"Shikamaru…" Sakura started. "What's going on?"

"It's Sayuri…They, Naoki and his men are after her. We need to know where she's at! She needs to be under surveillance"

"But...Naoki is locked up." Sakura stated.

"Not any more. We found his jail cell empty. The ANBU assigned to him are dead."

Both Naruto and Sakura felt their bodies grow cold.

"Naruto! Sakura!" the two startled as Sasuke landed before them. "He took her! Naoki took Sayuri!"

XXX

It's cold...Her eyelids felt heavy as she blinked away the sleep. A sharp intake of breath alerted her captor.

"Sayuri...long time no see."

Marishi-Ten

"We need to call Team Kurenai right now!" Shikamaru ordered as he burst into the Communication's Tower followed closely behind by the Hokage, Team 7, and Moriyo.

"Call the Kazekage!" Kakashi ordered. The group of ninja got to work, setting up a communication pathway with Suna. A screen before them lit up as the call was received by a communications ninja at the village.

"We need to speak with Team 8 and the Kazekage!" Shikamaru was quick to order.

"Actually…" the nin looked over his shoulder.

"Shikamaru."

"Temari?!"

"Huh? What? How'd you know we'd call?! Where's Gaara?" Naruto exclaimed, calming down only when Sakura laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Whoa there." the blonde crossed her arms over her chest. "Shino alerted us about Sayuri. Judging by the panic in your faces, she really isn't in the village."

"She was kidnapped." Sasuke answered, hands clenching into tight fists at his sides. "Where are they now?"

"Gaara and Team Kurenai left the village as soon as Shino felt something was wrong. But he told me to give you coordinates to a meeting spot. Evidently Shino's bug is still with Sayuri, that's how they're tracking her."

Sasuke stepped closer to the screen, sharingan and rinnegan flaring to life. "Tell me."

XXX

Dreams...or rather nightmares were all she had now. The same nightmare played out each night, on a loop, never ending… just torture.

She stared up at black Zetsu, holding the kunai above his head, a wicked smile on his face. She watched the kunai fall forward towards her chest and then the screaming began. Black Zetsu gone, Sayuri folded into herself, holding her head trying to make it stop.

Suddenly something cold hit her forehead. She blinked and found herself on her back, the distant patter of water dripping somewhere in the cold room and the world around her blurry. No, not somewhere...on her, she realized when another droplet fell over her cheek. She groaned feeling the cold of the ground seep into her bones. Her head was pounding and the situation did nothing to make it better.

It's cold...Her eyelids felt heavy as she blinked away the sleep. A sharp intake of breath alerted her captors.

"Sayuri...long time no see."

"Ken..ji…?" she asked, blinking her eyes trying to clear her vision.

"Sayuri." the man replied with a smile in his voice.

She moved her arm to pull herself up and that's when she noticed the shackles around her wrists. She tilted her head to see she was shackled to a pillar. Behind her a body lay on a stone slab. Sayuri pulled herself up enough to see light brown hair spilling over the side of the pillar and a face…

"Kukiko!" she called out trying to wake the young woman. "Kukiko wake up!"

"You must have been lazing around since the war." the man teased. "It took you entirely too long to assess your situation."

"Kukiko!" she ignored the man, and yanked at her chains in anger.

"She can't hear you." said Kenji. "She's the new vessel."

"What the fuck are you talking about!?" Sayuri hissed at the man. "Let her go!"

He laughed, rising from his seat. "Why would I do that when I am about to get everything I want?" Kenji stood holding the Black Lotus in his hand. "I get to eliminate all of you!"

XXX

Sasuke rushed through the forest, Naruto following closely behind. Sakura was barely keeping pace as they rushed towards the meeting point at the edge of the border of the hidden grass village. Not too far behind them were Team Asuma, Hajime and Diachi followed by a handful of ANBU.

"This is it." Sasuke said as he stopped abruptly looking around the clearing. Naruto and Sakura both leaned forward trying to catch their breaths as the rest of the ninja on the mission catched up.

A few moments later Gaara emerged from the clearing with Team Kurenai.

"Gaara!" Naruto exclaimed, excited to see the redhead again.

"Shino…" Sasuke cut in.

The young man adjusted his sunglasses and nodded. "It appears that Sayuri's captors have not noticed the kikaichu."

"Let's go then."

XXX

"Kenji…" Sayuri started, eyes on the Black Lotus. "You don't know what you're doing. Please...we can help you."

The man laughed. "Help?" his shoulders shook from laughter. "You don't know what helping is! None of you do!" he shouted, eyes turning crazed. "All of you with kekkei genkai…." he laughed bitterly. "All you do is take and destroy! Wars are fought because all of you think you deserve it all. But now…" he raised the Black Lotus so that it was eye level with his, the coal black petals reflecting the moonlight so that it scattered around the cave. "With this...with Marishi-Ten, I can do anything!"

He made his way to a pillar standing between Sayuri and Kukiko. Kenji gently placed the lotus on top and stood back. Ryota and Naoki emerged from the shadows flanking Kenji.

Sayuri's heart was pounding, the gravity of the situation settling in. She watched the men take their places then Kenji pulled out a scroll. I have to stay calm...there has to be a way out of this…I just need to buy time...She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice as even as possible. "You have no clue what you're dealing with. Marishi-Ten is just like Kaguya, you won't be able to control it."

Keji paused, half unraveled scroll in his hand and turned to Sayuri. She could finally see the lines on his face. His eyes were no longer kind but held a more unhinged look. "No, Sayuri." he chuckled, walking towards her and squatting down to her level, making her feel like a child once again. "You don't understand."

"Then help me understand."

He tilted his head to the side in consideration. "You people…" he started, his mouth twisting to show his disgust, "...are the reason for this suffering. Think about it. All these wars had one common denominator and that was what?" He watched her and smiled in a show of kindness. "They were started by those with kekkei genkai. All of them. It's always the so-called strong that start the wars and it is us the normal people that suffer and pick up the mess that you all left behind! My entire family was killed by your people, I fought wars for your people and now here I am!" He spread his arms about him. "Trying to fix the mess that you all made!" He bellowed, making Sayuri flinch back in shock.

"You think you're fixing this? You're doing exactly what you argue we did! You killed Saito, your brother! You're going to bring another...entity like Kaguya to this world and all it's going to do is destroy what little peace we have left!" Sayuri tried to pull herself up despite the shackles but fell back. "Please, Kenji, it's not too late to stop!"'

Keji pulled back from her and laughed. "That's where you're wrong." He unraveled the scroll completely and laid it out at her feet. "I did my research…" He pointed to the painting of Marishi-Ten. "She was sealed years ago by your clan and into the lotus. In order for us to release her and have control we need a vessel, that is what your little friend over there is doing." He stood up and took his place. "With that girl completely sealed and marked I will take control of Marishi-Ten and have her do what I want."

"Then what am I doing here?" she pulled against her chains. "You have everything you need to summon her, so why am I here, Kenji?"

He laughed. "You're a smart girl...I'm sure you'll figure it out."

The two men behind him formed seal after seal in quick succession. Sayuri watched as her body was quickly covered in golden script, each symbol burning into her flesh etching its way up to her neck, sucking her chakra as it pulled it from her center and into Kukiko.

Conduit...Sayuri looked at the Black Lotus. Mismatched brown eyes sweeping from Kukiko to the extra chakra, the nightmare from before...the ninja...no people giving her chakra were all the women that had died from each marking. All of their chakra now belonged to her...I'm the chakra source! Sayuri came to realization as she felt herself grow weaker the chances of her escaping, disappearing at the markings burned into her skin.

"STOP!" she cried, the burning becoming unbearable as Kukiko's form began to glow. "P-Please! Kenji!"

"Be proud, Sayuri, you get to be a part of this new world. You are giving yourself to Marishi-Ten! You're finally doing something good!"

"KENJI!"

XXX

Shino was leading the way when a large beam of light shot up from the mountain ahead of them, followed by an explosion that forced the ninja to stop and brace themselves from the impact.

"What the hell was that?!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sasuke watched Shino who paused, tilting his head to the side as a beetle flew towards him. "What is it?"

"Her chakra is gone…"

Sasuke felt as if all the air had left his body. Naruto and Sakura felt their blood run cold. "What the hell does that mean?" Naruto exclaimed. "Can we still track her, Shino?!"

Just then a second bright flash of light illuminated the forest for a few seconds before pulling inwards. All the ninja shielded their eyes from the flash and the sudden gust of wind that blew towards the mountain. Once it dimmed down Gaara was the first to look up. Using his sand he floated above the canopy of the forest, emerald eyes falling on the pillar of light illuminating the mountain ahead of them.

"Hinata…"

"On it!" the young woman said, Byakugan activated. "I see her…13 kilometers ahead…" she frowned. "She's chained to a pillar."

"Let's go!" Sasuke urged.

"Wait!" Hinata called. "There is someone else...their chakra is not...is not like ours. It...it...I don't know what it is, but it's nothing I've seen before."

Naruto and Sasuke stiffened as they felt the pulse of the chakra that lay ahead almost like a heartbeat. "It's like Kaguya's" Naruto uttered, the feeling of dread falling over him.

"Another one!?" Sakura gasped.

"He summoned it." Sasuke said in disbelief. "He summoned Marishi-Ten. But then that means...Sayuri…"

"I don't think she's dead." Hinata interjected. "I can see her...her chakra is faint but it's still there.. We need to hurry!"

The group of ninja rushed towards the base of the mountain, the closer they got the more dense the chakra felt. Around them the forest had gone quiet, the only sound was that of their feet hitting the bark of the wood. Sakura looked on, the feeling of dread settling in the closer they got. Behind her Ino looked around her, a shiver running down her spine.

"It's so quiet..." She spoke in a whisper. "All the wildlife is gone."

Beside her, Sai placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her. "They most likely know."

"Everyone be careful." Ordered Shikamaru. "We don't know what we're getting into."

Sasuke rushed ahead, his sharingan and rinnegan glowing bright at the surge of panic rising up in his chest. This shouldn't be happening. Naruto and he had sealed Kaguya, he had spent years trying to prevent something like Kaguya from happening again.

Yet here they were, at the precipice of another calamity and this time Sayuri was right in the middle of it. He could see clearing ahead of him, behind him Naruto and Sakura called out in warning. The base of the mountain was guarded by several ninja that quickly took notice of them, but Sasuke didn't care.

"Let's go." he ordered and headed down pulling out his katana quickly taking down ninja after ninja that rushed at him.

More of them appeared from the dense forest that surrounded the cave at the side of the mountain. He gritted his teeth getting ready to fend off the bunch when a wave of sand crashed against them. Gaara stood atop a hovering mound of sand arms crossed as he and the rest of the group caught up to the scene.

"Go, we've got it from here." said the redhead eyes focused on keeping the ninja that guarded the cave at bay.

Not wasting another second he ran in. "Let's go!" He ordered his team mates. Naruto and Sakura were quick to follow. Inside, the cave was lit by torches hanging off the stone walls. Their footsteps echoed as they rushed forward only to be met by a three way split.

"Naruto."

"Right!" Activating sage mode Naruto focused on Sayuri's chakra. "To the left!" His eyes narrowed as he quickly gripped Sasuke's arm before he rushed ahead. "Sayuri is in bad shape, Sasuke...whatever that thing is…it's just as bad as Kaguya."

"Then we'll have to stop it."

XXX

Sayuri whimpered, her whole body burned. She looked dazed as the young woman she once knew was no more. Replaced by another worldly being with long black hair, and unusual pale skin. She hovered above the slab encased by a bright orb.

"What's going on?" Naoki stepped forward watching the being float unconsciously before them.

"It's the lotus." Kenji replied, turning to the scroll. Her soul is sealed in the lotus, all we need to do now is destroy it."

The lotus...Sayuri looked to the pillar she was tied to then to where the lotus scattered moonlight across walls of the cave. Footsteps drew her attention to Kenji who was making his way to it. No! Waiting until Kenji was within range, she roared, pushing past the pain and taking the man by surprise, she sent him flying into the wall behind him with a well placed kick. Panting she turned yanked on the shackles that held her.

"I don't know how you're able to move, little girl, but I'm going to put an end to this!" Naoki rushed to her kunai in hand. Sayuri twisted the chain around his arm pulling it down and kneeing the man in the chest before kicking him back into the wall knocking the man unconscious. Thinking quickly she grabbed the kunai on the ground and began prying at the metal plate holding the chains in place.

"Sayuri!" Kenji roared, rushing at her. She saw the fire bullet aimed at her and ducked, the bullet hitting the plate just right that it snapped off the pillar. She rolled to her side as Kenji came down at her with a katana, the piece of metal digging into the stone. Not pausing for a second, Sayuri rushed to the lotus, snatching it off the pedestal.

"Very good." Ryota clapped, suddenly appearing before Sayuri. "It's quite amazing that you are able to move, but enough is enough." Sayuri blinked and felt something sharp press against the back of her neck. "Your usefulness has come to an end- what?!" He exclaimed at the sight of a black cloak drifting to his feet.

Sayuri blinked, feeling her body suddenly land on a pair of arms. "Sasuke…" She looked up, eyes wide and the man holding her. "How…?"

"I'll always come for you." His eyes shifted to the crystal in her hands. "Is that the lotus?"

"Yes." Sasuked placed her on her feet, putting himself between her and the former ANBU. "He wants to break it in order to release her." The sharingan and rinnegan eyes turned to the floating entity behind the seething Kenji.

"You're ruining everything!" Kenji roared, rushing at the two. Sasuke and Sayuri moved away quickly. Naoki appeared before Sasuke, senbon in his hands. Sayuri continued to dodge each of Kenji's swings of his katana until her back hit the wall of the cave.

Kenji smirked, rushing at her, only for Sayuri to duck at the last minute, sending a punch to his abdomen pushing the man back before delivering a roundhouse kick sending the man flying back into a pillar. Behind her Ryota's hands glowed an eerie blue as he ran at her, but quickly sensed someone to his left.

The man back flipped to avoid the boulder that was thrown his way. He turned to see Sakura standing before him, Naruto at her side. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked.

"Naruto! Sakura!" she exclaimed.

"Catch!" Sakura called out, throwing her pouch at Sayuri. "Keep that thing safe. We'll handle this guy." Next to her Naruto smirked, cracking his knuckles, gaze aimed at Ryota.

Strapping the pouch to her person, lotus safely tucked with it, she pulled out two kunai. She heard Kenji grunt, pushing himself up.

"You little brat!"

Sayuri and Kenji clashed their weapons. Sayuri turning on her heel to match strike after strike. He smirked, pushing back against her, then kicking her back and away from him. He tilted his head at her panting form, sweat dripping from her brow.

"You're weak." He stalked towards her. "The only way you'll beat me is if you're aiming to kill."' Sayuri pushed herself up on shaking legs, unfocused gaze on the ground. "What did you think was going to come out of this? You take the lotus then what?" He laughed. "You have no idea how to seal her back." He laughed.

My body hurts. Sayuri staggered back. I can't focus… her vision blurred.

"Sayuri!" Sasuke yelled, Sayuri lifted her gaze in time to see Kenji swing his sword at the young man who placed himself between her and the sword.

"Sasuke!" she cried out as the man fell back holding his left shoulder, blood dripping between the fingers in his right hand.

Above them Kenji laughed. "Stupid boy."

Sayuri roared, swinging a leg at the man taking him by surprise, katana clattering to the ground. Quickly she lunged for it, feeling the weight of the metal in her hand she swung back at the man that was already getting up to rush at her. The sword meeting the flesh of his forearms. Sayuri gritted her teeth and pushed forward before yanking the katana back and slashing back down in one fluid motion.

Kenji cried out in pain at the strike to his chest. He staggered back at the deadly look in Sayuri's eyes. She jumped at the man, katana aimed at his head. Kenji pulled back, quickly forming a few seals, "Fire style: blazing dragon!"

The blaze roared to life spiraling towards her. Quickly she rolled out of the way but not before some of the flame caught the ends of her hair. The man laughed as she pushed herself up. Sayuri glared at Kenji as she grabbed a handful of her hair and sliced through it haphazardly.

The man grinned. "Well this brings back memories." He crossed his arms and tilted his head at her. "Still such a messy fighter. You must be in so much pain." Cold eyes watched Sayuri's trembling form. "Enough playing, Sayuri, give me the lotus." the man spoke to her like he did when he admonished a stubborn child.

"Fuck you!" she spit.

"Such spunk. But you forgot about someone."

"Sayuri!" Sasuke called out just before the pouch was yanked away from her person. Looking over her shoulder she watched Naoki turn and slam the bag against the wall shattering the object inside.

Everyone stood still, eyes darting to the being whose eyes blinked open taking her surroundings. Slowly she lifted her hands up to her face almost as if mesmerized by it. Her eyes shone like scattered moonlight as she tilted her head side to side.

Kenji laughed. "There she is! Marishi-Ten!" He bellowed. The being in question slowly turned to him, face stoic. "Now then…" he grinned like a giddy child. "Let us begin, shall we?" They watched the man weave five hand signs in quick succession, hands stopping at that of the dragon. The being blinked, eyes cast towards his hands.

All they heard was a strangled gasp before they group registered that the man had been pinned to the wall. Blood tickled down Kenji's chin as Marishi-Ten held him by the neck, head tilting to the side, sneer on her pretty face.

"Who are you to control me?" she asked, voice echoing around them, "Stupid man." she spit fingernails digging into his skin.

Kenji grasped at her arm, fingers dirtying the pristine silver robe. "I was…the one who summoned you…" he coughed.

She gritted her teeth. "Tch!" she paused, whole body stilling before she looked over her shoulder, eyes falling on Sayuri. Maharishi-Ten narrowed her gaze down at the young woman. For her part all Sayuri could do was stare back up at the being that was floating in the mid air. "You…" she hissed.

"Sayuri!" Sasuke called out as the being threw Kenji against the opposite wall effectively pinning the nin to it before rushing to the brunette.

"Oh no you don't!" Naruto yelled as his shadow clones threw themselves at her, taking hold of her arms and legs. "Sayuri, run!" the clones cried out as Marishi-Ten swung them off one by one.

Finally snapping out of the sheer terror she felt Sayuri turned on her heel and rushed to Sasuke's side. He caught her by the shoulders and pushed her behind him. "Amaterasu!" his sharingan swirled as the black flame formed at the foot of Marishi-Ten's robe making her pause.

"Oh my god…" Sakura whispered in horror as she watched the being absorb the black flames.

"How did…" Sayuri began at a loss of words.

"Foolish beings." Marishi-Ten spoke, her focus now on Sayuri and Sasuke. "To think you stand a chance against me. Your people may have sealed me once but never again." she smirked, "You barely have any chakra left…" she said to Sayuri, her eyes sweeping to Sasuke. "Oh…? A child of Kaguya…" she turned her careful gaze to Naruto as he stood up. "Two of them…this will be fun."

"Sasuke!" "Sayuri!" Naruto and Sakura screamed as the being appeared in between their friends and gripped them by the neck, flinging them in opposite directions.

Naruto roared, his tailed beast mode coming to life as he launched himself at Marishi-Ten. "C'mon Sasuke!" he called out to the young man. "Help me out!"

"I know!" Sasuke's Susanoo rising up around him as he too joined his best friend in their fight. The cave around them shaking with each strike that the being swatted away as if it were nothing more than a party trick.

"Sakura!" Naruto called over his shoulder. The pink haired young woman meeting his eyes.

"On it!" she jumped out of the way of the fight to come.

Sayuri pushed herself up on trembling arms, vision blurring from the strain. I can barely move…she hissed in pain at her throbbing head. She looked up to see Sasuke and Naruto both throwing attack after attack at the floating woman but to no avail. Each one was blocked, absorbed or swept to the side. I can't help them! She gritted her teeth, eyes watering in frustration. Helplessness was not something she was used to. All that work she had put in since she was a child has been reduced to nothing in a matter of minutes.

No clan behind her. No chakra.

Tears fell onto her clenched fists. "What am I supposed to do?" A cough coming from above her pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts. Her gaze landed on Kenji, anger rising she pushed herself to her feet. "How's this plan of yours coming along!" she screamed. "This is all your fault!"

The man started to laugh but hissed at the pain in his ribs. "I will get what I want regardless."

"You will have destroyed this world if they can't defeat her!"

"Anything will be better that what it is now!" he defended

The cave shook around them once again, looking back she watched as Sasuke's Susanoo pushed against Marishi-Ten while Naruto's tails held her down only for her to send the two ninja crashing against the cave with a burst of energy.

"Sayuri!" she turned to her right as Sakura ran up to her. "You're bleeding!" Sayuri felt the warmth that came with Sakura's healing chakra coursing through her body, minor aches and pains quickly vanishing. Sakura frowned down at Sayuri, green eyes narrowing. "How are you still standing? Your chakra pathways are damaged, I…" she pulled back her concentrated frown turning into one of concern. "...I'm sorry." The unspoken, I can't do anything hanging in the air between them.

Sayuri lowered her gaze, mouth opening to offer something to appease the medic when something caught her eye.

"Sayuri?" Sakura asked running after Sayuri who quickly climbed through the rubble to a pouch on the ground.

"This is Kenji's." she explained as she pulled it open. "The scroll!" she exclaimed in happiness. "This has to have a way to seal Marishi-Ten!"

"Don't bother." Kenji's words drew their attention. "In order to seal her you not only need chakra, but the Zenshihai." he laughed. "Two things you do not have."

"It says here you need to seal her in a barrier…" Sakura began, eyes quickly reading over the information. "They even wrote down the seals you need. It's like they knew something like this would happen."

"No…" Sayuri unraveled the scroll further. "There's more like her…like Kaguya. They thought more would come."

"Either way he's right. You need chakra…" Sakura looked at Sayuri. "You're the last of your clan, and all of the elements are needed to create this barrier." Sayuri closed her eyes, taking inventory over her own body.

I can move now, Sakura helped ease the pain, but my chakra is…she paused. Turning to the medic. "Do you have soldier pills?"

"What!?" Sakura looked almost appalled. "No! Sayuri, are you kidding me!? Do you want to die!?" Just then they heard both Naruto and Sasuke groan in pain. The kunoichi looked back to see Marishi-Ten holding both by the neck against the cave wall. "Sakura! I need them now!" Sakura looked from Naruto and Sasuke to Sayuri, unable to come up with something to counter the request. Sayuri held out her hand. "Now, Sakura!"

A.N.

Hope you enjoyed the update :)