A/N: Greetings an salutations. I know it's been a while, and I apologize. I've just had a lot on my plate (yeah I know I say that every time, but it doesn't stop being true, sue me.) Life ain't easy, guys. I try. On to reviews.

Luciendar: I sincerely apologize. I tagged it the way I did, because I originally had a far different intent with this story, but it ran away and made its' own plans. And I'm trying to figure out how to wrestle it to at least fulfill my implied promises, such as Naruto and Haku actually getting together. I planned for Sakura to have a full arc, and it never happened as I wanted. I planned a lot of things, and they didn't happen as I wanted. I've always tried to be a good author, and apparently I am, but I'm not the kind of author I want to be. I guess that's life.

Jastanley69: This isn't cannon, so I'm not worried about it at all. I know the cannon facts, but since this isn't cannon, I don't have to follow them.

Foxy-floof: in regards to your review on chapter 28- that's a historical fact, actually. In many cultures, daughters (and sons who didn't train as warriors, which was very few tbh) were raised to go out in a blaze of glory, and die quickly, so as to avoid capture. Many peoples, predominantly Norse and Anglo-saxon (before their rise to power) preferred their lines to be wiped out rather than live in servitude. And the Uzumaki were/are a very proud clan. Can you really imagine they'd be able to live under anyone's jackboot? And as for the song chapters, that's what I default to when I can think of literally nothing to write. Sort of a filler tile, I suppose. I do apologize that they aren't to your liking.

That's about it, so let's see what I can crank out for this chapter.

Chapter 55: Hustle, Bustle, and Busting Ass

Naruto fell to his knees, panting with exhaustion, and sweating.

"Naruto, slow down, you'll kill yourself with Chakra exhaustion if you keep going like this," Shikamaru sternly ground out as he ran over to support the blond.

"Can't... movement to... north... have to get everyone to... island by tomorrow..."

"What?" Shikamaru exhaled, looking both confused and alarmed in equal measure.

"One of our scouts spotted a small group to the north, moving quickly to our location. Hidan and Deidara were among them," Nagato said as he picked up Naruto and started funneling chakra into the young man. "Naruto is trying to make enough ships to ferry everyone who can't fight around the riptides, to the back channel, before they arrive."

"That's a lot of people, Naruto," Shikamaru said slowly. Naruto nodded, but rose anyway.

"I only need two more of this size," he said with exhaustion lacing his voice, patting the ship he'd just created with his Mokuton. "After that, we send the civvies around, with a few shinobi guards, and we trench ourselves in here."

"That's still a lot of Chakra, man."

"I don't have a choice, Shika. These people put their trust in me, and expect me to get them where they need to go. I won't fail them."

Kurama, I need a tails' worth of Chakra.

Why should I care about these people?

Because A) I care about them to some degree and if I die trying to transport them, you die too. And B) you still owe for that bet we made a while back,

Grrr... dammit I hate when you're right.

Thanks.

Feeling the rush of power flood his coils, to an almost painful degree, Naruto rose with a pained grimace.

"Stand back!" as everyone around him cleared the area, he snarled and slammed his hands to the ground once more. "Mokuton: Fōmēshon (Wood Release: formation)."

Naruto slumped to the ground in exhaustion as two ships seemingly sprung into creation.

"Alright, we've got the ships!" Nagato called, once more frantically giving Naruto some Chakra to avoid him dying right there. "Get them in the water and get everyone who isn't staying on board!"

People milled about, unsure what to do.

"NOW!" As the red-head roared at the surrounding people, shinobi jumped forward and started using various jutsu to lift, push, and otherwise move the seven fairly large ships to the water. "Alright who's staying?" Nagato quiried as Naruto rose slowly, brushing him off through obvious exhaustion.

"I am!"

"Me too!"

"I ain't leaving the kid to himself!"

As more and more shouts of support came from the crowd, Naruto sighed, but straightened.

"Anyone who isn't mid-chuunin or higher, get on the ships with the civilians! You're on guard duty!" many grumbles were heard, but no-one debated openly. "Kakuzu, you're going too."

"Like hell I am!"

"They need to be able to navigate the back channel, and you're the only one who knows the way."

"But..."

"You're going Kakuzu. And so are you Nagato, as well Konan."

"Bullshit!" Nagato cried, disbelief carved into his features. "You need back-up over here!"

"I have it. Zabuza, Itachi, and Sasori are staying with me."

"I'm staying too," Asuma said suddenly, his face set.

"You need to stay with Oba-chan and Konohamaru-kun, Tou-chan."

"They have plenty of protection. I'm staying with you, and I'm overriding your decision as a Kage."

"You can't do that," Naruto deadpanned. "It's treason."

"I'm your father, I can do whatever I want."

"Fuck."

"Watch your mouth, young man." Naruto stuck his tongue out at Asuma as he saw the Konoha twelve, run up to him, none too happy.

"We're staying."

"No, you are not," Naruto growled.

"We're not leaving you here without our help," Hinata declared strongly. Neji just looked at her with some amazement, still getting used to this more aggressive and confident Hinata.

"I appreciate the thought, guys, but seriously, none of you are strong enough for this fight. There are at least two S-Class Shinobi coming, and you all are Genin."

"We're technically missing-nin anyway, so why should we listen to you?" Kiba asked brashly.

"You're missing-nin from Konoha. As soon as you left there and decided to join on my idiotic escapade, you became shinobi under my command. And I don't care if you are my friends, I will not hesitate to have you detained for insubordination in this case."

"You wouldn't!" Ino cried, her face aghast.

"Try me. Kakuzu, Nagato, Konan. Get theseeleven to the ships. And make sure they stay there."

With grim faces, the three Akatsuki members rounded up the eleven teens and herded them toward the water, everyone but Konan throwing betrayed looks back at the blond.

"No-one is going to be happy about that, Gaki," Zabuza chuckled.

"Let them be upset, it keeps them alive and gives everyone else the best chance of surviving. This battle isn't going to be easy, and I'd rather not have anyone die if I can help it."

"Already thinking like a Kage," Kakshi chuckled as strolled up, accompanied by Jozun, and patted the blonds' head affectionately.

"Jozune, I need you to get Kisa on the ship too."

"I figured you'd say that. She's not going to go without a fuss."

"She's one of our only, if not our ONLY Med-nin. We can't risk her right now."

The brown-haired Jounin sighed heavily and turned to find his partner in crime. "I'll do what I can."

"Thank you, Naruto," Itachi said quietly. "I would prefer her not to be in the fight." Naruto merely nodded.

"Alright," he called over the massive crowd. "everyone who's staying, get the ships loaded and launched!"

The next two hours was a blur of activity as the civilians and those Shinobi not staying were corralled onto the ships. Only a few incidents occurred where people wanted to stay to help, or refused to go without a certain item that wouldn't fit, but eventually the ships were loaded and under way, leaving Naruto standing on the shore-line with roughly one hundred Shinobi, watching the departure as the seven shapes dwindled from sight, around the back of the island, and out of sight. Naruto sighed quietly.

"Time to kick this horse in the ass..." Naruto sighed to himself. "Alright everyone! Start setting traps and defensive perimeters! We have less than twelve hours to set any advantage we can for this attack! Move, move, move!"

As the group dispersed to start setting defenses, Naruto remained a moment longer, watching the ocean waves lap at the sand, before turning and throwing himself into the preparations. At one point, he was sitting beside Itachi and Gai, sharpening sticks for simple hunting traps that, with any luck would at least distract whoever tripped them for even a moment.

"What's your plan for dealing with Hidan and Deidara?" Jozun asked after a moment.

"I don't have one yet," Naruto admitted. "But I'm working on it."

"Naruto!" Itachi called, pulling the Teens' attention. "I have a few ideas for the defense if you want to hear them."

"Go for it."

Timeskip- The next day, dawn

"Here we go," Naruto whispered as he sensed the veritable horde close on their locations.

The First Battle of Uzushiogakure was about to begin.