Unlucky

Chapter 7

"Raikiri Issen!"

Naruto raced across the battlefield, no more than a yellow blur. Thunder roared and lightning flashed with every move he made. And left behind were the decapitated heads of over several dozen Zetsu.

He moved in semi-circular patterns, always trying to angle himself so he landed as close to his team as possible, but at such high levels of speed it wasn't always easy to maintain such precise movements. And occasionally he ended up placing himself right in the thick of the enemy.

The sheer number of Zetsu was both a blessing and a curse. It was a good thing in that Naruto hardly had to aim, just slicing randomly at neck level was good enough to land his instant killing strikes. However, where it wasn't so good was that when he finished his movement there was always a split second where he was open to counter attack and there was almost always an enemy in range to make good on that opportunity.

"Hakkesho Kaiten!" This is why having his team nearby was so important. Neji spun around like a top, unleashing chakra from every point in his body simultaneously. Any and all of the Zetsu near Naruto were immediately knocked aloft, like debris caught in a tornado.

Shino's Kikaichu were waiting in the air, catching the Zetsu before they could get their bearings and holding them aloft. In perfect striking distance for Fu who had taken to the sky, using her red chakra cloak like a battering ram to smash into the captured Zetsu, the blunt force trauma enough to kill them on impact.

By the time Fu had finished killing all the Zetsu that were in the air and Naruto was already a bolt of lightning again. Like a well-oiled machine, the four of them had settled into this constant routine without even sharing a single word of strategy. They all understood their roles and trusted one another completely to do their part. For it was only with complete trust that such teamwork would be possible.

In this regard, Fu was really thankful she had managed to convince the others to open up to her the night before. Even if her method had been unorthodox, the fact that it had allowed for symmetry of this level between members of different villages was nothing to look down on.

In the distance there were several more explosions, the four of them drawing closer and closer to linking up with their allies with every rotation of attacks. Of course, their strategy couldn't hold water forever and the enemy wasn't simply a mindless mass of zombies- no matter how much it seemed like they were at first glance.

For each and every Zetsu was also unique in some way or another. Sometimes the differences between them were miniscule things. Other times they were more noticeable. In the heat of war it was impossible to pick out the individual characteristics of each and every opponent, but it was a mistake to assume things would continue to go well just because the next one seemed the same as the last.

A mistake Naruto learned first hand as his lightning blade failed to completely slice through the thick, muscular arms of one Zetsu in particular that managed to react in time to guard against his attack.

"Ah shit-" Naruto realized his mistake too late. The Zetsu that blocked his strike returned fire, catching the blond with a strong right hook that knocked him into the outstretched arms of a waiting group. In seconds they had him pinned.

"Naruto!" Fu banked hard, turning her current horizontal momentum to a vertical divebomb. She hit the ground hard, her chakra cloak blunting most of the damage to herself while also acting as a shockwave that sent the Zetsu tumbling into an unrecognizable mess of limbs.

"I owe ya- again." Naruto stumbled to his feet, wincing slightly from some kind of ache or pain. If he was anything like Fu, he would heal quickly enough but there was no telling whether their advanced regeneration would keep up with the bruises and wounds they would inevitably keep accumulating during battle. Against an army that seemed endless no less.

Even time for conversation was something they could ill afford. The ground beneath their feet burst open, roots of thick wood grabbing at the two Jinchuriki. They were already prepared for such an attack, both of them leaping away in tandem and seeking the one that was capable of such advanced wood techniques.

"There!" Naruto pointed at the same Zetsu that had guarded against his attack. The arms of this Zetsu were thick, swollen to nearly twice the size of the standard version. Both hands were sunk into the dirt, no doubt channeling the Jutsu that nearly trapped them.

Fu didn't even land, taking flight in a straight path for this enhanced Zetsu. Before she was even halfway there, a wave Zetsu closed on from all sides around her. Despite this, Fu didn't adjust her angle and merely continued to power on forward, no matter what came her way. This was because she heard that clap of thunder and felt the already familiar static of electricity.

None of her pursuers got close, Naruto ricocheting off them like a bullet, blasting them away and leaving Fu's path wide open. The Zetsu she charged at didn't so much as have time to lift its arms from the ground and she was on it. The red chakra around her right arm formed into a piercing spear- more accurately the horn of a rhinoceros beetle. And she used that horn to blow the entire upper body of the Zetsu clean away, sending white hunks scattering in every direction.

Yet there was no time to celebrate such a small victory. A myriad of pale, disgusting hands reached for her with single-minded purpose. It was like a nightmare, one with no end in sight. The red chakra wings on her back flared and beat, causing bursts of steaming hot air to jettison outwards that knocked them back and gave her a little more room to breathe, but she knew even that would be short-lived.

"Just a little more." Neji called out in reassurance, as he and Shino managed to make their way back to her and Naruto. "We're close to our allies now." He said.

She knew those words were meant to be encouraging, but Fu had another worry now. Just how were there so many of these Zetsu and all in one place? She was aware that the estimated number of them was over a hundred-thousand, but she had been away from the battlefield for a week and Konoha had been fighting them all that time. Their numbers must have certainly dwindled, yet they managed to have a force of this size on the first battlefield she stumbled across? Perhaps deeper into enemy territory these numbers would make sense, but they were well on their side of the supposed battlelines. There was only one explanation she thought of that made sense.

Her luck really was rotten.

This continued to prove true, even in moments when it seemed like the opposite was happening. Neji's earlier words of reassurance were more on the money than even he seemed to realize, a storm of fireballs raining down around them and wiping out the pressing advance of the clambering Zetsu.

"This kind of fire Jutsu…" Shino said, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. Yet Fu felt like she understood what he meant. Elemental techniques at this level with such high control were difficult to master and there was only one clan that had such mastery over such powerful fire Jutsu.

"Uchiha Itachi." Neji said, looking at a man with his Byakugan eyes that hadn't yet entered into Fu's vision. He appeared as if a mirage a moment later, striding confidently through the fire and smoke.

Despite being their ally and having just saved them from another bout of fruitless battle, the tension in their bodies didn't let up in the slightest. In fact, they only seemed to find themselves more on edge. Something that certainly wouldn't escape the perceptive Sharingan eye of the infamous Uchiha clan.

The Third Hokage's warning echoed inside Fu's mind. Could this man of the Uchiha be trusted? The one supposedly manipulating the enemy army was none other than his ancestor, Uchiha Madara. This meant the allegiance of the Uchiha clan itself was in question. Even if they didn't know about his role in the battle yet, would they still side with Konoha after finding out?

There was no way of knowing, but for the moment it didn't really matter. They had their orders. And those orders were to report directly to the Fourth, Uzumaki Kushina and no one else. So long as this Uchiha Itachi didn't engage them first, they had no reason to treat him as an enemy.

"This is a… surprise." Itachi said slowly, appearing to be on guard himself. "What is going on here? What are Naruto and the Takigakure Jinchuriki doing here on the battlefield?" His question was well warranted. The enemy's prime objective was the collection of the Biju, after all. As such, any strategist would tell you it was unwise for them to be here.

"We're here because we can help." Naruto snapped back. Anyone that knew him would certainly know of his rashness and confidence. And as Itachi smirked knowingly, Fu could only assume the two were at least somewhat acquainted.

"We have a mission." Neji continued, explaining in the briefest of details what they had been sent here to do. Naturally, he left out anything pertaining to the Uchiha clan and their possible involvement, only giving the information necessary to speed things along.

"I understand." Itachi nodded in acceptance after Neji finished. "Follow me then, I'll guide you to where we have set up camp." He didn't wait for their response, turning around and sprinting towards the way he had come. There was no time for protest and the others raced after him, catching up quickly.

All around them and the battle raged on, but now they were surrounded by allies as well as enemies. If any of the Zetsu got close to them and a Konoha Ninja was nearby enough to ward them off, allowing them to move unmolested. This didn't mean they could afford to stop and so any conversation had to be made while on the move.

"How's Sasuke?" Naruto asked, bringing up some name that Fu hadn't yet heard.

"He's in a different unit." Itachi answered, his emotions impossible for Fu to read. "A highly developed Sharingan is the only other way to read through Zetsu's transformation ability, so those that have the ability have been scattered throughout the war zone to take the burden off of Lord Fourth."

This was new information. The Third had mentioned only Naruto and his mother had the ability to spot the real from the fakes. Even she had been fooled, not even for a second thinking the form of her master could be a fake- That was how flawless their transformation was. Yet now it would seem that the circumstances had changed. Which certainly… complicated things.

They weren't even sure they could trust the Uchiha and yet they were unquestionably essential to the war effort. Especially if the battlefields only got more chaotic from here. Which reminded Fu of her earlier observation.

"Why are there so many Zetsu on this side of the battlefield?" She asked before she could even stop herself. Itachi's attention turned to her now and she found herself unable to meet his gaze. It was common knowledge to never look in the eye of the Sharingan, lest you find yourself caught in their powerful Genjutsu.

"...You can trust her." Neji said after Itachi didn't respond right away. She had forgotten that she wasn't exactly a known quantity to the rest of Konoha's forces. She had managed to earn this small group's trust with her insane hot spring stunt, but she very much doubted she could ever do that again.

"Honestly speaking, the movement of the enemy army is near impossible for us to accurately predict." Itachi admitted the terrifying truth with an almost detached interest. Like it didn't even involve him. "Thousands of them appear behind us after we've already fought through an area, pincering our armies no matter how many times we double-check our rears. We have yet to figure out how they keep doing it." He said.

Yet one more thing for them to worry about. On top of their sheer numbers and being able to transform, they could also move large forces completely undetected. The more Fu heard and the more she wondered if there was actually any victory to be found out here. It was no wonder her smaller village had been so quickly wiped off the map.

The sounds of the battles around them were getting quieter now and more infrequent. As Itachi led them into a forest and away from the open war-torn field his pace began to slow. It wasn't what you could even call a slow jog, but they were far from the full-sprint they had been in when fleeing through the active battlefield.

Not that this forest appeared perfectly safe by any stretch of the imagination and the five of them maintained their guard the whole way. Here and there, Fu caught glimpses of pale white bodies scattered throughout, and saw flashes of movement, but most of it was obscured by the dense trees.

Eventually they came to the camp that Itachi spoke of. It was more like a fort than a camp, a wooden barricade having been built around a small clearing in the forest. Two members of the Akimichi clan stood guard outside, tensing up when they saw the unfamiliar face of Fu.

"It's fine. Her identity has been verified." Itachi waved them off and they both stood down. However, they continued to glare at her even as she walked past. It would appear trust wasn't easy to earn out here on the warfront. Not that she could blame them.

The inside of the camp was in complete pandemonium, officers shouting orders as they leaned over maps. The wounded were being dragged back in. Every single person that attempted to enter appeared to be met with distrust. So it hadn't just been her.

Fu couldn't imagine it, the kind of toll it must take on your psyche to constantly doubt everyone around you and wonder if they were even really your comrades. This war against the Zetsu must have been a different kind of hell.

"Wait here." Itachi had guided them to the center of the fort where a big tent had been erected. He disappeared inside, where they could hear hushed voices exchanged for several seconds. Then there was silence. Finally, Itachi came back out from the tent, holding the flap open in a wordless invitation.

The four of them went inside. Her three teammates immediately went rigid when they saw who it was waiting for them. Fu didn't have to guess why. It was a middle-aged man with a Mangekyo Sharingan, yet another member of the Uchiha Clan. What's more, he was clearly the leader here. And Sarutobi Hiruzen had told them specifically about one such person that fit this criteria. He had also said in no unsimple terms not to give the information they carried to him under any circumstances what-so-ever.

"This is my father, Uchiha Fugaku." Itachi introduced, confirming what Fu had already realized.

"Welcome to hell." Fugaku stood up from behind the desk he had been standing behind. He smiled at them disarmingly, but it was ragged and worn-down. He had heavy bags under his eyes and there seemed to be dried blood on the bridge of his nose, as if his eyes had been bleeding not long ago. When none of them responded to his off-kilter joke, he frowned.

"News is that bad, huh?" He asked, running a hand through his graying brown hair. "I guess it would have to be for Lord Third to send both Jinchuriki out here." He already knew who Fu was. Itachi might have told him, but she got the impression he had simply known at a glance. She was an essential target for the enemy, after all. And he was one of the leaders of this offensive, so it made sense he would need to know who she was.

"Sir," Neji began. "No disrespect, but the information we carry is for Lord Fourth's eyes only." He didn't pull out the scroll he was carrying that the Third Hokage had written, but his hand did unconsciously hover under the pouch he had placed it in.

"I see." Fugaku closed his eyes and nodded, before letting out a sigh. "I can understand why Lord Third gave such an order. We didn't know the Sharingan could also find the hidden enemy until after the battle had already begun. The situation is different now, so you can trust me with the information." He held out his hand, waiting for the scroll to be placed in it.

Neji hesitated for a moment, glancing at his team. He swallowed the lump in his throat before straightening his shoulders and standing tall.

"I'm afraid I have to refuse that order, Sir." He said, causing Fugaku's eyes to narrow. "Our mission is to give the scroll to Lord Fourth and no one else. Regardless of the present situation." He stood his ground, even under the scrutiny of a Mangekyo Sharingan.

What Neji couldn't say was the real reason he couldn't hand the scroll over. It was very possible this army they were fighting was being led by Uchiha Madara. Fugaku's own flesh and blood. Giving him such information created a conflict of interest that couldn't be allowed to happen.

As if realizing Neji wouldn't budge on the issue, Fugaku sunk back into his chair and let out another tired sigh. He ran his fingers over the map of the entire battlefield on the table in front of him, flattening out the creases as if it was a nervous tick. Neji and his team all shared concerned eye contact once more.

"...She's gone." Fugaku mumbled under his breath, almost so quiet that they missed it.

"What?" Naruto asked, stepping forward with a sudden panic in his eye. "What do you mean!?" He shouted.

"Lord Fourth." Fugaku clarified, looking up at Naruto, his expression apologetic. "Kushina, she… she took a small hit-squad and blasted a hole through the enemy barricade. To where we believe the enemy leader is. Shortly after that, we lost communication with her. Either she's trapped back there, deep in enemy lines or…" He trailed off, not finishing that statement.

"No way…" Naruto shook his head, refusing to believe what he was hearing.

"Before she left, she put me in command of the war effort." Fugaku said, his shoulders heavy. It was obvious to all of them he felt the weight of that role. "I'm the one in charge here."

The absolute last person they could trust with the scroll was the leader of Konoha's army…

…And Uzumaki Kushina was lost.

Chapter 7: End

Author's Notes: Long time no see on this one.

I had a flash of inspiration for what to do with this fic and it upped my motivation. Besides, the chapters in this are shorter than my other stuff. So it's a little easier to crank out something after only a little bit of time. As you can probably tell by the pacing of this fic too, but it won't be a long one overall.

Anyways, see you next time!