Some days had passed after the message was sent and that war was imminent. The Kage reacted with something resembling blatant acceptance of the message. Thanks to Naruto's clones the messenger would arrive quickly in their villages. Back in Unity Hall, some surprise guests had arrived. Tsunade had called upon Hiruzen to help prepare for the war, which was not that unforeseeable. What was a surprise though, was a small delegation with Oonoki of Iwa at its head.

"... and I welcome the delegation of Iwagakure to the war council. The speaker may step forth." Naruto introduced them before he stepped down from the dais and walked back to his seat beside Karin.

Oonoki slowly walked towards the dais before he levitated up the stairs. A small hint of uncomfortableness was visible on his old face. He looked around and after a small sigh, he began. "After the Daimyo went rogue and declared the village disbanded, many of my ninjas came to me and asked me to resume control. I did. Against all odds, we survived against the Daimyo's forces that wanted to wipe the village off the map. I personally executed the Daimyo in the capital." He paused and took a sip of water.

That gave the others some pause. To execute the one you would have at a point sworn fealty to was a big thing. Even in a world full of child soldiers. But before anyone could even ponder more of the implications the old and new Kage of Iwa got back to his speech. "The message that all around the nations the Daimyo had been compromised reached me three days later. We had just done a full swing of interrogations of the Daimyo court. I don't need to elaborate, that we found many sympathizers to the idea of abolishing the ninja system. We got rid of those people too." He said without much regret in his voice.

Again nothing new for the assembled people. Oonoki was a veteran of not only one war. He was ruthless if need be. Even Naruto understood that if something threatened people he viewed as family he would also make sure to eradicate that threat in a way. While he would have tried to convince the mostly civilians and nobles that were against the Shinobi system, in the state of affairs Iwa would have been ends would need to be met. The Leader of the Uzumaki clan looked at Oonoki again as he finished the sip of tea and continued his speech. "While some already know this, I am stubborn as a stone. But even a stone can get its edges rounded over time by other stones. I had to learn this lately that some older views are not sound anymore." Looking around it was the moment for Oonoki to look at Naruto. "I would never have thought that I would step on this shores again in a peaceful manner without malicious or hidden objectives. But times are changing. Something I came to understand after the whole debacle with the Daimyo." Naruto gave him a grateful nod as the redhead also needed to understand that a blind wish for vengeance would not be what his clan and family needed. When ninjas fought there was only bloodshot in their wake.

"With that bit said," Oonoki continued, "it is my pleasure to say that Iwagakure signed the alliance contract this morning. What happens after the war is something we will need to talk about but for the time some people want to end us all and even an old stone knows when it is better to stop sitting on the fence. Thank you" A small bow of his head was welcomed by applause from the others.

As Oonoki and Naruto passed each other it was astounding to watch as both of them looked at the other with respect. Naruto took a calming breath before he stepped back on the speaker's desk looking at everyone. "Alone we might have fallen against the coming darkness. Now that we are united, all of us that use chakra, we will have an army where the enemy will use every dirty trick he knows. Friends and Predecessors long thought dead. Ripped from their resting places. It was going against the natural order of things. We will show them what we are made of. As Shinobi we long had learned to endure hardship. As we are now we not only fight for us. We fight for the possibility of a future. An age of prosperity, peace, and friendly competition." Naruto made a short pause, tried to look everyone in the eyes, and ignited those who did not hold the same fire as his. The eyes changed from the natural blue to crimson red as first the Sharingan spun into place before it morphed into the spiral form of his Mangekyou. With a wave of chakra that looked like it came straight from his eyes, his fiery wings appeared and the eyes changed into the Rinnegan. "Prepare the Kunai, sharpen the swords. As soon as the new moon will arise we will fight for the new era." He ended on a high note. The clapping started slow before it picked up speed and volume as everyone joined.

After Naruto's speech the assembly had ended everyone wanted to get home as fast as possible to prepare their armies. Kakashi would have to stay in the Hospital for another day but would then join Jiraiya and the former Hokage Sarutobi on their track back to Konoha. As planned Tsunade would stay back to coordinate the efforts with the other generals of the forces.

Naruto had another mission. After Oonokis's speech and some talks with the Mizukage and Raikage, there was a pattern. A pattern that concerned him deeply. Quickly informing Karin that he had to do one last mission he sent out clones. Six hours later he opened the door towards a room that was underground some nondescript building in the newly erected merchant district of Uzushio. In this room, a very special case of people were assembled.

"You need to unhand us this instant Uzumaki!" said one of the nobles in the room wearing the clothes of the wind daimyo. The others were quick to agree with him.

"Yes! How dare you to imprison us like some common thugs." The new Fire Daimyo continued the rant.

Naruto silenced them with a pulse of his killing intent. "Ahh. Not imprisoned like common thugs, it is more like protective custody" he chuckled slightly. "Let us not have you put under Genjutsu again, don't we? Not when we as the allied forces have finally come together in peace. What a great thing to achieve right?"

That had them silenced and some got neutral expressions quite quickly. Naruto flew through a series of hand signals before he put his hand on the wall. A big sealing matrix covered the whole room for a moment before it disappeared. "While some of you are quite new in their positions, others held to those titles for quite some time."

Muted nods let Naruto continue. "Great, now. I had the opportunity to get some correspondence. Between some of you and even your respective Kage. Oh boy, you are some naughty ones, aren't you? Even without getting controlled by a shinobi."

That led to an outrage. Wild shouting. Even Threats that they would order their Kage to break the agreements they would make with him. Or even Retribution. Naruto had let them scream for some time before another pulse of his chakra silenced them again. "You know there is this one letter could get my hands on. It was between some of your predecessors and some who are with us at the moment. Let me quote the most interesting part."

He unsealed a scroll and took a deep breath. "... as the Clan hiding behind those whirlpools don't bow to any of the nobility it was decided that it need to be made an example of. No soul is to survive so the villages won't ever get the wrong idea who has all the power in the nations." The older ones visibly paled and sunk into their chairs, while the newer appointed Daimyo blinked owlishly. Naruto threw the letter toward one of the ones that had paled. The Fire Daimyo. "That got me thinking." Naruto started again walking around. "I never intended for Uzushio, a land that always was Uzumaki property to get controlled by a Daimyo. I wanted for us to truly be a neutral and mediating force."

The redhead let his eyes morph into the Rinnegan with the bulging veins of his as a black staff appeared in his right hand with a circular top and nine rings in it. "You did it once. Even going as far as spitting on friendship for a show of force?" Naruto scoffed. "I can deal with the underhanded tactics of Kage but you? You are not even brave enough to pay for your own decisions just sending out Shinobi to die for you. Because it is your what? Your birthright?" Naruto was faster with his speech before one of the Daimyo who was about to nod could do anything he had them all wrapped up in chakra chains and forced to look at him.

"So if it is your birthright to decide over such things, I as the one blessed by the Shinigami should be able to decide if such things are still allowed or not right?" He told them and behind him, the Kiong of Hell sprung out of the ground for all of them to see.

"What do you want Uzumaki? Money? Power? What is it you desire to hold us hostage here?" The fire Daimyo started before a chain over his mouth cut him off.

Naruto shook his head. "None of that." He pointed at the King of Hell "I never wanted to use that part of my power like this. But." He looked at them with an intense glare. "I have the feeling I need to make sure you are the right people for the new era. Not the greedy sort that would order a village destroyed because they don't acknowledge the rule of someone who does not even have the right to be acknowledged as more than a foreign dignity."

As Naruto looked into the eyes of the different Daimyo he thought back to the times when Kurama would berate not to trust a word those meatsacks would tell him. With Kurama's conscience transferred out of his body, he would need to enter his chakra mode to enter the Biju scape to get to the others. Now he had to stand on his own two feet. Looking at the first. The Fire Daimyo. Naruto had loosened the chains, that prevented the noble from speaking. An opportunity he used. "And what do you want to do about that brat? Don't you think that we will be missed?"

Naruto looked at him with a serious 'Do you think I am that dumb expression?' "I have clones in place for every one of you. Do you think your weak forces are a match for an S-Class Shinobi? While we are having our little get-together here my clones secure the evidence for every underhanded deal you or your predecessors struck. Don't get me worn Shinobi are by far no saints. But, what some of you have done just for some more Ryu? Disgusting." Naruto spat out. "So let me explain how this will go. I will ask some questions you should do your utmost best to answer truthfully. If you lie, I will see it and the King of Hell will devour your soul. Sounds easy right?" He smiled as he looked at everyone smiling. Not the usual joyous one, it was much more predatory. "Who wants to go first?" Naruto said as the King of hell opened his mouth sticking out its tongue.

Sakura was walking through the hospital before she watched out of a window and saw someone she thought, she would never see again. There outside in a garden sitting in front of a big scroll with a calligrapcy pencil in his hand sat Sasuke Uchiha in a Kimono with the Uchiha sign on its back. Slowly she stepped outside and observed Sasukes work. The strokes were sharp but soft at the same time.

Except for some noise of the wind, Sasuke's strokes, and a chirping bird the surroundings were muted. She watched in silence until Sasuke had finished and began reading. She quickly realized he tried himself at a poem. Before she managed to read it Sasuke shook his head and a small flame ignited the scroll he sighed as he had to pant for a second. Without a second thought, Sakura had joined him and was about to do some medical ninjutsu before Sasuke's soft voice stopped her. "That won't help Sakura."

"But why not? You could at least let me do some diagnosis." His former teammate asked Sasuke who sighed. He made an imploring gesture like a go-ahead.

While Sakura started with her examination he answered calmly. "Be my guest Sakura, but getting possessed by Orochimaru and getting a miracle working on you to survive the whole ordeal really messes with your chakra network. If not for Naruto and the hospital staff, I would have been crippled."

Sakura sighed and stopped her examination. "I see. I just tried to help" She got closer and Sasuke made some space for her to kneel at his side. "Your pathways are inflamed but something above your live gate soothes it."

Sasuke nodded before he opened his Kimono just slightly and showed her a sealing tag. "Naruto had made that up. It collects a tiny bit of nature chakra, the seal synchronizes it to my chakra and slowly transfers it towards my pathways." Sakura was astonished. Her diagnostics showed how that process was like a protective shield between the inflamed pathways and the chakra running through them. This shield would protect the pathways from getting irritated by the naturally appearing chakra. His normal chakra would support the natural chakra in slowly healing his pathways.

"Who would have thought that Naruto would get into that position?" Sakura nodded in Saskuke's direction. The Uchiha had picked up another empty scroll and prepared his tools. He listened with a relaxed posture. "Getting back to his homeland. Rebuilding his clan from the bottom." She looked at the Uchiha with a questioning glaze. "Is it true that the Uchiha clan will stay here on Uzshio?"

Sasuke began to make some strokes on the opened-up scroll. "Yes, it is." He put the first Kanji down before he continued to speak. "Konoha seems to be cursed in some kind of way. As my mother has sworn fealty to the Uzumaki it is a good opportunity to see if new grounds can break the cycle of the Uchiha falling for the curse of hatred."

He let his emotions take over control of the brush as Sakura just sat beside him.

She looked at him as he sat his brush aside and on her silent question he gave a nod and she read aloud.

"Silent screams of pain,

Echo through the night, revenge

A bitter victory."

Looking at her former teammate she had to blink as she saw Sasuke Uchicha genuinely smile. "What?" She asked with a slight blush.

The Uchiha just shook his head.

"You want it? I got those thoughts as I remembered my old self. You know the Avenger?" Sasuke questioned while he was making sure that the ink would be dry. Sakura tried to come up with an answer. Just to be honest it was such a weird feeling to look at her former teammate. Sitting there, writing poems and self-reflecting. The Uchiha, that thought himself superior to everyone. Now, not only did he listen to advice, but he was peaceful and literally exuded calm and serenity.

"I would like to get that yes. I think I'll frame it and hang it up. Honestly, Sasuke, I don't think I could be prouder," she said with a broad grin. "Team Seven. Naruto, the leader of a new institution that really has the ability to create peace and keep it. You, a miracle of healing who seems to have found his new purpose." She blushed a little again. "And me, one of Tsunade's students and a budding doctor."

Sasuke nodded and instead of being bothered by being titled with a relatively unspectacular role like before, he was completely content with not being in the spotlight for once. "Something you've both earned." That sentence alone was enough to make Sakura's eyes widen. Sasuke wasn't finished yet, though. "If you ask me, I'm perfectly happy sitting here concentrating on getting better and, as you said, writing poetry." He had to stifle a laugh when he saw the kunoichi's expression. "Yes, and maybe I'll help the other two to rebuild our clan."

Sakura did one thing she did last after a very intensive session with Hinata. She fainted. Sasuke chuckled now before he called for one of the nurses to help her before he got back to his poems.

Naruto was disgusted. The daimyo were all greedy men who would walk over dead bodies for a little more wealth. Even if that meant plunging their own forces into pointless wars. As long as there was more for them in the end, they didn't care how many people lost their lives for it. Naruto didn't even want to mention the human trafficking they not only knew about but were also involved in. His killing intent was overwhelming and his red hair was standing on end. His sword flamed with blue flames. The King of Hell had his arm at the daimyo's throats. Naruto's Rinnegan pulsed his voice was icy cold. "The system of the great daimyo, has failed. It has failed because you are all scum together." Naruto shook his head, almost disappointed.

"Of course, there are exceptions who really try to do good for their people. Koyuki-hime, for example. You, though." He paused again before his sword reacted to his emotions and flared up.

"You are the despicable majority that I will eradicate. The Shinigami is already looking forward to devouring your corrupted souls."

Thanks to the Hell King's hands, they probably remained silent, even though they tried to fight back and escape from its grip. Clones appeared behind each of the captured Daimyo as Naruto looked at each of them with his eyes.

"Hopefully sacrificing your souls will be enough to keep you from defiling the pure realm. Perhaps he will bless all those who use their office to protect their people in comparison to you." Naruto had turned away for a moment, his eyes closed, thinking back to the moment that had made him choose such a drastic measure.

Flashback:

He had just finished questioning the last daimyo in the room. Naruto's thoughts raced from anger to helplessness as his sword summoned itself and flared up. Moments later, he stood in a room that completely lacked any precise color. If he had to describe it, he would call it the infinite gray. Before he could wonder why he was here, the Shinigami appeared before him.

"Young Uzumaki. I thought that I made myself clear?" The deep voice of the Shinigami echoed through this room. The Uzumaki looked at his sword and back at the Kami of Death.

"Shinigami-sama. I can't comprehend why those people abuse their power for such disgusting acts. How can I act as judge and executioner?" Naruto had not fallen to his knees but silent tears formed around his eyes.

"Did I not tell you why I needed someone with the powers and blessing bestowed on you Uzumaki?" The Shinigami said with such intensity that each syllable seemed to vibrate the air. "We Kami are not allowed to directly involve ourselves in the dealings of the mortal. Sure, we can bless people to do our bidding, but we can't control you or force you." It was almost as if he sighed before he continued with his explanation. "There are those that want to read godhood and leave their mortal life behind. For those, I had blessed you to give you the right tools. Now. What would need to be happening so that you can focus on training and improving yourself?"

Naruto stumbled, one of the kami stood opposite him and tried to explain something to him. That hint again, yes, he hadn't forgotten it. But didn't he have other problems right now? The war? The daimyo? The eternal cycle of hatred and greed of the humans that Kurama had warned him about?

"Exactly, young Uzumaki. All of those things are Part of what hold you back to reach your full potential." The Shinigami rumbled as he again reminded Naruto that his mind was open to him like an unsealed scroll.

"So I need to solve all of that but how?" Naruto said with a hint of desperation. The Shinigami used his dagger to cut into the void out of grey and a tear appeared. Behind this tear was something that, if Naruto were asked to describe it looked like pure bliss and paradise.

"See this Uzumaki. That is the pure realm. My primary task is to keep it pure. Now I gave you the ability to judge people. To understand their intentions. Their character. The tools needed to decide if someone is pure enough to go to the pure world or should end in my stomach." The Shinigami looked at Naruto with his endless eyes that nearly sucked you in. "You have the tools. No one else can judge someone with that much objectivity as you Uzumaki."

Naruto did not want to interrupt but the words just burst out of him.

"But why me? I am just as failable as every human. I can summon nearly every Biju at the same time. One of my Jutsu can cut down a person and send him straight to you for judgment. Why give me all this power? Why are you trusting me?" He nearly screamed at the end.

"Because" The Shinigami started slowly, "Because you never asked for it."

With those words, Naruto had found himself back in the normal world. The words of the Kami still resonated in him. He never wanted to be this powerful. He just wanted to be strong enough to protect his precious people, his family, and his friends. He was not sure if the Biju were more family or more friends but he counted them in one of those groups since he knew of their true purpose.

One thing the conversation with the Shinigami had sparked in him. Whatever he needed to be prepared for. He would bring this world peace and break out of the cycle. Only this would enable him to concentrate on himself and know that his precious people would be safe. Everyone would need to be safe. Started with the war he intended to end. Cleaning up the Daimyo courts. He would need to start small. With those present.

Flashback end

"Don't be afraid." Naruto started as he turned back. "It won't hurt one bit. Just a short sharp sting maybe." He said looking at the clones that were all prepared to put their flaming swords to good use. "You may wonder what will happen to you. Well, let me explain. First After the King of Hell claims your souls, I get all your important memories. Using those my clones will officially ask me for help in dealing with the problem." Naruto now had a sadistic grin. "In my position as a peacekeeper, I will do so pro bono so to speak. I will kill every criminal organization you ever had connections to. My spy network will be on the lookout for those that want to use that vacuum to get a part of the big criminal underworld cake."

Naruto chuckled slowly and with something that could resemble pure satisfaction. "One after another I will eliminate them. Crush the trafficking ring you put up. Bleed out every criminal organization that is trying to be organized and more than a little group of bandits. The ninja can handle those, while I will be on the look for the big fishes." Naruto stopped in front of the Fire Daimyo. "I will vet your successor in the same way. A ritual that will be widely accepted after all your misgivings are published to the populace. The time needed to collect the information and the time the Great War will take up should be the same. So, that some of you want to come clean. As you may save your family from the people's wrath as they never supported you in your dealings."

He looked into the now wide eyes of the Fire Daimyo who had stopped struggling. "Exactly I will rip your reputation apart. Pull everything into the light and warn all what will happen to them if they do not put the people first." He nodded at his clones and without another word, in full synchronization put their swords through the stomach of the respective Daimyo in front of them. The King of Hell, at the same time, pulled his hands back, ripping the souls from their bodies. Naruto closed his eyes as the soulless husks crumbled to the floor. Wordless two clones appeared.

"Sort through the memories and dispel after you are done to inform the others." Both clones mock saluted before Naruto disappeared in a crimson flash. He had to prepare for the war with the others and make sure his home was protected.

Just yesterday a group of scouts had found a big assembly of chakra that was most likely the location the enemy would wait for them. While, in theory, they should be safe that the Juubi would appear, Naruto would not underestimate the enemy. There was too much on the line.