Chapter 32- Beat to Quarters

Ginou was holding his fist out to Yama.

Ginou had not trusted a human in eons, but he was willing to make the extension one more time.

Yama had let the fox into his mindscape and shown him the memories of his father.

A mindscape is a precious thing. Had Ginou wished to, he would have been able to wreak havoc and destruction inside Yama's psyche.

It would be indefensible and irreparable. Yama had still let him in though.

Ginou thought it foolish to allow Yama into the Bijuu plane simply because Yama had shown trust first.

However, Ginou was willing to be a fool one more time. Isobu needed help.

Yama smiled and brought his fist up to met Ginou's.

Yama closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, he found himself surrounded by the Bijuu.

Kurama was non-hostile, but still staring at him intently.

The rest were staring with intensity bordering on ill-will.

The Eight-tails spoke first.

"You dare to bring a human into our sacred plane, Fox?

And you claim to be the only one who honors our father?"

Yama interrupted him.

"Easy there, Gyuuki.

I'm here to help."

Gyuuki immediately clammed shut, and turned a side eye towards Kurama, who simply shrugged and held his paws in the air in a helpless manner.

"I have told him nothing. He knows our names through other means.

He has let me into his mindscape and shown me his meeting with Hagoromo.

I trust him, and he is here to help Isobu.

He is the man who purified me of emotion."

Most of the other Bijuu kept quiet and simply listened. Kurama had already told them of his first meeting with Yama.

Yama was supposedly a being of great power and strength. It would be unwise to make any rash decisions with the man already in their shared plane.

The two-tails leveled a predatory gaze against Yama, who met her eyes with a simple smile.

"Yama, is it? What truly brings you into our domain?

It would behoove you to speak candid truth."

As she spoke, her body flared and the surrounding temperatures spiked. Yama was unflustered and unaffected though.

"Matatabi, you too, No need to be all scary like that.

I only have good intentions.

Besides, if you really want to get mad at me, can you just wait a little while?

There is something I must apologize for to you in specificity."

Matatabi grinned, showing all her teeth.

"Unflappable are you? Not sweating even a little bit?"

Yama laughed and scratched his head.

"Nope. "

He turned in a circle and faced each of the 8 Bijuu who were already present before speaking.

"Kurama has brought me here to help Isobu. If I were a betting man, I would wager that none of you are too comfortable with my presence, so why don't I just go ahead and do my thing?"

The Bijuu retained their silence and simply watched with slight nods of their heads.

Yama looked around, and seeing no disagreement, started his work.

The eight Bijuu were in a circle, and he had started in the middle of it.

One portion of the circle was incomplete though, the location missing Isobu, the three-tails or Sanbi.

As Yama walked over to the gap in the circle, he spoke aloud, detailing his plans to the other Bijuu.

"Kurama here has informed me that it is very likely that Isobu and his jinchuuriki are under the influence of a genjutsu.

I find myself agreeing with his assessment.

While I would be able to dispel the jutsu in person, it would take me a long time to find the pair, and it may even be impossible to get close enough.

That is why I am here. I intend to use this realm to establish a connection with Isobu.

Once it has been made, I will pulse my chakra across the connection, disrupting the flow of chakra in Isobu and Yagura, hopefully breaking them from their illusions.

Does anyone have any questions before I begin?"

"Oooh! I do! I do! Pick me! I have a question!"

Yama sighed but he couldn't quite hide the grin on his face.

"Yes Chomei?"

"How do you know my name?!"

Yama laughed.

"Is that really your question?"

"Yeah!"

"Hagoromo introduced me to all of you a long time ago. You wouldn't remember though."

"Why?!"

"I thought you only had one question?"

"Yeah! And 'Why' is only one question!"

Yama thought for a moment before replying.

"I'd rather not lie to you guys, so I guess the best way to put it would be that its best for you to not remember."

Chomei's wings buzzed for a split second before the seven-tailed beast started again.

"I have one question!"

"Go ahead."

"How are you going to connect to Isobu?"

"Ninshu."

"You know Ninshu!?"

"Yep."

"Wow! You must really be tou-chan's friend!"

"Yep. Pretty lucky right?"

Chomei laughed, and the bell-like chirping rang out through the gathering.

"Very lucky!"

The rest of the Bijuu were paying close attention to Yama and Chomei's conversation.

They still maintained their silence though, preferring to observe the man known as Yama.

Yama sat down where Isobu should have been.

"Here goes nothing."

Yama crossed his legs into the lotus position and curled both of his hands into fists before placing them together directly in front of his navel.

He closed his eyes and bowed his head, focusing on some of his oldest memories.

Isobu had been asleep for a very long time.

He needed not to open his eyes, or even move. Nothing was going on outside, and he was enjoying his nap.

His brothers and sister's had invited him to talk, but sleep was fine too.

He could talk to them later. Whatever they had to say could wait for another day.

Besides, to an unaging being, what is a little time and short wait?

Kurama was being so insistent though.

He kept on trying to establish a link to Isobu through the shared Bijuu space.

Couldn't he take a hint? Isobu was enjoying a nice, long nap right now.

Maybe in a few decades, Isobu would come back to the surface and breathe, but he was fine for now.

Boy, Kurama was being really insistent.

Better not speak with them. If Kurama needs to talk that bad, then its definitely something that would interrupt his nap.

Best to ignore it. Sleep will come. It will handle itself.

And Isobu's consciousness faded away even more. He stirred even less, eyes closed.

A warm touch caressed his carapace.

Fingers trailed the curves and edges of his shell, and Isobu stretched and shifted within his shell.

The touch was oddly familiar, yet unknown at the same time.

A real conundrum? Perhaps he would figure it out if he slept on it?

Time to go back to sleep.

But the touch did not stop.

The touch quickly formed a fist and knocked on his shell.

He heard a quiet voice call out to him.

Isobu, wake up.

Your siblings wish to see you.

Isobu turned in place.

Just a few more minutes, Dad. Kurama hasn't been letting me sleep at all~~~~

The hand patted his head a couple times.

Isobu, they need to speak to you.

Why don't you open your eyes just a little bit?

Isobu screwed his eyes shut even more.

I don't wanna~~

The hand made its way to Isobu's chest and the warm touch suffused into his shell, warming his insides.

If I have to wake you up forcefully, it won't be pleasant, Isobu.

Why don't you just open your eyes for a second or two?

That's all I ask, it will only take a second.

Isobu huffed in annoyance.

I'll get up eventually. Just let me be for now, Dad.

Just give me a second.

The hand on his chest suddenly stopped, and Isobu felt the mounting pressure on him, squeezing the air from his lungs.

Isobu was starting to get mad, he just lost 3 decades of air, and it was ruining his nap.

Isobu would have to wake up a little earlier now. Dad was being a jerk.

ISOBU, WAKE UP!

A burst of light and sound erupted in Isobu's world,

With a startled fright, he opened his eyes, expecting to see the depths of the ocean around him.

All he saw were chains and a cramped cell.

He was confused for only a half second, and then the memories started to rush back into his mind.

He was not in the ocean, he was still in that Yagura boy, the Mizukage.

He had been sealed in here for years.

How could he be taking a nap?

His siblings were calling him.

He never ignored them, even when he wanted to sleep.

The flash of light and sound that had shook him from his reverie was still searing his eyes and ringing through his ears.

I'm UP, I'm UP! Just quit that racket, please!

The sound and light slowly faded away, and his sense confirmed his memories. He was still sealed within Yagura.

The warm touch on his chest though was still present, and Isobu focused on the touch as he calmed himself down.

Kurama once more extended the invite into the shared mental plane.

This time Isobu would not say 'No', and in the blink of an eye, Isobu was face to face with his siblings.

As Isobu looked around, each and every other tailed beast was staring directly at him.

He ducked into his shell a tiny fraction.

"Sorry I'm late?"

Kurama sighed and laid down before crossing his paws and laying his head to rest atop them.

He closed his eyes and replied.

"As long as you finally showed up, all is well."

"Thanks, nii-san."

Shukaku erupted.

"STOP CALLING HIM THAT, ISOBU.

HE ALREADY HAS A BIG ENOUGH HEAD.

AND HE'S NOT OUR OLDER BROTHER JUST BECAUSE HE HAS MORE TAILS!"

Isobu further withdrew into his shell, leaving only a portion of his head outside.

"Sorry, Shukaku-san, I didn't mean to upset you."

Shukaku shook his head with exasperation.

"Just...

Don't worry about it.

What took you so long to get here?"

The rest of the Bijuu looked at Isobu expectantly, and he tried to withdraw his head completely within his shell before a voice stopped him.

"Um, Isobu, can you let me down before you retreat into your shell completely?"

The voice came from directly on top of his head and Isobu's first instinct was to violently shake.

Instantly, Yama was rocketed off and careened, tumbling on the floor, until he came to a sudden stop as Kurama trapped him underfoot.

Isobu hadn't even realized someone else was here, much less on his head, and looked around frantically at the others.

"Who is that and why is he here?"

Kurama lifted his paw, freeing Yama, who stood up and shook himself out, apparently no worse for the wear.

Kurama spoke to Isobu.

"This here is Yama. Before I introduce him, who don't you tell us your story?"

Isobu nodded.

"It's been a while since our last talk, but things were normal for me until recently.

A few years ago, I was sealed into a young ninja by the name of Yagura Karatachi.

He's a sweet boy. However, I'm a little confused right now."

Kurama nodded.

"Go on."

"Well, the last thing that I remember was a man in an orange, one-eyed mask.

I saw him through the eyes of Yagura-kun, and I suddenly got very drowsy.

Ever since then, I've been in the ocean, sleeping.

I could kinda hear you guys, but I really didn't want to wake up for any reason.

But then, jsut now, when I woke, I was still in Yagura-kun, not the ocean.

So I guess that's why I'm late."

Kurama growled and bared his teeth at the mention of the masked man.

"So it was him."

Yama reached up and patted one of Kurama's legs.

"Calm down. Isobu is fine now. No need to get too upset."

Kurama sneered and brought his face directly in front of Yama, meeting eye to eye.

"Don't patronize me!"

Yama turned the patting motion into a stroking one and smoothed out a little patch of Kurama's fur.

"I'm not patronizing you, it's just not worth getting worked up over."

Kurama huffed and turned in a different direction before closing his eyes. Yama continued to smooth out his fur, bit by bit.

The other 8 Bijuu locked eyes with each other and shared the exact same thought.

He is totally being patronized.

Isobu still had a confused look on his face as he spoke to Yama.

"So who are you if you don't mind me asking?"

"I don't mind at all Isobu, I am simply a friend to bijuu. I knew Hagoromo, and he asked me to take care of you."

Isobu's eyes, even as unexpressive as they are, widened noticeably as his voice pitched up.

"You knew Dad?"

"Not very well, but I met him a few times.

As for why I'm here, Kurama asked me to break you from your genjutsu."

"Genjutsu?"

"You mentioned that you thought you were napping in the ocean, but why don't you take another look?"

Isobu closed his eyes momentarily before reopening them.

"I'm definitely still in Yagura-kun."

Yama replied.

"What I suspect happened is this.

Shortly after your sealing, a man cast a genjutsu on you and your host.

The genjutsu didn't seem to control you, but it did slowly erode your consciousness and willpower over time.

Within a few years, they would be able to come back and take full control over you and Kagura.

Now that it is broken however, that will not occur."

Yama turned to face the rest of the Tailed Beasts.

"Kurama has promised you the Great Freedom Sutra, a technique that can break all of your seals.

I am the one who taught it to him, and I have but this one request.

Please do not kill unnecessarily once you have escaped.

I know that the drive for revenge is strong, but I implore you to forsake revenge.

You will be free. Please simply escape and don't look back.

There is no need to further tie yourself to humanity."

Yama's head and body were bowed as he begged the Bijuu.

Kurama opened an eye and looked at him.

"You've been here long enough. I will handle the rest."

Yama made eye-contact and sighed before disappearing.

Kurama looked at all his brothers and sisters.

They had a lot of discussion left.

Yama found himself in the Hatake courtyard, looking at a small fox, curled up in a ball in front of him.

He reached down and grabbed him before placing him in his lap.

Yama took a quick look around, noting a lack of Kakashi or any observers, and continued with his meditation and chakra control practice.

Uggh, I didn't even have a chance to talk to Matatabi... She is going to be pissed.

Later that night, in Sunagakure.

An infant was laid to rest in an oversized crib. No, the crib was not oversized, but the infant simply tiny.

A light brown tanuki crawled out from the shadows of the blanket that swaddled the tiny babe.

The Tanuki stretched out a claw towards the baby's throat, but it was quickly batted away by a ribbon of sand.

The tanuki chuffed almost inaudibly before jumping away onto a nearby open windowsill.

It looked at the infant one more time prior to jumping out.

Outside the building, there was nothing abnormal. Had anyone been there to see anything, they would have just noticed a simple gust of wind, carrying a little more sand than expected.

In Kumogakure.

Yugito Nii was asleep, but a sudden weight on her chest shocked her into wakefulness.

As soon as her eyes were open, she broke out into a cold sweat, shocked into stillness.

It was all she could do to stop herself from screaming.

The young girl looked directly into the burning eyes of the Two-Tails.

The Nibi was standing on her chest, eyes level and staring into her soul.

"Yugito, it has been a decent few years that we have spent together.

Better than my last host, that is for sure.

I am free now, and there is no way for me to be sealed again.

I would recommend that you and your village do not try to track nor recapture me.

I would hate to have to kill you."

The Nibi then jumped off Yugito's chest, illuminating the room and casting dancing shadows across the walls.

Yugito watched as the Nibi winked out like a snuffed candle, and finally took a breath after the beast disappeared.

Yugito was panicking, hoping she was dreaming, but try as she might, as she reached inward to make contact with her prisoner, she felt oddly empty.

She quickly grabbed the kunai from beneath her pillow and stabbed herself in the leg, not caring in the slightest that she injured herself much more severely than she needed to to break a genjtusu or wake from a nightmare.

She didn't wake up though. And there was no genjutsu to dispel.

Yugito, without taking the time to put on more proper clothes made her way to the Raikage's office at her best speed.

Isobu opened his eyes, and breathed in the salty air around him.

Yagura was a nice boy and all, but freedom was much nicer.

The boy was still asleep, so Isobu just lumbered out of the room, out onto a nearby pier and slipped into the water.

Son Goku, was much more emotional after his release.

Roshi was a jerk, and there was no way in hell that Son Goku would leave quietly.

As soon as he was released from his Human Prison, Son Goku expanded to his normal size, ripping the roof off, and destroying the hut on the edge of town where Roshi resided.

Roshi was awoken by the cacophonous noise, but Son Goku was fast enough to capture the former jinchuuriki and hold him tightly within his hand.

Roshi looked into the smoldering eyes of Son Goku and knew he was dead. Somehow the seal had failed, and the Bijuu was loose.

Onoki would be able to reseal it, but that would be after Roshi's death.

Son Goku gathered the entirety of his killing intent and aimed it at his former jinchuuriki.

"Any last words, Roshi? Any regrets?

Roshi shook his head. His eyes were clear and his voice steady.

"Live by the sword. Die by the sword."

Son Goku laughed mirthlessly.

"I had hoped you would grovel more.

Thank your lucky stars.

Your life has been spoken for, and you will live another day.

However, if you or Iwagakure chase after me, it's open season.

Please chase me, I would be much obliged to eat you.

Tell Onoki everything! I'll give you a head start!"

Son Goku slung his arm around and threw Roshi across the ground as hard as he could towards the Tsuchikage Tower at the center of the village.

Roshi collided with rocks and boulders, bouncing to and fro the entire way in, finally coming to rest slumped against the tower, with barely any bones left intact.

He coughed up a little blood and prayed that Onoki would be informed of the situation fast enough.

The Ninja on patrol throughout the village could not have missed the Yonbi being released, and within minutes, the village was on red alert.

Han was awake.

The Gobi suddenly appeared before him, took one look at him before disappearing into the night.

Han might have thought it a hallucination or genjutsu if the emptiness within him didn't confirm his vision.

The Gobi had escaped.

It was exceedingly difficult to track down. It might not kill as many as the Yonbi does when it escapes, but it may take years to find once more.

Han sat down and waited to die. If the seal had broken, he would die undoubtedly.

Death was a constant companion for a shinobi. Han would not flinch when it was his time to go.

However, after about five minutes without dying or even a sniffle, Han was genuinely confused as to why he wasn't dead yet.

He was however tired. Perhaps dying is like falling asleep.

Maybe he wouldn't wake up in the morning.

Han, who was already sitting down, leaned against the nearby wall, his normal sleeping position.

He laughed as he closed his eyes.

Who thought that Han of the Gobi would die in his sleep?

Saiken slowly shook Utakata awake.

The young boy opened his eyes and was the Rokubi next to his bed, with one of its tails on his shoulders.

Saiken communicated, the words directly resounding within Utakata's head.

Neither of us are trapped anymore.

Saiken then squeezed through the gaps in the floorboards and disappeared.

Utakata rolled back over on his side and closed his eyes.

That was a nice dream.

Chomei was free! This was great!

Chomei hadn't been free in who knows how many years!

The girl was still asleep! Chomei can't leave on a low note!

The Nanabi soared into the air over Takigakure and thought for a few moments.

Chomei thought of the best prank ever for all these shinobi that had imprisoned her.

She promised Yama that she wouldn't kill them unless they chased, but pranks are okay, right?

As Saiken flew away into the night, some of the dust and scale from her wings fell off and scattered across the village.

B woke up with a tentacle up his nose and sat up in his bed. As he pulled the offending appendage out of his nostril, he saw the eight tails next to his bed.

"Yo, why'd you stick that thing up my nose?

I ain't like that, and not anything goes!"

Gyuuki laughed at his jinchuuriki.

"I have been freed. I am now an independent existence from you."

"Ain't that some shit! Haven't you always been wishing for it?

Are you leaving now, even if I'm curious how?"

"I might stick around a little longer. I'll explain things to A if you could take me to him."

"Then, away we'll go, kono yarou, baka yarou."

Kurama opened his eyes to find himself in the smaller silver body he had been using recently.

Yama looked down at him.

"Long night, eh Ginou?"

"Indeed. We had much to discuss among us.

You can rest assured, they have agreed to not rampage.

I have been in contact with them and each of them has successfully thrown off their seals.

The Great Freedom Sutra works as you have claimed.

We are forever in your debt."

Yama laughed and scratched his head.

"Just trying to make the world a better place."

"We thank you either way."

The pair let the silence slide over them, and it was not uncomfortable for the two to not share any words.

Yama brought out a brush from somewhere in his flak jacket and started to brush the small fox's fur.

Ginou closed his eyes and his breathing soon became slow and rhythmic.

The morning was surely around the corner, and Yama looked to the east as the sun came up.

It was a new day, and he had a good feeling about it.

In the Hokage's Tower.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been shocked awake at 0500 by one of his ANBU.

The ANBU had flared his chakra outside the Sandaime's bedroom before making a verbal report.

"Black Falcon message from the Daimyo. Your eyes only."

Hiruzen bolted awake, and was in his armor and out the door within fifteen seconds.

Within 30 seconds, he was seated behind the desk in his office and opening the highest priority message from the Daimyo.

The Daimyo's fastest birds were Black Falcons, and he would only use them for the most important of messages.

The messages of a Black Falcon were never good. Only bad news could even need to be disseminated that quickly.

As Hiruzen read the message his eyes got wider and wider.

To the Hokage

From the desk of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire

Over the night, all diplomats from the following countries have been recalled and then left the capitol in haste;

Land of Wind

Land of Lightning

Land of Water

Land of Earth

Land of Cliffs

We have already recalled all our diplomats from the respective countries. Take appropriate measures.

The wax seal of the Daimyo was present in the bottom of the message, present with the signature of the Daimyo himself.

The golden ink jumped out at Hiruzen, and try as he might, he could not stop his heart from quickening slightly, however, he still held out a semblance of hope for the situation.

The Hokage turned to the nearest ANBU.

"Assemble the Council. All members here in 30 minutes under penalty of treason. I expect ANBU to inform each and every party within five minutes under penalty of treason."

"Yes SIR!"

And the Four ANBU the normally guarded the Hokage left him alone in his office. They would almost never do so, but the current occasion was special.

If ANBU had any chance of delivering messages to all council members within 5 minutes, each of the four bodyguards would have to travel at their maximum speed to the four ANBU substations within each quarter of the city.

It was a frantic race against time,

Hiruzen slowly walked to the council room, and sat at the head of the table.

He was still in his battle dress, but he did not feel like putting on the ceremonial Hokage robes.

Now was a time for action, not ceremony. He hung the hat on the chair he sat in.

As much as his mind was screaming to do something, do anything, Hiruzen steeled his nerves and waited.

Once the council was assembled, actions could be taken. Anything before then was premature.

Even with his racing heart, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat still as a statue at the head of the table, hands clasped together, his chin resting on them, with a look of slight consternation across his face.

The civilian representatives of Suna, Kumo, Kiri, Iwa, and Taki had all been recalled.

All he could do now was wait.

At the 28 minute mark, the council was fully assembled.

The last to arrive was the emergency civilian representative. He was being dragged in by ANBU, still half asleep and in his sleeping clothes.

The rest of the council were active or former ninjas, and they were all present, alert, and in full battle dress within 25 minutes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled the message from the Daimyo out of his pocket and read it aloud.

Almost every single face changed as he read the message. However, the sole civilian was getting more and more confused. Danzo's face was impassive.

The rest of the ninja wore tight frowns and inklings of horror were spread around their eyes.

The council fell into a heavy silence.

However, at almost exactly 30 minutes after the first message had been received in Konoha, another Black Falcon landed in the aviary.

The Chuunin on watch was scared shitless, and he grabbed the message scroll and ran to the council room as fast as he could.

He barged into the room, and everyone's heads whipped around to glare at him.

He hadn't followed protocol, and he was interrupting potentially the most important meeting in Konoha in decades.

As he caught his breath, the Hokage spat out.

"Report, now!"

The gasping chuunin got the words out as he handed over the scroll.

"Another... Black... Falcon..."

The Sandaime snatched the scroll from the chuunin's hands, who left the room as fast as he could, extremely uncomfortable with the amount of attention he was getting from people 4 levels his superiors.

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the scroll and read.

To the Hokage

From the desk of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire

All other diplomats from all other countries have been recalled.

The Land of Fire has lost all means of communication with all other countries.

The Daimyo's seal was present on the bottom of the message.

The Daimyo's signature next to it was written in blood red ink.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand involuntarily shook.

He steeled his voice and read the message to the council.

Everyone but one had a fully blown look of horror on their face.

Except Danzo. Danzo was smiling.

The Sandaime Hokage closed his eyes for one moment, and the last shred of tenderness he had left was extinguished, and when he reopened his eyes, all that was left was a man who had cut his teeth in all three Great Shinobi Wars.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked across the room, and in a calm and low voice, he commanded.

"Make ready for war."

The council exploded into action, and everyone flew to their associated tasks and responsibilities.

All except one, Danzo remained seated, and Danzo was smiling.

Konoha was rumbling to life once more. She only lived for one thing, and her recent short rest had upset her.

The gears of the world were turning, and the world turned on its axis, the sun casting its harsh gaze across the lands.

The drums of war were beating.