Naruto: Menma Chronicles by Redrover117

Chapter 14: Shadow Summit

Land of Spring: Yuki / Uzumaki Clan Compound

Yukigakure no Sato had changed considerably since the civil war ended eight years ago with the most notable change being that almost the entirety of the Land of Snow had been turned into a Land of Spring. Thanks to the heat generators of the Kazehana clan, the snow that had given the country its name had almost completely melted away leaving only the mountaintops where Yuki was located as the only patches of snow to be found.

Yuki hadn't had a ninja clan of its own like other Shinobi villages and the Kazehana were a civilian clan with a large amount of wealth and respect which allowed them to establish themselves as the Daimyo of the country when it was first formed. When the remnant of the Uzumaki clan and their 'vassals' had settled down and integrated into the village after the civil war, they were quickly able to seize control of the village with the Daimyo's backing. To help settle into the village and become part of it as well as lead it, they had constructed a good-sized Uzumaki compound in the heart of the village.

Naruto could still remember the looks on people's faces when he built a house with one hand-seal...

Now he could see why Hashirama-sensei found it so funny...

Being a minor shinobi village, Yuki only had a few thousand active Shinobi and Kunoichi at any given time. When compared to the likes of the main five villages that boasted tens of thousands, the forces of such a minor village just couldn't measure up. The destruction of Uzushio showed all of the minor villages what happened when a minor village grew too strong for their liking; the only reason they hadn't destroyed Ame completely during the wars despite it being just below Suna in strength was because Hanzo and later Pein were powerful enough to defend it. It really was such a shame that both of them lost sight of the peace that they sought...

"So you've heard?" Karin asked her surprise guest as she sat down at her table and read the latest report.

"I may not be as good as Honoka-neechan but I am still a Seal Master like every Uzumaki," Naruto responded as he sat on the windowsill with on leg hanging off. "Mito-sama's seals really are amazing; it's no wonder that Hashirama-sensei could use them to spy on the whole continent."

"...The remnant of the Akatsuki has kidnapped the Hachibi Jinchuuriki," Karin said calmly. "Apparently he was the brother of the current Raikage and it seems that the Raikage has called a meeting of the Kages in the Land of Iron."

"The samurai nation," Naruto mused.

"I'm surprised at you," Karin commented with a sly smirk as she leaned back in her chair. "From the reports, the one who took the Hachibi Jinchuuriki was none other than Uchiha Sasuke, you're former teammate."

"We were comrades once," Naruto explained. "But in the end he was just using me like everyone else; I no longer care what happens with the Uchiha or Konoha."

"Really?" Karin chuckled at his words. "What will you do, I wonder? He is a member of the Akatsuki now and that means he's 'Madara's puppet so what will you do when you see him next?"

"...He is of no concern to me," Naruto replied. "I'll leave him too you; do with him as you please."

"...I'll do just that...Naruto-kun," Karin responded before turning back to the papers that littered her desk. "What are we going to do about this 'Kage Summit' that they're organizing?"

"They're throwing a party," Naruto shrugged. "I say we crash it."

Land of Lightning: Akatsuki Base

"Finally," white Zetsu breathed in relief as the last of the crimson chakra flowed into the demonic statue's mouth. "It took forever," black Zetsu commented. "Well there are only four of us."