Titania and The Hunter

by Master Attlon

Born as a human. Treated as a demon. Gathered as a slave. Viewed as a leader. Traveled as a Mage. Grew as a Legend. The journey and life of The Hunter, Naruto Uzumaki

18. Damnation From The Flames

Titania and The Hunter

Chapter 18: Damnation From The Flames

The following is a spoiler alert of the most recent chapter of the Fairy Tail manga. If you do not follow the story by the weekly updates then the following will ruin a lot point of the most recent event. If you wish to wait until the renewed anime follows up to it, please ignore the next few lines of dialogue.

Please be advised...

Seriously, this is a spoiler...

Once you read it, you can't unread it...

Skip it and just close your eyes...

Are they gone...good...

FUCK THAT FAT OLD CUNT WITH THE BALL-SACK BEARD! HE ROOFIED NOT JUST MIRA BUT ERZA TOO! WHERE DOES HE GET OFF?! WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GET THE BRASS TO THINK HE COULD DO THAT! OH I KNOW, HE MUST THINK THAT STUPID FLUFF UNDER HIS CHIN WAS A GOOD ENOUGH SUBSTITUE!

WHEN I GET NARUTO THERE-AND BELIEVE ME I WILL-I AM GOING TO MAKE THAT MAN REGRET HE EVER CHOSE TO BETRAY THEM! KILL, MAIM, BEAT, BREAK, I DONT FUCKING KNOW WHAT I'LL DO, BUT I BET I'LL KNOW WHEN I GET THERE!

Huff...huff...huff...okay one more... FUCK HIM!

Okay I'm good now. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Another warning, its a bit dark and dreary near the end. Had to reach this chapter at some point, didn't think it would be Christmas though.

########Hunter########

February X781

"Hmmmmmm?"

"What's wrong Nab? Still having a hard time finding a job?"

Nab Lasaro, new recruit of the Fairy Tail guild, looked over to the see his senior guild-mate walk over to the mission board with his trademark smile on his face. "Hey Naruto."

The tall whiskered young man walked up next to the Animal Possession Mage and looked over the board with him. "You know you'll never get paid for just standing here and collecting dust, right? You might want to suck up that dream of taking a special job and just take one."

"Never!" Nab stood tall, with pride brimming in his chest and tears pouring out of his eyes. "I know somewhere out there is a job no one else can do but me! And I don't care how long it takes, or how many jobs pass me by until then, I will find it!" He proclaimed with a mighty roar as spirits made of eagles started to fly around him.

Naruto stared at the man strangely until one of the eagles started circling around his head, cutting off his vision. He swiped his hand and dissipated the magical spirit, "Sure, whatever you say man. But I've got food to buy and bills to pay. And I'm pretty sure you do too."

Nab's prideful light faded and he was surrounded by an aura of black depression at the Armor user's words. Even though he was adamant on finding his perfect job, truth was that his rent was almost due and he still didn't have any jewels to give his landlord.

Naruto felt sorta guilty for breaking the new mage's spirit like that, but didn't know what he could say to help since he was the one that made him upset. So he just pulled off one of the requests that caught his interest and left.

Naruto walked away from the board and heard a harsh scoff in his direction. He looked up to see a certain blond with Lighting magic looking down at him from the second floor. As always the condescending asshole was looking down on everyone in the guild like they were nothing but ants. Naruto scowled and flipped him off, getting Laxus to shake his head and walk back to his seat.

Oh if he had gotten that S-Class rank he would have given Laxus a good punch in the throat.

He walked over to the counter to register with the small master of the guild. And upon arriving, he saw the Third Master of Fairy Tail looking at something to the side with horrified shock and amazement. Naruto approached him, "Hey, Jiji, what's-"

Makarov's hand immediately clasped over his mouth, "Shhhh. Don't make any sudden moves." Makarov's hushed whispers confused Naruto until he looked to the side as well.

Natsu and Gray were sitting next to each other a little ways down the counter. Natsu was motioning with his hands, "No, no way. I'm saving you the punishment now, my super chili dish is stronger and better tasting than anything you could even stomach."

Gray just shook his head and scoffed. "You're such an idiot. I've told you a dozen times already, my frosty sundae meal has more kick in it than any spicy crap you put on a plate."

Naruto looked in stunned amazement at his friends argue without their usual method. He leaned in closer to Makarov's level, "Are they fighting...without punching the shit out of each other?"

"It's a freakin' miracle." Makarov wished he could take a picture of this scene.

"So then you're gonna take my challenge?"

"You know I will."

They both faced forward at the counter and Happy flew down between them, his hands above his head. "They're ready!"

Cana and Mira popped out of the other side of the bar counter. Cana placed a betting board on the counter and Mira placed a plate of food in front of each of them. "Place yer bets! Place yer bets! Whose gonna puss out first! Gray with the plate hotter than sin itself! Or Natsu with the dish that could freeze over hell! Take your side!"

Most of the guild started surrounding the two mages before they started the challenge. Naruto and Makarov just stared at the scene in disappointment. "Oh, it's a bet."

"Well that's anti-climatic."

"Don't kill yourself eating this, okay?" Mira said with a sweet smile, "Or do. I really don't give a shit."

"You ready to lose, Coal-nuts?"

"Can't wait to see you cry Dickcicle!"

"Ready..." Happy threw his paws down, "Go!"

They immediately started to devour their respective meals, not even bothering to chew before swallowing. While Natsu was eating his shaved ice dish with relative ease, Gray was having difficulty eating his ramen with extra chili powder on top. His face was turning purple and he was starting to choke on the spicy food, sweat dripping down his face.

"Oh! Looks like Gray isn't going to make it!"

Natsu was gulping down the ice shavings, "Hahaha, see Gray! I told I was-"

Everyone looked over at Natsu as he just froze in place, dropping the spoon into his dish. He grabbed his head in pain and yelled out at the top of his lungs, "Ahhhhhhhhh! It's cold! I feel it in the back of my brain!"

The guild members looked disappointed as Gray was choking on his dry throat and Natsu was rolling on the floor, screaming in pain. "Well, Natsu's down too."

"Hey Cana! I want a refund on my bet!"

Cana and Mira stopped counting their money and turned away from the crowd. "No refunds after making the initial bet. Sorry." They ran away as the angry mob started yelling at them for their money back.

Naruto and Makarov watched the two girls get chased around the guild while the two boys were suffering on the floor. Naruto remembered what he was doing and looked down at the request in his hand. "So yeah Jiji, I'm taking this job."

"Yeah whatever kid. Have fun." Makarov droned with a dry laugh before drinking more of his booze.

Mahiro sat cross-legged at the table with a challenging smirk on her face. "Well, are you sure you want to do this?"

The young man nodded his head with a nervous twitch. "Y-yes. I will never be able to become a man if I can't become any stronger!"

Mahiro nodded her head, "Well said."

Lisanna looked between the older woman and her brother as they faced towards each other across the table. "Are you two sure you have to do it like this?" She asked with worried tone in her voice, the little baby sitting in her lap was looking between the two of them.

Mahiro placed her arm up on the table and bent it at an angle. Elfman gulped a lump in his throat and did the same with his arm. After closing his eyes, his arm started to glow and it was replaced with his Take-Over: Black Bull. They clasped their hands together and Lisanna took her hands off of Koyuki and grabbed the top of theirs.

"Ready...Go!"

Elfman and Mahiro started to arm wrestle, the man groaning in effort as they pitted against each other in a test of strength. For a moment, Elfman pushed as hard as he could and got some leverage by moving the blonde Senju's hand. Until Mahiro closed her eyes, took in a deep breath, and then let it out again.

"HA!"

With a loud exclamation, Mahiro slammed Elfman's hand into the table, breaking it in half and sending the Strauss man flying in the air. Everybody who was preoccupied with something else stared at the event in shock as the dust settled around them.

"MAHIRO! STOP WRECKING MY GUILD, DAMMIT!" Makarov yelled from the bar counter.

Mahiro just offhandedly waved her hand at him and pushed herself up to help the only Strauss boy. "Hey Elfman, you okay kiddo?"

"Ugh, y-yeah Mahiro, I'm fine." He sat up out of the bench debris and wiped some splinters out of his slightly grown out white hair. He looked around him at the destruction he caused from his defeat and looked down at the arm that had returned to his normal flesh.

Lisanna noticed the troubled look on her big brother's face. "Elf-niichan? It's okay. You don't have to worry."

"I can't help it Lisanna! Look at this." Elfman said dejectedly to his little sister as he motioned to his right arm. "Even with all this strength practice I can only get my Take-Over to my right arm, and it's still too weak." Elfman looked down at his lap in defeat, unable to cope with his stunted development while his sisters excelled in their magics.

Before he felt a hand on top of his head and ruffle his bob-cut. He looked up to see his older sister looking down at him with a kind smile. "You idiot. Stop worrying so much about your magic not working like ours." She bent down a little and patted his head with a cheerful smile, "That isn't what Mom and Dad taught us, right?"

Lisanna smiled and knelt down as well to face her older brother. "That's right Elf-niichan, remember what they used to tell us when we were first learning our magics. When the time comes, our magics will flourish and we will get to show our true strengths. And even if you can't use your Full Take-Over, your beast arm is still amazing. I kind of feel jealous how strong you are all by yourself."

Mira giggled and patted Elfman's back, "See that, we're both jealous of you Elfman. So you can't fall apart just yet. We need you." Elfman looked up between his sisters' smiling faces and felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Nee-chan...Lisanna..."

"Gwoh!" Koyuki exclaimed happily as she waved her arms in Lisanna embrace when she saw their happy faces.

Lisanna smiled, "See. Koyuki believes in you too."

Elfman hung his head for a moment with his eyes covered. His shoulders trembled, "O-okay. I promise I'll be a man who never backs down like that. I promise!" Some tears ran down his cheeks while he hid his eyes from everyone else. Mira and Lisanna smiled and knelt down by his side with smiles on their faces.

Mahiro was watching them from off the side and smiled at the siblings' bond. She loved seeing the Strauss family love like this, and even saw Koyuki join in and hug Elfman's big neck.

It reminded her of when she was just around that age and her mother brought her to see Ojii-sama for the first time. A real, full family.

"I see them argue and bicker so much that I almost forget that they can do stuff like this too." Naruto said as he walked in from behind Mahiro and stopped at her side, looking at the family hug. "But I think they're better off when they're like this."

Mahiro just chuckled in agreement. She looked over at the blond that had grown to her height, "So what are you doing? Going somewhere?"

"Yep. I'm about to go off to a job and I just wanted to say goodbye."

"Where are you going?"

Naruto looked down at the request, "It's a shipping job in Hargeon. I just got to make sure a ship can drop off its cargo without any problems and I'll be done. I thought I'd drop by and say hi to Parker-jisan before I go."

Mahiro had taken a simple job with Naruto and Erza when they went down to Hargeon to meet the small business owner they had grown so fond of. Apparently he was one of the first adults they really interacted with outside the guild and he left a strong impression on them.

He was rough, surly and appeared disinterested in whatever they had to say, which often lead to an arguing match between Naruto and Parker. But dispute how he acted he always listened to what the two young mages had to say and offered them dinner and a place to stay if they ever needed it. To them, he was probably the most stable and responsible father-figure they got to see.

Mahiro nodded her head, "All right. Say hi to Parker-San for me."

"And don't go breaking anything or Master might punish you again." Mira said playfully as her family moment ended and she turned back into her cheeky attitude. She strolled up to Naruto with a condescending smile on her face, "You didn't go and steal another S-Class mission to rebel, did you?"

Naruto just tiredly shook his head as he hated coming back to this subject. "No no, I'm good now. I learnt my lesson the first time." He looked off to the side with pain at remembering all the crap that happened the first time he stole a mission, "Never again."

Mahiro still wondered what the punishment was that made him so traumatized.

"C'mon Naruto! Let's steal one together! I'm still pissed about losing the exam and I want some retribution! I know you do too!" Mirajane exclaimed as she looked anxious and giddy at the idea.

"I CAN LITERALLY HEAR YOU FROM HERE MIRAJANE!" Makarov yelled sternly as Natsu and Gray continued to eat their food and have their respective strokes.

Naruto chuckled as Mira turned over to stick her tongue out at the old master. "I have no idea what you're talking about Mira. I'll see you guys later." He walked off as Mira crossed her arms and huffed at Naruto's act.

She knew he was still mad. Every could tell he was mad when he didn't get to participate in the Promotion Exam like the others his age. He tried to be calm and hide it around them when the subject was brought up and all the participants went away to their testing area, but he would tense up and growl a little when he was reminded about it.

He was still so angry at Makarov that he stole the Sorcerer Weekly's from his back room and posted them on the request board for everybody to see as a prank. They argued all day about that.

But when the exam was finally over, he completely abandoned his anger at the subject. Because whatever anger he felt towards the subject was completely overwhelmed by the happiness and pride he felt for one certain person.

As Naruto was walking through the shopping district of Magnolia, he looked up at the cloudy sky and the darkening clouds that promised a storm. And then he noticed a tall figure in black pulling his feet forward exhaustingly. "Yo Gildarts, you're back from the job! How'd it go?"

The old S-Class Mage let out a long sigh of exasperation and stretched out his aching back. "God it was like a non-stop work trip. I only got to shut my eyes on the way there and back. Had to search thought the entire mountain range, barely had a chance for a break and when the job was finally down I wasn't even allowed to get my 'second reward' from any of the little cuties." He whined with teary eyes.

He walked forward and grasped Naruto shoulder in pity, "Good luck in the future kid. You're gonna need it."

"Huh?"

A large shadow pulled up behind them and a firm voice got their attention with a hint of joy in her tone. "Gildarts, stop complaining! It could have been much worse!"

"Not by much kid." He pushed off Naruto and started walking back to the guild, "See ya."

Naruto looked at the retreating back of the man before turning back to his friend and smiling. Since she won the S-Class Exam, Erza's confidence, skills and spirit had escalated several fold. And that was saying something about a girl that was already so impressive beforehand.

When she came home from the exam, it had basically been a party for a week straight. And when it was finally done, Erza decided to change her image a little to go along with her promotion. She changed her boots to a jet black pair and switched out her knee long skirt for a thigh long one. Instead of the braid that held her hair together, she let her long scarlet hair flow down freely to her back. And finally, she swapped out her base armor for a more stylish brand from the Heart Kreuz company.

Until she found out that the clothing company did not make a line of armors. So she went there in person and threatened them to do it. And they did.

Everyone from the guild was unanimous in their decision...Erza was a badass.

Naruto wasn't going to say it out loud because he knew Mira or Mahiro would hold it over him, but he liked the image change. She looked...grown up. And he liked that. He turned to his best friend, "Looks like you gave Gildarts a pretty rough time. Good job."

Erza pulled her massive cart of luggage behind her before stopping and wiping some sweat off her brow. She smiled at Naruto, "Are you about to go off? I thought we could get something to eat when I came back."

Naruto just waved his hand to dismiss her, "We can eat when I get back. I want to hear how your newest mission went. You keep going on so many I feel like I don't see you anymore."

"Yeah..." Erza droned out as she kept her eyes down a little. "Naruto?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, we haven't gotten a chance to work together as much since I became an S-Class so..." She looked up at Naruto with a soft smile, "When you get back, do you want to make a real team with me?"

Naruto's eyes slowly widened in surprise when Erza made that offer. He had never thought about the idea of making an official team with her. He never felt like he had to. Whenever they were both free they just decided to work together because it felt easier and natural. And now that she was an S-Class he thought she was just going to keep going on requests like that by herself. "Why...why ask me?"

"Because you're my friend, stupid." Erza replied with a proud smile and her chest up high. "If I can make a team I'd want you on it because I trust you the most. Plus I already know you're capable of taking harder jobs and this way we can take them on in half the time. Plus the pay is really good and when I was off on my last job I went all the way down to..."

Naruto just watched Erza as she continued to prove her point, making a lot of gestures and ideas with a comically serious face. He just watched her and smiled, remembering just how much they had been by each other's side when they asked them to. "Okay."

Erza stopped while she was making a hand gesture to symbol a giant eagle eating a small village, "Huh?"

"Yeah, all right. Let's make a team Erza. I'd love to."

Erza smiled happily and nodded her head, "Great!"

"We"ll talk about it more when I get back." He walked up to her and raised his arm again so they could do the arm cross they had grown accustomed to. "Wish me luck.

Erza crossed her arm with his, "Yeah, good luck."

########Hunter########

Hashirama was making his way back to the guild after grabbing some supplies for Koyuki and Mahiro from the end of town. It was taking a little longer because his entire body still felt sore from training with Naruto. He practiced some fighting forms and katas with the young blond to measure his taijutsu skill. He gave the old Senju a run for his money but in the end Hashirama proved his superior experience and skill trumped all. But even though he didn't let anyone else see, fighting again like that was too much for his old body.

He was just getting old. Too old. It was a miracle he had even made it to this age when he wasn't trying to. As with anything, time just started to take its toll and wear him down. He could still fight but for short periods of time or else his body would start to over exert itself.

He used to never care much about making it to an old age. Not too long ago he prayed that each year would be his last. But if he did die too soon, he may never have gotten to see his granddaughter give birth to another beautiful child. He wouldn't have been able to come to Fairy Tail to make up for all those years he hid away in the shadows.

He got to see Erza become an S-Class Mage! And if he waited long enough, maybe he could be around to see some of the other kids rank up too. At the very least, he wanted to be around until Koyuki was old enough to really remember him.

He still had something to look forward to.

"Hashi-Ji!" Naruto called out to the old man as he ran over to him. Hashirama smiled and waved to the young man.

"Naruto, where are you off to?"

Naruto stopped and smiled, "I'm on another job. Its not too bad so I'll be back soon. Hey, Hashi-Ji, guess what?" He said excitedly with a barely contained smile.

"What? What's got you so happy?"

Naruto chuckled with a toothy grin, "I saw Erza on my way out...and she wants to form a team with me! Ain't that great?!" He asked his old mentor, waiting for his amazement at his announcement.

Hashirama just blinked in confusion. He stayed silent, just staring at Naruto's excitable frozen expression for several seconds before he tilted his head, "What? You weren't a team already?"

"N-no! We just worked together a lot! Come on old man! Be a little more impressed!"

"Hmmm..." Hashirama rubbed his chin in thought. His eyes darted to the side, thinking about what this meant. "Erza has made the first move then...poor girl. I always knew she was going to have to lead this moron forward."

Naruto's eyes were darkened by his hair and he grabbed the top of Hashirama head with his prosthetic, "What was that old man? You didn't say something bad about me, right?"

Hashirama did his best to ignore the grip from his young friend and looked at him wisely, "And what did you do?"

"I took up the offer, duh! Me and Erza on a team sounds like fun! Plus I can practice more with my chakra and magic this way!" His entire right forearm was covered in an unstable cyclone of Wind chakra. Hashirama smiled and shook his head.

"Yeah, well make sure you don't disappoint little Erza. She trusts you the most out of everyone brat."

Naruto tilted his head, "Huh?"

"You'll get it when you're older." Hashirama waved off his question before he smiled at the young man proudly for his growth over the years. "Good for you Naruto. I'm proud of both of you."

Naruto stopped looking confused and just gave the old geezer a huge grin, "Thanks!"

"I'm gonna head back to the guild. Mahiro needed some stuff for Koyuki and-"

"Naruto-San! Naruto-San!" Their conversation was interrupted when a woman who lived in Magnolia Town ran up to the whiskered blond from the Fairy guild.

"What is it?"

"There are two men in the street asking for directions to the Fairy Tail guild. They were asking to see someone, um, I think they were asking for a... Hashirama Senju-San?"

Naruto and Hashirama looked between each other in confusion and followed the woman. Hashirama narrowed his eyes in contemplation.

########Hunter########

In the center of the street was a large wagon with eight wagons attached to its rear. On the front wagon were two men in blue uniforms and hats, asking the civilians around them for directions to the local guild. "So if we just keep heading forward to the end of town, we'll find the Fairy Tail guild near the shore?"

"Yeah, the guild has the second largest building in the town so you shouldn't miss it."

"Thank you for directions sir!"

"Hey wait!" Naruto ran up to the men in the wagon with Hashirama following behind him. "Hey I'm from the guild, what's up?"

The two older men looked at the younger blond in surprise, "Oh, you're from the Fairy Tail guild? That saves us some worry. Sorry young man but do you know if Hashirama Senju-San is in town? We wanted to tell him something."

"Uh, yeah, actually, he's right here." Naruto stepped aside and motioned for the very old bearded man besides him. Hashirama slowly walked forward towards the stunned men and bowed his head.

"I'm the Hashirama you were looking for, what can I do for you?"

The two men looked nervous and gulped, "Y-you're Hashirama-San?" The old man nodded his head. Both men looked between each other, before the hesitation on their faces faded for smiles. "Well that's good. We have something to tell you."

"What might that be?"

One of the men slowly grabbed his hat and took it off...

He quickly turned and blasted Naruto away with a powerful fireball, sending the blond flying down the street. The second man pulled out a sword from underneath their seat and dove at the old man, taking a swipe at his chest. As Hashirama dodged the attack, the Fire user stood in place and started sending a hail of fireballs in every direction, burning the buildings and stands around them.

As the civilians ran away in horror, the middle-aged man just laughed maniacally, savoring the unparalleled superiority he felt at the moment. As he turned, he saw the blond kid he had blown away had stood back up from the ground, ignoring the dozens of people running past him in fear. His left sleeve was gone and his prosthetic arm had smoke coming off of it.

Naruto glared at the older man and gritted his teeth, he drew out the Kokuryū sword with one hand and concentrated his Wind chakra into his other. The chakra formed around his fist until it was like a small whirlwind completely engulfing his hand.

Time to see if this really would beat the Flying Gauntlet...

"Wind Style: Storm Fist!"

The ball of razor sharp winds flew at the man in the wagon at vast speeds. The Fire user realized the speed of the attack and threw a fireball as fast as he could, clashing with the wind-ball just a foot away from the wagon.

When the smoke cleared the man saw Naruto charging at him, throwing Jutsu after Justu at him. The Fire user blocked the attacks with his own, sending fireballs at the blond whenever there was an opening. But when the fireballs came close, Naruto sliced them apart with the Kokuryū.

Naruto's got the idea for his Storm Fist from the Flying Gauntlet he used with his magic. Since it was made of wind and not concentrated magic, it was much less durable than his signature magic attack. But where it lacked power, it made up for it in speed and with the Wind's cutting speciality it cut up whatever it hit.

Naruto opted for a diversion and dissipated his chakra, forming his Armor around his hand and jumping over the fireballs, "Flying Gauntlet!" The magic attack flew at the man in the first wagon and destroyed the front of it.

The man stumbled back to avoid the attack as Naruto landed on the wagon and punched the man as hard as he could in the gut. The man spit up blood and was rocketed through the cargo of five wagons and crashed into the sixth one so hard the entire line jumped up from the force.

Naruto sheathed his black sword and looked at the man in the rubble of dozens of barrels and crates. "Okay asshole, let's make this fast. What do you want with Hashi-Ji? Who are you working-"

Naruto stepped in a puddle of something leaking out of the crates. He looked down to see the murky liquid he had stepped into and the dust that still hadn't settled.

Except they smelled weird. They were pungent and vile, like...

Gunpowder and oil.

Naruto looked up to the defeated man as he grinned a bloody smile and raised his hand.

"All hail Damnation."

"FUCK! RUN!"

Naruto yelled as he dove out of the wagons. An instant later, they exploded with an immense shockwave that deafened everyone in the vicinity. The fire and smoke surrounded the entire section of the town in a cloud of black smoke. The homes around the blast were scorched and residents inside them were horribly injured.

Naruto whipped his singed cloak and held out the fire sword he used to protect himself from the blast. The smoke surrounded and blocked his vision from all sides, the young man taking a deep breath before coughing. He brought his hands together and threw them out with a pulse of Wind chakra, blowing away the black cloud.

What remained of the wagons were on fire, the man was nothing but a burning chunk underneath the charred rubble. Everything around him was scorched and black. He could hear the screams of people around him that were in intense pain from the attack. The fires seemed to grow larger and spread out at an abnormal rate. Naruto looked around, trying to see Hashi-Ji in the midst of all this chaos.

Even though he was nowhere to be found, Naruto had to help the injured people around him. He clicked his teeth and headed towards the closest scream.

########Hunter########

The Damnation member was pinned against the wall, gasping for air and holding on to his broken arm. He tried to breathe through the steel grip around his neck and painfully grinned, "Matser wasn't joking, you really can't be human."

Hashirama pulled him forward before slamming him against the wall again. He ignored the pained yell the man let out, "What the hell are you doing?! Why would you go this far to kill me?!"

The man opened one eye with strenuous effort, "K-kill you? We-we didn't do this to kill you?" Hashirama seemed confused by that and narrowed his eyes more at the man. The Damnation member grinned widely, "Us attacking, blowing the town up, trying to kill your friend; this was just so we could give you a message."

Hashirama glared at the younger man, "What message?"

"From Alexander Sorrento..." Hashirama's eyes furrowed even more, dread running through him due to realizing his theory was right. "He said this would be enough to get your attention."

"And what was it he wanted to say?"

The Damnation member stayed silent for a moment, before he opened his eyes again with a demented smile and a crazed look in his eyes.

"This ends today. Him. Or you. One way, everything that has happened until now ends today. He wants you to come to the Fiore mountain range, five miles northwest of here, alone." His eyes deepened more and he chuckled a little at the despair in the old man's face, "If you don't come by sunset; he will kill every man, woman and child in Magnolia Town until you decide to show yourself."

Hashirama lowered his head with his shoulders trembling in anger.

"I think you should go, but that's just me."

"SHUT UP!" Hashirama planted his fist in the man's liver and cracked the wall behind the Damnation member. The man spewed blood and bile out of his mouth after most of his ribs were broken from the immense power. His eyes rolled back in agony before he passed out and slid against the wall onto the ground.

Hashirama lowered his hand after holding back on that punch. He turned his head and looked towards the limits of the town.

########Hunter########

"Look what I got! We got some herrings and flying fish!" Hashirama announced as he walked into their newest camping grounds with his reward. The other members of the camping group looked towards their leader and clapped.

"Good. We need some protein. Nothing but berries and fruit is doing hell to our systems." One of the ANBU said as he walked over and took the bounty from his leader.

"Hehe, yeah. The swimmers weren't that much to worry about, but the fliers I had a hard time catching." Hashirama said as he wiped some sweat from his brow, "Can't wait to see what they're like on the grill."

Hashirama looked around at the satisfied look on everyone's face while they each had their own conversations. This last year had been far too rough. With their original scrolls destroyed and having to adapt to the environment of this new world, they had to start from scratch to recreate the Jutsu they made to come here. And something else was always in their way as well.

Alexander Sorrento.

Ever since they had first encountered each other a year ago, the Wizard Saint had become obsessed with catching Hashirama and his group. And no matter how far they traveled or how hard they fought back, Sorrento still always stuck to their trail and found their location.

His expedition group was peaceful now but over the year things had been shaky and tense for them. Sometimes they argued, sometimes they all fought each other. They questioned Hashirama on his leading abilities and Ango would argue about how difficult it was in these conditions, cursing everyone out and telling them to do it themselves.

Even though they were used to missions that took them away from their homes for extended periods of time, this was different no matter how much they lied to themselves. Another world, cut off from all reinforcements and no knowledge of its history. This was unlike anything they had ever done.

Even Yukiha had lost her patience with their situation. A few months after they were stranded here, she started blaming Hashirama for everything that happened. Why she had left her poor children alone back in Konoha without her. No matter how much she trusted in her father, her motherly side wanted to get back home to Tsunade and Nawaki as soon as possible.

But they were never going to get anywhere by arguing and fighting with each other. And through the last year they had all learn to adjust to the environment, the ANBU no longer always wearing their masks and each member of the expedition changing their clothes for something more natural.

Right now everyone was calm because they knew Ango had made a breakthrough with her research. And any news like that was good news for them.

"Otou-sama! Ango has some good news." Yukiha called her father over where she sat with the head researcher of their group. Hashirama walked over and took a seat by their sides.

"I think...I may have finally figured a way to compensate for the abundant magic power in the atmosphere so it won't interfere with our Jutsu. If we can just get some supplies in the next town over, we should be set."

"Ha! That's great Ango! So we can go home now?" Hashirama asked hopefully to the bespectacled young woman.

The scientist's smile lowered and she's looked conflicted to answer his question. "I can't be certain. We had years and much better equipment to test this formula out back home. To be honest, our most hopeful outcome for this Jutsu to work is..." She looked up at her two leaders with doubt formed all over his face, "50%."

Yukiha and Hashirama shared a glance at the bleak news that their new Jutsu might still not be effective enough. Yukiha smiled and placed a comforting hand on Ango's knee, "Its alright Ango. We believe in you."

"Y-you do?"

"Of course! We've gotten this far thanks to you and all of us working together." Hashirama smirked and picked up one of the cooked fish, "I trust that we can get home this time."

Everyone listening smiled at that hopeful thought as Hashirama took a bite out of his flying fish. His face immediately went purple and he spit it all out. "Don't eat the fish! Don't eat it!" He gagged, "Oh god this must be what death tastes like!"

########Hunter########

In the grand throne room of Mercurius castle, the crowned King of Fiore sat in his guilded throne. On his right, his Defensive minister Darton stood with a conflicted look. To his left, the crowned Prince of Fiore, Toma E. Fiore, looked on in disbelief of what was happening. The Royal king looked at the man kneeling before him, "What do you have to say about this, Captain Sorrento?"

The silver-haired knight kneeling before the King of Fiore raised his head, revealing tired eyes with deep bags underneath them. When his stern glare met with theirs, the men couldn't help but buckle and look away from him. Darton couldn't help but note how much The Squadron Chief had changed so drastically over the last few months. He seems to have become paranoid and obsessed with the idea that there was a group of people out there that were invading their kingdom. He used every resource, gathered dozens of soldiers to follow his lead and had sometimes gone days without sleep.

But even now, he exuded an unbelievable, unwavering presence that frightened those weaker than him.

Sorrento lowered his head again in respect, "I am sorry I have been gone so long your Majesty, I have been too preoccupied with another matter that needed the utmost attention."

"The 'Shinobi' you were talking about, correct?" Darton asked looking down at the Wizard Saint. "Captain Sorrento, ninja aren't a predominant career to take in a world of Mages. Someone like you should find them simple and relatively easy to defeat-"

"Not these people. They aren't like anything I've seen before Darton-San." Sorrento's hands tightened for a moment, "These people could cause great suffering to the kingdom if someone doesn't stop them."

"Then let that be someone else Captain." The King stated firmly, shocking the Wizard Saint.

"N-no sir! I can't leave them out there! If you just give me some more time I can-"

"That's enough Captain!" The King yelled at his Royal Squadron Chief, silencing his argument immediately. "You aren't stable enough to concentrate on a mission. I want you to drop this subject and never bring it up again. Do I make myself clear?"

Sorrento looked at the King angrily and bit into his lip until he drew blood. He lowered his head, "Of course your Majesty."

The King nodded his head, a moment of silence fell over the room, "You are dismissed."

Sorrento bowed his head and turn on the spot, walking out of the grand hall and heading to his squadron's quarters. When he arrived and opened the door, dozens of his loyal men were strategizing and practicing with their magic and weapons. On the walls were captured photos of their targets with a massive map that marked their previous locations with possibilities of their next destinations.

When his men spotted him, they dropped what they were doing and saluted him. "Captain, what did his Majesty call you for?"

"He asked why we have been away so often and ordered me to stop chasing after Hashirama and his group."

The knights looked confused and conversed between each other. His second in command looked towards their leader, "A-are we abandoning the search sir?"

Sorrento thought for a moment before shaking his head, "No. His Majesty doesn't know how dangerous it is to leave these people alone. Even if I'm tried and court-marshaled, we will capture those men while we still can!"

"YES SIR!" All of the knights replied proudly at their leader's resolve.

"Sir!" One of his knights ran up to him with a folder in hand, "We have news! The magical research society under the Magical Council created a new ballistic magic weapon. They said it was strong enough to destroy any magic in its way." He handed the folder to his superior and saluted him.

Sorrento skimmed through the folder and looked interested at the idea. "The Jupiter Cannon?"

"Yes sir! We were able to procure a prototype of the cannon from the research lab for temporary usage."

"And you think this would be able to break through Hashirama's barriers and walls?" That was one of their biggest obstacles. Whenever they gave chase, the old Hokage would clap his hands and raise a forest between them to block them off. But with a weapon like this, maybe they could cut right through that.

"Yes sir!"

"Okay. Put it in the cargo wagon and we can head off before first light." Most of his men scattered as he walked to the map. After a year of checking their movements, they had finally started to create a pattern. Taking the least chosen route to lose their chasers, moving through the mountains and forests, stopping by towns for supplies. If they used this algorithm and broke off from their last known position, their next stop would be...

Tonewa.

########Hunter########

"Naruto! Naruto, what happened?!" Erza yelled as she ran closer to the growing fires engulfing a section of the town, a dozen Fairy mages following behind her.

Naruto tried to douse the flame with his Water Dragon sword but had to stop in case of wounded civilians. And no matter how much he tried to put them out, they kept spreading and spreading. "We got attacked! Some guys were looking for Fairy Tail and- I need help! I can't extinguish the fire! It keeps growing! Those guys used oil or something to spread it around!"

Mahiro turned to the rose-haired kid besides her, "Natsu, Gray, take out those flames! Everyone! Protect the townspeople and get water on those flames!"

"Aye sir!"

Happy flew up from behind Natsu and lifted him up in the air. Natsu started sucking the flames into his mouth but barely dented the overall fire. "What the hell?! The fire keeps growing!" He kept trying to eat it but only succeeded at slowing it down.

Gray ran up to a house engulfed in flames and clasped his fist in his hand, "Ice Make: Freeze!" An ice shield rose off the ground and blocked the advance of flames but couldn't extinguish them. "Come on Dragon-breath! You gonna lose to your own element without putting up a fight?"

"Shut up asshole!" Natsu was pissed at that statement and dove out of Happy's paws and into the inferno. He wasn't at all affected by the intense flames that surrounded him on all sides. He just threw his head back and took the deepest breath he could. The flames swirled around his mouth like a typhoon as he ate them with vigor.

Cana was using her Water Fountain card to douse the growing flames as Elfman, Mira and Lisanna started grabbing any injured civilians. "Hurry! We have to keep moving!" Mahiro yelled as she used her Light magic to move through the flames and grab anyone inside them.

Erza clad in her Flame Empress Armor jumped over to a preoccupied Naruto and shook his shoulder, "What are you doing? We have to get out of the way of the fire!"

Naruto turned over and looked at her in concern, "Hashi-Ji was just here! I lost sight of him after the explosion! I've got to look for him!" Naruto jerked out of Erza's grasp and ran into the alleys of the town. Erza tried to follow him but the fires started picking up around her.

Naruto ran through the back alley of the town, looking for his old mentor in the midst of all the chaos. But after searching and calling his name, Naruto found no response. Except that when he turned a corner, he found a beaten older man unconscious against the wall.

Naruto immediately recognized him as the other man from the wagon and glared angrily at him. He reached down and shook him violently, "Wake up!"

After some shaking, the old man groaned and slowly opened his eyes. And right in front of him was the heterochromic glare of the whiskered boy. "Where is Hashi-Ji?"

The older man just scoffed and turned his head. Naruto growled and slammed him harder against the wall, making the injured pain scream in pain, "Tell me or I'm going to make you hurt a helluva lot worse than you already do!"

The Damnation member just gave a low, hardy laugh and looked at the boy pathetically. "I'd like to see you-"

*Slam*

"AHHHHH!" The man screamed as Naruto broke his foot by stomping on it with his Armor.

Naruto shook him to get his attention, "I'm gonna ask again...where is Hashi-Ji?"

The man coughed a little and raised his head again, smiling weakly at the young man.

"On his way to the reaper."

########Hunter########

Hashirama looked up at the clouds as they darkened even more and a cold wind blew its way. Looking back from the way he came, his new home wasn't even in view anymore. Blocked off by the hills and roads he had passed for several miles. He was taking a breather, tired from all running he did to get this far already after the bombing.

He looked back forward at his destination as it came up in his sights. A small mountain range that always rested in the background of the town, with small forests running up their sides. He had passed through there once or twice when traveling with the youngsters of the guild.

He had left everyone at the guild without telling any of them where he was going. But he had to because if they knew, they would come running up to be at his side. And in a fight like this, he could have used as much help as possible to keep the destruction losses at minimum.

But not this time. This wasn't their fight.

Hashirama stood back up and started his march towards the mountains. Whatever the outcome, whoever stepped away from this again, one thing was for certain.

Sorrento was right. This ended today.

########Hunter########

Hashirama, Yukiha and some of the ANBU walked into their newest base after grabbing some supplies from the town, Tonewa. When they walked into their base they were greeted with the sight of the rest of their expedition making the arrangements for their Jutsu test.

Yukiha walked forward towards Ango as she concentrated on the formula, "How's it going."

"Better than I thought. By this rate we should be able to test it in a few hours." The bespectacled woman said with a big smile on her face.

"Well then..." Hashirama dug into his bag and pulled out several bottles of brew and ale. He threw a bottle to each of his teammates and popped the top, "A toast! Let's go home!"

"Banzai!"

The whole group started taking big gulps of their drinks and enjoying the moment of peace. One of the researchers sat down against a tree and looked up at the sky, "I can't wait to finally get home. It will feel good to be back in my own home."

"I know what you mean." One of the ANBU said as he walked to the woman and sat besides her. "After this last year I'm pretty sure we earned ourselves a real vacation."

"Are you kidding? This whole last year has basically been a vacation!" A female ANBU whined and pouted, "I need a real job. When I get home I'm going to take as many missions as I can get! I'll even go around the village chasing freaking animals if it gives me something to do!"

"That's just because you're a workaholic."

While they all talked about what they were going to do back home, Hashirama looked up at the orange sky and smiled. "Still...I can't believe how beautiful this world was."

The expedition team stopped their talking and thought back to what this world was like. "Yeah."

"Well you're right about this place being pretty."

Yukiha smiled and swished her beer around in her hand, "We definitely saw what the world would be like if we gave up on war." She looked over at her father and tilted her head, "You think if we tell them what it was like, we might be able to change it all back home?"

Hashirama shrugged his shoulder and grinned. "Maybe. But I'm glad to see what real peace looked like, even if it wasn't for too long." He leaned his head back and relaxed in the moment, "I'm going to miss this place."

"That's actually quite touching, Hashirama."

They all froze. The foreign but familiar voice echoed from around them. Hashirama slowly pulled the bottle down and looked over his shoulder to where he heard the intruder.

Standing over them, his loyal soldiers around him and a massive vehicle resting behind them, was Sorrento. He had an arrogant glare in his eyes and smirking at the opposing leader of the ninja, like he had finally made the winning move.

"A-Alexander?"

He playfully waved his hand and started moving towards the First Hokage. "I almost didn't think we would find you. It really is almost impossible to catch a real ninja like you all. But I guess if you give us enough time and let us search, we'll always find you."

Hashirama stepped back away from the approaching man. "Sorrento, please, stop this. We're...we can go back to our own home now. We don't need to do this anymore. Please...just, look away."

Sorrento looked down at his feet and shook his head. "I think...we passed the point where we can leave each other alone like this Hashirama. If there are more people like you on the other side, even remotely as strong as you are, that is too great of a risk to look away from. You said it yourself, this world is more peaceful and serene than anything you've seen on that side. And knowing how far the beaten and weary would go to earn their own paradise you might just return with an army."

"We won't. I swear if you let us go we won't ever come back-"

"How about this? Turn yourself in now and I promise I'll still give you a fair trial...or else..." Sorrento raised his hand as his Shock magic started to form around it, a determined and iron glare directed at the group of ninja, "We can put an end to this the only way we know how."

The ninjas all looked between each other and slowly slid their feet back. The ANBU members sorted through their weapon packs as the soldiers slowly gripped their swords. Finally Hashirama abandoned his conflicting facade to reveal his powerful glare that shook the very area around him.

Sorrento just closed his eyes and slowly reopened them, "So be it."

He fired his shockwave, decimating the forest and scrambling the ninjas away from their groups. Sorrento jumped in the air and engaged in combat with Hashirama, matching blow for blow with each other. The ANBU members started fighting with the soldiers, the knights blocking their immediate assassination attempts and prolonging the combat. Yukiha and the researchers started swiping through their hand-signs as some knights started gathering their magic together.

The more and more they fought, the more the ninjas realized that the Cherry Blossom Squadron Chief and his men had specifically trained to counter their tactics and movements. Their taijutsu fighters with martial arts, their Jutsu with magic styles, and their powerful Hokage with an experienced Wizard Saint.

As time passed, their mutual fighting started to take its toll on their surroundings. Trees and earth had been completely obliterated by the Jutsu and magic. Some of the ninjas were panting heavily, grasping their injuries and trying to keep away from the knights. The knights were pushed back by a huge fireball Jutsu that threatened to boil them inside their armor.

"Shock Front!"

Hashirama braced himself for the shockwave that impacted his form, sending him skidding through the dirt and falling to one knee. He lowered his bruised arm and coughed up a glob of blood. Sorrento's magic not only wrecked the exterior of what it touched, but sometimes it damaged the interior as well. The rapid changing of pressure around the shockwave screwed with the insides of people and damaged their innards to varying degrees.

Sorrento, with a busted lip, bruised face and shattered armor, smiled at his opponent and got into a deep stance. Several balls of Shock magic formed around him before he sent them soaring at the ninjas, "Shocker Bomb!"

"Everyone, move back!" Hashirama clasped his hands and used his Nativity of a World of Trees to create an impromptu shield to block the powerful magic bombs. The ninjas started retreating as the wooden barrier started breaking down from the shockwave attack. Sorrento looked through the broken wall to see the ninjas attempt to escape from their sights.

He growled angrily at their retreat, "Not again! Ready the weapon!" He yelled to his followers as the huge transport wagon broke apart to reveal a massive metal canon with a black lacrima at its center.

"Captain! The weapon has finished charging but we haven't calibrated its power level. We need more time to-"

"IF WE WAIT WE WILL LOSE THEM AGAIN! AIM THE CANNON..." Sorrento yelled as his men followed his order. The cannon swiveled and aimed down the valley's curve at the retreating ninjas. As its magic started to gather at the tip, a growing ring echoed through the forest.

"READY..."

Hashirama looked over his shoulder and stopped in disbelief when he saw the size of the weapon Sorrento had pulled out, listening to the loud ringing noise it was emitting. Yukiha and the other ninjas stopped, "OTOU-SAMA!"

"KEEP RUNNING!"

"AIM..."

Hashirama couldn't summon his Rashoman to this world, so all he had was his Mokuton. He clasped his hands and desperately started to weave his trees together in an attempt to make a tougher shield. Yukiha was running, Hashirama was guarding, and Sorrento threw out his hand-

"JUPITER CANNON: FIRE!"

A massive black ball of magic shot out of the cannon, erasing the forest that stood in its way and impacted the giant wooden and earth wall Hashirama had desperately created.

Hashirama watched as the magic cannonball started to burn through his wooden shield and evaporate the ground underneath it. Hashirama continued to try and deter it but wasn't able to create as fast as it was able to destroy. Finally, the magical cannonball burst through the Mokuton shield and Hashirama stared down the unbelievable power.

He dove out of the way, the surrounding aura from the attack badly burning his right shoulder and leg. He rolled on the floor but immediately pushed himself up in a panic, "YUKIHA DODGE!"

The Senju woman looked behind her to see the oncoming super weapon. Her eyes contrasted in hopelessness before she dodged by the side with Ango at her side, an ANBU member ducking at the other end. But by the time the rest of the team realized what was happening behind them, their bodies had started to break apart and their screams echoed through the survivor's ears.

Just as the knights were celebrating, they realized that the Jupiter fire wasn't stopping and continued to burst down the valley curve. Hashirama, Yukiha, Sorrento, the surviving ninjas and the knights watched as the Jupiter ball slowly headed towards the town at the base of the valley.

Sorrento's heart sank almost immediately, "N-no...NOOOOOOOOOOOO-"

*BOOOOOMMMMMMMMM*

The magic impacted at the center of the town and a massive cloud of smoke erupted from its crater. The heat and the shockwave from the resulting explosion blew away the homes and buildings around ground zero.

Everyone in the forest watched in despair as the town's remains started to fade in the fire, the dying screams of the townspeople echoing in their ears even from here.

Sorrento fell to his knees, staring at the flickering flames of the former town.

His loyal followers realized what they did and started to retreat back, "L-let's get out of here!"

Hahsirama ignored his wounds and pushed himself up, limping down the hill and heading to the bomb site. His breathing was sporadic and his body was injured and burnt but he didn't care. What was happening before him far outweighed his personal injuries.

Yukina and Ango stood back up and looked at the destruction they had witnessed. They stayed silent, looking at the horror playing out in front of them and unable to look away from it.

"H-how man-" Yukiha swallowed the stutter and tried to compose herself but failed, "How many people do you think that is?"

"I-it's-" Ango sobbed and rubbed the tears forming in her eyes, "It's all of them." She choked on her cry and almost broke down right there as Yukiha hugged her shoulders and tried to comfort her.

Yukiha looked around in the crisis for an escape route for them to take. "We have to get out of here."

"But-the people-"

"They're already dead! There's nothing more we can do! We've got to grab Otou-sama and run before anyone else finds us-"

The sound of a metallic boot pressing into the ground caught their attention amongst all the noise. The women looked to their side to see Sorrento standing there with his head lowered out of sight. In his hand he was holding the ANBU solider's corpse after he had blown his head off with his Shock magic.

He slowly lifted his head to reveal cold, lifeless, stone like eyes that peered through them. The ninja women took a step back in fear, frightened by the pure empty nothingness the man was exuding.

"Yu-Yukiha-San-ru-run. I'll-I'll hold him off-"

"Ango no come on, we can't stop him-"

"Please just go!" Ango pushed Yukiha away and stood in the way of Sorrento's advance. The Cheery Blossom Chief Knight wasn't able to register Ango's words of mercy and pleading, asking him to just let them go. He wasn't even fazed as he raised his hand and blew the women apart with a shockwave of magic, not registering her screams of agony as blood splattered all over his front. He watched as Yukiha tried to run into the distance and slowly lifted his hand to aim at her back.

But when he heard yelling come from the former town of Tonewa, he realized that there was someone in that town he was more concerned with than the woman running away.

Hashirama was running trough the burning village, avoiding explosions and falling rubble that cluttered his path. "Hello! Anyone! Please!"

"Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhhhhhh!" Hashirama turned towards where he heard a woman scream hysterically from being caught underneath the rubble.

"H-hold on! I'm coming!" Hashirama grabbed the burning wood and support beams that piled over the screaming woman as he desperately tried to save her, "Just hold! I'll get you out of-"

*Boom*

The pile exploded from something flammable being blown up underneath the pile. Hashirama fell back from the explosion and didn't hear the woman scream anymore. He lifted himself up again and clutched his injured arm.

"Is anyone still here?! Please!" He cried out hopelessly in an effort to find a survivor.

A fist dug itself into Hashirama's cheek and sent him skidding through the rubble and debri. He lifted himself up, shaking from the damage and coughing up blood. He looked up at the man who punched him and saw the Wizard Saint with his empty eyes now filled with unbridled rage.

"A-Alexander, please...you don't have to-"

Sorrento punched Hashirama in the cheek, then the other one. He kicked him in the stomach and lifted him up to plant a fist in his ribs. He punched and kicked the injured man brutally, beating up on him until blood started to cover his knuckles.

He grabbed the defeated Senju by his collar and lifted him to his level, "I wanted to protect my land,' punch, 'my people,' punch, 'my kingdom!" He head-butted the man and threw him forward, "AND YOU TOOK IT ALL AWAY!"

Sorrento kicked Hashirama as hard as he could in the center of his chest with his magic to amplify it. Hashirama's eyes widened as blood spurted out of his eyes, mouth, nose and ears. He was sent rocketing through several ruined buildings and finally stopped after smashing through a clock tower.

Hashirama struggled to pull himself out of the rubble before another shockwave struck him and blew him out the other end. Hashirama's ribs were broken and his skin was burnt and torn. His arm was broken and his leg was fractured. Blood pooled down his body as Sorrento made his way to him like a machine.

But the Senju ignored his injuries and stood up to keep the man at bay, "I-I didn't do any of this Alex. We can stop anymore people from being hurt if-"

"You...you just don't get it, do you?" Sorrento muttered as he lowered his head and his shoulders started to shake. He lifted his head again to reveal the tears that streamed down his face uninterrupted, "IT'S TOO DAMN LATE!"

He grabbed Hashirama by the collar again and brought his shocked face to his, "I GAVE UP EVERYTHING I HAVE WORKED FOR, EVERYTHING I BELIEVE IN TO KEEP MY WORLD SAFE FROM YOUR WORLD! FROM YOUR WAR! BUT NOW WE'VE BECOME JUST LIKE YOU! WELL TELL ME HASHIRAMA-" he lifted the beaten man up and made him look at the destruction surrounding them, "WAS THIS THE PEACEFUL WORLD YOU STRIVED FOR?!"

Hashirama started feeling the full impact of everything that was happening as tears started forming in his eyes as well. "I-I'm sorry." He sobbed as he grabbed the hands that were choking him, "I just didn't want anymore people to suffer-"

"You don't get to change that because you want to. You're gonna have to figure this out at some point Hahsirama..." He lowered him back down to his level and gave the Hokage a broken glare.

"It isn't the world that causes the warfare, it's the people!"

Hashirama's heart sank when he heard those words.

"You can change the land, your homes, the world or universe but as long as the people you bring are tainted by war, that will be all they come to know. Your lands were destroyed so you came here to do reconnaissance! If we let you come you would have brought your homes and nations here to survive! But what was going to happen when they asked for more? They would resort to power, violence and warfare to take our world for their own! Because that's all they know how to do!"

Sorrento just shook his head as more tears went down his face, "Hahsirama...your world was doomed long before you ever came here."

Hashirama looked at the tired man, his fear and anger and fatigue and grief shown all over his face. And when he looked at this Wizard Saint, all he could remember was the face of his best friend as he killed him in their last battle. The final confrontation to decide between them who would usher in the new ninja world.

But even before that they fought about if a village could truly be formed. And before that it was out of vengeance for their lost family. And the superiority of their clans, their resources, their lands and abilities. Now that he looked back in it, all that peace and unity he fought for was only won because he fought.

Hashirama's legs weakened and he fell to the floor, horror dawning on him at the realization. "You're...you're right."

Sorrento stumbled back and cried, "AHHHHHHHHH! WE DID THIS! I DID THIS! I-I CANT-AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Sorrento lowered his hands and wiped the tears away. He looked up at the defeated Senju and aimed his Shock magic at him, "It's over. Just close your eyes and it will all be over."

Hashirama looked at the rippling magic and slowly closed his eyes, awaiting his end.

*Schink*

The ground rumbled as the clock hand from the tower fell from up high. Hashirama looked up in horror when he saw the clock hand had sliced up a part of Sorrento. The metal beam had cut through his skin and left a long, deep scar down the right side of his body. His right eye was sliced open, his head was bleeding and even a part of his arm was almost completely cut through. Sorrento tried to reach for Hashirama but fell and caused blood to spurt out from his landing.

Hashirama looked in horror at everything that had happened around him. He pushed himself up, his body weak and broken from the fighting, and limped away from the village.

Yukiha finally spotted her defeated father and tried to help him walk, "O-Otou-sama! Everyone-they're gone! Ango was killed and-and so was our team. We-we've got to-"

"Just go Yukiha."

Yukiha stopped talking when her father lowly muttered those words. "No, no maybe we could still find a way to-"

"I'm sorry." Hashirama cut her off before pushing off her and limping in another direction. "I'm so, so sorry for what I've done to you. But we can't do anymore."

"Are-are you just going to give up?"

"Yes. I'm done." Hashirama said without looking back to his daughter, his defeated tone crushing her spirit and will. "We've done enough to destroy our world Yukiha...let's leave this one to burn on its own."

########Hunter########

"Captain? Captain Sorrento...can you hear me?"

The nearly mummified body on the white bed slowly opened its eye. Everything was different, it changed from the burning town to a small medical room. He couldn't move, everything was hurting. Oh god it hurt so much. Just lying here in bed was agony by itself. He was in so much pain that most of the nurse's words were fuzzy nonsense.

"Captain your injuries were far worse than we anticipated. We've had to keep you in a medically induced coma so your body wouldn't shut down as we operated. Don't make too many unnecessary movements-"

"That's enough nurse. You are dismissed."

Sorrento steeled his will and focused his good eye on the other voice in the room. When he finally looked around, he saw that he was completely surrounded on every side by knights who kept their full attention on him. There was a captain among the dozen men who was making his way towards his bedside. When Sorrento tired to adjust himself he realized he was completely tied down and restrained to the bed.

The Captain of the squad came to his side and looked at the wrapped up, one-eyed man in contempt. "Alexander Sorrento, you are charged and held responsible for the following crimes; Treason and Conspiracy against the Kingdom of Fiore, Grand Theft and Mass Murder of over 400 innocent civilians."

The truth finally hit the wounded man as his only visible widened and immediately watered.

"You are relieved of your status of Wizard Saint and terminated from your position of Cheery Blossom Squadron Leader and Chief Royal Knight to his Royal majesty. You and your men will be held in court for your crimes against the kingdom and mankind." He shook his head and scowled at the war criminal before him, "Whatever you did, I hope it was worth all those lives you took."

Sorrento silently started to sob and cry. His muffled screams started phasing through the bandages and he started jerking around violently in the bed. The wounds all over his body started to reopen and blood seeped through his bandages.

"He's gonna kill himself like that!"

"Men, restrain him to the bed! Don't let him go by any means!"

Before anyone could touch him, his body started to gather his Shock magic before they could seal him and he screamed with stark white eyes.

"RRRRRAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

########Hunter########

He remembered killing those men that planned to take him in for his crimes. He remembered running away from that facility as everyone in a 5 mile radius started searching for him. He remembered that even as his body broke apart and blood dripped down his legs, he still kept running.

It was like a fresh wound in his mind that never closed up. Something he never forgot.

He slowly opened his eyes, one a faded grey color and the other milky white from the scar damage down his right half. He looked down at the old geezer that made his way into the mountains and looked up at the other old man.

Sorrento chuckled, "I almost didn't think you were going to come."

Hashirama glared up at the black uniformed man, a small emblem on his breast that portrayed a fist covered in flames. He was standing up high in the tree, below him was a massive man and a slender woman who both had varying smiles on their faces. And even though they were hidden, Hashirama knew there were many more people around them. He rubbed his shoulders and looked up at his old foe, "Well you asked me to come. I couldn't just ignore you, not after everything that's happened."

"Thank you for being so considerate. But I was certain you would have brought at least a few reinforcements with you to fight."

Hashirama shook his head, "No one else needed to get involved with my fight. But I can tell that it wasn't the same idea for you." He looked up at Sorrento and glared, "You might as well call them all out, no point hiding them anymore."

The leader of Damnation smiled at the attitude and ferocity he hadn't seen in so many years and clapped his hands. All around them, popping out of the trees and ground were hundreds of soldiers from the Damnation army. They all came out with twisted smiles and evil eyes, brandishing their weapons at the old man at the center of their forces. "527 men and woman from all three factions of our group. That's more than two-thirds of our entire collected army we brought with us here but hey, you're worth it."

Sorrento jumped off the tree and landed on the ground, his hands in his pockets and cheerfully looking around the forest. "Do you know exactly how long it's been since I last saw you? 50 years, 2 months and 13 days. I won't go into minutes and seconds cause I lost count awhile back." He stood several meters away from the old Senju and looked him over, "You got old."

"What were you expecting? I age just like everyone else." He looked back at the former Saint, "You've changed quite a bit as well."

"Yeah well I always had grey hair so the change to white wasn't that bad for me. And it didn't take me long to learn to work with only one eye-"

"I wasn't talking about your appearance."

Sorrento gave a small smile and ran his hand over his Damnation emblem. "All the people out there think I'm evil and that I delude myself into thinking that what I'm doing now is for the good and justice of the kingdom. But the truth is I know I'm a monster, because since the Tonewa incident I've changed."

He gave a fearless smile at his old nemesis and stood up tall, "Since then, I have waged war on this entire world. And it's power, resources and security have increased a hundred times. So how do I help? I become the symbol of their hate, the one thing they all agree to hate against and I gather every scumbag and criminal I find to be a part of my group. We said we are doing this all for justice but if I can be painfully truthful with you; if we are all going to hell, we might as well turn this world into a fire as well."

Hashirama felt a chill go down his back at the cold, uncaring tone the Mage used to explain his new look on life. He looked at the men surrounding him, "What happens with them?"

"They are all people I brought with me to help fight Fairy Tail. Even though I know we are strong, rumors of that place usually hold true to their word."

"Please-please not that. They have nothing to do with this."

"Oh I think they do." Sorrento crossed his arms and started thinking back, "I know you have family in that guild, and I know they will carry on the same tainted blood and experience you had with you after all this time. And if they hid you after all this time, they betrayed their nation and everything it stands for." He smiled and tilted his head in a questioningly manner, "Kinda like me."

He looked at Hashirama with a sympathizing eye, "Hashirama, this fight will be over now. You don't have to feel any sort of obligation to the people at that guild. You've lived and suffered enough for your pain. Just tell me you want it to be over and I'll snap your neck, quick and painless. You at least deserve that much."

Hashirama had a pitiful look on his face as he lowered his head and shook it dejectedly.

"That's enough for me!" One of the Damnation subordinates screeched out and jumped when he saw their target reject a painless death. For him, the idea of killing the main target of their entire group before slaughtering an entire guild was just too juicy an opportunity to pass up. It didn't matter what Sorrento or Uvogin or Captain Marika said afterwards, as long as he got a kill, that was good enough for-

*SNAP*

Everyone surrounding the center of the forest watched in disbelief as the wrinkly old Senju planted his fist so deeply into the Damnation member his fist appeared through the back of his skin, obliterating the bones and mulching the organs. The Damnation member was sent flying past Sorrento's head and destroyed the tree that the two Generals were perched on.

Hahsirama looked down at the fist he attacked with and tightened it even more. "Years ago, if you had given me that offer, I would have taken it without a second thought. But you see..." He tightened both hands and lowered them to his side, "I met this little red-head a few years ago that lectured me about dying out and leaving this world In peace. She said if I made a mistake, something I couldn't ever live with myself if I left it alone, I have a duty to fix it."

He lifted his head, his eyes showing a strong will and fire in them then they have ever had in half a century. Pressure from his body cracked the ground around him and frightened all 500 mages surrounding him. Because even if they were bloodthirsty criminals and the very bottom scum of existence, they were still scared at the idea of fighting a monster like this.

"So send your men Alexander. Let them see why they won't ever be able to reach Fairy Tail."

Everyone except Sorrento, who just smiled as the immense pressure swept over him like a cold wind. It was so...nostalgic.

"You know...I actually like that answer better."

He snapped his fingers and his army charged forward, him standing in the back as his men flooded the area.

The ground exploded in the epicenter of the gathered people. Hashirama was darting about and dealing out more devastating damage than anyone would think a man over 100 years old was capable of. His body couldn't last long in a fight, but god damn could it deal out some hurt.

He dodged attacks, evaded swipes, disarmed their weapons and beat them into the ground. He clasped his hands together and a giant tree popped out of the ground, smacking and crushing any poor idiot that decided to attack him.

The old Senju had to admit, going all out like this after all this time felt fucking extraordinary!

A young woman with brown hair jumped through the swinging trees and ran up the trunk like it was just a carnival act. She jumped and kicked Hashirama in midair, the old man blocking the attack with the back of his arm.

He swung out his killer punches and lighting fast kicks but the woman just countered and blocked them all. Wow. This girl was unbelievable. He held the advantage in speed and power but as far as sheer taijutsu skill went, this girl may have even matched him.

Marika smiled and weaved her arms inside his guard, elbowing him in the ribs before back-fisting his face. This made the old ninja jump back from the oncoming attack and raise his guard.

Suddenly, the huge tree he created to give him the advantage was sliced up into pieces. He looked down at the falling debris and saw the massive man with the huge sword standing there with a smug smile.

The soldiers all aimed their magic at the man in the sky and fired their attacks. Hashirama tried to dodge in midair but barely avoided their impact. He jumped off the tree bits and sent them falling on the masses below him.

He stumbled on the ground and rolled on it to stop a rough impact. He looked up to see the huge army charge at him while he adjusted for battle.

"Wind Style: Dragon Spear!"

A magnificent black blur was sent into the crowd at unbelievable speeds from above them. When the attack landed, a dozen people were blown back from the force of the attack. Hashirama looked at the crater zone to see a familiar black blade imbedded in the ground from the enhanced throw.

He looked over his head to see a blond blur spinning through the air with a blunt sword at the end. He landed on the ground and slammed the sword into the earth. A massive tear in the earth threw boulders at the closet members of the army and raised huge rocks from the ground.

When the dust settled, a tall figure with spiky blond hair stood up and pulled the black blade from the ground. The tall blond faced Damnation; a long flapping cloak on his back, a prosthetic arm revealed from burnt clothing and his Earth dragon sword in his other hand. He looked towards the army and smiled vindictively, "Now don't start this little party without me."

As the Damnation members looked at the blond in curiosity, Sorrento actually focusing on the smirking blond that interrupted the fight, Hashirama look at the boy's back in fear. "Naruto?! What the hell are you doing here?"

"That bastard that attacked us in town told me you came all the way out here to fight the leader. And I wasn't just going to let you fight by yourself. And when ya look at it..." He looked back at the massive group of people in front of them, "I was right."

"Naruto, get out of here! This fight is dangerous, more than anything else you've done! I have to beat them and-"

"Then that's enough for me." Naruto interrupted Hashirama while he sheathed the black sword and sent the Earth sword back into his Requip. Immediately, the Light and Shadow sword replaced them in his hands and he looked back at his old friend. "Haven't you learnt yet Hashi-Ji? If you're going to fight, you can damn well expect one of us to stand by your side."

Hashirama looked at the grinning blond and worried about what was going to happen. He sighed and placed his back against Naruto's, "If we are fighting together, you are only going to concentrate on the foot soldiers, got it?"

"Aye sir."

"The leader is too much for you to handle and his Generals might even be too tough for you to fight here so stay back and keep by my side."

Naruto smirked over his shoulder, "I won't have to carry you, right?"

Hashirama chuckled, "Don't get cocky brat."

They faced the surrounding men and sprinted forward into battle.

########Hunter########

Erza was running all over town after they had finally put out the fire. After almost an half an hour of fighting it they finally started to gain some leverage against it. Gildarts disassembled it and Natsu ate the left overs. Mahiro and her used their magics to cut off the flame before it could grow any worse while the Master rallied the people away to safety.

But even as the guild started to celebrate saving the town, there were still two members of their family that were still missing.

"Anything?"

"Still can't find them!"

"Naruto! Hashiramajii-chan! Where'd ya go?!"

Most of the guild was searching for the two missing members as they started to panic.

Erza ran around the alleys she had last seen Naruto run through. After searching all around she still couldn't find anything.

But when she rounded a corner, she found a half-conscious man leaning against the wall with a broken foot and arm. He weakly lifted his head and looked at the scarlet-haired girl that stood a few feet away from him. He just smiled and shook his head, "Don't bother interrogating me. I'll save you the trouble."

########Hunter########

"Shadows Ascent! Star Fall Night!"

"Nativity! Don't stop moving!"

Sorrento was watching the battle commence between his army of low-life's and Hashirama and his boy. They were putting up a very good fight, already having beaten a hundred of his men. But even after they fell, they kept pushing themselves forward to attack because they didn't want the alternative of his wrath.

Even though Hashirama still fought like a monster, his old body had started to slow down from the fighting. But the new blond was making up for it. Those swords he was using were fantastic, blowing his men away and making sure they didn't get back up. And when they got close, he covered his feet in a violent current of wind to keep them at bay. So this must have been another child that had chakra just like the Senju. That explained why he was so ready to fight alongside the old man.

"Uvogin! Marika!" His two generals returned to his side as he started stepping back, "Call back some of your men, were using the special ops strategy."

Uvogin's eyes widened at the mention of their final gamble, "Master, you can't mean-"

"Woah Jii-chan, think that through! If any of our guys get caught up in that, they aren't going to make it."

Sorrento glared at his coldly, stopping their thoughts in their track. "Do you care?"

He stepped forward, "Magic team, first squad! Assemble!"

Ten men and women came out of the battle field and ran up to his side. Once in awhile he would find a person that had a strong magical power and a skill at forming magical seals. And this was where his practice in the Wizard Saints paid off to teach.

Sorrento started to weave a magic seal in front of him with ten other Damnation members following his lead. The power they started to gather affected the environment around them and cracked the ground beneath them.

Naruto started getting overpowered with the pile of people that charged him. They all started to grab at him and take shots, futile due to him covering himself in a layer of Armor. But he couldn't escape form their grasp, "What the hell are they doing-Get off!"

Hashirama was facing the same problem as he was being held down by the Damnation soldiers now. He tried to escape, wondering why they were trying to keep him in place like-

His eyes widened in realization before he looked up. Eleven fully completed magical seals were aimed in their direction with Sorrento at the lead. Even behind the magic seal he could see the Master of the army was smiling in victory.

"Naruto! Naruto!" Hashirama screamed as he pulled himself out of the pile as hard as he could and jumped towards the younger blond being kept in place.

As the old ninja flew through the air, Naruto realized that the people holding him down didn't even know what they were doing. That almost all of the remaining members of Damnation had retreated out of the battlefield in a panic. He looked up to see eleven magic seals, all aimed in their direction without any concern for their comrades still in the line of fire.

As Hashirama almost reached towards his cherished friend, Sorrento called the attack...

"Abyss Break..."

A bright light covered everything in the mountain in a sheet of white. A low ringing echoed through the mountains. And the joint attack of eleven simultaneous Abyss Breaks completely devastated everything that stood in front of it.

And even the members of Damnation looked on in shock at how the forbidden spell had completely vaporized a mountain's valley and land into nothing but dust.

And left no survivors.

########Hunter########

Done

I hope that can set up a good continuation for the next few chapters because this is about to get seriously heavy.

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