A/N: This will be my final story…for a while, at least. Afterwards, I'll mainly focus on updating the fics I've already posted. While there are still a few ideas that I could do, I have to take a break from making new stories and concentrate on finishing the ones I've started.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I don't gain any profit from writing this fanfiction or any of the other stories that I made. The credit for the initial idea goes to ChrisM2011, VFSNAKE, and Snafu the Great, as their stories inspired me to write my own version. I'm grateful that they granted me permission to try this idea out.

I'd also like to thank my Beta for his hard work in correcting my mistakes, and giving me some good tips. Thanks mate!

Now, let the show begin!

In ancient times, the world was plagued by a terrifying creature, a monster that could reshape the land under him, and destroy anything that stood in its path. It could split the land, carry the mountains, and swallow the sea. This beast was called Juubi (Ten-tailed Beast). Many people perished during the demon's reign, as nothing could stop this horrible creature.

Until he appeared.

A man confronted the massive beast and defeated it with what was later known as Fuinjutsu (Sealing Arts). He separated the beast's soul from its body, sealing the former into himself and the latter into the moon.

This man was later known as Rikudo Sennin (Sage of the Six Paths), Father of Ninjutsu. He introduced chakra, a mixture of spiritual and physical energies, to the world. Many welcomed his teachings, and even after the Sage's death they created their own techniques, clans, and even whole villages of ninja, thus giving birth to the world known today.

For a while, though, it was a free-for-all between the various ninja clans. They fought against each other to gain more land for themselves. It wasn't until the two greatest rivals among all these ninja, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, decided to form a truce between their respective clans, that the first ninja village was created. They called it Konohagakure no Sato (Village Hidden in Leaves), and founded it in The Land of Fire, with backing from the Fire Daimyo.

Soon, others followed their example. Each of the Five Great Nations had their own hidden village, where shinobi of various skills and abilities lived, trained, and accepted missions. However, this new peace didn't last long. The bitterness of the previous conflicts was still fresh in too many hearts. Wars were fought between the hidden villages. The Third Great Ninja War was the deadliest of them all so far, because it was then that a new weapon was used.

The Bijuu (Tailed Beasts). Powerful beings created by the Sage himself. Upon his last days of life, he used his magnificent powers to divide the Juubi's soul and chakra to nine lesser creatures. Because of that fact, some of the ninja villages sought those beasts out and sealed them in various containers to be used as tools of war. People chosen to become weapons for their countries were known as Jinchuuriki, and their might more than once changed the balance of the war.

Jinchuuriki were not always created for battle. Sometimes they were the only hope of surviving a rampaging Bijuu, like what happened in Konoha. Namikaze Minato was the Yondaime Hokage (Fourth Fire Shadow) of his village. During his reign, his home was attacked by the most powerful of the nine beasts, Kyuubi no Yoko (Nine-tailed Demon Fox). He had no choice but to sacrifice his life to seal the beast away into his newborn son. The Hokage dying wish was for the child to seen as a hero for guarding the village from the wrath of Kyuubi. Unfortunately, things do not always go as we want them to.

The boy, Uzumaki Naruto, wasn't given the treatment you would expect a hero to receive. He was shunned by the adults because of what was imprisoned inside of him. While the reinstated Sandaime Hokage (Third Fire Shadow), Sarutobi Hiruzen, forbade anyone to speak about the beast under harsh penalty, it didn't stop the villagers from shoving their hatred towards the Jinchuuriki onto the younger generation. Because of this, for most of his young life, Naruto was surrounded by cold glares and endless loneliness. It wasn't until he started his ninja training that he finally gained what he longed for for so long, friends.

However, that happiness didn't last long. One of his teammates, his best friend, Uchiha Sasuke, willingly left the village in order to gain the power he deemed necessary to kill his traitorous brother, under the guidance of one of the most notorious criminals of Konoha, Orochimaru. Naruto was sent with a group of his other friends to retrieve him. The Uzumaki boy managed to catch Sasuke before he crossed the border.

A fierce fight erupted in the Valley of the End, a place where the Shodai Hokage, Senju Hashirama, fought Uchiha Madara and defeated him. History likes to repeat itself, one could say.

Naruto knocked his friend out during the fight. He was forced to use Kyuubi's power to match the might of the Cursed Seal that Sasuke received from Orochimaru almost two months earlier. Not only that, but he also managed to burn the mark off Sasuke's shoulder with a good dose of demonic chakra. While it left a scar there, in Naruto's mind it was better to be scarred but free rather than marked and enslaved by an enemy of the village.

While the Uchiha was beaten into submission, the injuries that he bestowed on the blond Jinchuuriki were much worse. Naruto fought with intent of disabling his opponent, while Sasuke, driven by anger, hate, and the corrosive influence of the Cursed Seal, plunged an assassination technique he learned from their sensei, Hatake Kakashi, the Chidori (Thousand Screeching Birds), twice through Naruto's body. Despite the great regenerative powers of the beast locked inside him, and the natural stubbornness to stay alive, the whiskered boy didn't leave this fight without those attacks affecting him. On the way back towards the village, he saw Kakashi coming their direction, and he let himself fall into the bliss of unconsciousness, fatigued by both injuries and chakra depletion.

Several days later, in the village of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto is stood trial. The council, along with the village elders, managed to convince the Godaime Hokage, that the force used by the Jinchuuriki of Kyuubi in retrieving Uchiha Sasuke was too much, and the genin overstepped his authority. They even got a scroll from the Fire Daimyo, supporting their claims. Despite Naruto's defense at the court, he was found guilty of all charges, and sentenced to a life banishment from Konoha and Fire Country, under the punishment of death if he dared to ever return.

There was more bad news for the blond boy. With some unorthodox machinations, the civilian council finally abolished the Sandaime Hokage's law about Naruto's status as a Jinchuuriki, and now everyone was open with their hatred for the boy. Even some of his friends of the Rookie Nine and Team Gai abandoned him. Ino, Sakura and Tenten all thought that he was dangerous to be around, and that at any moment he would snap and start killing everyone around him. Sakura also didn't want to forgive him for the state he brought Sasuke back. Kiba looked at Naruto like the blond was some sort of freak. Neji, Shino, and Shikamaru were more neutral in their opinions, however they would act as ordered by the village. Thankfully, Choji and Lee were more friendly in their opinions, but just the two of them couldn't rival the hatred of almost all the inhabitants of Konoha. The only one who truly supported Naruto in his time of need was Hyuuga Hinata, probably the shyest girl the blond had ever met, but also one of the kindest souls there are.

Naruto found an unexpected ally at the beginning of his banishment in the form of Kyuubi no Yoko, the very demon that was the main reason of his misfortune. Having no one else to turn to the boy chose to trust his tenant, and together they took one path that no one walked down for many centuries. Thus began their journey to the West.

In the time of the Rikudo Sennin, the western part of the continent was very violent. The land was very deeply infected by the evil of the defeated Juubi, and the sage couldn't find any way to help. To save at least the eastern side, the man used a very powerful earth jutsu to create a massive mountain-chain that separated the two sides. The most outstanding were the five highest mountains, placed right beside each other, that appeared to reach the sky itself. People named them the Go Shugokyojin (The Five Guardian Giants). Not many dared to cross the paths between there, and those who did were never seen again.

That was where Naruto disappeared for the next seven years...

"... So the story says." A man that looked no older than twenty said to his companion, while the both of them rested under the shade of a large oak. He had short violet hair styled similarly to the Green Beast Duo of Konoha, seemingly always closed eyes that made him look like a fox, and shinto priest robes that consisted of dark grey hakama pants, a pair of wooden geta on his feet, and a dark red haori over a white kimono. He also had a staff with a gold ring on the tip of it, settled on the grass right beside his hand. "However it doesn't end there."

"Then what happened next, Shingoku-sama? You always stop at the most interesting parts," the creature complained to his master and friend. It was a very large cat, but not a tiger or lion. It actually looked like a house cat, but was big enough for a grown man to ride. It had white fur with one dark spot in the middle of its forehead, and very big green eyes.

"Patience, Tenko. I'm about to get to it." The man named Shingoku smiled. "When Naruto crossed the path between two of the massive mountains, a poor family of farmers that lived right under one of the peaks took him in, so he could rest. They shared what little they had with him and Naruto was very touched by their kindness. When he asked how things were in the West, the answer wasn't what he'd expected. Ruined villages, people slaughtering each other, demons hunting every human in sight, lords of small lands warring with their neighbors. And this had been going on for hundreds of years."

"Was it really that bad?" Tenko asked.

"Even worse," Shingoku answered. "When Naruto heard this, something changed inside him. He looked at the kind but poor family, who showed him more compassion than he ever knew in his old home, and wondered how many people like them are out there? How many are getting harassed or killed just because they were caught in the middle of a conflict that they never wanted? That was when the Jinchuuriki of Kyuubi found himself a new goal in life: to put an end to the chaos that plagued the West and its people."

Tenko looked at his master, a little confused. "How did he want to do that? He was only a genin."

"Ah, a very good question. Firstly he had to find someone who would train him, because despite his often childish acts, Naruto was aware that he lacked the strength and power to achieve his new goal. Kyuubi provided him some information about one person that could help his host. A man who was said to be at least equal in power and wisdom to any of the five Kage from the East." Shingoku's face twisted into a more sinister look, which made his partner uneasy. "They went to no other than master Guan Do."

"What! That ancient master of martial arts and mystical powers? Hasn't he been dead for, like, four hundred years now?"

"That's true, but like you mentioned, Guan Do was a master of many crafts. When Naruto got to his resting place, he was met with a lifelike jade statue of the master. There was more to it than an expensive stone and beautiful craft. This statue held the very essence of Guan Do, his chi, and that energy flew straight into Naruto, more accurately right where the seal Yondaime Hokage placed was." Shingoku looked towards the sky to see a pair of birds flying happily together. "Apparently, upon the end of his life, Guan Do had a vision where a person worthy of his knowledge and power appears at his doorstep long after his demise, and made preparations for their arrival. After the transfer ended, another unexpected thing happened."

"What?" asked the intrigued cat spirit. Tenko was getting drawn into the tale more and more.

"Kyuubi no Yoko got free. The seal broke from the force of Guan's chi entering Naruto's body through it. Thankfully, Naruto didn't die from it. In fact, he gained incredible skills and abilities, though he still needed training." The priest smiled again. "Also, there was a little surprise for him because Kyuubi gained a human form out of this whole incident."

"That's amazing, Shingoku-sama. How long did Naruto have to train to master all those new powers?"

"It took both him and Kyuubi a full year in seclusion. Thanks to the merging with Guan Do's chi, the demon gained the knowledge of the old master, while Naruto was blessed with all the power. I think that there is an old saying about a situation like that: there will be always a master and a student."

"That's no saying, you thought that up!" Tenko shouted in an accusatory tone.

"Alright, alright, maybe I did make that up, however it doesn't make it any less true. Kyuubi was already powerful beyond anyone's imagination, but he never had any deeper knowledge about the world around him. So, after being separated from Naruto, he took the mantle of master and advisor, while Naruto started his quest of making the West peaceful again." Shingoku again stopped his tale just to take a bite of juicy pomegranate. Tenko didn't say anything this time, knowing that his friend wanted to sate his thirst, but his tail moved back and forth in anticipation.

After eating half of the fruit, Shingoku continued his tale. "Naruto finished his training in a year and was by then quite a powerful person. Together with Kyuubi, they left the secluded temple of Guan Do, and descended to one of the nearby valleys. There, the two natives of the East met a disturbing sight. A small village was being attacked by one of the many bandit groups that lurked in that region. Not thinking too much about it, the two of them fought and defeated over thirty of the bloodthirsty men. Fearing that there were more of them, and that those who survived would no doubt tell who sent them packing, the ninja and his demonic companion tracked the bandits to their lair inside an abandoned fort. The chief of this group, who was called Kuroryu no Kiba (Fang of the Black Dragon), didn't want his men to be seen as weaklings, so he called all those who were currently gathered and ordered them to burn that village down, and for those who showed any resistance to be killed without mercy, be it man, woman or child."

"That's awful!" Tenko grimaced with disgust.

"Indeed," the priest agreed. "Naruto and Kyuubi knew that too. Even though those bandits had a great numerical advantage, they couldn't just let them roam free and kill innocent people. Thankfully, they weren't alone in this fight."

"Someone helped them? Who?"

"Apparently, there were more villages harassed by this group, and from each one, several heroes came to get rid of them, or to collect the treasure they'd stolen," Shingoku said while scratching his companion behind ear, which was rewarded with a content purr. " Among them, a few particular people stood out; like the Monkey King, Sun Wu Kong, who liked adventures more than governing his kingdom, but hated when either man or demon was oppressed by evil. There was also Temu Kai, a swordsman who's rumored to be blessed by the souls of thousands of warriors from the past, and his love and mistress of secret arts, Ogawa Himiko. And you can't forget about So Kishou, Lord of Seiki Region, one of the very few peaceful places on this side of continent."

"The lord of Seiki was there too?" Tenko asked, surprised. "I thought he was too old to leave his palace."

"Several villages and smaller cities in his province were attacked by those bandits, and his love and kindness for his people is wildly known. There is no doubt that Kishou had enough of hearing of his subjects being mercilessly harassed and murdered." Shingoku explained. "He took about half of Seiki's army and marched to where spies found the hideout. When Kishou got there, the battle was almost over. However, he did witness the might and honor of the warriors. After the fight was over, and the remaining bandits were captured and imprisoned, he invited all the heroes to his tent for a meal."

"Once they all got to know each other's names and titles, Naruto started to talk about his new ambition of making the West a truly peaceful place. He explained to them how his life as a Jinchuuriki was back in Konoha, the reasons behind his banishment, and finally he told them about the kind family of farmers who were the first to tell him how hard life here was. He told them that it was unforgivable to let people like them suffer because someone more powerful and less moral than them did whatever they wanted."

"Firstly Lord Kishou was intrigued by this young eastern boy, asking him a very important question: how was he going to give the western lands a lasting peace? Naruto looked at the older man with a very serious gaze, and a flame of determination in his eyes, saying only five words that forever changed his life, and lives of those around him."

Tenko watched his master in anticipation. He didn't dare to speak at this moment.

Looking towards the horizon, where an orange sun was setting, Shingoku continued, "Naruto's answer was: I will create an Empire."

"And here is where the true tale begins..."

Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto loved sunsets.

There more to it than the fact he could rest after a stressful day, or because the sky was bathed in his favorite color. He had a habit of watching the blazing orb of light hide behind the horizon at the end of the day, giving up its place in the sky for the moon and stars to take over for the night. Naruto's mind wandered back to his early childhood, when back in Konoha he would sometimes climb on the Hokage Monument and sit down on Yondaime's head to admire the beautiful sight of sunset.

At that time, the blond wasn't sure why, but he was the more comfortable there than on the stone heads of the other Hokage. He always felt some sort of...bond with Sandaime's successor, one that he couldn't explain. Now however, Naruto knew for certain, why he felt that way as a child. He found out not long after arriving to the West, during the murderous training at Guan Do's shrine.

Naruto finally knew who his parents were. Namikaze Minato, the Konoha no Kiiroi Senko (Yellow Flash of Konoha) and Yondaime Hokage, was his father, and Uzumaki Kushina, the Red Hot-blooded Habanero, was his mother.

After absorbing the essence of Guan Do's power, the seal that previously held Kyuubi was changed into something new. One night, Naruto had a dream where both his parents appeared. They have told him everything: about Kushina being the second Jinchuuriki of Kyuubi, the role of the Uzumaki clan in Konoha's history, and also about the incident on the night of his birth. When it was Naruto's turn to tell his parents about his life, they were shocked and angered at what they heard.

It still saddened the blond to remember the farewell he had with the spirits of his parents. They couldn't prolong their stay, because there wasn't enough of their chakra left to sustain their existence in the living world. With tears and words of goodbye, Naruto wept as Minato and Kushina held him in one last embrace before vanishing. The young blond remembered the loving gaze between his parents when they looked at one another, and the love he felt from them when they held him in their arms. That was one of the happiest moments in Naruto's whole life.

There was another habit that he developed not long after leaving Konoha. When it was time to leave, Naruto found a letter under the door to his small apartment. He still has it, even years after his banishment, and reads it every moment he feels uncertain. The paper was a little worn because of the passed time and from being handled so often.

Naruto still had a very hard time to believe what was written there, and especially by whom. Looking down at the single sheet of paper, he started to read it again.

Dear Naruto-kun,

This may sound very weird, considering that it's me whose writing this letter to you, however I can't stay silent anymore. I have to tell you how I really feel.

For years now, I watched you from afar, admiring you more and more whenever you found the strength to get up from your failures. You are everything that I am not: strong, confident, cheerful, determined; those are few of the many qualities that I can see in you. When I'm close to giving up, I always think, "No! Naruto-kun never gives up, then I also shouldn't!" and this became my nindo, never giving up and never going back on my word.

I always struggled with getting my feelings clear enough for you to notice. Whenever we were close to each other, words wouldn't come out of my mouth, my face grew hot, and sometimes I would faint around you. I know that you never would ignore me on purpose but...It still hurt when I couldn't get your attention.

But I never gave up on you. Despite people around telling me to stay away from you, I longed to be with you, to walk beside you, and to be loved by you.

I'm finally writing this letter for you to understand my feelings. I love you Naruto-kun. I don't expect you to feel the same about me immediately, or at all for that matter. I'll be grateful for your friendship and I'll pray for you to find happiness with whoever you find to love, even if my greatest wish is to be the one you choose.

With love,

Hyuuga Hinata

How long exactly had Hinata felt this way? How long had he overlooked so many signs of her affection? How many opportunities for a true relationship did he waste while going after a girl who didn't want anything to do with him? Those questions plagued Naruto's mind whenever he re-read this letter.

"I knew you'd be here," a male's voice called and the blond turned around. There stood a man that looked no older than thirty, quite tall and well built. He wore a black kimono with a crimson haori over it and black hakama pants, though his feet were bare. The most defining characteristics were the man's hair, which was dark orange and reached his belt, and his eyes, which were red with vertical pupils. "You always come here at this time of day." He looked at the letter in Naruto's hands ad chuckled. "And you also have that letter with you. I'm surprised you still read it so often. By now you should remember it by heart."

"I do not..." the younger man tried to deny, but finally groaned in defeat and nodded to his companion, while gaining a small smile on his lips. "All right, I do remember it word for word. But whenever I read it, I can hear her voice saying those words. I can see her face going all red as if she knew that I had read her letter." Naruto then sighed heavily, turning towards the setting sun. "What can I do Kurama? She's so far away... Does she still have the same feelings for me like the day she wrote this? Or, even if this sounds ridiculous, does she hate me like all of them?"

The man known as Kurama looked at his friend. Naruto truly changed through the two years of war. He went from a scrawny little hot-head to a young adult who just reached his nineteen birthday. Dressed in rich orange and gold robes, designed with mythical patterns of trees and clouds and a mighty Phoenix on his back, Naruto looked like real royalty. The only insignia of power he wore was a simple crown made from a single rod, with two ends curved upwards and joined in the middle of his forehead. When asked why he used such a simple design, the young man always said that he didn't need anything fancy, and that something simple was enough for him. The unused gold was given to those who needed it more.

It's almost funny, how things change with time, and how people mature through it.

The unification of the western lands wasn't an easy quest to complete. Even with the help of Kishou's army from Seiki, more than once Naruto was faced with obstacles that almost broke his spirits. Demons, warlords, sorcerers, assassins, all of them wanted to kill the young blond for daring to oppose their regime. However, with a year of hard training under his belt, a good dose of stubbornness, and much luck, Naruto faced some of the worst bastards that lived in these lands.

Thankfully, because of the charisma that was natural to the former Jinchuuriki, they also gained allies. Their crusade brought hope to those that were oppressed, and many joined the already growing army. Even something as simple as helping two old rivals find a common ground helped their case.

During the final year of war, Naruto challenged the mightiest demon lord of the West, the Dragon Emperor Onaga. Because the demonic army was so superior in both strength and numbers and wielded the dark arts, Naruto called for a one-on-one duel, citing an old war tradition, where from both armies the strongest warrior will come and face an opponent from the opposition. He also added that both him and Onaga will fight, because there was no one stronger than them in their respective armies. The winner takes all.

The fight was long and brutal, and several times Naruto almost lost. Thankfully he outsmarted his larger opponent, before delivering a finishing blow. With that victory, the young shinobi gained more allies and supporters, which in turn helped to end the whole war faster. When it came time to choose the new Emperor, Naruto hadn't expected to be nominated by the nobles that gathered during that meeting. Their reasoning was that it was Naruto that made this era of peace a reality, so he should rule the lands he brought together.

Two years has passed since then, seven since Naruto's banishment from Konoha.

Kurama put a comforting hand on the blonde's shoulder. "I think that until you confront her about this, you'll be forever condemned to 'what if's' and 'maybe's'."

"And pray tell, how am I ever going to talk to her if I'm here and she's back in Konoha, huh?" Naruto asked, a little annoyed by his former prisoner's smart remarks.

"You can always sent a few agents to... 'escort' her from the village," the carrot-head suggested.

"You mean kidnap her? I can't do that!" Naruto shouted, outraged at the idea.

"Alright, I was only joking around," the demon said quickly. "But on a more serious note, I've got a report from one of our groups in the East, the Ladies of Shade. There is something big going on the other side of the mountains." Kurama then produced a scroll from the sleeve of his haori and gave it to the young Emperor.

Naruto focused his attention to the piece of parchment. The Ladies of Shade were a troupe of wandering dancers, all beautiful women who performed magnificent spectacles. They were also a group of special agents that served under the Emperor and the Lord of the Court as spies. Their training was very specific, and many veteran kunoichi from Hidden Villages could learn a thing or two from them. If the troupe found out about something, they would report it directly to Kurama, and depending on the seriousness of the report, he would then inform Naruto.

"Kumo is on edge because they lost one of their Bijuu, the Nibi, due to this criminal organization Akatsuki. The Land of Water and Kiri have finally finished their reparation program and have trained quite a number of new ninja. Suna and Iwa still the same as in the last report we got..." Something seemed amiss to Naruto, and he turned to the man beside him for answers. "Where's the part about Konoha? I clearly remember making an order to check on how things are going back...there." He swallowed slowly, still having hard time not calling Konoha 'home'.

"It's in a separate scroll. I think we should go somewhere private, before you read this...and then explode."

"That bad, huh?" Naruto asked in a weak attempt to make a joke.

"You'll see," Kurama said.

Not saying anything else, they both walked towards Naruto's private chambers, one of the most protected places in the whole kingdom. The whole chamber was divided to four smaller rooms: a bedroom, a study, a bathroom, and a small meditation chamber, where the blond would sometimes go to calmly think about anything that requires focus. The bedroom wasn't anything fancy, just a room with a big bed with red satin sheets as well as a dresser, a closet, and a few decorations, while in the bathroom there was a bathtub big enough to hold four adults. The meditation chamber was the humblest of all rooms, as it didn't have anything other than a single mat on the floor, an wasn't bigger than an average cabin.

The study on the other hand, where the two men have directed their steps, was a little more rich when it came to decorations. There were trophies made from weapons that Naruto had gathered during his campaign in the West. A carpet made of a giant black bear that he had killed in that one town in the north covered almost whole floor. There was also a desk, made of mahogany and sitting under a window, littered with several documents and other papers that the young Emperor deemed important enough to deal with personally.

Naruto went through the report that described the situation of his former village. So much has happened during his banishment; Suna reduced their alliance to Konoha to a mere non-aggression pact; many countries that Naruto personally helped during several of his higher-ranked missions practically cut all ties with Konoha and Fire Country, which in turn made the Daimyo cut funds towards the village. More changes, however, went on in the village itself, such as the power shift within the Hyuuga clan. From what he understood, both Hinata and Hanabi lost their right to be clan head after the sudden death of their father, Hyuuga Hiashi, six months earlier. The elders appointed someone called Hyuuga Hideoshi as the new leader of the clan.

Somehow this piece of news worried him. Through the line of succession, either of the two sisters should take over after Hiashi's unexpected demise. Hinata, being the first child, should be the one who takes over, but now neither she nor her sister has any chance in ruling, not when the elders are holding so much power within the Hyuuga. There was something fishy going inside that clan and Naruto didn't like it one bit.

More disturbing news became known to the young Emperor as he read next pages of the report. Civilians were rioting against the Hokage because of the lack of funds and trade. The council started to usurp even more power than ever before, and now Tsunade was almost just a figure head. The worst however was only beginning.

Konoha was on edge of ruin. Shinobi were being stripped of their status and privileges for civilians gain, making a rift between the ninja clans and the rest of populace, and in retaliation even simple D-rank missions had prices higher than someone could ever afford. It was a state of chaos, and the end was easy to predict.

"Not a pretty picture, is it?" Kurama asked casually, not taking his sight from the blond.

"This is worse that I could ever expect Konoha to fall. How did all this happen?" Naruto asked, still in disbelief at what he read. "It's like for the last few years everything just went straight to hell."

"That is quite a good summary. Are you-" Kurama didn't get to finish his question when suddenly a knocking sounded from the front door of the royal chambers. "Yes? Who is it?"

"My lord,I have an urgent message from one of our posts at the Five Peaks."

"Come in," Naruto ordered. Into his chambers came a man dressed in a black uniform with white armor over it, on his feet were classic tabi shoes, his arm and shins were protected by guards. The young ruler couldn't see the man's face because of the white mask that hid both the lower part of his face and his hair. On the right side of his chest there was a symbol of the clan he belonged to, a six-point star drawn inside a ring, with only the top and the bottom points touching said ring. "What is the message?"

The ninja looked at his leader and master, though normally it was against custom for a member of the Shiroma (White Demon) clan to not bow his head when talking to a superior. However, being one of the older members, he knew the blond boy from the time when they both fought together in the Unification War. That was also when the former Jinchuuriki and the humanized Bijuu found the clan of western ninja defending their lands from the greed of their neighbors, who wanted to eliminate the shinobi, destroy their temple, and take everything valuable for themselves.

Many had died, but despite that and the growing number of enemies, the will of the Shiroma to protect their home and traditions was unbreakable. Each clan member that died took at least twenty soldiers with them, however that wasn't enough. Then a beacon of hope appeared, in the form of an army of the Seiki region, led by two Easterners. With quick cooperation, clever tactics and confusion among the enemy's troops, the clan was saved from their ultimate demise. Out of gratitude, the leader of the Shiroma bowed his head before the two outsiders and swore their loyalty to them and any descendants the two may have in the future.

Snapping out of his thought, the ninja repeated what he himself heard. "A group of eight foreigners, and one large dog, from the East, crossed the borders of this kingdom. They were led by an older man with unusually long white hair, looking like the description of one called Jiraiya of the Sannin from the Fire Country. They were all going through passages used by merchants and their caravans, probably using one as a cover, but our sentinels could sense potent quantities of chakra in all of them, no matter how good they thought it was masked. My brothers are keeping an eye on them, trying to guess their intentions, but they will not move against those foreigners unless either they break our law, or you command us to move." The ninja produced a sealed scroll from a hidden pocket under his armor and gave it to his Emperor. "Here is the full description of all of them."

Naruto took the scroll, instantly ripping it open and reading the content. Word by word his face became darker and more emotionless. Kurama was a little worried there; the mere mention of the blond's old mentor or other people from Konoha, except for a few exceptions, would sometimes make the Uzumaki survivor quite angry. The royal guards that had to spar with their lord during one of his fits of rage could attest to it...and their bruises and broken bones could prove what words cannot express.

"Naruto?" the Bijuu asked, uncertain of his friend's reaction. The Shiroma ninja stayed silent, as it was not his place to question his lord at such moment.

Snapping back to reality, Naruto closed the scroll and turned to the still kneeling warrior. "Where were they when you left to report this?" The calmness of his normally very loud voice almost scared his current companions.

"They crossed Nanasho Valley, going along the merchant track, heading straight here, to the capital."

"What is their estimated time of arrival?"

"At the normal pace of an average caravan, assuming they don't want to be recognized as shinobi by traveling faster, I dare say no more than four days until they'll be at the gates."

Naruto closed his eyes for a minute, various thoughts crossing his mind. "I want ten of your best trackers to keep observing this group, but don't let them know you're there. Unless they break any of our laws or attack our citizens, you are not to interfere with them. For the next four days I expect reports of their progress each evening. Now go."

"Hai!" The ninja vanished from the sight, fully intending on completing his new mission.

"Kurama, let the guards know that until this group comes close to the palace, they are not to interfere with them. Once they're around the inside ring's entrance the Kouka (Steel Division) are to encounter and, if need rises, restrain them. Afterwards I want all of them brought before me."

"As you wish." Kurama left his former Jinchuuriki alone, to make sure those orders are carried on. He couldn't help but wonder what in the nine circles of Hell were Konoha ninja doing in this kingdom? He couldn't help but look at the young ruler in slight concern. 'I hope you know what you're doing, kit. Either this will be a sweet dream or a sour nightmare for you.'

Finally alone, Naruto again looked at the newest scroll, reading all descriptions slowly before intently focusing on one in particular.

"Why are you here, Hinata-chan?"

For references, Naruto's crown is more like a ring of solid gold with two curved ends joined in the middle of his forehead, something like a Celtic crown. The ninja clan Shiroma is translated 'White Demons' from kanji's shiro (white) and ma (demon) and their armors/masks are like Lin Kuei's or Shirai Ryuu from Mortal Kombat, only all members are wearing white colors, and their symbol, just take the pink star from Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark (flank) and put it inside a circle, and if you don't know My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (yes, I am a brony, so shut it!), just google the name and look for the violet unicorn with a star on her flank.

Onaga is the Dragon King from Mortal Kombat, which rights to belong to Midway company.

More about the capital, the palace, and Naruto's forces will be in the next chapter. Hope you enjoy this new story! Please review!

Oh, and if someone can guess what character I based Shingoku off of, or what anime said character is from, they get a virtual cookie and a pat on the back!