45 Worse than scum

I added the part about water affinities not meshing well with making a Hiraishin marker because of how the Uzumaki clan is portrayed in many fics, including this one. A clan that specialized in seals would be bound to have at least one Shinobi that could replicate it, and we see what someone who can use it can do. Minato was an S-rank without even using the toads, Senjutsu, or any of the Jutsu he would have learned that weren't the Rasengan and Hiraishin.

Thanks for all the feedback from the last few chapters. A lot of them were about the action and overall quality that my writing has improved to after putting a lot of work into it, but also the pairing choice and it looks like it's overwhelmingly favouring Naru/Ino/Hina. So, I think I will make an effort to pull it off, but to do so, I would need to add scenes to build up a friendship between Ino and Hinata as to not make it shallow.

If I can't seem to get it to mesh properly, I'm not going to force it for the sake of the MC having the both of them.

For those that have expressed their disapproval of it possibly being a double pairing, I understand 100%. I hadn't planned on it at all when I first started this. I only thought the idea had merit when I played out a conversation in my head involving Jiraiya and Kakashi expressing pride in it, with Jiraiya spying for 'research' pissing them off, and it morphed into seriously thinking about it.

I've built up the characters to be realistic, with realistic hopes, fears, and anger revolving around terrible events. And I'm pretty sure everyone here agrees that trying to bag two girls ends up one of two ways in a realistic setting.

One: Liara and Ashley from ME1. Ashley gets pissed and you don't get any action from her.

Two: You end up tied to a bed and left to stew like Geralt in Witcher 3.

If I make this a Naru/Ino/Hina pairing, I'm 99% percent certain it will be the only multi-pairing I write. Reading them is one thing, but I can't understand how certain authors think they can pull off having a pairing of five or six girls and flesh them out. (Outfoxed would be ten times the story if I hadn't been dreading multiple girls being added to the pairing after Ino and Hinata. The author did a good job with the two of them and Anko, but adding several starts to stretch even the Anime level of suspension of disbelief.) It'll take effort to not make it stupid, which feels like a challenge I want to see if I can tackle.

TLDR: I'll try and see if I can do it, given that a lot of people want to see it. This is my first story and I'm still exploring my abilities as a writer. If the scenes start resisting me and feel forced to me, I'll drop it promptly and pick one. I'm not going to kill my interest in this story by forcing something I struggle to write.

Now that the one thing is mentioned, I have another, concerning Rin and Sasuke. I had, initially when I started mapping out the story in its infancy, planned on pairing the two together if I had prevented Sasuke from being marked and turning traitor. Currently, they can either be good friends that argue and try to one up each other, or they can put aside the parts of their personalities that clash, especially since they have a great deal in common.

Either I pair the two of them in this story, or I pair SISasuke with a FemNaru in my next Naruto insert fic. I've wanted to try out a FemNaru pairing with Sasuke, which I can do in this story or the other. Or I can have SISasuke be bros with normal Naruto, with the Hyuga insert I do being the pairing with FemNaruto.

It's either Rin/Sasuke, or it's Rin/Shika in this fic. I like Shikamaru's character and he's been one of my favourite supporting characters so far, hence the attention he's getting with being involved with Naruto friendship wise. Any input or opinion is welcome.

Anyway, here's a new chapter, which includes information on why Hiruzen didn't have his ass parked outside of the forest to fight Orochimaru.

This chapter has a very emotional scene with Kakashi, Hiruzen, and Naruto.

/////////////////

Two days. Two days, we had stayed turtled up in the forest to give time for me and Sasuke to recover.

Ino had fused Hinata's fractured arm after she had recovered some of her chakra the day after the fight with Orochimaru, but her arm was still sensitive to the touch.

Sasuke had been screaming throughout the early morning and day after his body started rinsing out the remnants of the poison Orochimaru had on his sword, thank God that it didn't affect me. I couldn't even bring myself to try and lighten the situation when he had to go piss in the bushes, followed by the sounds of him trying to stifle his reaction to pissing out the severely diluted toxin.

I was pulled from my thoughts by Sasuke and Shikamaru coming up to me, Sasuke looking less than 100% percent.

"Flushed it out by now?" I asked kindly, looking at the sunrise.

Rin had several dozen clones patrolling the area, with a few of my own acting as scouts to sense anything. Rin refused to let me make any more, even though my chakra reserves were almost back to normal.

I pinged my sensing and felt that the others were still sitting up in the trees and relaxing, Rin and Karin talking each other's ear off about themselves, wanting to know more about their respective cousin.

I didn't fail to notice how happy Rin was that we weren't alone.

On an unrelated note, Rin does not have the same ability as Karin. Rin had Sasuke bite her to see if anything happened. Nothing happened except Sasuke and Karin watched the bite mark on Rin's wrist disappear in seconds. That was a little weird to explain to our cousin. She healed faster than other people, but nowhere near as fast as Rin or I did. We ended up giving a non-answer by stating that our mother was similar to us, from what we were told.

Sasuke nodded an affirmative at my question. "I never want to experience that again."

"Give me a urine sample and the Iryo-nin could probably isolate remnants of it to make a counter agent." I mumbled to myself, thinking of the possibility of it.

"Where would you even store i-" Sasuke looked at me incredulously, before he rolled his eyes, "Storage scroll?"

"You know me too well." I grinned, my face then shifting to a more serious one when I turned to Shikamaru.

"What are your thoughts on what I said last night?"

I'd floated the idea of us staying in the forest for the next day. We had 5 days to get to the tower with the scrolls, giving us more time to rest in a relatively safe area of the forest.

Shikamaru looked contemplative, his mind working through it.

"We could head to the tower instead," Shikamaru eventually said, "Ambush any competition right before they get through."

I hid the smile that wanted to creep up on me, approving of Shikamaru's thinking.

He'd taken what I said to heart on wanting him and Sasuke to have my back years down the road, especially when I went further and explained my rationale.

No one could be in more than one place at once and bring their full might to bear down on their enemies. Minato and Tobirama came close with the Hiraishin, but it wasn't the same.

A good leader needed competent subordinates, and Shikamaru was the textbook definition of competent in the cognitive lane of skill.

Sasuke operated in a similar vein, but his intellectual ability was more specified than Shikamaru's. Sasuke combined precision and decisiveness to be dangerous on his own, while Shikamaru was a team player.

Two useful styles that were different from mine.

I was like a storm, overwhelming power made manifest, while Sasuke was like a scalpel. He could be a perfect assassination expert that could get in and get out with little issue.

I just needed him to realize that.

Shikamaru and Sasuke could be to me what Danzo should have been, except I'm not as forgiving or indecisive as Hiruzen. Perhaps it was from him being tired from being Hokage for over 40 years, but I would have executed Danzo publicly for the shit he pulled, not even counting the Uchiha massacre.

"Delaying our arrival could pull the wool over any other team's eyes that got there first," I pointed out, gesturing towards my still shirtless chest, which was aggravating because I ended up losing the storage seal that had my extra change of shirt after getting sent through one of the trees by Orochimaru, "What message would I be conveying if I came in at the eleventh hour, covered in blood, armour severely damaged, and staggering like I was going to keel over any second?"

Shikamaru raised a brow in realization.

"That you are weaker and a soft target for a few day opening."

"Deception saved me, guys," I looked at the two of them, "Orochimaru didn't know about my Bloodline," I pushed a small chakra blade from my fingers as I lifted up my hand, "Until I took his arm off with it. How well do you think a Ninjutsu and Taijutsu specialist performs when you take his dominant arm?"

Shikamaru began thinking again, the slight twitching of his brow as he did it being amusing to me.

I decided to elaborate further.

"I know it's disgusting, but smearing animal blood on you and limping or favouring a body part could very well make an opponent overextend to hit what they think is a vulnerable spot. The same could go for smudging dirt on yourself, burn part of your clothes, cutting it, and other things."

"Then your clothes are a work of art." Sasuke smirked, looking to at least be coming out of his shell some.

He'd been quiet around me some, which I couldn't tell whether it was from him seeing me at my worst or that he was trying to give me space.

Either way, I smiled.

"My clothes and armour are so damn ugly, they could be a modern art masterpiece." I scoffed, not arguing.

I was proud of my armour. If your armour isn't dinged, scratched, and looking like a piece of shit after a death match with a murder machine like Orochimaru, it ain't doing its job.

Armour keeps your soft and pink squishy parts nice and safe where they should.

Shikamaru sighed eventually and shook his head.

"Sometimes, I don't understand you Naruto."

"Don't try to understand me, you'll only go crazy," I looked at him with a grin, "The voices in my head can't even understand me."

Shikamaru shook his head and muttered under his breath.

"Troublesome."

"Lunatic." I countered, Sasuke scoffing at the one word comment, "Troublesome and lunacy are different."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and looked towards the girls and Choji, thinking of something else.

"This is what Ino wonders we three talk about. She thinks we talk about training, strategy, or girls. But it's almost always your dubious mental state."

"I mean, if you want to talk about girls," I crossed my arms and grinned, seeing Shikamaru scowl, "We can."

"I'm just going to talk with Choji," Shikamaru grumbled, turning to walk away, "But I will ask what Ino and Choji think about you're recommendation on showing false weakness." He said as he left, leaving me and Sasuke alone.

Sasuke looked visibly uncomfortable, meaning it was something seriously bothering him.

"What is it, Sasuke?" I asked softly, knowing he might not answer.

Sasuke was quiet for several moments, seeming to debate on what to do. He eventually took a deep breath, exhaling audibly.

"I have a question." He said quietly, glancing around like we were being watched.

"No one's here." I tapped the side of my head to signal I'd been sensing around us.

"What is it even like to sense chakra?" Sasuke asked, "Your sensing seems better than other sensors."

Kakashi had asked the same thing some time back. Sensing was something I would have had trouble explaining to myself before I died. It was similar to visually seeing something combined with a touch sensation. I could only assume that was the case because the brain is physically wired to have five senses, meaning my conscious mind would feel chakra in the way I feel things with my nerves and see with my eyes.

"Difficult to explain," I admitted, "But it's like a mix between visual sight and physical touch. Yours, for example, crackles like lightning does."

Sasuke hummed to himself, debating on speaking again.

"What did Itachi's feel like?" He said in an impossibly quiet voice.

I blinked more than once, surprised by the question.

"Why bring this up?" I asked, wondering what prompted him bringing up Itachi without it being coaxed out of him.

"Orochimaru mentioned him," Sasuke mumbled, looking away, "He offered to make me strong enough to kill him. To protect Rin."

I was on alert now. Sasuke had to have been torn up from it, especially because of how bloodied and injured Orochimaru left me. I was the standard Sasuke was trying to catch up to, if Orochimaru left me in that state, it could mess with Sasuke's self worth, something that was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

"He know he's a deceitful bastard that will lie to get what he wants, right?" I said flatly, seeing him sigh at my response.

"Yeah, I know that," Sasuke admitted, "But you don't just get that thought out of your head just because you're suspicious."

"He offered something similar to me, Sasuke," I said, fixing him with a look, "All he asked for in exchange for training me to be a Kage level Shinobi was for me to let him mark you."

Sasuke's eyes widened at what I'd just said, blinking repeatedly.

"He," Sasuke said thickly, clearing his throat, "He offered that?"

"I could have made all the pain and injuries he inflicted stop, Sasuke. I could have dropped my sword and let him have what he wanted," My voice was soft, but I let the steel in my words known, "But that would have made me a coward and one step above a traitor."

Before Sasuke could speak, I added one more thing.

"And not a traitor to Konoha, but a traitor to my friend."

Sasuke's breath hitched as he looked at me.

"You asked me what Itachi's chakra felt like, but you've never gone out of your way to ask about yours. I've always brought it up myself."

"Because I don't really care that much." Sasuke shrugged his shoulders.

"You should, especially with what I'm about to say," I countered, taking a deep breath, "I can sometimes get a good read on people based on their chakra and how it shifts around with their mood. Hell, I can basically read Kakashi and Rin's minds because I know their chakra pattern so well."

I then got to my point.

"Itachi's chakra reserves were below average of what an Uchiha of his level should have been."

Itachi had above average reserves of chakra, but there is a difference between what you'd expect from a Jonin level of reserves and a minimum Mid-Kage level.

And I didn't think Itachi was a mere Mid-Kage level on skill. None of the Sannin could kill him without opening themselves up to a mortal wound, and even then I was speculating.

Logic dictated that Itachi should not have been as disturbingly high level as he was with below S-rank chakra. The fact that he had that degree of control and precision was absolutely terrifying.

"And?" Sasuke seemed more ticked off at that.

'Be patient, Padawan.'

"I decided to try and get a read on him because he was this huge prodigy and big shot that graduated early. You know what I felt?"

Sasuke leaned towards me.

"Nothing." I said simply, seeing Sasuke scowl.

"You're lying." He glared at me.

"When someone has mastered their emotions, I can't feel shit from them." I exhaled irritably.

"The only time he slipped up was when he was around you." I continued, seeing his face shift back to curiosity.

"And what did it feel like?"

"The same as when I'm around Rin."

Sasuke didn't say or make a single sound for several seconds.

"You see why I'm curious about Itachi now," I looked at Sasuke, who was still silent, "The 13 year old S-rank that cut down his entire clan in cold blood wasn't able to contain the way his love for you marked his chakra."

"Then he concealed it or mislead you." Sasuke said quietly, looking down.

"You can't fake that kind of emotion, Sasuke. I can feel when a Genjutsu like what you're speculating Itachi did is put on me."

I needed to get to what I needed to say.

"I'm terrified because of how much he reminded me of myself when I saw him pick you up from the Academy," I said softly, noticing his posture tightening, "And how your chakra felt after what happened."

"What did it feel like?" Sasuke asked hoarsely, still looking away from me.

"On the surface, it was chilly, flat, a glacier," I tapped his shoulder, causing him to twitch and look up towards me, "But gaze underneath, and I couldn't put it into any word, save for one."

Our eyes met.

"Shattered."

Sasuke didn't show any outward reaction.

"I've only felt something similar to it when I visited the cemetery and saw people grieving. A husband mourning the death of his wife and daughter killed in the Kyuubi attack, an old man at his brother's grave, a scarred grandfather that outlived a grandchild."

My hand was clenched as I remembered those days, the feelings from them reminding me of my greatest fears, of outliving everyone I loved, being the last person alive that knew my name, that knew me.

"But they aren't real people to me," I admitted, harsh as that sounded, "I don't know their names. I don't know them. But you were someone that I knew. Someone that reminded me of someone close to me."

Sasuke cleared his throat.

"Rin." He said quietly, knowing where I was going with this.

"You are basically my worst nightmare come to life, Sasuke," I said sadly, "I didn't think it was possible for an older sibling to do something like that." I lied at the last part.

'Indra.' I thought to myself. 'Cain.'

There's a reason legends and religions had a degree of fratricide in them. What else can be seen as more heinous than to kill your family? Your brother? It went against the natural order of the world.

"That's partially why I've had an interest in Itachi," I continued, "He didn't have any indication of madness or sadism, yet we both know what he did. That and Orochimaru compared me to him after I hit him with a kill shot."

Sasuke looked at me with his complete attention.

I explained how he compared me to Itachi and some of what he offered. I left out anything to do with the Akatsuki or Jinchuriki.

"What did that curse mark do?" Sasuke asked, looking unsettled by the thought of himself being the second target.

"Based on the effects of just a minute or two," I began, shuddering visibly, "It acts like an adrenaline boost, but for your chakra network. But the chakra that was trying to force its way into my tenketsu felt like Orochimaru's, meaning he laced the damn thing with his chakra. Exposure to third party chakra like that can cause a personality shift in the person marked, specifically more towards the nature of who marked them."

"That sounds awful." Sasuke looked ill at the thought.

"Orochimaru is the most evil bastard I've ever felt," I nodded, remembering how bad it was during the written test when I first felt it, "His chakra is stained red, for lack of a better term."

We were silent for a few minutes, both of us watching the sunrise as it began to paint the forest with an orange light.

"What was that chakra cloak?" Sasuke eventually asked, sounding uncertain.

I paused a moment before replying.

"That is a very personal question, Sasuke," I said slowly, "I trust you, but do you trust me?"

"Yes," Sasuke answered it instantly, "I trust you. You stopped me from getting marked and you're my friend."

"Would you trust me with something you've never told anyone? Something secret that makes you feel like you're unworthy of love or kindness? Something that I and everyone else would reject you because of?" I asked those questions with complete seriousness.

Sasuke paled visibly as I asked those questions, likely from him linking the Mangekyo with what I was saying.

"I didn't realize it was that bad." Sasuke sighed, looking at me completely differently.

"I trust you, but I don't know if you trust me."

"I trust you, Rin, and Hinata," Sasuke said tightly, his face betraying his irritation, "It's just," He growled under his breath, starting to pace, "Itachi said something, ok, and it's haunted me for years."

"Then it was probably bullshit." I said flatly.

Sasuke turned sharply and got within a few inches of my face, his expression looking angry, but his eyes betrayed his fear.

"Why would he lie?" Sasuke demanded, trying to hide his worry.

"We've been over it before," I reminded him, "Itachi has to have had a reason to have let you live when he could have killed you before you even knew what happened. You reject the assertion I made that he still may have had feelings for you and your parents, because why else would he have stayed at your house until you got there?"

Sasuke backed away and started pacing and muttering under his breath, glancing at me every now and then.

"If it's too personal, we can drop it now. No questions asked," I offered, "I'm not going to be a bastard and force a heart to heart conversation in a forest where we both almost got killed."

Sasuke stopped his pacing and looked at me with barely disguised gratitude.

"Rin would force it." He replied simply, running his hand through his hair.

"She sees it as better to not beat around the bush and simply dive right in on stuff like this." I nodded, glancing back towards them.

"So," I turned back to him, "We going stay here and gossip like a bunch of females, or are we going to get some food?" I asked, seeing him scowl at my wording.

"Yeah," He shook his head in exasperation, "Let's go ahead."

We went towards the others and we had our breakfast, the conversations with the others a welcome reprieve from the emotion heavy one between the two of us.

Team 10 decided to get to the tower tomorrow in the evening, while Team 7 was going to get in late evening. I had opted to go in the morning after for maximum effect when I came waltzing in with my shredded clothes, broken armour, and the obscene amount of blood.

Teams 10 and 7 decided to do what I recommended and made themselves look haggard and fatigued from the forest, feigning weakness.

These thoughts were going through my mind as I popped open the scrolls when I got to the tower with multiple scrolls.

Rin had opened up the connection between us and mentioned that the Kumo team and Gaara's team got there before them, with them being the first of the Konoha teams.

The scrolls opened up and I tossed them in front of me, a puff of smoke appearing and Iruka was in front of me.

"Congratulations on getting her-" Iruka began to say, but his eyes bugged out when he saw the state of my clothes, "Naruto, what the hell happened to you?"

"I need to talk with the Hokage and Kakashi," I said, feigning exhaustion, "It's an emergency."

I couldn't remember if Iruka was in the know about Orochimaru, so I played it safe.

Iruka was silent, looking at me with a sadness that ran deep. Even if we weren't as close as canon Naruto had been with him, he still cared about me as his student.

"Go towards the cafeteria or your assigned room," He said quietly, "The Hokage will receive a message that you've arrived severely injured."

I nodded and 'limped' towards my room, which was all mine since I didn't have a team for the exams.

I turned around and added one more thing.

"Can you tell Kakashi to stop by my house and grab me a clean set of clothes?" I asked, continuing on to my destination.

////////////////

Kakashi thought the conversation with the two of Kumo's Jinchuriki was bad enough, but now he'd received an emergency message from Hiruzen, stating that Naruto was severely injured in the forest, but got to the tower.

Anko had raced to the Hokage and said Orochimaru had been engaged by her, but he escaped. The expression she had when she described how tired and jumpy Orochimaru looked wasn't something he thought he'd ever see.

He knew that Naruto being severely injured meant he either got in a fight with the Suna Jinchuriki or Orochimaru, both possibilities filling him with fear. If it was the Jinchuriki, it meant he was far more dangerous than previously thought. If it was Orochimaru, he feared for all of his students, not just Naruto.

Both he and the Hokage were at the building that the Genin were staying in until the deadline of teams getting the tower was up.

Kakashi kept running through what was said during the meeting that had occurred with the two Jinchuriki.

Flashback:

///////////////////

Kakashi had been talking with Hiruzen in the man's office when an ANBU walked in, looking tense.

"Yes?" Hiruzen asked, noting the man's alert posture.

"The Kumo Jonin wish to speak with you." The ANBU said, scratching the back of his neck.

'Damnit.' Kakashi groaned to himself, not looking forward to it.

He didn't want to have to deal with walking on eggshells around Killer B, who would be one of the few who could make the connection on who Rin and Naruto's father was based on her hair and Naruto's face.

"We were supposed to be patrolling the forest in case Orochimaru decided to make his move there, unlikely as it is." Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose.

Kakashi and he were planning on being near the forest, but it wouldn't be an issue if a couple hour window was there. Orochimaru would be more careful than to hit the forest when an ANBU squad was already there in secret, with Anko as well.

"Stay here, Kakashi, it will do no good to show weakness in front of our guests." Hiruzen looked towards him, sighing heavily.

"Let them in." Hiruzen instructed, the ANBU leaving.

A couple minutes later, Killer B and Nii Yugito entered the room, the female Jinchuriki taking point.

Even without any sensing ability, Kakashi could feel his skin itch from the massive chakra reserves that Killer B had. If it came down to a fight, Kakashi knew he'd be killed. Yugito, he could probably take down, but B was something else.

"Sandaime-sama." Yugito bowed respectfully, B bowing as well.

B looked straight up uncomfortable remaining quiet, but he still did.

Kakashi stayed back, acting like a bodyguard for the Hokage, while Hiruzen inclined his head in a nod.

"It is an honour to meet the representatives of Kumogakure in person." Hiruzen smiled softly, the slight change in expression at the end was noticed by Kakashi.

'He wants to know why they are here now.'

"I will be courteous and be as candid as a possible," Yugito relaxed her shoulders, glancing at him for a moment, her eyes darting back to Hiruzen, "Were you aware of the letter that was attached to your invitation? A letter from an individual named Hurin?"

Hiruzen nodded his head in response.

"Yes, I did. Hurin is unknown to us, but he or she has offered information that has been beneficial to Konoha's security."

"Do you know the contents of the letter?" Yugito asked.

"No," Hiruzen shook his head, "Hurin left a letter for us and threatened to withhold information if the letter to Kumo was attempted to be tampered with, not that it wasn't pointless to try anyway."

"Has Hurin mentioned anything about the red clouds?" Yugito asked, Hiruzen raising a brow in realization, "About a thread beast and religious fanatic?"

"Indeed, those were mentioned."

Hiruzen gave the Akatsuki by name, including the identities of the two mentioned individuals.

Kakashi noticed how Hiruzen was giving hardly any of the details about Hurin that they knew, including his gender, his status as an Uzumaki that survived the fall of Uzu, or his interest in Naruto.

'Good.'

"What puzzles me," Hiruzen said lightly, tilting his head towards B, "Is why the Raikage, a man known for his commendable protective nature for his brother, would permit him to chaperone a genin team in a village that is his owns greatest rival, with his village's second Jinchuriki here as well. It is a very risky move that gives little or no gain."

Yugito had a soft smile play across her lips, laughing softly.

"I knew it wouldn't be lost on you, the Professor, to notice that," She then sighed and looked at Kakashi, "I assume Hatake is in the know because you didn't dismiss him?"

Kakashi smirked under his mask and nodded.

"Well," Yugito started, "The Raikage permitted me to give this information if needed, so here goes." She took a deep breath, "Hurin knows the names of three Bijuu."

Kakashi raised a brow at that.

"I didn't know they had names."

"The letter was addressed to our tenants." Yugito gestured between her and B.

That was unsettling, even more so than anything else.

'How could Hurin have known the names of chakra beasts that had been around for centuries?'

"We were just as surprised when security questions were built into the letter that only a Jinchuriki on good terms with the Nibi could answer." Yugito said after noticing the silence.

Hiruzen had none of his kindly nature visible, only the cold and clinical nature of his status as Hokage.

"What is the Raikage wanting? He would not send you two unless there was something he wanted."

"He wants to meet you in person," Yugito answered, looking a little disconcerted by Hiruzen's unwavering gaze, "The fights in a month are when he wishes to talk. If an organization is targeting Jinchuriki, it will serve us best to work together to head off the threat in a coordinated form."

Hiruzen steepled his fingers and leaned forward.

"What will Konoha have to gain from this endeavor, aside from doing the right thing and protecting innocent lives?" He asked.

"We know of Mr. Nine," B stepped in, Kakashi noticing a flash of panic come across Yugito's face, "His chakra may as well shine."

Kakashi let out a shuddering breath when Yugito glared at B, resigned to having to let Naruto know that he was spotted as a Jinchuriki.

"We know Uzumaki is a Jinchuriki," Yugito said, glaring at B, "We have a certain feel that is noticeable to each other."

'She's lying. She would have mentioned Rin if that were true. And Rin would have spotted it. Naruto only knew about her because he's a good sensor.'

Yugito found it out some other way, a way that involved her knowing about Naruto, but not Rin.

"I wouldn't be so certain that he is an Uzumaki." Hiruzen said softly, leaning back in his chair.

"Red hair, uses a sword, and his chakra feels like one." Yugito shrugged, eying Kakashi for a moment.

Kakashi returned an unwavering look, not backing down.

"We don't mean any issue with him because of his clan," Yugito eventually said, assuring them, "He wasn't the one that killed the Raikage and a Jinchuriki. He's as much of a target as we are."

Kakashi was running through why Yugito would even mention that they knew Naruto was an Uzumaki, then it it dawned on him.

'They want it to be out in the open so we don't think they are up to something.'

Naruto wouldn't need to hide being an Uzumaki. The fact that they were willing to do that boded well for a proper united front.

This may very well have been Hurin's plan all along. Warn Kumo of the Akatsuki to get them to work with Konoha. The hatred between the two villages may be dampened for several years, ensuring a more open dialogue between the villages.

If Hiruzen stayed as the Hokage for another 5 or so years, Naruto may be able to become the Godaime. An up and coming Hokage, who would live and be in good physical condition for decades, would be the start of a golden age for Konoha.

Something that should have happened with Minato.

Kakashi shook his head of the thoughts. He shouldn't get ahead of himself.

The next hour was Hiruzen speaking with Yugito about things the Raikage had given her permission to talk about, mostly ideas and plans on how to combat the Akatsuki when they show up.

Kakashi tensed when he heard shouting from the hall and the alarm being sounded for an attack.

Hiruzen rose from his seat and tossed aside his hat, drawing a kunai.

B pulled a sword and Yugito looked ready to pounce at the door.

Kakashi pulled his Hitai-ate up and was ready to fight whatever idiots thought they could attack.

He groaned internally when he heard a female voice he was intimately familiar with.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY YOU FUCKING COCKSUCKERS!" Anko was screaming, the sound of punches and steel clashing being heard.

Anko kicked open the door and Kakashi caught a glimpse of the two ANBU guards at her feet, one rolling and clutching his groin.

"Hokage-sama, it's important." Anko began to say, before spotting Kakashi and the others.

"Who the fuck is this bitch?" Anko asked, glancing at Yugito, "Oh, Kumo nin." Anko raised a brow, turning back to Hiruzen, "Tell them to get the fuck out, it's important."

"Jonin Mitarashi," Hiruzen said harshly, holstering his kunai, "Explain why you entered this way. This is very unprofessional."

That was when Kakashi noticed Anko was shaking. Her eyes were glistening and bloodshot like she'd been crying as she came here.

That had him fearful of what happened. Anko was one of the toughest people he knew, it had to be bad.

"I can't say in front of them," Anko said quietly, looking at Yugito and B.

Hiruzen turned towards Yugito and B, an unasked request in his look.

Yugito sighed and nodded to Hiruzen. "We can talk some more later, this sounds important."

She and B then left the room, gingerly stepping over the ANBU still on the ground.

The moment they were out of earshot, Anko started talking.

"Orochimaru was in the forest."

Kakashi heard Hiruzen gasp, while his entire body froze.

"What happened?" Kakashi asked, his voice having a shakiness that he hated.

Anko swallowed deeply and explained what happened, specifically Orochimaru looking like he was on his last legs and him activating her curse seal, along with what he said.

"Why didn't the damn ANBU and you kill him?" Kakashi demanded, his anger clouding his judgement.

Anko shot him a look of hatred.

"That fucking forest was coated in traps and explosives from top to bottom, Kakashi," The way she said his name had him flinching, "Orochimaru told me to ask you how you managed to put traps and explosives there to trap him that looked like what the Uzukage made at Uzu." Anko growled at Hiruzen, the man looking at her in shock.

"Why didn't you fucking warn us?!" She demanded, "We could have killed him if I knew the traps were there."

"We didn't place any traps." Hiruzen said quietly, his expression showing he was trying to digest what was said.

Kakashi could only think of one person that could pull that off.

'Fucking Hurin.'

"You know who it was," Kakashi said tightly, looking at his superior, "Why bother thinking it was anyone else? He's a secretive bastard and has hurt our chances of killing Orochimaru."

Was this all a ruse to ensure Naruto was marked? Was it an agent of Orochimaru that had them focusing on protecting the village instead of Naruto and Sasuke?

"Kakashi." Hiruzen warned him, a no nonsense look on his face.

"I will not remain calm when my Sensei's son was marked by someone you trained!" Kakashi growled, a rare instance of him being visibly angry now occurring.

Hiruzen rose from his seat and projected his chakra towards Kakashi, the feeling overwhelming.

Kakashi struggled to breath, but forced through it and glared at Hiruzen.

"You are dismissed, Kakashi," Hiruzen said flatly, giving Kakashi an icy look, "Go home and cool off, I'll send someone to talk with you when more is known."

"You know you'll need me if Orochimaru resurfaces." Kakashi returned the icy look, refusing to relent.

"You'll be of little help if you jump him," Hiruzen replied, reining in his chakra, "You aren't thinking clearly and will be reckless. Do you not remember what happened 7 years ago?"

Kakashi felt all his fury leave him, filling him with a cold feeling in its wake.

Those were dark times, times he wished he could forget.

Kakashi took a shuddering breath and forced his body to relax, only partially succeeding.

Hiruzen gave the two of them a sad look.

"The two of you need to take the day off," He said softly, "I will have patrols set up to try and intercept him. You two are too close to Naruto for you to have a clear head."

Kakashi closed his eyes and lowered his head, walking out of the with Anko right behind him.

/////////////////

He got to his home and collapsed to his knees right next to his couch, shaking horribly.

Anko knelt by him, grabbing ahold of his shoulder comfortingly.

"Kakashi," She whispered to him, "Please, talk to me."

Kakashi was breathing erratically and was trying to pull his thoughts together, envisioning the worst.

'Hiruzen standing in front of me, a broken look on his face.'

"I'm sorry, Kakashi, they're gone."

He would never see his Sensei's kind blue eyes again. He'd never taste a home cooked meal made by Kushina again.

He'd almost failed his Sensei when he had first started training Naruto, his mindset was near suicidal in getting killed in action.

"I'm not strong enough." Kakashi whispered, feeling a tear go down his cheek and soak into his mask, "I'm the weakest 'prodigy' Konoha has ever produced."

Hiruzen was still Kage level at 70, Orochimaru is Kage level, his Sensei was something else entirely, Itachi was an S-rank at thirteen, and Naruto could very well surpass his father.

And where did that leave Kakashi? He was on the edge of S-rank, but that was only after a dedicated effort to training. Could he compete with what was on the horizon? Orochimaru was just the beginning. The Akatsuki would be relentless.

"I can't fight Orochimaru and survive, I couldn't save Obito," His left eye burned in its socket, the phantom pain hitting him, "Rin," He barely managed to say her name, the scent of blood and the sound of chirping, "Or my Sensei and Kushina."

Anko slapped him.

"Quit acting like Naruto," She said harshly, pulling his face towards hers, "We worked hard on him to not bitch about not being stronger than everyone before he saw his first pair of tits. I don't need you acting just like him."

Despite the dark atmosphere, Kakashi couldn't help but smile slightly at Anko unintentionally talking about her own breasts, her being none the wiser.

Anko kept talking.

"I'm fucking scared, Kakashi," Anko whispered, pressing her forehead against his, "I see the little gaki like a little brother and I don't want him to experience what I did."

Kakashi came to the same conclusion as Anko, that Orochimaru lied about 'fixing' his mistake. Naruto wouldn't have been killed, he was certain. He could feel it in his very bones.

He just needed to wait until Naruto got out of the forest.

"I wasn't sure that he and Rin were the Yondaime's kids," Anko said softly, "But I suspected."

"And now you know." Kakashi replied, eyes downcast at letting his anger cause him to say that.

"Do they know?" Anko asked him.

"Naruto does," Kakashi answered her, closing his eyes for a moment, "Rin hates her father enough already. Naruto said he'd tell her when he thinks it's time."

Anko sighed and stood up, sitting down on the couch.

"This is all a fucking mess," She growled under her breath, "Some bastard puts traps in the forest and stops us." Anko then paused, her head slowly turning towards him.

"You and the Hokage suspect who did it."

Kakashi knew that outside of Hiruzen, only Jiraiya knew anything about Hurin. Not counting the Raikage and the two Jinchuriki, of course.

"I can't give details until I talk with the Hokage, Anko," Kakashi said quietly, also getting up from the floor and sitting on the couch, "But there is someone that has been giving us useful information, information that will save lives."

Anko frowned at the bare bones information, but she eventually sighed and nodded.

"I understand." She looked mentally fatigued at this point, shifting around on the couch.

Kakashi put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a grateful look.

"Thanks for talking to me," He looked directly into her eyes, conveying how much he meant it, "I think I understand now how Naruto kept feeling about not being strong enough."

Naruto can't be told about Hurin and all the information involving the Akatsuki right now. He didn't want to see how Naruto would react that a possible grandfather had not cared for them when he was alive. He'd been chomping at the bit when he found out Tsunade was a cousin.

He was pulled from his thoughts when Anko took her coat off, followed by her leg guards.

"Anko." He began to say, but she put a finger over his masked mouth.

"I need to get my mind off of this, Kakashi," She stared at him, pulling her shirt over her head, "Fuck me until I can't remember."

Kakashi also needed to get his mind off of this, but he wasn't sure if this was the best solution.

'Either this or get drunk.'

And he wasn't going to dull his senses.

In one swift motion, he pulled his Hitai-ate and mask off, lunging forward and kissing Anko with reckless abandon.

His clothes came off and so did her remaining ones.

His apartment took a beating from their rather violent display of blowing off steam. He knew he was going to get noise complaints, especially with Anko screaming at the top of her voice to keep going harder.

They eventually collapsed into his bed, the two panting heavily and covered in a slick sheen of sweat.

"Better?" Anko panted, curling up to him closer.

Kakashi was desperately trying to catch his breath, but nodded an affirmative.

"You could have been a little more careful," He said between breaths, "You almost hurt me."

Anko seemed to have a gleam in her eyes, sitting up and giving him a sharp look.

"The talk you had with Asuma was heard by the Genin." She glared at him, her hand ghosting under the sheets.

"What conversatiON?" Kakashi's voice raised a pitch when Anko grasped ahold of a sensitive spot, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to startle him.

"The conversation that involved you telling Asuma that I have no gag reflex." She gave a test squeeze.

Kakashi whimpered at the threat, even if it wasn't exactly painful.

"I didn't say anything like that," He promised, seeing Anko have a predatory look on her face, "I don't talk with Asuma about that."

"The Genin during the first test heard it. I got to have a bunch of horny teenage boys stare at me and whisper about me throughout the whole damn day." Anko growled, leaning towards him to close the small distance between them.

Kakashi would have been happy to have her almost straddling his lap in any other situation, but she was giving him a look that promised pain.

"I swear, I didn't talk with Asuma." Kakashi promised again, looking up at Anko, who literally had him by the balls.

Anko looked at him silently, before something dawned on her.

"Naruto." She mumbled, letting go of him.

Kakashi shuddered in relief at being let go, but he then clued into what Anko had said.

"Did Naruto Henge his bunshin as me and Asuma?"

"Probably." Anko grumbled, looking at him again, "How did he know?" Her glare was back in full force.

"He kept harassing me about what's going on between the two of us. He knows that snakes don't have a gag reflex, so he kept going on about how lucky I am," Kakashi sighed, "I didn't tell him anything. He just kept giving me hell about snakes being flexible and no gag reflex."

Anko grumbled under her breath, pushing the sheets away and getting out of the bed.

"I need a shower." She said walking towards his bathroom.

Kakashi smirked as he saw her firm derriere jiggle as she walked towards his shower, disappearing around the corner.

'Should I follow?' He thought, thinking about having another go with her.

Kakashi made up his mind and got up, following Anko into the bathroom.

Multiple noise complaints were made the next day.

/////////////////////////

End Flashback

They were a short distance from Naruto's room when Kakashi turned to Hiruzen.

"What are we going to do about him being marked?" Kakashi asked, sounding lost.

Naruto and Rin would find a way to remove it. The red haired boy already had a couple ideas on how to remove Anko's, so that was good news.

"Seal it off like Anko's." Hiruzen said softly, "That is all we can do."

"You do realize what it means if Orochimaru was that injured, right?" Kakashi asked, his voice betraying his thoughts.

Orochimaru was interested in Naruto enough to risk nearly getting killed to mark Naruto instead of killing him.

Even more glaring, was that Sasuke's name wasn't mentioned to Anko. Orochimaru may have switched targets instead, not like the target was any less important than Sasuke was.

"Do we bring up Hurin?" Kakashi whispered, the two stopping at the door.

Hiruzen shook his head firmly, stepping forward to open the door.

////////////////////

Naruto POV:

I'd felt Hiruzen and Kakashi's chakra the moment they entered the building, making their way to my room.

I looked down at my clothes and knew it was going to cause an uproar. I had holes in my armour that were in lethal areas, my jacket was shredded, and it was completely stained black and red from my blood and Orochimaru's.

Was I being a manipulative bastard? Yes, undoubtedly. But I refused to let Hiruzen have doubts about killing Orochimaru. His student aimed to kill me. The snake didn't know I could possibly survive a decapitation, so he went for the kill.

I was not going to let the snake escape this situation without staying dead.

I felt them stop outside and heard slight muttering, thinking I heard Rin's name be said.

The door opened and the two walked in.

"Narut-" Kakashi began to say, but his eye widened and he staggered like he'd been struck when he saw me, his sight drawn to my chest.

"You should see the other guy." I said quietly, a small smirk wanting to appear at the memory of terror on Orochimaru's face as I crushed his head. Vengeance tasted sweet.

Kakashi rushed towards me and tried to take my shirt off, startling me.

"Where is it?" Kakashi asked, again trying to pull my clothes off, "Where is it?"

I wasn't feeling really touchy feely right now and I fought the urge to hit him.

"Where's what?" I asked irritably, pushing him off me.

"The mark. Orochimaru marked you."

"Yeah, and it fucking hurt," I growled, showing him my neck, which still had an angry red spot that had faded mostly, but some was still there, "The Fox's chakra burnt it off."

Kakashi and Hiruzen looked like a weight was taken off their shoulders as I said that.

"So, what the hell's going on?" I asked, "Did you capture or kill him?" I really hoped that they did.

The two men shook their heads.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "Pity. I wanted the bastard dead."

Hiruzen sighed sadly and approached me, with Kakashi backing away from me to give me my personal space.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Hiruzen asked softly, his eyes showing an immeasurable sadness at the state his student left me in.

'It'll be ten times worse at the end.' I thought darkly.

I explained the fight with Orochimaru, of how I landed killing blow after killing blow, but he still kept coming back for more. The part about the constant Genjutsu was left out. I didn't think I could get through talking about again without them noticing show rattled I am.

I told them about the offer he made, how he was almost manic in how he said he required an Uzumaki sage, and how Ashina was one.

"Ashina was a sage, but I don't know where he learned it," Hiruzen said, "He was always secretive about certain things." He sighed.

I then explained how Orochimaru baited me and attacked Team 7, Kakashi tensing at that.

"I scared Sasuke by running at him," I looked down, feeling bad at remembering the look of betrayal and fear in Sasuke's eyes for a few seconds, "But that was when Orochimaru marked me."

I then explained how I blanked out and had lost control of Kurama's chakra and had crushed Orochimaru's head, Hiruzen paling at that.

"You'll need to talk with Sasuke," I looked at Kakashi, "He saw something that you will understand."

I looked at the two them, trembling slightly from remembering what I was going to say.

"Jiji," I looked at Hiruzen, "If you have the chance, kill Orochimaru."

Hiruzen's eyes were shining with unshed tears after I told him how his student did such horrible things, his shoulders hunched.

"I," He said quietly, clearing his throat, "I don't know if I can."

"Can't, or won't?" I asked sharply, not mincing my words.

"The boy you trained is gone, consumed by the monster he chose to become."

"I was the closest thing to family he had after his parents died, Naruto," Hiruzen said softly, "He cried in my arms, just as you did after you were almost killed. After you remembered." He added the last part with a rasp.

'No. You will not deny me this.'

"He caused that," I growled, my anger building from Hiruzen not answering me with a yes, "The child you knew wouldn't have experimented on children, he wouldn't have tried to make me almost betray everyone I love for power to protect them," I had tears in my eyes from remembering how close I was to accepting, "He wouldn't mark me with that fucking brand." I spat, leaving the worst for last.

"He wouldn't have cut my head off." My voice felt incredibly weak.

No sound was made for several seconds, until the two gasped in realization. Both Kakashi and Hiruzen's eyes shot to mine, a look of horror on their faces.

"He," Hiruzen barely managed to say, but couldn't get out another word.

"He killed me," I barely held back a sob, my throat tight from remembering, "He drove a sword through my chest, then took my head off."

"I thought he had just knocked me out," I continued, barely above a whisper, "But everything was fading. There was darkness, and almost no light."

The darkness terrified me ever since I was born. Not the lack of light, but the lack of chakra. It felt like the Shinigami and when Rin was taken from me right after Kurama was sealed in us.

"Sasuke saw it," I kept talking, knowing I'd probably fall apart if I stopped, "With his Sharingan."

Kakashi was shaking as I was talking, walking towards me again putting a shaking hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," He breathed, sounding like he was choking, "I should have been there." I couldn't hear much else because he shaking so much.

I put my own hand on his shoulder, lifting up his Hitai-ate.

"Open." I instructed, forcing my mind to focus on Kakashi, not my own impending need to vent.

Kakashi looked temporarily shocked at what I did, but he opened his left eye, revealing the three tomoe Sharingan.

"Burn this into your mind," I said firmly, looking straight into his Sharingan, "It is not your fault. I'm alive, Rin is alive, Hinata is alive, Sasuke is alive and unmarked."

I leaned closer and hugged him.

"I saved them," I whispered to Kakashi, seeing a tear slide down from his eye, "I was strong enough because you trained me." The next thing I said had Kakashi grabbing ahold of me and almost sobbing into my shoulder.

"I saved my Rin and I saved my Obito."

I didn't just mean 'my' Obito because both he and Sasuke were Uchiha, it was because Sasuke refused to join Orochimaru. Obito was like canon Naruto who had lost his hope, while Kakashi is Sasuke if he kept his.

Sasuke wouldn't betray the village for power, I was certain now. My faith I put in him was rewarded with someone I could trust. If Itachi tried to break him again, I'll put the pieces back together and refuse to give in.

I will not kill my brother.

I didn't care if I wasn't Ashura's reincarnation, Sasuke is the brother I chose. So is Shikamaru.

Itachi can fuck off and die for all I care if he's going to hurt Sasuke.

Kakashi and I held each other for several seconds, until I pulled away and looked at Hiruzen.

He looked like a mess. He was confronted with undeniable proof that his student could not be turned away from the path of no return.

"He will die, Naruto," Hiruzen looked down, wiping away a tear, "I will make sure of it."

We remained quiet for several minutes, each of us trying to work through the thoughts that were painful ones to get through.

"I saw tousan." I looked at Kakashi, who had his eye covered up now, "He put chakra in my seal, in case the seal was falling apart."

I explained how I pulled on the tag on the bars, the memory of Mito and Kushina, of how Minato stopped me and repaired the seal.

And the ensuing talk.

"He's proud of you, Kakashi," I said, feeling how much it put him at ease from his chakra seeming to glow brighter, "He wants you to know that."

"He explained things about the Hiraishin, especially that a water affinity is the worst for it. Rin could possibly work with his to build her own marker." I went on, hearing Kakashi sigh.

"Are you going to tell her?" He asked.

"In a couple days." I replied, not looking forward to it, "This was a bad couple days."

Rin was probably going to punch me and swear at me, followed by crying and screaming, when she learns that Minato is our father and that I kept it secret. But I knew that would happen when I made that decision.

"And what about Sasuke?" Kakashi asked, looking saddened.

"I told him it was a Genjutsu," I said firmly, looking at Kakashi with a fierce look, "And it's going to stay that way."

"And the last thing," I said tiredly, looking at the two of them, "Tousan gave me details about the attack, specifically the one who did it."

Hiruzen and Kakashi looked the part of elite Shinobi, their entire demeanor attentive.

"He claimed it had to be Uchiha Madara, but I don't see it. Madara was killed by Hashirama, and I doubt Hashirama wouldn't know whether he killed him or not."

I thought Hiruzen mouthed 'I could ask.' to himself, but I assumed I was seeing things and went back to talking.

"He was able to phase out of reality and teleport, which is pretty damn noticeable. But a weakness is that he cannot touch you when he's in this state. To hurt or kill someone, he'll need to open himself up."

"The Hiraishin will be extremely useful in that case." Kakashi muttered, thinking of something.

"If Rin can learn the Hiraishin, she needs to," I said, "Hell, she might get it down as fast as me if she can borrow more parts from our Dad's marker than me because she has his blood and affinity."

A blonde with the Hiraishin and the Rasengan. No point in hiding our parentage at that point though.

Rin may not be a 'genius' like Sasuke, Shikamaru, or myself. But who the hell needs individual genius when you have drive and a brother who can help you out to understand things on your own? Jiraiya is a seal master and sage, even though he had a much steeper hill to climb than Rin. There isn't simply geniuses and idiots, Rin is above average on intelligence, just not near me.

"And I also know we have a godfather." I looked at Hiruzen, who flinched at my look, "Same as before when I asked about our dad, why'd he not take care for us?"

"He is Konoha's spy master," Hiruzen explained, "He has constantly been on the move. He wouldn't have been able to raise one child safely, let alone two. I doubt you could stomach the idea of having never met Rin for the first several years."

I shivered at that thought, not wanting to visualize it.

"And a blonde child with a sibling with his face and eyes would be suspicious in the presence of Jiraiya the Sannin." I added, seeing Hiruzen nod.

Sighing, I stood up and stripped my shirt off completely, tossing it and the armour to the ground.

"Shirt, please." I asked Kakashi, who pulled out a storage scroll and popped it open, tossing a shirt to me.

"I'll burn that shirt," I put the new shirt on, reveling in the softness, "I'll be wearing the armour in case something goes down."

"Why did you still wear it?" Hiruzen asked, his brow furrowed in thought, "You could have asked for another shirt." His face then showed realization, "You were sending a message."

"They'll pounce on me and think I'm vulnerable, causing them to ignore the others."

Hiruzen cursed under his breath. "If I didn't know that you were your mother and father's son, I'd think you were a Yamanaka. You act like them at times."

'Oh, really?' I thought.

"Not Ashina?" I raised a brow, smirking.

Hiruzen tilted his head in confusion, wondering what I meant.

"Wielder of the Flame of Lechers?" I said cheekily, seeing the realization on Hiruzen's weathered face.

"Ah," He rolled his eyes, "Minato explained that to you, I assume?"

"Was my mother really that pissed about it?" I asked.

"I thought she was going to destroy Tobirama's grave, she was that angry."

"The manwhore?" I asked, hearing Kakashi snort at that, "You know you'll need to choose between three people as Godaime, right, to keep with tradition?"

The air had become to cold and dry from the previous conversation. I needed something else.

"Oh?" Hiruzen said amusedly, "And who and why?"

"Me," I pointed to myself, I then looked at Kakashi, "Kakashi, or Jiraiya. Got to have perverts wearing the hat."

"Are you admitting to being a perverse individual, Naruto?" Hiruzen raised a brow, "What would your father and the Shodai say?"

"They married Uzumaki women," I snorted, "That makes them honorary pervs."

"Really?" Hiruzen asked, chuckling at what I said.

"You forget that the fox narrates what my mom and dad did." I deadpanned, "I can't think of Adamantine chains the same way again."

Both Hiruzen and Kakashi stifled snickers at what I said.

"So, when do I get the hat?" I asked, looking at Hiruzen expectantly.

"Soon enough," Hiruzen smiled, stretching his legs, before his face shifted back to concern, "Are you sure you're alright? I know that what has happened can't have been easy."

I sighed and scowled under my breath.

"It was scary, no other way to say it, but I got through it. I'm all the stronger because of it. I'd do it all over again to protect them if I had to." I finished the last part firmly.

Hiruzen smiled and patted me on the shoulder. "You are a good person, Naruto, but don't forget you're not alone."

Before he left, I said something else that I remembered.

"There's another Uzumaki," I said, smiling, "She's a Kusa nin with red hair."

Hiruzen and Kakashi looked surprised at that, but happy.

"I'll need to be recognized as clan head as fast as possible," I said firmly, "I'm not letting them take her from me." My voice was angry from remembering the bite scars.

I explained all that, how she had a special healing ability and how her chakra felt like Kushina's, meaning she might be able to manifest chains.

"I will do everything I can, Naruto," Hiruzen promised me, "She's staying here."

I felt the smile on my face at the promise, knowing he was truthful.

"What else about her?" Hiruzen asked, looking genuinely happy that another Uzumaki lived.

"She wears glasses, has red eyes, and her name is Karin."

Hiruzen twitched at the mention of her name, confusing me.

"I see," He said tightly, his eyes flicking towards Kakashi, "That is good know."

He then turned and left, leaving me and Kakashi for a moment.

At his look, I sighed.

"I'm fine, Kakashi," I looked at him, "I fought for my friends and came out of it."

"But not unscathed." Kakashi replied, still looking grim.

I pointed at my left eye. "We all carry burdens, both of ours are willing ones."

Kakashi took a deep breath and nodded, pulling me into a one armed hug.

"If it gets too hard," I looked at him, "You'll be the first I go to." I promised, the silver haired man relaxing at what I said.

Kakashi turned to leave, giving me a final look of empathy.

"You were tempted to, weren't you?"

My face tightened, but I nodded.

There was no point in lying.

"Why not?"

Kakashi wanted to know what caused me to reject the very thing I desired more than anything for so many years.

Power. Power to save them.

"Those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." I said quietly, looking directly at Kakashi with a soft smile.

Kakashi left the room without another word, his chakra feeling like the sun as he left.

I looked down at my shirt and kicked it to the corner, picking up the armour and setting it on the dresser.

I laid back on the bed, thinking about how tomorrow's fights were going to shape up with all the traps, Kabuto's betrayal being revealed, and my meer presence causing everything to come crashing down in shattered fractals.

//////////////////

End Chapter:

The elimination fights happen next chapter and I look forward to writing it. The ramifications of multiple Jinchuriki being in one area haven't all occurred yet. The fight with Orochimaru is a warm-up to the main course that happens later. I can guarantee that not one single insert story in this fandom has something like what I have planned.

Anyway, here's a new chapter and I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day.

Raging.