Chapter 8: Prelims and Secrets part 2

This in not my book BUT I have asked for permission from the author but he still hasn't replied if anyone can get in touch with him let him know if he wants me to I can remove it from here

go check out the book at https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13466952/2/Reincarnation-How-Absurd-The-Story-of-Kenta-Yamanaka-Book-1

The hand gripping my heart loosened as the sorrow from Naruto rolled off in waves. Tears could be found in every pair of eyes in the room. No one was immune to the earth shattering sorrow now saturating the air. Naruto wasn't finished. And soon the anger returned 10 fold.

"But no. The living sacrifice was now a weapon for Konoha to threaten her enemies with. She was no longer a human in your eyes, and our princess was to be raised as the next spear. A tool to be thrown at your enemies. Raised being feared, hated, and rejected. You spit on our sacrifice and yet we still stood by you. Our hearts ached for our princess while she cried herself to sleep at night."

"We didn't realize until it was too late. The corruption, warmongering, fear, and greed had been saturating the soil under the great tree for too many years. The saturation was so thick it reached all the way down to the deepest roots."

Naruto finally stopped sealing. His hands were pushing together parallel to his body. He turned around to face Lord Third, and we all gasped. Gone were Naruto's blue eyes, they were replaced by piercing violet orbs. The normal warmth that Naruto's gaze held usually held was gone. In its place the violet eyes than pinned lord third were full of rage and hatred. When Naruto spoke his voice was high pitched and feminine. Lord Third looked like he'd seen a ghost, actually that's probably what we were all witnessing if I was being honest.

"Young Monkey. You're looking decidedly old and frail. Retirement didn't agree with you?" 'Naruto' spoke in a cold and condescending voice to Lord Third.

"L-Lady Korinna? Is that you?" Lord Third's voice barely above a whisper. Shock and disbelief marring his face.

"How astute of you. Yes, it's me. Have you liked my tale so far?"

Lord Third was at a loss for words, so Lord Jiraiya stepped in.

"Lady Korinna, why are you here? How are you here?" He asked, suspicious eyes narrowed.

'Lady Korinna' turned amethyst eyes on Lord Jirayia. "I would strike you down now for your impudence and disrespect, Toad Boy! Learn how to talk to those well above your station. However, your life remains yours as my grandson would be upset if I were to kill you. Consider yourself lucky, welp."

Lord Jiraiya gulped and bowed low. "I apologize for my tone, Lady Korinna. But you must understand how suspicious this all is. You've been… gone for almost 50 years now. And now you're here, possessing the body of your grandson. I care for the boy, Lady Korinna, and I will die before I let you do any harm to him."

'Lady Korinnas' critical eye searched Jiraiya's face for minutes. Finally, she seemed to find what she was looking for. Her eyes softened, just by the tiniest amount, but it was something.

"I know you do, Toad Sage. And you have my eternal gratitude for the impact you've made on my grandson's life. I will answer your questions, quickly, as my thanks. Your first was why am I here? To tell my story, the TRUTH about what happened the day Uzushio fell. As to HOW I'm here, how do you think?"

"Some type of seal I'd presume, but that's kind of a cop out answer." Lord Jiraiya grumbled.

'Lady Korinna' laughed derisively at his answer. "And THAT, Jiraiya, is why you'll never achieve true mastery over the sealing arts as we Uzumaki have. Your mind isn't open enough. It won't leave the box it's trapped in. It wasn't just "A" seal, it was an entire sealing array. The diary that Naruto found, my diary, is a sealing array. Yes, yes I know it's impressive. I have much to do and time is running short. Just know this, I would not have been summoned had Naruto been truly well taken care of. There were multiple factors that attributed to my summoning. To rub salt in your wounds, Monkey's wounds, and anyone else who claimed to care about my grandson, the final "key" to activating my sealing array was DEEP emotional scaring. Let that sink in."

Everyone in the room looked down in shame. Lord Third looked as if his entire world was crumbling around him.

'Lady Korinna' opened her mouth to say something else before locking eyes with my dad. "You, Yamanka. The only people who I can positively say have zero blame in this is you, your wife, your daughter, and obviously your caring son. Please continue to love my grandson like your own. Your family is the only thing keeping him grounded at this point. He's slowly recovering as he's accepted more, but he's still on a dangerous precipice."

She turned those cold, knowing amethyst eyes on me and for the first time the anger, hatred and sorrow that had been permeating the air vanished. In its place was gratitude and love. I opened my eyes in wonder and saw the first real smile from the Uzumaki ancestor since this whole ordeal started. Those eyes lingered only for a few more seconds before locking eyes with Lord Third once more.

"Now, the conclusion. The truth told to the masses. The most powerful men and women in the leaf village. Your influence stretches far and wide. Hear my tale, and choose your course of action."

Lady Korinna walked Naruto's body to the center of the room. It was there he knelt down and faced Lord Third for final time.

"My time is short so I must be brief. Do not interrupt. If you have questions, my diary will answer them. Understood?" She didn't wait for a confirmation. "Good."

"I woke up the morning of April 5th with a sense of dread in my stomach. I prayed to The Sage for guidance and the tablet of my mother called to me. I knelt before the stone alter and activated the sealing array my mother spent her life developing and perfecting. What I saw left me weeping on the floor for hours. My sister found me hours later. I told her what I saw and wept on my sister's shoulder once more. I wept for the dead. I wept for the survivors. I wept for the loss of our history. I wept for it all. And I especially wept for the betrayal of our greatest ally. Our friend for over a century. I wept for the Betrayal of Konoha."

Shocked and Outraged shouts filled the room. Denial over the spirits words were easily uttered for it couldn't be true. Lord Third was as pale as a sheet. His face was blank and his eyes were dry. The information had truly shaken the sturdiest man I've ever met. He was helpless, for how could we refute her evidence? She was there, we were not.

"SILENCE!" a demonic voice boomed throughout the room. All eyes widened and turned towards the specter. Somehow, she had tapped into Kyubi's Chakra. That… that was a terrifying notion. The blood red eyes faded back to the cold violet ones. Lady Korinna glared once more around the room. Her story continued.

"My dream that sent me seeking the guidance of the stars was April 5th. Uzushio fell September 26th."

She let that information sink in. Five, almost six months. What happened?!

"For months I attempted to alert Konoha to our plight. I sent hawks, couriers, and summons. Message after message after message. No reply, no reply, no reply. I grew desperate. The stars showed me the inevitable path, but not the details that led to the end of the road! A month passed, then a second. I grew more desperate. I sent my princess, my beautiful princess to Konoha 2 years sooner than we planned. I had to. She wasn't safe. I had to keep my baby safe. I kept her as long as I could until the day drew too close for me to risk waiting any longer. July 17th was the last day I ever laid eyes on my beautiful Kushina."

Tears glistened in Naruto's eyes but the story continued. "August came upon us in the blink of an eye. I prepared my people for the inevitable. I had been sending civilians away day by day, asking them to flee to where they felt safe. Next were my genin, they were too young and inexperienced to do anything but die, I sent them away. By the time September's heat was crushing us under its oppressive grip, the only remaining souls on the island were myself and the 200 Chunin and Jonin I had under my command. Do not let the history books discredit our strength. 200 took on 10,000 and almost won!"

"It was a week before the Coalition was set to begin its attack, that the truth was revealed to me. A lone Genin stumbled his way onto the beach of Uzu. We found him and healed him as best as we could, but he was too weak and his body didn't have the strength to continue. With his dying breathes, he broke my heart 1000 times. Somehow, someone had betrayed all that Uzushio stood for. There was a traitor among my people. A traitor sending messages to his master every time I sent a plea for aid. Every. Single. Message. Gone. They never reached our Sister Village. But worse than that. The traitor released my evacuation plans. Every single person I ushered away to safety, was ushered straight into death's awaiting embrace. The coalition had sent scouting parties to pick off the innocent men, women and children who had no part in the war between Shinobi."

"Our allies weren't coming. The stars never lied. We were on our own. Our people were already dead. We had nothing to lose. I had nothing to lose. I knew in a week I would be dead. My last act as Uzukage was to uncover the truth and record it. In hopes that the cold, merciless bastard would one day feel the fury of the Uzumaki."

"I stormed into our temple. Down into the crypts, buried beneath the remains of the first Uzumaki was our clan's darkest secret. A secret that would see justice for my family. I unfurled the scroll and performed a most dark and forbidden technique. I asked the remaining members of our once proud clan to join me in the temple for a final prayer. Once everyone was inside, the doors were sealed. Activating every seal given to the Uzukage, my 200 soldiers were sealed in their potential tombstone. They all understood what I was doing and supported my endeavors. I told them the plan for battle, and their best chance of survival. I bid my farewell to my family. We all cried as one that night."

"The technique was activated, doubt filled my core. I pushed away all emotions that may hold me back. I had to see Justice for my family. Knowing my heart would be utterly shattered within mere minutes, I killed my emotions. Vengeance for the innocent blood would be mine. The ancient temple of our ancestors ignited in a red light, the same shade as the liquid life spilled by children due to this traitor's deceit. My hunt began."

The cloak that had enveloped me with its loving embrace was battling the ever increasing fury of the deceased Uzumaki Matriarch. Naruto's chakra had been building every second since his tale began. The crescendo was fast approaching. Whatever Lady Korinna was building for was about to be revealed. I awaited the explosion of her fury with bated breath. Deep down I knew that Misumi was not going to survive this. He may not be leaving this world alone either.

"The first activation of my forbidden technique froze every soul caught in the array in place. Innocent and guilty alike. There was no alternative. I began to sweep the crowd, searching for the signs. When I found the young man the God's themselves marked as the traitor, my fury exploded. This was a young man who washed upon our shores over a decade ago. No memory of who he was, or where he came from. We welcomed him to our homelands. He lived with us. Loved with us. He married my own niece! They had two beautiful kids together. He sent his own wife and children to their deaths."

Heartbroken sorrow now intertwined with righteous fury making it difficult to breathe. The emotions saturating the air I breathed was crushing.

"I stared into his eyes. Eyes that once held so much life and energy. A man not born of the land, but was just as much part of the land as any of those born on her soil. The eyes that stared back chilled my very essense. They were the eyes of a soulless monster. I steeled my nerves and asked the simple question I didn't want to know the answer to. "Why?" I asked him. His reply, devoid of any emotion at all, sent shivers down my spine. "My Master ordered me to. It was my mission. Only the mission matters." "Who sent you?" I asked him. He simply stuck his tongue out, showing me the seal preventing him from speaking about his matter."

"My chakra reacted to my emotions. Every single emotion that I had been feeling since I discovered our fate lashed out at this deceiver. The pathetic excuse for a curse seal shattered under my pressure alone, and I didn't just make that boy talk. I made him sing. The revelations I learned shocked me to my core; my fury kept my thoughts clear. I wrung every scrap of information I could from the boy, then called upon the God's to deliver their verdict. As I walked to the dais to deliver my message, I barely noticed the smell of the burning husk I was walking away from."

"I delivered the information to the last 200 survivors of my family. Grim faces, barely containing their sorrow and rage stared back at me. We planned, we grieved, we swore vengeance. After everything that could be said had been said, we simply sat together. Hand in hand. Enjoying the last moments we had together as a family. I felt the pull. My time was growing short. You do not ask Gods for favors without expecting payment. My payment for finding the truth and ensuring my family would one day have the justice it so rightfully reserved, was my life. My mortal body, in exchange for opening the link between the mortal and immortal plane. My eternal soul in servitude for eternity in exchange for their judgement. It was and still is a price I would pay over and over again. However, my desire for vengeance was too strong. Too powerful. Too overwhelming. Too consuming. I had one more act to perform. I was going to cheat the very God's themselves."

"I left my family. Bidding them my final farewell. Entrusting the few survivors the stars promised would live my final order. "Kill him. No matter how long it takes. Avenge our Clan." They agreed. I walked to the holy dais, and unfurled a scroll I had created. When I was a young girl, I had a dream. In this dream, a spirit spoke to me, instructing me to create my own great master piece and forbidden seal. It was for this moment. A contingency plan. The jaws of death would find the clan destroyer one way or another. I activated the seal. My world went white. As I felt a strong tug on my very essence, my spirt, consciousness and memories escaped the clutches of The God's and sealed themselves into the empty pages of a lone diary. My body turned to ash, and the rest you know."

The Uzumaki spirit finished her tale, eyes never leaving Lord Third's face. "The pull is strong. No one can escape The God's forever. My eternal soul is damned now for my deception. I regret nothing. I still have time, Naruto's spirit keeps me anchored. He isn't a vengeful soul, but his sorrow for his people keeps me here. To deliver my story, warning, and advice. Listen, and listen well, Young Monkey."

Naruto's body stood and made his way to stand in front of Lord Third. He leaned forward and whispered something to Lord Third. When he was finished, Lord Third's eyes opened wide in wonder and he stared into the violet eyes in wonder. Naruto nodded before returning to the center of the room.

"A quick history into the origins of the Uzumaki. As you know we are a cousin clan to The Great Senju clan. The first Uzumaki was born however, for a purpose. A divine purpose. Our clan was chosen by The Sage himself. For he created the 9 tailed beasts and set them to be the guardians of this world."

Astonished and disbelieving murmurs broke out. The spirit raised her hand and the room responded to her commanding aura. They silenced immediately.

"I know, it is hard to believe, but I assure it is true. However, over the centuries the human's greed and corruption led to wars breaking out. Attempting to be the strongest, human's looked for ways to harness the power of the tailed beasts. The tailed beasts did their best to uphold the wishes of their father, but centuries of abuse, fear, hatred, and pain soon saw the chakra entities change. They fought back, and were given the moniker of demon. The Sage, who watches over the world from the Pure Lands, was not ready to give up on mankind, so he sent what little power he could between our world and the afterlife, and the first Uzumaki was born. Every cell in his body was blessed by the Sage to quell the rage of the Tailed Beasts. As the family grew, so did their knowledge of the sealing arts. Many have speculated over the years if our prowess in sealing was some kind of bloodline. I will confirm that theory for you all now. Though a simple bloodline is too simple of an explanation, it will do for now and what you need to know."

She paused to allow that information to absorb with everyone. She sighed and clutches her heart as if in pain. Lady Korinna looked around the room and continued.

"To quell the beats ire and rage, Uzumaki began to use their gifts to take in, shield, and subdue the Tailed Beats into their own bodies. The first Jinchuriki were born, and for a time, the world was spared from the wraith of the beasts. It would not last though, as you know. The greed of humanity is limitless. Wars raged. I don't need to give you history lessons. I told you our origins so that what I say next will make you understand the grave error the Traitor made in aiding the coalition forces in bring my clan to near extinction."

She looked down at her, Naruto's, hands and folded them over her stomach. Closing her eyes momentarily she sat with a small smile. Her gaze then zoned in on Fú and she smiled sadly. She then turned her eyes towards Gaara. A frown marred her face as she studied him before her eyes filled with determination. She turned back to Lord Third. Her next statement did indeed shock the room.

"There is a reason that only certain people are compatible to being Jinchuriki. The only people who are capable of holding a tailed beast are those of the Uzumaki bloodline."

Silence filled the room. I immediately felt sick to my stomach. Every person that stood on stage made the connection as well. Slowly but surely, horrible realization started to dawn on every single person's face in the room. Lady Korinna nodded grimly at Lord Third.

"You realize. The rat that scurries in the shadows of Konoha, the traitor who doomed my clan, quite possibly doomed the entire world when the beast's wraith is unleashed with no way to contain. These two," She pointed to Fú and Gaara, "I recognize as kin, and as the last Uzukage and Clan head hereby give them my blessing to carry our name with honor.

Fú gasped beside me and a turned to her. A teary eyed smile that never left the last Uzukage's face nodded happily. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close. Her choked sobs were the only sound that could be heard. I glanced towards Gaara. His reaction was much more subdued, but the surprise was clearly evident.

"They are my kin and descendants. However," She made sure to fix Hiruzen with a hard gaze. Not in anger, but in a way that said 'realize what I'm saying.' "Their blood is so diluted that unless they have a child with another Uzumaki, it will not be capable of containing even the One Tailed Tanuki."

Violet eyes set in Naruto's head then sent a menacing glare at the elders before him. "This is a warning to you all though. You will NOT subjugate my descendants to inhumane breeding to save your sorry asses. My kin will not suffer and be unhappy due to your inability to control your greed and lust for power. The Sage is watching, he will not tolerate it. Heed my warning, for when I depart, I have ensured you will not harm my kin any longer." She punctuated her warning with the most menacing aura I've ever felt. My legs shook, my stomach roiled, sweat rolled off in waves. And then it was gone and the neutral expression was back on her face.

"I have come what I needed to say, so now must do a few unexpected tasks. One Moment." She stood abruptly and began to blur through hand seals at a pace that was inhuman. Dozens upon dozens finished in seconds. Naruto's hands suddenly broke apart and were covered in roaring cerulean flames. Naruto disappeared and before anyone could fathom had driven both flame covered fists deep into Gaara's abdomen. His arms rotated in opposite directions before pulling back. The flames changed to an emerald green coloring and two open palms connected perpendicular to the initial strike locations. The flames faded and Naruto's hands pulled back. The spirit controlled Naruto's hands then came together in prayer, Chakra spiking to insane levels. Slowly pulling the hands apart, a tiny sphere of royal purple chakra could be seen. That too, was driven into Gaara's stomach.

"Uzumaki Style Sealing Arts: Divine Tortoise of Holy Protection!" Lady Korinna cried out, her body enveloped in a golden light. "SEAL!"

The light rapidly faded. Naruto was breathing heavy, staring down at Gaara who had collapsed.

"GAARA!" Temari cried out. She tentatively reached out to her brother before turning tear-filled eyes of pure anger on the possessed blonde. "What did you do to him?! That's my baby brother! What did you do you, bitch?!" Temari screamed, getting in the face of Naruto. I had to admire the bravery that took. But I could relate. I'd go toe to toe with a possessed Naruto if he had hurt Kono.

Naruto stared impassively at the blonde kunoichi before a smile broke across her face. "You still love your brother. That is good. He will need all the love and support you can give him. Cherish those bonds, young Temari. Family is everything. As for what I did? Whomever put that seal on your brother should be executed for high treason. It was literally an overly large storage seal."

Temari's eyes widened.

"Yes. It is why he has become so unstable. The One Tailed beast is almost as mischievous as a fox. That impish playfulness turned malicious over the years. Poor Shukaku was treated the worst by the humans, being the weakest. It drove him mad. That THING on your brother allowed Shukaku to have complete influence over your poor brother's mind. I have fixed that."

"The Blue Flames destroyed the seal, the green flames subdued the beast, the violet light created his new seal. From this day forth, with love and support from his family, friends, and village, the sweet little boy you remember will return. Well, I don't know that but he will no longer be influenced with Shukaku's madness. He'll at least be able to sleep soundly." Naruto smiled warmly at Temari who threw herself onto his shoulders. Lady Korinna consoled the girl who was profusely thanking her. I took a glance at Lord Jiraiya to see his reaction to that astonishing display of sealing. I snickered quietly to myself. Apparently Lord Jiraiya still had a lot to learn, judging from the bug-eyed expression and gaping jaw. Gaara was stirring and pushing himself to his feet.

When he got to his feet, he shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He looked up and his gaze locked with those violet orbs. He snarled like a caged animal, sand erupted from the gourd on his back. Without warning the sand crashed to the ground. A look of confusion adorned his face. Confusion quickly morphing to horror which quickly gave way to sheer panic. He grabbed his head and started screaming.

"MOTHER?! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHY CAN'T I HERE HER! ANSWER ME MOTHER!" His tortured screams echoed throughout the building. My heart ached for the poor guy. The madness I glimpsed in his eyes was indeed not my imagination. Temari was crying, not sure what to do. Naruto calmly walked up to the boy, took his chin and raised his head to meet Lady Korinna's gaze. Gaara stared back with pure desperation. Naruto leaned forward, Forehead connecting with Gaara's and he instantly stilled. It was simply for a moment before his eyes opened again. A peaceful tranquility replacing the animalistic fear that had just seconds ago gripped him. He stared at Naruto in mild awe. Naruto smiled gently back, patting the boy's cheek in an affectionate manner. Ok, that just looked wrong! In the back of my mind I knew that the spirit of a grown woman was currently in control. A woman who was a mother before she died. That didn't matter. My most predominant thought though was tying Naruto to a chair and using this memory over and over to not only torture him, but train my projection technique. Training AND torture. Win-win! I laughed softly to myself. Fú looked at me quizzically. I leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"I'll tell you later, just an idea to prank Naruto when this is all over. I'll make sure yo-HOLY FUCK!" Fú and I jumped back as Naruto had just appeared without warning. Violet eyes pinned Fú in place. Her eyes widened in shock as, just with Gaara, Naruto leaned in and touched Fú's forehead with his own. Her eyes closed, and just as with Gaara they opened seconds later. She stared wide-eyed shock before breaking out into uncontrollable sobs. She collapsed boneless into Naruto's waiting arms. The maternal spirit in Naruto comforted the sobbing girl. Despite being a rational and logical person, I frowned slightly seeing Fú in the arms of another man. As if reading my thoughts, those violet eyes turned towards me and sent a knowing smirk my way. I blushed slightly and turned away, only to gasp in surprise as Fú was gently guided into my own arms. I held her close and let her cry into my shirt. Whatever had happened in those few seconds had unleashed a dam of pent up emotions. I looked up, seeing Naruto smilingly happily at the sight. Violet eyes met teal, and Naruto stepped in close.

The possessed blonde leaned in close and whispered in my ear "You're a lucky man. Take care of her. Now, we have MUCH to discuss." And before I knew it Naruto's warm brow was resting against my own. The last thing I noticed before my world exploded in white was my forehead protector gripped in Naruto's hand.

***********************************IY***********************************************

I blinked back tears that sprung into my eyes at the sudden bright light that had surrounded me in all directions. Clearing my vision, I took a look around me. I was standing on nothing, in an endless of expanse of pure white light.

"Where am I? What is this place? I asked to no one in particular.

"Wow. A Yamanaka who doesn't know what a mindscape in. Seems like your parents need to step up your training." A familiar feminine voice mocked behind me. I whipped around and gasped.

Standing not 10ft away from me was a goddess. She was tall. Her tanned skinned completely unblemished. The blood red hair cascading down her back shone with a healthy glow. Her face was one that men would start wars over just to gaze upon it. Violet eyes shone with warmth and her smile was absolutely dazzling. I could no longer ignore my feelings for Fú, but despite those feelings I could feel myself blushing heavily staring at this woman.

"Lady Korinna?" I asked hesitantly. Her widening smile was all the answer I needed. I bowed low to her. "It is an honor to actually meet you."

A musical giggle seemed to sound from all directions. "My, my. So polite. Kids these days could learn a thing or two from you, Kenta. Please, though no need for formalities. We have much to discuss and little time."

I had so many questions, but I knew that she had things she needed to discuss. Important things if pulling me into my own subconscious was any indication. She smiled once again. "Can you read my mind?" I blurted out suddenly.

Her laughter rang clear as chimes. "Yes and No." She answered evasively.

"What do you mean?"

"It would be easier to show you." She waved her hand and my mindscape changed. The endless expanse of white exploded in color. Billions upon billions of threads stretched on for miles, intertwining, connecting, and branching. It was reminiscent of a multi-hued rainbow spider web. I must have looked like a child in a candy store.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Korinna's soft voice asked beside me. Her voice was much kinder in here than when she was possessing Naruto. I nodded.

"What is it?" I asked in wonder.

"This, is the web of fate. It is hard to explain. But in the simplest way I can is that what you see before you is the future of your world."

I turned to her in shock. "So you can read the future?!"

She laughed lightly. "Again, yes and no. As you can see with your own eyes, the future is not set in stone. It doesn't follow a single thread from point A to point B. Every single decision you make creates a new thread, as does every human alive. Every interaction you have changes the outcome of the world. Every human is integral in shaping the future of our world. When you asked if I can read minds, the answer is a solid no. But…" And she reached out and touched a thread. The thread glowed a golden color and the light flew the length of the thread. I followed the light with my eyes and it stopped once it reached an intersection of dozens more threads.

"So… The thread you just touched was a choice made. The light stopped at that intersection and depending on the next choice made is where the light goes?" I theorized aloud to myself.

"Oh, very good! You ARE a bright boy. A good influence on my… energetic grandson." She laughed. "I swear, he IS his mother's child. She was the same, ya know? Much rather go get her hands dirty than "read a dusty old scroll" as she liked to put it" Her smile turned slightly sad.

It was my turn to laugh. Lady Korinna turned questioning eyes to me. "Sorry, but he's just as much your grandson as he is his mother. He's never even met you and you both say "ya know" the exact same way."

Her bright smile returned. "Is that so? That makes me happy. Thank you for sharing that."

That prompted another question. "But wait, didn't you know that? Haven't you been keeping an eye on Naruto? Or however, ghost…spirit things do?"

She laughed delightedly at that. "No, silly! I closely follow his threads, yes. And they show me glimpses of his life. But it's not like I get to watch a live movie of my grandson's life."

I contemplated my next question. "So… You can't know the future. But, following the threads, especially of powerful or influential people, you could theoretically map out the most likely paths that would be taken and have a rough estimate."

Her smile widened. "Very, VERY good. I had such a good feeling when I discovered your fate thread had wrapped itself tightly around My Naruto's."

I stared at the red headed woman in shock. "What do you mean wrapped tightly around Naruto's? I love Naruto, He's like a brother to me, but I DO NOT want to marry your grandson. He'll make a wonderful husband to someone someday, I'm sure. But I like-"I cutoff as Korinna had burst out in gut busting laughter. It took her a solid minute to get it out of her system. Wiping away a couple tears of mirth she finally looked at me, another giggle escaping before sobering enough to explain.

"No, silly. Having an interconnected fate thread doesn't mean if because you're married." I sighed heavily in relief eliciting another fit of giggles. "It means that the two of you have resonating souls. Once you found each other, the connected. The best way I can explain it is, you're soul mates. AND" she cut me off as I had opened my mouth "There is no such thing as romantic soul mates. That's a fairy tale we tell children to make them believe in their one true love. Soul mates is of course the common name. The formal name in the ancient tongue is 'Anima Resonante Eoa.'"

I blinked at her. A stream of thoughts, feelings, and phantom memories echoing in my mind. She smiled knowingly at that. "Why does that language sound so familiar to me? You know don't you?" I looked down at my shaking hands. My emotions suddenly fluctuating. I jumped when I felt wetness hit my hands. I was crying? When was the last time I cried?

"Oh." Escaped my lips and I collapsed in a boneless heap. Warm arms embraced me immediately and began to rock me. I have no idea how long I sat there, bawling like I was 3 years old again. It could have been 5 minutes, or it could have been 5 hours. I didn't know nor did I care. The only thing I knew in this moment was that I needed to release these emotions I'd been pushing down for years. The fear of what I was. The images I dreamt of. The visions that swam in my mind when certain words were spoken. The knowledge that always seemed out of reach, causing me worlds of frustration and grief. All of it was being cleansed as I cried in this strangers arms. I needed this more than I knew. Shinobi were taught to dampen our emotions. Emotions could jeopardize the mission if not controlled properly. I threw my middle finger to that rule, because I was in my own head, I was going to cry as much as I wanted and no one would know.

I managed to calm down after a bit. I sent an embarrassed smile towards my best friend's dead grandmother. She smiled in understanding.

"Feel better?" She asked gently.

"Yes. I'm sorry for losing my composure."

"Don't be silly, silly! You're a budding and bright young shinobi with a mountain of potential. You're also human. Humans are allowed to cry every now and again, ya know? A good cry never hurt anybody." She finished with a playful shove. I laughed out loud for the first time in what seemed hours.

"Now, time is running short. I have a few more things to pass along to you. Important information that you must decide what to do with. But before we do any of that, I have a gift for you." She smiled brightly.

"A gift? For what?"

Her radiant smile became subdued. "For saving my grandson. For loving him unconditionally. For welcoming him into your home with open arms. For helping to guide him. For introducing him to his past. For everything." She finished, a few small tears slid down her cheeks. "These are happy and sad tears, ya know? I never got to see my baby grow up, nor my grandson, and that makes me sad. But knowing he has you in his life brings so much joy to my heart. NOW. Take you shirt off, pretty boy!"

"WHAT?! Are you some sort of lady pervert?!

She cackled at my reaction before calming down. "Oh I love getting those kinds of reactions. Please, take off your shirt, Kenta. I'm going to place a seal on you that will benefit you for the rest of your life. Do you trust me?"

I nodded immediately. I barely knew this woman, and I had no way of verifying if what anything she'd said was true. But my instincts were telling me to trust her. I grabbed the hem of my shirt and took it off in one smooth motion.

Lady Korinna began to weave a complicated set of seals I had never seen before, she gave me a once over. "Little Fú is a lucky lady." She said out of the blue.

"What?!" I asked trying to cover myself back up, causing another bout of laughter from the crazy red-head.

"I'm just saying! I know you two like each other."

I blushed heavily, noticing that all the commotion she'd been making hadn't once broken her rhythm or concentration.

"You really are Naruto's grandmother. Like to mess with people just as much as that blonde idiot does." I grumbled under my breath, making sure it was loud enough for her to hear still. She laughed loudly once more.

"Ok. Ready? This is going to hurt, I won't lie. But I promise, you'll be grateful.

I braced myself and nodded.

"Uzumaki Style Sealing Arts: Gift of the Lord of the Morning" Lady Korinna shouted, each finger on her right hand ignited in a brilliant silver color. She thrust her arm forward, and to my horror, her silver coated fingers plunged into my chest. Before I could cry out in alarm, I felt her hand grip my heart and squeeze. My world erupted in agony before darkness claimed me.

'Fuck you, instincts. You let me down…' was my last thought.

************************************Afterlife*****************************************

My eyes shot open and a flailed around in panic. My last memory rushing back to me; the violet haired witch had crushed my heart. I looked around wildly and locked eyes with a set of violet eyes set in worry. I jumped to my feet and flickered a distance away.

"Stay away from me!" I shouted. "What did you do? How am I still alive?"

She took a hesitant step forward, arms out wide showing she meant no threat. "I'm sorry, Kenta. I didn't want to put any extra stress on you or make you second guess the seal. I know it was scary, and I know it hurt. I'm sorry, truly."

I took a few calming breathes while analyzing the situation. She didn't kill me. Yes it hurt like a bitch, but she did say it would hurt… I relaxed slightly, but still wary.

"You didn't answer me. What did you do and how am I still alive."

She nodded and slowly lowered her hands to her side. "I'll answer your second question first." She took a deep breath and a vein throbbed on her head, I braced for impact as I'd seen the same expression on my own mother before. "We're in YOUR mindscape, Idiot! I can't kill you! I thought you were smart!" She huffed and instantly changed her demeanor. She smiled at me. "As for what I did, I told you. I gave you a gift. A seal."

"Yeah, but what does it do? And WHY did you have to plunge into my chest? Couldn't you have just like… given it to me on my arm or something?" She shook her head.

"Your mindscape is a manifestation of your consciousness. When you enter your mindscape, or like with your clan's mind walk, have you never wondered why you have a body if you're just consciousness?"

THAT gave me pause. I'd never even considered it. It really didn't make sense now that I thought about it. I shook my head.

"Because the consciousness is directly linked to your soul." She stated. "What most people think of as a soul, isn't what it actually is. A soul is pure, unfiltered spiritual energy found in all living creatures. Everything around you has a soul. A soul's only purpose is to provide the yin half of chakra. What separates a human soul from other animals, is that we're self-aware, have free will and a consciousness. Your consciousness and soul, as you get older, eventually start to fuse. Our earliest memory we have of our life is when the merging of self and soul completes. When this happens, our soul becomes more than simple energy. It's an intelligent entity. All that being said, when you come in here, since soul and consciousness are one in the same, why can't you the spiritual energy or your soul?

My mind was reeling. This was next level psychology/spirituality. This changes so much that we know of as human! I thought about everything I just learned. A minute later I looked up at the red-headed enigma and pointed down. Right where my heart would be if I was an organic being. In here, I'm not. I'm pure spiritual energy.

She smiled brightly. "Exactly. The body you see is your consciousness's automatic defense mechanism. I had to pierce that to get to your soul. That seal is a soul seal. It can never be damaged, copied, or tampered with unless someone where to get down this far into your mindscape and do what I did. The only clan I know of that could do that is…" She sent a wicked smirk my way.

My. Jaw. Dropped. "You… you're telling me that I could theoretically attack and destroy another human beings soul?! That… is terrifying! I can't even imagine… But what would that do to a person? Destroying their soul?"

"Theoretically? Kenta, 1000 years ago The Yamanaka Clan were the boogie men of the world. Every single clan feared them. The ability they possessed to invade the mind, bend reality, break their opponent down to a blubbering mess, and yes… to the clan's largest threats, destroying the soul of enemies."

I looked down in shame. "So, my ancestors were a bunch of warmongering, fear inducing bullies? That… is really disappointing to hear." I sighed. My dream of reaching S-Rank left a bitter taste in my mouth. Strong hands gripped my arms and I looked up into the smiling face of Lady Karinna.

"Kenta. Though your clan techniques have become a mere shadow of what they were, one thing about your clan has never changed. Your love of peace, but willingness to go toe to toe with anyone who threatens what's yours. The Yamanaka clan of old lived in the rolling hills in the area that is today known as Land of Bears. They spent their days cultivating and growing all things that live. They were happy and peaceful, and bothered no one. They only fought when provoked, but never have they ever started a single fight. They simply finished them."

She paused for a moment and took a step back. She seemed to be searching for something. Seemingly finding what she was looking for, she beckoned me to come closer. "See this? That's your thread. I want you to take hold of it, and think about your ancestors. The web will read your intention. Go on."

I took a step forward and took hold of the thread she indicated. It was surprisingly warm to the touch and seemed to vibrate with a life of its own. I closed my eyes, imagining what my ancient ancestors could have looked like. The thread in my grasp warmed suddenly and began to vibrate much more noticeably. I sensed, something, change around me.

"Open your eyes, young flower." Lady Karinna whispered excitedly. I did as she said and gasped. My entire mindscape changed. No longer and endless white void, we were standing in lush green grass. Low hills dotted the landscape for miles around. I turned around and had to quickly remind myself that I had already cried my one allotted time for the year. Fields or brightly colored flowers stretched on in every direction, disappearing into the horizon. Rows of healthy vegetables of every kind were neatly manicured and not a leaf out of place. Various types of trees dotted the fields, providing comfortable pockets of shade for anyone to rest in.

I turned to the right and once again felt at a loss for words. Large, white stoned walls, polished until shining gleamed in the sunlight. Great Wooden doors the only break in an otherwise seamless stone structure. Emblazoned above the doors was a quote and a very familiar clan symbol.

"It hasn't changed at all." I whispered.

"You come from an ancient and noble clan, Kenta. A clan of integrity and character. You embody all your ancestors stood for."

A small smile worked its way onto my face and I read the quote. "May our lands of beauty and life bring comfort to your weary soul. Friend, be welcomed. Come in peace, go in peace."

I couldn't help the few tears that escaped. I wiped them away quickly. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, picture clear in my mind. When I opened them the wooden doors were open. I rushed into our ancestral compound. Small houses in neat rows lined the streets, for every house a private garden. A marketplace was set up in the small plaza. A large building dominated the skyline directly in the middle of the compound. Our clan symbol painted at the top of the building. It was like its own village. I could picture them now. People in the fields, taking great care to nurture the life that had been lovingly grown from a tiny seed. Children, running and laughing and playing in the streets. Men and women stopping to chat while running errands for the day. I was once again surprised to feel the dampness on my face. I couldn't quite place the emotion I was feeling. Happy? Sad? Lost?

"What happened to them?" I managed to ask.

Lady Korinna smiled sadly. "What happens to anyone that's seen as different, dangerous, or anything else outside the norm. Their powers were feared. The only people that they hurt were those that threatened them. But paranoia is a terrible curse. Neighboring clans began to get the idea that your ancestors were plotting to destroy them. So they attacked first. A carefully planned and well executed night raid by 14 clans. It was too sudden. They were caught unprepared and unaware. They did the only thing they could do, run. They fled east. They were hunted and chased for months before their enemies finally gave up. Deciding that the damage they inflicted and the lives they had taken were enough to break your clan."

"They returned home, and the Yamanaka clan was left with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the paltry possessions they had managed to grab. With nowhere to go, they wandered. They continued east. For months they wandered. More members lost to disease, injuries they sustained. They pressed on. Many, weaker clans, would have broken. But not your clan, Kenta. Yours was a hardy clan full of strong men and women. Their determination paid off. Wandering through the forests of The Land of Fire, a land that resonated with their souls, they stumbled across a village."

"The people welcomed them with open arms. They sympathized with your clan's plight and took them in. Soon, the Yamanaka settled down in that very same village. Their knowledge of flora an invaluable addition. Soon, the small village grew and a treaty was signed by the Yamanaka clan head and the two other Clan Leaders that graciously took them in those many months ago. A treaty to always look out for one another. To continue to live and enjoy life harmoniously. That day, the treaty of Ino-Shika-Cho was officially signed, and to this day, 1000 years later, those three clans uphold the treaty their ancestors built."

I gaped at the Uzukage. "I knew our clans had a long history, but 1000 years?" I asked in disbelief.

She nodded. "The longest standing treaty in existence. By many years, might I add."

I smiled brightly. "Thank you, Lady Korinna. I know your time is limited, but I'm so thankful you took the time to tell me that story."

She returned my smile with her own. She suddenly winced in pain. "You're right, time is running out. I have one more thing to explain to you. Let's sit down."

"I won't sugarcoat this. I don't have the time. I trust that now you've dealt with those emotions instead of bottling them up your psyche will be able to process this. I need you to stay strong, and don't ask questions. Can you do that?"

I nodded. Game face, on.

"Good. Now listen up. All those dreams you've had. Every vision. Every unexplainable instance of déjà vu. Every gut feeling you couldn't ignore. Everything you've seen and felt is for a reason. You, Kenta Yamanaka, were chosen by The Creators to shape the web of fate for this world. Your fate thread is woven so deeply into the web that every choice you make has an impact on this world. Don't look at me like that, think back to a recent event and you will know I'm right."

I thought back to everything big that had happened. I stared in shock at Lady Korinna as a memory of Orochimaru sinking his fangs into Sasuke's neck. I then remembered MY memory where a head of pink disappeared behind the veil of inky black hair.

"How? Why? I didn't even really do anything to make that change! It was all Saukra!"

"I have theories but I can't get too far into them. The one I think is most plausible is that your very existence can influence the world around you. It may not even be a choice that YOU make that causes these changes. Just your very existence in this world is causing it twist and weave in a way that is different than the course designed by The Creators."

My brain was firing on all cylinders. Theory after theory played in my mind. One thing though kept popping up.

"Then what fucking good are these visions if taking a shit at the wrong time could lead to the end of the world?!" I growled to myself. Quickly realizing what I had just said I clapped my hands over my mouth and nervously glanced at the noblewoman sitting across from me.

Lady Korinna was snickering into her hand. She waved away my concern and sobered up getting back on track. "I can, I believe explain why you have the visions. As for what you do with them is still something that I can't find a working theory for. Your existence is so steeped in the web, that when major choices that spin the web of fate loom, you are seeing threads themselves of what's to come."

"Ok, that does make sense if all that's true. It still doesn't help me know what choices I need to do to steer events to match the threads I see."

"I know, young flower. With that I wish I could help. Everything I've theorize could make things worse if I were to share them with you."

I growled in frustration. "Why do these Creator guys have to fuck with me? What did I do? Do they enjoy torturing people?!"

Lady Korinna laughed loudly. "Oh, sweetie. The Creators don't give two shits about any single person or world. They ARE existence. They don't follow events anywhere. They created everything. They already KNOW what's going to happen. They are neither good, nor evil. Neither benevolent, nor cruel. They just are. They are the epitome of grey morals. They create and then let events play out."

I stared at Lady Korinna in horror. "But, that's. What do you mean "worlds?!"

"Your idol used a seal to travel through space and time. Did you honestly think our tiny little planet was the only in existence? There are not only millions of other planets in our universe with life on them. There are millions upon millions of universes, alternate realities, past and future timelines. The secrets of creation are complicated even for the Gods created by The Creators. We aren't meant to know all."

I was gob smacked. If what she said was true, then were there multiple Kenta's coexisting at this very second. The answer hit me like a swinging log.

"The visions!" I cried.

"What about them?" Lady Korinna asked, curiously.

"Ok, hear me out. If there are multiple timelines running simultaneously, then they all had to originate from some place, right? I mean, even these Creators would need an original blueprint right?"

Lady Korinna nodded her head. "This is my working theory as well. From what I've been able to glean when a catastrophic even occurs, there's a ripple in the universe which causes a split in the timeline. The original keeps moving forward towards its inevitable end, while the new world is created from the first thread. What are you getting at, Kenta?"

"Ok, so I may be way wrong, but… what if they visions I have are the threads from the ORIGINAL world? A world that met a catastrophic end? What if I'm seeing these visions not to follow, but to avoid the original timeline to avoid that same fate?" I rattled off excitedly.

Lady Korinna seemed lost in thought, her face scrunched up in concentration. Another trait Naruto inherited from her. She spoke a few moments later. "Possible. The first half of your theory, the more I think about, is the most logical. The second part, is where I disagree. Remember, you saw for yourself, at each juncture there can be dozens of choices made, not just right or left. You need to use the visions, carefully analyze them, and choose the best course of action."

I nodded at her, her reasoning sound. "I will. I just… How do I know I'll make the right decision?"

She smiled kindly. "Did you forget, you have a soul mate? Yours and Naruto's destines are intertwined. Work together to create the world you envision. You influence the very threads in the web, those threads are other people. As you continue down your path, more threads will be drawn to you. Trust in the friends you make. Work together to shape the world. I believe in you. I'll be watching over you, cheering you on. Keep my Grandson safe. Also, can someone PLEASE open his eyes to the little Hyuga's affections?! He's denser than my late husband!"

I laughed loudly at that and jumped to my feet. "Alright! I'm ready to kick ass and take names!" I looked down at the wise spirit. "Can I, uh, ask you one more question?"

She nodded.

"If Naruto acts exactly like his mother… How are you so intelligent and they're… Not?" I laughed nervously. Lady Korinna let out a bark of laughter.

"That, dear flower, is another trait that Naruto inherited from his Grandfather."

I snickered at that and took a look around once more at the recreation of my ancestral home. I took a deep breathe. I finally, finally had some answers. There were still more questions than answers, and I still didn't feel as if I knew exactly what I was doing or why I was chosen. But it was a start. Take the small victories. I reached out a hand to the Uzumaki Matriarch and helped her to her feet.

"I'm ready" I confidently told her.

She smiled, and like a mirror cracking the world around me shattered. Darkness surrounded me and I came back to reality.

****************************************Ta-Da?***************************************

I blinked a few times to get my bearings. Possessed Naruto was backing away from me. Nothing had changed since I went into my mind what had to be hours ago. Fú was still in my arms and I grinned happily down at her. I had missed her, even if in reality it hadn't been long, it my warped time space it had been hours. She returned my grin with a watery smile and a choked laugh, burying her head back into my chest. I turned to my right and saw Ami.

"Uhhhh, how long did that last?" I asked.

"The cute forehead to forehead moment you had with Naruto?" She snarked. "Only like… 5 seconds?"

I stuck my tongue out at my teammate. Naruto was still in front of us, Violet eyes still in place. Lady Korinna was still with us. Naruto shot me a smile before vaulting backward high into the air. He gracefully spun in mid-air, landing back in the center of the arena. Turning to face Lord Third for what I assumed was the final time.

"I have come what I came to do, Little Monkey. I only have 2 pieces of advice to offer, and a gift for you and your village."

All eyes trained back on the possessed blonde.

"First, you have heard my story and my warning. What you decide from here on out is your choice. As the saying goes, I have led you to water, but I cannot make you drink. I trust you all to do what is right."

Naruto's eyes scanned the crowd, seemingly searching for… something. He continued.

"Second. Prepare yourselves. There are dangers lurking in the shadows. Dangers found only in nightmares. Nightmares strong enough to foil the plans of those even from beyond the grave. There are evils out there that want to see your world burn, simply because they want it. I say, prepare yourselves. Train harder than you ever have in your life. Every single day. Do not get complacent. For the web of fates spins fasters and faster. Faster than I can read it. Something is approaching and someday soon, you may have to face threats that rival Gods…"

Lady Korinna's cryptic warning was met with fearful gazes and silence. No cries of outrage. No claims of fantasy or denial. Fearful acceptance. Everyone in the room finally knew that everything we have heard was not lies or scary stories. It was the truth.

"I now leave you all with a gift. When I first took over my Grandson's body, many of you noticed the 358 seals I made. Each seal was slowly spreading Uzumaki chakra over the entirety of your village. The ground is saturated now with my Grandson's potent chakra. Every square inch of your village. Every training ground no matter how remote has been touched by royal chakra. The Creators punishment is cruel, but I accept my fate. My last chance to kill the traitor was stolen from me, so I leave it to you all."

A brave soul behind Lord Third raised his hand to get Lady Korinna's attention. She acknowledged him and he stepped forward. "Pardon the interruption my Lady" Lord Hiashi's respectful tone called out "But you keep mentioning this traitor. I doubt no word in your story. If Konoha is to begin the process to atone for the sin of letting our allies perish, the traitor's name would help a great deal. Or are you testing us and our resolve?"

Lady Korinna's eyes studied the Hyuga Patriarch a moment before answering. "A good question, Lord Hyuga. My desire for justice fills every pore of my essence. To see his head on a spike would free me of my hatred. To one day find him in the pure land to unleash my fury upon for the rest of eternity would let my kin rest in peace. Despite all that, I've spent 50 years in insolation. Watching the world's threads spin. In that time I've gained great knowledge. Sending an angry mob on the traitor could corrupt pure souls. I will suffer for eternity for eternity. I've made my peace. I will not, however, condemn anyone else to my misery. I told Lord Third. I trust him to make the best decisions. He is old, but with age brings wisdom. It is also my punishment to him. For allowing his judgement to be erred by seeing the person of the past, not who they've become and where their dark path is leading them. I leave it up to Hiruzen to make that call."

Lord Hiashi bowed to the powerful spirit. "Thank you, for the explanation Lady Korinna. I pray that you find comfort in knowing that the Hyuga stand behind the Uzumaki. My clan mourned for a year after hearing the fate of your kin. We honor them every year to this day. The world may have forgotten the Uzumaki, but the Hyuga will always honor our blood debt until it is fulfilled." He bowed once more and retreated back to his previous spot.

Lady Korinna smiled softly. "Your words bring comfort to me, Young Lord. The Hyuga always have and always will be a clan of honor."

Lady Korinna closed her eyes as if listening to something. "Yes I understand" she said out loud. "The time is nigh. I must now atone for my deception of The Creators. My gift to you, Young Monkey, and all of Konoha. Though the rat has fled the village with all his underlings, there are still many in your great village that would see it burn. I have asked The Creators to judge them. Within the hour, your village will be purged of all whose loyalty has wavered. Within the hour, you can sleep with peace of mind knowing that the enemies of Konoha will be in the pure lands."

"Pardon the interruption, Lady Uzukage, but what gives you the right to Judge, Jury, and Executioner?" Lord Aburame Spoke up.

"Aburame. A valid question. Your clan is one whose decisions revolve solely on logic. Another clan I've admired for my life. Loyalty is a value you cherish as well. I will answer you. Take everything I say from here on at face value. For it is true, whether it is logical or not."

He nodded, letting her know he understood. A clan of few words.

"Every God, in existence, which was ever worshipped through all of time, is real. When enough people start to believe, their faith reaches The Creators. Their faith is rewarded, and their god is created. Hundreds upon Hundreds of Gods exist simultaneously. When we think of a God, we think of all-knowing, all-powerful, invincible. That's what we, as mere humans see. Those same Gods view The Creators in the same fashion that we view them. Do you understand the power that The Creators possess?"

"Taking your advice and taking this at face value that is the most terrifying notion I could comprehend. Ancient texts speak of vengeful gods that with a snap of their finger annihilated cities and killed thousands instantly. I am starting to get a picture that some of these stories may hold more truth to them than what I initially believed." Lord Shibi surmised.

"You are wise, Young Bug. With a snap of their fingers, The Creators can erase our entire planet from existence. You asked why I think I have the authority to Judge, Jury, Executioner? I never have and never will. I am asking The Creators to judge them. I am simply the conduit and payment of their service."

"…I see. A dangerous technique indeed." And he stepped back.

"I cannot delay, it begins!" Lady Korinna cried instantly. She slammed her palms to the ground.

"Uzumaki Forbidden Sealing Technique: Commune with Creation. Stand Trial, Ye Sinners!"

An ominous blood-red light erupted from every surface of the room. My body seized up. Every single muscle, frozen. I couldn't move anything except my eyes. Top to bottom, ceiling to floor, every surface covered by flowing script. The characters seem to writhe as though reaching and searching. Without warning, a crushing presence filled my head. I closed my eyes, the pressure was too much! It was gone. I took a shuddering gasp, I wasn't the only one. I felt Fú, who was still in my arms gasping for air. I couldn't move to comfort her, so I only prayed that this nightmare would end.

"What you all are experiencing so is every single person in the village. From the oldest elder, to the youngest child who's soul as fully resonated. No one will escape Their judgement."

Lady Korinna still in Naruto's body closed her eyes and began muttering to herself. A few moments later her eyes slowly opened. "I agree!"

The script covering my body vanished, giving control of my body back to me. I took a deep, shuddering breath and pulled a shaking Fú in close. I glanced around at my peers and superiors, they all seemed to be trying to shake off the effects as well. I then looked down at the stage where Lord Third and the majority of the village council all stood. Most of them were also shaking off the powerful forbidden techniques effect. Most, I say. Five people still stood frozen. I heard a cry of alarm from behind me. 3 from the civilian council, 2 from the shinobi. I only knew 1 person who was still under the effects. Lord Kurama, head of the small but powerful Kurama clan was among those still frozen. All those freed from the effects were backing away from the 5 in horror. I squinted my eyes to try and see what they were seeing. In moments I didn't need to strain.

The frozen councilmen had begun turning different shades of red. Sweat rolling off them. The visible veins from head to toe were slowly darkening. The sight was unsettling, but I couldn't look away. My morbid curiosity wouldn't let me. This was the power of The Creators.

"The 5 of you have all been tagged by The Creators as dangerous to your village. You will now be given an opportunity to sway Their judgement. I bid thee luck.

Naruto's hands began rapidly flying through more handseals. He finished on yet another unfamiliar one. A halo of light seemed to engulf him.

"Uzumaki Forbidden Sealing Technique: Commune with Creation: Ye Sinners, Have Faith! True Words Bring Salvation!"

The light was blinding now. When it became nearly unbearable, the light rocketed upward, through the ceiling and into the sky. Naruto collapsed to hands and knees, panting. He wearily twisted his body into a sitting position, closing his eyes and sitting there. We sat in silence for the next 10 minutes, no one daring to speak. No one even daring to breath louder than necessary.

Naruto finally opened his eyes and Lady Korinna's tired voice spoke clearly to the room. "The Creators have listened to the pleas of all 653 men and women tagged as dangerous to your village, young monkey. The Judgement will begin shortly. Those who couldn't sway Their judgement will be reduced to ash. For traitors do not deserve a funeral. They do not deserve to be remembered. In the ashes you will find a scroll with the crimes they were condemned for. After I perfrom the final technique, my spirit will leave, young Naruto."

She looked tiredly around the room. "The only thing I desire above all else, even justice for my clan, is that my Grandson remains happy. I beg of everyone in this room, please, take care of him."

We all nodded our agreement and Lady Korinna smiled one last time from Naruto's body. "Then let judgement commence."

Once more, and for the last time, hands flew through ever more complicated seals. None of the standard 12 was used in the final technique.

"Uzumaki Forbidden Sealing Technique: Commune with Creation. Fall to Holy Judgement, Ye Sinner!"

With a cry of deviance, Lady Korinna threw Naruto's hands towards the heavens. She held them there as that awful presence once again filled my mind. It wasn't as intense as before, as it didn't feel as though I was being stripped down at the cellular level, but it wasn't comfortable either.

What followed next was The Creators explaining to everyone they had touched today what was about to happen. They didn't speak in a traditional manner, it was more in terms of images, emotions, and feelings. Regardless about the method of communication, the message was clearly received. The presence left as quickly as it appeared. Silence.

Long story short. 653 judged, 653 found guilty.

"Disappear from this world, Sinners!" Lady Korinna's cry cut the silence like a knife. She brought both arms crashing down in a slashing moment.

Instantly, all 5 on the stage were pierced through the heart by a blade of light that had come thundering down from heaven. The smell of burning hair and flesh quickly filled the room. Sounds of retching were the only sounds being heard. The guilty made no sound, as they were burned from the inside out by righteous fire. Not even 30 seconds later, there was only 5 piles of ash where 5 adult humans stood.

*******************************END THE CHAPTER ALREADY*******************************

Pandemonium quickly broke out after. Lord Hokage regained control of the situation and began issuing his orders. ANBU were sent to discover all the victims while retrieving the scrolls from their ashes. The rest of the preliminaries were postponed until tomorrow. Naruto was rushed to medical wing. We all stood on the observation deck, minds still trying to process the day. An angry voice suddenly rang out.

"Lord Hokage, with all due respect, sir, what just happened was not an everyday occurance. I agree we need to move quickly to stop the public panicking. But after everything I just went through and hearing the real fate of the Uzumaki, I NEED to know who the traitor is and what the plan to bring him to justice is. We deserve it, sir!" Lady Tsume Inuzuka growled out. Being a clan that specialized in techniques with their specially trained ninja dogs, they believed in a pack mentality. Breaking trusts and betrayal were just as bad as murder in an Inuzuka's eyes.

Lord Third studied the feral woman before him. He glanced around at everyone else on the stage. Knowing now, that every single person here, while they may have some ulterior political motives was 100% loyal to him and the village. He then turned his gaze to us in the balconies. He opened his mouth but Lord Jiraiya cut him off.

"Lord Hokage, I know what you're going to say. They may just be genin. But they heard everything we heard. 3 of them probably know more than we do if my suspicions are right about the little cuddle sessions before the massacre." He barked a laugh at his own joke, easing some of the tension that still permeated the air. "So I think they have a right to know. Besides, I have a feeling that every single person in this room has sword an oath to Naruto to help bring his clans murderer to justice." A round of affirmations from everyone in the room met this declaration.

Lord Third eyed Jiraiya warily. "Had I not just witnessed, with my own two eyes the spirit of a woman 4 decades dead perform a forbidden technique and incinerate all the traitors in the village, I'd have you hauled off to T&I right now. Never call me Lord Third again. It sounds wrong."

Laughter, a little less forced this time echoed across the room. Lord Third pondered Lord Jiraiya's words before nodded. "You are right, my pupil. I will be brief, we have a lot to do and a small window of time to prevent disaster." He then flickered to the front of the room.

He stood there several moments, collecting his thoughts. "I realize what happened today shouldn't be possible. What we just witnessed today is something you'd only read about in a fantasy novel. But it did happen, we cannot pretend otherwise. I've carried the guilt of not mobilizing my forces fast enough to aid our closest ally every day for the last 4 decades. The guilt was crushing enough thinking my inaction was the cause of the near extinction of one of the most ancient and noble clans to ever walk this earth."

He cleared his throat and continued. "Lady Korinna whispered many things to me when she approached me in young Naruto's body. One of the things she told me is that I need to start being a leader to this village, not the loving grandfather. As if reading my mind she told me until my heart and mind are in sync, no, I cannot be both. Her words cut deep. I love this village. The only thing I ever loved more than my village was my late wife. But to me, the village isn't the infrastructure. I cold wake up tomorrow to an empty space where our home once stood and feel nothing, so long as all my citizens were safe. The village to me is every single soul that calls Konoha home. From the babe that was born just hours ago, to the 1 or 2 citizens I can still claim are older than me."

Everyone laughed at Lord Third's joke.

But she was right. I've grown soft. I began second guessing everything I did in regards to what was best for the village, vs what made people most happy. That will end today. Change will be coming. Lady Korinna gave us a cryptic warning. We must be ready. We will be ready. For as long as the Great Tree stands, Konoha shinobi will be there to defend her with its last breath. We are called tree huggers, the "soft" village, weak, all because our citizens and shinobi desire peace above all else. If that makes us weak, I'll proudly boast to the world how weak I am."

"We desire peace, yes. But the other villages, for 15 years have done nothing to openly provoke us. If they think we're weak, why not challenge us and prove their strength? Because they know, as much as you and I, that we are indeed the strongest. We will always take the road to peace, but will annihilate any enemy who dares threaten what is ours!"

"We are The Village Hidden in the Leaves, shinobi village in The Land of Fire. In ancient texts it is said that many millennia ago, dragons roamed the land and soared through the skies. Though the mythic beasts are no longer, there is still one dragon that remains alive today. It is the collective force of Leaf Shinobi. A slumbering beast that wants only to be left alone and in peace. There's an old saying, "Never wake a sleeping dragon." I do not know what our future holds, no one does. But as Lady Korinna warned us, we will heed her advice. We will prepare for any and all threats, so that when someone does come to wake the sleeping dragon we will bathe them in righteous flames! We are Konoha shinobi! We are weak, peace loving tree huggers! Wear that badge with honor! For we know the truth! We. Are. KONOHA!"

Thunderous roars of approval met Lord Third's inspiring speech. The pride in my chest threatening to burst. I'm finally able to witness the "God of Shinobi," inspiring his troops. Lord Third held up his hands, beckoning for silence. We complied immediately.

"I am old, my warriors. I'm old, and I'm tired. When Minato died and I took up the hat once more, I told myself it was only temporary. 13 years is a little longer than temporary. I'm old, and tired, and my bones ache daily. Despite all this, I will continue to lead you to the best of my ability. In peace time, and in the dark times. Never question my love for each and every person in this village. Changes are coming."

"I thought that I would take all this bone crushing guilt with me to the grave and into the pure lands. I will still take that guilt with me. The guilt has actually increased exponentially since Korinna told her story to us all. However, she also gave me a name. The name of the single man solely responsible for such a senseless tragedy. She gave me the name of the man that will at least let me atone for a small portion of my guilt in the genocide." He held up his hands once more as calls of innocence of our leader were being cried.

"No, my children. I am just as guilty. Had it been any other individual that betrayed our village I could have been freed from my guilt. Any other person, I would swear an oath to Korinna to bring justice to the Uzumaki clan, and afterwards I could finally rest without the pain I feel every night. When she first told me, I immediately dismissed the notion. But as her story continued and I reviewed what I learned, the truth was impossible to ignore. Every act of sabotage was familiar. Every action taken by the Uzushio plant, I was intimately familiar. But what really was the final nail in the coffin was the cursed seal placed on the tongue to prevent information leaks. Only one man in Konoha goes to such inhumane with his personally trained troops to keep his secrets."

Light bulbs were quickly flipping on in the minds of the older shinobi. The tension of the room was mounting, tinges of bloodlust filled the air. Whoever this person is, he's a well-known Shinobi judging by the reactions.

"It is time for me to admit it. I didn't see how far he has fallen into his delusions, simply because I didn't want to see it. I refused. The same way the night I confronted Orochimaru, I didn't see the inhumane science experiments he had been performing on my own citizens. I didn't see the glint of madness in his eye as he regaled me with his desire for immortality. I didn't see the cruelness he was capable of to achieve his goals. No. I saw a scared, 10 year old little boy who had just lost his parents, asking me what he was supposed to do now."

"That is why my guilt is even greater than when I simply thought I was too late. For even 4 decades ago the signs were there. I refused to see the increasing signs of paranoia. I didn't want to listen to the voice in my head telling me to shut down his private sector of ANBU. Because, I told myself, his ANBU kept our village safe from the shadows, while my ANBU were out in view keeping the peace in the sun. That was, and has been my excuse for too long. He protected from the Shadows, while I protected from the Sun. I simply brushed off his constant desire to expand our borders, taking the land from our defeated enemies to grow our power. I ignored all of it, all of it, because every time I looked at him, I still saw my childhood friend. The man I trained with, learned with, competed against, and spent all my life standing side-by-side with. Because of my refusal to see the paranoid warmonger that he actually was, I may have doomed the world."

He signed, seeming to deflate slightly and age right in front of us. He took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. Back again was the "God of Shinobi."

"But Konoha will NOT be the only ones to take the blame for this tragedy. I will be calling for a 5 Kage summit after the Chunin Exam finals. I will tell them of what we learned today, and give all 4 great nations our updated bingo book personally, with a new entry not for a simple missing nin… No, he will be marked as a war criminal. His deeds will be broadcasted to the world about his perpetuation and key role in the genocide of an entire nation of people. He will not be able hide for long with the 5 greatest military powers out looking for him. And after all is said in done, I will throw their own crimes in their faces. Kumo, Iwa, and Mizu will all take responsibility for their own actions in the potential end of our world. I will not let Konoha take all of the shame for this crime. For while I turned a blind eye to what my shadow was doing, allowing him to single handedly ensure the genocide was successful, at the end of the day, he didn't spill the blood of innocents. They did. Their Coalition ruthlessly cut down civilian men, women, and children. They slaughtered the wide-eyed Genin without remorse. They then marched on Uzu herself and finished the deed. I will remind them of their cruelty. And I will also remind them of their almost complete failure against a measley force of 200 vs their 10,000."

Lord Third looked around the room one last time. A fire, raging in his eyes.

"From this day forth, let it be known. That the war criminal, Danzo Shimura, is hereby charged with Adandonment of his village, High Treason, Raising an Army against a sitting Hokage, and Genocide of an entire nation."

Gasps erupted from the room. Lord Shimura?! I always thought he was just a bitter man, holding onto a grudge that he was passed up for the hate. After hearing all this, Lord Second must have been a prophet. Konoha would probably not exist with him as our leader. He'd lead us into war after war until there was no fight left. Pure hatred burned deep in my gut. Danzo would pay for his crimes. I would personally see to it if I had, with Naruto right at my side.

"Many of you had already guessed who it was. And now I confirm it. Danzo Shimura will be listed as an S-Rank threat enemy of the shinobi world. Preferred captured alive to be tried for his crimes. We'll take his head though if it's the only way. 500 million alive, 100 million dead. I would rather our coffers go dry and our economy suffer than let than man walk around a free man a day longer. Finances can be restored, the Uzumaki clan WILL. HAVE. JUSTICE!"

Another round of cheering, even louder this time, was our response.

"Genin, you will stay here in this tower. I will send escorts to your families to be brought here. I estimate we'll be on a hiatus for at least a full day, maybe more. But the exam will continue once I've stabilized the panicking population and explain, in detail, everything we learned. I will not hide our shame any longer, for the Uzumaki deserve better! You are all dismissed! Council, on me! We have much to do! Mouse, Rabbit! Secure the perimeter! Lord Third and his council made their way out of the arena, he stopped abruptly however.

"I almost forgot. Naruto would raze the village himself if he woke up and didn't have an answer. Since his opponent is no longer able to battle," All eyes followed his gaze to the forgotten pile of ashes that was once Misumi, "Naruto Uzumaki will advance to the finals. Good night. Get some rest! The coming days will be hectic."

And with those words, The God of Shinobi left the tower. Orders flying from his lips, ANBU taking off to perform their assigned tasks.

I gentley pried Fú off me and stepped back, much to my reluctance. I turned to Ami and spoke to both girls "Let's go check on Naruto, then then grab some food and try and get some rest." Both girls agreed. The preliminaries weren't even halfway done, I didn't even get to fight yet! We left the arena and made our way to the medical ward.

I retreated into myself, going over everything that happened today. So much information to process. I decided to sleep on it. The only things I could control right now was my situation. With that singular thought I marched on. One step at a time. Small Victories. Control what you can control and leave the rest to whatever force controls them. The only thing on my mind now was one thing. Master my Clan techniques, crack the code of my ancient ancestor's soul crushing techniques, become more proficient than Great-Grandmother in 'Storm Release,' Master Water and Lightning, Discover more and more potent and painful toxins. The list was a tall order, I knew that. But I would get it done, I always do. Now I had a goal, one that lined up perfectly with my own personal goal. To fight an S-Rank threat, you had to become one. Good luck, Danzo, you're going to need it when I find you. I internally smirked to myself, excited to get started. First thing first? Pass the Preliminary round!

**************************************FIN********************************************

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! :D Ta-Da? How do you feel? Pumped? Disappointed? Enraged? Sexually-Confused? I my story made you feel any type of emotion I'll take it as a win!

Oh. My. God. My hands are cramping, my fingers are sore and my brain hurts, but I finally finished this beast of a chapter. I told y'all, it went way off canon storyline, but will jump back on the tracks next chapter. I just got this entire idea stuck in my head and I had to do it. I apologize if you didn't like it. I warned you though. So if you didn't read the top A/N, then that's on you ;). Couple quick explanations for WHY I did this.

The story of the downfall of Uzu was complete and utter bullshit if you ask me. The Uzumaki were as important and prominent as the Uchiha, Senju, ALL OF THEM. And canon is just like, "heyyyyyyy. You had a home once. Your entire clan was ruthlessly murdered. They were our biggest and most loyal ally, butttt we kinda let them die. Oops. Well, here. Your clan symbol on our shit. You're welcome no need to thank us. Oh and we kind of cut out teaching you all about them and their rich history cuz we don't want to be all embarrassed, since ya know, we still kind of let them die." So the idea started just as Naruto basically calling out everyone's bullshit after reading the journal. But then I thought, Minato was able to bend time and space and do some unreal shit with the the training he got from Jiraiya and his own genius. A full trained Uzumaki seal master? They could probably do whatever they wanted. So then I thought about their story, and how loyal and trusting the few Uzumaki we're introduced to are. And how they value family about everthing. And what happens when a powerful Uzumaki is betrayed and someone they love is killed? You get mother fuckin Pein. That's what a powerful pissed off Uzumaki is capable of. So blending the limitless possibility of sealing with the vengeance of an Uzumaki who's entire clan was wiped out due to a hurtful betrayal? Korinna Uzumaki was born in my mind. Please tell me y'all at least like Korinna? I loved writing her and sad she's gone. Alas, she's suffering for eternity. R.I.P.

Second big item – Danzo. FUCK. THIS. GUY. He's my most hated antagonist in any series, ever. He's literally a petty piece of shit. He goes off the deep end because he didn't get the hat. Loses his fucking mind and starts seeing enemies everywhere. All for "The Greater Good." Which the greater good was only what was good for Danzo. His death was most satisfying, and I have horribly painful plans for him, but it saddens me to say that he will be in hiding for quite some time. He'll be back though. Oh, the reason I picked him? I just blamed every single horrific event that happened during any point of his lifetime on him. Because it's not at all that big of a stretch. He's literally the reason the actual canon pissed off Uzumaki exists. He created Pein. He almost turned Ninja-Jesus Sasuke against Konoha by murdering his clan due to paranoia. Y'all. There were newborns and toddlers there. Remember that!

Final Item – I know I made up some details about Naruto's Uzumaki lineage. But, as I've said, I do what I want. Did you at least think it was believable or made sense? Or was I stretching a bit? It's too late to turn back, but for the future.

Thanks again for all the support you all have shown me. If you're a fan so far and haven't left a review, PLEASE do so for this chapter since it's such a big risk for me. Or PM me! I reply to all the comments I've gotten so far (I think, if not, call my ass out) so if you have questions or anything.. yeah! Anyway, seeya next time!