The executioner's sword user quickly jumped out of the way of the rising trees, cutting each of the ones who got too close. Soon, he was in front of Natsumi and her susanoo, causing her to put up its sword. She was in a pinch. The useless Uchiha was still lying on the ground behind her, leaving her no choice but to protect him.

He won't even appreciate this. A scowl covered her face as she turned, almost ignoring her opponent. "Oi, Uchiha, you better appreciate this." His half-lidded eyes turned over her and quickly widened seeing her face.

She's completely exhausted. His thoughts went back to all of the times he looked down on her, and yet here she was, dead exhausted, saving his life. Never once had he felt so pathetic.

"So you are not friends?" The pair's attention turned back at the sword user. Silence consumed the area. A grave face was on Shota's face. He felt horrible.

"We are." His head shot over to Natsumi's back, seeing her head hanging down. "He's arrogant and annoying, however I would not be in this position if we were not friends." The swordsman smiled wickedly while a sad frown was placed on Shota's. "Now, I need to defeat you." As soon as possible.

Being in the susanoo with her, he heard her deep breaths, proving her exhaustion. Suddenly he felt himself being lifted and he was embarrassed to see himself being carried bridal style, far from the battlefield.

"You'll be safer here." She whispered to him. She then set up a wall of trees just in case. As soon as she turned around, he activated his sharingan, causing her to turn around. "You are in no condition to fight Shota. Do. Not. Move." She didn't even wait for his response as she turned and ran to the battlefield.

"Like I said, I respect you. You'll be my favorite for a long time." Natsumi made sure her susanoo was still in effect, Tobirama's warning completely out of her mind. She checked her chakra reserves and realized she had to finish this as soon as possible as her reserves were rather low.

Stupid Uchiha.

"You won't be able to kill me." She said with a glare. They ran towards each other while Natsumi prepared her jutsu's. "Tree release! Four pillar house technique!" A house of wood quickly trapped the swordsman in place. Without a second she repeated her previous plan by yelling; "Amaterasu!" She grabbed at her eyes feeling the pain sinking in and quickly fell to one knee, her breathing quickening quickly.

She gasped as she then saw him cut through the house, somehow evading the fire. She stood up as fast as possible as he threw his sword which almost beheaded her. Thankfully, due to her training with Tobirama and his thunder god technique, Natsumi's reactions quickened and she dodged it.

Taking a deep breath, she focused on the running man. She thought back at the times she watched Hashirama-sama train. She was running out of jutsus and was mentally starting to panic. "Tree release, wood dragon technique!" A small dragon, came at the empty-handed swordsman. As I thought, nothing compared to Hashirama-sama. Easily, he dodged it and was able to grab the sword that had embedded itself in a tree behind Natsumi.

"You're becoming messier. I'll easily kill you now."

Once again, Natsumi glared at him. "I can't let you kill me! I have to protect someone! I have to protect my village that you're threatening! I CAN'T LET YOU!" Ignoring her mental warning, Natsumi ran at him, anger flowing through her veins. He made eye contact with her and unable to use her tsukuyomi, Natsumi put the powerful swordsman in a genjutsu. "Water release, tearing torrent!"

Natsumi ran towards the now paralyzed man with a swirling ball of water in her hand. She was about to make contact but then she coughed up blood causing her jutsu to dissipate. Shota watched on in horror as he saw her opponent release the genjutsu. As fast as she could, she retreated. Her susanoo had disappeared, leaving her completely open to attacks.

"You put up the best fight I've ever seen. You're completely exhausted, yet you're still fighting. Tell me, what is your name?"

"Senju," Shota saw her cough up more blood. She was wheezing and yet still had the power to stand and glare at her opponent. "Senju Natsumi."

"It's an honor to meet you Natsumi-san. I am Mangetsu Hozuki."

"I'll remember that when I get back home." She wavered as she stared at Hozuki. His only response was a smile.

"You are the epitome of a shinobi; the perfect example."

Shota stared as he saw her eyes become half-lidded. He could tell from here that she was wavering between consciousness and unconsciousness. She was the perfect example. Despite how exhausted, she still had managed to put the swordsman in to a corner. No matter at how good Hozuki was acting, Shota could tell his pain.

However, even though she was the perfect example of a shinobi, he felt as if she was a fool. She was putting her life on the life to save someone who hated her. And all the while, he was just sitting behind her wall of trees, like a coward.

"I appreciate the compliment, Mangetsu-san."

The next thing Natsumi knew was she was falling over while staring at the stoic face of her opponent. I can't…not here. She then felt warm arms surrounding her. "Just rest. I'll take care of the rest." The last thing Natsumi saw was Shota's face staring down the swordsman.

xXx

"Natsumi, I will always love you. Don't ever forget that. I never once blamed you. You are never alone." After that, Natsumi saw her cough up more blood. "I will forever be with you, in your heart. Live a long life my child. When I see you next, you will be old and grey. Don't forget all of my grandchildren."

Natsumi's eyes burned as she saw her mother's eyes close. "With all my being, I will love you…" She trailed off and Natsumi saw her mother stop breathing.

"You think she's okay?" She had her eyes close and for some reason she couldn't open them. She heard what seemed like a worried voice. She wouldn't be surprised if that was Hashirama-sama.

"She's been out of it for…" This was a voice she didn't recognize. Who else would visit her? She had no other friends besides-

"A week." Tobirama, of course. She could recognize his annoying voice anywhere. All she could do was mentally sigh in relief to know that he was okay.

"What if she never wakes up?!" That was a panic filled voice that she couldn't recognize either. Silence then filled the room. She had been asleep for a week?

"You need to have more faith in your comrade, Arata. She is a very strong individual." Silence once again filled the room. She felt her strength coming back to her. It was then when the pain hit her and she couldn't help but let out a groan.

"She's awake!"

"Shut UP Arata!" When she was finally able to open her eyes, she saw 10 people cramped around her bed. Her eyes were still weak, as she couldn't even tell who was who. There was a nervous silence as Natsumi kept blinking to regain her sight.

Then her eyes widened as she looked around the room, sight back. "You guys…"

"We were so worried Natsumi-chan!" Arata gave her an aggressive hug causing her to moan in pain silently. He was quickly, however, pulled off by a very annoyed Hyuuga.

"She's still hurt stupid. At least think before you act."

"What happened?" Silence covered the room. She watched curiously as the group looked between each other, seemingly nervously.

"We were hoping you could tell us." Her eyes, for the first time, turned to Tobirama. "Natsumi, what do you remember?"

She was quiet as she tried to remember. Her eyes widened in realization. "You were hurt, Tobirama. That swordsman cut you. You're okay?!"

He stared at her apprehensively. "Yes. You saved me Natsumi." Her face fell.

"I saved you?" She raked through her brain, desperately trying to remember anything at all.

"You remember nothing Natsumi?" Her eyes turned to Shota who actually seemed to be wearing a worried face. She was surprised to even see him here. Her facial expression must have showed her thoughts as Shota and Tobirama shared worried glances.

"No. The last thing I remember is being on the ground with Tobirama standing above her."

"It's amnesia." All 10 heads turned to the door in surprise. Quickly, all but Tobirama and Hashirama bowed.

"Madara-sama." Natsumi's eyes widened as she saw the infamous ninja in her room. He looked at each of the other ninjas in the room.

"Well, I'll visit you later, Natsumi-chan." She smiled in return to the bright grin Arata gave her. The other ninjas, minus the Senju brothers, said their farewells, all promising a visit.

"Shota, you stay." The Uchiha, who was in the doorway, stopped in his steps and turned to see Madara staring directly at him. "You were part of this, no?" He could see the disdain in Madara's eyes. It seemed as though Madara had been informed of the entire incident.

"Amnesia…?" All four men's attention then turned to Natsumi who had been staring at Madara with an apprehensive.

"Yes, this is a shame. I would tell, however according to the doctors, we're not allowed to tell you what happened." He sighed. "Shota, you need training. What you allowed is not acceptable."

Natsumi saw Shota hang his head in shame. What happened? What did he have to do with her? Why was he here? Questions were swarming through her brain.

"Tomorrow at sunrise, you will start training with me. Understand." Madara made eye contact with the Uchiha underling who only nodded in response. Content with that, Madara took his leave, but not without looking at Natsumi. She silently gasped as she made eye contact with the Uchiha leader.

Just as he left, he looked at her with his mangekyo activated.

What the hell happened?