Chapter 37

Naruto looked at them all, as if he were thinking about what he was to do now. "Let's see…" he said quietly, tapping his hands on his armrests trying to think of something. "Well, I'm not too interested in fighting any more than one Biju." He said while going through hand signs.

In a flash of light, the Kazekage and Bee appeared on either side of the arena, both of them stock silent, not looking to play any games. The anger was just bubbling around them… literally, when they hit the arena, red chakra began bubbling around them.

"Well Kazekage, for a man who advocates against the monstrosity of mankind, you know a lot about what that's like." He said eyeing him. The Kazekage didn't respond to his pointless words. Instead, his gourd began falling apart before it produced a tail made of sand. The sand began covering most of his form until the top half of his body represented a much smaller version of the Shukaku.

Bee's form remained the same other than the red silhouette of the Hachibi surrounding his body. His eyes couldn't be seen behind his glasses and his facial expression didn't seem to give much away, but from studying up on the guy, Naruto could tell he was far beyond angry himself. Figuring this was sure to be a good match Naruto just sat back and snuggled into his seat. "Oh, and if you haven't noticed, this seal won't allow you to fully transform, for obvious reasons." He said with a shrug. "No stakes in this one. You two just seem angry enough to rip anything to shreds so, have at it." He said.

Needing nothing more, Bee rushed forward with his arm held out. The inside of his elbow met the throat of the sand creature, and contrary to what he expected, he began sinking in. He spun around and ripped the appendage from the sand and kicked him away. The Kazekage hit the wall of the barrier with the sand cushioning his blow. With no hesitation he got up and rushed the Kumo jinchuriki. Throwing his arm forward, the sand extended and missed the slippery man by an inch.

In her throne, Ino yawned drawing Naruto's attention. "This is kinda boring hun." She said honestly. "I'm gonna take a nap." Naruto raised an eyebrow beneath his mask, but shrugged his shoulders and went back to watching the battle.

The Kazekage was confused when Bee rolled to his feet now holding every sword that was on his form at once. There was one tucked in the wedges of each of his coiled arms, one in his mouth, one held by the back of his knee, one in the crook of his neck, and one in the crevasse between his thigh and stomach, he doubted they could be used as such.

Expertly, bee jumped through the air, missing the tendril of sand that shot at him. He threw two of his swords down in hopes of impaling the man inside. He couldn't hurt sand, but if he could get to the Kazekage inside, he could kill him and the Shukaku would die as well and wait to reform elsewhere. When he landed, he rolled forward and picked up the two swords he threw. Continuing on, he dodged sand bullet after bullet. Rolling under the final one, he went in to try and shove his sword through.

As soon as it came within range, a plate of sand shot up from the ground blocking it before it even hit the main body. Bee loosened his grip and kicked the hilt of the blade on his way back. When he landed, he was standing on a thin strip of sand. When it shifted, he fell to his back. He looked up at the wave about to crash down on him.

The Kazekage clenched his sand formed hand down, directing the wave of golden substance to crush the man. Before it hit him, a tentacle appeared out of nowhere, blocking the man's body from the assault. Pulling the sand back, he saw that Bee now had two very big tentacles protruding from somewhere on his back. This meant he was proficient in partial transformations as well.

He ignored that revelation and sent out more waves of sand to try and cover him completely. Bee swiped the tendrils out of his way with the tentacles and rushed forward with the swords still on his form. Clearing a path to the core, he threw one of his blades at his head. Before it came in range again a sheet of sand popped up. He was thinking of a way around that armor of his. His control of sand meant he was an earth based Ninjutsu fighter. If he attacked with lightening, maybe he could wear him down some.

He rushed forward, charging his remaining five blades with lightning chakra and began attack the main creature directly, letting the tentacles keep him safe from the sand. He flipped and slashed at every conceivable angle of the beast, but nothing was getting through. Losing focus, he landed into a sinking pool of sand that began swallowing him whole. He scrambled up, trying to stick his tentacles to anything that would pull him up, but nothing would stick thanks to all the sand.

Darui was watching in horror, thinking this may be too much for even Bee. Seeing him sink into the unexplainable sink whole got him worried. Bee was resilient, but he had just a few hours ago watched a man with the protection of an armor of rock crushed by this very same man. His worries were relieved when he watched as the sand seemed to become much more mud-like than before.

Two of Bee's tentacles shot out from the muddied sink whole of sand and stuck to the barrier, sling shooting him out of the substance. He remained up high off of the ground with his tentacles sticking to the hard surface of the barrier. While up there, he got his idea.

It seemed that water was the obvious weakness which was good because it was an easy solution. Going through hand signs, he puffed his chest out and shot bullet after bullet of water towards the sand creature. Seeing the danger, the Kazekage used the sand he made from the ground to block the water, while simultaneously making more. He knew the man's plan was to drench all of his sand leaving him defenseless, but he could work with that.

He blocked each of the water bullets in order to protect the sand armor of the Shukaku surrounding his body. Bee kept them coming plentiful, increasing their size by pumping more and more chakra into each blast. He had to keep moving around the top of the barrier to avoid getting caught by the counterattacks being sent his way. He didn't know any area wide water techniques so these water bullets would have to do it for now. The Hachibi was explaining that the weakness of the Shukaku's containers when they were in this state was at the base of the tale. So that would have to be his striking point.

They continued in their battle of hit and counter hit for a few minutes until Bee noticed that there was nothing left for the Kage to use other than mud which was too slow and weak to actually be effective, so he swung forward and landed near the muddied creature with his swords drawn again. The mud was wrapping around his ankles trying to hold him in place, but he was just walking through it with ease. It was just like walking through regular mud.

The Kazekage played the role expertly swiping away as he scrambled back. He truly looked like a helpless victim. When Bee finally began rushing however, his stoic look returned. Bee circled him until he got behind him and targeted the vulnerable spot. He went in for the attack, but just when he drove his sword forward, a tendril of chakra shot up and caught his wrists, lifting him from the ground.

Bee struggled, trying to use his tentacles to swipe it away. As soon as he did, two skinnier tendrils of sand shot through the mud, cutting it off. He brought out another which met the same fate.

Darui's eyes grew in alarm, not even understanding how that could even happen. It was just sand! "Bee!" he yelled out seeing how helpless he seemed.

Bee was confused as well. This sand was just slicing his tentacles off. That wasn't possible unless that was some kind jutsu or… His eyes grew when the skinny tendrils that were slicing the tentacles rose in front of his face. There was a glimmer from the tips before they drove forward, one going straight through his head, and the other through his chest, the blades of his discarded swords popping out of the back of his head and chest… The swords he so carelessly let sink into the sand at the start of this little battle.

"No!" yelled the Raikage hitting the barrier with his sword. "No-no-no!" Twice today he has watched someone die. Bee, of all people, he was sure couldn't lose. He stared at the masked man who began clapping at the outcome of the battle. "You bastard! I'll fucking kill you!" he yelled hitting the barrier over and over again with his blade. Not even aware that his son was watching him lose his mind.

Naruto ignored the screams for his head from the usually level headed Kage. He was slowly clapping for the Kazekage who had let the mud fall of his form as he stared at the Kumo shinobi that fell before his feet. In a flash of light, he was back in his spot, staring at the ground. A clone once again struck the arena of the previous battle before sinking into the ground.

Naruto stared across the way at his fellow red head who was completely silent. "Well, I must say that was a very impressive display there Kazekage." He said looking over at his prize. "You're a very formidable man. As was the famous Killer Bee." He said nodding to the Raikage who was still cussing him out. "I'm trying to decide what to do with you, you've withstood each of my tasks and have done so with extreme grace… I'm not sure if that warrants enough respect to let you leave yet…" he said, negating the fact that he allowed the Mizukage to leave without ever having to do anything. "Have I been unfair with you?"

The Kazekage looked him in the eyes with pure hatred. He hated everything about him at this moment. Not that he was too fond of him before, but now he was sure he was going to kill him.

"I have… I have for a reason." He said sitting up. "None of you have noticed yet, the true.. reason I've done this." He said standing up. "I mean, it's not like you all haven't been in these positions before. It's just now you know what it's like to have it happen in real time." He said pacing around. "Out of all of you… who's gone?" he asked looking around as if he were confused. Everyone's gaze met the empty pillars of both Iwa and Kiri. "Ah, yes… Iwa… a nation built on the arrogance of their ancestors… Its sickening having such a nation running around isn't it? They are gone, because of their refusal to forgive… they lived on the cusp of revenge. In this experiment, their anger was directed towards Suna. Had she forgiven the actions of the Kazekage for doing what he did when he had no choice, she would have returned to her spot to fight another day and probably would've received an opponent she could actually beat within the given time slot... But, her need for revenge was just too much for her to bare… and she killed in vengeance."

Now, Minato was starting to understood. These selections of his weren't as random as he claimed they were. It was a cycle of cause and effect.

"Now, you may be wondering why I allowed Kiri to leave without so much as stepping foot into the arena right?" he asked, not receiving an answer. "Well, it's simple. Kiri is a nation known for shooting themselves in the foot. Which is what they did… In this case, it wasn't the Kage of Kiri that represented them. No, Kiri's Kage have been known to disappoint, so of course, I went to the people instead… Aya refused to give up the chance for certain freedom because of her fear of failure on her Kage's part."

The Raikage sent him a death glare. He allowed them to kill his wife for a fucking experiment?

"Had she refused to kill the young lady, rest her soul.." he said looking over to the Raikage which infuriated him. "Then, perhaps they would have lived longer." He said with a shake of his head.

Everyone was confused by this. Minato spoke up for everyone. "You let them go… or did you?" he asked, now fearing that he had something waiting for them.

Naruto put his mind to rest. "No, I did." He said nodding his head. "But, I doubt the Raikage will be letting that slide by so easily." He said looking over to him.

"You're damn right." He spit out. "And as soon as I'm finished with them, I'm coming for you." He said with a deathly look in his eyes. He looked completely insane.

Naruto smiled beneath his mask. "Oh of course. And then Suna I'm guessing." He said nodding over to The Kazekage who wasn't effected by the threat. The Raikage didn't express it, but he agreed. "And what of you Kazekage? Is Iwa still on that list of yours?" he asked looking over to him.

Finally, he pulled his head up. A dead look in his eyes that spoke volumes about his psyche. "Iwa will fall… just as Kumo will fall… just as Konoha… None of you deserve to live." He said ominously.

Menma looked over to him in surprise. "Kazekage-san." He said, in an attempt to reason with him. He was still angry that Naruto originated from Konoha? "Naruto is no longer a shinobi of Konoh-.."

"I don't care… you'll fall too." He said lowly no hint of a joke in his dead eyes.

"Suna…" Naruto said, drawing everyone's attention again. "-the nation that has fought their way out of the disgrace of the sand dunes to mark their place in this world… they take the most beating, but persevere and fight on… Kumo… the nation that holds strong in their belief of power and rule but remain firm in their qualities of self-reliance. Then, there is you… Konoha…"

The Kazekage and Raikage both eyed them in suspicion. If there was a reason they were still untouched, then what was it?

"Oh yes, the nation that everyone loves to hate… You sit atop your throne unscathed and watch as everyone else tears themselves apart… The definition of a false god…" he said.

"Hold on." Minato said, trying to defend them. "We're only unscathed because you haven't chosen any of us." He said, pointing out the obvious.

"Of course I haven't. There's been no need to." He said as if he just gave them a huge revelation. "Without any help at all.. you lot gain the most enemies… Why is that?" he asked with a sincere tone as if he were really asking. "Your power." He said with a nod.

Minato and Menma looked at each other in confusion. Now he was telling them things they already knew. "This isn't news to us… the more power you gain, the bigger the target on your back, we get it." He said as if he figured out the next cracked out philosophical theory Naruto had coming up.

"Well, actually it's not that." He said shocking them. "It's actually the opposite… Your false power is what I should have said." He said with a nod. "You believe your village is the strongest because of the people you hold within. With individuals such as Kakashi of the Sharingan, The Red Death, The entire Uchiha clan, The Hyuga, the Yellow Flash, the list goes on and on. You have grown arrogant in your seat at the top. Now, you walk around and flaunt your abilities off as if they were just badges of honor or something." He said in disgust.

"Are you saying we are weak?" Menma asked, truly confused by what he was trying to say.

"On the contrary." Naruto said, now they were truly confused. Everything they said, he would say the opposite. Which one was it!? "You're strong… but your village as a whole… is very weak… With the individuals you have, there is an unquestionable struggle of power that you yourself aren't even aware of." Naruto said. Now he was talking as if he knew something they didn't. "How well do you know your people, Menma?" Naruto asked.

Now he was truly confused. "What the hell are you talking about!?" he yelled out.

"Your-people-Menma." He said slowing down his speech in a mocking way. "How well do you know them?"

Minato took the initiative and placed his hand on Menma's shoulder. "We know them well Naruto… far better than you do." He said in a brief moment of arrogance.

Naruto chuckled beneath his mask. "I would argue that case Tou-san." He said with a grin. "In fact, I'd venture into saying that you are completely unaware of what goes on within the shadows of that great tree of yours… You live in ignorance of a village that does not follow you, contrary to what you may believe… Friendship is a fickle thing, and let's just say I learned that the hard way."

"What are you trying to say?" Menma asked, not liking what he was implying even though he didn't actually understand it. It sounded like he was saying they had traitors in the village, which he wouldn't stand to hear.

Naruto just shrugged and walked towards the Raikage's prize slot. "Well, if you don't get it, that's fine. You will eventually." He said cryptically.

"Get the fuck away from him!" the Raikage yelled, seeing Naruto standing behind his son. That was all he had now, and he'd be damned if he lost him too.

Naruto stared him in the eyes and went through hand signs. In a flash of light, the carrier holding the Kazekage's nephew appeared in the center arena. The barrier fell as did the Kazekage's. "You've done well Gaara. You are free to go… I believe you get the point." Gaara said nothing. He grabbed his nephew and left. Once he was gone, the barrier arose once again. Going through hand signs, the Raikage appeared within it. "As do you Raikage." He said breaking the collar from the boy's neck. In a flash of light, the boy was in the barrier, stumbling from the disorientation.

The Raikage caught him before he fell. He hugged him to his chest and glared up at Naruto. The barrier fell again. The look he was giving him was enough to know that there would be hell to pay if he didn't die here. He turned to leave and stared up at Minato and Naruto. "Another monster from Konoha…" he shook his head and walked off, letting his statement hang in the air.

When he left Naruto chuckled. "Wow, is that what Konoha is known for? Ha." He said as if everything were just normal.

Minato stepped up to address him. "What now?" he asked looking around at all the empty slots. "What do we have to do to get her back?"

Naruto looked down at the sleeping child in the carrier. He shrugged his shoulders and sent her down to the arena in a flash. The barrier around them fell as well. "Nothing… congratulations for effortlessly surviving." He said. They all jumped down and Kushina picked up Sumire. Naruto and Ino sat on their thrones lazily staring at the group. Well, Naruto was staring at them. Ino was still asleep.

Menma and Minato stepped forward staring off against the two of them, their intentions clear. "We're not letting you two go." Menma said seriously. "You didn't expect us to just leave did you?"

Naruto leaned his head on his hand. "Of course not Otouto… That'd be too easy." He said in a condescending tone. Menma grit his teeth. Before he did anything his mother stepped forward with the baby in her arms.

"Naruto… are you not done?" she asked him incredulously. "Everyone's gone… we're not going to kill you." She said.

Naruto chuckled and looked passed her. "Tch, speak for yourself." He said eyeing his father. "Isn't that right Tou-san?"

Kushina spun around, seeing he had already pulled his kunai. "Minato… y-…"

"Kushina… take Sumire and Kakashi home." He said with a serious tone. His distraught expression telling her all she need to know.

She slowly shook her head, knowing what he was saying. "No…" she said lowly. "No, you can't do this! You're not gonna kill him! Minato he's our son!" she yelled. "What if he kills you!?"

"Then, I'll probably deserve it… Kushina, it's like you said… this is our fault." He looked up to Naruto, trying to convince himself as well. "-and we have to fix it."

Kushina looked down to Sumire while he spoke… she did say that. Those were words from her own mouth, so watch changed now? Nothing did, she was right then, just as Minato is right now. She shut her eyes and kissed Sumire's forehead. She handed her to Kakashi. "Then, I'm staying." She said turning around and looking up at the two as well. Minato was about to dispute it but she beat him to the punch. "We have to fix it." She said giving him a look that told him she wasn't leaving. Minato sighed and nodded to her.

Ino yawned as her eyes fluttered open. "Ugh." She said looking around. "Wow, everyone's already gone." She said smiling over at Naruto. "We finally gonna fight the family?" she asked, as if this were a story told to her before.

Naruto smirked and nodded. "Yeah, it seems like it." He said standing to his feet with her following his lead. "Let's give em' hell doll face."