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Chapter 41

Battle of Rezang La


"I should have listened to you, Dodai"

The Raikage's confession was full of remorse and sadness as he watched thousands upon thousands of his men be given burials and in rare cases funerals.

6,000 brave men and women- forty percent of his army was annihilated alongside all their critical supplies and basecamp.

It was a humiliating defeat-their biggest one in the current war.

It showed on the faces of his shinobi who for the first time in this war felt that they were no longer invincible. Granted, most wanted to avenge this loss but behind that hatred also grew doubt and fear for themselves and of the enemy respectively.

A Surgical Strike.

A twenty five year old had delivered them such a defeat that even the Raikage found himself rethinking his battle strategy.

"We didn't know who we were truly facing back then. Even now we don't...it could just be my imagination" consoled Dodai,

"Don't patronize me, Dodai. I need your brutal assessment" reprimanded the Raikage,

"We retreat and join up with the rest of our forces. We need to reassess our battle strategy, the enemy outnumbers us now and we have no supplies for a prolonged fight anymore" advised his new second in command honestly, considering the Anbu Commander had perished in battle.

"And give up the North completely? The Daimyo was already going to dethrone me for taking away reinforcements from the Capital for this campaign, I return back with such a humiliating defeat...he'll execute me for treason. If I am to die, I'll die a warrior and not meet the same fate as Gengetsu Hozuki!" replied the Raikage stubbornly,

"Then we do what we came here to do. We kill the Fourth Mizukage at all costs, even if it means all our lives. He has no heirs or a chosen successor, with the Water Daimyo alongside the feudal clans destroyed or subdued-entire Land of Water would fall into chaos or another civil war if he's gone. Our men still have enough strength and resolve for a decisive battle, one where you can strike our dreaded foe as only you can face him" suggested Dodai frankly,

The Raikage looked at his remaining army and knew the enemy outnumbered them nearly two to one now. A decisive battle would mean the deaths of most if not all of these men and women.

"There has to be some other option" he demanded fiercely,

"There isn't a good one, Uncle"

He looked to his side and saw his nephew, Fukai walk towards him. The young man was the Jinchuuriki of the Eight Tails and the Raikage considered it to be one of his biggest mistakes to have not used his talent from the start in the last battle. If only...

"We cannot force a decisive battle on our terms anymore. The Mizukage made sure of that, his tactical brilliance is not something we can underestimate anymore" warned Fukai, as he looked at the burials happening around them.

"Our retreat or further waiting only allows him to launch the next attack on his own terms once again. He is his army's greatest strength, but also its greatest weakness. We must take him down!" said Dodai fiercely,

"This army will..." whispered the Raikage sadly,

"Likely perish. But we need that sacrifice and resolve if we are to defeat this enemy. Ten years ago, the Spartans made that sacrifice which costed us the war. I watched those children die brutally for a future they would never see...we face the same choice today" stated Dodai somberly,

Fukai stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on the older man's shoulder making him look at the Jinchuuriki with his lone remaining eye.

"What happened at Rezang La?"

Dodai hesitated at first only to relent when the Raikage gave a solemn nod. Fukai was their only trump card left, it was important for him to understand the past if he was to understand just how far their enemy was willing to go and most importantly...

Why...


(Rezang La Pass: More Than Ten Years Ago)

The ground beneath Nagato's feet shook violently as another barrage of corrosive flames clashed against the barrier protecting the remaining Spartans.

With their backs to the mountain and the Kinkaku on their tail, their chances of escape had already been slim.

Now there was the two tailed beast alongside a few hundred Kumogakure ninjas standing in the way between them and the Land of Fire's border.

"They left us to die didn't they, Elder Brother?"

Minato's eyes widened on hearing his brother say those dreaded words as despair befell upon the shell shocked Spartans. Had they undergone three days of hell and lost nearly half of their comrades to face such a defeat?

"Do you think we'll get reinforcements? Maybe if we can hold out a bit longer..." suggested Kushina, but stopped midway on seeing the state of their troops. Most looked ready to fall dead from sheer exhaustion and wounds, their weapons and equipment were almost finished, they had no food, water or medical supplies left. It wouldn't be long before their bodies betrayed them even if their heart didn't. Even their winged devices which allowed them to fly were destroyed by the enemy making them continue their escape on foot.

Minato saw it too and gestured for his sibling to follow him towards a secluded area and cursed when Kushina followed after them undeterred by his fierce glare. Thankfully, the Spartan commando guarding a badly wounded Hashirama didn't protest when his Captain asked him to take a walk and leave the surviving three officers alone with the High Value Target.

"We are in no shape for another full scale battle. We fight this army in front us and that would be it. Yet at the same time if we try to hold, then the Kinkaku would soon be upon us from the rear and then we'll be caught between these two forces. Either way we Spartans shall die tonight" stated Nagato sadly,

The harsh reality dawned upon the last three surviving officers. It hit the eldest among them the hardest as his legs started to shake with the weight of the lives bearing down upon him. Including those of his younger brother and the girl he loved.

"Yet we shall accomplish this mission and win this war"

Kushina and Minato both blinked on hearing Nagato's proclamation, the redhead saw the unsaid question in their eyes and sighed before walking towards one of the trees and crashed against its bark tiredly.

"Surrender was never an option. The fate that would befall us would be worse than death and would put the security of our nation in even greater peril should the enemy get any secrets from any one of us. In that case, we can stake our 'heroic deaths' on a slim chance of victory that may hopefully end the First Great Ninja War" explained Nagato with a bittersweet smile,

"I guess you have a plan to make this dream a reality" said Kushina, some hope arising in her broken heart.

"Yes. We may not be able to see the peaceful world that I always dreamed about...but you will, Elder Brother. For me, For Kushina and for our Spartan comrades"

Minato found himself speechless as Nagato explained his crazy gamble which could help them succeed in reaching friendly lines and link up with Konoha's Rescue force.

But the price was simply too high!

"No, there's got to be another way!" protested Minato fiercely,

"Then we'll all die here and fail our mission. Then all our comrades will have also died in vain" answered Kushina, and felt horrible on seeing her words reducing Minato to tears. He started to hyperventilate before his murderous gaze landed upon Hashirama.

"Our own nation sent us on this suicide mission...and my men are being sacrificed for this FOOLISH PIECE OF SHIT!" yelled Minato murderously, tears openly falling from his eyes as he dashed towards the wounded Senju only for Kushina to block his way by engaging him in a fierce hug.

Nagato saw the way their troops were even further crushed on witnessing the complete breakdown of their veteran Captain. He saw with how much effort Kushina managed to wrap her chakra chains to restrain his brother and pin him against one of the trees where he collapsed and completely broke down.

He got back on his feet and walked towards his sibling while taking out the last water pill he had left before handing it over to the blonde. Kushina looked at him but he gestured her to go towards the troops and check on them which she accepted with a reluctant nod.

"You were right. This war did bring out the worst in us all" whispered Minato, as he fetched his backpocket and lit up a cigarette shortly.

"Yeah, it did. Yet we must still fight it" admitted Nagato,

Minato looked at his brother and remembered the promise he had made to their parents. That he would always look after the boy and keep him safe. Only to lead him to his death in these godforsaken lands.

He looked at Kushina and remembered the promise of a better future that he had dreamed with her. Now it all seemed like a wishful dream...

He looked at his remaining men and the looks in their eyes. Resignation, sadness, betrayal, anger- he saw it all. He had failed in his duties as their Captain.

"Until nobody is left" whispered Minato miserably,

"Yes. Don't you remember how much we have lost all these years because of this war?" asked Nagato bitterly, a sea of anger burning within the redhead's gaze.

"Father..."

Minato flinched on being reminded of the way Yahiko Uzumaki met his end in the starting days of this war.

"Mother..."

How he wished he could see her just one more time. To be given just one chance to ask for forgiveness for failing their promise.

"Matsuri..."

He remembered the girl who jumped over a bomb to save his life. Her desperate eyes trying to convey her feelings for him in her final moments even when her own voice had betrayed her.

"Hayate..."

His friend's devotion towards clan, country and comrades stayed true until the very end as he fought off a doomed delaying action so the rest of them could escape.

"Kasumi..."

Nagato took a brutal punch to the face as the blonde tore himself from the chains pinning him against the tree and appeared before the redhead in a fit of apocalyptic rage.

"JUST STOP!"

"This slaughter won't stop until we end it!" shouted Nagato furiously,

"What's the point? Fools like Hashirama will again become the catalyst for another war" argued Minato tearfully,

He received a swift and brutal punch to his gut as his enraged sibling grabbed him roughly by the collar and slammed him against the nearest tree without mercy.

"There is no point! Uzu and Konoha abandoned us! It's just us- No fucking Uzukage or his cunt advisers! Just us and our fucking men standing there! Completing this mission and hoping for the end of this war is all we have left! And if we die tonight then so be it! But I still expect you to fight for us!" berated Nagato furiously, as tears fell from his eyes.

"I...can't...leave...you...here! Nor Kushina...or our men" begged Minato,

"Link up with reinforcements and come back for us...that should even it. You're not strong enough to get us all out of here with your teleportation jutsu" advised Nagato meekly,

"But I can get you and Kushina out atleast alongside Hashirama..." whispered Minato hesitantly, already feeling ashamed for even suggesting something like that which would doom the rest of their men.

"Neither of us will be able to live with ourselves if we abandoned our comrades to die. Someone has to lead this charge, someone strong enough to meet the foes in front of us...you know it's me. The Namikaze clan must live on, I entrust you with that" said Nagato seriously,

Minato's heart broke into a million pieces on hearing those words but a sense of pride for his sibling overcame him when he saw his brother didn't waver in his resolve even after several long moments of them looking at each other.

"I promise"

As his brother hugged him thankfully, the blonde felt his world crumbling to pieces.


"CHARGE!"

Commander Dodai had been the leader of Raijin Battalion for most part of the First Great Ninja War and had been a witness to a great many sights. Yet none could have prepared him to witness the suicidal charge launched by his badly battered foe, it was either a testament to their madness or sheer bravery-the likes of which the Kumogakure Jounin had never seen before.

He realized it to be a mixture of both when he saw the enemy not wavering a step in their charge even as the Two Tailed beast roared at them furiously.

"Your valor was worthy of a better cause" he whispered regretfully, looking at the young children charging towards their deaths.

He took a deep breath in order to stabilize his thoughts and focused upon the directive he was personally assigned by the Raikage. Looking at the enemy's resolve made one thing absolutely clear.

They were prepared to sacrifice everything including their lives to get Hashirama Senju back to his homeland.

It would be extremely costly to recapture their lost hostage, but in that case he had to follow the order determined by the Raikage and mercilessly directed to be followed.

"Kill them all" ordered Dodai without a flinch,

The roar of the tailed beast and the cheers of his men echoed all around him as sorrow lingered in a corner of the veteran's heart for his decision.


"CHARGE!"

Minato held his grip over the wolf summon currently carrying him and a wounded Hashirama strapped across his back henged as a Spartan Commando. He raised his kunai launcher watching his brother leading the charge atop Shera's back.

They had adopted a simple but effective V-Wing formation with the sole intention of punching through the enemy's frontlines with brute force. That of course meant that their strongest fighters would be leading the charge and it broke the blonde's heart on seeing Nagato and Kushina at the front while he remained protected in the center rear of their formation.

His eyes glanced at the tailed beast and the hundreds of fighters in front of them.

He saw Kushina glance at him and he could not help but look in her resolved yet saddened gaze. No words were spoken but he understood what she wanted from him.

Looking at the comrades around him, it became clear.

"Is there no way I can persuade you from this?" he remembered asking his brother once again,

"I'm in no shape to take off flying with Hashirama. My shoulder blades are badly damaged and the muscles there have been torn to shreds. I can't even make myself fly in this condition much less with somebody as large and immobile as Hashirama" explained Nagato patiently,

"I have no Hirashin markings anywhere near this border. I can't teleport there directly much less even get away from this battlefield, nor do I even have enough chakra. Do you really think I can do this?" asked Minato incredulously,

"Yes, if you follow my plan without hesitation. I have followed you my entire life, Elder Brother. But this time I am asking you to follow my lead" requested Nagato seriously,

"If I don't lead the charge, our comrades won't follow. It has to be me and when I am done, Kushina has to keep them moving forward in my stead. I wish there was another way but there isn't."

He hadn't been able to say anything and had watched Nagato jump over a tree branch gathering the attention of their remaining comrades at once.

"Listen up! We're going to launch a suicide charge right through that Kumogakure battalion" declared Nagato fiercely,

"And do what? Be torn to shreds?" yelled one of the Commandos furiously,

"Yes"

Stunned silence spread across all the Commandos as they looked into the cold eyes of Nagato Uzumaki. Some of them looked at Kushina and were further surprised to see her nod. Their Captain hung his head in defeat with his clenched fists bleeding red.

"I know I am not your Captain and will not begrudge you for having any conflicting thoughts. Hell I have some of my own but what I do want is for you to hear me out atleast" urged Nagato and was relieved to receive atleast a dozen nods.

The reality of their future started to became crystal clear to each and every Spartan as they heard of what they were supposed to do. An air of defeat and sadness lingered over them all by the time they heard Nagato's plan of action.

"Is there no other way, Platoon Leader?" asked the Spartan codenamed Echo, one of the youngest among their group.

"I'm afraid not, unless you have a better way" answered Nagato calmly,

"Can...we...surrender?" asked another teenaged female Spartan hesitantly,

"You can but don't expect to ever see the light of day again. You may possibly be tortured to death or incarcerated for life or turned into one of those mindless monsters lorded over by the Kinkaku. Nobody's going to come save you but you may also live. I don't know the future, Mirai. Each of us will have to make a choice they would regret the least. If you ask me, I would prefer to fight until the very end alongside the finest shinobi I have ever known. To do what I am supposed to do and can still do in my power until I simply can't" explained Nagato, and saw the girl slowly starting to stand a little bit more confidently.

"This is the end, isn't it...Nagato?" whispered Kimi in a resigned voice,

"It is"

"What about our dreams, Nagato? Was it pointless to dream of an end to this madness?" asked another Spartan regretfully,

The redhead jumped down from the tree and walked amongst their comrades until he reached the one who had asked that question.

"I share that dream, Hiruma. But do you remember them...our comrades?" asked the redhead somberly,

Hiruma grit his teeth and held back his tears as he remembered losing both his friends during the assault on the enemy's headquarters. Leaving behind a wounded Jiang was not something he could ever forget.

"Our parents..."

Minato was not the only one who lowered his gaze as a few of them had also lost parents to this war.

"Our families back home...can we let them experience what we face today? Will we allow all the sacrifices made by everyone of our clansmen to go in vain? Will we surrender when faced with our doom?" asked Nagato honestly,

The killing intent unleashed by the redhead rankled something primal inside each warrior standing before him.

"NO!"

"We may not live to see our dreams but our clan will! Just as our comrades and families died trusting us with their dreams, we too shall die here trusting those next in line to carry our dreams towards the future! Our nation and allies may not remember our sacrifice, may even forget it- but it's meaning shall forever live on in their long and prosperous existence" roared Nagato fiercely,

As they charged towards the enemy's front line, they heard the two tailed beast scream.

"BRACE!"

Minato twitched and the urge to act gnawed at him as he saw the tailed beast swelling its chest exponentially. The shinobi in him however knew his duty in this plan and watched as Nagato and the Vanguard alongside him raised their weapons.

"Fire!"

A dozen bombs were launched across the skies unleashing a wave of dark smoke throughout the battlefield which greatly reduced visibility.

"Get Ready!" commanded Nagato,

The redhead performed a quick set of hand signs before extending his right hand forward as a bright red kanji glowed across his palm.

"Sealing Style: Barrier"


Commander Dodai frowned when he saw the charging enemy fire smoke bombs across the battlefield and not a moment later the battle began.

"Byoen Hoka!"

The sealing masters controlling the Biju initiated their counter-attack by making the beast launch a dozen scorching fireballs straight towards the Spartans only for a dark red colored barrier to emerge in the middle and block the attacks.

Dodai narrowed his eyes and extended his sensory powers when the enemy didn't suffer any injuries or deaths, instead they continued charging forward.

"This is no ordinary barrier. He is not just using his chakra but his lifeforce to fuel it. Could he be enforcing it with more power at the most expected point of impact, in that case..." thought Dodai shrewdly,

He gave a new set of orders earning quick nods from the Sealing masters who performed another set of hand signs making the tailed beast cat roar furiously.

"Fire Style: White Rain!"

Dozens upon dozens of white flames were launched by the beast and Dodai was further surprised when large chakra chains were unleashed by the female Spartan currently charging alongside the one maintaining the barrier. They reinforced the barrier and held back attack after attack as the Spartans now reached the first of Dodai's men.

He grimaced when they were mercilessly cut down by a hail of kunai launched by the commandos riding alongside the pair holding the barrier. A few of Dodai's men tried to jump through the barrier in order to pounce upon the unstoppable enemy only to be burned alive when they clashed against the red colored monstrosity. If that wasn't enough, few of the chakra chains breached forward and stuck the next wave of Kumo shinobi mercilessly sending them flying away.

"I've got no choice!"

Dodai held back his 2nd, 3rd and 4th line of defenders from going forward and engaging the enemy as the 1st line was torn apart. He instead gave another signal earning a shocked look from the sealing masters.


Nagato coughed blood and felt his entire chest burning up as he continued expending his lifeforce and the remnants of his chakra to maintain the barrier keeping them all from getting obliterated instantly.

His eyes widened in alarm when he saw the tailed beast forming a dark sphere in its mouth.

He looked at a haggered Kushina and the fear in her eyes was palpable. They had the barest minimum hope of actually punching through the enemy lines. Not all of them...but if only a few could make it.

Now, it was time to face reality.

They all saw the way in which the enemy shinobi were bracing themselves and could feel the dark energy currently being gathered by the demonic cat.

He looked at his sibling for a moment earning a somber nod from the blonde.

"Live Free, Elder Brother"

Determined the redhead raised his kunai launcher with his other hand making those alongside him do the same. Together they launched another volley of smoke bombs again into the air. Hidden in those polluted clouds were a volley of kunai marked with special seals.

Minato disappeared alongside their hostage and suddenly found himself in the air, flying in the haze of dark smoke as he grabbed one of those kunai. He barely had time to watch the Biju launch its attack.

"Bijudama!"

The dark ball of energy headed straight towards the Spartans as he quickly made a set of hand signs.

"Earth Style: Rising Pillar!"

A swift earthen pillar rose from the ground just in time for the massive orb of dark energy to collide against it unleashing a thunderous explosion. He teleported himself and Hashirama once more to another set of kunai flying at the far edge of the field thereby avoiding the worst of the shockwave and hot chunks of rock unleashed due to the explosion.

An anguished scream escaped from his lips when the shockwave tore through the barrier and destroyed it completely. A dozen of those burning rocks crashed right upon many of the Spartans and his wolf summons carrying them.

Time seemed to freeze for him when he saw Kushina jump in the way of one of those burning rocks heading straight towards Nagato.

Rage coursed through his heart when he heard her scream as she was sent flying away alongside several of their comrades who were torn to shreds.

Horrified, he turned back to help them only to see his brother and those still left alive raise their kunai launchers forward once more.

"ADVANCE!"

Minato fought back his tears as he steeled himself and focused upon the new set of kunai's launched further across the battlefield.

With a shattered heart, he continued teleporting from one to another much to the astonishment of the stunned enemy.


"Shoot him down!"

Commander Dodai couldn't believe what he was seeing even as his men desperately attempted to bring down the lone flying Spartan. They launched every weapon they had including the few who could use wind style based attacks.

Nothing was fast enough as that Spartan continued to teleport himself from one kunai to another dodging every single attack by teleporting away in a black flash.

As one volley of kunai flying in the air crashed to the ground, another set was launched by his remaining Spartan comrades charging on the ground straight towards Dodai's force and the tailed beast.

He looked at the Biju and saw it was gathering chakra for another attack with his sealing masters determined to shoot down that flying Commando.

"Lighting Style: Black Rain!"

A dozen of his ninja joined forces and started raining hundreds of lightning bolts from the sky in a desperate bid to bring down their moving target but in doing so they were left completely open on another front as a volley of exploding kunai was launched straight at them from the Spartans charging on the ground.

As his men exploded to pieces, Dodai came to a grim conclusion. If he had to stop the enemy then he had to destroy the mastermind behind this move and his gaze landed upon the redheaded boy leading the suicide charge.

"Focus all your fire and annihilate their ground forces! Hurry!"


Nagato watched his brother sail past more than half of the enemy force by using his teleportation technique perfectly. The enemy were in complete disbelief and disarray, even their tailed beast's power not fast enough to stop the Namikaze warrior.

He looked at the screaming ninjas beside him who had given every last ounce of their chakra to Minato so that he could successfully escape with Hashirama by using the teleportation jutsu. The blonde had required enormous amounts of chakra and his men had devoted the last of their power for it.

Broken, terrified and wounded- they still continued charging forward supporting their Captain's escape.

He loaded the last magazine he had left in his launcher and watched few others do the same.

"It's coming...Nagato"

The redhead watched in terror as the two tailed cat screamed furiously and thrashed the ground beneath its feet unleashing large chunks of rocks into the air.

"So this is the end"

He looked at Shera and gently patted the beast's neck.

"Don't abandon my brother" he whispered, making the beast lower his head and give a solemn nod.

Nagato jumped in the air as Shera disappeared alongside his remaining clansmen making the last Spartans continue their final charge on foot.

They launched another volley of kunai high in the air supporting their Captain's advance over enemy lines through the sky as the tailed beast launched fireballs from its mouth that fused with the flying rocks and now headed straight towards the remaining Spartans.

Self sacrifice.

He had talked about it to his men and yet as he watched death sail towards him, he couldn't help but feel nothing but fear deep in his heart.

"I really wish I could have read the end of that manga...but you will, Elder Brother. For both of us!" thought Nagato somberly,

A smile came upon his lips on watching his brother fly towards safety making him steel himself as the burning rocks sailed towards them reducing nearly all his remaining comrades to tears.

"SPARTANS! FOR COMRADES!"

His fearless warcry instilled a renewed wave of courage across his terrified men as they once again raised their kunai launchers upwards.

"SPARTANS! FOR CLAN!"

They fired their last volley high in the air and watched as it sailed over the rear of the enemy lines now that they were so close to them.

Nagato gathered the scraps of chakra left in his body as the wave of burning rocks descended upon them.

"SPARTANS! FOR COUNTRY!"

Dark ash colored shields made of chakra covered each of the remaining Spartans completely as the burning rocks crashed upon them.

It protected them but their heart broke when they saw one of the burning rocks spear clean through Nagato's upper chest even as he used his last chakra to protect his comrades instead of himself.

"NAGATO!"

The Spartans screamed for their last officer but also saw the redhead still pointing his kunai launcher forward as he was sent crashing away mercilessly.

"FORWARD!"


This feeling wasn't unknown to him.

He had experienced it countless times in his short life everytime he lost someone dear to him. But this time, it was different.

The sight of his brother's valiant charge and his heroic sacrifice would forever be etched deep inside of his heart. The boy displaying courage and strength worthy of the Spartan patch he wore.

But it also was the end of his family.

He watched it happen right before his eyes as the last Spartan's crashed into the shell shocked Kumogakure forces.

He wanted nothing more than to join them and face the end together by their side but it would make their sacrifice meaningless and he couldn't let that happen.

Among the screams of the dying men, his own full of pain and sorrow was drowned out.

Tears fell like an unyielding torrent across his cheeks as he tried to fight back the painful sobs bubbling inside of him even as he continued moving forward by firing the precious few kunai from the launcher in his hand and inching closer and closer towards the Land of Fire's border.

Looking back, he saw faint flashes of his men dying before his eyes.

One less with each flash.


Hashirama groggily opened his eyes and felt something firm supporting his back.

At first he couldn't see anything and for a moment he feared he had gone blind until slowly color returned to his vision and after a few persistent tries, he found himself sitting in a familiar forest.

His country's forest.

Looking around, he saw the Spartan Captain standing guard beside him in a stiff and solemn stance.

But it was the boy's eyes that haunted the Senju leader.

Broken.

That was all he could see in those sad eyes which made him try to reach the boy.

"Save your strength, Hashirama. You will need it" said the Spartan Captain coldly,

"Captain Fox...where are your men?"

The slight hitch of the boy's breath and the brimming tears that emerged in his broken gaze gave Hashirama the answer to his question.

"Your people are coming for you soon" said Minato, as he got the memories of a clone he had sent to scout and link up with reinforcements. With the job done, it had vanished in order to give the original the news which he figured should give the Hokage some hope.

Hashirama's eyes widened when the boy started walking away...in the direction of the enemy's border once more.

"Captain Fox, where are you going?" asked Hashirama hurriedly,

"You're safe here, Hashirama. It won't be long until your people get here and I have a clone hidden here just in case someone tries to attack. But I am going back" said Minato solemnly,

"Wait for reinforcements atleast...if you go there alone then you'll die" pleaded the Senju,

"My men don't have that much time left, they could probably be all dead by now. But if there's a chance that even one of them is alive then I can't let them die waiting for reinforcements or get captured by the enemy. You can send your men after us once they catch up with you here" answered Minato honestly,

"I'm truly sorry for everything, Captain" apologized Hashirama sincerely, as tears arrived in his own eyes for what these young children went through because of his mistakes.

"I hope the sacrifice of my entire generation will be enough to end this senseless war. I'll make sure Kumogakure does not have any strength after tonight to continue their ambition" promised Minato fiercely, as his killing intent flared making the Hokage flinch.

"You can't beat death, son" said Hashirama hesitantly, for no matter how strong the boy was, he could not beat what awaited him back in those enemy lands all on his own.

The Hokage froze when a pair of murderous and revenge seeking red eyes glanced straight at him.

"I am going to kill death"


Dodai painfully wiped the blood smeared all across his face and into his eyes even as his weakened legs tried to make him stand once again. Looking around, he was horrified by the carnage around him.

Bodies upon bodies torn to bits and pieces.

Majority of them his own men, many still having the enemies daggers buried deep into their smashed hearts.

He heard another painful scream and saw the two tailed beast swinging one of the Spartans wildly in the air, the sealing masters lying dead nearby courtesy of the kunai embedded in their heads by the lone commando that got through the entirety of Raijin Battalion thanks to the kamikaze like attack launched by all his comrades.

Shock and Awe.

Dodai should have known, it being the main battle strategy of these warriors.

The first of them to meet them head on had made themselves as suicide bombers that tore nearly a hundred of Dodai's troops to shreds and knocking out another few dozen. The remaining that came after fought a battle that was perhaps more vicious than any Dodai's men had ever fought.

They were slashed again and again, yet those children had fought with a frightening courage.

They were torn apart limb from limb, surrounded and slaughtered one after another but even as they met their end they ensured to take a dozen of Dodai's men with each of them that fell.

He watched the last remaining Spartan burn alive in the merciless grasp of the two tailed cat's tail as the poisonous chakra was sent crashing into his body even as the beast slowly squeezed his bones to dust.

It had embraced its wild nature now that there were no more sealing masters left to control it.

The boy screamed and screamed as he was turning to ash, even so he threw a dozen kunai all over the beast's body. Before the beast could punish him for that harmless insolence, the boy died with a content smile.

The next moment the cat screamed.

Dodai looked up in horror on seeing one of the beast's eyes had been slashed apart and the other gazing straight into the murderous eyes of a very familiar and murderous blonde Spartan.

It swung its twin tails forward in a fit of rage to crush the blonde warrior but he disappeared in the blink of an eye only to appear right behind the tailed beast's rear.

Dodai's eyes widened when he saw a familiar set of kunai's scattered all around the tailed beast with some even lodged upon it. He remembered that last Spartan unleashing that attack as a final defiance but the boy must have sensed his comrade's approach and gave his life trying to assist him.

Now with almost no Kumogakure ninjas left to protect the beast, it was left wide open.

Before it could even turn back the blonde Spartan slapped something on its rear legs before teleporting right above the beast in the air. It screamed in agony as the explosives went off making it collapse to the ground.

It launched a slew of fireballs at the blonde but he vanished again and this time reappeared a moment later in front of the beast to jab his chakra laced sword clean through its remaining eye making it scream even more painfully.

Dodai watched in horror as the blonde continued his devastating teleportation dance all around the beast.

First he took its remaining legs with more explosives making it fall flat on the ground. The blinded beast tried to swing its tails in an effort to stop the human demon from killing it but its enormous power was just not enough in comparison to the Spartan's frightening teleportation technique.

The Spartan fought like a man possessed with revenge as he continued hurting the beast and making it explode all over its body one after another.

Dodai was quite surprised and relieved when he felt several familiar chakra signatures and looked towards the Mountain Pass.

Destiny had not forsaken them completely as he watched the Kinkaku Blackops unit charging towards the battlefield, he rushed towards them hoping to gain their support in order to save the tailed beast from the vengeful Spartan.

As he reached the treeline he was met by the famed brothers- Ginkaku and Kinkaku..

"Quickly...save the two tails" he begged them,

The brothers were also quite stunned when they saw the state of the decimated Raijin Battalion and the battlefield full of corpses. In the distance they saw the tailed beast roaring painfully as it was being torn to shreds.

Nodding to each other they gestured their special forces troops and monsters to charge forward.

Before they could reach halfway across the battlefield the first of them were cut down by a hail of explosive kunai that hit them head on.

Dodai's eyes widened in shock when he saw a Spartan rising from the field of corpses. His right arm was missing and he was profusely bleeding from his chest. His mask was shattered and his face drowned in blood but the determination to fight still burned in his eyes as he held a kunai launcher in his remaining hand.

The Kinkaku forces retreated a few yards to gain safe distance and saw the enemy ninja stumbling towards them bravely.

"This close to dying and yet he still fights. Who is he, Dodai?" asked Ginkaku curiously, making the Kumogakure shinobi look at the redhead boy more closely.

The boy tried to form a familiar red colored barrier between them and the tailed beast but failed making Dodai instantly recall it to be the boy who had lead the Spartan's suicidal attack.

"He led the Spartans in annihilating my battalion" confessed Dodai hesitantly,

"A true warrior then. Even in this state he fights for his mission and fellow comrade. Let's give him a befitting end" said Ginkaku calmly,

Nagato blearily watched as the entire Kinkaku force charged towards him under the leadership of the infamous brothers. He looked back to see his own elder brother in the process of decimating the tailed beast.

He couldn't let these men reach him.

Grabbing a half filled clip from one of his dead comrades, he readied his weapon once again as the enemy closed in. His chakra was almost fully depleted and he was losing consciousness due to the wounds all over his body and the amount of blood he had lost.

Dodai had decided to remain in the rear while charging towards the battlefield and hence watched the lone Spartan standing back on his feet holding his weapon with his remaining arm. With a murderous glare burning in his eyes, he charged towards the approaching enemies.

He fired kunai's swiftly followed by the bodies of the frontal most Kinkaku hitting the ground with a weapon lodged in their heads. The Spartan didn't relent and continued firing with deadly accuracy bringing down a few more Kinkaku instantly.

And then his weapon ran out.

Dodai saw the painful realization dawn in the young boy's eyes as he found himself standing less than fifty yards from the enemy.

He surprised each and every Kumo shinobi by restarting his lone march towards them now with a single kunai in his hand.

Kinkaku and Ginkaku emerged in the front to unleash a hail of shuriken towards the boy making him roll towards the ground evading quite a few of the projectiles while using his lone kunai to deflect the remaining ones.

This defiance only enraged the brothers and their men as they all unleashed hundreds of shuriken fueled by lightning chakra towards the Spartan all at once.

Dodai knew there was no chance of survival against such a large scale attack in the boy's present state and saw the Spartan meet his fate fearlessly.

Weapon after weapon pierced his small body as he continued stumbling forward much to the astonishment of the Kinkaku force.

"You...shall...not...reach...your...monster" wheezed Nagato painfully, as he fell to his knees and vomited blood from his mouth.

Three commandos surged towards him only for the boy to throw dust straight into their eyes with the help of his feet. Grabbing a sword from a dead Kumogakure Jounin, he once again got up on his feet and severed the heads of his opponents.

He wheezed in agony when a sword pierced him from behind and saw Ginkaku to be the aggressor. He kicked the man straight in the balls making him grimace and quickly evade a strike aimed for his neck by jumping away.

Kinkaku seized the moment to stab the young Spartan straight through his heart but was stunned when the boy laughed before slamming his head straight into his face making him lose balance. Nagato evaded a strike from a reappearing Ginkaku and positioned himself right behind Kinkaku's back.

His sword sliced clean through Kinkaku's back right down to his waist making him scream in pain as he collapsed to his knees.

Ginkaku quickly grabbed his wounded elder brother while hatefully glaring at the boy who had hurt him.

"Slaughter him!" he screamed murderously,

A violent explosion made the land tremble beneath everyone's feet as they all saw the two tailed demonic cat explode from within and collapse thunderously across the ground creating a giant crater in the aftermath.

Another Spartan appeared before them in a flash and grabbed Nagato quickly before vanishing away.


Nagato coughed up more blood as he was gently laid across the ground. As his vision cleared, he found himself inside a crater where a few meters away was the tailed beast.

Dead.

He saw his brother frantically assessing his injuries while ignoring his own.

"Elder Brother..."

"Don't talk. I'll heal your critical wounds...then we're getting out of here" promised Minato in a desperate voice,

"The others?" wheezed Nagato with the barest hope still burning inside of him.

Minato lowered his head and solemnly shook his head making the redhead close his eyes and fight back the grief rising within himself.

He opened his eyes once again when his brother started coughing violently and saw the deep gash across his chest. The flesh was burned and he realized the Spartan Captain must have broken quite a few ribs. There were other larger cuts across his body where the tailed beast had hurt him before it was killed. Even so, Minato was still pouring whatever chakra he had left to heal Nagato's innumerable wounds while bleeding to his own death.

It made the redhead slowly raise his hand and stop the medical jutsu being administered by his sibling much to the blonde's shock.

"It's too late for me...you know it too, Elder Brother" whispered Nagato calmly,

"NO! I can still-"

"Thank you for always being there for me. Even if we were half siblings, you never let me feel as if we were anything less than real brothers..." said Nagato gratefully with a smile,

"Stop it! We're both going home together! Reinforcements will be here soon" begged Minato with tears falling from his eyes,

His heart skipped a beat when his brother's eyes closed which made him again send medical chakra into the boy's body even more desperately.

He felt a new power seeping into his own body and saw ash colored chakra rising from Nagato and merging with his own. The younger Spartan gingerly opened his eyes a few moments later and smiled at him.

"A..part...of...me...shall...always...live...on...in...you. Please...use...this...power...to...protect...our...people" requested Nagato,

Minato saw the color fading from his brother's face and the boy's heartbeat becoming nearly silent. He grabbed the younger boy's hand and gave a reassuring squeeze.

"I..." he whispered tearfully, unable to say anything or accept that his worst nightmare was coming alive right in front of him.

"Whatever...the...village...says...you...are...a...great...ninja...in...my...eyes. Someday...you'll...change...this...world...with...your...power...for...you...are...the...savior...of...our...people...I...know...you..can...do...it"

The ensuing silence that came as the boy's eyes closed with a peaceful smile upon his lips was the hardest thing that Minato had ever endured in his short life.

His brother was gone.

He coughed blood and felt the rising pain within his own wounds as the enemy got more closer to his position. A part of him that loved his brother and their comrades wanted him to retreat in order to honor their wishes.

But another more stronger part of him had no desire of retreating even if it meant dying here. For now, there was nothing left to protect anymore. Nobody waiting for him back home...

How could he go back home and face his people while all his comrades had died?

"I'm sorry, brother. But I will be joining you soon..." he whispered regretfully, as he gathered up his chakra and teleported to the battlefield once again.

As he appeared before his enemies, they all immediately stopped their advance. Even going as far as taking a few cautious steps back.

"Biju killer..."

"Demon..."

"It seems you still have some self preservation left in you. Yes, I am the one who killed your tailed beast" replied the blonde Spartan fearlessly,

"Surrender, Spartan. Or die" warned Ginkaku icily,

To his surprise, the young boy didn't waver for an instant and raised his sword towards them with a determination that made many take a step back as his monstrous killing intent washed over them.

"Fight me! There is only one Spartan left in this world and only one shinobi's name will be remembered for killing me! Who wants to be that man?" challenged the Spartan Captain thunderously,

Dodai watched the skies themselves crackle with frightening lightning storms gathering over them all. Even the battle hardened troops around him felt slightly unnerved by the shinobi in front of them.

Finally, it was the wounded Kinkaku who broke the stalemate by taking charge making his brother Ginkaku join after him.

"Don't waiver! He's just one fighter!" rebuked the brothers in unison,

That forced the rest of their men to join them including Dodai who saw the Spartan only chuckle before charging towards them fearlessly.

"This is a good opportunity for you to remember! Whether you live or die today, watch how a Captain of the Spartan Blackops meets his end!"


(Present Day)

Even today, he could still remember those words deep within his heart.

Fukai and the Raikage were extremely silent as Dodai finished his tale and looked towards the sky with a deep sigh escaping from his lips.

"He inflicted heavy casualties on us, even wounding Kinkaku more grievously. Ultimately, Ginkaku gave the order to retreat when we sensed more enemy signatures converging on our location. I don't know how the boy survived, but most probably he truly is that same Spartan from back then...we need to kill him before he destroys our nation. For in his eyes, I saw the desire and sheer hatred to wipe out our entire nation and make our name disappear from the annuls of history for what we did to his comrades" whispered Dodai tiredly,

"That explains how Kirigakure got their hands on the winged devices. If a Spartan gave them that technology and taught them how to use it" suggested the Raikage,

"Even if they were our enemies, I could not help but respect the resolve of those children. This war is personal for the Mizukage and his comrade, they won't stop until our nation is destroyed even if Kirgakure suffers heavily in that process. I agree with you Dodai, we need to kill him and that kunoichi at all costs" replied Fukai decisively,

"Do you think he'll accept my challenge for single combat? One Kage against another"

Both men were quite shocked by the Raikage's suggestion and were at a loss of words for a few seconds before Dodai shook his head.

"A most honorable offer, my lord. However it is not the right one" said Dodai respectfully,

"It's as you said, he is the center of his army. I'll keep him occupied while you, Fukai and the rest of our army descend upon his forces to cause maximum damage. I won't lie, most of us won't be returning to our village" declared the Raikage without hesitation,

"But if we don't do this, we won't have a home left to go back" agreed Dodai,

"I guess we find ourselves in the same situation the Spartans faced in their time. Just as they chose to win the war for their nation by paying the ultimate price, we shall do the same for our nation if it comes to that. We are with you, Uncle" promised Fukai with determination,

The Raikage nodded his approval and heard the promise from both the men of rallying their troops for this dangerous encounter. A task in which he would himself participate.

"Where do you suggest we meet the Mizukage in battle? This time I shall lead from the front" assured the Raikage,

Both he and Fukai looked at Dodai who remained silent for a few moments before stating the location of an ancient battlefield of their nation.

"Hydara"


(Kirigakure Camp)

It was midnight and Kushina was not surprised to find her childhood friend sitting atop a lonely hill from where they could see their army camp. Any normal person would have died from the freezing cold and snow, but their bodies were genetically enhanced to survive in such harsh climates since they were children.

She looked down to see celebrations still ongoing in some parts of their camp for the victory they had achieved against the enemy.

"They feel we can't be beaten now" he whispered, as she grabbed a seat beside him.

"Morale needs to be high for the road ahead will only be more difficult. The enemy more desperate and savage" she warned, earning a solemn nod from the blonde.

"Anything particular on your mind?" he asked curiously, making her huff.

"Can't I spend some time with you after getting such an important victory for you?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow at her statement which only made her give him a challenging glare until they both burst out laughing at that mockery.

"It feels good to be on the winning side again" said Kushina gratefully,

"I couldn't have done it without you" confessed Naruto,

"Of course you could. Just not as magnificently as you did with me by your side" teased Kushina, making him chuckle but give her a nod as well.

He leaned back into the snow to gaze up at the clear sky and Kushina joined him moments later and leaned close in his embrace, an action which he accepted with a faint smile.

"I never thought we'd come this far" she whispered,

"There is still a long way to go" he reminded her gently, making her give a subtle nod.

"And I am with you. Till the End" she promised him, and saw him look at her with an affection he had only displayed for a select few people in his life.

"I'll hold you to that. You're all I have left of my family. It's why I want you to stay in support, your talents will be more useful in keeping the army safe and make me fight without-"

"I'm a shinobi just like you! You can't expect me to-" she protested furiously, but was silenced when he placed a finger upon her lips gently.

"Please, Kushina"

There were very few moments in their lives when he had looked so vulnerable and it made her anger subside considerably.

"Why?" she asked him hesitantly,

"You know the reason" he whispered reluctantly,

"No! You have to say it" she insisted fiercely,

"I won't! I can't...not after what happened to the one who heard them last. Everyone I truly loved dies, I won't let such a thing happen to you. So please!" he nearly begged her,

"We are mortal, Minato. Our lives are limited, yet I don't think your wife regretted falling in love with you. As did every person who shared that feeling, we chose to feel that way towards you. The only thing worse would be you not respecting it" explained Kushina patiently,

"We can never be together no matter how much we feel for each other. Even if I win this war, Kirigakure would want me to marry a woman from their lands and rebuild my clan. I will not dishonor you like that!" he hissed furiously, as he disentangled himself from her slowly before getting back on his feet.

Kushina clenched her fists and tried to suppress the sheer rage and frustration that had always simmered within her ever since she met him after all these years. For a decade, she had pursued revenge for their lost comrades while ignoring her own happiness.

When she got him back, he was already married and actually in love with someone else.

She had respected their boundaries then but now it was impossible, all the dreams she had imagined as a young girl-the future she had always wanted by his side.

"Don't you dare turn away from me!" she commanded icily, making him stop from turning his back on her.

"Kushina..." he whispered tiredly, as he looked at her with as much patience he could muster.

"I love you, Minato. Ever since we were young, you were the one for me. My biggest regret in life is the moment when I chose revenge over you. If only I had not taken that path and stayed with you in the village..." she whispered miserably,

"I love you too, Kushina. But things aren't the same anymore" he insisted in a gentle voice,

"I don't care. I know what I want and I'm not walking away unless you tell me to" said Kushina fiercely,

Naruto clenched his fist to suppress his rising anger. He was already neck deep in trouble and couldn't afford such a personal complication when his army was depending upon him.

Gods knew he loved the woman in front of him- she was his first love after all, but it was exactly because he had those feelings for her...he couldn't-

His eyes widened in shock when he felt a pair of warm lips crash upon his own as she had used his distraction as a chance to share a passionate kiss with him. An affectionate gesture that clearly touched something inside of him as he remembered buried memories of their childhood which he had tried his best to forget.

Just as he had shown her a wishful dream during their farewell in Kumogakure, this time she did the same for him.

He found himself looking at a future where he had won the war, his nation now ruling over the human race and ushering mankind towards peace.

While he ruled from a new Capital alongside an invisible queen and children, he also found himself travelling back to his motherland-Uzushiogakure very often.

Instead of a nation devoid of his family, friends and full of people who hated him- he found himself welcomed by everyone he had lost who were all alive and living in peace.

He found Kushina waiting for him by a small yet beautiful house near the sea shore, with a young boy who had blonde hair like him and eyes like her welcoming him with a happy laugh.

As the trance ended, he didn't realize that tears had slipped freely from his eyes until Kushina gently wiped them away.

"I know what your heart desires, more than anyone else" she whispered gently,

A fact which he couldn't deny no matter how much he wanted to.

"I understand what you need to do in order to create a better world for all of us and I am willing to make sacrifices to fulfill your dreams- as you are mine" she confessed with a faint blush,

"Kushina..."

"I don't want to live a life of regrets. Even if its finite, I want us to be together for the alternative would break my heart" said Kushina hesitantly,

"Even if I marry someone else for political reasons? Even if I resurrect Ino with Madara's help and she chooses to stay with me?" he asked her sharply, hoping those hard questions would deter her decision.

"You'll need allies to maintain this empire that you want to create. Marry someone from Kiri as your supporters are requesting in order to continue having the loyalty of that nation, if you manage to bring Ino back and she chooses to stay with you even after you conquer her nation then fine. Any children you have with her can control those lands for you as they will be heir to the Senju clan as well, same goes for the Namikaze clan from the woman of Kiri. As for me, I would like to return back to our motherland once this war is over. We'll make the Uzukage answer for his crimes and maybe I can become the First Female Kage, our children ruling those lands through their Uzumaki lineage by me"

He had fought a great many battles but as he watched the woman in front of him explain her entire plan, he could not help but see a different side of her...one that he never thought existed.

"Kushina...I never thought you had a flair for politics" he whispered in surprise, making her scoff.

"Don't let these good looks fool you. You maybe a Great General but I spent a decade as a spy in the Lightning Daimyo's court. I know more about all the politics that goes behind ruling a nation better than you. To conquer lands is one thing, to create a human empire would require you to not just implement Madara's plan but also create a new civilization with its own unique culture and ideology. It's not just that I have feelings for you, but I too believe in this new world that you wish to create and am willing to do my part to see it come true" explained Kushina honestly,

Her words made him pause as she gave him an actual glimpse of the real challenges that awaited him after his conquest, if it went as per his plan.

He was good at war and inspiring people, but pretty terrible at politics. Granted, he could rule with an iron fist stiffling any opposition through brute force...but it wasn't an ideal strategy in the long run. If he had been politically intelligent, he wouldn't have let himself get guilt tripped by the Uzukage in accepting the blame for the Spartan's death when it was that man who sent them to die in the first place.

Sure, it saved his nation's prestige and gave it war spoils from allies and enemies alike, most of all continuing the Uzukage's grip on power for the people never realized the truth due to his false confession.

The only one who suffered was him.

Banished from his own nation to die in a foreign land serving that same corrupt leadership.

He had been naive and broken...something which the politically astute Uzukage had used skillfully.

Not anymore.

Kushina was surprised when she saw him looking back at her with a newfound respect and admiration.

"Then so be it. I won't deny our feelings for each other or doubt your wisdom in an area where I am lacking. Once we defeat Kumogakure, we'll make the Uzukage answer for his crimes. Madara has assured me that he will bring our dead comrades back to life should we crush this nation. Then together, we all shall go back to our homeworld to correct a grave injustice done to us by that man. Once we win, I want you to control that nation as the Second Uzukage" agreed Naruto with a cold smile,

"You sure? Konoha may intervene, besides I only joked about being a Kage" said Kushina with a nervous smile,

"Tobirama knows our history and as long as this action does not harm his village directly, he will be willing to let his son get justice if he wants to maintain any relations with me. I'll deal with Konoha with force should they try something, more importantly you are the only one I can trust to hold our nation and resettle our comrades back among our people. You are strong, wise and know how to treat people fairly-something the current Uzukage lacks. I imagine it would be ironic for the old geezer to be overthrown by the very same Spartans he sacrificed" replied Naruto with vengeance and determination burning in his eyes,

Kushina nodded as she agreed with his reasons while hiding her own nervousness behind her silence. Unfortunately, they knew each other just too well as he came forward and grasped her cheeks gently.

"I was wrong. I am too naive when it comes to politics and need real comrades like you, maybe this way we get to fulfill that wishful dream of ours. One that we both forgot about a long time ago..." he whispered sincerely,

"Are you really sure, Minato?" she asked him, making him smirk.

"Now who's the one with doubts and hesitation?"

She answered his challenge by enveloping him in a fierce kiss...one which he returned with equal passion.


Author's Notes: End of Chapter.

Hope you guys liked it.

I had mentioned that there was one important backstory left to cover and this was it. I've wanted to write this chapter ever since I started this story. To be honest, the idea for this story came to me when I thought of this battle...the rest of the plot grew from there.

Rezang La is an actual place in my country, a battlefield where a truly heroic battle like the one in this story was fought by my ancestors in 1962. It was our Thermopylae and as half a century later, we find ourselves facing the possibility of the same war beginning once again today...I wanted this name to be remembered once again through this small tribute. Especially for any of my countrymen reading this.

Won't go too much into this, in case any of you are curious the information regarding the above is available on Wikipedia.

Have got some more exciting things coming up in the next updates.

Keep up the Review War Machine!

Regards,

Blackwolf501