"You sure aren`t sugar coating it, Kaa-chan." Naruto responded to Tsunade, letting out a sigh, rubbing his eyes, thinking over it all. "Tsunade," Said woman already knew, that whenever her grandson would address her on the first name basis, it would mean he was absolutely serious with her. "You and I have made a deal, a deal to which both of us have agreed upon. You will keep Konoha, it`s Council, Shinobi and Danzo with his Root off my back, and should they come at me, I have full right to respond with lethal force if needed be. In return, I will take missions from you, the kind of missions that you wouldn`t like to send your men and not get Konoha involved directly. Like with sabotaging Orochimaru`s supplies, killing off his supporters and even the feudal lord that allowed him to build his Hidden Village in Oto no Kuni. So far, this deal worked well and neither of us had any complains. So, don`t mind me asking, what has suddenly changed, and why should I return to Konoha, Tsunade?"
Now it was Tsunade`s turn to let out a sigh, as she knew that Naruto was correct and right on point in this one. She didn`t want Naruto to return to the place that had nearly killed him, especially now that he had family, but as the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade had the responsibility of keeping the people in Village safe, even if the population itself seemed to be not so worthy of that. For this reason, 4 years ago, after the name of Hanzo Hattori became known worldwide, with Tsunade and Shizune knowing of his true identity, Tsunade has decided to make a deal with Naruto.
The deal was simple enough, yet in later years it has proven to be extremely valuable and even essential at some point for Konoha. Naruto would take on missions from Tsunade, via Katsuyu, to deal with threats for Konoha, while Tsunade in return will not only keep Konoha off his back, but also pay him money, good money. Naruto has had every reason to turn it down, especially considering his hatred at the time for Konoha and its people, but, much to her own surprise and shock, Naruto accepted the deal.
When she asked of him why, he simply stated to Tsunade that: "There are more dangerous and vile creatures and people than those that live in Konoha, like one still breathing and seething in Oto. If taking them out of the game means making this world a little better for others, I`m game." That statement, as well as the tone at which Naruto spoke about it and Konoha showed Tsunade just how much more mature and grown up he has become, along with the fact that while he has not let go of his hatred of Konoha, he didn`t allow it to become his main living motivator and driving force. He may`ve been resentful towards Konoha, but Naruto now understood, after Mizu, that there are people that only want to see the world burn for their own amusement, and the fact that many of them were eyeing up Konoha as their target, was merely a side effect.
And that is how the deal worked, with Naruto hunting down people, organizations, Orochimaru`s forces and other hidden enemies and taking them down, one by one, swiftly and mercilessly. He never took any contracts that meant harming other nations and their Hidden Villages, like with Kumo or Iwa, as Naruto would only deal with those threats that posed immediate danger not just to Konoha, but other nations as well. However, while the deal has ensured that Naruto would keep Konoha safe from its threats, that didn`t mean he was on Konoha`s side when it tried to play dirty and stab friends in the back.
The mission in River Country is the prime example of what Naruto was ready to do if Konoha were to play the aggressor. 18 Chuunin and 9 Jonin dead, all are battle hardened veterans, all had survived the Invasion of Suna and Oto and some were elite veterans of Third Shinobi War. And Naruto slaughtered them, having been asked by Gaara to guard him on his way to Iwa, and as a result, when those Shinobi had tried to assassinate the Kazekage, Naruto personally dealt with them. Tsunade has had a field day, trying to explain firs to Fire Daimyo, than to River Daimyo, what a military sized Shinobi company was doing in River Country. Next was a backlash from Suna, which nearly led to next Shinobi War, and it was followed by Tsunade practically demolishing the Council of Konoha, as she learned how they were the ones to assign those Shinobi to this mission, behind Tsunade`s back and her knowledge, just like now. It seemed to them, like Tsunade was now nothing more but a figurehead, not even worthy of a role of a puppet, and that they could run Konoha as they all pleased.
Well, they picked the wrong Hokage to mess with, as Tsunade wasn`t the Third Hokage, but the Fifth one and she has had enough of seeing the village her whole family had defended, built and let grow, become nothing more but a blood vessel for all those leeches to suck from. No, Tsunade has had enough of Konoha`s degradation and it was time to save it. When the forest grows to wild, a purging fire is inevitable and natural to happen, as uncle Tobirama had once told her.
And Tsunade`s fire was Naruto.
"I remember our deal well, Naruto, and there is nothing wrong with it. However… Even though your work has kept Konoha from being destroyed several times over, it`s end is still drawing near. And I mean not from the outside…" Tsunade saw how Naruto picked this one up.
"But from the inside…" Naruto glanced over Tsunade`s shoulder, seeing his former friends and comrades, defeated and laying in the mud, while Karin, Hinata, Shizune and Katsuyu were working on them. "I think this is best to discuss inside my house. You can bring your guard with you, Kaa-chan, but not any of the unwanted guests. They are free to stay here for the night, but if anyone tries to come inside the house without my say so, then Kiba will have some company on his way to hell."
"Fine by me. Anko, Kurenai, you are with me. Guren, Yugao, take the defensive posts around here, make sure that those idiots don`t try anything stupid. Karen, Shizune, Hinata, once you are finished here, you are welcomed in as well." Tsunade commanded right ahead, with Kurenai and Anko all eager and glad to come along, while Yugao and Guren gave affirmative nods to this one.
"Hey, and what about us two? Naruto, aren`t you going to invite us in?! We are the closest people you`ve got!" Jiraiya shouted in indignation, as he and Kushina moved to intercept the pair. "At least let us stay for the night! We`ve been on the move for full two days from Konoha to here, for crying out loud!"
"Naruto-kun, I know that we`ve started out on the wrong note, but if you can just let me talk to you, I am sure you will understand that I am…" Kushina had tried to speak up, but Naruto didn`t want to listen to either of the two.
"You`ve barged in on my private land, insulted me, my family and tried to force me to go with you, and now you want to come in my home for some tea and cakes? Had it not been for my real Kaa-chan here, I would`ve sent you home in body bags." Naruto coldly stated, with Jiraiya fuming at what he said to him, which didn`t escape Naruto. "Fume and steam all you want, Jiraiya, but even your incomplete Sage Mode wouldn`t have saved you."
"So, you know that it was Sage Mode, huh? Then, if you know about it, gaki, you should also know just how much more power it gives people, right?" Jiraiya asked in low and threatening voice of Naruto, who merely nodded to it. "I`ve already hit you with my Rasengan once here, so you should know of it`s awesome power. What would you, a banished shame of Fourth Hokage, have to counter that? Senju Hidden Jutsu: Migatte no whatever it was, huh?" At a mere mentioning of it, Tsunade stiffened up and her eyes widened at shock.
"Naruto was going to use Migatte no Gokui?! If he were able to recreate that jutsu, then not even Jiraiya in a full Sage Mode would be able to stop Naruto, along with Kushina. Hell, even Madara Uchiha had struggled agaisnt it when uncle Tobirama used it." Tsunade thought to herself, as she looked between Naruto and Jiraiya, with Naruto finally giving his answer.
"It was one option I was willing to use agaisnt you, old frog." Naruto simply said to him coldly. "The second one… Have you asked yourself: how was I able to teleport away on various distances, without any visible markers or kunai with marks like my father had used?" That got both Jiraiya and Kushina thinking for a bit, before Kushina looked around the place for a bit, her careful eye examining the land around her, before she widened her eyes in shock and surprise.
"Th-this is…" Kushina turned to see her son, and noticed the smallest of smirks upon his lips. "S-sochi… H-how did you… Even Minato-kun wasn`t able to…"
"He wasn`t able to make it into the reality because he simply didn`t have time to draw the needed sealing inscriptions. My father was a genius when it came down to Fuinjutsu, and he already had the theory worked out, I only needed to make it into reality." Naruto simply stated, surprising Kushina. "And it is Naruto-san or Naruto, Kushina, not Sochi. You long have lost the right to call me that way."
"Kushina, what are you two talking about?" Jiraiya asked of her.
"Of Minato`s last work in Fuinjutsu… Takamagahara." Kushina said in half whisper, with Jiraiya not getting this one. "Minato`s prowess with Hiraishin may`ve been great, but he wanted to find a way to teleport within a specific area without any markers, in any particular spot or place, even those that were not marked. He never explained the details to me, but all he said is that involved the usage of Barrier Fuinjutsu and Hiraishin`s formula somehow… This is what he meant by it all: a barrier part for creating a covered area, while Hiraishin is to teleport anywhere within the said area. The complexity of combining the two completely separate seals is on an incredible level, and to make it work… Naruto, h-how did you do it?"
"Trade secret, and like I said: father had done the entire job, I merely put it to practice." Naruto simply stated. "You were well within Takamagahara, and I could`ve easily killed you all within a time span of half a minute, considering that I had known where all of you were all the time. The single reason as to how you got a drop on me is because of my own carelessness and occupation with Sasuke. Next time, I`ll make sure to target the most dangerous ones first." Naruto stated to both of them clearly. "And I do not want to see you anywhere close to my home, so for your own health, stay away, or I will know about." Naruto stated clearly to them both, as he, Tsunade, Kurenai and Anko moved right ahead to Naruto`s house.
"Wow, gaki, not only did you get bigger, but it looks like you`ve grown some pretty big balls too along the way." Anko laughed, getting glares from both Kurenai and Tsunade, while Naruto simply chuckled up at this one. "Though, if I recall correctly you were always balsy like hell, even back in the good old days of your Chuunin Exams, remember?"
"Yeah, though back then I was much dumber, shorter, wore a kill me orange jump suit, had little to no skill speak of, and had the mordacity of forgetting the sweet taste of good dango and my favorite Hebi-nee-chan that introduced me to it." Naruto said with a smile to Anko, as she froze in place at hearing it all, while Naruto turned around to face her. "I must admit, nee-chan, how the hell you didn`t kill me when you saw me in that orange monstrosity is beyond me. After all, weren`t your words are: "If I ever catch you eating dango without me, pulling pranks without letting me know, or wearing orange, I`m gonna string you up with my snakes biting off your balls, gaki." And as far as I and a few specific persons know, that part of my body is still with me."
"Hebi-nee-chan… GAKI!" Anko`s mind immediately rebooted back, and with tears and smile she launched herself right into Naruto`s arms, crying out loud and not caring for ruining her 'tough as hell bitch' reputation she made herself, for now it didn`t matter to Anko.
What really mattered to her was the fact that Naruto, her surrogate little brother and closest thing she ever had for a family, has remembered her. Anko may`ve always been one of the hardest persons to get around with and to make friends with, but she wasn`t one without feelings, far from it. Her best friend, Kurenai, was the prime example of Anko being a human being, and when Kurenai had taken from the streets, Naruto, who at the time looked worse than dead, covered in blood, bruises, injuries, malnourished and half-dead, Anko took an instant liking to Kurenai`s adopted son, almost immediately becoming extremely protective of him and spending time with him whenever she had the chance.
Though to some it may seem like Anko would be the worst possible sister material, to Naruto she was the best big sister ever, his closest, after Kurenai, person. Anko took caring after Naruto more seriously than even her duties as a Shinobi, though not to a detriment of her work. Whenever Kurenai was out on missions, Anko would be the one looking after the blond bundle of energy, and during the time that Naruto had stayed with Kurenai, any civilian or Shinobi had dared to even glare at him, would have to deal with a very, very pissed off Anko Mitarashi, as she would not forgive or forget anyone who would hurt her little brother.
Anko didn`t spare any affections or her money on him, buying him cloths, gifts on birthday or simply on random days, taking him out to dango restaurant and even to Forest of Death, though the last one had earned her a deaf ear after a five hour lecture that Kurenai had given to her. But overall, Anko loved Naruto like her own flesh and blood and he loved her back as his big sister.
So when Anko had seen Asuma with his blades bearing down on Naruto, with the blond already wounded from his shoulder to tailbone, Anko snapped, and she snapped very hard. It was the only time that Anko had willingly activated the Curse Mark Orochimaru had given to her, and even though she swore never to use it, that time she didn`t care about it: her little brother was about to be killed by a bastard of a son of Hokage. Anko nearly killed Asuma back then, had she not been stopped by Anbu who appeared when Naruto suddenly flared up Kyuubi`s chakra, a response in an effort of protecting his sister.
And after that… It was a nightmare for Anko: Naruto`s memories of Kurenai and Anko, along with this incident were sealed away, Asuma didn`t get punished, and Anko was forced to keep quiet about Asuma`s attempt at Naruto`s life. Had she told Kurenai or anyone else about it, Hokage made it clear as day to her, that Anko would be sentenced to death, along with Kurenai. And so, Anko kept quiet, even when Kurenai and Asuma began dating, though she did try to dissuade her from it, but proved ineffective, as Kurenai herself was torn and broken after losing Naruto and sought comfort. Too bad it was comfort in the arms of the most despicable man in Konoha, in Anko`s eyes.
And as for Naruto… She and Kurenai had tried to look after him from afar, but they were given a clear as glass order: stay away from Naruto, or face the tribunal and death on charges of treason and putting the village in harm`s way. The girls may`ve been always loyal, but that order… It took everything from both Kurenai and Anko not to betray the Village and simply kidnap Naruto away from the place. Forced to see him grow up alone, no friends, hated and beaten by the Village, and then thrown away like trash… Anko nearly defected from the Village, only stopped by Kurenai who nearly killed herself from grief. She stayed only for her, her surrogate sister, and when Kushina returned and revealed to everyone the truth about Naruto and how she abandoned him, Anko and Kurenai had went as far as to confront the wife of their deceased Hokage, lashing out and nearly killing her in the process.
After the news of Naruto`s death reached them, Anko and Kurenai had thought they were stabbed into hearts. They mourned his death for two long years and it was a living hell, being in Konoha and serving the people that had sent him to his death. It was only because of Fifth Hokage`s personal persuasion that the two didn`t quit being Shinobi, saying that Naruto wouldn`t want them both to suffer because of him and that he would want them both to live if not for this village, than so that he wouldn`t be forced to cry for them if they died because of him. It worked, and Anko with Kurenai stayed Shinobi, with Anko becoming a member of Hokage`s personal Honor Guard, and Kurenai continuing on with her career.
And now, Anko was literally crying happy tears on her brother`s shoulder.
"My sweet little gaki finally remembered his Hebi-nee-chan! I`m so happy UWAAAHHH!" Anko cried loudly, literally running rivers of tears from her eyes, while Naruto held her in a hug.
"Anko, stop crying now. You are a Jonin, not a five year old girl that got her toy back." Tsunade admonished in a semi-serious way.
"I don`t care! My sweet little gaki finally remembered me, and I`m so happy that I can`t stop crying, so shut up UWAAAHHH!" Anko answered through her tears, before separated from Naruto with tears still running down and a quivering lip. "How could you not let me and Nai-chan know that you remembered us?! And why did you fake your death, you baka?! DO YOU KNOW HOW SAD WE BOTH WERE! DON`T YOU LOVE YOUR NEE-CHAN?!" Anko demanded to know through her tears, with Tsunade having sweatdropped at this one, while Kurenai simply chuckled at this one, but she herself was silently crying out of happiness.
"N-no, of course I love you and Kurenai-onee-chan very much, but… Okay, how about this: I`ll treat you to free dango for the rest of your life, plus you`ll get to meet your niece and nephew, PLUS I`ll tell you how did I manage to pull that one prank on Anbu on your birthday, as an apology." If Naruto had learned anything about taming a wild Anko Mitarashi, than it`s that you need to remember four things: dango, family, free of charge and pranks.
Anko`s mind immediately caught on to the key words heard in the sentence and her tears instantly seized and she grinned in her usual way and immediately agreed.
"DEAL, YOU ARE FORGIVEN!" Anko instantly declared, before her mind caught on to something. "Wait… Niece, nephew…" Both her and Kurenai`s eyes widened to the size of the saucers at the realization of what they heard.
"Naruto- kun… You mean… You have k-k-kids?" Kurenai asked in a shocked way, with Naruto nodding to this.
"Yes, I do. Yasaka and Masamune, a girl of four and a boy of three, born from the two out three wives I love. And both are eager to meet you two." Naruto said with a smile to them.
"UWAAAHHH! My little Gaki has lost his V-card and even has his own two little gaki! Why I wasn`t there and- Wait a flipping second… WIVES?!" Anko shouted out loud, nearly making Naruto deaf at this one.
"Naruto… A-as in… More than one?" Kurenai asked herself, with Naruto slowly nodding at this one, before Kurenai blinked at this one, processing it. "I… I don`t even know… I know that polygamy is not prohibited, but to have three wives… Naruto, m-maybe we should have a talk about…"
"HA, I BLOODY KNEW IT!" Anko shouted out proudly. "I fucking knew that no girl will be enough for you, but to get three wives… Oh-ho, Gaki, I need the details, and I want them NOW!" Anko demanded of him. "Do they take turns with you, or you prefer to do it all in one time? Do they have preferred positions, or like to alternate? Do they also do each other while you are…" Anko`s mind was already running wild with thoughts and images, but Naruto stopped her.
"Anko, no offence, but you are starting to sound like Jiraiya." Anko immediately stopped for a second in her ramblings, before huffing.
"Hey, can`t a big sis show interest in her little brother`s private activities?" She asked of him innocently, before a wicked smile came upon her face. "And you know, your big, sexy and beautiful big sister wouldn`t mind teaching you and your girls a couple of special moves in art of extreme close horizontal taijutsu~…" Naruto, even with all the built in self-control, couldn`t contain the blush. "Oh, looks like you are interested…"
"Lady Tsunade, if you do not mind me asking, why did you allow Naruto to marry three girls at the same time?" Kurenai asked of Tsunade, while Naruto was dealing with Anko, with Sannin turning her head to Kurenai in surprise.
"Was there a reason I shouldn`t have? I mean, sure, it`s not a very common practice and most people nowadays don`t like to see this type of relations and I was pretty confused myself at first, but it`s nothing too wrong for my eye. If anything, our former blond gaki here can be too much of a hassle to contain for just one girl, and with his three wives, I know he is in very good and loving hands." Tsunade simply stated. "What made you think I was against it, Kurenai?"
"Well, I mean, I thought that, given your experience and age, I would assume you were more of a traditional type of woman and…"
"Yuuhi, did I just hear a comment about my real age, didn`t I? And what is this about "traditional type of woman" stuff?! Are you implying that I am a wrinkled old crone, like that dust bag Koharu?!" Tsunade unleashes a large amount of KI, making Kurenai immediately pale and scared for her life.
"No, of course not, Lady Tsunade! You are a woman at a pique of her beauty and spirit, I just meant that…" Kurenai began to respond in panic, before Tsunade spoke up again.
"Ah, forget it. Come on, I`ve been on the move all day and I haven`t even eaten yet, and I really want to see my cute little grandkids, so move it!" Tsunade commanded to the entire group, as she led the way to the house, with Anko separating from Naruto, who now was closer to Kurenai, speaking up to her.
"Any way I can apologize to you for what I did, Onee-chan?" Naruto asked of her calmly, with Kurenai simply coming closer to him and hugging him tightly.
"Now you are forgiven, Naru-kun." Kurenai said to him, feeling her surrogate son/little brother hugging her tightly. "How you`ve grown… You were such a cute little boy, and now… Naru-kun, forgive me, I…"
"Hey, hey, it`s alright, Onee-chan. I know, and I understand what you and Anko-nee-chan had to go through. I only wish that I was there for both of you…" Naruto simply said with sadness in his voice, with Kurenai smiling to him, before separating from him. "Looks like I`ll have to work on Gatotsu more. Should`ve gone for the heart to be certain…" Naruto admonished himself.
"I`m sure you`ll have your chance, but I would prefer to get my own swing at that bastard`s neck." Kurenai joked a little, with Naruto chuckling. "Naruto, about Tsunade`s proposal… Do you at least consider it? I know and understand how much Konoha had hurt you, but there really are people that miss you dearly. Iruka, Konohamaru, Shizune, Yugao, Teuchi and Ayame, not to mention Lady Hokage, me and Anko. All of us miss you deeply…"
"Onee-chan… While I resent everything there is in Konoha and hate it, and there was a time that hatred for it nearly cost me all that I had…" Naruto shuddered at mentioning of the time when he was… too deep in his own hatred. "I`m willing to listen to Kaa-chan and what she has in mind, and maybe I`ll even go with her. I`ve had over 7 years to grow up and learn to put aside anger and fury for the betterment of mission and others. However, what I am really worried about is not me, but my family. You know how cruel and horrible that place can be, Onee-chan, and do you think that I want my children and my beloved wives to be there, among wolves, vipers and hawks, all eyeing them up in hopes of striking at them?"
"I see where you are coming from, Naru-kun." Kurenai understood him well.
"Don`t worry, Sochi, I`ve got that front covered for you." Tsunade said to Naruto, as they were beginning to approach the house, with Naruto cocking up his brow. "Should you accept my proposal, you and your entire family will not be considered as part of Konoha, no. Rather, you will be considered as personal help, sent to us by Fire Daimyo. And if you, kids or your wives were to be attacked, harassed or in any other way harmed, you will be in full right to execute those that harmed you in any way. No worries about paper work, I`ve got it covered for you. All I need is your signature and all is done."
"You know that I will ask you: how the hell did you get the Fire Daimyo to agree to this? I know that previous Daimyo owed you for helping to deliver his daughter, the current Daimyo, but even so, I doubt there is a way she would agree with this one." Naruto admitted.
"The truth of the matter is that our current Daimyo is actually in pretty bad mood because of Konoha and how it has been handling itself, specifically she is in a very foul mood for the Council and wishes to deal with the corruption and villainy as soon as possible. As you can imagine, Konoha`s aggressiveness towards others have caused other countries alienate from Hi no Kuni." Tsunade saw Naruto nod to this one. "Konoha, specifically it`s Council, have been acting far more in accord to their own desires and wishes, instead of a path that Daimyo and Hokage enforce. As you can surmise, such disrespect and avid independence in actions can be seen as a sign of…"
"Rebellion, which could possibly grow into a civil war within Hi no Kuni, plunging the country into chaos and allowing other countries to invade. And not just their Hidden Villages, but armies of samurai, ashigaru and feudal lords as well will be part of that. An all-out war…" Naruto grimly stated, understanding very well the consequences of Konoha`s actions. "Hi no Kuni would be divided into two camps, fighting each other, while other countries invade and destroy the weakened sides, claiming the land, people, resources and everything in between for themselves. That could`ve been the reality for Mizu no Kuni, had it not been so far off shore of the mainland and the fact of other countries not having big enough fleets for transporting troops, otherwise Ieyasu and his forces wouldn`t have been able to end the war."
"Glad to see that you too understand what is at stake. And while our Daimyo is in support of my plan, you personally were recommended by your old friend and current Daimyo of Mizu, Ieyasu Tokugawa." Naruto was surprised to hear that one. "Apparently, Daimyos of Hi and Mizu are cousins, or distant relatives, so they are pretty close friends with each other, or something like that."
"Hm… Yeah, now I remember. Hi no Kuni Daimyo`s clan is Matsudaira, while Tokugawa clan was a side branch of Matsudaira, who had immigrated from Hi to Mizu and established themselves in Mikawa. Almost like with Senju and Uzumaki." Naruto noted out, as the group stopped right in front of the house, noticing a powerful sealing barrier put around it. "Kurama, it`s me. The danger has passed so could you please put down the barrier?" Naruto mentally asked of his first wife.
"I still have a link with you, so I heard and saw it all, Naru-kun. It`ll be down in a second, but I do warn you: if I smell that red-haired banshee anywhere near our home, I`ll Bijuudama here ass into oblivion." Kurama mentally responded to her husband, with the barrier going down instantly. "And just so you know, I really, really don`t like hearing about going back to Konoha."
"Let`s get inside, and I`ll introduce you two to my family. Just so you know, kids are asleep, so don`t go around making noise, Yasaka has a very light sleep." Naruto warned them, with Anko immediately coming up with a quip.
"Really? Then how you and your ladies get to practice your horizontal taijutsu, or are you starting their education early on~?" Anko immediately gotten glares from both Tsunade and Kurenai, while Naruto calmly answered.
"No, nee-chan. A good old silencing seal placed in room, and the only thing you need to worry about is not breaking the bed, or the wall, like that one time." Naruto simply replied, with Anko letting out a wolf whistle, with Naruto opening up the door and going inside with everyone.
"Gaki, I`m officially proud of you and can die in peace, knowing that my cute little brother knows what a real sex is! By the way, was it an angry sex, or were you two just so fired up that you couldn`t keep till getting into bed?" Anko honestly asked of him, ignoring the glares.
"Not exactly, more of a in a heat of the motion, if you wonder." Naruto only replied, with Anko giving him a thumbs up, as she and other ladies entered the house, with Kurama, Yugito and Matatabi already waiting for them, with Kurenai and Anko eyeing them up with curiosity.
"So, they are Naruto`s lov-wives…" Kurenai corrected herself, looking curiously at each of them. "The redhead seems to be the oldest of them, and she looks a lot like Mito Uzumaki, maybe an Uzumaki by blood. She seems kind enough, but there`s that air of power and dignity around her, yet when she looks at Naruto, all I see is deep love and devotion. The blond girl is also older than Naruto, but she`s definitely a Kunoichi, with years of experience and a strong one at that. One hand is near the holster, and the other one is seemingly away from weapons, but she could be ready to cast up one-handed signs. She must be a protective type. And the last one… Huh, she seems like a wild tigress, ready to pounce and tear me apart from that look, yet one glance at Naruto, and she seems like a domesticated cat, waiting for the master to pet her. What an interesting little harem you`ve made yourself, Naru-kun."
"Well, well, so this is Naru-kun`s ladies, huh?" Anko looked with a not so hidden curiosity and sultry smirk. "So, the redhead here seems to be the type for more traditional and one on one type of action, but you never really know with redheads, plus it`s always the quite once that are the most wicked in bed, and I can bet she`s packing quite the set underneath that kimono. The blondie here seems to have less in boobs and rear department than the two, but what a fine piece of legs, and I would bet my dango that she is one for athletics. And if so, then Naru-kun certainly doesn`t need to worry about things getting stale for certain. And the bluenette… Whoa, not only is she packing quite the sets, but she is most definitely a wild one. No messing around, straightforward hardcore sex till the bed is broken and you are sore in all places. So he`s got a traditional miko, with possibly a closet aptitude for kinky stuff, an agile kunoichi with flexibility, which goes well with reach of Naruto, from where I see it, and finally, a wild bombshell like little old me here… Naruto, I am so fucking proud of you and jealous of them that I could just kiss and… Wait a minute, Anko, are you…"
"Lady Tsunade, w-we weren`t expecting you this early in the month." Kurama was the first one to speak up, fainting a genuine surprise. "You could`ve at least sent Katsuyu beforehand, we could`ve at least cooked you up something good, plus Yasaka and Masamune…"
"Ah, don`t sweat it all, Kura-chan. I was here on official business, dealing with all the…" Tsunade shut herself, before she would curse up, making Anko raise an eyebrow. "Kura-chan, are Ya-chan and Ma-kun asleep and in their rooms?" Tsunade asked with a whisper, with all three girls nodding.
"They are, plus I put up sound suppressing seals, not wanting the ruckus to wake up Yasaka and Masamune." Kurama said with a smile, with Tsunade letting out a relieved sigh.
"Phew, that`s good to know. Now, where was I… Ah, yes. So, me and my honor guard here got her like were on bloody fire, dealing with those nut-brained idiots sent here by those goddamned Councilors just to get Naruto here, and now I nearly had another sizable chunk of Konoha`s forces sent to Shinigami for dinner because of those motherfucking Councilors being so goddamn prickly proud and shit, and on top it all off, I haven`t bloody eaten in a whole day!" Tsunade let it all out in one go shout, before catching the breath, with Kurama, Yugito and Matatabi just standing there un fazed, while Kurenai and Anko looked surprised. "Ah, I needed that. Sorry about it, girls."
"Nah, it`s alright. Compared to when Kura-nee-chan gets all hotly and angry about stuff, you are pretty manageable and easy to handle. Plus you don`t break limbs when someone`s pissing you off…" Mata laughed at that one, with Kurama shooting her a glare, while Kurenai and Anko looked even more surprised.
"Wait, did our Hokage just check if she could safely curse?" Anko asked surprised, with Naruto nodding to this one. "When the hell did that happen?! Since when does Tsunade fucking Senju needs to check if she`s safe to curse?"
"Since because I don`t want our children to grow up into delinquents and I want them to have proper upbringing, and if I catch you, Mitarashi-san, cursing in any manner within an earshot of my daughter or Ma-kun, I will make sure you very, very sorry you had cursed. I hope I make myself clear?" Kurama said with a harshly cold, steel voice, rolling with such amount of KI, that even Orochimaru would be sweating bullets, with Anko paling and shaking in fear at it.
"Shit, this lady isn`t just talk, but full on business too! I don`t know who in the world she is, but I better not piss her off!" Anko instantly decided and rapidly nodded. "O-of course, n-not a b-b-bad word while around the kids, y-you got it! I am generally great with kids, never say a bad word while near `em."
"Well, on this one, I can actually vouch for her. Anko can be loud, foulmouthed, has manners worse than a sailor, but with kids, she`s the most trustworthy person you can find. I would know, since I`ve left Naru-kun with her more times than I can count, n-n-not that I d-didn`t care about him, I just…" Kurenai immediately realized the form of what she said and wanted to clarify it, but Yugito stopped her.
"We know, Kurenai-san, and all three of us here would like to thank you two for taking care of our husband here for us." Yugito, Kurama and Matatabi bowed before the two girls. "We are in your debt and very grateful to you for being there for our Naruto-kun." Both Anko and Kurenai looked stunned, before looking at Naruto for a second.
"Don`t worry, they know all the truth and everything, including about the Kyuubi in me." On this one Naruto lied to both of his sisters, while Kurama mentally chuckled through their link. "I`ve got no secrets from my family, and we trust each other."
"Yeah, we know all about Naru-kun`s big bad foxy sitting in his stomach." Matatabi said easily, waving it off. "Oh, we didn`t even introduce ourselves to ya! Sorry `bout that! I`m Matatabi, or Mata, if you like for friends, but you are totally a family, so call me Mata-chan. The beautiful blondie, besides Naru-kun here, is Yugito, Naru-kun`s second wife and my bestie, alongside Kura-chan."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I`ve heard many good things about you from Naruto-kun, and I am happy to be able to meet his big sisters." Yugito smiled to them, with Anko sheepishly, and a tiny bit embarrassingly, rubbed the back her head, with Kurenai smiling to her. "I`ve noticed already how you were eyeing me, Kurenai-san, and yes, I am a Kunoichi, a former one, to be exact."
"A former one? Did you retire?" Kurenai asked of Yugito.
"Not quite… Let`s just say that my village no longer needed my special skills and someone has decided to… cut their funding on me." Yugito said cryptically, while Kurenai and Anko understood everything on this. "Fortunately, Naruto-kun has a very admirable trait of never leaving people in trouble when he can help them. Had it not been for him, I wouldn`t be here and wouldn`t know what it`s like, to be loved and cared, as well as the joy of being a mother." Yugito blushed a little bit with a smile.
"Yup, our Naru-kun is our all-out personal knight in shining armor and we just can`t get enough of him." Mata said with lovely gaze upon her husband. "And before you ask, me and Kura-nee-chan aren`t from Shinobi or anything, just good old civilians with some special traits, like with Kura-chan here being wicked good with seals, and me just you good old feisty fiery lady."
"Does that mean that you, Mata-chan, are from a clan with some form of fire-based Kekkei Genkai, while you, Kurama, are an Uzumaki by blood, since…" Kurenai suggested, with Kurama taking the initiative.
"I can`t say with full certainty for Mata-nee-chan, Kurenai-san, but my parents were Uzumaki, though not Shinobi. They were both civilians, with father dying before I could recall him and my mother being a miko priestess at a small temple on the island of Honshu of Mizu no Kuni. I studied under her, and later on became a miko myself, whilst also being taught the Fuinjutsu by her." Kurama told them the legend that she and Naruto had created for her. "When the war broke out, however, I decide to leave it and travelled to my ancestral home in Uzu, to see it for myself. There, Naruto-kun and I met, probably drawn in by the past and… Well, I believe the rest needs no explanation." Kurama let out a small smile, blushing up a little.
"Well, as for me, I am an orphan and know jack about my parents or any relatives, but Kura-nee-chan and I go way back here, since I hung out with her ever since we were kids." Mata said for herself. "So, Tsuna-baa-chan, can you explain what was that entire ruckus about out there? Naru-kun just shot up when he sensed the barrier being breached and ordered us to stay put, with a barrier up as well. We already had enough worries with those Akatsuki nut jobs this morning, and now this…"
"Wait, Akatsuki, here?!" Tsunade freaked out, with Anko and Kurenai too being in shock, with Naruto taking the initiative.
"Two members of the Akatsuki, one named Kakuzu of Jiongu, and the other one called Hidan the Jashinist, came to Wave this mourning and caused some destructions, drawing my attention. From what I gathered up, those two were after the bounty put on me, or Hanzo if you will." Naruto explained to them, with Tsunade and other two Leaf Shinobi listening. "They weren`t well prepared and got cocky from the start, so I ended up having an upper agaisnt them. I put Hidan under a Genjutsu, keeping him out of the fight, so it left me dealing with Kakuzu. It was challenging, but I`ve had dealt with far force, so I pulled through. And as for Hidan, the Jashin followers and those fanatics have some form of pseudo-immortality put on them, which make them near impossible to really kill. Had met a couple of those in Mizu, and it didn`t go well either for people they killed, specifically a full squad of Shinsengumi. But, luckily for me, there is a trick to them as well: sever the head, burn the body away to ashes, and seal the head away. A month and a half later, and the Jashinist is dead."
"Naruto… We`ve been trying to gather information on them for years, and you just killed two of their members, like it was nothing for you? Jiraiya has been trying to find out anything on them for over 7 years now, but failed to do so." Tsunade asked of him, with Naruto simply nodding to her. "Damn it, I sometimes forget that in combat prowess you could give old uncle Tobirama a run for his money… Did you at least get any form of information from them, anything?"
"Not a thing, and I doubt that Hidan would like to talk, not that I would let such a psycho out anyway." Naruto responded to his grandmother. "But it looks like your Spymaster doesn`t even know how and where to look for information about them." Naruto simply rubbed his temple for a little bit. "The Akatsuki don`t operate like your typical Nuke-nins, but more like Ronins like me: taking jobs as independent mercenaries, working for the highest bidder, operating within the shadows and even using proxy and puppet companies as a front for their operations. Back in Mizu, there were at least three mercenary companies that were secretly controlled by Akatsuki, working as their proxies, getting profit for themselves, and that`s just that I know of. Their business scheme is for a proxy to approach the client, like an advertiser for a buyer, offer up the services of the Akatsuki, as if they were their own, and then Akatsuki proceed to act, while the entire deal and information about it appears to be made only between the client and a mercenary group, separate and not affiliated with the Akatsuki. That`s how they probably escape under the radar of the frog fetishist."
"Naruto, and how do you know about it?" Kurenai asked of him.
"Most of their business scheme I know from one of the mercenary leaders I interrogated during the war, and as for the rest, I`ve got informants and friends in pretty much every country in Nations. This is how I get most contracts, and those people also supply me with information of rival companies, Ronins and Nuke-nins that are in this business too, so they also know about Akatsuki and their actions and what they are interested in." Naruto informed them. "From several of my reliable sources, I found out that the Akatsuki`s primary interests lie with the Jinchuriki of Hidden Villages, and their Tailed Beasts. They spent millions of ryo to gain more info on them: identities, family members, powers, rank, ways to approach them, aka everything. Such information gathering is not something that can be hidden well, and when someone starts to ask so many questions about Jinchuriki… Let`s just say, my informants started to get a very bad feeling that this one was no longer in their level of business. With the amount of data they were gathering, I can tell that they were really after capturing the Tailed Beasts, and they could`ve gone at them at least 3 years ago, but… There was a sudden and emergency change of plans on their part, due to sudden death of Sanbi, and later on, the death of Gobi. All done by yours truly, though I don`t understand or get it, why would deaths of two Tailed Beasts put a stop to them."
"This is far more than we`ve gathered on them in 7 years. When I get back to the Village, this information will be put to good use." Tsunade already determined, before remembering why she was here. "Anyway, girls, there is a reason as to why I`m also here and it would be best if I told you all about it. May we sit?" Everyone gotten into their seat and Tsunade finally began to reveal why she was here and what she really wanted from Naruto.
20 minutes later.
Tsunade had concluded her tale and talk, telling Naruto, Anko and Kurenai, along with Naruto`s wives, what kind of mission she had in her mind for Naruto and what she was planning. What Anko and Kurenai just heard was something they were digesting with a lot of difficulty, while Matatabi and Yugito looked at Tsunade with wide eyes, while Kurama was in deep thought of her own. Naruto simply listened to it all, hands on his knees as he sat, eyes closed and thinking this all over, until he finally spoke up.
"I`ve gotta hand it to you, Kaa-chan: out of every possible mission, request, or just a friendly favor, I did not expect that you would be giving me such a mission." Naruto opened up his eyes, looking at her. "Okay, I`ve done some really difficult stuff and completed near impossible missions: destroyed at least four castles, killed two Bijuu, saved over 2500 men and women in a single night through Iryo Ninjutsu, but this… This will make Uchiha`s Massacre by Itachi look like a child`s play, this is Onoki`s combined collection of wet dreams and possibly the biggest, meanest, most disgracing flip off for First, Second, Third and Fourth Hokage…"
"Actually, seeing how things are in Konoha, with how it degraded and fell, I will have to say that I am far more on with this plan." Minato suddenly spoke up from Naruto`s mindscape, having been silent for over a year now. "Naruto, I know we have discussed this, and I understand that you want to keep away from Konoha, but… Perhaps it is time to confront your demons, if you know what I mean." This surprised Naruto, and Kurama, who listened through their link.
"Yeah, no kidding here. If Old Monkey Shitbrain had heard you right now, he would have a bloody heart attack." Anko said, processing what she just heard. "This mission sounds far more like something that would give my old teacher a boner… if he has it even, or whatever is hanging down there…"
"Anko, I think we got your point. And yes, she is right." Kurenai said, looking at hardened face of Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, I know that situation in Konoha is far from good, but aren`t there less… Extreme actions that you would be able to take to improve it?"
"Kurenai, you yourself should know by now, that any other options would not only be ineffective, but will only serve to further fester the infection in Konoha…" Tsunade spoke with medical metaphors. "Daimyo herself has personally stated to me, that the situation with Konoha is now beyond her patience and mercy. Either I implement what we just discussed into action, or she will send her armies to put Konoha to the sword. She won`t have a civil war to fight like one in Mizu, and see the other nations march upon her with their full armies, chopping off regions and land like a butcher chops off the meat off a pig`s body." Tsunade let out a sigh. "This is the situation we are in. This is no longer just Konoha, but an entire Land of Fire. Either we do this… Or the entirety of the country ends up being nothing more but a note in history books."
"Yeah, and what you are proposing here can be translated as the highest form of treason." Yugito spoke up. "Me, Matatabi, Kurama and Naruto here hold no loyalties for your village, Tsunade, and you know it, but… What you are proposing… If other villages catch a wind of this, a new Shinobi War will be on the horizon for you."
"I know…" Tsunade simply stated to them with sorrow. "I`ve fought in two of them, and even back then, Konoha had won every time due to it sacrificing something or someone, completely ignoring what true Will of Fire stated. Uncle Tobirama, Clans of Senju, Uzumaki, hundreds of Shinobi and more… I`m sick and tired of this way, of sacrificing fine men and women on the pedestal of Konoha, like some savages."
"Besides that, when compared to an all-out civil war, Shinobi Wars were always a far more contained sorts of conflicts: battles were fought far away from the civilian populated areas, Daimyos, feudal lords and other politically significant persons were kept out of it, people of the country itself almost never even noticed the battles or wars. In fact, the most destructive and costly of them all was the Second Shinobi World War, with the majority of all the action taken in Ame no Kuni, all because Hanzo has declared it a battle zone in its entirety, which has led to deaths of thousands of civilians and shinobi alike, the only instance in Shinobi World Wars." Naruto summarized, as he opened his eyes. "But the kind of war that Kaa-chan speaks here about… This kind of war, it makes Shinobi World War look like a little skirmish on the borders, a contained small experiment between the nations, a show of their force in a controlled manner. But civil war… It is an uncontrollable chaos made into reality, where civilians die not in dozens or tens, but in tens of thousands daily. Former friends become worst enemies in a single night, and there is no trust in one another, just battles, fighting and death. You don`t know if you`ll see the next day or not, or if your partner won`t stab you in the back, being an undercover agent or a traitor. I may`ve not seen your Shinobi World Wars, but I will take any of them over what has happened in Mizu." Naruto stated with grim confidence and knowledge.
"Was it that bad out there?" Anko asked of him, having heard only rumors regarding the entire event, but she believed that they were exaggerated. "I heard some very fucked up things happened there, but… It couldn't have been that bad, could it?"
"No, Anko… It was worse." Naruto simply stated to her, shocking Anko, as she saw in his eyes clear flashes of nightmares that plagued Naruto`s mind at night, while he sighed and spoke up again. "When all is considered… What Kaa-chan is proposing is the lesser of two evils, of three even..." Naruto stated simply.
"So, Naruto, does that mean that you will accept this mission?" Tsunade asked of him, with Naruto responding.
"You know, had it simply been about me, I would`ve gladly taken this mission. Hell, just thinking about makes me kinda… giddy." Naruto said with a small chuckle, before became serious again. "However, this is no longer just about me. If I am returning back to Konoha, then I am bringing my family with me. I can`t just leave them here, and Akatsuki will soon react to the loss of two of their members. However, I will not bring my wives and my children back into that nest of vile and corrupt, if I don't know if they will be defended or not…"
"I can personally vouch and guarantee their protection, and you already know what will happen if someone harms them: you get a full reign to respond with lethal force if you want. No strings from Konoha attached, you, and everyone you bring along for this mission, are officially part of Daimyo`s personal private contractors, hired by her to assist Konoha and ordered to take orders only from me personally. The Council will have nothing on you, and if they do make their move… Then you get the Card Blanche to do whatever you see fit to put them in their place, within the borders of law, that is." Tsunade explained to him, with Naruto sighing at this one. "And just to make it clear, you and your family will be staying over in my estate. Not even Civilians will be stupid enough to try anything in my house, plus it`ll let me see my cute little grandkids far more often." Tsunade said in a giddy way, already planning out to spoil them rotten while she had the chance.
"Well, I personally got no good or bad feels for Konoha, save for what they`ve done to Naru-kun, so… If Naru-kun is in, I`m going along with it." Mata said.
"Same here, and I will not let my husband be all alone in that nest." Yugito stated to him, with Naruto smiling to her and Matatabi, before looking at his first wife, deep in her thought.
"Kurama, it is your call now, love." Naruto spoke to her through their telepathic link. "I am ready to simply refuse it, if you don`t want it, and no questions are asked. Just say the word."
"You know how much I`ve hated Konoha, Naruto. For all that they had done to you, how it had betrayed its own founders and made a mockery of their work, and most importantly, for how they used you and threw you out." Kurama said to him mentally, while looking at him in the real world. "Of all the places on the faces of this planet, that one is the only one I wish I could wipe out of existence. Once, it may`ve been a place where I would be glad to raise our Yasaka, Naruto-kun, but now… Ah, Mito, yet again you are proven right."
"Kurama, if this is your decision, than it is decided. We won`t be heading to Konoha, and will go to Mizu and…"
"Naruto-kun…" Kurama suddenly stopped him mentally. "You know that I had greatly respected and cherished my friend, Mito Uzumaki, your grandmother. What you may not know of… Is that before the day of her passing, she had asked of me something…"
Flashback. 38 years ago. Mito Uzumaki`s mindscape.
In a small bench overlooking an ocean sat Mito Uzumaki, an elderly, very old lady and one of the last surviving Uzumaki, dressed in a simple white kimono, with her eyes seemingly closed, but a content smile upon her old, riddled with wrinkles face, as she overlooks the ocean. At her side sits a young, beautiful looking woman, with snow white long hair, tied up in a long ponytail, blue eyes, an alabaster colored skin, dressed in white and light blue kimono, looking at the ocean herself. Two old friends sat on a bench together, until Mito spoke up.
"Thank you, Kurama." Mito smiled to Kyuubi, her once prisoner, now the closest friend she had and companion, the only one that now remained with her.
"You need not to thank me, Mito-chan." Kurama smiled to her friend here. "I merely wanted to let you see your home, to feel it. I know that it merely a mental projection of your own mindscape, yet…"
"No, Kurama, it is beautiful. And thank you for this as well, Kurama. You always seemed to know when I had my spirits down." Mito said to her, letting out a sigh as she looked at the sunset. "What I thank you is for being with me, an old wrinkled woman, possibly one of the last of her now extinct clan, soon to pass away…"
"Now, that is not a good way to speak, Mito." Kurama chided her lightly. "Your clan is one of the toughest, I would know of it well, and I am sure that Shingen had gotten many of your clansmen out of Uzu in time, not only that little brat Kushina. And what is all this talk about passing away anyway? You are still as lively as ever and…"
"Kurama…" Mito stopped her with a strong and firm, yet calm and soothing voice. "It`s alright. I know that my time is near, and you know it even better than I do." Kurama let out a sigh, looking greatly saddened at this realization. "Look at you: the great and all mighty Kyuubi no Yoko, looking so distraught, all because of her jailor passing away."
"Don`t speak like that, Mito!" Kurama practically shouted at her, tears coming out of her eyes. "I… I was wrong to have said all those bad things about you, and I apologize to you. Y-you are the closest person I have a-and you are not just some measly human, but my dearest friend, a-and there i-is a way to…"
"Kurama, you know my opinion on that, and I still stand by it." Mito said to her softly, taking her hand into her own. "And I never held any ill for what you said to me all those years ago. And I apologize to you for keeping you here, and for imprisoning you agaisnt your will. I wish I did differently all those years ago…"
"Mito…" Kurama sniffed a bit. "Is there anything I can do to you? Something to… To ease the passing away?" Mito simply chuckled at this one.
"Oh, Kurama, you have done for me more than you even realize, my good friend." Mito chuckled to Kurama. "Had it not been for you, I doubt that this old body and spirit of mine would`ve lived so long, especially after all the losses I had witnessed. First was Hashi-kun, then Tobi-kun, and after him my Hiro-kun and Nanae-chan, then my little Nawaki, nearly all of Senju, and now… My Clan, the great Uzumaki Clan, my home and village of Uzushiogakure, gone just like all of them. Sacrificed upon the pedestal of Konoha, like all of them." Mito said with great deal of sadness, grief, bitterness… and anger even, shocking Kurama. "Madara-baka was right. For many years I couldn`t believe him, yet now, looking at Konoha now… I can see that he was right about it all: there has appeared and grown darkness, and now, it is not just a small leech, but a tumor that grows and consumes what my husband and our clans had built." Kurama listened well to her friend, not disagreeing with her, for it was true.
"Yet, there is still light and hope for it." Kurama added. "Tsuna`s son and your great grandson, Minato. Even though he is still young, I can clearly see the best of Hashirama and Tobirama in him: calm and collected, not seeking conflict, yet understanding that to protect the peace, one must be ready to defend it with his life. I am sure he will lead the Village out of these turbulent tides and into calmer waters."
"Yes, he has what it takes to be a worthy Hokage… Yet I fear that this Village may no longer be worthy of a true Hokage." Mito let out what she truly thought. "Hiruzen`s ideals of peace and pacifism may be good, but how he had seen them implemented had corrupted this village. His peace… It is not the peace that Hashi-kun wanted. It is an apathy, negligence and inability to stand for peace when it matters the most, and it is this apathy that gave way to corruption. And at the other end is Danzo, with his ideas of truly strong Hidden Village… He may think himself smarter and greater than Hiruzen, yet he is the same fool as Saru. Cold and brute force without any emotions and focused in the hands one man for his own ambitions will not bring strength to Village, but will only get it destroyed. Tobi-kun knew it well, very well, yet he failed to teach them both about it…"
And in the end, we have a man that is blinded by the light of so called peace, and another one so deep in the darkness that he no longer sees shadows of light… And in between them grew the Konoha I now know, yet not recognize from before. Now it is not a beacon of prosperous future and peaceful life for our children, but a tree, whose roots are rotting, and it`s leaves burn away in light of sun, and there is no true shadow any more… Kurama, I fear that Konoha`s days may now be counting, and its own people will one day not just bring its end, but may once again ignite the Sengoku Jidai in Hi no Kuni…" Mito admitted to Kurama, who couldn`t help but agree with her. "Minato-kun, I truly hope that you save the leafs and roots of our great tree… Kurama, you have been my greatest friend and companion, one that I will always be most grateful of knowing."
"The feeling is mutual and even greater, Mito-chan." Kurama bowed to her a little.
"I know it is not my place to ask anything of you, but…"
"Do not say it like that, Mito. If there is anything I can do, just ask of me." Kurama wanted to ease the last hours for her dearest friend and was ready to do anything.
"Thank you, Kurama." Mito smiled to her with tears. "I wish to ask you of a favor. Should there ever come a time when Konoha has shed away all of its ways and teachings of its founders, I wish for you, the one that has been here in Konoha since it`s true days, to save the Village from itself."
"Save it from itself? Mito… If what you are thinking is true, then… Are you sure?" Kurama asked of her, knowing of her thoughts through their link. "To go this far… Would Hashirama and Tobirama approve of this?"
"Hashi-kun would not, he would seek to return the village to its beginnings through more peaceful means, yet I fear that by that time, all of his words would fall upon deaf ears. Even so, he would understand the need for doing this. When a garden is left unattended, the weeds and wildness takes over, destroying it and turning once a haven of peace and calmness into a residence of vile and corrupt." Mito let out a sigh, gazing out in the ocean. "If it comes to such, such garden may become a threat to the fields of crops, take away the precious bread that people eat…"
"And before it must happen, the garden must be returned to its beginnings, and there are no half measures for this, Kurama. I know that when I pass away, Kushina shall take my place. Poor thing, her mind is already plagued by the council and their warnings of you, as well as Hiruzen`s blinded ideals… I wish she had listened to me, but… Call it an intuition, but I believe, that one day, you may find a host that shall be able to save Konoha and return itself to what it once was, and I wish for you to guide him, Kurama. Will you oblige this feeble old lonely lady this last request?" Mito asked of Kurama, who listened to her, before letting out a defeated sigh and speaking up.
"You just had to play this old tune, didn`t you, Mito-chan?" Kurama looked up to her. "Very well. On my word and upon the memory of Rikudo Sennin, my father, I swear to complete your final request, Mito Uzumaki. And I do really hope that the host after that foolish girl will be at least half as good as you." Mito simply chuckled at this one.
"I wouldn`t know, Kura-chan. Who knows, it may happen to be a cute looking boy next time for you. You may even find yourself in love with him before you know it." Mito joked a little, looking at a flustered face of her closest friend Kyuubi.
Flashback end.
"Mito-baa-chan… I didn`t even realize it… I always knew that she was a great woman, a true Mother of Konoha, but ask such thing of you, Kura-chan…" Naruto said to her mentally in shock.
"She cared for her husband`s legacy more than anything. In the end, when all of her family, her clan and friends, all were gone, the only thing for her left was the Village, the legacy that she and Hashirama had built for their children." Kurama said to her husband with sadness. "And for decades she observed it becoming what you saw it, Naruto-kun. For her, I believe it was what finally killed her, the last nail in her coffin: Konoha`s destruction, not physically, yet spiritually. It killed her soul, Uzushiogakure`s destruction had wounded her deeply, yet the degradation of Konoha had finished the job. I wish I had been able to ease her pain in any way, yet… I hate this Konoha, Naruto-kun, and I will never accept it or let it get its hands upon our family, that is my word… However… I have given Mito my word, swore upon my father`s name and memory, and this single promise had allowed Mito to pass away without further pain. I may be known as bringer of destruction, but no one, NO ONE will ever dare to say that Kurama does not hold her word. And I will not rest easy, until my friend`s soul is put to peace… Naruto-kun, I ask, no, beg you…" Kurama looked at her husband, who merely nodded to her.
"We are coming, all of us. I take this mission, Kaa-chan." Naruto said to Tsunade, shocking her and the girls, with Tsunade glancing at Kurama, who nodded at this one too. "However, let me make this clear: we are not with Konoha, no one in there will have a word over our actions, and if anyone even touches my family, I will kill whoever it is, be it their precious Uchiha, Danzo, or even Kushina with Menma."
"I hear you, Sochi, and I thank you…" Tsunade let out a relieved sigh, bowing to him, before addressing Anko and Kurenai. "Anything leaves your mouth about this talk- you can kiss your careers goodbye, along with citizenship of Konoha and Hi no Kuni." Both women nodded at this one.
"Once we are in Konoha, I am sealing the hell out of our home." Kurama promised to Tsunade, who looked at her surprised. "I am an Uzumaki. We seal all and everything our hands can get to." Kurama said dismissively for the public. "And the fact that Mito had taught me all of her seals and I`ve brushed it all up with Uzumaki`s bountiful library is a more than a welcomed addition to my already fearsome power." Kurama said to herself in her mind.
"Agreed, but even with me and my family there, we`ll still need some help out there. Plus, there are still some unfinished matters that need to be settled." Naruto said, as he rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, looks like I`ll be skipping mourning training tomorrow. Kaa-chan, do you mind coming with me tomorrow morning? There a couple of people I want you to meet, and a there are a few persons who could greatly help with your plan."
"Are they trustworthy?" Tsunade immediately asked, with Naruto nodding to her.
"Trustworthy, loyal and I would trust both of them with my life, Kaa-chan." Naruto said to her with a smile. "With one, I`ve trusted him my life during the entirety of Mizu`s Civil War and he is quite possibly the greatest swordsman of this era, a master Hirazuki style and one of the legends of Shinsengumi and Mizu."
"And the other one?"
"She and I have known each other for years, having met in the beginning of my Shinobi career. She may`ve not shown herself much during the last 4 or so years, but in Mizu she saved more lives than even I did, as well as a life one of the more loyal Shinobi of Leaf, someone who was declared dead." Naruto said to her with a small smile.
Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking: Ronin, are you high or something?! Why would Naruto would go back to Konoha, if not to punish it?! Well, guess what, he does go back to Konoha and he will punish it. As for what Tsunade had asked of him… I`m not revealing it just yet, though I think it should be easy to figure it out.
Hope you liked how I made a reunion between Naruto, Anko and Kurenai. Next chapter will see them and Tsunade dote on the kids, as well as introduction to Naruto`s allies and closest friends. I will not reveal much about them, but here are one hint for each of them: he is a historical figure; and she was in canon Naruto. That is all, but I think you should have no trouble guessing it all.
Now, Takamagahara. This is a mixture of a barrier and space-time Fuinjutsu. How it work? Well, a sealing master places special marks around a specific area, creating an isolated space like with barrier, but instead of holding in place something, it allows the user to teleport within that place freely, without any marks on specific spots. It also allows to teleport into the field from outside of it. Naruto has such a field around his house, a kilometer in radius of his home. He could`ve just Minato all of them without trouble, if he wanted to.
Now, please don`t be haters and don`t drop it off just because Naruto is going back to Konoha, but this is needed for the plot to develop well and deep. I promise you this, Naruto will not forgive Konoha, Council or his former friends. He will make them sorry and suffer for their actions, but the reason as to why he does go there is because he doesn`t want to see another global war break out. He has been in Mizu and saw just what kind of shitstorm was happening there during their civil war, and it will be worse in Hi no Kuni, unless he and others don`t deal with it beforehand.
Now, with all of this out of the way, don`t forget to review, suggest, question and ask, I`ll answer it all. Also, to a specific few reviewers: stop being such dicks and hate just for fun. I appreciate a constructive criticism, but just a plain shit like "Oh, you are a Kishimoto bitch; Oh, you are bitch because you don`t destroy Konoha; You should just quite Naruto, you Russian bitch." And etc. in all that kind. Yes, big shock: I am a Russian and I like this site and English, but what some of you say is just racist and unbecoming of you. Leave your political, racial and other stuff behind, this is a free site for fans, so don`t be dicks to people. Also, no, I`m not a fan of Kishimoto, but I do admire him for making Naruto. But I really question and hate some of his decisions and plot holes, as well as wasting some of the top notch characters like he did. You know what I mean, right, or whom I`m taking about.
Phew, sorry, I really hate racists and people that just throw shit for no good reasons.
Anyway, see ya all later, and thanks for the support!