The White Demon Fox

"Brother, who did we just talk to?" Asked Hizashi now sitting on Konoha's former throne.

"I have warned you, he is nothing like what we have been told or taught." Said Hiashi.

"It is more than that. The Kyūbi is a beast only in shape and form, I'm also questioning our classification of him as a demon." Said Hizashi.

"Hmm? He does look the part and did act like a demon yesterday." Said Hiashi.

"Was he not responding in kind? I'm not excusing his actions, but can our village be excused? Free of blame? If we are to face our predicament for the sole purpose of crossing the narrow sea path safely then we must alter our course. Start over, assume we know nothing and understand nothing about the Kyūbi. What did we learn about him from this morning's short talk and yesterday's events?" Asked Hizashi.

"Intelligent, calm, confident, impatient, imperious, quick to anger..." Said Hiashi.

"No, your evaluation is shallow. You are not looking deep enough. He is not simply just intelligent or confident. The Kyūbi is... someone with a vision, a plan... I can't seem to find the right words or phrases to describe him accurately." Said Hizashi.

The twins stayed silent for a bit remembering all events and the reports they were provided by the Fourth office since the 10th of OCT.

"An Architect." Said Hiashi after further contemplating the Kyūbi's words and actions so far.

"Yes, he is seeking to design and establish something both tangible and intangible. The physical half will be built right here in Konoha, and the ephemeral half is cultivating the next generation, our children. How will it benefit him? Why bother? He wants the next generation to be stronger than the current one but how would it serve him? Humans are his enemies, we are the one who wants to seal and chain him, so why seek to strengthen us." Said Hizashi.

"Itachi. Fugaku's boy, he does not view the Kyūbi the way we do. I saw it myself, he considers us the monsters, not the Kyūbi." Said Hiashi.

"You are looking down on him, brother. The Kyūbi does not strive to indoctrinate our children, that's beneath him. You are about to fall into the same abyss the Fourth and Third fell into. You, no, we need to stop making assumptions based on past misconceptions. The mark on your cheek, it was a gift from the Sage of Six Paths, a reminder, a warning as he said. If the Kyūbi is evil, then the Sage is evil, if the Kyūbi has ill intent towards our children, then the Sage does too. Why? Because the Sage protected the Kyūbi and beseech him to take the Land of Fire as his own instead of destroying it. Is our uncle-ancestor, a wicked man? If no then the Kyūbi can't be evil, if yes then what wrongdoing has either ever done of their own volition?" Said Hizashi.

"A demon not but of our own making." Said Hiashi.

"Precisely! Everything that happened so far since the 10th of OCT is a retaliation towards Konoha's own decisions and operations. The Kyūbi has yet to be the initiator in our conflict. Returning to my previous inquiries, the architect seeks to design and build, we seek to destroy, therefore he destroys us instead. How does the architect destroy us thoroughly and permanently then?" Asked Hizashi.

"By ending our way of life, our traditions, our customs, our culture, our beliefs... He seeks to demolish the Shinobi era and build on its dust and ashes. This is why he shows clear disinterest in the current generation but cares about the next generation, evident by commanding me to stop limiting the Hyūga children to our traditions if they seek to venture outside it. However, the question remains, if he is not planning to brainwash our children, then how? How will our children abandon the ways of their parents and grandparents in favor of adopting the Kyūbi's of their own free will?" Asked Hiashi.

"How do we view the clans warring era brother? What does it appear to all of us nowadays? A barbaric, dark period in our history. A better way of life came and the Shinobi villages were born, our great grandparents fought amongst themselves to forcefully drag the stragglers towards a brighter future, a better way, a better life. Now we are in the 5 great Shinobi villages era...a glorious, prosperous era until the Architect reveals how dark and barbaric it is to our children and present to them his alternative, his masterpiece, a lasting epoch." Said Hizashi.

"Konoha was born from the dream of two boys who were sick of the constant fights, the never-ending war. The Kyūbi is no boy... A lasting epoch indeed, anything less will not accommodate what we have glimpsed of the Kyūbi no Yōko disposition." Said Hiashi.

"Intelligence that rivals a Nara, a pearl of wisdom from the Sage of Six Paths, a temperament unlike any past and current Daimyō, and enough power to demolish all obstacles." Sighed Hizashi.

The twins allowed silence to take over the Hokage office. The realization of their discussion is now at the forefront of their minds.

"What are your commands Hokage-Sama?" Asked Hiashi while internally taking comfort from not being the twin with the ugly hat.

"We will stay out of his way. Let him do as he pleases, we will follow his commands to the letter. He wants us to become stronger, then we will and so will our children. If his designs end up as we presume then there was never a point in trying to stop him or fight him over it. Positive progress can't be stopped, it can only be delayed and that's all we will manage to accomplish, delay using our blood and souls in a futile endeavor. However, if he is the demon humanity deems him to be, then our children will reject him and his ways. Our struggle then will have meaning and our efforts to amass strength from this point forward will serve us in our future strife if it comes down to it. Ryū!" Said Hizashi.

A dragon masked ANBU appeared in the middle of the Hokage office kneeling on one knee.

"Hokage-Sama." Said Ryū.

"Assemble the forces and authority of Konoha in two hours for a conference in Konoha's war assembly stage, I wish to address them all. Jōnin, Tokubetsu Jōnin, ANBU, the Shinobi council, and the civilians' council. You may leave Chūnin to cover for the temporary absence of our main forces for the duration of our assemblage. Invading Konoha at the moment will only result in a tragedy, our landlord is wide awake on his throne." Said the acting Hokage.

Ryū nodded and flickered to accomplish his task.

Hiashi stood up, bowed deeply to his Hokage and left.

Next and attached to the Hokage tower, the Hokage residence had its current occupancy busy packing up and cleaning the place to evict it.

"Mito-Sama, why should we move to the Senju compound, I would rather return to the Uzumaki estate I inherited after you." Asked an irritated Kushina for the nth time.

Mito ignored Kushina and continued to dote on the baby in her arms.

"Kushina-Chan, Mito-Sama have repeatedly explained to you that your station in life has changed and it requires your home to be at a prominent location with enough space and grandiose until a royal palace is constructed." Said Mikoto while helping Kushina pack her possessions.

"It is not right, it belongs to Tsunade-Sensei, and Kurama has already sent Ero-Sannin to order her to return to Konoha. What right do I have to it? I'm not comfortable confiscating Sensei's childhood home and one of the few things left of her family." Said Kushina.

Mito sighed, "You are not confiscating anything little Kushina. The compound is occupying a district on its own. What will my granddaughter do with it? The place is deserted and is being wasted and you need it more than she does. If Tsuna-Chan cared about it she would not have left it to rot. You are the closest family she has left, you and Naru-chan presence will only add to her life not subtract from it. You were named a Queen, you no longer have the luxury of choice, appearances matter."

"How will it help? I was forced upon Konoha and now I'm stealing their beloved Shodai's family home." Said Kushina.

Mito stood up, walked towards Kushina and dragged her by the ear to sit down in front of her.

Kushina rubbed her ear and pouted cutely.

"Honored ancestor was correct, you are hopeless and in sore need of guidance. Listen well Kushina Uzumaki, you are not a figurehead, you are the Land of Fire Queen, named and crowned by the most destructive force in the land. You are a woman eminent in rank, power, and attraction. A sovereign, a monarch, not unlike the most privileged piece of each color in a set of chessmen having the power to move in any direction across any number of unoccupied squares. What is an insignificant little compound to you, a trifling matter when you rule the entirety of the Land of Fire. A decree from you right now can devastate the most prosperous men and women into street beggars, another decree can determine the life and death of all humans on the Land of Fire. What right does any of the peasants have to judge you? To question you? Any attack on you is a direct attack on a natural disaster, a trivial struggle. Your new station demands respect, reverence, and complete obedience from all, you will not dishonor yourself by bowing your head to anyone or yielding to their irrelevant opinion." Mito once more stood up and jabbed Kushina on the forehead with her index finger.

Kushina just continued to pout and swell her cheeks with hot air.

Mito now knew she will have to start spanking Kushina to make something out of her.

"Honored ancestor." Said Mito.

"There is no need to call me that little Mito, grandfather or Six Paths Jiji will do just fine." A floating old man appeared near Mito, reading an orange book.

Asami, Mikoto, and Kushina immediately glared at the old man for the book he is holding around their children.

Mito bowed and said, "It is my privilege to be acknowledged as a family by you, grandfather." Mito rose up and looked at the floating old man, "I have thought of your offer and I'm now convinced of your...assessment of my Kushina. Yet, I struggle with another matter entirely, I have watched all my family and clan pass away before me, I can't go through it again, not with my granddaughter, Kushina or little Naru."

The Sage closed his book and turned around to look at the younger redhead glaring at him. In his life, he only knew one queen, one goddess, and looking at the child whom his son picked to rule the human race, he saw nothing of that queen or goddess, not even a shadow.

'Why her Kurama? Is it because she doesn't want it and that qualifies her or there is more to it. Unfilial son, forcing your old man to work beyond his retirement. Sigh, he certainly would say "I did not ask for your help old goat"' Thought the Sage wordlessly.

"Very well little Mito. I will be right back." Said The Sage, then he departed.

Kurama was having a staring contest with a young brunette.

"I was very clear, I do not want you to teach me, I want a copy of the Shadow Imitation Technique, the derived jutsu from it and anything you have on Yin release." Said Kurama.

The Nara matriarch huffed and said, "I told you the scrolls have never before left the Nara ancestral home if you want to learn I will teach you."

"Woman, any more words from you and I start walking towards the Nara 'ancestral home' and take what I want. I did not ask for the originals, I asked for copies, I only need to look at them once and you can destroy them immediately after. You are playing with fire and not knowing your place, your defiance will only lead to a tragedy and new chewing toys for me." Said Kurama with an even tone.

The woman opened her mouth then closed it not saying anything. The Nara matriarch took several small scrolls out of her pockets and opened them in front of the giant fox. Kurama took one careful look at all of them then dismissed her. The matriarch did not wait long afterward, she gathered the scrolls and flickered away.

"I'm impressed. You did not maim her or yell at her for her mock act of defiance. I could not sense any negative emotions emanating from you, your warnings carried no actual weight behind them." Said the Sage who appeared on top of Kurama's head.

"She was terrified. Her act was nothing but stubbornness to hide how she truly felt. The woman never intended to defy me, she came to deliver the scrolls herself yet when she stood before me fear took over her soul. She acted how she has done all her life when she was overwhelmed by fear." Said Kurama.

"A King does not need to yell he is a King nor does he need to parade his prowess, I see. I did not know you had it in you my pride. A few more years and I do not doubt my mother will have few things to learn from you." Said the Sage.

Kurama's eyes twitched and noticed his father's odd tone.

"You want something, no?" Asked Kurama.

"Yes, I'm a generous father, I wanted to create some life force but then I remembered you still have no idea how to command your life force. I will take some from you instead of creating what I need, in the process show you how it's done." Said the Sage.

Kurama's respect for his father stopped him from wrapping a tail around him to look him in the eyes.

"You are hiding something and have other intents. Do as you please." Huffed Kurama.

The Sage placed his hands on top of Kurama's head and started drawing on his life force. Kurama felt the tug and paid close attention to how his entire body exuded the mysterious force, gathering at his father's palms.

Kurama started to feel actual pain, unlike anything he felt before. The Sage was being rough on purpose so Kurama remembers the feeling correctly.

"Kami, why do you need so much? Are you trying to revive an entire clan? That's at least several thousand years' worth of life force." Said Kurama.

"It is sitting there uselessly in you. Your father has a good use for it for your benefit." The Sage engulfed what he took from Kurama in one of his truth-seeking balls.

"I see your policy of not interfering has now fully crashed and burned." Smirked Kurama which quickly earned him his father ire.

"Who's fault this old man is working past his eternal rest. Unfilial, ungrateful little pretentious kit." The Sage thumped Kurama on the head and implanted his snout in the mountainous ground.

The nearby ANBU watching Kurama was utterly confused, first, the demon was talking to himself then suddenly smashed his face in the ground. 'We are doomed, the demon is nuts. Is it too much to ask for his neck to break when he just smashed his face on the ground like that?'

The Sage reappeared inside the Hokage estate.

"Gather around me young ones and bring the babies too." Said the Sage.

Kushina, Mikoto, Asami, Itachi, and Shisui did not take long to stop what they are doing and walk towards the Sage. Mito carried both babies in her arms and walked towards the Sage.

The Sage smiled, "Link your hands with each other around me. Except for you little Mito, come to me with the two in your arms."

The Sage held his truth-seeking ball containing Kurama's life force in one hand and another at Mito's forehead.

A pulse of chakra followed by an enormous amount of life force invaded Mito's impure summoned body. The Sage's hand on top of Mito's ignited in blue and red flames. A tattoo of Kurama's head howling at the sun and the moon in black chakra ink appeared on Mito's right-hand as she once more returned among the living in a completely pure v.i.r.g.i.n body.

The Sage hand moved from Mito's forehead to land on Naruto's head then Sasuke.

The Sage truth-seeking ball containing what's left of Kurama's life force rose up above the rest and black roads extended from it, penetrating the human circle around the Sage in their foreheads.

A blue and red flame swept across all of them, it entered their bodies, connected to their souls and adjusted their bodies and purified them to withstand what the Sage is about to do.

With one move of the Sages hand, the rest of Kurama's life force was distributed among all of them.

"5oo years for each, on top of your natural life span, the ladies adjusted and purified to be at the age of 21, once more pure maidens. The boys and babies had only their bodies adjusted to contain the enormous life force they just gained. Mito the tattoo on your right hand is a release mechanism, you may do what I have done to you to three other individuals, you may not revive the dead or affect an impure world summon but you can return the living their youth to them and awards them 500 years of life in addition to purifying them, be it, males or females. Remember whose life force you all just gained. You will all enjoy your prime youth until the last 50 years of your life force then you will once more start aging. It is a precious gift and a priceless treasure, consider it this old man hope and aspirations for all of you."

"Will the boys and babies grow up normally?" Asked a bewildered and overwhelmed Mikoto.

"Yes, they will age normally until the age of 21 then like you, they will stop aging until the last 50 years of their lives." Said the Sage of Six Paths.

Hizashi, the acting Hokage, accompanied by his ANBU guards, walked towards the war assembly stage of Konoha. It was a hidden private grounds meant for the Hokage to address his army before they ventured to war. The top forces and authority of Konoha all gathered and awaiting their Hokage arrival.

Hizashi walked unhurriedly towards the Hokage podium under the watchful eyes of everyone in attendance.

Once Hizashi arrived he took a look around at the gathered crowd, he managed to spot his brother among the other clan heads. Hiashi smiled encouragingly at his twin, he knew the weight that was placed on his brother's shoulders.

"Konoha, for those who do not know me intimately, I'm Hizashi Hyūga, your current acting Hokage named so by our legendary Gama Sennin to be his replacement under the direct order of the Kyūbi no Yōko. It is of no consequence though, a Hokage duty is always towards his village regardless of how they reached their position.

I have gathered you all here to, among many things, to state the obvious. We have been defeated and conquered. Konoha is now under the complete control of the Kyūbi no Yōko. Any and all forms of resistance will result in nothing but our demise and Konoha's destruction."

The gathered crowd bowed their heads in defeat as they heard their Hokage state their grim reality.

"We are powerless, our best and strongest already failed, the long-dead, our Shodai, and the living our Third and Fourth Hokages before they too passed away."

"Hokage-Sama there has to be a way." Shouted a desperate Jonin.

Hizashi shook his head. "No, we will not walk the same path my predecessors followed. There are no ways, no out for us, for our families, for our loved ones, or our village, we must all realize this fact before one of us doom us all. What matters now is not how to resist but how to survive, how to live to see another day. It is why I gathered you all, to steer Konoha through the narrow sea path. For that, we must change our course and adjust our sails."

Hizashi stopped talking and looked around to make sure he has the attention of everyone there.

"We will yield, we will bow our heads, and fold our hands. We will not fight, we will not resist, we will not scheme in the dark, we will not wait for the treacherous opportunity to stab in the dead of night. We will do as we are commanded and ordered by our now overlord and landlord." Said Hizashi sternly.

The gathered crowds could not believe their ears. Total submission and no plans for any form of retaliation. A lot already started thinking their acting Hokage is a coward or worse a demon tool.

Their looks did not escape the all-seeing eyes of Hizashi.

"Earlier this morning, I had a short meeting, for the first time with the Kyūbi no Yōko. It was enlightening, to say the least. He called us all weak and pathetic, he commanded me, my brother and all of you to get stronger, much stronger than we ever been, stronger than our past revered leaders. To strive to reach for the stars, so we can reach the moon. If we aim for the moon we will only reach the roofs of our houses but if we aim for the stars we will reach the moon eventually. I intended to follow his command to the letter, I will get stronger, I refuse to be hopeless any longer than what I must. I, as your acting Hokage, command you all to do the same, grow stronger, strive for new highs, break away from your limits. Expand your horizons and with your two hands break away the shackles around your neck. Because no one else will." Said Hizashi.

The gathered crowd was taken by Hizashi's strong determination. They understood the not so hidden message of their acting Hokage. They clench their fists as the Will of Fire ignited in their hearts.

"I know not what tomorrow will bring us all, what path the Kyūbi will lay before us. However, we will keep our heads down and walk on it with steady steps. The Kyūbi has named a ruler to lord over all of us, the widow of our beloved Fourth Hokage. We will accept her and kneel before her. We will not disobey her, offend her or her inner circle. Every time we dare to look at her general direction, remember very well, it is not Kushina Uzumaki whom we are daring to defy, no, we will be defying a terrifying natural disaster right here in the middle of Konoha, where we live, where our children live. I will not allow any forms of insubordination, do not force me to remove your heads while hoping I was fast enough to avoid a Bijūdama right in the heart of Konoha's different districts." Said Hizashi.

"Why have you all gone silent with your shoulders slumped like that. Stand at attention and show your acting Hokage that you understand, that you all have heard his obvious and different commands." Shouted Hiashi.

At once, Shinobi in attendance of all ranks and different stations stood at attention and shouted in one voice. "HAI, Hokage-Sama."

Hizashi face broke into a wide smile. "Good. Keep all I said close to your hearts and spread it among our forces. Now, Konoha civilian council, I have not heard from you yet and I plan to at a later date. For now, I like to remind you that you are not to energize the civilians with false hopes or encourage any act of false bravado. I will hold you responsible for any form of disobedience coming from any civilian. You are also forbidden from including Konoha's children in our efforts, you are forbidden from trying to force a negative view for the Queen, and her family. This is our struggle, our fight, not our children and I expect you all to keep them out of it by not saying anything to any of them. Is that clear?"

The civilian council looked at each other, then nodded towards their acting Hokage.

"Good. Inoichi Yamanaka, Tsume Inuzuka and Shikaku Nara, I wish to speak to you three in half an hour at my office. The rest are dismissed." Said Hizashi.

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