"Here. I'll do this one." Tenten offered, taking the book as everyone sat down and opened to the third-to-last chapter.

Chapter 10: Spread Your Wings

Five blurs moved quickly through the forests of Hi no Kuni, heading for the village of Konoha. Three of the blurs had a target in mind for their master while the other two were given their own separate target.

In the first group were three males. One had silver hair and what looked to be two heads with the second facing the opposite direction. The other had brown hair styled in a spiked and rising ponytail and six arms. The last had orange hair in a mohawk style and looked to be on the slightly heavier side.

This group's members were Sakon and Ukon, Kidomaru, and Jirobo.

"THOSE GUYS?!" Naruto sqwaked, while the members of the Sasuke Retreval team that were present scowled.

The second group had two females, both with stunning red hair. The first wore a bandaged cap over her head, brown eyes, and let her hair spill out from behind while a fringe of it came down the front. The other had her hair half smooth and half frizzy, matching red eyes framed by glasses, and a sharp gaze.

These two women were Tayuya and Karin.

"Wait a second...! That's...! No way...! She's...!" Naruto sputtered, then let out a sigh as he slumped over, his eyes rolling back in his head, out cold.

"Uhh..." Rainbow dash said as all the mares looked concerned for Naruto while most of the ninjas looked stunned at the image of Karin on the projector.

"That Karin girl...they've actually met. We helped her out after she was hurt and brought her back with us to Konoha! They're related?!" Sakura gawked.

"WHAT?!" everyone all cried in sheer shock at that. Sure some of the Konoha Eleven had actually been there in the Land of Iron when they had been heading back home, but they never would've thought her and Naruto were related!

"So it means he actually has another living family member?!" Celiestia said, eyes wide.

"OK! THIS CALLS FOR A CELIBRATION! NOBODY'S STOPPING THIS!" Pinkie Pie cheered, actually shooting up in the air with streamers, confetti, and balloons somehow exploding off of her like a firework going off and bolted into her room to get ready to throw Naruto a party for having another living family member.

The mares all beamed, feeling glad. Naruto deserved it. They all honestly felt that way. No wonder he'd fainted from shock.

After a moment to compose herself, the brunette weapon mistress resumed giving her attention to the book.

"How much farther until we get there?" asked Jirobo to Sakon, who had taken point.

"We have another three or four miles. We'd be making better time if you picked up the pace, lardo."

The orangette scowled at that while Kidomaru chuckled and the two redheads smirked. Karin then spoke up, "Kabuto ordered Tayuya and I to split off from you three when we reached the one mile mark."

"...Orochimaru...he's..." Kushina sputtered, realizing why the two redheads were there, honestly horrified. Then she paled, her body suddenly trembling. "...That bastard...is nothing sacred to him...?!"

"Yeah...his own twisted deillusions of grandure!" Chrysalis chuckled.

"Fine by me," answered the silverette. "I could do without the bitch squad anyway."

"Fuck you, you Siamese bastard!" Tayuya shot back. "Not our fault you were born a conjoined drag queen!"

Kiba, still remembering what the two fushion twins had done to him and Akamaru, laughed. Far as he was concerned, those two deserved shots like that.

The mares, however, looked disgusted by the Sound Ninjas' language.

The six-armed male laughed loudly at that while Ukon started to mutter death threats from his place connected to his brother. "I'd watch that attitude, Tayuya," warned Sakon. "Don't forget who's the strongest of our group."

"Oh, I haven't," replied the woman with a cruel smirk. "Too bad Bonehead ain't here, huh? Ain't that a bitch?"

"Bonehead?" Shikamaru frowned. That had to be that last guy...the one Naruto went after while he faced the redhead. But why would he have a nickname like that?

Karin shook her head in amusement before she tapped her fellow female and the two split off from the males before Sakon or Ukon could retort. Once they were out of sight, Ukon commented, "I can't stand that insufferable bitch."

"Ah, quit bitchin' about it," Kidomaru said from behind him. "Orochimaru-sama told us that their target is much stronger than the Uchiha,

Everyone in the main room, fully aware of Sasuke's ego issues as well as him having both a superiority and inferiority complex, chuckled at that. Oh...if only Sasuke knew Naruto's counterpart in the story was held in higher regards by ALL THREE Sanin than his own was...! His reaction would've been priceless!

so if you're lucky they'll be killed by him."

"Fingers crossed," muttered Sakon, making Ukon nod while Jirobo stayed silent.

[Konoha Hospital]

Naruto was seated in a chair in his sensei's room with a small stack of papers rested on his lap while he held a diagram in his hands. The diagram was his personal notes and tweaks concerning the removal or modification of the Ten no Juin (Cursed Seal of Heaven) that he had sketched from his observations of the one on his Uchiha teammate. He had also looked at the Snake Mistress' mark as well; after swearing to tell her as soon as he made a breakthrough, of course.

Anko's jaw dropped, then she looked over at Naruto, who had yet to wake up, suddenly VERY tempted to kiss him. Sure, her Curse Mark was already gone, but that didn't change the fact that she knew full well that if he had the means avalable to him then the kid really would do that, regardless of whatever reality he was in. He was honestly that much of a big-hearted/open-hearted sweetie!

Standing next to him, in her natural pony, form was Twilight who was going over the notes with him. She had her eyes narrowed in concentration as she looked through the original seal and compared it to the changes Naruto was making.

Twilight nodded. It was serious, complex, delicate work...just the way she liked it best, and it was to help others, so of course she'd help with figuring a method out for that!

So far, the violet unicorn found nothing wrong with his work and her summoner was currently working on the largest and final revision of the seal.

"Everything looks to be in order, Naruto," Twilight stated. "You just need to finish the final piece."

"Shame I couldn't see the work and calculation formula from start to finish...would really have helped figure something out for you, Anko." the Princess of Friendship said.

Anko grinned. Sure cute stuff and ponies weren't really her thing, but it was hard not to find these Equestria types endearing at the very least.

"Thanks for looking it over, Twilight-chan," replied the blonde as he kept his focus on the diagram in his hands, missing her small blush. "I hope Rarity is finished with the shop detailing. I can't help but feel as if something is going to happen soon."

"You could just be slightly paranoid," suggested Twilight.

"All things considered, if only it was just that." Celestia winced.

However, the Jinchuriki shook his head with a frown. "No, that's not it… I know something is going to happen, but I just don't know what it is yet."

"Ugh...HATE that." Tsunade groaned, to which everyone nodded.

"Sounds to me like your being cautious, which is good for your position," commented a slightly tired voice, making the other two occupants turn to see Kakashi awake. He eye smiled at his student while the covers of his bed hid the lower half of his face. "It's good to see you're alright, Naruto. I was worried when Itachi said that he was after you."

Luna looked over at Naruto and frowned before her horn glowed and Naruto jerked awake. "Whoa..!" the blond yelped, then put a hand to his head.

"You ok, Darling?" Sunset asked.

"...I...I don't know..." he said to the girl in his lap, "...j-ju-ju-just give me a minute..."

Sunset nodded to he-who-she-adored, it was perfectly understandable. And of all the ways to learn he had further blood relations, this book droping bombs like that so casually...well, confused didn't even begin to cover what Naruto was feeling at that point. He barely adsorbed much else, lost to the emotions boiling inside him.

"Well if it helps, I never ran into him. I was in the Summon Realm when he was looking for me. Although, it's definitely worrisome that someone of his caliber is after me."

"Unfortunately, this kind of situation was bound to happen considering your status."

Kushina glared at her husband.

The blonde sighed as he leaned back into his chair tiredly. "You don't gotta remind me, sensei."

Twilight gave a small smile at the interaction between the two humans. It was obvious that the older male sincerely worried for her friend and that the blonde responded in kind for his teacher. Deciding to let them talk in private, she stated, "I'll see you later, Naruto-kun."

Everyone but Chrysalis smirled. It was sweet of Twilight's other to want them to talk like that.

He smiled at her in reply and nodded before she left in a small puff of smoke. He then turned to his teacher who had a raised brow. "She's one of my summons. A few months back, I found the lost Contract of my clan; the Kouma."

"Ponies…?" asked the slightly confused Jonin.

"It covers a broad spectrum of equines, sensei. But we're getting off topic. What did Itachi do to you exactly, Kakashi-sensei? The pervert told me that he quote 'mind fucked' Sasuke and did the same to you."

The Jonin sighed tiredly with a far off look. "The Tsukuyomi (Moon Reader)… A highly advanced genjutsu revolving around the Mangekyou Sharingan."

"Mangekyou?"

"It is the most advanced stage of the Sharingan that I know of, and requiring it involves acts of the heinous caliber. Apparently, Itachi was rumored to have gained his after killing off his friend Shisui Uchiha.

The mares gasped, utterly horrified.

Naruto, for his part, bit his tongue hard enough to taste blood. He wanted to come to Itachi's defense so badly...! To tell the mares that he was no devil...just a Fallen Angel whose wings were black. Confess the truth of the man's actions and how he martyred himself, and even in death had still fought the good fight, literally!

He really was hating his promise to Itachi to keep the truth hidden.

The Tsukuyomi is one of the techniques that come with the eyes and it traps the victim in a place where the caster controls time and space. I was in there for days when only a couple of seconds at most passed in the real world."

"Dear Kami…" whispered Naruto, trying to imagine what his sensei could've been put through in that time. "No wonder you were hospitalized."

"Yea… Listen to me Naruto," began Kakashi in a dead serious tone, "if you ever run into Itachi in the future, do not look into his eyes. If you do…it'll be over in an instant."

Naruto nodded, then again...Itachi was aware of that, and had honed himself to the point that he could cast genjutsu just by pointing, for heck's sake! Dangerously pragmatic guy...

Naruto frowned at that and nodded in understanding. "I understand, sensei. I have no plans to meet that man anyway."

"Good," sighed his teacher in relief. "You're very important Naruto, and not just because you hold the Kyuubi."

"I know… Heh, I'm his child after all."

Naruto smirked happily at his mom and dad, which they gladly responded to in kind.

The Jonin widened his open eye and looked to his student in surprise, only to see a bored look on his face. "How long have you known?"

The blonde shrugged and answered, "Since the Forest of Death. Orochimaru told me when I fought him." He then frowned and added, "I'm not happy that my own father sealed the fox into me. I understand why he did it, but I'm still pissed off."

Minato sighed miserabily.

"Naruto, I know you have every right to be mad, but could you ask anyone else to give up their own child if you were in his shoes?"

Everyone in the room thought about that for a moment and winced.

"…No. I would never put another family through what I've lived." He then sighed exhaustedly. "Look sensei, I understand his reasons; I do. But, I still went through a rough life because of him and whoever instigated the attack."

"Instigated? The fox attacking was a random occurrence."

Naruto winced, grabbing his head as he felt Kurama get worked up at that, roaring protests.

"Is that what the Sandaime told you?" retorted the blonde with straight face. "I know the truth, sensei. My mother held the fox before I did and it was ripped from her by someone with a Sharingan. I don't know if it was an Uchiha or someone with an implant like you, but I have no doubt that the bastard is still out there. I'm gonna find him," he declared as he stood up and sealed away his notes before heading to the door. "And end him."

While everyone else winced, Chrysalis nodded in full approval. And in all honesty, if the blond's interactions with his parents here were any indication, it made sense that his other would have a chip on the shoulder at being denied such a caring family because of someone else's actions.

Call it justice, call it revenge. It all looked the same when dealt upon those who wronged a person so badly. That was something she fully understood and thoroughly enjoyed.

Kakashi cringed at the cold tone in his student's voice as he left. Sighing once more, he tried to get some more rest while thinking over the revelation of one of the darkest nights in Konoha's history.

'Obito...' Everyone of the ninjas all thought. It was really hard not to hate the guy, even if he had repented and given his life in an attempt to make things right in the end, he'd had a hand in causing so much suffering, death and destruction, it was hard to want to forgive.

[Uzumaki Shōten]

Naruto had to admit that Rarity really went all out for his shop. The entire structure of the building had been repaired so that it stood firm. The walls had been painted a deep red while the symbol of his clan was painted on the ceiling and encompassed the entire space. The floor was layered with smoothed redwood planks that gave it a nice look while empty shelves were spaced perfectly so that there was enough room to maneuver around the place. The outside of the building was a dark orange with a black trim, which the stylish unicorn said was tribute to her summoner's favorite color.

Seeing the work her alternate had done on the shop, Rarity smiled and nodded in satisfaction.

All in all, the Uzumaki Shōten looked like a professional and well placed building for future business in Konoha.

"Rarity… I don't know what else to say other than I love it," praised the blonde as he looked around the shop.

Rarity smiled at Naruto, delighted he loved her work. It felt good knowing her talent with beautification was a universal fact of her existance.

The unicorn, in her human form, smiled proudly from behind the check-out counter. "Why thank you, Naruto. It really was a lot of work, but it was without a doubt worth it. Now this place looks simply splendid and you can open up any time you wish."

She lost her smile in place of a surprised blush as Naruto hugged her. "Thanks a lot Rarity. It's perfect."

Rarity nodded, heeling proud of herself...litteraly! Her other did a good job.

She smiled and hugged him back before they pulled back slightly. Naruto had a grin in place with his eyes closed while she stared into his face with her face growing redder. Gaining the nerve to, she leaned up and gently melded her lips to his, making his eyes widen in surprise. It only lasted a short while before he began to kiss her back with one hand gently caressing her face.

"Spike would really hate this..." Applejack muttered to her friends, they all nodded. Twilight wincing at the idea.

Rarity was on cloud nine as soon as her lips made contact. It was just as Rainbow Dash said; warm, soft, and filled with a promise to protect her. When they pulled back, they both were bright red and she couldn't help but giggle at his nervous grin.

"I'll take that as my reward, Naruto-kun," stated the woman before she kissed his cheek. "Now, all that is needed for this shop is merchandise and workers to run it for you."

Naruto nodded, still blushing faintly at the kiss they shared. "I can get seals made fairly quickly, but I'm not sure who to ask to run the place."

"If I could make a suggestion," began the Element of Generosity, "I believe that my sister and her friends could run this place for you. They've been quite anxious to help you out in any way, Naruto-kun. Running a shop won't be too hard so long as we teach them the basics and how to answer potential questions customers will have."

Ino, having been brought up working in a shop herself, nodded thoughtfully at that.

The blonde thought it over and saw the merit in the idea. "Alright, we'll teach them how to operate a shop first before we give them a trial period."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Rarity with a clap of her hands. "I'll go tell them now." She then gave Naruto one last peck on the lips before she returned to the Summon Realm.

Blush returning, Naruto shook his head with a smile before he left his shop and locked it up with his security seals. Pleased with how his plans were coming along well, he made his way back home.

As he walked, he slowly lost his smile in place of a straight face as he felt as if he was being followed.

"Here we go..." Celestia said with a wince.

He tried to sense any negative emotions in the area, but he couldn't pinpoint the location of his follower. Deciding to take action, he began to go through the back ways of the village streets, hoping to lose them in the sharp turns and thin alleys.

Unfortunately, it didn't make a difference. It was like they knew where he was going right he made the decision. His senses suddenly went haywire though when he felt a dark essence similar to the Juin on Sasuke. He frowned at this before he leapt onto a nearby roof and sped off to one of the training fields at high speed.

Taking a quick look back, he saw two women with red hair following him. This surprised him since it was the same coloration as the Uzumaki Clan. 'What the hell's going on here?'

"Ok, are redheads really THAT rare where you guys are from, and is Naruto supposed to be related to everyone that has red hair?" Applejack asked.

Naruto shrugged, he had no clue.

He landed in an empty field and turned to face his followers with a kunai at the ready. Once they landed, he got a good look at them. The first wore a bandaged hat and had her brown eyes narrowed at him. She wore a tan tunic, black shorts, black sandals, and a purple rope belt.

Rarity gogged. "That snake made his outfit into a uniform?" she said in disgust.

Tsunade shook her head.

The second had her red hair half straight and half frizzy and matching eyes behind rimmed glasses. She wore a lavender uniform that exposed her navel, short black shorts, and long black thigh high stockings with black sandals.

The spectacled one spoke up first while fixing her glasses. "Finally got you alone… How you could be an Uzumaki, I don't think I'll ever know."

Kushina narrowed her eyes as Naruto flinched at the remark from his potential cousin. There was something about that remark coming from someone he'd be related to that stung.

"You say that as if you were one," Naruto retorted, testing the waters in a way.

"Pft, of course I am and I have better proof than you do, Blondie," shot back the woman.

"What makes you think I'm not an Uzumaki?"

"Cut the crap, Karin," admonished the other woman irritably. "We were told to take him with us, not bitch at him."

Karin scowled at her fellow redhead. "I'm not bitching! I'm pointing out facts! Sure, he has high chakra but that can account to being a Jinchuriki! He doesn't have our family hair color and has shown nothing associated with our clan!"

"Wrong move!" Kushina couldn't help but laugh, even if she saw the girl's point.

"Ok...that made it sound like being a redhead's a mandatory requirement to even have Uzumaki blood in your veins. And that by that logic, not only would he be related to EVERY redhead in your world, but Naruto isn't even a real Uzumaki since his hair color's different." Twilight frowned. That sounded completely idiotic.

Her senses suddenly went off and she jumped back from a golden chain stabbing into the ground where she once stood. She followed it to Naruto's outstretched right arm and flinched at the cold stare he gave her.

Kushina couldn't help shaking her head. You were saying, Karin?

"I can tolerate a lot of things, but I refuse to have anyone deny my own blood," he calmly declared, fluxing his chakra furiously.

Karin paled at the sheer force of chakra building up inside Naruto's core. "Tayuya, we gotta move!" she yelled as she leapt into the trees followed closely by the Oto Four member.

Naruto shot off after them, cracking the ground from the force of his leap. "You're not going anywhere!" he roared.

"Well, well, well...looks like those siamese guys just might get their wish after all..." the Changeling Queen said, having seen what Naruto's alternate could do enough times to know by now what he could do.

The two women shot away from the village and began making their way towards the Valley of the End and Ta no Kuni (Land of Rice Fields). "Dammit Karin! You just had to piss him off, didn't you?!" raged Tayuya.

Chrysalis hooted in amusement at that. Oh...stuff like this always gave her a good laugh!

"Look, I'm sorry alright?!" yelled back Karin. "I didn't think he'd go all ballistic on us!"

"Either way, she should've watched her mouth." Shikimaru muttered, ashen faced. If the book was right, than him and Temari had ended up KILLING a family member of one of his friends...how the hell was a person supposed to apologize for or make something like THAT right?!

A sudden blur passed them and they stopped jumping as soon as they saw the blonde standing on a branch ahead of them with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. His branch was on a higher level than theirs, so he was looking down at them.

"Where do you two think you're going?" he asked calmly.

Tayuya pulled out her flute and readied it while Karin pulled out a kunai. "Look, we're only here to have you come with us," Tayuya said. "We never meant to insult you or your connection to our clan."

Naruto shifted, feeling awkward at hearing that.

Naruto raised a brow at that. "Our clan, huh? So you two are Uzumaki then…" He smirked as his eyes closed. "And here I thought I'd have to go searching for more of my people. Are there others?"

"Not that we know of," Karin answered, still wary of the blonde attacking.

"Tell me, are you both aware of our clan history and highest rule?"

"With having to work under Orochimaru? Not likely." Fluttershy said.

Both women looked to one another, confused at the question. "I have basic history about our clan," Karin informed. "But I've never heard of a 'highest rule' concerning it."

"I just know what Karin told me," admitted Tayuya.

"I see… A pity that you both know so little. But then, I guess not everyone has access to the personal writings of one of our greatest members." He frowned at them as his chakra chains poked out of his back. "Mito-sama would be so ashamed of you both, insulting a member of our family."

"Look, we're sorry, okay?" Karin apologized in a hopeful tone.

"What do you mean we?!" cried Tayuya in anger. "I'm not the one who pissed him off!"

Chrysalis chuckled at that.

"Okay okay, I'm sorry!"

"Why should I believe you now? You could be trying to get me to lower my guard and take me to Orochimaru."

"How did you know that?" gasped out Tayuya.

"Please… You think I'm unaware of his interest in me? He practically screamed it at me in the Forest of Death. Plus, I sense his taint on you," he informed, pointing at Tayuya. "He must really want our legacy in his hands if he marked you. Do you even know what that thing does to you?"

"It gives me power that was promised to me!" yelled the flute wielder.

"Is that a fact?" whispered Naruto into her ear from behind, making her jump away in shock. Karin looked between both blondes before she cursed quietly as the one in the trees vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Of course it is," retorted Tayuya as she activated the first stage of her mark. "I can already feel myself getting stronger."

Shaking his head, Naruto held up a half ram seal, making the woman tense before she felt all of her strength leave her. "Oh yea, that's some power there," sarcastically remarked the blonde. "It's so powerful that I'm shaking in my boots. That power is nothing more than a highly believable lie that he's fooled you with. It gives you power, yes; but it also destroys your mind, weakens your body after use, and ensures that the bastard can use your body to stay alive. You're nothing more than another skin for that snake to wear after shedding another."

Naruto saw red at that.

"Shut up, you fucking bastard!" raged Tayuya. "What would you know about Orochimaru anyway?! You've never had to deal with him for most of your life! You've never lived in fear of dying under his sick experiments!"

Everyone flinched at that.

Karin flinched at that, having administered a few of those experiments on others herself under orders. It was cruel seeing what the effects were, and she felt sick at seeing the fascination in the white snake's eyes.

"Not really her fault...with Orochimaru, you're either an asset or an experiment..." Anko said icily.

"You're right," Naruto admitted. "I don't know about life under those conditions. However, I do know that he has messed with my family." His eyes began to glow as his chakra fluxed again. "And I…"

Karin paled again as it reached Jonin level and kept rising.

"…refuse…"

It grew to the level Orochimaru had.

"…to let that damn snake…"

'These are Bijuu levels!' she mentally cried as she and Tayuya backed up from the pure blue shroud of chakra leaking from the blonde.

"…harm my family anymore!" roared Naruto as his chakra spiked to max levels. Both women had their eyes widen in pure shock as two large wings covered in orange feathers sprouted from Naruto's back. They looked worn and battle scarred as they opened up to full length, making him look like a winged veteran under the rising moonlight.

Everyone's jaws dropped at the displayed image.

"Eh...the setting and lighting helps, props on the professional-grade work, Luna." Naruto said to the Moon Princess, even if she didn't control the moon in his world, he had to admit the image of a winged fighter (even if it was himself) with the full moon rising behind him like that was very impressive.

Luna smiled at the praise and recognition. "Thank you, I try."

They flapped once and Naruto took off into the air in an instant before he shot off in the direction of Otogakure (Sound Village) at high speed.

Karin turned to her fellow clan member and yelled, "We gotta move!"

Tayuya nodded and they both took off as fast as they could back to their base.

In another part of Konoha, Sasuke had just knocked out Sakura and left the village.

Sakura shrank in her seat at that.

He had snuck out of his hospital room after being approached by the other members of the Oto Four and informed of the power Orochimaru could offer him. The only reason Sakura was there was because she had seen Sasuke head to his compound and knew that he had plans to leave.

"Funny...from the way you told it to me, it was a case of abduction rather than defection..." Tsunade said to her student.

Sakura gulped.

[With Naruto]

The blonde Jinchuriki was soaring across the skies as he made his way further and further into Ta no Kuni in search of dark chakra sources. He pinpointed a few before he got a general location and dove down like a bullet. His eyes flashed red from the Kyuubi's influence as he was engulfed in a bright orange light and crashed underground in his alicorn form.

"More like a twisted version of it..." Luna shuddered, feeling strongly reminded of Nightmare Moon by the story-Naruto's current mindset.

She looked over at Celestia as her sister took her hand and squeezed it to comfort her.

His eyes had become blood red with black slit pupils as he stood tall in the underground base. A snarl escaped his lips as he bared his sharp fangs at the converging Oto ninja.

"Come on," he growled out as his horn let off an orange light. All that the ninja saw was a flash of light before they were blasted by a burst of mana. He snorted at the downed ninja before he made his way deeper into the base, slowly shifting back into his natural form as he walked. His chains snaked out from his skin and struck at anyone foolish enough to get close.

"Yeah...definitely a "Nightmare" Alicorn..." Sunset said, feeling uneasy at this. She understood why Darling's other was acting like that, but that didn't make it any easier seeing it.

He suddenly ducked under a volley of shuriken before, from a crouched position, held a dragon handseal and sent his four chain tips at the ninja ahead. He fluxed his chakra and had each tip form a Rasengan and plow into the enemies with a whisper of, "Tajū Rasen Yari(Multiple Spiral Spear)."

Everyone winced, sure the Sound ninjas were the bad guys, but given the other Naruto's current mindset, odds were those people were dead.

His chains retreated back into his skin as he kept moving, entering an open spaced room with a snake statue on the opposite wall with glowing yellow eyes. A single seat was placed on the head of the statue and Naruto's eyes narrowed at the sight of Orochimaru on his "throne".

The man chuckled darkly at seeing the Uzumaki he had grown so interested in. "Kukuku... Naruto-kun, so good to see you again."

"Orochimaru…"

"Come now; there's no need for the glare," admonished the man. "I'm not your enemy after all, Naruto-kun. I seek to aid you, not hinder you."

Anko snorted. She so called bullshit to that!

"Really?" asked the blonde in disbelief. "Then explain to me why a member of my family has your cursed hickey. How is that helping me, knowing that a fellow Uzumaki is bound to you?"

The paled skinned man stepped down from the statue head with his smirk never leaving his face. "If you seek to have it removed from her, then I could easily do so…provided you renounce Konoha and join me."

"Join you for what, exactly?"

"Why the conjoining of the entire Elemental Nations under a single banner, of course. As well as deciphering the truth of ninjutsu and chakra."

"You really had to work with someone this crazy?" Rainbow dash asked Tsunade.

"Don't remind me..." the slug-summoner groaned.

"And helping find a way to keep you immortal, right?" asked the Uzumaki with his arms crossed. "I know what you fear, snake. Why else would you target my family and mark one of them with you Juin?"

"Oh, it appears you know quite a bit about my goals, Naruto-kun. I wonder, did that fool Jiraiya tell you?"

"He told me about why the Sandaime chased you out of Konoha… Well, more like let you go," he stated before correcting himself with a scowl. 'Just another mistake you made, old man.'

Everyone looked sick at that.

"I see… Kukuku… It seems like I can't try and use wit against you when you know so much, eh Naruto-kun?" His smirk grew as he and Naruto slowly circled one another with no movements between the two of raising their guard or attacking. "Tell me, what was your goal in coming here? I assume it was retaliation for attempting to have two of your family members try and sway you to my cause?"

Minato and Kushina growled.

Unknown to him, said women had finally made it the base after pushing their bodies to the limit. They stayed out of sight while Karin hid both of their chakra levels from the senses of both males.

"That's part of it," admitted Naruto. "I'm also curious about something."

"Oh, and that would be…?"

"I'm wondering why our summon contracts hate each other so much? My Head Summon stated that yours and his underlings attempted to overtake their part of the Summon Realm. But I can't help but feel as if there's more to it."

The mares all looked especially interested at that.

"And you wish to have me tell you?" asked the man, making Naruto nod slowly. "I suppose it has something to do with Manda causing one of your summon creature to renounce something known as the Creed. Kukuku… Poor thing; it's tragic what the repercussions of her actions were. She became deformed and closed off her heart to any and everyone. But, I suppose that's what you get for going against something spoken so reverently."

Naruto growled at that and gritted out, "Who was it? Who did Manda deceive?"

"Oh, just some poor soul named Chrysalis, the self proclaimed Queen of the Changelings. I suppose the gift of becoming whomever she wished helped soothe the shame of betraying her people."

"WHAT?!"

"LYING BASTARD!" Chrysalis shouted, mortally offended and utterly scandalized at the accusation. She was NEVER a pony!

Naruto's eyes bled red at that before he forced himself to calm down. He took a deep breath before he looked the Sannin dead in the eye.

"You know that I won't willingly join you, snake. However, I have a proposal."

"Oh god...!" Naruto cried, horrified. His other...he wouldn't...!

Yellow eyes gleamed as Orochimaru replied, "Go on…"

"I want three things: the immediate removal of the Juin from Uzumaki Tayuya and your word that she and Uzumaki Karin will be able to come with me without repercussion."

"Easily doable, though I'm quite reluctant to do so," commented the man. "And the last condition…?"

"I want the last known location of Chrysalis. Do those things and I won't take action against you turning Sasuke to your cause. I can feel his anger amplified from you Juin from here, so I know you had some of your subordinates take him away."

"He left willingly." Choji growled.

"And what makes you think you can do anything? You're here and Sasuke-kun is on his way while I stand between you both. You and I know that you can't win against me, Naruto-kun."

"True, I can't… But, that doesn't mean that I can't kill him from here and ruin your plans."

"HELLO...!" Chrysalis grinned. She liked where this was going!

The man raised a skeptical brow and asked, "How do you expect me to believe that?"

Smirking, Naruto replied, "You weren't there when he was hospitalized. I was, and I left him a little…surprise should I be under the impression that he's a threat to Konoha and my family. Tell me Orochimaru, how can you take over the Uchiha when his body begins to break down from the inside…starting from his eyes?"

The man's eyes widened at the question before his smirk finally left in place of a scowl. "You put a seal on him," he stated more than asked.

"Of course," admitted Naruto. "My people were known for their seals and I studied ones meant for traitors and threats to my clan. The Arechi Fuiin (Desolation Seal) was by far the most…effective."

"I wanna see that thing at work." Chrysalis said, enjoying the description of it. She enjoyed desolation and horrific deaths.

The Sannin gave a low hiss in anger at his oversight of the blonde doing anything to Sasuke. Knowing that he was cornered if he still wanted the Sharingan, he held up a half ram seal and stated, "Juin: Kai (Cursed Seal: Release)."

From their position out of sight, Tayuya gripped her shoulder and gritted her teeth in pain as the Juin on her shoulder burned off of her skin completely.

"It is done," Orochimaru said with his scowl still in place. "And your end…?"

Naruto nodded and held the same handseal while declaring, "Fuiin: Kai (Seal: Release)." He kept the seal up for a few seconds before lowering his hand and nodding. "The seal is gone. Now, I'll be leaving and I'll keep my word. Sasuke is yours to do with as you please. But first, the location."

Naruto covered his mouth swallowing his vomit, he was hating this!

Sunset spared him a glance before she stood up and Naruto bolted for their room, the sound of him hurling echoed through the space moments later as he let out a series of vomiting.

Orochimaru said nothing for a moment as he turned and headed down one of the hallways. Over his shoulder, he called out, "The last direction I saw her heading to were your peoples' ruins. I presume that she would be there living in exiled solitude."

Twilight opened her mouth, then, given the heavy mood of the chapter, thought better of voicing the correction this time.

Naruto nodded, though the man didn't see it, before he headed back down the path he came from. As he walked, he called out, "You two can come out now. I knew where you were since Tayuya still had her Juin when you arrived."

The two Uzumaki dropped from their hiding place and stood before their blonde family member. "…Why did you do that?" asked Tayuya in a whisper, still holding where her seal once resided.

They were slightly surprised to see Naruto smile as he answered, "Because I believe in our peoples' Creed and I will do anything I can for my family; even go to the Nine Levels of Hell for them."

"He would go that far for the people he cares about." Tsunade nodded.

He placed a comforting hand over hers as his smile softened. "You two…are my family, along with many others that I hope to introduce you to. I won't let anything happen to you, but I want you both to come with me. I don't want our people to be divided anymore, and I will do everything in my power to rebuild Uzu and bring our name back into the light."

The mares all nodded.

Both of them stared at him in slight awe at the pure sincerity and determination behind his words. Slowly, hey gave small smiles in return and nodded to him. "Okay, we'll come with you," Karin stated.

"Yea, I'm looking forward to what you have in store, Shithead," added Tayuya with a smirk.

Naruto chuckled as he resumed his alicorn form, surprising them before he lowered himself."Alright then. Get on and we can head home."

'Home… That sounds nice,' both women thought before they got on his back. With a powerful flap of his wings, the three Uzumaki took off toward Konoha.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru couldn't help but smirk at how well Naruto had played his proverbial hand. Truly, the blonde Uzumaki will be a worthy adversary in the future.

"Well...at least he's given up on recruiting Naruto..." Celestia said, somewhat listlessly.

"Don't you dare judge him, any of you!" Sunset and Hinata both shouted, glaring at everyone else in the room.

But for now, he'd hold off on taking over the Uchiha. The boy still needed to have his body mature a bit more before he would be "ripe" enough for the snake's soul to inhabit.

Tenten set the book down as the sound of Naruto continuing to puke continued.