I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

Moving Out

Ryuu slowly calmed his breathing as he slipped out of Fu, who pulled him down for a kiss. Someone knocked on the door, but both ignored them.

"Hey, you two, Inoichi's calling using Ryuu's Communication Seal," Sasuke said.

Ryuu sighed, kissing Fu one last time before getting up and pulling on his usual, high-collared, black shirt and shorts, along with his Ninja Tool Pouch, his trench knife, and his Tanto harness, using the Body Flicker Technique to do so in under a second before walking to the door as Fu pulled a blanket up over herself. Ryuu opened the door, stepping through while being careful not to let Sasuke see into the room, Sasuke carefully keeping his eyes averted, then followed Sasuke to the room they'd been using as a Communications Center where a hologram of Inoichi was crouched.

"There you are," Inoichi said. "The war has officially started."

Ryuu nodded. "What are our casualties so far?"

"Minimal, but the same can be said for the enemy," Inoichi said. "There is news, though. Tobi successfully rescued Anko Mitarashi. Orochimaru extracted his chakra from her, removing her Curse Mark, and he tortured her, but she's safe and will recover fully. She's being treated for her injuries now."

Ryuu nodded. "That's good. We're keeping Naruto focused on training with controlling his Tailed Beast Chakra, but it's a matter of time until something happens and alerts him to what's going on." He considered. "I'm going to send Kisame as reinforcements for the war."

"Are you sure we can trust him?" Inoichi asked.

"Yes," Ryuu said. "He'll be an invaluable asset. Where do you need him?"

Inoichi began to write coordinates on a sheet of paper, then held it up. "This is where Kakashi's unit is currently stationed. It has the most capable options for dealing with Kisame if he turns on us."

Ryuu nodded, writing down the coordinates. "He'll be there soon."

Inoichi nodded. "I'll warn them he's on the way, and on our side. And Ryuu. You, Sasuke, and Itachi are three of our biggest assets. We may have to call you to the front."

"I know," Ryuu nodded. "We'll be ready."

Inoichi disconnected, and Ryuu sighed, Fu wrapping her arms around him from behind.

"It'll be okay," Fu promised. "Currently, there's only two or three enemies they would need you for, and even for those, there's a chance they could win without you."

"Not for Orochimaru," Ryuu said. "They'd need at least one of us three, and I'd be the best option."

Fu nodded. "Come on. Let's go pass along orders."

Ryuu nodded, and they headed inside to where Kisame was watching Naruto and Utakata train, along with Itachi. Naruto had progressed past the blocks and was now trying to master using a Rasengan using Tailed Beast Chakra, forming something of an enhanced Tailed Beast Ball.

"Kisame," Ryuu said, Kisame and Itachi following him out of the room before Ryuu handed Kisame the coordinates. "You're being called up to the front. This is Kakashi's unit. You're to meet up with them and assist as Kakashi orders."

Kisame nodded. "Letting me off the leash, finally, eh? I'm glad. I'll go and find a suitable weapon."

"No need," Ryuu said. "Samehada."

Samehada crossed the room in seconds, all but leaping into Kisame's hand and up to his shoulder.

"Samehada, Kisame's going to war, so I want you to go with him," Ryuu said. "You'll meet back up with Killer B later."

Samehada chittered and shuddered, and Kisame nodded.

"I expect I'll need to get there quickly," Kisame said.

"The sooner the better," Ryuu nodded. "I'll send you with one of my clones to get you there soon, as well as to gather some intel for myself about the threat we face."

"And to make sure I don't make any detours," Kisame added.

"Nothing personal," Ryuu said, forming a Crow Clone. "Ready?"

Kisame nodded, and Ryuu's clone used Earth Style, Lightened Boulder Jutsu, the same jutsu Onoki had used to transport the Island Turtle, to make Kisame effectively weightless before forming his wings and taking off with him, vanishing from sight within a second. Ryuu, Fu, and Itachi all turned, returning to the room where Naruto was training. Ryuu began to lightly train his own Tailed Beast Chakra again, though careful not to expend any. If they got called up, he'd likely need it. Suddenly, however, As Naruto had the Tailed Beast Rasengan almost complete, he suddenly lost his focus and it exploded, hurling him. Ryuu narrowed his eyes, glancing at Fu, who nodded. Both had sensed something. A sort of feedback in Naruto's Tailed Beast Chakra. Killer B hadn't noticed it, but Naruto had felt it loud and clear. Somewhere, something was causing a disturbance in the Kurama's chakra, and it had tipped Naruto off that there was something going on. It wouldn't be long now until he wanted to leave.

"We should go," Fu said softly. "Before they're ready for us."

Ryuu frowned, glancing at Naruto. Finally, he nodded. "I agree. When we go, stick close to me, no matter what."

Fu nodded. "Naruto, it's time to go."

"What?" Naruto asked, confused.

"Fu," B said warningly.

"Don't do this, Fu, Ryuu," Yugito warned.

Ryuu formed his Communication Seal, Shikaku forming over it. "How are the battles going?"

Naruto opened his mouth, but Fu appeared behind him, covering his mouth.

"Our Surprise Attack unit defeated the Akatsuki's, suffering minor casualties," Shikaku said. "Kakashi's unit is currently battling the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist, though I've been told that Kisame arrived shortly after the Ninja Swordsmen were summoned and has been greatly minimizing our casualties. Still, even with his help, dozens have been wounded, or worse. Gaara's Unit is preparing for battle, but hostilities haven't opened yet. Kitsuchi's unit is currently battling a force of roughly twenty thousand White Zetsus, which make up the main body of the Akatsuki's forces, but no reincarnated shinobi. And on the last battlefront, Darui's unit is currently battling a very large force made up of both thousands of White Zetsus and also several Reincarnated Shinobi. Among them are Hizashi Hyuga, Dan Kato, Kakuzu, and the Gold and Silver Brothers of the Hidden Cloud, Ginkaku and Kinkaku, who both apparently possess the Nine-tails' Chakra. Currently, Ginkaku has been captured, but Kinkaku is using his Nine-tails Chakra to deal out heavy casualties. We have a plan to handle it, though. For the moment, stay where you are."

"Yeah, about that," Ryuu said. "We're heading out. Factor us all into your plan."

Shikaku swore but nodded. "I'll get to work. A is going to try and stop you."

"Trust me, Shikaku," Ryuu said. "You'll need all of our help."

He ended the jutsu and looked up at Naruto, who nodded.

"Are we leaving, then?" Utakata asked.

"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "The war's begun. It's time for us to join in."

"Alright," Hinata nodded. "Let's go."

"I can't let you do that," B said seriously.

"You can fight us if you want," Ryuu said, he, Itachi, and Sasuke all forming their Susanoo's upper bodies. "But we're going to crush you, and then we're going to leave."

B hesitated.

"Come on, Octopops," Naruto said. "I can't just sit by while people are hurt! I have to help them!"

B was silent for a few seconds before looking to Yugito. Yugito simply nodded, and B sighed. Finally, he nodded. They all turned, quickly leaving the chamber Naruto had been training in, and as they ran, an Afterimage Clone of Ryuu arrived with Tayuya and Kabuto, Utakata sending a clone formed from acid slime, something Saiken had taught him after making a deal to work together with Utakata, once Utakata learned to communicate with him, to say goodbye to Hotaru. However, just inside the waterfall, they found two Akimichi, Shino's father Shibi, and a handful of other Leaf Shinobi waiting for them, as was Iruka.

"Stop right there, all of you!" Shibi ordered.

"Get out of our way!" Naruto said, though they did all stop, wanting to avoid a fight.

"It's too late to stop us," Ryuu warned. "Get out of our way."

"I can't do that," Shibi said.

"Then you leave me no choice," Ryuu said.

He focused, and all of the guards entered a Genjutsu, standing in a daze and making no move to stop them as they all passed, leaving through the waterfall. As soon as they were outside, Naruto paused, entering Sage Mode to use his heightened senses to see what was going on. When he did, he froze, eyes wide and jaw falling open.

"How bad?" Ryuu asked.

"It's awful!" Naruto breathed, voice hoarse from shock.

"We're going to Kakashi's unit first," Ryuu said. "He knows most of us better than anyone and has a strong tactical mind. He can decide where to send us from there."

Naruto nodded, and they took off again, Ryuu activating a mobile Communication Seal as he did, Yugao appearing over his hand, where the seal was centered.

"Tell me you're not," Yugao said knowingly.

"We're on the move," Ryuu said. "Which battlefield are you at?"

"The majority of the Medical Unit has a centralized headquarters," Yugao said. "We're plenty safe, and Lady Tsunade has Tobi stationed here as a guard for the wounded and the Medical Ninja."

"Alright," Ryuu nodded, then looked ahead as he sensed a barrier. "I gotta go."

Yugao told him to be careful before he disconnected, and a few seconds later, they reached the barrier. However, before Killer B could form a Tailed Beast Ball to use to break through the barrier, massive roots suddenly exploded from Ryuu's right arm, each root expanding to bigger around than any of them were tall, and crashed into the barrier before stopping. Then, as they all landed on the roots, roots grew to wrap around their legs before chakra suddenly flooded from the barrier into the roots, then through the roots wrapped around their legs into them. All of them waited, and after a few seconds, the barrier shattered entirely.

"Nice!" Naruto grinned as they all took off again.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" Utakata asked.

"Through my Hashirama Cells, and even more so through my Wood Style, I can absorb Chakra," Ryuu explained. "Without Chakra, a Barrier Ninjutsu is unable to function. No need to waste your own chakra when I can just give us all a boost."

"Good thinking," B said.

"Be ready," Ryuu said. "A will stop us personally next."

"He'll try," Sasuke said.

"We can't afford to fight the Raikage to the death," Itachi said. "We just need to get past him."

"If it's what it comes to, I'll hold him off for you," B said.

Ryuu nodded as Naruto looked around.

"I thought we were on an island," Naruto said. "Where are we?"

"Finer stuff you don't need to know!" B said. "Alright, it's time to go!"

He sped up, the others all doing the same, and Ryuu looked around. He'd wait for Naruto to convince A to let them fight before flying them. Everyone could hold out on their own until then. He glanced up at the rising moon. The sun was setting very quickly. Soon enough, it would be night. Then, by morning, Ryuu and the others would be with Kakashi's unit. Finally, a short while after sunset, as the sky was just starting to get dark, they skidded to a stop as A and Tsunade exploded to the ground before them.

"Lord A, Lady Tsunade," Ryuu greeted them calmly, though his Sharingan shone in the darkness. He glanced at B, who was staring at Tsunade's breasts, and drilled a fist into the top of his head. "Enough of that, now."

"B, get your eyes up here now!" A thundered. "Show the Hokage some respect!"

"No, I definitely meant no offense," B said, rubbing his head. "It's just that the Hokage's jugs re totally immense!"

Yugito clicked her tongue angrily and kicked, her foot swinging up between B's legs and colliding solidly with his soft tissue. Be emitted a high, whining shriek and fell to his knees.

"We're here to stop you!" A declared. "You will not pass!"

"We will," Ryuu said. "I'm sorry, A, but you can't keep Naruto out of the war any longer, and you're going to need us."

"We are fighting to protect all of you!" A snapped. "If you are captured-"

"Then Madara will win," Ryuu said. "He'll complete his jutsu and he'll succeed in trapping everyone in an everlasting Genjutsu world, thus ending the real world."

"Then why are you trying to fight!?" A demanded. "Are you fools?"

"I've never been called a fool before," Itachi mused.

"It's because of all that!" Naruto snapped. "It's because they're protecting us! I can't stand that people are dying for me! So, what if we do manage to win this war, and only I'm left!?" He crouched down. "It just isn't worth it! I don't want that!"

"But it would be better than the whole world ending!" A roared. "That's the reason that people are prepared to sacrifice themselves to protect you!"

"I can't sit here doing nothing!" Naruto shouted back. "Not when I'm sitting here, unharmed, and people are out there fighting for me! That's not the kind of person I am! I can't! Besides-"

"Enough!" A interrupted him. "You still shall not pass!"

"You're not strong enough or fast enough to stop us, A," Ryuu warned. "We will get past you, and we will go to the frontlines and protect those who need it. And without us, you can't win. It's only a matter of time before Orochimaru starts the actual battles."

"What actual battles?" A demanded.

"This is Orochimaru," Ryuu said. "He's kept his strongest in reserve."

"He's already sent most of the Akatsuki!" A snapped.

"Has the White Fang of the Leaf been spotted?" Ryuu asked. "Has Nagato? What about Orochimaru himself? How many of which Kage has he summoned, and who have they fought?"

"None of the first, and only a total of four former Kage, none of whom engaged in battle yet," A said.

"Then the real battles against the reincarnated Shinobi haven't started yet," Ryuu said. "Sorry to disappoint you. You need us. All of us."

A snarled. "You three Uchiha may go. So may the Hyuga. The rest of you will not!"

Naruto took off, leaping high over A, only for A to appear in front of him, Lightning Style Armor coating him, and punched Naruto back into the ground.

"Naruto, you lose speed when you jump," Ryuu said. "You're nearly as fast as me, now, over short distances, but in the air, you're still slow. You come to a stop before you fall, and you can't change directions."

Naruto nodded, standing. "Got it." He looked to Tsunade. "Granny Tsunade, you understand, don't you!? I can stop this war! I just know it! Let me go!"

Tsunade looked conflicted.

"Please, Granny," Naruto pleaded.

"I'm a part of the Allied Shinobi Forces now, Naruto," Tsunade said firmly. "And the orders I've been given are to stop you! Even though I'm Hokage, I still can't act independently on this matter!"

Naruto sighed, lowering his head. "Alright. I understand the position that you're in, Granny." He pointed at A. "So, I'll force my way out!"

Then, he was off, remaining on the ground this time. Ryuu's eyes followed him closely, a smirk on Ryuu's face. Finally, a worthy rival in a foot race. Then, A appeared in front of Naruto again, both skidding to a stop. Ryuu sighed. Still not moving his full speed. His control wasn't high enough yet.

"You're fast, Old Man Raikage," Naruto commended.

"There's no Shinobi who's faster than I am," A declared. "Not since the Fourth Hokage died."

"False," Ryuu said. "I'm faster, as I proved at the Five Kage Summit."

A growled. "Fine! There's only one Shinobi who's faster than I am!"

"Wait, you knew my dad?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, we exchanged blows many times," A said. "I found him to be a noble man. A finer Shinobi never lived. Jiraiya, one of the Leaf's three great Shinobi, called him a child of prophecy. A savior. But even with all his power, why is he not here to help? Because he underestimated the Tailed Beasts. You are his son. Have you learned nothing from his sacrifice? You continue to talk of uncertain outcomes, and yet-"

"You know what?" Naruto interrupted. "Just stop it. Don't talk about my father! You're wrong. The Fourth Hokage, my father, did not fail that day!"

"If you continue to insist on going," A snarled before his Lightning Style Chakra multiplied several times over, "I will kill you right here and now!"

"What!?" Tsunade shouted. "No! Raikage!"

"That will at least buy us a little time until the Nine-tails is revived," A said. "And then our enemy will be forced to delay his plan!"

Naruto crouched, readying himself, but when A struck, B caught his fist, his own hand transformed into Gyuki's below the elbow.

"B, what is this!?" A demanded.

"Killing him is the same as killing me and the Eight-tails," B said. "You see why? If we die, the enemy's plans will also go awry. To let Naruto go to the battlefield, my life I'd gladly yield."

"Raikage!" Tsunade shouted. "You can't make arbitrary decisions without the other Allied leaders! I won't allow it, Supreme Commander!"

"My duty to the Allied Shinobi Forces is to ensure victory in this war!" A snapped. "And I'll do anything to achieve that!"

"Then you're no different than Yagura and his Blood Mist Village," Ryuu said.

"What!?" A demanded.

"Kisame Hoshigaki joined the Akatsuki for somewhere he could be loyal," Ryuu said. "He was tired of the Blood Mist Village forcing him to kill those he was meant to protect. One mission in particular was to protect the Cypher Core. If he couldn't keep them protected, he was to kill them instead to deny the enemy the chance to capture them."

"That is a legitimate strategy!" A snapped.

"That is Madara's strategy!" Ryuu snapped back. "Yagura passed those orders down the chain of command to Kisame, but Yagura was being directly controlled by the man identifying himself as Madara Uchiha at the time! If you kill Naruto to deny Madara the chance to have him, you're no different than Madara! You'll also shatter the Allied Shinobi Forces, which are founded on the basis of protecting Naruto! You'll start a war between the Hidden Cloud on one side, the Akatsuki remnants on their own side, and in the best-case scenario, the other four Hidden Villages on the third side! Is that what you want!?"

"He's right!" Tsunade shouted. "If you kill Naruto, we'll kill you, and that will start a war!"

"I am prepared to do whatever it takes, kill whoever I need to, in order to win this war!" A thundered. "You Jinchuriki can't just run around doing as you please! You belong to your Village and your Nation! You-"

Ryuu's shell-coated fist exploded into the side of his jaw, sending him exploding across the ground into the face of a cliff. As he stood, he watched Ryuu carefully, Ryuu's Mangekyo Sharingan shining in his rage.

"JINCHURIKI BELONG TO NO ONE! ! !" Ryuu roared. "JINCHURIKI ARE NOT WEAPONS, TOOLS, OR PROPERTY! ! ! JINCHURIKI ARE PEOPLE AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY BELONG! ! ! HOW THE HELL WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT JINCHURIKI ARE! ? ! YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT THE JINCHURIKI BELONG TO YOU AND NEVER ONCE CARED ABOUT THEM AS PEOPLE! ! ! YOU EVEN SEE B, YOUR OWN YOUNGER BROTHER, AS A JINCHURIKI FIRST AND A BROTHER SECOND! ! ! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO PASS JUDGEMENT ON THE JINCHURIKI BECAUSE YOU COULD NEVER BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THEM! ! !"

Everyone stared at Ryuu, except Fu, who stepped up beside him, slipping her hand into his, lacing their fingers together.

"You don't know what it's like to be a Jinchuriki, Lord Raikage," Fu said. "You don't understand the feeling of being told time and again that you have no free will, and that you can only live according to the decisions of your village's leader, that you belong to that village and have no worth as a human, only as a weapon. That's how Jinchuriki have always been seen, and that's how the Akatsuki views us. We're nothing more than containers for weapons that they wish to steal. But we are not your property, and we are going to go and fight, because that's what we choose to do. You can either stand in our way, in which case we'll fight you first, or you can support us, and let us fight for you. Either way, the result is the same."

A stared at them, then at Naruto and Killer B. Then, his gaze shifted to Utakata as he stepped forward.

"I left my village because I refused to be a tool of others," Utakata said. "Now, I choose to return and stand at the side of my village, and all of the others, in order to wield my power on my own. I'm not a tool, but in this war, I will be a soldier."

"Blue B, the former Jinchuriki of the Eight-tails, told me once, that I couldn't understand what it meant to be a Jinchuriki," A said. "That lineage, skill, a knack for Ninjutsu, and power weren't necessary to be a Jinchuriki. He said that all a Jinchuriki needed was something to fill the hole in a Jinchuriki's heart created by the world looking at you differently once you become one, and by the suffering it caused, suffering so bad that there are times you want to die."

Fu nodded. "We've all felt it. Every Jinchuriki has. It's not something that can be easily explained. Even Ryuu has felt something similar. He never felt it over his status as a Jinchuriki, but he has felt it."

"I felt it because of my prosthetics," Ryuu said, holding up his right hand. "Hashirama Cells, like what the White Zetsu are made from. The hole Blue B was referring to, is loneliness. You feel alone, even around those you care about. But, once you find that one thing that fills that hole, you become stronger than even the First Hokage. Not in terms of power, but in will. Because as long as you have that one thing, there is nothing you wouldn't do, and no one you wouldn't stand against in order to protect it."

"Mine is Ryuu," Fu said.

"Fu," Ryuu said.

"Hinata," Naruto said, smiling at her as she took his hand.

"Hotaru," Utakata said.

"Killer B," Yugito said, taking his hand.

"And mine, is you, brother," B said, A's eyes widening. "You thought it was Yugito, and I do love her, but you, my brother, are the thing that keeps me strong."

A grit his teeth. "I can't let you go. Don't forget, the Akatsuki has already taken down and captured all of the other Jinchuriki, even if they didn't seal them. Every single one has been defeated at one time or another, even you. I can't let you go, B."

"Just trust me," B said. "We ain't gonna lose Naruto and me. And about that, I'll happily give you my personal guarantee. I don't live and fight just for my village and nation. I live and fight for you, too, Bro. You're still way too overprotective. You gotta let me go. Don't lose faith in me. You gotta trust in my power, ya know? The world is dark and full of pain when you're Jinchuriki, but I learned you can't give up. Ya gotta fight free. Ya gotta find a light and let yourself see. Tailed Beasts are not our only source of power. What we were before them helps us in our weakest hour. Our true selves shine like the sun. They're second to none. Our true strength means we will never have to run. Only I could control the Eight-tails. Only I could win that fight. Naruto's got the same light as me, alright?"

A's gaze fell to the ground.

"Lord Raikage, let them go," Tsunade said. "They've made their choice. As Kage, our duty is to both protect, and support, the shinobi of our village. That includes them."

A stared at them for a long while before taking a deep breath. "Very well. Go forth."

Everyone nodded, just as Naruto went rigid, looking around.

"What is it?" Ryuu asked.

"Confusion and fear are spreading through the Allied Shinobi Forces," Naruto said. "Something's going on."

"Let's hurry," Ryuu said, forming a Shadow Clone for everyone, including Naruto, and picking them all up, Ryuu himself holding Fu bridal style.

Then, the Ryuus all exploded into the air, activating their Body Flicker Technique in order to move at their top speed.

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