Naruto: Shoton of Konoha

by Arch-Daishou00

:For Stormy Rebel, miss ya Joachim and thank you: "By the actions of the traitor Mizuki. Naruto awakens a rare Kekkei Genkai. And his path has now changed. And in the darkness awakens an ancient threat more terrifying than the Akatsuki stirs thought only of myths from a lost and forgotten age." :huge world expansion story, OC. Co-Author: Etheral-23

58. Harsh Reality: Act VI

Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto.

Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23

Tribute: For Joachim

No excuses. We're so sorry this took so long to write. We're going to try to pick up the pace.

Chapter 58: Harsh Reality Act VI

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

By itself, the battle going on to determine the fate of this country brought an immense weight down upon their shoulders. The repercussions of this day would be felt for years to come, of that Naruto was sure. Not just for the people here, but for their own lives back in Konoha, it was a pressure Naruto and his peers had chosen to push aside for now as it would only distract them, but the weight of this event was every present.

Yet, as of this moment, in this burning street, the two fiery-haired women facing off managed to create a storm that came crashing down on them. Kotarō's sheer killing intent is driven by a fierce desire to fight, clashing against Kushina's stalwart defiance.

The tension was so thick you could drown in it.

Kotarō slowly traced the tip of her tongue over her lips, as she could already taste the blood that would be dripping over them. Hers or Kushina's, it didn't matter whose.

Kushina stared at the taller, muscular woman, her neck slowly tilting from side to side until she felt the pops.

Kotarō grinned. "So, are we going to do this, or are you too busy getting lost in my eyes?"

"I was just a bit lost in thought. Your hair is awfully reddish."

"It's orange."

"Yeah, the light tricks me. You can't blame me, though. I was already fighting a relative, didn't want to repeat that"

"Not all redheads are Uzu."

Kushina shrugged, "True enough."

For a moment, the two remained silent.

Then their fists collided.

A gust of wind-generated from the impact.

Kotarō's smile was positively maniacal, and her arm trembled with effort as her knuckles clashed against Kushina's.

The Uzumaki grit her teeth, the muscles in her arms rippling and coiling with extreme effort. If not for the seal to temporarily boost her strength through the rush of oxygen and adrenaline, she would not be able to match this woman's monstrous strength.

Both sides gave the two ladies an excellent wide berth while fighting. 'This damn woman could give mom a run for her money!' Then, she spun on her heel, blocking the giant woman's fist, delivering a vicious roundhouse kick to Kotarō's face.

Still, only an evil smile remained on the woman's lips, "Oh, I am in love!"

"You want to fuck or fight!?"

"Both!"

Close by, the redhead's son cheered while knocking out a soldier, "Kick her ass, mom!"

"Focus, idiot!" Sasuke chided, dodging a spear slash thanks to his clan's doujutsu. Then, his hand reversed and gripped a kunai, plunging it into his attacker's chest.

A mighty roar came from the towering Kosuke, tossing several soldiers into their own with Kuma bringing down his claws and fangs. Shock bore on another soldier's face at the sight of his armor cracking from a punch from the pink-haired Konoha traitor. At Sakura's side, Karin and Soujiro were in sync with the bifocal Uzumaki's sensory skills-focused her cousin's blade into charging enemies.

Kakashi flowed around several soldiers with rifles aimed at him. Then, a kunai in each hand, they slid across his opponent's throats. Crimson sprayed around and on the Jounin with his single Sharingan eye glaring at the next approaching enemy.

"We making a damn dent in these guys?!" Isao quipped to his brother, snapping a soldier's neck.

"Fight now, talk later, bro!"

Yoimiya whistled, dodging a battle-ax, "If we weren't enemies, I'd let you use those hands all over me!" Her words had the desired effect of getting the man flustered just before slamming a foot into his face and knocking him out. "How about a date after my side wins?!"

The twins deadpanned at the eccentric woman's antics.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The fiery women's bout continued increasing intensity with each crushing blow. Finally, a sweeping kick from Kotarō collided painfully against Kushina's side. The redhead groaned in pain and quickly backed away, gaining distance to avoid those fists coming down on her.

Kotarō's cracked the ground. She looked up with a snarling grin and quickly conjured a kunai strapped with a rope. She sent it flying with great speed, straight for Kushina's feet. The redhead avoided it, and the Kunai buried itself deep into the ground.

Kotarō's eyes narrowed. "Heh..."

And tugged, her muscles rippling as she literally ripped out a chuck from the ground underneath Kushina. The woman yelped and flailed as she was lifted off the ground towards the Fuma woman. She managed to move out from the chuck of earth, only to find Kotarō was spinning it over the air before slamming it down with great force upon her.

Kushina quickly spread her feet, taking a stance as she reached over her shoulder for her sword. Swift flashes of light reflected from metal along with a metallic noise followed, and the chunk of the earth was cut to tiny pieces before it could hit her.

But Kotarō was not undeterred. She pulled back the roped Kunai and tied it around her forearm before running towards Kushina at great speed. Then, summoning the shuriken named after her very clan, the giant blades sun on her wrist as she twirled the blades with great dexterity.

Kushina brought up her sword in a defensive stance. Her form staggered but held firm as sparks came out from the clash of blades.

A growl escaped her throat. Then, she parried the giant shuriken using her arm strength, sending it flying. "That all you got, Fūma!?"

"HAH!" Kotarō leaped into the air reclaiming her weapon, "By the fucking Gods, I haven't had this much fun for ages!" Then, adjusting her body in the air, she brought down the heel of her foot towards the former ANBU captain. However, her opponent dashed out of the way as the attack cracked the ground once the foot hit it.

Her ears twitched before nearly being struck by bladed-tipped golden chains erupting from the ground where she landed. Kotarō noted a gash on her cheek, "Oh, those are sharp!"

Once the chains retracted, Kushina was on her enemy like a relentless dragon. Her katana moved like lightning, coming at the Fumma woman in multiple directions. 'Uzumaki Kenjutsu style! Waterfowl dance!' Kotarō could only raise her arms in defense as countless cuts were made across her body. The force of the attack even pushed her back a few inches.

A unique technique she had learned from a scroll of her late aunt...

A sword wind-charka technique created multiple wind blades that would scatter all around the caster's body in large arcs with each gust of wind created by the sword's swings, almost impossible to avoid if you were near. But, again, not the sort of technique to be used when right near allies.

A regular target would be cut to ribbons.

Kotarō Fūma was anything but ordinary.

If not for reinforcing with chakra at the last moment, Kushina was certain her jaw would have shattered from the fist that came from the orange-haired woman.

Skidding along the ground until she ground to a stop, Kushina rubbed her jaw as she looked up at her opponent. Kotarō slowly stood straight, letting her guard down. Blood dripped through the entire length of her arms, filled with cuts from her shoulders to her knuckles. Her skintight pants were cut multiple times, revealing the bleeding wounds underneath.

She panted, her ample chest rising and falling as sweat mixed in with the blood. Before Kushina's eyes, the largest of her wounds were slowly closing.

"A rapid healing factor..." Kushina quickly deduced. "A body strong enough to survive being torn to shreds by multiple wind chakra blades coming from a reinforced chakra-channeling katana."

Kotarō grinned.

"So, this is the latest iteration of the Fūma clan's breeding program to birth the strongest warriors," The Uzumaki continued. "Generations of selecting the strongest traits while weeding out weaknesses"

"Along with a training from hell which killed most of my generation" The Fūma clan head rolled her neck, popping the joints. "I killed most of the old farts who did this to us."

"I don't suppose you were kind enough to end such practice?"

"Pfff, why? It made me, didn't it? But, Nah, I don't much mind it. They can continue it another time. The reason I killed them was personal" She rubbed her knuckles as the wounds healed. "Be they righteous or monstrous, so long as people hold an ideal close to their heart, whatever it is, doesn't matter to me. So long as they feel passionate about it, those are the best fights."

"What a bloodthirsty thing you are," Kushina said bluntly. "But I don't blame you for being what you are, and if you were cackling like mad while slaughtering civilians or posturing about your 'grand goals' while ruining everyone's lives, I wouldn't even bother talking to you."

Honestly, it was refreshing to fight someone so honest with themselves. Merely fight for the sake of fighting.

Kushina could respect that, even if she didn't follow it herself.

"So far, you are one of the best fights I've ever gotten" She licked her lips. "Gods, I think I'm falling for you. Would it be so romantic if we were to kill each other right here, right now?"

"Keep it in your pants, Fūma," The redhead derided. "I've no intention of dying. Besides, that would just mean we can't fight anymore, wouldn't it?"

"HAH!" The muscular woman barked a laugh. "Oh, you got me there. But you know... as good as you are, as fun as you are... that blade of yours is feeling a little empty, isn't it?"

"...Been doing a lot of soul searching," Kushina muttered, staring at the reflection on her blade amidst the woman's blood on its surface. "It's... a complicated time. So sorry, I'm not giving you my full spirit for this fight."

The shuddering breath that came from Kotarō was downright orgasmic. "If this is you fighting without your full spirit... Gods, I can only dream what you are at your most passionate" Her grin showed all her teeth. "I'm gonna continue pummeling you until I can bring the 'Red Death' to the surface."

"Sorry," Kushina replied, "I'd rather not live up to that title again."

Without another word, two long chains erupted from her back, quickly stabbing themselves at the sides of two houses. Seals were imprinted upon the surfaces from the bladed tips of the chains.

Kushina slammed her hands together, and the matrixes activated.

The houses were pulled towards each other by the seals' attraction, ripping them from their foundations and sending them on a collision course, where in the middle stood Kotarō.

The houses collided with a shuddering crash, wood, gravel, and all manner of rubble bursting in all directions as a large dust cloud rose over the area.

Then, with blinding speed, a gust of that dust followed Kotarō's dashing trail as she lept out with a maddened grin, two long Kunai firmly grasped in her hands so tightly the muscles in her arms jumped as veins pumped throbbingly.

Kunai and katana met with a shower of sparks, creating a large gust of wind that cleared all dust and rubble from their surroundings.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Screams cried out in the dungeon as the guards there failed to hide their disgust with the Oni's work. Finally, a slew of severed bodies was laid on the floor while the demon used the prisoner's blood to write a magical circle. It chuckled, noticing one guard throwing up at the horrid sight.

One of the less squeamish soldiers paid attention to the arcane sigils being written down. "This one of those weird summoning circles like Shinobi use?"

The Oni looked mildly impressed while it worked, "Yes and no. summonings are not exclusive to ninja."

"W-w-what are you summoning?" A frightened guard spoke up.

Amusement danced on the demon's lips, "ever heard of the Enenra?" All the guards paled, giving it an answer, "This should help your Daimyo with these pests buzzing around, don't you think?" Finishing the circle, it placed dead or dying prisoners on the ring, "You should feel honored. Your deaths shall stir a power that slept for too long."

Its visage soon grew serious, bringing its hands together, and recited an incantation.

The circle shined, the bodies burned, and the roars of the hungry flames drowned the screams of those not yet dead.

The stench of burnt flesh filled the enclosed area, and the guards coughed as the smoke rose.

It was unnatural, moving in waves and patterns regular smoke shouldn't as if guided by invisible winds.

The smoke took shape, solidifying into a solid form. Gas became mass and flesh, dark skin like ash craked with red veins igniting from the fire consuming the corpses, flowing into intricate patterns as they reached into the faces, tusked maws opened. At the same time, the remaining upper half was concealed with writhing shadows as the red markings glowed, blazing red eyes opened, and looked down at their invoker.

The oni grinned, showing sharp fangs. "Welcome, friends"

The soldiers trembled, uttering the names of gods as they backed away from the ten-foot-tall monstrosities. Bulging muscles of cracked flesh like solid slabs of ash, their only clothes a blend of wispy fabric and smoke that covered their legs like cloaks. The enenra, the smoke demons, looked down upon the bodies used to invoke them...

...and feasted.

Maws tore flesh and snapped bone. They were feeding upon the burnt flesh and marrow. Some of the enenra fought amongst themselves for a limb or a piece of the torso, yet the feast never stopped.

Some of the soldiers ran away in terror. They were the smart ones.

The ones who remained, too shaken and terrified to move, soon became more food for the newly summoned monsters.

The oni clapped in enjoyment out of the spectacle while gathering his monster's attention. "Now, boys, there's quite the party going on outside... Why don't you go and have fun~?"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Kurama's eyes shot open with a growl escaping his maw. Malice, pure and untamed, he felt it rising from the depths beneath his jailor's feet. Yet he gave no warning to the boy. Instead, he only snorted before closing his eyes and returning to his thoughts.

The battle for the Han'ei's future continued with neither the rebels nor the soldiers gaining ground over the other. At its center were Kushina and Kotarō, with wild laughter escaping the tall, muscular woman's lips. But unfortunately, her opponent did not share her enthusiasm yet pressed on with a relentless fury.

Parrying a rifle moments before it fired, Takeda ran his enemy through as the ground soon began to shake underfoot. It made the battle pause as it intensified, buildings cracking around them. "What the hell," Naruto muttered, looking down and seeing cracks and fissures forming.

A building collapsed upon a bunch of soldiers, and their screams were cut short as the rubble fell on them. One lucky enough to escape tried to run but was suddenly pulled back into the dust cloud. His shouts quickly ended, followed by bones breaking and flesh tearing.

A hole opened underneath, and a giant sinewy black arm burst forth, grabbing a rebel's torso and dragging it down. Blood spewed.

Kakashi's eyes widened. "Something's here..."

"Something," Shibata growled, holding his sword tightly, "inhuman."

Naruto could only watch as the ground erupted, and a towering monstrosity came forth. They roared wildly as it looked down upon them with blazing red eyes.

"Demon!" Someone shouted.

More and more monstrosities emerged, sowing destruction and chaos in their wake. Everyone unfortunate enough to get caught in their path was easily slaughtered.

Shots were fired, but the bullets didn't harm them, spreading cracks on their skin. A Manji clan archer fired an arrow, the explosive tags lighting up and blasting. The explosion momentarily made the creature stand back, stunned, before grabbing a broken piece of earth and throwing it.

"No, no no, nonono," Kotarō growled with increasing fury. "This is my fight, MY fight! Don't you dare interrupt it!"

"What are these things?!" Sakura shouted in panic.

"Enenra," Soujiro provided the answer; even his usual calm gave way to noticeable concern as he stared at the towering demons. "Smoke demons, aunt Lyn told me about them."

"They don't look like they're made of smoke," Sasuke muttered. His Sharingan, unfortunately, caught the side of their massacres, and it would remain with him.

"They're not smoke, not necessarily. They're born from the smoke of burning bodies and destruction."

Realization struck the old samurai with dread in his eyes, "They rose out from the prison."

Takeda's eyes glowed with horror, knowing dozens of civilians and rebels were incarcerated by Tokuhara. "He would go that far!?" Another quake rocked at their feet, "There is more!" He called out in warning to his troops.

However, a towering blue-skinned figure emerged instead of smoke demons with arms outstretched and roaring laughter.

"ONI!" A soldier cried in terror.

His eyes with murderous violence as he soon smiled, revealing his fangs, "Behold this night, humans! For the will of Jashin shall reign upon this world! Rejoice in torment and awe!" The Oni bellowed with malicious laughter.

Killer intent radiated from the demonic beasts and flowed through the area like a tidal wave bringing many to their knees in fear. Some were too afraid to move as the Oni commanded the Enenra to attack. Their first victims were those who only stared on with horror but did nothing before death claimed them by the demon's maws.

Karin shook as she could feel it all. The anguish of the victims who made up the Enenra, the fear of all those around her at the sight of the demons. It was overwhelming; all of her senses fell to her knees and held her head. Her eyes were wide in fear.

A hand was placed on her shoulder, and she saw Sakura staring straight ahead at the beasts with steely determination. "It's okay," She said softly. "We've got this"

Karin could feel slight fluctuations in her chakra, Sakura was afraid, but it was controlled with sheer willpower. The spectacle-wearing Uzu reminded herself that her abilities did not hold her. They did not dictate who she was; the battlefield would not control her. She took a deep breath and pulled out a kunai, taking a stance next to her friends.

Kushina narrowed her gaze at the creatures, appalled and disgusted that the Daimyo would resort to human sacrifice to invoke such monsters. The oni amidst the shadow demons stood grinning, proud of his work. Jashinist... she had heard about their cult in the past and was told by Jiraiya, her great-grandmother, and Tomoe that these people had much greater designs for the Nations—taking advantage of the chaos, sowing discord and strife wherever they went. Zealots partaking in mad slaughter. Agents dripped poison into ears with careful worlds, manipulating events from the shadows.

He must have approached Tokuhara, taking advantage of the man's growing desperation to squash the rebellion. It must not have taken too much to convince the bastard to sacrifice innocent commoners, and their lives weren't even a price to pay in his eyes...

"Oi, Uzumaki" Kotarō drawled with annoyance. "Our duel got interrupted."

"Yup"

"I'm pissed. Are you pissed?"

"Yup"

"Wanna do something about that?"

Kushina grinned. "Yup"

Then the two charged.

With blurring speed, they dashed towards the closest Enenra. Kushina's adamantine chains were meant to restrain and seal monsters made up of chakra, working better against spiritual entities born of flesh and blood. The Enenra was seized by her golden chains, struggling to move. Mighty as it was, this creature could not compare to the full might of the Nine-Tails, whom Kushina's blood clone had secured while on the verge of death. Holding this thing back was a child's play.

A growl escaped from Kotarō, leaping to deliver a devastating kick upon the creature's head. It staggered, clearly hurt by the attack... before its maw opened, and foul black smoke came out like a toxic cloud.

Kotarō's eyes widened as the smoke assaulted her in force. She coughed violently before a surge of red flames exploded before her and sent her flying away, crashing into a nearby building.

The former ANBU captain's eyes widened, and before she knew it, one of the ten-foot-tall monstrosities was upon her, rearing its fist back. She had no choice but to release the other Enenra to escape, barely dodging the blow in time as the fist cracked the ground and splintered it.

The battle between the soldiers and rebels halted as the Enenra attacked indiscriminately on both sides. Fury burned like a star in the old samurai's soul, "SOLDIERS OF HAN'EI!" Many eyes turned to Shibata, "THIS IS YOUR DAIMYO'S ACTIONS! TOKUHARA CARES NOTHING FOR YOUR LIVES! ONLY HIS OWN AND HIS FELLOW ELITE! WHAT TRUE LORD WOULD SUMMON DEMONS WHO ONLY BRING SLAUGHTER AND DEATH TO ALL?!" His enraged roar echoed throughout.

Amusement danced in the Oni's eyes upon hearing the words himself. "A true lord shall do all that is necessary to defend his realm." His lips widened with predatory glee, "Nothing else matters but his dominance and right to rule. All pawns die in the glory of their lord's power."

His words sparked rage within both Takeda and Naruto. "People are not pawns, you bastard!" the blond Uzumaki screamed.

"Crawl back to the depths of hell where you belong!" Takeda dashed passed the soldiers and fellow rebels for the Oni, who welcomed the challenge with crazed laughter.

"Let the blood flow for our Lord Jashin this night!"

Takeda stepped up his most loyal and vital standing at his side.

"We already fight against tyranny! We will not let heathens and zealots claim this country!"

He took out his short blade, lightning arching over its edge, and jumped at the fray. Yoimiya knocked arrows of fire on her bow, firing them repeatedly with great speed, the arrows impacted upon the skin of one of the demons with miniature blasts, barely phasing the beast, as Takeda brought down its blade upon the creature, to which this one deflected just by bringing up one of its thick arms.

The twins moved at their sides, pulling steel wires and wrapping the creature's legs together. But with the beast tugged firmly and broke free, it swatted Takeda away before breathing ash and fire upon the Kageken shinobi, who quickly jumped away.

Shibata faced one of the great beasts on his own, his immense size and strength allowing him to take it head-on. Though the enenra was still superior in size, his sizeable armored form allowed him to withstand its blows, flames, and ash licking over the surface of his plated gear as the fire could not slip through his helmet. His large katana buried itself on enenra's shoulder, smoke and liquid fire spewing instead of blood.

The Soldiers of Han'ei stood and followed their leader's example. Uncertainty glowed within their eyes. Did the Daimyo make a deal with a devil? Would he go far for their nation or power?

"What the hell are you guys doing!?" Fury burned in Naruto's voice, "Demons are running loose, and you're all just standing there like idiots!" He growled, seeing all of them remain uncertain, "In case you all haven't noticed, they are attacking everyone!"

"B-But The Daimyo wouldn't-"

"If your leader is willing to use his people to deal with demons, then he is a worthless leader." Sasuke quipped in an angry tone beside his teammate.

The blond's hands went into quick hand seals, "And I will not the people of this country suffer any longer!" Then, he leaped onto a crystal dragon that soon appeared. His Uchiha teammate followed suit as the dragon roared, charging for the summoner of the Enenra.

The Oni took notice of the dragon coming for him with a dark chuckle, "mere children emboldened enough to face death in the eye and not falter! GLORIOUS!" Raising his fist, he slammed into the crystal's construction's jaw, shattering it.

Both boys had quickly leaped off before unleashing their respected jutsu. Fire and crystal shuriken rained down upon the mighty demon.

Red flames ignited in his hands, followed by an explosive force that overwhelmed the Uchiha's fire and destroyed the crystal. The demon laughed, amused by their attempts. "Take heed of these young ones, my brethren!" It was not to the enenra he spoke but to another type of ash and smoke construct.

It was a familiar in the form of a crow, with traces of smoke billowing out of its body as its blazing red eyes observed, recording it all to show to his masters in the great cult.

"They think themselves righteous, and righteous their skulls shall be!"

The young genin fell back to regroup.

"Shit," Sasuke swore, "This whole thing got out of hand. Those things are too strong" He didn't like how that Fūma woman was held back by one of those giant creatures. The enenra battling head-on and capable of holding it's own much like Kushina had. That did not bode well for their odds.

"We are severely lacking in raw power," Soujiro stated.

"Good thing I have a giant chakra reactor on speed dial," Naruto quipped, knowing this situation did warrant a Tail from the fox.

Kushina landed next to them, chains sprouting from her arm as she held an enenra at bay. But another one of its kin freed it by overheating her chains, forcing her to dispel them before her arm would suffer the consequences. "You heard the boy, fox! Get on with it!"

"Why should I?" Came the drawling reply.

Mother and son momentarily stopped. "Because we're in danger here!"

"You're always in danger. How is this fight any different?" He just didn't care.

"Look, I don't know what's gotten into you," Naruto growled. "But if you don't step up... I'm going to die here. And that means you're going to die too. Is that what you want?"

Kurama didn't know; lately, he felt barely enjoying life. What was to enjoy after tall? Trapped in this vessel, he was allowed momentary respites of faux freedom by cloning himself outside the boy. But instead, he was hunted by a world that hated him.

...Shunned by his own family.

Kushina never had the best relationship with Kurama, and she didn't even know his name before, seeing it as her sole duty to keep him contained for the village's sake. So Konoha would have their jinchuuriki deterrent against the other nations.

But after spending years with him, bound so closely inside her soul, she had come to learn of his emotions. Kurama mostly felt rage above all else, hateful at humans for imprisoning him. So she knew that lately, his subdued and dour behavior was very uncharacteristic, but not for the reasons one thought. It wasn't the limited freedom he came to enjoy; no, something indeed had damaged his will.

It wasn't rage that she felt now but a cold contempt for everything.

"I don't know what happened to you," Kushina said, never taking her gaze off their foes. "But this is not you. You and I never saw eye to eye... and I don't think we'll ever do."

She would never forget the fox himself had tried to kill her son as a baby. She'd never forget the memory of his claw-piercing Minato.

"But this pathetic attitude of yours is beneath you," The redhead snapped. "You're the Nine-Tailed calamity, and hear you talk like you don't care if you live or die. What happened to the fox who wanted to be free? Who would crush anyone even assuming he'd have a moment of weakness?"

The fox said nothing.

"I know you still have your pride. Even if it is just to protect yourself" She extended her hand to her son. "So share your power with Naruto... and with me, once more."

Naruto stared up at her in surprise, a sentiment shared by his peers.

"For old time's sake."

"...Fine," The bijuu finally growled out. "I'm not so pathetic as to accept death lying down."

Naruto perked up, feeling the chakra flow from deep within his seal and spread throughout his body. It was coating him in an aura of red power.

He looked at his mother's hand and took it.

Kushina gasped; how long had it been? since she had used the fox's power in battle? Her fingers became claw-like while her hair grew wilder and almost alive. Blade-like whiskers marks appeared on her cheek, and her purple eyes became slit crimson glaring hard. Two tails swayed from behind her as Kurama's cloak formed into the image of a fox around her.

A single-tailed from her son, "Together, you are more than enough to send this fanatical idiot and pets back to their 'god.'" Kurama growled.

Seriousness bloomed upon the Oni's face staring at the mother and son but focused solely on the boy. "Jinchurriki." He snarled in disgust, "You house a wretched abomination inside, you boy. I shall set you free, child, and let Lord Jashin purify your soul!" Within moments an Enenra came in front of him and took the full punch from the Uzu matriarch.

A low snarl came from Kushina, who had attacked with lightning speed. She and the Enenra fought, leaving her son and Mikoto's boy to face the Oni summoner.

The eyes of the soldiers and rebels stared in shock. "That's a Jinchurriki!?" Then, a person cried out in fear.

Isamu weakly chuckled, "Oh, I'm so glad we're on the same side now!" Absently his twin nodded back.

Kuma growled near Kosuke, who stared wide-eyed at Kushina and Naruto. The Towering Uzumaki and bear have only reached back to the central area of the fighting. Fully ready to fight alongside his friends, seeing the demons appearing. But now stood stock still at the sight of his cousins 'That's... Is that the power of Bijuu?'

Heh, his family indeed was something else. He wouldn't be letting them pick up the slack all by themselves.

The bear of a man growled in a manner akin to his companion. Kuma and he charged both at one of the towering demons who was easily tearing apart soldiers and rebels. The great bear roared and rose to full height, bringing its claws down upon the enenra's shoulder as it bit down its neck, glowing ichor flowing from the wound.

Kosuke jumped over his partner's back and flipped over the monster's head, using thick, powerful arms to grab its tusks and pull, bending its head to tear it apart, but the creature's struggle was unrelenting. What's more, the smoke emanating from him was dulling his senses and would sap away his strength eventually.

"Keep still, Kosuke-san," The voice of the young rebel leader came, perched on one of the rooftops closest to the monster he and his bear companion were wrestling down. His visible blue eye narrowed in concentration as he held a sheathed blade on his waist, the pose indicating he was planning to unleash it in one swift drawing strike. "I'd hate to hurt you or Kuma by accident."

Kosuke grinned and then used all of his strength to ensure the enenra's head wouldn't trash, his arm muscles tensing and veins bulging all over them.

Takeda drew in a quick breath, molding his chakra with but his breathing. "The Lightning Breath," He chanted to himself, bringing his mind to a state of absolute focus. "Akihabara Lightning Call" He recited the name of one of the treasured techniques his grandfather passed down to him. His hand gripped the blade's handle tightly, and golding lightning shrouded his farm in volatile arcs. "Thunderclap and Flash!"

The roar of lightning was heard. And with blinding speed, Takeda moved. The only indication he had done so was the trail of lightning left in his wake as he seemed to teleport from rooftop to rooftop.

The enenra's neck was cleanly cut, ichor and smoke scaping in geysers. Then Kosuke snapped the creature's weakened neck and tore its head apart.

The creature's headless body began crumbling down like ashy porcelain.

"This is our home!" Takeda shouted to all who would listen. "Not a monster's playground! Not the demons'! And certainly not Tokuhara's!"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

A huff escaped Kakashi's masked-covered mouth. 'I'm overtaxing my use of the Sharingan.' But he pushed past his fatigue, battling alongside Soujiro and some rebels against one of the towering Enenra. His eye briefly glanced towards Naruto and Sasuke ducking it out with the Oni while Kushina faced against an Enenra. 'Been a while since I have seen Kushina-Sama use the Kyuubi's chakra.'

His danger senses blared, leaping out of the way of the demon's claws. 'Got to focus on this guy before helping anyone.'

"Its hide is quite tough," the young Uzumaki swordsman quipped, holding his katana with a dual gripe.

The Enenra roared before a gunshot rang out, and a bullet grazed the beast's jaw. Kakashi and the others saw a lone Han'ei soldier glaring hard at the demon holding his rifle. "I became a soldier to protect my nation and its people." His voice was low but laced with anger. "And I wasted five years serving a tyrant who only cared for himself and sold his soul to demons!" Now the man roared, "For Han'ei's people!"

He seemed to put a spark in the eyes of several other riflemen who joined him and fired at the demon.

The damage the firearms brought upon the creature was minimal, nothing it could not recover from. But it made the beast stagger and be temporarily overwhelmed as a multitude of bullets hit multiple areas in its head, its blazing eyes flickering as the bullets impacted the smokey regions in its face.

"Hey, Hatake man" One of the twins, Isao, he guessed given the red bandanna on his head, walked up to his side. "Can't handle the heat?"

"We heard you were hot shit," The other twin, Isamu, added. "Don't tell me you're tired already."

He laughed shortly, "Just need to catch my breath."

Kakashi held two fingers and activated a trump card he had been saving.

His greatest weakness had always been his chakra reserves. Oh, they were not small by any measure, but the Hatake clan was not known to produce members with particularly sizeable chakra potency and reserves like the Uchiha. Not to mention how faster his Sharingan would drain him because he was not Uchiha. Moreover, his biology was not compatible with the Sharingan.

He could unleash powerful jutsu, especially when he allowed his reserves to recharge. Still, more often than not, Kakashi needed to measure his every action carefully and plan his next move with anticipation, lest he drained himself too fast.

This is where Kushina proposed a simple but very effective solution; A seal to store chakra.

The seal placed at the base of his neck could hold his reserve of chakra multiple times, but it needed to be his own. So Kakashi had spent numerous days slowly devoting a small amount of his chakra to fill up his seal, saving it when the situation called for it.

Now was as good a time as any.

The twins glanced over, noticing a seal appearing on Jounin's neck before tapping it with his glowing fingertips. "Release." Both took rapt attention now, seeing the older man's exhaustion fading in seconds and being revitalized. "Well, that's better, don't you two think."

Chakra storage seals, well, wasn't he a cagey bastard. "Not bad old man!" Isao quipped with a smirk.

"Old man... I'm twenty-six..." Hatake shook his head, "I have an idea on how to take down the Enenra. But need some help, mind lending a hand?"

Isamu cocked a brow, "Got something in your thousand jutsus for big ugly here?"

"Yup, need him distracted for thirty seconds to charge this up. Then you two make tracks. This jutsu doesn't discriminate friend or foe."

His words of warning surprised the two, "didn't think I'd hear a Leaf Ninja tell that to Kageken members." Isao stated with a hint of shock.

"Right now, the past doesn't matter. These demons threaten all of us and must be stopped."

Okay... The twins were starting to like this guy. "We'll be the distraction then, Hatake," Isamu saluted before he and his brother dashed towards the monster of smoke and darkness. "You just better make it count!"

The Enera roared as new prey ran towards it. It brought down its massive arms to smash the twins. But both proved relatively fast and agile, jumping away just in time. Both sent a volley of Kunai and shuriken at the beast, which only annoyed it as the blades nicked its skin.

"Hey, big guy!" Isao shouted at the raging smoke demon. "You smell!"

"That's the best you came up with?!" His twin shouted incredulously.

"What? It's a giant lump of smoke. It barely even looks like it understands what we're saying. I'm not going to waste my best material on it."

The enenra opened its maw, and a stream of red fire and black smoke came out, incinerating wood and concrete on its path, the force of the blast strong enough to carve a path through almost every surface. The beam of flames followed the blue tissue-clad twin, this one yelping and jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

"What the hell? He insulted you. I didn't!"

Isao, for his part, let at the creature, dropping a multitude of bombs on its head, this one twisting and shaking from the successive blasts, making its attack falter. "Leave him alone!"

Then the great demon reared its leg back as he landed and kicked him away. His body rolled multiple times over the ground before finally connecting painfully with a wall.

"Isao!" Isamu quickly hurried to his twin, taking him in his arms as he groaned in pain. "You okay?!"

"Feel I broke something..."

Then the enenra was upon them, a tower of fury and malice, roaring as it charged another blast on its maw. Isamu quickly tried to get his brother out of the way, but suddenly the crackle of lightning filled the area.

"Not getting away!" Kakashi appeared between the enenra and the twins, dual vaguely-shaped spheres of lightning shining in his palms, arcs of electricity running through the air. "Raikiri!" He thrust one of his attacks forward, directly impacting the creature's center of mass. Again, a blast of electricity carried the beast on, this one having to dig its heels on the ground so as not to be sent flying, yet the attack created a stream of blue energy on its path.

Then Kakashi's frame seemed to disappear as the second Raikiri in his hand carried him with the speed of lightning, jumping from point to point in the air as he left a jagged trail of lightning on his path, moving with such speed he soon appeared behind the enenra where he suddenly stopped.

His Raikiri-held hand shivered with barely contained power. "Sōraishin!"

A flash of lightning and a sound like thunder. The stream of energy that had pushed the enenra was cleaved in two... much like the demon itself.

A dual whistle came from the twins observing the two halves of the demon hitting the ground. "Not bad, Kakashi-San," Isamu gave a thumbs up with a grin.

"To think Kageken and Konoha Shinobi were getting along," The older man chuckled in amusement.

Isao slumped, "Our group isn't what it used to be, man."

"It's noticeable with you two," Kakashi lamented honestly, "But doubt my superiors and our new Hokage especially would listen."

"...Well, that sucks," Isamu groaned.

Hatake nodded, "Yup, the night's not over." Then, without another word, the trio charged toward another demonic monster.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

An angry fist from a enrage Kotarō knocked one of the Enera back. "I was having actual fucking fun till you assholes showed up!" She pointed over at the now Kyuubi charged Kushina, facing another of the smoke demons, "and now she's even stronger than before and NOT FIGHTING ME!"

Kosuke deadpans, fighting beside her with his bear comrade, "You want them to apologize or something?"

"THAT WOULD BE NICE HANDSOME!"

She had such a great thing going, a fight that would satisfy her, a fantastic opponent... and then these fucking demons showed up. Robbing her of all her fun. Yet, she had held up her end of the bargain, not harming any of the rebels, well, at least gone out of her way to avoid killing anyone. Because she knew a fight with the Red Death would be worth it.

Kotarō was pissed. And she knew who to take out her anger on.

As she watched the Uzumaki shrouded in red chakra fighting head-on against the wild Enenra, Kotarō grit her teeth in frustration, knowing it should be her that should be facing the woman.

With bloodcurdling rage, the orange-haired woman shouted. "I'm not letting you assholes win! This was my fight!"

Her chakra exploded, circulating with such potency it became visible, cracking the ground around her with sheer pressure. The Kotarō clan's specialty lay in their members developing the perfect bodies. Generations of genetic programs had resulted in some of the finest specimens of humans, whose natural physical prowess rivaled those who would empower their bodies greatly with chakra.

Some would develop the ability to further endow their strength by channeling chakra and forcefully increasing the oxygen regulation and potency in which chakra would circulate, releasing powerful chemicals all through their muscles.

Kotarō, the current clan head, was one such individual.

Veins throbbed under her skin as her muscles seemed to grow even stronger, veins throbbing under her skin. Finally, blood overflow caused small vessels to rupture, causing her eyes to become hellish red.

She grinned savagely and leaped with such force it cracked the ground beneath her feet. Then, with this speed and strength, she buried her fist into an enenra's stomach, her limb piercing through their ashy flesh and deep into it.

Kushina barely stopped at the sudden interjection, and with a chakra-shrouded leg, she cut the demon's head clean off with a sweeping kick.

The remains of the monster became ash and smoke.

The two warrior women stared at each other.

"...You and I are going to fight one day again," Kotarō said with a full smile. "Be it in the sea or the sky, to the death or not, I don't care. But we WILL fight."

Perhaps it was her fiery Uzumaki blood, adrenaline, or maybe the fox's chakra. But a wide savage smile bloomed on Kushina's lips. "You bet your ass we are Kotarō."

The Fūma head barked out a laugh, "That's what I want to hear!" Both ladies sharply turned their heads upon hearing a cry from one of Enenra, who Kosuke tore its off arms with nothing but his sheer strength. The demon's death soon came from the giant maw of Kuma, who bit down on its neck.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Surveying his surroundings, the Oni glared at the Jinchurriki child and the other younglings that soon came to his side beside the Uchiha. Soujiro stood firm with both hands on the hilt of his swords. Sakura stood in a fighting stance, and Karin held a kunai in each hand beside her brother. Said blond stood on all fours as it was more comfortable using Kurama's chakra. Sasuke stood ready with his Sharingan ablaze.

A growl of approval came from the blue-skinned beast, "You are worthy of my respect. Rare to find true warriors, and in children no less."

"We stopped being children the moment we became shinobi," Sakura quipped, reciting Sasuke's words he said once.

The Oni smiled, "Spoken well, a pity though. I would have liked to have seen your progress. A shame for it ends tonight."

Naruto pounced, a chakra-shrouded claw swiping at the Oni. The demon ducked, closing in and grasping Naruto's head in his palm. He slammed the young to the ground, making cracks over its surface. The blonde would not let himself be trapped like that, though, and pounded both hands to the side, creating two crystal peaks that erupted from the surface and towards the demon.

But the Oni was faster and leaped out of the way. Unfortunately, the moment he did so, he found himself under a barrage of small fireballs, which impacted him with great speed and precision. Sasuke continued his attack but ceased with wide eyes; he realized the demon wasn't even phased and looked annoyed.

"Really?" The blue demon droned. "You know an oni doesn't burn, right?"

Then, a fist slammed onto his jaw, courtesy of Sakura, who sent him flying towards a building.

A roar came from the demon, smashing through the walls. The pinkette brushed aside a stray bang, "deception is a shinobi's bed and butter ugly!"

Wind chakra surrounded Soujiro's blade as he raised it over his head with both hands. Calm determination glowed from his gaze as he slashed downwards, unleashing a significant edge of wind that shot forward towards the fallen Oni. The attack tore through the building, making it collapse on top of the blue-skinned beast.

"As Uzumaki, we must slay all demons who bring harm to the innocent and want to corrupt the world," the young swordsman reciting the words he learned from his father.

Slowly the Oni rose from the rubble with a scowl. His body was littered with cuts from the fallen debris that struck him. "I thought I smelled the wretched stench of dragon blood." His eyes focused on the blond and two redheads, "Then let the torment begin!" His hand erupted in flames and tossed them at the five teens who scattered. He leaped into the air with surprising agility and strength. Then, clutching his hands with fire enveloping them, he put them down with force on his primary target.

A growl came from Naruto as he saw the demon go for him. He sidestepped with enough distance as the Oni's fists came down. The ground cracked and rose slightly, but the demon pressed on towards the blond, who reared back a Bijuu-powered crystal-covered fist. Both roared as their fists impacted with enough force to erupt the ground beneath them.

"So eager to fight for these people," The Oni mocked with a wry grin. "You gave up your home for a place that will not remember your sacrifice" Their fist shook as they pushed against each other.

"I don't give a damn," Naruto grunted through his teeth. "I'm not gonna stand back while these people suffer and freak like you do as they please!"

"Awww, aren't you the brave hero?" The demon leaned down his grin widening and showing his sharp fangs like Naruto was a tasty little morsel he couldn't wait to devour. "Be proud, boy. You'll die for them this day. How noble~."

At his taunts, Naruto showed his defiance and smiled. "If that's what it takes to save them from you..."

The demon... froze. His smile was gone. He was just looking at Naruto with an undecipherable expression.

The boy's will showed... that smile in the face of certain death. So long as he could protect others, he showed no fear. The way his eyes shone with unrivaled determination, the Bijuu's chakra making them blaze red. It looked like...

No.

The demon's mouth trembled and uttered a single word with vileness like it was a foul curse. "Heir..."

Perched on the roof of a building, the Oni's crow familiar turned its gaze to the blond Uzumaki. Said boy only cocked a confused brow, now seeing pure rage glow from the demon's eyes, "I shall burn your soul to nothing! Heir of Rama!"

A low snarl came from Kurama. He had once heard of that title among the fox clan but never paid any attention to it.

The Oni's fists and forearms were engulfed in flames as he roared, rearing up his free fist. But pain etched in his face as Kunai and shuriken pierced into the flesh of his back. He sharply turned his gaze, for which his jaw was struck by a gloved hand from Sakura, sending him flying. "You have to go through us first!"

Leaping through the air, Sasuke and Karin sent a volley of more shuriken and Kunai while Soujiro charged up his wind attack once more around his katana.

"You face a team, you demon," Sasuke reproached, landing beside Naruto and Sakura with Karin standing close by. "And this team is going to take you down."

Soujiro sent his wind attack into the flying demon, who snarled before slamming into a wall. He said nothing but roared, charging at the four teenagers.

Sakura charged first, rearing a fist filled with chakra circulating with perfect efficiency, ready to release it with pinpoint precision. Instead, the demon struck head-on at the girl, seeking to collide his fist with her own. But to his surprise, Sakura docked at the last moment and slammed her fist into the ground. Stone-broke and chunks of earth were uprooted like spikes, and the demon lost his balance.

Sakura backed away and let Karin do her part. The redheaded Uzu girl twirled in the air as wires came out from her sleeves. Wrapping around the oni, she pressed her hands together in the ground, and the fires were connected upon a seal matrix which formed instantly. Chakra flowed from the seals to the demon's bonds, reinforcing them. The oni struggled, and while he could break free eventually, that still left him vulnerable.

An opportunity that the others exploited. Sasuke rushed in with a Chidori in hand, a large gashing burn trailing on its path as he dragged his attack over the demon's back. He howled in pain, arching back, leaving his chest exposed for Soujiro to cut it apart with a water chakra-enhanced blade. The slash was so swift and deep that it created a torrent of blood oozing from the demon's body.

The oni could only wheeze out in pain, weakened and bound as he was, leaving him at the mercy of children. No... not simple children. There was nothing ordinary about one of them.

The Heir drew close, a spiraling sphere of red chakra blazing in his hand. The last thing he saw was those determined eyes as the attack slammed upon his weakened body.

Naruto's Shui Rasengan tore through the Oni's chest like a drill and cannonball combined. The hole in his chest was large, showing his missing vital organs and heart that were obliterated by the jutsu. Karin's wires slacked and retreated into his sleeves, letting the demon fall like a stringless marionette.

A shriek-like caw came from the spectral crow as it soon flew away into the night.

The five teens huffed before noticing the final Enenra was brought down by rebel and Daimyo forces. Kurama's chakra cloaks soon faded from Naruto and Kushina, who both hunched forward with exhaustion from using such powerful chakra. Kosuke was at her side like the wind as a pregnant silence took over the battlefield.

Takeda shifted to look at his grandfather before a lone gunshot rang out, and a bullet grazed the young man's arm. All eyes sharply turned to a single soldier who held up his rifle.

Outrage rang out from a person's voice, "What the hell are you doing!?"

"This man and his rebels are still enemies of our nation!"

Isamu and Isao gave the lone soldier a double-take, "We just teamed up against some demons YOUR Daimyo allowed to summon. And you are still on his side?!" Then, finally, the red bandana-wearing brother yelled in anger.

"For the good Han'ei!" The lone soldier was quickly knocked out via a punch courtesy of the last superior officer among the soldiers.

Gazes were now focused on the man whose chest heaved, "I served Han'ei for thirty years." Angrily he tore off his helmet and threw it to the ground revealing a man in his fifties. "Thirty years, I have placed my loyalty to the people of Han'ei!" He was a man Shibata soon recognized, "And look at it! Look what it has become! What we ALLOWED it to become!" His voice broke as he screamed with shame and regret.

"Danuja," The old samurai muttered.

Tears ran down Danuja's eyes, turning his gaze to Shibata. He said nothing before falling to his knees and bowing before Takeda. Soon, and much to the shock of the rebels and Konoha nin, the remaining soldiers followed their commander's example. With only a few protesting before being silenced by the others.

"We surrender," Danuja rested his forehead on the ground.

Takeda watched with a hardened gaze. He took a long breath through his nose as he controlled his emotion. So many were people surrendering out of fear, cowards who had complied with their Daimyo's will with a grin. How many of them were the same as those who killed his family? How many of them genuinely were good people? Who among them truly sought to atone?

He just didn't know, but victory was at hand for now.

Takeda removed the hand, nursing his superficial wound, looking at the hand dirty with grim and blood, his own and those he killed this day.

There had been so much death today.

But there was still one more life to take.

The young rebel commanded his forces, "Keep a close eye on them. I don't want others getting ideas."

"As you command," One of his lieutenants said. The Kageken twins nodded, promising the two would make sure the enemy was adequately disarmed.

Takeda nodded in thanks before looking at the palace at the city's center, his gaze darkening. "The rest, with me... it's time to finish this."

The rebel leader and his closest allies began marching towards their last objective. As he passed by, Takeda looked at the shinobi, "Are you coming?"

"In a moment," The Uzumaki matriarch said, "We'll be with you to ensure nothing else happens."

Nodding, the rebels continued.

Before joining them, Kushina sighed and gathered her strength. Using Kurama's chakra after so long sure felt different. Kosuke helped her get up as Naruto and the others reunited.

"So... we won," Sakura said, sounding very tired.

"The soldiers just gave up," Karin added, "They know they can't win."

"Many will be imprisoned, others executed under the new government," Kakashi brought up. "They are still the same people who committed many atrocities under Tokuhara's commands."

"Well, sounds like a happy ending to me" They stiffened upon hearing Kotarō's mirth-filled voice. "Now, I believe you and I have unfinished business..."

Kushina snorted, "You really want us to fight when neither of us is at our best?"

Upon hearing those words, a grunted chuckle escaped the tall, muscular woman's lips. "Okay, fair point." She groaned out of soreness as she stretched, "A lot of sake sounds good right now." She shook the tension out of her body before peering back at Kushina, "But make no mistake. We're going to have round two eventually." She points the finger at the redheaded woman, "No empty fists shit next time. I want to fight you at your absolute best."

"You got it, Kotarō," Kushina offered a rueful smile, "How about just not as enemies too?"

The Fuma clan head snorted as she turned on her heels and began to leave the area, "Who knows, Red! Nice meeting you all!"

Isao turned to his brother, "Uh, shouldn't we, you know, stop her?"

"Leave her be," Kosuke retorted at them, "She is no longer our enemy."

Naruto, however, said nothing. Instead, his thoughts were clouded as he peered up at the Daimyo's palace before staring at the ground.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Sitting upon his throne, Tokuhara only glared as he watched the doors of his palace room kicked open by Shibata. He, along with his grandson, came inside with hardened gazes. Only one person stood before the two protecting the Daimyo. Moroi Akuta said no word as his katana was drawn at the two.

His eyes and the elderly samurai gazed long and hard at one another.

"Traitor," The commander of Han'ei bitterly spat at the older man. "You should have died with your clan."

"Honorless cur," Shibata retorted, "It should be you dead and buried, not all those good men and women."

"I lived with the utmost loyalty to the ruling clan" Moroi slowly shifted into stance, "Unlike you."

"Do you have no regrets then?"

"None"

Shibata merely stared at the man. "Good"

Moroi dashed towards the older samurai, his steps a blur of movement as chakra shrouded his blade. Yet the giant samurai anticipated his attack. But instead, his larger katana completely shattered the man's sword and cut through his neck.

Moroi's body fell to the ground, his head a few feet away from it.

Tokuhara's grip tightened on his armrests. "He was a loyal man, a good man... how many good men have you killed?" He accused the young rebel.

Takeda was unphased by the Daimyo's words. "Your definition of 'good' is warped and vile. As is everything about you and your rule."

A sneer crossed the Daimyo's lips, "Do you even grasp the concept of what it means to rule a nation, boy?"

"I know enough that a good ruler gives to his people. Protects them from all that would do them harm. Not starve them out of their houses and homes. Letting families suffer and die on the streets just so you can have a few more coins."

"Such naivety," Tokuhara scoffed, "The commoners are merely tools for the highborn. They exist to serve their betters and be discarded once their usefulness has been spent. Sheep that must be herded and farmed so that their betters can do the tasks they could never comprehend or complete."

Disgust bore on Shibata's face as he shook his head.

Takeda soon stood in front of the seated man. His eyes burned with steely anger. His head gripped his katana tightly, "And that is why you are unfit to be a daimyo!" Then, he reared his arm and trusted his sword through Tokuhara's chest.

To his credit, he did not cry out but gnashed his teeth, glaring at the younger man. "At least I died as a lord… than having lived a peasant… like you" his final words were full of hate and spite before his head slumped forward.

Takeda's hand trembled as he slowly let go of the blade, his face set in a firm scowl as his eyes twitched. He grits his teeth as he forced the tears from falling, and failed.

After what had felt like an eternity, all the struggle, all the pain, and bloodshed… it was over. Tokuhara was dead. His people were free. The victims had been avenged.

His mother, his sister. All of them.

So here he was, the target of all his hatred dead by his hand. And all he could feel was grief, the grief he never allowed himself to feel before. Always pushing it away, shouldering the burdens for the sake of his people.

But now it was over, he could cry for his family openly. There was no reason for him to be strong anymore.

He sobbed, pawning at his eyes in a futile attempt to stop the tears. Shibata knelt before his grandson and hugged him tightly, letting him know it was all alright now. "It's over… we won"

Takeda didn't reply, he knew only incoherent babbling would come out of his mouth. So, instead, he cried in mourning for his people, for all the pain they had to endure for so long. But he also cried in relief, feeling overwhelmed by this sense of victory and justice long since denied to them.

It was over.

But for the shinobi who arrived at the scene, seeing the body of their former employer, they knew things were far from over for them.

This war was over… but a new battle awaited them, one that would determine their fates within the Leaf.

Naruto watched the corpse of the man who had caused so much pain and felt vindication. He heard Takeda's cry and wished they could have been allies from the start.

For the first time in his young life, Naruto wished wasn't a ninja.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX