3,608KG: ...I really need a vacation!
Wifey: No kidding.
Music of the Week: If I Could Stop One Heart From Breaking by Chevy (HSR Robin)
Quote: "Sometimes you've got to do things you don't want to do. Doing the right thing is not always comfortable; it doesn't always feel good." By Julius Peppers
Following the events of Jashin, a very long, and tiring month came upon the Elemental Nations. Reconstruction, restoration, and relocation were the three biggest plans of the entire world. With no trading companies, supply chains, or ships coming to deliver materials, numerous, yet fragile trade agreements were made. With the authority of the Daimyo having faded with no proper power structure, many feared that the Five Great Nations would descend into ruthless combat once again. Many of the minor nations feared for their very lives, some even wondered if they'd have to surrender their sovereignty to one village to be safe from another.
However, things were vastly different. Much as it surprised many, the leaders of the Five Great Nations had come together many times, and talks always remained peaceful even amid disagreements. Many wondered what incentive the Kage might have to keep themselves and their people in line. Some reasoned that the fear and horror of last month's events were more than enough reason, others argued that the nations were secretly preparing to become one nation which would lead the world into an era of true unity, and… a few speculated that someone was keeping them in line. As for who, well some people had a very good guess.
-x-
"Hey, Shithead! The Kage need you again!" Tayuya said, grinning as she saw Naruto lying down on the family couch. Perhaps the redhead should have pitied her cousin, especially with how busy he'd been over the few weeks of the renovation of the Elemental Nations and the number of meetings he had to be present for. However, if she felt sorry for him, then she sure as hell couldn't laugh at him like she was threatening to do now.
"Shithead isn't here. Please direct all visits to the shorty in question. She will handle all inquiries from now on," Naruto grumbled as he turned around and pulled a cover over his head.
Tayuya frowned in annoyance. "Get up, you fucking pussy!" she snarled as she ripped the cover from him. Honestly, what kind of proud and dignified clan leader was this idiot supposed to be when he looked like this?
Naruto sucked his teeth and opened his eyes. How funny that the elation of being alive, day by day, seemed to fade away until one remembered the mundane responsibilities that came with living. Of course, Naruto wouldn't trade this boredom for anything less, but that didn't mean it didn't get taxing sometimes, especially with his mother, Yura, and Yuri out in other nations.
"Is this important?" he asked.
"Hell if I know. But the bastards outside the door are looking to escort you, and I'm really gonna need you to get up 'cause I got another mission in a few minutes. I'd have confidence that you won't fall back asleep if I leave you here and have someone on my ass, but I'm not one for taking chances like that. So up you go before I kick your ass out!" Tayuya clamored.
Naruto exhaled slowly and leaned up. "Fine, fine. I'm going," he said.
"Damn right, you are. Our lives depend on it," his cousin replied while Naruto leaned up. He was pretty sure he heard Kurama, Wolf, and a few others chuckling in the depths of his head. He would have argued, but he knew that was already another headache coming. Instead, he opted for the wiser approach and, surprisingly, kept his mouth shut.
"Good move, Brat," Kurama claimed.
Naruto spoke not a word as he slipped out of the couch. If there was one thing he liked about this month, it was that all strangers had finally been removed from his house. Oh trust, if he had the ability, he'd be more than willing to offer his compound as a refuge again, but there'd been one too many… accidental occurrences involving his mother, Yura, and Yuri than he was comfortable with.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki headed into the bathroom and washed his face with water from the sink basin. It seemed that the issue of plumbing still wasn't fixed. Then again, amongst so many things, perhaps that wasn't the most pressing concern. Though, some might think otherwise.
Naruto grabbed his sword and threw his scarf over his neck. He then stepped outside and noticed five representatives from each of the nations waiting for him. He noticed Darui, Ao, Temari, Akatsuchi, and Genma waiting for him.
"Took your sweet time," Temari claimed, folding her arms.
Naruto faced her. "Just be happy I'm in a place where you could find me," he said as he rolled his neck. He was sure he heard a snort from Gaara's sister while the others acknowledged him.
"We understand we've been asking a great deal from you, Naruto-san. However, talks have only been amicable with you present. It is clear that many still harbor a great deal of resentment between the nations. With trust being the only reliable means of securing any type of trade, many fear that such good intentions won't last. However, each of the Kage believes that you have the means to remain a neutral party, considering your… banishment. It's why we need you," Ao said.
Naruto nodded. Yeah, he'd been told that a few times by Kakashi and Yugao. He still didn't understand why he had to be the mediator between a bunch of adults, most of them older than even him, but he supposed he could make the sacrifice to keep the peace. He just really wished he had something of a vacation.
"Right. So what's the issue this time?" the blond asked.
"That's what we're going to find out. The Kage haven't bothered speaking yet, instead choosing to wait for you. You'd seldom think that the five leaders of the Elemental Nations would be waiting for the presence of a chunin. It just goes to show how influential you've become. May we get a move on now?" Darui asked.
Naruto would have loved to shake his head at that question and go back to sleep. Instead, he was escorted by the five jonin through the streets of Konoha. Everywhere around the village, the sounds of construction made themselves apparent. Carpenters, steel workers, woodsmiths, and forgers were tasked with creating buildings and structures. As for how they were to be paid for their work, well… many were still trying to figure that out.
As Naruto entered the streets, the thrill of conversation slowly settled until all became quiet. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki frowned when nearly every eye fell upon him. While many were joyful, some marveling in awe of him, a few remained rather fearful, horrified even. And they had proper reason to be so afraid, for they feared that he might exact vengeance upon them for the horrible years inflicted on him prior.
The jonin weren't made aware of these varying degrees of emotion, save for Genma. It wasn't like the civilians, and even some shinobi, had much experience masking their emotions in front of their own countrymen. Well, that was certainly one of the problems with Glory. Many would revere you as a god amongst men, and others might see you as the vilest demon sent from the lowest hells. And, considering the god whom Naruto served, that didn't settle well with a lot of people.
As for Naruto, he'd long since given up caring what many thought of him. His words from before hadn't been a lie. He didn't save the world to be proclaimed a hero. He hadn't even done it because it was the right thing to do. He did it to protect his family and his friends. And, because his family and friends had other friends who had other families and so on, that just made it a benefit for others.
Let him be a hero if they wished.
Let him be a monster if they wished.
It was hardly a concern anymore.
The jonin led Naruto to what served as the Hokage's Mansion, a large tent with one massive, circular, wooden table, and pairs of sculpted chairs. Unfortunately, nothing extravagant would be coming forth in a long time.
"Hokage-sama, we've brought Uzumaki Naruto," Genma said, offering a brief bow to Tsunade.
Naruto's eyes scanned the tent for a few moments, taking notice of familiar faces. Kurotsuchi still remained the Tsuchikage following the protocol for Iwagakure while Ay, Mei, and Gaara remained seated on other spots of the table.
Tsunade lifted her eyes to look at Naruto, but she found herself unable to hold her gaze with him for too long. Instead, she faced Genma. "Well done, Genma," Tsunade claimed.
The jonin offered her one more bow before the five jonin left Naruto's side and made their way back to their respective Kage. They stood behind the chairs of their leaders while the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki exhaled.
"So what's the agenda this time? This is like the fifth time this month you guys have come together," Naruto said. How the Kage could do so much walking across the nations for these meetings was beyond him. Then again, perhaps he should be thankful he wasn't being used a ferrying service, teleporting everyone to and from their respective destinations. That sounded worse for him than him playing mediator right now.
"Have you got something better to do? No offense, but next time we get revived, how about you revive all our structures too? That'd make this process a lot more tiresome," Kurotsuchi argued. The Yondaime Tsuchikage would have liked nothing more than to hand this position back to her grandfather. Oh, believe that she loved having the Earth back, but it became quite clear that her duties here and back in the frozen domain hadn't changed. If anything, they somehow got worse. The only thing that made it better was that she wasn't freezing her ass off this time.
Naruto frowned at her, but he didn't bother saying anything. He supposed he could have come up with a lie, but there wouldn't be much of a point. It was true that aside from playing mediator there wasn't much for him to do. Technically, he was still banished from the village, but clearly such rules were put on hold for now.
"Just think of it as training for when you take the Hokage mantle. It is not such a pristine job as many believe, Uzumaki Naruto," Gaara said, making sure to keep his tone even and friendly. Kage though he was, Naruto was still superior to him given that he'd been resurrected by the young summoner.
Naruto eyed Tsunade, though she chose not to stare back. "We talked about that already, Gaara. I'm not going to become Hokage. It was a dream that simply wasn't meant for me. Besides, I don't think me being Hokage would be the best for peace and stability right now, or ever," Naruto answered, casting his gaze on the Kage.
The five remained silent, already knowing what he was alluding to. Even their jonin associates who were with them had some idea of what he was referring to. While Mei and Gaara thought differently, many in the Elemental Nations felt Naruto would side with Konoha and conquer the entire world with his great and mighty power, especially not to mention that none of the nations save for Konoha and Kumo had bijuu. The others were still out in the world somewhere, and Naruto had effectively prohibited the hunting/capturing of them once again. Any who would attempt to do so would perish once found.
Mei cleared her throat of the silence and faced the Raikage. "I believe it would be best if we continued with that meeting. Raikage-dono, you're the one who wished to call this summit together. What's the problem?" she asked.
The Raikage, hearing his title addressed, leaned back in his chair. "The reconstruction of the nations has been going slower than anticipated. We've kept off the issue long enough, but I believe it's time to start implementing foreign services again. With no currency to barter with, many are unsure of how to proceed with proper negotiations. There have been hints of small skirmishes between minor nations which is set to spill into The Great Five. Luckily, we've been able to spread influence to keep them non-violent, but it could be a matter of time before we see a downward trend, especially from nations that aren't aware of the horrors we faced to get our world back," he said.
The frown on Naruto's face deepened. "After so much suffering, we're still ready to kill each other at a moment's notice. Perhaps we are a cursed civilization after all," Dan said within Naruto's mind while the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki remained silent.
"Surely, it wouldn't be feasible to start conflicts now. The entire world is still in a state of great revival. It could all be simple boasting to see who backs down first. However, it could be a souring of public relations if left unchecked. It could also spread into the Five Great Nations if former allies, and enemies start rallying against each other. I can see why the Raikage might be concerned. No one has the means to start creating grudges right now," Suiren replied.
"That wouldn't stop them. They would find a way," Pakura answered, narrowing her eyes as she watched what her summoner did.
On the outside, Naruto continued to watch the proceedings.
"How did the nations come about when there weren't villages yet? Perhaps it would be best if we simply implemented foreign policies between the Kage just like they did back then. It would only be a temporary measure until a proper infrastructure has been set up. I'm sure we all remember Naruto's warning. Should we mess this up and we have another Jashin come upon us, there won't be any second chances," Gaara remarked.
Tsunade exhaled, leaning forward and putting her elbows on the hard table. "Indeed. However, we cannot live in fear our whole lives. We must take a proactive approach. Unfortunately, all of our records have been destroyed and ruined. No history or written record lies anywhere. All we have are our memories, and I'd say that's for the best. We must not always look to the past but make our own way. We have a chance to rewrite the narrative and begin anew. If we profess to be the leaders, then we must act like it," she said.
The others agreed, though that led into a question from Kurotsuchi. "Okay, but what should we do then? Just because we're not fighting doesn't mean people aren't gonna try and drag us into a whole mess to deal with. It's not like we've got someone to keep the peace of the entire world while we get ourselves sorted," Kurotsuchi reasoned.
"...perhaps we do," Mei said.
Naruto sure didn't like the sound of that, especially not with the way Mei seemed to be glancing in his direction. Unfortunately, it was going exactly as he thought it might be going when the others looked toward him.
"It would solve the issue many have been feeling this month. However, it would take more than one person to undertake such a vision," Ay replied.
Try as the Kage might, they were unable to avoid the issue presented before them. Naruto knew this as well and he knew that this had to be something they'd discussed when he was out of sight. Well, of course he knew, he'd spied on them on more than one occasion with some of his willing summons. And, that brought back to memory a matter which he hadn't forgotten.
"What will you do when they turn their backs on you again? What will you do when, in spite of everything you've done for them, they will isolate you? Be afraid of you? Shun you? What… will you do?"
"What will you do?"
"I'll become better," Naruto muttered to himself before he looked at the Kage.
"I'll do it," he said, gathering their attention.
Kurotsuchi eyed him carefully, placing one leg over the other. "This isn't just your boredom talking, is it? You know what we're asking you to do right?" she asked.
Naruto smiled. "I have a fairly good idea. And while I'm glad that you don't doubt me, you're right that I won't be able to do it on my own. I'll be taking my family with me. While the rest of you focus on rebuilding, we'll make sure the world doesn't descend into chaos," Naruto claimed.
Ay slammed his arm on the table. "I feel like you're taking this situation a little lightly, boy. There is no advantage for you in this scenario. You already told us what you think of the rest of the world. Your thoughts are a worry in and of themselves. What would make you commit such a selfless act?" The Raikage questioned.
Even Tsunade found herself curious, but no one was expecting Naruto to laugh. "Please don't act like I've got ulterior motives. I'll leave all that cunning stuff to Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei. We didn't go through all that to see people fall apart at the first sign of difficulty. I'll do it. You have my word," Naruto said.
The Kage remained silent for a little while until Tsunade spoke. "I believe this discussion hasn't gone in the direction that we wished. It will need some more pondering before we make an accurate judgment. Perhaps we should move on to more pressing concerns such as…"
"Now, now, Baa-chan. The Raikage's got a point. It'd be a little unfortunate if I was getting nothing out of this in the short term either. Ero-sensei always did tell me to always take advantage of an opportunity, and I can think of something that I'd like you all to do for me," Naruto claimed.
The Tsuchikage frowned, leaning back into her chair. "If you want money, then sorry. We're a little short on that without the proper facilities. Not sure if we can promise anything," Kurotsuchi uttered.
Naruto offered her a wide smile, his white teeth flashing before them all. "Oh, believe me. You'll be able to fulfill this request," Naruto said, gaining suspicious looks from the Kage until his request was uttered. Four of the Kage widened their eyes while Mei chuckled in great amusement. The smile on Naruto's face never fell from the encounter.
Finally, Tsunade coughed. "Y-Yes, well… we'll take that under consideration. Now, if we could move on please!" Tsunade urged, having already had enough of today, especially given the snickers, chuckles, and laughter from the foreign guards behind her fellow Kage. Not even Genma could remain professional.
Once the amusement died down, the discussions continued. For Naruto, a total of four grueling hours passed by as the Five Kage spoke of numerous pressing matters ranging from their local daimyo to proper channels of trade and restoration. There were numerous political talks, ones that made Naruto thankful he could keep up with the conversation thanks to his mother and Hiashi's practice. It seemed that he'd need to be equipped to handle such discussions if he was meant to take the place of Clan Head. He really didn't like them, but his mother had been a welcome motivator. At the very least, he was able to stay awake.
That said, there was another reason he had to fight the sleep. He wished it were under better circumstances, but he doubted they'd have the luxury of time, especially with how things had been going with the world since he'd learned many things from Kagura, things that the others needed to understand.
"Then we will all do what we can to ensure effective and promising trade across all nations. We will be sure to deliver daily reports to make sure that the pact remains intact. Is there anything else?" Tsunade asked.
The other Kage remained silent and Naruto chose that moment to intervene. He stepped forward and rested his sword on the table. "Yeah, there is Baa-chan," he said, drawing all attention to him.
"And what would that be?" Kurotsuchi asked, leaning back in her chair. She was really tired and hungry. If only that Yamato guy was available. Maybe he could reconstruct her favorite diner. She could use a stack of fried and sauced wings right now. She also hoped someone put a glass of beer back into production, she didn't know what it tasted like but she felt she could use one right now. Unfortunately, that Yamato guy was in high demand at the moment. Fucking Wood jutsu.
"The Otsutsuki," Naruto answered.
At the mention of this name, the Tsuchikage quickly lost her exhaustion. The other Kage straightened up.
"Yes, there was that issue," Gaara said, interlocking his fingers on the table.
Nodding, Naruto stepped back and slightly unsheathed his sword. Immediately, great pressure was placed upon the Kage and their guards. Out of sheer fear, the guards quickly moved in front of their respective leaders.
"Do not flatter yourselves. Even if every one of you on this rock descended upon me, it would not change the outcome. Even the most inept of my clan would be more than you could bear."
When everyone opened their eyes, they stilled when they saw the floating, glowing, beautiful form of Otsutsuki Kagura. "Who the hell is she?!" Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto exhaled.
"Kagura, don't antagonize," Naruto ordered.
The Otsutsuki princess of the Main Branch frowned, yet eased her irritation. Summoner of the Shinigami or not, it still irked her to be subservient to an inferior species. Nevertheless, she obeyed him. She eased her pressure upon the area, taking notice that Naruto seemed hardly perturbed by her presence. Perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised by that given what they'd all experienced in Jashin. Much as her pride took a blow because of it, that man was further beyond her than she'd ever felt before. It was such an overwhelming gap that she felt she would never be able to surpass it even if she had a thousand lifetimes and absorbed the chakra of over a thousand planets.
The Kage steadily relaxed while Naruto exhaled. "Much as I'm not about to thank that masked bastard, he's the one who gave me a sword that had her sealed when mine broke fighting Jashin. Since then, I've learned a lot about our history and… where we might be headed in a few years," Naruto remarked.
"What kind of history?" the Raikage inquired, laying his giant arms on the table.
"The history of shinobi and where the Akatsuki planned to lead us," Naruto said. The Kage glanced at each other before they offered their undivided attention.
Naruto inhaled and then exhaled again. "Attempting to explain all the ins and outs would take too much time and we'd be here for a whole week. I'll give you guys the meat of it all. Nagato, the Akatsuki leader on the surface, collected the bijuu because he believed that combined they would become a weapon through wish he could force peace through destruction on the Elemental Nations. He was right, however, he was misled by Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Madara. The bijuu were originally one singular creature. In our terms, it'd be called the Jūbi, The Ten-Tailed Beast," Naruto explained.
The Kage frowned, the news not sitting well with any of them. The bijuu were already considered by many to be cataclysmic monstrosities the likes that the world had never seen before. The idea that they could all combine into one creature, with even more strength was a chilling thought.
Aware of their thoughts, yet continuing on, Naruto commented. "Even Kurama claims that before he'd been changed from chakra to Honshou that not even he could defeat the Jūbi on his own," he said.
"Kurama?" Mei questioned.
"Kyuubi, the fox who was sealed inside me," Naruto clarified.
Kurotsuchi snorted. "You named it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Naruto massaged his temples, aware of Kurama's scalding remarks toward the Tsuchikage. He was glad she couldn't hear him lest she also become irate. "They all have their own names. You guys just never bothered learning them. I guess it was much easier to enslave them when you… we thought they were nothing but mindless beasts," Naruto answered.
"They killed thousands of us!" Kurotsuchi exclaimed, slamming her fist on the table.
Naruto took a short breath. He could have easily responded to such a claim, but he felt that they'd been here long enough. It was clear that the Kage were tired, evidenced by the bags under their eyes. He wished to wrap this up quickly while still maintaining the severity of the situation.
"Look, that's neither here nor there at the moment. Just know that it's a powerful piece of work that was created by the Otsutsuki Clan with the end result being the destruction of a planet," Naruto announced, giving Kagura a glance which she felt no shame for.
"What?!" Ay inquired. They had already gotten their world back, and now they were at risk of losing it again?! What the hell was happening to their planet?
"I shall interject upon that matter. The end result was simply the pursuit of greater strength. That it happened at the cost of lower lifeforms was simply an inconsequential concern," Kagura answered, unshakingly staring at the horrified expressions of the Kage.
"Lower lifeforms?" Gaara asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Naturally, do you acknowledge every wild beast you interact with as equal to you? In fact, I would say that your very society owes its creation to the mistake of a traitor. Had it not been for her, chakra would not have been granted to your ilk. Even worse, she dared… procreate with your species. It is a grave sin for the Otsutsuki to intermarry," Kagura said, her face scowling. Granted, she hadn't forgotten her own promise to the Regent. She was well aware it was her sin as well, but that was a sin she was willing to bear if it meant achieving her own goals.
Mei tapped the table with her finger for a little while, mulling over the information presented to her. "Have we or any other planet done something to offend your people that you act this way? How did you even come here?" Mei asked.
Kagura's visage remained even. "You're kind aren't qualified to offend us. The only thing that would offend my people is breathing the same air that you might breathe. As for your other question, for eons we have traversed numerous dimensions, harvesting the God Trees. And since I know you shall ask, I shall continue onward. The Jūbi, or Ten-Tails as you have named it, is little more than a living creature harvested by us. Its purpose is to seek out all chakra and genetic material on a planet, slowly it will consume all life and produce wonderful, powerful fruit to be eaten. Over time it grows into the body like that of a grand tree. Then the tree produces chakra fruit, born from the chakra and lives of every living thing on the planet. Unfortunately, the fruit can only be truly cultivated if it is given the body of an Otsutsuki to feast on," the princess of the Otsutsuki Main Branch said.
Mei wasn't sure what irked her more, the dismissiveness of Kagura's sentiments toward humanity or their atrocious actions as a clan.
"Hmph, for all your grandeur and grandstanding, you guys sound little more than parasites to me. All your fancy mess, and you can't do anything without the help of those beneath you," Ay replied.
Unfortunately for him, Kagura wasn't perturbed. "Do not you humans fish the bounty of the sea or glean the wool from the sheep? Do you not milk the goats and the cows? Would you not kill until all you know has been turned into… a barren wasteland where none survive? I suppose I should take one matter for offense. That such a species so closely resembles the Otsutsuki is a little retching," Kagura answered, earning a clenched fist from the Raikage.
"Kagura," Naruto warned.
The Princess deeply exhaled before she ceased her aggravations.
Tsunade, who'd been listening attentively, chose this time to speak her mind as well. "You mentioned a traitor to your clan who likely came to our world. Who is it?" Tsunade asked.
The frown on Kagura's face deepened as she stared off to the side. "That would be my younger twin sister, Kaguya Otsutsuki. I know it is her because I sense her chakra in nearly all of humanity. Of course, for some, it's more diluted than others. Even amongst you leaders, there is a concentration of its strength which cannot be ignored," Kaguya said, making Tsunade and Mei uncomfortable when she stared directly at them.
The other Kage noticed this and so did Naruto. Kurotsuchi looked between them and the floating haughty spirit. "Come to think of it, looking at the lady closely, doesn't she remind you of someone?" The Tsuchikage inquired.
The others looked at her as did their guards. Genma quickly brought all the thoughts together. "Yes, she does look like a member of the Hyuuga Clan. Horns notwithstanding," Mei claimed.
Kagura briefly recounted her thoughts on the Hyuga Clan. She remembered sensing their chakra from afar off, back when the Regent granted her bodies in the hopes of restoring her mortal flesh. She thought nothing great of them. If nothing else, if she truly wished it, then they'd be lucky to live as slaves to the Otsutsuki Clan. Such a station ought to be more than beneficial for those who shared Otsutsuki blood.
"It is likely that the progenitors of your 'Hyuga' clan stemmed from the body of my sister. The same could be said of the both of them as well, though I sense they might have potentially come from another line," Kagura said, looking at Tsunade and Mei.
The two female Kage noticed this. "It could be the Senju bloodline. You're a member of the Uzumaki clan as well. If we're basing it on this logic, then the Uchiha might come from such a line as well. The Uchiha and the Senju were the most dominant clans back during the time of the Warring States," Tsunade said.
Mei opened her mouth and then closed it. "It would explain why such clans had such abnormal advantages that many others didn't. The Uchiha clan was granted powerful aptitude toward combat and impressive ocular jutsu. The Senju boasted vast strength, life force, and chakra. The Uzumaki were granted an even stronger life force and chakra than the Senju. It was rumored that under ideal conditions, the average Uzumaki could live for up to 200 years back in the day. They could also heal from injuries more fatal to others," Mei claimed.
"So you're a clan of freakin half-aliens. That's pretty comforting," Kurotsuchi reasoned, grumbling to herself.
Of course, the Raikage didn't very much like that thought either. There was a reason why numerous nations had banded together to try and take them out. A clan like the Uzumaki, with so many members who could live for such a long time, refine skills, and teach the next generation, was a horrifying thought. Even now, knowing Uzumaki Naruto, the clan was likely even more powerful than before. What nation could stand against Konoha if they chose to take their stand and attempt to rule the world in the long road of history?
"You have all been touched by Kaguya. Some have just been more blessed than others. Before the events of Jashin, I had planned to absorb enough chakra to reform my body and take revenge upon my sister for her transgression. However, it appears that such a matter with have to wait as I sensed her presence beyond the firmament of this world," Kagura said, much to the surprise of the Kage.
"Excuse me?" Gaara inquired.
Kagura clarified. "My sister has not perished. She has simply been subdued, trapped in the floating rock which lights your planet's nights," she said. Of course, it didn't take long for the Kage, or their guards, to understand what Kagura might be implying.
"She's… in the moon?!" Mei asked.
"That is correct. She's being held there by a powerful sealing technique. It would be possible to release her with the combined strength of these… bijuu of yours. However, such a circumstance is unlikely to come about as the Ninth Beast has become a creature beyond even chakra. It could likely overcome the Juubi on its own. I have also sensed that the same occurrence has steadily come upon the Third Beast as well," Kagura claimed.
Naruto noticed that the table was silent. No one knew how to take the news. On the one hand, it was nice that a coming disaster seemed thwarted at the moment. On the other, no one enjoyed the thought that the Kyuubi, known for its ruthlessness, cruelty, and ferociousness, could become just as powerful, if not more powerful, than even what it was supposed to be combined into. Add that to the Sanbi steadily changing, and that led to some things that would still need to be discussed.
"They are scared," Suiren claimed.
"Of course, they are. It's hard to trust so much power into the hands of someone else, especially when you haven't known them for very long. Who says this peace lasts in the next 1000 or even 10,000 years? What would people think of a being like Kurama-san who isn't allied with their village? Fear drives many to do irrational things," Dan replied.
"Which is why many of them were relieved when Shikyō-sama accepted the responsibility of making sure the world didn't descend into chaos between the nations while they rebuilt. They want to likely isolate him, and potentially even the Uzumaki Clan, to keep them as a neutral figure. After all, no one's gonna want to go to war with him, and he's got enough power to make sure no one else oversteps their boundaries," Kimimaro reasoned.
"Yet, he will never again reside in Konoha. Banishment can be rescinded. What they are asking for is something that cannot be changed," Yahiko mentioned.
Pakura preferred not to speak, instead watching on as her summoner listened to the rest of the meeting.
"It was speculated that the Rikudo Sennin created the moon. Many consider it just a grandiose tale to tell aspiring shinobi, but if it was possible, especially given the things we've seen, then it holds weight. Given the Senju, Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Hyuuga could be descended from such a powerful figure, it's likely that even the Rikudo Sennin was descended from her as well," Gaara speculated.
Hearing this, Kurama closed his eyes and huffed. "Naruto, tell them what I'm about to tell you…" Kurama said.
Hearing the information presented, Naruto quickly called for the attention of the Kage. "Apparently, Kurama supports Gaara's theory. In fact, he says that it was the Rikudo Sennin who separated the Jubi into the Bijuu that we know today," Naruto said, staying silent on another matter. He remembered when the Shinigami spoke to him. The deity had taken the body of another Otsutsuki, Hamura, if Naruto remembered correctly. The man, Hamura, was said to be the new avatar which housed the divinity of the Shinigami.
"And what should we do with this information?" Ay asked.
"Nothing for now, but I think it's best that no one slack in their training while we rebuild. If they came here once, then they will come again, especially if they're expecting a fruit to be harvested," Naruto remarked.
The Raikage hummed gruffly while Kurotsuchi leaned forward. "Wait a minute. She said that the fucking fruit… thing needs an Otsutsuki to be sacrificed to cultivate it, right? How the hell haven't you guys died out if you're using thousands of these things?" Kurotsuchi asked.
Kagura's lips thinned. While she had no reason to lie, especially to an inferior species, to talk about the Kāma wasn't a favored topic. It was a secret weapon of her clan that had been used throughout numerous eons. Well, it wouldn't do much harm if they knew. There was a reason the Kāma had been so established amongst her people.
Rather than answer, Kagura floated toward the Kage. The guards tensed, ready to intercept her as best they could. However, the princess of the Main Otsutsuki branch ignored them. She tapped her finger on the table and the tent turned dark. It seemed as if all the light from outside had faded into nothingness leaving everyone in a perpetual void.
The table then became enflamed with dark blue fire. The flames etched a strange symbol into the face of the table. The Kage watched, stunned as the flames danced before them. Some of them even looked at Naruto in worry, yet the blond's decision to not intervene told them that he had the matter under control, even if they felt he was being too lax.
"What your inferior eyes see before you is the treasure of the Otsutsuki race. It is… the Kāma," Kagura said, bringing their attention back to her.
"The Kāma?" Tsunade asked.
Either Kagura didn't hear the question or she chose to ignore it again, preferring to continue on with her explanation. "Not even I know the origins of the Kāma. However, it is a respected technique among every Otsutsuki, coming into being since the first conceptualization of our race. Explaining every in and out of its potential would take me many years, and even then you wouldn't have the mental capacity to understand much of it," Kagura said while the Kage frowned, clenching their fists at her haughty attitude.
However, everyone quickly stilled when the ferocious, divine strength from Naruto flooded the room. The Kage were left trembling and Kagura was rendered silent as Naruto spoke. "Kagura…" He warned.
Never had the Princess of the Otsutsuki been so humiliated like this. She inhaled and then exhaled again. "For your understanding, you may consider the Kāma as a disk of sorts from a computer. Before the computer crashes and dies it uploads everything that it was and is into the disk. The disk, carrying the blueprint of the old computer, is inserted into a new one. Once the disk is placed, its contents take over the new computer until the old computer has replaced all the internal configurations of the new one. Everything that the new one was, or will be, is gone forever," Kagura exclaimed.
The Kage glanced at each other. "How do you know all of this?" Ay asked, glaring at her.
"I had plenty of time to adjust to the modern appliances of your race from the memories that I'd gathered. Now, I believe I have explained what the Kāma was capable of. Before the Otsutsuki was supposed to be discarded, they were to find a worthy, compatible host who could handle the strain of the Kāma, whether voluntarily or not. Once implanted, the host's genetic makeup would be steadily overturned until they turned into a perfect Otsutsuki. Every member of our clan had knowledge of this technique, both young and old," Kagura claimed.
Kurotsuchi leaned forward, putting her head in her hands. "What the fuck is this? Some kind of fucking horror movie? Invasion of the Body Snatchers?" Kurotsuchi questioned.
While the reference to such an old movie wasn't lost on any of the Kage, its unpleasant implications were that much more horrifying. "So you mean to say that any on this earth could house an Otsutsuki?" Mei asked.
"Your insinuation is worthy of note, however, it is highly impractical. There are not many who are worthy enough to be compatible with Otsutsuki DNA. Such a number would be 1 to 500,000. Should it placate you, I shall let all of you know that none of you has such a worth. So you may rest easy," Kagura claimed, not a shred of empathy for the lesser species to be found in her.
"Well, that's comforting," Ay snarled.
The other Kage took notice of his irritation, yet Gaara chose the time to speak. "Is there any way to stop the conversion?" he asked.
Kaguya's face remained neutral. "Of course. Should you kill the host, then the Otsutsuki won't take over. Given that you ally with the Summoner of the Shinigami, that provides you with a rather powerful advantage. It is also a seal. Had you someone who knew proper sealing techniques, they might, small as it might be, have a chance at undoing the nature of the sealing structure. Additionally, should you, somehow, have even greater chakra than the Otsutsuki planting the seal upon you, then you could break free of it. Aside from these measures, I would not put too much hope in anything else," Kagura claimed.
Immediately, the Kage looked to Naruto and the blond realized what they were thinking. However, before the others could utter anything, Tsunade took their attention. "Given that one had to be sacrificed, I assume that your group needed someone to quickly consume the fruit lest anyone else try and take it. Surely, this means you either paired or grouped up with two or more of your clan. Who was the companion to Kaguya then?" Tsunade asked.
Kagura chuckled. "That would be Isshiki. A rather powerful, if boastful and impudent fighter even by Otsutsuki standards. Have no doubt that should he come upon you he would not be so playful as the Slaughter God. Of course, he never could rein in his overconfidence. Even before me, his impudent and disrespectful nature was made known. However, he was much too promising to put down and much too cunning to ignore. Many would have greatly rewarded my sister if she were able to kill him," Kagura claimed.
"If?" Mei asked.
Kagura faced the Mizukage. "Of course. It would be in your best interest to never think an Otsutsuki is dead unless they perish by his hands," Kagura said, glancing toward her summoner.
The Kage continued thinking, and while they found it hard to trust the words of their alien visitor, the circumstances only made their plan seem more reasonable in their eyes.
"And you? For someone who claims to be from a people soooooo powerful, how'd you end up being sealed in a sword of all things?" Kurotsuchi asked, leaning her elbow on the table and her head in her hand.
A grave silence laid over the area. Naruto immediately took notice of the unbridled rage hidden behind the emotionless gaze of Kagura's visage. Pressure seemed to crash down upon the tent, and even the physical space itself seemed to distort around the Kage, a mixture of outer space and worlds far beyond the Elemental Nations bleeding themselves around them all.
"...That. Will. Not. Be. Discussed," Kagura stressed, her vast power forcing the heads of the Kage to the table. Their guards were brought to their knees as the ground trembled.
"W-What is the weight of this power? I feel like I'm being crushed!" Tsunade claimed, gritting her teeth as she felt the bones in her body on the verge of breaking into pieces.
Fortunately for everyone, the pressure from Kagura ceased immediately. Everyone gasped, panting from the intensity of the invisible pressure having been cast upon them. When they looked up, they all noticed that the Otsutsuki princess was gone. The only one before them was Naruto.
"I guess that's a sore subject for her. It took Kurama, Pakura, Mōryō, and I to suppress her. I think it's best if we leave that matter there," Naruto said.
Kurotsuchi leaned back and slumped in her chair. "Are you sure you can control that crazy bitch?!" she inquired while the others groaned.
"Somewhat. I could stop her if you didn't mind the world breaking apart again. If needed I can suppress her before she wrecks the world with strength like that, but I think that just bears a testament to what we're in for from the Otsutsuki, especially if they start piling into our world while we're rebuilding," Naruto explained.
Clearing his throat, Gaara leaned up. "Yes. That does seem to be a concern, but I fear we won't have any facilities up for a long time. It would take numerous months of repairs to bring the world back to what it used to be," the Kazekage mentioned.
The others agreed with his assessment while Mei placed her hands on the table. "I believe that only lends greater weight to the near envisioning of the future," she said. Naruto noticed her gaze upon him again. The other Kage followed her gaze before Tsunade sighed.
"Okay, I think that was a lot of information for all of us to digest. I suggest we take two days to review this information and then we'll reconvene for a short meeting. Does our mediator agree?" She asked.
Naruto folded his arms and nodded. "If that is what you guys wish, then I'll agree. The Five Kage Summit will end here for now," Naruto announced.
The Kage and their guards finally eased back and breathed exhausted sighs. Naruto rolled his shoulders as he quickly dismissed himself before they found some other reason to keep him around. He left the tent and found his way back into the various construction grounds of Konoha. He passed by Konohamaru, and the rest of his team, briefly having a conversation with them as the sun rested over the heads steadily beginning to end the day.
Naruto also passed by a few Hyuuga clan members, laughing as they spoke of their horrendous work conditions. The blond found himself sympathizing with them, but they claimed they were much better off than Hiashi was with Hinako. It'd been a blessing to the clan to know that Hinako had returned to her wonderful pregnancy following the horrific events of Jashin.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki even took the time to catch up with a few of his academy friends, namely Kiba, Ino, Lee, Tenten, Neji, and Hinata. They traded barbs and news. Unfortunately, no one was able to stay for too long since they were all busy. They'd all been pulling all-nighters for the last few days. Hell, Kiba was set to go to the lands of Iwagakure to help deliver more supplies while Ino and Tenten were going to minor nations and providing aid there. The same could be said for Neji and Hinata. Even Lee was feeling the aftereffects.
The group quickly split after that with Naruto finally arriving home. He tiredly walked up the stairs of the empty compound and threw off his clothes.
"You know what they're planning, don't you?" Kurama inquired as Naruto rested his sword against his nightstand.
"You mean making me and my clan the guardians of the nations? Yeah, you know Kaa-chan and I had already been thinking about it. I'm not angry at them for thinking up a plan like that. I'd be a little worried too if someone like me was residing in another nation. Given Konoha's history with Iwa and Kumo, their fears are a little justified," Naruto remarked.
"Would you have helped Konoha had they inquired, Shikyō-sama?" Suiren asked, the others listening intently.
Naruto grabbed another shirt and nodded. "Yeah, I would have. However, I'm agreeing to this because I don't want us to head down that path that could potentially bring Jashin back on us for a second time. It depends on the circumstances I guess. Best, I'd help reach a stalemate, I'm starting to understand that… I might have more responsibilities than just Konoha. To be honest, I think it's funny that I don't need to worry about becoming Hokage anymore. I'd probably be pulling my hair out otherwise," Naruto answered as he stepped out of his clan's compound and entered its luscious training grounds, or what of them remained anyway. There hadn't exactly been much time to renovate the land.
Exhaling slowly, Naruto and Kurama linked up while the sapphire flames of The End touched his hands. He quietly trained, pushing grass and ground away. He worked hard as sweat poured down the side of his face. He remembered the stinging sensation of the flames as his soul burned away with Jashin in his grasp. There was such intense pain, yet there was even more intense power there. As the Summoner of the Shinigami, he had to make use of that power, especially if greater forces were coming. It wasn't like he could rely on his soul burning away by merging with the Shin again, especially if there was supposed to be an existence even greater than even the elite of the Otsutsuki. He had to keep training.
Not for the Elemental Nations, but for his friends, his family, and his lovers.
A few more hours passed as the sunset came over the lands of Konoha. Having trained extensively, Naruto then headed back in the house. He entered his office and pulled out a few pieces of paper. He then walked out and headed into the basement. He wished he was back on his homeland of Uzushio, but he imagined that none of their secret texts from the clan had survived the revival. Luckily, his mother had improved his memory. It also helped to ask a few Uzumaki masters from the old times about restoring some scrolls.
While he worked, the floor illuminated by rows of handles for sight, Naruto heard noise from the steps in the room he'd been occupying. He looked up and noticed Tayuya and Shion coming down.
"See? I told the fucktard was down here. Where else would he be?" Tayuya asked, the candles flickering over her body as Shion took a step forward.
"So I see, but do you really have to speak with such a trash dialect? It feels beneath you, cousin," Shion replied.
"Eat my ass, priestess!" Tayuya fired back. Shion covered her mouth with her robes, hoping to stifle the laugh that threatened to pass through her lips. Instead, she turned to her male cousin, taking notice of the wide number of scrolls he'd piled up.
"Naruto, what are you doing?" Shion questioned.
"Restoring some of our clan's sacred techniques. Uzushio was destroyed months ago and so were all of our cultural heritage sites. A lot of the sealing techniques Kaa-chan remembered were destroyed as well. In this downtime, I'm hoping to regain the scrolls we lost. I imagine Sasuke and the other clans are going to be busy doing the same thing," Naruto remarked.
Tayuya folded her arms. "Oh no, don't restore them on our account. Just give my damn mom another reason to drag me to a fucking desk and do fancy brush-stroking lessons," the redhead growled while Naruto smiled briefly.
Shion glanced at her temperamental cousin. "You complain, but your Uzumaki blood shows its proficiency. You're actually the fastest writer out of all of us. It's a wonder, and a blessing, why Orochimaru never showed more interest in your ability," The priestess claimed, making her cousin snort.
"I don't think I had a lot of time cultivating my fucking writing ability while under Orochimaru's employ. Never mind the fact that I didn't know I was a Uzumaki. Might be one of the reasons I was able to survive that damn curse mark of his. Though don't expect me to test my luck a second time," Tayuya responded.
"And no one's gonna make you. Has anyone else returned home?" he asked. He wasn't sure why he was asking. Thanks to his mother's training, he'd become a very talented sensor, perhaps not as good as Karin, Risa, or his mother, but good enough to know who was around the compound and who wasn't.
Tayuya grinned. "Miss your little harem already? They've only been gone for a week. Sorry, but you won't be finding Shion or me slipping into your arms for any reason. Better luck next life," Tayuya laughed while Shion blushed, finding the inappropriate talk a little exciting and a little unnecessary.
"Please, you couldn't handle what I give even if you wanted," Naruto replied.
Kurama, Mōryō, and the Kindred gawked while Pakura and the others covered their mouths in shock.
"Oh my. So bold, Shikyō-sama," Suiren commented which made Naruto's grin widen, especially given the dumbfounded look on Tayuya's face. Her face reddened with embarrassment and amusement. Yet, due to her being her, she masked her emotions with anger, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists.
"Yeah? Well, why don't you fucking suck my…" Tayuya didn't get to finish before Naruto stood in front of her. Her words died in her throat as the flames flickered the magnificence of his blue eyes. Even Tayuya found herself drawn to them while Naruto cupped her chin. Shion stood mute, unable to comprehend what she was witnessing.
"Are you sure you don't want me to?" he asked, lifting her face to meet his.
"Y-You wouldn't fucking d-dare…" Tayuya stammered, suddenly aware of just how fast her heart was beating. It almost seemed to be leaping out of her chest. Being a soldier for Orochimaru, she'd never actually had the opportunity or cared to have the opportunity to learn anything about seduction. Hell, even Jirobo commented on her mannerisms more than once. It'd have been easy for her to just nail the bastard in the fucking balls if he was an enemy, but this was Naruto of all people. She found herself frozen.
Finally, Naruto pulled back and smiled. "Yeah, maybe in another life. But, it won't be this one. I love Kaa-chan, Yuri, and Yura. No one else will reside in my heart like they will. Now, since I've got you both down here, how about you help me with this work? Risa will be happy you guys got the practice in," the Uzumaki Clan Head said as he sat back down, leaving Tayuya and Shion stunned.
"I… you… what?!" Tayuya shouted while Shion found herself unable to say much. Of course, if she were an uncouth commoner, she might burst out laughing at the end result. Instead, befitting a priestess, she simply giggled.
Shion walked over while Naruto summoned a myriad of clones. Tayuya just continued to growl as she stepped over as well. She snatched a scroll from her cousin and helped out into the late hours of the night.
Once the three were done, Tayuya helped Naruto up the stairs. As it turned out, having so many clones wasn't good in the mental state with so much information flooding into them at one time. "I should have fucking left you down there," Tayuya snarled, dragging the world's savior up the basement stairs.
"But you won't cause you love me," he remarked.
"Yeah, I love you like a fucking ulcer," she growled as she led them up another flight of stairs. She helped Naruto to his bed while Shion turned out the lights, wishing her cousins a pleasant night. Unfortunately, Tayuya couldn't find much to be pleasant about, especially because she'd have to undertake more guard duty tomorrow. There was nothing fun about that.
The Uzumaki Compound slowly fell into silence as Naruto found the strength to take off his clothes and get himself ready for bed. The exhaustion had left him so tired that he didn't remember falling asleep. He only knew that he'd been awoken when he felt a hand touch his chest. All though his vision was blurry, he'd never forget the touch of the woman who came upon his bed.
"When did you get back?" he asked drowsily.
The hand paused momentarily. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up," Kushina said, continuing to trace her son's chest.
"I'm not complaining. I missed you. I missed you so much," the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki said.
The blond heard his mother laugh before he felt her lips overtop of his. "And I missed you too. I thought about you every day. I just got back ten minutes ago. Go back to sleep. I'll be joining you," Kushina said as Naruto briefly watched his mother take off her clothes. He marveled at her body before she climbed into bed with him. Her long, slender legs wrapped with his while she laid her head on his chest.
Naruto sighed happily while Kushina smiled. "Be sure to tell me how your trip was in the morning," Naruto claimed.
"I think you owe me a date for that much information, young man," Kushina whispered.
Naruto laughed as the two of them fell asleep, the peaceful ambiance of nature a blanket for their ears. Unfortunately, the night could only last so long as Tsukuyomi left the sky and Amaterasu took her sister's place.
Naruto groaned as he turned over, his arms wrapped tightly around his mother's waist. He smiled, enjoying the intimacy. His mother allowed herself to be held, nestling her body further into his embrace. The luscious frame of her ass fit his waist like a piece of a puzzle. Her smell was invigorating and her hair was just as beautiful as the brightest rubies.
"It seems someone else is happy to see me too. Such disrespect toward your mother of all people. Where did I go wrong with you?"
Naruto grinned when he heard his mother speak, albeit tiredly. "You went wrong nowhere. I think I'm giving you a lot of respect right now. Respect as a woman, and respect as my soon-to-be wife," Naruto answered back.
Kushina snorted. "That's some hard respect I'm getting," she returned, not doing much to remove herself from the flattering situation. In fact, she had a real desire to help rid him of that problem. She REALLY wanted to actually. She hadn't had sex in a few months now and the irritation of the events was starting to get to her. Of course, she wished to stay true to the Uzumaki traditions. Even now, she felt her son's chakra inside her body. No doubt he felt hers as well. They continued to grow, continued to connect, and continued to resonate with each other. The intertwining energies spread themselves through their very bodies.
"Tell me, Kaa-chan. How would you feel if we had to… migrate… from… Kono-"
Naruto's question slowly died as he fell back asleep. Meanwhile, Kushina continued to stare at the wall on the other side of their bedroom. Her eyes narrowed while she touched her son's arms. A frown came upon her face before she closed her eyes and settled to sleep, opting to think on the question later.
KG: While some might not remember since the chapter was so long ago, I remember a certain reviewer who mentioned what I was attempting to do. How funny that even as I came back, I never forgot it. However, I changed the way I approached the matter and found this to be a much better solution. Of course, there are a few more things to clean up for the Elemental Nations before we're tossed back into the scalding fray again. I just wanted to say, thanks to you all for continuing with me on this journey. Although, I was laughing outta my chair when someone begged me to not let Naruto name his son Boruto. How funny that no one had a concern with Himawari. I just found it so hilarious. As for you PIECES OF TRASH asking when Kushina and Ay's gonna be a think while Naruto watches, what have I done to hurt you?! HUH?! What did I do to make you disgust me so? How dare you come before me with such atrocity! Leave my presence post haste!
KG: CHEESECAKE!