Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction using characters from the world imagined by the mind of Masashi Kishimoto, trademarked and owned by the same individual. I do not claim any ownership over its characters or the world it builds from. The story I tell here is my own invention, it is not considered to be a part of Kishimoto's canon and it is only intended for entertainment purposes.


Unfit For Duty

Unreal.

Unprecedented.

Those were the words that Inoichi uttered as he stood, transfixed, over the events transpiring inside the room.

He's visited the library many times before in the process of research inside the field of Yang-based techniques. He's considered it his third most visited place outside home after the IT and the flower shop. The walls of oak wood, the shelves of tinder, the marble floor; he's familiar with the place from top to bottom.

Thus, imagine his surprise as he entered his humble abode of knowledge and found over fifty versions of the Rokudaime in the flesh, reading from multiple scrolls and books, in some cases multiple copies of the same edition, all of them scratching their heads while taking notes on sketchbooks.

"What in the hells?"

"Oh, Inoichi-san! Just the person I was looking for."

The real deal, or so he liked to believe, called him from the back. He sat on one of the many tables available to the public surrounded by what seemed to be a dozen ANBUs. The white coat ruffled and waved as he jumped from his seat, walking towards him.

"Come, follow me. I was about to ask for Ino, but you serve the purpose just as well."

"Hokage-sama," He'd seen the hundreds of blondes outside helping the constructors of the Tazuna Corporation as they rebuilt the village from scratch. "I was sent here by one of your clones, as a matter of fact. Excuse my surprise."

"Nonsense. Unpredictability is my motto. If I can even surprise myself, I know I'm doing something great." He made space as another Naruto passed in between them, deep into his lecture and muttering something about higher interest rates increase the cost of borrowing and discourages spending, thus, lower economic growth and by proxy, inflation.

They reached the table and gestured to the scrolls on the surface. "I need the understanding of the Yamaka for this in particular."

"These are hidden scrolls on memory transferal, mind control, brain processes and alterations…" The Yamanaka elder observed, fascinated, the many documents available through matrixes and records of past developments many ninjas left behind. "Why do you need this?"

Naruto looked at him conflicted all of a sudden. "I thanked your support at the clan's table the day before. I truly value your word in the many issues we deal with from now on. But the truth remains the same: I'm unequipped to deal with decisions of the caliber asked by this position."

The blonde glanced back at the documents, a look of hope permeating his azure orbs. "I need to learn faster than anyone can possibly hope for. That's where you come in."

Inoichi looked around the room. "The Kage Bunshins. Memory's transferred to the original as they dispel. Aren't they enough?"

"Yes. There's no issue with the technique itself, but rather the backlash caused by it. See," and at this, Naruto signaled his head with a finger, repeatedly touching the cranium. "Many short seconds of battle positions and input, I can digest. But over four hours of study sessions of politics, history, and economics for each clone, my head will blast in fireworks like one of my Rasengan."

"Your brain won't be capable of processing so much in so little time. I see, I see." The Yamanaka picked one of the scrolls for further scrutiny. "You want me to find a way to handle the strain and not flood the hippocampus on the process."

"Yes. Whatever the hell that meant. Number forty-two!"

A clone answered atop of a stair next to one of the shelves. "Boss!"

"Grab a book on human anatomy and double-time it! Don't stop until your eyes strain from the pain!"

"You got it—Woah!"

The doppelganger lost its balance, stair tumbling down and knocking everything on its path in the process. The resulting crash echoed across the library. None of the ANBU uttered a single word. The case could be made that at least one coughed for a second, but we digress.

"Goddamn it. He dispelled."

Inoichi looked at the scene in bafflement. "How do you know?"

Naruto started nursing his head. "Because I've got a whole load of macroeconomics to unpack now, Hashirama cleanse my soul."


"Are you suggesting what I believe you are suggesting?"

The real Naruto grunted as he raised another block of concrete as instructed by the architect. "Y-yes."

"Keep it tight! Okay, a little bit to the right now!" The former looked at the structure from down below, keeping a record of the rigid frame rafter and its position as Naruto built on top of it. "There we go! Thank you, Hokage-sama!"

"No worries!" He dusted his hands and thanked Shikamaru in advanced as he was offered a bottle of water.

Shikamaru watched as three Naruto's helped a family move their belongings onto a recently built complex by Yamato. "If you summon the same type of workforce that's running around down these parts, I believe it possible, but what makes you think they'll comply?"

The blonde drank with fervor and sighed with relief, thirst clenched. "They won't, I think. I need you to find a compelling reason for it; think of a favorable trade for them."

"Troublesome blonde that always sends others to do his job. You're worse than Ino, you know that?" The brunet sighed, already running through possible scenarios in his mind.

Naruto ignored the jab. "We need the food. If possible, buy their lands, or so said the Daimyo. Thinking about how many mouths we must feed makes me depressed."

"I wasn't there for the discussion." He'd been studying the possible layouts for the water supply network along the board of civil engineers. "What's the angle? We don't have the money for that, and the Daimyo's already full of debts. His money can only last us so much."

"Private investors, companies, entrepreneurship, and more weird shit I didn't get at first until one of my clones at the library popped." He held back a grimace from the sudden strain behind his eyes. "Damn it, I need Inoichi to find a solution by Monday, or I'll be dead."

His eyes softened with worry. "I'll call for Ino or Sakura if the tension's too much to handle."

Naruto shook his head. "No can't do. They are already way too full in their schedule leading the medic force behind Shizune."

"I'll leave it at that for now." He checked on a clock and raised from the chair. "Time's up. We must get going by noon. Have you visited Iron Country beforehand?"

"Yes. Ero-sennin and I traveled through some of its most important cities during those two years abroad. The cold's harsh." He absently rubbed his arms, hugging himself from the elusive winter. "Have you thought about the team?"

Shikamaru opened the document on his hand, scanning the files and profiles inside. Four faces stared back at him. "I have the perfect candidates for it."

"Great," Pensive, Naruto looked at the fallen structures of the orphanage across the streets, blue skies and a bright sun clashing against the wasted gray. "How many men are currently helping at the academy?"

"Around three hundred, its top priority," he blinked, perplexed at the question. He then noticed where the blonde was looking at and raised his eyebrows in trepidation. "Naruto, there are seven hundred and fifty-two clones available, and they are helping however they can. More than that will—

Crimson bled through the Rokudaime's clothes, alerting anyone on malice's incarnate brought to earth. Earth quaked as the blond sped through hand seals and jumped down onto the ground below the metal structure.

One hundred and fifty more of the same flesh surrounded him in a second as he fell to his knees. "You know what to do," He whispered, holding his forehead with a hand.

Three ANBUs followed by Shikamaru were at his sides not a moment after as the clones started making something out of the wreckage. "You idiot! What the hell—

He ignored the complaints, massaging some of the pain away. "Dog, Eagle. Get the overseer's assistant for the academy construction in this instant—

"He's dead, Hokage-sama."

Fuck! "Then get someone else! I won't have any parentless child suffering without something to call home, even if it's subpar at best! Now go!"

They tried to no avail. "Sir—

"I said go, damn it!" He raised from the floor as the soldiers disappeared in a swirl of smoke. Shikamaru stood at his side, silent. "When was the next meeting with the Daimyo?"

"That can wait. You should first ease their concern." Naruto looked at where Shikamaru's gaze pointed towards, a lump forming in his throat.

Around a dozen and a half of children, boys and girls ranging from six to fourteen years old, looking at him in worry. Many civilians stopped their own businesses, the scene pickling at their curiosity.

He exhaled, eyes dropping mid-way. "I can barely stay upright," He whispered.

"I got you." A silent, if an almost invisible strand of shadow from the genius's feet connected with the blonde's, the later's stance turning the same as the former, rigid, firmer.

They walked up to the kids, and both lowered themselves to their height. "Did I just scare you?"

Many of the older quickly shook their head. A little boy of no more than seven nodded and received an almost imperceptible slap to the head in return.

"You don't need to lie. I can see I did, and I'm sorry."

A girl that reminded him of Tenten without the buns stepped forward. "Are you okay, Hokage-sama?"

"Tired, but don't treat me like an old man yet. I'll have the house ready for you in a pair of days, believe it!"

"The house," the same kid that nodded amidst the negatives. "A house can't replace… replace the…"

Tears marred his little cheeks, and Naruto cursed Nagato that much more in whatever plane of existence he was.

All of this could have been avoided! Your village is nothing but garbage and ruins because of their insistence on protecting their ultimate tool for war!

Anger turned into self-deprecation, but old habits die hard. The mask was on his face before he even begun to speak. One cheeky, strong smile coming in three, two…

"A house can't replace family, you tried to say?"

"Y-yes."

"That's sadly true, but you have alternatives." He said as he looked at the faces of all the younglings. "Nothing stops you from forming a family with them. Maybe it won't be the same, but that's the point."

He genuinely smiled no matter how it hurt to look at a face that could be his years ago. "It's not about a replacement. It's about finding other sources of happiness, see? They'll become your rock when you feel sad, and they'll become the sun when you play together."

A few of the kids huddled closer to the boy in question, and he smiled in gratitude. "Now, let me do the work. Go help others while am at it."

As he rose to make an example of his words, a girl hugged him by the legs. The rest soon followed shortly after.

It's your fault your father's dead. It's your fault our sensei's dead. It's your fault everyone's dead.

He shut his eyes close, and started breathing. Don't panic. Don't panic. Embrace them back.

"You are so stiff, Hokage-sama!" One giggled.

"Guess I need the medics to mush me like clay and dough then? Ha-ha."

Soon the kids got their love and went on like they promised. Sadness never left its grip on his heart during that day, neither on those onwards.


Heels clacked against the wooden floor.

"Shiranui Genma."

Were they sending them to their deaths? Maybe.

"Hyuga Hoheto."

Would their actions intensively help the village in these times of crisis? They would.

"Akimichi Choji."

Gray eyes clashed against the final pair of black. Would they be mentally prepared?

"Inozuka Hana."

That was to be seen.

Koharu looked at the four ninjas with the eyes that'd witnessed the deaths of the Second and the Third. "Source's intel suggests that Tsuki Michiru, king of the Land of the Moon, is planning a trip towards Iwagakure four days from now for business purposes. There's a profile on the documents we've given you with further information on his character, relationships, and financial assets; the last two are what mainly concern us."

The elder pointed out towards her sample of the file on the desk, a picture staring back. "There'll probably be a meeting between the Daimyo and Michiru on accords of trading and investment. That's where you and the boy come in."

Hana suspected where this way going the moment she saw the picture, holding back any kind of reaction that might upset the council. "Tsuki Hikaru. Your mission's to kidnap him and settle a line of communication between the king and Konoha to proceed with the hostage's negotiation. Your identity's to be kept a secret, no exceptions," as in, burn your face before the enemy can see it, even if it means death. "We can't afford an international fallout at this stage. After exchanges are established, we'll proceed from there."

Koharu grabbed a folder and passed it onto Genma. "Get to ANBU's headquarters and give this to them. They'll provide you with the proper equipment for the mission. Any questions?"

Hana bit the inside of her lip to prevent any protest from coming out.

"Good. You leave at zero three hundred hours." She was giving them plenty of time to talk to their families. They might not come back. "May the fire burn stronger within you."

But that's what it was all about, just like in any game. Some pieces must be sacrificed to prevent a complete loss.

You just had to suck it up and keep playing.


"You okay, Hana?"

She blinked as she looked back to Genma. They had just left the black-ops with their equipment in hand. "Ah. Yes, don't worry about me. Just got distracted for a minute."

"Hm." He played with the needle in his mouth. "Join me for a second. I need to do something important."

Anything that occupies my mind will do, she thought, and so agreed to follow the Jōnin. She had always found him strange. Aloof, direct, but someone who could play when the situation allowed for it.

"How's your family?" The question left her mind without a purpose, just to escape the silence.

"Alright I guess, but there's no point in answering when you can see it for yourself."

She didn't question him further as he stopped near a recently opened food stand, one of many scattered across the village. The man saw his shinobi headband, and with a nod, started searching for something on one of the compartments. He came up with soup in a container, all wrapped in a plastic bag. Genma thanked him with a bow, and both continued walking.

Minutes later confirmed Hana's suspicions as they entered one of the many camping tents made for the populace. An old woman greeted the man with a welcoming smile. "Genma, darling! How are you?"

"I'm doing very well mom." He raised the bag next to his face. "Got some of your favorite."

"Oh, you didn't have to. And who's this wonderful girl you brought?"

Hana smiled, happy and entertained for a change. "Just a coworker of his, Shiranui-san. Thank you for having me."

Genma made space on the tiny table inside the tent and unpacked the food. "C'mon, don't make me insist. I got it just for you."

They all shared pleasant conversations afterward. The late sunset of the day's end had them, about an hour later, sharing a smoke between the two.

"So that's your mom, huh? Funny woman."

"Day's never boring with her, yes."

"Dad?"

"Pain." The wall crushed him as it blew off. He didn't feel a thing, but Hana couldn't know any of that.

"Oh," her pitch turned a little bit higher, and she didn't know where to hide her face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"Pardoned. Not that sad about it, either."

"Come again?"

Genma inhaled with fervor, puffing smoke with a simple smile on his face. "He lived, and I mean lived with capital letters. He fought for Konoha in two wars, traveled the majority of the elemental nations, gamed a lot of women, found one to settle down with and have a kid. He even wrote a book, good ol' Pa."

Hana chuckled at that. "Sounds like a life worth living."

"Yeah, and that's the thing. He'd done it all. Life taking him away was bound to happen sooner or later. Point is, he wouldn't be cool with me going down depressed when there's so much to do now."

"It's not that easy, at least for me." Kiba hadn't even touched the apex of his life.

"It isn't, but what's the alternative?" He threw the now burnt cigar away, looking at the last rays of the sun. "He most of all would love for you to kick some ass now."

Hana chuckled harder, tears prickling at her eyes, remembering his rebellious nature. "Yeah, that sounds like him."

"Go see your mom. I'm not about to go kick up the plate as my old man, but nothing's certain."

She had been in the mood to stay inside her room, not letting anyone bother her. Maybe that plan sucked butt and more, as he would say.


"Sasuke."

Tendrils of space whirled and spun around a hole to nothing, the form of Tobi manifesting out of thin air.

Karin stopped reading through a pair of documents just as Suigetsu ran through his drills, both on guard. Yugo, who sat next to the Uchiha, seemed unaffected as a pair of birds nestled atop his hair.

The crash and ripples of the waterfall filled the background amidst the silence.

"You took your time."

"I had a few businesses to deal with, considering what's happened," the enigmatic man replied, shifting on his weight as he looked to the rest of the group. "It's rather comforting to see you at ease, looking like a family."

Samehada cut clean as Suigetsu split air with an overhead swing. The drill's over. "As it is the opposite to feel like you're watching our back when we are not looking."

Karin seemed to feel the tension first, and thus interceded before Suigetsu could open his mouth again. "We've heard rumors of Konoha, but nothing solid. Most of it sounds like a fairytale. I mean, the village wiped out in a big explosion, then a moon of earth and rock?"

"It does, many do exaggerate with these sort of events. They are not real to them until they've seen it with their own eyes."

Sasuke looked at the man impassively. "So you saw it. Konoha's destruction."

"And rebirth, if I may say. Your friend has been a surprise these days, that Uzumaki Naruto."

The Uchiha couldn't help as he gripped the leaf in his hands a little bit harder. "It is true, then? That he brought Pain's ultimate attack down? That he's Hokage?"

He shrugged, looking elsewhere. "People speak of many things. What's consistent, though, is the tale of a star so bright it could be seen from the opposite side of the land of Fire. Saturn's hope, they call it. One could believe that such a feat was brought into consideration in the selection of the village's latest chief."

So we both accomplished what we were after. The memory of Itachi stilled in the pool of water that was his mind, and with it, the name of the man that he sought to murder. "What of Danzo?"

"He's dead."

Sharingan spun to life as flames licked the leaf. "What?!"

"Pain had a vendetta against him, same as you. Danzo aided the tyrant that ruled over his country through many underground parties. Hated him with every fiber of his being, knew of how shrewd he could be. I have not confirmed it yet, but it is my suspicion he went down first. The village followed soon after."

"It changes nothing…!" Lighting cackled, air split, and the red leaf turned into ashes across the wind. "Some members of the council must still be alive if the designation took place. It wouldn't be unreasonable to even suggest the Daimyo knew of what went down in the massacre."

Red stardust spun in a pool of black, masking the world in various degrees of grays. "I do not care for the rest, but they'll go down. Whoever gets in my way will just share their fate."

An easy smile went unnoticed by the group as Tobi watched the fervor in the avenger's eyes, gears turning as a plan unfolded between the orange lines of his mask.


The trees blurred from the sides, unperturbed of her passing. Night had wrapped its cold cloak around the skies, peppering the purple-black with tiny dots of sparkling light. Birds shut off in another direction as her distressed jumps alerted them to possible danger.

Our clan's position is most fortunate. Most of us survived when others could not. However, that does not mean our pride's save from the wound. We've failed to protect our home, and thus, were unable to defend our leaders.

Wood splintered as she pushed more chakra into her feet. Oak groaned as she adjusted the input soon after realizing the slip.

We've known, above the sacred grounds established surrounding the preservation of our fair blood, that the survival of this village is the utmost priority for anyone that dares claim ownership of Otsutsuki Hamura's gift.

Split. Groan. Split. Groan; the verse before the chorus in a repeating staccato of rhythms. Jet black hair whipped around as she looked behind her shoulders, throat tight, chest constricted.

We must rectify and take responsibility for our mistakes, and thus, return the favor we shall.

Five looming figures made themselves known in the distance, blurring through the moonlight. If not for her sight, she wouldn't have spotted them. If not for her conviction, she wouldn't have outpaced them by any means.

You've failed to take ownership of the right given to you as a child from the clan's head, that much is true. But, so it seems that life presents us with a fair opportunity to remedy our faults, yours included.

The shadows of trees soon melt, streaks of rocky paths and hills of sand welcoming her quick steps. The land of Fire laid far way behind, the distance increasing with each passing second. Her mouth burns as her eyes steel. Even as his legs trembled with fear, his gaze never wavered.

There's a task available for you, the result of its completion of such great magnitude the well-being of our home might be at risk if it goes south. You mustn't let it be.

She knows they are cornering her into a direction. She can see it this far away, a vast plain of concrete and dust that'll turn her into a visible target. With incredible dexterity, accordingly, gracefully, she shifts her entire weight onto the sandals that support her fall and jumps without breaking stride in another direction. The men and women on her back miss her actions for less than two seconds before adjusting their trajectory.

What you'll do, what you'll involve yourself into a day from now and for the upcoming weeks has the chance of allowing us access to an outstanding amount of supplies. The mouths that despair of hunger today will be fed. The injured that suffer from pain will be cured.

Hostiles entered her field of view at nine o'clock. Instantaneous beasts of ethereal nature surrounded her fists as she drew kunai and shuriken in a volley of spells to those at the back, actions followed shortly after by a shunshin that carried her straight into a man's chest at her twelve. His sternum broke as her palm connected, precise, and she continued onwards to her objective.

Will you accept the chance?

She stopped at the ends of a valley. The air chilled her face, the moon painting her skin in strokes of dazzling white. Fourteen figures of red and brown fell to earth some meters behind her. In spite of her courage, her heart leaped to her throat.

I do.

Hyuga Hinata turned, Byakugan strengthening her glare; straightening her posture just as he would. Determined.

The wind picked up, and her hair danced amidst death coming to knock at the door.

For my sister, I will.

Screams danced along the night in Lighting's land, just as a treasured blonde questioned others in charge about an order.