Shattered Sun

Curiouser and curiouser

Another year passed and Roshi joined them. Son Goku was happy to see Naruto and greeted him respectfully, "Hello Naruto,"

Naruto bowed his head, "Hello Son Goku,"

Son Goku grinned, "I know the me in the memory Ninshu likes you but seeing you now, I like you even better!" He glared at Roshi, "Hopefully this one can be more open like you, dumb rock,"

Roshi ignored the Yonbi and looked over the man who managed to move the former Mizukage into seeking other Jinchuuriki and won over the Tailless Bijuu Kisame. Tall, hunger pang frame. Wild blond hair and burning blue eyes. This man's a warrior on the battlefield. The pressure he exuded can be felt even from where Roshi stood. This was a man Roshi can respect and fear on the battlefield. He nodded his head, "Uzumaki Naruto,"

Naruto greeted him, "Roshi of Iwa,"

Yagura looked at the group, "Well, the party seemed to be getting bigger,"

Utakata nodded, "As agreed upon, Roshi will make contact with Han in Iwa. Leaving us free to try and make contact with the other Jinchuuriki,"

Naruto nodded and looked at Gaara who appeared beside him. The boy leaned against him in fond greeting and Naruto rubbed his head, "How was your day?"

Gaara yawned, "Tiring," He added, "I have been helping around Suna more,"

Naruto smiled, "That's good," He looked at the others, "Utakata, I would like you to go to Taki and meet up with Fu and Chomei. Yagura, it is best you stay with Jiraiya until further notice,"

Utakata accepted the order and Yagura nodded along. Roshi looked at the dynamic of the group and hummed. From the memories shared between him and Yonbi, he had died a changed man. Even now, he can tell that the Bijuu and Jinchuuriki have become more accepting of each other. Naruto had told them to treat their status not as jailor for the Bijuu but their sanctuary from those out to exploit them, their guardian so to say.

His eyes drifted to the more violent Bijuu, the bloodthirsty Ichibi and wrathful Kyuubi. The Ichibi looked more relaxed with his Jinchuuriki, the boy from Suna, while the Kyuubi looked on his Jinchuuriki with exasperated fondness and worry. Here was a possibility he never knew.

He looked at Yonbi and said, "It's nice to meet you...Son Goku,"

Son Goku froze and looked at him with wide eyes. He then grinned, "Nice to meet you too, Roshi!"

Naruto opened his eyes and looked at the sky. He rubbed his head, feeling the horn that had grown longer there. It has started to show past his hair and he didn't know how he's supposed to hide it. From the shape of it, it would look like some kind of ears. He recalled Kaguya rabbit ear-like horns and sighed.

He shook his head clear of the intrusive thoughts. He has a mission to see to. He looked forward to the rest of the Jinchuuriki, even though those in Kumo have to be left for last. He has no qualm about Killer B, having built a close bond with him but he has some reservation with Ay. The Raikage was a stubborn and proud man. Dealing with him won't be easy as he's very protective of his Jinchuuriki and unlike the others, B and Yugito were loyal Kumo Shinobi with little quarrel with their own village.

He needed to be patient. Already Danzo's making a mess sniffing around Ame. He will use the man until he no longer has any more uses. Consider this his redemption for mucking things up as badly as he did all because he's too paranoid. Even if the things with the Uchiha Clan won't be solved overnight, the least Shisui could have done was bought more time for Hiruzen to settle things peacefully with the clan. No one needed to be sacrificed.

Clearly how one see others was one true reflection. Danzo saw only his own image in others, the image of a man capable of turning on his own allies if it meant seeing his vision of perfection true. He could not see the loyal Shinobi that was Shisui or the sincerely peaceful intention of the original Akatsuki. Instead he saw a turncoat and a world dominating organization. He saw only himself.