Naruto: Shoton of Konoha Chapter 32: The burning leaf Act 1, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto

Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23

Chapter 32: The burning leaf Act I

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Dying was... not as bad as he thought it would have been. But the shame, the knowledge of their failure to save Uzushio, that pain was stronger than even a hundred, a thousand deaths. The ancestral home of his clan, all the brave kin who perished trying to defend it.

It felt as though his heart had been ripped from his chest.

The one thing he took comfort in was knowing some of his people had escaped, that his beloved Kushina was safe behind the walls of Konoha.

That was enough for Daisuke to finally lay down his arms and let the Shinigami carry his soul. It had been a good life, there were things he wished he could have done different of course, seldom was there ever anyone who lived without regrets, but it was a life he could take pride in.

The last thing he remembered seeing was the face of his friend, Hiruzen just had so much pain in his eyes that day, arriving too late and finding a battlefield full of lifeless bodies, both of his kin and the enemy. But even so, the image that remained with him in his final moments was the faces of his wife and daughter as he closed his eyes one last time.

So it came as a shock to him to find his eyes opening up once again, staring at a rather familiar surroundings, with even more so familiar faces around him.

"Where... Where am I?"

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Hiruzen took a step back, as if physically struck by the sight before him. His eyes welled up in tears, assaulted by the memories of seeing such familiar and dear figures once again, a mix of melancholy and happiness, as well as sorrow for how low his student had fallen. From the coffins came out three figures who by all rights should be resting peacefully after a lifetime of conflict.

Kushina may as well have been a statue by how still she was, yet slowly her body shook, wrecked by sobs as tears fell freely from her eyes.

Even though his exterior was a touch pale, and the paper like wrinkles and cuts around his form gave him an unnatural look, there was no way she could mistake that face. The same long red hair and goatee, the same violet eyes just like hers, inside two pools of blackness. A face she could see only in memories, yet it was here once again, right before her eyes. Her heart throbbed painfully against her chest, assaulted by the mirage of emotions that caused both joy and sadness.

Her trembling lips spoke the first thing that came to her, "Dad..."

Adorned in the traditional black robes with blue plated armor, twin uchigatana tied at his waist the Uzu hite-ate wrapped around his head. There stood the final Uzukage, Daisuke Uzumaki, who was currently very confused as he took the surroundings before him. This was Konoha, but that couldn't be, right? His shifted his gaze about before landing on a now much older Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen?"

The Sandaime could not halt the few tears that ran down his cheek. "...Hello my old friend." He bit back a quiet sob gazing at not only him but the other two beside Daisuke.

Mei held back a gasp beside the equally shocked ANBU as she stared at two legends from the Clans War era, and founders of the shinobi villages. Dressed in traditional but simple plate armor and black suit, though one was a dark reddish color with the other's blue with a white fur collar. Hashirama felt the wind dance through his long black hair while his brother Tobirama's red eyes surveyed all around him.

"We're alive?" Hashirama asked sharply turning his gaze to his brother who shook his head grimly.

"Afraid not brother," the late Nidaime looked down at his hands seeing the cracks in his skin. "Someone has used a jutsu I had created... And forbade its use." He frowned as he clinched his fists.

"The Shodai and Nidaime Hokages!" A male ANBU exclaimed in pure shock.

Another also made her voice heard; "And the Sandaime Uzukage!"

"I don't understand, what's going-?" Daisuke's words died on his mouth as soon as the noticed one particular figure standing next to Hiruzen.

She was older, a grown woman now, but there was no doubt in his mind that it was her.

He let out a chocked breath as his daughter's eyes met his own. "Kushina... my Kushina?"

Even through the sobs, she gave him a very joyous smile, "Hi dad..."

"O-Oh gods look at you" The elation he felt at seeing his daughter, alive and well, couldn't be put into words. "You're so beautiful; I see so much of your mother in you"

"Thank you" To hear her father's voice once again, and hear him compliment her so much made her heart swelled. Truly, this situation was both a blessing and a curse. "I got so much stronger too"

"Of that I have no doubt, my dear" Despite the gratitude he felt at seeing his child again, Daisuke could not ignore that this entire situation felt wrong, unnatural. He looked at his hands, seeing the paleness and cracks around them, "My body, it doesn't feel right. And..." He gave the two men at his side an astonished gaze, "Hashirama-sama, Tobirama-sama?!" He gasped in shock, though the fact that he didn't feel the need to breath was unnerving. "Last time I saw you I was but a youth, Shodai. And Nidaime, last time I met you was-"

"Mere days before my death" Tobirama declared with an edge to his tone, "This is Edo Tensei, young Daisuke"

"Ohhhh, it's you Daisuke?! My, how have you grown!" The Shodai exclaimed with excitement. "Hehehe, with that beard you look a lot like your grandfather Eiichi!"

"I..." Feeling at a loss for words, the third Uzukage merely took the compliment, "Thank you" Gods this was so surreal. "But if we are reanimated, then who...?"

"That would be me, Daisuke-dono" Stepping to the side, so the coffin before him would no longer block him from view, Orochimaru made himself known to the deceased Kages.

"Orochimaru?" The Uzukage was taken aback by the declaration. "But why?"

"The answer is simple, even if my reasons may appear complicated to you" He smiled in a way that made Daisuke question his mental state, "I intend to use you to destroy Konoha"

"What?!" His shock was shared by the two other Kages, "What in Amaterasu's light are you talking about?! You're Hiruzen's apprentice!"

"Oh" The snake sannin said with sadistic joy, "I'm afraid a lot has changed in your absence"

It was then Hashirama took notice of the battle throughout the village. Konoha and Kiri, were fighting side by side against Sunagakure and other shinobi he was not familiar with. And there was glaring fact of at least dozen or giant snakes were attacking and destroying the village! Anger surged in reanimated Senju before shock overwhelmed him at the sight of the dragon chief Genryu. The silver scaled dragon was locked in a mid-air battle with a serpent he knew from his wife.

"Tobirama!" Hearing his older brother's call, the silver haired kage looked at him and saw Hashirama point to the sky. Both and Daisuke gaze upwards seeing the dragon chief, and...

"Manda..." The Uzukage seethed out with rage. He remembered vividly that bastard snake ripping apart Uzushio with Kumogakure and Iwagakure forces beside him slaughtering anyone in their path.

"Why is the Kurokiba chief here?" The Nidaime asked out loud before he heard the malicious chuckle from Hiruzen's former student. The dots connected in the Senju's mind before glaring angrily; "You dare call yourself a Konoha Shinobi!" Orochimaru only laughed at Tobirama's anger.

"I have long cut ties with this villages ages Nidaime-dono. And made a contract with the Kurokiba." Those words brought nothing but a death stare from Daisuke as he continued; "All this to complete my goals. Destroying Konoha is merely a bonus."

A deep frown graced Tobirama's lips; "To think you are a student of Hiruzen..."

"Have you gone mad!?" The Uzukage roared, incensed by what he has just heard; "What have you become, boy!?"

"I have merely chosen my own path, Daisuke-dono" Despite the horrifying nature of his statement, he maintained a respectful tone towards the revived man. As though he saw nothing wrong with everything he had done. "Konoha is in my way, so it must go as well"

He raised his fingers in a half ram sign, and the Kages felt their bodies seize.

"Gah!" The Shodai gritted his teeth in effort, "Can't move!"

From his sleeves, the snake sannin took out three talisman tags, "Now, this will make you quiet and obedient. Much more suited to follow my commands"

Hiruzen was quick to shout his command, "Stop him!" And made a run for the four.

"Dad!" Kushina cried out in alarm as she and the others joined the Third, racing to make it in time.

Orochimaru was mere inches away from placing the talismans on their bodies, but the sudden shine above them accompanied by the huge condensation of chakra made him stop to look up.

There he saw a figure shadowed by the sun, yet still illuminated by the great sphere of chakra in his hands, plummet down towards their location. The sphere grew and grew until it was nearly five times the size of its holder.

"Odama Rasengan!"

Orochimaru and his remaining Sound Four jumped out of the way, yet the reanimated Kage, frozen still, remained in place. The raw chakra attack slammed down upon them, shredding their bodies' apart under its sheer weight and pressure.

Those on the roof froze as a figure stood in the smoke caused by the attack, "You really did turn into a son of bitch you know that." Jiraiya sneered as he was revealed as the dust settled. His clicked his tongue as he saw the reanimated Kages already reforming. "Was hoping that'd put them down."

Fully reformed, Hashirama shook his head and dryly glared at the person who just turned him, his brother, and Daisuke into paste. "That's a fine way to say hello." Jiraiya deadpanned at the statement.

Tobirama only sighed after regenerating beside Daisuke who stared at the tall white haired man; "Jiraiya?"

"Long time Daisuke-dono, was hoping that would have put you guys back to rest quickly."

At that the Nidaime shook his head; "You need to do more than that, but thank you for stopping him." His body seized once more, something his fellow reanimated Kage were also experiencing, feeling a compulsion, an order by the Edo Tensei he certainly did not design it with. "The technique is still controlling our bodies, prepare yourselves!"

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It had not been on Kya's agenda to get involved into village affairs, much less participate in a battle between them. The beautiful blonde had always chosen to stay away from such nonsense. Truly, Lyn was to blame for all this. She was just fine using her time meditating and reading, and would not have gotten involved in this mess were not for her lover convincing her to travel to Konoha and meet her kin.

But, once again, Kya was reminded that loyalty was an important thing. Even if she did not feel personally attached to Naruto, it fell to her to defend him. Not only he was Lyn's relative, but hers as well, she had yet to teach him of their clan, so she would not dishonor them by ignoring what was going on around them. She was honor bound to defend Konoha as well.

As the princess began rallying orders, Kya's mind soon drifted away. Not for a lack of interest, but because she felt something... off. There was an imbalance of spiritual energy nearby. It was profane, dark, fueled by blood.

Her sapphire blue eyes widened in disbelief, her shaggy hair swaying wildly as her face snapped towards the direction where that energy was coming from. "Necromancy..."

"What was that?" Lyn questioned looking at her intently in an uncharacteristic display of seriousness. Fitting, as the Uzumaki had plenty of experience dealing with such practices, namely hunting down those that performed it. The Namikaze soon realized all eyes were on her, something she was not really comfortable with. But now it fell to her to explain.

"There's been an influx of spiritual energy" Kya said, causing many eyes to stare in confusion. So she was forced to explain in more detail. "The kind that appears when the spirits of the dead are unrestful. But unlike a haunting this imbalance is too sudden, which means someone has just performed a technique to awaken the dead from their rest"

"You can feel that?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion.

"Yes" She did not elaborate further on the training and spiritual affinity she had to develop for her to acquire that capability. "And it's coming from there" Kya pointed at the great building of the arena, namely the roof where the Kages and their allies were facing off against Orochimaru.

Eyes turned upward as quite a few gasped at the sight of two certain people; "T-That's the..." Ino stuttered in disbelief.

"Holy shit that's the freaking Shodai and Nidaime!" Kiba's scream made a few winced at the volume of his voice.

Still, everyone was in a state of immense disbelief at the sight of the Senju brothers, literally brought back from the dead. However, the three oldest redheads among the group stare solely at the man beside the two Senju of legend. A tornado of emotions ran throughout their very being; "N-No way..." Lyn uttered with a tremble in her voice.

"He stooped that low just to get at Kushina;" Saito surprisingly spat with anger.

Overhearing, Naruto turned them; "Who is that with the Shodai and Nidaime?"

For the longest moment none said anything before Saito responded; "That is your grandfather Naruto... Daisuke Uzumaki."

Time itself felt like it had frozen in place for the blond. He could hear no sound, see no one move save himself as he gazed back at his... his grandfather... It did not even feel like he was even breathing, nor his heart beating as he gazed at the man whom his mother and the other told so many stories about. To him, Karin, and Soujiro.

Beside him Haku gasped at the sight of tears in her blond friend's eyes. "Naruto-Kun?"

He did not even register her voice, Naruto only stared up towards his grandfather. Unable to speak or feel the tsunami of emotions flooding him.

He had heard so much about him from his mother, seen the pictures, everything. But to hear he was now here? Naruto was absolutely floored, he didn't even know how to react in a moment like this. He didn't even understand how this was possible.

His first instinct was to jump to the roof, greet him, talk to him, there were so many things he wanted to ask him. But... right now was not the moment. Naruto did not forget he was still a ninja to his village, his under siege village, he had a duty to follow.

He could only stand there and await for the more experienced ninja. He was sure his grandfather would do the same.

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Even without the talismans, the Kages still fell under the compulsion of Orochimaru's technique. They were not robbed of reason, yet their bodies moved on their own, even their own willpower only did so much to prevent them from using their more devastating abilities, as well as warning the others. Orochimaru was kept at bay by the Sandaime, keeping him far away from the reanimated Kage, stopping him from using his talismans, while the snake Sannin's subordinates battled the joint forces of Konoha and Kiri.

Kushina, as much as it pained her, fought her father. Though her knowledge of his fighting ability came only from second hand sources, the only other person who knew more about his skills was Hiruzen himself, so she was the best choice for stopping the Uzukage.

Even in this battlefield, where so many pressing matters were going on at once, Kushina could not ignore the chance this presented.

"I need you to follow me!" She called to her father, knowing the Edo Tensei would compel him to peruse her anyway. She jumped down from the roof, and Daisuke followed suit, partly moved by his own will and partly because of the Edo Tensei's command.

They landed in the middle of the chunin exams arena, where the two of them were the only people present on it right now.

"Good, it's best to bring me to an isolated area" Daisuke said before sighing, "Look, Kushina, there is much we need to discuss. But it's best you seal me as fast as possible. Call on reinforcements, I'll try to force my body to lower its defenses before-"

"Not yet"

He blinked at his words, "Kushina, I understand how you feel, but it's imperative you-"

"I'm gonna be selfish here" She gave him an apologetic smile, the same she gave him whenever she played a prank and was found out. "Because there is someone you must meet" She took a deep breath, and shouted to the stands. "Naruto, come down here!"

Up in the stands, the group of multiple shinobi had observed as Daisuke was taken down to the arena by following the Red Death. Some of the older ANBU could only make shocked remarks at seeing the Third Uzukage once again. It was hard not to feel a sense of awe, not only was the legendary founder of Konoha brought back, but also his acclaimed brother. To the ninja of Konoha, it also brought forth a sense of indignation and anger at having such important people from their past be used in such a manner.

The kin of Uzu could only stare with mixed emotions at the form of their honorable clan leader and Kage. For the older generations, the last time they had met Daisuke was when they were kids, and that seemed like a lifetime ago.

Naruto took a shuddering breath. This was his chance! But the others... he needed to help them.

"Go" It was the voice of the princess that snapped him out of his stupor. Her gaze melancholic, "A chance like this is one in a millionth" Her voice was heavy, laced with emotion. As though she understood what he must be feeling. "Don't waste it" And smiled at him, it was a very charismatic gesture. "Regroup with us when you're done"

"Hime-sama..." He smiled at her in gratitude. "Thank youUUGH!" He yelped as he was yanked away from his shirt's collar by his aunt Lyn.

"Thanksprincessweoweyouone!" The wild maned woman spoke so quickly one could barely make out what she said before she jumped down to the arena, dragging Naruto with her, ignoring his cries of discomfort. Samenosuke, Saito and his son were not far behind them. They too wanted to meet with their clan leader once more.

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"Naruto?" Daisuke questioned as several people leapt down to the arena beside Kushina. He recognized the older ones almost immediately. He could not stop the smile growing upon his face; "You did survive... Saito, Samenosuke, Lyn..."

Out of the said three, the buxom redhead felt the tears well up in her eyes; "Uncle..." Her voice a quiet chocked sob.

Pride only showed in the reanimated Uzumaki; "You've all grown well..." His soon turn the young teens; "You three, you are clan as well?"

Samenosuke patted Soujiro's and Karin's heads; "The boy is Saito's and Maya's kid, Soujiro... Maya died during childbirth." Daisuke grimaced as he gazed at the boy seeing a bit of both of his parents. "This is Kirika's and Hisao's daughter, Karin." The roguish man lowered his head; "They are both gone..."

It was a hollow feeling in the late Uzukage's heart. He remembered all three when they were children. But knowing they had children brought a tearful smile to his face as he looked at both. "I am proud to meet you both."

His gaze soon turned to his daughter who had both her hands on the shoulder of a blond boy; "D-dad... This is your grandson. Naruto Uzumaki."

His... His grandson... Daisuke felt time grow still as he observed every inch of the young man he looked so nervous and eyes full of emotions. He saw not only his daughter in the boy, but also Manami as well. "My grandson."

Naruto became stiff at those words.

"K-Kushina I don't know what to say" The Uzukage stumbled into his words, the emotional shock was enough to momentarily stop any command the Edo Tensei was giving him. "To know that you found happiness and that you started your own family" The smile he gave her was unlike any she had seen before on him. "I am just... so happy to be able to see this. I'm sure your mother Manami is looking down on you, feeling oh so very proud too" He turned his smile at his grandson, pausing to think of the right words. Yet all he could come up with was; "Hi"

"H-Hi" Naruto found a smile growing widely on his lips, "grandpa" Saying those words felt weird, so wonderfully weird.

"I... I wish to talk to you about so many things. What things you like, what you dislike. What your hobbies are, what your aspirations are" His smile became downcast and mournful, "Maybe if I had done a better job, I could have gotten to know you before"

"Uncle..." Saito muttered, voice laced with sympathy.

"I failed to protect Uzu. I failed all of you" His fists shook as he tightened his grip. "You all deserved to continue growing in your rightful home. To raise your families on the grounds of our ancestors, to teach them the ways of the Uzumaki clan" Shame filled with every word, for him to have not stopped the destruction of his home was an unforgivable sin in his eyes. "As clan leader, as Kage... nothing of what I did was enough, the clan deserved better than me..."

Nobody knew how to respond at the man's self-loathing statement, they knew this not to be true, and hearing how the man felt made their hearts ache for him.

"Forgive me, honorable grand-uncle, but I believe you are wrong"

Everyone's gazes turned to Soujiro, the wavy haired young man looked at his uncle with usual calm and collected eyes, his voice soft yet firm in its respectful tone for the man. "From everything I heard about you, I believe there couldn't have been a better leader for our clan. Everything that happened was due to circumstances outside your control. A leader's worth is measured in the loyalty they hold towards their people, the fact you do not stop blaming yourself for the fall of Uzu, that you mourn for them, shows us how much you truly loved the clan"

Daisuke stared at the boy before a chuckle reverberated from his throat; "He is much like you as a child Saito." The Uzukage smirked before he shook his head, that boy… goodness, though it did not remove all his pain and guilt, it was a great relief to know the same values from their clan were passed on still.

"Uncle" Saito softly said, stepping right beside his son. "None of us blame you, we couldn't have asked for a better clan leader."

"Heh" Lyn scratched her nose, "If Tsukiko-baachan were here, she'd scold you're for moping around so much"

"Hmph" He smiled softly at the memory of their wise elder, "She would, wouldn't she… Thank you all" He said those words from the heart. Then gazed to Samenosuke and Lyn. "You two have children yet?"

"Me, not yet." The buxom redhead perked with grin before pointing over to the roguish Uzumaki; "As much as he's slept around I don't think he knows if he does or not." The group face faulted at the blunt words.

A deadpanning glare came from the reanimated Uzumaki at a sheepish chuckling Samenosuke. "Well I never stuck around at one place too often."

"And you bedded married women." Saito drones with an eye roll.

"Oh for gods-? Really Same?" Kushina said with disbelief and a touch of disgust in her voice.

"The husbands were all for it too" He tried to defend himself.

"Wonderful knowledge to take with me when I go back to the afterlife..." The Uzukage droned in the driest tone possible. "That you became a very, very shameless man"

"Hey now, sometimes I like to transform into a woman" The roguish Uzumaki added with a wide grin.

Karin groaned in a long suffering voice, "Anyone else feels the mood just died and we ruined the moment?"

"To be fair, Samenosuke ruined it" Lyn argued.

"Oi!"

Though if Daisuke was honest, the bickering, the pointless banter, it all carried with it the unmistakable presence of familiarity, the kind one would find with their own kin. Families were like that, they argued, they shouted, they made fun of one another... yet at the end of the day; you could always count on them for anything.

Right now these adults were bickering like children right before his eyes, and Daisuke felt he was back there again, in Uzushio, when they were all chasing Tsukiko-sama around. Just having fun, enjoying life as children should do.

Even though they had all been hardened by loss and tragedy, their eyes never stopped shining with the same familial love they all had for each other. They were still just as wild and rambunctious as always, truly, they exemplified they ever spiraling whirlpool that defined their clan.

"...Ah, I see it now" The third Uzukage smiled gently. "Our home, our clan, it's all still here. The whirlpool shall continue to flow ever on-wards"

Kushina blinked a few tears away, "Dad...?"

"I will never forgive myself for what happened to our home. But" He met her gaze warmly, "knowing you are all alive and happy, that you can still make something for yourself. It makes me hope there are other Uzumaki out there as well"

"It's not just us" Lyn quickly added, wanting to give some measure of comfort and hope to her beloved uncle, "We've only met a few in our travels, but there are those out there still. Eiji, he's with the fox clan, has a daughter called Tamamo. Old man Takuma and his son Hirohito, along with Umeko. Heh, Hiro actually married Umeko and they had a son, Shirou, he's an amazing smith for his age, learnt all from his old man and gramps" Her shoulders dropped slightly in disappointment, "They couldn't join us here, they were too busy or too far away, so they agreed to meet at a later date. But we've never stopped looking for signs of others. The clan is still out there, uncle. WE are still here"

At those words a grin grows on Daisuke's lip; "Then that is all that matters. The Uzu survived Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and the Kurokiba. One day the clan will be restored anew, I won't be there to see it with you. But I will be watching with Manami."

A few had to hold back the tears as they nodded. The Uzu would rise once more; all of them vowed it in their hearts. "Naruto." The blond straightened as his grandfather shifted his gaze to him. "I wish I could be there to tell everything I know. Teach you all that I could, but it wasn't to be. But know this, regardless of your path in life. I am proud of you, now and always."

Those words resonated deeply within the young boy as tears fell from his eyes. The smile that grew from his face glowed; "Thank you grandpa." His voice breaking and horse.

"We are Uzumaki; we do not break and bend to fate! We fight it with the fury of a dragon till it gives up in defeat!" Daisuke exclaimed with pride. "And moreover, when the world is at its darkest. Always keep smiling!"

Naruto smiled as indescribable joy filled his heart. This right here... this felt like the same kind of love the old man Hokage had always shown him. He could look into his grandfather's eyes and know he was loved, so he responded in kind, showing that despite only having met him for such a short time, he loved his grandfather as well.

"I will!" He said, closing his eyes shut, making the tears fall all the more. "I will grandpa!"

Daisuke smiled, showing all of his teeth and closing his eyes, giving him a peace sign. Karin let out a soft breathy laugh, truly, that gesture was a family thing. Soujiro curved his lips upwards in a very gentle and small smile; he understood their grand-uncle's words were meant for them as well.

The Uzumaki adults felt a great ease, for their younger generation had been entrusted with something precious. The will of a great man.

"Kushina" Daisuke looked upon his daughter, a mixture of emotions shifting rapidly through his expressions. "I... I know I wasn't-"

"Dad" She smiled at him, "it's okay. When mom died you threw yourself into your work, it was fine with it then but… I'm okay with that now. I knew you still cared the few times you and I were together. Those small times were all that mattered."

The Uzukage said nothing before smiling; "You did take after your mother." He gave a nod accepting his daughter's word. "I-" Daisuke froze in mid-sentence. The group gasped as they saw a lone Oto Nin appeared behind the reanimated and had plunged his hand into the late Kage's back.

"Orochimaru-sama" The Oto Nin said with fanatical loyalty, "Will not let you go so easily!"

The Uzukage could feel the presence of a talisman being planted inside his body. With his last remaining willpower, he spun around and grabbed the Sound ninja by the throat. One swift movement and his neck was snapped, he let the body fall unceremoniously to the ground.

He fought it with all he had, but the accursed item was beyond his reach, spreading its influence like a parasite.

Eventually, he stopped struggling.

Daisuke's eyes soon became blank as he unsheathed his swords.

"Dad/Grandpa!" Kushina and Naruto yelled before Saito stood in front of them.

"We have to free Daisuke-dono!" The older man drew his sword as Samenosuke walked beside him with two daggers in each hand.

"Hime, You and the others should help around the village and let us deal with this." Samenosuke spoke in a rare steely tone.

Kushina only glared at both; "That's my father I'm not going anywhere!" She spun around and knelt to her son; "But you are!"

"WHAT!?"

"Lyn," Saito kept his gaze on his uncle; "Take the kids and help around the village."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" The buxom Uzumaki yelled in outrage.

"Konoha and Kiri need every hand able to help them. And I'd imagine Yuri would like to take a crack at the Kurokiba." Saito spoke back with finality.

Lyn gave him hesitant look before watching her uncle's figure. His eyes had lost their color, replaced by purely white orbs inside dark pools. The cracks on his form had disappeared, but somehow he looked even more unnatural than before. Kushina grit her teeth, she didn't want to resort to this, but her father was under Orochimaru's control. There was no other choice, this is what he would want, and she reminded herself.

Daisuke looked at the two Uzumaki men with unfeeling eyes and took a step forward.

Samenosuke threw his daggers at each side of the deceased Kage, they formed sealing arrays around them the moment they hit the ground, and joined in a pattern of symbols surrounding Daisuke.

The roguish Uzumaki threw his hands down, placing his palms on the ground and summoning a large temple bell that fell upon their honored clan head with an echoing sound. Samenosuke did not stop there, going through a long chain of handsigns.

"Sealing Technique: Ceremonial Chime Impalement!"

Spears made out of pure chakra formed in mid-air around the bell, flying at high speed and seemingly phasing through the material, where they most likely impaled the reanimated form of the Uzukage.

Naruto stared impressed at the elaborate technique. "Will that hold him?"

The bell suddenly shook and thundered, a couple of the chakra spears dissipating into thin air.

"I'm gonna go for 'no'" Samenosuke hissed, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand.

"Lyn!" Saito shouted, the thin strands on his forehead swaying widely with movement of his head. "Now!"

"Ugh fine! But these Konoha idiots better not attack Yuri!"

The wild maned Uzu and the swordsman bit their lips, and slammed their hands into the ground. "Kuchiyose!"

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The battle on the roof kept at a fierce pace with Hiruzen facing his former student and Jiraiya with the Mizukage and ANBU fighting the late Senju brothers. Mei dodged several whips from wood that was spawned by Hashirama; "Very impressive skills young lady!"

The young female Kage felt the sweat bead off her; "Thank you Hashirama-dono." Really it was something to be complimented by such a legend. Circumstances notwithstanding however. Part of her had always wondered is the stories of his prowess in battle were talk. Would it be wrong to say she wished it was? Only fighting the Three Tails had been was this intense!

Her thoughts along with the others pause as a massive cloud exploded from within the arena; "Well it's about time!" A husky feminine voice boomed as the clouds parted revealing a gigantic black fox. "Whoa, this place has gone to hell since I last been here!"

"A fox!" Several ANBU yelled out getting a dry look from the Gama Sannin.

"Wow you guys are perceptive." He dryly quipped with an eye roll; "Say hello to Yuri, chief of the Fox Clan."

It went without saying foxes and the leaf village had bit a rough past on account of certain instances. A few were wary till they noticed a woman on the head of the fox glaring down. "If any of you tree hippy assholes think about hurting Yuri I'm cutting your balls off!" She hollered waving her naginata around.

Well, desperate situations allowed room for a few prejudices to be put on hold. If only for a while. They wouldn't say no to giant animals helping them when their village was currently under siege by that band of snakes.

"Hmph! I've not taste for snake meat" A rough voice spoke as the rest of the smoke cloud cleared, revealing a giant gray wolf with a few scars running down its snout. "I'll have to endure burying my fangs into their necks" The female black fox snickered in response.

"And that" Jiraiya smiled with relief at the sight of the allies that had joined the fight, "is the wolf chief, Genjou"

The great fox chief looked at the air where currently snake and dragon did battle, "Wow! Is that Genryu? Haven't seen that old serpent in ages. Prooobably should have told him I had a few Uzumaki under my care"

"Bah! The dragons are owed nothing, they are part of our clans now" The wolf chief spoke with firmness in his voice.

"Look, you guys don't have to get along!" Lyn shouted from atop her partner's head, "But we could reeeally use some help here, the Kurokiba clan are attacking!"

That made the great wolf's eyes narrow, "The dragons are no friend of the wolves... but that snake clan, they I will gladly bare my fangs and claws against"

Saito let out a soft sigh of relief. He had figured Genjou would be harder to convince, the wolves seldom fought for anyone that wasn't part of their pack. But you could always count on an old and extremely hated common enemy for others to become fast allies.

A frown marred Orochimaru's face at the sight of the Wolf and Fox chiefs, 'This will complicate things.'

Hiruzen smirked at the sight while he held his Adamantine Staff. With a single eye open on said staff as Enma snorted; "Well about time those lazy oafs decided to do something." The monkey king scoffed.

Sniffing the air Yuri glanced down eyeing the Blond boy among the redheads; "So that's where you have been hiding Kurama!"

Everyone gave a few questioning looks while shock etched on Naruto's face; "You know Kurama?!" He heard a low growl from within his head.

"HAH! Long story kid! Yasaka says hello you lazy poor excuse of a false kitsune! …Well she would if you wasn't still mad at you!"

Karin and the others saw Naruto wince so bad he held his head. "You alright!" His cousin was at his side with his mom there in seconds.

The blond said nothing, hissing in pain from the roaring inside his head that came from his Bijuu. "What the hell is all that about?!" Naruto asked once Kurama stopped roaring, going back to the depths of his mind, grumbling to himself in the foulest mood the Uzumaki had ever felt him before.

"Better ask him that!" The black fox gave him, quite fittingly, a foxy grin. Lyn leapt down from her head and rejoined her family. "Now, how about a contest? The one who skins the most snakes wins!" She left the arena in a single bound, cutting an impressive sight as she proceeded to attack the closest snake in sight.

"Hmph" The wolf chief did not seem to rise to the challenge. "If this is to be a competition, then it should actually be a challenge instead such triviality" Without another word, the great wolf joined the fox by leaping outside the arena, it landed pressing down its paws against a large snake that was in the process of attacking a band of Konoha ninja, driving it to the ground and biting down its neck.

"You know, even though we're fighting for our lives, I can appreciate the coolness of giant beasts fighting" Karin admitted, showing that she was very much an Uzumaki.

Once seeing her son was alright, now Kushina rejoined Saito and Samenosuke. "You guys go and help the village."

"But mom!"

"Don't argue with me Naruto!" The woman snapped garnering sharp a wince from her son. "Trust in me, Saito-nii, and Same! Now get going!"

The blond Uzumaki gazed to his grandfather who remained in battle stance. Feeling hand on his shoulder he saw Lyn give a stern look. No one spoke a word as the four Uzumaki left the arena.

Kushina bit back a sigh as she drew her sword; "I'll make this up to sochi once we get this done." Saito and Samenosuke nodded as they prepared themselves.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Battle reigned all throughout the village with Suna and Oto being relentless against Konoha and their new allies, Kiri. Corpses of all sides and several civilians lay upon the ground; Maiyuri seethed at the wanton destruction before her. There will be a reckoning for this senseless barbarism! Her katana parried against a Suna Nin before cleaving his head from his body.

Glancing up, she had to rub her eyes at the sight of a giant wolf and black fox now attack the snakes. Around her were Kakashi and the others taking on anyone who came for their lives. With his trench knives Asuma slashed the throats of several Oto and Suna before burning others with a fire jutsu. Near him Kurenai cleverly used genjutsu to disorient enemies into slaying each other.

Kakashi with Yamato and Zabuza were taking on several enemies along with a large human sized Cobra. "And here I thought I'd get bored today!" The Kiri swordsman laughed manically cutting down his current opponent, literally.

Hatake deadpanned casually snapping an enemies neck; "How Haku-chan stayed sane is amazing."

"Can we focus on the snake that want to eat us!" Yamato bellowed at both while holding the serpent at bay via… wood?

It was noticed by the others but the topic was discarded for another time. Samui made sure she recalled that as she roundhouse kicked her opponent. Near her, Karui and Omoi handled anyone coming for them with Yugito slashing through several enemies with her elongated fingernails.

Sasuke parried a flying kunai with his own, he crouched so Sakura would jump over his shoulder and delivered a strong sweeping kick at the oto-nin that had thrown it. As she landed she looked up to see a group of four more ninja running towards them, "Sasuke!" She held out her arm, which the Uchiha quickly grasped.

With a mighty tug he was sent flying towards the oto-nin, twirling in the air and throwing a multitude of kunai and in many directions, his Sharingan allowing him to see his targets despite the rapid movement of his body.

He landed, feet skidding on the ground, and smirked at the sight of the four enemy ninja slowly falling to the ground. Their bodies pierced with multiple projectiles.

"You call that teamwork?" Ino taunted as she and her teams got into formation. "Check out the Ino-Shika-Cho in action!"

Their opponent in question was a python the size of three horses. Chōji enlarged his fists while Shikamaru was already stretching his shadow, the Yamanaka prepared herself to stun the beast temporarily with her mind transfer... until the blonde haired beauty that was Naruto's Namikaze kin landed on the snake's head, and drove her sword through its brain.

She leapt down with a twirl, cleaning the blood of her katana as the snake fell.

"Hey!" Ino stomped her foot angrily, "That one was ours!" She really wanted to show off to Sakura, make her see the awesomeness of her team.

The messy haired blonde turned to the younger girl with an impassive gaze, and Ino felt herself froze before those steely blue orbs.

"...Or not" The mumbled pathetically, "We're in a battle, no time to be childish I guess..."

Kya merely walked away, her long sleeve flowing softly as she sheathed her blade.

"For being Naruto's relative" Chōji muttered, "She's REALLY intense"

"Tch. Why is every blond woman I meet this troublesome?"

That comments earned him a backhand smack courtesy of his blond teammate which made him grumble.

Haku sent a barrage of ice senbon into several attackers, killing them, as Kouhei and Chojuro killing off any stragglers; "Relentless bastards aren't they!" The whip wielder yelled as he lashed out his primary weapon of choice, wrapping around an enemies neck. With strong tug he forced the Oto Nin into Chojuro's shapeshifting sword, now in the form of a greatsword cleaving the kunoichi in two.

Hanabi paled at the violence around her, clinging tightly to her sister who was acting as her guard while her teammates took care of their enemies. "No end to these assholes!" Kiba snarled with Akamaru barking. Sharply turning his head, Kiba growled soon seeing more enemy ninja charging for them; "Come on already!"

However, before the Oto and Suna could attack they were engulfed in both fire and ice. Pained cries came from them as the Inuzuka watched in morbid fascination and satisfaction. Soon two serpentine dragons, one green the other brown, both the height of Kakashi came down beside them.

"Need assistance?" The green dragon asked in a polite manner.

Finishing her opponent Hinata and Hanabi looked at awe with the two dragons, "Who are you?"

"I am Hui Zhong," the green scaled dragon lightly bowed before gesturing to the brown dragon who growled towards the Kurokiba snakes; "This is my brother Jian, we are Hien's older brothers." Recognition lit in Hinata's eyes as she met the cute little red dragon before.

Soon Naruto, Karin, Soujiro, and Lyn landed amongst their friends. "Thought I'd bring some help!" The blond Uzumaki grinned patting Jian.

Said brown scaled dragon glared with pure hate in his eyes; "I've been waiting to kill some Kurokiba!"

Upon seeing the reinforcements that had joined their enemies, the Oto Nin all back away in fear, cold sweat running down their heads as they stared at the growling dragons. The Konoha ninja meanwhile glared at them with such killing intent combined that it was making it hard for them to remain on their feet.

Half of the remaining Sound ninja turned away and run, leaving their comrades to their fate.

One of the snakes growled furiously, "Come back you cowards!" It barely had time to react when the two older dragons descended upon it, burying their fangs through its scaly body. "Help me, cowards!"

Hui Zhong and Jian turned out to be pretty strong and savage fighters, they tore the snakes apart, set the humans ablaze with fire or encased them in icy with frosty breaths, all the while Naruto winced at the unfair onesideness of the fight.

"Your brothers are pretty brutal, Hien"

The small dragon came out from the blonde's shirt through his collar, "They are? Hmm, I guess dragons and humans have different standards on brutality"

Maiyuri let out a soft sigh, for a moment they were free to organize. She sharply turned to one of her ANBU escorts. "Report, do we have a status on the other fronts?"

"The whole village has become a battlefield, Maiyuri-hime" A bird masked ANBU replied. "Inoichi-dono reported several fronts under heavier siege. But he's also informed us that the Suna Jinchuuriki has been sighted as heading to south-western forests"

Both Naruto and Yugito snapped their heads towards the princess at hearing that. "They cannot be allowed to deploy their Bijuu, it'll be a disaster" Samui calmly stated with an even glance to Maiyuri.

A chill ran down the spines of everyone at the prospects of a Bijuu being unleashed to attack them. Save another Bijuu who scoffed; "That idiot couldn't find his own ass if he tried." Kurama uttered in both Naruto's and Yugito's minds.

Matatabi only deadpanned at her kitsune brother before she shook her head; "Ignore him."

The fire princess was quiet for moment before speaking; "What areas are in the most danger?"

"The Academy is being attacked, along with the Jōnin Headquarters, and Archives." The Bird masked ANBU finished.

"IRUKA-SENSEI!" The current Konoha Genin among the group all yelled as they looked wide eyed.

Yamato paled; "The civilians are in the academy..." It was standard procedure to put all the non-combatants into the hidden underground area under the academy in case of an attack.

A snarl came from several people including the princess. These cowards would openly attack innocents, it brought fury into the group. Hanabi gazed up to her older sister who bore a horrified expression. "What do we do?" The young girl asked.

"Senpai" Yamato turned to Kakashi for guidance. In terms of both capability and experience, he was the one most suited to direct the course of action. Yamato knew first-hand what an efficient team leader Kakashi could be. Always formulating plans, back up plans, and backups for those backups with impressive speed and foresight.

So it came to a surprise for the wood style wielder when Kakashi merely gave him an impassive look with his sole visible eye and replied; "We await orders" And turned to face the princess. "Maiyuri-hime, what is your command?"

At that, most of the jōnin could not help but stare at him stunned. Kakashi, known for being a pragmatist on the battlefield and quick to plan and strategize, was leaving the decision making to the young princess. Her pale green eyes stared at him in open surprise, perhaps she more than anyone did not foresee his words.

Karui whispered to the closest person she was by, which happened to be Shikamaru, "Hey, smart guy. What's the Copy Nin doing? This is not a job for royalty" Untested royalty in the ways of war might she add.

Shikamaru rolled his neck tiredly, "I think it's obvious"

Ino leaned in and quietly spoke, "What do you mean?"

"He's testing her"

Asuma, having heard his student, bit back a curse with a click of his tongue. 'Now's not really the time, Kakashi'

...But then again, when would it truly be?

Maiyuri-hime would inherit her father's throne one day. Her choices as a daimyo would determine the fate of the nation, be it in peace or in war. She had been given training and tutelage for all the skills she would need as the future leader of the Land of Fire. And in this chaotic world, to be unprepared was a death sentence.

Kakashi knew this, Asuma realized, something he noticed his fellow jōnin were beginning to understand by the look on their faces. If Maiyuri-hime was to become their daimyo one day, then she needed to be decisive.

Personally, Asuma knew the girl was strong, stronger than most jōnin he knew even. But to actually lead was another thing entirely. If nothing else, Kakashi would quickly take charge if he saw the slightest hesitation in her eyes.

But there was none there. Once her surprise had passed, a steely determination had taken root. She closed her eyes in deep thought, the ninja could guess the many variables and options that were going through their head.

"ANBU" She commanded, her voice strong and resolute. "You will go to the Archives, there is too much sensitive information there to let Oto and Suna get their hands on" Village and mission records, important Intel they on their operations, the identity of their undercover ninja on the field.

The ANBU did not protest to her words this time, instead they bowed with loyalty. "Hai!"

"Naruto-san" He stared up as she turned to face him, "I must ask you to track down Gaara and face him"

To stop a Jinchurriki, you use another Jinchurriki. What Naruto was guessing as he nodded; "Yes ma'am."

"I'll go too!" Yugito spoke walking beside her fellow Bijuu host. "Two Jinchurrikis would be more of an edge."

"We will go with them." Sasuke made his voice heard beside Sakura and Karin who nodded with determination.

Maiyuri gave a nod back; "Very well, but you will trackers to find them. And Gaara's siblings are with him"

At that Kiba raised his hand; "Team 8 can help with that." He smirked with Akamaru barking. Shino gave a nod while Hinata gazed down to her little sister and back to the others.

"What about Hanabi?"

"Leave her with me." Everyone sharply turned their heads to see Hiashi with a bandaged Neji with him approaching. "Assist Uzumaki and the others, I'll take Hanabi back to the compound."

Tenten quickly went over to Neji who gazed back at her; "Lee?"

"Too injured to help. ANBU are looking after him." The weapon mistress could not put her finger on it. But Neji's voice sounded less, cold... Huh.

"I'd like to help Naruto-Kun as well." Haku raised her hand.

Zabuza shrugged, "You wanna fight the mentally unstable Jinchuuriki? Fine by me. Just don't come crying if you die"

"Showing a lot of concern for her, huh sensei?" Kouhei deadpanned.

"If you are so worried about her" Zabuza retorted, "You can go with her"

The whip wielder still remembered his fight with the unstable redhead fairly well. "...Nah I think I'll help the others here. Good luck!" He gave Haku a thumbs up, who merely sighed and rolled her eyes.

"So, we have a team to face Gaara" Kurenai noted, "We will still need to form two more teams if we want to defend both the Academy and the Jōnin HQ"

"Which is why you jōnin shall head to your headquarters" The princess ordered. "We will need Shikaku-san's skills if we want to drive the enemy out of the village"

"Yosh!" Gai gave her a beaming smile, she winced when she saw the sun reflecting on those inhumanly shining teeth. "You can count on us, blooming flower of our nation!"

"Please don't call me that" Maiyuri dryly responded.

Kakashi gave her an empathic look, "You better not waste your breath, Maiyuri-hime" He said in a long suffering tone.

"Right..." Why were ninja so weird? She shook her head before addressing the others. "Me and the others will head to the Academy then" She raised a brow at the ninja from Kumo, "I'm surprised you haven't raised any objection at your teammate choosing to fight another Jinchuuriki"

"Ain't much I can do about it" Samui shrugged, "I won't be able to change their minds if they want to help you"

Karui and Omoi secretly fist-bumped with wide grins on their lips.

"I'll just wait for Raikage-sama to scold them"

Their smiles were obliterated.

"Very well then" Samui got the feeling that the princess refused to say 'Thank you' on principle because they were for Kumo. Whatever, she didn't care what these tree huggers thought of them anyway.

"Oi, princess" Kakashi and the other jōnin stared nervously at Lyn who spoke to Maiyuri in such an informal manner. "Kya and I have more experience fighting big baddies like these snakes. So we'll be helping the others around here" She didn't even wait for a reply, and began walking away with her naginata resting on her shoulder. Kya following close behind. "If you're still alive later, drinks are on me"

They watched the two jumped from to roof until they disappeared from sight, "I just want to say" Karin quickly spoke to the princess, "Her attitude is not a reflection of our clan in ANY way"

The princess smiled sweetly at her. "That is a lie, isn't it?"

"...Yeah" Karin's shoulders sagged.

"Pretty much" Naruto nodded.

"Indeed" Soujiro agreed.

Maiyuri let out a soft laugh. Oh these Uzumaki… She smiled at the group with determination, "You have your orders, let's save this village!"

A chorus of loyal shinobi of Konoha replied courageously, "Hai!"

In the commotion, nobody had noticed the foreign woman Kuroreimei was no longer with them, and hasn't been for some time. From the shadows she watched with interest.

"So… you too can smile like that in moments like this, princess" The queen muttered to herself. "They say it's a trait shared by those who inherit his will" Another possible heir to keep an eye on.

But for now, she followed the blonde Uzumaki.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Iruka let out a harsh growl as he stabbed an Oto kunoichi in the throat with his kunai. The scarred Chunin had seen better days along with his fellow teachers as they had been battling invading Otogakure ninja. It was a shock to him and the others along with the students who were watching the exams via a television when an ANBU appeared. The teachers were floored upon hearing the news of the Kazekage's impostor, but took action quickly gathering the civilians for a possible attack.

They were halfway in the process when all hell broke loose and Sunagakure alongside Otogakure started attacking. Suna openly betrayed Konoha; this was going to have consequences felt throughout the lands of Wind and Fire. But that was for the higher ups to deal with.

Presently, the teachers who are not injured or dead along with a few jōnin were facing an onslaught of Sound Shinobi. A few overheard that they had come for the people so their master, Orochimaru, could experiment on them. Bad enough that traitor was after Naruto and Sasuke, but now he was after helpless civilians for Gods know what evil purposes!

Not while all of them drew breathe would they let Oto take one citizen of their village!

A female Chunin teacher slammed her knees hard into a male Oto before snapping his neck; "Rot in hell!" She screamed throwing his corpse into his fellow comrades.

Another fellow chūnin, a member of the Sarutobi clan, batted away at two Sound Ninja with Bo staff. He twirled the weapon with great dexterity before settling into a stance. "They keep coming! Iruka, we need to reinforce the main entrance to the Academy!"

The Umino knew their seal masters were in the process of making the building virtually impregnable, they just needed to a few more minutes to finish the seals on the main gates. The Konoha Nin needed to hold out as long as they could for their comrades to finish, knowing it carried the risk of being left outside.

Iruka thought back on the faces of the young children, so afraid and the desperate, the frightened adults who looked to them for protection. And the grim determined expressions on his fellow ninja, who were willing to lay down their lives for them.

There was no need for more to die.

"Take the others and go inside!" Iruka shouted, "I'll hold them off myself!"

"You crazy?!" The Sarutobi exclaimed in disbelief. "You'll die!"

"Somebody needs to protect the people inside" He said, his voice never wavering at the prospect of his death. "Just because we sealed off the building doesn't mean they'll stop"

"Umino!" The kunoichi teacher yelled

"Don't argue, GO!" Iruka declared as he tackled a charging Oto. Was it completely reckless and stupid for him to fight off a bunch of bloodthirsty bad guys? Yeah it would definitely be something Naruto would do without thinking twice. Images of him hanging out with the Blond Uzumaki popped in his head as he punched and kicked several Oto. He recalled the lunch he had with Naruto inviting him over to me his mother and family.

Was an experience meeting the Red Death, more over being called big brother by Naruto and Kushina-dono accepting it with a smile. Despite how weird that bunch was they made him feel like he was with family. Been a long time since he felt that feeling.

'Naruto's likely going to be mad at me, Hope he can forgive me if the worst happens.'

Iruka somersaulted from the Oto ninja, spinning in the air before thrusting his legs forwards and letting gravity give him a push. His kick landed upon an enemy's face, the nose breaking upon impact.

The Umino landed on the ground, dodging through several kunai and shuriken as he went through a series of handsigns. Water chakra coated his feet as small pools formed around them, he dashed with tremendous speed, riding the water currents that formed on his path. Passing in between multiple ninja and delivering slashing strikes with his kunai, blood trailing behind them.

An earth wall suddenly got in his way, his eyes widened in shock, he couldn't dodge in time and ended up slamming his frame painfully against the rock. He grunted as multiple shuriken pierced into his vest, hopefully his uniform stopped actually hitting him, but the impact was still painful. Less fortunate were his right arm and leg, where a couple of shuriken had struck him, blood quickly pooling and darkening the area of his clothing. He swallowed his pain and gathered himself as three enemy Oto descended upon him with various bladed weapons.

They pierced his figure, but found no blood, only cracks of wood. Iruka's body was substituted with a log, and the chūnin reappeared near the swing by the tree. He gasped, feeling his chakra reserves starting to run low. He let out pained gasps as he took out the shruiken in his leg and arm.

"You've got a death wish, Konoha" One of the Oto Nin said in a rough voice.

"No more than you do, choosing to attack our home" Iruka spat.

"Heh" The ninja snorted sardonically before giving a lazy wave of his hand, "Finish him"

Iruka prepared himself as multiple Sound ninja jumped through the air, their weapons drawn and ready to strike down their target. Iruka didn't have enough chakra to substitute again, much less do another type of technique that could save him from this.

The most he could do was takes out as many of those bastards with him.

He prepared himself for his fate, giving a quick prayer to his heroic parents, and apology to Naruto.

Iruka was mere moments of being swarmed by the enemy ninja, when a blindingly fast blur slammed against the ground in front of him, cracking the ground and making a shockwave that sent the Oto-nin flying away and the chūnin to fall down to his back.

"You were brave for holding out so long, chūnin" Came a young woman's voice, followed by the neigh of a horse.

Iruka blinked a few times before recognizing the young girl on a fully armored horse. His jaw dropped in shock; "Princess Maiyuri!" Protocol soon override his surprise as the Chunin formally gave a bow. "Y-Your highness!"

"Geez Scars you can relax, we're in the middle of battle after all." Karui commented garnering the man's attention; "sup!"

Iruka had met both the Kumo and Kiri teams respectively via Naruto's persistence. Ino waved with a smile beside a yawning Shikamaru and alert Choji. With them was Gai's student Tenten who kept an eye on the perimeter with Kouhei and Chojuro, plus Saito's son Soujiro.

"Is anyone injured?" Maiyuri's voice regained the man's attention.

"We suffered some casualties" Iruka said with wariness, "We were halfway into the evacuation when the attack hit. Otogakure Nin has been attacking here to kidnap people for Orochimaru's experiments." The genin paled at the thought while the princess snarled with righteous fury. "We've been holding them off as best we could my lady, but our numbers were dwindling steadily."

"I see" The princess commented neutrally, no doubt holding back the urge to just charge in and slaughter their enemies for daring to harm her people. Her eyes narrowed with intensity at the multiple Sound Ninja still present over the academy grounds. By her count there had to be from twenty to thirty remaining. "You have done well, allow us to take over from here" She dismounted her horse and took a hold of her sheathed blade.

"Shall I trample them under my hooves?" The horse spoke, its chestnut hair flapping wildly as he shook with his long neck with a neigh.

Before she could answer, the trembling of crumbling building reached their ears as four great snakes the size of a small house lead by a giant black mamba the size of a five story building crawled towards the Academy. The Konoha genin and their allies paled at the incoming enemy reinforcements, while quite a few of the Oto Nin let out cries of premature victory.

Maiyuri gazed back at the incoming serpents before turning away. "Please, take care of them, Ushiwakamaru"

"By your command" The horse turned and began trotting towards the direction of the great snakes. Much to her companion's surprise.

"Wait, by yourself" Tenten spoke up in concern, "No offense pal, but you don't have claws or anything"

The horse let out a snort as its species was known to do. "I would not have become the Fire Princess' battle mount if I hadn't learnt how to overcome such limitations" With a high pitched neigh, Ushiwakamaru raised its hooves high in the air before slamming them upon the ground hard. "Henge!"

With the cry of the technique, the horse's form was enveloped in smoke, obscuring him completely. Yet it did not last, for the smoke was blown away by the wind created through the twirl of a large weapon.

Omoi's eyes widened, "Woah..."

The horse's form had changed dramatically, becoming centaur-like by acquiring a well-built humanoid torso, his chest adorned with a mixture of light armor and clothing, along with two thick arms. Said limbs were twirling a might halberd above his head, a powerful bladed head and a long shaft, with a plume of red hairs adorning the area where the two meet.

"Now that is cool." Samui uttered rather impressed by the sight.

The giant black mamba chuckled; "It matters little your form, prey." It hissed before lunging forward; "You shall be our food!" Soon the other serpents as the Genin and Iruka prepared for to fight.

Ushiwakamaru gripped his halberd as he charged for his foes at blinding speeds; "Only death awaits you!"

Iruka and kids only watched in awe as the steed moved at such speed they barely saw it shifted through the serpents and return to their side in a blink. Blood dripped from his weapon and soon sprayed from the countless slashes on the Kurokiba snakes. Their bodies fell like pieces of cut meat onto the ground.

"That is one badass horse." Kouhei murmured beside Chojuro who nodded in agreement.

Soujiro kept his gaze on the Oto; "We still have them."

At the sight of the now slaughtered snakes a few sound ninja paled; "Don't lose your nerve!" The jōnin among them snapped them out of their fear. "We still outnumber these brats."

"You assume number will lead you victory?" The princess questioned with steel in her voice.

Leaning forward to get a better look at the pink haired girl he soon gawked; "That's the fire Daimyo's daughter! Princess Maiyuri!"

That got the jōnin of the Oto's attention; "Well, well, well, not wasn't expecting a noble to actually fight! Or do you even know to use that sword? How about it guys, we take the princess to Orochimaru-Sama he will reward us greatly!"

Maiyuri said nothing as surveyed all the Sound Nin now eyeing her like easy prey for the kill; "By all means gentlemen" Perhaps it was Yuma's influence, but the words flowed naturally from her, "Come and get me"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The Jōnin Headquarters was often mistaken with the Jōnin Standby Station by non-shinobi. The latter was a place for jōnin to spend some much needed downtime among peers located beside the Academy, whereas the former was where the Jōnin Commander carried out his duties and was not too far from the Hokage Tower, missions that did not require the Hokage's oversight were organized, and day to day matters regarding all file and rank ninja were overseen by the commander.

In times of crisis like this, the commander was required to organize the defense from that position, information being relayed to him by Yamanaka telepaths from all over the field.

This was why it was a prime target for the enemy.

Kakashi narrowed his gaze as they approached the large, square and utilitarian looking building. Fighting here had to be one of the thickest fronts, their opponents knew that taking out their commander, famed (or infamous depending on who you asked) strategist Shikaku Nara was a valuable target after all.

He and his fellow jōnin jumped from roof to roof, the closer they got they more they saw multiple of their ninja fighting against a large gathering of Oto and Suna Nin. "We need to secure this place and reach Shikaku-san, which means we need to clear it out" The Hatake spoke. Yamato nodded firmly at his order, it felt nostalgic to be following his commands once more.

Zabuza let out a bloodthirsty cackle, "Now you're speaking my language"

Asuma had his trench knives ready beside Kurenai and Gai; "Leave at least some alive Momochi. Like to know the full story of the reasoning for this ginormous cluster fuck."

"What's there to figure out Sarutobi? Bastards want to kill us all. So we kill them instead, simple." The dry deadpanning stares from the other jōnin spoke volumes.

'How did Haku-Chan stay sane with this guy raising her?' Kakashi mentally shook off the thought before getting serious as Oto and Suna Ninja spotted them and charged.

The six responded in kind.

Gai parried several punches and kicks before giving his own with devastating effect. Asuma and Kurenai worked in tandem with one another, the Sarutobi's Taijutsu skills mixed with the Yuhi's genjutsu prowess. Distracting or disorienting the enemy before receiving a killing blow. Yamato and Kakashi also teamed up with the ANBU's Mokuton used to great effect while the former ANBU captain dispatched enemies quickly.

Lastly Zabuza fought with enough space to fully use his deadly Kubikiribōchō, slicing anyone in half who was brave enough to get close. The few actually holding a sword made him sneer; "You wimps call yourself swordsmen!?"

One swing and all those swords were sliced, along with their wielders, heads rolled and Zabuza reveled in the bloodshed. Asuma's strikes with his knives lacked the same type of cruelty and bloodlust, but did not hinder their efficiency in the least. Kurenai gave the Oto Nin a taste of their own medicine a casted a maddening illusionary vibration of sound which disoriented them greatly, their hands tightly pressing against their ears in a vain attempt to block a noise that wasn't there. This left them wide open for multiple kunai strikes directly at their chests and heads.

Gai let out a continuous battle cry as his fists and legs became a blur of strikes, the Green Beast becoming a green whirlpool that sent anyone caught in it flying away. Yamato never wasted time with elaborate or complicated techniques, which was shown on all of his wood constructs for attacks being blocky forms rather than the famed trees the Shodai was known for, his pragmatic method served to slam multiple enemies at once with large blocks of woods, while Kakashi picked up the stragglers with swift kunai strikes.

"Hatake-san!" A fellow jōnin shouted near the entrance to the HQ, kicking away a Suna Nin. "Good thing you guys are here, our sensors are picking up something big?"

"How big?" Kakashi quickly asked.

His answer came in the form of a tremor, the building in front of them collapsed, from the falling wreckage emerged a giant snake the size of a five story building. Its scales were thick and stood out noticeably from its body, giving it an armored look.

"That big!"

The snake struck quickly with its tail, it hit multiple people at once, from Konoha, Suna and Oto, it did not discriminate nor did it seem to care it struck allies. Amongst those caught in the tail strike were Kurenai and Yamato, whose backs painfully collided against the walls of the HQ.

"Shit!" Asuma swore as he struck the tail with ferocity, but before his widening eyes the knives barely cut an inch into the snake's hide. He quickly back peddled when the tail shook and slammed against the ground.

Zabuza spun his cleaving blade above him, killing intent manifesting like the aura of a demon. He leapt at the creature and swung diagonally, yet even his blade was stopped in its tracks before the creature's thick scales.

The snake smirked arrogantly, coiling its body with great speed and delivering a whiplash-like attack, sending up dust and rubble through the air. The Demon of the Hidden Mist blocked with the blunt side of his sword to absorb the attack, and as a result was sent flying backwards.

'Hide's too thick for most attacks' Kakashi thought analytically. 'Will need something that can provide high end penetrating power'

He unfolded his Sharingan.

Lightning gathered in his palm as he pressed it towards the ground.

Gai stared up with wide eyes, "That's..."

Kakashi was like a blur as Obito's Sharingan saw all the movements of the snake in near slow motion. He dodged the beast's tail as he leapt up on its massive body. "Little gnat!" The snake roared.

Midway up the jōnin took a large jump that left him open as they snake moved its head like flash. "Kakashi!" Gai yelled as the serpent snapped his jaws shut. Everyone felt dread till seeing a piece of wood stuck in its mouth instead of the Hatake's body.

Coming down from high above the snake was the former ANBU who's lightning coated hand struck through its thick scales and skull. The massive serpent froze in place as electricity surged through its brain and body. Kakashi pumped as much chakra as he could into his jutsu to make fully certain the beast was dead. After a full minute he stopped as the enormous snake fell to the ground dead.

Zabuza whistled while Asuma helped Kurenai and Yamato to their feet. "Not bad Hatake."

The silver haired jōnin only sighed covering his eye; "Hope they does not happen again." He gazed around the area seeing no more enemies he spoke again; "Let's get inside!"

The HQ was buzzing with activity, reports being quickly brought in while orders were dispatched through Yamanaka members who were seated in a special circular room in meditative position, their telepathic techniques amplified by the special sealing arrays they were sitting on. Leading them was Inoichi, who was no doubt juggling between dozens of minds at the time.

Standing by the desk was commander Shikaku, his rugged coat discarded in favor of going full tactical with his flak jacket. He looked over a map of the village with several pins over it. He picked up a radio and spoke through it. "Chōza, giant snakes on districts 2 and 5. Our forces need assistance"

"Just came back from 2. That Uzumaki lady with the fox took care of it. Heading to 5 now"

"Understood" Shikaku finished the call and sighed, "Never thought I'd be glad of seeing a giant fox in the village"

"Strange times call for strange bedfellows" Kakashi quipped as he and his group approached.

"You're here, good" The Nara head went straight to business. "Got a report from the Academy, Maiyuri-hime and the others turned the situation around." He would save his comments about the princess being in the thick of it for later. "The ANBU have just about cleared out the archives"

"What's our next move then?" Kurenai asked.

"The enemy forces have a barricade on the sector close the village gates, they intent to hold that as a forward base to bring more reinforces if they need to"

"This means more snakes…" Asuma said grimly.

"Yes" Shikaku did not sugar coat it. "Once our forces regroup, we will launch an assault to finally drive them out of the village"

"But what about the situation in the arena" Gai asked, "Hokage-sama and the others were still fighting when we left"

"I'm afraid the situation there hasn't gotten any better. To fight against three powerful Kages, two of them being Tobirama-sama and Hashirama-sama…" Such powerful people, their own founders, were now their opponents in this fight. "There is just nothing we can do at the moment but have faith in our comrades"

"Kushina-sama is still there right?" Kakashi asked.

"According to our reports, she's still fighting"

"Hmm" Kakashi let out a soft pensive sound. "Then all we have to do is wait. Kushina-sama…" He slowly smiled, "is too stubborn to lose"

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Kushina had sometimes dreamt about what it'd be to spar with her father, to fight against him and show him how much she had grown. That she lived up to her lineage with pride. In her mind he'd smile, and tell her how proud he was.

As her back slammed against the wall of the arena, Kushina bitterly thought this was far from what she wanted.

Her father moved like an automaton, yet still carried all the skill he possessed in life behind a completely blank face. No matter how many times they'd injure his body in any way, this one quickly regenerated in mere seconds. He felt no pain, he never grew tired, and it was impossible to physically incapacitate him. By all means and purposes, this fight should be unwinnable.

Of course, they were Uzumaki; they could easily device seals to stop the chakra-based form of the Uzukage to properly put an end to the fight.

If he ever gave them an opening that is...

Saito attacked with a barrage of quick sword slashes that were met with Daisuke's blades with outstanding precision a speed, creating a blurring image of metal that resulted in sparks flying off. Finally, Daisuke locked his blades against Saito's sword, stopping it in place, the swordsman's eyes widened in pain when a powerful kick sent him flying back.

Samenosuke ran behind him, his tattered jacket flapping with the movement as he jumped, taking out two shruiken from his pouch. He threw them, thin lines of chakra threads connecting them to his fingers as the throwing weapons moved around the form of the Uzukage in angles and curves, something they shouldn't have been able to do if now for a slight wind manipulation on the long haired Uzu's parts. Samenosuke landed in front of the old clan leader, pulling the chakra strings that now covered Daisuke's form, compressing his body tightly.

The Uzukage merely twirled one of his blades, and cut through the chakra threads as without much resistance on their part.

Samenosuke just stared blankly, "Yeah, don't know why I thought this would work..."

Before he even knew what hit him the roguish Uzumaki was sent flying via a wind jutsu. He was thankfully caught by Kushina's chakra chains and placed him on the ground beside her and Saito. "A thousand thank yous Hime!" He responded breathlessly and sweating.

Since the fight began they had tried to put up some measure any offense against the late Uzukage. Which was proving quite difficult; "Uncle Daisuke is a badass..." Samenosuke spoke again back in fighting stance.

"Indeed." Saito grunted; "We have yet to find a single flaw to where we could seal and free him." The swordsman had always to aspire to match his uncle's skills of the blade. He was finding he had a long ways to go even now.

Kushina gritted her teeth; "How the hell do we get around his damn defense dattebane!?"

Just seeing her father being like this was painful, but being used by that damn Orochimaru made it ten times worse! A calming hand from her oldest cousin was placed on her shoulder; "I know patience is not your strong suite but we can't rush blindly. No matter how badly we want to save Uncle."

"By all means, regale us with a plan," Samenosuke quipped with dry sarcasm. "And can tell you right now Uncle will throw us around like rag dolls."

"Kushina" Saito ignored his cousin's witty comment. "Your chains are pretty much the only thing we can use against a seal master like uncle"

"So long as I have chakra, they'll hold" Kushina agreed, "Against physical targets, they're pretty strong chains but not unbreakable. It's against chakra based entities or spiritual beings where they excel at. And it so happens that dad here is a bit of both right now" There was still one problem though. "But he knows we'll be planning that, he's been dodging them" Ever since the fight began, her father had made it a priority to stay as far away from her as best as possible, even now he wasn't actively coming close to them because Samenosuke and Saito were right next to her.

"His body reacts to the danger because his mind still retains the knowledge of the chakra chains" Saito pointed out.

"And, how does that help us?"

"He's reacting. He isn't actively strategizing" He said, pointing at Daisuke's blank expression. "He can attack and take on the initiative, because the Edo Tensei's control drives him to utilize the skills he has available and employ them as needed based on his knowledge. But by taking out he's free will it's rendered him into what is basically a machine. He can't adapt"

Now Kushina was beginning to understand, "Yeah, I get what you mean, but... it's not like we can just use a technique he never saw before, he will still react to the danger"

"But his mind won't" Samenosuke softly said, reaching a realization. "Doesn't need to be something new, we can trick him with a simple illusion. Transform when we're out of sight for a moment"

"Exactly" Saito nodded quickly. "We'll distract him, Kushina, the moment he doesn't have his eyes on you transform into either of us and then get close, use your chains as fast as you can" His uncle would not find it strange that Kushina was no longer in sight, simply because he couldn't think at all in this state.

Yet before they could enact their plan, it seemed that the Uzukage had finally settled on attacking, but without the need to get close. He lifted both blades above his head and swung them down in a fierce arc. A dragon made out of flames came out roaring and flew directly at them.

Wonderment shone in Samenosuke's eyes; "Isn't that-?"

"YES!" Both Kushina and Saito interrupted in a panic as they pulled the dagger wielding Uzumaki and themselves out of the trajectory of the flames. Still not done the flaming dragon diverted from hitting the arena wall and rose upwards.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Jiraiya dodged a punch from the Nidaime before retaliating with his own. "You're well trained." Tobirama complimented parrying the fist and going for a high kick. "Who taught you?"

"The old monkey fighting my ex-teammate." The Gama Sannin felt the wind the Senju's foot as it nearly hit his chin. "Sorry about all this."

The late Hokage simply shrugged it off as he fought his former student's student and his body. "Just find a way to seal us and end this mess!" However the battle on the roof grew to a standstill as a giant dragon of pure fire rose into the heavens; "By Amaterasu!"

"Holy shit!" Tayuya exclaimed beside Kidōmaru whom both were fighting ANBU.

The Mizukage and her Kiri Nin looked in awe at the sight while Orochimaru smirked; "Daisuke-dono's famous Fire Dragon jutsu. Truly a sight!"

They all soon noticed the large flaming beast turned and begun to nosedive back down into the arena. "Kushina!" Hiruzen yelled in fright.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Oh...SHIT!" Kushina paled as her father's most dangerous jutsu began to come down towards her, Saito, and Samenosuke.

They ran, pushing as much chakra through their legs as they could without overloading them. Her father continued guiding the dragon with a nothing but the movements of his arms; the elemental beast did not relent, and roared as though it was an actual living creature.

Kushina's shifted in a blur of handsigns, 'Why do the hell does this damn technique have so many handsigns?!' At least with her water affinity and own experience with the element, she had managed to shorten the length of the sign chain quite a bit at least. This allowed her to swiftly conjure a stream of water that manifested from thin air around her, and formed into a dragon.

The water dragon jutsu was a B-rank technique, one of great destructive power, but even still her father's flame dragon techniques were of higher rank and energy, one could tell by how much the fire dragon outsized the watery one. Regardless, Kushina sent the dragon soaring, colliding with the fire element which resulted in a blast of hot steam.

Despite being weak against water, the fire did not extinguish itself completely, the dragon was stopped yes, and its elemental body was missing huge chunks. Yet it was slowly reforming. As if that wasn't enough, already another dragon was forming around Daisuke, quickly gaining size, the flames growing hotter by the second. The dragons soared through the air and descended upon them.

"Oh this is bullshit" Samenosuke swore. He quickly went through his pouches and retrieved several seal tags. "Kushina, chain barrier!"

"On it!" Chains spread through her back and spread around them in a small circle, the tips stopping in midair as she channel seals on the ends which quickly created a golden dome around them.

Samenosuke placed the tags on Kushina's chains; the seals took effect and quickly channeled their power through the barrier. "Sealing Wind Style: Void!"

Fire needs three things to burn. A heat source, something to fuel them, and oxygen. When you removed one of the equations then the flames were extinguished. That was exactly what Samenosuke's seals did, the outer layer of Kushina's barrier had been turned into an oxygen free zone, so the moment the flaming dragons collided with it there was no explosion akin to an inferno as they would have otherwise created, but rather their flaming serpentine bodies dissipated the deeper they dug into the golden dome.

Smoke blanketed the entire arena shrouding Kushina, Saito, and Samenosuke while the reanimated Uzukage remained still as a statue. Unable to see his targets he stayed motionless, unaffected by the smoke and dust. His eyes only shifted at the sight of a shadow moving at breakneck speed.

Emerging through a dense patch of smoke Saito rushed at his uncle with his katana at the ready. Daisuke reacted getting into a defensive stance, unaware of the golden gleam on his fellow Uzumaki's back. The moments their swords struck together golden chains shot out from 'his' back and wrapped securely around the Uzukage rendering him immobile, dropping his swords. 'Saito' smirked before being covered in a plume of smoke that soon revealed Kushina.

As the smoke was dissipating around the arena the real Saito and Samenosuke ran over quickly with the roguish Uzumaki going be Daisuke and pulling out the Kunai placed in him. A low grunt came from the late Uzumaki before he shook head; "What happened?"

Relief washed over his daughter upon seeing her father's sense returned. The feeling shared by the other two as Daisuke gazed at them in confusion and saw their wary states along with torn clothes. "Oh gods..."

"We're alright uncle," Samenosuke uttered breathlessly before falling onto his back in exhaustion. "None of us are dead!"

Daisuke quickly surveyed the arena; "Did I hurt the others?!"

"No!" Kushina spoke fast to alleviate her father's fears; "Sent Naruto and the others out to help around the village."

The Uzukage let out a relieved sigh, "And I couldn't even fight back against this technique..."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, this is a forbidden jutsu at its darkest" Kushina assured him. She never understood why the Nidaime made such an evil thing.

"I'll get a seal ready" Samenosuke quickly said, getting back up and unfolding a long scroll. "Saito, help me with this. Kushina, you hold him there" The swordsman quickly knelt in front of him and joined him in the preparations.

The Red Death didn't need to be told twice. Father and daughter merely stared at each other with sheepish smiles.

"This is not a standard family reunion" Daisuke quipped.

"When is anything standard with our clan?"

"Hah!" He barked a laugh, "At that you are right, child... Hmm" He hummed in thought, "Who is Naruto's father anyway?"

"Oh he's Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage!" Kushina beamed proudly.

"...A Namikaze, really?" He tilted his head with a confused frown.

Kushina huffed and crossed her arms, "What's wrong with it?"

"It's just... well, their clans are full of pretty boys, didn't know your tastes would be like that"

Kushina grumbled to herself, Minato did outgrew the girly looks with time and became quite handsome.

"But their women are pretty as a dream!" Samenosuke grinned mid-work, only to be bonked on the head by Saito so he could focus.

"But Hokage huh?" At that, Daisuke smiled. "My, you sure know how to pick them. Where is he anyway? I saw Hiruzen but..."

He saw her daughter's gaze become downcast and forlorn, making his heart wrench at seeing the pain in his little girl's eyes. Oh no...

"Minato, he... a lot of things happened. He's no longer with us..."

"Oh, my dear" Daisuke shook his head, compassion filled his every word as he stared apologetically at Kushina, "I am so sorry" His lips pursed, "This may be of little comfort, but... I understand what is to lose someone you love so dearly. When your mom died, I... I just didn't know what to do. How to move on. Work became a distraction. I just wished I could have spent more time with you"

"Dad-"

"Let me finish" Her father insisted. "In my grief, it took me a long time to understand that those we love never leave us, my little whirlpool"

Saito's hands twitched, only for a moment, but it did not go unnoticed by Samenosuke.

"They're with us, always" He smiled at her, a very fatherly gesture. "As part of our heart"

Kushina found it hard to fight back her tears as she gave a nod in understanding. In truth her heart was still a complete mess about everything. Not really having the time to properly mourn through it all.

She didn't know if she'd ever be able to accept it, every time she learnt to move on life continued to take something from her…

A sigh escaped Daisuke before glancing up seeing Genryu and Manda fly over them. "However this goes my little whirlpool." He gazed back to his daughter with steely gaze; "Make Orochimaru and the Kurokiba regret this transgression."

"With a smile on my face." Kushina responded with a feral smirk.

That was the intensity of a whirlpool right there.

Saito and Samenosuke stood up, holding a great scroll in their hand. Without another word their surrounded their clan leader's figure with it, as Kushina's chain slowly dissipated.

"I love you all" Daisuke softly said, giving his daughter one last look. "I'll tell your mother you love her"

The seals covered him completely, but he still heard his daughter's breaking voice.

"I love you too dad…"

The seal was complete, and his consciousness returned to the Pure Land, with the memory of his family carrying him all the way.

Kushina stood there for a moment, placing a hand on the scroll covered form of her father.

"Hime…" Samenosuke sadly spoke.

Her free hand tightened into a fist. "Come on" Her voice was low, held a killing intent so strong it promised death to the one responsible for all this. "We have to finish this"

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Next chapter will be coming! C-ya soon!