Ninetails 41

"Sokyoku, this is Saiken, the Six-tailed slug. Saiken, this is Sokyoku, the goose that got up my nose and turned into a phoenix," Naruto formally introduced.

Said goose quickly regained his composure and bowed his head as he hovered. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Saiken. I am Sokyoku, as my Lord said."

"Aren't you just the most polite goose that ever spoke?" Saiken cooed playfully.

Sokyoku preened a bit at the praise.

"It's amazing you were evolved by my nephew here, hehe," Saiken said playfully. "Naruto, how is it this good bird has more manners than you?"

Sokyoku went silent at that, not wanting to insult his lord or try to offend his lord's "uncle" on their first meeting.

"Oh, okay, I can just leave then," Naruto said as he turned around to walk out of the air bubble.

"Wait, wait, I was just teasing!" Saiken said with a laugh, two of his tails reaching out to tug Naruto back at the shoulder.

"I'd prefer you didn't leave without me, My Lord. I have no issue dying to take on my greater form, but I would rather not experience death by drowning," Sokyoku requested imploringly.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Saiken could give you a bubble to get you to the surface," Naruto waved off as he turned back.

"Wait, what is this about you dying?" Saiken questioned curiously.

"Yeah, he kind of 'dies' and gets reborn every time he turns into his giant flaming bird form," Naruto explained.

"Oh. OHHHH!" Saiken suddenly became very excited. "It's been a long time since I saw a new one like this!"

"Hmm? New what, Lord Saiken?" Sokyoku questioned curiously.

"Well, I don't know if you really die or not, but I do know that some creatures that evolved from being around us could take on forms of pure elemental chakra. So, you are transforming from your flesh and blood form to something closer to us, Bijuu," Saiken explained excitedly. “It’s funny, this usually happens with Matatabi’chakra.”

"Fascinating! I knew I was blessed by my Lord's powers, but I did not know I was closer to your kind than the average summon!" Sokyoku said with pride.

Saiken tilted his head in thought. "You know, Nephew?" When you told me about him, I wondered if he was one, but I figured he just had a lot of chakra and used it like a giant chakra cloak to take on a larger appearance."

"Chakra cloak?" Naruto repeated in confusion.

Saiken nodded repeatedly. "Some of the jinchuriki that have the bijuu with more tails? When the first tail is unleashed, the chakra forms a "cloak" around the body. It's like a midway for containers when they are in the process of taking on the form of a bijuu."

"Ah. I experienced that once," Naruto said, glancing away as he remembered his last battle as a human, which resulted in....this.

Sensing Naruto's somber mood, Saiken quickly changed the subject. "I'm sure introducing us wasn't the only thing you wanted, Nephew."

Naruto nodded and brought his mind to the present. "Right. Have you noticed anything going on East of here? Or, have you been causing anything?"

"I don't think so? Why?" Saiken asked in confusion.

"Some Kiri anbu showed up on my beach looking for you," Naruto explained. "And a lot of them washed up dead."

"Oh, them," Saiken said in remembrance. "That wasn't me. I may have drowned one or two survivors that spotted me, but something else fought them."

Naruto hummed, rubbing his chin. "That might have been the octopus, but there is also a sea-monster in the Land of Sea."

"I usually avoid the Land of Sea. There is some very bad chakra around there." Saiken answered. "I try to avoid being spotted, so fighting sea-monsters close to villages and ports isn't a good idea."

"Bad chakra," Sokyoku repeated slowly. "My Lord?"

"Probably related to Orochimaru. If so, that explains why the octopus was so interested in Anko," Naruto mused to himself.

"Who?" Saiken questioned 

"No one important," Naruto waved off, growing quiet and uneasy.

"Naruto?" Saiken spoke up in concern, feeling the change in the mood.

"Sorry, it's... kind of stupid," Naruto said, his ears drooping a bit as he looked at the ground. "I killed some bandits a little while ago. It was...the first time I killed anyone."

Saiken remained silent while Naruto didn't meet his gaze.

"I'm sure that doesn't sound like a big deal with you. And I don't regret it, they were less than animals, but....!" Naruto gritted his teeth. "I knew how easy it would be, that I had to be careful, but actually doing it-"

Naruto stopped as he found himself enveloped by all six of Saiken's tails.

"It's okay, Nephew," Saiken said in a soft, comforting tone. "I understand."

Naruto glanced at him, just a bit surprised. "You do?"

Saiken nodded sagely. "I'm sorry if I don't know what to say, it's just... it has been a long time since any of us killed someone for the first time. I can barely remember when we were that young."

Naruto fell silent now, listening to the elder bijuu.

"Nephew? I don't... like killing. I'm just used to it. I have been since before we were all sealed. All of us have. That doesn't mean we like it, though," Saiken said solemnly.

Naruto nodded. ".....Kurama and Shukaku kind of gave the opposite impression."

Saiken chuckled. "Yeah, Kurama definitely did, and Shukaku still does."

"Compassion isn't a weakness, My Lord," Sokyoku said wisely as he landed on Naruto's head. "It is more noble, I think, to be willing to kill despite desiring not to, than it is to be unwilling to kill when it is needed."

Naruto took a deep breath of relief. "Thank you, both of you."

The trio of creatures stood there in their bubble at the bottom of the sea, enjoying their silent company.

"So....." Naruto spoke up as he lightly pulled out of Saiken's grasp. "How many more creatures like Sokyoku here do you think will show up because of me?"

"I have greatly wondered this myself!" Sokyoku spoke up with interest. "I have not met another creature uplifted by my Lord's power."

"I'm not surprised! For most creatures, all it might do is make them really healthy and strong, maybe a bit bigger," Saiken explained with a headshake. "Only a very few have a 'spark' needed for our chakra to make them into something far more than the average beast."

"And only some of them get smarter, others just get stronger," Naruto murmured. "In hindsight, if there are more, Danzo or Orochimaru probably scooped them up after I moved down to this beach."

"Tell me, My Lord, why DO you allow them to spy on you?" Sokyoku asked curiously.

Naruto scratched the side of his face. "I'm not sure if it makes perfect sense, but it's better having spies you know are there than being unaware of them," Naruto answered with a snort. "That and I can just make them leave when I want. Imagine having to report that to a Kage? "I don't know what the Kyuubi was talking about because he made me leave." Ha!"

"Just be careful, Nephew. I'm sure they're trying to figure out a way to spy on you without noticing," Saiken advised.

"Why do you think I never told anyone how far I can see or hear?" Naruto remarked with a smirk. "By the time most try to hide themselves, I've already noticed them. Not to mention...."

Saiken tilted his head. "Yes?"

"Look, I don't know how right this is, but I think I can tell how people are feeling?" Naruto answered uncertainly.

Saiken grew silent as Sokyoku spoke up. "How do you mean, My Lord? Do you mean you can detect sickness?"

"No, no like that," Naruto said with a headshake. "I can tell when people are sad, angry, and other things. Usually-"

"Negative emotions," Saiken finished.

Naruto blinked. "I guess so....?"

It was hard to tell, but Saiken smiled. "That was Kurama's ability."

Naruto inhaled in surprise. "He could....?"

"Sense negative emotions, yes. It was...part of his problems with humans," Saiken said with a sigh. "He could only sense the worst in them. The Demon of Hatred, he called himself sometimes."

Naruto remained quiet at that, contemplating it. "Why only negative emotions?"

Saiken shrugged. "Who knows? It was just how it turned out. I can no more explain that than explain why Kokuo is a dolphin-horse!"

"....I'm sorry, Lord Saiken, did you say a dolphin-horse?" Sokyoku asked slowly.

"What, like a sea-horse....? " Naruto asked in bewilderment.

"No, no, his body is like a horse, but his head is like a dolphin!" Saiken explained with a chuckle

"That is... very strange to imagine," Sokyoku remarked in consideration.

"Have you even seen a dolphin yet?" Saiken questioned curiously.

"Not since I was uplifted, but I do recall them from my days as a simple goose. Rather unpleasant creatures in my experience, no offense to your brother, Lord Saiken," Sokyoku said.

"Believe me, he would not take offense," Saiken said with a chuckle. "....Nephew? You alright? You're being quiet? Do you need another hug?"

Naruto had a very thoughtful look on his face as he held up his hands, clenching his fingers. "....Wait, am I kind of half-human?"

".....Huh?" Saiken questioned.

"I got human hands here for some reason!" Naruto pointed out, waving one of his hands up and down. “Am I actually a giant fox-human hybrid?!"

"No, no, some of us just have human hands. He never said so, but we're pretty sure our father tried to give us human forms when he made us," Saikeon explained.

"Father?" Sokyoku asked curiously.

"The Sage of Six Paths. Some legendary guy who made the Bijuu. And the Moon," Naruto explained.

"....The moon?" Sokyoku repeated with comically wide eyes, his beak falling open as Saiken laughed.

"Speaking of that. Saiken, do you know anything about the 'People of the Moon' or something like that?" Naruto asked curiously.

"......Are you talking about Uncle Hamura and his descendants?" Saiken asked in surprise.

Naruto stared. ".....Uncle?"

"Yes, father's brother! He and his family went live on the moon," Saiken explained, looking very curious and excited. "Wait, have you heard of them? Are they still around!?"

"No, one of my friends found a book mentioning them in the shipwrecks and......" Naruto suddenly trailed off as Saikeon's words fully registered. "What Do You Mean They Lived On The Moon?! People Live On The Moon?! Since When!?"

"Since always?" Saiken answered with a head tilt.

Naruto could only stare.

"....Lord Saiken, I believe you need to give a very detailed family history lesson to my Lord in the future," Sokyoku said as he tried to process what had been said. "One, I would not object to attending as well."

Saiken just laughed at their expense.

Meanwhile

"Alright, it's time we get back to work," Anko mused as she looked over the map as they walked. "Now, thanks to Pinkie, we know that we were about at the end of the trail we were on. I'm glad someone thought to use Foxy as a vantage point before absconding to the beach!"

"I'd be more grateful for the praise if I weren't unsure if you even remember my name," Sakura remarked with a deadpan expression.

"The point is, we're pretty well done," Anko summarized. "We just got to double check a few spots for any we missed along the way back, and we'll be home free."

"How could we have missed any? He levels trees everywhere he goes," Ino pointed out.

"Maybe he jumped?" Hinata suggested.

Anko stopped suddenly, drawing attention back to her as she looked up and found a bird soaring down to her with a message attached to its back.

"A message from the village?" Sakura asked in surprise.

Anko scowled as she saw the black falcon. That wasn't from the village itself. She held out her hand and removed it from the back, the bird flying off the instant she did. "It's from the prison," Anko said grimly, looking back at Sakura. "Sasuke Uchiha has escaped."

Sakura inhaled sharply. "Sasuke."

Once, he might have said that name with a sad longing. Now? It was uttered with something cold and harsh as her face set into a scowl and her fists balled.

"How did he escape?" Ino asked in shock.

Anko shook her head. "That's all the note said. We'll have to head back to the village to get more information."

"Then there isn't any time to wait," Sakura said firmly as she began to walk north again.

"Sakura?" Hinata asked in surprise.

"Naruto will find out soon. I'm surprised he didn't hear us already," Sakura answered over her shoulder. "And he shouldn't have to catch him a second time."

Sakura looked forward, only to stop in shock as Anko appeared in front of her. "Pinkie, I know he's your old teammate, but this is out of your league," Anko said bluntly, poking her in the head to Sakura's frustration. "I've seen the Valley of the End, what those two did to it. Even discounting how much damage Naruto must have done when he first transformed, that was the kind of fight even most jonin might die in. You? If that brat has as little sentimentality about him as I've heard, he'd probably gut you like a fish."

Sakura glared at the snake mistress impotently, knowing she was right.

"Um....?" Hinata spoke up carefully as she glanced between the two. "From what I hear....Sasuke gained power from a curse seal from Orochimaru? Wasn't it sealed?"

"It was," Anko said with a sigh. "But even if Orochimaru had nothing to do with this, it's entirely possible Sasuke will find someone who can break the seal. Or, rather, someone will find him in all likelihood."

"....I don't think Orochimaru is involved," Sakura said thoughtfully.

Anko raised an eyebrow at the rather bold assumption.

"Hmm? What makes you think that, Sakura?" Ino asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Naruto," Sakura answered, glancing south. "Orocimaru was watching Sasuke during the Chunnin Exam, maybe before. So he was watching Naruto too. I doubt someone like him would ignore the fact that Naruto might go after Sasuke and him, even in another country."

"That...is actually a good point," Anko admitted reluctantly. Her ex-teacher was a lot of things, but he wasn't stupid. While he underestimated people sometimes, he was also an excellent manipulator. He understood how people thought and behaved, so he definitely wouldn't ignore the Bijuu-factor in this equation.

"I have to ask, since we're just assuming he had help, but what are the odds he broke out on his own?" Ino asked with a hand on her hip.

"Hard to say. I mean, I once broke out, but barely," Anko answered, rubbing her chin.

".....You were in the ninja prison, sensei?" Hinata asked, all of them looking at Anko strangely.

"Yes, but no. It's a mission to test their security. Disguise yourself as a prisoner, try to bust out," Anko answered dismissively. "But there was that issue with Mizuki breaking out, so I have no idea what state the place is in. In short, Pinkie was right, we should get going."

"You really think Naruto will go after Sasuke if he's not caught?" Hianta asked in concern.

"Sasuke killed him, so....Yeah, I don't think Naruto will be able to just ignore him being out and free," Sakura answered with a sigh.

"Hinata? You almost sound... worried for Sasuke?" Ino asked in bewilderment.

"Oh, no. It's Naruto. I'm worried he might cause trouble for himself," Hinata said with a sigh.

"Yeah, me too," Sakura agreed as she looked down.

Ino shook her head. "I'm now very glad we took that day at the beach. It seems like it is one thing after another around here."

Meanwhile

"So, dead Sasuke is out and about," Orochimaru mused whimsically as he read the news intercepted from a Konoha messenger bird. "Tell me, Kabuto? Do you know anything about this?" he asked from his chair.

"My Lord, if I were trying to free him, you'd be the first to know," Kabuto denied.

"I thought not, but I didn't want to rule out you being proactive," Orochimaru remarked in what might be teasing. "I wonder if our spies will be able to gather just how the boy managed this."

"My Lord, should we attempt to intercept Sasuke before Konoha captures him?" Kabuto suggested.

"You assume Sasuke would be foolish enough to head here directly," Orochimaru said idly. "Konoha will be guarding the border, and he will know this. He will travel another route here if he still seeks my training. A shame I have to reconsider my offer now."

"Reconsider?" Kabuto repeated in shock. "I don't understand. Why would you want to turn him away?"

"Kabuto, do you insult a noble to appease a mere merchant?" Orochimaru asked with a chuckle. "If I take that boy in, Naruto will come. To kill or to take him back, and I would not rule out him making an attempt on my life. And I doubt he will be so lenient with my presence after such an encounter. The sharingan is ever tempting, but less so than what I can learn from Naruto and his... unique existence."

"...So even if Sasuke were to make it here, you would turn him away?" Kabuto asked skeptically.

"Perhaps I will, perhaps I won't. We'll just have to wait and see how events play out," Orochimaru said with a smirk. "But if I do, I will likely take a...souvenir from my would-be pupil, before handing him over to Naruto."

Kabuto remained silent at that. How strange to think about, that foolish boy from the exams now held the fascination and attention of the entire ninja world. Mighty ninjas like Orochimaru scrambled to get a sample, a piece of the human-turned-bijuu, nobles foolishly wanted to replicate the process without understanding the implications.

He wondered how long until someone actually tried to seal the golden kitsune.

His mind flashed back to that day outside Shukuba, when Naruto rammed a rasengan into Kabuto's stomach.

Not soon enough in his own opinion.