Hi there!

TehStorm: He can, kinda, use the Hiraishin quickly. He just simply can't process it. Minato's genius shined the greatest when he used the Hiraishin.

Reviewer no Kage:

Thank you! I originally planned the love language section to be in the first chapter but I though it would've been too soon. Ehhh I kinda felt the teasing forced but if you liked then its okay!

Exactly! I'm tired of Fanon Jiraiya. I want him to stay as a lovable pervert but if that's the only thing he is then he is no different than an Issei Character. Annoying to the nth degree. My Jiraiya will be fleshed out more.

I was listening to Frostpunk OST and it gave me a ton of ideas. The genjutsu thing came out of nowhere but I thought 'Why not?'.

I hope this chapter is a sufficient explanation.

WebSlinger12: I know right?! She is adorable!

Okay, so dudes. This chapter was originally around 9000 words but I cut it in half. So be carefull of the cliffhanger! Also, this means that next week Tuesday I will definitely upload.

Without further ado.

Have fun reading!

The awakening came to her sluggishly, like waking up in the middle of winter under heavy a futon.

Her hearing came first. The sound of breathing, birds singing. As she gradually woke up she could her snow falling outside.

Then came touch. Warm breath tickled the nape of her neck rhythmically, arms were around her waist, and legs tucked under her laying on another pair of legs. Her head propped up on something warm and soft. Her body moving in rhythm with her breathing and another's.

Smell came next. Familiar with its feeling and from how intense it is he is close. Ink combined with paper layered with a smell that reminds her of foxes and nature.

Last came sight. Her eyes opened revealing obsidian black with just hints of the darkest of purples. First, she saw the blocked entrance to the cave. Sloppy job hastily packed dirt with holes on the top for both air and light. Then again they didn't have much of a choice. Naruto absolutely refused to get up citing 'I don't want to screw up your already screwed up chakra network any further' as his reason. Sweet and incredibly annoying but she let it go, she made her bed and now she lays in it. She, to her everlasting shame and Naruto's glee, has exactly null talent in earth release.

So Naruto had to make the wall through sheer elemental manipulation as he didn't know any jutsu just for this. The last thing she remembers is being annoyed that he almost incapacitated himself because of the added chakra being expelled to keep the nature manipulation from halting worsened his frayed system. Unlike her, he can't burn himself out lest the Seal weaken. That is why she pushed herself, another ten minutes and he would be dangerously close to affecting the Seal. Knowing this she bit the kunai and used her Sharingan to the fullest. Quietly hoping that fortune favors the bold. Another minute and she would have had to stop her eyes.

This is why she dislikes Chakra Circulating, it places an unnecessary amount of stress on the user. She will not deny its usefulness in certain situations though. It helped them with keeping the cold at bay but she still dislikes the technique.

She looked at the –her- idiot. The idiot she fell asleep on. Heat rushes to her cheeks as she examines their position –instead of the face uncomfortably close to her.

Naruto is sitting cross-legged on the cold floor. His arms encircling her waist and pulling her close, though since she wriggled around the hold loosened. He seemed to favour the idiotic choice –once again- as he decided against using her shoulder as a pillow. Instead, his head simply hangs downwards. That will hurt a lot later.

'Serves him right.' She would sniff if she didn't want him to stay asleep, 'risking himself like that. I am sure he can survive.'

She sits face-to-face on his lap with her legs tucked under her. If her observations are correct then his shoulder served as an impromptu. Her arms, originally circled around his neck and shoulders, were squashed between them until she woke up.

With the outside world cataloged she turned her attention inwards. She began checking her chakra systems. She lets a sigh of relief escape, the damage is mostly gone. She shouldn't use any jutsu that affects her whole body but otherwise, she is fine. The only problem is that most of the strain focused on her eyes. She frowns, she shouldn't use the Sharingan for a few days.

'I wonder if Naruto finished the healing seal. According to him, it should only boost natural regeneration instead. That would mean it's probably useless against stronger poisons. Disease as well. Could the seal heal damaged tenketsu? Maybe only to a certain extent?'

"Morn'. " A familiar voice brought her out of her rumination. It seems like her sleeping beauty is ready to be awakened.

"Morning to you as well," she replied and looked over to see him silently, and sleepily, cursing his neck into oblivion.

She smirked slightly at his predicament, "How's your neck?"

"Har Har, very funny." The response was deadpan she giggled slightly. Still, now that both are awake, and the storm is over from what she sees, they need to resume the mission.

She untangled herself and stretched. The joints popping is starting to worry her. After she was done she looked back at Naruto to ask him to take down the wall only to find him staring with a slightly open mouth.

She raised an eyebrow, "What?"

He, for some reason, blushed, "Nothing!" He turned away so fast that his already cranky neck cracked. He instantly slaps it with a hiss only exacerbating his pain.

"I see," she definitely doesn't so she just chalks it up to her Uzumaki Are Weird theory, "mind taking down the dirt?" With that said she pointed at said dirt.

"Sure," with that said he made a simple hand sign for concentration and the dirt was molded back into the ground.

They looked around their temporary shelter to make sure they left nothing behind and moved out. They looked around the area to find that it was entirely covered in snow –no surprise there. They seem to be in a little clearing encircle by mountains. There are even some trees on around, she would guess pine but she isn't an expert in this. Fire Country is mostly composed of Fir and Redwood.

"Alrighty then, what now?" Naruto questioned as he scanned the surrounding for anything interesting.

"We start moving towards the mission objective."

"Right, yeah, the objective. Uh-huh."

She looked back at the sheepish and neck-scratching Naruto with a glare strong enough to make him sweat even in the cold.

"You forgot?" She uses the same work as Mom did when she was murderously angry. Calm, collected, and quiet.

He goes pale, "nonono, of course not! Who do you think I am?" He tried to scoff but it only came out weakly. Her glare intensified so he tried to make amends, "okay fine! I might've spaced out during the explanation."

She held the glare for a few seconds until she sighed. 'Gods above and below help me, I care for a fool.' With her prayer said she refocused on the present and started to walk in the direction of the objective. As she walked, trusting Naruto to follow, she began explaining, "Our mission is to capture a choke point in the nearby mountain range. The choke point is composed of two castles on either side of the valley with a bridge between them."

He hummed, just a step behind her, "and it's important because?"

"If we capture it Mifune-sama's forces would have a clear way to the Rebel HQ. After that victory would be a matter of when and not if."

"Then why send us?" She can hear the head tilt in his voice, "I get that we're super amazing and everything but our loyalty is not exactly fanatic. Wouldn't it make more sense for him to send loyal soldiers to an important mission like this?"

"Good point," she glances back and nods before turning around, "I brought this up to him as well," her noise crinkles involuntarily in distaste, " according to him, 'I have no men that could carry out this mission' so it only left us."

"So we are nothing more than the 'Break in case of emergency' tools?" She can hear the frown in his voice. No one likes being useful only because there is literally no one else that could do it.

She sighs, "not exactly. Remember that much of their early tactics were guerilla, there is a real chance that they would use Scorched Earth against us. If the bridge was destroyed then it would only lead to a prolonged war. Ultimately the cost of lives from both sides and the lingering feelings in the aftermath would weaken Iron dangerously."

As her tirade was done he stepped into step by her side. He looked ahead, not really seeing, "so we need to take over quietly."

"Indeed."

He hums and looks at her from the corner of his eyes, "and how do you plan on doing that? If we only focus on one castle the other might notice the sudden dead bodies." He definitely knows what her plan is but wants to hear it from her mouth.

"We split up." She answered succinctly.

"Hell nah."

'Gods damn you Biwako.'

Such were the thoughts of one nameless shadow scaling the side of a castle. A castle way too high up for his tastes. Of course, the harsh winds biting at his limbs hoping to make him fall into a horrible death don't help. He really regrets not bringing his gloves.

'I wonder what they are doing inside.' He could hear muted murmurs from the stone wall in front of him. More specifically from behind it.

The castles they are supposed to capture, fittingly named The Twins, are less of identical castles and more of two, identical, fortified towers with more men than usual. It was surprising that only around 50 people each were protecting the place. Biwako guessed that out of the 100 only around 70 were soldiers. The others were cooks, masons, blacksmiths maybe, and others that took care of the towers and their inhabitants. When he asked Biwako why there were so few people, especially people who can fight, he got a detailed explanation that he didn't ask for but found interesting regardless. Though his opinion might be screwed since Biwako could read the dictionary for him and he would never get enough of her voice.

Anyway-

She listed many reasons but he summarized five points.

First, the weather. 'nough said.

Secondly the traitorous path. Not only is the mountain range, simply named Yuki no Ishi (Snow Stone), was a maze with no set path to follow said paths were also frequently iced over. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that that is a bad thing even by itself, much less snow-blind and on a mountain notorious for its random cliff that leads you to a horrible death.

Third was the fauna, or more like its lack. Few things can live up here in the cold. Whatever can though is more likely to eat you than you eating it. They lucked it out a fuckton with not only finding the little plateau but finding a nice little cave. Really, the only thing that doesn't attack you are the trees. So you need to pack a lot of food and other essentials to even begin the tour.

Fourth is the placement of said towers. On two opposing sides of a crack purely made of ice stand two heavy towers. The towers were made of marble from what he could see outside. Both had two entrances, one from the front and one from the bridge. They have simple, cone-shaped roof and a balcony looking at the bridge. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, they don't have windows nor arrow slits. Either way, it is not possible to capture both towers before the bridge falls down.

The fifth reason is just simple arrogance. Reasonable this time though. No large force can survive such a march, they will die for one reason or another. Whether that be starvation or freezing to death makes no difference

But that is why they'll fall. Naruto and Biwako aren't a large force.

He is right now hanging from the bottom of the balcony looking out on the bridge. Though not much can be seen since it is deep in the night.

He is lucky that there is no moon tonight.

He flipped onto the balcony silently like he was taught. He took out a kunai and hid it in a loose tile.

He is set.

'It's time to hunt.'

'It's time to hunt.'

She began by looking around the room from the shadows. She cataloged anything that could be used later and disregarded everything that could not be. There are no guards up here since there is a five-second long window between rotations.

She slinked to the trapdoor and hid above and behind –the perfect position to strike whoever is unlucky enough to open it.

Narrowed eyes focused below her.

The hatch-way was pushed upward and a guard lumbered his way into the room. He wore standard boiled leather with fur and vambraces to keep him warm.

Just like many others, he didn't bother looking up. Why would he? There are no enemies here.

Crack.

The last thing he saw was a shadow climbing into the opposing balcony before death claimed him.

Do you know that feeling when you are lost and bleeding corpses surround you?

'Yeah, me neither'

The corpses stopped bleeding like a minute ago.

He has also been lost for a minute now.

'Okay, think Uzumaki. Which way should I go?' He is standing at a crossway completely lost. He started patting the pockets and holsters looking for anything that could help him. The sting of regret over not listening to Biwako is starting to be noticeable

His mouth forms a silent 'Oh' as he touches his kunai holster. He takes one out and holds it in his right as he examines it.

'Would that even work?' His face is set in an uncharacteristically serious frown. He twirls it between his fingers as he thinks his idea over before shrugging.

He crouches down and places the kunai down tip first while one finger supports the ring at the other end. The blade is perfectly perpendicular to the floor.

He takes away his hand and it falls.

'Left it is!'

Grinning, he sauntered down the left hallway with only a jaunty whistle to accompany him.

Stopping dead in his track like a genin in front of a Gouka Mekkyaku he spun on his heels and walked back into the interception. Silently he picked up his forgotten kunai and put it back in its place and turned around before resuming his walk.

'I'm so glad she hadn't seen that!'

'Why do I have a feeling he is being an idiot?'

She slit the throat of another unsuspecting idiot below her. The mission has been going well, with only two floors left by her estimation. She hadn't happened upon anyone that could see her, much fight her.

She can't stop feeling like she is missing something. There is a stone deep in her stomach dragging her down signaling that something is wrong.

Anyone else would have dismissed this. The mission is going well after all. She, nor Naruto, were spotted yet. Even if both were discovered right this moment, and everyone knew about their position, they would still succeed. There are only a dozen or so people on her side and Naruto is not far behind if she were to guess.

Still, she didn't spend most of her life with Naruto for nothing. Listening to one's instinct, sixth sense, intitution, ESP, Spider-sense –according to Naruto- or whatever else they have is a lesson long since learned.

The only thing left to do is prepare for the worse.

That begins with clearing out any confounding factor.

'Aaaand… done!'

A body hit the snow with a muffled thump. Around her head was sprayed blood coloring blinding white snow. A twisted masquerade of an angel's halo grieving.

It has gotten colder compared to when he was last under the open sky. In the last two hours, it started snowing coupled with the night chill. Much different from the violent snowstorm that accompanied them on their way here. Dare he say it even fits the atmosphere in some unexplainable way. Normally snowfall is associated with purity, innocence, and hot chocolate. Oh well, he is no poet.

The horizon, he noticed, is still dark. Not surprising. They attacked around an hour after the last ray of light left the sky. They couldn't fail this mission after all.

That said, said mission is now completed. They simply need to regroup, maybe eat something, then go home.

He swirled towards the bridge and started walking. The snow crunched underneath his boots. They were of the heavy kind that he is grateful for now. They not only protect his feet but keep them warm as well. Doesn't even hinder him much.

"Hey." Her voice broke his evaluation of these amazing boots. They met up in the middle of the bridge as they agreed beforehand. At this point, he isn't even surprised she sneaked up on him. She is crazy good at hiding.

"Hey to you as well." Nodding he examines her. A sigh of relief escapes his mouth at seeing no obvious injury.

He noticed her doing the same and grew a gigantic smirk. What kind of fox would he be if he didn't tease her?

"So?" She visibly noticed the smirk. It warms his heart that she looks like she sucked on a lemon, "Are you done checking me out or…?" He let the question hang.

If her eyes rolled any harder they would've fallen out of her skull. She opened her mouth to reply but thought better of it and turned around.

"Hey, hey!" He overtook her and turned to face her making him walk backward, "you know that I don't mind right?" His smirk widened impossibly, "You are at that age. It's perfectly nat- OUCH!" A scabbard hit his left shin while his eyes were closed. He pouted whilst jumping up and down on his right leg, "Meany!"

"We should go back." Her voice is quieter than usual but no less unrelenting. He dropped the act and fell to her side. His eyes roamed over her for anything that could clue him in.

There isn't anything obvious. But they didn't live together for more than half a decade for nothing. Eyes subtly roamed the terrain as they stepped off the bridge, shoulder not tense per se but primed, hands positioned to draw Akahime.

'She is nervous.' Doesn't take a genius to figure that out. 'But why?'

He positioned himself to hide her from the right, to protect her from this side, and turned slightly left –turned towards her- so that he looks like he is particularly interested in talking to her. They don't that this way he can look behind them just enough to catch anything. His reflexes might not be as fast as hers is but if something is coming he'll know.

The effect is instantaneous and noticeable –at least for him. Instead of looking everywhere she can she focused on his blind spots –front and their right. Her hands switched from priming Akahime on her back to simply focusing on kunai.

Their eye met so he raised an eyebrow. What's the matter? His eyes seemed to ask. They didn't stop talking about some mundane things so as not to tip off anyone that might be spying on them.

She glanced forward first before returning to their staring contest. Something is wrong. Her pointed look countered.

That's all he needs to stay vigilant. If she says something is wrong then it is. Doesn't help that her Sharingan is inaccessible for like a day more. It put him on edge, he can only imagine how unnerved she is.

His ears picked up something strange. This time he broke their eye-speak and squinted at their surroundings. This, of course, alerted the already paranoid Biwako further.

"Hey," whisper so silent it might as well have been freshly fallen snow, "can you hear that?"

"Hear what?" A murmur quiet like shadows looming questioned.

"It's like… something falling? Falling fa- DUCK!" That's the only warning he gave before tackling Biwako at the same moment as throwing a kunai under something with a roof.

The kunai landed an instant later and he flashed there with a wide-eyed Biwako. Whirling of a lying Biwako he stayed low. Eyes snapped to their previous location only to see no less than a dozen arrows sticking out of the snow. He could see slight steam rising and snow melting where they landed for some reason. He looked up and searched the skies for a repeat performance. Another barrage came targeting their previous position. He barely made out the shape of the arrow due to the lanterns' light glinting off of them. This batch came from the same place so they aren't surrounded. That's good, very good. He took another look at the arrows thus noticing that the feathery part stood out about 50 degrees with the tip facing them.

"Naru," Biwako's tightly controlled voice sounded behind him.

"Yeah?" He doesn't see another attack coming but that doesn't there won't be.

"Your shoulder."

"My wha- shitten kitten." How does one fail to notice an arrow lodged into their right shoulder? 'Okay Uzumaki. This is nothing bad, just like a Band-Aid. One. Two! Th-'

"Don't do that, you imbecile!" A hand grasped his own and stopped it. Her harsh whisper caused him to tear his eyes open –when did he close them?- and look at her in confusion. Instead of answering his unasked question she took out a kunai and cut the wood a few centimeters above the fur cloak it broke through. A cloak that is getting redder and redder though he is happy to note it isn't as bad as he thought it would be. Still hurts like a bi-

"If you tore it out pain would have been the least of your worries. Halfwit." She threw in an insult just to get the point across. She scrutinized the area, no doubt making plans faster than he can think. As she planned he listened to footsteps. He picked up some slight crunching ahead of them.

"Six or seven enemies." He began quietly, " adults, approaching quickly but cautiously."

"How much do we have?"

"2 minutes tops."

"Okay listen, this is the plan…"

"HEY, SWORD FUCKS!" Bombastic is one way to describe his 'greeting'.

His landing disturbed the snow cushioning his fall. Rising from his crouch he took note of the seven men ahead of him.

He immediately disregarded five of them besides noting them encircling him. Instead, he examined the two that didn't.

The first, and most dangerous if he is correct, was on an older man. He didn't see much of him behind his well-worn, traditional samurai armor for this terrain but what he did confirm his suspicion. Straight, salt and pepper hair held back in a severe ponytail highlighted the numerous scars on his face. One notable scar ran from his right ear to the left eye curiously evading his right eye. The harsh frown seemed carved into his face –or maybe it was the other way around? His eyes, peculiarly, switched from glaring at him to worried glances at the other man.

Speaking of the other guy, he was like the opposite of the first. Young, if you asked Naruto then around twenty-three, with short brown hair. Funnily enough, his face held some baby fat, though his stance dissuaded any presumption about him not belonging to the battlefield. The newly made armor made a sharp contrast to the elder man by his side. The rage he was feeling from him -thanks to his connection to the Fox- contorted the normally pretty face. While the other samurai were radiating killing intent, with the old guy's being the most refined, this dude had more rage than anything. Though he can feel something else, it feels like… it feels like it feeds his rage?

Curiously, the young guy stands in front of the old guy.

"You," The sheer fury that filled that one word almost made him flinch. The smoldering, hate-filled glare seemed to burn his skin. Naruto is starting to feel like they don't like him.

"Yes, me." The joke had to be made, you can't blame him. The smug look accompanying it is just the cherry on top.

The unnamed young guy audibly grits his teeth and takes a step forward –an action that the others copy. Before he gets too far a hand lands on his shoulder in an iron grip. Naruto curiously watches the eye-speak between old and young that ends with young guy huffing and cocking his head high.

"Men!" He bellows with surprising authority, "This shinobi, this monster slaughtered your brethren! I have but one order for you," The eyes that roamed the now-motivated soldiers switched to direct hate-filled eyes on Naruto.

"Kill him."

That was all the encouragement the men needed. They rushed at him from all sides with a war cry. One, the spear-wielder, closed in on a smug Naruto and thrust his weapon into his heart.

It should have killed Naruto. Should've.

'All according to the Plan.'

Just when he felt the disturbing wind tickling his skin he activated one of his markers. Specifically, the one hidden behind the spear guy. He didn't focus on their faces but he imagined them to be rather surprised when a throat among them was slit. He cared not though, this is a battle now. Victory is the only option.

He flashed again –this time opposite of him. When he slit Spear's throat he directed the blood ahead. Ahead, where a comrade was. Poor guy got enough blood to cake his whole face, most importantly his eyes.

Flash, a scream, kunai to the head.

Chills filled the nape of his neck so he abandoned his knife and jumped upwards. The force with which he kicked crashed his impromptu jump-pad into the snow.

He threw a kunai downward and teleported there –he holds no desire to test the archers' accuracy.

His first mistake.

"THE KNIFE!" The battlefield froze at the shout from young guy. None turned towards him –instead, they glared at Naruto while he forced a smirked back- though all listened, "He is like the Yondaime Hokage! He can teleport to his markers!"

'Well, shit.' The gears visibly turned in their head. They managed to put two and two together. The three took up a position that covered each other's flack. No more, their eyes seemed to say.

'Okay then,' The lantern light glinted off his kunai in his right. It might not be operational but he has long since mastered throwing with minimal movement, 'Time for plan B.'

Like a magician directing the sheeps' attention. The kunai flew through the air towards the three idiots who readied themselves. Dumbfounded was one word to describe their expression when the kunai not only missed them by a considerable margin, but no shinobi teleported there either.

Naruto reappeared behind his target with nary a sound. Utilizing every won moment, he brandished his kunai and locked on Young Guy's neck. Using his left hand of course.

'He needs to die.'

His second mistake.

A glint and whistling air was his only warning.

He barely held up the kunai in his left to guard his right arm. Something that felt like a sledgehammer slammed into his knife. Cutting clean through it and biting into his shoulder –the injured one that was already hurting something hellish. As if that wasn't enough the force that hit him also blasted his body away.

The snow clung to his body uncomfortably as he stood back up. The salt-and-pepper-haired samurai was walking quietly towards him. Not even snow crunched beneath his feet. Confidence and killing intent poured off of him in waves. Enough that if he hadn't met the Fox he would be shaking.

Otherwise, it is only mildly disturbing.

"Your right arm." His new enemy stopped four steps ahead. Holy mother of seals he is tall, "it was injured recently," his voice is a rumbling kind, low and monotonous like he is talking about the weather, "perchance a wayward arrow hit it?" His voice changed not and yet it sounds like he is grinning.

Naruto grinned back if only to mask the pain, "Yeah dude, these days the most bullshit things fall from the sky." It is gratifying to see a forehead vein almost popping. Still, his right arm is banged up because he fell wrong. He still hadn't learned how to do one-hand seals. Hiraishin only then.

"You will die here." A voice of certainty. Declaring his intention –no, no. Not intentions, but simply announcing a fact, "you attacked Yoshihiro-sama. By the power given to me by Suehiro-sama, you will be executed here. Your earthly remains shall be thrown into the Frozen Chasm so that you may repent for your actions." With that cheery note, he drew the longest fucking sword ever. He is not even joking! It's at least one and a half times longer than you average Nodachi –you know, the usual long-ass sword.

He needs to buy time. So he does what he does second best.

Talk.

"So you just, swoop in and steal the kill? Uncool man, uncool." Insulting is a well-practiced tactic.

Unfortunately, it doesn't achieve the desired effect. The guy just chuckles and settles into a stance, "not quite. The lads would get in the way."

He takes a step-

-And Naruto leans back to avoid being a head shorter. Only taking a moment to marvel at the reflection before him. Then he sprung into motion.

Two Hiraishin kunai appeared in his left hand. Neither hit their mark.

The old man cut kunai flying in the air.

Naruto hadn't even seen him move.

'Whatthefuck?' This reaction is a natural response okay?

He tried flashing to an old marker farther away but the guy is relentless.

'above –no right – below –HOW!?' How the hell is he cutting at the same time in different places? What kind of overpowered bastard is he?!

They are locked in a stalemate... The old guy is relentless pursuing Naruto while he is trying to flash somewhere farther than two meters. Two meters that the Bastard's sword can easily reach. The audience watched, cheering when their ally cut into his skin

He is stuck retreating.

That was his third mistake.

'Ah.'

He forgot where they were fighting.

He didn't notice that he was led by the nose.

He forgot that there is an entire cold and unforgiving ravine behind him.

He is falling. Falling. Falling. He can feel the cold air on his back. The chill of dread trickled from his neck down his spine. See the cruel smirk on the old man's face as he turns around. Feel the terror curling deep in his stomach, the thorns of horror chaining his lungs. His heart beats faster. Faster. Faster. He sees the stars above him tinkling. There is no moon to obstruct the view. The many nebulae painting the night sky.

His mind is searching. The gears turning and churning ideas faster than he could ever imagine. Searching for something!

ANYTHING!

'Please.' He pleaded.

'Please!' he cried for any god listening, 'please! I can't leave her yet!'

There.

A light, a marker he placed not a second –an eternity?- ago.

He activated it.

His legs found purchase on the sweet, sweet ground. Knees buckled, battle forgotten in exchange for the euphoria of not dying.

His last mistake.

When he came back from the emotional high he finally noticed the shadow looming overhead. He locked back up-

-his eyes met with the Old Man.

"Have I not told you?" His voice is quiet, like the embrace of death, "you will be executed and thrown into the Frozen Chasm." He raised his Nodachi overhead. Naruto could only watch with wide eyes and a shaking body. It's no use his body won't respond anymore.

'I'm so sorry Biwako,' tears slipped from his eyes, 'I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I couldn't stay.'

He closed his eyes. The tears burning cold against his skin, his throat feels like screaming, 'I'm so sorry I broke our promise.'

"May the Gods show you mercy for I won't."

He can hear hands gripping the handle. He can hear a sword being drawn. He can hear the whoosh cutting through the air.

'Wait, a sword drawn?'

A metallic clank filled the battlefield. Sparks burned his face momentarily. His eyes flew open –whether out of surprise or pain is anyone's guess- seeing not one but two blades not even a finger from his eyes. The Nodachi obviously intended to halve his head.

But other is what caught his attention.

A blade similar in length to the previous.

Black tamahagane blade flickered with fake blood.

He followed the blade to its tsuba. Flowery pattern, thick and wavy, with edges of grey fading into black closer to the center. His eye roamed further, seeing a red handle with traditional black wrapping.

Akahime.

Her master flicked her wrists thus deflecting the unnamed Nodachi. She didn't stop there as she stabbed forward thus further unbalancing the Old Man.

He, on his knees with tears running down his throat, just stared at the back of his savior.

Her back. Standing in front of him like an unmovable mountain. Akahime on her right while her left-hand grips the sheath.

"This one is mine." Her voice broke no argument, not like he would, "you take care of the rest. Unless you'd like to give up?" Translation: Do we need to retreat?

He stared for a moment longer before snorting and climbing to his feet with renewed vigor, "As if!" He shouted, whether to her, himself, or the World holds no difference, "An Uzumaki will not fall so easily!"

He turned his back to Biwako –who already started trading blows- and looked at his targets. His mouth pulled into a smirk.

It must've been quite a sight. He can feel the smirk pulling on various cuts, tears dripping and mushing away the blood. That's not even speaking of his bloody and grimy appearance, dislocated right arm and all.

He saw the exact moment all four gulped. Simultaneously.

His smirk widened impossibly.

"Let's play shall we?"