Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Warning: It's a dark and heavy story. Not for light hearts.


I... was dead.

I knew it instinctively – not even because of my memories of dying. Not because of the still vivid feeling of pain, of having my skin cut, of my flesh being pierced, of my bones, breaking, of my spine being shattered to the point that I could not move – only feel as my organs bleed, as the figure knelt next to me...

No, I knew it, because my heart did not beat, my lungs did not move.

Because... I... felt... nothing!

A breeze blew, but I could not feel it. I only recognized it due to the way the plants and clothes moved. I could not feel the heat of the sun that was high in the sky... I could see, I could hear, but I could not feel.

So... that's how it feels, to be dead... in a world of the living. Huh... maybe thinking of feeling is a wrong concept – rather it's a lack of it.

I raised my hand and slowly closed it. There was strength in it... no. I simply lost limits – those that kept my body from breaking when I was alive.

A far away explosion brought my attention back to the present. The battle was raging around us. Yet, no one was coming close to us...

Battlefield. To think that I would be called, to serve once again. I guess, someone found me the right tool for the battle.

So... I was back in hell.

"Samui?" The shocked... familiar voice brought me out of my musings.

I looked up... at Naruto. I recognized him without a problem... but only now, I noticed how much he has changed. He was older, his eyes were more mature – gone was the naive teenager... how old was he? With his damn Uzumaki genes, I could not tell. He could be years or decades older from the time we last saw each other.

He was taller, his body more defined... scarred. He wore civilian garb, a tunic, sandals and simple pants, a kunai in a holster... the tattoos I could glimpse on his arms were a new addition-

Seals. Possible storage and combat applications.

Hoo... I guess he did learn a few tricks since my demise.

"If that's your reaction to her... I wonder how you will react to this... Two!" The voice behind me exclaimed. My summoner. I could already assume that we would not get along... not that we had to. I could feel chains around my soul, tightening, forcing me to obey.

I heard a sound of sand and cemetery bell... it was an out worldly sound from the realm of death. The earth shook as something started-

Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei. Next dead summon.

Well, Naruto... who did you piss off?

"Shit!" Naruto cursed and moved forward.

Realised what was happening. Intends to interrupt the summoning.

About time, you little brick. Alway so slow-

!~

The chains around my soul tightened. My body moved before my mind registered. So this was how it felt to be controlled by Edo Tensei? It was not just a body, but my soul that was controlled... owned... even slightly reshaped. My summoner's orders were my desires... it was subtle, not full overwriting, but something I could not resist. Did not want to resist.

It's like being interrogated by a fucking Yamanaka all over again.

The fellow blond stopped surprised as I appeared before him – he had the reflexes to dodge my punch. It was impressive, especially since my power was enhanced by my state in comparison to the time I was alive. He truly grew. I continued moving forward, my hand reaching the ground, my fist smashing into the earth, with enough strength for my wrist to disappear into the ground. Naruto prepared to strike my back, as it was wide open to him.

Naive.

I arched and kicked off the ground – he had only a moment to register what I had done before my heel crashed into his face. I continued the flip and did another one counter-wise - kicking the top of his head just as he recovered. While he was stunned, I followed up with my attack-

Punch to the chin, punch to the stomach, punch to kidneys, kick to the back of his knee.

I grabbed a kunai from his sheath and with a swift movement I left a swallow cut on Naruto's chest, making him hiss from pain. I put the blade behind his knee and pulled, leaving another cut and making him fall to the ground.

I knelt on his arm, locking it to the ground – I raised the kunai.

'I guess... we will end our story, just like we started it...'

I shoved the blade into his neck.


A kunai slipped into my hand.

The material of clothes affiliated with fire country.

It was him.

Holes in the clothes suggest more wounds than visible. Regeneration.

The chosen one.

Numerous cuts, bruises and blood stains suggest an amateur or someone who wanted to inflict pain.

The saviour.

Left wrist broken. Right leg, bone sticking out of flesh. Left leg twisted. Blood coming from the mouth – internal organs damaged. Face carrying numerous bruises, broken nose. The left eye was probably regenerated after being removed.

The destroyer.

Strong regeneration at work. Status – stable.

I stood still. The rain was hitting the leaves and the ground. The sound of raindrops was deafening.

Kra!

The bird cracked, from its place on the branch.

I was cold... not because of what I saw. Those kinds of scenes occur commonly in life – more so in ninja's life than civilian's ones. Whether you were a lord or a kid, it did not matter. You were a tool for a group, clan, or village – all other groups were to be used or removed, depending on what benefited your group the most.

No... after my defection from Kumo, my 'retirement' life was peaceful. It was time away from the bloody mess of ninja, the villages and the only reminder of that time, where sporadic hunter-nins I had to dispatch. Since slashing the symbol on my headband, I could relax and enjoy life, without being ordered to kill, steal, cheat and destroy...

And now, I come upon... this... this boy, who holds the fate of the ninja world in his hands. What he represented... I detested the most. Hell, in my worst moments, I considered aiding Kaguya in seeing this world under her rule. A benevolent and tyrannical goddess would be better than what the world was now... From time to time, I still consider this. But no, in the end, what I sought was my own freedom and peace... away from the tyrants and their schemes.

There was no way in hell I would be aiding him, to save this wretched parody of world... rather than that...

I knelt near the boy, raindrops splashed on the blade of kunai as I brought it closer to his neck.

I would see the destruction of this world. To let the ninja burn, just like they truly wanted to. Let them live in the hell of their own making...

"!" the boy shivered and curled under the killing intent I was releasing.

"Shhh..." I said in a calm voice. "It will be over soon." I said in a warm, comforting voice.

I brought the knife to his neck, cutting the skin, the red blood splashing on the blade-

"Come Kona!" the Nai laughed as I played with her, throwing the ball-

The small four-year-old girl slept peacefully, a small content sound escaping her mouth as I gently stroked her hair. A small smile graced my lips.

"For me?" Her voice was excited as she looked over a small straw doll. "Thank you!" I gasped surprised, as Nai threw herself into my arms, hugging me with feeling. I could practically feel her love-

I looked over Nai as she lay on the bed. I stroked her hair before slowly, silently, removing the bloodied kunai-

I flinched, the blade moving away from the boy's neck, leaving only a slight cut on his neck. I crouched frozen, my eye looking at the boy. For a moment my mind was a chaos of thoughts… My mind was stormed by memories. The things I wanted to forget, played in front of my eyes again-

I shook my head, banishing the memories. I looked at the boy.

He was not worth it. He and what he represented, was not worth my attention… my actions… it was better to wash my hands of him… just like I did with Kumo.

I stood up and hid the kunai back in my kimono.

Konoha will probably find him sometime soon… better to leave before they arrive. I really did not want to meet any of their shinobi.

I looked at the boy again, then shook my head. I turned on my heel – I should make it to the Wave Counrty and take a ship-

!

I stopped as I felt-

I looked down. The boy was holding the edge of my coat.

I stood there, just looking at him.

He shivered from the cold.

I raised my hand to rip the coat of his hand… then paused as an idea… no, a possibility struck me. A thrid path.

What if?

My mind went into overdrive, as I considered my idea. I considered every pros and cons… before coming to decision. I turned around and knelt next to the boy. A small prick on his neck, knocked him out – I had no time to heal his wounds here. I had to transport him. I carefully picked him up - a whimper escaped him as his broken limbs moved, but the drug kept him knocked out.

I carefully hid him under my coat… then started running.


I sat down and leaned against the wooden wall, as I finished fixing the boy's wounds. He sat on my knees, his breathing more peaceful now… he snuggled in his sleep, making as much contact with my skin as he could, his head cuddling into my chest. Instinctively he felt safe with me…

I almost found it hilarious… if it just didn't cut so deep.

I grabbed the coat and covered both of us.

After a moment I felt the boat sway, as it started moving… I could hear the crew moving on the deck... I knew, from this moment on, my peaceful days were over. I closed my eyes, deciding to grab some sleep. The ship's bell rang, helping me to fall asleep.

Ding, ding, ding-


Ding!

"Three!" The far away voice exclaimed.

The kunai's blade broke right before touching the skin – a chakra cloak started forming on my eyes-

"!" A chakra tail struck me with the strength of roaring Biju, sending me flying.

I cracked through a wall of a ruined building before skidding on the ground to a stop. As Edo Tensei started fixing my broken body, I quickly moved back, passing my summoner and stopping next to two coffins.

Naruto looked up at me, chakra cloak covering his body, tails swaying behind him. He looked as if struck as the lids of coffins opened and the two summons stepped forward.

The three of us looked at the blond jinchūriki, waiting for an order to attack.

Samui, Pincers of Kumo's Black Widows Assassins corp.

Minato, the Konoha's Yellow Flash, Fourth Hokage

Kushina, the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, former jinchūriki.

The summoner cracked, behind us, laughing…