scouting with toads and Sage chakra to locate the elusive blond. The Leaf team soon found that Naruto had been avoiding the towns and villages as no one had seen him or his group. Jiraiya had to call on his toads and had stumbled across, what he assumed was a forward scouting clone that dispelled as soon as it noticed that he had been spotted.
With a direction now, the team moved swiftly and with over a dozen of encounters with more scouts, leading them on a wild goose chase around the Land of Forest near the border of Marsh, where they located the real one.
They landed at the edge of the clearing and immediately recognised that he had led them there and was indeed expecting them. He was alone which was a bad omen, there was nothing they could use against him as it was clear that this Naruto would strike to kill if forced. Unwarranted return to his former village was clearly a reason to fight full out, the lack of his party suggests that he will not be hampered with their defence and allow his usage of his 'heavier' attacks.
Standing from his meditative position, black katana across his lap was now held in his left hand, Naruto kept his eyes closed having monitored the Leaf teams progress to get to him. His shadow clones had a field day running rings around them, occasionally leading them into traps, doubling back on themselves, and generally being a nuisance.
As much as he's grown, he's still a prankster at heart and seeing their frustration upon realising it was another clone was priceless. He's also managed to figure out the teams dynamics, habits, capabilities, and temperament. All vital in this coming clash. He knows of their abilities yet his own remains largely unknown. He's going to have to thank his darling wife for beating the info game into his head.
Better get this started.
On the exhale of his deep breath, he calls out. "Standing there is not going to change the outcome."
They all stiffen, his sensory ability was never that good. Shikamaru sighed out, moving forward. "Troublesome."
Yugao spoke up next, steppping into the clearing. "It was the clones, right?"
"Yes, Yugao." Naruto responds flatly, eyes still closed and pointedly ignoring her tightening stance. He takes another deep breath before continuing, "So, we have two swordsmen acting as vanguard, no doubt Shikamaru is sitting back to analyse with Neji, Kakashi will be starting as rear support for analysis, perhaps with a side of genjutsu, but will await the word to strike. The others are cannon fodder for destraction or rescue, with the toad sage slicking in the shadows ready to subdue me when I get fully invested into the fight. Am I wrong?"
"Unusually insightful of you." The Nara commented dryly, "Troublesome blonds, am I right?" Naruto chuckles and hearing the tut breaks into a grin. "Now then, shall we begin?"
Sakura speaks up now, hoping to break through to the knucklehead. "Why are you fighting us, Naruto? We just wanted you back…?!"
"Finish that sentence, Haruno, and I'll gut you like a fish." Naruto growls coldly, despite the angry rant in his head from another troublesome blond. As the wind blows his longer locks around, he takes up a stance that causes Yugao to pale, he continued cold tone falling flat. "You all know squat about that hellhole you call a village… I know your intentions and the lengths you intend to go to accomplish it."
"Mah-ma… Naruto. You are being rather dramatic..."
Naruto cut in over his former Jonin leader, he was never a teacher. "Come at me with the intent to kill and pray to the log for mercy, as I won't be showing any."
Just then, Jiraiya comes blasting into the clearing, having been kicked in by a shadow clone, and sliced through, only being replaced with a diced log just before impact.
The kindling landing was the signal to start with Yugao and Tenten immediately charging forward and clashing with the two Naruto's, blade against blade in a stunning display of sparks and steel. The duel was quick to escalate as the speed and acrobatics increased yet only the elite among the shinobi present knew was that Naruto was not only holding his own, but also pushing them back.
Jiraiya abruptly lands beside Kakashi, a cut on his shoulder showed that he was saved by his mesh undershirt. "Damn gaki almost got me."
"How did he find you?" Kakashi questioned, not taking his eyes off his former student, who seemed to be slowly speeding up, already reaching high Jonin-level speed. He finally lifted his headband now, as to provide support and memorize his former student's movements. Jiraiya wore a tight frown, arms crossed. "Sage Mode, if I had to guess. Just got hit by a foot that felt like Gamabunta's tongue had just slapped me."
Shikamaru speaking up next, "Probably why he hasn't opened his eyes yet,"
Jiraiya nodded in agreement as that made sense. Kakashi responds with a tight sigh, "Can't get him with genjutsu either. He's rendered me useless from here."
Naruto side steps another thrust from Yugao, who spins and continues with a horizontal slash that was parried by the blond, and had to take a step back to absorb the kick that still knocked her off balance as the overhead slam forced her aside. The Chakra slash the followed from it continued past the anbu, and we're it not for the lightning reflexes honed by Might Gai, Tenten wouldn't have only gotten off with a deep cut across her forearm.
Before she could refocus though, the Naruto clone had already pounced on her unbalanced stance. Her sword was being knocked around, defence had been broken, with fear setting in again, Tenten noticed that he was going for the final strike, abruptly the clone was popped by Neji. With tears in her eyes, she was about to thank him when he rotates, "Revolving heaven!" he calls out and several dozen shuriken are parried.
Just as he comes to a stop, another clone appears within sword range, already mid-swing only for a second clone to land and intercept it. The clashing two were a strange sight, the first one noticing the corruption of the second immediately. A kunai popped the first clone, allowing the second to glance back at them with a familiar smirk, and voice. "Sorry I'm late guys."
Tenten and Neji observed the clone for a moment before Tenten spoke hesitantly, "Ino - right?"
The clone nodded, its teal eyes gleaming in mirth, "Yeah, though, controlling this thing is really," she aburptly went poof, a dispel command most likely.
A scream and the sound of a thousand birds caught both Team Nine members' attention briefly, before two more Naruto clones dropped down, swords drawn. Tenten gulps, glancing at her teammate. "Ah, this, this is endless."
Yugao slash was redirected, by Naruto mid blade, before he flicked the top down and caught her shoulder down to her side, forcing her back, but he did not let up, jumping after her with a side slash. She blocked it, but due to the shoulder injury, she lost levereage pretty quickly, and lost ground and her stance. Immediately afterwards, she received a direct round house kick to the chest, and sent flying back, screaming as he had broken something.
Just before he could pursue, the sound of a thousand birds, echo off the trees, and again, Naruto proves his defensive might, when clashing with his former squad leaders famous lightning cutting blade. He had not even moving so much as a nanometre in response to the clash. A blast of lighting erupted upon impact, dancing around the two who ramained in place, both those in the centre remained unharmed, and untouched by the arcing lightning strikes.
Naruto took a quick situation check, and surely enough, Haruno was healing the injured Yugao, Choji protecting them, Neji and Tenten were busy dealing with clones. More like trying not to die. Jiraiya was slinking around again, though those traps are keeping him busy. Shikamaru has been trying to keep track of all the clones but is having trouble, and obviously Kakashi was trying to break through his sword. He would snort if it wasn't so stupid.
Looking back to his current opponent, Naruto asks, "Huh, did you say something?"
Everyone glanced over at that, disbelieving someone just pulled that on Kakashi, who himself was surprised that he got caught by his own move. Naruto, and his clones, capitalised on their disbelief, as one would expect of a ninja.
The two over by Tenten and Neji, channeled chakra into their blades, and slashed down, neither reacting in time, but Neji did push Tenten clear of the attack at her, loosing his arm in the process.
One up in the tree's flung two kunai directly at Shikamaru, though one was intercepted by a corrupted Ino clone, meaning the Nara only took a kunai to the thigh, causing him to scream out.
Were it not for Yugao's countless years of experience, Sakura would have taken two kunai to the back and a third to the lower spine, with her sword quick draw. Choji deflected the others without injury but turned to Shikamaru upon his pained cry.
Kakashi had detected all of this over the five seconds after his former students question as their chakra strikes continued to clash, and was wide-eyed at his sensei's sons ability to multitask, and multi-strike, and ambush using his famed Shadow Clones so well. He had to break through to his former student, before he was ordered to eliminate him. Kakashi speaking with an undertone of a plea. "Naruto. Please - please just come back home to the village. You will no doubt be welcomed with open arms, and as you have proven..."
"Proven? This isn't something so flimsy as to 'prove' myself, Hatake! This is me protecting my precious people." Naruto growls, his wind chakra asserting itself now, giving a razor edge quality to his ode-katana, forcing Kakashi to leap back, his lightning fizzling out. Naruto then takes a very menacing step forward, glare sub-zero, as he declared, "Till I draw my last breath… I will stand against the world if I have too."
Sakura, who was tending to Neji, snaps up at that and turns back to face her teammate, in her mind at least, yelling back at him while she pants. "Aren't we your precious people?! What about us?!"
Yet a calm seemed to settle upon her declaration, Kakashi moved beside Choji and Yugao in a defensive formation. Naruto's hair covers his face, body trembling in absolute fury at the naivety on display. A deep, feral growl came from the blonde as his chakra began to become visible around him as he spoke slowly, "You persecuted me when I lived among you. Now, you hunt my children, and then have the audacity to vow to drag me back to that hellscape?"
Naruto was absolutely furious right now.
An abrupt blast of chakra knocked everyone back, many only now noticing his additional markings reminiscent of the beast he contained. Black lines surround his eyelids, reaching back towards his ears but not reaching. Whisker marks thicken, deepen, and darken along with his lips whilst his canines lengthen. Finally his eyes finally open for the first time, revealing pale orange slit eyes, with a sharpen gaze upon his foes, as if a predator eying up their prey.
Breathing softly and steadily, helping to balance out his reaction to the surge of natural chakra within his coils. Shikamaru grew very nervous now. Asking the only other sage he knew, "…is that…?"
Jiraiya grew incredibly serious at the sight before him, the scorch marks and the numerous cuts from expertly prepared traps covered his frame. "No, I don't feel any malice…"
Tenten murmured lowly, "Impossible…!"
Naruto's voice was painfully clear, filled with a silent rage yet carried an undertone of sorrow. "I warned you to leave me and mine alone. I am sorry, but you won't be returning home." taking up his black sword's handle with both hands as he takes up a new stance, "I have to send you away, with a message to not approach those I hold dear," Slowly the sword moved up to his eye level, on his right side, held horizontally, "Kitsune art…" was heard as he crouched slightly before vanishing from view. "…Four claw strike!"
Summoning.
Clang.
Four armoured shield toads are forced back across the clearing, sliding in their stances behind their now sliced shields, "Made it!" Jiraiya landing behind them, with a heavy sigh, his shoulders occupied by the two great toad elders. "A sage? Since when did the Kitsune have sages?" the purple haired toad bellowed, "Since now, it seems…" the grey haired, green skinned toad replied softly.
A new arrival drops in, Ino Yamanaka, having transformed one of Naruto's clones, for ease of identification. "Guys! Naruto has about half a dozen clones nearby."
Shikamaru glances to her, "Ino?!"
"Kinda. I've seized control of this shadow clone," Ino explained with a grin but winced a moment later. "I'm fighting against his dispel command. Not sure how long I can hold this though."
Shikamaru nods, glancing around, though his mind wasn't as sharp as always thanks to the kunai still embedded in his thigh, Sakura hasn't gotten to him yet, so he's left it until she's free. He finally relays his plan, "We have to find those clones and eliminate them. In case we have to withdraw. Then,"
Abruptly, a stone wall shot up, created by Kakashi in front of Shikamaru, Ino, and three kunai tipped chains punch through and stop less than a dozen centimetres from Kakashi's flack jacket, before fading away into chakra smoke. Kakashi glancing back, he saw that Yugao had done the same protecting Sakura's back again, he speaks up. "We need to,"
Jiraiya cut the Hatake off, going through hand signs, "I'll hold him at bay, you all focus on,"
He as interrupted by their enemy, "Summoning jutsu!" was heard and a pack of eight Kitsune, all four tails, dull white and muted orange markings around their faces, down their spines toward their tail tips. They all stood at a similar size to Akamaru, though wore leather jackets.
As they appeared and the Leaf team gulped, with even the toad sage unsure about this. Jiraiya whispered loudly, "This might be a problem."
"We should call Hiro-boi, and Tachu-boi."
Jiraiya shakes his head, "Then he'll no doubt escalate too, and we do not know who the boss's of the Kitsune are do we?"
The Leaf side watch as Naruto pets one who nuzzled his hand, and he stares into their eyes before he looks up, and the entire pack follows his gaze, and upon his growl, they growl with him. Speaking the fox vairent of canine, Naruto ordered. "Take them out!"
The all let out a small yip, before taking a pouncing stance, all grinning like their boss was known for. Naruto too took up his earlier stance, and upon his narrowed eyes, the Leaf team prepared the best they could. Upon Naruto's tongue click, they pounced.
"Toad song!" the two toad sage's bellow out a genjutsu that halted the group in their tracks, a pulse from Naruto freeing them and the foxes pounce, in two waves. The shield toads leap into action, batting away the first wave of attackers, unfortunately not the flanking set that tore into the toads before they could dispel. The only things to return were the shreds of torn meat.
None expected that speed, nor coordination as it was clear they expected the toads to intercept so flanked them and struck when exposed. Crafty. The half-transformed Jiraiya leaped clear, of the follow-up strike from the multi-tailed foxes, he growled, "Damn it," as he went through hand signs to call in toad reinforcements.
"Above you!" was called out and the sage snapped up and only narrowly caught the downward swing of the sword. The force however, paired with a lack of leverage due to his airborne state, forced the man down into the path of a spinning Kitsune that tail slams him down into a new crater.
Naruto lands beside his hunter packs second-in-command, Yui, who had been the slammer of the toad sage, he ran his hand absentmindedly between her raised ears, earning a low pur from the white-furred vixen. The familiar sound of a thousand birds chirping, and the glow through the smoke, tells them the next move, speaking kitsune, Naruto orders her, "Hold them down, spread out."
Yui glances to him, before chirping and vanishing using pure speed.
"Rikari!" a lightning blade from the sharigan wielding Jonin, rushed through the smoke that clung to the battered jonins form. It was soon met, head-on by Naruto's black katana but failed to pierce or break it, again. Kakashi glared fiercely at the blade his student was wielding. "Impossible."
But that was short lived as Naruto planted his boot in the mans chest, his soon to be infamous kick making an appearance, cracking of his ribs barely heard over the chirping. The force of impact of Naruto's excuse of a kick, fully blasted back the Jonin, forcing him into the tree behind Shikamaru, slumped over.
He was then flanked by Neji, despite being down to one functional arm. "Eight trigram; thirty-two palms!"
Naruto could respect Neji's tenacity, on any other day, any other occasion, but right now it was just pissing him off. Thus, out comes the sage arts he and his new partners have been developing. "Kitsune art; Twin claw!" a single swipe turned into two forcing Neji to leap back.
Tenten and Yūgao appeared next, straight threw an opening presented by the kitsune, Naruto takes up stance, announcing. "Kitsune art; Full moon."
This slash, sliced through their swords, their vests, and their upper chest, near their necks, barely avoiding the decapitation. As they both leaped clear, blood pouring from their wounds, Naruto appeared at Yugao's back, his whispered words, heard by only her, "I'm sorry, Cat."
The black blade punches through, erupting from her stomach, and she gasps, but is pinned to Naruto's frame as he supports her up. The two were now cheek to cheek, as he held her up. His words came out thick, and loaded with guilt and remorse, "You - you were one of the people I never wished to fight. To inflict harm onto."
Despite the situation, Yugao broke a smile, "I, you know, who... i am..."
"I do, Cat," Naruto whispered back and she nod's minutely, "You, I should thank you for trying your best to protect me all those years ago. I recently came across another Uzuki. I wanted to train her to be the best swordswoman, and have you two meet someday..." they both ignored the blue flames in the back ground, as Yugao began to tear up, nodding once, "Good,"
Naruto nods back, "I really wish you didn't come," the sorrow was thicker than before but she cracked a smile, "...duty," and he nods once, speaking below a breath, "I know. After all, protecting what I have left is my duty too."
Yugao actually smiled at that, but lacked the strength to do much more than that, blood leaking from her mouth, though still heard his final words to her, "Rest now, Yūgao Uzuki. You have served well," slowly removing his blade and gently placing her down, eyes shut.
Choji stumped hard, forcing the three kitsune to scatter, a blue flame fired, though the Akamichi batted the ball away, spinning his staff and catching the lunging one on its end, swinging it off. Another chomped down on his right leg, earning a grunt from the large man, though as he was distracted, another chomped on his opposite arm. Stomping hard again, got rid of the one on his leg, forcing it to return.
His staff twirled around and deflected another lunging kitsune, though it almost yanked it free, and forced him off balance briefly, which is when Yui appeared, jumping onto and then using his back as a spring board, forcing him to stumble heavily forward. The vixen herself performed several flips while charging her fire blast, so when she was facing the tank of the Leaf team again, upside down, she unleashed her full might upon him.
Choji, seeing the encroaching blue fireball, and knowing his team was at his back, held true to his clan's honour and with his staff, held his ground. Using his full might, he swung his staff with enough force to break the sound barrier and smacked the ball clear of his friends. The deflection caused the attack to splash down near both Naruto and a few more of his kitsune. They quick returned but Naruto was force substitute himself with a log.
The stress of the high speed of his swing, and force put in it, the still clinging kitsune managed to tear the arm off partially, though Choji soon smashed his fist into its face, forcing its dispel. Going down to a knee, Choji was panting and wheezing, looking down at his hanging arm, bleeding profusely. Footsteps ahead of him, drew his eyes up to the kitsune who launched the attack. They stared at one another for a solid ten seconds. To his surprise, she bowed her head. It took him a moment before he too bowed back.
She turned back and left after that, returning to her pack leaders side, the fight wasn't over yet.
Kakashi kicked off the Kitsune, forcing them back again, looking around his entire force was crippled. Neji was down. Yugao too. Tenten was pinned, beneath two foxes with their flames glowing within their maw. Sakura was trying to keep another from the wounded Choji, clutching his blooded left arm that was hanging on by a few tendons from bite marks on his bicep. His armour shredded from numerous deep scratches.
Shikamaru was completely frazzled, Jonin vest scorched and smouldering, glaring at the kitsune who tried to fry him. "We are losing…" the last Hatake announces sliding down beside the Nara, breaking said Jonin from his glaring match. Shikamaru glanced at the frazzled Kakashi, speaking rather clipped. "No shit. We've lost two, Jiraiya is the only thing keeping Naruto at bay and that is only just barely."
The former Anbu captain nods, before he orders, "We have to retreat."
Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head before gesturing up to the treeline. "We can't … look…" his fellow silver haired Jonin, followed the gesture and paled. Their were numerous Shadow clones that lined the entire clearing with swords out and staring blankly at those within. Kakashi mutters beneath his escaping breath. "Well shit."
"Sage art; Big ball Resengan!" Jiraiya roared until it was cleanly sliced through, yet again. "Huh?" he questioned, before a powerful foot cracked through his shell of defence, blood spluttered out from his mouth from the hit as he was sent flying. Jiraiya was really getting annoyed by those damn kicks the gaki keeps using.
After skipping like a stone twice, Jiraiya gets up as he takes a deep hard breath. Glancing around, he see's the team is on the cusp of defeat. He glances at his fellow sage, who was glaring back at him and takes a full deep exaggerated breath rising to his feet, allowing the natural energy to flow through his entire form briefly, before letting out a beefy roar, handsigns blazing. The toads accompanying him follow his example.
Suspecting danger, Naruto clicks his tongue trice, and the remaining four Kitsune all leap clear of the Leaf team, and land beside their pack leader, and Naruto returns his blade to his back before going through his own handsigns. The kitsune channeling chakra to their lungs in reaction to their leaders hand signs.
Jiraiya finishes first, bellowing out, "Sage art: Toad Oil blast!" the three toad aligned call out, a stream of flammable toad oil merging with the flames of the summoner, enhanced by the second toad elder, turning even the air to ash.
Naruto smirks, glad they held the numbers advantage as he lands on his final handsign, breathing in, his kitsune following suit, "Sage Art; Kitsune Scorching Wind," letting out a concentrated stream of wind, the two inner kitsune releasing blue flames that turn a dark crimson as the two outer canine's winds swell the narrow beam into a blast that glasses the air itself, scorching the ground it passes over.
When the two techniques clash, the air surrounding the clearing vacates and creates a temporary vacuum. No sound, just heat, as if the sun itself was present in the clearing. The grass evaporated, the earth burnt, then scorched, and eventually turned to glass. The Leaf team was struggling to breathe, the heat was unbearable, but at the same time, their entire lives were resting on Jiraiya right now. Kakashi and Shikamaru noticed that the clones were no longer blocking the path.
In the centre of the clearing, it didn't last long for the winner to be decided as the Kitsune sage attack began to push the toads back. Their sheer numbers allows for much more power at less of a individual cost. A full thirty seconds of loosing ground gradually, and the larger lung capacity of Naruto won out but, before Jiraiya could fully loose, he pulses his chakra causing both attacks to implode.
The resulting explosion knocked all parties back, the shadow clones manning the perimeter were dispelled, allowing the Leaf team to make a rapid, strategic retreat. They had lost.
Naruto did not get back up from the knockback of that last attack. He was panting and sweating, tears running down his face. His partners all gathered around him, whining and trying to comfort their leader, understanding that fighting for your family against your old friends is never easy, and yet, again, they came for him. Yui was resting by his head, licking his tears softly.
Why do they keep forcing his hand? Why? Why can't they just leave him alone? He said no, damn it. Fist smashing down against the scorched gravel. With eyes of lead, he glances down over the empty, ashen clearing, "Please, for all our sakes… don't come back… please…" before losing the fight to stay conscious from the emotional strain he has been under.
Naruto was unaware that his control had slipped, and Ino was able to watch his breakdown as she slipped away, finally released from her captivity. It would take several days for her to return to her body. Her last view of her former friend was a broken husk of a boy curled up with his fox allies encircling him, trying to comfort his breaking soul. A lost soul desperately trying to keep himself together for the benefit of others, as always.
In another clearing Yūgao opens her eyes, unbelieving that she was still in the land of the living, looking around she sees her team beaten and battered but alive. Jiraiya was unconscious, chakra exhaustion no doubt. Neji had lost an arm, Choji might follow him in armlessness. Kakashi was breathing heavy, a few broken ribs most likely from those powerful kicks. Tenten was sleeping off the damage she took. Shikamaru took the least damage and was on watch. Sakura must be exhausted.
Sitting up, her abdomen pain rippled across her body forcing a wince from her lips gaining the Nara's attention, who whispered towards her. "You should keep resting. We don't know if he'll chase us."
Yugao didn't miss a beat in her response, laced with steel that brokered no argument. "He won't."
Shikamaru observed the sword wielding Jonin for a moment, before asking, "What makes you…?"
She cut him off, as she finally propped herself against a nearby tree, arm crossed her injury, hand glowing a faint green. "He hesitated. Constantly at that. He didn't want to fight. This whole thing was a ruse, a message to force us to leave," she glances up to the Nara, a hollow smile, "If he wanted too, we wouldn't have escaped. We'd all be dead – I know that much as he purposely missed my vitals."
Shikamaru looked back to observe the trees around them, the green bark creating a weird sight for a leaf ninja, though he did respond lowly, "I see… do you think they'll let him be now?"
"Doubt it." Yugao snorted, that earned her a wince, as she takes a deep breath, before continuing to work on her injury. "Quite the opposite in fact. If we keep pushing, we'll back him in a corner again."
"…and he'll be forced to simply go for the kill." Shikamaru nodding at that, hoping that this will be the end of it.
Naruto's Mindscape
The moon hang just above the horizon over the still ocean, Naruto laying out cold on the white beach as his tenant stands above him and sighs hard, muttering. "You don't need to burden yourself so much, little brother."
Lifting the still form of his container turned brother in arm, back into the house and placed to bed, "It's okay to ask for help. I know your mate isn't around but you aren't alone." Kurama ruffles the blond locks with a soft smile, a gentle smile as he tucks Naruto in, like he's done a thousand times before. The smile did not last, turning back to the exit, as the red slit eyes glow vibrantly. "Allow me to relieve you of this burden."
Back in the forest, Naruto awakes but his eyes a blood red and the foxes protecting him notice the shift immediately. A puff of smoke and a fox the size of a dire wolf appeared in Naruto's place, nine tails waving lazily in the darkening of the forest. A very low growl from the depths of his throat was soon harmonised with his fellow Kitsune, Yui especially was bloodthirsty.
Kurama steps clear of the small hunting pack, he glances back at them briefly as they all nod to him, and he nods back, before the five Kitsune charge into the underbrush, not even the wind hearing them pass.
The hunt was on.
Forest Clearing
Kakashi snapped awake, jolting up, and pulled a kunai, taking up a defensive stance. This startled the others into action, though only Sakura, Tenten, and Shikamaru were capable of fighting in any capacity. Jiraiya was awake but still rather low on chakra, not having fully recovered yet. The toad sage asked, "What is it?"
Kakashi whispered to them, his eyes darting side to side. "Something is coming," he said, resisting the urge to lift his headband. He was down to a quarter chakra, but it seemed his hands were tied here. Swallowing a soldier pill, then a chakra pill, he promptly went through hand signs. "Summoning." A puff of smoke signaled reinforcements. "Pakkun…" Kakashi began, but paused upon noticing the low growling of his entire pack. All of them were tracking something they couldn't see, even the normally relaxed pug was visibly tense.
A tense minute passes, before Pakkun whispers, "Kakashi… you are aware your being hunted right now, yes?"
Kakashi nods once, frame coiled and tense. "Figured something like that, yes. This forest is both our best defence and greatest weakness. Though, I sensed the shift in the wind… called you guys."
Pakkun glances to him, a rare dog side-eye. "We need to move."
Kakashi shook his head, responding calmly, but he was very clearly tense. "We can't. Too many wounded. Sakura's been working overtime to…" a loud high-pitched screech was heard causing hairs to stand on ends. Silence for a long time. Pakkun growls lowly, "This isn't good," so lowly that if Kakashi hadn't had his enhanced hearing he would have missed it.
The pack of dogs spread out in a perimeter around the injured camp of leaf shinobi, growling whilst tracking something in the enclosing darkness. With nervous frayed beyond anything recognisable, Shikamaru asks on behalf of the uninformed, "Mind telling us what we're dealing with?" staring out at the tall green barked trees that made up the forest, "Three… no… I smell five…"
"I smell seven."
"I only have one."
"I got six."
"They've found us." The dogs chatted among themselves, something flickered on the edge of their perception, and all heads snapped there, but nothing was seen. More feral growling came from the dark, barking followed shortly, and the tension continued to grow as the ninjas felt the pressure.
Then everything just went silent.
A cold sweat ran down Tenten's neck, a quick glance back shows Shikamaru too unnerved to an insane degree, and it only heightened as it seemed even the trees would want to hear and fell silent. She gulped. She heard Shikamaru slow his breathing. The tension seemed to have awoken the others but none dared move or make a sound.
A deep growl from… above…
Eyes snapped up and the eyes of Kitsune all over the forest's trees, with their maws down. "…shit." was heard echoing through the camp. "Yo!" spoke the red one. Suddenly, Kakashi realized that this one beside him fanned out nine tails, uttering, "Ky... kyu..."
Kurama's grin was the very definition of feral, though his response was as cool as the Land of Spring, "Hatake."
The stand-off was heavy as more and more foxes began to show up, encircling the group of shinobi, and the Ninja dogs, who had closed the circle. Jiraiya pulled a trump card none knew he had, and abruptly Tsunade herself, Lady Fifth Hokage, appeared via the fourths protection platoon's Hirishin, Raidiō Namiashi, Genma Shiranui, and Iwashi Tatami, appearing with her.
A quick glance at the situation put the last Senju on edge. Her people were clearly beaten and heavily wounded in the middle of the clearing that was currently surrounded by several dozen foxes; correction, Kitsune. The said Kitsune were clearly just waiting for some sort of command from...
Tsunade's breath hitched upon seeing those vibrant red eyes, bright orange fur paired with nine innocently swaying tails. "K-K-kyubi..." Her gaze hardened. The only way for the nine-tails to be here without her gaki is if...
"No," the fox chuckled, seeing their trail of thoughts as he stepped down from the tree he was on, with the hunter pack at his side, snarling and growling. Pakkun and his group snarl right back. However, the kyuubi continued, "My kit still lives, not for the lack of trying on your hunters' part."
Tsunade steps forward, her three escorting Jonin at her side, as she asks, "Then, how are you...?"
"That doesn't matter right now," the fox boss dismissed, plopping down on his haunches, his gaze flowing over the clearing, observing everything with his keen eyesight. Tsunade's eyes narrowed on the beast, her glare cold. "Oh? And do tell me what does? As I see it, you are holding my shinobi here against their will and..."
A deep, throaty growl from the almost two-meter-tall kitsune, while sitting, elicited similar growls and bared teeth from the surrounding kitsune. Kurama spoke up lowly, "My kit has served your pathetic village his entire life. I was sealed within him not even half an hour after his birth, keeping me and my power at bay ever since."
This admission actually caught the Leaf forces by surprise, though the fox didn't care to acknowledge it. Kurama continued. "Yet for the bulk of this service, you all thought he was I, the greatest of the Bijuu; punishing the weak little kit who was too kind to retaliate."
"We would never...!" Sakura jumped in, clearly without thinking of whom she was talking to, rising to her feet, fueled by anger at the insinuation. "Konoha is a place to protect the children. Not..."
She fell on her butt from the sheer level of killing intent leveled upon her by the fox. Sakura was having trouble trying not to have a heart attack. Kyuubi roared at the pinkette. "Naive little girl. Were you not one of the many who did my kit harm for little or NO REASON?!"
Seeing the pest sufficiently silenced, the bijuu turned back to the equally concerned sannin. Speaking rather cordially compared to a second ago. "Now then, on to why we haven't mauled you all to death already," speaking so casually about mass slaughter put the bulk of the shinobi firmly within the primal fear category, as Kurama continued. "You will call off your hunters. My kit is at his limit and does not wish to be forced to kill any of you."
Although initially caught off guard, Tsunade recovered quickly and responded swiftly, "He doesn't have to," she crosses her arms as her confidence began to return, allowing her to continue. "As long as he comes quietly, we can offer him his old position back and protection from those that seek to harm him or his family. That I..."
The Kyuubi bawled out in laughter, genuine and hearty laughter, with the other kitsune and foxes following after their leader.
A good few minutes later, the nine-tails finally composes himself again, speaking up in a wheeze, still recovering somewhat, "Protection, huh?"
The bijuu was suddenly engulfed in smoke and replaced by a goddess made flesh, with flawlessly creamy white skin atop long, slender but muscled legs that lead up to nice, wide hips, a firm rear, moderate chest, and a perfect face decorated by eight whisker-like markings, and bright reddish-orange hair reaching her ass. She speaks up, "What if I said you were the ones he needed protection from?"
"Who...? What...?" Tsunade muttered only for the woman to shrug, Kurama speaking airly, scratching her long straight hair. "Figured this would take a little explaining, best to do it human to human no?"
"You're the kyuubi?" muttered Kakashi, clearly speechless at the sight of the most powerful bijuu standing among them as if mocking them.
Kurama smirks, a very familiar foxy smirk, hands on hip while speaking slowly. "Yes. I'm a kitsune, transformations is in our nature."
Genma, Raidiō, and Iwashi glance to one another, and share a nod. This is so getting them so many free drinks.
Tsunade whispred to herself, "You look like a mix of my grandmother and cousin," but naturally the whole clearing heard. Kurama shrugged, "Well, Mito was my first host and so I hold her in rather high esteem. She did subdue me alone after all. As for Kushina..." she trailed off as if trying to find a diplomatic way to describe something but giving up halfway through with another shrug. Kurama gets back on subject. "Anyway, I want you to leave my family alone."
Tsunade snaps too, and responds swiftly. "Naruto belongs in the leaf with us his precious people. I may not have known what..."
"You aren't his precious people anymore," the Kyuubi interrupted, raising her hand, causing everyone to lock onto her with hardened gazes. Tsunade growled lowly, threateningly. "You - what did you just..."
A very serious Kyuubi matched her glare's intensity with a blank face, unfazed by their comparatively weak killing intent, explaining, "The kit; Naruto, when he needed his precious people the most, none of you were there. I was."
Kurama takes a very threatening step forward, none realised just how much malace could be put into a single step until that moment. She continued. "The innumerable nightmares he suffered due to the abandonment of you all. I was there to rock him to sleep."
Kurama takes another step forward, the weight of the world seemingly anchoring everyone else in place, horro eteched upon their stone like visages. She continued regardless. "All the tears I wiped from his cheeks, all the self-deprecating thoughts and actions..." she growls and snarls, to cover up her watering eyes. "...the attempts to die in battle."
Tsunade had a dry throat, and wasn't alone as the others were wide eyed, to think that their abandonment of their friend pushed him so far to the edge. Though it was their kage who muttered, "...he didn..."
"It was close," the Kyuubi returning to pin the now horrified Hokage, leaf shinobi, and ninja hounds with one of the fiercest glares known to bijuu and human kind. The Leaf shinobi were horrified, though the Ninja dogs glared at them too, abandoning one of the pack was unforgivable. Pakkun speaking up, "We're done here," and him and his pack erupt in smoke.
The foxes all nearby wanted to rip these people apart, it was evident as their heckles were rased, and their snarling and growling was constant. Though Kyuubi continued, "Damn close. Were it not for his mate's intervention, even with my infinite chakra, it would have only been a matter of time."
Tsunade was fighting back tears, but had to ask, "When, when..." but froze upon the glare from the kyuubi. Sakura was openly weeping, curled up on herself, as Tenten tried to comfort her. Choji was barely, responsive but even he had a glare at the ground. Shikamaru and Neji lowered their heads in shame. Jiraiya too was glaring at the ground. Yugao was crying silently, knowing the pain her old charge must have felt back then, her own old scars are still there too.
They were all brought out of it by a heavy breath from Kurama. Her eyes seem to glow with pure hatred as she got back on the subject matter, "...and now, after a decade of him rebuilding his life from scratch, securing a family and precious people to protect once more; you have the gall to come and drag him to his own personal interpretation of hell? Why? To have your loyal weapon back? To have the knuckle headed idiot back to solve all your issues again and again with little in the way of a good job, or thank you?"
Tsunade sniffles out, "He..."
"IS A FREE MAN!" Kurama shouted, a slight roar in her voice, nine tails erupting from her back and swaying angrily side to side. "He owes you nothing."
Jiraiya pushing off the tree, proclaiming as he approaches, the two elder toads already gathering sage chakra on his shoulders. "He is a Konoha shinobi."
Kurama retorts hotly, hands on hips, snorting at the lame attempt to intimidate her, the top vixen around here. "Not since he was banished over a decade ago now,"
Tsunade speaks up now. "It's been rescinded. He is now a registered..."
"Not without his signature." Kyuubi responded, both sannin then grinned, pulling out a scroll and throwing it at the humanoid bijuu, who caught and read it. Surely enough, signatures of the entire Konoha council, both civilian and shinobi alike, along with the Fire daimyo were present, but one thing was off and she had spotted it immediately.
Kurama sighs, tails slowing their swaying motion as she shakes her head in disappointment. Speaking flatly, sealing the scroll away for evidance later. "Nice try, hermit. This signature is not his nor does he recognise the name Namikaze as his own, so recalling him as Naruto Namikaze will not sit well with him."
Jiraiya spluttered. "...but... but..."
Tsunade cut in, noticing the wording the chakra construct used. "Wait! Does he...?"
Kurama, seeing this comming, nods as she interrupts, again rather flatly, "Know of his parentage? Yes, fully aware of it. Spoke to their chakra remnants within the seal his father used to lock me away," looking to the toad summoner. "You can confirm this by trying to summon that toad with the key. The blond runt gave his copy of the key to the kit, it's how all five of us came to terms."
"Wa...wai...wait a second." Tsunade trying to wrap her mind around this recent revelation, "You mean to tell me that Naruto purposefully released you..." earning a nod from the tailed beast, so she continued. "And by doing so, somehow Minato and Kushina appeared and together..."
"Oh, his mate was there too." Kyuubi commented, hotly, foxy smirk on full. "His mate... as in wife?" Tsunade questioned before one of the kitsune on Kyubi's left, Yui again, spoke up gaining her attention. A small exchange before a nod from the boss summon, Kyuubi states. "Yes. That is the term you humans use."
"What's her name?" Jiraiya asks seemingly casually, or at least seemingly trying to come off as such, but Kyuubi waved that off. "Irrelevant. After a lengthy discussion, we came up with an agreement that benefited everyone."
"What kind of agreement?" Tsunade was almost afraid to ask yet her fear was unjust, this time, as a fond smile appeared upon the vixen's face recalling the deal.
Flashback – Six Years prior
Standing in temple ritual room, dimly lit with white marble pillars in a circular pattern around the alter currently occupied by topless Naruto and Shizuka who were sitting back-to-back, the latter wearing a strapless for modesties sake with Shion watching on from beyond the prepared barrier around the alter space. "Are you sure about this, Naru?" Shion questioned again, earning another sigh from the blond. Naruto looked to her with a gentle smile. "Yeah, I'm sure. Everything will be fine. We're stronger than you think we are."
"It's why I am going with him." Shizuka offering a smirk, as Naruto began held a ram hand sign slowly increasing his chakra flow, his partner soon matching it before eventually all their tenkesu points on their back pulse and synchronised.
The duo suddenly find themselves in a forest beach front clearing, the ocean behind them along with a pier that led across the bay and to other parts of his mind. "You know..." Shizuka speaking up, gaining his attention. "...I thought your head would be dirtier."
Naruto snorted at that. "Says the pervert."
"I am no pervert!" Shizuka growled as he offered a challenging smirk, "Oh? Then that thing last..." she placed her finger on his lips before whispering into his ears earning a blush from him. Kurama spoke up now, tired of there by-play. "Save me from your flirting, kit. I do not wish to see this anymore than I already have."
"Very well," Naruto coughing to clear the blush faster, Shizuka suddenly finding the ocean very interesting. Naruto asking again. "are you sure this will work? Tearing off the seal?"
"If it doesn't, we'll just have to attack the toads or the summoner to find the key for it." The beast shrugs clearly not bothered in causing a genocide or two. Naruto let out a tired sigh, forgetting about his guardian's pension for extreme violence at times. "Right well, here goes nothing..."
Naruto than leaps up and takes hold of the sealing paper and attempts to rip off the tag only to have his arm caught. "What do you think you're playing at, Naruto?" the forth hokage asked with a raised brow, blank face as his son looks back with a foxy grin, Naruto stating. "Well, we needed to discuss something with you. Triggering the failsafe was the only way. Hahaha..."
The two dropped down before the cage and Minato was surprised at the complete lack of hostility on display from the fox, who he had assumed would be calling for his head and bloody murder the entire time, but spoke up anyway to his adult son. "So, what is it that you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, first of..." Naruto began before landing a solid jab into the mans stomach, sneakily transferring memories, as an excuse to sock the guy for the hell he went through. "That! That's for choosing the village over family. Nothing is more important than family." the younger blond declared as the hokage gathers his breath again. "Fair enough... I deserved that... especially after seeing how your life's turned out. I hope you can..."
"Forget it. As you now know..." Naruto smiling as he steps aside to show Shizuka. "...my wife-to-be, Shizuka of Nadishiko, and our children are my life now. The Leaf may one day come for me but I will not allow them to claim my family."
"I see." Minato smiled at that. "I am proud of you, Naruto."
"Ahem! We are on the clock, remember?"
"Argh right! Dad, can you unlock the cage please? I need to speak to mom as well." Naruto requested of his father causing said man to eye the Kyuubi warily "Normally I would have said no, without a damn good explanation but seeing as you gave me your memories when you punched me..." Minato pulled up his sleeve, revealing the key upon his arm, all with a deadpan expression "Come here, Naruto. I believe you should have this."
The two would clasp arms, the kage performing one handed seal to initiate the transfer which didn't take too long anyway, but Minato was also unaware that by doing so, Naruto now knew his chakra signature perfectly.
Once done, Minato talked him through the locking and unlocking process. and surely enough the seal was unlocked and out came both Kurama and Kushina who rushed forward and embraced her two lovable blondes in one-go. "AH! I MISSED YOU BOTH! MY SOCHI IS ALL GROWN UP!"
"Thank you, mom, but surely you are aware of the deal I made with fuzzy butt over there." Naruto pointing with his head at the nine tails who growled at the lack of respect but was too busy enjoying the cool water of the ocean. "Yeah! I am totally down for this! Plus, My grandbabies!" Kushina had stars in her eyes, that locked on her soon to be daughter-in-law, "and you, Shizuka Uzumaki," the redhead stomped towards the nervous wreck that was Shizuka.
The glare the red head faded into a warm smile, brought into a hug and soft whispered words were shared between them that they would never share again.
Two days later...
Naruto stood at the altar with his father at his side, Kurama just beyond that along with Killer Bee, Utakata, Gaara, Kankuro and Chojuro. Opposite, as the maids of honour were Mei Tarumi, Yugito, Fu, Temari, Tokiwa and Rhen with Koyuki Kazehana officiating the whole thing.
The doors parted and in stepped the brides that stole Naruto's breath, for standing side by side in their respective dresses were Shizuka who were a traditional white Uzumaki kimono, the Uzu Spiral covered by the Nadishiko star as a perfect blend of the two peoples and Shion, donning an exquisite piece of shrine maiden attire purposely made for this day that the previous maiden had foretold.
Kirobi whistled loudly at the sight of the two 'babes' and even the normally stoic Utikata had a nice shade of pink upon his cheek. Minato's smile was so bright that you'd think he was the one getting married. On the other side, Kushina was bawling her eyes out while trying to maintain her makeup, Yugito nor Mei were not jealous at all, while Tokiwa and Rhen both being proud to see their friend/charge finally finding happiness.
This would became one of the nine-tails fondest memories, as for the whole week the world at large did not matter. Bijuu and Human alike came together, and throughout the week each and every bijuu made an appearance at the wedding, Isobu was the only absentee which itself would lead to the destruction of a certain organisation from a combined assault to rescue the pacifist turtle.
The highlight of that particular mission was the fact that the Yellow flash had a rematch with a certain mask wearing Uchiha, whilst leading a Unified Nation platoon made up of Iwa, Kiri, Kumo, Suna, Star, Smoke, and Demon shinobi, the latter never officially existed, wink wink.
A portion of Ame was levelled but the Akatsuki was officially disbanded. Naruto, Shizuka, and Kushina made a devastating trio but when Obito had been dealt with, they were joined by Minato and the foursome left nothing but death and destruction on par with a rampaging bijuu, just far more focused.
The discovery of Nagato hit Kushina surprisingly hard, Suzuki, his mother, was among a group that was supposed to come to the leaf to help establish an Uzumaki clan branch in the village. They were in the same friend group before their duties parted them. As both an apology and thanks, Nagato sacrificed himself to the shimigami to free the other half of the Kyuubi and release Minato's soul.
This inadvertently forced the chakra imprints of Kushina and Minato, that Naruto had been maintaining by converting his own to feed them, to finally disperse and return to the pure lands. It was a teary goodbye.
Flashback End
"…so the deal was to reclaim your other half, you would give him time with his parents to which they attended his wedding and get to meet their grandkids." Tsunade confirms to which the fox simply nodded, replying. "I am back at full power, the kit got to make memories with his folks… a win-win."
"You also united the whole shinobi world against the terrorist group hunting your kin." Jiraiya added bewildered, and somewhat confused. "…how did I miss that?"
"More importantly…" Tsunade growled threateningly, the most threatening thing she has done since her arrival. "Where was my invite? Based off your story, Suna, Mist, Kumo, and even Iwa were at that event. The Leaf, nor the fire nation had any representation. Same with the assault on Ame, to which we also share a border with."
This alerted her shinobi too who had overlooked that fact as the story seemed far grandeur then anticipated.
Kyuubi just shrugs her question off. "So now you know whom you are dealing with. The kit has reached his limit, I will not allow him to break… especially not for any of you," growling at the end, stepping forward whilst flexing her finger claws, a motion that was missed by no one.
"…if he doesn't come back; he'll be marked as a missing ninja!" Jiraiya spoke lowly, to try stress the point of being their enemy. It proved wholly ineffective.
As the vixen scoffed, unbothered. Kurama replied, "Hardly… or did you forget, you banished him. You can't mark him as a missing ninja, as he isn't your ninja anymore. As a Ronin, with credible proof that he was acting on self defence, any charges you levy against him can and will be challenged."
Kyuubi's retort actually caught everyone flat footed, not thinking a mass of sentient chakra and hatred knew of international shinobi law.
Seeing their bewildered faces Kyuubi snorted derisively, speaking as if to children, to which they were to her. Kurama contined. "As expected of you ignorant bigots who allowed a child to be beaten… no one can sleep none stop for seventy years and not get bored. Then consider that I've been around since the beginning of chakra users and only in the last seventy years was I caught and sealed."
"Troublesome." Shikamaru spoke next. He plucks a cigarette from his pack but his lighter refused to light. The nearby Kitsune offered his tail, igniting a soft flame and after a brief stare down, the Jonin lit his smoke before nodding his thanks, the kitsune nodded back before returning to his position. Glancing up at the woman, Shikamaru asks. "So, are all you bijou…"
A snort from the humanoid bijuu, who was growing tired of this talking. "Just like all families, we all have our quirks; Shukaku is insane for instance, but his seals are second to none. Even the Uzumaki would travel to converse with him. It was the only thing that could keep him calm."
"Shukaku…?" Shikamaru mutters before it hit him. His eyes-widen, the Nara gasped. "The one tails! Shukaku is it's name."
Kyuubi growled glaring at him, "My brother may have a few screws loose, but he is still my brother. Give his name respect or I'll shove a fist through your gut." killing intent flooding the area, until he nodded frantically, hands up.
The vixen nods before glancing over them all, with a smile that was more of a death head grin. "Anyway, we'll be off," clicking her fingers and the group noticed the Kitsune have all vanished. Kyuubi gave them a last look back over her shoulder, "Remember, neither I nor the Kit will hold back against you from here on out. The 'for old times sake' chances have ran out."
Kyuubi continued walking towards the shadows of the tree line. "Wait! Just tell me one thing!" Tsunade stepping towards the bijuu who didn't turn around "I understand that you didn't give us names to protect them, but is his family happy? Healthy?"
This caused an internal debate to rage within the Kitsune for a solid minute before sighing hard. "In general, yes. The family is happy, healthy and growing well. At the moment, a situation has developed causing my kit to lose sleep over. Add in your constant pursuit of him only adding to his already stressful situation. Do him a favour and keep those blank masks off our case for a few weeks. If you do, I will convince him to attend the exams in Suna. You can make your case to him directly there."
"Is that a promise?" Tsunade almost whispered, Kurama sighed. "One thing you should be aware of us Bijuu. We do not lie. A trait Naruto picked up from me."
"Just because you aren't lying, doesn't mean you are telling the truth either." Shikamaru points out earning a feral smirk, unknown to him as her back was still to them, Kurama spoke back to them all, "How perceptive…" before disappearing into the forests shadows.
Land of Demons
Shirin was worried. His father had never come back that shattered, broken, and exhausted from a fight before as he had been pulled in by his summons. The sight was unnerving, especially when his auntie Honoka saw him and went into a frenzy. It took him almost a week to heal up, even with Uzumaki blood within him, and yet even then when he got up he hadn't told them anything.
Now, as they passed the border town, they came across a number of guards saluting them. A few townsmen waved at them, and Naruto waved back. Shirin noted that it seemed somehow they had been forewarned of their arrival. Was that his aunt's doing or his father's?
The whole thing was kind of surreal. How had he not noticed this before? His dad was famous here, as was his mother, yet they lived casually as regular folk within the northern shrine. Shirin blinked at that. Why did they live in the Northern Shrine again? Looking around, he noticed that he only saw samurai, which confused him.
Didn't home have shinobi? It clicked. Snapping his gaze to his father's amused expression, he felt stupid now. His parents were the trainers of Oni no Kuni's shinobi force, which clearly didn't exist. No sir. He definitely wasn't aware of anything remotely like that.
Naruto watched the realisation of the situation play out on his son's face with barely vailed amusement, even more so when their eyes met, and he nods with a finger over his lips, earning a nod from his son. Naruto then turns to his escort, "Now then... I guess we should go see her highness, no?"
He was speaking to the Guardian Samurai Captain, Sato Yoichi of the Severing Winds named as his white bladed Odachi had apparently cut through a tornado during one of Naruto's 'Hunting Trips' and if one known as the Demon Kitsune says you did, you did.
"Yes, sir. She is awaiting your arrival at her shrine. I believe the young ladies are with her." Sato informs with a stiff bow, the only thing Naruto disliked about the guy was his rigid adherence to etiquette "Hmhmm. I see. Will you be going with us?"
"Yes, my squad was sent to ensure that you... and I quote 'Not get lost on the road of life.'" the blue armoured soldier responded with an extra helping of dry wit on the quote as Naruto had recalled the one time, he borrowed from his former jonin leaders play book. Safe to say, he got acquainted with the sofa for a full two weeks before he was forgiven based on principle alone.
Sighing deeply Naruto looks at his good friend and nodded. "Fine. Lead on. No doubt a feast is being prepared."
"No doubt." the man nodded with a chuckle, leading them off. "Oh and mi'lord, Lord Eight-oh was here last week. Apparently news of a Hidden Leaf squadron was on its way here, and he was sent to dissuade them."
Naruto snorted at that, "I doubt that." Seeing the confused look on the samurai captains face, "Not the information, as it was true, but Ay wouldn't have sent Killer Bee. Dude just wanted a vacation again no doubt," causing the group who knew the eccentric swordsmen to chuckle along with the blond.
Northern Shrine
Reaching the shrine didn't take too long and to Naruto and Shirin, it was a welcome sight for travel weary bones. At the gate was a sight that almost brought the older blond to tears, his other third and sister wife of Shizuka, Shion standing as elegance redefined in her shrine maiden dress, crown and all, with their two daughters in matching outfits at her sides.
Naruto's pace quickened the closer they got to the gate, dropping his bag of supply scrolls, his sword, and even his combat gloves, and just as he reached his other wife, picked her up in the tightest, tenderest, and loving hug he could manage.
They would stay embraced for a good two minutes, sharing whispered words, and if the tightening of Shion-ka-chan had meant anything, Shirin would say things would be okay now. His dad is strong, but with everything going on he needed. "Welcome home oni-sama." drew the young swordsman's attention to his two sisters, identical twins almost.
Saki Uzumaki, oldest by a full hour and will never let anyone forget it, is just like her sister, a carbon copy of their mother though she has blue jewel like eyes instead of the violet hue Shion-ka-chan has. Besides that she is a near replica of the woman.
Miroku Uzumaki, named after her grandmother and priestess before Shion, has the golden blonde hair of her father in the style of her mother while sporting her lavender eyes. She is also half an inch taller than her twin sister and will never allow anyone to forget that. Shirin actually also noticed that Miroku has a few strands of red hair at the base of her neck and suspects when older, a notable portion of her hair will be the classic Uzumaki red.
A/N: Casualties this time and some back story as to what happened to the criminal group hunting the Bijuu. We have also finally reached the Land of Demons, home sweet home, but things aren't over.
With Neji crippled, Tenten and Lee want revenge. Sakura wants her teammate back. You can guess the rest.
Shikamaru wrestles with his feelings over Choiji's life changing injuries, and Ino is loaded down with guilt of her inaction.
Due to the bingo book entry from the Leaf being updated by the Leaf Council, other nations begin to move to cut off the leafs access to potentially one of the most important shinobi of the era.
Shion also finds out why Naruto and Shirin are travelling alone, as well as the good news about the newest addition to the family. (No, I did not forget that Shizuka was pregnant before Kiyota by a whole chapter, and I am certainly not retconning it to an off screen encounter.)
Reworked A/N: Redone the fight scenes for clarity and more action. Cleaned up things a bit.
o7