Hello everyone!

I apologize once again for the long wait. My brother-in-law (practically my father) had to go to the E.R. last week-ish to get an emergency Surgery. he's fine now, but I've had to spend most of my time between helping him do things, schoolwork, and stressing about my stories to actually sit down and write.

He's still alive, and He'll be living a while yet, but he does have to go back into the hospital sometime soon-ish to get the tubes and stitches out of him. so we'll have to wait a bit for a full on recovery.

meanwhile, I've written you an extra long chapter, over 7,000 words. I know I said it was probably going to be short...

well I lied.

some people let me know in the comments that some of y reasoning was flawed, and after re-reading it, I can understand why they'd think so.

I don't necessarily believe that that was what I was going for, but that's what this chapter is for.

Now, in order to explain everything, I had to spend most of this chapter in a sort of flashback, so that took away on my Jenova-Naruto time. which is unfair, so I'll be leaving most of my Jenova-Naruto related happenings for next chapter, that way you guys can still see the awesome and terrifying power of Jenova without it being cheapened by me trying to rush through the story.

that does mean you'll have to wait a bit more for Jenova to come into full play, but I did include some Jenova still.

warning: creepy /horror themes are in this chapter along with graphic depictions of violence.

Next chapter will have even more horror/ graphic violence. in my defence, Jenova's concept is scary. I will be making full attempts to play it as true to Jenova's character as possible.

also, someone gave me a pm and let me know I was misspelling Jinchuriki. my thanks goes to that person, and I shall be fixing the spelling where I can. that does mean I did go back to chapter 1 and did some spelling corrections. otherwise, nothing else has changed.

And now for the story.

-Enjoy (Swordood)

Prologue: 10 hours before Calamity

Yamanaka Ayako was an active Chunin who served Konoha for three years now. She had only been promoted recently, for her service in the war.

She was not a front line fighter. Rather, she served in communications, relaying information to and from the battlefield. Luckily, she was not in the same bunker that Inoichi, the clan head, had been.

Her clan would survive, The former clan head's daughter, Ino, was bright, and Ayako was confident she would lead the clan the best she could.

Anyway, that isn't important to Ayako's story.

What is important is that Ayako had been deployed on a mission, though not with her Genin team.

Her team was practically gone, she and her teammate Hyuuga Yasushi were the only ones left.

Yasushi was injured during the war, having his leg blown off from an explosion tag planted by Madara himself. It was a wonder he was alive.

But for now Ayako was on a mission with another team of Chunin, a couple of Inuzuka's and a clan-less kid. They were nice and all, but they weren't her team.

They had been ordered to patrol a distance from the small outpost the untied villages had set up. It wasn't much, just a small relief station to help out the villages that had been devastated in this theater of the war.

Ayako lifted a finger to her earpiece, activating it with a push to the button. "Ayako here. What's the situation with you guys?"

There was a brief silence as she waited for a reply.

"This is Takehiko, nothing on my watch." Ayako heard a brief bark come over the line before it was cut off on the device, an echo coming from some distance to her right.

Similar answers can over her earpiece, meaning there was no change, again. Man she was bored.

"Let me know immediately if you see anything." She sighed into the talkie.

"Why should I report anything to you?" The static's voice came over her earpiece again.

"Because I was made leader you brat!" Ayako reared herself up in anger.

"You're only the leader because your so bossy!"

"No Takehiko, I'm the boss because your Sensei entrusted the mission to me while he's recovering!"

"I don't understand why he'd leave the position to you when you aren't even part of this team!"

"Because none of you are responsible enough to do it!

"I am too responsible!"

"You lost the last mission scroll, while you were reading it." A dry voice cut into their conversation.

"Oh shut up Yoichi! That was one time!"

"Actually, it happens all the time."

"Well it's not like you're any better!"

"Which is precisely the reason your Sensei entrusted me to lead you on this mission." Ayako held her hand to her chest, holding her chin high.

"She's got you there Takehiko."

The line cut then, and Ayako could hear loud cursing a distance to her right again. She laughed heartily.

Now that she thought about it, they should probably spread out just a little more. Their earpieces would let them communicate farther than shouting distance, and it would help them cover more ground. Covering more ground meant they would finish patrol faster, which meant they could head back to camp sooner. Which meant she would be able to spend more time with her Yasushi in recovery.

She blushed at the thought, mentally pushing the thoughts away. It wouldn't be good to be distracted.

She brushed her hair back, listening to the sound of the wildlife.

Wait, why was it so silent?

She tended, eying her surroundings warily. A quick burst of chakra confirmed there was no illusion. Then where did all the sound go.

Speaking of sound… "Takehashi, you notice anything?"

She waited for a response. When none came in she frowned. "Takehashi, respond."

Still nothing.

"Yoichi, Nobuo, circle back to me now. We need to check in with Takehashi, idiot isn't answering his mic."

She cursed when they didn't answer, drawing out a kunai and silently pushing through the undergrowth towards Takahashi.

She refrained from yelling, even though she knew whatever enemy was there knew she was nearby. If she shouted now, she would only reveal her position.

She heard cracking sticks behind her, and she twirled around, throwing her kunai.

It embedded in a tree directly next to Takehashi's head.

She breathed a sigh of relief, before sucking in one of anger. "What the hell Takehashi! Why aren't you answering the comm!?"

He held up one hand, which contained a broken comm. the other rubbed at his neck sheepishly. "It fell off my head and broke."

"Baka! Making me worry! This is just like you!" She turned back the way she was heading to, storming her way through the undergrowth and the direction of where her other comrades should have been.

She stumbled on something warm, and she cursed turning back to kick it.

Only to scream.

Her eyes met a bloody mess, what looked to be the torn remains of Takehashi's ninken partner, Miko. Ayako held both hands to her mouth, sickness pooling into her stomach. Takehashi would be devastated.

Her face wrinkled in confusion. Why wasn't Takehashi devastated?

"Something wrong Ayako?"

Ayako felt her spine prickle with fear. It was Takehashi's voice, but it was wrong! She couldn't place why, But it was wrong!

She stood frozen, a cold sweat breaking out over her entire skin. She could sense a giant presence looming over her from behind, even if she knew Takahashi to be a few inches shorter than herself. She was careful not to move prematurely, for she knew her next move determined if it was her last.

She bolted forward suddenly, desperately pushing past the undergrowth. She launched herself up to the treetops, hopping through the limbs in an effort to getawayGetawayGetaway!

GETAWAY!

She looked behind her, eyes frantically darting from shadow to shadow. She could see nothing.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Too soon.

She tripped as something cold and black wrapped around her foot, her ankle snapping as she collapsed hard. She cried out in pain.

Then she screeched in terror as it dragged her down into the darkness.

3 weeks before Calamity: Imprisonment

Approximately 1 hour before confrontation:

Sasuke Uchiha sat on the wooden stool, staring into his cup of tea in silence. He was the picture of detached tranquility. For those who didn't know him, the real him, they would think he was calm and collected. There weren't many people still living that Sasuke could picture seeing through his facade, he could count them one one hand and have more to spare.

The truth of the matter was that his mind was a swirling mess of chaos. Thoughts slammed into his head one after the other, quenching his fears and worries only to raise new ones.

The thought that was prevalent over all the others though, was 'what do I do now?'

He had spent his whole life almost, ever since that one terrible night, striving to avenge his clan, to chase down the one responsible for the murder of his clan. He had spent every waking moment of every day since he was seven training to kill his older brother.

Finally, after years of training, years spent as the loyal lapdog of an insane Sannin, of abandoning his home and living as a rogue. Of endless nights and days gathering allies and tracking his brother down, Finally, he beat his sick brother and avenged his clan.

Only to find out he was lied to. Betrayed… not by his brother, who all this time had bore responsibility of a clan who faced genocide, but by the very village they had sworn their allegiance to. The leaders he had looked up to, at one time.

His anger at learning that the leaders of the village he was born in ordered the Uchiha's execution was indescribable. His betrayal, the hurt, the guilt he felt for his brother's wrongful death. It tore into him. So much so he agreed to join the very organization his brother had once been a part of. All in an effort to avenge Itachi, despite his brother's hope's and his own plans.

And after months of hunting down Jinchuriki, dodging patrols from multiple nations, and following that man's orders, he learned another truth.

The full truth.

Itachi wasn't the only one who was there that night, murdering his own clan. He had had help.

Help in the form of that man! The same man who was then using him for his own, twisted goals.

Sasuke once again defected, striking out on his own in search of answers. Answers he found in the form of the reanimated Hokage.

From there, he learned much of what happened that night and the time leading up to it, of what went on behind the scenes. Why the Third Hokage made the choice he did.

And Sasuke almost couldn't fault the man. Even if he still hated his decision and what it led to.

And for the first time in his life, Sasuke wanted to do something he never had before. Not since before his life began to be led by his need for vengeance, and long before he had begun to be manipulated by others through his need for it.

He wanted to do the right thing. He just didn't know how.

And so, he let the Hokage decide his course of action. Of course, he didn't let them know they were making that decision, he hid it behind an interrogation and subtle word play, of course. He was an Uchiha, he had an image to keep despite his existential crisis.

The Hokage's helped guide him to join the war, this time on the side of the allied shinobi forces. Of his old Genin team.

The war was hard, long, and grueling. He gained new powers, learned the truth of the Uchiha curse of hate, and many other things.

And so, here he sat, sipping tea in a tent on his own, feeling out of place in the company of the gathered shinobi forces and trying not to draw any attention until he decided what to do. There were many things he could do, he just didn't know what would be the right thing to do.

His tent flap opened, and Sasuke discreetly tensed, eying the intruder with red Sharingan eyes.

The Jonin at the opening tensed ever so slightly, eyes darting to look away from the Sharingan red.

Figures, no none-Uchiha dared to meet the gaze of an active Sharingan. No one but Naruto that is.

"The Kage wish to see you, Uchiha"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the lack of respect the Jonin gave him, but the man already left the tent. He stood up, abandoning his tea in favor of leaving his tent.

Outside, two full teams of Anbu and Jonin wearing the allied shinobi forces Hiate stood waiting.

"They wish for us to escort you to the conference tent, Uchiha-san." the leader of the Anbu team spoke up.

Sasuke Uchiha stepped into the large tent, eying the improvised desks that had been placed for each Kage's use during negotiations. Of the five Kage, only two were present, the red haired woman from Kiri and the old man from Iwa. Sitting at the Hokage's desk was an older woman he vaguely remembered as being one of the Third's advisors. Ko-something.

"Uchiha Sasuke. It is good to see you arriving in a timely manner."

Sasuke raised an eye at the old woman's words. "I won't say the same for you all. Where are the other Kage?"

"The Raikage and Kazekage are on their way from their respective fronts. Despite having won the war, it is imperative that we search for and eliminate any last Akatsuki member or sympathizer. On top of that, there are still several duties such as gathering bodies and searching for wounded that each Kage is responsible for, which takes time on top of the time it takes to travel between fronts. They will be here soon.

Sasuke nodded at the woman's words, ignoring the barb aimed at his past membership. "And the Hokage?"

The woman grimaced. "She is on bed rest."

Sasuke raised his brow. "Then someone she trusts will fill in for her then? When will the substitute arrive?"

"She is already here." The woman's lips sneered derisively, offended.

He smirked. "You? Who are you to the Hokage that she would trust you to handle her affairs."

"I am Utatane Koharu. I was the personal advisor of the Third Hokage for decades." Her eyes held a glint of challenge.

"Was." He turned away from her, uncaring. "'Was' is the keyword there. I did not ask who you were to the Third Hokage. I asked who you are to the Fifth." He waited for her to speak.

When she did not, he turned back to her and smirked. "I see. Then this is a selfish way for you to grab power while the Hokage is incapacitated."

Koharu snorted and stammered angrily. "This is no such thing! I am here to represent Konoha's interests in the council of Kage. I am the only person available with the necessary experience and knowledge to deal with this situation."

"If you say so."

The Mizukage sighed explosively, pinching the bridge of her nose. "If we can please start with why we summoned you here, Uchiha-san, that would be great. We did not ask you here to harass the Hokage's advisor."

Sasuke's smirk slipped, replaced with a passive expression that he eyed the Mizukage with. "why have you summoned me here?"

"Because as much as some of us wish to hold you accountable for joining the Akatsuki, the rest have decided you're power will be required while dealing with an issue we are facing." The short old man, Onoki, grumbled.

"You… need me?" Sasuke stretched out. "For?"

"We need your help in apprehending the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto." Mei answered.

"Why?"

"Because you're the only one strong enough to fight her single-handedly." Onoki grumbled.

"No, why? Why do you need me to fight her?"

"Because we will be apprehending her and the eight tails Jinchuriki." This was said by Koharu

"Again why?!" Sasuke growled, taking a threatening step forward.

"Ok, look." Mei stepped forward. "Obviously we need to give him more information if we want Uchiha-san to cooperate."

She turned to Sasuke. "Uchiha-san, these past few months have been a nightmare, you've seen what happened. We've had to fight against psychopaths, an un-dead army, a clone army, we've had to fight against people we once cherished and celebrated, and even people we've despised. We've had to fight against legends made flesh again, and a demonic goddess. Hell, we faced the end of the world and almost lost against it!" She shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"What does any of all that have to do with arresting the Jinchuriki?"

Mei grimaced at Sasuke's words. "What do you think their objective was?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Yes, the Akatsuki's goal was to capture the Jinchuriki for the Bijuu they held, to use their chakra to power their weapon… Jutsu, Genjutsu, whatever the hell it was. "So you're going to arrest the two most politically connected people in the entire world, who, might I remind you, are solely responsible for saving the planet, based solely on the crime that they were targeted by a group of terrorists bent on world domination!" Sasuke ranted, steaming outwardly. "And I get that each country has suffered at the hands of the Akatsuki, really I do. But you forget who the biggest victims actually were! Surely you haven't forgotten that the Jinchuriki were the ones hunted down to be slaughtered, which by the way, happened only after they had the Bijuu ripped out of their bodies! All this while the villages watched passively until it was clear there were only two of them left!"

"We haven't forgotten, Uchiha. Especially not the part where you were part of their little band!" Onoki growled.

Sasuke nearly snarled back, but Mei interrupted them both with a sharp look.

"Look, we get how it looks. But we are not arresting them because we feel they are at fault. We are taking them into protective custody."

Sasuke snorted. "A fancy title for imprisonment."

"Maybe." Onoki admitted. "But it's better than having the whole world destroyed by power hungry maniacs!"

"As the Tsuchikage says, we have seen how far the likes of Uchiha Madara and the Akatsuki will go to accomplish their goals. We don't know if there are still Akatsuki sympathizers out there, or even those with similar goals." Mei's state gained a faraway glaze. "We cannot risk that happening. Not again."

"So what, you would have me attack her? Betray her again, after everything that's happened? Undo everything she's done to make sure I can return home without being locked away?" Sasuke's projected steal into his voice, trying to convey his own unwillingness for this scheme.

"We are not asking you to attack her at all, just be there in case things go wrong. We are asking you to make the right choice. If not to save the lives of every single person in the world, then for Uzumaki's life, and to spare her the guilty conscience should her death would cause the world."

"Then why not just talk to her. Tell her your suspicions. She'll understand then, there's no need to arrest her unjustly if she can be made to understand."

"Yes." Onoki scoffed. "Just like she understood that we were holding her in a secure location for her protection, that the war we were fighting was to continue to hide her. She certainly understood when she left that hiding spot, and jeopardized the entire war effort by throwing herself headfirst at the enemy!"

Sasuke faltered. "You're just being paranoid. There are no sympathizers left. I should know, Toby admitted to being the only Akatsuki member still alive at the beginning of the war, and there were no supporters anywhere to be seen then."

The two Kage looked at each other then, communicating silently.

"What do you know that I don't" he demanded then. If they were looking at each other like that, it could only mean they knew something.

Onoki shook his head irritably. "You can tell the boy if you wish. It won't change anything."

Mei sighed, rubbing her temples at Onoki. "Look, Sasuke-san. This is a secret for a reason. We don't want word getting out and causing a panic that can be avoided. Especially because it's unconfirmed."

"Tell me."

Mei lowered her voice, mindful of the thin tent walls. "These are unconfirmed reports, but there have been sightings of a black Zetsu roaming around the cliff-sides just a few miles away from here. We've already sent teams to investigate, but so far nothings turned up."

Sasuke felt his ire rising. "If these reports are unconfirmed, then why are you so willing to throw Naruto into 'protective custody?!'"

"Because we cannot take the chance if it turns out to be true!" Onoki growled. "We have seen what happens when we allow a problem to go ignored for too long before. We will never let a problem grow like that again. Not on my watch!"

Sasuke grew quiet at this, considering. He sighed, shoulders slumping as he considered defeat. "You will be arresting her without my help anyway." His statement was not a question.

"If you help us, there will be fewer casualties that she will come to regret." Mei confirmed.

"I will think about it, but do not expect me to be your loyal lapdogs." Sasuke stormed out of the tent, thoughts heavy.

His entire life had been spent looking for vengeance. He never once had to worry about right or wrong, only what would bring him closer to fulfilling his vengeance.

He wished he had more practice now.

Was this right? Was it wrong? The only person he trusted to answer the question couldn't be asked, due to her current position. He could only hope she would forgive him if he was In the wrong.

It certainly felt wrong.

2 weeks before calamity: liberation

Samui watched the small convoy as they traveled the dirt road. Her eyes tracked the wagon they were escorting, the tarp covering their target.

She put a finger in her ear, activating her earpiece. "Target is in sight. What are your positions?"

"Omoi here, I'm in the bush across the road from you."

"Kurui reporting in. I'll be bringing up the rear. Currently following the target from behind."

"Received. The moment the signal goes off we rush in."

"Understood."

Samui watched carefully as the shinobi led the wagon closer to her position. Her position in the trees was favorable for the mission, not so much for her body. Her leg was feeling the pins and needles even now. She dare not give herself away by shifting however.

Such thoughts distracted her from the anger she had been feeling ever since Killer-B had been abducted, along the Kyuubi Jinjuriki. She had thought, after being freed from the Benihisago, that they would all finally be able to relax without worrying about being persecuted anymore. Turns out she was wrong.

The moment the war ended, Uzumaki and Killer-B were betrayed by the paranoid Kage. The only reason she hadn't been abducted yet was because she had opted to return home with the first wave of Kumo shinobi, and then the warning A-sama had given her allowed her to hide before suffering the same fate as Killer-B.

She had faith that A-sama would work things out. But until then, she and her team would be rescuing Killer-B, and if they had the chance, Uzumaki as well.

Which explained why the three of them were hiding in the treeline of some backwater country. They had finally tracked the group of shinobi carrying their captured mentor, and would be carrying out a rescue attempt now.

Finally, the wagon reached the point of no return. Samui tensed in preparation.

The wheel sunk into the covered pit Omoi had prepared, causing the wagon to jolt to a stop as it collapsed into the dirt. The shinobi driving the cart exclaimed with surprise, falling out of their seat, while the man's team turned in surprise.

It was too easy. Almost too easy. Especially given the week spent tracking and catching up to them.

Samui's team took down their enemy before they had a chance to fight back, performing non-lethal blows to avoid any more political fallout. A-sama has enough to deal with without the other villages being able to justify their actions because Samui's team sought justice for their friend's kidnapping.

Kurui and Omoi nodded at her, and Sumui felt herself breath deeply. The first part of their mission was complete. Now they just needed to collect their friends and get out of there.

Samui approaches the wagon, breaking open the padlocked door with ease. She threw the door open, her eyes narrowing at the sight that greeted her.

The large figure was definitely Killer-B, much too muscular to be Uzumaki. But there were a few problems.

One: Killer-B was wrapped head to toe in sealing paper. It reminded her of the few undead shinobi she had seen sealed away during the war, to prevent escape and to take them out of the fight because they literally couldn't die.

The second problem: Killer-B was alive. The Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and certain forces within Konoha had completely disregarded any rights that Killer-B deserved as a Kumo shinobi, bounding him cruelly in such a way to prevent any movement and possibly sucking away their chakra to prevent escape that way. It was beyond a shred of doubt in her mind that Uzumaki was in the same condition somewhere, though Samui wouldn't be able to help her right now.

It made her blood boil, that they would treat a Kumo shinobi so inhumanely, even if they were Jinchuriki. It made her glad to be a Kumo shinobi even more, at least Kumo treated their Jinchuriki like human beings, even if not everyone liked them.

She removed a kunai, cutting away at the sealing paper with some difficulty. Soon, her friend and mentor was free of his restrictions, even if he was out cold.

She lifted the heavy man onto her back, ordering her team to move out. It was likely that reinforcements were already on their way. It would be best not to be caught at the scene of the crime.

1 week before calamity: confrontation

Tsunade slammed her hand into the table. "I demand that Uzumaki Naruto be returned to us immediately!"

"I've told you already, you have no right to make demands of us, especially when it was your stand in who agreed with us, and your shinobi who helped bring the two of them in!" Onoki growled out in annoyance.

"That advisor, as well as the shinobi responsible, have already faced punishment. They acted outside their jurisdiction, and against my own personal wishes." Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

"Tsunade-San, please understand we are not interested in starting a fight. We only wish to prevent another catastrophe like Kaguya." Mei spoke up.

"If you didn't want a fight, you would not have kidnapped our shinobi!"

"Maybe. But it was necessary."

"How so?" Tsunade growled. "What put it into your minds that it was 'necessary' to cause an international incident by kidnapping two of the biggest shinobi village's Jinchuriki? Please tell me what reason besides wild rumors you have that made you violate the treaty only days after it was signed?"

"They are not rumors." Mei shook her head. "Not anymore at least."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means we were right." Onoki grumbled our, handing her an envelope. "The sightings have been confirmed. Somehow Black Zetsu is alive. And he's looking for something."

"How is he alive though?" Shizune questioned from Tsunade's side. "I thought Naruto sealed Zetsu within the same seal Sasuke and her sealed Kaguya in."

"She did. I saw it myself." Gaara supplied.

"Then how is he here?" A asked.

"If black Zetsu is anything like his white counterpart, then it is entirely possible that black Zetsu can duplicate his cells, allowing for a unique clone that can act on its own, similar to the shadow clone." Kakashi spoke up. "All that would be needed are a few cells and maybe some genetic material, possibly from a dead body. It's likely that there were some leftover cells somewhere that were left behind when Naruto sealed the Black Zetsu with Kaguya."

"That just proves my point." Tsunade growled. "Naruto needs to be inside the village, not some unknown bunker where nobody could get to her in time should something happen!"

"If we allow the Jinchuriki to stay in any of the major villages, Zetsu will know where to look for them!"

"He always knows where to look for them! He was Akatsuki's spy for a reason!" Exploded. Shizune patted her back in a soothing gesture.

Soon, she was calm, and she began speaking as such. "Look, I don't care how panicked you were when you made the decision, I get it. Kaguya and Madara were scary offspring of bitches. What's important now is that the Jinchuriki are returned to their homes safe and soundly."

"We wouldn't be able to do that." Mei shook her head tiredly. "First off, the Raikage has already taken the Eight tailed Jinchuriki back on his own. I wouldn't even know where he went. Second, I was only in charge of securing the Hachibi Jinchuriki. The Kyuubi Jinchuriki was left to the Tsuchikage to deal with."

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Obviously a group of former Kumo shinobi defected to find and rescue the Hachibi Jinjuriki on their own." A denied easily.

Tsunade turned her glare over to the older Kage, who glowered back at the entire group.

"Am I the only one out of this entire group who never wishes to see the events of the Fourth Shinobi World War come to pass ever again?! You will doom us all!"

"It's quite the opposite really." Kakashi spoke up. If you do not return our shinobi, the Jinchuriki, back to their rightful homes, we will be forced to retrieve her with force. You do not seem to understand the danger you are putting us all in by keeping our Jinchuriki away from their villages, making them vulnerable to attack!"

Mei sighed, looking to Onoki for confirmation. The Tsuchikage scowled.

He stood up from his desk abruptly. "I refuse to partake in allowing Kaguya to return again! If you want to take back the Jinchuriki, Fine! Take her, I do not care. Do not expect me to apologize should I turn out to be right!"

He turned and left the room as fast as his old body would allow, trusting in his subordinates to reveal the details to the other Kage's delegations.

Tsunade studied the hand drawn map with intensity, estimating the exact coordinates on her own map of the world.

"That's a long journey we.'planet have to make to retrieve Naruto." Shizune not her lip, looking over her mentor's shoulder. "We'll have to prepare appropriately."

Kakashi stepped forward, putting a hand on the desk next to the map. "I can set out immediately if you wish." He stared earnestly, waiting for her order.

Tsunade shook her head. "Shizune is right. We're not prepared for the terrain this journey will throw at us right now. We'll need to rush back to Konoha and restock before making such a trip."

Kakashi nodded, even if all he wanted was to rush off now. "At least this will allow us to recruit Naruto's friends to come with us."

Tsunade silently agreed. "Come, the sooner we make it back to Konoha the sooner we can get Naruto back."

And the sooner she could question the Uchiha personally. She'd been too busy fixing the Uchiha's and Koharu's mess to do so before.

6 Days before Calamity: Konoha

Sasuke sat calmly on the bed of his holding cell, even as his mind raced. Questions, regrets, objections, all of these and more occupied his mind.

Did he make the right choice?

He didn't know.

All he did know was that he made the choice, and he could not take it back. Maybe, he could make it up to everyone, after this was all over.

His musings were interrupted once again, the loud squeal of the metal hinges door jolting him away from his thoughts.

He opened his eyes, eyes darting to the figure at the door.

He didn't get a chance to study his visitor before he was shoved into the wall, the assailants arm pressing hard into his neck.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you for your crimes Uchiha! Why should I excuse your most recent bout of treason?" Senju Tsunade, Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, growled angrily.

Sasuke gulped silently, eyes darting as he tried to justify his actions. It was difficult, especially because he had yet to justify the actions to himself.

"Well? I'm waiting!" Tsunade pressed her arm further into his neck, eyes glaring unflinchingly into his own. He was too preoccupied to consider activating his Sharingan, and it was probably a good thing. Seeing her now, she would probably kill him for any sign of defiance.

Sasuke took in as deep a breath into himself as he could, readying himself for the possible ramifications of his answer. "I was only doing what I thought was right." He choked out.

Tsunade released her grip on him just a little,

But that did little to comfort him. Her eyes were even more vivid than before, if that was even possible. "And how is betraying Naruto, the one person in this entire village who advocated for you after you abandoned it for Orochimaru, right in any way?!"

He shook his head. "I wasn't betraying her…" before she could lash out at his answer, he rushed to finish. "I was making sure she didn't do anything she would regret!"

Tsunade released Sasuke slowly, eying him with a critical eye. He rubbed his sore neck, gasping for air in as dignified manner as he could manage.

"Explain." Tsunade's voice was just as hard, if a little more calm.

Sasuke took a moment to catch his breath. "No matter what I did, the other Kage would have attempted to capture Naruto and Naruto would have fought back. If I didn't step in, there was a possibility that Naruto could have killed someone. And we both know her feelings on killing."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "What is your stance on the matter?"

Sasuke knew she was referring to the fears that people held, the ones about the possible chance of a second war like the last one. "I understand where they are coming from, even if I don't believe it fully."

"Then why did you help them?"

"I only wanted to do the right thing." He answered.

Tsunade shook her head irritably. "That is not the right thing."

Sasuke sighed. "I know. I've never been the best at figuring that out."

He could see Tsunade mentally throw her hands into the air in frustration. Instead, he got a warning finger thrust into his face.

"You only have one chance, Uchiha, that's all you're getting. If you screw up again, I will not hesitate to end you then and there. I am sending a team to retrieve Naruto, you will be on the team. Know, however, that you will be watched closely. Any unsatisfactory behavior will be reported and judged accordingly. Behave, and I may just decide some time in house arrest will be all that's required before vetting and putting you back on active duty is on the table."

She turned to leave, before stopping. She fixed him with a serious glare. "From now on, any time you make a decision, check with Hatake. He will be vetting your decisions until all concerned parties are convinced you won't screw up like this again." She stepped out of the room, unconcernedly throwing out one final comment. "The team leaves in an hour. Pack everything you'll need to survive harsh desert like terrain for an entire week."

Sasuke was finally left alone, and he took a relieved breath.

His decision had not been the right decision. But at least he had the chance to make it right.

1 day before Calamity

The 'Naruto retrieval team' approached the cave, steps tense and senses wary. The report they had received indicated that a team of Iwa shinobi had been sent to guard Naruto, which left them out of contact with Iwa itself. They had paperwork with orders from Iwa itself to release Naruto, but they had been warned that it was possible the Iwa shinobi would attack anyway.

They had not been warned about this possibility, however.

"U-um. My Byakugan is-isn't picking anything up." Hinata stammered, even as her eyes roamed around the outside of the prison, gazing past the cliff-side and the walls within.

"I'm also getting a strange scent mixed in with blood. There was a fight here." Kiba's grisly voice piped up.

Shikamaru took the information in silently, plans and contingencies racing through his mind one after the other. "Shino? Are your bugs picking anything up."

"There are several remnants of chakra sources lingering in the air. They're old… whatever happened here happened days ago."

Shikamaru cursed, grimacing tightly. "We'll split into two groups. Kiba, Akamaru, Hinata and Shino, search the area around the prison. See if you can't pick up any trails leading to or from here. Lee, Tenten, accompany them please. They'll need backup in case they're attacked. Sasuke, Sakura, follow Choji, Ino and I. There's a chance that if Naruto's still here she'll need medical attention."

A chorus of hai's signaled each group setting out to fill out their duties. Shikamaru nodded to his own group, warily stepping into the cold shadows of the cave prison.

Shikamaru stepped over another half of a body, scanning through the crime scene in search of evidence. "Sakura, did you determine the cause of death?"

Sakura cleaned her hands on a rag, stepping away from the most recent body to have been examined. she shook her head in answer. "No. There simply isn't enough of the body left to be able to tell what killed them. They could have been alive when they were torn apart for all I can figure out."

"Have you determined what the muck is from?" Shikamaru gestured. Each of the bodies had a blackish goo-like substance over them, and it reeked.

It wasn't their priority, but it was strange.

Sakura shook her head. "I've taken samples, but there isn't much I can do without the sophisticated equipment back home."

Shikamaru sighed, but relented anyway. Trying to push for answers where there were none was too troublesome to work himself up about, so he would leave it at that.

"We found what looks to be the cell Shikamaru."

Shikamaru turned at Choji's voice, his childhood friend entering the room, followed closely by Ino and a grouchy Sasuke.

He held back his irritation at seeing Sasuke for now, turning his attention back to Choji. "Lead the way.

He and Sakura followed the others through the twisting corridors of the complex, avoiding even more bodies along the way. Finally, they approached a large door cut into the wall of the stone corridor, much larger than Shikamaru had first pictured would be a prison cell.

There were fewer bodies here than other rooms, allowing the group to approach without having to stumble over bodies. This did little to ease Shikamaru, however.

He was even more unsettled actually.

The barrier that was supposed to serve as a door, as a physical barrier with the purpose of keeping people out or in, was missing. Instead, in the face of the hole was crumbled dirt. Whatever used to be there was gone.

"The pile of dirt has a lot of chakra pooled over it. It's possible that it had chakra flowing through it at some point, maybe a seal of some sort."

Shikamaru took in the information Sasuke supplies, willing himself to calm. It would not do to lash out while on the mission.

"Thanks for stating the obvious." Ino snarked irritably, shoving past Sasuke as she stepped past the whole and into the room within. It would seem not everyone was willing to wait with their ire, although Shikamaru figured that would have been the case with Ino anyway.

Choji sighed, following Ino into the room without any words. Sakura followed just behind him, leaving Shikamaru alone with Sasuke.

"I probably deserved that." Sasuke sighed.

'You deserve more than that you piece of…' no, no. Best hold that in right now.

Instead of answering, Shikamaru stepped through the door into the room.

His eyes had to adjust to the dim atmosphere. There were no light fixtures in the room, the only light spilling in from the door caused the room to be dim and dreary. Shikamaru's gaze flickered around the room, taking all the details in.

The cavern was barren of anything, no furniture, not decorations. Hell, there weren't even any rock formations that could serve as a seat.

"Are we even in the right place?" Sakura obviously thought the same as him. She was looking around the cavern with confusion, no doubt trying to find any sort of the basic human requirements needed to hold a prisoner.

"Yes, we are. Although Naruto isn't here anymore." Ino pointed at a bunch of cloth in the middle of the room. Next to it, Shikamaru could see the light reflecting off of something.

He bent down to investigate.

It was metal chains that had been broken, the links of the chain bent unnaturally. Shikamaru picked up some of the cloth, running his finger along the fabric. "They held Naruto here, definitely. This is sealing paper of the same make used to seal away the reanimated shinobi. The metal chain's been bolted to the ground, like they had her chained to the floor." An electrifying bolt of anger flooded his stomach, taking hold of his heart. Shikamaru turned his gaze to Sasuke, glaring up at one of the people responsible for putting his friend in an inhuman prison.

Sasuke looked just as shocked as they were, cold realization and shame must be running through his veins. His mouth hung open, and Shikamaru could almost hear the 'I didn't know' mantra running through his head.

Shikamaru shook his head, turning his attention back to the restraints. There was no way for Naruto to have broken herself out of these had been in play. The only question was, who other than them would do it?

A dull thud and sharp help made him turn his head to Ino, who slipped on something only a few feet from him.

"Ew, gross!" Ino scooted herself away from whatever she slipped on, wiping away some sort of muck.

Shikamaru rose one of his eyebrows, even as Sakura went to examine the muck that had blended in so well to the shadows.

"Shikamaru, you need to see this."

He stood, making his way to Sakura's side. He looked to the pile of muck. "What is it?"

"You don't recognize it?" He shook his head. Sakura took a pen and poked some of the green moss upwards. "Look at it closer."

He did so, not seeing anything he recognized. Wait, that wasn't moss, it was hair. And that looked like whatever remained of a jaw… "Zetsu."

Ino looked up, wide and unblinking eyes filled with horror. "What?"

"It's Zetsu… or whatever's left of him."

Ino leaped up immediately after he said those words, shaking her arms and wiping furiously at the parts of her body covered in decaying flesh. "Ew! ew! ew! getitoff! getitoff! getitoff!"

Choji lowered the bag of chips he had been about to open and eat. "You fell into a pile of dead cannibal…"

"You don't think I know that?!" Ino shrieked irritably, still swiping her clothes. Sakura tolled her eyes, unsealing some water and an extra set of clothes and towel.

"Here, got clean yourself off real quick, I brought something you can wear until we get back home."

Ino took the clothes as quick as she could, running out of the room to find some privacy. Meanwhile, Sakura turned her attention to Shikamaru.

"So, what's the plan?"

Shikamaru stood, eying the decayed corpse with distaste. "Well, wherever Naruto is, she's not here. Obviously Zetsu died after storming the prison and freeing Naruto. Since there's no Kyuubi running around causing havoc, and since there is no Kaguya, ten tails, or Madara in sight, it's safe to say whatever plan for her Zetsu has failed… hopefully. All we can do now is track down wherever Naruto went and bring her home, if she isn't on her way already."

Sakura nodded, looking relieved at the prospect of leaving this place.

"I'll let Ino know to meet us all outside."

Shikamaru stepped outside, squinting at the bright light that hit his eyes. He walked a few steps away from the hidden opening, careful not to stumble on the loose rocks of the dusty cliff-side.

He was joined seconds later by Hinata, Shino, Akamaru and Kiba, Tenten, and Lee.

"Report."

"There are two different trails, both of them a few days old. One of them leads into the cavern, based on chakra and smell familiarity, it is logical to assume this trail belongs to Zetsu," Shino reported.

Shikamaru nodded, already knowing that.

"The other is more strange. The trail itself consists of two signatures."

"What's so strange about it?"

"Well, it's definitely Naruto." Kiba joined in. "Akamaru and I both recognize the scent. The strange thing is it's different, almost as if another scent is attached to her own. Something foul smelling."

Shikamaru's brow creased. "The other signature?"

Kiba shrugged. "I've never smelt anything like it before, I don't really know."

Shino put his hand on Kiba's shoulder, stepping forward and carrying the report once again. "Chakra signature is similar to that of a Bijuu, but the quantity of it's chakra is too small to be that of a Bijuu. Hinata and I have discussed it at length, but the signature is too old to get any clear reading on it."

"Can we track them at least?" Shikamaru put his hands into his classic thinking pose.

"We can, thankfully. It hasn't rained since the trail was made, and as long as that keeps up, and we begin tracking immediately, we should be able to track it until we catch up with Naruto."

Shikamaru nodded, turning to the rest of the team slowly emerging from the cavern. "Let's get moving then. The faster we catch up to her, the faster we can all go home."

Mere hours before Calamity: United Village's base of operations

The blonde head of a Yamanaka walked alone through the crowded tents, a serene smile on her face. Around her, crowds walked past without a second glance. A Hyuuga with a missing leg approached her on a wheelchair, smiling sadly at her. The Yamanaka smiled back.

Meanwhile, a voice begged and pleaded, yelled and warned. The voice was in tears, her pleas for mercy unheard.

And all the while, the Yamanaka walked serenely, and when no one was looking, and unnatural grin bestirred.

And Fin

So in summary: I am not trying to make anyone out to be the bad guy here. sure, Onoki, Mai and Sasuke were dicks, but that was because they were trying to protect their people. besides, two of them were flat out panicking, and people who panic make bad decisions.

Now, the consequences of those decisions is what I'm basing this story off of. In this story, zetsu has the ability to make clones with his own dna, though it does fail after a while because it dies out quickly. the Kage don't know that, so they panic thinking Zetsu somehow escaped, and so made the decision to hide the Jinjuriki away (in a way that while inhumane, they thought would ensure their co-operation). unfortunately, it led Naruto straight into Zetsu's hand in time for him to get his revenge on everybody.

the Kage's decision was made when they just barely got out of a war, one that resulted in countless deaths, and one where they had to face a literal goddess hellbent on their extinction.

I just want to sum it up because I don't want to spend anymore time explaining. I understand it may not be very canon, but it is a fanfiction. I made it with the best intentions, and a love for both stories. in order for this story to work, however, I do need to take artistic liberties, and that means tweaking canon a bit to make both Franchises fit in the way I need for this story.

Now that that's explained, I really hope you all enjoyed. Next chapter I Promise will have more to do with Jenova/Naruto wrecking things up.

If you enjoyed the chapter, please like and comment, and feel free to share it around.

also, if any of you have any suggestions to make about who/ what should be absorbed into Jenova, please leave a comment explaining who, what ability, and why.

(example: a Yamanaka for their mind techniques, because jenova has a slight telepathic ability) or (Juugo, because he can use natural chakra to make his body into weapons, and Jeenova can shoot lazers.)

If you leave me suggestions on who/what i should use, but don't tell me why, I can't figure out why you want me to use it, and even if I do write it in anyway, i won't be able to write it in the way you were thinking, which would make it so I'm not having Jenova use the ability properly.

Edit: crap, I forgot to mention. Today's my birthday, so I'll be taking a break from writing today. i just wanted to post this to make sure y'all didn't have to wait anymore

Thanks so much for reading, and once again:Have a good Day, Stay Healthy, and all that Jazz.

Ja~ne