XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN ANY SHAPE OR CAPACITY. I ONLY OWN MY FICTITIOUS OC'S.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Upload Schedule: Sundays and Thursdays

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Glossary: Scene breaks will be denoted by a line of X's

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Demonic or summons speech"

'Demonic or summons thoughts'

Jutsus shall be rendered in Japanese or English depending on which they are. For example, I will not be saying Almighty Push, I will be saying Shinra Tensei, or Rasengan instead of Spiraling Sphere. However instead of Raiton: Gian I will be saying Lightning Style: False Darkness, I am now starting to consider going only Japanese or English with the jutsu. Please let me know which you would rather.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." - Norman Vincent Peale

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So I feel the need to warn you, this is a filler chapter for the process of writing out the plot for the next arc. I have to apologize as these next two chapters will be shorter, but the next chapter will set up into the new Arc. As you can guess the Tsunade Retrieval arc is not happening, so I will host a game. For those who can guess what the next arc is, I will give you a single concession to influence the story. This concession only has two rules, it does not affect Ame, or Hanataro they are key elements of my story, Hanataro less so but it all has a meaning. The second rule is that Aang and the gang shall not be brought to Konoha as of yet, Aang has a special entrance. So go ahead and guess, if you can that is.I also feel I should address something. I have had several people messaging me about unrealistic Med-nins, about how Ty Lee should have been healed initially with in a couple of days. So, I figured I would take the time to explain my reasoning around not completely healing. So anyone with a twelfth grade knowledge of biology or even a lower grade Life Science will understand one simple thing. The body does not simply regenerate itself, all cells die and are replaced, which is how we heal. Blood cells, bone, marrow, antibodies, flesh, skin, hair, nails, they all regrow with new cellular tissue. This leads me to another point, after a certain age there is degradation in the process, which leads to aging, health problems, and eventually our deaths. So when I view healing jutsu, I view it not as magically mending wounds, but speeding up the rate that the cells are reproduced and moved into place. It only takes seven years for your body to replace every single cell in your body. You are not the same body you were seven years ago, that you is dead and gone, at least the tissues. So, my reasoning is, they do not fully heal wounds due to the simple fact of the damage rapidly increasing the rate can cause, and one of those illnesses happens to be one that I am all to familiar with, a mutation due to reproduction errors that our bodies can't fix. Cancer, so please, if this satisfies your thirst for an answer, accept that this is why I have it as I do. It is also the reason I can think of as to why Tsunade doesn't just use her Genesis seal, outside of the chakra requirements, it reduces her lifespan every time she uses it.

A side note, for those wishing to know, I am going to post the names of songs I listen to when writing chapters. If you listen to these songs while reading, you might be able to find themes, I did for my first few chapters:

Calm/filler Chapters

Eden - Wake up

Varien - Valkyrie Trilogy

Oh Be Clever - River

Koda - White Dove

Eden - Drugs

Grandson - Best Friends

Grandson - Bury me face down

Rome - Lay me down

Ed Sheeran - Shape of you (only for fluff scenes)

Halou - Honeythief

Fighting scenes/chapters

Hidden Citizens Fur Elise

Apocalypse Orchestra - Garden of Earthly Delights

Release The Archers - Cleanse the Bloodlines

Any song by Less Friction

Korn - take me

Korn - A Different World

Warframe OST - This is what you are

Some of these songs are my favorites to listen to even when not planning out plot or writing. Till the Epilogue,

~Ardent Chronicler

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jiraiya had to take a second, leaning against the open gate of the wall that once surrounded Konoha very snuggly. He saw it, a large area of destruction, rubble being cleared, it looked like a hell on earth. He cursed his injuries and he had to get to Minato as soon as possible. Jiraiya was about to flair his Chakra Signature but he did not even need to do it, with a yellow flash, there stood his student.

"Master!" Minato ran to his Masters side, he couldn't believe his eyes. Jiraiya only had on his mesh undershirt, his pants had been replaced by some raggy looking shorts. Jiraiya no longer had his long white hair, and he looked extremely rough, but what tore at his chest more than anything, his master was missing his left arm from his bicep down. His eyes looked hollowed, dark rings below them, but the stitches stretching from the back of his neck, to the front and down under the collar of his shirt were what had him worried.

"Minato, thank god you are alright. The village, what happened?"

"An old Uzumaki seal is what Lord Ozai told us. Apparently it was planted in the village beforehand and had been detonated, we are down to less than a tenth of the population and less than an eighth of that are shinobi." Minato placed his hand on Jiraiya and was about to flash but Jiraiyas grip stopped him.

"No, I need to see it Minato, I need to see what has become of my home." Jiraiya leaned against his student as they began to walk, the ache in his limbs screamed for him to relent and go to the medical center. He couldn't, he needed to see what became of his home, of what he had fought and bled for for so long. Passing time in silence was not his nature so his sighed.

"What the hell happened here? I know it happened in other places, but here?"

"What do you mean Master?"

"Kiri is gone, they are rebuilding as we speak but no living being inside of the city lives. Kumo was hit the hardest, being built on the side of the mountain, the mountain side slid and most of their citizens and structures are gone. The Inner ring of Ba Sing Se doesn't exist any longer, I have received word from Lord Iroh of what happened here."

"It was bad, I was at Narutos home when the explosion went off, it was so quick I barely had time to erect a barrier. It reminded me of a Bijudama with how it expanded with the explosion. Not long after, maybe a few hours, Iwagakure attacked. I am lucky Lord Ozai was here, we took care of both jinchurikis, and the populous that could fight removed the ninja from the village."

"So it was Oonoki, that damned old fool. If he truly did wipe out the Earth King and his family, the Earth Kingdom is going to be in shambles. Last I heard the Dai Li are trying to control the situation until the presiding officials can find the Earth Kings closest family to take the throne. For now a man named Long Feng is in control, but he seems to like the control. I have heard one of Kumo's jinchuriki are injured to the point they are looking for a seals master. Mei Terumi has stepped in to the Kirigakure ruins and has started to rebuild the village using her oppositional forces from the Civil War." Jiraiya sighed as he looked out in front of him, it didn't seem that bad from far off. The crater had been filled with earth jutsu, he could feel the chakra in the ground. It was the sheer size of the area that struck him in the chest.

"Minato."

"I know Master, come on, we need to get to the temporary offices." Minato grasped Jiraiyas shoulder and they vanished with a puff of smoke. Appearing inside the office he settled Jiraiya into one of the chairs by the side of the table.

"Chunin Kotetsu."

"Yes sir?"

"Go fetch Tsunade tell her it is Jiraiya, and it is urgent."

"Yes sir."

"You know Minato, she's gonna kill me."

"Not till after she kisses you. I might not be excited about how you and my mother act, but she needs you as much as I did."

"Minato."

Minato sighed, he walked to the other side of the desk, sitting into his chair and shrugging off his coat and vest he rolled up his long navy sleeves. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, he felt trapped, the room had begun to be stifling. Without a rhyme or reason he created a clone who performed the Rasengan and carved a hole into the wall letting the cold December air through.

"It has been three months, you figure that the crew would have put in air conditioning."

"Minato, it is freezing, you need to rest."

"I can't."

"No, you can, you won't. Why? What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid Master."

"Don't lie to me Minato, the last time you acted like this was when you found out about Kushina being pregnant. You could never lie to me, to Kushina, to Naruto, Inora, KAi, but not me. You are too much like Dan and Tsunade to hide from my eyes." True to his word, Minato flinched when he heard his childrens names, Jiraiyas eyes narrowed.

"How bad?"

"Coma, they say it was the bleed on the brain, but there is no telling when he will wake up. The Yamanaka Clan have offered to dive and find him, but there is a chance he's not in there anymore. Naruto has been distant, even more so than usual. I felt like I had made some progress ya know? It just feels like one step forward is twenty back, and I'm just so lost Master. After he and his team were fit for duty they have started to run missions, when they are home they only train, and it worries me. Despite what people believe, I may not have loved Kushina, but I love my son. I see myself in him, I see Kushina in him too, and I just can't help but be worried. I had even reached the point of wondering if I should pawn Hokage off to Itachi, but that isn't hat the village needs."

"I know kid, and don't worry. Kai is too much like you than you care to admit. He will be fine, he will wake up, and pester me to let him sign the Toads scroll. Naruto, he is just an enigma, like a Rasengan. He looks so calm, so serene when he is there, but on the inside I believe he is ready to burst. It might not happen now, or anytime soon, but his dam is filling quickly. Just be there for him, remind him that Muy might be his dad, but he has two fathers."

"I know Master, I am just worried."

The door opened and Minato cast his eyes to his mother, still with a bandage around her right arm, but in one piece.

"Oh my lord, Jiraiya, what happened?" Tsunade walked quickly over to Jiraiya performing the Diagnostic Jutsu to seek out his injuries. She could feel it, the sliced muscles and skin, the circular shaped scars over his limbs, and his missing arm.

"Jiraiya this chakra."

"I know."

"What's going on, mom?"

"You didn't tell him?"

"No, why would I have?"

"Jiraiya!"

"HEY, I'm still here you know."

Jiraiya sighed, he didn't want to tell Minato of his failure, of his shame.

"I got some intel, a couple weeks before Naruto was slated to come home. I spent months trying to infiltrate Amegakure, only to be stopped at every turn by Konan, my old apprentice. I got a warning on one of the last times, if I didn't stop, Nagato would come and stop me and I would die. I sent a letter to Tsunade to ask her to make a fake reason for me being outside of the village fr so long and I managed to get inside. Not even five weeks ago I was cornered by Nagato and Konan, Yahiko wasn't there. I had to fight for my life, even using Senjutsu, but nothing worked fully. In the end my arm was torn asunder by Konans paper Jutsu, and I was pinned to the ground. I should have died, but then someone showed up who should not have been there."

"Who showed up?"

"An old sage, one that has an even deeper connection to Sage energy than I, his name is Pathik, but he is a Guru beyond any of our years. He pushed the two back momentarily and took me with him. I have spent the last four and a half weeks recovering from that fight, I learned under Guru Pathik as well. I now know why Iroh spoke so fondly of him, he is a work of wonders. He told me about what happened and I managed to get the strength to summon a toad, I was given report after report of what happened around the world, and then heard what happened here. I had to hurry home, I needed to see it for myself."

"You damn fool, you should have stayed in bed! These wounds, this is going to take time, and I mean years of work to completely fix! You have wounds in places I can't heal, laces I WON'T heal. Jiraiya, you should be dead."

"I know, if it wasn't for him pulling a favor from the spirit world, I would be dead."

"He has that deep of a connection Master?"

"Yes, Pathik is a man wise beyond even his own years, and he helped me reach the spiritual world myself. There I managed to work out a deal with a healing spirit who inhabited my body and encouraged my body to heal."

"We need to make a plan Master, Iwa and the smaller nations won't just rest idly."

"The plan is simple, we need a show of power."

"What do you mean?"

"You remember Kakashi special mission, about ten years back?"

"You don't mean."

"I do, it is time to return the favor."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He was exhausted, he hasn't been able to relax for months now. Running a hand through his crimson hair he let his gaze rest on the doorway in front of them. Itachi knocked on the door and the Team walked in through the doors.

"Team 7 Master Uchiha reporting Mission Accomplished."

"Good, Itachi stay and report, Genins Uchiha, Yu, Chunin Gekkou dismissed." Shikaku lazily tossed a light green vest to Sakura a testament of her passing her test.

Sakura was ecstatic, she had been approached a month ago after she had to take charge of a mission. She led the team to accomplish the mission, and make allies from it. She was told if this mission, under her command, went well enough she would have her field promotion. Sakura felt the rough almost burlap material the many pockets and neck protector felt heavy. The vest had a material called Kevlar underneath the cloth and had heavy insulation set between the layer of Kevlar and material, this pattern went for over two inches of compacted layers to create the heavy but sturdy vest. The twelve pockets on the front and two on the back were very useful. She slipped the vest onto her body and zipped it closed, covering her Navy sleeved shirt.

"Congratulations Sakura."

"Hn."

Sakura smiled and nodded, before the three split ways.

Naruto turned from his teammates eager to get home. Ty Lee had been on his mind, her state of mind has not been the best the past month and he worried for her. She had slipped into depression and he rarely saw moment of her smiling anymore and to be honest it irked him. His thoughts drifted to Minato who decided to take a more personal take into his training. Sending a Shadow Clone to watch over his paperwork Minato had begun to assist Naruto in learning to control the Kyuubis chakra. Naruto had managed to work with Minato well enough and could hold a single tailed cloak, but he still felt the fear in his mind. Now though, the fear wasn't gnawing or screaming, it was just like when you went to the doctor, you were afraid of what might happen, but during it it turns out not to be that bad. Though it was with his seals that he improved the most. Naruto had begun to learn new seals, ones he could use in battle a paralysis seal and one that could contain an element and seal it away. They were useful, especially the paralysis seal due to it being so basic. Naruto felt at home learning seals, like they were in his blood, but there was still something that slipped his mind. Minato also was trying to force Naruto to learn the Rasengan, not that Naruto didn't see the value, but he was a long range fighter, seals, archery, his Kongo Fusa, and his traps suited him well enough. Reluctantly after talking it over with Zarehya he relented to learning it. The first stage had been simple, but his problem was the power, he just couldn't pop the damned rubber ball.

Sakura was eager, her new training had helped her on the last mission. Training with Lady Tsunade had been a dream of hers, to be taught by someone so strong and confident it filled her with happiness. The lessons had been slow and it was an arduous process but she began to pick things up quickly due to her intelligence. Her lessons from her adoptive mother had helped prepare her for the training, the patience and brutality of the Sannin was something to respect. They had been swapping between evasion tactics and training and learning about anatomy and physiology. She was scheduled to begin her Shosen training tomorrow and it filled her with anxiousness, she only hoped to make her mother proud. Speaking of her mother, due to Yugao being out of action from a broken femur Hayate had picked up Sakura's training, and she loved her mother, she did, but Hayate was ten times better at teaching her than Yugao. She was already working on the Dance of the Crescent Moon, though with Water Clones. She was exhausted every afternoon between her two physical teachers that when ITachi came over every other day to train her in Genjutsu, it was all she could do.

Sasuke was annoyed, Sakura had been up for promotion but not him. It ground on his nerves, almost as bad as his secret Master Orochimaru did. Orochimaru had been teaching him for the last two months, in elemental manipulation and Jutsu. He was able to manipulate lightning easy enough but he still couldn't channel it like Orochimaru had wanted him to. He was learning two styles of Kenjutsu one from Itachi the other from Orochimaru and it was exhausting. Itachi's soaring falcon style focused on a one and a half hand grip used for quick blocks, long stretches of movement to cover an area, and his natural maneuverability. Orochimaru's roaring dragon stance focused on swift and precise strikes timed with counter attacks and false moves to set up enemies. The two worked in combination with each other so well it as hard to try and stop the styles from bleeding together. ITachi had found out and agreed to keep it a secret as long as Sasuke never slacked on his training. Since then Itachi had pushed more Genjutsu into his styles and working on his Sharingans abilities. It as a hard and uphill battle but he had managed it with his brothers assistance. With his teammates and their abilities, in conjunction with their Master, the Team 7 had been able to go on B-rank after B-rank missions. Mostly to the front lines fighting Iwa shinobi, but it was enough for them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ty panted, her body soaked to the bone with sweat, her white shirt clung to her frame tightly like a lover. She bent backward avoiding a foot, rolled into it performing a cartwheel to dodge the drop kick from her Master, and back peddled a dagger pointed at her throat.

"Dead, again. Remember Ty, the goal is to predict movements by taking in environmental factors. Examine the area as you move, watch the shadows, listen to the shifts in the air, the scratch of the dirt beneath your feet, the smell of your opponent. You need to take in all of your resources, not just your flexibility, but your acute senses you try to hide. Now, I want you to come at me, and use chakra in your strikes, feel your fire nature and channel the chakra to the tips of your fingers. Try and burn your opponent with your strikes."

Ty surged forward, she ducked under Zarehyas arm and struck it three times, spinning into the fist aimed for her head she struck Zarehya's left leg three times rendering it numb. She however did not expect the crass headbutt sh received courtesy of her Master. She fell on her rear her nose bleeding wildly like a spout.

"Come on Ty, you can block Chi, but you need to burn me."

"I'm trying Master, my chakra doesn't want to respond."

"It's ok Ty, just take a few minutes to stop the bleeding before we start again. Grab the set of gauntlets and greaves so we can practice your weapon strikes."

Ty Lee nodded, she stood using her shirt to cover her nose, she made her way to the bathroom closing the door. She removed her shirt and pulled on the toilet paper, ripping off a two inch section. She twisted it and then folded it pushing it into her nostril. She sighed opening the door to the bathroom, her chest bindings ached but they kept her breasts from being in her way during combat. She turned to go to her room but walked face first into Naruto. The two fell to the ground Ty on Naruto's back.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you Naruto!"

"It's ok Ty." Naruto stood with her the two brushing themselves off. Naruto took in her sweat covered body and her chest bindings.

"Stop staring, it's a little weird Naru."

Naruto chuckled wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer to him and he kissed her forehead.

Ty knew something was bothering him more than usual, he never kissed her forehead. He never just held her, it was her laying on him or bothering him. He rarely initiated physical contact, she leaned forward placing her face into the crook of his neck. She always chocked it up to him in some way afraid to hurt her or something, but it wasn't that, he was in some form of emotional turmoil. She noted his scent had blood in it now, he had been to the front lines again. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders squeezing him tightly as she felt him relax.

"I'm here, we are all here. Come on, you go shower, I'll go after you and well join Master for tea." Ty gave him no room to argue, pulling his hands from her waist she turned him and pushed him down the hallway to their room. Closing the door behind them Naruto unbound his tunic tossing it to the door frame, his turtleneck coming off as well. Naruto reached to his headband removing it and untying his Yu Yan band as well. Ty sat on the side of their bed and took note of the difference in shade of his skin. His hands, feet, and head all were darker, covered in dirt, blood, and soot. He walked over to her and kneeled down in front of her, just taking in her presence. She leaned forward placing her forehead against his and smiled to him.

"Go shower Naru, you smell horrible. After I get out remember, tea then we can have some time to ourselves."

"Alright."

Ty Lee sighed watching him leave with a set of clothes from his dresser. Zarehya peaked into the room and looked to Ty.

"Wow, I think that's the second most naked I have seen you in my son's bed."

Ty blushed furiously and shook her head at her Master.

"Master! Oh, Naruto is in another funk about the frontline. So I need to confiscate him for the evening, is that alright? After tea time of course."

"Ty, he's important to you as well. You can be there for him in ways Muy and I can't. Take all the time you need sweetheart."

Ty Lee sighed, she rubbed the back of her neck and collected her clothes hearing the bathroom door open. She watched Naruto walk into the room wearing a pair of loose knit sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt similar to his turtlenecks but without the neck. She stopped on her way past him and turned his head to look at her, she smiled to him. Stepping in she planted a kiss on his cheek and kept walking to the bathroom, the lack of reaction told her this mission was a bad one.

Naruto felt numb, the images played through his head over and over. Stones crushing his allies, their jutsus an firebending cooking and destroying the opponents. His arrows tearing into limbs, torsos, people, too much blood. He was shaken from his musings by Ty kissing his cheek, but he was too slow to react. She left the room and he sat on the bed, laying back his back against the wall legs off the side. He didn't know how long he stayed there, the faces flashing through his mind, but he felt a finger wipe something wet from his cheek.

"Hey."

"Naru." Ty Lee crawled onto the be, she straddled his waist sitting on his pelvis. She would normally be uncomfortable like this, but there was nothing perverted meant by this. She took his hands between hers and wiped the tear from his cheek. She leaned down and kissed where the tear had been and leaned her head into the crook of his neck. She could feel his tenseness beneath her and her arms wrapped around his torso holding him tightly. She felt his arms wrap around her torso and he buried his nose into her shoulder.

"Fifteen confirmed. None of them were older than me or Kai."

She said nothing, there was nothing to be said, she rubbed his back gently and kissed the side of his neck. Naruto's arms tightened to the point it was almost painful but she just clutched him tightly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."

She said nothing, she knew by now, the words weren't for her. They were for the dead haunting his thoughts.

"Come on, mom is making some Chamomile tea, your favorite." Ty sat up his arms settling around her hips as she sat back. He smiled up to her his eyes red, she leaned down and gave him a soft and long kiss. Standing from his lap she got off the bed and took his hand leading him from the bedroom to the living room where Zarehya and Yin were waiting.

"Hey Naru, we're glad you're home." Zarehya smiled softly to her eldest boy. She could see it in his eyes, through all of the boasting, the rules, his "heartless" persona to some. Naruto was an emotional being, he was passionate, he was headstrong, and he wore his heart on his chest for those closest to him to see. Naruto liked to play tough, that much was evident with his time in the Military Academy and in his training with the clan, but he was just simply not meant for war. He was too much like Kushina.

"Hey mom, how's Yin?"

"She's down for a nap, I have been training Ty during Yins naps. Your girl there has an amazing aptitude for my fighting style. If I had a grasp on her earlier in life she may have been able to fight off very good benders and Jonin by now."

"You flatter me."

"It is the truth Ty, now, I fixed us some fresh tea, your favorite Chamomile. Muy will be home in a few hours, he's been running border patrol for Konoha making sure no one comes in the perimeter. You know how he is Naru."

"Yeah, he needs rest though."

"That he does."

"Oh Naru, want to see the gift Master got me!"

Ty didn't even wait for his response running back to their room. She opened one of the drawers of the bed side table pulling out to gauntlets and two grieves. The gauntlets were simple treated leather that covered the back of her hands, her fingers and half way up her forearms. The leather was lined with decorative patterns of weaving, the ends of the fingers had points to them just for the added effect. The greaves were similar, treated leather, but these had ridges down their length in a quilted pattern. The ends covered the majority of her feet and the thick hide protected her from most hard hits, even Zarehyas punches. She ran back to the living room slipping the effects on to her arms and legs. The legs seemed goofy considering she was wearing a pair of his overly large sweatpants, but her spaghetti strapped pink tank top allowed easy access to her forearms. She struck a pose for him and Naruto began to laugh, her legs looked ridiculous she knows but her smiled to her, a true smile. He pulled her into his lap forgoing his tea on the table. A hand on the other side of her head holding her the other around her waist.

"I am so proud of you, and so happy you are learning to protect yourself. I am proud of you Ty." He felt some of his worries disappear as she kicked off the greaves and the gauntlets. He smiled to her and moved to kiss her cheek but a cough interrupted them.

"I'm gonna go check on Yin, you two should head to bed early today. Spend some time together, you both need it." Zarehya smiled to them. She stood quickly and walked down the hallway to where her and Muy had set up Yins room.

Ty stood and grabbed one of Narutos hands, giving it a gentle squeeze she pulled him down the hallway to their room. Opening the door she pulled him in and shoved him onto the bed.

"Under the covers now, I'm cold and need to cuddle."

Naruto chuckled removing his shirt, he pulled back the covers and placed his back to the wall one arm holding the covers open for her. He watched her shed her pants wiggling her hips probably a tad too much just to tease him. She crawled into bed and cuddled up to his chest. She placed her face in the crook of his neck a leg across his waist her chest to his. She sighed contently into his form. Naruto wrapped her waist in one hand the other tracing his index finger up and down her arm.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too Naru."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Itachi sighed leaning his elbows on his knees and sitting his head in his hands. He looked to his mother who had a dead set face.

"I am serious Itachi, we need to discuss the state of the clan."

"I know mom, but you still need rest. Your torso is contused, you have three fractures, and some tissue damage from what they hadn't healed in the hospital."

"Son, I am a veteran of the Third War, YOUR mother, head of MY clan, and I could tell Izumi embarrassing stories about you. Don't test me."

"Well for starters Sasuke is being courted by Lady Azula."

"WHAT!"

"Indeed, she frequently spirits him away from our training sessions or his off days. They spend time talking and walking, and he is very defensive over what they talk about."

"Is that so."

"It is curious if you ask me, why would Azula the princess of the Fire Nation, want my little brother as her own?"

"We can use that though, if we play on his daughters infatuation with Sasue we could try and wriggle our way into a higher position of power."

"Mom!"

"What, I'm just saying."

"Well don't."

"Fine, what about the state of the village and the clan?"

"The village is in ruins, our total population is less than a tenth of what it originally was, and barely a fraction of that are ninja. We won't recover from this for a long time."

"You need to have hope, we will recover."

"According to Shikaku, it will take sixty years in the least if there is a population boom, to restore our numbers of military assets and civilians. That's at least two generations."

"It can't be that bad."

"Three minor clans are extinct, two are on the bridge of extinction, and the Uchiha, Hyuuga, and Yamanaka are teetering on the edge. If something doesn't happen soon we will pass the point of no return and our numbers will wane till we are gone."

"Well what do you propose?"

"What do you mean?"

"Arranged marriages, with clients or allies that owe us. We arrange the marriages, encourage multiple children and reward those who do have more than two. By doing this we are encouraging our numbers to be raised, fellowship with our allies, and we also may get new trade tariffs. I will be writing a personal report to Lord Ozai requesting a betrothal to Azula for Sasuke. If they are interested may as well make it official."

"Mom, we can't just do that to people."

"It won't be involuntary, people can not marry or not have kids. It's better than the Hyuuga, they're probably going to incest their brains out. They may be polite, but they are savages. Now I am tired, leave me." Mikoto sunk into her bed and turned on her side giving her back to Itachi.

Itachi sighed, standing he walked from her room bidding her good night. He roamed for a few moments clearing his mind before he left for his room. Walking in he saw Izumi in the bed, he climbed in behind her making her jump in fright.

"Sh, it's me 'Zumi."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Naruto groans, his eyes fluttering in the darkness that shrouded his vision. He realized quickly it wasn't darkness, it was hair, chocolate brown hair. He chuckled feeling the small frame on his own squirm from his chest bouncing. Naruto stretched his arms and rewrapped them around Ty pulling her closer to which she smiled almost like a cat. Using the hand that was on her shoulder he brushed her hair back behind her neck, the light of dawn cracked into his vision. What caught his eye though was the raven sitting at the foot of his bed. He unwrapped his arms from Ty, much to her unconscious ire, and called the bird over. He took the message from around its ankle and read it, it made him relax even more.

'Team 7 will have a mandatory one week vacation from the frontlines.'

Naruto watched the bird vanish with a puff of smoke and he nonchalantly tossed the message to the floor. He settled into the bed happy he will get a few more hours of sleep, he closed his eyes, the images of the battle flashed through his mind but he focused on Ty's breathing, the pressure of her body on his, the heat. He felt her skin, her breath against his neck, he lashes against his skin, and it calmed his heart. Within minutes he fell back to sleep and had a dreamless slumber.

Zarehya sighed again, her nude body next to her husbands. She looked up from where she lay and saw his closed eyes his calm breathing.

"What's wrong my love?"

"I don't know, but I don't feel so good. I think I'm gonna get up for the day." She felt Muys arm tighten around her waistline and she sighed.

"Love I'm serious, I want to get up."

"Too bad, you're mine." Muy turned over pinning her to the bed and suckled on the nape of her neck, her groan beneath him boiled his blood.

"Muy, come on, I'm sore from last night, seven hours of last night. Please, just let me get up."

He sighed but he sat up his hip attached to hers in more ways than one, he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before he moved back from her with a slick pop. He stood off of the bed and rubbed the back of his head, turning to grab some clothes.

"Damn, I'm going to need to put some salve on your back again."

Muy chuckled, the damn woman never knew how to control her claws, she always ended up giving him scars when they had a passionate fuck. He had only two sets of scratched from her on his back, their first night, and the night Yin was conceived. If his track record shows for anything, either she is going to hate hi for the next week for making her too sore to stand, or she was going to get pregnant.

"Goddamnit Muy, next time when I say be more gentle, be fucking gentle."

"Couldn't hear last night over the sounds of your lust beneath me, not my fault." Muy pulled his sweater over his head and chuckled at the pillow that impacted the back of his head.

"Asshole, your forget, I'm more than two feet shorter and nearly two hundred pounds lighter than you. You HURT when you get rough."

Muy pondered his chances and chuckled to himself prepared to escape from his room.

"Then why do you ask me to fuck you harder and harder? You don't seem to mind being destroyed like that." Muy darted from the room Zarehya got up from the bed about to give chase but she sighed, it wasn't worth the drama this morning.

Muy chuckled, he loved that woman, he loved teasing her. Making his way across the hall he opened his sons door and saw Ty Lee sprawled across him and his son gently rubbing her arm.

"Dad?"

"Hey, if you can escape, come on, we're gonna make the girls something special for breakfast."

Naruto sighed, the breath throwing some of his crimson hair from his face. He shifted and turned on his side Ty's form laying on her sighed with a angry groan. He leapt from the bed not jostling it in anyway and landed next to his father. Closing the door silently behind him the two men made their way to the kitchen.

"I managed to bribe some Nara for some deer meat, were going to be making your mothers favorite."

"Deer balls?"

"Haha, you know what I mean."

NAruto chuckled, he loved picking at his father about the joke. The two began to work on the breakfast food, sausage balls made from venison. The two finished their cooking and instead of setting them out on a platter like usual they divided them between the four, with Zarehya getting more than anyone else and they went back to their respective rooms. Naruto slowly nudged the door open, he peeked in and saw Ty facing the wall the cover off of her body, her bare leg and barely covered rear shown to the world. Naruto slid into bed behind her her back immediately pressing against his for warmth. She turned over and was about to bury her head into his neck when Naruto wafted one of the balls beneath her nose. Ty's eyes cracked open.

"Merry christmas Ty." Naruto leaned in kissing her deeply and giving her all of his affections. He set the plate down on his hip as the twos make out got heated but they stopped to eat the breakfast before them.

"Merry Christmas, Naru."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I threw in a tad bit more fluff, and a little bit of a reference to a sex scene. This chapter was filler mind you and that is why it is filled with fluff, hence the name filler. Till Sunday,

~Ardent Chronicler