"I see...That is noble of you. That is justice indeed. However...My family...My friends...My village...They suffered the same fate as this village by you ninja of Konoha. How is it fair to only allow you people to preach about peace and justice?"

Nagato

Hashirama and Mito looked every bit of their part. It didn't take them very long to get to the docks, after all they had both been to this very village more times than they could count. Dozens...Hundreds, even thousand of boats crowded the harbor and marina from small fishing boats that merchants used to boats several times larger that were used for civilian transportation in and out of the Fire country. There were some even bigger than that!

Hashirama walked leisurely looking over his information then back at the boats on his right side, never failing to look at the biggest ones. His boat would a medium sized fishing boat. It had two rooms and was surprisingly big, complete with a roof as well. The boat was supposed going to one of the islands out in Kaiju ocean which one he didn't know for sure or dared to hazard a guess. There hundreds, if not thousands of those islands-some of them tiny, while others were massive.

The only person that would be with him was Mito-the fisherman selling him the boat was actually a Senju in disguise.

He clenched his teeth, pulling the hood down not relishing in the cold breeze blowing through the air. Even though he was burning trace amounts of chakra to keep himself warm, the wind was brutal.

Okay, so my boat isn't the smallest but it's not the biggest, it doesn't say where it would be located... He tapped her chin in thought as he looked over each boat looking for a pattern or certain order.

The big ones are mostly here and in front of me, so that means my boat is either all the way on the end or somewhere in the middle.. He rolled up his scroll putting it back into his pocket ignoring shouts that were going off around them-somebody caught a four hundred pound tuna fish!

After seeing it for himself-Hashirama couldn't pass the chance up, he got back to searching for their boat.

The middle it was. Hashirama walked down the length of the dock slowly but surely the boats began to get smaller and less grand in a sense of appearance.

So this was something taking in the withered appearance of some boats, an the pristine of others. Awestruck as watched the crews go about their daily duties hauling supplies and goods down box by box. Hard work.

He hastened his steps seeing a tall and elderly man with silver hair reaching his waist and a beard of equal length staring out at the market just a few feet ahead of him. He took the time to observe, but Mito actually went and start shopping as he was still searching on her way noticing how many different kinds of food there was being sorted, some of it made her nose wrinkle and stomach turn there were a lot of unappetizing things but there were equally good things for sale, but he already ate and not wanting to eat the wrong vomit his breakfast he turned his eyes away from the parade.

He came to a sudden stop, looking at the old slightly tan skinned and well built man.

The elder man turned his head towards him unexpectedly, his sharp eyes trying to pierce through him.

"What do you need?"

"I was told I would have an excellent boat waiting for me. So that I can travel through Kaiju ocean." Hashirama began to go through his pockets for effect.

"Hmm.." The man grunted.

"You should leave now to avoid any delays."

The elder man just blurred out of sight.

Hashirama took a steady breath, carefully stepping onto the boat, looking for a place to sit but couldn't find any seat where he was currently went towards the front right side finding a small chair that he'd likely used for fishing.

He tried to recall what it was like in Hito's homeland, despite being distant relatives his father had been extremely frosty with them, viewing them as useless. But...There had been a few times where he went there-with his mother and his brothers, before they all passed.

He glanced around, noticing that Mito was making herself comfortable next to him.

"Are you done?"

"You really ask a woman if she is done shopping?"

Hashirama tilted his head, confused. "I'm just wondering."

She wasn't sure how much time passed until she got up to stretch out the kinks in her back and neck but it was night time and the stars were decorating the sky.

She took a moment to stare at the surreal sight.

"Mind if I ask you why a question?" Mito turned, gazing at Hashirama who was kneeling on a cushion modestly eating his meal while she waslooking out into the ocean around them. His voice didn't have a pressing quality, he was curious more than anything.

She took a drink, nodding at him. "Ask and I'll answer."

Hashirama was silent.

He seems dense... Mito debated it for a moment staying silent.

"What's it like in your homeland?"

"Peaceful..." Mito said with a small smile.

It really wasn't like the mainland, they had their own cluster of islands-though one was the hub for all of the Uzumaki. Nobody else was there save for them, and they got to enjoy their peace while the rest of the world was embroiled.

Besides, they were feared by everyone because of their Fuinjutu. Nobody came towards them, and that was fine, because if they tried they'd be heading in the jaws of the many Kaiju surrounding their waters.

Hashirama let the word sink in...Peaceful. He'd have to see this place for himself-perhaps then he'll understand better.

"How is this boat moving all on its own. Are you a Suiton user?" Mito asked with curiosity regarding Hashirama with her full attention.

He grinned slightly. "I'm not as good as my brother when it comes to it, but I'm pretty good."

"Being able to do this while talking is no small feat, you are awfully humble."

"I'll answer now." She took off her cloak and set her hands on her lap. Now that she knew Hashirama was such a man, she felt no reservations. "My immediate family are all alive in my homeland, and it's like that for many. Since we only inhabit that area we see no conflict and nobody can encounter us no matter how hard they try. But, some do still get killed, but more often than not they're trying to flaunt..."

She didn't wince from the pain that ripped through her-she lost friends and family regardless, and it pained her-it was a common thing on the mainland.

Hashirama only had one surviving brother.

She couldn't imagine losing any of her siblings.

Hashirama stayed silent observing her closely. She was certainly...Her curtain of hair that fell just beyond her waist and bright green eyes that danced with vitality. He rarely seen that kind of look, everyone didn't have it-there was the angry, hateful, vengeful, and every other sort of look, but very few held that bright gleam of a powerful will...

"You must be hungry." He said chugging down the rest of his drink. "I'll fix you something."

"No I'm not..." Mito said, struggling not to press her hand on her forehead.

Surely, Hashirama wasn't this dense...!?

"I insist."

"Thank you anyways..."

"I'm eating it too, so..." He said stubbornly, for some reason not going to let her deny his kind offer. It was going to be a long trip and he didn't doubt she would have half of the food left that she bought from those stands, this was a much better more suitable choice to make.

"Besides it's a long trip, conserve what you have." He said before standing up and walking back towards the staircase not turning around as if he knew Mito would follow him.

Yuko stood up carefully holding her cloak and following after his shadow, it was getting cold anyways and not digging into her supply of snacks didn't sound like a bad idea.

She would share if he had just asked.

"He really is dense..." She said to herself as she began to descend down the stairs, sniffing the air her eyes popping open with a certain glee followed by her stomach growling.

She walked into the cooking quarter, for lack of a better term, which wasn't much in terms of size or sophistication. She wasn't sure what was all on this boat, it was a pretty damn big boat, but it didn't have as much glamour as some of the boats-practical and simple. Not sophisticated by any means.

She took a seat on a mat setting her bag to the side and waited patiently for him to finish or speak to her, no need to start rambling on, plus she was a woman and was supposed to wait until she was spoken to-she was taught them by her parents, but her brothers were subjected to the same thing. You only speak when you are spoken to.

"Tell me. Why did you insist on taking me back?"

"You have family that wants to see you, I won't deny you or them the joy." Hashirama said modestly.

"Eat up!" He added eating at a fast pace.

She didn't respond verbally she grabbed her spoon shoving a spoonful of whatever it was in her mouth, it was a bit spicy and danced on her taste buds but wasn't unbearable and made her eyes tear up.

Mito blinked her eyes, one thing she knew didn't mix was Uzumaki and conflict. It was terrible, death, there was so much death around her, on the mainland, she knew it was more than a nightmare, there were memories that she tried to long suppress of being on the mainland. She was surprised when he showed up with Satoshi to save her when he did-no one would risk their lives for another, unless they were the same kin.

Hashirama was different...

"I thank you for your compassion, but I don't mind being in your presence."

Hashirama scratched the back of his head-his mother did raise him to be a proper and respectable gentleman. His father couldn't care less as long as he was powerful and mastered many things-everything was just a moot point.

"You belong there with them." Hashirama said, remaining rustic.

"Do you need a break?"

He just couldn't keep this boat going twenty four hours no matter how much chakra he had-shinobi could remain awake for days if necessary, but the body still needed rest as well as the mind.

She sighed putting her hair up in a neat ponytail why should she care if he stopped or not of if he could keep this boat going for twenty four hours? She was certain he could if he really tried, or wanted to.

"No, I have a clone doing it right now. I'm not as good as my brothers, I have to eat and sleep." Hashirama said with a light smile.

Tobirama could easily do something like this, and move even faster. He had the will-until he got to where he needed to be all things like hunger, food, etc they meant nothing. Kawarama's control was to such a immense degree he could do something like this while sleeping.

"I'll be right back."

"Okay?"

She changed out of her dirty clothes. Her outfit now consisted of a white yukata and nothing more. She always felt a lot better having something like this on. It wasn't too formal or expensive, and it allowed her to move without much trouble.

She left her room swiftly, going down the flight of stairs that lead to the cooking quarters.

"You're awake." Hashirama looked at her strangely.

"I said I'd be right back, not I'm going to sleep." Mito said with a small shake of her head. "How much longer until we get there?"

"Give or take eight more days, fortnight at the most" He answered.

"We need to take the safe routes to avoid conflicts on the outer islands if we get caught in the middle of one of these fights it's as good as over for the both of us. We also need to avoid the routes that are plagued by Kaiju...There's also Uchiha."

Mito tilted her head, curious. Hashirama never struck her to be like that in that sense-he wasn't like Tobirama who was ruthlessly pragmatic and feared anything he couldn't control or understand. It's the mistake he made with the Domou, and it's the mistake he made with the Subatsu. He was truly walking on the razor's edge doing what he did, what he would continue doing.

"Is what he said before bothering you?"

Hashirama offered no response, just continuing to stare at his hands. The Uchiha, normally didn't stoop so low. Even when Tajima was their leader never one time did they go after civilian villages. There were widespread attacks, of course, but they were not on this level. These Uchiha were extremely aggressive, and it was to such a staggering extent.

The Uchiha weren't cursed as Tobirama always put it.

They just didn't believe in love, so to speak. For the Uchiha power was everything, it is the only thing mattered.

But, they could also love intensely, and some could overcome the dogma. However, those that didn't overcome the dogma would be hateful. Bonds were just an means to an end.

The Senju was love...Their strength was love, and all of their bonds were their strength.

But, for the Uchiha. Their strength was their jutsu, their power came from their Sharingan, they didn't believe in love...They were even repulsed by it.

It all goes back to the two sons...One struggled and toiled, being the goofball and failure. The other was a genius, and knew it from an early age. Their father sent them both out, the older brother returned soon after, but the younger brother took a very long time to return. He wasn't a genius like his older brother, in fact he was so lacking he started to dig a hole to water by hand. Eventually all of the villagers joined him, together they dug until they hit water, and created a well of fresh water.

While the older brother returned alone, the younger brother returned with an entire village, and more of people.

All of the people he met on his journey, who at first distrusted him, who probably hated him...They came back with him, bonded through their trials and hardships.

For their father the choice was clear...The brothers were to help the villages they were sent to.

The older brother returned quickly, the village he went to ended up being destroyed by its own people. They worshiped him as a god for his great power and genius, he never taught them how to manage or communicate, he was the center of the power and when he left everything crumbled. The younger brother made a new well with the people of the village he was sent to, and they all came back with him. The village was sustained and in harmony, while the younger brother earned their hearts with his sincerity.

The older brother reasoned that his younger sibling was lacking and had to rely on other people-when he only relied on himself. He believed power was the only thing that mattered, and he'd force people to submit, but the younger brother believed that love was the only thing that mattered.

The younger was named successor. He got on his hands and knees and plead with his father that his elder brother become the rightful heir, it was his birth right, and his elder brother was far more skilled and talented than he was. After resolving to take his own life, so his elder brother could take the mantle-he was stopped by his elder brother.

They worked together, for years, but then...Something happened. The elder brother attacked his father, attacked his brother, and destroyed the village they lived in.

The elder brother founded his own sect later on in life, that idealized power.

His clan wasn't forceful or boastful, but because the world was in conflict they'd always have to fight for what they loved.

But, the Uchiha were forceful and boastful, they loved mayhem and war-it's what they lived for.

"I...Don't know." The tall Senju finally answered, a few dozen or so minutes passed by.

He had been so wrapped up in his train of thought.

"I don't think there's anyone strong enough in the Uchiha to challenge Madara for leadership, except for Izuna, but Izuna will always follow Madara."

Mito nodded silently.

His brother just never said things to say them, there was always concrete evidence and merit to go along with his words. Most of all Tobirama never wasted his breath, he talked when necessary, and everything he said carried weight. But, he knew for a fact Madara and Izuna would never fight, Madara loved Izuna dearly, but it's the only thing that made sense.

Who else was going to challenge Madara...

"Something...Strange is going on." Hashirama muttered quietly, feeling a small pulse of wariness. He didn't need to worry about Mikito or the Domou, which was a relief, but that didn't mean other clans were going to stop advancing on them.

There wasn't a single doubt about that, of that much Mito was certain. Something strange was going on around the world, and the Uchiha were effected as well...Whatever was happening was huge.

Madara, have you...

The wind has changed direction and the moon...

It was beaming high in the sky, free of any cover.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CRACK!

CRACK!

CRACK!

There wasn't a more pleasing sound to her ears than the crack of the bokken, suburitō, tanren bō, and the log-like bokken.

The scent of friction and collision combining the musty and thick scent of the dojo and perspiration was a very much welcomed pleasure for her. She'd never get tired of fighting on the front lines...It was her duty. But, this was her home, where she trained those wishing to join the Domou ranks and trained those who needed the skills to protect themselves-everyone in the Domou trains, it was very much mandatory and nobody was exempt.

Even if they didn't wish to become a shinobi or kunoichi the skills they were taught would protect them outside of their compound's walls.

More importantly this is where she could just let go of everything and focus on the one thing she loved most.

"More spirit!" She shouted.

"YAH!"

URAAGHH!

"YAH!"

"More spirit!"

"YAAHH!

URRAGGHH!"

"YAAAHH!"

"I want three thousand now, form seven!"

"YAAHH!"

Again!"

A small grin graced Mikito's face as she strolled through the rows of men and women, boys and girls practicing their form while others sparred a few feet ahead of the rows. The youngest was three years old right on the dot while the oldest was in their late twenties, there were several other older men and women watching over the rigorous practice, it was truly marvelous.

So many other clans held the woman down in chains the Domou treated them equally, they were very well educated not dumbed down for the men to use as toys. Where many other clans started the training at the age of five the Domouu started at the tender age of three, it made her proud her clan was the only one other than the Subatsu, Uzumaki, and Senju to give women the respect and dignity they deserved.

But, more importantly her clan stressed equality to all things-just not humans, but animals, and insects, nature itself. Superiority wasn't tolerated.

Her father, mother, uncle, siblings, cousins, friends had fought savagely tearing down anyone and anything that got in their way, many would consider it ruthless and highhanded, especially her uncle's, both brother's, father''s mother's and aunt's methods, but she understood why they went to such great and extreme lengths to protect their land, to protect each other. To protect these children, children who didn't know any better, that would have been slaughtered on the front lines in a heartbeat and just become another number... Just a statistic. But, her father, her mother, they didn't send children out even if things were dire, they'd head to the front lines themselves.

Heads would fly.

Whether there was one thousand foes or one billion they concluded without a single doubt that they'd be prepared for whatever lied out there, they'd be more than capable of handling it. Where many would sooner send a child out, her family did just the complete opposite of that and made it mandatory that they needed at least a decade's worth of training, sure this was unorthodox and impractical to some... But, she didn't care what others thought. Her father was regarded as a monster and feared by everyone, despised with a passion as well as feared by all.

"More spirit!" She shouted again, her voice loud and commanding.

"More spirit!" She repeated even more firmly slowly walking through the rows watching each single person carefully to correct their form if it was off even by a fraction, make sure the tip of the bokken was pointed up and not leering down by an inch or two, and more importantly observe their strength.

The cries and shouts weren't loud enough, not for her. She finally made her way back up to the head of the giant dojo resting on her knees. It didn't get any better than this.

"So, what do you think?" Mikito asked curiously, looking at her husband with a plain expression.

"I see you just jumped right back into the swing of things." Madara remarked with a small upturn of his lips.

"Naturally." There was a fondness in her voice that neither brother missed.

"They all have spirit, but the training itself..." Madara muttered watching everyone carefully. There had to be roughly about one thousand if not more people in total here the majority were children ranging from three years old to twelve years old, there were several teenagers in the mix naturally just on the verge of turning fourteen or fifth teen, the adults for the most part watched over the training with keen eyes while Mikito, Souji, and several others took to analyzing everyone on an individual basis.

Some were sparring with full gear on. But, there was...Intensity...

Something was there that he he hadn't seen up to this point, right now.

It looked like they were all fighting for real, but that's because...

Mikito nodded, silently agreeing with Madara.

"I've never seen thick bokken like this before. This form training with the wooden sword shaped like a log...It's not just a bamboo sword technique for hitting what is before the forearm. It is not to accustom your wrist for the weight of a real sword either. If it enters your face, the skull splits; if it enters the chest, the spine will be snapped...If it hits your forearm, then your wrist is cut off and falls...It doesn't feel like a match with bamboo swords. It was designed with a strong spirit for battle. If you...Don't truly have the resolve to attack the opponent, then you become so afraid you can't even train." Madara looked around more keenly.

It would explain why they were all so strong, all of these children were extraordinarily powerful and skilled.

"Anyone would be scared to face a real sword. You need to have the resolve to give your own head to the opponent. To be able to anticipate the opponent's actions in the midst of terror...If you lost that resolve it's all over. Death without victory and victory in name only."

It's the teaching of the Domou. Every single one of her kinsmen were resolved to give their head over, and never lost that resolve in the midst of terror, in the most dire of situations their resolve wasn't shaken. Never. It took a decade to fortify and strengthen that resolve. When those Domou went into battle they'd never falter or run, they'd face death with swinging blades and take a whole division down with them. They wouldn't run, and they wouldn't surrender. They'd never bow their heads. They'd wipe out their foes and come back home.

They'd do it together, share the burden of it all.

"I like it." Madara nodded appreciatively.

Though, he doubted the Uchiha would be ready for this-at first anyways. The warrior class wouldn't have as big of an issue. This training was intense, and to add to that the dojo was very humid. This sort of training was harsh...Unforgiving. It required a strong will and spirit.

"We can incorporate some of your clan's kenjutsu techniques into our training regimen-you have very deft stabs. Your taijutsu and ninjutsu are also very excellent."

She didn't need to say anything about genjutsu.

Madara nodded, having nothing more to add. The Domou had some training equipment he never seen before. They trained in a way he'd never seen before-of course the Uchiha were strict and intense with their own training, but this was a whole different realm. He wasn't going to try and question it. Whatever it was, it worked wonders.

"So, I should explain the basics of Domou training."

Madara, naturally perked up. Anything having to do with training or techniques, he was always all ears.

"We use weighted clothing. This is for two purposes. One is the regular weighted training, but the second is for a more focused weighted training that has to do with one's chakra. Tendon strength, ligament strength, muscle strength, explosiveness, power, flexibility, endurance, speed, dexterity, agility, and all physicality are the focus. There's also a very heavy emphasis on Aitorēningu We have special training equipment for a lot of the exercises. We focus on all of the arts, like I was telling you before."

Madara tilted his head to the side, raising a brow. "Weight training that has to do with the chakra?"

"Like how the weight training places stress on the body-the same applies to one's chakra and one's reserves. As one increases the weight their body can handle, one also increases the weight their chakra can handle. Though, it wouldn't be by pounds or anything like that, since it's not physical so to speak like our clothing."

"Isn't that a little detrimental?"

His question was well warranted, and many would considering it detrimental. However, it was the opposite. Madara was looking at from the standpoint they were all holding themselves back. The weighted clothing made them slower, their chaka going through something similar was nothing but a hindrance.

"Think of it like this. You started training at the age of three, and through progression you increase the weight your body and chakra can handle. When it comes time to unleash your full power. to let go of all your restraints.."

Madara widened his eyes a fraction. If what Mikito was saying was true that would mean they'd always be getting stronger in some way. Their chakra was being compressed in a way and forced down, the only way to proceed on with the training and getting stronger was to just do that-continue to train and through that struggle one would eventually need heavier weights for the body and chakra.

Their chakra will have grown stronger as well as their body. It'd get to such an extent where one would need their weighted gear just to maintain control over their chakra and prowess.

Body, will, and chakra growing powerful in sync.

"It may seem like a hindrance at first, but people like Souji, Ahiko, Rio, Misaka, Chiasa, Masa, Isamu, Isami, Shin, myself, and those who have been training for decades need this gear just so we don't let loose too much."

"And, Aitorēningu?"

"We don't have the Sharingan or a Dojutsu, but Aitorēningu is a heavy part of our training. We're able to receive more light than normal, and our low light vision is very acute as well."

Madara crossed his arms over his chest, fixing her with a pointed gaze.

"Well, the tomoe in your Sharingan are sort of like pupils, you have one of those plus a regular pupil. You're receiving a lot of light at once-when you use the Mangekyo the tomoes merge and form one large pupil. I guess you could say it broadens your visual acuity, but if you could broaden your visual acuity with the three tomoe Sharingan...Broaden it before the Sharingan is ever awakened."

"Inquisitive of you..." Madara looked at Mikito with some caution-she wasn't too far off with what she was saying.

"It's all just theory and my observations, until I'm able to look at the scrolls and information."

"Since you don't have a dojutsu, what do you do in the dark?" Madara was genuinely curious-every shinobi clan had some sort of eye training-it honed the reflexes among other things, but he hadn't heard of any actually channeling any chakra into their eyes to enhance them-only the Uchiha focused chakra into and around their eyes.

"Besides the survival training I received growing up, I channel chakra into my eyes. But, you've already come to that conclusion, yes?"

"Daichi and a few others would mutter about the Domou, you and your brother being unaffected by the Sharingan."

"Genjutsu uses the mental energy-brain energy of the one casting it and the one being subjected to it. If your mind is a steel fortress, there's nothing that can penetrate it."

If there was one thing that could really put fear in the Uchiha it was when their eyes were useless against their foes. It happened many times, actually. Some foes were too physically powerful and fast-they couldn't follow their movements, and others had severe training to repel any genjutsu without much effort. The Uchiha would always have an edge in genjutsu, and they could capture their foes-but then there were shinobi like Toka that surpassed them with her own genjutsu, and Sasuke who couldn't be effected by any genjutsu.

If what she was saying was true, then genjutsu was useless to even try.

Madara set his jaw lightly, neck muscles a bit taut.

"Anyways, I have to show you to the next twenty kenjutsu dojos, and then there's the taijutsu dojos, and all the others."

"How many are there?" Madara smiled uneasily.

"Over five thousand in total, but we won't be visiting them all. I want you to go to the main ones so you're familiar with everything and everyone."

Madara just shook his head.

"Mikito-sama, who is that?" A few children pointed at Kagami.

"Kagami-kun." Mikito regarded him gently.

"I am indebted to you for saving my grandma's life. Whatever it is you wish for me to do, I will do it." He said calmly, but there was sincerity in his tone that couldn't be mistaken.

Mikito nodded, acknowledging that she heard him. "Very well, I want you to spar with the children."

"Yume!"

A girl with long black hair and brown skin came sprinting up towards them with a huge smile. "Yes!"

"I want you to spar with Kagami-kun."

Kagami regarded Yume closely. She wore a pair of black hakama and a light blue kimono. Her eyes were big and brown, like any child's. She couldn't be much older than him, or had to be younger than himself. Those eyes were way too big, bright, and innocent for her to be anywhere near the age of twelve.

"I'm not going to hold back, I've heard you're really strong." Yume said, slowly bringing her log-like bokken forward, stance strong. Her hands c grip the top most part and middle of it. She exhaled briefly, hardening her will.

"Yes." Kagami said, remaining polite as he stood up, clasping the log-like bokken firmly with both hands. It was the exact one that he used at Hesui's and Toka's dojo, give or take a few inches wider or thicker, but there was no glaring difference between the two of them.

"The match will end when of you lands two hits. Begin!" Toka shouted, throwing her arm down for emphasis.

Kagami took a breath, sliding his right foot back a few inches.

Yume copied his action, but brought her legs just a bit closer together. Her eyes were set and her stance was very strong, there were no glaring openings that he could spot-even if he were to activate his Sharingan, her stance wouldn't falter in the slightest.

She's strong.

"Yaaahhh!"

She bolted forward in a flash-it was startlingly fast, but he measured her tip and with deft speed arced his thick training sword up to meet her's. The dull crack of wood bounced off of the walls, signaling the first clash.

Twenty more followed, thunderous, his joints shaking.

He shifted forward, pressing ahead with his lead foot.

Yume shifted to the side, swinging up from her side, skewing Kagami's attack by a few inches and keeping him locked.

They went back and forth, again and again. There was no clear winner.

Kagami was a bit shorter than her, but used he small size to get passed her reach and dart in for a strike.

She was very swift and had good footwork.

"Haaaa!"

Kagami flooded his body with chakra, crushing it down in his bones. The bokken sent continuous shock waves through his arms and wrists. Each attack and block took every ounce of his strength and will to block. It traveled down into his legs and strained his lowerback He couldn't swing this around as easily-there was a lot more weight to this and forced him to be more practical in his attack and defense. If he didn't block and let this thick log hit him, it very well could break bones. It could split into his skull. Break his spine. Shatter his collarbone.

However, he had to move faster.

He upped his intensity, teeth clenching hard as he slid back, darting forward, narrowly deflecting Ayame's well timed thrust.

"Ohhhh!" The dull throb ached his wrists and arms, but he held off Yume with as much strength as he could muster. He slammed his lead foot forward, pushing passed the blade and aiming right for the top of her skull.

Yume twisted around the strike, striking his side once, smoothly transitioning and swinging up for his head.

Kagami shifted passed her attack, pressing forward with a swift thrust.

"Got you." Yume smiled briefly as she tapped the top of his head with her wooden blade, the sweat running down her head creased with her smile.

Kagami smiled, nodding his head.

He never forgot what this was like. This wasn't anything like the sparring sessions he was accustomed to, he only sparred like this one time before but it stuck with him.

Yume took steady breaths her face having a hint of a blush from all her exertion. Her right hand shook as she clasped her training sword as tight as she could. "You're really strong, Kagami-kun."

He chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head. "You're very strong, Yume-san."

She smiled softly, head tilting a little to the side.

"Will you spar me next?"

"No, I want to spar with Kagami!"

"No, I want to!"

"No! Me!"

Kagami was spent as he plopped down, the very last children who was just three got finished sparring him-he won some of his spars, some were ties, some lasted because they'd each get one hit and it'd come down to the last millisecond.

"Everyone except for Yume and Kagami get into formation!" Hayami shouted, looking at Mikito.

"I'm going to be heading to the Taijutsu dojo in the north after this, I'll let the Head Master know that you're going to be coming within the days."

Mikito nodded, looking to Kagami and Yume. "Are you two okay being here alone?"

Yume nodded, but looked to Kagami for clarity.

"No." Kagami shook his head gently.

Madara exited the dojo swiftly followed by Mikito, both of them discussing critical.

Do you like the training?" Yume raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Yeah."

He loved it if he had to be honest and he'd only been at it for about a half hour, probably less. He could really get used to it.

Yume took a swig of water, eyes closed as he swallowed the cool liquid. "It was a little scary at first. Really scary, actually. We don't just use the regular bokken. We have use a bokken that's like a log. If we get scared we can't train with each other. If we can't train we can't get stronger."

Kagami nodded slowly.

The Shimura compound had four wings one in each cardinal direction. In the east was the medical wing where the injured were brought and the dead were buried. In the west was what one could consider the city; that's where most of the shops were and where many of the members lived. In the north was their blacksmith who was always pounding away, and lastly in the south was where his office was located and where most of the activity took place besides in the west.

Daishiro headed for her office as soon as he came back from the months' long war knowing there was something that needed to be signed and confirmed, read, or just thrown out. More importantly it was a chance to go through intelligence from the Shimura's spy network. His wife did as she said she would and he couldn't be any happier with her efforts.

Even though Mikito was a bleeding heart, she put that aside when it came to the welfare of the Domou children.

A knock snapped him from the document he was currently reading from the Damiyo in the Fire country.

"Enter."

The door opened and in stepped Kosuke and Ajo.

Daishiro raised an eyebrow at the two as they sat down. "Are you going on a mission?"

"Yeah." Kosuke nodded in confirmation adjusting the strap around his waist that kept her swords in place.

"We've already confirmed what the situation is, and what it'll lead to, but there's something I need to confirm." Ajo added with narrow eyes.

Daishiro nodded.

"Something strange is going on with the Uchiha."

Daishiro looked back down at the document before looking up.

"There could have been a change in leadership. In any case there are some Uchiha coming in our direction, they must be dealt with. In addition to them we have the Sarutobi as well-Fumio noted there were three units around our outskirts."

He was interested at the very least. He had faced off against many Uchiha, all of them prideful to a fault. Never once would they stoop this low-but there were those times in history when they were spread out. He already knew which direction this was heading towards-it was all too obvious. The Fire damiyo made it all too obvious.

The last conflict...

"You really think so?" Kosuke asked, confused.

"It's possible. Uchiha are known to kill each other." Daishiro answered in his reticent way.

Ajo narrowed his eyes. "That's impossible..."

Kosuke shugged. "Madara would never kill Izuna and vice versa...More importantly."

Daishiro nodded.

"Perhaps there has been a change of leadership...Or a rift." Ajo muttered with tight eyes.

"In any case we're going to focus on what we know at the present. Three units of Sarutobi and two units of Uchiha have been spotted around our outskirts and are heading east. You will both take Danzo and two units with you, don't forget to check them thoroughly..."

"Understood."

Daishiro got back to his work, slowly opening the scroll-stamped flamboyantly with the Fire damiyo's signature.

There wouldn't be much more time...The way Syrus and the Subatsu recently mowed through the Sarutobi...

There's no way Sasuke was going to let the chance pass him up.

There's no way he'd let this chance pass him up.

The message was all too clear.

"Fumio. Goro. What's the status on those clans?"

The two men phased into sight from the shadows.

"The Yuki appear to be getting ready for their attack-there are reports of Kaguya venturing out by boatloads. The Hoshigaki and Hozuki have naturally taken the chance to attack them, and each other."

Daishiro nodded. "What of the Terumi clan?"

"They're remaining elusive at the moment. Should we really be concerned with them, what of the Fire damiyo..."

"Patience, Goro...We must see how this plays out first."

He never questioned his leader, but the Fire damiyo needed to be taken out, right at this moment. "Our clan as well as many more are in danger."

"Precisely why we must wait."

Danzo was dressed in his war attire consisting of dark armor. Four katanas were secured on his back and a tanto was sheathed on his lower back. He headed to the location where Madara first said they were seen. It was mainly woodland with a few fields in the distance with a river that produced many sources of food for their clan, basically it was an essential location that kept their clan supported, with more men going off to battle, more children were born and needed to be taken care of.

Daishiro could have sent a unit of his finest men out here to deal with the Senju but he took upon himself to send a message. Stay away.

He was adept at sensory and could pick out the unit without a second thought, there were three units of Sarutobi, consisting of ten shinobi each, and two units of Senju consisting of twelve shinobi each. Just like his leader said they were on the northeastern border of their territory. He couldn't hold back the snarl of anger that escaped the back of his throat they were getting gutsy more so than usual, before they wouldn't dare move so close.

Damn Senju.

Damn Sarutobi.

Grabbing one of the hilts of his many swords he pushed chakra into his legs. His speed more than tripled, his onyx black eyes flicking in every direction taking in the details of his surroundings as they passed by in a flash, Izuna was always observant and could pick apart even the tiniest things if he seen for a moment that's all it took. He was used to this place, this is where he used to sneak off to do his own training growing up, while his father was a good teacher, he needed time alone to hone everything.

Not only were they treading on Shimura territory they were treading too damn close to his training ground.

His eyes narrowed as he caught the symbol emblazoned on their armor, he seen the curved ends with the line going through the middle. The symbol alone was enough to make his blood boil, there were twenty four in total, the Sarutobi's symbol caught his attention next, and there thirty of them. They were older than him by give or take ten years at the least, forty years the oldest, judging from their stubble and facial hair.

e landed on top of a tree branch staring down at the men.

They all shot their heads up in alarm, their eyes narrowed as they quickly dug into their belts to pull out kunai or drew their swords-the Senju and Sarutobi took notice of each other, some formed hand seals-ready to change the landscape with ninjutsu.

"You're trespassing..." Danzo said coldly but moved swiftly, with speed that bellied the impossible he drew four kunai in a row sending the tips sinking into two Senju's necks and two Sarutobi's throats.

Gaping holes remained.

"Shit!" A man snapped glowering up at him with absolute hatred.

"You should know that even stepping foot here is a death sentence." Danzo sneered jumping off of the branch and landing on the ground a few feet away.

Here I go! He blurred, propelling himself forward. The Senju he connected with gurgled as blood rushed out of the wound at the center of his chest his hands instinctively went to the wound. Three more charged in while the other sixteen or so retreated back going through a flash of hand seals.

Danzo tore his blade from the man's neck ducking under the slash of the shuriken aimed to cut his throat, with another flick he ran the blade forward pushing off to the side watching with coldness as he severed the arm right from a Senju's torso. The blood splatter was ridiculous.

He shifted his head back dodging another kunai that skimmed by his cheek a Sarutobi threw at him, the second one meeting its mark on the Senju's skull. Danzo twisted while speeding off, slashing to the side hearing the throaty scream as a pint of blood flew in every direction soaking his dark uniform beneath his armor.

Kosuke and Ajo made their presences known, sweeping through their foes.

"Suiton: Bakusui No Jutsu!" At the same time the unit of Senju inhaled deeply, spitting out a large amount of water, the water twisted defying gravity itself as it swirled at dangerous speeds. Tree bark split and chipped and branches were completely torn from the combined force of the jutsu. Ajo was already on the move flashing his hands through several seals slamming them in the seal of tiger while inhaling deeply.

He should have known that those first few were a distraction for the others to execute a collaboration technique, the jutsu itself was a high level but split between them it wasn't nearly as taxing and it quickly grew in size.

"Katon: Gokakyu No Jutsu!" The Sarutobi shinobi parted their lips, unleashing waves of fire that quickly grew in size as it spread itself outward. The two attacks met in an explosion that shook the entire area from its power and magnitude, the air hissed as steam swarmed around, covering everything for a good ten miles in any direction even going as far up as the tree tops.

Ajo smirked to himself, lunging forward and bringing the blade down slicing a man's head from his shoulders kicking the body aside and moving onto the next. He felled ten more, not even giving them a chance to scream.

"Damn Shimura!" A Senju spat venomously.

"Retreat!" One spat in disdain turning around on a dime, his loud scream silenced as Danzo swiped his sword, watching the Senju's head fly off.

"Handle those cowards, Danzo. Bring every body back here."

"Understood." Danzo nodded to Ajo before sprinting after Kosuke.

"No one is retreating. You're all going to die, and when I'm through with you-I will kill you." He blocked and dodged the erratic swings of a shuriken, he parried a thrust bringing his sword down cutting off the Senju's and Sarutobi's left hands in one motion, before the men could even scream Ajo pushed chakra into his hands, slamming his palms into their faces feeling the bones buckle from the force and give way.

Their body flew to the side rolling across the ground until they came to a stop, battering through a tree.

Ajo spat on the ground as he approached the injured men flicking the katana he first used to the side ridding it off blood.

"Start talking."

He punched them both in the stomach taking pleasure in their pained wheezing.

"G-Go to hell!" The Senju snarled spitting, but Ajo moved his head away at the last minute.

"Lying Senju..."

He finished him off without mercy.

A Sarutobi shinobi appeared before him, at the last moment shifting his stance, moving lower and spreading his legs much wider. Ajo shifted back as quickly as possible, and the shinobi slammed the edge of his hand into his neck. He flipped over him, twisting and facing forwards, blocking Ajo's quick punch with both arms, letting the impact carry him back some.

"Guess I missed one of you monkeys...No matter, you death is coming soon. I already know your intentions."

"You may think so...Killing me won't change the tides."