Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Troublesome ❯ Chapter 2

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: I'm updating this sooner than I anticipated, but blame it on the current events in the manga. There will be an Adult Fan Fiction version of this fic later on as there are a few lemons I plan for it, but I'm not putting them on here, so sorry for all those who wish to read them. I now just noticed that my entire summary didn't fit in the space allotted to me, so the pairing didn't show. The pairing is Naruto/Nibi for all those that didn't look it up on my profile. There is a bit of foreshadowing in this chapter on what the future holds. I do have to thank Kishimoto for showing me what he has of lately, as it will help for this fics future. Though he still on my black list for what he did...

This chapters is 2000 words shorter than I wanted it, but the next chapter is going to make up for that.

I Do Not Own Naruto.

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The air was thick with sadness as the next mourning arrived too fast for the remaining members of the Niju Shotai as the packed up to leave. There was almost absolute silence except the mourning animals at the shuffle of people waking and packing up. Once everyone was ready to go, Naruto's clones picked up Kakashi's casket as Chouji and Lee had done the same for Asuma's. In normal situations their bodies would have been put to rest there, but this was far from a normal situation and none of the younger member of the group were going to allow them anything less than a hero’s burial back at Konoha.

As Ibiki looked over them, he noticed that Naruto, Sakura and Yamato weren't there and instantly knew where they were. He knew the reason why they weren't going to be traveling with the main group as the presence of a bijuu would unnerve everyone greatly, especially after everything that had already happened. Still, he didn't like the idea of leaving two of Akatsuki's targets with only two guards. So he would have to send more to their position so that nothing would happen since Naruto wasn't in the best of shape to defend himself and the cat bijuu definitely couldn't defend herself as she was out cold.

Shaking his head, he looked over the group as he decided who would be best to send that would get freaked out by seeing the nekomata. He knew Shikamaru and Shino already knew, so they were in, but he needed at least two more. His eyes landed on Lee, but since he volunteered to help carry Asuma, he wasn't going to ask him to drop it to guard Naruto. He skimmed over Izumo and Kotetsu as neither of them were in the best conditions and probably were hurting on the inside as well as both Kakashi and Asuma were good friends to them.

Continuing his search, he glanced over a few other members before his eyes landed on Tenten. He knew she most likely wouldn't freak out too horribly and that she was one of the few that wouldn't care about Naruto's secret, as her father had raised her to accept anyone no matter what. He knew Ino was too depressed to do anything at the moment so she was out. Sai didn't show anything, but both the deaths of Kakashi and Kiba had shocked him to the core so he knew he might not handle seeing the bijuu very well. And there was the factor of him still being loyal to Roots and him telling Danzo about this and he knew the old war horse just might do something stupid to earn Konoha the wrath of a second bijuu in fifteen years.

Shaking that thought from his head, he looked over the rest. Neji was capable and he knew that he held Naruto and high esteem and was also close to figuring out that Naruto was the jinchuuriki for Kyuubi. Hinata was like Ino as she was far too distressed to be of any good. But he pitied the girl as she witnessed Kakashi dying before watching her teammate and close friend die protecting her. Of course he could go, but he was the defacto leader at moment so he needed to stay with the main group.

So making up his mind, he called Neji, Shikamaru, Shino and Tenten to the front. Tenten looked at Ibiki, wondering why he had called her up as Neji, Shikamaru and Shino had a pretty good guess on what was going on as they also noticed that Naruto, Sakura and Yamato weren't there. Looking all four of them, Ibiki sighed slightly before taking them off to the side and turning to them. "Alright, as you have probably guessed, I want you three to head over to Naruto, Sakura and Yamato's position and go along with them."

Tenten blinked in confusion as she heard this. She knew splitting up the group was unwise seeing what had happen to them yesterday. But if they were, why was Naruto apart of the smaller, split group. His severely injured arm should have him based with the large, more protected group as he couldn't do much. With these questions plaguing her mind, she had to ask him. "Um excuse me, but why exactly are we splitting up? It would be better to stay as one."

Ibiki sighed knowing that one of them would as this, shook his head before answering her. "Because as of late yesterday, something of extreme importance was found for the Akatsuki that they left behind. Normally we would take it with us with the group whole, but because of yesterday's events and the events in the past long before today, it would be unwise to do so. That's why we have to split the group into two so we can deliver it to Konoha safely without the others knowing and possibly compromising the package."

Both Shikamaru and Shino instantly knew what Ibiki was talking about as they had already knew about Nibi while even Neji raised his eyebrow at this, wondering what the package could be. Tenten nodded lightly in understanding at this part as if it was something that was important that the others didn't need to know about, and then she was all for splitting the group. But she still had another question that needed to be answered. "That makes sense, but why is Naruto there? His arm is too badly damage for him to do any good."

Sighing once more, wanting to get this over with as quick as possible so they could get back to Konoha by sunset, Ibiki quickly answered her. "The reason is Naruto found the package and let's just say it would be best for him to stay with it as both he and Yamato are the only ones capable of calming it down if the package becomes hostile."

Tenten's face fell hearing this as she tried to figure out what exactly did he find as Neji began to slowly realize what it was. "It can't be..."

"It is, but we'll discuss this later when others aren't listening in." Shino cut him off, knowing what he was about to say as some of the others curiously looked over at them. Nodding in agreement, Neji quickly activated his Byukugan before locating them and leading the way for the others.

Naruto sighed lightly Sakura continued to check his arm. He knew she was just trying to help, but both of them knew there was nothing else she could do. Shaking his head, he looked down at her. "Sakura-chan, there is nothing else you can do. Let's just get back home so Tsunade can look it over and..." He turned his head and bit his lip as he kept down the anger and sorrow bubbling in his stomach as he thought about Kakashi, Kiba and Asuma.

Sakura looked up at him as stopped checking over his arm and noticed the look on Naruto's face before sighing as well. She knew it was against the code of the ninja to show emotions, but it was also the most disputed among the code as shinobi were human and had feelings and emotions. And losing Kakashi was a blow that was hard to take and both were doing their best to hide their emotions from the others.

Over the years, Kakashi had become a father figure for both of them seeing that neither had fathers. He would stop in from time to time and check up on them and even gave her some training advice and some food for Naruto, though she didn't understand why at the time. Sure, he did seem to favor Sasuke from time to time, but he cared for them equally and was trying to keep Sasuke from leaving in search for his brother. And he even tried to make up for his favoritism before and after Sasuke left.

Sighing softly, she released his arm and nodded in understanding. "I know Naruto; I just want to make sure."

Yamato turned his head away from the scene, knowing exactly what they were feeling but there wasn't anything he could do to help. They had to find their own way to cope with it. Sure, if they came to him he would do what he could, but it was ultimately up to them to choice how they would cope with it. Shaking his head, he turned to the sleeping Nibi as she slumped up against the tree. He honestly couldn't say what was going to happen when they reached Konoha. He doubted that Tsunade would want to keep her as she was a bijuu and Konoha's luck with bijuu wasn't very good. But then again if they released her, Akatsuki could end up catching her and sealing her away.

His gaze turned to the right as the four assigned to join them jumped through the trees and landed in the clearing. Both Naruto and Sakura jumped in surprise, but slowly relaxed as they saw who it was. They knew they wouldn't be allowed to move out on their own seeing as some of the Akatsuki could still be around and a knocked out/sleeping bijuu and an injured jinchuuriki was easy pickings for them. Shaking that thought off, Naruto slowly stood up with Sakura as they looked around.

Neji and Tenten's gaze landed on Nibi seeing as they hadn't seen her before. Both of their eyes widened for a second before they recovered instantly understanding why Ibiki didn't want the others to know about this, especially after Kyuubi attacking fifteen years ago. But once again that raised the question in Tenten's mind on why Naruto was there. Yamato noticing this look, decided to stall her questioning for a little while. "Good, now that you are here I guess we are leaving then. Naruto, you think you can get her on your own?"

Naruto nodded lightly he created a Kage Bunshin with one arm and lifted Nibi onto his shoulder. Tenten was about to ask why couldn't one of them carry her when Yamato and Sakura shot her a glare that told her to keep quiet. Not wanting to disobey direct order from her superior, she did so as Neji took the back as Shino took the front with Yamato and Naruto in the middle and the group headed out while making sure to keep a moderate distance from the main group so they wouldn't cross paths.



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Sasuke sighed deeply as he finished with his breakfast and started to put up for the camp. Suigetsu would be back to a hundred percent in a few days as his fluidity gave him the ability to regenerate once he had enough water to do so. He could tell Karin was okay as well, but knew something had spooked her enough that she was having a hard time looking at him. He was guessing that it had something to do with the other Uchiha and knowing the secret of the Mangekyou thanks to a certain snake.

He mentally growled at the thought that the bastard had attempted on several occasion to have someone become his friend then turn around and tried to kill him forcing him to kill them and gain the Mangekyou. And he knew as she had told him that she was the next one that Orochimaru was going to try to use in order for Sasuke to gain it. Shaking that thought off, he looked over as Karin helped Suigetsu up. Turning away from them, he thought about his next move.

They had failed to run into Itachi and had lost Juugo in the process. As bad as that was Suigetsu was down for now leaving only both Karin and himself combat ready. Then add on that Karin could no longer sense any of the Akatsuki members meaning that they were outside of her considerable range. The group from Konoha was still their and that was a problem on its own as they would attempt to bring him back. It wasn't hat he didn't want to return home, he just couldn't go back until he had done what he set out to do.

"Karin, how far are the Konoha shinobi from us?" Sasuke asked as he crossed his hands and brought them to his chin.

Screwing up her face in concentration as she gave Suigetsu a crutch to use, she located them before answering him. "It seems they have split up into two groups that are heading for Konoha so they are going farther away from us. The one with dual chakra from Konoha is in the smaller group, but his chakra signature is a little chaotic so he must be injured. And there is something else, a large chakra that feels greater than anything I've sense before. It's not extremely large, but the power around it is amazing. If I didn't know any better I would believe it was an unsealed bijuu."

Sasuke's eyes widened for a brief second at this before he quickly covered it up with a scowl. "I see. Continue to watch them and see if the change course. I don't want them to sneak up on us." Karin nodded lightly in understanding as being surrounded by them was the last thing the needed right now. Seeing this, Sasuke put out the fire before turning back to them. "We'll be heading to Nami to see if we can pick up any clues on where they went."

With that said he turned back around and lead the way at a slightly slower pace to make sure Suigetsu could keep up.



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Black was all she saw. Lights began appear in the dark blackness that resembled stars as she looked around her, trying to figure out what was going on. See didn't understand as she never had a dream like this before. She didn't mind it, but she knew this was something important as her dreams always meant something or were glimpse at the future. Taking a careful look around her, she noticed that she was in space, but why would she be here?

As she thought that, she noticed the Earth in front of her looking like it normally did. Well as normal as it would as she never had seen it from space before. Not understanding what she was seeing, she looked around before her eyes snapped back to the planet as it slowly began to be engulfed in shadows. Looking at it in shock, she tried to figure out what was going on and looked around to see if something was coming that blocked out the sun, but saw nothing.

Just as she turned back to the earth, the image suddenly changed and she was on what seemed to be a battle field between four men. Two with crimson eyes, one with gray spiraling eyes and the final with deep blue eyes. She couldn't understand what they were fighting for, but it was slightly fascinating to watch as she had never seen fights like this before. Even her fights weren't this competitive as either she stomped her opponent flat or was completely out matched.

But before she could ponder on it more the scene shifted to where she was in a small room with a bed, a small kitchen, a desk, some plants and a door for a bathroom. But she didn't notice most of this as her focus was on the bed as she saw herself in her hanyou glory making love with the same blonde haired teen from her dream and the one with the death seal that was looking after her at the moment. Not understanding why she would be doing this, she slowly pealed her eyes off to look around for clues around the room.

But she wasn't able to as the scene shifted again. She found herself looking on at the blonde with her behind him with a crowd of people as they looked on what seemed to be a village. She looked around, trying to understand what was going on as they had to be mad to attack a village with the amount they had when the blonde spoke.

"Today the world changes, one way or another. Let us hope it is in our favor."

She blinked in confusion as she tried to understand what this meant when the scenery around her changed once more. This time it was dark, but not because she was in space, but because clouds were covering up the sun as black flames littered the ground like a battle field. Once again the blonde was in front of her along with someone she couldn't quite make out, but growled loudly as she noticed his black cloak with red clouds and his odd looking red eyes.

As she growled, she noticed the two begin to fight in what seemed to be an even match as the shadowed one's power counter the blonde boy's speed. It seemed to be a draw as neither could overcome the other. That's when the blonde haired boy summoned five clones of himself and created an attack of massive power that felt unreal, stronger than anything she had ever felt before. The power coming from it alone made her shiver as it rivaled Kyuubi's. Then the blonde struck the shadowed one with it creating a dust cloud so large it had to be visible from at least a hundred miles. Looking around as the dust cloud started to fade, she saw the blonde standing and panting heavily, signifying he had one.

"It seems my will is stronger."

Suddenly an ethereal light pierced his chest, right where his heart was. Her eyes widened in shock not believing what she seen as the blonde boy melted into the sword as the light around her become darker than anything she had seen before. She found herself back in space looking at the planet once more. Looking around, she noticed the planet turn red as it began to crack and crumble within itself before exploding into molten rocks floating into space.

All this was too much for her to take as she blacked out.



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Naruto sighed lightly as he looked around the forest as he ignored the look Tenten was giving him. He knew it wasn't anything harmful, it was just that she wanted to know what was going on and he didn't want to tell her. Plus it didn't help that it seemed that Neji was slowly piecing everything together and would soon figure it out. He was slightly glad that Shikamaru, Shino and Sakura were there to help, but he still wasn't sure that everyone would so readily accept him for being its container.

Shaking his head, he sighed as Nibi restlessly shuffled against his shoulder once more making him adjust to her again. He wondered what she was dreaming about that would make her so restless as it was getting annoying that he had to readjust ever few minutes. It wasn't that he minded it; it was just that his shoulder was getting tired from her shifting.

Tenten knowing she wasn't going to get answers from Naruto and Yamato any time soon, decided that she would ask Sakura as she seemed like she knew as well and she could convince her to tell her. Walking up besides her, Tenten smiled lightly as Sakura refrained from sighing and rolling her eyes, knowing what she wanted already. Keeping it from showing in her voice, she turned to Tenten. "If you want to know about why Naruto is here, you will have to ask him as I will not tell you."

Pouting slightly as she was read so easily, Tenten turned serious as she knew she shouldn't be acting like this especially since they lost a few of their own. It wasn't that she didn't feel anything from their passing, it was just that she didn't want to so what she really felt and could hide her true feeling quite well. Otherwise she would have screamed at Gai and Lee to stop hugging as it made them look gay. Plus the genjutsu was way too freaky for her. Shaking that thought off, she turned to Sakura. "And why exactly can't you tell me? I've seen both you and Ino gossip about things no one really wants told about them before, so why not now?

Sakura growled at this as she was practically through with doing that now, even if she did it occasionally with Ino as they were friends once more. Taking a few breathes to calm herself down and to keep from flattening Tenten to the ground with her super strength, she turned to her. "I use to do that, Tenten. I rarely do it now. And I cannot for one good reason. It is a S-rank felony for me to speak of it without his permission."

Tenten's eyes widened hearing this as she took a step back in shock. Whatever Naruto was hiding was big if it there was a law forbidding people to talk about it. Now she wanted to know more than ever as it was eating away at her brain. Watching with his Byukugan, Neji narrowed his eyes as that little tidbit of information threw his thought process in a different direction. He had been thinking on something around a bloodline that gave him two chakra reserves and the ability to repress the bijuu's chakra so that he could take them down as he did beat Gaara, he just didn't know how. But now, he wasn't as sure as that wouldn't be a S-rank secret. Just like Tenten, it was eating away at his brain and he had to solve it.

But he didn't have much time to think as he noticed something moving far too quickly to be an animal. Trying to figure out what it was, he tried to focus on it, but it was just moving to fast for him to see it. He cursed himself out for letting it slip past him so easily as he called out to the others. "We have incoming shinobi from the right!"

Shino having just discovered the presence as well nodded in agreement as his kikai swarmed madly around him. Yamato quickly got ready for anything as Sakura, Tenten and Shikamaru got ready for battle. Naruto attempted to put Nibi down when Shikamaru caught him a Kage Mane. "Naruto, you need to keep her safe. If this turns out to be an Akatsuki member we might have you flee so they don't capture b... her."

Naruto growled lightly as he didn't like it, but nodded in understanding. Shikamaru nodded and let him go as he prepared for battle once more when some burst from the tree line and landed in front of them. Yamato's eyes widened in recognition as Naruto growled loudly as Sakura's fist balled tightly seeing Kakashi's killer, Uchiha Itachi.

The said Uchiha looked at both of them and smirked at their anger as he looked at the rest of them before noticing Nibi on Naruto's shoulders. Nodding lightly to himself seeing this he smirked as he noticed Naruto and Sakura's chakra flare as they restrained themselves from pouncing him and weren't doing to well as Shikamaru was holding them back with his Kage Mane. "Ah, Nibi no Nekomata and the Kyuubi jinchuuriki. What a surprise? Didn't think I would run into both of you."

All the blood left Naruto's face as he heard this before his anger came back two fold as Kyuubi's chakra began to flow into his system as his eyes bled red. Both Tenten and Neji's eyes widened as they heard this and both of their eyes landed on in shock as they instantly put together everything they knew and came to the correct conclusion. Itachi smirked seeing this as he looked directly at Naruto. "Oh, you haven't told them. That's interesting and surprising. I thought you will tell them before they figured it out because of us coming after you."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at this as he began to struggle to hold Naruto and Sakura back while he stretched a shadow towards Itachi from behind him. The said Uchiha noticed it instantly before shaking his head. "Go ahead and capture me if you like as I am a clone sent here to warn Naruto." All of their eyes widened hearing this as Naruto's gaze turned to his former target. "I'm no longer in charge of capturing you, so even if I could at the moment, I will not. Our leader has assigned himself the honor of capturing you. One word of advice Naruto, you will need to train if you want to stand a chance."

With that said, Itachi's clone disappeared in a plum of smoke indicating he really was a clone. Neji used his Byukugan to search around to see if the real Itachi was anywhere nearby, but to no avail. "It's all clear."

Hearing this, Yamato sighed lightly as he looked over at Naruto as his head drooped as both Neji and Tenten turn to him. He knew this would happen sooner or later, but just like Naruto he was hoping that Naruto was the one that had to explain it to them. Sighing he shook his head as he knew they had to wait now as this could wait no longer.

Naruto sighed deeply as he closed his eyes as both Neji and Tenten looked at him. "I know both of you are wondering if what he is true... It is. I am the jinchuuriki of Kyuubi no Kitsune."

Both could only nod numbly as Sakura, Shikamaru and Yamato joined Naruto in his solemn. Shino did as well, but it was harder to tell with him as he was taught from a young age not to show his emotions on the outside. Naruto bit his lip as he tried to refrain from screaming out at them that he wasn't Kyuubi, but he knew that it wouldn't help at the moment. Neji was the first to step forward as he looked directly at Naruto. "Naruto, I can understand why you didn't want to tell others. And I can understand not wanting to tell us, but you had to realize that he was right. I'm not saying you should have told us earlier, but I think you need to tell the others before the same thing happens."

Tenten nodded in agreement with him as she looked at Naruto and smiled lightly at him in an attempt to show that she didn't care. And she really didn't, she had expected from what her father said that Kyuubi was not killed, but defeated. So that led to her trying to figure out how the Yondaime did it and eventually figured that he sealed it away. Now that she thought about it, it did make sense that he sealed it into a child at the time as Kyuubi's power was just too great to be contained by anything less than a human.

Naruto smiled at both of them as a single tear fell from his cheek and landed onto Nibi. "Thank you... WHOA!"

Without second warning, Nibi jumped off Naruto and landed on all fours before looking around as she tried to figure out what was happening. Of course jumping off Naruto ended up planting him into the ground with her inhuman strength. Sakura quickly rushed over to Naruto and pulled him up as Yamato got ready to restrain her if things turned ugly. The others quickly got on guard and prepared for battle once more as Nibi's golden eyes looked around in confusion as she didn't remember how she got here. All she remembered was that dream and the boy...

Her gaze instantly fell on him. She didn't understand why she was suddenly getting all these visions of him. It didn't make any sense... Unless the God of Death was trying to tell her something. But then why wouldn't he come right out and say it as he did in the past? These visions were getting annoying as she had such a hard time piecing them together and when she finally did they had already passed. But she never had a vision like this before. It was anything beyond she had ever seen before.

Everyone was tense as Nibi's gaze was focused on Naruto and was ready to intervene if she attacked. Seeing this Nibi slowly stood up and looked around at all of them before she looked back at Naruto. "Boy, why am I here?"

Naruto blinked at the question as did the others as they all wondered why she was directly speaking to Naruto and ignoring them. Not expecting her to wake up so soon, he really didn't have an answer for her. "Um... After you revealed yourself to us..."

"Correction, I revealed myself to you. Who are the rest of the ingrates?" Nibi interrupted him. Everyone there twitched at her statement and refrained from strangling/beating her. Nibi smirked at this before scowling as she did not like her situation. She felt weak, much weaker than she should be. Her physical strength was still there, but even some of it had vanished as well. She partially believed the dragons sucked away some of her power and knew it would be a while before she could recover it.

Seeing the rest of his friends twitch as Shikamaru held Sakura back once more to keep her from attempting to deck the nekomata, Naruto quickly decided to intervene. "These are my friends and fellow shinobi. They are assigned to keep both of us from ending up being captured."

Nibi huffed indignity at that. She was fine on her own. She could take care of any of those cretins that... Her eyes narrowed as she remembered the one that caught her punch as if it was nothing. At first he seemed playful and childish in nature and even his aura supported that. But in an instant he changed into something powerful with an aura she never quite experienced before which was saying something as she had dealt with Kyuubi before. Shaking that thought from her head, she looked over at the blonde and smirked lightly. "Boy, you must be weak if you need protection."

Naruto narrowed his eyes as Sakura blinked and stopped struggling against Shikamaru's hold as she looked over to Naruto, having an idea this was about to get ugly. Refraining from his old habit of yelling out at people for calling him weak or useless, he gritted his teeth as his eyes burned brightly. "I am not weak. And if I have to prove it to you, I will."

She narrowed her eyes at this, believing that he would have jumped up and proclaimed that he wasn't weak. But instead he answered her with a statement saying he would willing prove himself to her. And in the condition he was in. Better yet, why was he in that condition. All jinchuuriki had good regeneration rates, none better than Kyuubi's as it seemed their only special ability other than extreme chakra manipulation was high regeneration rates. So that raised the question, anything less than decapitation of said limbs shouldn't be a problem for Kyuubi to heal. "Boy, why isn't your arm healed? With him in you it should have already regenerated."

The way she spat at him, everyone could tell she had some sort of hatred for Kyuubi as well and once again inched closed to Naruto incase she turned violent. She of course noticed this, but wasn't going to do anything as there wasn't anything she could do. Naruto shrugged his shoulders as he truthfully didn't know either as no one told him why his arm was so hard to heal afterwards. Yeah, he knew that he took good chunks out of him but that shouldn't be to hard to heal. Sakura sighed as she rubbed her temple as she refrained from flattening Naruto for not listening to her our Tsunade. "Because he's damaged his arm at the cellular level. Unless we get him to Tsunade-sama soon, his arm will be unhealable and will never be able to use it again. Got it Naruto."

Both of their eyes widened along with the others hearing this. Nibi tilted her head curiously at the injured arm before shaking her head, not even wanting to know what he did to do that kind of damage and was kind of glad that her vessel never did anything that stupid. She quickly shook her head from that thought as she no longer wanted to think about Yugito. Though she disliked her tenant, she still had a slight attachment to her as she was the best one she had so far. "I see. Whatever you did must have been something moronic and unnecessary. Now can you explain to me where exactly are you attempting to take me?"

Yamato seeing that if Naruto answered her question their little conversation would probably escalate to a verbal fight decided to intervene. "Well you see..."

"Did I ask you to explain human? I asked the one marked by death." Nibi interrupted Yamato as her eyes flashed slightly before they turned back to Naruto. Yamato's eyes widened as he heard this as he was one of the few that knew of how the Yondaime sealed Kyuubi away.

The rest looked in confusion as she said this as Naruto instantly understood what she meant as he too knew of the origins of his seal as Jiraiya had practically beat it into his head. Seeing that she wanted him to explain, he decided to do so. "Well, we were taking you to Konoha as that's were we live and to keep you there, hopefully, so Akatsuki can't capture you again and until we can take care of them."

Nibi nodded lightly at this. Not that she was admitting that she needed protection, but she wasn’t at full health. And they probably weren't stupid either and knew this as well. So maybe she could go with them for now and recover her strength and then leave once she's done. Plus she really wanted to stop having dreams about this blonde boy as it was the third she had of him. The faster she got away from him the better, but for now she was stuck as she smelled the scent of one of the ones in the cave was here not to long ago. Not that she couldn't beat them one on one, she knew something was wrong with her and she didn't know what. "Fine. But do not expect me to enjoy my time there. Once I'm healed completely, I wish to leave."

Naruto nodded in understanding as this had gone a lot better than he'd thought it would especially with all his encounters with Kyuubi. The others could only nod as well seeing as she was being cooperative, more cooperative than any of them had thought. Yamato could only shake his head as he wondered why exactly she was going this easily, before sighing as he gave out his orders. "Alright then, back into formation. We still have a good distance to travel and we're not out of the woods yet."

Everyone nodded as Shino once again took point and released his kikai as Neji took the back and activated his Byukugan. Nibi raised her eyebrow at seeing this, but then again she had been in Kumo the village without bloodlines so she wasn't too surprised that about them. Though the bug one just creped her out as they were crawling out of his skin and lived inside of him. Shaking her head, she slowly followed them as she walked slightly behind Naruto and looking around as she tried to solve her dream.



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Sasuke sighed for the umpteenth time as they neared Nami. It wasn't because it had taken longer than he had expected as it was a he'd figured they would arrive a few hours past midday. Nor was it Karin constantly bugging him and saying what she was going to do to him tonight. Part of him actually enjoyed her talking about it. But he'd be damned if he said that out loud. He rather admit that Itachi was better then he was and that he should restart the clan.

Shaking that thought off, he turned and glared at the whining Suigetsu. "If you don't shut up, I'm going to shove that sword up your ass and make sure you'll never be able to drink water again."

Suigetsu's eyes widened as he covered his ass with his free hand and nodded hurriedly as he didn't want to piss off the one that had the power to do that. Turning from the now quiet Suigetsu, his gaze turned to Karin for a brief second before turning forward as they continued on. He knew something was wrong with her, but he didn't know what. Maybe the other Uchiha hit her with a genjutsu without her knowing it? Or was she frightened of the power that he displayed? But then again, how come he couldn't sense it? If he was so powerful, he would have noticed it and had left the mad bomber and rushed to take his revenge on him.

But something she said bothered him about him. After ever wound they inflicted upon him, he stood right back up and his wounds healed at an accelerated race. Now he had seen Naruto regenerate from wounds, some of which he inflicted upon him at the Valley of the End, but from what she said, he was recovering from instant death wounds. How was that possible? He doubted even Naruto could survive such wounds yet he was able to. Was there more to the Mangekyou then what his brother had told him?

As he was thinking about that, he noticed Karin stiffen up as she looked around. Sasuke stopped seeing this and turned towards her as Suigetsu sighed in annoyance as he figured she was seeking Sasuke's attention again. Karin continued looking around as she picked up a chakra signature, but it was suppressing itself extremely well and was almost impossible for almost any normal shinobi with above average chakra sensing to pick up. But she was anything but average with her ability and picked it up before her eyes widened seeing how close it was. "Sasuke-sama! He's here!"

Sasuke's turned to where she was looking at to see the very one he was hunting appear in front of him. Clenching his fist tightly and gritting his teeth, he reigned in his emotions as he glared at the raven haired man. "Itachi."

Itachi smirked as he noticed Sasuke as he barely contained himself from screaming out and attacking him as he did two and a half years ago. Seeing his better control and obviously higher chakra reserves, Itachi had to refrain from smirking as it did not fit his image. Only his clones were allowed to do that as they had a harder time controlling their emotions. "Ah, it's you otouto. Just as I suspected. It seems you finally grown up."

Gritting his teeth and clenching his fist even tighter, Sasuke kept his control over himself as he activated his Sharingan and looked his brother dead in the eyes. "Karin, do not intervene. This is my fight. Take Suigetsu and head for Nami. I'll be there shortly myself, after I take care of this."

Karin nodded lightly as she helped Suigetsu limp out of the way as Itachi eyes looked semi-amused as he looked at his younger brother and decided that he would test him and see if he really could test his capacity. Once Karin and Suigetsu were far enough away, Sasuke quickly threw a few shuriken at Itachi, who easily countered it with his own. He easily saw that Sasuke used the shuriken as distractions as he pulled out his chokuto and raced towards. Pulling out a kunai from underneath his sleeve, Itachi parried his strike before turning slightly and heel kicking him in the gut.

Sasuke skidded across the ground before stopping and quickly went through a few seals and breathed in deeply before exhaling several dozen miniature fireball. Itachi quickly copied the seals and matched Sasuke's chakra usage and breathed and exhaled the same amount, countering his brother once more. Sasuke growled as he gripped his chokuto and rushed towards his older brother again. As he reached him, he quickly shifted his feet and jumped to the side as he aimed his blade for Itachi's heart. Itachi quickly spun around and dodged the blade as he gripped Sasuke's wrist, only to take an elbow to his chin.

Jumping back to avoid the blade aimed for his neck, Itachi mentally smirked as he was rather enjoying this and his eyes gleamed for a second as he looked at Sasuke's eyes. Standing straight up again, he awaited for his brother's next move as he did not attack unless it was necessary. Sasuke gritted his teeth as he went through five quick hand seals and the sound of birds chirping was heard as lighting crackled in his right palm. Itachi's eyebrow raised as Sasuke used Chidori again and was ready to counter him once more as Sasuke approached, only to see him grip his chokuto.

"Chidori Nagashi!"

Being slightly surprised by this, Itachi spun his Sharingan as he copied how Sasuke manipulated the lighting like that before he was sliced in two. Sasuke smirked as he saw this before jumping back in surprise as Itachi turned into a swarm of ravens and his voice was heard from all around him. "Not bad otouto. My have you grown stronger. If you truly want to face me, go to the secret Uchiha hideout two days from now at sunrise. Till then otouto, keep yourself alive."

The ravens disappeared as Itachi's voice faded away as Sasuke instantly recognized that it was a genjutsu. Gritting his teeth in anger, he slammed his fist against a nearby tree, snapping it in two as his Sharingan spun madly. Remembering what the book that was hidden had written, he remembered the map showing were to find the hideout and smirked slightly. "I'll be there, you can count on that. Then I will take your life for everything you've done."

Shaking his head, Sasuke sheaved his chokuto and walked calmly towards were he felt Karin and Suigetsu's presence and quickly found them sitting under a shaded tree. Karin looked up as she noticed him and sighed. "I don't know where he went nor do I know how he eluded my chakra sense. I'm sorry Sasuke-sama."
"There is no need to apologize Karin. I know where he is going and we are heading there. Now let's go." Sasuke answered her with a slight smile on his face, though he wasn't sure why. Karin smiled lightly as she nodded and helped Suigetsu up as Sasuke slowly headed to his destination. But he couldn't help but think of the outcomes that could happen. Until now, he had not doubted himself that he would kill Itachi, but now that he was finally closing in on his goal, doubts began flooding him. What if he lost? What if they killed each other? What if the other was there as well?

As he thought about it, he knew it could happen; he just never believed it would. But something was odd about his brother when he looked at him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. And whatever it was could possibly be something that could affect the outcome. As he pondered what it was, his gaze turned to Karin as she walked quietly besides them. He didn't know why, but now that she seemed to be quieter, he seemed to notice her and saw that she was actually better looking than anyone else that chased after him. Her figure wasn't too bad and she was a capable shinobi and could raise his child if something were to happen to him.

Karin looked over at Sasuke as she felt his eyes on her and noticed him quickly turning away and a light blush on his cheeks. Blinking in confusion as she tried to figure out what he was blushing at before it dawned on her that he was checking her out. An equal blush to his tinged her cheeks as she looked away and smiled lightly while mentally she was cackling her ass off in glee.

But why was he looking at her now? He hadn't been interested in her before, so why? Was it because she wasn't acting like she had been since she was mourning Juugo's death as he was her favorite prisoner when she was guarding him. If so she'd gladly stay like this while occasionally being herself and attempt to ravish him as she could tell that he enjoyed it, even though he would refuse to admit it. Noticing his face turn serious once more, she knew he was thinking about the upcoming future and sighed as she looked forward while occasionally glancing at him with a slight blush on her face.

From the tree lines, Itachi mentally smirked as he suppressed his chakra so the girl couldn't sense them as he watched them. His lips twitched as he saw this and disappeared in a swirl of ravens as his brother was finally taking this seriously.



------------
In the hidden village of the Rain, the Raiukage, Hanzo stood in his chamber with his closer supporters as the battle raged outside in the rain. He knew this day would come, but he refused to go down without a fight. For over the last couple of years, the rebellion had been slowly wearing down his ninja down and began to take control of the war. This was due to the new leader of the rebellion, a man known as Pein.

The man had literally turned the favor of the civil war in the rebellion's favor with his excellent tactics and the inability to defeat him. Iwa had stopped aiding them in the civil war when their shinobi claimed the man was the next coming of the Kiroi Senko without the ability to use Hiraishin. That alone had taken Iwa out from helping them any further and had brought his shinobi's spirits down as more and more of them and his former supporters went to join the rebellion.

That was why he called in his closes supports so they could make one last stand as the rebellion troops began to take control of the streets. He knew they weren't going to win, but he knew each of them wished for things to stay the same and they were like him as they weren't going to go down without a fight. The sound of foot steps outside alerted them all to someone's presence outside of the room and each of them prepared for battle when the foot steps stopped outside the door as they heard a crack, indicating their guards were fighting for them.

The door flew open as another crack was heard as a man with auburn colored hair and gray spiraled eyes walked through the opened entrance. Everyone narrowed their eyes insulted that one man was going to take all of them on. His eyes searched the room as the rain outside increased to a downpour and a small smirk graced his lips as he looked directly at Hanzo, who narrowed his eyes recognizing the man from the descriptions and knew this was the rebellion leader, Pein. "Glad all of you are here, makes my job easier."

Soon as he spoke, the others riddled him with kunai, shuriken and senbon. They all smirked as they saw him fall to the ground, lifeless before their eyes widened in horror as the image changed to one of the guards that was guarding the entrance to the chamber. Suddenly one of the supporters was lifted into the air and his neck snapped as if he was hung. The others jumped back in surprise as they tried to figure out what was going on when blood splattered as two projectile fists flew through two of them before returning to where they came from, outside of the room.

All the supporters closed in a tight circle around Hanzo as they tried to figure out what was going on. Suddenly another was thrown into the air as his neck snapped. The others littered everything around the dead man with weapons when a creature began to bleed. Their eyes widened as they realized it was a summon when a large multi headed dog crashed through the room and ripped off two of the men's heads as it the other bit down onto Hanzo's arm. He quickly put his fist through the dog's head making the other head's howl in pain.

Hearing two more screams of pain from his final two supporters, he turned around to see one without his head cut off by a crustacean as an arm blasted through the others chest. His eyes widened as he saw this and prepared to summon when the same auburn haired man walked through the door walked through it once more, but this time it was him. "It is pointless to continue on. I have won this battle."

Hanzo narrowed his eyes as he heard this, but saw the summons stop attacking as if he willed them too. Keeping his eyes firmly on him while making sure his summons didn't attack him, he answered him. "I may have lost this battle, but I will not give Ame to you without a fight. I have successfully led this…”

"More liked ruined it. War is pointless. The only reason I entered this war was to prove that to you. Since you will not stand aside, I will send you to the next life, with your family." Pein interrupted him as he moved forward as his summons closed in on Hanzo.

Hearing that his family was dead, all the blood left Hanzo as it meant his wife, his children and even grand children were gone. "You cold hearted bastard! I will..."

His statement stopped as a blade pierced his chest from behind, straight through his heart. Hanzo's eyes widened as he coughed blood into his mask as he slowly turned around, to see another auburn haired man with spiraled gray eyes and long hair that flowed down to his waist. Hanzo's eyes widened in realization at what this meant, but his eyes slowly closed as he passed on. Pein smirked as his other self pulled the blade out of him as Hanzo's body fell limply to the ground as his other summoned bodies began to report that the war was finally was over. Nodding at his other body, he closed his eyes as he sat down at the blood covered chair and closed his eyes and used his mind to speak to his subordinates.

"Akatsuki report!"

Suddenly six astral projections appeared in the room and noticed the bloody surrounding. Konan seeing this had a slight smile seeing this before turning to Pein. "I see it is finally over."

Pein nodded as his eyes opened and looked over all of the Akatsuki member's and noticed that Deidara, Hidan and Kakuzu were missing and could not sense their presence any longer. "Yes, and it seems we have lost three members. So Zetsu, I would like you to go and retrieve their rings if possible. Everyone else, report to Ame on the double."

Everyone except Itachi nodded their head when he interrupted. "Sorry taishou, but I have more important business to attend to. Kisame, I need you to keep my otouto’s teammates from interfering.”

Narrowing his eyes hearing this and seeing Kisame nod, Pein glared at Itachi. As he was about to call Kisame off when he noticed the look Tobi was giving him and knew instantly to back down. Growling mentally at this, Pein would have to allow this. "Fine, but once you are done you are to report here."

Itachi nodded along with Kisame as their images disappeared as the others did as well except for Tobi's. Pein sighed as he saw this and knew he had something to say. Just as he predicted, Tobi spoke. "Pein, I'm going to. There is a possibility that Kyuubi's jinchuuriki will hear of this and will try to catch Sasuke. Do not forget there is a spy among us and is reporting this to your former sensei, so root them out if you can as I doubt it was Hidan or Kakuzu. Deidara maybe, but I doubt it. Now I must leave."

Pein nodded in agreement as he looked at Tobi. "I will, Madara-sama."

------------
Yamato sighed as it had taken longer than they expected, but they were finally home as the main gates and wall of Konoha could be seen from the distance. They had to wait for a while so the main group went in front of them as they didn't want them to learn of Nibi. But the problem was keeping the villagers that were up from learning that she was a bijuu and possible riot could start and he knew Naruto would end up being brought into it. So that raised the question on how to hide her. Searching through his things, he pulled out a cloak and offered it to her.

Nibi didn't want to wear it at first as she was spectacle at first, but it was better than the orange and black jump suit she was wearing so she took it and put it on. It covered the cat ears on her head pretty well, but her tails were a different story. Sakura suggested genjutsu, but was thrown out as every genjutsu they tried to cover her tails failed. Of course Naruto came up with the most simplistic, yet best plan out of all of them to wrap her tails around her waist. Everyone refrained from sweat dropping as it worked and shook their head knowing that they would over look the simplest solution to a problem.

Once they had her hidden well enough to pass for human, they walked up to the gate and the guards stopped them. "Halt. Hello, Yamato-san, you all can go in. But I need papers from this one." The guard pointed at Nibi's cloaked form.

Cursing lightly as he knew they weren't going to allow her to enter that easily and knew he couldn't forge papers for her. As he was trying to come up with an explanation to why she didn't have papers, Ibiki walked up as he was waiting for them. "Ah, you're here. Don't worry about her; she's the package they were bringing in. So she doesn't have papers."

The guard nodded as Ibiki told them of this and let them through. Standing besides Naruto, Nibi walked towards the tower as they followed Yamato and Ibiki right after he dismissed everyone but Sakura as she wouldn't leave. There was barely anyone out as it was the middle of the night, but the few that were out glared heatedly at Naruto. She wondered about this as she tried to figure out what he had done to earn their hatred on such a level. Sure, it was known that most jinchuuriki didn't have good lives, but the passion of hate being direct at Naruto by those out was absurd. It was like he was a murder that got off free even though everyone knew he did it.

That she couldn't understand. From what little she gathered from them and from their precautions, she knew that Kyuubi had to have attacked Konoha, which didn't make sense as why would he attack a hidden village without reason. She didn't like Kyuubi, but knew him well enough that he wouldn't do something with a reason, except when he was awakened unexpectedly. And she knew Kyuubi wasn't asleep as he was too busy trying to find Hachimata to end the snakes life for awaking him in the first place. So then why did he attack unless they were harboring Hachimata, which was doubtful as the snake hated humans with a passion?

As she was thinking about this, they had reached the tower and slowly began to climb the stairs on their ascent upwards. Seeing this, she put that aside for further thought later as they reached a door.



------------
Tsunade sighed lightly as she looked over the final paper on her desk and signed it gleefully as all the paperwork was finally finished. Putting it in the finished stack besides her desk, which was five feet tall, she pulled open her large drawer and pulled out a sake bottle and popped the lid and was about to take a sip when she flicked the cork behind her and heard a small 'Ouf' from behind her. "What now Jiraiya? I finally finished my paperwork and want some peace and quiet. So make this quick."

Rubbing his forehead, Jiraiya could only sigh as he jumped through the window and leaned against the wall. "Tsunade, this is going to take a little while. It's about Akatsuki and it seems the Niju Shotai have returned as well, much earlier than planned." Tsunade groaned at this as she set her bottle down knowing it was going to be a while before she could drink. Seeing this, Jiraiya quickly started. "Well, to start off. Hanzo is dead."

Her eyes widened in hearing that the man that better Jiraiya, Orochimaru and herself all those years ago had finally died. "How?"

Jiraiya sighed lightly as he leaned further against the wall and shook his head. "That’s where Akatsuki comes in. My spy network has just informed me that the leader of Akatsuki killed him, his family and all his supporters single handily and has taken over Amegakure and will now be using it as the headquarters for their operations." Tsunade groaned once more as she leaned back in her chair as Jiraiya continued. "It seems the leader is known as Pein and has called off Itachi from catching Naruto and has placed himself as the one to catch Naruto. It also seems that the two Uchiha will be meeting at a secret hideout to finally settle their dispute."

Groaning again, Tsunade refrained from breaking her desk in two hearing this. Itachi was bad enough, but know the leader, who had bettered the man that bettered the sannin together, was going to be chasing Naruto now. How could things get any worse? Unfortunately Jiraiya wasn't finished. "Seeing what he's done, I'm going to Amegakure to learn more about him and see if I can't capture one of their members as well."

"Jiraiya, you can't be serious! This guy is obviously stronger than either of us had predicted and if they find you..."

"Tsunade I know, but I haven't been laying around this entire time not getting better. And yes I am dead serious. I need more information on this guy as my network isn't able to do much more than tell me his name and some of his looks. I cannot allow Naruto to face this man that's being hailed as a god and a second coming of Minato without more to go on him. Even if I have to die to get this information to him, he needs to know what he's up against." Jiraiya interrupted her as he knew what she was going to say.

Tsunade sighed once more and rubbed her temple heavily before glaring at her teammate, wanting to beat the hell out of him for this. "Fine, I'll give you a S-rank mission to discover more about this 'Pein'. But you are to stay away from fighting unless it becomes necessary to survive. And if you can, try to capture one of the Akatsuki. If not, return home immediately after you are finished."

Jiraiya smirked and nodded at her as he stood up from the wall. "No problem Tsunade. Consider it done."

Soon as he was about to leap out of the window, a knock came from the door and he decided to stay in case if it was some of the Niju Shotai and see if he could learn more before heading out. After Tsunade beckoned them in, Yamato, Ibiki, Naruto, Sakura and a cloak person walked into the room. Both Jiraiya and Tsunade's eyes landed on the cloak stranger as they didn't know who it was. Clearing her throat, Tsunade turned to Ibiki, absently wondering where Kakashi was. "Alright, why are you back so soon and who is this? And Naruto, what is wrong with your arm?"

Ibiki sighed lightly as he took a deep breath as he looked at the Gondaime Hokage. "We'll talk about her later as I have news to bring. We had been following Kakuzu and we found an Akatsuki base at the border between here and the Lighting Country during an extraction." Both Jiraiya and Tsunade winced at this as Ibiki continued on. "We quickly brought down the seal and stormed the cave as they evacuated. The jinchuuriki was declared dead before we chased after them as they split up."

Taking another breath and sighing lightly, he looked down before at Tsunade and Jiraiya. "During the attempt to eliminate or capture a few of their members, we lost Hatake Kakashi and Inuzaku Kiba to Uchiha Itachi and lost Sarutobi Asuma to Hidan and Kakuzu." Everyone's face fell at this and Naruto and Sakura closed their eyes, not wanting to show their sorrow. Nibi sensed this as she looked over at both Naruto and Sakura and knew that the first one was someone important to them as Ibiki continued. "The only good news is that we've eliminated both Hidan and Kakuzu. It also seems the one that capture Gaara was killed by an unknown shinobi, possibly Uchiha Sasuke as Shino reported the smell of snakes in the area."

The blood drained from both Naruto and Sakura's face as they heard Sasuke was possibly in the area and they didn't run into him. Both silently vowed that they were going to talk to Shino about not telling them that. Tsunade sighed as she rubbed her temple hearing this as Jiraiya stared at the wall blankly. "Alright. I'll inform Kiba and Asuma's immediate family of this. As for Kakashi, I'll inform both of you when the funeral is." The last part she said looking straight at both Naruto and Sakura who numbly nodded before she continued. "Now, please tell me what is wrong with your arm Naruto."

Naruto bit his lip hearing this as he knew he was about to become a pancake, after she was done healing him. Sighing slightly and noticing Sakura glaring at him with a look saying 'I'm not tell her', he sighed again before looking at her with a sheepish grin. "Well... You see... I kind of used it again..."

As she heard this, her mood instantly switched from saddened to pissed and everyone in the room felt the heat grow as her chakra spiked while she glared at Naruto. The said blonde began to back up in fear from the killing intent rolling off Tsunade in waves as everyone moved out of the way to give her a clear target. "YOU DID WHAT?! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU NEVER TO USE THAT AGAIN FOR ANY REASON AND I WOULD BREAK YOUR LEGS IF YOU DID!"

Nibi was slightly impressed at Tsunade's reaction, but she could also tell that there was the hint of worry within it, which explained such an extreme action as she stomped over to a cowering Naruto, afraid for his life. Shaking her head, she watched the events unfold with an amused expression on her face.

Tsunade growled as she stepped besides Naruto and refrained from beating the hell out of him right there as she grabbed him and seated him in the chair as she pulled off the bandages and noticed the damaged and saw some of it had been slightly healed before and instantly knew Sakura did most of it other than the regeneration of flesh, which probably was Kyuubi. Her hands glowed a bright green as she concentrated heavily as she slowly began to patch his arm together while carefully fixing the damaged cells.

A few minutes later and a few dozen curses at Naruto as she patched up his arm, Tsunade had healed it to the best of her ability as she wrapped it back up knowing that Kyuubi could do the rest now. As she finished wrapping his arm up, she brought her fist down into his skull and sent him into the floor, shaking the entire tower from the force of the blow. The others just shook their heads at this as Nibi looked halfway surprised that she had that kind of strength and wondered how she came about it as it was similar to her own, except she could tell she used chakra to enhance hers and she needed no such thing.

Walking behind her desk and sitting back into her chair, Tsunade turned to Ibiki and motion at Nibi while she ignored Naruto's groaning. "Alright, now that is done with, who exactly is she?"

Seeing that she was now the target of discussion, Nibi decided she rather introducer herself before anyone else did as she flipped the cloak's hood off her head, revealing her two cat ears. "My name is Nibi no Nekomata, the two tailed hell cat."

Tsunade's eyes widened in shock as Jiraiya took a step back from hearing this and quickly prepared themselves for battle, even though the logical part of their brains were telling them if she meant harm she wouldn't have calm here in disguise. As they slowly calmed themselves down from their shock, Sakura spoke up. "When we were in the cave, after everyone left to chase the Akatsuki, Naruto stayed behind to mourn the girl's death when she came out from the shadows before passing out. Both Naruto and Shikamaru agreed that it would be best to take her so they didn't come back and seal her away. After everyone got back together, we informed Ibiki and he agreed with us and left the final decision what to do with her to you."

Nodding in understanding while Nibi narrowed her eyes at that part as they had left it out. "Thank you Sakura. Can you all please leave for a few moments? I'll call you back in once I'm done."

Everyone nodded as Sakura dragged Naruto out of the room and shut the door. Activating a privacy just before she turned towards to the Nekomata and continued on as she had a few questions she needed answered. "Why exactly did you reveal yourself to them?" Nibi looked at Tsunade as she wondered why she wanted to know. As if seeing her question going unanswered and Nibi's wondering face, she sighed before rubbing her temple. "If I'm going to decide what to do with you, I need a few question answered."

Hearing this, Nibi understood the reason she being asked and looked at the Gondaime before answering her first question. "I revealed myself to the boy with the death seal on him. Only him."

Tsunade mentally nodded at Nibi's question though she wondered how she could tell what kind of seal was without even seeing it. Shaking that thought off for now, she looked at the nekomata. "That answers one part of it, but why did you reveal yourself to him?"

Nibi growled lightly as she didn't want to answer that question and had purposely didn't answer it. Seeing Tsunade staring at her made her growl at her. "I didn't answer it for a reason because it's personal."

Narrowing her eyes at this, Tsunade looked at Nibi as she crossed her fingers and put her elbows on her desk before placing her chin on her hands. "Unfortunately you have to answer otherwise I will let you go on your own as I can sense you are drained."

Growling at the blonde Hokage, Nibi knew that she wouldn't last long outside as they would find her again and probably capture her if they came after her again, especially the masked one. So she decided to tell her, but omit some of it. "Fine. I've been having cryptic visions in my dreams of him recently that come from the God of Death. I do not understand what they mean, so do not try to ask, as I will not tell you."

Jiraiya raised his eyebrow at this from his spot as Tsunade nodded lightly in understanding. Thinking before looking back at the nekomata, Tsunade asked another question. "What is my guarantee you will not harm anyone from this village?"

Scoffing at the question, Nibi rolled her eyes. "I will not harm anyone if they do not do anything to me first. If they do, I will harm them."

Figuring that answer, Tsunade nodded once more as she had a few more that needed to be answered. "That's fine. If you were to stay here but we determined that you had to do be of some use, what could you do to provide for the village?"

Nibi looked slightly surprised at this before a small smirk graced her lips as she looked at them. "Well for one, I can teach you and that pink haired girl to control and increase your strength even further. And another I can talk to the dead souls unlike those fake mediums as my lord the God of Death gave me that ability. And finally, I have millenniums of knowledge so I have more experience than any of you do. That is all I will give you as I don't plan on being here for long. Only till this group is eliminated so I can go free."

Knowing that already, Tsunade could only nod as Jiraiya's eyes widened. He did not want Tsunade's freakish strength to get any higher as one punch could send him flying for miles and he knew Naruto didn't need Sakura to be stronger as he had a similar kind of relationship as he did with Tsunade. And the fact that the God of Death was her master wasn't something he liked. It meant that the only seal he could use quickly if worse came to worse was useless against her.

Ignoring her teammate’s distress, Tsunade only had one more question before she could make her decision on what to do. "One last question. Since I can't leave you unchecked, is there any preferences on who would your guard would be?"

Jiraiya looked at Tsunade as he tried to figure out what she was doing. It was as if she already had made her decision already, so what was she trying to accomplish? Could it be that she was interested in the visions the nekomata was having of Naruto? If not, what was it? As Jiraiya tried to figure this out, Nibi looked at Tsunade as if she grown a second head and was thinking around the same lines of Jiraiya except she was sure of what she was doing. "If you wish to know, I rather be with the jinchuuriki since my master marked him."

"As I expected. That is all." Releasing the privacy jutsu, Tsunade called them backed in before releasing Yamato, Ibiki and Sakura leaving Naruto trying to figure out was going on. "I have come to my decision on what to do. If have decided to let her stay till the threat of Akatsuki is eliminated. In the meantime, she will have to provide for the village, report to me once every day and have a guard at all times. That guard will be you Naruto." Naruto looked shocked as he heard this but Tsunade wasn't finished yet. "As of such, she will be living with you until that time comes. That is all, you are both dismissed."

Naruto's eyes widened beyond belief as he heard this. "What?! Why does she have to live with me in my apartment?! I only have one bed!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes at Naruto before glaring at him. "Then I guess you'll be sleeping on the floor since she is your guest. For the reason why, she chose you. Now go, Jiraiya and I still need to talk."

He wanted to argue more, but seeing the look Tsunade was giving him, he could only nod and argue later as he could tell she wasn't in the mood. "Fine, but I'll be back tomorrow." Tsunade nodded lightly as she figured this already as Naruto led Nibi out and to his home even he didn't wish to.

Once he was gone, Jiraiya instantly put the privacy seal back up as he looked at Tsunade sternly. "You didn't tell him about Sasuke going after Itachi."

"He doesn't need to know about it. Both he and Sakura just lost Kakashi, if they lost Sasuke right after it, it could possibly break both of them. I'm saving them that as of now. I'll be sending another team to bring him back, even if it means back in a bag if he doesn't make it. I know neither of them could do that. And they need to let out and mourn Kakashi's death. But maybe that bijuu can help as she can talk to the dead, which be exactly what they need. To know what the deceased wants them to do." Tsunade answered as she grabbed his sake bottle and took a swig of it.

Jiraiya could only nod in agreement as he knew that the death of a sensei and a very good friend and teammate soon after would be very devastating to Naruto and Sakura. Sighing slightly, he looked at Tsunade as his other question came to mind. "And why did you put the two of them together? You didn't have to give her a choice."

Tsunade nodded as she took another swig and looked over at him. "I know that Jiraiya. But just like you I want to figure out about those visions of Naruto she's been having. Plus you add that she trusts him, she'll go along with everything easier. And... Something about her makes me think she can finally get Naruto to come out of his shell. I don't know what, but I have a firm belief she can do it."

Looking at her in surprise for a second, Jiraiya could understand now why she made her decision before shaking his head as he stretched out and deactivated the privacy jutsu. "Well, that's all I wanted to know. But I have a mission to complete, so see you later Mune-hime."

Jiraiya quickly jumped out of the window with a large smile on his face before Tsunade's fist could connect to his face. Grumbling at her perverted teammate that would get it later, she looked out in the distance and sighed as she pressed the intercom to contact Shizune. "Shizune, can you get me Asuma and Kiba's family."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Shizune's voice came from the box before she scampered off to do just that.

Tsunade sighed as she leaned back and chugged the rest of her sake knowing the night wasn't going to get easier.



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Arriving at Naruto's apartment, Naruto led Nibi in as she pulled out her cloak, not liking that she had to hide from everyone still. Shaking that from her head, she sighed as she noticed the small apartment as there wasn’t much room in. “Not much of a home I take it.”

"It's all I have." Naruto answered as he closed and locked the door as he didn't want to anyone just to waltz in there and tear up the place as it wasn't uncommon for that to happen in the past.

Nodding in understanding, Nibi looked around before sighing as she sat down on the bed. She was hungry, but she wasn't going to say anything as she felt she was intruding on him. Fortunately she didn't have to as Naruto was hungry as well and went straight to the kitchen and began to pull out a few things from his refrigerator before pulling out a few ramen cups and a pot. Filling it up half way with water, he placed on one of his burners and threw in the ramen from the cups in the pot.

Nibi blinked at him confused at what he was doing before shrugging her shoulders and turning to the window and began thinking about the day. For the most part it was boring to her, but the dream she had was still bugging her. Why did her last couple of dreams revolve around this boy who was thousands of years younger than her and she would be long gone after his death? It really didn't make sense to her. Sure, she had visions in her dreams that revolved around specific people, yet they only appeared once in her dreams.

So why was he special? Did the God of Death have something planned for him? Was Kami himself giving her these visions? She could understand if they did, but why her? Why did she have to be the one they chose for this? She already had enough on her plate as for the first two millennium of her life she had to learn how to control her ability to talk and see the dead. That alone took a massive amount of concentration, but the fact that she had to master her other powers as well and add in the Bijuu Wars and she did not have the time to sit down and understand the dreams she was given.

Yet now she did. Her powers weren't at full, she wasn't in extreme danger and she didn't have anything better to do, so she had to ponder why she had these powers. She knew that she was chosen to restart the original world as it was on the brink of destroying itself by Kami and the God of Death themselves and had been granted control over fire and the dead in order to do so. She didn't like it, but it had to be done as she remembered all too well what that world was like. At least in this world weapons couldn't wipe out entire countries in the flash of an eye and the world wasn't ruled by corrupt figure heads. She knew some of the world was still like this, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was before.

Shaking that thought off her head, Nibi sighed before sniffing the air as the scent of what Naruto was making caught her by surprise. It didn't smell half bad, which was surprising as normally anything from a cup didn't taste all that good. Looking over at him, she noticed him taking out to bowls and a ladle before scoping some of what seemed to be noodles and broth before walking over to her and handing her a bowl. Nodding lightly, she gently accepted the bowl. "Thank you."

Naruto nodded lightly as he smiled at her as he sat down at his small desk/table and began eating his ramen at a slower pace then he normally would, but that being that he felt safer at his home. Nibi looked at him oddly for a moment before taking the chop sticks and tasted the noodles before she slowly began to eat as well. After a few moments, Naruto took both of their bowls to the kitchen and rinsed them off as Nibi started thinking about her dream before she awoke.

It was odd. Whatever it was about was big as the fate of the world hinged on it. Yet why was she shown it? Could it be that she was suppose to warn him so he could change the outcome? Was that why she was saved from being sealed with the others because she still had a purpose? Her anger grew at that thought as she knew people have tried to catch them all before for world domination, but it had always failed through divine intervention by Kami and the God of Death choosing one to bring them down. As she thought about that, was this them trying to tell them that he was the one they chose? But why chose a boy that had Kyuubi seen within him?

Sighing as it was pointless to try and figure out why, she looked over at Naruto as he walked out of the bathroom, though when he went in there was beyond her. "Boy, there is something I need to tell you. It's about your future."

Blinking in confusion as he heard this, Naruto intelligently replied to her. "Huh?"

Refraining from sighing at him, Nibi closed her eyes as she looked out at the window and explained it to him. "I was given a gift, or curse on how you see it, that shows me cryptic visions about the future. Sometimes they are clear, sometimes they are not. But this one is about the fate of the world and your role in it."

Naruto's took a step back as he heard this and looked at Nibi in shock. She could see the future, and it dealt with him. And not only that, but the fate of the entire world? What could he been involved with that could effect the entire planet? And better yet, why did it seem this stuff always happened to him? Didn't he deserve some kind of break for what he been through? Being burdened with Kyuubi and treated poorly over the first twelve years of his life and even now since he returned along with trying to bring his best friend back home and being chased by nine of the most powerful nukenin in the world was enough on its own. But now this?

Nibi noticed Naruto's distress as she told him this and sighed. She should have figured he would have reacted like this. Anyone that was told that their fate was intertwined with the fate of the planet would natural freak out. Yet only a jinchuuriki could truly remain calm as the boy was in front of her. Sure he was panicked, but he was used to burdens so it came natural for him to only put on another, even if it didn't need to be. Nodding lightly at her, Naruto spoke softly, yet somewhat nervously. "What is it about?"

Sighing once more, Nibi looked outside for a brief moment before turning to him. "Though I am not entirely sure myself, I do know this from my dream. Darkness is coming once more and a weapon of mass destruction is close to being introduced to this world. You're role is what I'm confused about the most. It seems that you are trying to stop the weapon, but fail in doing so, resulting in the end of the world. I'm not sure if it's really the end or metaphorical end of it, but I do not wish to chance it. All I can really tell is that you are the one leading the way to save it and that the group that nearly sealed me is the cause of it. From my guess, both Kami and the God of Death have chosen you for this task for reasons I do not understand. That is all I can tell you as I do not know more."

Naruto's face fell at this. He was chosen by Kami and the God of Death to save the world, but not only that, should he fail, the world could possibly end. But that wasn't what bothered him. She said he failed to do it. He failed the planet and let it end. Something he prided himself in was that he would never fail, even if it cost him his life. And only once had he failed and that was to bring back his friend and brother in pain, Uchiha Sasuke. And he still had not given up on him nor would he. And now he knew about this, he could change it and he'd be damned if he fail here.

Noticing his change of attitude from shocked to depressed to determined surprised her. She really did not thing that he would recover so quickly, and not only that, but build up the courage to try and take it on. It was baffling as most people would have been frightened out of their mind that the fate of the world rested on their shoulders. Looking at him strangely, she was about to apologize for telling him this when he suddenly spoke up. "Thanks for telling me about this. Now I'm beginning to understand why fate was so cruel to me early on. It was to shape me into whom I am so I can handle this. But now that I know this, I have to train for it and hope the time that I'm needed to be called on isn't too soon."

Nibi could only nod at this as she unintentionally let out a large yawn. She covered her mouth in surprise as Naruto smiled lightly at her. "Tired. Go ahead and take the bed. I'll use my sleeping bag. And don't worry about it."

She nodded lightly as she was about to take off the jacket when she realized she had nothing on underneath it. She quickly turned to Naruto as she had to get this straightened out. "Boy, tomorrow you are taking me out to get some clothes. I cannot wear this all the time."

Nodding in agreement as that was his only spare jumpsuit, Naruto yawned himself as he set up his sleeping bag and grabbed a pillow from underneath the bed. Seeing that he agreed with her, Nibi pulled the sheets over her as she laid down on the bed and sighed lightly as it was much more comfortable than sleeping on a stone floor for eighteen years.

Shaking that thought from her head, she continued to try and decipher the dream she had, but could come up with no explanations after twenty minutes. She noted the boy was asleep, which surprised her as she thought that he would be worried about what she told him, but maybe he was just better mentally prepared for news like that and could handle it. Yawning one last time, she snuggled into the bed and closed her eyes and let the darkness take her as she was still tired from everything that had happened to her in the past couple of days.

From outside the window, Jiraiya sat on the roof top, hearing what Nibi had to say to Naruto. He had originally came her to give his student some tips on how to live with a women and some training scrolls while he was gone since the boy's true sensei and father figure was gone. But now, his face was set in a dead serious tone. The fate of the world would rest in Naruto's hands and he would fail to save it. That alone disturbed him greatly as it was too great of a burden to put on a boy at his age. Then again, Kyuubi was one of the greatest burdens the world could offer and he was given the task to be it's jailer as soon as he was born.

He mentally knew Naruto could handle the burden, but could he actually change it? Sure the boy trained harder than anyone he had ever seen, even his own father the Yondaime Hokage. And he had the gift of natural learning as once he learned something, he could find a way to make it better. He also knew Naruto was smarter than he let on, much smarter. He had been able to pry into that intelligence once and was shocked when he did. If there was a way too keep that gate open, Naruto could give his Nara friend a run for his money in pure intelligence.

Yet there was something else. Something Minato wanted to pass down to him when he was ready. In truth, Jiraiya felt he wasn't ready for it, yet at the same time he knew Naruto was more than deserving to follow in his father's foot steps as one of the greatest shinobi to ever live. And all he need was just a little push and then he wouldn't even need Kyuubi to fight his tougher battles. And hearing what Nibi said, he knew time was limited. It was Akatsuki that was going to be the cause of world's end, and he could not allow that. Screw the technical mission Tsunade gave him. He was going to cripple Akatsuki now to give Naruto a fighting chance. But there was one more thing he would need to do in order to insure that Naruto could change what Nibi told him.

Slipping into the room through the opened window, Jiraiya smiled weakly at his student as he noticed Nibi sleeping in the bed. He actually didn't think he would have been that courteous and gave her the bed as it was his home, but then again Naruto was the most surprising person he had ever met. Shaking that thought off, he bit his thumb as he pulled out the scroll from behind him and unraveled it to show many different sorts of seal and a few storages seals, one which seemed to be extremely advanced. Taking out a vial of what seemed to be blood from another storage seal, he poor all of it on the one seal and mixed in his own blood as suddenly a smaller scroll popped out of it.

Nodding lightly, he picked up the scroll and placed it on the desk as he pulled out a pen and some paper and scribbled down a note as he left it besides the scroll. Rolling up his large scroll and putting it on his back, he looked back down at Naruto before kneeling down and ruffling his hair, which earned him a stop it Ojij. Jiraiya chuckled lightly as Naruto most have been dreaming about sensei again as shook his head and whispered slightly so that no one but Naruto could hear it, even if he was asleep.

"Goodbye Naruto. This will be the last time I'll be seeing you as I know now that I will not be coming back in one piece. But do not worry about me; I'll live on through you. So just make sure you live your life to the fullest, no matter what fate lays ahead. And never, ever give up. Even in the darkest of times, there will always be a small gleam of hope. If you can grasp it, anything is possible. Now I must go, but work hard and do me and your father proud as we will be watching you." Standing up with a sad smile and a single tear rolling down his face, he jumped out of the window and snuck over the gate wall as he headed for Amegakure for his last battle.

Back in the apartment, Naruto turned over in his sleeping bag a little more confident than before, but he did not know why. A gentle breeze blew through the window and rolled the scroll forwards slightly so the kanji on the bottom could be seen and is said...

Flying Thunder God.

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