Hey guys, its been a while but I haven't stopped writing. I just started a new job and had a previously planned vacation that took me out for a bit. Thank you for being patient with me. my schedule has been pretty hectic, and this chapter was very quickly proof red because I didn't want to wait any longer. please let me know if you notice major mistakes. I am sure there are a few. I hope you enjoy.

The two came together in a clash of shrieking metal. Ino's kunai struggling to keep its form under Tamaki's chakra claws.

Moving to put some distance between the two.

Stepped back slowly, "you've always been so quiet Tamaki, is this how you make up for years of total silence."

Tamaki grinned ferally, baring the beginning of small fangs at the edge of her lips.

"I was never silent Ino I just hadn't found anything worth speaking about, at least not with you".

Ino narrowed her eyes again, stepping back once again.

I am amazing at conversation.

Tamaki stalked forward slowly.

"That's just it Ino, do you ever sit in silence; do you ever think?

What makes you think I don't?

Everything you say is superficial, looks, men, clothes. The same three things every day. The only thing more surprising than the fact that you made it this far will be if you manage to beat me.

Ino gave a humorless chuckle. You don't know me at all Tamaki. I am full of surprises.

Ino turned then, sprinting along the length of the arena

Tamaki followed swiftly, pivoting in surprise when ino leaped forward grasping a long staff from the wall. Tamaki snorted, you have never used a weapon before.

Ino swung the staff around with precision. Moving it swiftly enough to slam home in the center of Tamaki's chest.

Tamaki flew back, taking control of her momentum she flipped, landing on her feet. Snarling, she bit her thumb to produce a trickle of blood.

Drawing a sigil on her forearm she clapped her hands together and hissed out, First art of the beast. Mimicry.

Above Matatabi smiled.

Ino stiffened. Lifting the staff above her head she began to swing it around. She began her advance, eyes locked on Tamaki's lithe form.

She moved just out of reach, dipping and dodging Ino's practiced swipes.

Huffing she pushed forward, Tamaki smiled raising a hand to block Ino's forward thrust. The wood was shaved down by her chakra claws. Smirking lightly Ino turned into her thrust, gripping the staff with one hand and lashing out at her with a concealed blade.

Tamaki leaned back, surprised by the girl's use of another weapon.

The two paused eyes narrowed before Ino used a burst of chakra, slamming the staff into the ground she quickly drew a sigil in the dirt.

The husk of the great boar

Tamaki sprang back. Surprise evident in her movement. Two Large horns rose out of the ground forming two curved pillars.

Ino stood balancing precariously on the staff that now lay suspended between the wicked tips of the horns.

Tamaki charged without thought. Chakra claws at their sharpest she leapt forward digging her claws into the bone like pillar. Gasping as a portion shot out a spike that impaled her shoulder.

Ino clasped her hands together in a prayer eyes closed she spoke loudly and clearly

"Blessing of dawn, the grip of Ame-No- Uzume"

Tamaki's eyes widened, pushing away from the pillar she hissed grabbing on to her bloody shoulder before stiffening. Air still in her lungs.

Ino slowly closed her eyes before dropping down to stand calmly in front of Tamaki. Placing her hand on her head she used another strong burst of chakra.

Second art of Ying, Revival.

Tamaki shook violently, before letting out an ear-splitting scream.

Ino stepped back blue eyes icy as she took in her opponent's gasping form.

She smiled to herself briefly, before leaning forward and whispering in her ear.

Matatabi snarled whirling on Uzume. What has your child done?

Uzume waved her hand, shifting the position of the stars with her unnatural breeze

I do not know.

Matatabi bared her fangs, Liars will not be tolerated.

Uzume tossed her sunshine hair over her shoulders and cast an ocean blue gaze to Matatabi's form; now more woman than a beast, and smiled.

"I do not know. I did not impart any of my will on the child.

Though you did, I wanted to see her complete potential without my interference."

Matatabi glanced back at their still forms. Freezing when she heard a whisper. Narrowing her eyes to slits, she focused on Tamaki, as she slowly pulled her wildness back from her she heard what Uzume's child whispered.

"You will shake with fear when next you look upon my form."

Ino's head lifted towards the sky closing her own eyes she played with a name on her tongue. " "Mat-a-ta-bi."

Angrily Matatabi moved, more beast now she turned looking at Uzume.

You have already claimed the child.

Uzume smiled. Slowly before nodding, her family has gone through great pains to produce my heir. She writhes with the power of my tongue in her sleep and holds an awareness unique to her alone. Relax Matatabi, she has not harmed your child. You gave her a bit too much wildness. My child asks only for respect. Respect you have now stolen from her.

Matatabi hissed, so she would replace respect with fear?

Don't you?

The weight of Uzume's judgment weighed heavily in the air before Matatabi calmed. Nestling herself in the darkness of the sky.

" Fear has more than one outcome "

Yes, it does.

Tamaki Jerked back, gasping as she stared Ino down. The girl in question smiled as she stepped back between the pillars and slid into a fighting position.

Tamaki rolled her neck. Swiping the blood on her left hand across her forearm

Snarling as she hissed out "Third art of the beast,'' Summoning Nekomata.

Ino smiled softly as the smoke cleared.

"Come"

Nekomata gave Tamaki a single glance before the two rushed forward. Nekomata's tails smashing the bone blades that jut out from Ino's bore pillars with each step Tamaki took.

The two girls clashed in a flurry of metal and fists. Turning sharply Ino ducked gasping at Tamaki's increased speed. Furrowing her brows she continued to defend. Annoyance flashing briefly across her face. She flicked her eyes to the side before chuckling to herself and flipping backward before slamming her hands to the earth chanted Blessings of dawn Revelry of the Flowers.

The arena burst open with flowers. A brilliant display of vibrant reds violets and sun gazing yellows.

Tamaki began to laugh, flowers? You summoned flowers.?

Ino simply smiled, watching as the girls' eyes widened in horror and her laugh caught in her throat.

Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Azaleas, and more the field of flowers was a death patch for felines.

Tamaki whirled watching in increasing fright as the pillars grew flowers along their length before blooming quickly. The spores were already in the air.

Sucking in a huge breath Tamaki immediately released Nekomata, turning in time to come face to face with ino's chakra covered fist.

Tamaki drowned in the endless blue of ino's eyes as her surroundings faded to black. Echoing at the back of her mind, Ino's first words rang true I am full of surprises.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes on Ino. He remembered her vaguely, Firstborn Yamanaka, a family known for their parties and respect for nature. A family feared by many as the mind games they played could be vicious. He glanced around, noting that Shino King of the land of birth had leaned forward. His naturally quiet disposition usually left him on the outskirts of conversation and easily forgotten and yet his presence was louder than it had ever been before. His head was tilted and while his eyes were covered by dark shades the rest of his expression usually blank, was twisted in a mild form of what appeared to be amusement.

Slowly Shino turned his head, making eye contact with Sasuke before smoothing his expression into one of indifference. Sasuke lifted a brow.

Shino simply quirked the corner of his mouth with the ghost of a smile.

Below, Shizune and a small team of girls were clearing the arena in silence. Ino stayed in the same place swaying lightly with the breeze. Tsunade's declaration of her victory had been quiet. She sank to the ground, sunk her chakra into the ground and retracted her pillars first, and then the flowers.

Shikamaru sighed leaning back. "Troublesome, vicious woman"

Naruto looked around them, is anyone going to explain?

Kiba grunted.

" Beasts have occasional weaknesses. In the cat's case, certain flowers are poisonous to breathe in. the sheer amount of them she summoned was a warning. Typically, it's rare for that many of those kinds to show. They all need varying climates to grow. Ino summoned every kind of poisonous flower known to cats and let them bloom. That girl, Tamaki, her summons is probably violently ill".

"She is forgiving", Shino murmured.

"she could have summoned those flowers within the summons".

Naruto hummed well, She's pretty at least.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Staring down at the arena floor. He watched their retreating forms.

"The next match is beginning."

The idle chatter that had surged halted as the Tenten and Sakura made their way to the empty arena floor

The girls stood in silence.

Sizing each other up in the stillness of the moment.

Tsunade's loud voice cut through the growing tension with ease.

"Begin!"

Sakura was across the floor in a second. Left-arm pulled back rushing forward now to zero in on Tenten's face. The resounding boom shook the seats of the stadium. As Tenten redirected the blow into the ground. Narrowing her eyes Sakura pushed back. Pushing forward again only to be pushed back when a flurry of kunai rushed her way. She ducked, rolled and jumped out of the way. Eventually catching one out of the air and using it to defend herself.

The onslaught was ferocious. as Tenten pushed her back, a bloodied finger swept across scroll after scroll that appeared from her bracelets.

A new set of Kunai zipped towards their target, white paper floating in the air. Sakura's eyes widened before she pulled her fist back, Slamming it down in front of her, lifting the earth. The kunai struck deep.

The explosion was deafening, Dust clouded the air, blocking her view. Tenten narrowed her eyes waiting for the dust to settle. She jumped back in surprise when a boulder came flying out of the dust rushing directly for her. eyes wide, Tenten swiped her finger along the length of the bracelet on her left hand and disappeared.

The stadium was silent. Sakura looked around, on full alert searching for Tenten noting a whistling from above Sakura dove to the left, Narrowly missing Tenten's double blades as she launched into a furious sequence of strikes, each closer to Sakura's flesh than the last. Finally, Tenten made a swipe for her head, Sakura ducked, and the blade cleared right through her hair.

Cherry blossoms carried on the breeze, Green eyes widened as her lithe body flipped and turned. Pink hair fell to her chin. She turned, Staring at Tenten.

"I hope you at least cut it even"

Tenten chuckled, it's perfect though you have a strand or two out of place.

Sakura narrowed her eyes, sliding a finger over a shallow cut she slammed her hands on the ground. First art of the Beast, Summoning!

Tenten pushed forward attempting to throw her off before she could complete her summons. Stopping short and flipping backward to escape the massive smoke that erupted from the ground before her.

Katsuyu!

Tenten ran her finger across her blade dripping blood around her, forming a crude sigil.

The ancient art of sealing. Release of the twin dragons.

Two white dragons burst forth from the smoke. Serpentine, one wrapped around her and the other slid forward to rise against Katsuyu.

Sakura scowled, I didn't know you had a summons.

Tenten laughed, rolling her shoulders she cocked her head to the side. Strictly speaking, I don't. I traveled to find theses Great beasts as they were going extinct here, I offered them sanctuary in return for their fighting spirit. Toyotama and Ryujin, The Last of the Great white dragons.

You have always been a true priestess of the heavenly hills.

Tenten smiled. "A true compliment of course".

Then come.

Takemikazuchi turned his head, smiling grimly. My daughter will lose. Though she is no doubt a great warrior, That beasts child Has an unknown amount of stamina.

My name is Saiken.

Takemikazuchi cut his eyes to the vague shape of the large slug, suspended within a bubble.

You have taken the form of a beast and remained in said form. Your name has been forfeit.

My name remains Takemikazuchi. Disrespect will not be tolerated or I will melt those blades you hold so dear to you.

Izanami Sighed. Bursting Saiken's bubble and leaving an angry red mark against Takemikazuchi's pale cheek. Changing the subject, she Narrowed her brilliant eyes at him.

Is your child aware that she has complete command of two Gods?

"No, nor does she know that my domain claims her".

The black hole of Izanami's black hair swallowed a small galaxy, temporarily dimming the lighting until Izanagi's breath birthed a new system.

Your domain?

Shifting his gaze, Takemikazuchi nodded, his brown hair pulled high on the top of his head shifting the smell of earth wafted forward idly.

While her Lineage remains unknown to the humans of earth, the others have seen fit to alert me that she is descended from Past families with centuries of history tied to my smiths.

We alone carry the burden of war, and she alone will carry our weapons. It has been decided.

Izanagi smiled, light burst in the sky, turning its Obsidian depths a brief Sapphire before settling back into its darkness.

Very well, Take care of her, the children are so fragile, it would be a shame to see such a valiant warrior ripped apart.

Turning their eyes to the Mirr, the battle raged on, long and dragged out the intensity of Tenten's strikes slowed until it was all she could do to evade Sakura's attacks.

She stumbled, dropping to her knee. She bowed her head before quietly admitting defeat.

Shikamaru let out a whistle, shifting lightly as the snacks of fruit and pastries were taken away in preparation for dinner. "Sakura is a beast."

Relentless stamina, Jiraya nodded

Reminds me of Tsunade. Though, with the new haircut, the similarities are lost.

Naruto snorted, "yeah the haircut is what changed it, old man."

Jiraya grinned, lifting his hands in a cupping motion, "among other things".

You lot are disgusting, Kiba laughed out.

Next match!

They turned to survey the arena floor. Sasuke stood up stepping forward to lean on the banister.

"Interested?" Shikamaru questioned.

"Hn, she has .. intrigued me."

The tension was palpable, the Two women stood still in the center of the arena. Calmly, Hinata laid a scroll before her and pressed into its surface summoning a spear, Temari stepped back whipping her giant fan in front of her.

Hinata Twirled her spear expertly and began to move forward. Temari narrowed her eyes flinging her fan open exposing three sigils. The girls were still for a breath and then leaped into action. The flurry of movement was swift. The girls swung, parried and stabbed in a beautiful dance of two warring styles. The speed picked up until hands, feet, and weapons were a blur. Above, Sasuke had activated his sharingan to keep up.

As the intensity of the blows increased, Temari revealed another sigil. striking down ferociously as she shouted Fujin art, the winds at sea.

Hinata was tossed like a rag doll through the air. Landing shakily on her feet, she narrowed her eyes as they began to circle each other.

Your holding back.

It wasn't a question, Hinata breathed out slowly.

"Restraint is a necessary skill".

Restraint is disrespectful to those that would claim us.

Hinata stilled and the inkling of something vicious began to crawl up her spine.

Pulling her staff apart Hinata revealed a dual ended glaive, connecting the two ends of the sheath to create another weapon. Swinging one of her head and kicking the other in the air. She pushed forward.

Each blow was more ferocious than the last pushing Temari back with sheer ferocity.

The blonde girl flipped, revealing the last of the sigils on her fan.

"Blessings of Fujin, breath of the monsoon".

Hinata was swallowed by a massive force of wind.

Within the great tunnel of wind Hinata shook violently. As something foreign and familiar crawled through her veins, a whisper of something deadly.

Faintly she heard the words around her. Release your rage.

Temari dropped to a knee breathing hard. Hinata pushed out againstTemari's winds casually batting them away before stepping forward. Her head was bowed, shielding her face from view. She breathed slowly, spinning her glaive as she took another step.

Lifting her eyes slowly Hinata breathed out softly, kiss of Izanami, carrier of Tsukiyomi.

Temari's breath stilled. Hinata continued to walk forward. Silence enveloped the arena. Hinata 's hand rose and a sigil appeared on Temari's forehead. Hinata stepped closer, bent and kissed her forehead. Turning her back just in time to escape the look of complete and total fear. Before she let out a scream and collapsed.

Hinata was still a moment more before tossing her head back to stare up into the darkening sky. Tears streamed down her face as she croaked, i have done what you asked.

She collapsed to her knees with a great heaving sob, "but at what cost"?

Above Sasuke snapped his sharingan off leaping from the balcony of the viewing station to land on the arena grounds.

With his movement, everyone burst into action.

Tsunade Sakura and Ino running to check on Temari's still form and Sasuke Neji and Tenten running to Hinata's aid.

Sasuke lifted her by her robes and shook until she looked down at him. Breathe, you must calm yourself you are the only person capable of reviving her.

Hinata gasped, as she was ripped out of his hands and pushed behind Tenten and Neji.

"Enough," Neji shouted

Sasuke snarled "move or I will move you".

Neji braced himself for impact before Hinata's small hand gripped his shoulder. Calming down immensely, he turned to look at her small shaking form.

"I am fine Neji, he's right, I know what to do.

She turned then, and running to Temari to help stabilize her.

Sasuke and Neji stood in tense silence for a moment before Sasuke began.

Her existence is an anomaly on a grandiose scale, only those blessed by Tsukyomi can wield the power of the moon.

Neji chuckled, and yet here you are, blessed by both Susanoo and Amaterasu. Our cabinet has always been filled with anomalies, what is a few more?

Tenten sighed stepping away from the men before turning her attention to Hinata and the others. Ino and Hinata held hands over Temari's head. Hinata glowed a faint white. Tenten blinked, was it her imagination ? or had a shadow slithered into her glow?

Shaking her head she passed it off as a trick of the light.

Temari took one shuddering breath, and then another before sitting upright and glaring at Hinata. For a tense moment it seemed as if she would strike. They all tensed prepared to hold her back, and yet when she reached for Hinata, it was to pull her into a bone crushing hug.

Slowly they all relaxed in the arena.

Starting in surprise when Tsunade's booming voice addressed them.

"it seems for the first time in a millennia, the gods have spoken".

Following her gaze the full lot stared as crests appeared one by one above them.

Each crest wavered, before meeting another in the center. Declaring the Pillars of each kingdom.

Hinata and Sasuke stared each other down for a moment before relenting. As the seal of Izanami and Izanagi moved to combine one. The Symbol of the empire.

The selection Had been completed, the empire was whole again.

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Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter please review, like or follow. I really haven't stopped writing. some chapters are just easier to write. at this point its just a matter of time. please let me know of any suggestions you guys have, I'm happy to hear them. and thanks so much to my reviewers. you help keep me motivated.