Chapter 43

~In the northern upskirts of Iwa:

"Tonight, we begin," his cold voice emanated throughout the room, where his fellow acolytes smiled amongst themselves.

"It will be a night of reckoning, of rightful judgement," he continued, fervent as only the most loyal of his followers could be, "we shall begin the starving one's feast, and his rightful reign!"

Voices roared in the enclosed space, voices of approval, of excitement, of hunger.

Hidan smiled, his teeth bloody and eyes stinging in welled-up tears.

He laughed, as he only could in the most exciting night of his life.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

With Naruto:

Naruto was a war veteran.

He was used to death.

That didn't mean he liked it.

So when he read the details of the Chuunin exams that Hiruzen handed to him once he got back from the week long trip, he cursed out loud.

"It's exactly the same exam as it was in my world," Naruto muttered.

"Which is precisely why it should produce similar events," Hiruzen told him, "If Orochimaru can be lured out, it'll be one less thing we have to worry about."

Naruto huffed but arched an eyebrow at him. "You say that with such certainty that it's as if Orochimaru isn't the most elusive cockroach in the entire elemental nations."

Even in his own world, Naruto could scarcely believe how Orochimaru had survived to the end against all odds. He'd survived a literal encounter with the shinigami and after being murdered by Sasuke.

Towards the end of the war, it seemed as if he'd turned a new leaf but Naruto would faster eat a volcano for desert than believe that he'd turn good after all was said and done.

He was a snake. It was in his bones to be cunning and devious.

"If you had him in your grasp, would he be able to escape you?" Hiruzen asked.

"No," Naruto replied back immediately. "If he even steps foot in my sight, there will be no escape for him."

Hiruzen smiled. "That's exactly why we're doing this."

Naruto only scowled further.

But he relented.

"Fine, it isn't up to me how the world works, bloodying up freshly minted shinobi like this, I just hope that it gets better with time," Naruto muttered, then more firmly, he continued, "I will make it better, believe it."

Hiruzen smiled. "I have no doubt you will."

Naruto turned his attention to his own desired outcomes for this meeting.

"Jiji, I want you to assign us a mission to help Mei Terumi in the coup of Kirigakure," Naruto stated.

Hiruzen's eyebrows shot up as he stared at the blonde-haired shinobi. "I thought they could handle themselves just fine."

Naruto smiled and shook his head. "They will eventually take over in a few months, if I remember correctly, but as they currently are now, they aren't certain whether they can win."

Reading his line of thought, Hiruzen nodded. "I see. So you want to speed things along in exchange for…what exactly?"

"Their Bijuu," Naruto plainly stated.

Hiruzen jolted as if Naruto had said the most ridiculous thing he'd heard. "They wouldn't bite that, not when they can still fight."

"It would bring the security of their future," Naruto suggested, shrugging, "we could offer an alliance."

Hiruzen shook his head. "Our history with Kiri from the third shinobi war. Have you heard of it?"

Naruto thought for a moment, thinking back to his old sensei's history. "If I remember correctly, in my world, Kiri had kidnapped Nohara Rin under Madara's manipulations and sealed the three tails into her, hoping to release it in Konoha and cause the same destruction that the releasing of Kurama would cause only years later."

Hiruzen nodded. "You are correct, that history remains the same in this world as well. Do you really think that they would give up the three tails after what they've tried to do to us?"

Naruto sat on the chair, his bandaged hand coming up to cover his face as he thought.

Hiruzen continued. "They would think that we are seeking revenge. Every bijuu is an asset. Even if this…Mei Terumi, as you say, is relatively progressive and hopes to change Kiri from its dark past, I do not believe that she would give up a bijuu to any village in their time of instability after the result of this civil war."

"Then we give them an ultimatum," Naruto said, finally saying the words he did not want to say. "Either they give us the Bijuu and form an alliance with us, or they give up the bijuu and gain nothing."

Naruto knew war.

He despised it.

But one thing was for sure.

It changed him.

It hardened his heart.

Enough to do what was necessary.

Hiruzen grew silent as he, too, leaned back on his chair, creaking the rusted hinges that held his weight for so long.

"...what is your goal with the bijuu?" Hiruzen asked.

"To free them, obviously," Naruto said, slumping, "I made a promise that they would be able to taste the air again, to feel the rustle of the wind, to no longer be trapped as they have been for so long."

"...I see," Hiruzen said.

"I know it still stings you, Ji-chan," Naruto muttered, "what a single bijuu has done to the village. My goal of freeing all nine? You would imagine the havoc they'd wreak should they all turn against us."

Naruto took off his blindfold, knowing that the room was truly private as per Hiruzen's orders from his senses, and his rinnegan eyes met the old man's.

"I would never let that happen," Naruto stated as if it were absolute fact, "I will protect them, and I will protect people from them should I have to."

Silence was all that remained in the air as the two S-ranked shinobi sat, facing one another.

Then Hiruzen smiled.

He said the same words he did before, but the tone in his words conveyed no small amount of relief.

"I see."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Naruto was in the process of making another Human clone, unexpectedly sooner than he wished.

Just as before, he'd tore off a small piece of his soul and placed it within the fleshy amalgamation.

And yet…it slipped off the clone and the seals before drawing back into him with a force that almost knocked the wind out of him.

It was jarring…and it also gave him a slight headache.

He'd wanted to leave a permanent clone here to train the girls whilst he was off in Kiri with Kushina and Haku. Now it seemed like there were complications with making a second clone. He needed to study it more. Study the soul more as well, and why it behaved like that. If he was able to split a small part of it off once, wouldn't he be able to do it again?

"Are you alright, son?" Kushina asked, coming up behind him and helped to hold him upright.

"I…I don't know," Naruto said, "I think three is somehow too much for my soul to handle."

Kushina looked at him worriedly before she smiled at him, encouraging him. "Take it one step at a time. You've only just finished the jutsu recently. It's a miracle that you've already made one human clone work."

Naruto chuckled. "Gotcha, don't overdo it."

Kushina nodded. "Exactly. Speaking of which, how is your clone doing in Wave?..."

"He's been doing a little bit of everything. Helping here and there. Solidifying the Ninshu shrine and encouraging its practice. The people there seem…happier with a bit of his guidance."

"That, I have no doubt about," Kushina said. Then she went on her tiptoes and pecked him on the lips.

The action was so sudden that Naruto felt even more dazed than when his third human clone had failed to function.

His hands shot towards his lips.

Kushina only grinned, seeing his shocked face.

Naruto shook his head in disbelief. It seemed that Kushina had gotten a bit…foxier after she'd made a contract with Kuzunoha's clan. She kissed him before, but only in kind gestures of greetings and goodbyes. Here, she just kissed him because…well, he didn't know why but he definitely liked it.

"What was that for?" Naruto asked, "Not that I'm complaining."

"I like your look of surprise and embarrassment, that's all," Kushina said.

Naruto looked a bit miffed as he tried to banish the redness from his cheeks. Then he chuckled at her before turning his attention to his current predicament.

"The girls don't like me gone," Naruto said.

Kushina raised an eyebrow. "You mean your students?"

"Hai," Naruto nodded, "Sakura said that they don't like seeing me gone and to take them with me on my missions next time."

"Then tell them that they aren't ready just yet," Kushina responded, "Tell them that they would at least make chuunin first."

Naruto sighed. "I know. They probably won't like it."

"Oh they definitely won't," Kushina chuckled.

"I suppose that one way I can do this instead of leaving a permanent clone is to Hiraishin back every morning and leave a shadow clone instead." Naruto said.

Kushina's eyes widened before she shook her head. "Only you have enough chakra to make a Hiraishin across countries seem like only a mild inconvenience."

Naruto smiled sheepishly.

"Naruto-sama," Haku addressed when she entered. "I have packed and I am ready to go."

"But…we're leaving tomorrow, Haku," Naruto muttered, a bit confused.

"I have finished packing nonetheless," Haku responded. "I have also packed your essentials as well."

Naruto sighed.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Absolutely not," Sarada said, scowling.

"You've just gotten back, Naruto-kun," Hinata added.

Ino just glared at him.

Sakura looked like she was about to curse the air for five minutes straight.

Naruto held up his hands placatingly. "I'm sorry but once again, it's something I need to do. If anything this provides an incentive."

All four of his original students straightened up at that.

"Train hard," Naruto stated simply, "make chuunin, and I'll be able to take you with me…sometimes."

The four narrowed their eyes at him.

"It would be easier to improve if you were here to train us," Ino muttered under her breath but Naruto overheard it.

"Hey I keep my promises," Naruto continued, "I'll come back every morning and leave a shadow clone here to help you guys along. Perhaps some joint training with your full two teams is a good idea."

They all brightened up at that.

"Wait, how are you able to get back here from Kiri every morning?" Sarada asked.

Whilst Naruto told them about his life, he'd left out a few details, especially of what he'd done here once arrive at this new world.

He smiled mischievously. "That would be telling."

Then, as if to refute his previous words.

He hiraishin'ed out of there, leaving the girls with their jaws on the floor.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Konoha has informed us that they are sending an envoy," her right hand, Ao informed her.

"Hm…" was her only response.

"It seems that the old Hokage finally came out of his shell after losing their jinchuuriki," Ao said, "It's surprising that he's still functioning at his age."

In Mei Terumi's mind: 'Old…Age…still functioning…"

"Ao," Her voice was icy, "I'll kill you."

"Eh?!"

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

It took a week for Naruto, Haku and Kushina to reach Kiri.

Due to not having any pre established hiraishin kunai, they had to make it on foot. Which was fine with all of them, but it was still more time consuming.

Naruto made sure to plant Hiraishin kunais in all the places he visited, as well as on the way there.

This mission in particular, was sensitive. It could potentially end in Konoha creating a new enemy in the worst case scenario, or it could end in a political alliance and the freedom of the Sanbi, in the best case.

He hoped that Mei Terumi was still the kind hearted, if a bit eccentric natured woman that he remembered.

"Halt," A voice called out to them as they reached the location of the rebel base.

It was none other than Ao.

Upon seeing Kushina Uzumaki with them, Ao froze, only for a millisecond but it was enough for Naruto to tell that he was on edge.

He would be too if a village sent an S-ranked shinobi to what was essentially his home, despite the rough state that Kiri was in.

Kushina Uzumaki was also no mere S-rank. She was a seal master, and her very presence could mean something potentially very dangerous.

"I'd like to meet your leader."

It was then surprising to Ao, that it wasn't Kushina who spoke up for their group but a blond haired, blindfolded boy with whisker marks.

Ao assessed the newcomer, his byakugan eyes activating behind his eye-patch. To his surprise, he found that the young man was…average.

Average in chakra density, average in the width of his chakra coils, average in everything.

It made Ao suspicious as to why Konoha would send their premier seal master, the very deterrent for other villages sending their bijuus to attack the land of fire, here with barely any protection.

Were they truly that confident that Kushina Uzumaki could handle herself?

Or were they…doing something else? Something underhanded?

Whatever it was, Ao didn't like it one bit.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Konoha sends our warmest greetings, Mei Terumi-san," Naruto addressed her. "My name is Naruto Hagoromo, this is Kushina Uzumaki and Haku. We're here to offer our assistance with the take-over of your country."

Mei, for the first time in a long time, was stone cold sober.

There was something about the presence of this group that made her want to tread lightly and think carefully of what she was going to say.

"Kiri sends its kind regards as well, Naruto-san," Mei greeted, "but what makes Konoha think we need their assistance at all?"

Naruto smiled. "You indeed may not, seeing your strength for ourselves. But Konoha proposes something new."

Naruto handed over a paper that he and Hiruzen drafted yesterday. It detailed an agreement not dissimilar to the one signed in his old world by all five major nations.

As Mei read, her eyes grew wider and wider.

"This…this is unlike any treaty ever written before," Mei muttered, her wide eyes conveying her shock, "A coalition and joining of our military, shared resources, trade deals, political alliances…"

She then looked at Naruto before turning her eyes towards Kushina.

Then she looked down at the document in front of her again.

"This is a large commitment," Mei commented, "Why would Konoha do this?"

Kushina was the one who answered her this time. "As you may know, our situation from the disaster of the Kyuubi years ago left us with diminished power over the other nations. With the bloodied history and civil war going on in Kiri, the same could be said for you as well. Hiruzen saw it smart to combine our forces to dissuade any other nations from taking advantage of us."

Mei narrowed her eyes. "There's more to this than that, as you already know."

Kushina only nodded. "We won't beat around the bush. We want the Sanbi."

There it was, the catch.

Mei Terumi would have scoffed if it was literally any other person who made that offer to her.

But this was Kushina Uzumaki. Even in Kiri, her prowess with the sealing arts were well known, as well as her proficiency with Uzumaki clan jutsu.

If she refused, they could simply take the Sanbi anyway. Mei had no information on just how much of Konoha's forces may be lurking behind the veil that were these three shinobi.

There was also a legend about this crimson haired kunoichi. One that sent chills down the people's spines. When once existed the yellow flash of Konoha, the one who slaughtered armies, there was another, more silent death.

One that struck without fanfare, without noise, without the brutality of wiping an army off the map but one that used the brighter flash to hide its own lethality.

They were rumours.

Mei Terumi did not know what the relationship was between Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze but she would bet everything she had that they were at the very least close friends.

Their poise. Their aura.

"May I…have time to think about this?" Mei asked.

All three of the Konoha-nin nodded.

That was when someone barged into the room.

The figure scowled before freezing at the familiar sight before him.

Haku's glare could've turned a person into ice even without the use of her Kekkei Genkai.

The person was none other than Momochi Zabuza.

Naruto smiled at him. "I didn't expect us to meet again so soon, Zabuza."

The former missing-nin cursed and with his only remaining arm, he palmed his face.

"How many times did I tell you to not just barge in here, Momochi," Mei stated, her own voice chilly and cutting.

Zabuza took a minute to look at her before uncharacteristically, he shrugged.

"Just wanted to make sure that no corruption is taking place, is all," Zabuza said as if he was speaking about the weather. "Do you remember when I told you about the people who requested me to be here?"

Mei nodded.

Zabuza pointed at the whisker-marked boy.

"It was them. Him, in particular," Zabuza informed her, "He was quite adamant in fact."

Stiff like a board, Mei Terumi turned to the group, reassessing the new information.

Zabuza had spoken about a group of unspecified ninjas that made him look like an easy target.

At the time and since, Mei had trouble believing him. Zabuza, even with one arm, was one of their biggest assets. His ruthlessness when dealing with Yagura's forces had brought them no small amount of victories in their skirmishes.

Seeing Kushina Uzumaki in front of her, Mei realised that it could all be entirely possible that Zabuza was manhandled into accepting whatever deal they made.

But one thing stood out from his speech.

He'd pointed to one Naruto Hagoromo and addressed him in particular.

Zabuza was hinting at something.

It was as if he was telling her to pay attention to the boy and now that she did, she felt his chakra presence.

It was…normal. Almost too normal.

Even the most experienced Shinobi had infrequent fluctuations of their chakra that would release into the air. In hiding, such things could be disguised with the environment. In plain view, right in front of her?

Naruto emitted nothing. All of his chakra was contained. It was almost like something was preventing his chakra from exiting his body, as well as hiding it from a shinobi's presence.

Mei's eyes flicked to Ao and even the byakugan-implanted man shook his head slightly, unable to see through the veil that the young man had put up.

It would have to be something that Mei would address later as for now, she had more pressing things to deal with.

"I apologise for my subordinate's rude interruption," Mei said, sending a glare at Zabuza, who looked just about as apologetic as a tiger to the meal it was consuming.

"It's of no issue," Naruto responded. "We will leave until you come to a conclusion. Though we do need a time frame. We can't exactly stay here forever."

Mei smiled. "Thank you, and how does reconvening in a week sound? I will have someone show you to a private camp we've set up."

Naruto nodded. "That sounds fine. We will see you then!"

With that, they left, leaving Mei with her right hand man, Ao, and the recently acquired, left hand man, Zabuza.

The first thing that came out of Zabuza's mouth sent chills down Mei's spine.

"That boy could destroy the entirety of Kiri if he wished."

She could only say one word.

"Explain."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-