A fire far more agonising than anything Naruto had ever felt before began to consume him from within. A chakra he had once been born accustomed to was now too much to bear. Kurama's chakra was far more potent than it had ever been, full of all the vitality of a tailed beast who'd lived freely for the past 60 years or so, and man did it make a difference.

The poison's effects meant he endured this pain alone, and silently.

Perhaps it was in defence, perhaps it was due to the poison, Naruto wasn't sure, but his mind struggled to remain in the present. As his sensing faded away, and his world moved to the distant past, he could only hope that Madara would work things out.

"Hashirama!"

Naruto waved wildly at the approaching Senju, "You're just in time!" he grinned as Hashirama skidded to a stop in front of the waiting shinobi.

"Wait, give me a moment to catch my breath." Hashirama huffed, hands on his knees.

"Since when are you ever fair to us when it comes to cliff climbing?" Madara grinned, remembering the first time they planned to climb the cliff and subsequent times after that. Hashirama waved a hand, not in the mood to defend past actions as he focused on evening out his breathing.

"Oh come on brother, you can't be winded from that small run." Tobirama smirked. "I made it here before you and I'm fine."

"Oh yeah!? You had a closer mission," Hashirama whined.

Izuna didn't comment, but smiled at the antics.

"Ready?" Naruto asked, pulling out two kunai.

"I just got these kunai," Izuna whined, looking at his own pair. "This may be training but it's going to absolutely slaughter the blades."

"You can always sharpen them again?" Naruto offered, looking at his own blades. His were different, the last couple he had from his time in his past, and their future. Couldn't be helped, he'd just have to be careful with the ones he had.

"On your mark, set," Madara announced loudly when all five appeared ready, before in unison all five boys yelled "GO!"

The kunai were slammed into the wall, used to pull the boys up to the top of the cliff using nothing but the strength of their arms. All five started strong and fast, clawing and hacking at the rock face in their rush to reach the top first. None of the boys wanted to fall behind, as that would mean falling victim to all the flying pieces of rock face.

Madara took the lead only to be immediately over taken by Hashirama.

Naruto would have laughed if he had the breath to spare. As it was, he was neck and neck with Izuna and Tobirama. The boys were younger than him but he was sure he didn't hold a candle to their skill. No one in his year from the academy could say they could out right beat the boys currently climbing the cliff face with him.

He'd grown, he'd improved. If he were to go back to his present right now, his classmates and friends would not recognise him.

Yet, the four boys were miles above what he'd ever hoped to be at their age.

He forced his pace to increase, grinning madly as his arms ached.

"No way am I letting you beat me Naruto!" Madara screamed as he too picked up the pace.

Less than a minute later and they were all lying on the ground panting and laughing.

"Oh man, I wish we could stay like this forever." Naruto's grin was the widest he'd ever thought it could be.

.0.0.0.

Menma stared in mute shock as a malicious red chakra engulfed his brother's body. Whisker marks not unlike the ones the 'Shodai' had begun to etch into the skin on Naruto's cheeks, his clouded eyes sharpened as crimson bled into the bright blue irises, elongated canines protruded forward just barely visible, nails grew and sharped into vicious claws, and Naruto's hair stood on end making it appear wild and feral.

"Menma," Itachi said just loud enough to snap the Namikaze out of his daze.

"Don't touch him." Madara warned, "That chakra is poisonous."

Kushina buckled slightly at the information. "Poisonous? But then why?"

"That boy has a unique disposition, one that allows him to benefit just as must as he suffers." Madara said, watching as slowly Naruto's face began to show more emotion. One emotion really, pain. Proving that Kurama's chakra was helping to fight off the poison, but it wasn't without consequence.

A strange silence took over as each person watched Naruto in fascination.

Hiruzen moved closer to Jiraiya where he whispered something to the other man. Jiraiya's eyes widened before nodding in determination.

Madara sighed. He could read lips quite easily. He'd always had good eyesight, even without the Sharingan. Hiruzen had realised that the chakra encompassing and coursing through Naruto was tailed beast chakra.

They were going to try and take Naruto.

Even if it wasn't tailed beast chakra, they needed Naruto to find out where the tailed beasts were. It was too much to hope that Menma's earlier words would convince those watching that the Naruto before them was the young boy of this world and his portrayal as the Shodai had been nothing but pretence. Naruto's actions of summoning and opening the boxes had shown Hiruzen that he knew enough.

"Menma, get him out of here!" Madara barked, taking over seeing as no one else seemed to know what to do. A war had been started and he intended to finish it.

Madara didn't wait to see if Menma listened. He shunshinned out of view, reappearing directly in front of Jiraiya, landing a kick to the man's stomach. Jiraiya had been about to do the exact same thing, Madara having beaten him to the shunshin. Now was the time for action. No more talking.

Menma wasn't sure how to proceed. Sure he agreed that he needed to get Naruto out of there but for the most part Madara had said the chakra encasing Naruto's body was poisonous.

"I'll grab him with my chains." Haruto stated gruffly, "I need to get Tatsumaki and Arashi out of here anyway."

A gleaming chakra chain snaked its way over to Naruto's limp form, Menma conceding as it was actually a pretty good idea.

"I'll go help Madara." Itachi said, noting that Orochimaru had tried to pick up where Jiraiya had been interrupted.

A large crow puffed onto the grass field swooping right for Orochimaru with a loud CAW! Orochimaru jumped backwards, landing on the back of a hawk.

"Kushina! Get to Minato." Mito said as she raced passed the Uzumaki, heading for Tsunade who'd pulled out a kunai.

The chakra chain that had been about to wrap around Naruto's body was smacked away as Naruto sat up. His eyes were blood red slits, glaring at Haruto. "I can walk."

The voice, it wasn't Naruto's. Menma grit his teeth. Was this some ploy of the enemy's?

Kurama had wanted to avoid taking over Naruto's body, trusting Madara to keep Naruto's body safe. Taking over took away from healing the poison. It was harder to establish a decent connection with Naruto without the seal they'd once had. He couldn't let that chakra chain touch Naruto's body though. The properties of those chains would break his current connection to Naruto.

"Who are you?" Menma said, gaze hardening.

Kurama ignored him, getting to his feet and moving towards the Uchiha compound. He stopped only long enough to watch Madara battling Jiraiya. The man was toying with Naruto's one time sensei. He was capable of more than taijutsu, which he seemed to be using, rather than ninjutsu or even genjutsu.

"You better sort this out quickly, Uchiha-brat." Kurama muttered before continuing on his way, his control somewhat jerky and forced.

"Menma! Go help Itachi." Mito landed on the ground only long enough near the red haired Namikaze to bark the order at Menma. He nodded to Haruto, entrusting the man with his brother before dashing towards Orochimaru, disappearing from view and reappearing a moment later aiming a kunai at the man's head. He never really had liked the three students of the Yondaime and now he was more than happy to fight against them.

Orochimaru blocked the blow, swinging a leg around which forced Menma to jump away. Menma jumped away at the same time as he threw the kunai. Orochimaru was arguably the best of the three students. He was the most well rounded, with enough jutsu, taijutsu and medical ninjutsu to make him a threat large enough to warrant both Menma and Itachi's attention.

Itachi aimed his attention towards the hawk circling above, releasing his crow summon. Crows were smarter than hawks, but too small to do much more than poke the larger bird's eyes out. Itachi would succeed more if he managed to summon his crows at random, rather than leaving them in the hawk's piercing gaze.

He couldn't reach the hawk, forced to wait for the bird to strike him directly or to use long range jutsu. However, thinking of the weakness of the jutsu, the summoner was the weakness. A disruption to Orochimaru's chakra was a disruption to his link to the bird.

Was the bird that much of a hassle to him? Not really. But it could be a hassle for their forces overall. So therefore, taking away Orochimaru's summoning ability took away his advantage of boosting their forces with summons.

To be fair, the only real way to take away Orochimaru's ability to summon was to take away his ability to perform jutsu.

Itachi turned his attention to Menma, catching his eye and signalling him.

'Break his arms.'

Menma nodded, moving his attacks to a more contained style, rather than the wide spread ones he'd been using before.

Itachi ignored the hawk and aimed a fire ball for Orochimaru's left, while Menma slammed his hands to the ground raising three walls that limited Orochimaru's movements.

Itachi burst through the fireball, using a straight punch to knock Orochimaru into the wall where Menma immediately created another wall. There were advantages to being known for long range attacks and genjutsu. People didn't really see the straight attack coming until it was too late.

Menma sank his hands into the wall, grabbing Orochimaru's arms as he slammed against the rock. He yanked backwards, hard, sinking Orochimaru's limbs into the wall, leaving the man in a position where he was forced to bend forward or risk the dislocation of both his shoulders. Itachi didn't give him the choice, kicking the man in the chest, the duel loud pops and the now grotesque positioning of Orochimaru's shoulders announcing the pain the man was probably feeling. Yet he did not utter a sound.

Menma let go of Orochimaru's wrists, a small portion of his arms protruding from the wall like some sort of freak attraction. The Namikaze ninja did not hesitate before grabbing hold of each arm and snapping the bones in two.

At this action, Orochimaru screamed his agony, his rage. Menma and Itachi had been too quick, too coordinated for him to even guess at their desired outcome and even less so to prevent it.

"Be glad we didn't aim for your head." Menma growled, lowering three of the walls, leaving Orochimaru trapped in the wall of rock with his arms dangling limply behind him.

"You think you're so powerful?" Orochimaru spat, hatred deep in his gaze as he glared at the two.

High above them, the hawk puffed away.

"No. We're just not taking any chances. Perhaps see it as a sign of respect." Itachi offered, deciding if they were needed elsewhere or if they should remain guarding Orochimaru. The man may have appeared incapacitated but Itachi knew better than to assume.

.0.0.0.

Mito knew to keep away from Tsunade's direct attacks. After all, Mito was the one that taught her to deal such immense amounts of damage.

"Your grandfather would weep if he saw you now. Tsu-chan." Mito chided, lightly side-stepping a heavy kick.

"Would he weep if he saw what Nawaki has become? Would he weep if he knew what his village faced in the outside world?" Tsunade bit back.

Mito could see controlled anger in every fibre of her being. That anger spoke of a larger problem. For Tsunade to be so angry meant she was truly invested in Hiruzen's cause.

"Your grandfather knew when sacrifices were necessary, and he definitely knew that retaliation got nothing in return other than more retaliation. An endless cycle that only led to death."

"You weren't there when we rescued Nawaki, when we've recovered the bodies of our fallen, when I was asked to make a suicide pill to be included in standard issue medkits." Tsunade looked away. "You weren't there when I had to piece my little brother back together both physically and mentally, and then still have to tell him his dream of being a shinobi was over. I had to tell my baby brother that he would NEVER become Hokage."

Mito knew, Kami above knew that she knew all too well, the pain of losing loved ones to the senseless fighting among shinobi. She knew the anger that pain fed, the desperate need for the enemy to feel that same anguish. Nawaki, her grandchild, her dearest family. She'd only known him for a short time. It was time enough for her to see all the similarities he had to Hashirama.

Yet.

She also knew that hatred was not the answer. Retribution would not fix that pain. It would only grow it, feed it.

"I will not allow you to make the same mistakes those before us made many times, Tsu-chan. I will stop you." Mito moved into a fighting stance.

Tsunade answered with a similar stance. "Then I will have to show you the depth of my pain." Her hands lit up with medical chakra.

Mito had an advantage of being an Edo Tensei. Still, that medical taijutsu style could be troublesome. It was meant to disarm, sometimes permanently. However as far as Mito knew, Tsunade had never bothered with sealing. That would prove to be her downfall.

Tsunade's attention moved towards another fight for a second, eyes narrowing as her eyebrows pulled together. Mito knew her concern was for her teammate, Orochimaru.

Mito took the opportunity, aiming to trap rather than harm. She aimed low, towards the ground, slamming a hand on the grass directly underneath Tsunade's feet. 'Barrier method formation, triple formula.' Standard chunin level stuff.

Mito used the same motion to jump back into the air, avoiding the explosions that activated immediately upon the seal settling.

Tsunade was forced to guard as each time she moved a step another explosion was activated. The green medical chakra encased her body, acting as armour. That was an interesting application of the technique. If Mito didn't hurry, the motion activated explosion seal would quickly become meaningless and Tsunade would be back to attacking her.

However Mito had enough time to activate 'String light formation'. A seal meant to bind Tsunade in place. A slight variation was enough to change the basic formula to freeze rather than contain.

Tsunade halted where she'd been about to jump out of the previous seal's range. "Such amateurish seals. I expected more from you grandmother." Tsunade grit her teeth.

"If they work, they work." Mito replied, not even a hint of mockery in her tone. "I was the one that added them to the chunin training program."

Tsunade's face softened before a sad smile tugged at her lips.

Mito didn't have time to react, having forgotten that the medical chakra armour would have cancelled out the freezing effects of the seal. Tsunade's full powered punch landed a direct hit to her chest.

Mito's body exploded in a shower of tiny flecks of dust.

Tsunade dashed away, not bothering with waiting for the reanimation jutsu to bring her grandmother back. Her aim was Orochimaru. He was better at sealing than she was anyway.

.0.0.0.

Kurama made it to the medical tent, lying down on a bed before letting go of Naruto's body. That Haruto brat had followed him the whole way so he wasn't worried about attacks. He'd sense a strong enough skill from the brat to ensure he'd be adequate protection. Even if he didn't stay, they were in the middle of the Uchiha compound, so to speak. If those red eyed demons couldn't protect Naruto then they deserved to lose.

"Arashi, you're going to have to look after your brother," Haruto said hurriedly. "I won't be able to stay here for long. I'll be needed out on the battlefield helping Mito-sama. You will need to protect Naruto."

Arashi opened his mouth but Haruto placed a hand on the teen's shoulder and the words died in his throat before he could say them. "You won't be alone. I've surmised that the Uchiha will help you. Besides, you're stronger than you let yourself think. Or did you forget that you're a Jonin now?"

"Tokubetsu jonin," Arashi mumbled, looking to the side.

"Better than me. I'm still an Academy student," Tatsumaki mumbled, sticking close to Naruto whose face seemed to finally be able to show more emotion, only this emotion was eyes screwed up, lips pulled into a snarl with eyebrows pushed close together.

"Tatsumaki! Listen to your brother, and by no means do you touch that chakra," Haruto gave the young boy a stern look.

"Yes sir," Tatsumaki said with a small salute, posture rigid. He relaxed somewhat, shoulders slumping. "Just make sure you come back," he added, looking away with a pout.

Haruto stayed for a moment or two longer, not wanting to make promises he wasn't sure he could keep before swiftly moving out of the medical tent. As he passed Akira he gave her a small nod which she returned.

With that he moved back towards the battles, sure that he'd be needed.

.0.0.0.

Sakura marched passed Uchiha Akira with a purpose. She'd seen Naruto walk this way and she wanted answers. Kakashi and Sasuke were close behind her, with Kakashi stopping long enough to check with Akira if they were even allowed to enter and with Sasuke stopping long enough to nod in respectful greeting to the well-known Uchiha researcher.

Sakura noted that Naruto was now out cold on a bed, his appearance more than a little puzzling. A crimson chakra encased and bubbled around his body, his features having taken on a wild appearance even while sleeping.

"Don't touch the chakra," Arashi said firmly, looking up from his seat next to Naruto's bed. Tatsumaki was lying on a bed, looking petulant. He had probably been told by Arashi to get some sleep.

"Oh Arashi-kun," Sakura sighed. "I'm so glad you're here and you're safe." She dashed over to the red haired Uzumaki and pulled him into a hug.

Kakashi stood over Naruto, a deep frown seen through the mask on his face. "This chakra, what is it?"

"It's the thing everyone is fighting over," Tatsumaki replied, eager to not have to try and sleep. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "Madara-sama said that Naruto-kun was special, that the chakra was helping him."

"It appears to be sentient," Arashi added, raising a hand in a half shrug as Sakura stepped back.

Sasuke titled his head in consideration. "How long do you think he's been hiding this . . . this power?" Naruto hadn't shown much skill in the Academy. Had Madara been training Naruto?

Kakashi touched his chin, scratching at it absently as he mulled over the question. "Well when I was training him, he showed a lot of promise. His biggest problem seemed to be focusing. Perhaps he figured a way around that?"

"No, there was more to it," Sasuke closed his eyes, their spar from some time earlier coming to mind. "Remember when he first came to Team 7 after Arashi got promoted?"

"Yeah, like he didn't know about things he should and then there were times where he seemed to just remember things randomly," Sakura added.

"Maybe this isn't Naruto. At least not the one we knew when Kakashi-sensei was apprenticing him," Arashi said, eyes on Naruto.

A soft growl, that sounded like a sigh of annoyance vibrated through the air, coming from Naruto. "You four are making too much noise, I'm trying to focus."

"What are you," Kakashi's posture shifted, growing tense and more alert. The voice, while coming from Naruto was obviously not his. It was too deep, too feral and gruff.

Naruto's eyes opened, the blood red irises making them all shudder uncomfortably. "Team 7 . . . well, almost." Naruto grinned, unnaturally wide. "You may not remember me, but I remember you, except the red-haired gaki, he's new. Be that as it may, you three would be better served on the battlefield. I imagine that barrier will be lowered soon enough."

"I'm supposed to stay here," Arashi said, eyebrows pulling together as he frowned.

"You? I'd prefer the Uchiha," Naruto's eyes shifted towards Sasuke. "He is the most competent of you lot. Next to him would be Hatake." Naruto's eyes closed again, his body jerking once before relaxing again.

"Ignore him. He can be a pain," Naruto said, opening his eyes and giving a tired smile. "He means well. But he was right when he said you should go to the battlefield, all of you, except Tatsumaki." Naruto's voice was soft, his words almost gasped out.

"Naruto?" Kakashi wanted to reach out, lifted a hand to do so, but Sasuke's hand snapped around his wrist and pulled it back.

"Yeah, it's me. But I don't know if I'll stay awake much longer. That poison sure is something," Naruto's eyes closed. "It doesn't help that I'm not used to Kurama's chakra anymore, so it's taking longer."

"What the heck are we supposed to do to defend your lifeless body if we're out there fighting the enemy?" Sakura hissed, her annoyance coming from a place of concern.

"I'll be fine. I'm with the Uchiha. Miles away from the battle," Naruto's voice was fading, showing that perhaps the teen wasn't as aware as he'd like to be.

Kakashi's posture relaxed, his arms swinging slightly as he leaned backwards, looking towards the doorway. "I guess he's right. We should be out on the battlefield. We're not going to learn anything from him right now, with the way he is."

"Yes sir," Sasuke, Sakura and Arashi said in unison.

"Tatsu, stay here," Arashi said as he stood, fixing the pre-genin with a hard stare. Tatsumaki shrank away from the stare, ducking his head as he gave a meek nod.

The original Team 7 left the medical tent, Sasuke looking over his shoulder as he passed through the doorway.

Tatsumaki moved off of the bed he'd been sitting on and occupied the chair the Arashi had vacated. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he still cared about what happened to Naruto. Right now, Naruto didn't look like he was doing very well.

Tatsumaki pulled his legs up, hugging his knees to his chest. Whatever was happening, he hoped it ended soon.

.0.0.0.

Madara spit out the fireball, keeping it small and contained yet strong enough to blast through the mud wall Jiraiya had erected. Madara knew that Jiraiya was skilled enough to be able to use all chakra types. Jiraiya's specialty was fire style, and yin and yang style jutsu.

Hiruzen was also fairly skilled in most styles. Even more so that his student. Not that Madara was worried. It just meant he had to be more careful.

What was the quickest way to disable Jiraiya? Killing him would not end well with Naruto, yet sacrifices may need to be made.

As the smoke and dust cleared from the attack, Madara watched as Jiraiya's hair shifted and retreated from where it had wrapped around his body. The man was nothing if not creative.

Hiruzen came at him from behind, throwing a shuriken and blazing through the hand signs that made one shuriken thousands. Madara answered the flying projectiles with a larger fireball than before.

Madara was forced to dodge out of the way entirely when Jiraiya doused his fireball with a wall of water. The shinobi sure was talented if he managed to pull such a large amount of water without a large natural source nearby. Tobirama would have been proud.

As Madara sprang to the side to avoid the projectiles from earlier he was suddenly encased in a cloud of ash. Ah, a Sarutobi special technique. He ducked low to the ground and formed a small earth dome just as Hiruzen ignited the cloud of ash in a rumbling explosion.

A volley of spikes penetrated the earth dome, Madara only just managing to press himself against the side of the wall. Lighting encased senbon landed in the ground and he grit his teeth in annoyance. He knew what they were doing, their strategy all too clear. Every nature type had its weakness and its strength. For every nature type Madara used it would have a weakness. If he answered an attack with the corresponding weakness, the other enemy would answer with a weakness in turn.

At this rate, it would be who would make the mistake first, or who would run out of chakra first.

Madara wanted to activate his Sharingan, however he hesitated. The Sharingan was useful, no doubt, but it took more chakra than he could spare. A very well kept secret was just exactly how Madara was still alive, and in this fight, that secret gave Hiruzen and Jiraiya the advantage.

"I was really hoping you'd have finished this squabble in better time, Naruto." Madara bit out in annoyance as he dropped the earth dome. All he could hope for now was keeping these two busy long enough for Naruto to recover.

He threw a kunai at the barrier, charged with enough chakra to pierce the barrier. It was one of those silly barrier tricks where large wide areas of attack were pointless, but one small piercing attack caused the barrier to come crashing down immediately. It served its purpose but for now, it was time to expand the warzone.

Madara glanced towards the Uchiha as the fighting force dashed towards Hiruzen's supporters. 'Hurry up Naruto. You're the only one that'll be able to end this.'

.0.0.0.

"It's not too late to stop this, Anata," Kushina said, approaching her husband who still seemed to be in shock. Kushina didn't blame him. She wanted nothing more than to pause time, gather her bearings and find out just what the hell was going on. She didn't like being so overwhelmed, so out of the loop.

What was worse, she felt that her whole life had been nothing but a puppet show.

What was the truth, what was a lie? Where did Kushina and Minato stand in all of this?

Minato didn't respond.

"Come with me, we can figure this out together. There's no point in us standing against each other. I don't want that," Kushina continued, reaching towards his hand. She pulled his hand towards her, grasping it between her own and holding it against her chest. Minato's gaze moved towards hers, his eyes showing a world usually closed to her.

"It's all I know,"

There was a brief moment of pain clouding Minato's eyes, before they hardened, flat steel reflecting nothing back at Kushina. He snatched his hand away. "My sensei knows what's best and I have always trusted his judgement,"

Kushina stepped back, distancing herself from the man before her. This man was the trained puppet of Sarutobi Hiruzen, this was not her husband. Her challenge now, would be how to overcome that innate loyalty Minato had to a man who would readily sacrifice anyone so long as it served his cause.

Minato pulled out a kunai, Kushina noting that this was one not a poisoned one. Did that mean there was hope?

"Give up on this battle, Kushina. You're powerful, but you and I both know that I have the advantage," Minato said, moving into a stance that meant he was about to rely on speed.

He wasn't wrong. Minato had his markings everywhere. Kushina knew for a fact she had one on her body. They didn't come off. It was meant for protection, but right now it was her biggest weakness.

Minato's speed was no joke. Their fighting styles were completely incompatible. She was wild and generally a hit hard now and ask questions later kind of fighter. Minato on the other hand was strategic. He'd probably already come up with several ways to incapacitate her in one move.

There was only one person on their side that would be able to fight Minato and hope to win.

Kushina concentrated for a moment, forming a chakra chain and shooting it towards her eldest son, pulling him away from Itachi's side.

"You're going to have to do this Menma. I'll handle Tsunade." Kushina didn't wait for the answer, already dashing away. Menma was a mini-Minato. Their fighting style, the way they thought, their strengths and weaknesses. He was the only one right now that could manage. Itachi might have been able to as well, but Kushina didn't want to pull the Uchiha into the affair. She didn't know his strengths and weaknesses as well as she knew Menma's.

"Itachi, stay on Orochimaru," Kushina said, sliding into path of Tsunade's punch, catching her fist and holding on tight. Tsunade's brute force approach was more her speed. The Senju had been trying to get to her teammate, to free him from the wall so that she could heal his arms. Menma and Itachi had been doing well to keep her at bay.

Mito shunshinned in next to her, arriving fresh from having reformed. "No, Itachi go help Menma. The two of you will need to work together, you don't have a seal marking, Menma does."

"So you got a little help," Tsunade bit out, jerking her fist out of Kushina's hold.

"Kushina-chan, I think following Menma and Itachi's example would be best. I failed but perhaps you'll have better luck." Mito nodded towards Orochimaru.

"Then perhaps, staying away from seals would be better," Kushina offered, three glittering chakra chains forming around her. "After all, the seals are expected."

The Uzumaki may have been known for their Sealing ability, however there were many other ways to fight. Mito nodded her agreement, moving into the Uzumaki taijutsu stance. Tsunade hadn't had much of a talent for all things Uzumaki, falling strictly towards the Senju side of her inheritance. The only thing truly Uzumaki about Tsunade was her vast stores of chakra.

Kushina lifted a closed fist towards Mito who returned the gesture. A strand of chakra chain connected them, each Uzumaki grasping the chain. This technique required they work in complete unison.

"Let's go!" Mito barked, dashing towards Tsunade.

.0.0.0.

Uzumaki Tatsumaki had finally drifted off to sleep, not that Danzou was worried about the brat. It was more like the less ruckus the brat caused the better. This was supposed to be a covert mission. While Madara was distracted, Dazou was meant to take Namikaze Naruto. Once they had the boy, they'd have the tailed beasts.

The Uchiha woman that had been stationed in the medical tent had left a moment or two before the brat had fallen asleep. It was all too easy.

Danzou carefully pulled the blanket from an empty bed, throwing it over Naruto's body. Would the chakra seep through the blanket? It didn't appear to. For the most part the chakra had become something of an internal stimulant. It had even retreated to the extent that Namikaze's features had returned to normal, aside from the whisker like markings on his cheeks.

Danzou poked the boy's cheek, noting that he didn't stir. Seemed the poison was still active. That or the healing process was talking a toll of its own.

He picked the boy up, throwing him over his shoulder. Turning around, and carefully making his way past the sleeping pre-genin, Danzou hurried towards the exit. The Uzumaki brat might have made a good addition to his ROOT ANBU but that was a dilemma for another day.

Right now, his biggest concern was securing Namikaze Naruto, and the power the boy had access to.