Sum of our Parts

Judgement

***I do not make any $$$ on Naruto. ***

"Le gasp!" normal talking

'das fuken?' normal thinking

"set-you-on-fire-no-jutsu" Jutsu and other techniques

"I will murder you!" Tailed beast talking

***SooP***

"C-can we rest f-for a second A-Akane-chan?"

The redhead nodded, before gently sliding down to a seated position with her sister.

"Is the Kyuubi still being suppressed?"

The blonde shook her head, "No but Kyuu-chan says that she can't heal me properly while the kunai are still in... I need you to take them out."

Akane looked a bit indecisive for a moment, knowing full well how much it would hurt the young girl to do so.

"I-it's okay, I know you don't want to hurt me but this will help."

The girl reluctantly agreed, before putting one holding her sister's hand with one of her own and gripping a kunai with the other.

She quickly pulled, ripping the weapon out as quickly as possible and earning a cry of pain from the normally cheerful blonde. Just as she had anticipated the girl squeezed down, cracking her bones but helping to alleviate the pain even just a bit.

"O-one down only about seven left." The Jinchuriki chuckled humorlessly as tears welled up in her eyes.

The other Uzumaki swallowed painfully, trying to resist the urge to cry herself at the pain she was being forced to cause the most important person in her life, before grabbing another one of the embedded weapons and pulling.

***SooP***

Hinata ran into the Sanin and the older Kunoichi just as they were finishing up their battle. Her analytical gaze, combined with the Byakugan immediately showed her that they hadn't sustained any life threatening injuries, but she moved to check for any poisoning regardless.

"You both seem to be okay, no poisoning on either of you and no internal injuries of any significance."

"Yeah yeah we are both fine great, now go check on my granddaughters."

The Hyuga nodded, before racing off to locate her two teammates.

***SooP***

She found them minutes later, both seated on the ground with blood pooling below them.

"NATSUKO-CHAN AKANE-CHAN!" the pale eyed girl sprinted towards them, as images of her last 'failure' played before her eyes.

"Check on Natsuko first, the Kyuubi's power was neutralized and she might need a jump start for the healing."

Hinata hesitated, both were badly injured and she knew that the redhead would put her own injuries on hold for her sister every time, despite how bad hers might be.

Biting her lip, the Hyuga nodded before quickly running some diagnostics on the blonde, while Akane sat back against the wall to catch her breath.

"She has lost a lot of blood so I will be giving her some of the rejuvenation liquid to help. Otherwise the Kyuubi seems to be rapidly healing all of the actual wounds. She is not in any danger."

The other girl nodded, before closing her eyes in exhaustion. A moment later she felt the gentle Chakra that was associated with her teammate's medical techniques.

"Are Jiraiya and Anko okay?"

"Yes they are both fine. I ran into them before finding both of you. It appears as though both Orochimaru and Kabuto are now dead."

"Good riddance... assholes..." Natsuko muttered.

Hinata giggled before concentrating on healing the various wounds that her teammate had received.

Minutes passed by in comfortable silence before the healer asked a question that had been on her mind for longer than she could remember.

"How?"

Akane opened one eye to look curiously at the girl while her sister also glanced towards their teammate.

"How what Hinata-chan?"

"How are you both so strong? I trained for years with a Sanin, two Jonin, and a Hyuga clan prodigy and yet still... I took down a measly traitor while you two stood against two legendary, immortal, Kage level Ninja and won... how do you do it? How are you both so awe-inspiring?"

"Do you not see your own achievements? Besides Tsunade there is no one who can equal your skill in medical Jutsu and you formed your own Taijutsu style with little to no help. You incorporated Ninjutsu into said style which even your entire clan, with centuries of experience, could not do. Yet despite all of this you still maintained a balanced life. Don't sell yourself short Hinata... you are amazing in your own ways."

"I suppose I have come a long way since I was the stuttering shy little girl huh?"

"Not only that Hinata-chan but you found the courage to express your feelings for us, rather than just spying from a distance." The blonde happily mentioned, turning the poor girl bright red in embarrassment and surprise.

"I-I-I... you knew!?"

"Of course, enhanced senses remember? You were the only academy student who ever smelled like cinnamon rolls."

The poor girl fought back the urge to pass out

***SooP***

In the meantime, Jiraiya and Anko slowly made their way to the room, which looked more like a warn torn battlefield, that they had left the two sisters in.

The first thing that he noticed was the two warriors, having just fully regenerated, looking around frantically.

"Stay here Anko, if they are still being controlled you need to get the others to safety."

"What will you do? It's not as if you can stop them by yourself."

"No, but I can probably collapse the building and trap them here."

The snake summoner stared wide eyed at the man, who had just admitted that his only plan would involve killing himself.

"You better come back to those two girls… or so help me I will drag your perverted lazy ass back to Hokage-Sama and tell her what you did."

The white haired man flinched at the threat, but nodded.

Striding forward the man took a deep breath, making sure that he had a few Jutsu ready just in case, and called out to his former student.

"Looking for something Minato-kun?"

The blonde whirled around, a frenzied and terrified look in his eyes, before spotting the man.

"Jiraiya-Sensei! Thank Kami, we are trying to find Akane-chan and Natsuko-chan."

The man nodded, "Understandable, they are in high demand right now. Why do you want them?"

Normally someone would play the Sanin's question off as friendly conversation, but the Yondaime knew his teacher far better than that.

The older man was interrogating him.

"W-we… we hurt them… we need to find and make sure they are okay."

"They will be fine their teammate is a medic."

"Jiraiya, we need to apologize for…" the Kunoichi started before being interrupted.

"No, you need to stay away from them right now." The white haired man snapped back, a bit of anger in his tone.

"J-Jiraiya what do you…" Kushina began, but this time it was her husband that stopped her from going any further.

"No… he's right. Who knows whether we are completely free from Orochimaru's control or not. With everyone's state we are too dangerous to be around them if we should revert back."

"I'm sorry you two… I know how much you want to see them but right now that's just too dangerous. I love you both, but I love them more."

The two experienced Ninja nodded in acceptance, before Jiraiya gave a nod to Anko.

"Anko, go let the other three know to depart back to the camp. We will keep about an hour or two behind so that we can help if necessary but that way we won't be too close."

The woman agreed, before leaping off to where her snake summon had located the girls.

***SooP***

The trip back had been… painfully quiet for both parties. Jiraiya had insisted on avoiding any conversation about the two girls until they could reach the main camp. He explained that it was only fair for them to understand the situation all at once rather than bits and pieces at a time.

Luckily Hinata truly was second only to Tsunade, and perhaps Shizune, in medical skill. She had quickly patched up Akane and helped Natsuko's recovery within a day. The only thing that remained was for them to completely recover from the entire ordeal, both mentally and in terms of their Chakra reserves.

***SooP***

The two groups arrived back at the allied camp two days later. Luckily the fighting had been temporarily halted for the last several days, due to losses on both sides.

The two sisters immediately moved off towards their tent to finish recuperating, and for Akane to reverse the seals that had been placed on her sister.

The two parents moved towards them, in an attempt to apologize.

Minato even reached out towards the young blonde, hoping to just embrace his daughter. His attempt was thwarted by the other.

The redhead immediately pushed her sister behind her into a defensive stance, her eyes glaring harshly towards the two Ninja.

"Stay the hell away from her"

Minato saw a Ninja protecting family from an enemy, and it broke his heart in ways he could not even begin to imagine.

Kushina, however, saw something even more disturbing. A look in the young girl's eyes that she had witnessed only one time before, and a rage was stirred in her heart. She had questions, and someone was going to answer them.

Before the two could try again they were bombarded with 'fans' both young and old, along with rivals and even former enemies.

In the chaos the two Uzumaki sisters managed to slip away, unnoticed like they had so often in the past.

***SooP***

"So who wants to begin the amazing tales of how awesome my daughters are?" Minato called out to the assembled Ninja.

Jiraiya was there, along with Tsunade, Kakashi, Anko, Shizune, Mikoto, Itachi, Kurenai, Gai, Asuma, and the other Kage.

"They are truly full of the FLAMES OF YOUTH! Yondaime-Sama!"

"Uh yeah, what Gai said… It is great to see you again Minato-Sensei."

The blonde smiled warmly at his former student.

Meanwhile Kushina had been staring at the ground in contemplation before whispering out her question. "Tsunade… do you hate me?"

The room clearing fell into deathly silence as the various Ninja stared at the woman.

"Wh-what are you talking about? Of course not Kushina! You are like a sister or a daughter to me why would…"

"THEN WHY DID YOU LET THEM DO THAT TO MY DAUGHTER!"

The woman flinched back, knowing exactly what the redhead was referring to.

"You saw that look in her eyes Tsunade! We all saw it! You know exactly what that means… she looked just like one of the girls from Nanking!"

The younger generation looked rather confused at the statement, but the older ones gasped in horror.

"Tsunade-Sama, you never answered me last time when I asked what that meant, what does…" Shizune began.

"Nanking was a village that was caught in the middle of the Third Shinobi war," The former Hokage answered, his tone full of rage. "Kumogakure soldiers entered the village and were ordered to take all of the men as slaves… but the women were 'given' to them as entertainment… the official report is that every female had been raped and tortured repeatedly."

"Oh God no…" Kurenai sobbed out, falling down to her knees at what had befallen the redhead.

Suddenly it all made sense, the month that the redhead had gone missing, her fierce protectiveness towards the blonde, all of her personality quirks.

Shizune simply threw up.

Anko looked like a cross between murdering the next living being and crying for a week.

"I want their names"

Kakashi, being unable to look either of the two resurrected warriors in the eyes, looked up in shock and then wished that he hadn't.

He had never seen his Sensei in 'combat mode' before. He had heard the stories, just like anyone else, but he had never been on a battlefield with the man.

His presence was truly terrifying.

Gone was the warm smile and comforting laugh, they were replaced by a terrifyingly cold gaze. His laid back and relaxed stance was now uptight and militaristic. Instead of the normal feelings of joy and safety that he had always associated with him there was a promise death and destruction on unknown scales.

This was 'The Butcher' of Iwa, the man who had slain over a thousand soldiers in a single battle, the Shinobi who helped to end a war, a warrior who couldn't be matched.

"W-w-we..."

"I didn't ask for excuses Kakashi I want names."

"I managed to find out a few Minato; but not all of them, not based on the... evidence..."

The man shifted his gaze towards his Sensei, who winced back from the glare.

"What evidence?"

"Scars... Hokage-Sama, I wasn't made aware of them until the Chunin exam but she is covered in them... scars from every major clan in the village."

Once more the gaze shifted, this time to the woman who had fallen to the ground first, the one he identified as 'Kurenai'."

Kushina held back a sob of her own.

A few moments of silence passed before a voice rang out.

"You didn't have to volunteer. You could have just stayed silent."

The various Konoha Ninja looked up in shock at the blonde man.

"Jiraiya, Kakashi, Tsunade, Mikoto… none of you had to volunteer to look out for them, especially if you were just going to ignore them anyway. I would have found someone else, someone that would have taken care of them."

"S-Sensei I…"

"You lost friends Kakashi we all have, but you had a chance to raise them, you all did… but instead you took the 'easy' path and just chose to leave them alone." The Shinobi shook his head in disgust.

***SooP***

"Kushina-chan we need to talk about something..."

"Mikoto... I am truly disappointed in you. I know your love of family and for you to abandon mine... but even so I can forgive you. I heard about the Uchiha Massacre and given your situation trying to raise two boys afterwards..."

"It's not just that..."

"Mother perhaps this isn't the time to..."

"No! She has to be told Itachi-kun, I owe her more than you can understand. Kushina-chan the CRA was proposed for your daughters following the revelation that Natsuko could use Mokuton."

The area fell into a deathly silence, no one wanting to admit what had occurred.

"If that thing was enacted on my daughter..."

"It wasn't I promised never to let that happen to them, not after all my failures already. I told both Hiruzen and Tsunade that if it came into effect we would never step foot back in Konoha again." Jiraiya proclaimed as he stared the two parents in the eyes.

"Thank you Jiraiya, but I don't understand why..."

"I voted yes..." the Uchiha matron whispered out.

The clan head stared down at the ground, not able to meet her best friend's glare that she was undoubtedly receiving.

Then it happened.

Killing intent on a scale she hadn't thought possible roared to life. Instantly she was on her knees, trying desperately to draw breath from the air which seemed to have thickened to the point of being a liquid.

Glancing to her sides she noticed most others in a similar state.

The only ones still able to remain standing were Tsunade, 'A', Oonoki, Mei, Jiraiya, and Minato. Of them only Minato seemed to be unaffected.

She slowly raised her head, and her blood froze at the sight.

Looking down, with a slight smile on her face, was her closest friend in the world. Someone who had stuck by her throughout everything she had gone through. Someone who had even created seals that had aided her conception, she had found it very difficult to conceive before the Fuinjutsu master's intervention.

She now understood what the rumors and legends were all about. Mikoto Uchiha had never believed what people had said about her closest ally, that she was the Shinigami who had taken physical form and prowled the battlefield. The idea of her being soaked in blood and smiling... it seemed outrageous that a woman so happy and loving could do such a thing.

Not anymore

The sky looked like it had turned red with the blood of those this woman had slaughtered. Her eyes were a deathly cold, as if killing was as trivial as greeting someone on the street. Her hand laid gently on the hilt of her sword, but she knew with even the slightest gesture she could cut a person in two. Worst of all though was the smile. It wasn't one of happiness and joy, of life and peace.

No it was one that promised the death of her enemies, one that guaranteed only one outcome to the situation.

The redhead strode forward, flowing like water between steps in a way that the prone woman wondered if she had moved at all, until she reached her target.

The woman had slowly unsheathed her fabled sword, preparing to strike down someone who had done the ultimate betrayal, in her mind.

Suddenly a voice called out, "Hey! Whoever is doing that cut it out!"

Without thinking Kushina focused her intent on the speaker, her daughter Akane.

Minato's eyes widened, realizing exactly what his wife was about to do, but wasn't able to stop it.

The woman's daughter just stared back, almost in an annoyed fashion.

"Natsuko is trying to sleep, so cut it out before I make you."

The others gaped, the raw force of the woman had been enough to bring ANBU level Ninja to their knees. Only those who had seen war and slaughter had been able to remain standing in her presence. Even then only her husband, who had been on the actual battlefield with her, was seemingly immune.

Yet this girl shook it off like it was nothing.

What the hell had happened to her?

The younger girl quirked an eyebrow at the shocked stares, even after the killing intent ceased.

"H-how is she..." Asuma muttered out, still trying to recover.

"Akane-chan I-I-I am so sorry I didn't..."

"Nothing to apologize for, I've felt worse."

Again the Ninja stared back.

The young girl sighed, really not wanting to explain her life to these people.

"The Yin half of the Kyuubi was sealed into me, meaning darkness, evil, primitive thought, and aggression. I was constantly being mentally tortured by that thing."

Minato held back his own sob, he knew that he had sealed half of the Kyuubi into both of his daughters but he hadn't thought about how the split had been made. It had been his fault for what she had suffered through...

"Don't feel bad, if the roles had been reversed I would be carving your intestines out right now for doing that to Natsuko. Luckily she got the Yang half and has always been in good standings with her."

"I-I'm so sorry... Akane-chan I..."

The girl nodded before slipping back into their tent.

Minato hung his head in despair. He had created a rift between his daughters that would never be repaired.

A comforting hand found its way onto his shoulder.

"Don't worry about that Minato. They knew about me when I met them during the Chunin exams and forgave me for not being with them. They will forgive you, just give them time." Jiraiya found himself on his back a moment later, having been thrown over the man's shoulder.

"DAMNIT JIRAIYA WHY THE HELL WEREN'T YOU THERE! I understand Kakashi being too young and hung up on the loss of everyone else. Tsunade had lost her family too. What the hell was your excuse damnit!"

"I... don't have one."

The blonde growled before taking a step forward to continue beating his teacher.

"Minato wait"

His rage was halted by a new voice, and turning he saw a man who looked... oddly like him.

"Who are you?"

"Ummm, my name is Arashi Namikaze... and I am sorta... kinda..."

"He's your dad Minato." Jiraiya answered for the man.

The Yondaime glanced between the two men for a few moments.

"No, my father is currently lying on the ground about to have his fingers broken as punishment for letting my daughters fend for themselves."

Everyone blinked in shock.

"M-Minato... but it's him. Your real father, the one you always talked about! He's the 'Kamikaze'. You were right all along about him being so amazing and..."

"Of course I was right! You are amazing. Those stories were never about my biological father; they were about you. I saw you as the most amazing person ever. A Kage level Ninja who refused the position because he wanted to save lives. A spy of the greatest level, a genius who worked his way up from the bottom, the most successful writer of all time, and the story about being a farmer? Remember when you posed as one and gave food to the villagers because you felt bad? They were from the enemy country and you still helped them out."

Tears began forming at the white haired man's eyes. He had everything he wanted the entire time. Minato considered him a father, and always had; Tsunade had secretly loved him, and had for years; and even with his failures the two Uzumaki sisters considered him their grandfather.

"Minato... son... I'm so sorry for failing them and you... I thought it would be better if... I am so sorry..."

The glare broke and the younger blonde helped his 'father' up off the ground.

"Of course you know that Kushina-chan is still going to beat you up."

The Sanin grimaced as he glanced over at an overly excited, and smirking, Kunoichi.

Meanwhile Arashi looked on with a warm smile, before being called out to.

"Hey old man, get your ass over here. Your family too so you are stuck with the group hugs, and the beatings, just like everyone else."

Chuckling the wind master nodded before walking over to receive whatever was owed to him.

***SooP***

"Do you think they will ever forgive us?" Kushina whispered out to her husband, unknowingly being heard by several others as well.

"Of course they will Kushina, you didn't abandon them like we did and yet..." Jiraiya began, before being cut off by his student.

"How exactly do you forgive your father for trying to kill you? For saying... Kami the things we said to them..."

"Minato it wasn't your fault, you were under Orochimaru's control."

"Do you think that forgives a mother for calling her daughter, who had been repeatedly raped, a whore?" The Kunoichi snapped back, anger at herself raging in her eyes.

"Your daughters are amazing people Kushina-chan, they have forgiven far worse from far more terrible people. Just give them some time, trust me." Tsunade gently urged.

***SooP***

Hours later the two parents finally found the courage, ironically this situation scared them more than all of the battles they had ever been in, and gently tapped on the side of their daughter's tent.

Hearing a slight acknowledgment, the two older Ninja entered, noticing that the two girls looked to be constantly on guard around them.

"Jiraiya has informed us that we shouldn't be any more of a threat, the seals that were affecting our minds were damaged when Orochimaru died and Jiraiya made sure that they were removed." Kushina whispered out, her eyes glued to the ground rather than the forms of those she had failed the most.

"I... we wanted to apologize for... Kami for just so much..." Minato slowly began, hoping to try and somehow make amends for what he had done.

"The things we said, that we did..."

"You were being controlled, it wasn't your fault." Natsuko interrupted with a shrug.

"No, that's not fair. This can't be just waved off as 'something that just happens'. We hurt you two, in ways that parents never should. Hell I don't even know if we can honestly be called your parents since we sure as hell haven't acted like them."

"You brought us into this world, I believe that is the definition." Akane pointed out.

"That isn't true, Tsunade gave birth to me but I have never thought of her as my mother. Parents are people who raise and protect you. We have done neither of these things."

"You are dead, that doesn't really give much time for raising or protecting."

"And the two times I have seen you? The first was me throwing kunai into your back and the second was... well I have done unforgivable things to you two." The Yondaime muttered.

"We both have, and there is no excuse for any of this. We can only beg for your forgiveness, and try to make some kind of amends before we depart again."

"Your leaving again?" Natsuko almost whimpered out her question, earning heartbreaking expressions from the two parents.

"It's not their choice. The Edo Tensei only lasts for so long after the original creator is killed. Without their will and Chakra maintaining the Jutsu the soldiers only have a few hours, maybe a day at most, to remain in this world before they fade away. Otherwise they could have simply brought back the first Hokage and kept him alive forever."

"Correct, though I am surprised you know so much about the technique Akane-chan." The other redhead praised.

"I was asked by the Hokage to come up with a counter strategy for it. I had to deal with an entire army of resurrected soldiers after all."

The two older Ninja shared a 'why is our daughter being forced to do this by herself' look before returning their gazes towards the two girls.

"Regardless, I understand if you hate us both. If I had been in your position I..."

"We don't hate you, mom we just... we never had actual parents growing up, and our 'father' figure rarely had time to spend with us. We don't know how to handle this." The blonde slowly replied, as if unsure about the way to address the woman.

Kushina's mood seemed to uplift considerably at the answer, noticing her other daughter nod in agreement.

"So Hiruzen was who you saw as a father then? I suppose that makes sense. Still doesn't make me any less pissed at Jiraiya or the others though." The blonde man growled.

"We forgave them too; did you really think we wouldn't be able to forgive the two people who had no choice but to leave us? Out of everyone here you two were the easiest ones to forgive."

The two older Ninja looked on with tearful expressions towards their redheaded daughter, before nodding in thanks.

***SooP***

"So..." the blonde Shinobi seemed a bit nervous at first, as if not quite knowing how to approach the subject.

"So what?"

"Okay how did you do it!? Obviously you added wind Chakra to the Rasengan but how!? I mean it took me years and I still couldn't figure it out!" The man half exclaimed, half begged.

Instantly Natsuko began giving a giggling and excited explanation to her father, going in depth into the various ideas and techniques she had tried, what had worked, and what hadn't. Meanwhile the man nodded, taking notes and appearing just as enthusiastic as his daughter did.

Akane merely shook her head, she figured that Natsuko got her personality from one of their parents, who knew it would be the one who ended up as Hokage.

"Just like her father"

The redhead turned slightly, noticing her mother walking up slowly from behind. The girl nodded in acknowledgment.

"It appears so, who knew that the Fourth Hokage was so..."

"Ridiculous? Yeah but that is one of the reasons I fell in love with him. He makes life fun and interesting."

"Natsuko does the same, she is the life of the party no matter where she goes."

"And what about you? Surely you have quite the following yourself right?"

The young girl shook her head, "I scare everyone far too much to have friends. I can probably count the number of people who can be in the same room with me for more than ten minutes on one hand at this point."

The woman's mood fell, she knew that being a Jinchuriki was hard but... there were so many people who had abandoned her daughters.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered out.

"We already forgave you for..."

"Not just that, for everything. For having to put this burden on you and your sister. For not being there while you grew up. For not protecting you like I should have."

"It's not like you could help it, being dead kind of prevents the whole 'mother daughter bonding time'."

"I know... could I at least... try? While I am here I mean."

Akane stared at her mother for a moment, before giving a warm smile and a nod, "I would like that."

The two embraced, followed shortly by the other two members of their family, for the first time reunited in love.

After a few moments the former Kage resumed his 'goofy' personality role.

"Incredible, simply incredible! To think my daughter would be the one to master my personal technique I knew you two would end up being geniuses!" Minato practically sang out.

"We only passed the academy due to a bet with the Hokage" his redheaded daughter deadpanned.

While Kushina giggled the Yondaime froze in celebration, before weeping false tears. "She is just like you Kushina-chan, so mean to me..."

"So you made a bet with the old man and won eh? Why wouldn't they let you two pass to begin with?"

"Couldn't perform the necessary Jutsu mom." The blonde happily answered.

"What? Why not? You should have been... DAMNIT OLD MAN!" The blonde Kage swore in annoyance, knowing full well why they couldn't.

"So you couldn't perform the basic Bunshin because of the Chakra control issue huh? I had the same problem when I was in the academy you know." the older Kunoichi mused.

"I can't perform any of them."

The two parents froze, before looking towards their other daughter.

"What do you mean? Why not?"

"My Chakra is too dense to perform any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, it simply doesn't work for me. Something to do with the Kyuubi messing with me and my heritage."

Minato growled in anger, while his wife took on a more analytical approach, "The Uzumaki do have considerably denser Chakra than normal Ninja, and if what you said about the Kyuubi is true... I'm so sorry sweetheart, I wish we had known. We could have made alterations and prevented this."

"It's okay, plus through that I discovered something even greater."

This time the blonde perked up, his mind going over the other question he had from the battle.

"It's how you perfected my technique isn't it? How did you do it? The Hiraishin, it has to be performed with seals but you didn't use any at the end."

"Hiraishin Third Step. I came up with it during the training with Jiraiya."

"How does it work? Do you completely bend space time? Is it a different Jutsu? Do you combine several seals into one? Did you secretly make a massive seal under the ground when we didn't notice?" The man began rattling off possible explanations, earning a sweat drop from the three Kunoichi.

Kushina interrupted him with a slap to the back of his head, "If you would let her finish I am sure she would tell you..."

The man gave an embarrassed chuckle, before excitedly urging the girl on.

She nodded, before lifting up her shirt and channeling her Chakra, thus revealing a seal on the center of her torso.

Because of this she missed the darkened expressions from her two parents at the scars she bore.

Snapping back to reality the two experienced Ninja examined the Fuinjutsu.

"But that's..."

"A modified Hiraishin seal... I don't understand how it..."

"Normally the technique works by teleporting to the mark itself, creating a bend in space and time which between the user and the destination seal. Instead I put the seal on myself thus allowing my Chakra to act as one massive seal. Because my Chakra is so dense it can exist and be focused on far easier than normal people."

"You aren't teleporting to the seal... you're teleporting to your Chakra!"

"Exactly, I first used it during Orochimaru's invasion in the Chunin exams when we first met father. The problem was that it was still in prototype form and left me with massive vertigo. Plus, it took me far longer to spread my Chakra out enough to be used at range."

"That is... genius!" The man happily declared, before grabbing his daughter and pulling her into an excited hug.

Akane immediately froze up, not being used to hugs like this from 'strangers', something that her mother noticed and added to the things to beat her 'guardians' for. A moment later she slowly returned the gesture.

***SooP***

"Akane-chan, I wanted to... return this to you." The 'Bloody Smile' presented her sword back to the young girl whom she had willed it to.

"It's yours not mine."

The woman fiercely shook her head back and forth.

"I am no longer of this world so it passed onto my two daughters... obviously Natsuko-chan thought you should have it and I agree with her. I wish you didn't need it but... it appears you followed your father and I's footsteps regardless of our intervention."

"I have my own already, I don't think I need..."

"Please..."

The girl sighed before nodding, "Alright after this is all over I would be glad to take it back, but I have a bad feeling you will need it before this war is through."

The woman nodded, before awkwardly shifting back and forth.

"I wanted you to know... how proud I am of you, how proud both your father and I are of you two. Not only did you exceed our wildest expectations but... to have gone through what you did and still be the wonderful person you are..."

"Natsuko is the one you should be praising. Without her I wouldn't be what I am today."

"And without you she would not be as she is now. You two depend on and protect each other far more than either of you realize."

***SooP***

An hour later the four reunited family members were sitting around a small campfire, happily conversing away from prying eyes.

"So I heard from quite a few sources that the two of you are in the running for next Hokage." The Yondaime hinted, while Kushina looked at her two daughters.

"Just Natsuko, I believe Tsunade has already made a note for her to be either the sixth or seventh."

"Not interested Akane-chan?"

"Not in the least bit, too much paperwork, politics, and too many bad memories with the villagers. I would much rather be ANBU."

"Guess you got that from me then, I am glad I found out what the job entails before seriously trying for it." The older redhead mused.

"Hey it's not all bad... I got a really cool hat..."

"The coolest hat!"

"See! Natsuko-chan has the right idea!"

"And a really cool cloak!"
"The coolest cloak!" the man agreed in excitement.

"And so much ramen!"

The former Kage's face tightened, becoming serious for a moment, "You... like ramen?"

"It's the best, but Akane-chan doesn't let me eat it all the time" The younger girl pouted at the last statement.

"Akane-chan... is this true... have you denied your sister THE GIFT FROM THE GODS THEMSELVES!?"

"Oh great she got it from you..."

"TRULY RAMEN IS THE GREATEST INVENTION OF MAN!"

Natsuko had tears of joy in her eyes, Kushina and Akane merely sweat dropped.

***SooP***

***SooP***

"Anko you were Orochimaru's former student correct?"

"Yes, that's correct Hokage-Sama, Kushina-Sama."

"I'm not Hokage anymore you don't need to call me that, especially not you. I heard that you have become quite close to my daughters, that you have been like a sister to them."

"I think of them as my sister yes, but I have hurt them as well. I knew you were their parents and didn't tell them."

"You were ordered not to correct?" the other Kunoichi inquired, earning a confirming nod from the woman. "Then I am sure they have forgiven you. I am just glad that they were not completely alone in the village. To know that at least a few people were looking out for them... thank you."

"I did what I could but... it wasn't enough. I still couldn't protect them from everything."

"No one could from what we understand. If they have forgiven you then we have as well."

The woman nodded in thanks, before noticing that the two sisters' remaining teammate was approaching with a determination in her eyes.

"Hopefully I will see you two later, I want to go check on your daughters for a minute."

A slight gesture told them that they would be conversing with the Hyuga next, moments later the woman leapt off.

"Hokage-Sama, Uzumaki-Sama, it is an honor to meet you both."

The man seemed to raise himself up, as if his height would give further and puffing out his chest.

"Aw no need to be so formal Hinata-chan, you can just call us Kushina and Minato."

The air rapidly left her husband, as he whined about losing respect with "today's youth".

"U-uhm okay thank you Kushina-Sama"

"Just Kushina will be fine, so Hinata-chan what can we do for you?"

"Ummm I was wondering if… well you see…"

"No need to be so worried Hinata-chan just let us know what we can do to help." The blonde man smiled warmly, helping to diffuse the anxiety that the poor girl was feeling.

"I have been… seeing your daughters for some time now and I was wondering if… if I could have your permission to marry them."

The two older Ninja's froze, a bit shocked at what the timid girl had just asked.

"Ummm which one?"

"Both of them."

"You want to marry… both of my daughters…" The Yondaime repeated back, trying to get a handle on the situation.

"Yes"

Again the two parents seemed frozen, before Kushina grabbed the girl into a fierce hug.

"You are just adorable! Of course you can marry my daughters! Oh you three will make such a beautiful couple! Akane-chan can wear my wedding dress and Natsuko could be in some orange with…"

As the woman rattled on excitedly the fourth Hokage glanced around. His instincts had immediately kicked in and he knew that such a situation was bound to attract his perverted Sensei and student.

Sure enough he found the two, hastily making notes about the 'wedding night' for the three Kunoichi.

"O-oh hey Sensei, funny meeting you here we were just uhhhhh…."

"JUST THINK OF IT MINATO-KUN! The shy pale eyed princess seducing the sunshine incarnate and the ice queen with a heart of gold! I WILL BE RICH!"

"I'm going to give you two a thirty second head start before I tell Kushina-chan you were here… and then I am going to sit back and watch."

The two men paled, before sprinting off in sheer terror.

Their cries of pain would echo through the camp for hours afterwards.

***SooP***

"Excuse me um Hoka…"

"YO AKANE AND NATSUKO'S PARENTS!"

That was it, this was the final straw. Sakura was going to have to kill her teammate. Sure Kakashi would be upset with her for a while, and it might irritate his clan but… it was worth it in the long run.

"Kiba how the hell did you ever make it past the rank of Genin?" Neji muttered out in annoyance, trying to rub away the headache he already felt forming.

The two experienced warriors turned, and noticed the small gathering. The rest of their daughters' class was assembled before them, along with Itachi.

"Oh hello there, you must be Akane-chan and Natsuko-chan's classmates."

"Hell yeah we are! My name is Kiba Inuzuka and…"

"I swear kibbles if you don't stop talking I'm going to burn your lips shut with a fire Jutsu…"

The loud boy growled towards his Uchiha teammate.

"You got something to say teme?"

As the two boys began to get into their normal argument the others walked around them and approached the parents of their comrades.

"We just wanted to find and apologize for not helping your daughters more while we were able… we were pretty mean to them during the academy…" Ino quietly spoke, her face downcast a bit as she remembered all the rumors she had spread about the two girls, especially Akane.

"Oh that's alright, I am sure that they forgive you. Besides you were kids back then so no harm no foul." The blonde man happily replied.

"I was actually hoping to thank you Hokage-Sama. You have two wonderful daughters and I was actually lucky enough to date the older one for a bit before we decided it was better to break it off."

The two reincarnated Ninja glanced towards each other in confusion for a moment.

"Really? I would have thought that you and Akane would have made a better couple, well I suppose opposites do tend to attract." Kushina replied with a shrug.

"That is who I was referring to, your older daughter."

"Akane is actually the younger of the two."

This statement brought all the arguments, and conversations, in the immediate area to a halt, with jaws hitting the floor from everyone who had encountered the two girls.

"A-are you sure Hokage-Sama? I mean no disrespect but the way that they act it seems as though…"

"THEY ARE SO VERY YOUTHFUL!"

The various Ninja turned to stare at a crying Lee, and his teacher who had shown up to embrace the boy.

"YES LEE LET US CELEBRATE THEIR YOUTH WITH A CONTEST OF STRENGTH AND WILL!"

"YOSH GAI-SENSEI, AND IF I CANNOT ACCOMPLISH THIS THEN I SHALL RUN AROUND KONOHA ONE HUNDRED TIMES BACKWARDS WHILE CARRYING A SMALL CHILD!"

"AND IF YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN THAT LEE THEN I SHALL RUN AROUND KONOHA ON MY HANDS WHILE CARRYING YOU WHO IS CARRYING A SMALL CHILD!"

"Actually… never mind about the whole age thing." Tenten deadpanned, while she watched on in embarrassment towards the two men.

***SooP***

"Akane-chan, Natsuko-chan… it's time." The redhead called out, as the two resurrected Ninja's bodies began to glow softly.

Natsuko was already crying when she threw herself into a hug with her parents.

Akane looked mournful as well as she joined in.

"Now now none of that. We will see you again someday, but not for a damn long time do you understand me? If you two don't survive then you are both grounded." The blonde spoke in a teasing manner.

"Take care of each other, live long lives, be happy, be free." Kushina muttered to her two children, as the tears poured down her face as well.

"And for the love of Kami you had better make up an awesome technique using my name instead of just your mothers!"

Natsuko giggled while the glowing continued to brighten, then they were gone.

***SooP***

"Kage-Samas there is another force approaching our front lines, this one seems to be composed of the remaining Zetsu army." A scout hastily called out to the commanders of the allied force.

"Very good, we can finally end this battle once and for all." 'A' replied with a confident grin.

"There is something else sir… it appears that they are being led by two different individuals. One is wearing a dark red armor and the other has on black robes matching that of the Akatsuki."

Oonoki looked a bit startled for a moment before asking his own questions, "The man in red, describe him."

"Long wild black hair, pale skin, and he appeared to be carrying a large war fan."

The older man paled immediately.

"Madara Uchiha…" he whispered out, as if speaking the name would summon the man.

The other's looked towards their leader in shock.

"If that's true… we need to engage him outside of the camp. The collateral damage he could create would devastate the army even if we are victorious."

"What about the two girls? Surely they can…" Mei began, before being cut off by Gaara.

"I believe the Uzumaki sisters have done enough for us already. Surely we can stop two men without having to depend on them?"

"He's right, besides they are still getting over watching their parents disappear before them. I think they have earned a break." Tsunade muttered, her gaze focused on the tent she knew that the two girls were currently residing in.

The other village leaders nodded in agreement, before preparing for the inevitable battle.

***Omake***

"Hinata"

"Neji-Sama"

The boy glanced around, making sure that there weren't any eavesdroppers, before he replied in a low tone.

"I believe that Ko of the Main Clan has information on 'the event'."

Hinata's expression never changed, though if one looked close enough they would notice her finger flexing nervously.

"Is that so, you are certain?"

"Yes, I overheard a conversation where he was speaking about 'teaching the redhead a lesson years ago'."

"I see… thank you Neji-Sama I will handle…"

"I insist on coming along with you."

"I do not believe that is a good idea. If anyone discovered that you were involved…"

"Most of the authority figures are highly indebted to them. Besides if anyone does start a fuss I am sure that that Hokage would love to hear about it."

Hinata nodded in understanding.

"The others have begun looking for the members of their clans. They wish to participate as well."

"Understandable, I will assemble them tonight. We move at dusk."

***SooP***

The Hyuga man woke up with a mind numbing headache, and completely bound.

"Wha-what's going on?"

"What is going on Ko-Sama is that we have some questions for you. Questions that need to be answered." A voice called out.

The man immediately recognized the form of Hinata as she stepped from the shadows of the abandoned building.

"You! What have you done to me you bitch!? When I get out of here I am going to…"

"It doesn't really matter you aren't leaving here; at least not in one piece."

The new voice sounded out, as the younger Uchiha stepped forward from the shadows, followed by his two teammates, then the others of his class.

The only two that were missing were the two 'Demon Children'.

"Now I know what you are thinking Ko-Sama. We are indeed missing my two teammates. But quite frankly for all the times they have protected us well…"

"It is past time that we protected them." The normally jovial Akimichi heir finished.

Looking between the faces the Hyuga spied his last chance of rescue, the true heir of his clan.

"Neji-Sama! Please help me, I don't know what they have told you but it is a lie!"

"They haven't told me anything, and I will save my judgement for your answers, Hinata if you would?"

"Of course, like I said we have some questions for you. The most important will be first, and if you don't answer well…"

"If you don't then I get to 'play' around in your mind and see what I can find. The trouble is that I have trouble with the technique sometimes and it can become… very messy." Ino happily replied, a bit too happy for the man's comfort.

"I-I have nothing to hide from you brats!"

"Good, years ago there was an assault on Akane Uzumaki. During this assault terrible things were done to her over the period of a month. Were you involved in this?"

Three sets of Dojutsu instantly focused on the man, and he knew that any attempt at lying would be detected by at least one of them. But then again he knew that they wouldn't be able to do anything to him. He was a member of the Main Clan, and any assault on him would carry heavy punishments. Obviously several of the children were being lied to, probably told that he had tried to stop the assault or help the demons. He would correct that mistake now, and let them know that he had participated in the 'crusade' against the monsters.

"Yes, I was there. We carried out Kami's work and did the Fourth Hokage proud. We broke the bitch, over and over again. We mutilated her and listened to her sobs and begs like they were music. We made sure that she bore a mark for every person that she killed during the Kyuubi's attack. We made her beg for each and every person's forgiveness. The only regret that we had was that we only captured one of the demons, not both. I always was a fan of the blonde."

Most of the Ninja looked ready to throw up at the man's confession. For him to take joy in such an act…

The members of the group stepped outside of the room, to remain outside of the man's hearing.

"Monster…" Lee muttered out, his eyes filled with a rage that none could associate with him.

"What do we do with him? We have no evidence, we can't turn him in like this the Hyuga will have him out in a day, no offense." The blonde Yamanaka muttered out.

"We aren't going to turn him in." Shino replied, a faint buzzing filling the room as he considered all of the ways that his insects could kill the man.

"Shino is right, I say we start cutting things off and burn the wounds shut. I know enough to keep him alive for days, if not weeks. He tortured Akane-chan so I say we do the same to him."

The others turned, shocked, towards the normally passive pinkette.

"Sakura-chan do you realize what you are…" Sasuke began, still stunned that his girlfriend could be so… cruel.

"Of course I do. The things he helped do to her… she saved my team several times. Natsuko and her have saved both you and Kiba. She sacrificed herself to save me… and it's not like she owed us. We were cruel to her growing up. We turned a blind eye to their suffering. Never again, this bastard is going to bleed."

The others nodded.

"Okay but we have to be in agreement, all of us. If someone here isn't comfortable with this, then we can't put them in any kind of situation where they are forced to choose between friendship and the village. If anyone here doesn't think we should proceed then we stop, raise your hand now if you are not in agreement with this course of action." Shikamaru pointed out, before glancing around.

No one moved, no one averted their eyes in uncertainty, no one gulped nervously.

The only faces staring back were those of Ninja, those of friends and family that had beheld a monster attack one of their own.

His classmates were a clan in and of themselves, tied together by something stronger than blood or loyalty pledges.

One of them had been hurt, badly. The only recourse was justice.

"Right then, Sakura, Ino and Hinata start working on keeping him alive through any means necessary. He has dared to call our sisters monsters… let us show him just how monstrous we can be." Neji growled out.

Ko Hyuga would never be seen or heard from again. The only evidence of his existence would be his eyes, sent back to the Hyuga with a note.

'Those who have chosen to remain blind shall be forced to see.'

***A/N***

Wow I really didn't think the chapter would go this long… and this was after I cut out a ton of scenes.

So lots of heart felt apologies, lots of anger, lots of forgiveness etc etc etc. Back to the war next chapter!

Hope everyone enjoyed my longer chapter for this story to date!