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Music Recommendation for the final Part of the Chapter: Parbat, Ben Hayden (with a low depth and without a power at first) from filmstro for an epic movie (Available on Youtube- Just listen if you want to experience the true feeling)

Chapter 55

Truth


(Mountain's Graveyard)

Mei gingerly opened her eyes and was frightened when she saw only darkness. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself and tried several more times until she succeeded in gaining actual visual of her surroundings.

She was in a gigantic but dark cave with the bare minimum light and was hanging several feet above the ground.

Pain surged through her arms as she realized chakra chains were holding her limbs and looking behind to the source of these bindings, she was truly horrified to see a monstrous statue larger than any tailed beast.

It was a demonic statue in the form of a humanoid entity with a mummified appearance with spike like protrusions on its back. A cold chill ran through her entire body when she found it was already in the process of sucking tailed beast energy from Yugito Ni, the Two tails Jinchuuriki. The woman's eyes were blank, her mouth open in a horrified expression even as a lifeless Bunpuku-the One Tails Jinchuuriki lay suspended a few feet away from her in the air.

They were extracting tailed beasts from their hosts and sealing them into that monster...with the One Tails already extracted. In the center of the cave, she found a dark inhuman creature alongside dozens of his fellow monsters carrying out the ritual with absolute devotion and focus.

Memories came back to her from the disastrous Kage Summit as she remembered Naruto's chakra surging through her body and restraining her control and freewill like in the past before the Battle of Osaka as the Six Tails within her took control. Instead of breaking free from her body, it helped Naruto in battle just as every other tailed beast did the same with their hosts through the Mizukage's help.

She remembered Naruto's conversation with her and Saiken back in Kirigakure before the Kage Summit where he revealed what he and Madara truly wanted to do for which they had sought co-operation from all tailed beasts in exchange for their freedom.

"You managed to convince your breatheren, Saiken" she whispered to the Six Tails,

"For what little it's worth I am sorry, Mei. All of us tailed beasts saw how short sighted world leaders truly were at the Kage Summit even in the face of the Otsutsuki threat. Such men could never save humanity much less end the suffering of us tailed beasts" confessed Saiken with a heavy heart,

"So you all joined Madara?" asked Mei with a sigh,

"We joined Naruto. None of us trust Madara, especially the Nine Tails. The Two Tails doesn't trust Naruto due to their muddled history, but has confidence in the faith the rest of us tailed beasts have in him. In a world full of lies and treachery, he is the only one willing to walk into hell to save everyone- man or tailed beasts alike. If those two men can forcefully make humanity seize its wars then we tailed beasts would not be used in such conflicts again and again" explained Saiken honestly,

"And that peace would be at the price of nine Jinchuuriki's and thousands of more lives"

Saiken was silenced by Mei's cold but truthful statement as they glanced at the corpse of Bunpuku and watched the life draining out of Yugito slowly.

"I'm sorry, Mei"

The Terumi clan heir didn't say anything and looked at the remaining Jinchuuriki, most were unconscious except for Yagura and Mito-both of whom were looking at her right now.

A bitter expression came upon her face as she looked at the former Mizukage when he just gave her a smile.

"The hell you smiling at, traitor?" asked Mei angrily,

"I revealed the truth of your husband back in Kirigakure through my few remaining allies during the Kage Summit time period. I wonder if the Generals and Commanders back home are doing the same to the Terumi clan and your children as your husband did with my clan?" retorted Yagura, satisfaction evident on his face.

Mei felt as if her world was completely destroyed by that revelation as she instantly feared for the safety of her children, her father and the rest of her clan as they would be the prime targets for the leadership back home to take hostage or execute for being associated directly with a Spy...even be considered as traitors!

But how could Yagura have known the truth?

The man must have sensed her unsaid question as he explained with that same sickening smile.

"Naruto asked me to. Gave me the proof for his own destruction to reveal to our people in order to allow them a chance to distance themselves from this madness if his truth was exposed by his enemies. Despite being a Spy, he acted like a true Kage willing to bear the burden for his nation and people. I hate him for what he did to my family and hope you suffer the same fate...but I will admit he's the finest Kage our nation has ever seen. For that I joined him, even agreed to die like this knowing I will take his legacy with me and give our people a chance to save themselves from Naruto's doomed fate" confessed Yagura

"He will never allow our children to be harmed!" said Mei fiercely, earning a nod from Yagura.

"Maybe you're right. Perhaps they would have already been extracted to safe location by his allies by now, but the same can't be said for the Terumi clan...is it?" countered Yagura, making Mei lower her gaze in sadness and the former Mizukage to laugh half heartedly.

"This is the end, Mei. You can never hope for a happy ending in this twisted shinobi world...but Naruto is trying to break this curse. He can see hope beyond this hell and will keep moving forward until he has destroyed 3,000 years of bloodstained history. We just won't be there to see it" whispered Yagura sadly,

Mito had been silently listening to the conversation even as she contemplated their history and all that happened which led to this. She remembered losing her family in the Clan Wars Era same as her husband Hashirama, they created the Modern shinobi world to stop that violence and prevent children from dying as tools of war.

Sadly, it only led to more wars which consumed the life of her husband, her children and even her grandson-Nawaki.

With her only grandchild-Tsunade left with her, she had high hopes for creating a lasting peace at the Kage Summit only for that hope to be destroyed by Hiruzen himself at the orders of the Fire Daimyo.

"We must keep the children out of this cycle if we are to prevent it from happening again" she whispered,

Mito looked up when she felt Yagura and Mei looking back at her which made a few tears to fall from her eyes.

"It is the responsibility of us adults to bear the sins and hatred of the past...to not pass on the same to our children. I can never agree to Naruto's methods but I understand why he is doing this. He is no devil or hero, just a man trying to protect his children alongside every human being by bearing that burden. Our solution for peace failed...maybe his solution will succeed which is all I can hope for, atleast for the sake of my granddaughter-Tsunade" confessed Mito somberly,

Black Zetsu had been listening to the conversation even as he continued the ritual of Sealing the two tails alongside several dozen White Zetsu's...to say he was surprised by what was being said would be an understatement.

Perhaps Naruto had been right...humanity was still worth saving.


Kushina and Inoue Namikaze waked up towards the nearest mountain to their hideout and found Naruto standing there. Upon seeing their approach, he clenched his fist and the anger on his face was clearly visible.

And they both knew why even as his next words expressed that.

"Why did you get Uzu involved in this mess?" he asked furiously,

Before they could answer, he was forced to look towards the skies where he sensed familiar signatures and his heart sank further when he saw his entire Spartan Unit descending towards them led by Nagato himself.

The very people he wanted to protect had willingly marched into hell for him. A part of his heart was humbled but another more rational one couldn't help but despair knowing what was coming for them all.

He turned towards his mother who had a sympathetic look on her face as she understood exactly what he was feeling.

"It was not just me, Kushina, or the Spartans...but the whole village who considers you as one of our own. Hanzo Uzumaki made a dangerous decision when he sent you to Kiri as a Spy and made it even worse by not stopping your rise to the position of Mizukage by not thinking how disastrous it would be for our village if you were exposed. Most of our forces will remain on the island except for the Spartans, the tactical bombs made of Biju chakra that you gave us should help us thwart any major incursions which I don't think will happen anytime soon unless Kirigakure's Navy attacks us in force. Ensuring you win the war is the only way for Uzu to survive...more importantly, everyone of us owe their lives to you. This was our choice and you have to accept that" explained Inoue patiently,

"Spartans look after their own, brother'' said Nagato with a kind smile,

"You don't understand. We cannot win this...it's a suicide mission" replied Naruto in despair, only for his friends to laugh knowingly.

"We were made for those, Captain. Have you forgotten?" said Hayate confidently,

"We only need to hold the line against the enemy army for you to execute the plan. Once that happens, the fighting will end and we can all go home together" promised Kushina with a friendly smile,

"Don't tell me you have become soft, Captain. We kicked ass before and we will do it again" said Kasumi fiercely,

"Lord Fourth"

Naruto turned towards his right when he found Commander Reika walking towards them all and in her hands was a rather large scroll which upon being unsealed by the woman moments later left him intrigued.

For in front of him was an armor unlike anything he had ever seen before in his life.

Even from his position, he could feel the sheer amount of energy at its core and judging from its sinister nature...

"Reika...is that?" he asked hesitantly, unable to believe at what the Uzumaki clan had engineered.

"This had been in the works ever since the fall of our Spartans in the First Great Ninja War. We had perfected the technology over time to avoid such casualties but simply lacked the power source to sustain it. With the Biju chakra that you shared with us, our engineers harnessed portions of its power to bring this Chakra Armor to life" explained Commander Reika in detail,

She then helped the Mizukage in donning the same even as his fellow Spartans followed suit with their own armor that they had brought from their island nation.

By the time Reika finished her job alongside the other Spartans, Inoue Namikaze had an extremely pleased smile upon her lips.

The Second Uzukage had been briefed of the genetic augmentations the Spartans had gone through as part of their development. It had horrified her beyond belief when she truly understand what these children and her sons had endured...but the advantages were also equally worthy.

It had transformed children barely between the ages of eight to thirteen into killing machines.

Their bones had been made nearly unbreakable, their reflexes three times faster than average shinobi, their body and skeleton structure had undergone rapid advancement giving them larger height than their age befitted. Their muscles had been strengthened and their chakra capacity nearly twice that of average shinobi.

Now as she watched them don the Chakra Armor made specifically to enhance their super human strength even further...she accepted as to why the other nations always feared the resourcefulness of the Uzumaki clan.

For in front of her stood a small army of super-soldiers more than six feet tall.

They were all wearing pitch black armor whose outer shell was made of titanium alloy- a rare earth available in good quantity upon their island. She also felt a strange sense of energy surrounding all the Spartans and to check her hypothesis, she fired an electric bolt towards Naruto only for it to harmlessly dissipate against the armor's chakra shield.

Inoue used few of her genjutsu techniques but none affected any of the Spartans who stared at her blankly.

"This Chakra Armor cost us a fortune enough to build a small army but it's the strongest work of engineering our clan has ever done in its history. It allows every Spartan to withstand all forms of temperature, the Biju chakra which powers it enables you to have shields which deflect all forms of Ninjutsu or Genjutsu for a certain period. However, if the onslaught becomes too severe they will collapse and need a few seconds to be recharged. With your augmentations, you are the only one at present who are capable enough of wielding this armor without any further surgery like our other shinobi.

Normal weapons or explosives even will not make a dent against the titanium alloy, in the event an attack does wound you-the injury will be automatically sealed by the armor and medical chakra will be administered to heal it. The helmet gives you a 360 degree vision and the ability to communicate with every Spartan wearing it at any distance through the Astral Projection technique mastered by our clan. It also has enough slots to make you carry ammunition and essentials for two weeks worth of battle. As long as the Core holding the Biju chakra is not damaged or destroyed, it virtually gives you the ability to keep on fighting endlessly as the armor is designed to replenish your chakra a few times" explained Reika in detail,

The Second Uzukage found herself feeling envious when her sons and their fellow Spartans decide to put their new technology to test.

Enacting "Capture the Hill" exercise from their training days, the Spartans charged up a nearby mountain on foot only this time their speed was twice as fast as before, Inoue used Earth Style to throw gigantic boulders down upon them only for the Uzumaki warriors to smash clean through them all with brute force of their Chakra Armor.

The Uzukage rained down lightning from the skies upon the charging Spartans only for their Armor's shields to kick in and protect them easily.

They all were quite surprised when Madara himself descended from the skies and stood at the top of the mountain the Spartans were hoping to conquer.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

A gigantic tsunami of flames descended down upon the charging Spartans worrying their Kage but eliciting an extremely pleased smile from Madara when the Uzumaki veterans survived the onslaught without a scratch and continued advancing towards Madara.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Upon sensing the incoming attack, the Spartans adopted a Phalanx formation channeling maximum chakra from the armor and their own bodies towards their shields. They flared wildly when the gravitational force hit them head on!

"You Uzumaki truly are something else. To think they actually withstood my Shinra Tensei" said Madara with genuine respect,

He went on to use every genjutsu in his arsenal including one of his Mangekyo Sharingan, but just as promised the Chakra Armor and its helmet protected its wearers.

Wings emerged from the back of the armor as the Spartans took to aerial charge and if not for his Sharingan, Madara would have not been able to see their rapid advance as they emerged on the mountain top. Yet even as he was forced to give way, he saw a true smile present upon Naruto's lips for the first time ever since what happened at the Kage Summit as the Mizukage removed his helmet.

Inoue and Commander Reika watched Madara appear by their side and look at the Spartans hollering and rejoicing at their new upgrades.

"With an army like that, there is no victory impossible for us. Be it the Shinobi world or the Otsutsuki" praised Madara with a wide smile,

"You think training, augmentation and their armor makes them Unbeatable? For all of that, they are still children bred for war by adults like us. It's the bond among the Spartans that make them a force to be feared" said Inoue honestly,

"I think that's the only thing Naruto's truly afraid of. Losing any of them again, they are his true family. For when the entire world turned against him, the Spartans were the ones who vouched everyone in our clan to stand by him. They were the first to join him in this suicidal mission...just like he never gave up on saving them when the entire world including our own nation forgot about them. They are his friends...his siblings...all 124 of them" suggested Reika with a sympathetic smile,

Madara saw with his own eyes the bond that Commander Reika and Inoue Namikaze talked about when he looked at the Spartans.

It only went on to remind him of his own lost friends, cousins and brothers, Izuna in particular.

"I understand. More than you can imagine" he whispered with a heavy heart,

As he briefly reminisced about the happy days of his own past, Madara didn't pay much attention until Naruto was standing before him moments later with the Spartans by his side.

"I have my family behind me now. I'll need to get my army" he declared resolutely,

"You changed your mind?" asked Madara in surprise, earning a sigh from the Mizukage.

"I don't want to end up killing my own men in the event they are forced to end up on the battlefield alongside other nations or if they are coerced into attacking Uzu which I will defend no matter the cost" explained Naruto sincerely,

"They'll kill you the moment they see you. What is there left to say?" asked Inoue worriedly, but surprisingly her son disagreed.

"I will always be Minato Namikaze for all of you here. But for better or worse, I am also Naruto Namikaze-The Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure. I made that nation and its army with my own hands, at the very least I owe them the truth from my own mouth. To give them a chance to stand by my side or atleast stay neutral...I am not doing this just for my own wish. If Kirigakure sides with the Allied Shinobi Army, our defeat is inevitable and Uzu will be destroyed" answered Naruto honestly,

"Don't you think you are overestimating them?" asked Madara curiously, only for Naruto to smile ruefully.

"I trained that army and led it personally for years. This is the same army that crushed a military powerhouse like Kumogakure which even us Spartans could not do for all our might. That army conquered nations and was never once defeated in battle, it has the most powerful Navy in the world which is the greatest threat to Uzu's existence. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen- my generals are capable officers unlike the many arrogant fools in the Allied Shinobi Army" explained the Mizukage frankly,

Silence engulfed everyone as they understood the consequences of facing the Kirigakure army as their enemy. More than anyone else, they were the greatest threat to Uzushiogakure's survival and the fate of this war...

"Very well. Do what you have to, need anything from my end? Backup?" questioned Madara,

"We'll go with our Captain. Should the men of Kiri dishonor their Kage, we'll ensure they pay for such mistake" promised Nagato, his tone leaving no room for negotiation as the entire Spartan force backed him.

To their surprise, Naruto didn't protest and just nodded before looking back at Madara as the Uchiha asked him an honest question

"How will you convince them?"

"Have you forgotten why you chose me to lead your army in this war?" countered Naruto,

Madara couldn't help but smirk as he understood what his comrade was about to do.


(Land of Lightning Borders Near Land of Fire)

"You were right, Zabuza"

For once in his life, Zabuza hated to be proven right as he heard those words from Ameyuri and saw the disbelief and despair on the faces of the rest of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen assembled in the Command tent.

He could only imagine how the rest of their army now assembled together was feeling now that the disastrous news had arrived from General Abe as to what had happened at the Kage Summit.

"This has to be a lie" said Jinpachi hesitantly,

"Then why did his clones disappear? They were supposed to teleport our armies to Iwagakure if things went South" answered Zabuza calmly,

"What do we do?" asked Haku worriedly,

"The Allied Shinobi Army has given us an ultimatum to join their ranks or face grave consequences once they have dealt with Lord Four-...Naruto Namikaze" said Kisame seriously,

They all looked at Mangetsu who was sitting in the corner with his fists clenched tightly. With Naruto being exposed and Mei captured, it left him as the highest ranking officer in Kirigakure military. Even a possible successor to the title of Mizukage..

"We will do no such thing if we are to avoid a Civil War which would kill more of our people!" declared Mangetsu fiercely,

"Do you really think our men would fight for a traitor? After everything that they know now?" asked Zabuza incredulously, only to receive a sharp look from Mangetsu.

"After everything we have been through together...do you think those men out there will pick up arms against their most beloved Kage? Do you think they'll participate in massacring him by joining forces with those nations that put us in this damned position in the first place? Maybe some think like you Zabuza, but not the heart of the army. They'll cut you to pieces if you try to force them" warned Mangetsu,

"General Abe also said that he suspects Naruto exposed his truth to our nation atleast through Yagura so we could save ourselves from the events at the Kage Summit. That for his bitter truth, Naruto still cared for this nation and all of us" suggested Haku hesitantly,

"It could be one of the reasons why he didn't teleport any of us or our men into Iwagakure" agreed Kisame,

Before Zabuza could counter that argument, one of their officers- Captain Ganryu broke into their tent and looked as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Lord...Fourth...is...here"

All of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had varied expressions on their faces upon hearing that even as they clearly heard the commotion among the Kirigakure army outside.

Mangetsu and Haku had the barest of hope visible on their faces as they gestured everyone to take command.

Kisame seemed neutral as did Jinpachi and Ameyuri to an extent.

Zabuza however looked ready to kill as his hand itched towards his sword but was stopped by a sharp look from Mangetsu.

"Do you truly think you can kill him? Any of us can?"

The fight went out of Zabuza as the reality of their situation was made crystal clear for him making him reluctantly join his comrades to confront a man whom he hated and respected from the bottom of his heart.


Naruto had chosen to wear the exact same uniform which he was dressed in when he had left the army now assembling into formation as he descended from the skies alone, his Spartan comrades ordered to stay up in the skies and only intervene if his life was in danger.

He was not disappointed when he saw his Generals had already organized their respective legions into defensive formations. Granted, he had clearly announced his approach for everyone to see and had taken sometime to arrive just to give them time to prepare.

To say he was nervous would be an understatement, a fact quite known to him by the shaking and sweating of his hands which he kept concealed at his back as he landed on a rocky patch of terrain that allowed him to stand above the vast army before him.

"Warriors of Kirigakure!"

A brief confidence was born within the Mizukage's heart when he saw his familiar warcry made hundreds of men tremble with their usual deference even as thousands more fought against their desire to return that greeting.

"If you want to kill your Mizukage...here I am"

For several long moments, Naruto waited anxiously to see if anyone truly wanted to take that course of action. He was extremely touched when not a single shinobi moved forward even if many had their weapons pointed towards him.

"We want the truth, Naruto. That's all" said Mangetsu honestly, earning thousands of nods from shinobi across all the legions of Kirigakure.

"Please tell us it's all a lie! That this is all a plot by our enemies" urged Haku desperately, and there were surprisingly many more who agreed with her feelings.

"You betrayed us all, Naruto. Admit it now that we have come to this point!" instructed Zabuza bitterly, earning a nod from a small minority of shinobi.

The Fourth Mizukage looked at them all and took a deep breath before admitting.

"What happened at the Kage Summit is true"

A commotion erupted among the army as thousands broke down in despair, many more were numb in shock and a handful furious ones tried to storm forward only to be stopped by their officers and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen even as Naruto didn't flinch even as a sea of questions and accusations were thrown at him.

The Fourth Mizukage unleashed his full power bringing an instant end to the chaos as the killing intent of the man washed over everyone making them back away.

"What I am about to say isn't meant to stop you from doing what you desire. You are all free men and women, the same as you were at Hydara" said Naruto loudly,

The army instantly simmered down as memories of their most glorious and toughest battle came back to them. On the eve of that struggle, the Fourth Mizukage had told them that unlike the Kumogakure shinobi who were fighting to protect the interests of their Daimyo alone...the Kirigakure warriors was free, just as they were today to make a choice.

Even Zabuza felt a pang of regret in his heart for what was happening right now as he remembered that victory which they had all won together under the same man's command.

"It is true that I have hidden my past from all of you...of who I once was. But one thing which I am absolutely clear about is the fact that never have I ever betrayed Kirigakure or its people. My birth name is Minato Namikaze, I was born in Uzushiogakure"

Haku listened alongside the rest of the army as Naruto's loud voice echoed across the battlefield for everyone to hear. As the Mizukage talked about his past, she watched Mangetsu fight back his own pain of losing his own mother to war just like Naruto lost his own parents, looking around she saw thousands of shinobi had experienced the same pain.

Jinpachi and Ameyuri finally had their answers behind the Mizukage's inhuman powers when he revealed the augmentations and training he went through as part of the Spartan program. It clearly explained as to how he became so good at war and leading shinobi into suicidal battles.

Kisame couldn't help but feel the shinobi world had not changed as he learned the fate of the Spartans, the Uzukage's role in it all, the politics and how Naruto became a pawn in the larger scheme of things. How the man who became their Mizukage wanted nothing more than to die and even tried to take his own life at one point of time...

"I had lost hope and was searching for a way to die in the service of the motherland for which my comrades died. If I could establish an alliance between our nations to face our common enemies...then it would be a cause worthy to die for. But this nation and its people gave me more than what my own motherland ever had...everyone of you, Lord Gengetsu, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen...made me believe in myself, this world and the future"

The Kirigakure army listened as Naruto explained how he met Madara in the first place much to the surprise of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen as they realized the strange shinobi who nearly kicked their asses during the mission to assassinate the Lightning Daimyo behind enemy lines had been the legendary Uchiha!

They were all even more shocked upon learning the danger of the Otsutsuki Clan against whom Madara wanted to unite the shinobi world. To actually verify the claim alongwith what exactly happened at the Kage Summit, the Mizukage played a recording from the Astral Projection technique which the Zetsu's had used to capture the Kage Summit for any future witnesses to verify against any false propaganda.

Naruto saw the disgust upon the faces of the Kiri shinobi when they saw the other Kages flatly ignoring the Otsutsuki threat even after seeing an actual corpse of the enemy that had tried to infiltrate and capture their tailed beasts.

They listened even more attentively as the Mizukage explained what was the reason for him joining up with Madara and the capture of all Jinchuuriki at his hands.

"An End to all wars?" asked Ameyuri in disbelief, earning a nod from the blonde Kage before her.

"With the power of every tailed beast, we can link every human and living creature of this world. What happened at the Kage Summit has shown me that even if we face an external threat that endangers our very existence...humanity will continue warring with each other. The Vow to renounce War will bring an end to that conflict among humanity and truly unite us for the first time in our existence" explained Naruto honestly,

"Isn't that kind of peace fake?" asked Zabuza straight forwardly,

"Do you want the next generation to suffer like we all have? To die like most shinobi do in this cruel world? To continue fighting for feudal lords and be annihilated by an external foe like the Otsutsuki?"

The Fourth Mizukage was satisfied when those harsh questions made many shinobi flinch as the thought of the future of their own children made them pause.

"All of it still doesn't change the fact that you are a Spy, a declared enemy of the entire world, and a man who kept things from us all this time" said Kisame flatly,

"Nor does it change the fact that you have allied yourself with a man like Madara and his monster army. Do you truly expect us to actually fight for you and make our nation a global pariah or worse an enemy nation like Uzushiogakure?" questioned Zabuza scathingly,

The two swordsmen were confused when their questions only made the Mizukage smile ruefully before a terrifying iciness arrived in his eyes.

"I already told you that all of you are free to do whatever you want. I came here because I owed you all the truth after everything that has happened, and in response to your questions I want you all to know how you are behaving towards me and how I have treated you all!" declared Naruto furiously,

The blonde Kage looked directly at Mangetsu as his next words made the Hozuki clan head feel even more conflicted.

"Let me begin by talking about my mentor and your Second Mizukage, Lord Gengetsu. When he took command, you were a bunch of defeated shinobi who were a laughing stock among other nations. Under his rule, you got a chance to transform from barbarians into true shinobi. With determination, he bridged the gap between the ninja clans and every other shinobi of this nation. He stood up to the Water Daimyo's brutality and made all of you actually stand up for the rights of your own countrymen as you were sworn to. Lord Gengetsu had the courage to declare war on Kumogakure, lay the foundations for an alliance with the Land of Fire and Konoha, and began the reformation of your inefficient military system. He even paid with his life for doing what was right...this is what Lord Gengetsu-my mentor did for you. Remarkable on its own but small compared to what you have gained from me!"

Zabuza saw the direct impact of those words upon the men of his own legion as countless flinched and looked away from the fierce gaze of the Fourth Mizukage.

"I crossed the ocean and lead from the front to help Kirigakure capture the strategic city of Osaka in the Land of Lightning. I sent a well placed and superior enemy running while ensuring minimal loss of life among our forces. The Kinkaku Blackops feared across the world once fled upon witnessing my presence. Together, we rescued Tobirama Senju thereby laying the foundation for an alliance favored by Lord Gengetsu with the Land of Fire against our common enemies. For all of our comrades who died in that battle- I ensured their families got the spoils of our victory to safeguard their future. Even standing up the furious ninja clans which none of you had ever dared to oppose before!''

Captain Ganryu lowered his gaze as he remembered those events as if they had happened yesterday. Two of his friends who didn't belong from any ninja clans had fallen at Osaka and it was Naruto Namikaze who had stood up for the welfare of their bereaved families even if it meaning earning the wrath of the ninja clans who wanted to claim all the spoils of victory. What kind of a Spy put himself in that position by making enemies out of the ruling nobility for common grunts like Ganryu and his comrades?

"I lead a mission deep behind enemy lines that led to the assassination of the Lightning Daimyo and put our enemy's leadership in disarray. I saved your life Mangetsu Hozuki despite us never seeing eye to eye at that point of time on many things!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen remembered that act, especially Mangetsu and Haku who couldn't help but recall how this man had used his Sage Mode powers to save the Hozuki clan head from a lethal wound.

"I established an alliance with the Land of Fire and ensured the interests of Kirigakure were safeguarded even against the opposition of my own biological father-Tobirama Senju who wanted me to agree to terms favoring his nation and their allies"

"I never wanted to be Mizukage but when the flames of civil war engulfed Kirigakure, I stood up to defend the rights of our people even if it meant endangering my identity and life. I showed mercy to many of you who fought against me knowing you wouldn't have shown me the same if the results had been reversed"

Many members of the Hagoromo and Kaguya clans as well as thousands of feudal warriors previously in the service of the ousted Water Daimyo, alongside former shinobi of Kumogakure and the other conquered nations looked greatly uncomfortable of being flatly reminded of that harsh reality.

"You call me a Spy, a traitor when I have been more loyal to this nation and its people than the country where I was born and raised! I reformed this army, ensured everyone of you were strong enough and well equipped to do your duty as the protectors of Kirigakure! Have you forgotten everything all of us have been through together?" asked Naruto passionately,

The Kirigakure army was speechless even as the Mizukage was far from done, with the help of Genjutsu he showed them all exactly what he meant by those words.

"I crossed the sea by creating the largest Navy in the world! We defeated the monstrous turtle-Genbu without suffering a single casualty! Our Great March trampled our enemies as we conquered the Northern regions of the Land of Lightning! I ambushed the Third Raikage, destroyed his logistics alongside a considerable amount of his forces single handedly so that my men suffer fewer casualties! At Hydara, I lead all of you against the strongest military of the world at that time! I lost my arm in defeating the Raikage just so more of you could return home alive to your families! I again led from the front in the rest of the campaign and together we conquered Kumogakure. We did the impossible!"

Jinpachi and every shinobi among their army felt even more conflicted as the Genjutsu showed them visuals of all those battles that they had fought together. All the glory they had won under this man's command...

"The enormous resources of the Land of Lightning, the fertile plains of the Land of Hot Water, the treasures and beauty of the Land of Frost all belong to you! Many of you are now Captains and Generals! What have I taken for myself that I have not shared with all of you? Nothing! I have been at the front by your side, enduring the same hardships and threats, eating the same food! Tell me one instance when I have asked anything from any of you that I am not willing to do myself? I have suffered the same wounds for the sake of your lives, glory and wealth! Even if you consider me a traitor now, I am still here by your side and am willing to die for our nation and any one of you!"

The Fourth Mizukage's words cut deeper than any blade reducing Ameyuri and hundreds more in the army to tears. Naruto's own gaze teared up a little when he looked at Mangetsu and Haku...

"We've celebrated our weddings together! Your heirs could have been my godchildren!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen remembered attending Naruto and Mei's wedding, as did Mangetsu and Haku's wedding which the Mizukage himself had organized at such a short notice braving all challenges and displeasure from those not invited due to the short notice. In that way, they were all practically family even if they were not related by blood.

The Mizukage then looked at the army with a fire in his eyes that made his troops even more ashamed.

"I've paid of your debts without questions apart from the compensation and treasures you took for yourselves in our conquests! The lands and honors bestowed upon the brave among you were given by me! Everyone of us who died in the line of duty were laid to rest with full military honors, their families are honored and exempted from all taxes! Under my command not one of our shinobi has ever been killed fleeing from the enemy!"

The stark reality was harder to accept for the Kirigakure army as not a single one of their ranks could deny all the things the Fourth Mizukage had done for them. None of their former rulers or any other Kage in the world had done as much for the troops under their command.

When they looked back at their leader, they saw genuine disappointment and hurt in those eyes.

"I tried to make peace, to make the other shinobi nations see reason and unite against the Otsutsuki threat. But they fear me and the power of Kirigakure, they are content to doom humanity's future for the sake of their own petty interests. Content to let this world be embroiled in constant warfare thereby continuing the cycle of hatred and suffering! A vicious cycle from which I want to save all our children!"

"Maybe I wasn't born in Kirigakure but I have loved this nation and its people like my own family"

Zabuza and Kisame flinched when the Fourth Mizukage looked directly into their eyes alongside staring at others who had not been pleased with his hidden past.

"In the treacherous passes of the Mountain's Graveyard, I'll make my final stand against the might of the entire shinobi world for the sake of everything and everyone I hold dear even if they don't stand by my side. You are all free! Go back to your homes or choose to become puppets of the very shinobi nations that seek to take everything you have achieved for our country!"

Ao and many Kiri shinobi trembled in shame when they saw tears fall from their Mizukage's eyes.

"I will keep moving forward with Madara and our monsters until we achieve peace for humanity!"

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen alongside every shinobi of Kirigakure felt something rankle deep within their hearts upon those prophetic words even as the skies roared with lightning.

The fury and sadness which they saw within Naruto's tearful eyes and his last words before teleporting away unnerved even the most battle hardened veterans among their ranks.

"When our people and history shall judge what happened in this War, When all your great victories would be forgotten, When your memories disappear from this world with the passage of time...it will always be remembered...

YOU LEFT YOUR MIZUKAGE IN THE END!"


Author's Notes: End of chapter.

Hope you guys liked it.

Yes, that was an Alexander-The Great reference. It was fitting and I have waited a long time again to write this scene as well. In a way, I think Minato's character and story resembles that of Erwin Smith and Eren Yeager from AOT in their origin and motivations with the Spartans resembling as the Survey Corps of this fiction, whereas Naruto's character and story is similar to Alexander and Napolean's tale with the way it has gone so far.

This is a very unconventional story-complete AU which is what I always try to write because I want to create something apart from what is already done in Cannon by Kishimoto.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter, most importantly if you were a Kiri shinobi what would you feel and do after listening to that speech?

Until Next Time,

Blackwolf501