Title: Wishes Are Free

Author: Cheza-chan

Rating: R

Pairing: KakaIru, SasuNaru, SakuOC

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto—oh, I wish I did—but I own Kan'you, all the characters of the Hidden Wave Village. I own the Hidden Wave Village because I created it! I own the Hidden Wave Village's special jutsus, etc.

A/N: I'm not sure what I can say right now… Just that, this is it. This is what we've been all waiting for, well, hopefully, what some of you have been waiting for. The end—the end is finally here. I just want to give a special shout-out to Polka Dot for the constant reviews—thanks:;talking like she's ending it right here and now XD;: And also, I wanna thank Yohko-chan for the reviews and for the advice and for the encouragement… :;should really quit while she's ahead:;

All right, let's get this show on the road! A little piece of advice here below this sentence that was in the last chapter—I just left it there.

/ ….. / the kyuubi speaking.


Chapter Twenty-Five – Owari Da

After learning of the subtle evacuation, Naruto asked a favor of his Hokage. He wanted her to keep a watchful eye on Kaoru. Tsunade knew to do this better than anyone. As she stared down at the sleeping boy in the hospital bed, she smiled as she realized he was just like Naruto.

Shunned because of his existence, he had yet to be accepted and was scared of letting anyone in.

When things were settled once again, she would offer Shuku May two options, one of which the children could benefit from. Until then, the Godaime would stand by and watch from the sidelines because this was a growing experience for her four Konoha ninjas.

Tsunade glanced over her shoulder at the other bed and sighed. She knew Oyasa would come out of his comatose state soon enough, but things would never be the same—for any of these children.


Naruto sat silently as Iruka changed his bandages once more, idly twirling the jewel that hung from the chain around his neck between his fingers.

Sasuke had left earlier in the day to see who was willing to join them—he would ask only those he associated with—with Miyako being the first person he would confront. He'd consult with Haka next, but only because Naruto had pleaded with him to do so. His Hidden Wave teammates would come later.

The blonde dropped his hands in his lap after the man finished, and stared at the pleasantly smiling face across from his. "Iruka-sensei, is this it?"

Iruka blinked a few times as he decided on an answer for the boy's broad question. "Is what it?" he finally asked, breaking the cardinal rule to never answer a question with a question.

"Everything," Naruto sighed as he reached for his discarded blue shirt. "It's like fate's having a go at us all—first Sasuke, now Sakura-chan. Are we all destined to have our lives put on trial? Are you next?" He dropped back down into the chair with a groan. "I'm talking about fate and destiny now… I'm turning into Neji."

Iruka chuckled with a smile and tousled the blonde locks fondly. He let his hand linger for a while as he thought on what the boy was saying. Would this be the last time he and Naruto would sit together like this? Naruto reached out, head lowered and eyes shadowed, and embraced the Chuunin in a fierce hug.

'Naruto…' Iruka wrapped both arms around the young boy, sighing softly.

They pulled apart several moments later, Naruto scrubbing at his face to get rid of any stray tears. He gave a wide grin to the man and stood, grabbing his black mesh shirt along the way. "I'm going to spend some time with someone I should have been visiting at least once a week," he announced. "Hopefully Tsunade-no-baachan hasn't moved them yet. Ja ne, Iruka-sensei!"

The dolphin gave a polite wave.

"You, too, Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi smirked from under his mask. From behind the wall where he had been hiding, he stretched his arm out, giving a small wave. Naruto laughed and ran out of the "Umino" house. He made a hard right and continued at his fast pace.

The town was almost deserted now, and to find a footprint in the melting snow was rare. Even though it was likely the area was unsafe, the blonde veered off into the woods where he took to leaping from tree branch to tree branch. Inari's house shouldn't be too far now. The water and small pier came into view, then the two-story structure.

Naruto landed and ran across the wooden planks supported by pillars to the house where he knocked excitedly on the door. "Please be there," he pleaded aloud.

"Hai, hai!" a woman's voice yelled from inside. Naruto hopped restlessly from foot to foot, waiting for the door to be opened. He darted in as it was, causing the woman to gasp. "Inari!" he yelled.

Tsunami sighed, relaxing, and closed the door with a smile. "You're lucky. We were just about to leave. Inari-kun's upstairs."

"Hai!" Naruto chuckled and ran off down the hall. He took the stairs two at a time and burst into the boy's room. "Inari!"

"Naruto-no-oniichan!" Laughing, both boys raised an arm, knocking their fists together lightly as a symbol of their friendship. "Hey!" Inari pointed to Naruto's forehead.

"Shh!" The blonde placed a finger to his grinning lips. "I'm on a secret mission."

"Un!"

With their hands on their hips, both boys laughed loudly about nothing in particular. They reduced the sounds to giggles as Tsunami ordered them to be quiet from the bottom of the stairs. Naruto followed the boy out of the bedroom window and up onto the roof.

Inari sighed deeply and pulled his knees up to his chest. "I wanted to start going to the Academy," he began, staring out at the ocean. "But kaa-chan wouldn't let me."

"Your mom's right not to let you go."

Inari turned and stared with wide eyes at the shinobi stretched out on the roof.

Naruto smiled and tucked his arms behind his head. "You understand how much your mother loves you, right?"

"Un." The dark-haired child nodded.

"Do you know how much pain you'll be causing her when you go off on missions for long periods of time? Me? I've got no one to go back to—"

"That's not true!" Inari yelled, standing abruptly. He glared down at the blonde Genin after springing to his feet. His arms were pressed against his sides and hands clenched into tight fists. "You have friends to go back to. You have an entire village. You're a hero!"

Naruto blinked then laughed, grinning. "Hero, huh? I guess you're right! Where's that old man we saved last time I was here?"

Inari opened his mouth, but snapped it shut at the sound of his name being yelled. He jumped over the other body with a laugh and ran to the end of the roof. "There he is!" he exclaimed, waving.

Naruto sat up then stood, strutting over with his hands on his hips. His eyes narrowed at the shinobi standing next to Tazuna and Tsunami. He scoffed then placed a hand to the boy's shoulder. "Take good care of your mom like last time."

"Un!" Inari nodded again. He didn't know what the threat was, but he knew it was serious if everyone was being evacuated. His dark eyes widened as he was lifted and he yelled as Naruto jumped from the roof. The blonde landed, setting Inari back on solid ground, and glared at the Jounin.

Hizaku sighed inwardly. He figured just about everyone that knew he was Sakura's team leader hated him now, especially the boys and men she'd arrived in the village with. He turned to address the adults.

In just a few moments, Naruto was watching the family and ninja escorting them walk off the pier. He sighed, sticking a finger in his ear, and wondered how big his army was now.

"Naruto-no-oniichan!" Blue eyes brightened and widened. The group had stopped and Inari was waving. "We can't leave without you," he shouted, hands cupped around his mouth. "You're the hero!"

The kyuubi grinned and ran to catch up with them. He had more to return to than any other living creature.


"A challenge," Atsuko told the group before him. "They've issued us a challenge and, gracious man that I am, I have no choice but to accept it." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I was a bit disappointed with the last turn of events." He glared at the Ishikura trio, but more specifically, at Shikyo.

The young girl lowered her head, whimpering, and inched closer to Ishikura. The young man had his own problems to worry about.

"Sakura-kun," Atsuko called out with a smile. "I need you to take half of your fellow ninjas and head out."

"Hai." The pink-haired girl bowed her head then straightened. She looked over the army and it immediately parted down the middle as though everyone knew who would already be going. She glanced over her shoulder. "Shikyo—"

"Shikyo and Ishikura will be detained," Atsuko said in a soft voice. "Please go on ahead. I'm sure you'll enjoy the task." He watched the smirking child head out with his pupils then slowly turned to face the duo. Pushing himself free of the chair, he stepped off the platform, ready to do some refining.

§§§

Naruto and Sasuke stood in a highly wooded area—alone. The recruited Genins were to stay hidden until their opponents arrived. It didn't take long. The soft footfalls on the trees surrounding them came then disappeared. The two boys stepped apart, watching the kunai between them, then turned back to find—on the branches, and forming a half-moon shape around them—the missing children.

"Stop," a firm female voice commanded. The pink-haired figure stepped into view from the trees directly opposite the boys, a smirk on her face. "Long time no see," she chuckled.

"Oi!"

Sakura scowled and turned to stare at the boy that was rudely addressing her.

"Atsuko-sama's not here, so your role as his "favorite" is useless. You can't boss us around!" In a split second, the mere blink of an eye, the boy's speech ended and he fell to the forest floor, a kunai buried deep in his throat.

Chigiri bit down on her lip as she watched the body give one final spasm and gurgle, then turned her head away as the blood slowly began pooling. Yoku wrapped an arm around her shoulder. This would be their ultimate challenge.

"Saku…ra…chan." Naruto's mouth hung open, eyes wide with mortification at what had just taken place. Sakura gave a slight nod and two of the young ninjas beside her disappeared. Neither Konoha boy looked too concerned.

"Joudan ja nai!" an enraged Miyako growled, the blunt side of one of her katana pressed to the neck of another young girl; she was protecting Sasuke.

Haka was on the kyuubi's left side, protecting him from a boy's attack. "Baka, baka," she sighed, pressing his own kunai blades against his throat.

"Impressive," Sakura chuckled. The remaining Shuuha Genins stepped out from hiding, ready for battle. Their mission was to retrieve, not kill, but some harm would have to result when they clashed; wounds would heal. "Sasuke-kun," the former Konoha ninja cooed. "I think we should have our own private battle, don't you?"

With narrowed Sharingan orbs, the Uchiha leapt after the girl. He was allowed safe passed through Atsuko's troops.

"Sasuke!" the blonde behind him yelled. "Be careful!"

"That's right, Sasuke-kun," Sakura's voice echoed throughout the woods even though she was right across from him. "Be careful. How much can those eyes of yours see anyway? Hmm?"

The crimson orbs widened and the Uchiha winced as his arms were dragged behind his back. 'Masaka…!' He glanced over his shoulder. 'Naruto!' A cloud of smoke obstructed the grinning blonde's face and slowly diminished to reveal a smirking Sakura. 'How did she…!'

"Sasuke!" the real Naruto yelled as he landed in a nearby tree. They hadn't meant to harm him, just detain him, so what was happening could get started.

Sakura giggled cruelly, uncaring of the other's arrival, and twisted the brunet's arms further behind him. She knew he wouldn't make any noise because of his proud nature and was struck with a brilliant idea. Sharingan undone, Sasuke's eyes became impossibly wide as the girl's foot landed in his back.

"Sakura-chan!"

"Urusai, kyuubi!" Sakura snarled. She turned her attention back to the brunet she held captive. "Do you feel… nostalgic?"

Sasuke's screams tore through the woods as his arm snapped.

"Sasuke!" Naruto screamed, blue eyes wide. She had really done it. He gasped, blinking a little, as she looked his way. Sakura's lips parted as she grinned devilishly and Naruto acted quickly; he caught the panting body thrown at him.

Another scream, this time female, reached them.

"That could be from either group," Sakura drawled, slowly taking her time to face the boys. "Have you ever heard Miyako-san scream? Or Haka, maybe?"

'Stop it…' Naruto gritted his teeth, trying not to squeeze Sasuke too hard.

The other entity inside of him growled softly, crimson eyes narrowing. / Bozu… / He hadn't liked the darkness that had taken over his cell the last time and he didn't want it to happen again.

"Stop it!" Naruto yelled, a sharp wave pulsing from his body.

The young girl screamed as the infamous kyuubi's chakra blasted her back.

Lifting and supporting the trembling Sasuke, Naruto took this time to escape. He leaped down from the tree and ran through the forest. 'Minna…' He didn't want to leave them, but Sakura was his biggest concern—she wasn't a problem just yet. 'Minna… ki o tsukete!' The young blonde gasped as the trees came to an abrupt end and instantly knew where they were: Tenko's "secret garden".

"Naruto…"

"Sasuke!" Naruto stared down at the boy.

"Naruto… It didn't break, it's just dislocated…" The Uchiha raised his head, his pain evident on his pale and sweat-covered face. "Put it back in place."

"Un." There was no hesitation on Naruto's part and Sasuke screamed once more as his arm was reset.

"Yokata, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura's voice sang sarcastically.

There was an explosion of smoke at the forest's edge, but when it cleared, no one was there. Naruto's eyes widened and he pushed his partner out of the way—the blades sliced through the air between them. He staggered a bit, but stayed upright; Sasuke hadn't been so successful.

Sakura scowled and jumped back a few paces, pink locks swinging about her shoulders; she was feeling no remorse for her current actions because this was what she wanted: Naruto dead. Atsuko's power was now her own and no one could stop her from doing what her heart desired. With a scowl, the girl ran forward at an amazing speed.

Sasuke was suddenly in front of the blonde—Sakura's intended target—with his arms crossed defensively in front of him, a kunai in each hand. The skill lost during their short escape quickly came back; his pupils turned a deep red, three black sickle shapes on the irises.

"Too late!" the girl yelled, crouching to attack.

"Sasuke!"

The ebony-haired young boy stared, with wide eyes, up at the frozen pair from where he'd been pushed to the ground. He dropped his gaze to the blood staining the ground; the blood from Naruto.

Naruto laughed and raised his head to stare at Sakura's scowl. "Sakura-chan…" He used the hand of his bloody arm—Sakura's kunai were lodged in the appendage—and wrapped his fingers around the girl's neck, thumb pressed directly against her windpipe as he tried to cut off her airflow. He wouldn't let Sasuke get hurt anymore for his sake.

Sasuke lowered his head with a strained grunt and pounded his fists into the ground. It surprised even him to find he was on the verge of tears. He raised his head, eyes narrowed in determination.

Choking, Sakura slowly reached up to force the blades into the boy's arm until they'd almost disappeared and she had him screaming. She greedily gasped for air after being dropped, but knew she had to get moving. The girl back flipped away, landing beside another figure clothed in black that neither boy had sensed. This one had a more lax stature and her soft lips parted as she inhaled. As every other young ninja that had been kidnapped, the upper half of her face was covered.

Naruto held his right arm gingerly after removing the weapons and made his way back to Sasuke, who favored his left arm; using the Chidori was impossible now. Naruto's bright eyes widened as he realized only one Genin had such silky, honey-golden hair. "Shi… Shikyo!"

The young shinobi tilted her head. Along with Ishikura, Shikyo had received a full mind sweep—they were now without souls and complete killing machines.

"Sasuke, this is bad," Naruto said softly.

"How?" the brunet mumbled. "She's from an advanced bloodline!"

"Tch. Isn't everyone in this village? Tch…"

Sakura stepped in front of her new partner so the girl could complete the hand seals passed down through her family. One zodiac away from casting Eternal Silence, a Fuuma Shuriken came flying out of the trees and in the girls' direction. Sakura scoffed and turned away from the weapon, holding back her hair as the wind from its spins blew the pink locks. The final member of the party had shown and snatched the four-bladed weapon out of the air. As quickly as the first came, a second Fuuma Shuriken sliced through the three figures.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto cried. With a quick explosion of smoke, the body halves became split logs and the blonde sighed, "Kawarimi…"

"Sorry we're late!" Iruka leaped down from the trees and landed on the boys' right. "We had to stop and check in with the other children," he said. "It seems everything went well, so then we escorted them all back into town where the Hokage-sama and Shuku-san met them."

Kakashi came from the left, the second Fuuma Shuriken dangling from his fingers. The Jounin snapped it open. "I think I'll go after that shinobi," he stated.

"I'll go with you," Iruka sighed as he picked up the first shuriken; the weapons had been borrowed from Sasuke's room.

"Be careful!" Naruto yelled after the departing men. He exhaled deeply, staring at the drying blood on his arm. No more running away—this was it.

"We're going after Sakura!" Both Genins said the forceful statement in unison.

Sasuke smirked while the blonde grinned, and they quickly disappeared.

§§§

Iruka glanced at the silver-haired man running alongside him and met the mismatched gaze. This was it; this was what they had left Konoha for. After another few minutes of tracking, a chakra was found. Kakashi tossed over the Fuuma Shuriken and fell back, taking to the trees. He figured the younger man would need both weapons to hold off Ishikura until he could catch up with him once more.

The Copy Ninja sighed as his new opponent stopped fleeing and slowly faced him. This would be his second time going against a child from the Hitsu bloodline—Sendo had been his horrifying encounter in the forest—and he knew they were not to be taken for granted, especially now. Using Sharingan to make her lose consciousness was useless in this situation, but Kakashi knew he would have to keep her from performing that jutsu.

About a mile away from the pair looked in a standoff, Sakura was being relentless. With the boys already in such a weakened state, she had the upper hand.

Naruto, thrown back from another blow from the girl, rolled along the ground and skidded to a halt several yards away. His eyes widened and he coughed, blood flying from his mouth. He vaguely heard the roars from the flames of one of the Uchiha's Katon jutsu attacks; the sound grew more distant.

/ Bozu… You have to— /

The blonde smiled weakly, closing his eyes. 'I'll give in to you just this once. But… don't make me kill her… okay?'

/ Whatever you say. /

The demon chakra flowed throughout the boy's body, engulfing his small frame. Every wound was closed with a hiss and rise of a faint steam. The body twitched and Naruto pressed a clawed hand to the ground—the snow melted under his touch. He pushed himself to his feet.

Sakura's fist caught the brunet in his throat and he went down. She wanted the demon that had decided to rear its ugly head.

Naruto, arms dangling at his sides as though they lacked bones, gave a toothy grin. His crimson lupine eyes were wide and wild. "Sakura… chan!" he growled, dashing forward with his arms swinging loosely at his sides.

Sakura formed sharp hand seals and pressed her wrists together, fingers spread. "Suiton; Se Bakuha no Jutsu!" A torrent of water shot from her hands, blasting the kyuubi head on. She smirked.

Naruto snarled loudly, breaking through the jutsu with his sights set on the pink-haired girl that had betrayed them all. His temper flared unconsciously and the powerful punch he landed tore open the ground where Sakura once stood. The girl whimpered as her arm was grabbed before she could get too far, and tugged at the fingers that dug into her skin.

Again, Sasuke was being left out of the battle. He clenched his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. 'Don't… hit her, Naruto. Not as you are.'

The semi-conscious blonde Genin studied the hidden face before him and reached up, ripping the blank hitai-are off. Sakura gasped, wincing as the light abused and blinded her vision. "Why are you doing this?" Naruto questioned in a rough voice.

"Because I can't stand you." It was the truth, but it was the wrong answer.

With an enraged roar, Naruto tossed the girl as if she were a rag doll. Her body was propelled yards away before smashing into one of the trees surrounding them. Staggeringly, and coughing, Sakura got to her feet, only to have her hair roughly snatched and head drug backwards. 'Atsuko-sama…'

"Gomen…" the blonde whispered; the apology came from him both him and the fox. His free hand flew forward and was buried deep into the young girl's gut. Life flickered in and out of her wide green eyes until they slid shut.

Sasuke stepped forward, a hard scowl on his face. Even though Sakura had had to be stopped, he was hoping that it could've been in a less painful manner.

"She'll hate me even more," Naruto laughed as he lifted the body, his voice breaking slightly. He was handing the girl over to Sasuke just as someone passed overhead. "Kakashi-sensei!" the blonde called out.

The Jounin landed momentarily on a sturdy tree limb; his hands were full, literally, but he raised the one grasping a hitai-ate to symbolize a wave. An unconscious Shikyo was being carried in his other arm.

"How's Shikyo?" Naruto yelled up.

"She'll live," the Copy Ninja replied.

"Where's Iruka-sensei?"

Kakashi's eyes grew slightly in size then closed, curving as he gave a hidden smile. "I'm sure he's fine. Can I ask you to find him and help him until I join you?"

"Hai!" the blonde cheered.

Kakashi gave a slight nod, doubting Iruka would need any help, then glanced at Sasuke. "Come on," he said. Sasuke needed no further persuasion. Without even glancing back at the blonde, he followed his Konoha sensei.

Naruto sighed then headed off to do as he'd been told.

§§§

Iruka stared down at the trembling, bloody body with a hard expression and a Fuuma Shuriken on each hand.

Every weapon Ishikura had been fond of lay scattered around the forest, shattered and useless. Channeling his leader's chakra and power, he rose once again, unaware of the fact that he was already dead. "Chuunin… ka?" He smirked. "My ass. You're just like me."

"A mindless drone?"

"A natural-born killer." Ishikura ripped his tattered cloak free and cracked his neck. He was determined to fight until the end.

Iruka studied him closely before making a decision. He tossed the large weapon at the man's feet. "To the end," he stated, raising his own blade to cast shadows over his face. Their battled could have been over a long time ago but the young Chuunin was prolonging it to make the other man suffer for everything that had happened.

Ishikura picked up the Fuuma Shuriken and disappeared. One of the four blades clashed with one of Iruka's as he tried to attack from behind. He scowled, grunting and jumped away. Sliding the weapon onto his wrist, he performed a set of hand seals.

Iruka glanced behind him at the second figure then back at Ishikura. "Kage bunshin?" he chuckled. Closing his eyes, he grasped his Fuuma shuriken tightly. There was a sliver of light and the weapon was split in two, two blades in each hand. He tossed his head back and the thread slipped from between his teeth. Iruka ran toward the clone behind him, arms and blades at his sides.

Ishikura realized his back was wide open and sprang into action. His eyes widened as a hidden wire was tripped—'When did he…'—and a series of timed bombs exploded under him. Iruka's blades came down upon the clone's shoulder but there was no smoke explosion. That came from behind him. "How did… you know?" Ishikura gasped, eyes wide as his blood splattered onto the grass.

"To quote you," Iruka said with a smirk and a dark look in his eyes. "I'm a natural-born killer. But I was trained by the best to perfect those skills and to see underneath the underneath." He gave his wrist a twitch and blood flowed from the foreign shinobi's mouth as the second blade was buried in his shoulder.

Ishikura coughed, closing his eyes. It was useless to continue. 'Gomen… Atsuko-sama… Shikyo-chan…' With a smile, he took Iruka's other hand and impaled himself on the blade that was held.

The Chuunin gasped at the loud sounds of the blood splattering onto the ground and stepped away with wide eyes, ripping each half of the Fuuma Shuriken from the dead body. He dropped them and stared at the blood covering his trembling hands.

"Pathetic. A killer with a fear of blood."

His brown eyes grew even wider as the young man found himself immobile.

"You've lost me my army," Atsuko hissed in his ear, eyes narrowed. "In exchange for them, I'll take… your life." He grunted and Iruka's lips parted in a strained groan at the blades being buried further into his sides. Atsuko ripped them out, not even going in the same direction he had when shoving them in, and kicked the Chuunin to the ground. With little expression, he blinked once then turned his gaze to the left.

A breathless and grinning Naruto burst through the foliage. The blonde staggered to a halt, grin eradicated from his face, as he stared at the trembling form of his favorite teacher on the ground.

"Kyuubi," Atsuko said softly. "You are my other problem."

"Naruto…" Iruka coughed, struggling to push himself back up. His blood not only ran from his wounds, but also dripped from the bladed gauntlets on Atsuko's hand. "Go get help. Naruto…!"

"I…ruka… sensei…"

Atsuko walked casually to the struggling body. Naruto's blue eyes grew even wider as Iruka went rolling across the grass and melting snow from the well-placed kick to his side. After finally coming to a halt, Iruka coughed, a sizable amount of blood flowing from his mouth and from his side. Naruto's body began shuddering, fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"This man." Atsuko strolled toward the writhing body once more. He was in no hurry. "This man seems important… to so many." He raised a sandal-covered foot to bring it down on Iruka's chest when he felt himself tackled. He swung out with his gauntlet but the body disappeared with a cloud of smoke when hit.

Several more Kakashi shadow clones landed to form a circle around the standing man, each wearing an expression as fierce as the original's. Kakashi placed a hand to Naruto's trembling shoulders and nodded toward Iruka when the boy had glanced up. "Help him," he whispered.

The blonde nodded and ran to the fallen shinobi.

"Leave him alone." Atsuko hadn't raised his voice, but his words cut through the young boy. Naruto pretended not to hear him, though, and dropped to his knees next to the Chuunin.

"Leave him alone! He deserves to die."

Kakashi stepped back as his clones suddenly disappeared—there had been no chakra burst from the other man—and narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan wheel spinning. Atsuko glared at the Jounin and slowly removed his gauntlets. Dropping them, he disappeared. Kakashi snatched a kunai from his waist, grabbing his wrist to still his trembling hand. There had been no foreseen attack.

"What are you looking for?"

The voice came from behind him, but when he spun, there was no one. His eyes widened. "Nani!" Kakashi turned once against to find Atsuko's hands hovering near his face.

"Stop it!" a female voice screamed. The two men slowly lowered their arms as May stepped into view.

Iruka struggled to raise his head but the eyes that met his were not friend, but foe. Atsuko smirked, eyes flying wide as he mentally assaulted the man.

"I said stop," May cried, rushing in front of the dolphin.

The damage had been done. Iruka's eyes fluttered shut and his body fell still under Naruto's touch. The blue eyes grew wide. "Iru… Iruka-sensei?" He gently shook the man. "Iruka-sensei? Iruka-sensei!"

May grabbed Kakashi's arm and shoved him toward his fellow Konoha ninjas. "Take him to Tsunade. Now!" She then turned to face the man who had once claimed he loved her. Atsuko smirked, tilting his head haughtily.

With Kakashi carefully carrying Iruka, the Copy-nin headed back into town with Naruto following. That left the father and daughter alone.

May stared at Atsuko but there was nothing in her expression. "Why?" she whispered.

"Why?" the man laughed. "They took my village from me, that's why. The one thing I had strived so hard for. So I tried to end their pathetic little lives, all the Kages'." May's eyes widened. "As it's not their duty to dirty their hands unless it's for the sake of the village, I was branded a missing-nin. I heard the Kazekage died." Atsuko chuckled then reached for his daughter.

She hastily stepped away.

"You've grown so much," he sighed. "I expected you to have a family of your own by now. That Hizaku hasn't made a move yet? He was always—"

"Urusai!" May screamed. "Don't try to act fatherly toward me after all you've done. Sendo-kun is dead. Those two boys were killed for what reasons? And I'm sure there were deaths in the other countries." She wiped roughly at her face and her eyes narrowed. "You're not my father anymore. You're just another missing-nin named Shuku Atsuko, and I'm going to take you down."

Now it was Atsuko's turn to have his eyes widen as he tried to hurry away, but the woman grabbed his face between her hands. "Do you really want it to end this way?" he asked softly, also taking her face between his hands. They would begin their "dance" now.

The Shuku had, at times, been mistaken for Hyuga members, but their fighting styles were miles apart. Using any means possible to draw another's gaze, they then used the optical skills given to them at birth: mind manipulation—something the Sharingan could also do. As there were talks of Sharingan descending from Byakugan, so were there possibilities that Kinengan might have come from the Uchiha clan's ability.

A battle against two members of the Shuku family consisted of a "dance"—eyes locked, they moved about absently and unconsciously—and probed the mind for a weak spot that could be maimed. May's mind blocks were strong, but she knew Atsuko was stronger. A smirked tugged at the man's lips as he found the perfect soft spot and his eyes narrowed.

‡‡‡

"Otou-sama?" The young child found herself meandering her way through the thick snow that had fallen overnight, her thick, swarthy hair blowing in the biting wind. "Otou-sama!" May yelled once more. She sighed, hugging herself, and looked around the open yard in back of the house. She hadn't gotten far—the woods stood close, though—and wanted to know if daddy would bring back mommy like he promised.

Freeing her arms, May breathed into her hands and rubbed them together for warmth. Noticing a discoloration in the snow, the girl knelt and tilted her head questioningly to follow the stains with her eyes. May stood and began running alongside the found trail, disappearing into the dead and bare trees. "Otou-sama!" she yelled.

The man's movements stopped and the wide eyes staring up at him shimmered with tears. "I'll love you even after you die," he whispered with a smile, slowly lowering the kitchen knife into the woman's heart. He did love her, he always would, but she had tainted him and his child—dirtied the bloodline, for she was just a normal woman.

His gloved hand muffled her anguished tortured screams, tears rolling in rivulets down the sides of her face. Atsuko plunged the knife in up to its handle and gave it a sharp twist. The woman ceased to live. He positioned her hands around the weapon, closed her wide eyes, and stood. He removed the bloody gloves, stuffing them in his pockets, and turned to face his daughter, easily conjured tears streaming down his face.

May gave a shrill scream and ran to her mother's body. Atsuko grabbed her up into his arms before she got too close.

"Okaa-sama… okaa-sama… okaa-sama!"

"She took her own life," he whispered.

"No! She wouldn't—no!"

Atsuko hugged his daughter tightly, trying to offer her comfort. Inside, he was laughing over a job well done.

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May didn't want her questions answered; she just wanted to be held as she cried. Her hands slid from Atsuko's face to his shoulders as she fell against him.

He had expected her to go down in a blaze of glory, so he was thrown by her current reaction. "May…?"

"Hai?"

"…Dai… daijoubu?"

"I'm perfectly fine," the woman replied to the hesitant question. Her intentions were to keep him from noticing the one-handed seals she performed behind his back. "I'm fine," May repeated. "And I just wanted to say… I'll love you even after you die."

Atsuko's eyes widened.

"I'm sorry about what I said. Shuku Atsuko, you are my father." May smiled.


Tsunade ran to the futon where two of her ANBU bodyguards were holding down a screaming and thrashing Shikyo to see what the problem was. "Sendo" and "Kaoru" were a few of the more recognizable words she spouted, along with "Naruto". Similar reactions were coming from the other children that had been kidnapped—even Kaoru and Oyasa were having faint episodes. There was only one who showed no changes.

Sasuke unconsciously tightened the hold he had on Sakura, lowering his head to hers. "Give me something…" he hissed. "A whimper… anything."

The female Hokage stared at the ebony-haired boy, wishing for the same thing. What they got several moments later wasn't the reaction they had been hoping for, but it confirmed Tsunade's suspicions: Atsuko was dead.

The faintest of gasps left Sakura's bruised and bloody lips and a tear rolled down her cheek. "Atsu… ko…"


A/N: Oh, geez. :;collapses;: It's all over now. Everything's going to get wrapped up, so, hopefully, no more than 5 more chapters. I hope this appeased to everyone and what they were hoping for. Like I say, I use the reviews I have as stepping stones to help guide me along. Please continue to help guide me along…

Also, for Yohko-chan, I hope I got the interaction between Naruto and Inari-kun right!