With Neji…

He and his entourage had arrived at the sandy kingdom of Kaze no Kuni just a few moments ago. They marched right up the path and barged into the palace to speak with the king.

"How nice of you to walk through my doors as if you're the king of this castle Lord Hyuga," came the sarcastic greeting of the redheaded ruler.

"I have no time for pleasantries Sabaku," Neji replied tersely. "I need your assistance."

"Oh?" He raised a non-existent eyebrow. "With what?"

"The retrieval of my wife," he spat. The humiliation tasted bitter on his tongue.

"I heard about that. You have no idea how fast the news traveled to my ears. So little prince Uchiha stole your woman. What business is it of mine? It's not my problem if you can't hold on to your wife."

"That may be, but I know you dislike the Uchihas for their part in humiliating you and your clan in the last great war. I also know you want nothing more than to crush them for revenge. This is your opportunity to do that. You get your honor back and I, my wife."

He played on Gaara's hatred towards the Uchihas. Neji knows how intelligent Gaara is and knows that he wouldn't take unnecessary risks when concerning his homeland, but it all flew out the window, so to speak, when you mention his past dealings with the Amaterasu Kingdom.

"Hmm… you make an interesting point. It would be very tempting, indeed, to bring those arrogant people down from their high horse, but what of their defenses? They have the finest army on their side of the sea."

At that, Neji's advisor, Shino spoke up. "We'll gather the largest force anyone's ever seen, so it won't matter how great their army is. Ours will be greater still; also we'll have the greatest warrior the world has ever known on our side."

"I see. So, this is where I come in? You want me to convince him to fight for you; don't you?"

"Yes."

"Humph. He doesn't fight for spoiled brats that wear a crown nor do I," was Gaara's answer to their request.

"You can't afford to make an enemy of me, Sabaku, you know that, or should I remind you of your army's miserable defeat against mine?"

Gaara growled at the memory of those white-eyed warmongers, but he knew Neji was right. Kaze no Kuni can't defeat Higure; their forces are too great for his small kingdom and his people.

"Fine. I'll talk with him."

"Good. We sail for Amaterasu in five days. Be ready, cousin." Neji and his people left to go rally the other kings to his cause. There were advantages to being a king of kings. He smirked while entering his ship.

-With Itachi and Fugaku-

"I'm surprised you let him bring her here." Fugaku looked out at his beautiful home with all its inhabitants.

"If I hadn't and let him fight Neji for her, you'd be burning a son instead of welcoming a daughter," Itachi voiced flatly.

"Tell me Itachi; does he love her?"

"So he believes. He's told me he is willing to fight and die for her, but he is still young father. Sasuke doesn't know what he's truly done."

"I could send peace emissaries."

"Neji would slaughter them; you know that."

"What would you have me do?"

"Put her on a ship and send her back to Higure."

After a pause, Fugaku spoke. "Women have loved Sasuke and he has loved them back, but I sense something is different with your brother. If I send her back; he'll follow her this time. I cannot do what you as of me Itachi."

"Then prepare the troops for war father."

"Very well."

-With Neji-

"Gaara will do as you say my lord. I assure you of that." Shino told him confidently, "Soon the demon will fight for you."

"That man fights for no flag. He's more likely to spear me than speak to me. He is loyal to only himself."

"But we don't need him to be loyal to us. We need to unleash him. That man was born to end lives. And he will hear Gaara's words, for he is the only king to ever gain his respect by nearly matching him in battle. Trust me, Gaara will bring you Naruto and his legendary bijuu."

"He better, I need all I can get to breach Amaterasu's high walls."

"Aye that you shall my lord." Shino then excused himself, leaving Neji to brood alone.

-With Gaara-

"How was your meeting, darling?" His young wife asked him kindly.

"It was… exhausting." Gaara sighed exasperatedly. "How are you feeling my love? Is the little one alright?"

"I'm fine and our baby is fine Gaara." She felt him rub her rounded belly affectionately to feel their heir kick. "What did my cousin ask of you that's bothering you so much?"

"Your dear cousin just asked me to fight in his ridiculous war, Hanabi." She turned her head sharply to stare at him then.

"And what did you tell him?"

"I told him I would help him." He knew she was displeased with that answer, but mostly because she is worried for his safety.

"I heard about that. My foolish sister ran away with that Uchiha boy, correct?" He nodded in affirmation. "Why must you help solve his problems? It has nothing to do with us here. Doesn't he know I need you? We need you here Gaara."

"I'm sure he is aware of it but simply does not care. Neji is selfish, stubborn and too proud for his own good. But what's unfortunate for us is he happens to be strong, not just individually, but politically as well. He has too many armies under his command. I can't afford to offend him; Kaze no Kuni wouldn't be able to handle his military strength," he explained his predicament to her.

"It isn't fair Gaara. Your family needs you to stay."

"Don't you think I know that? I want nothing more than to be by your side but I have to think of my country too, Hanabi. I'm their king. Their well-being is in my hands and I can't forsake them so easily, the people support me as much as I protect them. You're aware of that." Hanabi pouted at him stubbornly, but knew he was right.

"If this'll help, I will set sail to speak with Naruto in the morning. As long as he is on my side I swear to you that I'll return home to you. I can't and won't die before then." Those words soothed his pregnant wife enough that he was able to coax her into a peaceful slumber, if only, for the night.

-Two days later-

Here we find two young men holding a mock battle with wooden swords amongst beautiful ruins overlooking a shoreline. One man has shining golden hair that brushes the top of his shoulders due to its length. His bright sapphire blue eyes watch his opponent intently while there is an amused grin on his whisker-scarred face. He dodges left to avoid the incoming sword thrust to his face. It grazes his scarred cheek.

The other male has shoulder-length light brown hair and hazel eyes. He, too, is grinning at his opponent. He's slightly shorter than the first man and his features are younger in comparison to the golden-haired warrior's. He lunges forward again to try and land an attack, only for that blow to be parried as well. They trade lighthearted attacks before the blue-eyed man steps away to pick up a spear.

Kicking the spear up into the air he catches it easily then turns swiftly and lets it fly. Quickly the weapon is embedded deeply into the trunk of the tree that impedes its flight path. The thunk made from that action startled Gaara as he was just passing by that tree on his horse. He kept going and was soon seen dismounting and walking towards the pair.

"Your reputation for hospitality is fast becoming legend." Gaara chuckled at Naruto while said man grinned back at his long-time friend.

"Gaara this is my younger cousin Konohamaru. Konohamaru this is Gaara, the king of Kaze no Kuni," Naruto introduced them as they nodded to each other.

"Konohamaru? I remember your grandfather. He was a great man; may he rest in peace."

"Thank you." The young brunette bowed to the king respectfully.

"So… you're being trained by Naruto himself, eh? Kings would kill for the honor." He smirked at the beaming youth. Naruto stepped forward.

"Are you here at Neji's bidding?"

"We need to talk." Gaara gave him a look that told him it was to be a serious conversation. Naruto understood the look and led him away.

"I will not fight for him," he stated bluntly, knowing exactly what it was about.

"I'm not asking you to fight for him. I'm asking you to fight for me."

"Oh? And why would you want to fight?"

"I'm sure you understand my situation well enough Naruto."

"Ah, that may be, but I don't see why I'm needed. The Uchiha never offended me."

"Forget the Uchiha for just a moment. Fight for me. My wife and I would feel much better knowing you're on my side in the war." Both men grinned at each other at that statement because they know how much of a fire cracker Hanabi can be at times.

Konohamaru had reclaimed his practice sword and tried to sneak attack Naruto. He was easily disarmed and repelled with a smack on the butt from his own sword, courtesy of Naruto.

"If he won't fight, I will," Konohamaru spoke up, excited at the chance to prove his skill in actual battle. He wanted to be a hero like his grandfather and cousin.

"You've got quite the skill and potential. And a good, strong arm." Gaara gave him an appraising look and a pat on the shoulder. "Your cousin might not want to join us but I do hope you will."

Naruto pointed his false sword in the middle of Gaara and his cousin. "Play your tricks on me but… not my cousin."

"You have your sword; I have my tricks. We play with the toys the gods give us. We sail for Amaterasu in three days." Gaara smirked at him. "I do hope you'll reconsider." He began heading back to his horse to leave the island, but stopped to give some parting words to his old friend. "This war will be the greatest anyone has ever known. It'll be spoken about for thousands of years. It won't be forgotten nor will the heroes who fight in it." With that said he left Naruto there to ponder.

-Later that day-

Naruto walked along the beach brooding over whether or not he should go to Amaterasu and fight or not. As he traveled through the sand, he saw a familiar figure not far down the shore from him. He approached the person slowly; then decided to tell them what was on his mind.

"I decide tonight grandmother." The older blonde woman kept picking out seashells from the shallow water. After a moment, she responded.

"I've known they'd come for you one day. I've always known they'd come. They want you to fight in Amaterasu." It was a statement, nothing else.

"Yes." He still felt the need to answer her.

"Hmm…" she hummed thoughtfully while lost in her memories. "I'm making you a seashell necklace like the ones I used to give you when you were a boy. Remember?" She smiled in his direction.

"What do you think about this, grandmother Tsunade?"

"(Sigh) If you stay here in Konoha, you will find a beautiful woman to love and she will love you back. You'll have children and your children will have children and your family will adore you. Then as time goes on, you will grow old and wither away, and the same goes for your descendants. And after your grandchildren are gone, your name will be forgotten in time. However, if you go to Amaterasu, you will find glory and your name will last through the ages, but you will never return here and I shall never see you again."

She placed a deceitfully young-looking hand on his cheek. "For your glory walks hand-in-hand with your doom." She sighed again and stepped away to continue grabbing shells. Naruto stared off into the vast expanse of the ocean, seeing something only he could as he thought of his elder's words of wisdom.

-In Amaterasu-

The night breeze wafted through the open sheer drapes of the bedroom and cooled the heated bodies of Sasuke and Hinata as they lay in bed together. They had just finished making love a moment ago and they were basking in the afterglow. As they calmed themselves, Hinata felt the wind on her flesh again, but, instead of it being a soothing sensation, it sent chills of fear down her back. She got up and put on a light silk robe as she looked towards the horizon. Sasuke, sensing something troubling his love, stood and covered up as well before following behind her to hold her close.

"What's the matter?" He kissed her neck lightly.

"They're coming for me. The wind brings them closer with each moment that passes."

"We could leave." He held her just a little bit tighter. "I could take care of us."

"That won't stop Neji."

"But what need is there to fight if we're not here? He's after us, not my people."

"That still won't do any good."

"We'd be protecting my country!"

"Even if we were gone, Neji would just destroy this place out of spite. Besides, I can't ask you to leave your home for me."

"You left yours for me."

"That place never truly felt like my home. Each day that I was with Neji I felt like dying. I didn't feel as though I left much behind me. Sasuke, I can't force you to walk away from all of this. You can't abandon your family and we can't hide forever."

"Then I'll make it easy for him to find me. I'll walk right up to him and tell him you're mine."

Hinata kissed him, if only, to stop the words that incited such fear in her. She couldn't lose him; he was her everything.

-With Neji-

"My lord, our envoy to Hebitsukai* kingdom has returned. We've just received word from Lord Orochimaru."

"And?"

"He said he'll join us. His fleet will arrive to Amaterasu shortly after ours."

"Excellent! Prepare to set sail!" Neji felt confident now, more than ever, that he would win this war because no one wanted to see Amaterasu fall more than the King of Hebitsukai. "This is the end for you, Uchiha."

-With Orochimaru-

Inside a dark room on man sat grinning maliciously. His golden snake-slit eyes were the only things visible, gleaming dangerously, in the room. He began cackling like mad.

"You won't be unconquered for long, Fugaku. Your land, your people and your Sharingan will soon be mine. I can't wait!" His long tongue slithered out to lick his lips in hunger. He was ready to devour all he wanted and create an empire.

"My lord." His young silver-haired assistant bowed to him. "Your orders?"

"We set sail for Amaterasu in the morning. Get everything ready, Kabuto."

"Yes my king." He left quickly and quietly.

Orochimaru laughed again. "Empires are forged by blood and war and soon I will have mine built. I will rule all I survey. The world is mine!" His howls of laughter reverberated throughout his foreboding castle.

*A/N: Hebitsukai means snake charmer in japanese, which I felt was a fitting name for Orochimaru's kingdom. Don't you? Please leave your thoughts, concerns... and flames (since I know it's been forever and a day since I updated this fic) in a review. (T_T) Sorry ppl! Please forgive my bad memory and terribly sporadic updating habits! Until next time!