Crucial Points

On the day the Prelims began...

Chrome was nervous.

She was concealing herself, Tsuna and Gokudera. They left Lambo to a willing babysitter in Yamamoto.

And all of them, dressed in form-fitting bodysuits and a visored helmet that only their gender can be discerned, if they can see past flames.

Gokudera was also nervous.

Because as one who holds most of her secrets, its his duty to watch all that goes on here!

'I want you two to witness firsthand what goes on in here. That, is your lesson for today.' Tsuna told them.

'What about the others?'

'Yamamoto is a natural assassin...if he is ever triggered, he will fight and think like how we do. His trigger is a future fight with any of us or some random fool in town. So many alternate futures. Hibari was born in the wrong century and can only find happiness in battle as does Ryohei. They will be happy and at home with what they see here but spiritually and emotionally, they are immature and butt in where they should not so they need more growing up in a safe training environment.' Gokudera and Chrome can really see that happening in their wry thoughts. 'You two on the other hand, needs to see 'reality' in order to grow and understand why I train you with my methods. But unlike those I mentioned, you two actually have strong hearts. Lambo-chan is too young for this stuff so he's out.'

'Ah...'

'Watch. Learn and Understand as you watch battles. That is your job.'

'Hmmm...but what about the mess you left behind, shishou? You didn't make me clean it up...' Gokudera wondered.

'Meh, by the time she is discovered that insect will be feeding the worms. The Hypocrites are moving through her.'

Tsuna and her group came to Todou Gakuen to sneak up onto her and Tsuna killed her.

'I found you!' the trio turned to see an older boy with shut eyes.

'Kabane Myouun Hirohiko-dono, was it?' Tsuna acknowledged him.

'Your scent lingered on Mayutsubo...we sorta needed her...'

'Unnecessary. What you need the important people on our side already knows. You need not lower yourself for a mere insect for you are of higher status than she.' Tsuna told him. Her intonation as she spoke caused her guardians to shudder because her 'warrior voice' and 'mom voice' tend to be scary. 'For victory after 400 years of bloodshed will soon be at hand.'

'...who are you?'

'Fufu, you may wanna ask Shoujou-dono for that. Saying my name in this school where 'that monster' can see is dangerous.' Tsuna tut-tutted. 'Ask Shoujou-dono for details. There are spies in this school using jutsus to listen. Kago Sohaku is a sorcerer after all. A sorcerer trying hard to be a warrior and committed crimes, betrayals, use and be discardeds to name a few...but in the end, he's just a damn ghost with magic.' Tsuna stated darkly. 'But a dangerous ghost nonetheless...we need to strike at the right time, when his arrogance and overconfidence is at its peak...then we can stop our wings from bleeding and shedding feathers at long last.'

'I hope you're right...every generation has sacrificed so much already.' Kabane sighed. 'I'll have to tell Mitsuomi this.'

'He doesn't know yet. The smaller number that knows, higher chances of success. More people, leaks are possible. Hotheads cannot know.'

'...I'll take your word for it. Your ki is steady and solid. You're not lying as liars tend to have wavering Ki.'

'I have no reason to lie.'

'What're you doing here though kid?'

'I am making my students see how we roll while ensuring nobody sees our faces. They are 'new blood', you see?'

xxx

'Who was that guy?' Gokudera asked, while Kabane left them.

'One of the Red Feather Clans, the Kabane Family. They have this painful tradition that when one becomes a clan head, they have to be blind. They claim that light shackles their powers.' Tsuna shuddered. 'Traditionally, the grandchild does that painful job, but due to murders eight years ago, Hirohiko-dono became Head at an early age. He literally stabbed his own eyeballs to blind himself.'

'Geh?!'

'Thanks to that, he's crazy strong so perhaps there's truth to being traditionally blind fighters...but only a Kabane can pull that off. And in the past, my maternal relatives, the Kabane, the Shoujou and Nagi pulled a covert operation and worked together. Our families have close bonds hence...that of blood.'

'Oh...'

'Welp, the fights will end soon. Let's go back to our hotel. We have a job to do tonight.'

'A job?'

'I will ensure no blood from a feather will spill tonight.' Tsuna was confident in her visions and ability, but anything can happen, that's the thing.

'Shishou, why do you kill?' Chrome asked her worriedly.

'I told you...our 12 families are at war with one monster who devastated us all so much. For his greed and thirst for what's never his. That pain lives in our blood. This silent war...everyone must work to put an end to our pain so the future won't feel this pain of loss as we all have.' Tsuna told them sadly. 'When I became a Natsume...when my Dragon's Eyes awakened...I felt all that pain and grief. When before my awakening, I was just like you guys...a normal kid.' she said softly. 'Inheritance isn't always money, land and position of power afterall. As a Red Feather, I am obligated to help out. I don't want you guys or my future kids to inherit this 'pain'.'

'Stay in this hotel room tonight. Today's gonna be tricky...'

'Eh?'

'Do not go outside until I say it's safe. It's why I ordered up Room Service for you guys. War is at hand. Streets not safe.'

'B-but shishou, you gonna come back alive?!' Gokudera sputtered out.

'I will. Because while my job is to ensure no more feathers dies...I have battles I must win as well. Dying is out of the question. I told you...there is no value in second place.' she said. 'Shut all windows. No matter what you feel, DO NOT LOOK OUTSIDE. That monster must not have our flames!'

xxx

Takayanagi HQ...

Tsuna lay in wait.

'Oh, you're here kamen shoujo.' Kabane greeted. 'Why are you here?'

'To prevent deaths.' said Tsuna flatly. 'We feathers shed enough feathers. Its time we put a stop to that, don't you think? Don't underestimate Nagi Souichirou when he comes here with Takayanagi...for the minute he's here...it's 'not him' anymore.'

'Possession's got that far?'

'Yup.'

'Well, shit...'

'Go all out OK? I'll be focusing my power to ensure the feathers survive this shit. We will deny him our lives while we beat the crap out of him.'

'That's fine with me kiddo~!' Kabane grinned.

'Ah, that bastard boss of yours...I wanted to hire Tawara-san when this war is over but he just had to kill him.' Tsuna sighed mournfully. 'My students are looking forward to meet him too.' she moped.

'Its fate...borne from history.' said Kabane. 'Its destiny and they knew it.'

'Tch...Shin-san and Maya-san are both out of commission too...darn.'

'Ah, they're here. But as death is possible...may I at least, know your name, kamen shoujo?'

'...Natsume Tsuna.' Tsuna removed her helmet, showing him her active eyes. 'Related to my cousins by maternal line though I have a different surname. I've used different names to hide from people but tonight, this is my true identity.'

'I see...then, let's fight together. We'll win our own battles.'

'Hai. Nobody will die today if I can help it.' Tsuna swore. 'And you really didn't ask Shoujou-dono?'

'Couldn't find him and the family...Mitsuiro said her family had gone into hiding. Not even she knew where.' said Kabane.

They allowed Masataka to pass...but that was it.

Kabane then fought Souichirou...while Tsuna has her own battle...assassinating a certain Miko and burned her corpse.

'I'm pretty sure even Hell is wondering what to do with you for your crimes, whore!' Tsuna spat before facing the woman's bodyguards. 'Your whore is now gone. Now...freedom...or death? Choose.' she told them coldly, making Reiki out of her hair.

'Eeep...'

'Oh, nevermind, death it is.'

'W-wait! Wait!'

In a golden flash of speed, she killed all the monks.

'You'll be nuisances later. You gotta die. And this is a war we must win to vindicate everyone. That we all finally got justice. The deaths caused by this bitch in the name of Kago Sohaku, Inue Shindayu Noriko!' Tsuna spat hatefully as the other men of Takayanagi can only stare, dumb with shock. 'What are you doing? Flee! You cannot survive what's coming next! The only one to die will be that damn ghost and not us!'

And all hell broke loose as Tsuna dared not look outside as she saved the Kabane siblings from 'Susanoo'.

For if she saw the illusion of the dragon outside, her ki will be taken. Her ki laced with her Sky Flames.

She was snatched by the Vindice. She felt the coldness of Vendicare.

'Whoops, that was close.' Bermuda mused. 'The nightmarish things you showed us years ago...it's really happening.'

'I'm just glad I got obedient students.' Tsuna sighed as behind them, were the sleeping Lambo, Yamamoto, Hibari and Ryohei. 'Hayato and Nagi will know never to look outside. But after he 'eats', I gotta go back.'

'...you're serious about this?'

'Yes...or my blood as a Natsume will never shut up. This resonating cry for all those crimes towards our families four centuries ago. Not until all we twelve clans gained justice and vindication. I could care less about Vongola right now! This fight is more important than their useless issues! This is the only era all of us will be free from this monster!'

When the amplification ended...Tsuna went back after safety is determined. 'Please drop me on top of Makiko-dono after she uses her fist on that thing! I need to synchronize with Dragon's Fist as planned!'

They did just that and Tsuna let loose her full powers there as her hands are on Makiko's shoulders.

'Dougen-sama, boys! Buy us time!' Tsuna cried. 'We need only a minute, please!'

As one, the people in the room acted to distract Susanoo away from Makiko who gathered enough ki...to stab Maya in the chest. The force was enough to tear her entire bodysuit apart and her helmet disintegrated, showing her identity.

It was so she can live again as Amaterasu. That massive Ki was needed to bring back Maya. And for Souichirou to come back.

She was the key to end this war.

'Huff...huff...jeez...that took a lot out of us...' Tsuna gasped out as Maya woke from her sleep from comatose, from fighting Souhaku back in the tunnels.

'But we got what we wanted. Hope.' said Makiko, her eyes darkening as she was turning to ash to Tsuna's horror as this was not in her plans. 'Robe her, dear. Its not good for her to be so bare.'

'Speak for yourself, coming out here in a bunch of metal and underwear!' Tsuna choked out. 'This wasn't supposed to happen, this was supposed to work like I saw in my visions! You're not supposed to die today!' she cried in horror.

'I absorbed enough ki to still cause my death in order to save my son and Maya-san. To give him the upper hand in his body.' said Makiko as she was disintegrating. 'Souichirou...is my only treasure after all...' she smiled as she was disappearing fast. 'You'll understand when you're a parent someday...Tsuna. You got to do what you got to do for the ones you love. No matter the cost.'

And she was gone, with one less Exorcist left in this world and one lost warrior, was what everyone thought in grief.

'MAKIKO-DONO!'

'That's enough, Tsuna.' Maya told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. 'You've done well. You wanted to defy fate by saving as much as you can...but some things just can't be helped. It's her choice.' she said. 'Her battle will continue inside Susanoo...while it's my job to support them...while we survive this rampaging beast due to inner battles!' she said as they faced the unstable Susanoo that wavered because of Makiko's absorption of massive amounts of stolen Gates and ki, and her death.

Tsuna picked up one of Isuzu's anki and formed Reiki out of her hair...and cut her hair off, giving the sword to Maya.

'Maya-nee, here. This should be fine as long as it's not near that Gate, right?'

'Aa. Aya has the real thing, I kinda need my own copy...' Maya grinned. 'Ready?'

'Hai. Besides...the Jyuukenbu has been active~' Tsuna grinned malevolently, showing the whole room flashes of what's happening inside Souichirou. 'And all these years since Shin-niisan let me touch Reiki, I left traces of 'myself' in the sword, in Iyo-sama our ancestor!'

'What's going on, girl?!' Isuzu demanded.

'For Kago Sohaku's 'true death' to come, three crucial things must happen! I killed 'that dog' Inue Shindayu Noriko! The second is that Reiki must be harpooned into Kago Sohaku's soul itself so he can never leave! A battle will then take place in the spiritual plane within Susanoo's body and we have to bet everything to these guys and Maya-nee to absolutely kill him in both body and soul! In the meantime, someone who is Tsukuyomi must fight Susanoo here in the real world in order to deliver the power needed to activate Reiki from within but who the hell is that here?!'

Silence...

'That would be me.' came Masataka's bold claim. 'I've known him the best.'

'Masataka?!' Dougen squawked out. Tsuna eyed Masataka who looked at her with fierce gaze.

'Tis befitting. His spirit is worthy.' Tsuna praised Masataka. 'No man or woman with a 'Gate' must fight Susanoo. It should be someone who has no Gate.' she said. 'The third...with Sohaku trapped, Nagi Kengo Souichirou must hunt and absorb demons to create further spiritual instability for Sohaku's hold to weaken. We won't be seeing him for a while...until then, get stronger Takayanagi Masataka. Everyone here must forge you for the final battle. Then while you fight...Maya-nee and I will do the rest in the spiritual plane.'

'How long we've yearned for this day, little gamer.' Dougen chuckled in manic glee. 'Our 400 years of pain will soon end. We've spent years planning for this day. Masataka, you're in for a little hard work.' he said, facing his younger son.

'You have decided to become Tsukuyomi.' Mitsuomi stated. 'Prepare for the role.'

'The final battle is next year, at spring.' said Tsuna. 'We have about six months.' she quipped.

'That should be enough.' said Mitsuomi. 'But anyway, how long will you two girls stay nude?'

Awkward silence...

'Kyaaaa!' Maya freaked out.

'...not my fault I got nude...' Tsuna mumbled. 'Anyway Maya-nee, go find some curtains or something, I'll be OK. Nobody's interested in me unless they're a natural pedo or something.' she handwaved lazily while sitting on some rubble she could comfortably sit on.

'AS MY COUSIN GET DRESSED TOO!' Maya shrieked angrily.

That was news to them. They all thought the only Natsumes left were Shin, Maya and Aya. They hadn't known there's a fourth!

xxx

Kuzunoha General Hospital...

Tawara Bunshichi was not dead as they thought, but he really needed the ER, stat. This was to Mitsuomi's relief as he thought he killed a friend out of fate. However, they had to fix his body first before Tsuna heals him because at his state, Dragon's Palm has a large chance of killing him.

'You've done well, Mukuro.' Tsuna visited Mukuro in his hospital room, dressed in her kimonos at home in the Natsume Estate. He was rather banged up.

'Kufufufu...I have to do at least this much, Tsuna.' said Mukuro with a wincing smile. 'We're about to end this battles and we can be ourselves again.'

'Yeah.'

'...what happened to your hair?' Mukuro noted his Sky's drastically-short hair it was a bob that now barely reached her neck

'I had to cut it to give Maya-nee a weapon you know.'

'Ah, you turned your hair into Reiki.' Mukuro mused. 'It was why you can calmly walk around without a weapon but now your trump card is gone...'

'Nah, I can regrow it back quickly, don't you worry about it!' Tsuna winked. 'It's just hair and not an arm or a leg! Your fight has ended and soon, its my turn to fight for real.' she said.

'Yeah. With the Mafia.' Mukuro scowled. 'Some things just can't be helped because of another drunk bastard from the future.'

'It cannot be helped indeed...however~' Tsuna grinned. 'We can always send our minds to one individual instead, no? We don't even have to go ourselves.'

'Sou da ne...can you do it?'

'Yeah. The only thing we can't avoid is being located and by then, we're super-ready!' Tsuna grinned. 'We can fight back.'