Konan felt torn between being happy or being embarrassed as Naruto continued carry her over the lake that surrounded Ame. Embarrassment won the day causing her to say, "I am uninjured Naruto. I can walk."
"I know," was the simple reply of the man she had taken as a lover, although they had only enjoyed a single night together. Something, Konan's body tried to remind her of, although she managed to suppress the feelings welling up inside her from being in his arms. She wasn't quite sure why she did, but guessed it was because of the amount of time that they had remained apart. Only able to communicate sporadically, due to her writing notes on Akatsuki's movements and then having to use her jutsu to get them to Konoha. Usually with the sheets of paper taking on the form of a butterfly as they made their journey.
At first her letters had merely contained information that would allow Naruto's allies to dismantle the organization which was sustained not only by missions performed by the nine S-class missing-nin that had been members. But by a huge and secret criminal organization which had allowed Akatsuki to take missions at such a huge discount thus allowing them to operate in different countries that normally hired the Shinobi Villages in order that they could gather intelligence on their targets. It was that criminal element that Jiraiya had targeted and ultimately ended his task with the confrontation between Kakuzu and him. The Sannin's killing of the ancient Taki-nin had been a particular hard blow to Akatsuki due to his self-appointed task of being the treasurer of the group. With him dead, the many side-deals that he had made to make Akatsuki not only function, but thrive despite the bare minimum of funds the group took in from actual missions, quickly fell through. A matter only made worse due to the Toad Sage targeting them due to their ties to the mercenary group.
Yet, soon the letters also became a lifeline that kept her connection to Naruto from turning into one of a handler and his spy. Konan remembered that after several exchanges, with the replies general coming from a combination of Yuugao and Anko as they would ask for information on certain matters they were dealing with in order to learn if Akatsuki was somehow connected, Naruto had gotten involved.
Konan looked up from her spot in his arms to see him staring forward and felt a small smile appear, which quickly disappeared when he looked down at her. The smile though had been due to the female member of Akatsuki remembering how after reading through several pages of notes from the two women. She had turned to the last page to see a handwritten note from Naruto. Unlike the pages that had come before, Naruto had simply given her a heartwarming rundown of events he thought she might like to know. None of the things he had talked about had to do with his ambition except on the off chance that he mentioned some woman that he had charmed and was now aiding him. But then it was just him letting her know about another woman that she was connected to through him.
Konan had finished the first letter and upon realizing he had wanted a response she had been struck with a fit of nerves that she supposed had she had a happier childhood she would have experienced then. Feeling very much like a schoolgirl, whose crush had given her a note and now expected a response, she had fretted about what to write. In the end she had come up with something, but had felt it was probably rather lacking as despite what they had shared together, she had originally done it to put his mind at ease due to the control he had gained over her. Therefore, she had kept her defenses up as while she had joined him because he had rekindled her spirit and as a result the belief that Yahiko's way of creating peace was the right one, she didn't necessarily want to grow too attached should reality once more crush another idealistic dreamer. However, despite her intentions Naruto had seized on the few peeks behind her defenses her letter had contained and used them to make the cracks wider. Before she knew it she was responding to him openly and was sharing things she hadn't even told Nagato. Details about her such as her hobbies began to find their way into her letters, which Naruto would then use to build connections not to just him, but to the other women in his life. For instance, besides her obvious enjoyment of origami, she learned that Hinata also shared her interest in flower pressing. A comment about how her favorite food was flame-broiled fish, had resulted Naruto in informing her that the best fish he had ever eaten was in Sea Country and had been caught by a woman named Isaribi. He had promised to take her one day so she could see for herself.
Little by little his letters had fanned the flame for peace via the methods the old Akatsuki had employed that her meeting Naruto had first rekindled. It had also stirred another need inside her, but one she had kept at arm's length since she felt Tobi had posed the greatest danger to the man that she found herself drawn to. Quite aware that an encounter with Tobi might result in her death, and apparently would have. Konan had not wanted to deepen the burgeoning relationship she had found herself in just in case she didn't survive. She didn't want to be the cause of Naruto falling onto the same path she and Nagato had taken.
Yet, being in his strong arms, she found she no longer had the strength to keep him away. Nervously she said, "Naruto, there's a kunai in the penthouse I've been given. Y-you can just teleport us there."
Naruto smiled down at her as he replied, "I know. I can feel it, but it's been so long since I've gotten to hold you in my arms, I'm finding I want to let the time drag on."
Konan blushed causing her to look away, feeling as jittery as she had the first time, although that time she had kept cool trying to make it sound almost like a business transaction, this time she didn't hide her nervousness as she said, "I…I think it would be best if the people of Ame didn't see you…" She winced as she felt him stiffen, since it reminded him that to many of the shinobi and citizens of her country he had killed their beloved leader. Trying to recover and convey what she truly meant she quickly added, "I also wish to adjourn somewhere private… as I find that I'm in need of some…comforting."
Naruto looked down at her and could see a need in his lover's amber eyes, but also a desire to be held due to her close call with death. More than willing to satisfy both needs, he teleported them to the kunai that he had given Konan. They appeared in a large spacious penthouse which although was only one room, outside of the standard bathroom, featured all the amenities of home and due to the destruction of God's tower had become her home. At least until a new seat of power could be built from which Rain's current leader would guide her village to help establish the peace Naruto was working towards. Her lover placed her down on her feet and she removed her Akatsuki cloak to hang it on a coat rack. She turned back to see Naruto had taken a seat on a chair. Konan looked behind him towards the raised dais where the bed resided and bit her lip as she was not sure how to proceed. She moved to stand before him, and before she could ask what he desired, he pulled her towards him. His hands rested on the small of her back as he pulled her so that he could rest his head against the small upside down v-shaped opening of the clothes she wore under her cloak. Feeling his warm face against her stomach caused Konan to close her eyes to bask in the feeling as she rested her hands in his hair.
They shot open though so she could look down at him as he said, "I don't know what I would have done if I lost you today."
Hearing the raw emotion in his voice, she tried to use logic to say, "Naruto, we've only…"
"…been together for a single day," Naruto finished cutting her off, "Still, that doesn't change the simple truth that over the very many months since that day, there wasn't one that went by where I didn't think about you. Or was worried for you." Turning his head and kissing her naval he added, "Nor does it change the fact that despite the time that has passed since then, my feelings for you have only grown."
Konan closed her eyes again and unable to deny her feelings any further replied, "As have mine."
Naruto began to kiss his way up her body as he stood to reach her lips. Where upon reaching them, he pulled her into a heated kiss. Konan's arm slipped around his neck as their kiss continued and his hands wrapped around her back to hold her close. Konan pulled back slightly to stare into his eyes and felt her own desires grow inflamed by the need she saw in them. It was something that Konan found to be truly amazing about the young man. Quite aware as she was of the number of women that had also taken him as a lover, some of whom her emergency had taken him away from, yet at the moment in his eyes she saw that for the time being he was completely hers.
Wishing to maximize that time, she pushed the red cloak that he had added to his outfit off his shoulders. He let go of her to allow it to fall to the chair behind him allowing Konan to unzip his orange jacket, which joined it. She stepped back to admire Naruto's revealed form as the tight black sleeveless shirt he wore did little to conceal the toned body that his other layers hid from the world.
Konan smiled as he followed her example since the clothes she wore under her cloak could almost be described as painted on. A fact highlighted by her hardened nipples which her backless halter top did nothing to hide. A hungry smile appeared on Naruto's lips as he closed the short distance between them to once more taste her lips but this time as one hand slipped under the cloth of her shirt's long back which nearly reached the floor to grab her butt. His other hand cupped her breast through her shirt and soon began to play with her nipple.
Konan broke the kiss to moan loudly as he rolled her extremely sensitive nipple between his fingers. Naruto smiled as he said upon seeing her reaction, "As sensitive as ever I see." Lowering his head to her other tit, he began to suck on her hardened nub through her shirt causing her to pull his head harder into her chest as her own reared back to stare up at the ceiling in wide eyed wonderment at how well he was playing her body. Almost like it was a musical instrument which although it had been a considerable amount of time since he last held, nevertheless had never forgotten what he needed to do in order to make it sing. And sing Konan did after Naruto paused in his teasing only long enough to push the sides of her shirt which wrapped around her breasts into the valley of her chest so he could tease her breasts directly. Which as he returned to doing, he switched his mouth to the one his hand had been teasing moments before. Also switching his hands' tasks up he brought the one groping her butt up to tease her other nipple as his right hand slid down into the front of her skintight pants.
Already on edge from his skilled nipple play, when his hand first passed through the trimmed blue hair over her pussy Konan felt her body stiffen in anticipation so that when it made contact with her wet folds the light touch was enough to set her off. Konan soaked her panties and pants as she orgasmed hard and went stiff in Naruto's arms. The jinchuriki watched her face as she closed her eyes and bit her lip to prevent from screaming as she began to shake slightly before going limp in his arms.
For the second time that day Naruto picked her up bridal style as he carried her to the dais on which the bed rested. Climbing up the several steps he set her down all the while feeling like a prince about to reclaim his lost princess. Taking off his shirt he tossed it away, before climbing on the bed.
Konan stared at his body lustfully as she said still weak from her release, "It would be shameful if people knew how weak I am to having my nipples teased."
Naruto chuckled as he knelt at her feet and picking one leg up removed her shoe. He tossed it over his shoulder before doing the same for the other. Konan grew a little self-conscious as she watched Naruto begin to slide off her pants. Feeling like she should at least clean away the sweat of her battle she began to sit up as she said, "N-naruto let me go freshen up…"
Naruto smiled though as he held her hips in place before beginning to peel her pants away while saying, "There'll be time for getting clean later." Pulling her legs free, he held them up by her ankles as he admired her exposed lower body. Smiling at the butterfly shape patch of hair Konan had trimmed the blue hair above her pussy into he said, "But let me start the process." Naruto began to suck on Konan's painted toes making sure to pay each digit some attention. She felt her anticipation rise as Naruto then began to lick down her right leg, causing her to moan appreciatively as he spent a moment to focus on the back of her knee with his tongue. Then he traced it up to her inner thigh where he began licking away her juices from her previous release. He skipped her pussy causing her to whine, but only for a moment as he retraced his actions up her left leg.
As he began to work his way back down Konan couldn't hide the slight desperation in her voice as she said, "Please…lick me there…"
Naruto stopped at the junction between her legs and smiled up her body to see she had unzipped her halter tops front to begin playing with her breasts as he had explored her lower half. With his face so close to her pussy his breathing was tickling her snatch as he said, "Where would there be exactly, Konan?"
Konan flushed at being teased so raised her hips up, causing Naruto to slid back to prevent from touching. "Naruto…please…don't tease me…please…my pussy. Please give my pussy some attention too!" Konan nearly shouted the last part as she waved her delectable quim in front of his face. Placing his hands under her ass to hold her up, he then pressed his mouth over her mound causing the blue haired beauty to hiss, "Yesss…it's so good."
Naruto drank of the Akatsuki member's snatch like a man that hadn't had a drink in days only to finally be given a glass of water. Konan's body responded by creating more of her sweet nectar for his consumption. Yet as she felt another wave of pleasure beginning to build she didn't want to be the only one to feel good so said, "N-naruto…let me…let me do you too."
Naruto pulled his mouth away to reveal the lower half of his face was glistening with her essence. His eyes never left hers as he gave her a quick nod before divesting himself of his orange pants and boxers. Konan felt a little envious of Naruto's other lovers as his hardened dick appeared due to their much more significant access to the large pleasure tool that he wielded. Once completely nude, the jinchuriki laid down on his side next to her and turned Konan on her side so he could continue his oral ministrations. This left Konan face to face with Naruto's swollen cock. She hesitated but only due to a wave of self-consciousness as she had never given a blowjob before and felt that when compared to his other lovers Naruto would find her wanting. However, as she felt the pleasure of his tongue exploring her depths begin to return her desire to please him overcame her concerns.
Leaning forward, she gave his swollen head a lick and moaned in turn as Naruto groaned pleasantly into her quim. Inspired by his muffled sounds of pleasure, Konan began to lick his dick more insistently and would occasionally swirl her tongue around his cockhead. Growing emboldened she swallowed half his length even as Naruto pulled his face deeper into her silken folds. Bobbing her head on his pole in time with his own actions, Konan was greatly pleased as Naruto began to pumps his hips as it indicated he was nearing his own release as well.
Konan began to moan causing pleasant vibrations to course through Naruto as she felt herself approaching another orgasmic cliff. Konan ran her tongue over the under the side of Naruto's cock and felt him swell in even as she watched his nuts tighten. Naruto pulled away from her pussy to say, "Konan…I'm going to cum."
"Mmmhmmm," Konan simply moaned around his tool as she continued her end of the mutual oral stimulation they were engaged in.
Naruto fought back a moan as he returned his attention to his meal as he resolved to finish with his lover. Focusing his tongue on her clit, he swirled it around the sensitive pleasure bud before pressing on it with his tongue causing the blue-haired woman to moan around his cock as she began to cum. Naruto let himself go flooding Konan's mouth with his seed which she happily drank down much as he did for her.
Spent the two lovers rolled onto their backs as they basked in the glow of their respective releases. Naruto sat up and looked to the head of the bed where his lover continued to catch her breath. Konan reached up to grab his still hard, but sensitive prick and gripping it firmly began to tug it as she said, "I'm sorry if I wasn't as good as some of your other lovers for you to be this hard still."
Naruto shook his head as he moved to be face to face with his lover as he said, "Konan, you were fantastic and you just swallowed the evidence of this fact." He kissed her hungrily causing her to let go of his manhood to wrap her arms around his neck as their tongues danced with one another. After the kiss ended, Konan didn't appear entirely convinced which prompted him to add, "You don't need to compare yourself to anyone else my darling Angel. I'm afraid that due to all the rigorous exercise that I get as a result of my being the luckiest man on the planet. My little head tends to take a while to simmer down."
Konan gave him a pleased smile as he called her by the nickname the people of Ame had given her, as well as from his words washing away the doubts she had about being able to please him. Reaching for the large appendage that had awakened her to the world of pleasure that existed between a man and a woman, she said, "It's not so little." Beginning to stroke his length she added, "I'm afraid your exercise schedule is only going to become more rigorous and complex. I'm eagerly anticipating becoming a permanent part of it."
Konan capped her words by spreading her legs around the blond jinchuriki and guiding him to her nether lips which eagerly swallowed his dick. Wrapped in the warm embrace of his lover, Naruto locked his lips to hers as he began moving slowly within her. Konan enjoyed the slow sensual beginning but as her body grew hungry for more of the pleasure Naruto was delivering she began to rock her hips faster. Picking up on her urgency the blond pulled back so that he was kneeling as he pulled his lover's hips up off the bed. Her head and upper body remained on the comfortable surface as Naruto began to increase his pace. Konan planted her feet on either side of him in order to rock her hips in time with his powerful thrusts.
Konan's hands gripped the bedding as a lance of pleasure coursed through her every time the Jinchuriki buried his manhood inside of her and it kissed her cervix. Konan began to shake her head back and forth as she moaned, "I…Incredible…please…keep going… Naruto, it feels so good to be connected to you again."
Naruto grunted in the affirmative as he continued to please his lover. Both of their bodies began to glisten as the room filled with the sounds of their flesh meeting rhythmically. Naruto felt the beginning of the buildup to his inevitable eruption, but wanting to prolong his time with his beautiful blue-haired lover moved his hands from her hips to her lower back. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her up so that she was brought face to face with him. Holding her still as she sat impaled on his lap, he stared into her amber eyes to say, "Konan, we've always been connected ever since that day where you first became mine. As long as you want me too, I will cherish that bond and you, so please understand me when I say that there are no challenges that you need to face alone. Use my strength, when you feel weak and I hope you will lend me yours in turn."
Konan continued to meet the earnest blue eyes as she struggled to find the words to reply. She realized though that she was overthinking the matter as her heart caused her to suddenly say, "I love you!"
For a horrible moment she felt like a schoolgirl that had exposed her heart to a boy she liked while being unsure if he felt the same. The moment though quickly passed as Naruto got over his surprise at her sudden admission and a smile appeared on his face as he replied, "I love you too!"
Konan quickly closed the distance between their faces as she pressed her lips to his and wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss quickly grew heated as their tongues caressed each other. Konan began to grind her hips against his so Naruto with his arms still wrapped around her lower back picked her up until he nearly slipped from her velvet grip and then slammed her back down. Konan moaned into Naruto's mouth as he repeated his action again and again.
Unable to keep her voice silent, she ended up breaking their lip-lock as she began to shout her pleasure into the ceiling. Her arms still wrapped around his head Naruto applied his oral skills to her breasts where he sucked on one then the other nipple. Konan's pussy responded immediately by gripping his pleasure pole as the volume of her cries also increased.
Konan felt her body preparing for its journey to the white world of bliss that the man she was one with had first taken her to. Wishing to experience it again while connected to him in every way possible she pulled his face away from her chest to say, "Kiss me."
Naruto responded to her request as he met her halfway. Konan felt him swell inside her as she was pulled down fully onto his dick. Feeling the hot torrent of cum flooding her core she joined him in bliss as she tightened her grip on Naruto and her muffled moans poured into him via their kiss. Konan's world went white before it turned dark as she lost awareness.
She wasn't sure how much time passed, but went she came to she found her lover hugging her from behind. He was napping as well so Konan pulled herself out of his grasp. Walking naked to the large windows that acted as a wall of the penthouse and gave her a breathtaking view of her village, Konan's eyes sought out the spot God's Tower had stood. She easily found it as the black flames of Amaterasu still burned there. She had been surprised to find them still burning upon her return to the village, but one of her village's historians had informed her that one of the legends that surrounded the black flames was that they would burn for seven days and seven nights even if all their fuel was exhausted. Something a few of the local children hadn't allowed to happen as they had often tossed kindling into the fire, much to the chagrin of the shinobi guarding the sight.
Konan though was secretly pleased as she planned to work the flames into a monument she planned to raise in honor of her sensei, and fellow orphans. She would use the flames as a symbol of the dream they shared and still burned so brightly in her lover. She saw a smile appear on her face via her reflection as she realized that it now burned brightly in her as well in thanks to the man that now resided in her heart.
She noticed a new reflection joining hers and realized her lover had awoken as well. Pressing her hands against the glass she pushed her backside towards him as she widened her stance in preparation to once more be stuffed full of her lover. Naruto didn't disappoint as he buried his cock into her and began to push her forward into the glass with his thrusts.
Konan allowed herself to be swept away on the wave of pleasure that he created within her as she simply enjoyed the moment. But once Naruto returned home, she would begin to formulate her plans on how best to aid the man she loved. Plans which also included her reforming Akatsuki, but in line with Yahiko's vision except on a much grandeur scale due to their focusing their mission of helping to build a peaceful world outside of Ame's borders.
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Kiyomi watched as the tentacle that Gyuki had sacrificed in order to fool those seeking to capture its host began to grow as she and her fellow Bijuu began to channel more chakra into it. It began to split as a new tentacle began to grow so Kiyomi using some of her Yin based chakra caused it to transform into a ball of chakra that continued to grow. Recognizing that since the Eight-Tails hadn't sacrificed any of its Will to create the Copy of Killer Bee had actually been sealed into the statue the being they were creating would need a personality Kiyomi said, "Focus on your memories of Gyuki. We'll use those as the basis for this new Bijuu."
Acting as the conduit for the group, Kiyomi could feel each of her sisters' memories and feelings in regards to their sibling. Kiyomi wasn't surprised that Yoruichi's memories didn't exactly line up with the rest of her siblings since Gyuki appeared to have settled down after being sealed in Killer Bee. However, Kiyomi kept the wild and impulsive nature that the rest of her siblings viewed Gyuki with, figuring that if the new eight-tails wanted to settle down it should be after a bit of a growing phase.
Kiyomi noticed the ball of chakra beginning to take form into a new-tailed beast. But rather than allowing it to gain consciousness as a tailed-beast, she wanted it to awaken as a human. Activating the seal on the body that would house the Will infused Bijuu chakra, Kiyomi felt a smile as it was pulled into its vessel. The body's hair began to turn white as a purplish upside down equilateral triangle appeared at the center of her forehead. Two more appeared at the corner of her eyes although they were longer in shape. Her skin began to darken as the body took on a busty, but athletic appearance.
Once the change was complete, Kiyomi let go of her sisters' hands as the others followed suit. Stepping up to the new Bijuu, she watched the woman's eyes flutter for a moment before opening. She could see the woman's confusion as her eyes darted to the different women surrounding her. Sitting up she focused on Kiyomi and asked, "Who are you?"
"Kiyomi," the red-head replied kneeling next to her new born sister.
"W-who am I?"
Kiyomi gave her a reassuring smile as she answered, "We'll find that out together." Standing she helped the naked woman to her feet as she looked around the clearing. Focusing on the Gedo Mazo she told her daughter, "Sage, can you find a safe spot to hide that statue for the time being."
The orange haired woman nodded before leaping away to locate a place to summon the empty Demonic looking statue to. In time Kiyomi planned to return it to its home in the moon but only after binding it with a number of seals and barriers. Focusing on her siblings she said, "Yoruichi, take everyone to Tanzaku town for the time being. I'll have Shiho and Mabui begin finalizing their papers."
Rangiku pouted as she said, "Aw, I wanted to head back to have some more fun with Naruto."
Kiyomi smiled as she replied, "They'll be time enough for that in the future. For now though I want everyone to get acquainted with their new lives. Remember, we signed out at the gate that we were going on a business trip. I don't think it would do for us to head back after only a few hours."
"Then where are you going?" Seven asked as she finished rolling up the scroll that had contained the bodies used to house the vessels for the Bijuu and in which the three women born of Tier's chakra and will resided.
Moving to Nel, Kiyomi held out her hand which the Bijuu that appeared to be a young girl took as she answered, "I want to have Nel checked over. I'll meet you there shortly." She then Hirashined the two of them to the Den located in the Leaf Village.
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Kabuto wore many titles, spy, traitor, strategist and most recently a science experiment gone horrible right. But, chief among them was his being a scientist. Unlike most modern scientists that formed an idea of what an experiments results should be and then tinkered with it to bring said result about. He preferred the tried and true method of forming a hypothesis and then let his experiment behave as it should naturally. This way, instead of data which only supported his educated guess being kept as relevant, even if his experiment failed horribly and he was forced to abandon his previously held beliefs he would be a step closer to the truth.
After his brief encounter with Naruto in Wave Country, he had been forced to abandon his previously held belief that the Edo Tensei jutsu that he was mastering would be the ultimate bargaining chip in the coming war. However, after Naruto not only freed Haku of his jutsu, but apparently returned her to the world of the living he knew Tobi wouldn't be interested in joining forces if the resurrected shinobi could be turned against them. Luckily it appeared that Naruto was throwing quite the monkey wrench into Tobi's plans as well. Kabuto had heard of the masked man's failure to secure the Eight-Tails as well as the crippling of Sasuke Uchiha.
Kabuto felt some concern as that as he had his own plans for Sasuke and the Uchiha would do him little good if he couldn't mold chakra or if his precious Sharingan had been damaged. Yet for the time being the petulant child, which was how Kabuto viewed him, had gone into hiding. It brought a smile to the robed man's face that Sasuke was now experiencing the true life of a missing-nin. "It's a shame really how little you understood that it was both, Naruto and Orochimaru that afforded you the protection you enjoyed, Sasuke," Kabuto said internally. "Now that Naruto is no longer holding Tsunade back from marking you as a missing-nin and Orochimaru is gone, I wonder how long you'll last."
Although Kabuto had his own plans for the Uchiha, he wouldn't interfere for the time being. If some hunter-nin claimed Sasuke's head as a result, Kabuto wouldn't be too upset. Granted the loss of Sasuke would be a blow, but perhaps not as large of one as he had originally feared. It amused Kabuto a great deal to be able to think along those lines, since if there was one thing that had bothered him the most about Sasuke it was the Uchiha's infuriating belief that the world revolved around him. Now that it appeared he was becoming a minor footnote, he had no doubt that was as angering to the Uchiha as the death of his clan.
Kabuto stopped as he came to a canyon. A white snake appeared from beneath his robe and its tongue flicked out as it tasted the air for danger. Not finding any at the moment, Kabuto resumed his journey as the snake disappeared beneath the hem of his robe. He stopped his musings as he needed to keep his senses sharp since he knew the woman that called the area home wouldn't waste words in introduction, but would simply be attempting to kill him. Not exactly someone Kabuto wanted to align with, but in his new experiment he needed a pawn and due to the guilt and grief the woman was experiencing she would make for quite the powerful one. What was even better was that once everything was said and done, she'd likely volunteer to sacrifice her life for his goal of unlocking the mystery of how Naruto could return to life the people brought back via Edo Tensei.
He sensed the attack moments before it happened as Crystals grew and shot out of the canyon wall like thrown spears. Managing to avoid them all, he continued forward until he heard a vicious and bloodthirsty shout as Guren appeared from a cave entrance located about fifteen meters off the ground. She leapt at him as crystal blades appeared on her forearms, which she swung at him widely as she landed before him.
Kabuto took a moment to take in her disheveled appearance and felt some concern that she wouldn't be capable of performing the task that he needed her too. He felt his concern abate slightly as he caught one of her arms by her wrist and feeling the strength she still possessed said, "You still greet you're guests as rudely as ever, Guren."
The former Sound Kunoichi's dark eyes burned with renewed fury as she pulled her arm free and used the other to slash at Kabuto's mid-section. The robed man easily slid back enough to avoid the blow, and responded by spinning as if to sweep Guren off her feet. Guren leaped back but was surprised as a snake shot out from beneath Kabuto's robe. It bit down on her shoulder before pulling her down and smashing her into the ground. Guren tried to cut it off of her, but found that it had injected some kind of venom into her that caused paralysis.
The snake let go as it quickly retreated back beneath Kabuto's robe. Guren watched with hate filled eyes as Kabuto slowly closed the distance with her and said calmly, "Now let's try to catch our breaths now shall we."
"Go to hell," Guren shouted managing to fight her way to her knees despite paralysis. She lunged at Kabuto, who simply turned to the side allowing the woman to fly passed him.
He sighed as she struggled to get back to her feet again as he said, "If only Orochimaru could see you now. I'm sure he'd be rather disappointed…"
"Shut up," Guren shouted managing to get back to a crouched position but was knocked onto her back by Kabuto as she tried to face him. Glaring up at him, she said, "If Orochimaru was still alive, I'd kill him as readily as I would you. Both of you used me…used him…you manipulated Yukimaru into carrying about me the woman that killed his mother to increase his power to control the Three-Tails."
"All very true," Kabuto said with a shrug, "Still I was rather surprised to find that those feelings extended both ways. Who could imagine that a heartless kunoichi like you could come to care for someone? I suppose it must be hard to accept that despite his learning the truth that you killed his mother, he still readily sacrificed his life by swallowing all those pills to control the Three-Tails long enough to prevent it from swallowing you."
Guren's glare turned to a look filled with pain as she recalled racing back to the rock that Yukimaru had been standing on as he controlled the beast and sent it to the bottom of the lake. She had arrived just as the tower of light he had admitted disappeared. He collapsed just as she arrived, but she managed to catch him and could feel the fever burning him up as a result of his overdosing on the pills Kabuto had been feeding him. He had smiled gently up at her as he whispered, "Guren's safe, I'm so glad." Then with little more than a sigh he went still in her arms as he passed onto the next world.
"N-no…Yukimaru, open your eyes…please… Please!" she had shouted before screaming at the top of her lungs as she clutched his cooling body to her.
"Well it would appear this experiment was a failure," Rinji, her lieutenant had said from behind her. "I guess there's nothing to be done but to cut him open and learn what we can from his corpse."
Guren glared at him over her shoulder. She set Yukimaru down and facing the only apparent survivor of the team she had led said, "I will not allow you to take him back to Orochimaru. He deserves to be allowed to rest in peace."
"And what about the woman he gave his life to save?" Rinji had asked. "What does she deserve?"
Guren yelled in anger as she attacked Rinji. During their battle she had damaged his face forcing him to reveal that at some point during the mission Kabuto had killed Rinji and assumed his place. Understanding that from the very beginning both she and Yukimaru had been pawns in one of Orochimaru's experiments, Guren had vowed to one day avenge the boy, before following after him in death. But before she could gain the upper hand the Leaf shinobi they had been battling against arrived and forced both her and Kabuto to retreat. She had watched from a distance as they secured Yukimaru's body, and confident they would at least treat it with respect had disappeared to one day fulfill her vow.
She had heard of Sasuke's killing of Orochimaru, so planned to hunt down Kabuto in due time. Returning to the present, she watched as Kabuto closed with her and fearing she was about to die before she could complete her vow whispered, "Yukimaru…I'm sorry."
Kabuto smiled as he said, "What if I told you I could bring him back?"
Guren eyes shot towards Kabuto's face as she tried to search it for deceit. Also noticing the scalely skin there for the first time she asked, "Why would you do that? Is it so you could use him even more?"
"Hardly, Yukimaru is of no further use to me or my goals. But, there are people who might be that I wish to use Edo Tensei on. Unfortunately, the Leaf is aware of this and has been guarding their dead rather extensively. I want you to create a distraction for me so I can gather the material I need."
"Why should I help you?"
"Because in return, I'll reunite you with your precious Yukimaru. Besides, the Leaf currently has his body which you'll need to secure, along with the sacrifice, if I'm going to bring him back. If it helps, think of it as a temporary alliance of convenience."
Guren felt the paralysis fading from her body so worked herself back to a kneeling position. However, even though she felt that she could move freely again she nevertheless said, "I'll help. However, once you resurrect Yukimaru we're done with each other." From the smile that appeared on Kabuto's face she knew she had made a deal with the devil, but it hadn't been the first time and so long as Yukimaru could be brought back would gladly make such a deal a hundred times over.
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Tsunade finished scanning the young girl that Kiyomi said was actually the Three-Tails. Not finding anything via her scans the woman turned towards the red-headed Bijuu to say, "I'm afraid I can't detect anything wrong with her physically. Despite the scar she has there's no evidence of it that extends past the tissue."
"I suppose that is good," Kiyomi replied as Nel having been given a small green robe to wear, leapt from the table to explore Tsunade's medical lab which was one of the rooms that made up the Den. "Still it doesn't explain why she's suffering from memory loss or has taken such a diminutive form."
Tsunade nodded but said, "True, although you said she took on a more adult form at first… Don't touch that!"
Kiyomi looked over at Nel to see her in the process of pressing some buttons on one of Tsunade's medical devices. Sighing she said, "Nel, I told you to behave yourself."
"But Nel's bored, she wants to do something fun," the diminutive Bijuu said about to throw a temper-tantrum. "Nel told you she didn't need a checkup and that she feels fine."
Tsunade fought back a laugh as she could see that Kiyomi was struggling to keep her emotions in check at being talked back too. Attracting both Bijuu's attention she said sweetly, "Nel, behave yourself and I'm sure Kiyomi will buy you something yummy."
"What's yummy," Nel said since not having any concept of pleasure, pain, or the sensations that existed in-between the two. Kiyomi smiled as her sister's gaze moved from the Hokage to her as she asked, "Will you buy me yummy?"
"If you behave," Kiyomi replied. "I think you you'll find that yummy isn't so much a single, item but a wide range of them."
Nel's eyes grew wide in excitement at the prospect so figuring in order to get the reward she needed to behave moved to sit on the table she had previously occupied when Tsunade had examined her. Kiyomi smiled as her sister small legs began to kick the air so focusing back on the Hokage said, "You were saying."
"I merely was about to suggest that perhaps what your sister is experiencing is a type of amnesia brought about from her not being extracted before the previous Mizukage's death."
Kiyomi inclined her head in agreement as she said, "A diagnosis that I would tend to agree with. None of my other's sisters have ever experienced such though so there is no way to know for certain. But can we be certain she'll eventually get her memories back?"
Tsunade shrugged in a noncommittal fashion as she replied, "That I can't say. I do believe they are in there though."
"What do you base that belief off of?"
Tsunade could hear the hope in Kiyomi's voice so explained, "Well as I was about to say before, you said she originally took on a more adult form. I take this as a sign that some part of her recognizes what has happened to her, at least on a subconscious level. When her consciousness took over though, well this was the result."
Kiyomi took some solace in Tsunade's theory as it would suggest that there was some hope for her sister to recover. Commenting on Nel's power she asked, "Would you believe this is why her chakra levels are so low?"
Tsunade arched an eyebrow as she said, "Low? In terms of raw power, she easily outclasses a majority of the jounin I've encountered."
"Perhaps, but in comparison to her previous Bijuu state, she should be much stronger."
Tsunade crossed her arms as she stated, "It's possible that the same mental block that is keeping her in this child-like state is also acting as a seal on most of her power."
"I guess until she recovers her memories we will never know for sure," Kiyomi said helping Nel off of the table.
Holding the small Bijuu's hand, Kiyomi was about to Hiraishin them to the rest of their siblings, but stopped as Tsunade called out, "Hold on a moment. I have a question or two for you."
Kiyomi paused and without looking back said, "I'm guessing it's in relation to your sudden aging." Tsunade didn't bother to hide her surprise as the red-head that wore her grandmother's face although now with shorter hair that she wore in a similar manner as Sakura turned to face her. Kiyomi smiled at her as she asked, "Why such a look of surprise?"
"I was under the impression you didn't wish to speak about it so openly," Tsunade said as she stood.
"I wasn't hiding it," Kiyomi said sounding slightly defensive, "I simply felt it was a matter best brought up at a later point. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you would look into it, especially considering how highly you value your appearance.
It was Tsunade's turn to sound defensive as she countered, "I was looking into it before this happened to me. I had noticed that we were healing faster and recovered from fatigue quicker. What I want to know is why I'm growing older while it appears that Tsume is growing younger?"
Kiyomi smirked as she said, "Are you afraid you'll one day return to that old appearance that you hid away from the world?" The Bijuu could tell that the Hokage was, so dropped her teasing to say, "Let's postpone this discussion until later. Let's get everyone together so that we can discuss this matter out in the open."
Tsunade nodded as she said, "I'll let everyone know." A moment later Tsunade was left alone as she stood to spread the word for Naruto's lovers to gather.
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Naruto entered into Mikoto's room and he gave her a warm smile. The Uchiha kunoichi returned the smile although she felt a measure of embarrassment and arousal as she recalled the sounds of his lovemaking that had filtered into her room. She wondered if he was coming to let him speak with his mother again. For a brief moment she felt a thrill at the idea of lying in the bed with him again, but it faded as his smile melted and a more serious look appeared.
"What is it?" she asked as he appeared conflicted.
Naruto took a deep breath before saying, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing better, thank you for asking. But I don't believe my health is why you're here, is it?"
"No," Naruto said pulling a chair away from a makeup desk. Pulling it towards the bed he sat down as he said, "Mikoto… w…where do you stand in regards to Sasuke?"
"I…I don't know," the woman said honestly. "He's my son…I still love him, but …I-I know you did what you had to do."
"Maybe," Naruto said after a moment. "What if I told you I could have made him abandon his current path? What if I could have forced him to follow the path Itachi likely wished?"
"H-how," Mikoto asked and was unable to hide some of the hope that appeared in her voice. It turned to anger though as she said, "If you could have done that then why wouldn't you? I thought you were his friend." Naruto winced at her tone. He broke eye contact and stared at the floor for several heartbeats prompting her to ask heatedly, "Well!"
Naruto looked up from the floor and she felt guilty as his eyes conveyed a deep sadness. But he pushed it aside as he reached into his pouch while he said, "I did consider Sasuke to be a friend, but if he were to find his way out of the darkness he has surrounded himself with then I believe it should be by his own desire." He pulled out a small glass jar and Mikoto could see an eye resided inside it suspended in a liquid that preserved it. Naruto placed it in her hand as he said, "When we defeated Danzou he told me this eye could make Sasuke return to the village. I believe Danzou used it on me and having felt its effects. I can attest that it seems capable of completely remaking a person into whatever the castor wishes." Naruto leaned forward and resting his elbow on his knees folded his hands in front of his face. Meeting Mikoto's gaze he said, "Yet I couldn't use that eye to bring Sasuke back to the village. If I did…well it would be no different than what Kiyomi did to those Taki-nin. Using that eye on Sasuke would have been a short cut to the goal I had hoped for. By using it, the one that would have really changed would have been me. My goal is to unite the shinobi world so that villages and even clans that once considered each other enemies can one day become allies and even friends. That eye could be a powerful asset to do it, but the world it created would be a false one. It in actuality would be a world where the only person that would be happy is me."
"Why tell me all this then? You didn't need to tell me of this eye's existence."
"I know," Naruto said his voice serious. "However I had decided I'd tell you the morning after you spoke with my mom. I also decided I'd give you that eye."
Mikoto's gaze shot down to the item that she held and having suspected that it was Shisui's said, "W-why give this to me? Aren't you afraid I'd use it on Sasuke?"
Naruto nodded, but answered, "Mikoto, I know I'm placing an indescribable temptation in your hands. But, I don't know what Sasuke will be like if he survived our encounter. It's likely that at this point only that eye could make him the loving son you remember. I believe using it to change him would be wrong, but then again that is only my opinion. I would never think that even my connection to him compares to the one that you share."
Mikoto stared at the eye a moment longer before looking up at Naruto. Filled with many conflicting emotions she said, "I…I don't know what you want me to do with this. If you believe using it would be wrong then why give it to me?"
"I can't say for certain," Naruto answered, "But it is something that belongs to your clan and if it was up to me I would destroy it. Whatever Sasuke has become he has the right to walk the path that he has chosen. I believe though whatever that eye and ultimately your son's fate is, you have as much a right to decide as I or anyone else does. Perhaps more so. If you chose to destroy the eye or use it, I promise to respect your decision."
Mikoto again looked down and could feel the heavy burden it placed on the person that held it. She watched as Naruto stood and just before leaving the room she asked, "How can you be sure giving me this will not backfire against you?"
Naruto shrugged before answering, "Truthfully it's not something that I considered before deciding to entrust it to you." Turning to face her, he added, "You may feel it is naïve of me, but if there is a good way to use that eye, I believe you'll be the person to find it."
"Naruto, I've destroyed everything I've touched. Both my family and my clan were destroyed because of me. I'm a cursed woman…I don't want you to be…"
Naruto moved from the door to stand before the woman and giving her a confident look said, "I don't believe in curses. What happened to your clan and to your family was not just your doing. It was the product of many different peoples' choices and actions." Naruto knelt down and placed his hand on hers as he continued, "I know you blame yourself, but you aren't cursed and I'll stake my life on it."
Mikoto gave a weak and disbelieving smile so Naruto gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. He stood as he had to meet his lovers, and exited the room. Mikoto waited several moments before saying, "I hope you're right. I could never forgive myself if I was the cause for your destruction as well.
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