Dexter's POV;
After dinner we went to the Jonin HQ and got geared, Kushina and Mikoto will accompany me as my ANBU guards. Kushina had a fox mask while Mikoto wore a tiger mask. Mikoto decided to become a Ninja again and we resurrected her father for a pair of Mangekyou-Sharingan eyes.
This is now already a few years in the past and she managed to train herself back to her old Jonin strength. Nowadays she often helps the remaining Uchiha with their training and does some missions in pairs with Kushina.
“So Yukie agreed?”, I asked while changing.
“Yes, and she took her old name back. She's called Koyuki Kazahana again. The ANBU we sent killed Doto and explained her the situation. She agreed to talk about the whole thing, but only if she gets to speak with you”, replied Kushina.
“Hmm, does she know about the heat machine?”, I asked. The ANBU we sent knew about it but had the order to not tell her. Yet, it might have happened similar to the movie and she could have seen it.
“No, I don't think so. The Genin team didn't need to fight at all. The moment they got on shore Doto was already dead”, came from Mikoto.
“Fine then, let's speak with the princess, let's see if she's still cynical, now that she knows of Doto's death”. I finished changing and now had my standard battle clothes on. The cool bondage trousers with neon green linings, a black mesh shirt, combat boots and my coat. I decided to forgo my mask this time. It may look awesome but this is a civilian, they can't understand awesomeness.
“You ready?”, I asked and both women came out of their changing room. They wore the standard Uzu-ANBU clothes. Fully equipped with seals and all.
“Hai!”, they replied at the same time, now in Ninja mode. Never managed to convince them to stop with this crap. I even think they do this, just to annoy me. Even Tsunade and Tayuya do this now. And their smirk isn't as hidden as they think it is.
“Fine then”, I replied with a sigh and grabbed both of them. The Hiraishin mark on the ANBU-Captain that was in charge of the mission was quickly located and activated.
Seriously, Minato's Hiraishin is one of our best tools if it comes to traveling and transportation. The Uzumaki seal master improved it a bit, less Chakra consumption and all that, and now it's our main transportation method.
We found ourself inside a highly decorative office. Probably the office of the daimyo. The ANBU-Captain, Dragon, stood at attention to our left. His team was lined up by the wall and Koyuki was sitting behind an office desk, her adviser Sandayuu stood behind her. She also had a frown on her face.
“So you're the Uzukage? The one who freed us just to get us back under a different ruler?”, she asked. With some venom in her tone, yet not directed at me, more at something else. Kinda the whole situation.
“Kinda, I'm here to offer you the possibility to merge Snow with Uzushiogakure”, I replied and sat down in the chair that was the opposite of her.
“I don't care, you can have the land. It's not like something would change”, she said and Sandayuu looked crestfallen.
“Oh, but it would be so much easier with you as their voice”, I said. Sandayuu, who already seemed to have accepted the change of rule looked hopeful. It seems like he really loves Kyouki and wishes to have her as their leader, even if it was a figurehead.
“Why should I? This land is a frozen wasteland. There is nothing that holds me here and I'm only sitting in this chair, because your soldiers ordered me to”, she shot back.
“This is where you are wrong. I know of Doto's search for some kind of vault that holds the money of your family”, I began and was interrupted by her laughter.
“So another fool who is out for money that is only an illusion?”. Her disrespect to me wasn't unnoticed by the ANBU in the room and they visibly tensed. I somehow managed to be highly respected in my village and they don't like it if I get insulted or disrespected.
Good thing that most don't know the true extent of my strangeness, or else they wouldn't act like this.
“On the contrary. Money isn't what I am looking for. I want spring”, I said mysteriously and with a laugh. Her laughter stopped instantly and she glared at me.
“There is no spring in Snow”, she growled in anger and suppressed depression.
“And that is where you are wrong, tell me, little miss, would you be this lands voice if I show you spring?”, I asked and leaned forward. My slitted blue eyes boring into hers. Didn't bother with activating my Rinne-Sharingan.
“Don't promise something you can't keep”, she snarled and crossed her arms in defiance.
“Here is the offer, you will be the voice of your people and will lead Snow in our place. You will have a vote in every matter concerning Uzushiogakure, but in return have to follow anything that is decided by the council. It consists out of a bunch of people, who basically decide what will happen.
In return we will bring spring to Snow and help you with defense and rebuilding”, I listed and leaned back.
“What else is in for you?”, she asked with narrowed eyes, now a little bit in her ruling-mode she had to learn when she was young.
“Technology, we'd like to enhance the Chakra armor and further develop your trains”, I answered truthfully.
“Okay, I agree. But only if you can fulfill your claims”. Sandayuu looked visibly glad.
“Very well, you have your amulet don't you?”, I asked now all cheerful. She nodded unsurely and I held my hand out for her to give it to me. She did so and we then traveled to the rainbow glacier.
A Ninja of my placed a seal there for easier travel. Once there I put the six-sided crystal in the apparatus and the light show started. The projection of Koyuki as a child was shown. How she told her father what she thought a princess should be. How he told her she was a princess like she wished to be and how she could be a princess and actor at the same time.
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Kyouki broke down in tears of happiness, while the people around us looked in awe at the change of our surroundings. The snow melted and only green grass was left.
There even were flowers under it. Don't ask how that is possible, it simply happened.
“Seems like I fulfilled my side of our agreement”, I said from behind Kyouki. She turned around a smile on her face and nodded once.
“Fine then, there are other things I have to do. My advisors will visit you tomorrow and we can discuss further things. There is much to do”, I said and turned around to leave.
“Thank you Uzukage-sama”, she said from behind. I gave her a nonchalant wave and left, Mom and Mikoto directly behind me.
“I know what you think and the answer is no”, said Kushina the moment we were back in Uzu.
“But why? I mean, there was a rainbow, the girl was crying in happiness and I walked away like a boss. If that wasn't cool, what then?”, I asked. The cloud of doom was already looming over me. Can't she see the awesomeness of my exit?
“Of course it wasn't, it lacked the explosions”, she said matter of factly and with her hands on her hips and a superior stance.
“Yes, yes, how could I forget that? I should have left something to explode. Explosions are always cool”, I said. Fully in agreement. How could I overlook this? I should have blown up a mountain or something while walking away.
“Damn right they are”, nodded Mom sagely.
“I see how you two are related, even if I'm worried how someone like you could become our Kage”, muttered Mikoto from the side.
“Hush you Mi-chan, you can't appreciate the awesomeness of an explosion. It's an Uzumaki thing. An Uchiha wouldn't understand that”, replied Mom.
“Yes yes, I, with my cursed eyes, am not able to see the beauty of explosions”, she said in a la-di-da tone, as if she had voiced out this sentence many times over.
“So next time I should let something explode?”, I asked. Fully aware that this was only mild banter, but nonetheless funny. Mikoto just shook her head while changing.
“Anyway, we need to speak with Tsunade and Daichi. My blood clone dismissed himself this morning. He and Jiraiya got into a fight with Otogakure and Konoha Ninja. Seems like Orochimaru and Danzo are now working together”, I then said, essentially stopping the fun and leaving only serious expressions.
Kushina nodded and also finished with her clothes. “She should be in the hospital”.
I put the Kage robes back on and we three went over to the hospital, where we found Tsunade inside a laboratory. She was in a sealed-off area for testing purposes.
“Granny, we have news”, I said through the speaker. She turned around, saw us and then began to put the medical materials away. Half an hour later she finished changing out of her hazard suit into her normal attire and came inside the waiting room.
“What is it Gaki? I was analyzing Orochimaru's virus. Nasty thing that one. It attacks the Chakra pathways and cripples the infected effectively. Weaker infected will only last a week, Yukimaru was lucky that you were the one who healed them. His pathways were already crippled from the virus.
Seriously, your Jutsu is scarily effective”, she rambled.
“I know, it the effect of my desire from when I gained my eyes. But that is not why we are here. The blood clone that was with Jiraiya dispelled himself”. I began, but she got a tick mark and bumped me on my head.
“I told you, you shouldn't do that, it will change you”, she snapped at me.
“Yes yes, that's not important now. The clone was new and only annoyed Jiraiya, nothing else. It's important why he dispelled. They were attacked by Orochimaru's and Danzo's Ninja. Whipped out a whole town to get at us. They tried to catch me while killing Jiraiya. Luckily I already know of them, thanks for my sensory skills.
I poisoned Jiraiya the day before and he wasn't able to mold his Chakra during the attack. He nonetheless killed most of the attacking Ninja and then finally decided to go out with a bang.
He supercharged a paperbomb. Don't know if he's really dead, my clone didn't stay to see the result. I came here to try the Edo Tensei on him. Do you agree?”, I explained. She let out a long sigh and looked troubled for a moment. She then gathered herself and nodded.
“Good, we will prepare a room for this, I don't know if he knows of the Jutsu and if so, if he's able to resist it”, I continued and all four of us walked to the seal testing area. It's an underground bunker for testing seals, especially more damaging ones. There we got into a heavy gravity and Chakra blocking room and I started the Jutsu.
All three women cringed at the death screams that came from my clones, but none of them said anything. They were, by now, mostly used to it.
Jiraiya's body formed and I placed the command seal inside him. He opened his eyes and saw us.
“Kushina? So this is the afterlife? Tsunade? You are here as well? No wonder I never found you”, he began. He then saw the serious faces of each of us and stopped.
“What do you have?”, he asked, now a little wary.
“Jiraiya, this isn't the afterlife, you are dead, but neither am I nor is Tsunade. We called you back with the Edo Tensei to get answers”, I explained Kushina.
“Kushina, I'm sorry, but Naruto is probably dead or on his way to Danzo as his new weapon. I was travelling with him and he was there when they attacked. As sad as it may be, I hope he got into the blast. Konoha betrayed us”, he said sadly. He then noticed me for the first time.
“Who're you?”. His yes were narrowed and his tone demanding. He also tried to get into a defensive position, but I robbed him off the ability to move anything other than his head. His Chakra was also further stopped.
“I'm the Uzukage”, I answered with a grin. Never liked him, so I don't feel bad for teasing him.
“you helped Orochimaru killing Sensei!”, he growled and his attempts to overcome the seal increased. It wasn't anything worrisome, but still noticeable.
“That may be, but we don't want to know about that. What we want to know is more about your mission in Uzushiogakure”, I said. He looked as if he didn't want to speak, but a quick hand sign forced him to.
“Sensei ordered me to ask Uzushiogakure one last time for the large scale seal. My main goal was to get the seal. In case this failed I had a secondary goal. The destruction of their early warning system, that was positioned inside their hidden pathways.
Our objective was to create an easy entry point. We managed to de-trap one of their main flight tunnels and went back to Konoha. Then, after the sealing of the Kyuubi into Kushina, we started our second mission. We were to lead a battalion of ROOT Ninja, as well as forces from Kiri, Iwa and Kumo through the tunnel.
The orders were to kill every witness and get as many informations on seals as possible. Kiri, Kumo and Iwa gained ways to seal their Bijuu's more effectively, while Konoha got new explosive and barrier seals. The Uzumaki managed to destroy a lot of their seals before we could reach them.
Our goal to acquire the large scale seal was also not reached. We weren't able to breach the seal on the Uzukage's office and had to leave after a week of trying”, he said in a monotone voice.
“Why Jiraiya, why did you agree to the mission?”, asked Tsunade with tearful eyes.
“A force as strong as the Uzumaki couldn't be left alone. They were offered a compound inside Konoha but refused. Their position was a treat to Konoha and had to be removed. Alliances are just that, an alliance. Nothing lasting. With Kushina we still had our Uzumaki and could rebuild the clan”, he answered, still in a monotone voice.
His struggle was increasing and I had to channel more Chakra into the seal. It will last, but we wouldn't be able to use him for anything else than this. Giving him control over his Chakra and body would increase his chances of getting free. He obviously knows how to counter this Jutsu.
“What about the people? They killed everyone”, asked Kushina.
“War casualties. They weren't part of Konoha”. His simple answer was enough for Tsunade to break down.
“And your desire for peace? Wasn't the mission against your believes?”, I asked.
“I seek peace, but only if Konoha remains on top. Konoha needs to be able to enforce the peace that the world needs”, he answered. So everything came down to the fact that Konoha has to be the strongest. His preaching for peace was only there when Konoha was on the top.
“Send him back, I heard enough”, whispered Tsunade. I stopped every possible brain activity on his side and then deactivated the Jutsu.
“I really hoped that he was only following orders”, she then said sadly. Both of them looked as if they would break down any minute now, so I hugged them.
My concerns turned true and they began to cry. One of them lost a father figure in him, while the other a friend.
°Sucks to be them now°, commented Kura-chan.
°Yes, what are your thoughts on the matter?°, I asked.
°There aren't many. I never liked him. Still, there is something that caught my attention. Orochimaru's and Danzo's joint attack. It looks like they will work together. What do you think will come out of this alliance?°, she answered.
°Orochimaru will continue with his experiments, nothing will change there. He might gain Sasuke out of this, so there won't be a retrieval ark, which means that I won't get Kimimaru.
Danzo in return will get the curse mark and another village, as well as boosted soldiers°.
°What about Guy, Kakashi, Anko and the others? They won't follow Danzo, not if he's allied with Orochimaru°. True, that won't work. Danzo alone maybe, but not when Orochimaru is in it as well.
“He will either keep it a secret or get rid of them. I think we should get Anko out of Konoha. She won't survive under Danzo's rule°, I then said.
°Agreed, what about Kakashi and Guy?°, she asked.
°Nothing, they will either die or turned into loyal soldiers for Danzo's cause. In the first case nothing will happen, in the other one I will only gain more toys for when the fighting starts°, I said and felt her grin. I may have started to feel more towards others, but that doesn't mean that I'm not the brutal and sometimes sadistic asshole anymore.
Only Kushina and Yuugao are more than tools for our fun. I mean, this is only one of many universes and the moment I die I can start all over. I only have to find a way to get Kura-chan with me. Thankfully, so far it looks like she will come with me anyway. The Reaper Death Seal that binds us together, and is thanks to that so hard to get rid off, also links our souls.
I relatively sure that this connection will last longer than death. And if not, then I might try to meet god again. There were still some wishes left. He was an easy going guy the last time, he might allow me to add her into my link.
The hug I gave both Kushina and Tsunade lasted for almost ten minutes before they managed to gather themselves.
“Are you both better now?”, I asked when they let go of me.
“Yes, it will need some time, but I this was a possibility and didn't came without any forewarning”, affirmed Kushina with a forced smile.
“I think some food would be good now”, I offered and both agreed. We went home and I opened a good sake bottle for Tsunade while Kushina and I made some of her chicken ramen.
Yuugao and Hayate also came and we ate together. At the end of the meal I told them that I would get Anko tomorrow. Yuugao didn't ask me to also get Kurenai. She met Yakumo Kurama, who told her what happened, and was sickened, as well as disappointed in her friend.
The more Yuugao learned about Konoha the lesser she is against the idea of Konoha's destruction.