Demons, Snow And Kunai

Warning! this chapter contains suggestions of mental abuse of one character and physical, sexual abuse and attempted brainwashing of another!!

---------------------------------------------



Tifa arrived early at the building the next day-though not too early-Marlene and Denzel in tow. They were buzzed into the lobby by Jiriaya who stated he'd meet them on his floor at the elevator doors.



They were barely inside a few steps when Marlene paused, frowning "what's that?"



"What's what?" Tifa asked her.



"That sound, it sounds like...."



"Laughing" Denzel finished for her, also now looking around.



Tifa now heard it too, a low giggling like someone trying to muffle laughing but not quiet managing, and it was familiar too.



"Naruto? Where are you?"



"Shhhh!" a voice hissed through giggles "if he hears you talking to me, he'll know I'm here!"



Following the sound, Tifa looked around with a smile "who did you prank this time?"



The giggles only got louder for a second "it's his own fault for being such a horny bastard!"



Immediately she snapped "Naruto, language! Mind what you say around the kids! I hope you won't talk like that around your own when she's born!"



"Sorry" the voice winced before addressing the two "forget what I just said."



Denzel just rolled his eyes "as if we haven't heard worse from Uncle Cid and Barrett, and Cloud first thing in the morning when he stays over, and when I stay over their place."



Marlene nodded in agreement, blushing slightly.



Tifa frowned at him "Cloud? I've never heard Cloud say anything bad first thing of a morning. He just grunts a lot."



Denzel grinned "that's 'cause you don't see him until he leaves his room and is half awake and your room is down the hall. I'm right next door."



"Like what?"



Denzel grinned wider "like how much Zack's cheery attitude first thing pisses him off, how even waking up at the crack of dawn he's that way. His favorite is that Zack can be a...pain in the butt then and he wants him to leave him alone." he blushed deeper "only insert swear words nearly every second word. He's worse than Cid first thing."



Tifa laughed "I don't remember him ever doing that when we were traveling together before meteor fall...." she grew thoughtful "although I do remember being woken up a couple of mornings to Cid and Cloud swearing a blue streak at each other. Maybe Cid coped him during those times and thought he was swearing at HIM."



"Knowing uncle Cid" Denzel grinned "he heard Cloud and couldn't hack someone else swearing more than him!"



Tifa laughed harder I think you're right!" she looked around for the blonde "come out, Naruto. I want you and the kids to meet each other."



There was a pause, then "alright, but if the teme finds us, I was with you guys all this time."



"Deal!" Marlene giggled.



"Where are you?" Tifa asked.



"Look up."



Tifa did so and, like his sensei the day before, Naruto was hanging upside down from the roof by his feet.



"That is so COOL!" Denzel cried out, Marlene giggled again but Tifa frowned "is that safe in your condition? What about...."



"Nah, it's fine" Naruto dropped off, landing softly on his feet in front of them "SHE wants me to do it. Sounds strange but for some reason it sooths her" he giggled slightly "must come from having an batty grandfather."



Tifa frowned thoughtfully "you know, I never thought of it that way before, as him being like a bat. Now I do I can see it, he is like one in some ways. What else can or does she do that's bat-like?"



"Well she's doing something right now."



That's when Tifa felt it, waves of energy comming from the blonde's lower stomach and radiating outwards to wash over them. In a way it kind of reminded her of the radar of a bat-their echo-location ability. But what surprised her was the children's reaction to it, suspifically Marlene. Almost exactly she was sending her own energy out and Tifa was reminded of the Sanin's words about her actions the night he spent there, how she had 'scanned' him when they came home.



She was doing it again apparently.



The two seemed to push against each other as if testing the other, when it seemed to slowly become playful, Marlene even laughed happily at it.



Tifa opened her mouth to speak, but at the same time both energies shut off and Marlene looked stunned "Miss Aeris?"



Naruto frowned in confusion and concern "well yes, but..."



Marlene gave a sob of joy and ran forward, hugging the young man over the lump, face pressed to the spot where she lay, sobbing and talking a mile-a-minute to it.



Both Naruto and Denzel turned bewildered and baffled eyes to her. Tifa sighed, she had forgotten Marlene had known the original Aeris-however briefly. No one had obviously told Naruto the truth yet.



So she did, "Naruto there is something you need to know about you and that ancient we told you about..."



As she told him about the flower girl and his connection, the boys eyes grew wider and wider, hands flying to his lump protectively on either side of Marlene's head, who drew away in concern when she felt his distress.



She looked back at Tifa, confused, saying her name softly in question.



"Come here" Tifa said softly, motioning her to her and Denzel's side. The girl did and Tifa was about to speak when there came a hostile "what did you do to him!"



Behind them stood Sasuke, looking thunderous at his mates obvious distress with added teary eyes.



"Teme" the boy choked out.



Forgetting them for a second in face of his mates misery, the wolf demon strode to his side, taking him in his arms and clutching him tightly to him.



While they were both distracted Tifa bore a strategic retreat and lead the two children to the elevators. If Sasuke was going to yell at her for upsetting his mate, she preferred he do it while the kids were with Jiriaya and Tsunade.



Once inside and the elevator doors were closed both kids turned to her “WHO was that!?” Marlene added “how could Miss Aeris be inside him?” Denzel added “why does he feel like mister Vincent’s brother, Mister Chaos?”



Tifa’s eyes widened at them “HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT CHAOS!?”



“We’ve met him” Denzel explained “one night about a year ago when Mr Vincent was at the bar. Remember that night he got drunk?”



Tifa remembered. One night about a week or two after “The Omega Incident” Vincent had come to the bar, depressed about Sephiroth and his ‘mother’ and gotten completely drunk, so completely that Barrett and Cid-who was surprisingly still sober-were forced to carry the gunslinger upstairs to the spare room to sleep it off, after disarming him of course, can’t have a drunk man with four demons inside him without conscious having access to a gun.



Only an hour or two later thay had sensed Chaos energy make an appearance, only when they they reached the room they found CHAOS in a drunken sleep on the bed, not Vincent. By the next morning he was back with no memory of the night before, and they never mentioned it to him.



At the time Tifa had wondered how a genetically altered, mako enhanced demon possessed man could actually GET drunk considering he never had before, but now she thought she understood.



Both Vincent AND CHAOS had wanted it.



Chaos had said that through Vincent he had started to see the fragments of himself as his children, and Vincent had just found out not only did the woman he loved bore him a child but she had allowed a madman to turn it into an experiment. An experiment that had gone mad himself, killed hundreds of innocent people but he himself had helped kill.



All Vincents guilt, grief, betrayal, disbelief and so on must have triggered or reminded Chaos of loosing his own children and depress him as well. “You mean you SAW Chaos that night?!” It made sense, Marlene would have sensed Chaos emerge and investigated, probably dragging Denzel with her.



“He growled at us, but Marlene said he was Mr Vincent’s brother and wouldn’t hurt us. She said he was like Miss Aeris, connected to the planet.”



Tifa looked at Marlene who nodded.



She sighed and started to explain about Chaos and his children and fighting the ‘badman’ and then being sent to another world. About another ‘badman’ there making one of those children, a girl, attack a small town where the leader-not knowing the being was a girl-trapped the soul inside a baby boy so she couldn’t hurt anyone else.



Then how that boy had fallen in love with another boy-like Cloud and Zack were-and and because of the girl child of Chaos inside him, he was able to get pregnant like a woman can.



Denzel frowned “but how and why did Miss Aeris get there?”



“Sometimes if people have important destinies to fulfill and they die before then, the lifestream will and send them back as babies. It’s called reincarnation. Aeris was the last ancient, the last Cetra, her destiny was REALLY important.”



The children understood this and asked how many kids Chaos had had.



“Ten” she answered “but only four are still around and on Gaia. One is with Chaos inside Vincent, the other five became a part of their dad again, so don’t exist separetely anymore. Naruto is one, another one is here as well and the last two we have yet to find. Three of those four are no longer two separate people-like Vincent and Chaos are, the host and demon are one person, they are merged together.”



 “Like Mr Vincent and his brother are becoming?" Marelene asked.



Tifa looked at her sharply “what do you mean?! They are merging?!" She opened her mouth to deny or protest this, but stopped suddenly and frowned. Was she right?



Now that she thought about it, when they first found Vincent and he allowed Chaos control during battle, the demon looked just that, a demon. However in recent years he was appearing more and more humanoid, like a mix between Vincent and Chaos.



She had just assumed that Vincent was gaining control of the demon, harnessing its power to use to an extent, but that wasn’t it, no, the two were beginning to merge, gaining aspects of each other, slowly becoming one whether they knew it or not.



And Tifa realized that now, with their shared feelings over their children and the acceptance of those fragments of Chaos returned, the merge was coming faster now.



That was why he had isolated himself from them all, his feelings plus Chaos’ was driving him out of control.



She had never seen Chaos emerge so many times as she had the last couple of days, especially since usually just once wipes Vincent out afterwards.



Should she be worried about it?



Should she tell the others or more importantly, should she tell THEM?



Before she could speak or even consider what to do, the elevator doors opened to a scene on their floor. After stepping out Tifa frowned as she listened. Apparently the Uchiha heir was refusing to lay down and sleep unless he saw his brother.



It seemed they hadn’t even told the younger yet, instead keeping the badly injured young man in an jutsu-protected room in an drugged sleep. Now he was refusing the medication or treatment until he saw his brother.



And the Hokagehealer was telling him he wasn’t in the condition to handle any pysical or emotional stress. With what had happened between the two brothers the last time they met, there was an definite chance they’d fight again-despite Sasuke knowing the truth-and his body was in no shape for such stress.



“Tifa?” both children frowned at her in confusion and concern at the sounds.



“It’s all right” she assured them “Sasuke’s big brother won’t go to bed and he needs to sleep, he’s badly wounded. But he wants to see his brother first.”



“Why won’t they let him?”



“It’s a long story. Their family were REALLY REALLY bad people and Itachi had to kill them to save his brother. Only some people told Sasuke his brother was the bad person for killing their family and made him hate him. Itachi was.....away at the time and couldn’t tell him the truth or they would be both in trouble.



When they finally met up Sauke...hurt his brother badly because he was really REALLY mad, but after he left him someone told him the truth. The others think if they let them see each other now Sasuke will still be mad at him, or Itachi will get upset enough to move around too much and make the wounds worse. They want Itachi to wait until he’s fully healed before he sees his brother, but he doesn’t want to.”



Marlene mumbled something about “stubborn boys” and moved towards the room, pushing between the legs of the ninja’s crowding the doorway to stomp in. There came raised voices, Marlene’s among them and when Tifa and Denzel reached the room they found the young girl gently guiding the injured Uchiha to lay down on the bed and under the covers, making sure he was laying out properly and had drunk the liquid the Hokage had held.



The Uchiha’s eyes were wide in confusion and something indistinguishable as he allowed her to guide him, never looking away from the girls face.



Just as he was almost down fully, someone made a crack about the heir letting a child boss him around. As if broken from a trance the young man blinked and tried to rise again.



Marlene started to try and sooth him down again before glancing back at someone in the room, snapping "if you're not gonna help, get out."



"But..." the owner of the voice started to protest, Marlene spinning on him "YOU HEARD ME, GET OUT!!" Tifa had never heard this side of her before, it was actually frightening.



Denzel sounded embarrassed as he laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head "someone's discovered the number one rule of our household, don't screw with Marlene in doctor mode."



Tifa looked at the boy "she's done this before?"



"Oh yeah, she used to do it all the time whenever one of us 'guys' were sick. Not so much now, even Zack learned to let her have her way, or suffer the consequences."



Tifa was about to ask what they were when to her shock it was KAKASHI who came out, mumbling about bossy females, only to be knocked to the floor by a coffee mug flying into his head.



"Great" someone else murmured "another Tsunade" before all other males in the room beat an hasty retreat, but not before the Nara heir was struck in the back of the head by a flying tea tray.



Once out of the room Tifa stopped them, introducing each to Denzel who seemed excited to meet them. He particularly seemed interested in the artistassassin Sai, why Tifa didn't know.



The ex-assassin and spy even hung around so the two could talk.



It didn't take long for everyone to leave, Tsunade holding an serious conversation with Marlene as she shut the door and protected it. Tifa frowned, she'd expected Haku to be there, maybe helping the healer, But he was nowhere in sight.



She questioned the woman.



"He's still sleeping" she glanced back at the door "unlike some stubborn Uchiha heirs." She looked back at Tifa "but he's due to awaken in a few hours if you and the kids want to stay until then."



In chorus both looked overjoyed "can we Tifa, please?!"



"All right" she nodded.



The children looked ecstatic and thanked her excitedly. Tifa calmed them down and explained why they were there and what they knew thanks to Jarayia and the female Sanin explained how the group could train them in control and manipulation of their bloodline and chakra.



Marlene was excited and immediately agreed. Denzel however looked scared "can I think about it first?"



Of course you can! We would never force you to do it if it makes you uncomfortable or even frightens you. Just have a think about it."



"Just know this" Tsunade said to him softly "Jirayia and I have encountered or fought some of the most powerful and frightening beings in our world before and survived. You don't gain the title Sanin for nothing. Whatever you're afraid of, we can handle it, and if it turns out we can't, well w 'll just lock it back up again. Agreed?"



Denzel nodded "I'll think about it" he promised.



******************************************



Hours later Tifa received a urgent call from Reno. "Meet me on the roof again, yo, it's important. Life and death important."



Moving towards the elevator with an nod to the Hokage who understood and nodded back, Tifa asked "what's wrong?"



"Something big is going down in North Corel. It looks like the entire town is in the square trying to lynch someone, and I mean they are all majorly pissed off."



Tifa swore at this but then frowned "why are you calling ME though?"



"First we think just by the pure energy being shown that this is one of the demons kids, but Valentine is not answering his phone to anyone. Second you and blondie are well known and liked in that area, they may listen to you both and calm down, but Blondie isn't answering either."



"That's because Cloud and Vincent are investigating possible sightings in Fort Condor with Nanaki. If they know myself and Cloud, they will know Zack. I’ll get him to meet us there.”



“Right.”



Tifa reached the roof to find Reno waiting and she wasted no time getting on board.





On the way there Reno told her what little she knew, including the fact the figure had some sort of shield up around him and two others. “Do you know what started it?” Tifa questioned.



“Something about a murder.”



Tifa shook her head “the ninja’s are not allowed to attack citizens let alone murder, it’s part of who they are and is drilled into them during training. Tsunade told me that ALL the good villages go by that. Since we know no one else but Narutos and allies are here, that means...”



“Either it was a moment of self-defense, or....”



Tifa nodded “since those here are friends and allies, they would defend each other-especially since they don’t know where they are and anyone else. Think about it Reno, something must have happened that was so bad one of them was forced to break that rule and kill in order to protect another, you DID say that one was protecting another two, what if one is badly wounded-even gravely-and he or she is protecting the one caring for the other?”



“Shit!” Reno swore.



“Do you know if there is any WRO there yet?”



“Don’t have a clue. Boss got the report, told me to take you and or Cloud and Valentine there.”

 

“Patch my headset through to WRO headquarters, I know they have a radio signal with you guys. I need to speak to Reeve. Any WRO soldiers in the area might make the situation worse. They need to control the crowd until we get there. When we do, fly over it a couple of times so I can see what we have.”



“Right” Reno did so.



“Reeve” Tifa said once the engineer and WRO director answered “I’m on my way to the situation in North Corel. Do you have any people there and what did they report?”



“They came in late, I’m afraid.” He answered “just before the shield went up.”



“Did they see who it was?”



“Just two young men and a woman, I’m afraid.”



“This is important Reeve but was one hurt at all? Injured in any way?”



“Well......” he started slowly, thoughtfully “one of my men DID state the woman was being carried by one of the men and she looked like she had been in a fight, she was covered in blood and her clothes looked ripped and torn. He saw it just before the shield went up.”



Tifa swore this time. “looks like you were right, yo” Reno said to her.



“Listen Reeve” and Tifa told him the same thing she had told Reno, adding “these people are in three person teams, can you imagine how close you would get when together you are facing untold dangers and death side by side? Now imagine something happens to your teammate, your FEMALE teammate?”



Reeve understood.



“How many people were murdered there?”



“One, but quiet a few were injured.”



“Probably those who attacked them after the initial murder. Don’t you find it strange only one person was killed and then they just shielded themselves? I mean as ninjas they could have just killed everyone who attacked them and called it self-defense or even escaped, even with their teammates weight.”



“Hum, you’re right. What do you suggest, Tifa?”



“Tell your men to keep the crowd under control or surround the shield and protect them until we get there. If they have to, tell the crowd they waiting ‘specialists’ to come arrest them.”



"And how will you win their trust if they hear that?"



"If all else fails, I have a back up."



"What is that?"



"Naruto's PHS number."



"What's that...." he realized "oh."



"Yes, they may say I'm faking knowing Naruto, but hearing him on the mobile...."



Reeve went on for her "...and speaking to him personally on the handset, if they're in any doubt..."



Tifa finished "they just have to ask him a more personal question, something only known between them."



"I will contact my forces there then."



"Good, thank you Reeve. We'll contact you and let you know the outcome-whatever it is."





It took at least another hour or so to reach town and when they did, Reno flew over the scene a few times.



"I know who it is" Tifa gasped as she watched a crowd of the entire town surround something in the town square. "Land, let me off, I'll need you to keep trying to contact Vincent while I try and settle this."



"There's SOLDIER-boy" Reno pointed out Zack, still perched on his bike near their landing spot waiting for them, his face creased in worry.



Riding over to them he questioned them on what was happening. Tifa explained what they knew and what she suspected.



Zack frowned "why are WE here and not the vampire?" using Cids sometimes nickname for the demon vessel.



Tifa explained that too.



"Right so since I'm with Chocoobo-head, they will probably listen to me as well since we can't get in touch with him."



Tifa nodded.



"Then let's go" Zack tapped the back of his bike for her to get on. Climbing up Tifa turned to Reno, motioning with her PHS "I'll call if we need you. One ring, we need you to come in in the chopper, guns blazing if necessary. Two rings, we need your back up, so grab your magrod and hurry. Three we were successful and are ready to leave, so start the chopper, we're on our way back to you."



"Right" Reno nodded, watching them leave, murmuring after them "good luck, yo."



The two of them rode into town, approaching the crowd of pissed off people. "How are we gonna handle this?" Zack called back to her.



"Just ride up there, force them to part or get in our way. If they move aside for us, them it won't be so difficult for them to 'move aside' in mind as well."



"Your the boss" Zack grinned and gunned the engine, reaching the back of the crowd, yelling "hey! Outta the way!"



Soon they reached the line of WRO who blocked the way to the dome. "I'm glad you're here, sirs" one called out, so they headed for him.



"How bad had it gotten?" they asked him.



"Bad enough. If they didn't know we are armed and think we had an summon materia, they would have moved in on us by now."



"Well we have back up waiting just in case, but hopefully we can talk them down before that's necessary."



"How do you know these guys are innocent?" the one beside the one they spoke with asked.



Tifa looked at him "did Reeve tell you anything about these people he's got you looking for?"



"Just not to approach them in any threatening way. If possible keep an eye on them until he can get an 'specialist' out to them and they are highly dangerous."



"If we find them all, they may be able to give us better training" the 'Sergeant' they had spoke too said.



"That's right but we have to find them all first. As for they being highly dangerous, yes and no. Yes they are but they all live by a code, they don't hurt civilians."



"Then what happened here?"



The Sergeant frowned then called out down the line "Private Jacobs, you said one of their number was wounded?"



"Yes sir" one called back "a woman. She was covered in blood and crying brokenly. By the time you guys arrived she had dropped into shock and one of the males was holding her. He was trying to keep everyone away from her when the third brought up the shield. I wanted an medic to look at her, but too many saw the body and jumped to conclusions about our presence there. Now they're out of control."



"So as far as we know, it was self defense" the Sergeant frowned, disturbed "I mean this guy could have attacked her, even tried to rape her and she defended herself, unable to harm him due to this code, but when he seriously wounded her she was either forced to kill him to protect her body and life-or her companions found them in time to save her life and were forced to kill him to protect her."



This disturbed the WRO members in line, who murmured to one another.



And it wasn't just them, apparently recognizing Tifa and Zack, some of the more reasonable in the crowd nearby were listening intently and hearing the words, plus the WRO members memory of what happened, plus WHO the two AVALANCHE members were, plus a lot of people in the crowd understanding what it is like to be THAT helpless, word was spreading through the crowd like wildfire, some calming down and becoming willing to listen while others upset and pissed off they weren't told the truth by the rest of the mob.



One or two small groups, not many, even broke off from the mob to head home, content to let the WRO and two AVALANCHE members take care of it.



"How are you gonna get their side of the story when they're hold up inside there? What about proof of this guys guilt?"



"I'll have to do THIS" Tifa walked to the front of the huge sphere made of a thick yellowwhite grainy substance "don't be alarmed or attack if he pulls me in."



Before they could speak Tifa had, calling out a name over and over again a few times. "Who are you?!" a voice called out, muffled and male, from inside.



"My name is Tifa Lockhart and this guy is my friend Zack. We know who and what you are and are here to help."



"How can we trust you" the voice was suspicious "we don't know you. You could just be trying to get us to let our guard down so THAT can happen to he  again, like before."



Instead of asking what he meant, Tifa spoke out "Zack and I share an mutual allie and friend with you all, a certain blonde haired male with six marks on his face and used to have an glaring orange and white tracksuit-then orange and black."



There was a gasp from inside before another voice spoke, low and barely restrained rage "what color are his eyes?"



"The deepest blue, just as night starts to break."



At the hesitant pause Tifa added "how about not only is he your brother through your...other, but you are currently 'involved' with one male Hyuuga and have been meeting him in his apartment for a few months now. Would someone HE doesn't know and trust know that? Especially since you are no longer on your world, or that even your own siblings know this."



"They do now" came the first male voice, disgruntled and just a bit angry, making Tifa realize that the first had been the 'older' brother, the second the youngest. That meant the girl was...



There was arguing male voices for a few seconds when Tifa called out "hey guys, I don't think that's going to be good for your sister in her state."



The first voice yelped "shit, Temari!" then spoke to the other "let her in."



"She will know what happened then."



"I KNOW THAT! I know she wouldn't want others to know what that bastard did to her, but we have no choice! I know you could kill every last one of them, and would to protect us, but you promised you wouldn't anymore to Naruto. You killed HIM for what he did, but there are innocent people out there-stupid and blind people-but innocent nonetheless. Are you gonna break your promise to him?"



Tifa added "he's your brother, are you going to break your promise to your brother? Or will you three come with me and return to him?"



The first voice was startled "he's HERE?! You can take us to him?!"



"Of course he's here and of course I can. Let me in, let me talk to you IN PRIVATE about what happened. The sooner we can resolve what happened to you all, the sooner we can reunite you all with him."



"Do it" the first said to the second and before she could blink she felt herself yanked inside.



Once there she looked around, surprised that not one grain had gotten in her eyes, nose, mouth or clothes, his control over it was just that great.



Despite the feirce sun outside, it was cool and darker inside.



In front of her stood an red headed male about a year or two younger than Naruto, skin seeming to move as the granulated substance moved over and around him and Tifa remembered being told how he  used a layer of the stuff over his skin like armor.



The male wore what vaguely looked like brown leather trousers and white shirt of some sort, the same sandals as the Kohona ninjas, but around the waist where a belt would go-just peaking out from under the shirt-was a metal plate she recognised, only engraved with what looked like an hourglass.



Tifa saw he stood up straight, legs slightly parted and hands outstreatched and raised into the air, the grains on his body flowing from one hand out and into the shield to mix with the ones there while they flowed back over him by the other hand.



It suddenly struck her how much it resembled an heart, like he was the very muscle and the grains were the blood, one side flowing in to him to be purified and cleaned while the other flowed out to circulate again.



Then she realised fully what he was doing and her eyes widened, they had come just in time!



The brother had said that he could kill everyone there and while Tifa knew as a 'son' of Chaos he probably could, without his gourd he would find that difficult, and probably not before he or his siblings were injured in some way.



So while under the protection of the dome his own chakra-infused grains were acting like ants, collecting others from the wide expanse of the area around them, bringing it back to him where he was using the power of his demon side to turn the normal substance into the same as his, then sending THAT out-as well as his own original for more.



Which meant he could have 'infused' the entire area by now and just be waiting until the situation broke down before he instantly killed everyone. And if Tsunade was right that his demon grew stronger by absorbing blood through the grains......



Tifa repressed a shudder as she looked for his siblings.



Between and behind the red heads legs she saw another male about Naruto's age. His back was to her as he clutched someone to his chest. She could see them wrapped in a long coat of brown leather identical to what the red head wore, as well as bloody long slim legs and bits of whiteblonde hair here and there, but the rest seemed hidden by one brothers cloak-or long jacket-and the others sheilding body.



The other brother-a brunette-turned his head to look at her. Tsunade was right, the older brother WAS a very handsome young man without his 'warpaint'.



Without moving the male asked "You Tifa?"



"Yes" she answered.



He frowned at her, looking her up and down critically "you're NOT a civillian, you're too fit for that and you move like a ninja."



"Thank you" she took it as a complament "I'm not   ninja though. I've been training to fight since I was little, I suppose compared to you guys, I'd probably be more like the one you call Rock Lee. We don't use chakra here, we use mana." she explained the differences "we also have a drug called Mako."



She explained what it did and how highly dangerous it was, AND how rare it was to get hold of and use. "Only Zack and his lover and my childhood friend Cloud, myself and an allie Vincent Valentine have been exposed to it."



She changed the subject "can I examine her? Will you let me near? I'm a girl so I shouldn't frighten or set her off." Reluctantly he nodded "but move slowly and don't touch her injuries. I've barely got control of these two as it is. Any new signs of pain and they'll both probably freak out as it is."



"I'll try" she said "but no promises" she looked up at the red head "she'll move around and that might set any numb injuries off. But I have an heal materia, once this is resolved I can completely get rid of any and all of them." She looked back at the brunette "or if you don't trust me, Lady Tsunade is here, with Naruto. Once the crowd is gone we can leave and while you are being reunited, SHE can heal her."



"The Sanin is here as well?"



"Both are" Tifa nodded.



"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" the brunette nearly screamed in frustration, just remembering at the last second not to.



“I’ll make you a deal” Tifa said “you tell me what happened while I examine her and I’ll tell you what’s going on-or at least what we’ve pieced together. Deal?”



“Deal” the older male nodded “you have my word.”



“And you have mine as a warrior I’ll help you and your sister and brother and reunite you three with Naruto and the others.”



“Accepted” the brunette nodded and they turned back to the blonde young woman. She looked only a year or two older than the younger brother, hair out of the four tails she had seen in the photo, just shoulder length otherwise. But the blonde was red with blood in places that was fresh, but also Tifa saw the rust-brown of old blood as well.



While she examined the girl the brother told her how for a week or so ‘the man’ had been romancing their sister. How she had an rigorous tests for any man wanting to do so, but he had passed them all. How she had told them last night he was taking her out to dinner, she would be back later.



When she didn’t return hours later, they grew worried. When she didn’t return by dawn, they went looking for her. Then they had felt her chakra flare. “It was so much at once, she would only do it that way if...”



“She was in danger.”



 “Worse than that. If she was into something like a battle she would send us an long controlled burst as a signal. This was worse, it was an huge uncontrolled burst all at once, that would only happen if.....”



“Pure panic and terror, she outright panicked and had no control over it. She just tried to use it to either get herself away or signal you or......”



“......She hadn’t known she was doing it, she was breaking, HE was breaking her.” Tifa shook her head, but not in denial “tell me what happened.”



“The bastard drugged her, and with something we’ve never encountered before. We tracked her chakra to an hidden door in an alleyway. It lead down a long flight of stairs, down underground and to an heavy steel door. And when we opened it.....” the brunette swallowed visibly in horror “our sister was screaming, screaming like nothing I’ve heard before, even brothers bad years.



We heard that bastard” the brunette curled his upper body more protectively over their sister, subconsciously using his own body to shield her from what happened and any further harm “he was telling her she belonged to him, she was nothing more than his property now, her life belonged to him and she no longer existed as a person or individual. He told her she was all alone, we weren’t coming for her and she was nothing but his toy from then on, she would obey his every command and whim-no matter what it was. If he wanted her for THAT......" the male swallowed in horror “she would willingly and obediently do EVERYTHING he tells her.



I...brother freaked when he heard this” he looked at her, eyes tormented “our father used to torment brother, isolating him in an locked stone room underground, tell him over and over again he was nothing but a weapon for our village. When he joined our team I was scared of him and tried to avoid him when we weren’t on missions, but Temari...even though she was scared too she didn’t see a weapon, she saw a little brother like me. She tried reaching out to him, but he didn’t want anyone but the voice in his head anymore, he barely heard us as it was.



When Naruto and he fought and he began reaching out tentively to us, Temari was the first to get inside him, the first to get close to him.”



Tifa realized what it meant.



Growing up the boys only source of love was the demon inside him, he latched to it so desperately he not only called it ‘mother’ but very nearly blocked everyone else out. After learning the truth through Naruto-his brother-that loving and being loved by those around you didn’t make you weak, it actually made you stronger, he finally noticed his sisters attempts at reaching out to him and actually cautiously reached back.



The result was an protective and loving older sister who helped ease him out of his own head and became a brother and family, making it easier for an uncertain big brother to join their little family. With their father dead to the enemy the youngest took over leadership and applied all the things his siblings had taught him to the village.



Which is why the village loved him and revered Naruto. The blonde had turned a killing machine into a strong but noble and caring ruler, more than capable of protecting them-especially since the village was surrounded by the very substance he so easily controlled.



The young woman was the red heads first TRUE source of love and acceptance, the unconditional love and acceptance of family. To hear what was happening to her, to know his strong loving big sis was essentially going through the same or similar abuse he had in his youth......



No wonder he killed the man in an open street in front of civilians and in such a gory way. He probably was barely able to keep control of his demon side as it was.



“He ran past me, I heard him blast open another door and then the man was cursing him, telling him to leave or he’d kill him. I heard Temari scream brothers name, I heard him snarl in such fury and I ran forwards to help. I saw the bastard go flying past me and he was stalking after him, but I was more worried about our sister, he could take care of himself.



What I saw in that room...by kami” he shuddered and shook “I never want to see anything like it again. Brother had covered her with his coat, so I freed her, wrapped her in it and carried her after him. You know what happened next.”



Tifa nodded and frowned “do you remember the location of the basement?”



“We’re ninja’s trained for things like that, why?”



“Because it’s your proof” she took out her PHS “this is an communication device. With it I can tell my friend outside what happened without anyone else overhearing. He can take the WRO out to the basement, take photo’s and evidence and use it to prove what you said and get rid of the crowd so we can get you all back to Naruto and Lady Tsunade can help her. I just need your permission to tell him what you told me and....” she hesitated “take some photo’s of her injuries to help. Then with your description of the place we can resolve this. Naruto and the others are waiting for you.”



 After a brief hesitation the brunette nodded “just hurry.”



 Tifa called Zack and explained what happened after taking the photo’s. The young man was an heroic soul who liked people and needed to be liked, being told the situation was worse than an mere injury, he was understandably pissed.



He explained it to the sergeant, the man consenting to send some men with him, showing him the photos as proof and while they were gone Tifa told the two males about finding Naruto and his team and everything afterwards and so on.



Of course the two were upset and horrified to find out their home was probably destroyed and their people either dead or had abandoned the village, but realized they couldn’t do anything to save it and at the moment their sister was more important. They questioned her and she answered as much and whatever she would, letting them examine her materia-or rather the brunette brother.



When Tifa’s PHS rung she assured them of its harmlessness and answered “Hello?”



“Tifa?” the voice was rich, smooth and sensual. “VINCENT!” she sat up straight, glad to hear his voice “thank gaia!”



“I have numerous unanswered calls and a message from Reno telling me you urgently need my aid. What is going on?”



“We found Shukaka-Gaara” she told him what had happened and the current situation. Chaos’ growled voice came next “my daughter was RAPED!!”



“We don’t know if it got that far, but she’s bad, Vincent, I’ve never seen shock this deep, she’s practically catatonic.”



“She has grown up a strong and fiercely capable ninja, proud of her ability to defend herself against anyone and anything only to have one person strip that away and he was just an civilian, someone she would have seen as weaker than her.”



“I suppose you’re right.”



“I’m on my way there.”



“No, wait!” Tifa exclaimed urgently.



“Why?”



“You won’t do any good here now and Chaos will probably just make things worse. Go to the hotel and see Lady Tsunade and tell her what’s going on. Tell Naruto these guys are going to seriously need his support when we get there and find a way to keep the kids away-this isn’t the sort of thing I want them to see. If Haku’s awake yet he could help you that way-and then meet us on the roof. We shouldn’t be much longer, Zack and some WRO are checking out the basement now.”



There was an uncertain silence on the other end. “Vincent, you can be more use this way, you can help them more.”



“Of course” the demon vessel murmured uncertainly “call me when you are about to return” and he hung up.



Tifa did so as well.



“Who was THAT!?” the brunette asked, obviously upset that she had told someone else. Tifa smiled at him “your father, he was worried about you all and wanted to come, but I talked him out of it.”



The young man froze “our father....”



Tifa continued to smile as she turned to the red head other male “when you merged with Shukaka, how much of her memories did you get?”



“All of them” he answered “however many are locked away from me.”



“I can understand why” Tifa said softly “all you own memories combined with the hundreds of years worth. It could drive you mad. Anyway, since you arrived have you sensed anything about this place, something familiar?”



The red head hesitated “it feels familiar......like.....home.”



“Home?” the brunette looked at his brother. Tifa smiled “that’s right. You see this world is the original world of the tailed beasts.” The brunettes eyes widened “But the Juubi.....”



“The tailed beasts were once one being, yes, but the Juubi was just a part of another, one of two, or rather ten separate parts of one being-Chaos, Squire Of Omega.”



The two males frowned at her “who?”



Tifa looked at the red haired one “you probably know him by a different name, but that’s what we call him.” She explained about Gaia, the lifestream, Chaos and Omega and the purpose of the two. She then told them about the ‘evil man’, Gaia helping Chaos separate the parts of his soul to fight the man, their being sent to another world. “so you see, even though your Sage Of Six Paths fought and beat the ten tailed, it wasn’t the complete being. But like the Sage, Chaos is now a part of humanity.”



They frowned at her “what do you mean?”



“My friend, Vincent? He’s what you call an Jinchuuriki. Not just that he’s the vessel of Chaos” she looked at the red head “that makes him-at least in their eyes-your father.” She looked at the brunette “and as HIS brother, that makes you their  son as well. It applies to your sister too, Vincent sees her as a daughter and just as pissed as you both. Naruto and Sasuke have been reunited with him as is the two tailed. Apparently only the eight tailed is left to find somewhere, the other five are once again a part of Chaos so they don’t exist as separate entities any longer.”



“Five are gone?”



“Yes. The three to the seventh are now a part of Chaos once again along with Galian, your other brother. Like Gaara, Naruto and Itachi, Vincent and Chaos are merging with each other, but slowly over time.”



Before anyone else could speak, Tifa’s PDA went off again. Checking the number Tifa answered “Zack, did you....”



“Tifa” the voice was low and authoritive, Zack’s SOLDIER voice, cutting her off, “I need you to check her eyes.”



“But.....”



“JUST DO IT!” he snapped.



“Alright” reluctantly Tifa leaned over the young woman enough to gently lift an eyelid. In the dim coolness of the shield, the orb glowed  bright green. “Mako!” Tifa gasped as she quickly let go.



“What’s wrong with her eyes!” the brunette yelped.



“Damn” Zack swore “I was hoping he hadn’t gotten that far yet.”



"Far? Zack what's going on? Why are her eyes glowing with Mako? I thought only Hojo could use it, let alone had access to it. Did she encounter a natural spring of the stuff like Cloud and I?"



"No. I don't know how he got hold of the stuff but we found diaries Tifa, hundreds of diaries. That bastard was sick, god, worse than Hojo" Zack's voice was thick with nausea. "They were all about his sick step-by-step plan to kidnap some poor girl and torture her until she broke, 'training' he called it, then he would enhance her with Mako and program her mind so she was his willing sex slave-who, because of the Mako-could survive any of the sick perverted things he put her through" she could hear the young man swallow his bile, "there were things in that basement I never want to see again, Tifa."



She tried to sooth the young man, but he interrupted her "you don't understand Tifa! It's bad enough he did this to her, but think about it! What if he had chosen some innocent defenseless villager! Someone without any hope of escape or help!!!"



Tifa's eyes widened in horror "He'd be successful by now."



"And that's not all!" he went on "he planned on doing it again, numerous times! He was going to sell them in some underground sex trade! If it wasn't for  what Vincent's sons did....."



Tifa shuddered then looked at the red head "you're right, he's actually a hero." The red head frowned at her but Zack was going on "there are some things here that the WRO think may lead to the underground trade-or at least to others who could lead them there. The good news-for what it's worth-was he hadn't had the chance to rape her yet. And when her brothers found them he was just beginning to break her. Apparently he knew about Mako enhancing the senses and thought that if he injected her first then breaking her would be easier-enhanced reaction to pain."



So her catatonic state is both the Mako sickness from the drug as it enhances her, and her body reacting to the increased pain signals." Something occurred to her "Zack we know how mako affects someone like you or me, but what about someone like HER? Someone raised as an ninja with their chakra pathways as they are? What would it do to them? Would it burn them out, or worse, mutate them?"



"I hadn't thought of that" Zack swore, "what do w  do about it? How do we help?"



"Get rid of the crowd first, tell them what this guy was, what he was doing and planning, what he almost did. Make them see that by killing this guy that he's actually a hero and saved them and their daughters. You can convince nearly anyone and anything, Zack. When you've done get the WRO general to ask Reeve to send an doctor-someone who specializes in mako and mako sickness-to head straight to their hotel. I'll call Vincent and tell him what you've found and that the man is headed there. With his or her knowledge of mako and Lady Tsunade's knowledge of chakra, they should be able to help her."



"Hopefully" Zack said.



Yes hopefully" Tifa said "I'll call Reno, let him know what's happening and to get the transport ready for us. When you've disbanded the crowd, give us a yell. I'll give Reno the signal and we'll come out."



"Right" the young man hung up.



While they were waiting, Tifa told them what was found, their sisters untouched state and the effects of mako and what it would do to her and what might happen. How the enhancement of her senses had caused her to yell so loud when they found her.



"Good news is once the mako fully sets in your sister will be faster, stronger and heal twice as fast, these wounds will heal and be gone in minutes or hours-depending on the severity. She'll also be younger longer, mako enhanced people age slower-or in some cases slow so dramatically they barely seem to age at all. Your father was twenty-five when he was mako enhanced. He looks twenty-seven now even though he's in his seventies.



But he's an extreme case.



The good news is that that means you have an extremely lowered chance of loosing her in battle or on a mission."



This, at least, satisfied them.



Tifa called Reno to explain what was going on. The idea of an underground sex trafficking ring both scared and alarmed him and he insisted that someone called Dr Mizuki, an Wutaize expert in mako and mako poisoning, be called in to help.



"Both the Boss and Big Boss will insist on it" he said "your guy brought this to our attention and they'll want everyones help on stopping it. Dr Mizuki is an expert on mako, THE primary expert on it, he studied under Hojo for Shiva sake. If he can't help your girl, no one can."



"Alright Reno, do it then."



"Right, I'll call the Boss now."



"I'll give you the signal when we're ready to leave, three rings, that way you'll know even if you're still talking to Tseng."



"Yeah" the red head hung up.



Just a  Tifa had hung up she heard muffled yelling through the shield, some disbelief, some horror and some fury. It only took a few minutes before Zack's voice could be heard through the shield "you guys can come out now, the crowd’s gone."



The two males hesitated but Tifa assured them "guys you can trust him like you can me. Personality wise, Zack's a lot like Naruto, he's also painfully honest and heroic." She suddenly snorted in amusement "his old.....sensai used to call him 'Puppy'. After you get to know him you see why."



With an hesitation the brunette looked at his brother as he stood, their older sister in his arms "do it, but stay alert."



The red head slowly nodded, a layer of the shield re-covering his body, thick enough to be a shield, but not make his skin look the wrong color.



Tifa watched in surprise as another layer moved along the back of his clothes, joining together to solify into an identical gourd on his back as in the picture, while the rest moved off to join the identical substance all over town-and Tifa had the sneaking suspicion not only was it security for them, but if the red head ever needed it, it would be there for him and his siblings.



Now that the shield was down, Tifa saw the four of them were not alone, with Zack and the WRO general were two other men, an older distinguished man and his obvious bodyguard. As the shield was fully gone the four slowly approached them, Tifa motioned at the ex-SOLDIER and the WRO. “Guys this is my friend Zachary Fair, or Zack as he is known as and the....teamleader of an trusted organization run by another friend. The other two are Mr Izzaya Fairchild, Mayor of this town and his associate Locke. Guys this is siblings-oldest Temari, Second oldest Kankuro and youngest Gaara No Sabaku.”



Tifa looked at the mayor as she said “Sir, Gaara is the Kazekage of an far land called Suna.” At the same time the brunette asked “What’s a mayor?” the older man asked “What’s an Kazekage?”



“An Kazekage is like an Mayor, except instead of ruling a village of civilians, an Kazekage rules civilians AND highly trained warriors, Shinobi, Mr Mayor. They have almost absolute control over all goings on inside, only seconded by an council of elders.”



She looked at the three siblings “an mayor is like your Kazekage, except they are voted by the people and are chosen to represent them. They are essentially working for the civilians and even though the mayor has authority over them, they CAN be voted out and replaced.” She looked back at the older man “sir Gaara inherited the position from his father, who was the previous Kazekage.”



She looked at the three siblings “Sir Issaya is a good man, guys, he probably didn’t know about what was happening here. He didn’t know about 'THAT MAN’.”



“That’s right” the older man stepped towards the red head, hand extended “I was in an important meeting all day and not made aware of the situation until too late. However I have come here to thank you, sir, for your heroic action. If not for you, undoubtedly many of my own people would be victims of the bastard by now. I know you probably see it as saving family, but here you are now considered a hero. You are welcomed back whenever you wish. When our citizens found out what you saved their daughters and sisters from, they all bid me ask you to stay and consider our home your home.”



“Gaara and the others can’t now, sir” Tifa spoke out, motioning for the red head to shake the mayors hand “they came here because Gaia wanted their help in protecting us from a very powerful future threat. They had no idea they were suppose to inform you of their arrival, let alone anyone else they knew were on Gaia with them. Now, I think they would prefer being reunited with their brothers and other father.”



“Oh” the mayor looked disappointed before his face smoothed over “I suppose you are right, miss Lockheart” he looked back to the red head “I hope you will feel free to come visit us sometime soon.”



“We shall see” the red head said evasively, not quiet saying yes or no. He stopped shaking the older man’s hand and with his brother in tow, moved to Tifas’ side where she stood with Zack and the WRO General, “we wish to see Naruto and the others now.”



“Of course” Tifa nodded, the WRO General leaving them to rejoining his men thoroughly investigating the basement.



“Well” Zack remounted ‘Odin’ “if Vincent’s back at the hotel, Cloud’s probably home by now so I’m heading there” he waved as he started the engine then pulled away, leaving Tifa alone with them. After sending Reno the signal, Tifa heard the chopper start up and told them to follow her, explaining about the transport and Reno as she did.



“He is kind of like you all. He LOOKS like he wouldn’t be much of a threat-no insult intended-and acts kind of unprofessional, but he and the other Turks are the ‘ninjas’ to Rufus’ Hokage. They can be anything from assassins to simple delivery boygirls. However each are also highly trained and enhanced. Unless you threaten him or Shinra though, he won’t threaten you. Just watch him though, he’s sneaky. Before Shinra took him in as an Turk he was what is known as a 'junkyard dog’, extremely crafty, manipulative and dangerous when cornered.”



“Do you trust him?” the brunette asked.



“Well” Tifa said thoughtfully “it depends on what do you mean by trust! Do I trust him to have my back in a fight or major battle? Yes, without hesitation. Do I trust him to keep my secrets of confidence? No, no way.”



“So” the red head said almost unemotionally “you can trust him as an warrior, but not a person.”



“That sounds about right. He has a sense of honor as an warrior, warped as it may be, but as an Turk of Shinra, he’s unpredictable and un-trustworthy. Just watch what your words around him.”



The two males nodded.



They reached the chopper to find Reno with the piolet-side door open, looking out for them. As soon as they were close enough he handed Tifa an long blanket and slid back inside, closing the door and waiting for them to board.



Tifa headed towards the two and gave the red head the blanket and waited for the two males to awkwardly wrap their shivering sister in it before they followed her inside. They secured themselves inside, their sister between them, held in both their arms. After taking off and they were steady, they heard Reno speak “sorry about your girl, yo.”



The red head nodded stiffly.



“If it’s any consolation, man, I would have done the exact same thing, hell, I HAVE.” He began to mutter curse words under his breath “bastards all of them, stupid idiots think women are only there to serve and service them.”



The very idea shocked and even terrified Tifa “ You KNEW someone kidnapped, tortured and possibly raped, Reno?!”



“Yeah” he said bluntly “one day asked Fair about a Turk girl he knew called Cissinni before he became involved with Strife.” Tifa wanted to ask more, but the other red heads voice was clipped and hostile, not inviting any more conversation.



Since they were closer to Midgar then The Forgotten City had been it took less time to return to the hotel building.



Tifa frowned when they landed, only the blonde Hokagehealer, Jirayia, and a small willowy Wutian man in his late forties early fifties was there, she also saw the Nara heir by the roof door too, an deep frown of concern and fear on his face even though he stood hidden in the shadows.



She frowned, she had assumed that Vincent and Naruto would be there too.



After they had landed Tifa aided the brunette bringing his sister out on the newly replaced cot while the red head made his way to the healer, bowing in respect and after a quick word or two they made their way to his sisters side.



“Where’s Vincent and Naruto?” Tifa asked the woman “I thought they’d be here to help.”



“There was some commotion downstairs and Naruto sensed Sasuke’s conflicting emotions, so they went down to look” Jirayia told them. The red head looked conflicted, he wanted to go to Naruto, but he didn’t want to leave his siblings. His older brother noticed this “go, get Naruto.”



His brother cocked his head at him.



“Go ahead, brother, I think he’ll help bring her out. Besides, you need to see this guy and if he’s really our father.” Hesitantly the red head nodded and followed Tifa to the door to the elevator.



They were silent on their way down to the blondes floor, Tifa worried about what was going on. Sasuke was experiencing ‘conflicting’ emotions enough to warrant both Naruto and Vincent’s attention, what could it be?



The only thing she could think of was he had found his brother.



She had better warn the red head since the Uchiha heir was one of those who had been responsible for kidnapping and almost killing him trying to remove the demon, forcing the two to merge or die. “There’s something you should know” she quickly explained about the heir being a spy for their village, his death and resurrection and his current state, including the merging, telling him she didn’t want him to attack when he saw the other.



The red head stated he understood, he wouldn’t do anything to the other except for his or someone else’s defense. When Tifa asked why he was so understanding towards someone almost partly responsible for his near death.



His answer was that they were ninja’s, it was part of their job, infiltration was just part of their training. Besides, if anything, he had died, he had therefore made it up to him. Itachi the Akatsuki member had died at Sasuke’s hands, this was Itachi, Sasuke’s brother.



“You’re right, and he’s YOUR brother now too.”



At the red heads look, Tifa explained “well first Sasuke is Naruto’s mate, meaning since Naruto is your brother through Chaos, he’s your brother-in-law as Sasuke’s brother. Secondly Itachi is merging with the three tailed, so he’s your brother there as well.”



The red head nodded.



They reached their floor to a sight familiar to Tifa, only THIS time among the group in the doorway was Denzel, Marlene, Haku and three adult figures she recognized from the photo. The green clad man-Might Gai, the ex-snake Sanin’s disciple Anko and the T & I specialist Ibiki Marino.



Cloud and Vincent must have found them in Cosmo Canyon.



Again everyone was crowded in the Uchiha heirs doorway, watching some scene inside and THIS time when Tifa moved to look she found just what she expected. The brothers were facing each other, Naruto standing behind his mate, looking concerned.



She didn’t see Vincent.



Sasuke stood beside the bed, staring down at his brother who sat against the headboard, staring blankly back. There was silence for long seconds, the two staring at each other until the youngest Uchiha choked out his brothers name.



Without a word the older slowly raised his hand and everyone held their breath. Slowly the hand rose, heading towards his brothers face, three fingers folded back and then......



He poked Sasuke in the forehead with the two fingers together, just once but not very hard. The effect was instant. The youngers eyes widened and he threw himself into his brothers arms, sobbing brokenly.



“I don’t get it” the one called Anko murmured while Vincent suddenly appeared and came forward, ushering everyone but the brothers and Naruto out of the room, closing the door in their faces-himself still inside. “He used to do that before the massacre” Kakashi appeared walking towards them “it was their thing, Itachi’s way of showing affection and his fondness of Sasuke.”



Tifa got it, it was a gesture Sasuke had come to see as a sign of his brothers love in their youth. A sign that their relationship was strong and true. By the heir choosing to use the gesture now he had not only assured Sasuke he still loved him as such as in their youth, but he had completely forgiven him for killing him.



Tifa frowned at Kakashi “we need to see Vincent and Naruto, it was important” she gave him an intense look “about Gaara-san’s sister.” Seeing the hidden message she was trying to send, the cyclops nodded, turning to the crowd. “Haku, take the kids to talk-Sai, go with them and translate his sign.”



The two ninja’s nodded and bundled the two kids away to one of the apartments.



“Sakura, you and Hinata help these three find an apartment they want to use and catch them up on what’s going on.”



The two girls nodded and lead the three away.



“I will help the girls” Shizune moved after the group while the man-Yamoto-moved after Haku and the others. Once the three were alone Tifa-with the occasional imput from the Kage, told the cyclops what had happened.



He frowned in concern “this is serious indeed.” He turned to knock on the door. A few seconds later the door peaked open to one blue eye and blonde hair “what’s up guys?” he whispered “We’re a bit busy here.”



“Naruto” Kakashi moved aside so he could see Tifa and the red head. Instantly the boy threw open the door, eyes shinny and an huge grin on his face, shouting out “GAARA!” and throwing himself into his arms with a joyful cry.



The red head tensed in his grip, obviously uncomfortable and unused to physical contact, but then forced himself to relax and hug back. This must have been unusual as it was because the blonde drew back slightly in the others arms with a concerned frown “what’s wrong?”



“Temari” the red head whispered, his voice trembling just very slightly. Concerned and a little frightened the blonde frowned “what’s wrong? What happened to her?!” Tifa frowned “didn’t Vincent tell you?”



The blonde frowned deepened as he turned from to look furtherer into the room “father?” Vincent came to his side and saw them “you have returned.”



“You didn’t tell him what happened” Tifa said almost accusingly.



“We returned not long before you did” he explained “I was about to bring him there when this...” he motioned behind them “happened.”



They understood "then let's go now."



Naruto frowned, torn "I can't leave the teme now, he may need my support after this."



"Go, Naruto" the silver cyclops moved to enter the room past him "I'll stay and tell them where you've gone and why. They'll understand."



Reluctantly the boy nodded and with Vincent in tow they headed for the elevator. Once inside she told the two what Zack had found out, the red head in a soft monotone told what had happened and they peiced it together.



Tifa turned to Vincent "it may be better if you let Chaos out. I think he'd want to comfort them himself and he may be familiar to his demon side. Once he's comfortable with HIM, it will be easier for YOU."



The demon vessel nodded, stood away from them and let the demon out.



The red head didn't move or blink.



Tifa turned away to give them some psuedo-privacy and stared at the numbers above the door.



At first there was complete silence. Then Chaos growled, low and with a lot of base, obviously deep in his chest. Naruto growled next, obviously a question by the infliction, followed by an fox-like yip of obvious concern.



The red head didn't answer.



The two continued, almost soothing and reassuringly for a few seconds, and just when Tifa was going to tell the others two how the red heads memories were locked away so he obviously didn't understand this, there was a soft cautious growl from an completely different source.



This started all three off into an obvious conversation and recap of events if the tone of growls were anything to go by. Tifa didn't know if they were 'demon talking' to keep her from listening in, or Chaos thought that talking that way on a 'primitive level' would break through his shell.



Either way, it worked.



When they reached the Sanin's floor she turned to look before the doors opened. Chaos stood at the back of the elevator, both boys clutched in his arms and wings. Both looked vulnerable, the red head with his face buried in the demons chest, body shaking in silent sobs, clutching the demon close to him as he did.



To Tifa he looked like a child seeking a parents comfort, only to realize that was EXACTLY what it was. Like Naruto, the others demon had been female, making him more emotional and even vulnerable in a lot of ways, meaning he had to be even more in control of himself and his emotions, even around his siblings.



Naruto however on the other hand, had always been more emotional and open, so it wasn't that much diiferent when he merged with his.



Naruto and Chaos had implied that not only was Shukaku the weaker of the once nine-both in power and emotionally-but she was also the youngest of the children of Chaos.That coupled with the fact that he was the youngest of the siblings, he WAS a child seeking a parents comfort.



Thousands of years perhaps of being separated from their ‘father’, all that they had been through and forced to do during that time and then his sisters kidnaping, torture and almost rape, it was too much for him to contain now surrounded by family love and those he trusts.



Naruto silently looked up at her, his eyes red, something that resembled a fox in his face and the way he stood, as if he and Chaos were comforting their lost family member as demons, at a primal level, not as humans. As if the more instinctive the level, the more of a result.



Whatever it was, it worked.

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open.



On the other side of the door stood the brunette, who looked at them solemnly, eyes tormented. Slowly the eyes roamed over pregnant blonde silently, then his brother in the demons arms. He must have made a sound Tifa missed because all three males heads snapped up to see him.



They looked at each other silently for long minutes before all three without a word held a hand each out to him a silent offer of unconditional love, understanding and comfort. At first Tifa thought he wouldn’t take it, he backed up a bit, but when the red head turned fully in the demons arms to hold his hand out, the other hesitated.



Tifa remembered what he had said earlier about when their sister had been the first to move to become friends and family, he had been still afraid and realised it was almost the same here, only instead of of his brother-or even of Chaos-he was afraid of breaking down. He was the strong big brother here and had to keep it together, to help their sister and keep his brother calm, he didn’t want to loose it here and now or he might never stop.



His brother stood, still and silent, hand never wavering, eyes solemn and unblinking on him, all three still holding out their hands to him. They were showing that they had no hesitation in their offer and it would remain in the face of his uncertainty and doubt.



When all three never moved from the offer, the brunette hesitantly took his brothers arm. Immediately he was pulled into the grasp of all three.



Tifa knew THIS was an private moment, so she stepped off the elevator and let the doors close behind her. She headed for the room where the HokageHealer was helping clean and dress the girls more serious wounds while the small man was looking through a microscope on a small portable chemistry table, murmuring in Wutaineze as he did.



 “What have you found, Doctor?” another voice spoke and Tifa’s head snapped to a dark corner of the room to find Tseng sitting on an chair there, frowning as he looked through some paperwork.



“Tsunade-hime, come look at this please. See if you see what I do” the man said in an cultured but deeply accented voice. The healer moved to join the smaller man, eye to the microscope as he moved aside for her.



She frowned when she saw what was there, agreeing with the smaller man.



A noise alerted Tifa behind her as Vincent and the three boys entered, all moving to the unconscious shivering young womans side, Vincent standing by her head while Naruto clutched one hand and Kankuro at the other, Gaara hesitantly kneeling by his brother to touch her wrist.



Tifa turned back to the Doctor and repeated Tseng's question, knowing the four would want to hear it a  well.



The healer spoke first "her chakra pathways are almost completely shot. It funtions enough to allow her to live and even remain as active and skilled in battle as before, but she will never use an genjutsu ever again without killing herself."



"No!" Naruto exclaimed helplessly.



The Doctor spoke next "however the mako seems to be taking the place of that energy, moving in to replace the missing parts and healing and adapting her body." He frowned "the last time I saw something like this was the pet project Hojo had, Sephiroth. " Vincent growled at him in the background.



"Her body is steadily becoming adapt at using mako and the energy of the Lifestream as he was. What it will become when this is finished, I am uncertain."



"But how can that be, Doctor?" Tseng had put down the paperwork, looking at the man with disbelieving eyes "It was Jenovah that allowed Sephiroth to...."



"No" the man said, giving the other Wutian an level look "it was mako."



"But then the other SOLDIERS...."



"The mako Hojo used on the SOLDIERS was refined, weakened, allowing noticable differences between SOLDIERS and Troopers, enough to keep President ShinRa satisfied that Hojo was doing his job and worthy of his grants and pay, however he reserved the pure mako, the raw mako for Sephiroth. He never used raw on anyone I have knowledge of. It seems the one who injected this child just found an raw mako vein and used that, without anything to leasen the effects or ease her coming pain."



"What about Zack and Cloud?" Tifa asked with a frown "he had four years to experiment on them with it, and he WAS supposed to be trying to turn Cloud into another one of the General...."



"I saw Hojo's files on them just before meteor fall, while the mako used was stronger than that previously used, it wasn't pure or raw. It was also mixed in with other agents and chemicals. As of yet I have to examine someone like this girl who has been exposed to raw mako and not only lived but come out of the mako sickness."



"Umm....." Tifa hummed, raising her hand.



Both the Doctor and healer looked at her.



Tseng spoke "weren't you already exposed to mako previously, Tifa? Being injected previously allows your body to adjust to it, even adapt."



"No" she said softly "I wasn't."



"But when Hojo got hold of you before...."



"He was about to, he gloated he was going to, but the guys got me out before he did."



"How were you exposed, what concentration?" the man asked urgently.



"Just after we beat Sephiroth, during meteor fall. Cloud fell into an fissure of raw mako that had opened up. I had to jump in to get him. The guys eventually found us and got us out" she motioned at Vincent who nodded confirmation to the Doctor.



The man seemed excited "and you both survived it?!"



Tifa nodded "we found eachothers mind through the contact and guided each other back. Since then both of us in one way or another was exposed once more, but except for some minor flu-like symptoms, it doesn't really affect us."



The man looked excited "then you could have developed an tolerance for it beyond normal levels!" He looked at the healer who nodded to go ahead.



The man turned full on to Tifa and bowed low to her "Tifa-sama, would you allow us to do a physical and some tests on you? Your biology or even genetics could provide us with the answers we seek for the problem."



Tifa looked at Vincent who nodded again in encouragement, eyes telling her it was her decision. She looked back to the two of them "you could use it to help bring their sister out of her unconsciousness?"



"Definitely" the man nodded to her "and if it works even other victims around Gaia also trapped in comas or the sickness."



Nodding to herself Tifa stepped forward, holding out her arm to the man, wrist out "go ahead, anything to help."



The man nodded and Tifa looked over at the group at the sound of her name.



Gaara stood up and turned to her, head down and eyes lowered in respect and something Tsunade later told her was the way that the Kages each showed respect to each other. The only people Gaara had ever done it to-and meant it-was Naruto and Tsunade herself.



"My brother and I are grateful for your aid in saving my sister. From this day forward, you are one of my family. If you have need of us...." From his crouched position next to their sister, the brunette-Kankuro-nodded in serious agreement.



Tifa was stunned, they were serious, they were 'adopting' her just as she had the kids. Looking at Vincent with confusion and question he nodded to her, showing he was agreeing with his sons, adding his protection and promise.



Tifa couldn't speak, too stunned. So instead she turned to the Doctor and watched his actions, unable to speak.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------