Author's Note (2021/05/24): Not a new chapter, but I expanded more into the fight against Madara and my OC's role in it. I also included more depth to her teammates, since I felt I neglected them a bit in the original version. I hope you like the changes!

Chapter 37
A Plea

The red moon loomed overhead beyond the towering tree that was once the demon.

An eerie sight, and just the appearance of its budding pedals evoked pure doom. Just from the chakra alone, Nomasaki could sense what lay within. Pushing herself to think of the present, she trudged on with her father in tow with Shinto's strong support. Meiyumi walked alongside them, encouraging them to rest every so often. Slowly, Nomasaki could feel her chakra regenerate - but it was still nowhere near where it was before the war started. Her strength was fractured.

"Just a little farther," Meiyumi assured. "A few more steps and we can rest."

Shinto turned. "What of the others? Are they...?"

"They're still alive, don't worry." Nomasaki nodded, her eyes locked on the path ahead. "I can sense the chakra of strong allies with them... even though they're riddled with the Edō Tensei. I have no worries about them."

"And the Five Kage?"

That was something she wanted to figure out as well.

She could not sense Gaara's chakra, or that of the other Kage for that matter. They were nothing but dust on the winds to her senses, if anything. In the rubble of the previous battles between the enemy, Nomasaki and her father continued onwards towards the direction of the moving forces. As she walked at a steady and slow pace, she held her father up on his worsening limp, his arm around her shoulder while they trudged through the rocks and craters beneath them. She was lucky Shinto was there for support, her legs were not as sturdy thanks to her tiredness. Nightfall was continuing to plague the landscape, along with the eerie red glow of the moon above.

Meiyumi paused in her steps, sitting down to draw out her medic-bag and waterskin. "We should rest here before we go any further."

Helping Nomasaki rest her father down on a seat of stone as she propped up his leg, Shinto gave her a sympathetic nod and left to join Meiyumi. Seating herself, she opened her pack and down some of the water she had left in her waterskin. Watching her, Kyō gave a light sigh. "I was thinking…" He spoke, drawing her attention. A small smile appeared on his worn features, his tired eyes closing halfway in exhaustion. "Maybe when this is all over… I can help rebuild Yamagakure… to atone for my abandonment. The Yamamori have returned... so maybe they will be interested in returning to their ancient home."

Glancing at him, a sad glint flickered in her eyes. She could tell he was serious, judging by how fixated his gaze was onto the horizon. He truly meant it, every word. "It's not your cross to bear." She said, focusing on the task at hand. A lump formed in her throat, remembering the snows again. "...Yamagakure exists in the past, we should focus on the present."

"That's true," He nodded. "But... that land, it had been wronged for years. By either Ishigakure or Sunagakure, Yama needs a strong pillar to support its foothold." He looked to her, and smiled honestly. "I want to be that pillar. If my desert gods exist after all these years of silence, I want them to give me the strength to restore that land to what it once was... for the future."

Her heart fluttered, her hands flinching at the kunai in her pack. She found herself stilled, thinking back to a time when all she saw was a realm of white and silver. The snows that fell from the skies, the frost that covered the pines of the trees, the snow lilies that dared to bloom, and the cold mountain air she missed in her bones. It was a far cry from the desolate wasteland they trekked through that night. Deep down, she hoped Yama would once again exist in the world – but she realized that would be an impossible dream.

You can't change what was in the past... trust me, I tried wishing for that.

An approaching presence alarmed her senses.

"Nomasaki, what is it?" Shinto started for her. "Is it the enemy?"

The chakra near froze her from its feel, but the relief was a welcome notion. Looking up into the darkening and eerie skies of doom, she seen the silhouette of five clouds of sand heading directly towards the direction of the alliance in great speed. She could feel the life essences of all Five Kage - and Gaara was closer than the others. She shook her head. "It's them!"

"Nomasaki!"

Turning, she seen Gaara plunging towards her, leaping from his platform of sand to the ground below. "Gaara!"

As he lifted himself up from his crouch, he noticed the strange orange-haired man alongside her, glaring at him suspiciously. "You're with the Deserter?"

She nodded. "It's alright, he's not a threat." She assured him, as she saw him prepare his arm to summon his sands. "Actually, he is my father."

Stunned at her words, his eyes widened as his sand retreated back to his gourd. "Your father?" He asked, as he calmed his stance. "How did you...?"

"We met on the battlefield, during the Edō Tensei. And don't worry... I didn't do anything too rash. He told me everything, why he deserted, why he left me and my mother... We're a family again." She explained with a light smile. Turning back to his dire injury from the ten-tails, her smile faded. "He's… injured. Meiyumi did her best to heal him, but... he can no longer be a shinobi."

Hearing her speak, her words suddenly connected and made sense. Kyō was not only the Deserter, but the man who deserted Suna to start a life with the woman of the mountains - Nomasaki's father. It was Rasa who spared his life by banishment, and it was Gaara himself that did a mercy and saved Kyō's only child from death at the hands of the merciless desert. Fate had indeed worked in strange and mysterious ways.

Gaara nodded. "I see."

Wincing, Kyō bowed his head in shame. "Please forgive my sorry state, Kazekage-sama."

"You...!" Shinto stormed. "You dare show your face after what happened?!"

"Shinto, not now!" Meiyumi pulled him back by the sleeve. "Remember, he's our Kazekage! You must be respectful! And we're in a war!"

Pushing away her cautious hand, he gnashed his teeth in anger. "He's our Kazekage who lost to a reanimated puppet!" He turned towards the silent Kazekage with a glare that was near as sharp as a blade. "Why are you here?! You should've defeated the enemy by now! Madara could be still -,"

"That's precisely why I'm here." Gaara shot back, his voice as stern as iron. "His strength was unimaginable... none of the Five Kage could stop him, not even together."

Nomasaki stood, stepping closer. "What are you... saying? Is our enemy really that powerful?"

"He is... He was unlike any enemy we've faced before." Gaara admitted. Averting his ringed eyes, doubt entered. "We're not even sure we can stop him."

"Where does that leave us?" Meiyumi entered, fear painted on her expression. "If Madara can't be defeated, then we've already... -,"

Gaara turned to Nomasaki, meeting her glance. "There's still a way, but I need your help first."

"Me?" Nomasaki asked, curious. "How?"

"Your sensory skills. I have a task for you." He said. "Hanone may be of use, too... since he can cover more ground. Can you summon him?"

The knife in her heart twisted.

"...No," She averted her teary eyes. "I... can't..."

"What do you mean?" Gaara questioned, confused. "Where is he?"

Shinto cursed under his breath, angered. "You bastard... You really don't know?"

"Shinto!" Meiyumi hushed.

While Gaara saw Nomasaki lower her head in shame, he turned examined their surroundings. The great white wolf with the ferocious temper was nowhere to be seen or heard. Not a snarl, not a growl - nothing. When he looked back to her, he saw her shoulders shudder. And then he realized what happened. "Nomasaki," Hiding her tears, Nomasaki averted her gaze as she could feel the tears fall down her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she turned away and refused to speak. Kyō shared the moment of grief in sympathy. The wolf was gone. Despite his disdain for Hanone, he admitted to himself that he would miss his snide remarks and presence. The silence was all he needed to understand. " …I see. I'm sorry…"

"He sacrificed himself... to save Nomasaki from my reanimated wife, her mother." Kyō said. "He died a noble death, a death befitting a shinobi... for a beast he was."

He died like Chiyo-sama, then. Sensing the guilt and grief lingering among her, he gave Nomasaki a sympathetic glance. "Are you alright?"

She wiped away the stray tears with her torn sleeve. "What choice do I have? We're fighting a war. If I have to repress my grief, I must." With tearstained cheeks and worn eyes, she met his face. "What is it you needed of me?"

"Nomasaki," Stepping closer towards her, his eyes narrowed in a stern nature. "I need you to guide me to where the released tailed-beasts are located. I need to find Shukaku."

"S-Shukaku?!" She stammered, shocked. "What on earth for?!"

"I have a plan to seal Madara before things turn dire," He replied, his gaze serious and urgent. "But I'll need his help, Shukaku has the chakra I'm desperately lacking for the jutsu. Can you find him with your sensory skills?"

Swallowing her fear for the tailed-beast's chakra, she nodded in agreement. "I can try," Realizing the man who was beside her, she turned to him in concern. He was unable to protect himself in his current state, and there was no telling what may happen further in the war. "But –! I can't leave my father –!"

"Go on ahead, Nomasaki." Kyō interrupted, a faint smile visible. Surprised, she tried to utter words but he gave her a stern glance of determination. "I'll wait for you here. They need you… go help our Kazekage!"

Meiyumi nodded in agreement, her brown eyes brave. "We'll take care of him, Nomasaki. You go on ahead, help our Kazekage!"

"You all -," Tears glistened once more in her eyes.

When she turned to meet Shinto's face, it was cleansed of anger but held a contemptuous compromise. He gave her a nod, his dark eyes evoking promise. "Do what you have to do... we got your back."

Her eyes glistening in held pride, she nodded. Holding back her rising sobs, Nomasaki pushed them back with a forced glance of dire calm. The emotional toll of war was worn heavy on her purple eyes but her face was firm as iron. A brave face. I have to be strong for Hanone, it's what he would've wanted – I'm a pup no more. As she gave her father a warm hug as he sat as fragile as glass upon the ravaged earth, she walked closer to Gaara. Once she met his eyes, she paused at his side and formed a hand-sign. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to sense the essence of life around her. Taking in all the remnants of chakra that lingered around her, she tightened her closed eyes, focusing her energy on the large masses of chakra that protruded through her senses farther within the holds of the surrounding wastelands.

Nothing.

She pushed herself further – but still nothing.

Tightening her closed eyes, she plead internally for her boiling blood to find the tanuki. Flashing through her memory, she remembered the first day she had as Gaara's assistant. The darkness of the cavern echoed through her with its black walls, rippling water, and the enormous chakra that dwelled within. Shukaku's presence looming over her was as fresh in her memories as was the stench of death that carried on the winds.

Focus, focus, focus – she told herself – Find him!

It all came back to her.

A jolt of pain flooded her mind, but she pushed on through to find the tanuki. Her teammates looked on in concern, while Gaara suddenly realized that there was blood coming out from her nose. It ran down her lips, and she tasted the linger of iron. Suddenly, she chakra was within reach. The signature of the tanuki's chakra filled her senses from that cavern in her mind, dancing along the winds by a faint grasp of luck. Jolting, she opened her eyes at the feel of the menacing dense chakra she feared – the tanuki's presence faintly beating kilometers from where they stood. She found the beast at last. For once, she was relieved by its presence.

"I… I can sense Shukaku's chakra! Far north of here!" Pounding through her, her exhaustion made her collapse to her knees. "My chakra... it's still not replenished...!"

"Nomasaki!" Meiyumi shouted.

"I'm alright," Standing firmly, Nomasaki rubbed away the blood with her fingers. Looking at it, she realized how far she pushed herself. "It's... just a little blood. I'll be alright, trust me."

Heeding her answer, Gaara spurred into action. Summoning a cushion of sand for them, he stepped upon it, kneeling in preparation as she approached. "Hang on," He spoke, glancing to her. "I'll be going at full speed!"

Shinto held back his contempt, nodding to her. "Be safe."

Nodding back, she turned and left the behind. As she knelt beside the Kazekage on the platform of sand, she touched his hand that lay upon the grains beneath their feet as if instinctually. They both jolted from the feel. It were as if fire and ice met. Realizing her movement, she withdrew her soft grasp, averting her gaze in slight embarrassment as he watched with a surprised glance. "Oh," She stammered. "S-Sorry, Kazekage-sama. Lead the way. I'll direct you."

Submitting, he nodded once in acknowledgment, looking upon the horizon with stern and narrowed ringed-eyes. "Brace yourself!"

As the sand lifted from the ground, they departed in a brisk path of sand-ridden winds, dashing through the skies at an alarmingly fast pace. As the winds whipped her long gold hair against her face, she could feel the fear of heights swell up into her chest. Born a wolf and living as a human, she hated the thought of being in the sky. She felt comfort with the ground beneath her feet - but with air, all she felt was imminent fear of the unknown. Without a second thought, she lightly clutched his arm that was held beside her while they sat knelt on the sands, looking down at the devastated battlefield with calm eyes that contained hidden fright. Noticing her touch, he glanced to her for a moment, comforted by her gesture. Turning back to the path ahead in the darkened red sky, he narrowed his eyes into a serious glare.

And time was running out.

Within moments, she could sense the tailed-beasts close by as they approached with his sand. "There!" She exclaimed, pointing down towards them. "Shukaku is directly below us, with the others."

Promptly, Gaara directed the sands to the massive beasts below, floating as close to Shukaku as he could. As they approached, the one-tail turned to them. The tanuki locked eyes with the young Kazekage and his trembling assistant, as if it thirsted for an encounter. "Hm?" Shukaku scoffed, examining the sight before him. "So, you're here... and here I thought you died along with me."

"Shukaku," Gaara started, urgently. "I need you to lend me your power to seal Madara."

"You mean the Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal?"

"Yes, a large one."

As his large tail with purple-markings swung behind him, he leaned closer to his former host. The beast's monstrous eyes glared at him with the familiar ferocity that he had known his whole life. "Now that I'm not bound to a jinchuriki anymore… why should I listen to what you have to say? You mean nothing to me now!"

"I didn't order you…" Gaara retorted, sternly. "I simply asked you for a favour." Stone-faced, he turned, glancing at the other tailed-beasts that stood around them on the battlefield. "If you won't help, I'll ask another tailed-beast –,"

Taken aback by his words, Shukaku whipped its tail and turned his way. His monstrous sand-covered pupils analyzing his motives internally, breathing in his chakra and his intentions. "Uzumaki Naruto… I see you became friends with that fox-brat, Gaara… Why should I help the likes of him?! Tanuki hate foxes!"

"If you won't help me, we can talk later." Gaara finished, moving his arm forward to direct the sand away from the one-tail. "I'm going to fight Madara alone –,"

"Hmph! The way you talk gets on my nerves!" Shukaku roared, blocking his path with his massive paw. "If the fox can transform seven times, the tanuki can transform eight times! I'm not about to lose to that stupid fox!" Turning to his former tailed-beast, a small smile appeared on Gaara's lips. Noticing his expression, Shukaku guffawed at the former jinchuriki in a nearly embarrassed demeanor. "Mind you, I didn't accept your request! I just decided to do this on my own! Show me the way!"

Turning to his assistant beside him, he gave her a calm glance. "Nomasaki," He started. "Where to now?"

Noticing her frightened eyes locked onto the tailed-beast, he followed her gaze. Deep within her senses, she could still feel the density of Shukaku's chakra and its undying bloodlust – not to mention the power and strength of the other tailed-beasts that stood silently around them. Its hatred towards her trembled her from its unspeakable power, memories of her accidental intrusion into its realm still fresh in her recollections. Watching her guarded eyes, he was painfully reminded of the wounds he inflicted upon her when he was still a jinchuriki. He could not help but feel somewhat responsible for her fear towards the tanuki. After all, she saw him transform into a monster those many years ago.

"It's alright," He assured. "He's an ally. You don't need to fear him. Believe me, he's trustworthy."

"Keh!" Shukaku scoffed at them, drawing their attention to the beast. "Foxes are bad enough… wolves are a different story! Always so brooding and stalking down their prey in sullen silence... and then they try to live amongst the sheep! The ōkami are no friends to us tanuki either!" Leaning in closer to her, the one-tail sneered in her direction – sensing her contained nervousness. "I never did quite like you, wolf-girl! Do I frighten you?"

"Yes," She spoke, looking up to the beast as she struggled to talk past her fear. Firming herself, she kept her exterior calm as her chest tightened with anxiety. "I'll admit that I've had fear for you... once." Flickering her eyes, she shot him a stern glance. "However, if you're willing to help us, I have no gripes. Your chakra is also hard for me to tune out… despite you being a mere tanuki."

Rearing back slightly, Shukaku let out a gnashed grunt in distaste. Annoyed by her choice of words would be an understatement. "You definitely are a she-wolf... Just don't get on my bad side, or we'll see what happens when you do..."

Upon seeing their interaction, Gaara smiled lightly to himself. It was a welcome sight to see his assistant grow past her fear of the tailed-beast's chakra. Shukaku has come a long way... and her, too. Seeing her stand her ground against the tailed-beast was nothing more than admirable in his eyes, even humouring in a way.

Sensing the intimidating and threatening presence of the lingering Uchiha on the winds, she gestured ahead of them. "This way!"

"Wait!"

Pausing on the sands, they turned to the direction of the loud and booming voice – Son Goku, the four-tailed beast. The towering and muscled primate of the earthy lands dotted with volcanoes and hot springs, his fangs and bright red fur sticking out to them as his thundering approach came to a calming pause. "We're helping, too!" Son called the two humans. "Don't worry, we're not doing this on a whim. We want to help Naruto."

A grateful smile on his surprised expression, Gaara nodded. "Thank you."

Leaning towards them, Son peered deep into the young Kazekage's pupil-less turquoise eyes – examining his inner character. "Shinobi of the Sand… are you an acquaintance of Naruto?"

Sternly, he nodded. "Yes," He spoke, glancing back at the tailed-beast with a serious tint to his eyes. "He's my first friend."

Softly, Nomasaki smiled at his response as she sat knelt beside him. From their closeness, she knew all of his devotion to protect his friend - especially at this crucial time. Even in their early days of working beside another, she knew of the love and friendship he held towards that Konoha ninja. She could sense it, too. Naruto was indeed a hopeful person, although a brash and unpredictable one at that. Even in her scarce interactions with the Hero of Konoha, she could feel the ease and hope Naruto gave people. It helped her form her courage to find Gaara in the Land of Rivers – and now they were going to return the favour.

"Of course," Son nodded, turning in the direction of Madara. "Let's hurry!"

"Nomasaki," Gaara started, turning to her with a stern glance. "Uchiha Madara... take us to him."

"Right!" She nodded, prepared to guide them further across the barren wastelands of death. "Due north, twenty kilometres!"

Swiftly, they journeyed through the expanse of crater-filled desert and the tailed beasts following close behind.

As she sat close to Gaara's side, she could feel all the chakra around her. Away from the tailed-beasts that followed them, she sensed the chakra of her comrades on the winds. Kiri, Konoha, Iwa, Kumo, and Suna – their numbers dwindled and dying. Worriedly, she scanned the far west. On the cold winds, she felt the chakra of Meiyumi, Shinto, and her father. They were still alive - and most importantly, they were safe. She could still feel the faint presence of her clansmen, too - wherever they may be.

The winds eased her.

Striking her heart, her eyes widened as she could no longer sense the chakra of her past sensei Hashira. She had felt his chakra earlier at the start of the war, but no essence of his strength remained on the winds. Then she remembered that he had died only hours ago. The whole world seemed as if a blur to her, fogging her mind from the trauma she witnessed. She lost two, her guardian and sensei. She began to wonder who she would lose next. Panicked, sorrow etched its way onto her expression her heart wrenching as she clutched the sands tighter.

Noticing her strife, Gaara gave her a concerned glance. "Nomasaki, what do you sense?"

"Death," She forced herself to speak, her glance unmoving, locked towards the Allied Forces. "It's all death..."

Understanding what the sheen of her eyes conveyed to him, he turned back towards their path on the winds. She was right. Darkness crept over the battlefield, the faint hum of the living still clinging to what little hope remained. Doom still hung in the balance, and the eerie glow of the red moon and its beckoning flower was a dire sign that the war was far from over.

And the night continued…

While Madara stood idly on the battlefield, each tailed-beast had its chance to strike the vile Uchiha with as much force as they could offer – sending him flailing in the air with each successive hit. Preparing for the sealing formula with Shukaku, Gaara stretched out his arms – viewing Madara's movements through his positioned palms. As his heartbeat jolted through him, he dropped his arms, panting from exertion – small beads of sweat dotting his pale forehead as he glared ahead at the enemy. "My chakra…!" He spat through his grit teeth. "It hasn't fully recovered…!"

"I'll help!" Nomasaki proclaimed, looking at him with a serious yet determined glance in her eyes. Surprising him, he turned to her. "I'll lend you my strength, or at least what I have left!"

She had a different look to her eyes. Courage. Turning back to the enemy's direction as he sensed her stand up and walk behind him, he looked down for a moment – closing his eyes with a small smirk on his lips. "You're taking your role as my assistant seriously today. I thought your chakra was low, you pushed yourself really hard earlier."

Carefully, she placed her hands firmly on his shoulders, grasping the thick material of his flak jacket. "We're at war! We all have to push ourselves if we are to survive. I've reunited with my father and realized that my clan is not extinct, so I intend to live long enough to make memories of them!" She shouted, as the winds picked up around them. "After all, I promised to support you no matter what… You're our Kazekage and I'm not skipping out on my promise!"

Humbled, he opened his eyes. "Thank you." He smiled to himself, preparing to once again attempt the jutsu formula with his hands. "Prepare yourself, this jutsu takes up a fair amount of chakra... even for me, someone who was once a jinchuriki."

Grasping his flak jacket firmly, she nodded. "Understood. I'll do what I can."

A faint pulse passed through her fingers.

Suddenly, as he formed the hand-sign, she felt the immense power of the technique rip through her. As if in a breath, her strength was swept out from her at a remarkable rate. Wincing with a rallying yell, her grip on his shoulders tightened as her chakra poured into him, looking down with eyes tightly closed to fend off the pain. A small trickle of blood flowed from her nostril, her hold onto him tightening as if her fingers became claws. Feeling her chakra pour into him was a strangely powerful sensation. It felt strong, vibrant, and near feral in nature. A beast's strength, he soon realized, A wolf's strength.

As Madara slammed into Shukaku's trap of sand, Gaara positioned his palms to form the closing of the seal. "Now, Shukaku!" He shouted, watching the beast engulf their resilient foe in a tomb of sand. "Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal!"

The earth below them rumbled as if a thunder.

Shaking the land with a great tremor, a massive pyramid of sand rose from the tomb that encased the Uchiha. Formed from Shukaku's rippling cursed-seals and sands, the sealing tags soon activated after the final seal was called forth. Silence echoed across the battlefield while the winds drifted through the barren landscape. And for what seemed like an eternity, the Uchiha was finally stilled.

Wide-eyed, Nomasaki stood, staring at the mausoleum in the distance. "Did it… work?"

Another rumbled sounded, only stronger than before.

Shocked, they witnessed the eerie blue glow of Madara's Susano'o burst through the pyramid with ease – emerging from the sand sarcophagus with towering might. As the skirmish continued, the mountainous Gedo Statue was summoned to the battlefield, absorbing each and every tailed-beast back into its prison. Quickly, Gaara summoned his sand and grabbed a hold of the chains that bound Shukaku. "I'm not letting you steal Shukaku!"

Stunning the one-tail, Shukaku was suddenly reminded of its first jinchuriki. It felt as if a lifetime ago he was bound to the Sand Priest Bunpuku, the man who was his jinchuriki for a long and isolated sixty years. "One day, there will be someone who will protect, redeem, and shepherd you... and the moment you come to accept their true heart, you too will likely understand the meaning of these words etched onto my palms," he remembered the elderly man speak. Glancing to the red-haired young man who struggled to stop the chain from pulling further, Shukaku saw the kanji for 'love' written above his brow. It appears you weren't wrong, old man... I'll give you that.

"Gaara, hang on!" Naruto shouted, trying to save the others with his nine-tails chakra.

Even with Nomasaki's chakra helping him muster the strength, it was too great a task to pull the beast from the enemy's clutches. A White Zetsu scoffed towards him from the enemy's side. "You sand-bastard! Are you that happy to have your old pet back?! How dare you interfere! You're not even going to die as a jinchuriki!"

"Shut up, you white-prick!" Nomasaki yelled. "At least we'll die doing what's right! What you're doing is awful! The crows will be feeding on you when this is over, or I will!"

Gaara could not help but feel encouraged. She's gotten braver with her words, too. "Thanks, Nomasaki."

Madara scoffed, noticing the kunoichi's purple eyes and strange chakra. "It appears the relict from earlier is still alive... no matter." The monstrous blue chakra of the Susano'o gathered and became a spear. "I'll kill you both! How fitting for a former jinchuriki and his she-wolf bitch!"

A beam of destructive power was suddenly launched towards them.

Holding their breath, a gust of wind slapped against them as Shukaku's massive paw blocked the strike with pure ease. "My motto is absolute defence! I've still got my pride as Shukaku!"

Gaara held onto his jutsu firmly. "I know."

"No," Madara smirked. "You know nothing at all."

Sensing the change in the wind, her grip on his shoulders tightened in alarm. "Gaara!"

Before he could react, the blue spear upon Shukaku's shield ricocheted off the sands and broke through all the chains binding the beasts. A flash of blue struck them. Bursting against the sand that rose to protect them, the strike made Gaara slam into Nomasaki from behind with a loud crack. The two were sent plummeting towards the ground as Shukaku was stolen right from under their fingertips. Landing on a sturdy canopy of sands, Gaara felt every bone in his body ache. Hearing her wail as she fell from the skies, he sent a stream of sand to catch her as fast as he could. Luckily, it caught her just in time.

Bringing her close to him, she gasped at what she could sense. "No! Gaara, look!"

The Gedo statue near had Shukaku in its grasp - about to swallow it whole.

Looking back, the beast gave a smirk from its sandy jagged jaws. "Gaara, don't overexert yourself!"

Breathing carefully, he felt as if he might have broken a rib or two. "I'm no longer a jinchuriki, so I can finally pull all-nighters with you as an equal!"

And Shukaku was taken.

Nomasaki flinched, turning towards where Naruto and Kurama were. "Naruto!"

Jolting from his name, Gaara looked in his direction and saw the massive kitsune be pulled to its imprisonment. "Damn it,"

"Hey, Kazekage brat!" Kurama called. "Do me a favour!" Gaara's eyes widened, realized the gravity of his request. Naruto could die. "Take Naruto's body to his father, the Fourth Hokage! He has... my other half! Can you do this, Gaara?!"

Before Gaara had a chance to answer, the beast was swallowed as well.

And Naruto's heartbeat rang through his ears.

The chakra cloak of the nine-tails faded from his body, and soon his eyes closed. Lifeless, Naruto fell from the sky unconscious – and then his heartbeat rang through his eardrums with a final thud. And Madara was now in possession of all the tailed-beasts.

They lost.

"Naruto!" Gaara yelled, shocked at the sight. Quickly, he rose his hand towards him – commanding his sand in his direction. Carefully, the sand cushioned the Konoha jinchuriki's impact as he descended from the dark sky mired by a red moon. Turning to his assistant who sat wide-eyed and stunned at the outcome, his ringed-eyes indicated upmost urgency. "I have to save him – now!"

Concerned, her lilac eyes glistened as she met his gaze. "What will you do –?! Gaara–!"

"My Sand Clone will take you back to your father and the others," He said, reached out to the sands beside them, creating a masquerade of himself from the grains. Slowly, the platform they sat on broke apart, with his clone standing beside her. "Take cover with the rest of the alliance until we regroup! Stay alive!"

She nodded, understanding the severity of the situation. "Be careful, Gaara. And save Naruto!"

Within an instant, they departed on their separate paths – with the end of the darkening night appearing nowhere in the horizon.

And war continued…

Surprising her, Gaara's Sand Clone was as near as fast as the real one. Although silent, she needed the silence to think. The war was lost, she thought, What's left for us? What do we do? Despair clogged up her mind, forcing her to sink to her knees in tears. It would only be moments until it was all over, until the doom finally wrapped its terrifying grasp around her throat and choked the life from her and everyone else. Death awaited them all.

"Nomasaki!"

From below, she saw Meiyumi and Shinto waiting for her, with her father sitting close by - just where she left them. When she descended, Shinto ran to her first. "What's happened? Why are you back so soon?" He suddenly realized what lay within her eyes. "No... Don't tell me -!"

She pushed herself to nod. "We were too late... the enemy... They got Naruto, so now...-,"

"Damn it!" Shinto slammed his fists onto the earth, cursing over and over.

Meiyumi's eyes filled with tears, solemnly averting her crying face. "There's no hope..."

"That may be," Nomasaki entered. "But Gaara took Naruto to the resurrected Kage. They may be able to save him... and in turn, save us all."

"So this one...?" Shinto asked, gesturing to the Kazekage behind them who stood on guard.

Nomasaki turned. "That's a clone. The real Gaara is with Naruto right now." A terrible sense rumbled through her. Panic followed, clouding her thoughts instantly from the feel. "Oh no..."

"What is it?" Shinto asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"

Meiyumi gasped, shock filling her cry. "The moon! Look at the moon!"

White grew in the skies.

In a gleam of bright red light across the lands, the Infinite Dream was realized – the Infinite Tsukuyomi was activated. The eerie red glow encompassed the entire world in a shroud of shadows. True horror swam into Nomasaki's mouth as she tried to comprehend the energy she began to feel exerted upon her. It felt as if a thousand shadow hands were pulling at her from a thousand directions. As she stood by her injured father's side, Nomasaki could feel a sinister chakra rip through her, grasping her with evil intent – burning through her veins and freezing her in her stance. Trembling, she felt the sudden urge to look at the night sky against her will.

"I can't... look away!" She forced herself to speak. "Meiyumi, Shinto -," Glancing towards her comrades, they stared up into the sky in silence. Ripples of white and purple formed in their eyes, locking their silent gazes to the moon in all its might. This must be the Infinite Tsukuyomi, the Infinite Dream, she realized, Was Gaara able to reach the Fourth Hokage in time? Did we... lose? Her heart sank at her thoughts. How will I tell him everything? How will I live with my father? How will I know what will become of my clan? How will I know what will happen to me?

And just like that, she realized she might die.

"Nomasaki," Her father began, stammering. "I can't move!"

Struggling, her rippling eyes moved to see if Gaara's Sand Clone was alright. Shockingly, it suddenly disappeared with a sweeping wind from the moon. Something was definitely wrong - and her gut proved her right. Gulping, she swallowed her fear, knowing that death was imminent, and the chakra she felt proved it. Slowly, she looked up into the sky by the force exerted upon her. At that moment, her now ringed-eyes were drawn to it – locked. Before them in the brightened sky as the cocoon of the great tree wrapped around where they stood, the red moon echoed its desires.

The Infinite Tsukuyomi...

As the cocoons of death wrapped them in its embrace, their ultimate dreams flooded their sleeping thoughts.

In Meiyumi's mind, she dreamt she was Sunagakure's most respected medic-nin - and the beloved student of Chiyo the Elder. Her parents were proud of her, and her skill rivalled that of Tsunade of the Senju herself. Young girls flocked to be her students, shinobi admired her for her healing prowess, and her taijutsu went unmatched. Most of all, she had all the dango her heart desired.

Shinto dreamt of all he wanted. In his mind, he was the top shinobi from his cohort, and an early recruit to the ranks of the Suna ANBU. He bested the Kazekage in all conquests of skill, warranting himself to claim the title of Kazekage. And waiting for him at home was his loving and caring parents, the civilians who were taken from him at too young of an age. Seated next to his parents on the couch in the living room was his lover, the wolf-girl. It took him all his courage to ask her out, but when she said yes - he never felt happier.

The tree wrapped its cocoon of death over Nomasaki next.

Deep within in her mind, her dream became her reality…

Her ultimate dream…

Through the eyes of the genjutsu, Nomasaki lived a happy life within in an unharmed Yamagakure no Sato – within the mountains she loved so much.

Covered in snow and in silver, the village was prosperous and content, with her clan proud and revered in the village. Alongside her as she walked through the snowy village path and holding her hand, her lover glanced down at her, smiling adoringly at her presence – Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage. Watching in awe from the porch of her family home, her mother and father stood - together like they were supposed to be.

Overwhelmed with happiness of their only child and daughter's engagement to a powerful shinobi, they talked in private about the future wedding plans, with Hanone keeping careful guard with his watchful eyes over the family that dwelled within the mountain village. Nothing could destroy the warmth and comfort she felt within her heart.

Through the eyes of the infinite dream, she did not want to wake up…