Chapter 73 Truth Will Out

Hiruzen was currently speaking with Jirayia on what he discovered about Naruto. After hearing it, Jiraiya's face was stuck in a shocked expression.

"He, can bring the dead to life. Thats. I don't know what to say", said Jiraiya.

" So far Danzo has been unable to copy whatever it is Naruto made, though he is trying. He plans on capturing Naruto to reveal all he knows", said Hiruzen.

"Why make him a missing nin though. He's only a boy", said Jiraiya.

"A boy who built a massive flying fortress with no one in a ninja village knowing, and created something to bring the dead to life. He won't reveal this, and we can use it to our advantage", said Hiruzen.

"I'm listening"

"With Naruto and his team ranked as criminals, the village will react poorly. Three genin given missing nin status for no reason is no way to go about things. Danzo has spent so long in the dark he cannot function without secrets. Our advantage is the Clan Heads. All are sympathetic to both Naruto and Sasuke. One is the son of our greatest hero, and kept the fox at bay. The other they think was betrayed by a clan member, his own brother. They know this. They will help us politically. To get overwhelming numbers we have to make the villagers on our side. Most already are angry over what happened to Sasuke, if we get them we have the majority. This will strong arm Danzo to act. He has two choices. Either reveal why they were made missing ninja, and thereby revealing Naruto's revolutionary discoveries that could change the world, or more likely he will have to lie. Naruto once told me something, Truth Will Out, or simply put the truth will eventually be found out no matter what, all we have to do is reveal the lie for what it is. EIther way it will promote mistrust against Danzo. They will either see he deliberately hid groundbreaking discoveries, or he did that, then lied about it", said Hiruzen.

"So you want to turn the village against Danzo, I get that, but it will take more than that to get him off the seat. This is a ninja village, the Hokage is expected to keep secrets", said Jiraiya.

"True, but this is different. Danzo has hidden things that could change he world as we know it. Do not worry Jiraiya, just leave that part to me Jiraiya. I may be old and missing an arm, but I'm far from useless", said Hiruzen as he griped his stump with his remaining hand.

"What about me", asked Jiraiya trying to change the mood.

"We need to get this Information to Naruto, you have the spy network to get in contact with him. We can collaborate with him, see what he has been working on that can help us. Figure out what to do after that, but I want Danzo to be as weak as possible first", said Hiruzen.

"I'll see what I can do, but what about the Akatsuki", asked Jiraiya.

"They are the unknown element. We only have to hope that they do not make a move. We also need a new Hokage after this is over", said Hiruzen.

"Don't look at me, I would suck at the job", said Jiraiya.

"Not you. Your spy network is to important, I was thinking Tsunade", said Hiruzen.

"She won't come back sensei", said Jiraiya solemnly.

"Yes she will, especially when we tell her about Naruto's reagent", said Hiruzen.

Jiraiya's eyes widened before he nodded slowly.

"Do you really think that's a good idea sensei", said Jiraiya.

"No I don't, but we have little choice, and I have been alseep through most of this mess. In so short a time everything has changed. We have to get them back, not just Naruto, but everyone who left with him. Naruto is a smart kid, most likely he is far smarter than me. If he had to keep this secret he must have had a reason. He belong in this village, I won't fail him", said Hiruzen.

Meanwhile, in the ruins of Whirlpool.

"So what I'm saying is that supernatural horror is our fear of the past, sci fi is our fear of the future", said Herbert.

"Herbert, I asked if you wanted to tell scary stories. Not analyze what the nature of horror is", said Naruto.

In the Land of Whirlpools Naruto, his team, Konohamaru, Amaru, Kin and Herbert sat around a campfire beneath the Shinigami. It was a dark night. To pass the time, Naruto recommended telling horror stories, it made since to him. Many books he read showed that human interaction around campfires seemed to point to it as standard human behavior. Herbert decided it was best to analyze what makes horror, well horror. So far they seemed to stay stuck on this topic.

"Ok no, Both are the same thing. Sci fi and Supernatural horror is both aspects of the Fear of the unknown, it's not past or future. People are afraid of what we do not know", said Amaru.

"No that's the broad viewpoint on it, my view is narrowing the idea of horror down", said Herbert.

"You are both wrong, horror stories mostly reflect our fear of change. Ghosts are fear of death, or to change from living to dead. Zombies and Vampires are fear of Us changing into monsters with no control", said Sakura.

"No, but pinky is close. Real horror is in and of itself fear of what we can't control. The thing that may be standing behind you, breathing in your ear. The monster that lurks in the dark to strike. It is irational, but what if there is something in the dark, some unseen force we cannot stop or control", said Kin.

"I just wanted to ask if anyone had a scary story they wanted to share, analyzing what makes things horror is a conversation I would like to have, but not now", said Naruto.

"I'm not much of a horror fan, but I think we tell scary stories about stuff that can kill us, simply because stuff can kill us. People just like finding creative ways for that to happen", said Sasuke.

Konohamaru turned to Naruto.

"I think the point is moot, it seems as if they are dead set on analysing a genre of fiction", said Konohamaru not really paying attention to anything.

Naruto sighed. He looked at everyone before getting up.

"I'm going for a walk", said Naruto.

"Yeah yeah, have fun", said Herbert.

Naruto wandered the homelands of his ancestors, they were in ruins. It was a sad sight to see. He was currently standing atop a large temple that looked like it was ready to fall any minute.

"Naruto, you ok", asked Sasuke.

Naruto turned around to see Sasuke leaning against a slab of stone. Naruto nodded.

"I'm fine, it's just strange to thing my family came from here. It's even stranger to think I could be the last", said Naruto.

Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah, I know how you feel", said Sasuke.

"At least you know your brother is still alive", said Naruto.

"Maybe, but I still don' know what to think about him. Most of my life I was planing to kill him, now with all this cloak and dagger stuff that caused that night, I really don't know what to think. I just try and ignore it, I'll know what to do when I see him again", said Sasuke.

"I wish you luck, no matter what you do", said Naruto.

"You know it feels wierd not being an avenger anymore. I think I could get used to it, leave that Kin girl as the avenger of the group while I just do whatever", said Sasuke.

" Glad to hear it", said Naruto.

Sasuke nodded.

"You know, I really should thank you. If I would have figured out what really happened that night after I killed Itatchi. I don't know what I would do", said Sasuke.

"You know me and truth, I despise lies", said Naruto.

Sasuke nodded.

"Mind if I ask you something Naruto", asked Sasuke.

Naruto shrugged.

"If you are so obsessed with telling the truth, why decide to be a shinobi. The main weapon of a ninja is Deception", asked Naruto.

"I really never had a choice in the matter. As a demon container it was almost guaranteed I would become one. But I wanted to be one anyway I never lied that first day of school, I simply want to be a great ninja and scholar. I wanted to die as an old man believing that in some small way, I made as many peoples lives better by what I did. Build a future. Stand on the shoulders of giants so the next generation can stand on mine, just to see a little farther. Then I learned about Cthulhu's inevitable rise, never thought of it at the time, but if I stop him, than I can die knowing for certain I did my part as a, well as a former human", said Naruto.

Sasuke nodded.

"You know something, it's a lot better than my dream, I just wanted revenge. you're a better man than me Naruto. Tell anyone I said that and I'll deny it to my grave, but it's true", said Sasuke.

Naruto smiled.

"Thanks Sasuke", said Naruto.

"Hn"

They laughed before they returned to the Shinigami.

No one in the village really knew what to think on the massive flying skull that moved over their village. Most believed it was some secret weapon, and that it signified war on the horizon. Many of the theories were crazy, but when the impossible happen, those are usually the most prevalent ones. Shikamaru had other ideas. He saw connections. The skull appeared the next day after Naruto and his team were made missing nin. Shikamaru had a very small list of people who could build such a thing, and so far Naruto was a name on that list. It would explain much. It was notoriously difficult to ever find Naruto, those who did find him would spread rumors of him entering or exiting the sewers. No one really took the situation seriously, but rumors had their basis in fact. In the end Shikamaru decided it was best to simply watch the clouds. He tried to push the thoughts out of his head, otherwise it was simply to troublesome. However that only made the theories he had grow. In the end, he decided to get in contact with all of the graduating class that Naruto went with. Many were good friends with Naruto, Shikamaru included. Maybe one of them knew something he didn't so he could finally put this puzzle together. So He invited Team 8 to meet with his team tomorrow night to try and figure out what to do.

Sasori and Deidara had finally made it to the skull. And so far, it seemed as if it was a bad idea. Hundreds of soldiers surrounded them. They all wore strange rebreathers or gas masks with Armor and wielded very high-tech weaponry. While they stood on either side of the former Akatsuki members, the soldiers without moving, created a fissure in front and behind of Sasori and Deidara while staying to the sides, effectively blocking them off. If things turned bad, it would be a simple matter of using Deidara's flying clay constructs, but Sasori was intrigued by whatever this unique fissure technique was. As they waited unmoving, Sasori saw exactally who he was looking for. From the massive Skull Dr. West actually flew down surrounded by his nine strange summons. Herbert landed with his beasts staying in formation around him. He examined them for a moment.

"And what are you doing here", asked Herbert.

Herbert watced them intently as the clone soldiers aimed at them closer.

"We hade decided to join you", said Sasori.

Herbert smiled behind his mask. Looked like those horribly boring acting book paid off.

"We request to meet your leader", said Sasori.

Herbert's smile fell. He looked up to the massive ship Shinigami before he motioned for one of his masked beasts to go up to fetch Naruto. Ironically it was the masked beast named Shinigami who left to retrieve him. After several minutes the crowd of clone soldiers moved to the side allowing Naruto to pass. He observed the former Akatsuki members with his hands behind his back. Both just stared at Naruto with combinations of confusion and disbelief. Naruto simply stared at them, examining them as if they were some strange curiosity. Several seconds later both Sasori and Deidara almost fainted when the supposed to be dead Yellow Flash walks up to Naruto with a red haired woman next to him. After their shock Naruto finally spoke.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki, I am the son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, container of the Nine Tailed Demon Fox. Leader of the CDA and only human to survive gaining an Eldritch form. With introductions out of the way seeing as I know who both of you are, answer this. Why have you come here", Naruto.

It was quiet for a moment as both Sasori and Deidara. They simply stared at Minato. It was Sasori to first speak.

"We have abandoned the Akatsuki and wish to join you", said Sasori.

"And why would you abandon them for us", asked Naruto.

"The Akatsuki wish to take over the world, you wish to keep it spinning. I would prefer to live and be one of the strongest ninja to ever walk these lands, than rule for a few years before I die", said Sasori.

Naruto nodded. He then turned his head to Deidara.

"I'm with him", said Deidara as he pointed to Sasori.

Naruto looked to Sasori again who only nodded. Naruto nodded back.

"Very well, welcome to the CDA. Follow me to our ship. I'll show you around, you can see our projects. I have a feeling we have a few things both of you will find interesting", said Naruto.

"What would that be", asked Deidara.

"Unique technology for Sasori to look at for improving his puppets. As for you Deidara, Have you ever heard of Nitroglycerine" said Naruto.

At that moment every mouth Deidara had started to smile.