The Butterfly Effect

"My pack? You make it sound like I'm some kind of leader. I am not a leader. I merely know what I value in this world, and to keep it safe I will weather any hurricane, hunt you down, and kill you. Questions?" Continuation of 'Butterflies'. Character death, Anbu operations, gratuitous violence and some adult situations. May change to M rating.

Arc 2: Peace, writ in blood – Chapter 32 – The best laid plans…

3rd person PoV

8-8

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." – Confucius

8-8

Of all the countries that young upstart had conquered in the past, Grass was not going to ever compare to them. They were centralized, with two real targets: the capital city, housing the daimyo, and the hidden village housing the shinobi.

The Land of Grass isn't like that. At all. Everything is decentralized. There is a 'main' shinobi village, but there are eight satellites. And the daimyo himself jumps around from city to city to keep people guessing where he is.

The shinobi that will also prove more than a challenge.

On top of that, each city in grass –eighteen in all– acts like a country in itself. They all have their own defences, their own armed forces and their own in-house shinobi – this is not including the shinobi village and satellite villages. Should the daimyo fall, each city is run by a clansmen of his, with standing orders to keep on keeping on.

You don't survive smack dab in the middle of two Great Five countries, without knowing a thing or two about surviving their wars.

And to further irritate things, this isn't Waterfall, where they have an 'impressive' collection of chuunins, but not much else – their 'jounins' wouldn't even be considered tokubetsu jounin in Grass. Grass has a PROPER shinobi force. And they've been forcing their people to reach greater heights ever since that debacle with Hidden Sound. Not to mention the simple fact that they know Konoha's coming.

Sure, Grass has what they know as 'surplus' shinobi. Shinobi that are without a proper place, who wander from village to village, city to city, looking for steady employment. But they are mostly outsiders. Shinobi descendants that moved to Grass in hopes of a better life. All of these shinobi are currently camping in the daimyo's courtyard. But they are disorganized, scattered, even as they are.

Kajitani Shotaro, current and eighteenth Grass daimyo, is many things, but he is no fool. He knows they will not last long – they are meant to buy his elites the time they need to take out the enemy forces.

And frankly he couldn't be surer of his elites. War veterans, all of them. Elite jounins of the highest calibre, all twelve of them – they have a thing for teams of four that Shotaro just isn't sure about.

And that's completely ignoring his three samurai clans. He's survived the wars that ravaged his lands for fifty-four years, come December. He won't worry about some young upstart and her 'pack'. No, he's instead focusing his intelligence network. He's focusing on the reports that Namiki is heading south from Waterfall, towards the camp Konoha has set up. He's focusing on the information pouring in on the attacks in Cloud – poor fool didn't expect stealth assassinations the second time around.

He's also focusing on the interesting reports that Stone's been having meeting after meeting for days. Leave it to someone known as the 'fence sitter' to sit back and see what the other nations do in the war that they suggested and advocated.

And never you mind the simple –if obscure– truth that the jutsu that wiped out those Cloud shinobi hails from Stone. They can claim that scrolls was stolen to the Kami all they want, they can't claim that someone without the prerequisite –i.e. lava release– could use it. And that's ignoring the clan of Stone shinobi that should still be able to use it. Losing the scroll doesn't equate losing the ability to use the jutsu, after all.

So. Shotaro finds himself caught up in a war he should have smelled was a setup from the beginning. And even if Konoha let the shinobi in Hidden Waterfall live, that doesn't negate the fact that Shotaro won't have the lands of his ancestors fall into the hands of that arrogant Mitsuzaka!

8-8

On the grounds surrounding the command post, Unit Red is just arriving. Wolf is grateful, not because the journey was hard, but because she finds herself getting… annoyed. Quite the feat, considering she's doing her damnedest to feel nothing at all. But, she can't say she's surprised. Not when four Uzumakis –technically five– set their twisted little minds to annoying the snot out of her.

"One more word, Uzumaki, and I start dishing out concussions." Wolf warns, a fire in her eyes that hasn't been seen in months.

"One. Two. Three." Fox counts the words, taunting her. He doesn't even get the chance to blink, before a fist occupies the space his head was a split second ago. "Ooh, temper, temper."

Wolf grabs him by his collar, pulling him down to her height. "Unlike you, Fox, I give up everything for Konoha." Wolf intones, the fire in her eyes almost burning out of control. Then she sighs, blinks, and the fire fades. "So stop being a brat. We're here to do a mission, not to antagonize me." Then she releases him and walks off towards the command tent. Her team, the Unit, everyone that witnessed what just happened stares. Stares. Even Fox, who's picking himself up from the ground where she left him.

8-8

"You're first target is the city of Nikawa." Commander announces to Unit Red, tapping the map to show where the cities lies, settled between two rivers, as the name implies. "You'll need all five teams, so no trying to take out the next target before dealing with this one. There are five main targets you need to take out before the city will even consider the battle lost. Kajitani Sojurou, the city's effectual head, is the prime target, but he has four of his sons ready to take over as head should anything happen to him. They are all kept in different parts of the city, and will each be guarded extremely well."

Everyone listens as intel is offered on the city's rulers. Then Commander explains the layout of the city, the security they know about, the safeguards they suspect but have no proof of. Everything.

Then comes the hardest part for Commander, issuing objectives. "Each team will have to take a different target, and they'll have to take them out stealthily. Otherwise the whole city will be up in arms and there will be one hell of a fight to get out of the city. Luckily all the wandering shinobi are in the capital, so you won't have to worry about them, but if you aren't careful you'll be facing their army alone."

"How is that different from Waterfall?" Fox asks, confused.

"Because Waterfall has numbers, but lacks quality. Grass isn't like that at all. They keep their missions to a minimum to keep their people alive and survive on exporting food goods, and housing the prisoners of other countries. That means that their shinobi do nothing but train all day every day. And only a portion of their leaders believes Grass should try to re-establish itself to the Elemental Nations. So the majority is quite content with just keeping out of the world's affairs and acting from the shadows."

"Why're they even involved, then?" Fox asks.

"We don't know." Commander admits, hating not knowing. "We do know they've been the intelligence gatherers of their alliance, and that they've done nothing to gather their shinobi for an all-out attack. More than that… we're flying dark." He pauses, going over the plan one last time. "We're trying to keep the bloodshed to a minimum. If we try take these cities in a bloodbath, all we'll do is stir up their anger for another generation. So instead, I need all five teams to capture the heads alive. With no direction, the city should have no guidance and fall much easier… but there's always the risk that they already planned for that. Which is why Nikawa is the better place to start. This will be our pilot for the Land of Grass, and the reaction of this city will tell us how to handle the others."

"So basically, we have no idea how this might end." Chou isn't impressed.

"They may be a minor country, but they are a country that's survived, even thrived during three Great Shinobi Wars. Underestimating them would prove fatal. That's why I need Unit Red to deal with this, to give us an idea how to handle the rest of the country." Commander reminds them.

"What if the city is up in arms?" Wolf asks.

"We're trying to avoid that at all costs. That's why you need to strike at midnight, all of you. The shinobi and samurai will still be very much on guard, but the civilians won't be in your way at least. And you'll have the cover of darkness. Use that to your advantage."

"What if the city is up in arms?" Wolf presses.

"Avoid that, Aya. At all costs."

"Shit happens, Commander. What if the city is up in arms?"

Commander sighs, worn out. "If they're up in arms after you get the targets, it makes no matter. Just get out of the city and rendezvous here. If they somehow are up in arms before that… we won't catch them off guard twice."

"And we should…?" Wolf presses again, her tone just a blank as it was the first time she asked.

"Burn the target's building down." Commander intones, praying it doesn't come to that. Intel suggests that the families of the targets are in those buildings. Their wives, their concubines, their children. "Don't let it come to that, is that clear?"

Wolf nods.

8-8

Chouji isn't as nervous as he might be. After all, he's been training alongside his team for months, he knows what they can do, what they can handle. They are ghosts, plain and simple. Aya had trained her siblings to leave no trace whatsoever. In fact, only specialised trackers might stand a chance at knowing they were even there.

Still, there's just something in his gut telling him something is off. Yes, Grass is essentially the first country Aya will have to strategize and painstakingly take out the pillars holding the country up. But that isn't it. Something… something lurking just on the edge of his senses. It's maddening to not know what it is.

Nikama is fairly easy to sneak into. They'd been taking out the guards all day, after all, so they know more or less when to slip past them. Chouji leads them –Aya's sense of direction hasn't improved much– to their destination.

Maybe it's not having Team Rabbit as backup? Chouji can't figure it out at all.

En route Team Wolf studies the city, the people, the shinobi and samurai. Aya is especially curious at all the sharp gazes in the shinobis' eyes. These people are… planners, plotters. All of them. Why? What good is a city full of planners, if there's no one around to 'do'? Is that why Grass fell into the background of history?

Still, it's the numbers, and the quality of those numbers, that truly worries Team Wolf. The samurais are all around chuunin rank – come stronger, some weaker. The shinobi are at least chuunin. They pass dozens of each as they skulk through the streets, clinging to the sides of buildings.

Then, the closer they get to the target's building, the worse the situation gets. More and more shinobi, less and less civilians. It's like… they're always ready to be invaded. And yet their country's reputation would make invading them pointless. Hidden in plain sight, not a bad strategy.

Chouji thinks, hopes, that there won't be a reason for them to fight all these shinobi. And yet, the unease in his gut only increases with time. If this is a random city in Grass… what would entering Hidden Stone be like?

The building itself doesn't stand out too much. The only real difference between this compound and the two beside it are the samurai honour guards at the entrance.

Now, the real mission begins. They need to get inside.

They circle a few times, looking for an easy in. There are none. No open windows, no hidden entrances. Nothing. There's the front door, and the back door. Both of which are carefully guarded.

Luckily, they're both guarded by chuunins – that's a blessing.

Wolf takes charge, leading her team in, S-L-O-W-L-Y. Snails would call them slowpokes, but those snails would have to sense them to notice. Over the outer wall. Through the courtyard – not even the loose gravel seems to notice Team Wolf skulking over it. They make it to the back door, simply because the chuunins on guard there are more lax, and they wait.

It takes almost an hour, before one of the guards say they need to pee, heading inside. For some reason the guard –just as he stands in the doorway– turns to his colleague and says something about a woman he remembers seeing in out in the city. They never even notice Team Wolf entering.

8-8

Team Wolf entered their target's building around two in the afternoon. The 'grab' is scheduled for midnight. So they sit tight, and they study their target and his associates. Chouji finds it interesting that they'd be inside all day, wondering what that's about. Maybe they're on high alert?

"I still can't believe Kajitani-dono thinks this Namiki person might come here. I mean, we're the furthest city from the capital, almost." One of the guards complains – a shinobi.

"If that's got you thinkin'. Then why would she bother to come 'ere? Kajitani's the youngest brother, the least important. It's 'alf the reason I accepted this 'ere post." The other adds. "Mi wife's been houndin' me fo' weeks about retirin'. Says I'll neva' see mi son's fifth year in this job."

"Al least you have a son. My lady refuses to let me touch her until we're married. I've had to pay to get my rocks polished for months."

"Then marry 'er."

"What are you my mother?"

Team Wolf makes their way upstairs, trying to get a feel for the building, the people in it. Luckily, the average rank is quite a bit lower in here than what they'd encountered out in the city. High genins to low chuunins. Even if they have to fight their way out, this compound won't be a big deal.

Then… they come across the nursery. Kajitani's personal nursery. It would seem the man keeps his 'fair share' of concubines, and he seems to enjoy having them pregnant year round.

Her team doesn't notice, but Wolf's eyes linger on one little girl… about four years old. Black hair, brown eyes… and glasses. She also happens to enjoy playing with one particular toy. A teddy bear. With soft, brown fur. And missing an eye.

"Nanami-chan, it's time for your lessons." A woman walks up to the little girl.

"Mommy, I don't wanna. I hate learning that junk." Nanami complains, twirling her finger in her bear's fur.

"What would your honourable father say if he heard you?" The woman chides.

"He'd have to notice me first." Nanami mumbles, hugging her bear with all her might and obviously crying. "Hey, mommy, can I sleep with you tonight? Chishima's being stupid again."

"Not tonight, precious. I'm entertaining your honourable father."

8-8

Eleven-fifteen. Another forty-five minutes before the objective is to be executed. Team Wolf is in the room with their target, and his indentured lover. Wolf sees the lack of love in her eyes, hears the fake moans and half-hearted murmurs.

Even her scent belies her act; she's barely wet. Given that they've been at it for ten minutes, that means either a medical condition or she's so not into this it isn't funny.

The target stiffens, grunts and shudders. The woman's look is that off annoyance and disgust. She rolls her eyes, offers a few moans and a high pitched scream, digging her fingers into her lover's back.

He rolls over, clearly satisfied. Her eyes show a long suffered disappointment. Almost immediately his breathing evens out. She lies there, staring at the ceiling, her mind awhirl. She drifts off to sleep not too much later, murmuring 'Nanami' now and again.

8-8

At exactly midnight, Wolf seals her target away in her prisoners' scroll. The woman stirs, but does not awaken. Then…

Fire?

Wolf and her team smell a fire. Who would start a fire in the middle of the night? No time to think. Their mission is complete, they need to get out. Wolf turns to the window, but… the woman… something in Wolf aches for that woman.

"Love, just be quick about it." Chou murmurs, knowing what Wolf is thinking. Without a second thought, Wolf seals the woman away and they exit through the window. Again, Wolf's heart pulls her in a different direction. She leads her team to the nursery, but only Wolf enters. The little girl, Nanami, gets sealed. None else.

One of the caretakers gets slapped, waking up instantly and looking around in a stupor. She senses something is wrong, but what…? "Fire!" The woman cries, the scent of fire now heavy in the air. "Wake up! All of you! FIRE! FIRE!"

The other caretakers are awake in seconds, the first already barking out orders and guiding them out the room and down the hall. No one notices how a brown teddy bear, the only one missing an eye, disappears in a poof.

Back outside, Team Wolf sees the guards, the samurais, everyone pouring into the building. The fire seems to have started in the kitchen, on the ground floor. Team Wolf lingers for a minute, waiting only to see those from the nursery escorted out. Then they leave, heading out of the city. Wolf makes sure to communicate to the other teams that she didn't start the fire, and that her target is safely sealed away. And she makes doubly sure to track down team Rabbit, seeing as she has no direct communication to them.

Wolf isn't surprised to see that Team Rabbit was en route to find Team Wolf. Rabbit and Wolf sniff, identifying each other, and they make their way out of the city together.

8-8

"What the hell happened?" Wolf demands, obviously furious with the situation. "That fire… it couldn't have started on its own."

Wolf paces. She's obviously torn, obviously in turmoil, obviously needs comfort… and yet none may touch her. Chou's tried. Repeatedly.

"You were in the building, you tell me." Commander drawls lazily, but his eyes are extra sharp. He doesn't like the report he just got. Shinobi knowing that 'Namiki' was coming to Nikawa, that they were on high alert in all the compounds? That's just not possible. Snake was already given the five targets, with orders to find out what they know, but that will take time. Time they don't have.

"There's nothing to tell." Wolf says, going over the situation in her head a few dozen times, to be sure. Nothing comes up. Nothing. "… Nothing related to the mission."

"Oh?"

"I sealed two others away. Inconsequential." Wolf waves it off. Commander smirks, feeling hopeful. Perhaps his princess is still alive and kicking after all. He decides to talk to Chou privately.

"Alright. We'll know by tomorrow what Nikawa's official response will be. If they are still rearing to fight… then we'll have to take out the city's guard the old-fashioned way. You did good, princess. Get some rest." Commander leans in to kiss her brow, but she turns and walks away from him.

It still stings an hour later when Inoichi relays that Nikawa's already amassed its shinobi and samurai, and they're heading in their command post's direction. "Numbers?" Commander demands.

"Four hundred, more or less." Inoichi answers, not liking this one bit.

"Inform Dragon and Unit Red, have them in the frontlines. Inform Unit Blue. This is our current hot zone, so we may need them in a hurry."

8-8

Wolf and her team, with barely an hour of sleep, find themselves in the frontlines. It had already been discussed –pro forma– that Unit Red would break the enemy line, and that the Anbu teams would pick off the stragglers. The chuunins here meant to patrol the borders are backup, and may only engage long-range, nothing else. This isn't about heroics, this is about keeping their people alive.

Fox grumbles a bit, wondering where Mist's and Sand's troops are. They should have joined them by now. Still nothing.

It can't be helped. They stirred a bee's nest, now they need to deal with the bees. At the first sign of movement on the horizon, Fox makes the opening gambit: four hundred shadow clones. Only… they smirk, grab a single kunai – a three-pronged kunai – and they wait. Once the enemy is closer, within a kilometre, they pelt their kunai high into the air letting them him nothing but dirt about a hundred metres ahead.

"Well, that's our part. Sasa-nee?" Frog nods, her long, red hair flowing in the wind. She stands ready, but does not act. Not yet.

"Together?" Frog asks. Fox nods. They wait. When the Nikawa forces find themselves in the minefield of kunai…

Red and yellow blur.

Shouts of surprise, of shock… grunts and wheezes as the men breathe their last. In less than a ten seconds, the invading forces… are no more. In the middle of the carnage, Frog and Fox stand back-to-back.

The Konoha shinobi cheer loudly, praising the twins, and bets start being taken of how pissed Grass will be once they find out Konoha's Yellow Flash had twins, and they both turned into badass shinobi.

"OI! INCOMING!" Karin shouts, pointing.

Fox turns in that direction, pointing and shouting: "CHA~AAAAAARGE!" And the barrage of Fox clones charge blindly, twin scimitars draw and their battle cries lighting up the morning sky.

Team Wolf do not hesitate, they charge as well. They are long-range support, they'll be fine, right?

Team Rabbit doesn't seem to think so, so they're right behind them. With that, all of Unit Red trails behind the army of Fox clones, trying to spy the enemy they can't yet see.

"Karin?" Fox asks. Not seeing much of anything but trees.

"Just a little further, your clones are already engaging them." Karin answers.

Sure enough, where once was a dense woodland, now only stumps remain. The company of fox clones levelled the trees, tearing into the Grass shinobi. Apparently, only the samurai just charged – dressed like shinobi, what a way to die – and now the shinobi themselves engage in battle. Unit Red doesn't need instructions, they attack.

Team Wolf, as per Wolf's instruction and training, stay behind their sister. Chou stays at her side. And they rain mud, fire and brimstone down on the enemy. They're careful not to get their allies caught in the crossfire, but they are also careful not to hold back in the least. These are chuunins and higher, numbering in the hundreds. This isn't the time to play around.

Fox's clones are slowly being overpowered. Not that it matters, they're the decoys. "Aya, service!" Fox calls. Nodding to herself, she nudges Chou.

Their hands fly through handsigns and at the same time, they slam their foot –his right, her left– on the grassy ground. The grass and earth churn under the shinobi, slowly darkening, getting mudier. The shinobi notice and simply focus chakra into the soles of their feet – they've walked and thicker mud than this.

Wolf makes a single handsign –the Seal of Confrontation, really– and the Flamethrower jutsu licks out and lashes at the mud. The Swamp of the Underworld, which caught barely more than a quarter of the shinobi, lights up. Ablaze with a fire so hot that those caught in it are instantly incinerated.

Of the three-hundred that Unit Red started against, barely more than a hundred remain. But these hundred are… bothersome in Wolf's opinion. These are the ones that saw the danger in her jutsu. These are the ones that are likely the stronger of the batch.

Itachi and Sasuke decide it's their turn. So they motion everyone back. In perfect unison, the pair conjure up a full body Susanoo. Sasuke's being a fiery red, while Itachi's being an almost ghostly violet. The brother unleash a hail of ethereal arrows on the shinobis, while Karin focuses and her Adamantine Sealing Chains to hamper the shinobi as best she can. Those struck by the arrows… well, not much is left of them. Luckily (for them) the Susanoos can only fire a single arrow at a time.

So they try to swarm Unit Red, trying to catch them flat-footed. Many get caught in the chains, and ripped to shreds. But about twenty of them almost make it to Unit Red.

"Oh ~daughter~?" Mikoto sings. Frog grins, knowing what that means. The pair fly through handsigns, Mikoto providing the fire while Frog provides the wind. The two jutsu merge, flooding the air and cooking any that come to close.

Not wanting to be left out, Rabbit casts the Earth Dragon Bullet jutsu, with dozens of fist sized globs of mud being fired into the raging fires.

"THERE!" Karin points, and Mashai and Shinichi spring into action. The brothers engage two of the shinobi that managed to make it this far, but Karin takes no chances and soon even those two lie in pieces thanks to her

A hand grabs Frog's ankle from below, which almost instantly gets cut off, curtesy of Crane. Crane then finished up his attack, stabbing a chakra enhanced katana into the ground below Frog and twisting it darkly – almost as if simply being stabbed isn't enough to sate his honour.

When the blade is withdrawn from the earth, the air is heavy with the scent of blood and gore – not that it wasn't already overflowing with burnt flesh and all the other 'goodies' of battle.

Konoha's Anbu teams fall in, each sporting a cut, or splashed with blood. "So, kiddies. You enjoying your field trip?" Dragon teases the younger members of Team Wolf.

"Are you kidding me? Bo-ring! We weren't even allowed to do anything." Hoshie announces, but her eyes narrow as she studies her Aya-nee. Her hands are shaking, her eyes are out of focus. The adrenaline is wearing off. The battle replays in her head, over and over. Tears spill down her cheeks. Her knees buckle. "Chou-nii?"

Chouji didn't need the prompt, he's already on his knees at Aya's side, rubbing her back, telling her that it's alright. She doesn't fight him, so he takes her glasses from her, takes her into his arms, and he scoops her up. Over and over he murmurs that she's okay, that everyone's okay, that he'll make it okay.

Not once does she respond.

Still, he thanks whatever Kami's listening that she isn't fighting him. Her arms snake around his neck as she hides from the world – the world she is quickly finding she can no longer cope with.

Chouji's just too good at sneaking in, and she… she can't. She can't let him in. Not now. She… Konoha needs her. Her pack needs her to lead them. She stiffens, trying to let 'Wolf' take over, begging 'Wolf' to take over.

"I'm here for you, love." Chouji murmur, kissing her over and over. "You don't have to hide from me."

"Ch-chou…chan?"

8-8

For a while, Chouji has her back. He knows it's only temporary, but he'll do his best to ease her pain while she allows him. They set up a tent together. She lays their futon out and dresses it. One futon, one sheet, one pillow.

They didn't even put in this effort when they slept before the battle. They simply slumped against a tree trunk and Chouji snuck up to her when her breathing evened out.

"In you go." Aya teases, motioning him into the tent, sandals and all. He shakes his head, but finds himself smiling all the same. He's tired, so he doesn't mind too much. Once he's in –not even comfortable, just in– she immediately follows. She snuggles up to him, using his arm as her pillow, her hand on his chest and her leg propped up on his thigh.

Her breathing evens out. He didn't even get the chance to get comfortable, and she's already asleep.

That leaves him unable to fall asleep, which just isn't an option. He shifts both of them over, but there just isn't enough space in here for two. As if sleeping beauty comes to the same conclusion, she straddles him, her head finding its way onto his chest, her hands clutching his light jacket. His heartbeat eases her into a deep slumber – one she's sorely needed since she started preparing to be deployed.

Chouji on the other hand. He's… well, he's comfortable, but only physically. Things are falling apart. Aya had simply become too used to being open, to being free. She was soaring the weeks before they got married, and walking on clouds after.

Then she got yanked back into this life. He prays she'll be alright by morning, but somehow…?

8-8

Chouji is… worried. He's seeing it again. The cracks in the armour. Gaping holes, really. She doesn't want to be here, she doesn't want this. She never did. So why is she doing it?

What drives this woman to risk her heart, her sanity, for Konoha?

Once the meeting starts, Chouji has his answer. The guilt in Shikaku's eyes, no matter how well he hides it, tells him everything. He asked her.

"Tell her to go home." Chouji interrupts, not caring about which team will take which city, or who's playing backup to whom. All eyes are on Chouji instantly. "You're the one that asked her to take part in this, uncle. You're the one doing this to her. You need to undo it. Now."

"Ch-"

"When it's your wife on the battlefield, then and only then, will I listen to whatever excuse you tell yourself." Chouji cuts him off. Aya stares blankly. No one, not even those who know her best can tell what's going through her head.

"We're fighting a war, Chouji." Shikaku reminds him. "I don't like it either, but Aya's reputation is-"

"Making you lazy." Chouji challenges. "That's all her reputation does. Because if she gets herself killed, you'll still need to come up with a plan that doesn't include her. And guess what… if she dies… whose hands do you think her blood will stain? Whose conscience will her corpse weigh heaviest on?"

"…We don't have-"

"Time for this?" Chouji cuts him off again. "Make time, uncle. Or is your daughter no longer worth it?" Shikaku stares at the map in front of him.

"Look at her!" Chouji demands hotly. Shikaku doesn't. "Look at the blank stare. Look at the bl-"

"Chuunin Akimichi Chouji, we don't have time for this." Shikaku drones, trying his damnedest to not get emotional now.

"Who the fuck do you think will have to piece her back together again when this is over!?" Chouji explodes. Sleeping with his wife – the love of his life – on his chest again was… amazing. But waking up to a blank stare and 'Wolf' demanding her glasses shattered that illusion quickly. "Who do you think has been taking every offered opportunity just to fucking touch her?" Chouji's in his face, showing the white hot fury raging within him, that he's bottled up for months now. "And do you know when she is her most vulnerable? After another massacre. In Spring, in Waterfall. Both times, when she would usually demand her cuddle bear… she shut down almost entirely. Then yesterday happened. She is starting to crack, uncle! And we're talking about another seventeen cities, let alone whatever the plan is for Nakawa. How many of them will end up in massacres? How many times will you put her through that again when she told you from the start she wants no part in this?"

"Chou." Aya says, her tone neutral, her voice soft.

"She won't listen to me anymore, uncle. She won't let me piece her back together until this is over." Chouji presses on anyway. "Why do you think her mother is here? Because she would rather be at home minding Tamiko and the others. Why is this bullshit war worth your daughter's sanity!?"

"Because the lives she saves, could be someone else's husband or wife. Someone else's son or daughter. Someone else's father or mother. Someone else's brother or sister. Someone else's reason to exist. Why don't you go outside, look at the hopeful eyes of our shinobi now that Unit Red is here? Why don't you tell them that you want her home where she's safe? And while you're at it, try explaining them why they should fight on anyway." Shikaku challenges.

"If I do, will you tell her to go home?"

"Chou." Wolf warns.

"Love, stop. I can hear the different in your tone. Stop slipping into 'Wolf' Kami-damn it!"

"Chou. Stand down. Now." Wolf warns one last time. When Chou doesn't so much as turn from Commander, Wolf storms up to him, grabs him by his flak jacket, and drags him back to their team. "Commander, continue." Chou tries to argue, but Wolf kicks his legs out from under him and holds the sharp edge of her kodachi against his throat. No one even saw her draw the blade.

Shikaku stares at the scene. Seeing his precious princess so far gone in this that she's threatening the one thing –the one person– that keeps her sane.

Kami-sama, Shikaku wishes he had a better plan. Or just another plan. It isn't that he can't come up with one, he just doesn't have the leeway to. To replace Teams Wolf and Rabbit now would be catastrophic. They'd lose the momentum they have going, moral would plummet, and the enemy would consequently gain everything Konoha and her allies just lost. Konoha has all the advantages now, they got their troops deployed faster than anyone else… losing that now would be weighed in lives. Lots of lives.

"Aya, are you prepared to continue?" Shikaku asks, knowing the answer he'll get.

"I am." Wolf answers, even as Aya screeches within her to say no.

"Then kill me." Chou demands. The silence that follows is deafening. "Forcing her to continue is killing me anyway. This way I'll at least know there's an end in sight."

"Chou, what are you doing!?" Ino announces the arrival of Unit Blue – two days earlier than planned. Or maybe it's more accurate to say they simply weren't meant to be here yet? They haven't actually been recalled.

"I said, kill me." Chou repeats, fire in his eyes. The members of Unit Blue stare at the scene, none able to make sense of it. Chou on his knees, glaring daggers into Shikaku. Wolf with her kodachi against his throat… and tears streaming down her cheeks. This shouldn't be happening. It can't be happening. This is like watching someone seconds away from committing suicide – and everyone knows that's exactly what Aya would do if she kills her husband.

"Imouto-chan." Fox calls to her gently. "Think about this, please."

"Fox, stand down. We have a briefing. After that we need to leave immediately. As Commander said, we don't have time for this." Wolf intones. Even as Aya weeps, Wolf is unbending.

8-8

End Chapter 32

8-8

A/N: The next chapter is going back to first person PoV. It might take a good bit longer to write properly, because I really need to capture the duality of Aya's plight. Sorry, no hints as to Chouji's fate. You'll just have to wait and see ^_^