Chapter 49 Plans Coming Together

The combined forces of Alpha and Beta squad walked carefully toward Konoha. They stopped when a huge pillar of golden light flew toward the heavens and disappeared.

"What was that", asked one of the clones.

"Not our problem, we got the meteorite our business there is finished", said Beta teams leader leaning on a clones shoulder.

"Think we should help", asked a beta squad clone.

"No, Konhamaru told us that the Shadowed man is doing a welcome home ceremony for Cthulhu", said an Alpha squad clone.

"Why, aren't ceremonies usually done by occultists and not Outer Gods", asked the beta squad clone.

"Who knows, maybe it's to send a message, maybe for fun. Who knows, but after three days Star Village will be no more", said the Alpha Squads leader.

"You know, I hate our job", said the Beta squad clone.

"So does the boss, but it has to be done", said the Beta squad leader.

Before they could move they heard the sound of someone moaning in pain. Two clones left to investigate. They walked off to find a body on the ground. It was still breathing though it was erratic and stuttered. It was severely deformed like the beasts though it's eyes were not the unnatural color. A closer look revealed it was a noy, the same age as Naruto. The clones walked up to him. Slowly the deformed child turned to them.

"Wha-What hap-p-Happend", asked the Boy.

The clones kneeled before the boy.

"The meteorite was...dangerous. What is your name", asked the clone.

"Sumaru. I w-was p-patroling. T-then I changed", said the boy.

"I'm sorry, but the village is gone", said the clone.

His eyes widened and he breathed harder.

"But, but I w-was going t-to be t-the Hoshikage", said the boy.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Sumaru. The meteor, it was...It was a living creature. Everyone with even the smallest bit of Star Chakra in them turned into monsters. You must have been to far for the full effect. Everyone else is dead", said the clone.

Tears ran down his eyes as he looked the clone in his eyes.

"No, n-no you're lying", said Sumaru.

His misshapen body twitched as he tried to get up, though he only flailed around.

"T-the star, i-it w-w-was g-going to m-make H-hoshi-Hoshigakure, It was going t-to exceed t-the five g-great nations. I-its still there. Y-you're lying", screamed Sumaru.

The clone slowly stood up and removed a kunai. He looked to Sumaru as his sobs caused him to breathe even harder.

"I'm sorry", said the clone as he plunged the kunai through his skull.

The clone breathed heavy as he slowly removed the blade. The clones looked at each other with solemn faces before turning around. As they walked away they heard Sumaru's breathing continue as he began to sing a lullaby to himself. The lullaby told of a red star called Natsyhiboshi. The clones turned around to look at the boy. The glassy look in his eyes showed he was rendered mad. His eyes looked into theirs and they were frozen not knowing what to do as he just kept singing. He was going to die slowly if they didn't do anything. The clones looked to each other before shutting their eyes. Each took out a kunai with a paper bomb attached and flung it at the boy. When it exploded the boy was no more. The clones did not open their eyes as they turned around to return to the others.

"What the hell was that", asked alpha squads leader.

The clones looked to the ground.

"I don't really want to talk about it", said a clone.

"Neither do I", said the other. They didn't speak for the rest of the trip.

Back at Konoha, Naruto laid unconscious as he recovered from the surgery. Konohamaru looked at him as he made sure his body was not rejecting the implant. Xel sat near Naruto as he waited for Konohamaru to finish.

"He should be fine. Their are no signs of rejection, He'll wake up in a few days", said Konohamaru.

"Good, now leave my sight", said Xel.

"Do not worry about that, I detest being around you as mch as you do to me", said Konohamaru.

Konohamaru left the room to go meet with Herbert. He had sent several clones and his nine masked beasts to work on his secret project. Konohamaru watched as they outfitted the base with strange machinery. At this point the base looked like a hybrid of different styles. A hybridization of Yithian, Elder Thing, and Human archetecture. Now this sew technology added a style that Konohamaru did not care to study on. There were more important things to work on. He found Herbert on a lower level constructing several glass prisons of varying size. The largest one in the back was built to hold the Zero-tails, currently there was a Shoggoth in the cell attempting to escape, with little sucess. It could not even scratch the glass. It was impressive to say the least. Herbert was working on a small cell to hold the Color.

"So how goes the progress on the cages", asked Konohamaru.

"The Zero-tails cage is almost finished. I just need to add some equipment so we can study it without actually going in. The Colors cell is small enough not to worry about that so it will be ready when the others get here. I built it like you said so we don't have much to worry about. Other than that the cells over their are for whatever else we need. I got a few areas blank in the event we need to make a really big cell. So we are almost finished. I also set up a fail safe where we can electrify the floor in the event something escapes. Also the entire room can lock down if that won't work", said Herbert.

"Excellent, anything else", asked Konohamaru.

"Well we got some stuff from the ruins of sky village. Including automatic Kunai launchers and flying machines. As well as some devices to help villages fly, I have a few in the lab for study. After the exams we are going to start cutting the Zero-tails up and bring it here piece by piece. We also have been secretly adding bombs to the sky village. No need to worry about them later. So yeah, cool stuff going on", said Herbert.

"So what are you outfitting the base with", asked Konohamaru.

"You'll know once it's done. I can give you a hint, it has something to do with a weapon that will be used on Cthulhu and not Star Spawn", said Herbert.

"Interesting. Just don't blow up the base", said Konohamaru.

"There is no fun in dying before the shit hits the fan, don't worry I know what I'm doing", said Herbert.

Konohamaru nodded.

"Good, I will continue my studies on the meteorite piece", said Konohamaru.

"Yeah, you do that", said Herbert as he hit the glass of the cell with a Spraling ring. It had no effect.

"Oh yeah, I love this glass. Not a scratch", said Herbert.

"You use Yithian techniques to make it, expect nothing less", said Konohamaru as he left.

Herbert looked to Konohamaru as he left before turning back to the cell.

"A bit prideful, but I'll give credit where credit is due", said Herbert.

He grabbed an Automatic kunai launcher and began to unload the thing into the glass, mostly for his own amusement. Once he was finished he summoned one of his masked beasts named Hokuto Sennin to fetch the kunai which it did using cylindrical barriers that grabbed the kunai. With a wave of it's staff the kunai headed back toward Herbert and he grabbed them and set them on a metal tabble. He turned to the masked beast and patted it on the head.

"Good boy, now go help the others", said Herbert.

Herbert crossed his arms as it left.

"Man those things are cool, ok what next", said Herbert to himself.

He walked out the room and headed toward the stairs. Walking up them he came to the green house where the Devine flowers were grown. He summoned a clone to take care of them. He took out a small booklet to see what he had to do next.

"Lets see build the cages, check. Improve the bases, check. Water the garden, check. Discover a new species and name it after me, we'll just save that for later. Torture the fox, check. Call Xel fish sticks,check. Hmmm, finish with the actor books...dammit", said Herbert as he put the book away.

He walked to a small parlor where he had set the books down. He sat in a chair and proceeded to read.

The days went by before Naruto's eyes began to slowly open. He felt sore. His eyes trailed the room before looking to Xel.

"What happened", asked Naruto.

"You have made a full recovery, I am glad to say you not only survived the procedure but you also have not rejected the implant. You have slept for a week, the final exam is in two days", said Xel.

Naruto slowly sat up feeling like he had just finished the fight of his life.

"What happened while I slept", asked Naruto.

"We have built the cells, which now contains the Color. It is still alive. Hoshigakure is no more. I have trailed the sewers an already the news has hit the world. There is some panic as to what the next village will be. Luckly for us the other areas are either to far from any village, or unfortunately the villages are not on this continent", said Xel.

Naruto got to his feet. He concentrated for a moment until his body shifted into his Eldritch form. He smiled as his tentacles waved behind him.

"Looks like everything went perfectly", said Naruto.

"Excellent, stay here I have something for you", said Xel.

Naruto nodded as Xel left the room. Naruto floated around the room getting used to the idea of his Eldritch form. He lifted objects around the room telikenetically before putting them down. After some toying Xel returned with a bucket sized canister.

"What is that", asked Naruto.

"The Yithian has shared a way to produce blood from a sample. This is the only success, It is a difficult procedure to do. The scientist says it is nearly unidentifiable from real blood. This is copied blood from the Mokuton sample", said Xel.

He took off the cover to reveal a large amount of blood.

"What happened to the original sample", asked Naruto.

"Most of it was lost to produce this, the The rest was given to the scientist. He is testing a procedure on mice to see what can be done with it. Drink as much as possible. Let us see what happens", said Xel.

Naruto nodded as the blood drinker tendrils emerged from his wrists. They fell into the blood and began to drink. The blood tasted odd through the tendrils. As he drank, thorn emerged from his tentacles, but Naruto did not stop. As he drank more and more the tentacles on his back began take on the texture of wood. The eyes still covered them and there were still thorns.

"Interesting, apparently the more I drink the more changes I acquire", said Naruto as he slowly changed back to normal.

" Well, that is a feature of the tendrils", said Xel.

Naruto nodded. He stretched his arms, he began to notice he felt different almost stronger.

"I feel a bit different Xel", said Naruto.

"I had hoped this would happen", said Xel.

Naruto crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow to Xel.

"What exactly", asked Naruto.

"Do you remember what I told you about the tendrils", asked Xel.

Naruto looked up as he tried to recall what Xel said. After a moment he looked back to Xel.

"You said that when I drink I get something related to that persons abilities, and the more I drink the more powerful the ability", said Naruto.

"Indeed, and you have absorbed much, come let us test ut", said Xel.

They made their way to a sealed door on the ground. When it was opened they walked to see Herberts Clones reinforcing the bottom of the base while they stood in a massive cave.

"So why are we here", asked Naruto.

"We are underground, we can use the soil to see what you can do. Your tentacles have taken on the texture of wood so that is our clue to your abilities. Now let us experiment", said Xel.

For little over an Hour nothing much seemed to change as Naruto, through trial and error attempted to see what he gained from the Mokuton sample. Durring the experiment he dug his nine tentacles into the ground. immediately afterwards, nine dead looking trees covered in eyes emerged from the ground. Their Branches moved like his Tentacles.

"Wow, this is interesting", said Naruto.

Seeing literally everything around him through the eyes on the trees was overwhelming.

"As Expected. The trees are Dead. I believe that when your tentacles enter the earth, you use existing dead plant matter to form these trees from your tentacles. One of the reasons Mokuton is so rare is you literally are creating life with Chakra, so it stands to reason that manipulating dead plan matter is much simpler. And with a cage of trees around you, that can both see and move according to your will, this gives you an increase in your defensive capabilities while in Eldritch form", said Xel.

"If only I could use Chakra Eldritch form would be perfect", said Naruto.

"It will take time for the new chakra coils to grow into your tentacles and extra arms, but do not worry, in time you will be groomed into a being capable of slowing Cthulhu", said Xel.

"You make it sound so easy", said Naruto.

"Call me optimistic my lord, but we have achieved much in so short a time. We have ten years to prepare, and I know you will not waste your time", said Xel.

" Too bad it's Borrowed time", said Naruto.

Naruto retracted the trees and his tentacles emerged from the ground. Slowly he turned back to normal. He examined himself as he walked up to Xel.

"I should also warn you the scientist sent a special clone and his masked beasts to speak with Akatsuki. ", said Xel.

Naruto nodded.

"Well at least we are still moving forward, but enough talk, take me to the color", said Naruto.

The Shadowed man walked the streets of Hoshigakure. With each step hie clothing lterd and shifted. He took the true form the shadowed man hid. He wore the bright-colored robes of an Egyptian Pharaoh, while his shadowed form looked over his work. He lifted his arm. The deformed beasts ran around him in an intracate dance to their king. As he raised his arms their bodies flaked and disintegrated into malformed skeletons. The Dust that once made up their flesh was absorbed through a spherical portal in The Black Pharaoh's hand. There they would join the denizens of Dune. As he looked around the burning village he lifted his arm. From the ground a pyramid emerged. It unfolded to reveal a black hole that would destroy all should Nyarlathotep willed it. Though he had better plans for this world. Once the village was no more Thy pyramid closed and returned under ground. His bright robes faded back into inky shadows and the Shadowed man disappeared.

Naruto looked at the Color as it swirled from the meteorite around it's cell. A small fog moved around the floor. Without a physical Body or hosts to infect with Star Chakra, it had no way of escaping. Konohamaru sat at a console that continued to take information from the Color.

"So whats the data we have on this thing", asked Naruto.

Konohamaru turned around.

"It is the single most confusing creature I have ever witnessed. It is alive but at the same time not. It is like living energy, but not any energy I have ever seen. Only the Chakra it has absorbed is identifiable, everything else is a paradox. The meteor is just as strange, it is metal that is mailable like clay, and it is randomly magnetic. With the exception of deities, this is he strangest life form I have ever seen. It will take years to fully understand this creature. Right now all we have is archived knowledge on the color that my race possessed, but now with a living subject to test, I can find nothing we didn't already know, or what ever I find is scientifically impossible", said Konohamaru.

"Maybe it originates from a parallel dimension", said Naruto.

"Possibly, but if it did originate from another universe then any methods I use to test it would be futile, if it obeys entirely different laws of physics then I shall have to devise new methods, I will see if the Necronomicon has anything that can help. However right now I cannot say for sure at this point whether it originates from our reality or another, but almost everything does point to it being from another reality", said Konohamaru.

"So what can we learn from it", asked Naruto.

"Right now, nothing. However once I find some way to better analyze it, then we can begin learning from it. Most of what is possible to learn from the color would benefit the field of quantum mechanics", said Konohamaru.

"Interesting, I can only imagine the possibilities", said Naruto.

"Indeed. I will continue to work, I suggest you talk to the scientist, he has been using thousands of clones to create a weapon that he believes will be of greater use against Cthlhu rather than his Star Spawn", said Konohamaru.

"Now that sounds interesting. I'll take my leave now. If you learn anything else let me know", said Naruto.

Konohamaru nodded before he returned to his console.

Deep within a hidden cave, Akatsuki were discussing different ideas against each other.

"...Then it's decided, Itachi and Kisame will go after the nine tails", spoke a man with pale ringed eyes and orange spiky hair.

"I got no problem with that, as long as I get to kill something", said Hidan.

"Hidan, I have been meaning to ask you. Where were you for the past few days", asked the orange haird man.

"Jashinist business, so you don't need to know", said Hidan.

"I accept the team placements Pain, but what of Orochimaru", asked a man who seemed to be sitting down and hunched over.

"He is of no consequence Sasori, He poses no threat. If we should meet him, I expect any of you to eliminate him", said Pain.

Sasori was about to speak back when Pain rose his arm.

"Someone is here", said Pain.

As he said that nine masked beasts flew from the entrance. Hidan did not wait for anyone to speak. He hefted his scythe and ran toward them. He was intercepted by one of the beasts that also held a scythe. As it swung it Hidan could feel his chakra depleting. Two Twin priests that wielded fox staffs raised their staffs causing purple cylindrical barriers to appear around all the Akatsuki members.

"Please, let us keep this civil, my summons are only here to give us time to speak", spoke voice.

They watched as a man dressed in black fur robes and a Kitsune mask walk from the shadows. None of them reacted as he examined them.

"And who are you", asked Pain.

"I am Dr. Herbert West, head of the R&D department of the CDA, or Cosmic Defence Agency if you prefer".

"Never heard of em', in fact I never even heard of you", spoke man with blue skin carrying a bandaged sword.

Herbert pointed at him.

"Kisame Hoshigaki, S-rank missing nin from the Hidden Mist village. Wielder of the sentient sword Samehada", said Herbert.

His hand moved to a man with blond hair.

"Deidra, S-rank missing nin from Iwagakure. Once a member of the Explosion Corps. Once a pupil of the Third Tsuchikage"

Herbert then pointed at Hidan.

"Hidan, S-rank missing nin from Yugakure, confirmed immortal and Joshinist", said Herbert.

He looked to Pain.

"Almost every ninja here has a bingo book entry, I on the other hand have none. For a Ninja it would be careless to become either famous or infamous", said Herbert.

Pain nodded, his eyes never left Herbert.

"You have made your point, why have you come here", asked Pain.

"The CDA knows of Akatsuki, we have been following you for some time. We know of your plans to abduct the Jinchuriki of the tailed beasts, we also know you have plans for world domination. This is outside our jurisdiction", said Herbert as he commanded the masked bests to drop the barriers.

"Why release us", asked a stoic looking boy.

"Itachi Uchiha, Traitor of the Uchiha clan. Wielder of the Mangekyo Sharingan", said Herbert,

Itatchi nodded, his face stoic as ever. Herbert walked to the tble they were talking at and sat down.

"As I said you are outside our jurisdiction, The CDA focuses on protecting humanity from threats that it is not yet ready to know", said Herbert.

"Explain", commanded Pain.

Herbert nodded.

"Tell me what do you know of Gods", asked Herbert.

"I am a God", said Pain.

Herbert tried to resist the urge to make a joke. He calmed himself and remembered the information in the less pretentious acting books. He stared at Pain for a moment before shaking his head.

"Sorry, you're no God. And trust me I should know", said Herbert.

"And how would you know motal", asked Pain, with venom in his voice.

"Hmanity is not alone in the stars. There are many planets with life on it. The Great Race of Yith, the Elder Things, the Mi-go, The Star Spawn, and many other races exist. Many of these races speak of creatures who are Gods. First are the Outer Gods, being so powerful that their mere existence is a blasphemy. Below the Outer Gods are Great Old Ones, infinitely weaker than Outer gods, yet infinitely more powerful than the strongest of Ninja. The influence of the Great Old Ones is planetary, the influence of Outer Gods in multiversal", said Herbert.

No one spoke as the looked at the man before them.

"Life, on other planets. Do you take me for a fool", spoke Pain with contained anger.

"What you believe is irelevent to what is true. You should not focus on extraterrestrial life, you should instead have focused on alien Gods", said Herbert.

"What Gods, Pain-Sama is only God, Tobi knows cause he told Tobi so", said a man in an orange mask.

Herbert really wanted to talk to this man. He sounded like someone who he could agree with. He almost sighed that he had to continue this masquerade.

"Ten Years from now, there will be no world to rule", said Herbert.

He Rose from his seat and looked at the many members of Akatsuki.

"In ten years the stars will be right, when they are the ancient city of R'lyeh will rise from the ocean. Within this city is the slumbering form of Cthulhu, a Great Old One so alien that human minds cannot grasp it. To so much as gaze at Cthulhu's image is to forfeit your sanity. He appears as a mountain sized humanoid beast with a many tentacled head and massive bat like wings. To give you an idea of Cthulhu's power, the nine tailed fox would hold less than a fraction of one percent of Cthulhu's power. Cthulhu is a mindless living force of nature, a being so destructive and alien that humanity has no hope of controlling, or killing it", said Herbert.

"Why tell us this", asked Pain.

"The CDA is attempting to stop Cthulhu from rising. Our plans are in motion as we speak and our agents are moving these plans forward", said Herbert.

"You yourself said that humanity has no way of killing it. How do ou plan on stopping this being", asked Sasori.

"We have no plans to kill Cthulhu, we merely need to keep him busy just long enough until the stars are no longer right. If we succeed then he will slumber until the stars are right once more. We plan on delaying humanities extinction", said Herbert.

"Delay?", asked Pain.

"We are destined to one day fail. One day Cthulhu will rise and we will fail, we plan on delaying our end as long as humanly possible", said Herbert.

"And what would you ask of us", said a man who's lower face was hidden.

"Kakuzu, I only ask that you help us make sure humanity remains a living species", said Herbert.

"Who is your leader", asked Pain.

"A man with a heroic imagination, He believes that knowing the right thing to do is just as important as doing the right thing. He discusses what should be done often enough, and while I sometimes question his conclusions, I do not question his motives, ideals, or purpose. He has sacrificed a lot to help humanity, and will continue to do so. If you are looking for a name you are speaking to the wrong man, I would not betray his trust so easily"

Herbert walked to the entrance before he turned around.

"You do not have to answer now, or ever. Just know that if you wish to live more than ten years we are your best shot. We will be watching you", said Herbert.

Herbert disappeared in a puff of smoke revealing he was only a clone. The masked beasts fled the room leaving Akatsuki alone. They stood silent for a minute.

"So, what do we do", asked Deidra.

Pain looked at Deidra.

"We still have our goals", said Pain.

He looked down on the seat where Herbert sat. There say a folder. The folder was picked up by a girl with blue hair. She handed it to ain.

"Thank you Konan", said Pain as he opened it.

Back at Konoha Naruto was heading off to the arena. Today was the last day of the exam. Today he was going to fight Neji, no. He attempted to kill Hinata who in all reality did nothing wrong in her life, as they say actions speak louder than words, so he was not going to fight Neji, He was going to humiliate Him. He may have to hold back some of his powers but not all and that would be enough to teach a lesson in humility. Naruto breathed Easy as he walked into the Arena.