Legacy of a Fox: Seven Years

A Yang Production

Chapter Twenty: All Dreams Must End

He would sit on this throne and watch the children adore his presence. He was food and water for their tired souls. They wanted to be near him, they craved his every touch. They were puppets on strings. He was the puppeteer, yet this did nothing to fill this void he was feeling.

It was present since his brother's death. How cruel was that word, death. It divided those born to be bound together for eternity, just as he and his brother should be...bound for all time.

He shot out of his seat and slammed his hand against a portrait that hung loosely to the wall. It was only a copy, yet it pulsed with the same life as the day it was created. The colors were still vibrant, the texture still ever present to soothe his pulsing hand. How weary was he of this life, fighting against this massive army that wanted nothing more than to end his existence. He would fight them, no matter the lifetimes it would take him to defeat the enemy. The war would be filled with death, but the children didn't matter as much as his beloved brother. It would always come down to his brother, always, and he would always pick his brother without fault.

"Why is it like this?" He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the painting in a vain attempt to absorbed its healing energy.

Nii-san...

He opened his eyes and lifted his head. The ever still face of a child gazed down at him.

"Otōto..." He breathed.

Nii-san, why does this hurt so much?

"Don't worry, Otou-san is working hard to find something to cure you." He placed a hand on the picture, caressing it.

But nii-san...I wish I had never been born...

"Don't say that!" He screamed, reliving those moments that drove him to the edge. "Don't ever say that! I don't care what happens, neither does Otou-san."

The voice stopped and he grabbed the frame. "Why won't you answer me?!"

It's your fault...

His eyes flew to the other child present in the picture. The face kept that smile, yet the eyes bore into his own and reflected disgust.

You let him die. Why couldn't you do anything for him? Didn't you promise to protect him? What of Otou-san, he was sent to prison to face the harshest punishment. Why couldn't you protect them both?

"I am! I am!" He shouted. "This is why I raised this army! This is why I will kill everyone for him! Naruto and I are going to make sure this will not happen again! Once Naruto knows everything, he'll gladly join me in this mission to rid the world of this filth!"

Look at yourself! What a horrible person you have become! You can't protect anything! Nothing! If your little brother could see you now, I'm sure he would run away in disgust!

"No," He shook the painting, "He would never leave me!"

Then why are you here? Why don't you go join him? Are you terrified of what lies beyond what you can't see?

His hands dropped the painting and he slumped to the floor. "I could join my brother?"

No matter how many times you try to start this, you end up failing! Always, just like the first time...when you watched everything fall in front of your eyes. What a poor child...

A poor child... His brother's voice laughed

Pathetic child...This was deeper, with authority and wisdom. Since when have you fallen so deeply into this black despair?

"Father..." He kneeled, terrified. "No, don't say that!"

Do you know not the anguish I suffered for the sake of you and your brother? You wicked child, you have no place among us now. It is your own fault you are damned to this cycle! You damned your brother, poisoned his memory and corrupted his soul! You are the reason happiness can not be obtained for you both! Do you think this time around you can obtain that which has be denied to you?

"I can! I can do it!" He yelled at the painted. "Otou-san, you don't know what I can do now! I can do much more than when I was just a child born yesterday."

You can do nothing! Nothing!

"No, I can do many things now! I don't care what must be done as long as I can achieve that justice that has been eluding us for many years. I...I am more than anyone can ever dream of. I will make you proud! Otōto..."He ran his hand over the painted face, "I'll get the revenge needed to make you love me again. I'm sorry that I failed as a brother...I'll make it up to you, I swear."

A knock on the door pulled him away from the painting, his hands still able to feel the texture of that painted face.

"Who dares to knock at my door?" He asked, throwing the door open.

A child, eyes wide with fear, stood outside trembling with a tray in her hands. She bowed her head and held out the tray. "I thought Onii-sama may be hungry. You were not with us as we ate."

He blinked at the trembling mass at his door. Letting out a sigh, he opened the door wide and motioned the child to enter. "Come in my little one." He smiled, brushing his finger against her cheek. "Forgive my tone, I have not been well."

"Do you need a doctor?" The girl asked, rushing in to place the tray down.

"No little one," he let himself fall into the nearest chair and rest his face in a cupped hand. His eyes wandered over to the painting and he frowned. Standing up, he made his way to the painting and drew the curtains over the portrait.

"Onii-sama?" The girl stood, hands folding politely in front of her.

"That is not for you to see." He replied, gripping the curtain. "I'll eat, now please, sit down child, it must have been a heavy tray."

"Hai." She waited for him to sit before she dared to even sit. His presence showered her in mix emotions.

He ate quietly, aware of the child's eyes on his every move. "Tell me, have you eaten?" He placed his spoon down.

"Eh?" The girl asked, sitting up straight.

"You look somewhat pale." He leaned over the table and placed his palm to her forehead in a calculating move.

"Onii-sama!" She exclaimed and blushed at the touch of his hand. "I'm...I...that is to say..." She fidgeted in her seat and lowered her eyes.

"I don't want any of you to fall ill." He withdrew his hand and leaned back into his chair. "If you were to fall ill, I might have to favor another for the mission I wish to complete."

"Mission?!" The girl bolted out of her chair. "I'll do it! No matter what, I'll do it. I've haven't been training for nothing! Yuri-oneesama has been telling me I've improved since I have come here. Let me do it Onii-sama, I want to prove useful to you!"

Master smiled softly, a smile that the child interpreted as praise but in reality was a cunning twisted smile. He was going to send children to battle. It would drive the shinobi of the world into a mad craze, spiraling into insanity that few would know and guilt that would devour their souls whole. The Shinobi would have been able to keep their composure within the four rooms of an interrogation room, they would lay their life down for the mission to be completed...they would do many things and not lose their stoic face. Yet, even the most well trained shinobi would never be able to withstand what Master was about to thrown into the battle. He would become the master of their mind through the children, controlling those unseen strings that were always connected to the human heart. He really was a devil.

He smiled brightly at the child's determined face. Reaching out, he ruffled the girl's hair. "Nadja, do be careful out there. Those of the Konoha village will try to befriend you and steer you away from your path. Don't let their honey coated words fool you into thinking other wise, they are vicious people who would like to bring not only you down, but me as well."

Nadja jumped in her seat at the words. "They want to hurt you Onii-sama?" She curled up her fingers into a small fist and frowned. "No, they can't do that!" She ran up to Master and threw her arms around his legs. "I'll make sure that you'll be safe from now on. I won't let them hurt you anymore."

A small chirping sound came from the hood of Nadja's overcoat. A pointed beak poked out and soon, the beginnings of a feathered crest appeared.

"My, oh my..." Master breathed as he tenderly stroked the bird's beak. "You have taken good care of your falcon...yes, I can see why Yuri has commented on your progress. Your Falcon is strong, just like your will...your heart."

The little blue falcon quickly hopped unto his owner's shoulder. Nadja giggled and let the little falcon rub it's face against her cheek. She rubbed her finger against the crest and listened as the falcon cooed in reply to her touch. It was still a very young falcon, having just hatched a little less than four weeks ago, yet its progress was most impressive. Master watched the child and falcon interact a while more and then gazed over to the empty nest in the wall. His eyes softened at the empty nest and thought of how soon he would be sending these children off to war. Already he was going to use Konoha's trusting nature to his advantage. Who were to suspect children seeking refuge? No one, and soon, he would be able to bring them down from the inside.

"Now, child, why don't you join the others? I have much left to do before I begin my medical rounds this week." Master placed a gentle hand on the girl's back.

"Okay onii-sama!" Nadja smiled, picking up the empty tray and walking out the door. "I'll see you later then!"

She scampered off towards the kitchen, a warm felling in her stomach that sent waves of joy through her body.

Master closed the door, his teeth ground together as his eyes darted to the drawn curtain. The voices had died down to a barely addible whisper.

"I won't let the memory die. Not without our revenge, otōto-kun, otou-san. You both gave up so much for me...and I gave up so much for all of us." He whispered, his fingers barely brushing against the silk curtain. "They drove us apart...they are the ones at fault for our insanity...our legacy that has lived through the many years. I don't care how many curses fall upon me, my body is just a vessel that I can experiment with to achieve our goals. I hate this world enough to be able to destroy it for you."

Feathers rustled in the background.

"What are you up to child?" Sonkei cocked her head to a side as she landed on her perch.

Master looked over his shoulder and then back to the painting. "They got lonely...and mad. I told them it wasn't my fault." He muttered quietly. "I still blame myself..." He winced in pain as his arm arm signaled the rejection of the skin transplant.

"It's your arm...the one that has taken the burden of your hate and tainted blood curse..." Sonkei sighed. "I have a gift...a so called peace offering from Orochimaru..." She flew over to Master with a dismembered arm in her beak. She laid it before his greedy eyes and bowed. "You know I would never allow danger to befall you. I would rather cease to exist than to allow you to fall."

"What do you make of this?" Master asked as he stumbled towards his medical cabinet. Inside, he was quick to find a scalpel and skin his arm. It was an accustomed procedure that only he and Sonkei knew of. The dead arm beneath the skin was the only proof of the burden he was carrying for the sake of his revenge. How much poisoned hate had he focused into that arm of his? It was decaying, as he himself, with all his medical knowledge, could not heal without Naruto's help. He needed his equal in power in order to work the cure.

Taking one last look to the arm, he pulled the skin off and slipped it onto his arm. It fit like a well worn glove. Steam rose in ribbons as it healed without a single seam.

"It seems to fit well, do you not agree Master?" Sonkei hopped onto his shoulder and leaned down to touch her beak to the skin. "It feels good does it not Master? It had been well taken care of."

"How did he know of my arm, Sonkei?" Master asked as he walked over to a dresser and pulled out his cloak.

"I was worried for your arm. The body Orochimaru currently habits is that of a wondrous medical nin named Kabuto...you have heard of him haven't you?" Sonkei gave a small leap from her master's shoulder to the drawers he left open. "I merely asked him for the arm of any person in the vicinity. When he asked, I merely told him it was for the benefit of your health. He was easy to trick into giving up his medical knowledge to improve that arm. It shall last twice as long as before."

He slid the two clips that held the cloak together, forming a crest with a small spiral on it. "Then I shall have to thank him."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Why, grace him with my presence of course. My work has started to take its toll on both Orochimaru and Itachi. They are both finding it a little harder to not come see me. They have been washed in my presence and enjoy that feeling very much so." Master chuckled and lifted his new hand to his face. He brushed his fingers across his lips and smiled. "They took a little more work but both will soon have to come here in order to quench that yearning to be near me. Today I'll make it easy on both of them. I have something they need to do."

He walked over to a large box and opened it. Inside, nestled among the many folds of purple silk was a small black stone. It was smooth and polished, with several fine lines carved into one side. The closer one got to it, the better one saw the jagged and cracked edges were it had been connected to something grater. He lifted it out and brought it to his lips, placing a delicate kiss on its smooth surface. It quivered in reaction to the kiss. He placed it on the table and watched it for another silent minute as it continued to quiver. As it calmed, the thin lines pulsed with icy blue light that dissolved into pale purple. Suddenly, a bright splash of red appeared in between the colors, at which he pressed his lips together.

"I don't want them to venture any further. They reached that precious black stone and now are touching it!" He growled. "They need to be stopped."

"Before, you said the same thing but never did anything about it." Sonkei commented, grooming herself. "What makes you so worried now?"

Master purposely ignored her comment and left the room. He marched down the hallway, the children who were wondering at the time parted to either side of the hall and bowed. Continuing forward, he found Ōgama and Yuri both with the children in the training hall. Throwing open the doors, he swept in with a flourish of his cloak and scanned the room as the children dropped on bent knee.

"Master!" Yuri and Ōgama bowed deeply. "What brings you here?"

"I am to leave for the den of Orochimaru." He replied bluntly.

"What?!" The children gasped collectively. All of them rushed towards him, their eyes pleading for him to not leave. "No, don't go!"

"I must go, I need to talk to Orochimaru-ojisan." He replied to the children and turned his eyes to his most faithful followers. "You know what it is I need."

"Of course." They replied as they silently left the room.

"I will see you all when I return."

A few children became content with the answer, but a few still did not want to believe he was leaving, even if it was for a brief amount of time. "Take us with you!"

"Children..." He kneeled down to their eye level and firmly stated, "Who will protect our home when I'm gone? You are all strong enough to protect what is precious. This home we made together, is it not precious?"

"Of course!"

"Then, protect it while I am gone so I may find a place to return to."

The children slowly backed away, knowing they had a duty to perform for the one person they loved above all else. Numerous falcons appeared from their perch on the rafters of the roof. They were still small but they ruffled their feathers in an attempt to appear bigger.

Master stood up and looked over the children. Many still had eggs that needed to hatch and only the handful of new recruits remained without their familiar.

"Be strong!" He shouted, punching the air with his fist.

The children followed suite, smiling and laughing as they went back to training. Master turned on his heels and walked out the door. He took a left and continued down the lengthy corridor, taking the second flight of stairs upward.

He could heard the cry of his creature, the one that was going to take him to where he wished to go.

"Don't agitate the poor creature you two." Master sighed a he opened the cast iron door. "It's only a small child!"

Ōgama held the chain in one hand and pulled. Yuri had a whip in hand, her falcon flying cautiously above the scene.

"Oh poor creature." Master glided over to the open cell and gazed in.

Curled up in the corner was a large falcon, several meters tall with glossy blue feathers and crystal blue eyes. It stared back with fear in its eyes, yet its snapping beak tried to prove other wise.

"It still has yet to vocalize its mind," Master shook his head, "its only a child so be nice." He stretched out his hand and placed it on the beak of the giant creature. "There, mummy's here, no need to be afraid."

The giant falcon closed it eyes and let Master run its hand over its feathered face. He gently laid his head on the creature and listened to its heartbeat. It was the result of many long nights to create a mode of transportation that small soldiers like children could ride in masses. This one was the first sucessful experiment, having hatched only weeks earlier. He ran his hands over the the feathers around its neck, where the iron collar was secured. The feathers were harder, sharper than any other feathers and he cold already see the diamond hard talons curled up safely underneath the bird.

He took hold of the collar and coaxed the bird out, guiding it to the platform above the cage. Undoing the collar, he gave Yuri and Ōgama one last command. "Look after the children."

The young falcon gave out a screech as Master climbed unto its back. It spread its large wings and took off into the air. The wind beat against his face, yet he held strong as the falcon rose up, exiting though the mountain top. The sky was clear, reflecting the good weather his home had been enjoying the past few days. Below, he could see the vast desert that hid his children and followers. No one had dared to venture out into this unknown territory, it was perfect for his plans to remain hidden.

"Let's go visit Orochimaru, okay my little one?"

The falcon cooed and after some instructions from Master, took off in the right direction.

He had not been out in many weeks, almost forgetting what the sun felt like on his skin. He had paled, yet, it attracted so much attention. He attracted so much attention...Naruto attracted so much attention. In turn, if both united, they would be the world to people...

Letting out a sigh, he allowed himself to nestle in the soft patch of down feathers right between the falcon's wings. There was hardly a thing to do as he lay, staring absentmindedly at the sky passing over him.

"Mmm..." he sighed as he slowly closed his eyes, letting himself drift though his thoughts.

Music flooded his mind, trumpets that signaled someone approaching the house. Father stood up quickly from the table and told him to go into the other room along with his brother. He obeyed, taking his brother's hand into his own and told him to be quiet as he closed the doors behind them both.

"Father..." His father calmly bowed.

"Where are the children?" The other person asked as he scanned the area.

"I'm afraid that they are resting right now, the younger one has fallen ill."

"Ill?" The man questioned. "How is it possible for those children to fall ill?"

Footsteps sounded close by as the children stepped away from the door. The door was pulled open and someone dressed in red and white, carrying a sword at its side appeared in the door frame. "We found the children, my lord."

"Bring them out here, family must always stay together...after all, family comes first." He smiled, watching the the other man across from him.

"Leave my children alone!" Father cried out, wrestling against the guards that restrained him.

Master stepped in front of his little brother, quivering with fear as his brother coughed violently behind him.

"I'll protect you, otōto-kun." He smiled.

A hand grabbed hold of his yukata and tossed him like a ragged doll. His eyes widen as jars fell to the ground, spilling its liquid contents and bursting into red flames. The white dressed figures transformed into black shadows with glowing red eyes. They formed a ring around his brother, his eyes wide with fear.

"Leave him alone!" Master shouted as he ran towards his brother. The door remained open and he could see his father outside. "Father! Help father!"

His father's face smiled sadly, tears forming in his eyes as the flames jumped, devouring the image of Father and Grandfather.

He spun around, taking notice of the area around him. The wood planks...they were not the ones he had in his home...this yukata, the silk was not the same. This was not his home...it belonged to him...

"Brother!" The little boy who was he brother cried out.

"Leave him alone!"

His body reacted without warning, running towards the boy who reached out to him.

Save him! Someone save him!

He battled the shadows, fighting his way to the young boy curled up in a corner. The flame were steadily getting hotter and higher. His skin burned from the close contact, yet his mind was focused only on saving the boy.

Save him!!! He needs to live!

He grabbed the boy and looked around for an exit, reassuring the boy with words that felt familiar on his tongue. Flames blocked the door, a dresser giving a source of life to the flames as it continued its rampage through the house. His eyes darted to the jars on a shelf, each containing medication that could set their vision ablaze with white flames. Panic settled in as he searched for any other alternative, all the while, keeping the child in his arms away from the flames that longed to consume him.

A window, reflecting the house with flames, appeared near Master. It shone with a promising gleam as he scurried in front of it. Shadows appeared, all attempting to tame the flames. He shifted the boy in his arm, pounding on the glass to capture anyone's attention. He yelled, so much that his throat burned with each syllable uttered. A single crack appeared in the flawless glass, and it spurred his energy into shattering this one single window. His reflection stared back at him, fear etched in every single feature, and as the crack continued, it spread over his face. It crawled over his face, spreading down his body and towards the young boy in the reflection. He continued to pound on the glass, discarding the fact that his strength was slipping as he inhaled more and more smoke. As he looked at his weak self in the glass, it shattered, sending him and the boy to the ground without mercy.

Wood crackled around him, the house groaned from the weakening joints, and people shouted names that he could barely hear. He closed his eyes against the warm wood below him. His body ached and his just wanted to lay and rest.

Open your eyes and look in front of you! A voice coaxed him.

He managed to open his eyes and stared into sparkling blue eyes that stared at nothing. Reaching out a single hand, he touched the soft skin of the boy and pushed his bangs out of his eyes. His hand dropped to the ground and he let his eyes close against the image of the boy.

"It is sad this is how me must perish." He whispered more to himself than to the boy. "I would love to have gotten to spend time with you, child."

You can't save much, can you?

"I can..." He muttered.

You couldn't save your beloved otōto, and now you can't save this young child. Save him, at the very least save him at the cost of your salvation! Do it now, prove yourself wrong when you said you couldn't save a single thing!

He rolled his head and pushed up from the ground.

Save this child! Your brother, whom you could do nothing for, will be reborn as a guiding light on your dark path!

He crawled towards the boy and gathered him in his arms. "Don't worry, I'll save you."

"Nii-chan..." The boy managed to whisper.

They were such comforting words, musical in his ears. How long had he remained unmoved by those words until now?

He got up, holding the boy tightly, and marched to the window.

Arms reached in and took hold of the boy. He looked back and reached out a hand. "Nii-chan!"

Ah...that's right, your name was Naruto. Master thought as he stood by the window. A beam fell, blocking his view and trapping him inside. The roof moaned from the weaken joints and caved in.

He threw up his arms and felt the heat push down on him. It covered his body and then he opened his eyes against the bright light.

He blinked several times and lifted his hand into the air. His long sleeve fell down and the fabric reminded him of where he was heading. Sitting up, he yawned and stretched.

"The memories ran together..." He muttered, "That never happened before. My head..." He touched his forehead with a single finger as he moaned.

The bird gave out a screech and started to descend. Master shook his head and waited for his falcon to land.

"Thank you," He patted the bird's feathered head as he slid off and approached the mouth of Orochimaru's lair.

He cradled his head and entered the cool cave, his eyes scanning the area for signs of the young man that trained under Orochimaru.

"Takashi..." Master called out, "I know you're here somewhere, so come out. I have not come to harm your master. If anything, I come to give my thanks."

Pressure was applied to Master's back as someone leaned back unto him.

"Are your words true?" Takashi had drawn his sword and placed it near Master's neck.

"Takashi, stand down." Came the voice of the Snake Sannin.

Master chuckled and pushed away the sword with a slender finger. "He is still very untrusting and protective."

Takashi growled as he gripped his sword and took a step forward. "And you still believe in that fairy tale of yours that you'll reunite with Naruto-san?" Master's voice whispered into his ear as he side stepped Takashi's attack. "Stick to your training, you'll need it in the coming war."

"What did you come here for?" Orochimaru asked, "I'm sure it isn't to talk to my apprentice."

"No, it's not." Master lifted his right arm and gave a small wave. "I know how hard it is to travel, so I came to you."

Orochimaru stiffened at the sight of the arm and his eyes widen. There was hardly a sign that this was the gift he had given to Sonkei to give to Master. Even he, who pride himself in his ability to affix any body part to his own, stood in awe of the abilities that Master controlled. He stepped closer, keeping the arm within his sights.

"Admiring my work, Orochimaru-san?" Purred Master.

Orochimaru nodded his head as his mouth had run dry.

"I have trained long and hard in the medical field, never wasting a moment of my study." He allowed his hand to rest at his side as he continued to talk. "My..." He paused and smiled as he lifted his eyes to look at the cave ceiling as if something interesting had appeared. He closed his eyes and smiled. "You could say that my better half helped inspire me to heal others. For him, I did my best to absorbed every single fact, technique, antidote, and theory that existed. Even now, I still busy myself, indulging in those books...all for him. Even if we aren't together now, I still work hard. My abilities are superior to the well known Tsunade."

"What?" Orochimaru breathed. "You can't really say that! I've known Tsunade for many years! Her abilities are beyond any a medical nin could ever wish for. The only other person who could have ever possibly have the right to say those words is dead!"

Master smirked. "So you heard of that child?"

"Who hasn't?" Snapped Orochimaru. "Tsunade, upon hearing the rumors, drove herself ill trying to surpass that child! She wanted nothing more than to prove everyone wrong, to show that child that she was better."

"And did that ever happen?"

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "I don't know if she had the chance. I left too soon, before that child could even walk. I only saw him as a baby."

Master turned on his heels and stared at Orochimaru. "So you saw that child with your own eyes? The prodigy of Konoha?"

"Yes, I did. Everyone in Konoha saw that child, even Itachi before his title was taken by Yashin." Orochimaru responded.

"Yashin..." Takashi spoke the name.

Master whirled around and glared at the boy. "Oh? I didn't know that you also knew that name." He smiled. "What makes you think you can say that name without much thought?"

Takashi coughed and stood straight. "Naruto used to talk about an older brother he had quite often when I was with him. I only wonder if this Yashin was Naruto's older brother."

Orochimaru crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "Konoha was proud to have someone like Yashin in their presence. There was a strong bond between those two, so I heard. Yes, Yashin was Naruto's older brother, but he is dead."

Master smiled at the comment. "So what do you make of this, Takashi-kun?"

"Then he must have not been so great." Takashi commented. "If he was so great, then couldn't he have saved himself from death? He failed Naruto just like everyone else has. I'm going to save him and bring him home so we can be an unbreakable family. I'll be his only source of support!"

Master's eyes opened wide as he took two steps towards the young man. "Did those words come out of your mouth boy?" He pointed a single slender finger at Takashi. "Never say those words boy! Have you so quickly forgotten your sins! Do you know not the consequences of your actions?" He smirked at Takashi. "Just maybe I may need to...punish you again for such foolish thoughts!"

Takashi gripped his sword and gulped loudly. Taking a step back, he felt his heart pound in his ribcage as he gazed into Master's eyes. Words, soft harsh words came flooding back to him. Sweat dripped down his face as he trembled with fear.

If Naruto knew...

If he knew that you wished to kill his precious people, he'd hate you for all of eternity.

You killed his precious Kira

You put your village to sleep

You sold your body and soul to the giant snake

Is it any wonder that he would begin to hate you even now?

He'd reject you, all of you...completely.

When he and Orochimaru had paid Master a visit, he had been the victim of a strong jutsu that poured fear into Itachi's heart. He had seen his Aniki, his face twisted with hate and disgust for Takashi.

"You killed them all!" Naruto had yelled. In his arms, he held the limp form of Kira. At his feet were the lifeless shells of Sasuke and Sakura. Faceless, lifeless people were strewn around the area where they both stood. Naruto laid Kira among the dead and ran towards Takashi, his claws sharp and tears pouring from his eyes. "I hate you Takashi!"

"Aniki!" Takashi yelled as he threw out his sword without thinking.

There was so much blood...so many tears, some his own. Even as Naruto started to fall away, sliding clean off the sword, claws dug into his skin, scarring him.

"Aniki!" Takashi roared.

"He'd hate you for all of eternity." Master's voice whispered sweetly in his ear. "He'll want to kill you, with as much rage as possible for a murderer. There is no way he will ever welcome you with open arms the instant he sees you. He will curse your very existence and lament having ever saved you."

Takashi was just a quivering mass at his feet as Master smirked and let out a laugh. "Don't get so cock boy! I didn't go hard this time, but next time I will not be so merciful."

"O-of course..." Takashi panted, his chest still heaving from the images he had witnessed.

Orochimaru scowled as he watched his student kneeling, albeit fear struck and weak, in front of Master. That boy had distracted Master from complimenting his gift!

"Ah, well, let him rest once he has recovered mentally." Master sighed as he walked around the cave. "If I'm not mistaking, I sense Itachi moving closer to this hideout of yours."

"He's coming to spar with Takashi." Orochimaru informed Master. "There is only so much I can do in battle with him."

"Oh, and I'm sure it's not so he can face Itachi's Tsukuyomi in order to stand against my illusions of the mind?" Master laughed into his sleeve. "Oh, imagine if that was true. I'm sure that you, Orochimaru-san, would also join into the training, if but to defeat me forgetting that even you could not overcome Itachi's technique."

Orochimaru gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I touch a nerve?" Master laughed. "I forget how prideful you really are." He smiled as he bought his right hand up and rested his head in it. "Still, the fact that you have so much medical knowledge stored away in your head as to help me has pleased me greatly."

Metal clattered as Takashi struggled to stand up. He groaned as his muscles worked hard to have him stand. As he dug his sword into the ground, he felt a strong hand grip his arm and pull him up.

"Stay still," Master whispered as his hand flared with chakra, "You're weak from that barrage. You've been training daily, haven't you?"

"Just a little." Takashi muttered as he felt Master's hands lay on his back.

"Ah, foolishness! How can you expect to fight in the coming war if you tire so easily?" Master chuckled as he placed Takashi against the cave wall. His hands flew over the boy's body, repairing the small tears in his muscles that Takashi had neglected in is rigorous training. There were small fractures in his bones, hardly a hindrance by themselves, however, he noted that several riddled his body. As he continued to work with Takashi, he watched the scowl on the man's face soften. Master contemplated adding this "child" into his army, integrating him into the mass of soldiers he was gathering. He was sure that, given a few more days stretching to weeks in needed, Orochimaru wouldn't balk at giving Takashi to him and Takashi would more than jump at the honor. A soft calculating smile graced his lips as he passed his hand over Takashi's temple before standing up. It never hurt to speed up the process by giving a concentrated dose of his control to the young man.

"I suspect Itachi will arrive within the hour?" Master questioned Orochimaru as he wiped his hands on the hem of his cloak sleeve.

"Yes..." Orochimaru answered after hesitating.

"How about I have a spar with this young man?" Master cocked his head as he pointed to a recovered Takashi.

Both Orochimaru and Takashi took note of the way Master had addressed Takashi. Usually he would be called "Boy" or "Child" by Master, as if the latter was greater. This was not something they could easily overlook, Master had a purpose in the way he had spoken to Takashi.

Orochimaru looked towards Takashi who returned with his own questioning stare.

Takashi licked his dry lips and looked at Master. "Why?"

"Why?" Master repeated the question and suddenly looked at the ceiling as if looking for the answer. "Why...Hmmm...I think because I want to see your will." Master chuckled as he reached into the folds of his cloak, making sure to conceal his hand as a sword materialized out of thin air. "Do you think you could kill me to get to Naruto? Would you even go against your own Master?"

He pulled out the sword and pushed off from the ground. Takashi barely could respond in time to the attack. There was so much pressure that was applied to the sword, he struggled to find a footing in the cold soil of the cave entrance. Orochimaru had jumped back at the attack, unsure of who it had been meant for. He prepared to draw out his sword should he need it, but then he caught that strange glint in Master's eyes.

His eyes were so...focused. Master stared at Takashi like a snake looking at prey. Even he, Orochimaru, could not resist feeling a slight tremor. As he kept looking on, the light in Master's eyes began to change, slowly. The look of humor mixed with interest began to shift into agitation and irritation. Master's attack began to gain speed, pushing Takashi to his limit.

"Block!" Master shouted as he brought down his sword.

"Agh!" Takashi exclaimed as he was forced to the ground, his sword clanging against a few rocks and spinning in the air before embedding into the ground.

Master gripped his sword in his right hand and stared down at Takashi. Orochimaru eye's widen when he saw the emotions change again in Master's eyes. Irritation had melted away into loathing...hate...venom...there was a murderous look in Master's eyes as he looked at Takashi's worn panting form.

"Heh." A smile formed on Master's lips as he lifted his sword. "I told you to block!" He shouted as he swung his sword.

For the first time in many years, Takashi felt like a child, helpless as he looked into the wild eyes of a monster! His sword was beyond his reach and his body could do little to protect his life.

Something moved, rather someone moved. The backside of Orochimaru was all he could see at the movement.

Master let out a laugh and jumped back as he flung his head back. "I can see why he's training under you at the movement. Very clever Orochimaru!"

Takashi crawls on the ground and stares wide eye at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru panted heavily as he held out a sword at an angle. He had been able to block most of the damage, but a split second change of course by Master had injured him. The second he saw the change, he braced himself for the pain and slowly, he let out a hiss as he dropped to the ground, his sword burying into the ground as he rested his weight on the hilt. A long gash on his left side was bleeding profusely, and Takashi could have sworn he had seen something that looked much like bone between the flexing muscles and pouring blood.

"Impressive that you saw that coming at all Orochimaru." Master gave his sword a small flick and watched as the blood splattered onto a near by rock. He ran his finger down the blade and held it up to his face. "Oh, the snake bleeds red..." He slowly approached the two as he wiped his finger on his cloak. "You're so soft Orochimaru, as to injure that body of yours."

Master stopped in mid step and brought up his sword. Sparks flew as metal scrapped against metal. He gave a small smirk and greeted his attacker. "Hello Itachi-san. Pleasure to see you again."

"Same to you, Master" Hissed Itachi as he pushed against his sword.

They gave each other a nod and jumped back, resting their sword at their side while keeping an eye on the other's movements.

"You arrived quicker than expected, Itachi-san." Commented Master as he cleaned his sword off and stood ready for battled.

"I did my best when I felt your chakra flare up." Itachi replied.

Master stiffened. "You sensed it? Did it seem...familiar?"

Itachi narrowed his eyes. "I still can't quite place it. It has a...possibility that can not be true."

"But isn't that still a possibility?" Asked Master.

Itachi lowered his face into his cloak so only his eyes were peering over the collar. He had his sword at his side and he had never hesitated to hurt anyone, including his own brother, yet with Master he couldn't bring himself to fight him again. His eyes darted to Orochimaru and Takashi, both worse for wear at the moment.

Master smiled and closed his eyes as he put his sword away into the fold of his cloak, feeling it melt into the air. He undid the latch on his cloak and draped it on his arm, folding it neatly as he did.

"I best attend to the wounded." Master calmly stated, no emotions in his eyes. "The injury is not too serious, but I doubt Orochimaru has enough skills to tackle his own wound like that."

He glided over to Orochimaru and knelt down next to the older man. Takashi had grabbed his sword and pointed it at Master's neck, his hand trembling.

With a scoff, Master glided the sword away with his hand and snapped angrily at Takashi. "What do you plan to do with trembling hands boy!"

His hand were pressed against Orochimaru's wound and he poured his chakra into the wound. Oh bother...I really let myself go here. He gritted his teeth together as the muscle fibers began to knit themselves together. He waited until the skin stretched over the gash and closed seamless before he pulled Orochimaru to his feet. "It's still going to be sore for a while." Master commented as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small container of red pills. "Takes this with food, it will help your body in more ways than just healing."

Master straighten and stretched, letting out a yawn as he walked away from the group. "Well, then," He started, folding his arms behind him.

His back was facing them, defenseless. Long sun kissed hair cascaded down his back, rippling as he walked. The cloak on his arm sway with movement, teasing them as a mock shield!

Takashi looked at the paler than usual face of his mentor and charged at Master again. He performed several seals and two snakes extended from his arm. Before this moment, he could not summon the deadly vipers, due to his uneasiness from his past experience, yet he wanted to do it because of Master.

Master threw the cloak in the path of the snakes, reacting slowly and felt the fangs sink into his arms. Letting out a yelp as he was pinned to the wall by the vipers, he saw another coming towards him, coiling around his neck and constricting. Struggling with the restraints, he let his eyes fall from the caster.

The steel plunged through the skin and flesh so easily, that Takashi had to hold onto the sword as it entered the rocky cave wall. It was fantastically warm as it dribbled down his sword and covered his arm, staining his arm in ruby red.

"Heh..." Master laughed, as he touched the sword. "You would attack me then."

Master's image rippled, replaced instead by the image of the one person who gave him the reason to be alive.

His blue eyes bore into his own and the smile on his lips made Takashi give out a cry. "Naruto-aniki!"

Itachi dropped his sword as he and Orochimaru ran towards the blond boy.

"Ah..." Naruto softly sighed as the snakes finally disappeared in a puff of smoke. He looked so delicate on the cave wall, standing tall, blond hair falling into his face...blue eyes scanning them all...his youthful face without a single distortion.

"Stop!" Takashi yelled. "Don't use his form!"

"What are you talking about, otōto-kun?" Naruto blinked behind his bangs, his blue eyes puzzled at Takashi's statement.

"It's you!" Takashi lashed out, punching his beloved "aniki".

His fist went right through Naruto's face and the image evanesced into the cool air of the cave.

"My, my, my," breathed Master from his save place on a flat rock, his legs crossed, one arm resting on his knee as he lazily laid his head in his palm. "You all really don't know when to stop." He sighed and twirled a strand of hair around his finger. "I don't want any more fighting to come between us. After all, we are working together now. I came because I wanted to thank Orochimaru for this wonderful arm he gave me. It must be thanks to Kabuto-san's knowledge that you were able to make it more resistance to my body's rejection. As you know, I'm very busy, but I try my hardest to acquire as much medical knowledge." Master stated, more for Itachi's sake than to assure that Orochimaru remembered. "So thank you Orochimaru for the gift, and in return, I will research into your body's structure so you may habit a body longer. Takashi, try to train with Itachi as long as you can so you may hold your own against the armies that are our enemies." He turned to Itachi and his face harden. "Itachi, a word if I may?"

Itachi blinked twice and nodded his head. He silently followed Master, bending down to pick up his sword along the way. Glancing quickly behind him, he saw Takashi aiding Orochimaru deeper into the cave. At the very least, if Master decided to kill him silently, then Orochimaru would try to defeat Master in order to prove himself greater than Itachi. It was a warpped sense of justice and revenge, but for now it would have to do.

"Considering there are really no rooms in this place, this will have to do." Master nodded his head as he stood in the cave entrance.

"What do you want to talk about?" Itachi managed to find his voice as he slid his sword into its scabbard.

Master lowered his head so his hair blocked out his facial features. "Itachi-san, why did you kill your family?"

"What?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.

"You were there that night when their home burned to the ground, helping to put it out, right?"

"Correct." Itachi replied, wondering where this conversation was heading.

"Then you should know that the house burned down with that child in it, Yashin."

"I know, I was present as they prepared the funeral." Itachi commented. "We could find only very little to bury."

"Yes, so I heard, but you had a reason to hate your family after that funeral." Master continued, a smile forming on his face. "You knew more than you let on or told Konoha."

"It's true." Itachi sighed, leaning back and crossing his arms across his chest. "Everything you just stated is written in stone."

"Tell me Itachi-san, if time were to be repeated, would you hesitate to kill your family once more, sparing only your brother?"

"...Yes."

"Then you had your reason to kill the clan."

Itachi stood quickly, his sword falling to the ground as he walked towards Master and grabbed the front of his shirt. "What do you want to know?"

"Who wanted that child dead?" Master spat, irritated that Itachi had dared to lay a finger on him.

"..." Itachi dropped his hand. No one had known...outside of himself. Not even the Hokage who had feverishly spent so many months trying to rebuild those last few moments. No one would know, he had vowed at one time, no one was allowed to know. He had to carry this weight on his shoulder as atonement for failing to act. Yes, the mighty Uchiha, who pride themselves as the police of Konoha, were all ready to follow blindly his father's actions.

"Itachi! Who wanted him gone?!" Master asked again.

Itachi took a slow and long breath, closing his eyes as he calmed himself. "...My...father..." was the simple reply as he pressed his back against the cave wall and slowly sank to the ground. "My father...wanted Naruto in our clan. He wanted to give that boy our family name and raise him as one of our own. All this because of the rivalry he saw between the Uchiha and Hyuuga clan. He wanted anything...a weapon...just to win." He spoke, wondering in the back of his mind why he was divulging this information to Master. Hadn't he sworn never to let these words to leave his lips? Yet, there was something that had let him, allowed him to speak to this person in front of him. "He had high hopes, twisted ones at that. I was nothing that could help him. I was gaining power, but there was nothing that tempted him greater than that boy with those powers of his. I hated him, but I didn't lift a finger to help those boys. Naruto was the same age as my brother...Yashin only a little older. Yes, that night...they were quick to respond, as their reputation was at sake, their innocence also. Throughout the night, the subtle smile never left his lips." Oh, why were his eyelids feeling so heavy?

"Your father hated Yashin that much?"

"No...he just stood in his way. He adored the child, he really wanted to have Yashin in the family also. Yes...then he gave the orders to kill him if he resisted that night. Ah...it was nightfall that they left the house, silently, when they thought the most of us were asleep." Itachi sighed, his body relaxing even more as he watched Master come towards him.

"Continue." Master coaxed, kneeling by Itachi. "Tell me, do you know what happened in that house?"

"No...I was not among those that went to the house that night...I only saw the flames and went running towards it. Yes, I still remember...the flames...that jumped so high..." Itachi muttered, falling deeper into the enchanted sleep. "I still...recall...that ash covered face...Naruto...he cried and wished to die...".

Master stayed still, watching the man sleep, as he muttered to himself. "He wanted to die...". He let his forehead rest against his arms, breathing slowly. "What have they done to you, Naruto? What tragic years did you live by yourselves?" Gently, he leaned closer to Itachi and whispered soft words into the man's ear.

As he pulled away, a smile was visible. "But of course Itachi-san, you'll forget my words soon enough." He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "What am I going to do with these children? I could leave him here to catch cold...or I could do the proper thing and at least give him something to keep him warm other than that cloak." With a snap of his wrist, his cloak floated down, covering Itachi. "There, at least in sleep, have pleasant dreams Itachi, for once you wake, you'll enter a nightmare. Never forget Itachi-san, that you're playing by my rules. This is my domain and I am Master, remember that and you'll live for many years."

Standing, he folded his arms behind him and started to whistle a song that he had not sung in years, venturing deep into the cave. "These people fall faster then flies...I really thought I would have to battle for their minds...but no matter, in a few short days, they will abandon all their dreams for me. It is tiring to be loved. Though...I could always toy with them once more." He laughed. "Takashi is always fun and easy to break."

He was a Master of many things, a demon that smiled so beautifully, even angels would fall at his feet. His victims would remain unaware of his presence, like a shadow on their minds that had strings on the end of its fingers, pulling softly, but strongly as to steer their thoughts and will. What dangerous powers he controlled, what mystic presence had he that enchanted even the strong and cold hearted. Yet, even he had one thing that weakened him, one person that controlled his thoughts...ah, how slowly the past mixes with the future.

"Mmm," he murmured, "Time is finally catching up now. I wonder...Naruto-san, do you even remember your past, the lies and truths...your brother and what he was like?" He nodded his head once. "Right, lets put the plan in action. Prepare Konoha, even the past can kill swiftly if left untouched and allowed to evolve".

His laugh echoed through the cave and left Takashi unsettled, even though the worst was yet to come for all.

-/-/-

The land was dying. It was decaying before his eyes. Even the statues of the young children began to crumble away in minute pieces. As he stood staring at the foreground, he frowned. His appreance in Konoha had brought about the slow decay of this land. The ground he stood was covered in vines that rearranged itself as he moved around. Crouching down, he ran his hand over the dried grass.

"Jiraiya." A female voice addressed him. "I thought you'd be here. No signs of improvement?"

He sighed heavily. "No, you should know that." Gripping a handful of red grass, he stood up. "I never thought that arriving here would cause something like this to happen." With out a thought, he threw the grass behind him.

Let us rewind a three days time, to the beginning of this transformation. The day itself was overcast with infrequent showers. There was noo need to be out in such unwanted weather. Of course all that mattered little to him, he'd been gone from Konoha far too long.

The guards at the gate looked up and gave a startled gasp. One ran off to inform the Hokage of the arrival of the person. The other rushed to greet the person.

"Jiraiya-sama!" The guard bowed. "The Hokage has requested that you report to her the instant you arrive in Konoha. It is urgent that you do so!"

Jiraiya looked at the Hokage tower and frowned. This had to be the first time Tsunade had asked for him with such urgency. Suddenly he could feel it in the air, the unrest that settled on the village. He thanked the guard and walked towards the Hokage's office.

"Neh, did you hear what happened?" A whisper reached his ear. "That Yuki girl was attacked. She lies in a bed near the Hokage's office. Even she can't heal the girl."

"The Hokage has been spending so much time chasing after the child. Can't she just forget him? She even sent Uchiha-san and Haruno-san after him. Its been months since they've gone." Another low voice whispered.

Just what the hell is going on? Jiraiya scratched his head as he continued his way to the office.

Moving along, he passed by a teashop and gave a quick glance inside. Two men and three women were seated at a round table, dressed in outfits that different from Konoha. The symbol on their hitaite were not of any other Shinobi village he knew of. As he eyes returned to the road ahead of him, he found himself facing more unknown Shinobi, each carrying a spear in their hand as they chatted.

"Ryū No Sai is going to be meeting with the Hokage and Naruto of Hero's village. He is hoping to get some information about Naruto-san." A guard remarked.

"Even so, he has faith that Sasuke-san and Sakura-san will be able to bring him back to the people waiting for him." Another stated.

Just what happened here? Jiraiya looked at the guards and shinobis that roamed the village. He increased his pace. Tsunade would have to explain why there were other village shinobi here in Konoha, but he had a good idea why. He had been present when Naruto took off seven years ago, but he didn't approach the boy to say good-bye.

Naruto had always pestered him to train him, but Jiraiya turned him down ever time. However, he soon enough gave in. Jiraiya looked for Naruto and found him packing. When he asked what Naruto was up to, Naruto replied he was going on a training mission with Hikaru-sensei.

"If you're doing this because I kept turning you down, then you're in luck. I've come to tell you I'll take you as an apprentice." Jiraiya stated.

"Thanks, but I've made up my mind. After I come back, I'm going with Hikaru-sensei. Its been decided." Naruto closed his bag.

"Haven't you been bugging me to train you? What's with this change of heart?"

Naruto got up from the floor, two bags in hand. One he would drop off at Iruka's place and the other was for his mission. He slipped his mission pack onto his back and gripped the other tightly. "People change and I can't continue to pretend that I'm still like the rest of the villagers in Konoha, Jiraiya-san." He walked swiftly pas the Sannin. "Secrets aren't buried forever, no matter how badly you wish they were"

In the few seconds Jiraiya's eyes met with Naruto's, he saw they were void of emotions. He stared blankly ahead, never wavering as he exited his apartment. Jiraiya spun on his heels to confront Naruto, running out to the door in order to stop the boy but he halted at the railing.

Naruto was talking to his teammates, chuckling and the usual light in his eyes. Yet, Jiraiya couldn't help but note how much dimmer it had grown. He never expected Naruto to leave like that.

When the day came, he stood in the shadows, far from Naruto's eyes.

When news reached him about Naruto's absence after a year, he took off in search of the kid. He didn't leave any notice for the Hokage. Naruto's father was a student of his and he felt responsibility to keep Naruto safe. The kid had a way of attracting unwanted attention.

Yet, despite every resource he had used, he failed in finding Naruto. Six years he spent chasing after rumors and any one who matched Naruto's apperence. There even was the occasional time he would look into the female bath when he saw a girl with blonde pigtails head in. Of course that was his only reason to peek into the girl's bath.

Defeated, he came back.

His hand reached for the doorknob and he turned it. The door swung open and he was greeted by several recognizable faces and a few new ones.

"Jiraiya," Tsunade stood from her chair, "we were just talking about you."

Jiraiya closed the door silently behind him. "Yeah, I've been busy looking for him."

He didn't have to say anything else. The silence was all they needed to know that even Jiraiya couldn't bring Naruto home. He strolled over to the empty chair placed him when he paused in front of two unknown guests. His eyes fell immediately on the young Hero's village leader.

"Naruto?" He questioned.

The addressed shook her head. "I'm afraid you're mistaken. I am Mine, the Naruto of Hero's Village." She stood and bowed. "Naruto-sama is my Village's beloved protector and Kami."

Everyone, excluding Ryū no Sai, coughed at the title.

Jiraiya turned to the grinning young man with a cane at his side. "I take it you're Ryū no Sai?"

"You are correct, Jiraiya-san." Ryū no Sai leaned on his cane as he bowed, seated in his chair. "Naruto-san saved my village many years ago. I am forever in his debt. That is why my men are at his orders for what ever battle he needs to fight. I cannot refuse Naruto's plea."

Tsunade closed her eyes as Jiraiya rapidly approached her desk. "Tsunade, explain what is going on."

"Actually, you have to explain a few things to me." Tsunade placed the cracked music box in front of Jiraiya. "Do you know what this is or who gave it to me for that matter?"

Jiraiya looked at the contraption in curiousity.

"Jiraiya," Tsunade's voice cut through his thoughts. "The Yondaime gave it to me." '

Silence fell over everyone present, but it lay heavy on Jiraiya. The Yondaime died close to twenty years ago. He was dead, Jiraiya had even seen the body. So how the hell could he have given Jiraiya this thing on her desk?

"Tsunade," Jiraiya found his voice, "that is impossible. The Yondaime is dead."

The Hokage shook her head. "I saw him. Jiraiya, he was your student, you should know him well. Tell me, did you know he was the leader of another village?"

"What?"

"Did you know he had an older brother?"

"He did?"

"Di you know that on the night the Kyuubi attacked, he left his other village at the mercy of his brother, ending in the massacre of innocent lives in order to save Konoha?"

"He let...what?" Jiraiya breathed.

"Jiraiya," Tsuande hissed as she calmed down, "that village still stands, exactly like it looked after the massacre. He was your student! Did you even know him at all?"

The sannin just stood where he was, unable to believe what Tsuande had just said. He had personally trained the Yondaime from a young age. The Yondaime had been a spirited child and a fast learner. There were few people in Konoha who gave off such a presence as the Yondaime as he grew up. The Yondaime was affectionate and loyal to a fault. He was someone you wanted to be with.

Sensei, is it possible to save many things when you're just one person?

"Tsunade," Jiraiya managed to find his voice, "tell me everything."

"I'll show you." Tsunade rose from her seat and motioned for everyone to follow. "Its best if you all know about it. He'll tell you everything." She turned to Shizune and instructed her to watch over the unresponsive Yuki before walking out of the office.

Jiraiya silently followed Tsunade and frowned at what had just happened.

"Jiraiya-san," Ryū no Sai walked along side the older man, "I have heard from the Hokage, Tsunade-hime, that Naruto's father was your student?"

The Sennin nodded his head.

"If you do not mind me asking, what kind of many was he?" The smile on his face faltered. "Naruto-san would become quiet when his father was mentioned. He refused to be called Uzumaki. This was seven years ago but, what made him like that? He was so spirited and energetic."

"That sounds like Naruto, energetic I mean." chuckled Jiraiya "His father was much like that. Minato was younger than Naruto when I first taught him, but for his age he was an extremely strong fighter. He was a genius, a prodigy, I felt privileged to teach him. Apparently his father had trained him since he could walk, but there was only so much his father could teach him." He paused and lowered his eyes. "I...don't remember..." He scrunched his eyebrows as he thought and something came to him. "Ah...I think I met him once, Minato's father I mean. He was a kind looking man. Minato and I...we had just returned from a training session when I saw someone standing in the road. Minato ran up to the man and introduced him as his father."

Minato had smiled softly at the man before turning to Jiraiya. "Sensei, this is my Otou-san!" Minato exclaimed happily. "Tou-san, this is Jiraiya-sensei!"

The man reached out and ruffled his son's spiked hair, his clear azure eyes sparkling with pride. He bent down low, taking care not to dirty his blue yukata, and spoke to his son. "Otou-san has to talk to Jiraiya-sensei so wait for me at our secret place where we eat ramen without telling Okaa-san."

Minato nodded his head and took off running. Jiraiya waved farewell and turned to face the father of his student. The sun was bright, not giving him a good look at the father. He could see short naturaly curly haired, so it surprised Jiraiya that man was Minato's father. Jiraiya raised his hand to block the sunlight and looked at the man again. He turned and rested his arm on the hilt of a sword Jiraiya over looked. It was gold with several spirals adorning the scabbard and a grand spiral at the top of a hilt, wrapped around it was a silk red scarf that held it at the man's waist.

"I wanted to thank you for watching over him." The man bowed. "He's still young and doesn't know much beyond the world I showed him. I ask that you keep watching over him when I fail to do so. There is much that will fall unto his young shoulders but it is inevitable. Even I could not understand some of the things my father did until I was in his place. My hopes lay with my son."

"...Hopes?" Jiraiya scratched the bank of his head.

"I guess you wouldn't understand." Minato's father straightened. "My son will need to work hard to not make the same mistake I have."

There was pain on the man's face, thought Jiraiya could still not have a clear view of the features, but he could feel that pain.

"My father," He continued, "before he passed away, used to tell me that parents give birth to their children by giving the a part of themselves. Our family was built on the blood of our parents. Children are born out of the blood of their parents. I now truly believe it. The love of parents have for their children can transcend time." He gave a sad sigh. "I resign myself to what ever fate awaits me. Good-bye Jiraiya. Maybe we'll meet again. I hope so."

His gave a sad smile and for the first time in the memory, Jiraiya could clearly see the man's face. He was a kind looking man, yet he looked very tired. Lines were under his eyes and etched around his eyes. He couldn't have been over 30.

"Since the chances are slim that we'll meet, I won't give you my name since you will have no need for it." He turned around, his yukata rippling and the long red silk scarf billowing in the wind. His back was that of a man who had resigned his life.

That was the first and last time Jiraiya saw Minato's father. The young Yondaime to be personally informed Jiraiya a week later than his father died.

"After his father's death, he changed...To others he was still spirited and just as energetic, but I could tell he changed. There was an intensity about him, in everything he did, I could see how hard he tried. Even when he got his own students, he seemed to hold onto this burden. Sometimes I still wonder how he seemed to hold onto this burden. Sometimes I still wonder how he kept the title Hokage when he was so weighed down by his father's passing."

Ryū no Sai pushed his glasses up his nose and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear. "Naruto-san would not allow me to address him as Uzumaki. It seemed to me that it is a heavy burden to bear, one he did not chose to take on. Who are these Uzumaki?"

Jiraiya's eyes widen as he slowed his pace. He had never thought of Minato's father until now. It had never crossed his mind until Ryū no Sai has asked about him. He tried to recall talking to Minato about his father, but it was odd.

"Sensei...what are you talking about? My parents didn't live past my first birthday. Why did you ask me about him?"

"I don't know. For some reason, I have this strong recollection that I had met him. He was a kind man."

Minato smiled and laughed. "Maybe it was a dream."

"Could be..."

"Just forget about it. You don't have a need to remember that dream."

Tsunade halted the groups progress as she turned to face them all. Jiraiya shook his head, trying to recall anything else that seemed to have gone missing in his memories, but it eluded him.

"That question, who are the Uzumaki, has been haunting us for some time. Beyond these doors lay some of the answers." She pointed to the entrance of the Uzumaki chamber.

As she passed the doors, Jiraiya gave a yelp of surprised. "How? Even the third couldn't get it open!"

Tsunade gave a small groan as the younger shinobi entered first. "A little bird told me." She smiled and motioned for Jiraiya to enter. She entered soon after.

Jiraiya marveled at the tunnels and doors that lead deep into the underground. Many families had chambers they had built and he had been in quite a few of them. However, those chambers were fairly simple with a winding tunnels. It was nothing compared to this chamber and the simple details that caught his eyes. He felt honored to be able to travel through the chamber of his former student's family.

"When we enter the next room, please watch where you step." Tsunade instructed before speaking the phrase to open the doors.

Everything was still thrown about since the last time they had set foot within the chamber. Jiraiya bent down and picked up one of the scrolls. He brought two fingers to his face as he whispered, "Release", and the seal on the scroll vanished. He watched the group as they made their way towards a black tunnel as he slowly rolled open the scroll to discover it blank. He frowned as he rolled it and gently placed it among the other scrolls. There were several other scrolls that caught his intrest, but he decided to follow Tsunade to where she was going. As he entered, he ran his hand over the gold bricks on the wall of the tunnel. Even as the floor below him moved forward, he could see the bricks gleam the entire length of the tunnels.

"Tsunade, those bricks are pure gold. With just a few, Naruto could live comfortably for his entire life." Jiraiya commented. "I've seen his apartment, I've seen how he struggles to make ends meet. All of this belongs to him. Hasn't he ever come down here?"

Tsunade frowned. "I don't think that's it."

"Is it possible," Ryū no Sai spoke, "that he refuses to take this gold for himself. Maybe there is some history behind this gold that stains it?"

Those who had been witness to the replaying of the massacre of the Uzumaki curled their fingers into a tight fist and gritted their teeth as they looked to the ground. They hadn't realized it until now, but the Yondaime had run down this very tunnel, smelling of war. Had Naruto been carried in that man's arm? How must the whole chamber appear in Naruto's eyes?

"Tsunade," Jiraiya noticed her reaction to Ryū no Sai's statement, "what do you know of the Uzumaki massacre? Was it anything like the Uchiha massacre?"

Tsunade shook as she spoke. "Worse. It was a war The Yondaime and his brother were at war that night, their armies clashing violently. Everything was destroyed. The Uchiha massacre pales when compared to this. A clan was wiped out, the Uchiha, but in this massacre, it was a village of Uzumaki. Naruto had just been born, but this was in his name and that of Yashin. It was meant to destroy a world. The night Kyuubi attacked Konoha, we lost many more lives that is recored. "She turned her gaze to Jiraiya, "I'm hoping he will talk to you."

"Who?" Jiraiya asked as the ground below him stopped moving.

Tsunade climbed down and waited for Jiraiya. The crystal sparkled as she stared out at the landscape. With a gentle push, she forced Jiraiya to step out. Everyone watched as the landscape changed for him.

The tiles above spun and reveled clouds heavy with snow. A large snow capped mountain appeared in the background with large pine tress growing on its sides. A stream ran over rocks and splashed playfully against the stony bank. Snow covered bushed appeared and shook as a large white snow shot out followed by a white fox. Noble fir trees replaced the crystal pillars and a streaming hot sprink appeared near by. Snow fell gently from the sky.

"What just happened?" Jiraiya asked in a daze as everyone "Ohhed and ahhed" at the new transformation.

Snow crunched as someone approched Jiraiya from behind. The Sannin leapt to his feet and stood in front of the group.

"I didn't think the other transformation suited you," The figure remarked, "Sensei."

"You!" Jiraiya exclaimed.

The Yondaime appeared over a hill of snow, wearing his famous flame emblazed robe. We stood with his arm crossed over his chest and his usual shinobi attire visible underneath. A smirk was plastered on his face as he made his way down the hill. He was the image everyone recalled at the mere mention of his title, strong, royal, and intimtating with his blue eyes that could see through you. As Jiraiya continued to stare at him, he noted that the Yondaime retained his youthful appearnce.

"Minato?" Jiraiya breathed.

"Sensei, you seem well. Its been just over nineteen years, right?" Minato smiled. "I take it you aren't here to enjoy a cup of tea with me for old times sake?"

"You can't be alive! I saw your body."

"That is true." The Yondaime gave a small laugh. "But in all reality, I'm not alive. I'm just using some of my Uzumaki blood to project my will. That's it." He gazed over Jiraiya's shoulder and smiled at everyone. "My, so many guests. I fonly our circumstances were different, I would have greeted you with open arms. The only problem would have been I would have had to kept you in our village forever...or kill you."

"What!" Everyone exclaimed.

"You see, we never liked to be the center of attention, not if we can help it. So we conceal ourselves when we need to." The Yondaime stated. His smile ceased as his face turned serious. "Why are you here? I saw Sensei and someone who looked to be my son." He walked past the others and crouched in order to be at eye level with Mine. "You were here last time, but I was asleep at the time. Really, you carry his face but not the fragrance of his blood in you. That and you're female."

"Uzumaki-dono," Mine bowed and took off her head piece. "I've said this many times, but I am in debt to Naruto."

"As am I." Added Ryū no Sai as he appeared next to Mine.

"Oh, it seems my son is gaining quite the following." The Yondaime chuckled as h stood and started for the shrine. "Why am I so worrried?" He waved his hand in the air. "There's really no need for me to be here."

"Tokushin..." Tsunade dared to call out.

The Yondaime froze. "What did you say?"

"Tokushin," Tsunade replied, watching as the Yondaime turned to look at her, "your brother, Hakai, called you that on the night your village was wiped out."

A smile graced Minato's face. "That's right! Most of you saw what happened." He saw the surprised look on Jiraiya's face. "However, some of you were left in the dark... right sensei?"

Jiraiya looked at his former student. "It can't be true, right Minato?"

The Yondaime sighed. "Minato is the name given by my father and mother, but I am known as Tokushin since I was in the womb. It is the name bestowed unto me as a sigh of the never ending legacy passed from father to son. The name binds me to my duty and my brother. We survive because of our name." He gave everyone a smirk. "What do you really want to know?"

"Everything." Tsunade and Jiraiya spoke together.

"Naruto's been missing for seven years, and he blames you!" Tsunade curled up her fingers. "Why did he run away? What burden is he carrying that we can't help him with?"

The Yondaime bowed his head so his bangs covered his eyes. "He is the only one who can carry this burden. Even if someone wanted to carry it for him, it would corrupt their body and mind. The name Uzumaki is not stained with blood. Naruto, his life is a time not meant to be, as are we all. Our Spiral is chaos and resurrection, while the Teardrop of our brother clan brings calamity and rebirth."

"Brother clan?" Tsunade questioned.

"Heh," The Yondaime snorted, "do you think the massacre was really just a simple family feud? There is more to my clan than meets the eye. There was one more clan that was nearly wiped out, our brother clan, the Kage clan." He looked at the snowing clouds. "They were our shadows, our other half, and their leader, the clan head was Kage Hakai."

"But isn't that..." Tsunade trailed off.

"My brother?" The Yondaime finished as he willed the snow to form several chairs and sat down, arms crossed over his chest, "Uzumaki Tokushin and Kage Hakai, doesn't sound like brothers but we...were." He rested his head in his left hand. "We are bound as brothers but took different last names. Cousins, true siblings, it didn't matter, we were all bound as brothers and sisters. It was how and when births took place that determined who were siblings. Everyone had their brother or sister, nothing else mattered in terms of family. Really, all the marriages mixed the family blood and the line between Kage and Uzumaki was beginning to blur. I married a woman from the Kage clan and Hakai-niisan married a woman from the Uzumaki clan. Yashin and Naruto are really a mix of both clans, but they each inherited unique clan traits. Yashin would forever be more Kage than Uzumaki and Naruto would be more Uzumaki than Kage. It makes sense after all because..." He stopped and yawned before resting his head in his hand. "Next question."

Jiraiya cleared his throat and looked at his former student. "Minato," He said, knowing he couldn't call the Yondaime by any other name, "The Massacre, why didn't you stay to save your village?"

Tsunade placed a hand on Jiraiya's shoulder and shook her head.

"You wouldn't understand how heavy those bond lay upon the people of my village. I slowly saw my brother slip into insanity because of our bond. It is something few people can understand, let alone accept. Even you sensei," He nodded to Jiraiya, "wouldn't understand the power our bond carries. Lives ended, I don't know if I did chose correctly or not, because I am merely a projection of all my will until my death, but I know both clans inherited the curse from our ancestors, the Uzumaki-Kage curse that binds us together. There was no end in sight, even I was beginning to lose hope. That night, I gave into my brother because for that moment, he was the sane one. The Village's wish was for normalcy, but we were a lost cause. Naruto and Yashin should have died that night too, but I couldn't bare to let that happen. They were both the youngest of our village, untainted, they had potential to stop our cycle. If we placed them in the world, perhaps they could be normal people. I put everything on Naruto's tiny shoulders."

"Uzumaki-dono," Ryū no Sai leaned on his cane, "Naruto-san seems to be suffering physical and mental changes since the death of his brother."

The Yondaime jumped to his feet. "What did you say?"

Ryū no Sai cleared his throat, "Since his brother's death-". He was cut off as the Yondaime hurried to Tsunade.

"You never once mentioned this!" He shouted.

"When I had asked you about Yashin, it was implied that he was dead." Tsunade replied.

The Yondaime fumbled around, trying to find his seat. "That's not...it can't be! If Yashin is dead...No, Yashin can't be dead. Naruto is alive after all. But they aren't together...we need to get them together now!"

Jiraiya reached out and grabbed the front of Minato's shirt. "What happens if we don't?"

The calm that usually reflected in the Yondaime's eyes vanished as panic set in. "We've hardly lost control. Without his brother, Naruto is putting not only himself in danger, but others as well. His body and mind are under extreme stress, when the time is right, the stress corrupts his body. He," The Yondaime stared wide eyed into Jiraiya's eyes, "becomes a monster unlike any other! He won't be able to distingush between friend or foe. Yashin...he's Naruto's only hope!" He grabbed hold of Jiraiya's shirt "Sensei, promise me that if Naruto goes beyond control, you'll find some way to kill him."

"Minato...are you telling me to kill your son?" Jiraiya could hardly believe what his former student was asking of him.

"If you don't do it, I'll just ask Kakashi-san."

"Do you understand what you're asking him?" Naruto's friends asked.

"You don't understand quite yet what is going on. People are alive because of my clan, they live because of the history behind the Uzumaki and Kage clan. Our lives were to be frozen in time, only so to correct a mistake. We are above the normal humans that inhabit this planet, the blood that flows though Naruto's body is proof of that. Through the spilled blood if our distant ancestors, the wheel of time began to turn for oyu all and damned our existence. That spilled blood...Naruto and Yashin are the only hope for humanity...however, they can also bring about the destruction of all lives on this planet." The Yondaime released his hold on Jiraiya. "That is why I hope not to force my hand and have my son killed. It is the last card I have left to play...even he knows that...Yashin knows that..." He forced Jiraiya to release his hold. Slowly he stepped towards the shrine. "My existence is as long as Naruto allows it, I have a strong feeling the time I face him will be my last moments...I won't allow myself to appear before you again. Say my greetings and farewell to my student. Sensei...good-bye."

The Yondaime raised his head and spread out his arms. Letting out a sigh, he closed his eyes and let his image begin to change. His skin changed to a deep red that infects his clothes, crawling over him like rapidly growing vines.

"Yondaime!" Everyone called out

The Yondaime looked over his shoulder and smiled sadly as he began to fall apart. Vines, blood red vines peeled away from him, letting gallons of bright red liquid spill unto ground. The vines shot out in all directions, twisting, turning, growing over what it came in contact with as the blood on the ground bubbled and steamed. Immediately, the ground began to turn red and the snow melted away, revealing brown dead grass. No more animals could be seen as they vanished behind the thinning bushes. The color red was spreading, forcing those gathered to retreat to safely. Two small pods were thrown into the air, hitting the panels of the dome. It splattered and hissed as it glued the panels in place. A low sigh rumbled from the heart of the vines, concentrated in the center of the shrine, as if getting ready to cry.

Nobody dared to approach the tangle of vines as it rustled and constantly rearranged itself. Several vines slowly unfurled in front of the entrance to the grounds and Jiraiya reached out a hand. The vine avoided his hand as it draped itself over the opening.

"It avoids contact." Jiraiya murmured. He took a breath and grabbed one of the vines in order to move it.

A shrill scream came as the vine reacted, ensnaring Jiraiya's hand. He pulled out a kunai and hacked away at the vine. Once fully severed from the steam, the vine shriveled and disintegrated.

"Not quite, it seems." Someone chuckled softly. A thud was heard as the speaker approached. Ryū no Sai slowly limped his way past Jiraiya. "Pleasant guarding vines, will you not let me through?" He asked, closing his eyes as he took one more step forward.

"Ryū no Sai!" Jiraiya called out, darting after the man. He pulled back at once.

The vines had nimbly pulled away as Ryū no Sai passed through, yet they had attempted to wrap themselves around Jiraiya. The crippled man continued to move unharmed and unnoticed by the vines. He gave a soft laugh as he leaned on his cane. Rustling caught his attention as he a young vine snaked up his crippled leg. He remained calm despite the yells of the others. He knew this vine would not hurt him because he had no current reason to oppose the will of this living organism that acted as a guard.

"Ah, well, I hereby resign to your will." He stated out loud, much to the surprise of the others. With that statement, the young vine hardened against his skin and molded to help support his weight. "Thank you, but I am well off with my cane." He stated, but as the vine would not let go, he only smiled, "if you insist." He beckoned Mine to enter. "I wonder if you will get by because of your face or if you resign yourself to this situation."

Mine blinked at his words. What was Ryū no Sai trying to say? Cautiously, she approached the vines.

"Do you oppose the will of these vines?" Ryū no Sai asked when he saw the look of hesitation on the girl's face "If you want answers to questions that you are not to ask, this plant will react. If you come in searching just for yourself, then its best you do not cross." His face became serious as he saw her pull her hand to her chest and look away, sighing, he placed his cane in front of him and leaned heavily on it. "Uzumaki-sama is in pain. He doesn't wish to answer to anyone but his son. This is his way of protecting himself, that is why our intentions cause this plant to react. I merely wished to see if I could cross. I carried no opposition to its will and I only waned to prove my theory. Jiraiya-san, Tsuande-san and everyone, no more questions about Naruto-san. Resign yourself for the time being."

"But..." Tsunade trailed off as she saw Ryū no Sai shake his head. "Damn it all!" She punched the wall and felt the skin of her knuckles break. The good wall had a smear of blood where her fist collided. Pain shot up her arm and she visibly winced. Clutching her fist, she growled. "Wait, wait! I'm sick of waiting! Is that all we're good for?" Tsunade angrily stormed down the tunnel by foot, cursing and punching the invincible wall for empahsis.

Everyone watched the retreating figure of the Hokage and they all quietly hung their head. Ryū no Sai gazed at the heart of the vines

"Uzumaki-sama, if the wound pains you so, why do you not let it heal?" He murmured, following everyone down the tunnel. As he left, he heard a faint rustling and the very faint sound of someone sobbing. "Rest well, I am sure in time the wound that separates you both shall heal."

The moment Tsunade returned to her office, she hurried to check on Yuki. The girl lay unresponsive, clinging to life. Tsunade looked at the girl and started to check her vital signs when s a guard's voice in her office distracted her from her duties.

"Hokage-sama," the guard called, "you must come at once"

"Can't you see the Hokage is busy attending to Yuki-chan?" Snapped Mine.

"This concerns the girl!" The guard protested. "This is a traveling shop at our gates. Two female travelers have come seeking an audience with you, Hokage-sama! They insist that the Hokage is waiting for them."

Several voices overlapped as the guard was bombarded with questions.

"Is it a young girl?"

"Hai."

"Wearing a silver kimono?"

"Hai."

"Does she have silver-white hair and icy-blue eyes?"

"Hai!"

Tsunade threw open the door and stepped into her office. "Is her name Tsuki?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Send them here at once. It is about time."

With a bow, the guard rushed out the door with the Hokage's order. He hurried down the road and gave the gate keeper the signal to allow the travelers in. A large horse drawn shop pulled forward, two females sitting in the driver's bench. One wore a sky blue kimono with a white dragon snaking over the fabric. Next o her sat a young child dressed in a silver kimono with a silver dragon twirling over the fabric. People stood in awe of the travelers, whispering to each other. The traveler's eyes darted over the crowd, one watching the people in observation and the other in evaluation.

The eldest of the two, Sora, frowned. "This is the place alright. I remember it clear as day. I wonder if the people still emit that feeling of hatred towards Naruto?"

The youngest smiled. "It is Naruto's will. He considers this place sacred because this is where his beloved Onii-chan lived and died. The people Naruto-dono cares about are here and soon more will join those. It's our duty to protect them."

Sora frowned. "So...what you're saying is that protecting Naruto's precious people is our duty?"

"Hai."

"Then, if something were to happen to the villagers, we wouldn't be neglecting our duty." Sora smiled, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"No...That's not what I meant." Tsuki commented as the cart continued down the road. She looked at the children that ran at the sides, smiling at their behavior "I may be young but from what I've witnessed, this world is full of many wonderful people. They make it worth protecting. I want to protect their smiles."

Sora released the reins and jumped to the ground as the shop slowed to a stop. "If only these people realized what Kyuubi was or who Naruto is, then I wonder if they will change enough for me to truly want to protect them. It is still hard for me to trust Sasuke-san and Sakura-san."

"For you to be truthful as you say their first name means you like them quite a bit." Tsuki climbed down. "You say you hate them and you doubt their strength, but not once have you stated they would fail in brining Naruto back. Coming from you, this is an honor for them both."

Sora only walked towards the entrance to the Hokage tower. "Let's go see this child by the name of Yuki." Walking up to a guard, Sora smiled. "The Hokage is waiting for us. I am Tsubase no Sora and the girl with me is Tsuki."

Tsuki gave a short bow and smiled. "May we be allowed to speak to the Hokage?"

The guard stammered and found himself sinking into the nearest chair. His legs had given out from their beauty and he felt his head spin. A hand was on his shoulder and a cool hand was pressed against his forehead. Icy blue eyes looked at him in concern.

"What did you do to my guard?" The Hokage's voice came clear through the cloud in the guard's head.

Tsuki turned around and saw the Hokage stand in front of the tower. She quickly stood up and was about to bow when she felt Sora's anger.

"Considering who we are, this is normal." Sora replied, the angry edge to her voice sending a shiver down Tsuki's spine, "It's in our orders to not let people get hurt. Naruto wouldn't be pleased."

Tsuki, fearing that both women would begin to fight, stepped between them and held up her hands. "First, no fights. We're both working for the same purpose. Naruto would be sad if he found out you were both fighting. Poor Naruto-dono," Tsuki wiped away a fake tear, "to see his face when I tell him that his favorite people are fighting each other. How sad will Kyuubi-dono be at Naruto's grief." She saw Sora relax and slowly unclench her hand. "To think that we were fighting when we could have been saving Yuki-san. What should I tell Naruto-dono when he asks about his beloved Yuki-san?" Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Tsunade's jaw relax and turned on her heels. Giving a sigh of relief, Tsuki slowly walked over to the Hokage. Since the last time they had contact, Tsuki could see the lines of worry had become more profound and her face had become paler. Tsuki only wondered if the Hokage knew of Naruto's whole burden, would she finally look her age from all the worry?

"Hokage-sama," Tsuki bowed, "forgive my lateness. There were other matters I had to attend to and other people that had to be dealt with."

"I don't care for excuses, I just want to know if you can heal the girl." Tsunade snapped.

Tsuki remained unfazed by the Hokage's tone of voice. "I can help her, but there is hardly anything I can do about the stolen time. Only the Shinigami can return that," Her eyes narrowed before she added, "if he pleases. I have little power over him, but if Naruto were to...speak to him, I am certain things will turn alright."

Tsunade nodded her head once and beckoned the girl to follow her up to where everyone was gathered. Several of those gathered have had the privilege of meeting Tsuki, but they remained wary of the girl. She was powerful and considering the quality of her clothes, she was of royal standing. Then there was Sora, who had a sharp tongue along with a fiery attitude. The Hokage had the strongest feeling that she and Sora would be clashing quite often. A headache threatened to come full force as she opened the door to her office.

Those inside stood as the door swung open, their eyes flying past the Hokage to the child within the door frame. She still looked so delicate like a porcelain doll in finely crafted clothing. The girl's companion leaned on the door frame and folded her arms across her chest as she looked at everyone in turn, her eyes searching for something more than just what was readily visible. Each became rigid as Sora's eyes passed over their body. Tsuki threw Sora a look and the older companion simply closed her eyes.

"It is a pleasure to see you all."Tsuki bowed. "Forgive my friend, she has issues with our current mission. I am aware that many of us here met under extreme circumstances, but there are new faces in this crowd."

Introductions were exchanged, much to Sora's displeasure, and everyone settled into chairs as Tsuki was led into another room. Tsuki gave Sora a pleading look at which Sora sighed while crossing her arms again and followed the young girl to attend to the unconscious girl. Silence fell over Tsuki and Sora as they spotted the girl.

Yuki lay on a white bed with a blanket covering her body. Several machines monitored her body's activities. She was alive according to the readings on the screens.

"She's been like this since that day in the village." Tsunade commented.

Tsuki leaned over the girl and smiled faintly. She touched the girl's cheek and took careful notice of how cold she was. Her hands flared with silver light as she placed them over Yuki's abdomen. Sora stood at the head of Yuki's bead, her own hands covered in rippling silver light. Tsuki nodded and Sora placed her hands on either side of Yuki's head. They worked silently, concentrating on matching the rhythm of the girl's body. The still air of the room began to spin as the two emptied their mind and poured their power into the body on the bed. Tsunade had to shield her eyes form the bright light radiating from the bed side. The door rattled violently and panicked voices approached the room.

As the door fell to the ground and people poured in, the air calmed and the light dimmed to a pale glow. Sora and Tsuki had their eyes half closed as their hand remained on Yuki. What surprised everyone present was that Sora and Tsuki were hovering sevearl inches off the ground

"The flickerin light of life within the child before us, will you burn brightly? Though time is short, she lives with a will as strong as any metal and a love that burns beyond the radience of the sun." Both females stated.

Their feet touched the ground as the glow faded awa. They gave a sigh and streched just as Yuki's eyes snapped open. She sat up and let out a gasp.

"Yuki-chan!" Mine exclaimed as she threw her arms around her friend. "Oh, you had me so worried! How are you feeling?"

"Like stepping out of a cold shower." She shivered against Mine's warmth. "A very long and cold shower. I was so scared...I could hear all my fears..."

"Shh..." Mine ran her hand over Yuki's hair. "It's okay. Your sister is worried sick. I'll bring her in later."

Sora coughed and held a cup of steaming golden tea. "You may be out of danger, but you still have to recover your strength.

"Who are you?" Yuki asked, eyeing the tea with suspicion.

"Tsubasa no Sora, or Sora for short, I'm a healer." She replied, pressing the cup into Yuki's hand. "I've personally assisted Naruto-san, he'd have my head if I let harm fall unto you. Worse yet if I didn't tend to you, his beloved Yuki."

"Have you any news of Naruto-san?" Ryū no Sai asked Tsuki opened her mouth to speak but looked away. "He...is as well as he could be at this time. Planning a war does tend to drain one. Naruto is in our every thought. There are a few lose ends he needs to deal with but he states that soon we will all need to fight for our existence."

"What kind of war is this?" Jiraiya asked.

Sora stepped in and answered in Tsuki's place. "One where the existence of earth depends on the Victor. Really," She scoffed, "how clueless are you? Haven't you been warned enough? Haven't you been told over and over again that this war could kill more than just the people on this planet? Naruto and Kyuubi-san are fighting a force beyond your contemplation. You should be thankful that they're fighting for your sake. They are completely forsaking themselves in their quest to protect you."

"Sora!" Tsuki exclaimed as she placed her hands on Sora's shoulders. "Calm down. Keep your voice down. Sora, I don't care what your personal feelings are in this matter but we have our orders to protect them." Tsuki turned to the Hokage, got down on on her knees, and gave a three-finger bow, "we are at your service, both of is. Until the war is declared finished we will remain here to protect you."

Before Tsunade could reply, Sora coughed. "So formal, Tsuki, but even here in this village we need to be careful. Naruto is sure that the opposing armies may try to slip spies into the village. There is the strong possibility that a villager may even betray him." She closed her eyes and recalled the events form the last time she had set foot in this village. "There is no Yashin-san to protect him at the moment."

"Wait!" Yuki breathed, "is Naruto coming back?"

Tsuki and Sora's eyes locked. They nodded their heads and replied, "It has been said."

The news was greeted with cries of joy. Everyone reassured each other that hey had heard right and many exchanged hugs or high-fives.

Jiraiya dropped to the ground and let out a long sigh. His student's son would returned to his village and everyone would band together to protect him. Just as he was about to join the others in their celebration, he saw the sad expression on Tsuki's face. She sighed and, as he blinked, disappeared.

"More loss..." Her voice floated from behind him, "Once there was a man who lost so much in such a short time. Jiraiya-san, do you know that Naruto's father suffered the loss of his son the instant Naruto was born? Just as his father mourned for him, Naruto will mourn for his son should he ever become a father The endless cycle has brought a determined destiny to a child of that clan. When ever the child is born, everyone knows the death day of the child. The birthday of the heir is the death day of the current heir. A life for a life. What kind of family is this?" Tsuki stood and looked down at Jiraiya. "When the war begins, it begins in the silent shadows and no one can be easily declared a friend. We must be careful or else the same betrayal will befall our leader. What a horrible dat it is when one's own family betrays."

Tsuki rose and walked over to the window. In the distance, storm clouds gathered. She beckoned Sora over and pointed to the grey clouds.

"Not me," Sora replied, "it's them. They want to summon me."

"Defy them." Tsuki replied, looking at Sora, "there is no need to speak to them any further. Taiyou has already spoken to them. It's useless. We've no choice but to remain here in order to protect these people." She looked at all the people in the room and smiled faintly. "They are children born yesterday. Let us make sure they grown to a ripe old age."

"Hey!" Ino exclaimed. "Everyone here is nearly twenty! We are much older than you! You're the child here."

"How old do you believe me to be?" Tsuki wiped away a tear as she calmed her laughter.

"Twelve?" Ino guessed.

Sora was curled ip on the floor, laughing and crying at Ino's guess.

"First, no, I'm not twelve despite my appearance. My true age..." She smiled as she closed her eyes, "well, I am much older than even the Sannin present."

Everyone stood in stunned silence. Sora's face was flushed as she stood up and chuckled. Running her hand through her hair, Sora placed her arm around Tsuki. "And I'm that much older. 87,000 years and counting, yet I don't look anything over 20,000."

"More like 30,000." Tsuki mumbled.

"Tsuki here is only 11,000 years old." Sora commented, making Tsuki turn a light pink. "Still only a child." She ruffled Tsuki's hair and started for the door. "I'm going to patrol the boarder. Damn loyalty is starting to eat at my duties." She slammed the door behind her.

"We've already have guards patrolling" Tsunade commented.

"Yes, but Sora is the best at Shinigami hunting." Tsuki replied. "She can protect against unnessesary death. You all were allowed to see that Shinigami because of all the gathered energy that surrounded the death of that village. Out here, Shinigami are invisible to the human eye That is why death is so unexpected. As of late, the Shinigami have become quite active. We are here to protect this village. In turn, they'll go else where to hunt. Your village is truly indebted to Naruto-dono. It pained him to place another village in your steed." She gazed out the windo, spotting Sora standing on a building with her staff in hand. Naruto-dono, all the pain that causes you to cry is done in the name of life. Stay strong, please.

A pair of hands settled on her shoulder. Mine smiled softly. "I'm sure it will work out for him."

"Nothing is ever certain." Tsuki slid open the window. "Jiraiya-san, Tsunade-san, please until Naruto's return to his rightful place do not force yourself into the sancturary of the Uzumaki-Kage underground. He is the leader of that village, regardless of its current state." She pulled herself though the window, the sleeves of her kimono fluttering behind her as she sailed through the air.

Jiraiya let out a chuckled. "What interesting people Naruto has decided to call allies." He turned to face the others. "We can;t let them have all the fun, let's get going. There's a lot of training to do."

The group agreed.

"I want you to have Tsuki teach you how to combat these creatures. Ask her to watch over the Academy. Report any suspicious behavior to me, regardless of who the person may be. I don't want to take any chances, do I make myself clear?" Tsunade asked.

"Hai!" The leaf shinobi nodded before departing out the door or window.

Mine, Ryū no Sai, Yuki, and Jiraiya all remained behind, observing Tsunade as she paced back and forth in the room.

"Sasuke and Sakrua should have gotten my message. They'll be heading for Suna soon. The sand is our ally, we cal cll on them if needed. Gaara would appear in a heartbeat if Naruto asked for him." Tsunade mumbled. "Everything revolves around Naruto."

As Tsunade contined to pace, plauged by worry and fears, the others porcessed the information given. Ryū no Sai and Mine thought of their own troops, all willing to lay down their lives for Naruto. Even they would be willing to die for him. Their lives were not enough to repay Naruto for all he had done for them.

For from their thoughts, a Shinigami landed on top of Hokage moutain, his raven familiar scanning the crowds below with its thrid eye. A cold, round metal object pressed against he bast of his skull, yet this did nothing to faze him.

"You're pretty bold Shinigami-san, to just appear like this in Konoha." Sora purred. "Why are you here?"

"He's going to do it." The Shinigami replied. "He's going to give his body to the Shinigami. They have finally reached a decision. Everyone, excluding myself voted to accept his offering. They will follow him as long as their bellies are filled. I weild no power over them in this form. Few are the ones who even recall another form but this."

Sora pulled her weapon away and let out a scoff. "At least pu up a fight No wonder Naruto gets annoyed with you. You really are a disgrace ven I would be shamed if I had to call you m-". She was cut off as the Shinigami punched her squarly in the stomach. Sora felt herself slam into several trees and smiled as she fell to the ground. Wiping the corner of her mouth, she let out a whistler. "Not that's more like it!" She twirled her staff and pushed off against the ground.

The Shinigami spread his wings and took off into the air. Behind him he could hear Sora gathering speed He turned in mid-air to face his attacker but only found empty air behind him.

"Behind you!"

The blunt end of Sora's staff collied with the Shinigami's head, letting out a sickening crack. He spiraled down to the ground in a mass of black feathers. His wings spread open, softening his landing.

"Damn Sora!" He cursed. In one single fluid motion, he reached out and stopped the staff in mid-attack. He saw her smile and he let out a roar as he slammed her to the ground. She landed on her back and let out a gasp of pain. He ground his teeth as his hissed from the heat the staff was generating in his hand as a fail save should it ever end up in hands other than Sora's, burning through his glove, yet he did the best he could to hold onto it. "Is there a reason you want to fight me?"

Sora jumped to her feet and dust her kimono off. She face the Shinigami another one of her twisted smiles. "No particular reason, it's just you."

"Don't attack people like that!" The Shinigami threw her staff. She caught it and twirled it behind her back.

"Isn't this a beautiful village?" Sora asked. "Do you find comfort in this village that is not yours? It is now his village, by being here in that form I have every right to kill you. It would do him a grand favor, he probably wouldn't shed a tear for you. Who would cry for this pitiful creature that you've become? I've heard you were going to become the King of Shinigami, but you remembered far too much. You're less Shinigami than I. Tell me, Shinigami-kun, what makes you believe that Naruto will ever forgive you?"

The Shinigami smiled softly and mouthed his answer, watching as Sora's eyes grew big.

"So what? That only makes everything worse. Just because you're..." She bit her lips and glared, "You fear him! You're so scared of him that you bow before him, trembling and unable to move. How can you even call that a relationship and bond?"

"What I decided to call a bond is up to me." The Shinigami replied.

"Why are you so desperate, holding unto the past. Why are you refusing to just let your fate consume you?" Sora asked in a low voice.

"Just like Naruto wants to defy his, I want to see how far I can go." The Shinigami spread his wings and looked over his shoulder. "That girl, Yuki, is she fine?"

"Tsuki looked at her. You know we can't replace stolen time."

The Shinigami placed his right palm upward. The wind died away in a radius of three feet and the pressure increased. Sora was quick to note that if any human were to have stood next to her, they would have suffered greatly. The Shinigami ran a finger down the length of his palm, outlining a cross encased in a diamond. He waited until the outline started to glow pale blue before he, in rapid succession, he wrote symbols that only another Shinigami would be privileged to comprehend. His hand flared with bright blue flames that left a trail of faint light as his hand moved. He slammed his hand to his chest and turned his face skyward as the flames hissed and steam rose. His fingers curled into his chest and he let out a strained hiss.

"It's painful." Sora remarked as she put away her staff.

A tiny droplet of rainbow colored liquid appeared as he retracted his hand. He pulled out a crystal flask and placed the droplet in the bottle. Corking it, he tossed it to Sora.

"Mmm..." Sora held up the flask to the sun. "Human time is very pretty and fragile. How many years did you take from her?"

"Just enough for me to survive until a more suitable candidate appeared." He panted.

"Will you be fine without this?"

In response, he unfurled his wings to their full extent. They gleamed with a silky look. His raven familiar perched on his shoulder. grooming itself with pride, its third eye staring at her intently. "We'll manage."

Sora pocketed the flask and crossed her arms. The wind whipped by her as the Shinigami took to the sky.

"I hate you, you know!" Sora shouted after him. "Don't let those Shinigami within fifty miles of here!" She watched him fly for only a few more seconds before she backflipped from the cliff and landed among the spikes of the forth Hokage. She gazed out at the village and lifted her hand skyward. She spun her arm in a wide circle, watching as the clouds gathered and turned black with heavy rain. Thunder rumbled in the sky as Sora's hand shook. There was a bottled hate that she needed to release. This village, she hated to be in it. The Shinigami...she hated him. Regardless of the warning she had given the Shinigami, nothing would have pleased her more than to offer this village on a silver platter. Even now, with just a few choice attacks, she could extract revenge for Naruto. Lowering her hand, she let out a yell and directed the lighting to an innocent tree.

"Damn this village!" She kicked the stone before allowing the rain to fall. She jumped from the Hokage monument and hit the ground running. She hurried to the Hokage's office, trying her best not to "accidently" kill anyone on the way there. Tsuki was sure to scold her for this little show. The Higher ones were sure to hunt her down for joining Naruto.

As she entered the busy streets, people were running, trying to pull their goods into the dry stores or scrambling to find shelter. A father and his young child were seeking some kind of shelter. They huddled together, smiling as they waited for the rain to cease. A handful of young children, dressed in warm jackets and rubber boots, splashed along the puddles under the watchful eyes of their cautious parents.

"Come inside, it's starting to look bad!" One of the parents ushered their children into the house.

Sora reached for the chain around her neck and calmed at the touch of the cool metal.

The guards nodded as she appeared at the door, she only gave them a thin smile before entering the Hokage's office. Sinking into the nearest chair, she looked at the tense Hokage.

"What?" Snapped Sora.

"Did you walk in the rain?" Tsunade asked, pointing to several wet spots on Sora's kimono.

As Sora opened her mouth to respond, she groaned and slapped a hand to her forehead. "Shit! Here she comes."

"Sora!" Tsuki's shrill scream came above various other voices.

Tsunade shoot Sora a look and Sora only rolled her eyes.

"What kind of storm did you make?" Tsuki threw open the door. "I was advising the others at the acadmey when the storm was unleashed! Everyone had to clear out and...lighting! Sora, lighting! Hail the size of my head! What are you thinking? You could kill someone with this kind of storm!"

"Nothing...I wasn't thinking at all." Sora replied, leaning on her arm.

"I hope you plan to clean this mess up!"

Sora shrugged her shoulders and accepted the towel a guard had given her. She wrapped herself in its fluffy warmth and sighed. "Tsuki...it rained red tears that day. I remember that much."

"Oh..." Tsuki paused and looked at Sora with a pitful look. "Still, you can't unlease a storm like this on Konoha."

Sora sat in her chair with her towel covering her head. "I'll try."

"You brought about this storm?" Tsunade raised any eyebrow. "Can you really do that?"

Sora scoffed. "You have seen so much, includeing a dead Hokage in his prime, and this you can't believe at all?" She held up her palm and stared at all the wrinkles and creases on her skin. Everything about her appereance screamed human to this world. "I am Sora. Tsuki is Tsuki."

"We know that." Tsunade replied.

"No, what I mean is that I am Sora, the Sky. Tsuki is Tsuki, the Moon. Think about it. Sora, Tsuki, Taiyou..." Sora nodded, "and of course my older brother. Can you guess his name?"

"...Daichi?"

"Yes, Earth." Sora replied. "We are embodiments of our respectable posts. Normally we remain in our posts, watching and reporting to those higher up on the chain. Kyuubi was already in power when I was born, as were his siblings."

"The other tailed beasts?"

"No, no." Sora shook her head. "At that time they had not yet assumed those forms. Something happened to force them to accept and even embrace those forms. Kyuubi did something unacceptable, going against the conditions that he had agreed to. I was very young then, even younger than Tsuki, I think about 1,000 years or less even. I t was something so Natural to happen, yet it was labeled wrong."

"What did Kyuubi do? What happened?"

"He got lonely."

Everyone turned to look at Sora, ready to listen to every word she had to say. She gripped her towel and bowed her head.

"Sora," Kyuubi's voice resonated in her head, "look! Come meet them."

She had been privileged. She met him and remained enchanted by him. One could sum it up as love, but it ran deep and allowed him to turn to her in this time of need.

"He...he created children, and he was punished dearly for their existence."

-/-/-

A wind swept over a large sand dune. Sand began to fall away as something stirred beneath. Corse cloth appeared, blending perfectly with the sand. A hand reached out and the person let out a long held breath as its head shot out. Red and yellow hair poked out from underneath the hood, the tips a faint purple. A handsome fox's tail flicked sand into the air as it emerged from the sand. Claws dug into the sand, trying hard to find some friction as he struggled to pull himself from the sand. He coughed and spit up a mouthful of sand. With a strong heave, he was out, resting on all fours in the sands.

"That was unpleasant." Naruto murmured as he dusted his cloak off.

"Any body parts missing?" Kyuubi asked.

"I'm intact." Naruto replied. He looked up at the cloudless sky, his eyes taking in the bright sun. A dark winged creature circled above him and he smiled. "He was waiting, just watching for any signs." Naruto pulled out a heavy gold kistune mask and fitted it so the short snout did not hide the the smile on his face. Rummaging in the sand, he pulled out a wooden staff and began to walk over the sand. "Death in some ways is never as romantic as portrayed. People want dignified deaths, but it is a shapeless dream."

"Keep walking, this body will only carry us so many days out here before it will shut down again and we die." Kyuubi sniffed the air. "If we want to give those two a fighting chance, keep walking."

Naruto touched the swords at this side and nodded his head. "The war has started. Kyuubi..."

"What is it?"

"Do you think we'll find your body? Or those of the others?"

"Maybe. It would help our side if we all could find our true bodies...it would help me."

"You wouldn't be driven insane by the smell of the world's people." Naruto commented as she struggled over a particularly large sand dune. "How does it feel?"

"...When I was punished, I was instructed to kill them. Can you imagine being told to kill what you had a hand in creating? Then I found that their faces had been stolen away and their blood used for others. Can you imagine seeing a child that you loved but it was not the same child? Their smell, their faces and actions, even the words they spoke, it all ate away at my mind. In my mind, they were will out there somewhere among the impostors. I just had to find them no matter what it took. That was part of my punishment that they placed on this body. I have killed so many in my unsound state of mind. Only when I'm within this familiar blood can I regain clarity. Its been nearly twenty years. We have only a little time left before the cycle begins again."

"Kyuubi...if we return you to your body, what will happen to me?"

"..."

"Will I...die?"

"That...you'll weaken, but I can't say you'll die easily."

"Good, I have many things I still want to do."

The sands shifted and a low growling could be heard. Naruto's hand grazed the swords at this side and his eyes landed on his left arm.

"You can use that weapon, but the one I gave you will suffice. But first, you can't let the vultures who found your body live. It is an unnatural state."

Naruto raised his hand, curled his fingers into a fist, and swung his arm down. Dark winged creatures plummeted into the sand around him as a gentle mist of red coated the sand. Naruto drew his sword and placed the tip into the grains. Blood moved towards him, snaking over the sand away from the corpses, gathering in a wide ring around his feet. It covered his feet, long since mutated to resemble the hind feet of a kitsune, buring to his skin in elegant designs. He opened his mouth as his fangs grew and his eyes turned a red that rivaled his own blood.

Scales, he could clearly see scales as the last design settled around his eyes. There were sharp teeth, itching to tear into his soft body. The creature's many eyes locked with Naruto's and it flicked its tongue out. It looked just like a very giant lizard...that towered ten feet above Naruto...with two heads...and poisounos barbs running the length of its tail.

"To carve a path for them to fight!"

Sand sprayed into the sky, blood mixing in and small pieces of flesh. Though the victor need not be mentioned, this would be the first of many long battles to come.

For hope, for love, for friends and family, take the sword and carve a new destiny!

Yang-chan: Sorry for the long delay, college is merciless! So, what do you think? Have you changed your opinion about certain characters? Oh, what is going on with Naruto and Kyuubi in the desert? Who sent that monster? Is Yashin alive or dead and why was the Yondaime so upset? Next chapter!: Sasuke and Sakura say good-bye to Kira and head off to Suna, but are they really alone in this journey? What about Orochimaru, Itachi, and Takashi, what role will they play next? And what of Master who saw into the memories of Yashin on that fateful night? What will Sasuke do when he finds out why his brother killed the clan?

On a different note, I saw someone on campus reading some fanfiction and I got to thinking how odd it is that we might cross paths and never know it! Ah, last time I'll promote it, but I do have a forum for this story. However, it may be deleted soon since I have hardly a need to check it, no new posts. Just a heads up in case you want to talk on the forum and find it missing.