Disclaimer: Nope. Still not a millionaire. Naruto ain't mine.

A/N: Whoo! Sorry for the wait! My laptop is busted (poor guy just died on me), but luckily I found an old copy of this fic hidden in my google docs so yay! Update! So on that note, I probs won't be able to update for a while until I get my handy dandy laptop fixed as the chapters for this fic are lost in there.

"Redemption is a funny thing. Even if we don't ask for it—even if we don't think we want it—sometimes we seek it out. In our words and our actions. Because something drives us to make right the things that we did. It's what allows us to keep living with ourselves."

- Obie Williams

Chapter 21: Wrath of an Uzumaki

The Sandaime occupied himself with slowly shifting through the giant piles of papers dominating his desk. Forget SS-class ninjas. The real threat was these white, papery devils.

Tamotsu had cooled down and was more or less back to his timid self. He squirmed on the couch and futilely tugged at his short hospital gown. Hiruzen, having sensed his predicament, had ordered one of his ANBU to retrieve his things. They'd been confiscated the moment they took him in and placed in storage ever since.

The pink kimono Tamotsu had been found in was unsalvageable, covered in blood, sweat, mud, and not to mention a giant hole. Luckily his special sealing scroll had remained intact. The paper was yellow and ripped in some places but it was still functional. He'd have to replace that soon, though.

Tamotsu placed his hand on the giant scroll and was pleased when his chakra activated the correct seal. He used the resulting smoke to quickly change and was satisfied to finally be out of the bland hospital issued clothing.

He now bore his customary jounin outfit. It consisted of a mesh shirt covered in strengthening seals, a dark grey t-shirt on top of that, and the standard jounin vest but with considerably more pockets that he used to house extra ink pots and brushes; plus it was burgundy instead of that gross green. On his back was his clan's symbol: a white swirl.

Below that he wore dark gray tights with more pouches secured around his waist that held his weapons and the standard blue ninja sandals that pretty much every self-respecting ninja owned. Because of his clumsy and trouble-magnet status, the rest of his legs and arms were completely wrapped in bandages. To top it all off was a black band keeping his hair tied in a ponytail, his precious black hairclip parting his bangs, and his forehead protector peeking out from behind said bangs. The spiral shined brightly in the sun through the slight rust.

Tamotsu sighed. He was going to miss his pink battle kimono. Maybe after all this was done he could go out and buy a new one?

"You gotta be kidding me." The seal muttered in exasperation. Tamotsu sat down and idly watched the Hokage gallantly scribble away.

"But that's m-my favorite ninja outfit. Baa-chan gave me my f-first one when graduated f-from the academy as a present." He replied, placing his hands in his lap and turning his gaze to the window. The village was beautiful, the sun high up and blazing proudly for all to see. It looked to be mid-morning. Had so little time passed since he first woke up? The day had felt much longer.

"Thank Kami that the original got burned in that katon jutsu. I don't how you can stand all that pink. Ew."

Tamotsu blinked then narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "How do you know that? That happened when I was a genin."

The voice snorted, "I'm a part of your consciousness now, gaki. There's not much to do in here."

The man winced, "Oh. That's…disconcerting…" Would he ever get any privacy?

"Calm your tits, sweetheart," Seal-san muttered playfully. Tamotsu blushed. "I'm not going to spend the rest of my wretched existence looking through every single humiliating memory you have."

Tamotsu sighed. He supposed he could live with that.

The Hokage's secretary poked her head in and smiled, her gaze wavering when she spotted Tamotsu.

"The council has been assembled, Hokage-sama. They're ready for you now."

Sarutobi thanked the woman, dismissing her in the process. She ducked her head humbly but not without sparing Tamotsu one more glance. The man tilted his head confusedly. Had he said something? No, that couldn't be it he'd hadn't spoken a word other than to thank the Hokage for his things. Maybe he knew her from his time before? No, he couldn't recall ever seeing her before and he was pretty good at remembering faces. Names were a different story all together, though. Maybe it was because he was a foreigner-

"It's your new, ahem, 'accessories'. Take out a kunai and have a looksie." The seal quipped helpfully. Tamotsu blinked and took out a kunai from his pouch. His eyes widened as he stared at his reflection.

"Oh Kami. I look….dreadful…oh my…" He thoughts teetered off as he took in his full appearance. His eye color was still that same foggy blue, but he had pupils…oh dear. The sudden, intense influx of the bijuu's chakra had given him the beast's slitted pupils. Added with the now permanent whisker-like scars on his face and his spiky red hair he looked like the Kyuubi reincarnate.

"We look the fuzzball's bastardized version of a human henge."

A meek whimper escaped his throat as Tamotsu agreed.

"C-Can you fix it?"

Seal-san muttered a few choice curses and left to go back in their shared mindscape. He went past the field of flowers and to the trees that represented the shinobi's spiritual chakra

"Yeah, I think I can…if I wrangle in the fucking stuff that's left in here, but your body has to completely get rid of the bastard fox's chakra that's already in your system first before I can start. You still have some of the gunk in your coils."

Tamotsu sighed, watching as the vulpine-like pupils became wider with relief.

The Hokage spoke up from his side and Tamotsu almost got whiplash from how hard he turned.

"Shit!" The seal cursed. "The old codger moves faaaast. You didn't even sense him."

"His sensei was the f-first to dabble in teleportation jutsus outside of my clan." Tamotsu supplied. "I suppose old age has not a-affected his skills. Besides I'm not a sensor nin."

Tamotsu felt him shrug, "Not an official sensor nin but you're not too shabby. A little training and even a pansy like you could become one."

Tamotsu restrained the urge to frown at the insult and thanked him, tuning in to the Hokage.

"Don't fret over your appearance, Tamotsu-chan." The old man said kindly. "It will not change who you are."

Tamotsu put away the kunai and nodded shyly. The Hokage was right. Just because he looked like something out of a horror manga didn't mean that he was a monster.

"Hey. I wouldn't quite dismiss that thought. You are a zombie. Or as close to one as a human will ever get."

Tamotsu deadpanned, "Thank you, seal-san, for your comforting words."

"Don't fucking mention it, brat. Can't have you messing with my rep."

Hiruzen gave the jounin a reassuring pat on the shoulder and began walking out the doors.

"It is not wise to keep the council waiting." The elder advised without looking back.

With those few words, Tamotsu"s earlier ire resurfaced. Served the group of greedy old farts right. Let them suffer. The seal agreed completely, adding in its own two cents worth of insults.

As the two walked Tamotsu remained a respectful distance away. Always staying three steps behind the shorter man. Even though they'd known each other for years the other ninja was still a kage and thus deserved his utmost respect.

The doors to the council room opened. The Hokage took his customary seat at the head of the council table. Tamotsu apprehensively sat on the empty seat to his right. He gulped nervously and pulled at the collar of his vest. Was it always this hot in Konoha?

Yes, he was still angry, but being in a room full of Konoha's most influential people would fray anybody's nerves, ninja or not. All the experience he'd collected as a diplomat mattered very little when everyone was intently watching him, trying to determine who he was and if he was a threat or not.

"You're not some random country bumpkin, brat." The seal rumbled, its deep voice reassuring in the presence of so many powerful men and women. "You're Uzumaki Tamotsu. Zombie Kunoichi. Possessor of the Kanzen Tentai. You've survived more shit storms than any Uzumaki before you and you came out as white as toilet paper." Tamotsu's mouth shook as he bit a smile at that last one. "Besides you got the Ho-freaking-kage backing you up."

Tamotsu took in a breath, held it, and slowly let it out to calm himself. Yes, seal-san was right. He wasn't just another faceless jounin. He was Tamotsu Uzumaki, fuuinjutsu master and the feared Zombie Kunoichi of Uzu.

"That's it, kitty." The seal said fondly. "Show these fuckers those claws."

Tamotsu turned his head to the side to hide his smile.

Besides if things started going south he had a Plan B. A sort of trump card if you will. He just needed some time to fine tune it.

The Hokage called the meeting to order and the room quietly settled. Tamotsu nervously fingered his hair, rubbing the strands together and taking comfort in the 'crisp crisp' sound it made. Maybe calling for a meeting had been a bit drastic? Perhaps he could call it off-

His chest pinged painfully when the seal sent a burst of concentrated chakra. Okay, you know what nevermind. He was good. He could do this. Yup. No pressure. The Hokage would have never allowed it if it had just been something he declared on a whim.

"Hokage-sama," Inoichi addressed respectfully after the silence had dragged on a little too long, "May I ask the occasion for which you summoned the council with such urgency?" His gaze flickered to Tamotsu. His face was stoic but his eyes weren't as harsh as they normally were.

Tamotsu felt a little better, knowing he had at least two people backing him up.

The redhead spared a quick look around. Most, if not all, the faces were new to him. Curiously the Hatake and Senju clan chairs were absent. Tamotsu frowned and something unpleasant stirred in his stomach, but he let it go. He would ask Sandaime about it later.

Hiruzen nodded, "Yes, you may." His gaze then fell upon the anxious form of Tamotsu. "Please, Tamotsu-chan, introduce yourself and the purpose of the meeting you requested." The word 'requested' was spoken with lace of amusement and the Third's lips pulled up into a brief smirk. Tamotsu blushed and shakily stood up. Well, if he was honest, he had practically ordered a kage around. His blush deepened.

"I can't believe I did that." He scratched his cheek embarrassedly as the entire council stared up at him. He turned to face the elderly man who simply nodded encouragingly, cheering silently. For what Tamotsu had no clue.

The obvious familiarity between the two and the Sandaime subtle fondness for the mysterious shinobi did not go unnoticed by the council, but their guard remained firm if slightly more resolved.

Shikaku studied the man, the very feminine man, closely. But what most struck out to him was the redhead's headband. He would have missed the symbol completely due to the man's long bangs, but when Tamotsu had turned to face the Hokage the action had lifted his hair, exposing the headband for just half a second. But half a second was an eternity in the eyes of an attentive Nara.

The Nara clan head smirked and settled back into his chair for a show.

"This'll be interesting." He murmured. Chouza gave him a puzzled look but sat up, paying closer attention than he had before. Years of the Nara's best friend had taught Chouza that when a Nara found something 'interesting' it would be nothing short of momentous- like watching the season finale of those soap operas he, er, his wife was so fond of.

Inoichi sighed at his lazy friend, but couldn't help but agree. Anything concerning the notorious clan of rebellious redheads was certain to put on a good show.

"Ah, yes, I-I apologize for calling you in so a-abruptly." Tamotsu bowed politely, a wavering smile on his face as he tried not to pass out.

Hiashi internally grimaced. Who was this stuttering fool who thought himself so important to call upon them like dogs?

"Okay, screw this. RIGHT when I think you have some balls you go and pull a stunt like this."

"What do you m-mean, seal-san?" Tamotsu thought in confusion. The seal screamed in frustration. Kami, he was going to kill himself, no, he was going to erase himself from existence. Why was this man so so so GAH! He couldn't find a word that had wuss, spineless little shit, and fucking nervous wreck wrapped into one neat package. Because that's what Tamotsu was. Throw him into the battlefield and he became something to fear. Toss him into a room full of people and he became the one that feared. Gah, social anxiety. The seal would never understand it.

"Just remember Naruto, okay?" The name echoed throughout the man's mind. Tamotsu's anxious smile stilled and became firm if somewhat forced. He quickly straightened, his ponytail slapping his back. Tamotsu was careful to keep his eyes closed lest they see what he was really feeling underneath his pleasant mask.

The seal smirked, "Much better."

He would right the wrongs made against his family. Starting with Naruto.

Tamotsu's whispery voice floated through the room as he introduced himself, giving the room a creepy vibe that has all the civilians gulping nervously. The shinobi in the room felt the hair on the back of their necks rise and faint alarm bells began dinging inside their heads. Their instincts screamed for them to run.

Tamotsu's smile only grew as all the pieces of his plan finally came together. His trump card was ready.

"Uzushiogakure's Zombie Kunoichi," the name niggled at the back of the all the present shinobi's minds. Even Shikaku Nara could not remember where he'd heard it from, but he knew to be wary especially when the fallen village was involved, "and the Uzumaki clan's temporary clan head at your s-service."

And just like that the room dissolved into pandemonium: people demanding proof, cries of outrage, and lots of questions.

"You damn Uzumakis and your melodramas," The seal muttered, but Tamotsu could feel it's glee as the once quiet room erupted in a havoc of incredulous shouts.

The Third Hokage's mouth twitched as he held his laughter. He allowed himself to lean back against his seat. Inoichi caught his eyes, an amused look in his eyes. Oh yeah, this was going to be good.

Danzo glanced at the two suspiciously before returning back to Tamotsu with narrowed eyes.

"An Uzumaki? And from the main family, no less." he scowled. Danzo had plotted and waited too long for some brat to shift the balance like it was some game. He was going to finish the Uzumaki off himself if he continued to pester him. Or, Danzo hid a sneer, he'd just have to sway the ninja to his side whether the other wanted to or not was of little consequence.

Seal-san shuddered from within Tamotsu's mind.

"The fuck?" He muttered. He shook his head and dismissed the odd sensation that crept up his back. He melded his senses with Tamotsu's and grinned, watching the stupid faces all around them. His gleeful cackle bounced around the redhead's mind like an over-inflated soccer ball.

"We're going to have so much fun, me and you, brat." The seal's grin spread, taking over the majority of his face. "So much fun."