Kin of Team Oto feels slightly weary when Naruto-sama's redhead girlfriend turns up at the front gates, looking perky and excited to rush out into the wilds. The twinkle in her eyes makes Team Oto entirely fearful. If this woman has learned anything from Uchiha Naruto, then she's probably a menace to work with.
"Got everything, Karin?" Sakura asks the redhead, motioning to the small pouches of scrolls on her hips.
"Oh, yeah!" Karin nods delightedly. "Got my makeup, some lunches, shampoo, moisturizer, other unmentionables and some shopping money! Think I'm pretty set!"
Kin's jaw drops open, along with Sakura's.
"Excellent. At least one of you is prepared." Yamato-taichou seems to find humour in it, if his little smirk is anything to go by.
Karin preens happily.
"Waitwaitwait! Karin, you can't seriously have no equipment?!"
"Ugh, I'm working with amateurs. What's the point in being a Shinobi if you don't look good while you're doing it?"
Karin whirls on the spot to speak with the team captain.
"Are you sure we should have these three? I don't think they understand what it takes for a high-level mission like this. Oi, Mokuton Man."
She beckons Yamato closer to whisper in his ear. Kin sharpens her hearing, a trait trained up in their time from Oto.
An ear-bleeding whistle causes her to cut it off and cover her ears in agony. When her hearing returns, all she can hear is Karin's mocking laughter.
"They're never going to want to work with you again if you keep messing with them." Yamato chides.
"It's not about them." Karin flicks her hair dramatically. "It's about me, and I say I want to have a fun mission."
"Save me now." Zaku mutters to her.
Karin's face does go from mischeavious to serious though, and there's a small puff of smoke from her wrist. A sword sits in her right hand.
Team Oto all swallow deeply on seeing it.
"Don't think that just because I want to enjoy my time away from the village that I'm not taking this seriously. You know what this blade is, don't you Oto Shinobi? You don't train with Uchiha Naruto for three years and not pick up any tricks of your own."
"Karin-san." Yamato addresses. "I'm sure you're a capable Shinobi, but I am the captain and I'll expect you to follow orders to work with us efficiently."
"I know. But you also know that there's another reason I'm going out and about, right?" Karin re-seals Kusanagi.
"Yes. We'll be deferring to you on all matters related to Jinchuuriki and Bijuu should the matter arise, however unlikely."
"Great!" Karin clasps her hand together. "So, where's the client?"
'Today is the day everything changes.' Neji thinks to himself.
He hasn't told anyone about what he's bringing to Naruto, not even his father. Or Sakura, although he believes she may very well be aware that his own patience has grown thin. Something has to change in the Hyuuga Clan and he can't count on the people in it to be proactive about changing. He wants it though, so he'll make it happen.
Sakura has a good heart and he admires her for it, but he doesn't want her getting caught in this if it all goes wrong. She has been a ray of light in his life ever since he approached her regarding the curse mark on his forehead, offering endless support and asking for nothing in return. The least he can do is keep her out of the mess that follows.
The medical evidence he has collected is more than enough to point the finger at the Hyuuga Clan for their wrongdoings to their own branch house. Naruto has made it quite clear that 'might' and 'maybe' is not good enough, so he's had Sakura's research verified by several medics and doctors, and even Iyashi-sensei who was once Naruto's personal eye-specialist, has concluded that the curse mark does have the potential to damage a Dojutsu wielders eyes on use.
Bringing this forward could end badly, internally for the Clan. But so be it, if he does nothing then they will continue to suffer.
But unlike Tsunade who was content in letting clans police their own problems, Naruto appears to be the kind of person who wants Konoha to be as prepared as conceivably possible for the ongoing threat of the Akatsuki. He won't snub them for being an 'inferior clan', he would want every able-bodied person to be doing their utmost for their continued existence.
And Neji knows how hard someone will fight to have freedom from fear.
Naruto gets out of the Hokage's chair, given a slight moment of reprieve from the constant waves of mission delegation and intel reports.
Blue eyes look up at him expectantly.
"Show me that you can do the Academy Jutsu."
Fujita makes two clones, substitutes with a chair, and transforms into Naruto himself.
"I'm impressed. You've come a long way since I started training you." Naruto praises.
The silver-haired boy beams up at him.
"Alright, I think you're about ready to learn how to discover your own talents. Everyone's Chakra has unique traits that allow them to perform some feats easier than what might be considered average. Take Tsunade for example, she has a very strong affinity for Medical-Ninjutsu, and she also has the ability to use Lightning Chakra."
"So there's something I'll be good at too?" Fujita asks hopefully.
"That's right, but sometimes it's not always obvious what that might be. Some talents can only be realized once you try them a few times, but we'll get to that." Naruto pulls out a thick, square piece of paper. "You've learned the absolute basics of Ninjutsu, which means you now have a foundation to expand upon. The Academy Jutsu are something we define as supplementary Ninjutsu, something that isn't necessarily offensive or defensive. Now, we're going to learn about 'Nature Transformation', and how to apply it to battle. Take this,"
"It's just paper." Fujita looks up inquisitively.
"Chakra Induction Paper," Naruto corrects patiently. "It was developed for the purpose of identifying the Chakra Nature of the person holding it. We'll find out what your Elemental Chakra Nature is once you channel some into it. Give it a try."
"Aren't you really good at sensing? Won't you be able to just tell me what my Chakra Nature is?"
"I could," Naruto admits. "But the point of this is that if some day you need to test your own students, or your own students have students of their own and if they aren't sensors, they'll be able to identify their Chakra Natures using this method."
Fujita concentrates and pushes his Chakra into the paper.
It melts in his hands, the soggy remains slipping through his fingers.
"Your Chakra nature is Suiton."
"Just like Jii-sama! Your Chakra Nature is Mokuton, right Naruto-sensei?"
"Actually, I was born with two entirely different Natures. Katon and Futon. But I developed more of them as I got older. Remember what I said, sometimes your talents aren't always obvious. But learning to use your Chakra Nature will be a good start."
"Are you gonna teach me Suiton?" Fujita asks quickly.
"Yes, but before I do, you need to understand the importance of where and when to use it. The truth is, you're not always going to have a source of water to draw from for your Jutsu, and learning to create your own will be difficult. Maybe the most difficult part of your training so far. The terrain won't always be in your favour, so what should you do to prepare for that?" Naruto words the question differently, but functionally the same as his grandfather did while training him.
"Don't rely on it all the time?" Fujita responds, unsurely and questioning.
"That's right, but how?"
Fujita stops to think while Naruto picks up the soggy pieces of paper and disposes of them.
"I should... learn to not rely on it? That's why you always tell me to master the basics? So I can fall back on other stuff I know in case my Suiton doesn't work."
Naruto grins and ruffles the silver spikes on the boys' head.
"Very astute. Well done."
Fujita beams at him again.
There's a knock at the door, breaking the peaceful little lesson.
"Enter." Naruto orders, and Shizune steps inside with Minako close behind.
"Onii-chan!" Minako sprints and wraps around his legs.
"Demon child!" Naruto scowls with purposeful exaggeration.
"Train me too!" Minako demands imperiously.
Naruto looks back to Shizune, who shrugs as if to say 'your call'.
"Well, I was about to have a clone train Fujita, but if he doesn't mind then I suppose you can tag along too."
"Minako can train with us?" Fujita seems quite eager for it in-fact. From what the boy has said, Minako is quite kind-hearted to him despite her devlish nature that she'd seemingly got from Naruto himself.
"Of course. I may have a neat little trick that might be good for training the pair of you at the same time."
Naruto makes a Snake seal. "Moku Bunshin no Jutsu(Wood Clone)"
A small mass begins to emerge from Naruto's leg, taking the shape of a small human. The colouration does too. Fair skin, neck-length spiky black hair, and a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan glinting on a cocky visage.
"Oooh!" Shizune coos almost hysterically. "I forgot how cute you were at Minako's age!"
She pinches the cheeks of the child-clone, making it pout.
"Nee-chan!" Chibi Naruto protests loudly.
Shizune bundles him up in a hug instantly.
"I made this Moku Bunshin to the exact strength and traits I had at your age." Naruto reveals to Fujita and Minako. "It might be a good sparring partner for you."
Minako hugs the clone. "Let's go play!"
"Train." Chibi Naruto corrects. Big Naruto wonders if he really sounded that petulant as a child.
"Go on, Fujita. My clone will teach you a Suiton Jutsu."
"Okay, bye-bye Sensei! Bye Minako's Kaa-chan!"
"Have fun, Fujita-kun." Shizune waves him goodbye. "Behave, Minako!"
The two children plus Moku Bunshin leave in a rush, and Shizune remains with Naruto.
"How's Kakashi?"
"Are you okay?"
They ask each other at the same time, leading to a shared chuckle at their own expense.
"Kakashi... he'll bounce back, eventually. I'm sure he'll come back around, so don't worry Naruto. I don't blame you for your choices either."
"It was a lot simpler when I was just a kid following his Jiji's teachings." Naruto sighs tiredly.
"And it all made sense to you, and it still does. I know, Naruto. You can't just shake off years of foundational teachings, especially when they still serve you well. So don't worry, keep doing your thing."
Naruto doesn't say anything to that. He knows that they serve him on a functional level, and well for the benefit of the village. But he really doesn't know what to do with this whole Kakashi situation.
He can't ignore this forever, but he does have more important things to worry about right now. Namely, Akatsuki.
"What have you got for me, Shizune?"
"You'll be glad to hear that you're done for the day." Shizune chirps pleasantly. "You're not due to receive any word from other nations about the Summit for a few weeks at least and the Chuunin are happy to do lower level mission delegation. Unless something really important pops up, then it'd be good if you got some rest."
"Rest is the last thing on my mind right now." Naruto sits back in the chair.
The intercom on the desk beeps.
"Naruto-sama, Hyuuga Neji is here requesting a confidential meeting."
"Confidential?" Naruto mutters. "At least I have time for whatever it is."
"Sounds important. I'll see you soon, Naruto." Shizune waves him goodbye.
"See you, Shizune. Send Neji in on your way out for me."
Neji enters holding a cardboard folder, packed so full that paper is practically spilling out of it.
"Naruto-dono." Neji bows politely.
"Take a seat, Neji." Naruto gestures loosely to a chair.
"I hope I'm not intruding into your busy schedule."
"You came at a good time. My business is mostly done for the day. Now, what did you want?"
"I want the laws regarding the use of the Caged Bird Seal to be repealed entirely." Neji states, confidently blunt.
"Interesting. As far as I'm aware, the Caged Bird Seal is generally regarded as a piece of Hyuuga Clan culture that is accepted by the people branded with it."
"It is only accepted out of fear of speaking out, Naruto-dono. The legislation is also discriminatory against branch members of the Hyuuga Clan, no other Clan in the village has such a law under the guise of 'bloodline protection'. In addition, the Cage Bird Seal has been verified to actively damper the capabilities of a Byakugan wielder who is branded with it."
Naruto holds his hand up to stop him for a moment.
"Before we go on, this is a serious claim. I want you to understand that bringing this to light may poke the beehive. Actively hampering a Shinobi's capabilities is something that cannot be ignored, but are you prepared on behalf of the Hyuuga Clan to stand by these claims, even if it causes distrust towards them for consciously choosing to use this Seal?"
"I am aware of any repercussions, and I accept responsibility for any and all consequences of this meeting."
Naruto leans forward.
"Very well. Start from the beginning. Give me your assessment on this legislation, and the details on how the Seal is affecting Hyuuga Shinobi."
One Week Later, Land of Snow
"Something's fishy." Karin wrinkles her nose up, the oppressive icy wind assaulting what little part of her face it could with how bundled up she is in warm clothes.
"That better not be an ocean pun." Sakura chides.
"It's just... something here is messing with my ability to sense Chakra. I should be able to detect ambient blank spots in the general location of someone trying to hide their Chakra, but there's something dense and strong, covering a huge area. I can feel all of you because you're close but there's something hiding by outputting Chakra everywhere. Blending in by fogging up my senses."
"It could be a barrier." Yamato guesses. "But regardless, we proceed with normal caution. Don't let your guard down before we dock."
"Look at this frigid tomb." A deep voice booms.
Karin whirls around. "Who said that?!"
"What?" Sakura looks at her confusedly.
"There is no life in this wasteland. No Hatred, but no Love. No struggle, but no growth. I grow tired of this eternal contemplation. Tired of existing with no purpose."
"Didn't you hear that?"
"I feel you, Uzumaki. Raking your senses across me. Trying to grasp something that you cannot begin to comprehend."
Karin feels a strong headache pounding and tries to massage her head, not understanding what's happening.
"A trap for sensors?" Dosu asks Yamato.
"It's not like anything I've seen before." Yamato keeps keen eyes on Karin. "She's not under Genjutsu, this is something different."
"Karin!" Sakura bustles to her side quickly, making her sit down.
"You strain against my presence. But you will learn quickly enough. Come find me, Uzumaki. I would very much like to speak with you."
Karin slowly fades out of consciousness, oblivious to her panicked teammates.
Yamato storms up to Yukie Fujikaze's assistant, Sandayuu.
"If you are hiding something from me, you will tell me right now!"
Sandayuu reels back, stuttering as he replies. "I- I don't know what you mean!"
Yamato takes none of it.
"Do you know who that red-haired woman is on my team? That's the future wife of Uchiha Naruto, who is not only our current acting Hokage, but quite possibly the most dangerous man alive! If he finds out that she got hurt or worse, he will stop at nothing to find out who was responsible, and if that means he has to crush every nation one brick at a time, he'll damn well do it! Do. Not. Lie. To. Me."
"I lied about the contract!" Sandayuu blurts out. "B-but I don't know why she fainted! I swear!"
"You will be paying triple the stipulated mission fee." Yamato tells, not asks. "You will tell me every last detail you omitted from your request, and you will be waiting for us to investigate what exactly caused this Chakra disturbance in her."
Sandayuu has no choice but to bumble his way through an explanation.
Konohagakure, Hokage Tower
"Have the Clan Heads been informed?" Naruto asks through the intercom.
"Yes Naruto-sama. Are you prepared for the meeting?"
"I am. Please send Umino Iruka here to cover low rank mission delegation, and ANBU Internal Affairs to escort the relevant medical specialists to the meeting chambers. Thank you."
"Of course, Naruto-sama."
Naruto stands up and makes a swift and brief journey to the meeting hall. Neji is already waiting outside.
"Don't be so nervous, Neji. Present everything exactly as you did to me, I'll make sure there aren't any interruptions."
"I cannot help but be apprehensive, Naruto-dono. I've worked hard to get this far, I don't want it to come crumbling down now." Neji straightens up his Kimono.
"Wear some confidence. Fake it till you make it." Naruto is entirely unconcerned. Neji's report is pretty unflattering, and besides, the meeting isn't a vote. Naruto will be telling them how it's going to be, and that future attempts to engage in such obvious bullshittery will not be tolerated.
They wait in the chambers for everyone to arrive, Naruto taking a seat in Tsunade's spot while Neji stays on the other side, ready to present numerous copies of his works for each Clan Head to go through.
Soon enough everyone is present, although there is some grumbling from Shikaku, obviously not keen on being dragged away from some new napping location he'd found to escape his wife. Hyuuga Hiashi looks displeased as well, though an underlying apprehension marrs his visage at the sight of Neji.
"Be seated." Naruto orders. "Ordinarily, Clan matters such as this would be sorted out in private. However, since I will be repealing a law that affects all of Konoha and replacing it today, your attendance is required so that if your Clans have such proclivities, you'll be changing as well. That is among the list of things we'll be speaking about, and then afterwards I expect all of you to bring up the concerns you have too."
"Understood." The Clan Heads chorus.
"Firstly, we'll be discussing the legislation that brings discrimination to a sect of the Hyuuga Clan. It was institutionalized by the Sandaime Hokage and has only served to hinder some of the finest Shinobi Konoha has to offer. The use of the Caged Bird Seal was approved under the guise of 'Bloodline Protection' but only serves to be detrimental to Konoha's forces. We have Hyuuga Neji in attendance to present reports from doctors and medics that he commissioned to investigate the health effects of the Seal, as well as said specialists to verify the concerns."
Naruto leans forward, Rinnegan glaring ominously.
"I do not think it needs to be said that anything regarding active measures to sabotage Konoha's Shinobi will be acted upon with prejudice. However, I will allow any party with vested interest in this topic to contribute their assessment of this legislation before doing so again at the end of this case when the research has been shared. Would anyone like to speak up?"
Hiashi shoots out of his chair, expectedly.
"The Caged Bird Seal is Hyuuga Clan tradition! To repeal the law that allows us to use it is an attack on our Clan and culture! The Seal prevents any enemy Shinobi from stealing the Kekkei-Genkai from those in the Clan who do not have the talent or skill to keep it to themselves! It is only for Konoha's benefit that this legislation is in place, to stop the enemy from obtaining our bloodline!"
There are nods of agreement, given that it is a practical use of the Seal.
Naruto takes it in with a straight face.
"Hyuuga Hiashi has spoken, would anyone like to present an agreement or argument to the point?"
Neji stands up and makes his way to the guest lectern.
"Hiashi-dono raises a valid point on the nature of Kekkei-Genkai protection." Neji agrees, aslo straight-faced although Naruto knows it pains him to do so for the sake of a bureaucratic meeting. "What Hiashi-dono has omitted however, is that the Caged Bird Seal is primarily used as a tool to force Hyuuga Branch members in to submissive slavery. I have the research to prove that the torturous nature of the Seal is extremely detrimental to anyone who has had it used on them. On the grounds of Branch members being too weak to stop their Kekkei-Genkai from falling into enemy hands, Hyuuga Clan culture dictates that the vast majority of Branch members are to only operate as servants to the Main branch, and do not have the opportunities to outgrow this culture on their own. With the removal of the Seal and therein a removal of that innate fear of torture, Hyuuga Branch members can explore opportunities to become servants of Konoha as Shinobi, or any other trade that benefits the village."
Naruto nods, not giving an agreement to either side of the argument.
"Anything further?" He asks the assembled Clan Heads.
A small pause of silence gives him the message of 'no'.
"Hyuuga Neji, you stated that the Caged Bird Seal is used as a method of torture and slavery, but you also stated that it has tangible effects on development in Hyuuga Shinobi. Explain your statements and provide evidence."
Neji passes a stack of papers to one side of the room, and each Clan Head takes one, along with Naruto.
"According to Shinobi Medical Specialist Haruno Sakura, on data collected by assessing fourteen Branch Hyuuga members who frequently receive exposure to the seal, the subjects displayed optical nerve damage, which is verified by Iyashi-sensei, who is present here today. In addition, Branch members are ten percent to three-hundred percent more likely to experience seizures while engaging in active duty, verified with data collected from Head Neurologist in Konoha's Hospital, who is also present. And finally, a Hyuuga branch member is… eight-hundred percent more likely to suffer from severe depression before they're thirty, verified by Yamanaka Inoichi."
Inoichi stands up and stares down Hiashi confidently.
"I stand by the research. I've been saying this for years along with the other specialists, but we have been consistently blocked from bringing it up to Konoha's Council."
'Yes!' Naruto cheers inwardly. 'Finally, I can chase up what Tsunade said!'
"Blocked?" Naruto interjects immediately. "You will explain this to me later. But for now, I want everyone's attention on the matter at hand."
Hiashi visibly holds in his anger.
"I went over the data when it was presented to me at an earlier date, so my mind was made up before this meeting was announced. What you are here for is to understand that ANY action against Konoha's Shinobi or even its civilians, will not be tolerated under any circumstance, no matter your Clan. I hereby repeal the Bloodline Protection Act of which has been used to marginalize a group of our finest. All Hyuuga Branch Members are to report to me immediately to have the Caged Bird Seal removed, permanently. If any Hyuuga finds destitution as a result of my decision, the Uchiha Clan will provide sponsorship for them until a time in which they can become independent members of our village. This matter is concluded."
A writer for Konoha's Newspaper rubs her hands together gleefully as Neji wails with joyous tears.
ANBU Taka is responsible for overseeing the former 'Branch Members' move into the Uchiha Compound as their temporary habitat until they can find their footing with this new freedom they've been given. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there wasn't a single one who wanted to stay with the Main Branch.
His Sharingan assesses everyone that goes in from a rooftop he's perched on.
"They seem happy." Naruto says at his side, the soft breeze flicking his hair about. "Of course, I don't want them here. But it's a hard situation and we need everyone working for the benefit of the village right now."
Taka watches as Hinata and Neji spar in the training grounds. The meek girl cries in frustration at herself, and all Neji does is lift her up to try again, and again.
"Family is wonderful." Naruto says again. "It's something that was taught to me by the matron at my orphanage. I didn't really know what it meant at the time, but I understand it after Karin, Kakashi, Shizune, Minako, you, and even my old man. Families will go to great lengths to protect each other, to rise above whatever comes their way. Of course, there are always bad apples. But can you see an ideal like this and understand just how attractive this might be to a lonely orphan boy?"
"I understand well, Naruto-sama." Taka replies formally.
"Sasuke, you're not fooling anyone with that stupid bird mask. Your hair and eyes stick out like a sore thumb."
"I get it, Naruto. I do. And it's not stupid, it's representative of the dismissal of my personal desires for Konoha's sake-"
"Did they haze you and make you paint your own mask?" Naruto interrupts jokingly.
"...Yes."
"Haha! HAHAHAHA!"
Taka is thankful that the mask hides his embarrassed face.
"Don't you have important Hokage crap to be doing right now?" Taka grumbles.
"Yes, yes. I suppose I should make an appearance for my super important meeting. I'll leave you be, but be on standby in case I need you. I have a feeling that it's going to be an interesting one."
Naruto flitters away with nary a sound.
"Asshole." Taka mutters.
"You said you were being blocked from bringing your findings into the Hyuuga Clan to Council Meetings. Explain." Naruto orders Inoichi, who takes a seat alongside Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Chouza.
"We believe that several Clans were colluding for the sake of protecting each other, a secret alliance, but we couldn't prove it. We had circumstantial evidence at best." Inoichi states evenly.
Shikaku straightens and picks it up.
"It hasn't reared its head in a while, since Tsunade-sama took position as Hokage, but it was always the same Clans being bailed out when they caused trouble. Sandaime-sama was very overt with it during his rule, whenever Uchiha Fugaku tried to bring attention to criminal behavior during his time as Head of the Uchiha Police Force, Sarutobi would always deny the happenings or pass them off as Shinobi simply unwinding after difficult missions. Even the worst offenses would be passed over as nothing unless public scrutiny was too strong, and that included crimes such as murder in rare occasions or sexual assault being more common than that. The process for bringing this to the attention of the Council was and is still too slow, unless you have a friend in a high place like Hyuuga Neji did. The reports have to find their way through too many people, some of those people having sympathies and biases towards certain Clans."
"I see. And you believe that this continues to affect the process of the judicial system when it comes to Shinobi crime?" Naruto tries for further clarification.
"Yes, Naruto-dono." Chouza confirms. "Members of the Akimichi Clan have found that discriminatory crimes and assaults were often ignored, but only when the accused were from a small list of Clans. Tsunade-sama has had her hands full cleaning up Danzo's mess, so she hasn't been afforded the time to look into this."
"And what is the consensus between the three of you? Which Clans do you believe to be colluding and obstructing justice, and do you believe that your Clans are being targeted with this?"
Shikaku shares a look with the other two.
"We looked into it as best we could, collecting information from as many different Clans as were willing to participate into our search for figuring out what was going on, and across the board we found that the Sarutobi Clan, the Hyuuga Clan, the Shimura Clan, along with Sarutobi's two advisors who were on his Genin team, all have a dramatic over representation in Konoha's judicial system. Everyone who tries to take action against these three Clans find that their claims get 'lost' in the works. This happens to us, but even we're able to slowly work our way up the ladder in those occupations. The only two Clans that were completely excluded from even participating were the Uchiha and Senju, because the higher-ups of these systems seemingly didn't want them there."
"We couldn't figure out a 'why' that made sense." Inoichi comments. "Only one exception to these examples was ever made though. I was the one who did Uchiha Itachi's first psychological evaluation when Sarutobi recommended him for ANBU. I found that Itachi's behavior was too unpredictable, but Sarutobi sponsored him to get through to the next stage. Hatake Kakashi refused it anyway."
Naruto interlocks his fingers and stares at the three of them.
"You have told me nothing I didn't already know. But you bringing this to my attention has provided me a reason to look into it using Konoha's resources. If I act on these accusations and investigate, are the three of you willing to provide a statement should anything suspicious be found, and that you prompted me to look into it?"
"Yes, Naruto-dono." The three agree readily.
"You are not to speak a word of this meeting to a single soul. Am I understood?"
"Understood."
"Good. You are dismissed."
The three Clan Heads leave, and Naruto lets out a high-pitched whistle.
An ANBU appears before him.
"Gather your team. I have an S-Rank internal affairs mission for you."
Karin veers off the path again, trying to follow the calling of the strange voice. Off into the storm of white mist, and how easy it would be to get lost.
"Idiot." Princess Koyuki spits out. "Only death is out there. You wanna die all alone?"
"No, that's what you're gonna do when people realize what a shriveled old slag you are." Karin returns fire but doesn't turn to face her. She's entranced by the powerful sensation in the wastes.
"Karin, try to concentrate. Stop sensing over there." Yamato tries to persuade.
"Will you walk into my parlour? Or will I have to reveal myself to you?"
"It says it's gonna come here." Karin rubs her forehead.
Yamato turns to the rest of the squad. "We'll set up camp here with the film crew for tonight. The storm is getting bad."
He turns back, only to find Karin missing.
"Oh for-"
She ventures into the snow, following the increasingly powerful Chakra. The closer she gets, the less widespread the sensation becomes. It starts to become a singularity of pure power, so massive that even Naruto barely matches it when it comes to density.
But unlike Naruto's Chakra, this feels so dark.
Karin stops.
"Well? I'm here!"
"Amusing, that the person to find me would happen to be cut from the same cloth as the one who lost me."
There is a gold glow before her eyes, and the heat melts the frost from her goggles. She takes them off to stop the fogging, and the wind that begins to whip around feels warm and even pleasant.
As the wind clears the fog away, the mound of snow before her begins to avalanche back. Orange fills nearly the entirety of her vision, a massive cocoon like a flower bud unfurls slightly before expanding and launching a gale so strong that the snowy fog blasts away, leaving a moonlit sky and a clear picture of just what was calling her here.
Two slitted red eyes peer down at her in front of nine, swishing tails.
"You finally grace me with your presence."
"Kyuubi..." Karin mutters in shock.
"I see that you understand what I am-"
"You MORON!" Karin screams at him. "Why reveal yourself now?! There are psycho's scattered across the world trying to capture you and all of the other Bijuu and when they do, that Juubi monster will return to destroy everything!"
The Kyuubi outright laughs at her, a harrowing echo that rattles her bones.
"You're just like Kushina. Either too stupid or too brave to stay her tongue."
"I mean it! Now everyone is gonna know!"
"And pray tell, what makes you think I didn't want this?"
Karin stops her berating of the Kyuubi.
"I felt it when Shukaku vanished. My connection to the Natural Chakra of the world helped me understand what happened. The pieces are in motion. There is a wielder of the Rinnegan trying to become the Juubi Jinchuuriki, and the only thing I can do now is to fight that fate."
"You could have fought it by just staying hidden!" Karin tries to reason.
"The Gedo Mazo does not discriminate with how much of us it needs. It grows ever more powerful with our entire essence, but Natural Energy will replace what it needs so long as it has but a mere piece of our power. It may be slow, but it still works. You will find that our power can be found everywhere in this world, and your human practice of turning yourselves into our hosts has only made it easier for them to take the less expedient route. It will not matter if I choose to hide, there will still be a way. But it is time that I returned so that the vision of this world my father had, that dream, will not be extinguished. And if I have to stand by the sides of those who fear and abuse my power, then so be it!"
"Your father... the Rikudo Sennin?"
The Kyuubi growls affirmatively.
"He was naive about the nature of man. He could not truly understand humans as he understood us, not even his own sons. But he was right about one thing, if nothing else. Only cooperation can overcome the greatest of strife."
"So, what? You're gonna join the fight?" Karin asks, maybe feeling slightly hopeful that they would have another ally that isn't just one superpowered man.
"I will, but with one condition." The Kyuubi confirms. "I want to follow in the path of my father. A true union between humans and Bijuu brings out the vast potential of both. Neither can be as strong without the other. I am willing to try for the first time, the power of our own motivations, be they Hate or Love. We can only overcome this conflict together."
Its red eyes look down upon her.
"And you are powerful enough to handle it."
"You say that now, but my fiance is Uchiha Naruto, Kushina's son and grandson of Uchiha Madara!"
"Does Uchiha Naruto fight with all his power against the destruction of the world?"
Karin swallows, understanding that the Kyuubi has already made its mind up.
"He does. He's doing everything he possibly can to fix Madara's mistakes."
"Then you and I will fight, side by side with him. What is your name?"
The Kyuubi clenches his paw and puts it out, expecting the same gesture in return apparently.
"Uzumaki Karin!" She puts her fist out.
"Be honoured, Uzumaki Karin. You are the first human to ever hear my name... Kurama!"
Golden chains sprout from her back and wrap around Kurama.
"Hakke no Fuin Shiki... Fuin!"
Kurama begins to dissolve into Chakra, wafting through the air into crimson stars that spiral into a single point, a whirlpool crashing into Karin's stomach.
"What is that?" Sakura looks at the pretty fountain of red lights in the distance.
"I can't see from here, but that's the direction Karin went." Yamato discerns. "Team Oto, stay with the client."
"Got it."
Yamato and Sakura approach cautiously as the last of the lights enter Karin's stomach.
Karin collapses backward into the snow.
Sakura sprints to make sure she's alright.
"Oh my..." She looks at the seal on Karin's exposed stomach.
"What have you done, woman?" Yamato touches the Hakke no Fuin Shiki.
Karin's eyes open, revealing blood-red crimson slits.
"Don't touch that. Her body is getting used to my Chakra. She'll be back as soon as she's ready."
Yamato reels back and creates wooden pillars to surround Karin.
"Your use of this Jutsu is juvenile compared to Hashirama." Karin/Stranger flicks her hand and blasts Yamato and the pillars away.
"Who are you?!" Sakura asks fearfully.
"I am the Kyuubi. Do not worry for your friend, her mind is resting while I have the reins."
Tsunade thinks Naruto has quite the talent for delegation. Feeling good, she decides to pay him a visit to make sure things are running as smooth as they seem. It seems likely that Naruto would be giving assignments left and right if it only meant he would have a bit of time to himself for training. All-in-all, besides grumbling from the Hyuuga Clan she'd yet to investigate(it's been a nice holiday), Naruto seems to be doing very well.
She approaches the office door when Naruto's voice booms through the building.
"What the hell have you done, Karin?!"
Oh dear...
Entering without a knock, she spots Naruto pacing around the room.
"What's happened? What's the panic about?" Tsunade questions, seeing no-one else in the room.
He turns to face her, but there's something different about his visage.
His Rinnegan glint brilliantly, but there are markings under his eyes. Resting under them are two halves of a split, black leaf.
She understands what the pigment signifies, and she knows that it has magnified his already insane sensing power, and he has obviously felt something that has left him disturbed with his beloved.
"She just turned herself into the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi!"
Tsunade turns on her heel and goes back home. Nope. This is Naruto's mess to deal with.