KG: You know, I just realized. I am over 30 and... still writing fanfiction. This has actually been... a strange experience. Oh Mom, what would you say if you could see me now?

Wifey: Oh Dad, what would you say if you saw what a travesty your daughter married!

KG: ...Hun, that's mean. Though, I can't tell if it true or not.

Wifey: Honey, you have been married to me for nearly ten years. You should know by now that everything I say is true. Even when I'm wrong, I'm right.

KG: KINDA LIKE THE FANFICTION I'M WRITING!

Wifey: No, that's just wrong, and creepy.

KG: ... :(

Music of the Month: Potential by Sten Kruiswijk.

Quote: "Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength; and strength is not used rightly when it serves only to carry a man above his fellows for his own solitary glory. He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own," by Henry Ward Beecher.

Sasuke opened his eyes and leaned up from his bed. He heard Yuna groan as she turned over in their bed. She pulled the covers over herself as the male Uchiha wiped the sleep from his eyes. Perhaps rather uncharacteristic for him, he leaned over and kissed Yuna's cheek. Her face scrunched up, yet the smile on her face was obvious before Sasuke swung his legs and stepped out of the bed. He never liked leaving without letting her know but he wanted to get to the hospital early. It had been a week since the dobe had awoken and he was flooded with guests constantly. He was also flooded with gifts, the hospital staff and even some of the Hyuuga Clan had been recruited to handle them all. Of course, it wasn't like Sasuke really cared whether the idiot died or not, cause he didn't. He just wanted to laugh at his teammate for falling asleep like that. Yeah, definitely that.

Either way, Sasuke got dressed and washed up in the bathroom. Once he stepped out, he passed by his mother's room and stiffened for a moment. With Naruto waking up, it felt like all the time suddenly came back to him. It had been five months and that had been more than enough time for him to… recognize things. Things that he simply wasn't sure how he was supposed to handle. Emotionally stunted though he was, Sasuke had received female attention for a long period of his life in the Academy. Even from some foreign women in diplomatic assignments back when he was a member of Konoha's shinobi force, he received attention. While it was annoying more often than not, especially since it never benefitted him in obtaining his vengeance against Itachi, it had always been his dream to rebuild his clan. Obviously, he… needed a woman, a wife, for that. He'd been in the throes of puberty as well.

Where was Sasuke going with this? He knew when a woman was interested in him. He also knew… when one was flirting with him as well. At first, he just thought his mother was being strangely clingy. He didn't mind it so much since he'd been without her for so many years but all the signs certainly seemed there and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. The only question he couldn't answer was… why? Of course, he couldn't deny his mother's beauty either. He still remembered the embarrassing shower circumstances that seemed to happen at every opportunity. Even Sasuke could see it and that only made him remember what he told Yuna all those months ago. He'd been honest with her about his attraction to his mother. Perhaps he'd been spending too much time around Naruto that even the dobe's tastes were starting to rub off on him, in a very much ridiculous way.

The other problem was that the tells had been so obvious that even Yuna noticed them. Yet, she never said anything. She would just give him a knowing smirk and walk off. What the hell was that supposed to mean? He simply didn't know what he was supposed to do with all this information being presented to him. Surely if Yuna had a problem with this then she would just say something. If there was one thing Sasuke liked about Yuna, it was that she spoke her mind without hesitation.

Was she giving him a sign that she was fine with it? Or was she testing him? Either way, Sasuke couldn't let it settle like this. As a man, he would have to be decisive. Both with Yuna and with his mother. If he was wrong, then he could handle the misunderstanding. He had made them before. However, if he was right, then…

The Uchiha shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dobe, if you weren't recovering I would beat you over the head right now," Sasuke grumbled as he left his mother's door and went into the kitchen. He picked an apple and orange for himself and made his way toward the front door. As he opened it, he noticed Itachi coming through the door with a towel wrapped around his neck.

"Ah, good morning, Sasuke," Itachi said.

Sasuke looked at his older brother and noticed him sweating. It seemed that he'd been training very early. Sasuke had already planned to go about his own training after he visited Naruto. "Morning. Seems like you've been busy," Sasuke remarked.

Itachi used the towel to wipe his face. "Yes. Though these months have been peaceful, we must remain cautious. We're still missing a lot of information. Do not forget that the Akatsuki are still out there. We must always be prepared, especially given what they pulled off those months ago. And where are you going?" Itachi inquired.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He hadn't forgotten about the Akatsuki, the Otsutsuki, and what they had done. They were indeed out there with the four previous Hokage of Konoha. They had also managed to seal the Kyuubi inside Otsutsuki Isshiki. That said, the explanation Kushina gave only made the circumstances much more dire. "I'm aware. However, no one knows where they are. Even Kushina can't find them. Likely, they aren't even on the planet anymore since those other Otsutsuki took them away. Well, I'm sure the dobe's got a plan now that he's awake. I'm gonna go see him now," Sasuke explained.

The younger Uchiha didn't know why but the smile on his brother's face made him angry for some reason. "What?" he asked, his face twitching in irritation when he saw Itachi's smile only grow wider.

"Nothing. Wish Naruto-sama a swift recovery for me. Also, please address your other matter. You shouldn't toy with an expecting heart, Sasuke. I thought you of all people would know that," Itachi said before he poked his brother on the forehead. Unfortunately, that only served to irritate his younger brother as Sasuke smacked his hand away.

"Stop treating me like a little kid. I'm going!" Sasuke replied with a scowl, marching down the road which Itachi entered the house with a small chuckle.

While Sasuke walked down the road, he soaked in the vibrant sun. The smell of the ocean was upon the land as he marched toward the hospital. If there was one thing Sasuke had to say for Uzushiogakure, its forests and landscape were very beautiful. Not even Konoha had such green forests and well-kept roads like this. Then again, a lot of carpenters, road workers, and more had been coming into the nation. Of course, much of the populace wanted to be near the Summoner of the Shinigami. The land was profitable for business and trade. Progress happened here faster than almost any other nation, and with good reason. Ink had been produced numerous months ago. As always, Uzumaki ink was of the highest quality, and along came the steady circulation of paper, wood, ore, and materials. The Era of Craftsmen, Trade, and Commerce was what some people called it. It was said to rival even the Age of Shinobi, yet it all revolved around one man, Uzumaki Naruto.

Sasuke continued walking as he passed by a host of Hyuuga, each of them smiling and laughing as they wore Uzushiogakure headbands. It seemed so hard to believe that the stoic Hyuuga clan would show such a wide range of emotions. Granted, that was rather amusing coming from Uchiha Sasuke of all people. Either way, it was clear that some things had changed. The land was notably more cheerful now that the dobe had woken up.

As Sasuke walked, he noticed two individuals heading in the same direction along a different route. It was fairly to identify them as he swiftly approached. "I see I'm not the only one going to visit Naruto, am I?" Sasuke asked as the two turned their heads.

"Wow, it seems having a girlfriend has truly mellowed out the stern Uchiha Sasuke. To think you'd be visiting people. Should I expect you to start planning romantic dinner dates and moonlight strolls through the night?" Yugao asked while Kakashi smiled.

Uchiha Sasuke wasn't quite so amused as his glare hardened at them. "Shut up," he responded much to Yugao's amusement. In her hands was a pot of flowers for her former teammate. Ever since she'd heard that he woke up, she wasted no time getting into Uzushio. Kakashi came with her, eager to see his former student as well.

"Maa maa, let's not start killing as soon as we see each other. How have you been, Sasuke?" Kakashi inquired. The one-eyed jonin had been one of the first people on the scene when the Kage arrived. He still remembered seeing Naruto's unconscious body and the fear of what happened to Minato and even his own father remained a constant fear in his mind. Even with Rin's help, he'd had a lot of trouble sleeping. He would have come sooner if not for having some work to do, yet in those five months, Kakashi had visited Naruto many times. He always hoped that he'd be there when Naruto woke up, but just having the blond awake at all was more than enough.

Sasuke looked at his former teacher before he sucked his teeth. "I'm fine. The investigation hasn't gone anywhere from that incident all those months ago. However, we still plan to keep searching for anything that we can use," Sasuke answered.

Kakashi and Yugao nodded as the three saw the hospital in the distance. "Yes, Rin's joined in every search that she could to find Obito. If not for Naruto, I have no doubt she'd be out there with you in the investigation. I've tried to stay with the pursuit, but she gives me updates, especially since I've been assigned to journey with Tsunade-sama on her diplomatic assignments. Yugao, would you mind switching with me?" Kakashi asked.

"...no," Yugao returned as they made it to the hospital. They entered the building but noticed almost no one was around. They stepped through the building and they heard nothing but silence.

"Where is everyone?" Yugao asked.

Kakashi and Sasuke glanced at each other before the latter sensed a bunch of chakra signatures about a mile or two away. The trio walked out the back of the hospital and into the fresh overgrowth of the Uzushiogakure forests. The further they went the further they started to hear a distant rumbling. Yet, there didn't seem to be any chaos brewing so there didn't seem to be any reason to be anxious.

As they approached, they finally spotted Tsunade, Sakura, Karin, Amaru, and a host of medic-nin in the plains. All of them looked stunned and downright flabbergasted as they continued to look forward.

"What are they looking at?" Yugao inquired.

"No idea, but I'm sure we'll find out if we draw closer," Kakashi said. Sasuke's eyes lowered as he marched through the medics. Each of them stepped aside when they saw him. Kakashi and Yugao weren't far behind him as he approached Sakura.

"What's going on?" Sasuke asked.

Broken from her gaze, Sakura turned to see Sasuke approach. "Sasuke-kun!" Sakura exclaimed as she also saw Kakashi and Yugao approach behind him. Sakura then registered her former teammate's question and looked back with a sort of half-chuckle.

"Well, it was time for Naruto's checkup and…" Sakura drawled off as she looked back at the plains. Sasuke, Yugao, and Kakashi followed her gaze before their mouths slowly when they saw Naruto, the Uzumaki Naruto… lifting a massive block of stone like he was lifting weights. In fact, he was doing it one-handed with a wide grin on his face.

"Yo Baa-chan! You writing this down?!" Naruto asked with a large grin on his face. He then stood up and threw the large block of stone through the air. It flew and flew and… flew until no one could even see it anymore. All the while, everyone watched the young man who had been on the brink of death for nearly five months suddenly gain the largest burst of energy that anyone had ever seen. A body that looked like a withered husk was now ripe with strength every which way. Even Yugao couldn't resist the slight flush on her cheeks when she looked at her former teammate.

The first one to get over their shock was Sasuke as he stepped forward. "I guess it's true what they say, idiots do recover quickly," the Uchiha commented. A flash of irritation moved past Naruto's face before he turned to Sasuke.

"Are you really trying to pick a fight already, Sasuke?" Naruto growled.

The two looked at each other for a long while before they finally smirked. Sasuke looked down momentarily and saw the ground lightly splintering beneath Naruto's feet. It was like the ground couldn't even properly contain all the power radiating from Naruto's body. Yet, Sasuke didn't sense anything impressive. It was like Naruto wasn't even there in the first place. If the Uchiha wasn't looking at his teammate with his own eyes, he'd almost think that Naruto wasn't there at all.

"Please, Dobe. I've had five months of training over you. For the sake of your title, I won't embarrass you in front of everyone," Sasuke claimed.

The two former members of Team Seven looked at each other for a long while before they gave each other a firm handshake. "Whatever the hell you did, make sure you don't do it again. You've given everyone enough worry," Sasuke uttered, gripping Naruto's hand even tighter.

The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki smirked but he offered a resolute nod. "Count on it," he answered before the two let go of the handshake. Naruto then walked past Sasuke while the Uchiha watched him go. The smirk on Sasuke's face then fell as he looked down at his hand. His face then contorted in sheer pain as he felt the bones in his hand break. He clenched his hand, trying to squeeze away the pain and keep his face even. As he did, the pain simply kept escalating as he strained the rest of his body. "What the hell happened? I feel like I just shook hands with the damn Godaime Hokage! How did the dobe receive this much strength in such a short time?!" Sasuke thought to himself. He looked back at Naruto as he walked over to the others.

"I told you, Baa-chan. I'm fine!" Naruto urged as he sat on the ground while Tsunade and Karin looked him over.

"If this were any other time, I would absolutely argue with you, Brat," The Godaime Hokage responded as she checked his entire body. Unfortunately, based on all the tests, all the numbers, all the signs, there really was nothing wrong with him. Hell, he was in better than any human she'd ever studied before. Not even Karin or Sakura could find something wrong with him. Such a recovery was impossible. Even when he'd been contracted with the Shinigami before, Naruto was never able to bounce back on his feet this fast. Tsunade was determined to find something wrong if for no other reason than to correct her currently deteriorating medical expertise. Yet, she couldn't find a single thing. And, neither could Karin, Sakura, or Amaru.

Suffice it to say but Naruto was as healthy as an ox. No, perhaps even fifteen hundred oxen. Tsunade opened her closed her mouth before she was finally forced to sigh. "Well, it's not like I can keep a damn healthy person in a hospital. You're clear to go, Naruto. However, I want you to take it easy for a few days and come back for regular checkups for the next two months. Think you can do all that?" Tsunade asked.

Naruto looked at Tsunade evenly. "I think I can manage that," Naruto retorted. He was fine with some thinking he was an idiot. After all, he was well aware that he'd done plenty of dumb things in his life. But it wasn't like he was stupid. He knew all of the strange things happening with his body. He was simply in a hurry to test them out for himself without getting everyone involved. He felt it when he broke Sasuke's hand with just a simple handshake. Given that Sasuke tried to play it off, Naruto also sought to not make a big deal out of it.

Being given the confirmation that she needed, Tsunade, Sakura, and the rest of the medic nin left the area, each more bewildered than the last. Naruto watched them go before Karin and Amaru walked over to him and hugged him. "Naruto, you're a fuckin' freak. But you're an alive freak! I don't know what the hell's going on with you, but we're glad you're alright!" Karin said.

Amaru vigorously nodded as she hugged her cousin, almost tighter than Karin. She was well aware it was her own fault that her cousin nearly died. Granted, he died plenty of times before but this was by far the scariest. She hugged him as tight as she could, tears streaming down her face.

Meanwhile, Naruto slowly embraced his cousins. He tried hard to control his strength as he definitely didn't want to snap them in half. He felt like he could at a moment's notice. He returned their affection as much as he could before he saw Yugao and Kakashi smiling at him.

"More women, Naruto? A man should learn to be more disciplined," Kakashi said, giggling as they approached. Yugao nudged him in the stomach while Karin and Amaru widened their eyes. They quickly ripped themselves away from Naruto, rubbing down their bodies.

"Ugh, don't joke like that!" Karin grumbled as she rubbed her shoulders. Oh sure, Naruto was rather handsome. Not exactly 'Sasuke' handsome, but he was definitely up there. However, Karin wasn't really the 'sharing' type. Though, if that short honeymoon was anything to go by, maybe… it wasn't THAT bad.

Amaru watched Karin vigorously shake her head before she stomped off. "Well, I should go follow her. Karin's gonna be working me to the bone for a while," Amaru said, walking after Karin. She waved goodbye to them all while Yugao drew close to Naruto.

"It's good to see you awake, Naruto. You really know how to make everyone worry about you. We visited a handful of times, but it's nice to see that goofy expression on your face," Yugao joked, lightly laughing when Naruto looked at her strangely.

"What goofy expression? This is just my regular face!" he asserted. He didn't like it when Kakashi, Sasuke, or Yugao started laughing at his confusion. Somehow, he was thankful that he couldn't hear Kurama or the others. He had no doubt they would be laughing at him.

Nevertheless, Naruto allowed them their time to laugh before his expression turned serious. He turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, tell me your side of all the things that happened in the past five months," Naruto announced, his voice radiating with a strength that made the three shinobi shiver. They each looked at each other before they nodded.

"Unfortunately, if Kushina told you everything then there's not much else we can add to give you more information. We've been sending the best of our trackers to find Obito and the rest of Akatsuki but there hasn't been a single sight of them. We've even sent out the Uzumaki Clan and spread ourselves pretty thin for at least three months. In that time, we were forced to conclude that they are most likely not on Earth anymore," Sasuke said.

Kakashi and Yugao then addressed the matter. "We have tried to collect information from the civilians and victims of the kidnapping done under Otsutsuki Isshiki, but they don't seem to remember too many things. Luckily, Ino and the Yamanaka Clan helped with recovering lost memories. Unfortunately, it didn't provide much insight save for traitors to the Elemental Nations. It was a lot of cleanup," Yugao claimed.

"How?" The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki inquired.

"It seems that some were trying to undermine the efforts of the Elemental Nations. These people were this way even before the events of Jashin. Yet, we've been able to snuff most of them out. You can never know if they're truly gone. Still, now that you're awake, I think people will start breathing a little easier, especially if Obito and Isshiki have left. We heard from Kushina what preoccupied you both. It seems that there are even stronger Otsutsuki than we believed. Still, one of the members of their Main Branch is working with you. Do they not acknowledge her?" Kakashi asked.

Naruto frowned. "It seems not. Though, it doesn't look like Kagura held them in high regard either. Though, if they can get that powerful then it's better if the rest of the Otsutsuki don't realize it. If they do come back here, they will no doubt be stronger," the blond said, sending another shiver through the others.

Sasuke clenched his fists. "In that case, we need to get you and the others in that damn pool. Kushina, Yuri, and Yura have been going nearly daily after Kushina woke up," Sasuke announced.

Naruto quickly nodded. He could already tell that much when he saw them. It was clear that they had grown more powerful in his unconscious absence. "Yeah, I know. I'm actually going to start tomorrow. I would do it today but there are some things I want to do. Kakashi-sensei, when you and Yugao have the time, tell Baa-chan that all Kage Summits will be held in the underground pools. As Sasuke said, I didn't heed Shin's advice. If I had taken it seriously maybe we wouldn't have been in this predicament," Naruto commanded.

The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki then turned to Sasuke. "Also Sasuke, until Shin says otherwise, I'm gonna make something of an executive decision. You guys can use the pool as well. Use it carefully. If it's too much for you then don't bother, but it's clear that we're not as peaceful as we appear to be," Naruto uttered.

Kakashi, Yugao, and Sasuke shifted their gazes toward each other before the Uchiha nodded. "You don't have to worry if it will be too much for me. Just don't be scared if I surpass you in it," the young swordsman tested, getting a light glare from Naruto. Kakashi and Yugao sighed to each other before they smiled. Some things never changed.

"...Also, Naruto," Sasuke said quietly. Naruto turned to his friend and saw the heavy blush on Sasuke's face. To use his real name instead of mocking him, let the blond know just how serious his friend was taking the issue. That he also did it quietly let Naruto understand that this was clearly something Sasuke didn't want Yugao nor Kakashi to know.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke clenched his teeth and his fists before he shifted his gaze to the Patriarch of the Uzumaki Clan. "I… need some advice," Sasuke said.

Okay, now this threw Naruto for a loop. What thing would be so strange, so dire, that Uchiha Sasuke needed Uzumaki Naruto's advice? "Uhhh… alright. What is it?" Naruto asked. The embarrassment threatened to overwhelm the Uchiha Clan heir before he exhaled carefully. He then grabbed Naruto's arm and whispered in his ear.

Kakashi and Yugao watched the exchange before seeing Naruto's eyes widen further. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki sent a look to Kakashi and the jonin could tell when someone wanted to be alone. After all, he'd been quite the master of that look. "Come, Yugao. Now that Naruto's awake, I've been looking to find some Uzushio cuisine. I can tell you've been trying to find some too," Kakashi mentioned.

Yugao barely even had time to register Kakashi before he dragged her off. "What the… Kakashi… I can… Is this some stupid guy thing?" Yugao asked as her former Anbu leader led her away. She wanted to stick around and find out this weird secret. After all, how long had it been since she had dirt on Uchiha Sasuke of all people? Besides, she wanted to spend some more time with Naruto. She did not travel all this way just for a brief hello.

"Dammit Kakashi-senpai!" Yugao roared as the two former Anbu walked away, leaving Naruto and Sasuke alone. Once they were, the blond turned to his friend.

"Really? You? Now who's the copycat?" Naruto asked.

"Shut up and help me, Idiot," Sasuke growled before Naruto's face evened out. He looked at Sasuke in a way that the Uchiha just knew that the blond would finally take this seriously. He saw Naruto look up at the sky for a long while before he turned back to him.

"It's a long walk to my house, Sasuke. Come with me. During that walk, I'm gonna give you everything you'll need. All you have to do is trust me. And please, when you do this don't be… well, you," Naruto replied, making Sasuke growl before they started walking.

-x-

It seemed so strange to Naruto when he looked up at the Uzumaki Clan Compound. For him, it'd been only a few weeks since he'd last stepped inside these walls. Yet, months passed. Time passed and he'd been in bed unaware of everything. So far, his responsibility as a marriage partner was at an all-time low. He would have to make it up to his mother, Yuri, and Yura. Additionally, he had to find out what happened with the Shinigami and his body. Hopefully Tsunade kept her medical discretion and didn't inform too many people about the changes. He had just woken up and he had too much to catch up on.

"Do that Sasuke and you'll be fine," Naruto replied as he looked at Sasuke. It took his whole nerve to not burst out laughing when he saw the massive blush on Sasuke's face. The Uchiha looked at the Uzumaki Clan Patriarch with the most embarrassed, and skeptical look on his face.

"You're messing with me, aren't you?" Sasuke asked. There was no way this was gonna work!

"Sasuke… it will work. It won't work if you don't believe it will. It just takes that first step. If it makes you feel any better, you can just tell Yuna-chan your plans. I know you're a brooding bastard, but you can't just glare this problem away. Make your move or don't, but don't blame your mother if she does decide to move on," Naruto claimed.

Sasuke opened and closed his mouth several times before he simply walked down the road, away from the Uzumaki Compound. Naruto watched him go with a small smirk. Hmmm, turned out Sasuke was a rather shy guy. The blond realized he was learning a lot more about his friend than he ever wished. No matter how funny it was.

Either way, once Sasuke was gone, Naruto looked at his home and opened the door. Once he stepped inside, he noticed the large living room. It was entirely bare. There wasn't a sound anywhere. However, he couldn't help a small smirk on his lips as he stepped further into the room, seemingly unaware. In hindsight, maybe he shouldn't have tried sensing for everyone. He thought they might all be out of the house tending to their duties. After all, Karin had walked off with Tsunade not too long ago. Yet, he sensed her hiding behind the wall. While his abilities as the Shinigami's summoner had mysteriously disappeared, his natural Uzumaki proficiency hadn't.

He took one more step forward when a ring of party poppers exploded right in his face. The smile on Naruto's face widened as a large tarp fell from the ceiling. Every single family member then rushed out of their hiding spaces.

"Congratulations on your recovery, Naruto!" everyone shouted. Shi, Shion, Komachi, Guren, Fuka, Yukimaru, Amaru, Karin, Kushina, Yura, Yuri, Risa, Tayuya, Karin, Samui, Omoi, and Atsui greeted him. Yuri quickly charged at her lover and hugged him both with arms and her legs wrapped around him. She then furiously kissed him, much to his surprise.

"Y-Yuri!" Yura chastised but Yuri simply waved her sister off before she returned to smacking on the lips of her patriarch. After all, it'd been a little bit since she got to taste the sweetness of his lips. But… there was something strange about this kiss. It was making her hopelessly intoxicated. Hell, it felt like her soul was on fire as she felt helplessly empowered by the sensation.

"...I think Yuri-san wants to give him a party of her own," Atsui laughed. Omoi couldn't help laughing as well before Karui smacked them both over the head. The others continued to watch as Yuri tried to suck the very life out of Naruto's lips before she finally let him breathe. His eyes widened for a moment before he looked at her.

"Why'd you stop?" he asked, a smirk making its way onto his lips. Yuri looked at him with a frown before she matched his smirk. She was prepared to challenge that suggestion before Kushina ripped Yuri off her son.

"I see someone's a little impatient. Need I remind you that I am Sochi's first wife?! I get to kiss him first!" Kushina replied with a growl while Yuri shoved her face into Kushina's.

"You always get to go first, you old hag! I'm not gonna let you one-up me forever!" Yuri fired back. The two women snarled as everyone slowly backed away, especially when their hair started doing that freaky… wavy thing it did when all Uzumaki women were upset.

"B-Both of you. Calm down!" Yura pleaded.

Off to the side, Naruto simply laughed before Tayuya slapped him on the shoulder. "Hey dipshit, control your fucking harem. It took us a lot of work to get this party set up. If they start fighting, there's gonna tear the house down!" Tayuya argued.

"T-Tayuya-nee!" Yukimaru stammered. Fortunately for Yukimaru and the others, Tayuya growled in pain when Risa clawed her own daughter's head with a vicious smile on her face.

"While I don't share my daughter's crass language, I would be inclined to agree, Naruto. Take care of them before they take care of us, and not in the fun way," Risa commented. The other members of the family continued to watch as the indignation between Kushina and Yuri continued to rise.

Finally, Naruto walked into the storm and wrapped his arms around their waists. He then pulled them apart and kissed them both. Kushina gasped into his mouth before he kissed Yuri next. The latter swiftly caressed his cheek as he slid his hands down their slender frames. He alternated his kisses between them, savoring the lips of his mother and cousin.

"...I feel very out of place right now," Shi commented with a chuckle before Guren stepped forward. She slapped her hands over Yukimaru's ears and snarled.

"Can you four have your damn orgy later?!" She chastised with a faint blush on her cheeks. She'd taken off work to be a part of this celebration. She didn't take off work to see her cousin suck the breath out of his harem.

"I don't know. It's kind of hot," Fuka stated, making the others look at her in shock. She simply shrugged before Naruto finally released his mother and Yuri. Then fell to the couch breathlessly before Naruto embraced Yura next. She jumped in shock, yet couldn't get a retort out before she was kissed as well. He dipped her back as her eyes rolled up in her head as a surge of pleasure rushed through her body. She saw how her sister and Kushina lost themselves in the kiss. It was like every piece of her was receiving pleasure from her cousin at the same time.

The way his tongue swirled in her mouth made her moan helplessly. After five months, it was like her whole body was firing on all cylinders. She could even feel the arousal growing as her spirit longed for him. She simply knew that she wanted to stay with him for the rest of her life. She wanted to be his wife and no other. No other man was going to make her feel like this. Her heart was simply fluttering on clouds before he released her as well.

Yura fell next to Kushina and Yuri, all three wide-eyed and flushed as Naruto approached the rest of his family. They each just looked at him with varying expressions. "What?" he asked.

Atsui stepped forward and grinned. "Nothing, cousin. We were just wondering if we should pack up the decorations cause it seemed like you were more than willing to have your own private party. Just say the word and we'll be out of your hair," Atsui exclaimed.

Naruto glanced at the other blond of the five in the family. He then stilled when Komachi swiftly hugged him. She wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her head on his neck. "Ah, welcome back, Naruto. We're glad you're awake," Komachi said, pulling the hug even tighter.

Naruto's eyes softened before he hugged Komachi back. "Sorry for worrying you guys. It's good to be back. This might be the part where I promise to never do anything like this again, but I have no idea what's in store for all of us now. All I can promise you is that I'll do everything in my power to make sure I don't worry you guys ever again," the blond returned with a bright, thoughtful smile.

Soon enough, the entire family, yes even Tayuya, joined in for a family hug. Naruto found himself surrounded by the warmth of his family as he closed his eyes. Those lonely years in his apartment seemed so far away now. The cold nights and days having no one waiting for him were gone beneath a tender blanket of warmth from his family. He couldn't even spread his arms wide enough to hug them all.

Once everyone let him go, Naruto quickly cleared his throat and gathered his family to him. "Alright, before you guys go crazy, I do have something I want to say," the blond spoke, walking over to the wall. He leaned against it as his family awaited his words. Based on his disposition, everyone seemed prepared for something serious.

"I wanted to let everyone know some things. First, I… am not sure what happened to the Shinigami. I can't really sense him and the summoning contract on my hand is a little blurred out. It seems the contract is still in effect since Kaa-chan, Yuri, and Yura can still utilize the Shinigami's powers. However, there have been a few strange changes happening with my body. I don't know what this means but I want everyone to operate under the assumption that I can't bring you back to life for now. I'm also going to be in the underground pools a lot. I didn't take the Shinigami's warning seriously. If I had, then maybe I could have prevented that whole thing. I also encourage all of you take go into the pools as well. Otsutsuki Isshiki and the Akatsuki, they are still out there and they took the four Hokage with them. They wouldn't do this if they didn't have a plan in mind. I don't mean to dampen the mood, but… I want everyone aware of what we're getting involved in," Naruto expressed.

His words had a rather chilling effect amongst his family. They looked at him before they looked at each other. "Well, that at least explains this freaky feeling I'm having. I was wondering why I couldn't sense you come through the door. It's like you don't even exist," Karui said.

Shion and Shi looked at their cousin, the latter tilting his head. "Hmmm, now that you say that, it's true. I can't sense Naruto at all. I'm looking right at him and its like he isn't even there. It's a really weird feeling," Shi said, folding his arms together.

Amaru turned to Kushina. "Can you sense anything? You're the second-best out of all of us," the dark-skinned medic uttered. Soon, all eyes landed on Kushina as she stepped forward. She looked her son up and down, left and right, back and front. The others waited with bated breath as the Uzumaki Matriarch's eyes lowered.

"...I can sense… something, but I don't know what it is. It's a bizarre feeling. It's like I'm sending a candle in the middle of a giant ocean. That's the only way I can explain it," Kushina voiced.

"So you're sensing a logical impossibility? As a scientist, I'm tempted to check your brain. Yet, I'm way too curious to study that!" Karin answered, making Amaru shudder. She had not been enjoying working under Karin. Her cousin was way more ruthless than she ever remembered. Karin worked Amaru almost like a dog. Plus, the latter wasn't even getting paid for it. She was really feeling the weight of her punishment as time went on. Just knowing what experiments were going through her cousin's brain filled her with sorrow.

"G-Great," Amaru laughed nervously.

Karin patted her cousin's shoulder. "Grab a blanket, Amaru! We have another all-nighter waiting for us!"

Amaru's shoulders slumped much to the amusement of everyone else. However, Naruto quickly brought the attention back to him. "Anyway, I'm not ungrateful for what you guys have done for me. I love a good celebration. I just wanted to let everyone know my current circumstances. I didn't say this to bring down the mood," Naruto expressed, offering his family a reassuring smile.

"I would assume that we should keep this to ourselves? This doesn't seem like the type of conversation that would stir the greatest confidence in the world at the moment, especially since you've just woken up," Samui said evenly. She watched her cousin turn to her and nod.

"You'd assume right. And I am warning everyone right now, you are to only share this with the Hyuuga and the Uchiha. If you think someone else should know, then come to me or Kaa-chan first. And don't think I'm singling out Amaru for what happened. I hadn't taken into account Shinnō when I gave that suggestion. Now, I'm correcting that mistake," the blond answered rather fiercely.

While it was rather… strange to keep information from the Raikage, Samui, Karui, Omoi, and Atsui reasoned that if the Raikage didn't ask, then there was no need to bring the information forward. Everyone agreed to the command and the first to ignite the fun was Tayuya.

Soon enough, the Uzumaki Compound was filled with celebration and food. Even very close friends attended the party once they heard it. The festivities celebrating the Kyuubi jinchuuriki's recovery were filled with joy, mirth, and exuberance. No one kept track of the time for that day as friends came together, surrounding the one who made it all possible, Uzumaki Naruto. When the Summoner of the Shinigami actually had time to look at the state of his house, he couldn't even remember the last time his home had been so full to nearly bursting with people.

By the time the celebration was over, the moon was already hanging in the sky and members of the Uzumaki family lay passed out around the house. As for Naruto, well he quickly realized something else. He couldn't get drunk. Well, at least not fully. He felt a nice tingle or sensation but his senses always remained alert and the same was no different for many of his family members. Though, there were benefits to that. He got to see Yukimaru give Hanabi the deepest kiss he'd ever seen him give right in front of her her father. Apparently, Yukimaru got a sip of alcohol when it was mixed with something else. That led Guren into a furious tirade.

Either way, the fun times ensued until the dead of night when the blond walked through the living room. The smile on his face lowered as he watched his family sleep peacefully. No matter the celebrations, cheers, or funny moments, it still remained deep in his mind that he hadn't walked his home for five months.

The steps he was ascending to his bed, he hadn't ascended them for five months. The halls he walked through he hadn't walked for five months. So many things, so many times, so many events, he missed them all and all from one decision that hadn't been thought through. He arrived at his bedroom and opened the door.

"I'm home," The blond thought as he stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and threw off his clothes. He'd just managed to put his pajamas on when he saw his mother come through the door. She closed it behind her until she saw him.

"Oh, so this is where you're hiding. Shouldn't you be passed out with everyone else?" Kushina asked, stepping into the room and quickly throwing off her clothes. Naruto couldn't help but admire his mother's beauty as she got dressed for bed as well.

"How long are you going to stare at me?" Kushina asked, making him jump and take him from his thoughts. He quickly averted his gaze from her which made her laugh.

"S-Sorry," he apologized before he saw his mother approach him. She sat next to him and cupped his cheeks, turning his face toward her.

"Sochi, you haven't looked at me for five months. I'm happy to see that you're still attracted to me. While I'd cave in the face of any other man who looked at me like this, I'm so happy that you still look at me like this. Never divert your eyes from me," Kushina said calmly, reassuring her spouse and son as Naruto looked at her.

He then touched her cheek and lowered his gaze for a moment. "Kaa-chan, how do you feel knowing that Tou-chan's likely been revived? If the Akatsuki somehow took him, then we'll have to confront them eventually," the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki said, pausing so that his mother might be able to ascertain where he was going with his words.

And know where he was going, Kushina had. The Uzumaki Patriarch saw the way she looked at him and her expression indeed was sorrowful. In fact, the blond realized that there were numerous depths to her sorrow that he'd likely never know. After all, no one, not even him could let go of a first love without a lot of time and effort. She then leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his.

"Sochi, I love you. I think some part of me will always love Minato. The things he'd gone through for me made him the man that I loved with all my heart. However, I am worried for him to rest in peace from his troubles. I have no desire to return to my relationship with Minato and I do not regret being with you. If I met Minato right now, I would hold your hand boldly. I treasure what I had with him, but all that I am is given to you and no one else. We will save him together, but I have already been saved by having you," Kushina answered.

Naruto's eyes softened as he looked at Kushina before the two shared a passionate, yet heartfelt kiss. The smack of their lips moved through the room as they partook of each other. Kushina quickly moved into her son's lap and kissed him harder as she pushed him to the bed. They fell together and deepened their kiss. Naruto slid his hands across his mother's form as she fit her body to his like a puzzle piece. With every kiss, she hoped to reassure him of her love, devotion, and attraction to him and him alone.

When they parted, Naruto and Kushina panted as they looked at each other. The former then raised a hand and brushed his mother's red hair from the side of her face. "You make a very convincing argument," Naruto answered. Kushina then gave her son a large grin.

"I could make it more convincing if you'd prefer. I've been without you for five months," Kushina uttered, her eyes lowering as Naruto saw the desire slowly etch itself across her face. He even felt the way his mother started to slide against his own. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki grinned, yet before they could follow through, the door to their bedroom burst open.

"Oh no you don't! We promised, Kushina! Are you going to break the secret pact?!" Yuri exclaimed with a deep growl as Naruto and Kushina noticed Yuri and Yura standing at the door.

"Tch," Kushina turned away and sucked her teeth as Yuri's ruby-colored hair started to flair up.

"You sucked your teeth! You just sucked your teeth, didn't you?! Yura-nee, she sucked her teeth at us!" Yuri shouted, clenching her fists while Yura tried to play peacemaker, even if she agreed with her little sister.

"You did promise, Kushina-san," Yura claimed. The two sisters entered the room while Naruto looked at his mother in bewilderment.

"I feel like I'm missing something," he said before he gasped out when Yuri and Yura jumped on the bed, smothering him with Kushina. He held his lovers in his arms with a pained laugh as Kushina and Yuri butted foreheads. They snarled at each other while Yura and Naruto looked at each other. Well, more specifically, the latter looked at the former for an explanation. Yet, her look told him what he needed to know.

"Nii-sama, there's one thing you need to learn about women. Sometimes, it's better to not ask questions," Yura thought to herself as she and Naruto saw Kushina and Yuri continue to argue.

At some point, the two opted to settle their disagreement later. Instead, Naruto found himself surrounded by a sea of red as his lovers lay with him in the bed. It was then that the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki noticed something that he should have at this start.

"Is this bed bigger?" he asked.

"We had lots of sleepovers," Yuri claimed as she nuzzled into Naruto's neck. This was officially the best night of her life. She never felt happier than having her cousin back in her life. Every day of the five months seemed like an eternity, a time of endless waiting, hoping, and praying that Naruto would wake up. Now, he was here and she couldn't be happier.

As for Naruto, he spent some time contemplating what Yuri was saying. He had a few ideas of what she meant by 'sleepovers' but maybe that was just him fantasizing a bit too much. Either way, he was more than happy in the warm embrace of his women as he fell asleep with them. As he fell asleep, Naruto could have sworn that he heard strange voices resounding in his head. It was like a bunch of garbled noise beneath the ocean filled with decadent ambient music. Unfortunately, his mind couldn't focus on the sensations enough before his thoughts drifted.

-x-

Sasuke found himself standing alone as he looked at the moon. The sound of the Land of Eddies' seas pushed through his ears as he found himself irritated beyond belief. He only remembered one time being more irritated than this and it was when Naruto stupidly got in Haku's ice mirrors instead of attacking from the outside. At that point, Sasuke honestly thought living was way too hard with a teammate like the dobe. Yet, it was also Naruto who got him in this situation in the first place. His chest was beating like it was going to burst to pieces. He was even giving himself every reason to consider this as a bad idea. His thoughts told him of things that weren't true, telling him that he saw things that weren't really there, or feeling things that he didn't really feel, all in some vain, self-absorbed sense to prove something that didn't need to be broken.

"This is stupid. I should just call this off!" Sasuke thought to himself. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it was too late.

"Sasuke."

The Uchiha turned around and he noticed his mother approaching from the forest walkway. As soon as he saw her, it seemed as if all doubts had disappeared from his mind. Mikoto appeared in the moonlight and a gentle blow of the wind made her hair move in a way that Sasuke couldn't help appreciating. It was official, he'd spent way too much time around Naruto.

Sasuke faced his mother and exhaled. "You actually came. I almost thought you weren't going to show," The Uchiha heir claimed, his mouth already speaking faster than his mind thought. When he heard his mother laugh, he suddenly found himself reminded of when she laughed whenever he said something nonsensical as a kid.

"Come on, Sasuke. Do you really think I'd stand up my own son? Have a little more faith in me than that," Mikoto giggled. However, her giggling slowly stood when Sasuke stood in front of her. She then realized that she had to lean her head up to look at him. She then started to get an idea about why he'd called her out here, and she was not mentally ready for it. His gaze was focused, focused entirely on her in a way that made her cheeks burn.

"I'm not good at sappy speeches like Naruto. It's been nearly a year and… I have seen things, things from you and things from me. So, I will do this my way. I called you out here to confirm one thing," Sasuke said as he cupped his mother's cheeks. Mikoto widened her eyes.

"S-Sasuke, wait… m-maybe we… mmmwphmm~!"

Mikoto widened her eyes as her son aggressively and possessively kissed her. She couldn't even breathe from the way his lips brushed against hers. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist and even gently pushed her against the bark of one of the trees. She tried to speak, to make sense of everything, yet her son's fiery passion left her little time to gather her thoughts. Sure, with Yuna's approval, she'd taken to some light flirting with Sasuke. Yet, Sasuke never seemed responsive to her efforts. Of course, Mikoto knew her son had a very closed-off personality for obvious reasons. Even Yuna had times when it was hard to draw out his affection, but when it was out, Sasuke could be the most endearing man in the entire world.

"It's just like Kushina said. It… feels good, so good. Oh, Sasuke, my handsome boy!" Mikoto groaned as she succumbed to her son's embrace. She affirmed her affection when she touched his chest and then wrapped her arms around his neck.

As for Sasuke, he savored this utterly mind-burning sensation and pleasure. All the while, he remembered Naruto's words.

"Alright, Sasuke, lesson one: Don't be you. And before you tear my head off, let me explain. Don't think about it. Do all your thinking when she isn't there. But when she is there, just charge in. Believe me, you won't remember whatever you were thinking about when she steps in." Naruto said as they continued to walk along the beaten path.

"Dobe, this sounds stupid, even for you," Sasuke retorted while Naruto glared at him.

"Do you want my help or not?" The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki inquired, looking absolutely offended which made the Uchiha grimace. The latter then folded his arms and gritted his teeth before keeping his mouth shut.

Seeing this, Naruto nodded. "Good. Now, Lesson Two: Find a moment to look into her eyes. Look at her like you've got all the answers. Look at her like you're resolute. Even if you don't have all the answers, let her know that as a man you will figure it out. Trust me, Moms always seem to know what their sons are thinking. Well, don't hide it then," Naruto explained.

The more Sasuke listened, the more he thought he was going insane. There was no way this was going to work. Before Sasuke could speak, Naruto opened his mouth and imparted one last piece.

"And finally, lesson three: …"

Sasuke slowly broke the kiss with Mikoto as they looked at each other. "I love you, Kaa-san. And, I won't let any other man have you," Sasuke said as Mikoto's heart, and any resistance with it, crumbled into a thousand pieces. She pulled her son closer as the two kissed beneath the Land of Eddies' moonlight.

-x-

First thing in the morning, Naruto could be seen walking deeper into the cave that led to the spiritual pool with Kushina, Yuri, and Yura behind him. "Nii-sama, are you sure you want to go immediately? You just recovered! The pool could prove too much for you. Don't you remember what happened to you the first time?" Yura asked.

"I don't need to remember, Yura-chan. I felt it. I felt every bit of it. Believe me, ordinarily, I would agree with you. However, this isn't the time to remain lax. Those guys could return at any moment and I'll need every advantage we can get. That Kaa-chan and I managed to escape that realm only happened because they weren't expecting it. Those guys won't get caught off again. I also don't know how to stop that damn… teleport thing from happening. If I strengthened my soul then maybe I could have summoned Shin and taken care of them. All that dumb shit happened because I didn't take care of them fast enough. Shin warned me and I didn't listen," Naruto said as his lovers listened.

"Naruto-nii, you can't blame yourself for that. It was all of our responsibility," Yuri expressed.

Naruto turned to her and grinned. "If you think I'm gonna turn into a brooding mess, then don't worry. I know I can't be everywhere but it doesn't change the fact that I still have things I need to protect and if I can increase the chance by even a second, then it's worth it," he said.

The four Uzumaki continued on their way down until after two hours, they made it to the pools. As expected, the spiritual pressure moving through the area. Naruto noticed that Kushina seemed to make some sort of bathing structure around it. There were little wooden shelves with towels and bins for clothes. Those were definitely not here when he'd been here.

"You turned it into a small bathing house?" Naruto asked as he looked at Kushina.

"Why not? We were the only ones coming down here and just sitting in spiritual water tends to get boring pretty quickly. It's also good for physical and mental enrichment," Kushina said as she began to remove her clothes. Her breasts flopped out of her shirt while Naruto watched unashamedly. Kushina noticed her son's gaze and smiled before she continued to get undressed, pulling down her pants.

Naruto bit his lip before he turned and saw Yuri and Yura undress as well, giving him a beautiful and unhindered view of their beauty. They tossed their clothes away, opting to pose a little for the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki.

"Yo, Kushina. Naruto-nii looks like he's about to ravish us before we can even begin training. Look at him. He's already excited," Yuri said, pointing to the erection in Naruto's pants. Yet, he didn't hide it. He just continued to look at them while Yura blushed.

Kushina laughed before she walked forward and brushed her son's chest. "Later, Naruto. If we do what you're probably imagining in that perverted head of yours, then we'll never get any work done. Though, I do like your stare," she said as she walked toward the pool. Yuri quickly kissed his cheek in response and walked away, though not before smacking her ass in front of him for emphasis.

"It's been five months, Naruto-nii. I'm ready whenever you are," She expressed as she joined Kushina.

The blond was then stunned once more when Yura kissed his other cheek. She offered him a shy smile before walking out until the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki was the only one left in the area. He continued to stare even when there was nothing left to look at. Finally, after about a minute, he raised a hand and covered his mouth. A thousand thoughts ran through his head before he finally bit his lip. "Five… months?!" He thought to himself before finally grabbing a towel and rejoining his lovers.

Once he appeared, he took in the vastness of the spirit pool. The pressure coming from it seemed a lot denser than before. Now that the blond thought of it, he wondered why these Otsutsuki hadn't targeted the pool before making their getaway. Perhaps it was because they didn't have time to do it, but they should have sensed its presence. Well, that could just be some good fortune for him. He wasn't sure why he needed this but if this could help him potentially recover the Shinigami and maybe even his powers, then it was worth it.

Naruto spotted Kushina, Yura, and Yuri in the pool, likely ready to help him if ever he needed it. He looked back at the pool and took a small breath. He then stepped inside. He expected some pain or discomfort but surprisingly he felt nothing at all save for liquid against his skin.

"Nii-sama, do you feel alright?" Yura asked.

He turned to her. "Yup, I feel fine for now. Nothing out of the ordinary," he explained.

The three girls exhaled the breaths they were holding. "Good. Then let's take it slow. If you ever feel any discomfort then let us know. Also, try not to push yourself too hard. We're just trying to get into the swing of things again. Do you understand?" Kushina asked, a knowing glare on her face. It was a glare that the Uzumaki Patriarch was all too familiar with.

"G-Got it," he replied.

Thus, Kushina's glare turned into a smile as they continued to walk deeper into the pools. Yet, things already started to take a turn as Kushina, Yura, and Yuri watched Naruto keep up with them every step of the way. It got to the point that Kushina turned to him and grabbed his ear.

"Sochi! I believe we told you not to overdo it! Why are you trying to keep us with us?" Kushina asked.

Naruto groaned in discomfort as his mother pulled his ear, yet he answered anyway. "What do you mean? I haven't felt anything yet. I can keep going. Believe me, I'll let you know when I feel like I can't take it," Naruto responded earnestly, surprising Kushina, Yura, and Yuri.

"You… Nii-sama, do you know where you are right now?" Yura inquired as Naruto turned around and noticed that he couldn't even see the edge of the entrance to the underground pool anymore. Naruto looked down and he noticed that they were stomach-deep in the spirit pool. Even Yuri and Yura were showing minor signs of fatigue and discomfort.

"I was just following you guys. I promise I'm fine. You're making it rather easy to be distracted after all," Naruto asserted. Despite their unease, the three Uzumaki ladies shared a chuckle. Kushina looked over her son and it appeared as if he was telling the truth. Yet, how was that possible? He'd been out of the pools for months. It had taken them weeks to even get to this point.

Finally, Kushina exhaled. "Alright, but the moment you feel anything wrong, you stop. Understood?" she asked. Her son and husband quickly agreed as the group of four continued onward.

Surprisingly, it wasn't long before Yuri stopped first. Yura was next. Kushina… was last. At different parts of the pools, the lovers of Uzumaki Naruto could only watch in utter shock and confusion as he walked past them, going further and further until they couldn't even see him anymore.

As for Naruto, he didn't remember when he stopped following his lovers. The further into the pools he went, the better he felt. A myriad of seals and symbols flourished through his mind as he felt himself neck-deep in the pool. Walking slowly turned to floating, and floating swiftly turned to swimming.

Naruto swam down, going deeper and deeper as every pore in his body seemed to be bursting with untold power. Even his hair changed, glowing through every color like a vibrant rainbow as he descended. Strangely enough, he felt like he didn't even need to breathe. Sure the pool was filling his nostrils yet every facet of his body was charged with life. He could stay down there as much as he wanted.

Yet, even with the pools, there was a bottom to be reached and the pressure was actually starting to be felt by the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. As he went down, he then noticed a type of platform with drawn symbols on it at the bottom. He swam to it and landed his feet on the ground. Despite the pools, the rocks felt hot to his feet.

"What the hell is this?" Naruto thought to himself as he approached carefully. His body felt a lot lighter. He approached the platform and stood on it. As he looked at it, knowledge seemed to flood into his head, almost like instructions. He didn't know how this was happening, but maybe the Shinigami would have explained it if he were here right now.

Of course, that wasn't gonna stop Uzumaki Naruto now that he'd managed to get all the way down here. Granted, he wasn't expecting to get to a place like this so quickly. That said, if this stuff was supposed to be for strengthening his soul then why did it become so powerful now?

As Naruto approached the platform, he noticed a gold gem and a violet gem on each side of the platform. Once he looked at them, it felt like a surge of knowledge came into the Uzumaki Patriarch's mind. He raised his hands and placed them on the gems. Immediately, his eyes widened as the golden flames of The Beginning and the dark flames of The End engulfed his body.

Then came the pain. There came pain greater than he'd ever experienced in his entire life. Naruto's screams were garbled under the spirit pool as veins stretched out along his body. He could feel his body breaking down so quickly that he couldn't even brace for the agony. His hair fell off his head, his body withered and aged. He tried to pull his hands off the glowing gems, yet either he was too weak or the pull of the gems was simply too strong. Either way, the youth and strength that he'd prided himself in were quickly sucked away. His aged legs failed him and forced him to his knees. The unholy agony forced his body into shock as his eyes rolled up in his head. Finally, his hands released the gems and collapsed to the ground.

When Naruto opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a large, dark hallway. The structure reminded him of some strange castle from a kingdom not of his own world. Yes, he was aware that didn't really make a lot of sense, but it was the only way he could describe it. Either way, he slowly stood up, noticing that his body had returned to normal. The pain seemed so far away as he began to walk.

"It's official. I'm going crazy," Naruto thought to himself as he maneuvered through the castle.

It seemed weird, yet he kind of knew where he was going. It was almost like he'd been here before. He traversed impossibly massive corridors with the finest carpet he'd ever stepped on. The longer he walked, the more he started to notice the five statues that lined the walls. They all seemed so strange to him. The statues didn't look like they were carved from regular stone. They didn't even look human save for one. Two were depicted as wearing armor, and one was humanoid, yet so far removed from what could be considered human. The fourth was quadrupedal, or even having no form at all. The last he remembered very well. That was the fifth vessel of the Shinigami, Otsutsuki Hamura.

Realization slowly came upon the blond as he understood these to be the previous bearers of the Shinigami's might. He took in their features and touched their frames. The sculptures felt hot to the touch as he gazed upon them.

Yet, Naruto wasn't even allowed to ponder the statues more before a voice came upon him.

"You're taking too long, young summoner. You shall perish into the void at this rate."

Before Naruto could even register the voice that somehow poured into his head, he found himself standing in front of another pool. Yet, he realized that he wasn't alone. In the middle of the pool, the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki spotted a familiar face. The long hair, pale skin, pupil-less eyes that reminded him so much of a Hyuuga, it was all there.

The man slowly opened his eyes and offered the young summoner a small smile. "I must say, out of all of us, that was a rather abysmal performance. I suppose I should offer you congratulations. You are the best of the worst. No one has fallen that quickly to the trial like that," the man said.

A brief flash of annoyance ran through Naruto's face at the insult, yet he tried to keep himself under control. Gone were those days that he'd LOVE to punch someone in the face if they said the wrong thing to him. Not his best moments, yet some of them were earned. Either way, he stepped forward.

"Shin?" The blond asked.

The man's eyes lowered before his smile strengthened. "Hmmm, come now Uzumaki Naruto. Has so much time passed that you have forgotten me so quickly? Unfortunately, the Spirit of Death is no longer with me," the man said as the blond's eyes widened.

"Otsutsuki Hamura!" Naruto exclaimed in realization. In hindsight, perhaps he should have led with Hamura first rather than the Shinigami, but Naruto had been looking at Hamura's form too many times to not see Shin.

The younger brother of Otsutsuki Hagoromo slowly nodded. "Piece that together, did you? Very good. Now, unfortunately, you've wasted too much time here. Try not to fail your trial so easily next time. Naturally, I sympathize with your plight. The same thing happened to me when it was my time. Fight the pull. Fight the pull with all your might. That is the only to prove your worth," Hamura said as he raised his hand and engulfed Naruto in a torrent of golden and violet fire.

"Wait! What do yo-"

Before Naruto couldn't even think, he opened his eyes and found himself back in the spirit pool, lying on the ground. He swiftly righted himself until he floated back on the floor. He looked back at the two gems. A thought made him wonder if he'd imagined all of that, but the pain was simply too real for him to just forget. Even now, his hands shook as he remembered the things he'd been forced to endure. He also remembered those statues and the Hamura at that other pool.

"Fight the pull? What does that even mean? Unless… I should be trying not to let the gems take the flames. But what's the point? I could just not touch them then," Naruto thought to himself. He slowly reached out to touch one of the gems but the briefest of warnings passed through his head and made him hesitate. This was no game. There was only a limited number of trial and error attempts. How many that was Naruto didn't know, but he couldn't afford to take that chance right now.

The blond took a step back and then exhaled. "Hmmm, I wonder…" The blond said before he took a step back and summoned a shadow clone. The clone quickly walked over to the pillar and touched the gems.

…then the process repeated, and all the pain with it.

Naruto opened his eyes and he saw Hamura looking down at him. The younger brother of Otsutsuki Hagoromo seemed notably less amused.

"Well, I believe I should at least praise you for ingenuity, if nothing else. I mean this as respectfully as possible, but are you perhaps an enjoyer of pain, Uzumaki Naruto? A smart individual would have withdrawn and attempted this when they collected their thoughts," Hamura said.

Naruto growled and stood to his feet. "I liked you better when you were more stoic like fucking Sasuke! Well, why don't you help me out here, Otsutsuki Geezer?! What is this place? Why am I even doing this? Where did Shin go? What kind of training even is this?!" The blond asked, a bunch of frustration being released as he watched Hamura maintain his rather composed and regal posture above the small lake beneath him.

"Your rather crude remarks aside, you are a rather simple man, Uzumaki Naruto. Naturally, that has its benefits as well. All your questions can be answered with a simple answer. To make the matter rather elementary, you have been given the privilege of undertaking the trial to become the sixth vessel of the Shinigami."

KG: We're actually progressing rather smoothly toward the end. It's actually rather fun and melancholic to think about. Man, 100 chapters after so many years. What a ride. And I am grateful that so many of you have been with me on this ride! Granted, we're not really done DONE! But we're getting there.