NOTE: I think this is my longest yet and I have been toying with this and editing it furiously. Hopefully all of you will enjoy it. I'm already starting on the next chapter and since I had a four hour trip to a Jazz competition both ways, I had plenty of time to write it and hopefully I'll update the next chapter within the week. Tell me your thoughts; I love to hear from you!

READ THE BOTTOM! YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO MOLD THE STORY WITH THE GIVEN OPTIONS AT THE END!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Hard labored breathing echoed off the stillness in the air. Their breath tainted with specks of blood as they exhaled strenuously. Off in the distance, the sound of a relentless battle echoed like a phantom through their ears, but none paid heed for they were engrossed in their standoff-staring match. Blood-lusting eyes gave a piercing glare into cobalt eyes that lost all trace of vivaciousness that, only minutes ago, was once prominent.

An eerie coldness settled upon their bones slowly weaving its unfeeling grasp upon tendons, veins and muscles. It was supposed to be mid-summer, but that chill running down their spine made it seem mid-winter. Both men held back a shudder and with a twitch of pale skin, the fight resumed its unrelenting ferocity.

Crimson soon became the dominant color as it splayed everywhere upon each earth shattering impact occurring. Trees were spotted, the ground was matted and the flowers drowned in a life-giving liquid turned assassin of all that was once pure.

This was the end in the beginning. The beginning of a terminated friendship and the beginning of unfathomable fate that would end all secrets and create chaos…

This was Hell.

The ripping of flesh brought their outburst to a minor halt as both men jumped backwards taking only a second to look for damage before jumping back into the fray.

If you were here, at this very moment you couldn't see them for they were going too fast for a normal human to witness. If you were lucky enough to witness it, you would see their pattern as a complicated dance. And know if there was one mess up, it could mean their life and both men had all to loose and little to gain, neither of which were giving up their malicious onslaught. Their deadly two-step was only just beginning.

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"Miss. Sizukki please listen to me-"

"Not until my son comes home!"

A woman in her late forties furiously struggled against Sakura's soft but firm grasp. Wisps of her graying hair fell from her tight bun as the woman successfully slipped away.

"But-"Sakura began to protest with irritation clearly lining her voice when she was interrupted by a hard voice,

"You son's dead, staying here is rather pointless if you're waiting for a corpse, after all; it's not going anywhere." Sai stepped beside Sakura with his gaze as cold as a mountain spring; glaring almost condescendingly upon the foolhardy woman.

Sakura sent a glare at Sai before lightly taking the woman, and escorting her to the Han-kure safe house where medi-nins in training were chaotically tending to injuries.

"I'm sorry about Sai Miss. Sizukki, we don't know anything about Tao-or anyone for that matter-"

Sakura frowned when Sizukki's pale face only nodded numbly. She already detested the war only hours into it. She hated the unnecessary blood-shed, but what she despised the most were the families left behind to mourn over their loved ones, easily dismissed by the higher authorities as if they were nothing but mold on bread.

Tristan, who himself was covered in blood, took Miss. Sizukki's arm and pulled her gently down the stairs sending a gaze to Sakura asking if she needed any medical attention. Sakura merely shook her head at the trainee before heading out the entrance door.

Sighing, she turned to her left and witnessed the pure hell wreaking havoc everywhere her eyes landed. Her stomach gave a lurch as a morbid conclusion came to mind,

We can't win…there's too many of them!

In her panicked state, Sakura went to the first person that came to mind. And shot off in the general direction she believes he was in.

Halfway there she stopped; frozen in fear as she saw the last thing she'd hoped to never see.

"No…"

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"Tobias, how convenient of you to show up."

A man in his mid-twenties kneeled down and kissed Orochimaru's left hand. His black cloak fanned about the floor in a princely manner, while his tight, sleeveless turtleneck made of leather clung to every contour of his well-chiseled chest. The slight wind caressed his long raven locks, pushing way his long bangs to show his pale blue eyes reflecting off the golden ring on Orochimaru's ring finger. From both Tobias' right and left wrists to his elbows was a leather strap with a long sai attached each both gleaming dangerously in the dimly lighted room. His red pants contrasted brightly against the dark marbled floor and lopsidedly, two utility belts slanted from his left hip to just below the waist.

Then the most daunting weapon he possessed wickedly gleamed. Not even an effort was made to hide it; his scythe with a blade made of the blackest diamonds in the world. This blade was guaranteed to never dull or break. The rest of the body was made of titanium and ornately sculpted into a perfect pearl sheen. However the pearl sheen only served as a background to the dry blood spatter scattered everywhere and the various sculpted spirals and Celtic designs were drenched in the engravings giving them a darker crimson hue.

"Sorry it took long my lord, Thaed did not give me the scroll 'til after I fed him some mongoose meat."

"Blaming your inability to come here at the time given on the raven shows incompetence."

"well then" Tobias stood up and gazed slightly passed Orochimaru's face, "good thing I'm not blaming am I?" The man smirked as he and Orochimaru began to walk down the dismal corridors, "the scroll was vague, you said the army is well and Sasuke is close."

The blue-eyed man came to a halt and held out his arm waiting for an answer.

"Always one to get to the point eh Tobias?" He jeered. "Hn, I knew I made the right decision putting you as second in command."

"What do you want me to do? Another pitiful job?" The traces of amusement left Tobias' voice and were replaced with one of groaning impatience.

"I want you to oversee-"

"I am being reduced to a mere babysitter now? Might as well-"

"Silence Tobias, I could replace you keep in mind."

"Yes, but then you'll loose a mastermind tactician and your best fighter." He briefly paused before beckoning Orochimaru, "sorry my lord, continue as you will."

"I want you to oversee someone. I am having you fulfilling this job because you're well-suited for handling her and I trust nothing will harm her unless it's you preventing her escape. She's still weak from the poisoning and when she wakes up her chalkra will resemble nothing."

Piqued interest in this girl gradually built up. Who was she to not be killed by the ruthless snake demon? Perhaps it was Sasuke's love interest Sakuno? Sankura?

"Who is she?"

Orochimaru opened the heavy wood door of the Rain Village's most predominant (now deceased thanks to Sasuke) family, the Wakamono's mansion. They both strode in even-paced strides down a gently rolling slope towards an old stone hut that once housed a few servants. There he took out a misshaped nickel key and unlocked the door to the window-less hut.

"She, Tobias, is your once-betrothed."

"Kana" he gasped and at once drunk in her sleeping form.

Her hair was dyed brown and cut short to her shoulder-blades. No longer had she possessed the long-flowing ebony hair and for a moment he hesitated to believe it was her until his eyes rested upon her slumbering face.

Her dark eyelashes kissed her cheeks and her plump, pink lips were parted slightly as she evenly breathed.

It was her, he confirmed. Many a night he had watched her sleep and her facial expression was always the same; peaceful, vulnerable and breathtaking.

He reached out attentively and caressed her soft face,

"It's been a long time" he murmured as he followed every contour of her face.

"Indeed Tobias, it has." Orochimaru kept his gaze steady on Tobias' wandering hand before he spoke out in a deathly calm voice that had an underlying threat woven intricately into it. Had it been someone else, they might not have caught it, but Tobias did. "I trust you will keep your eyes on her?"

"I will, but why did she come back? Last time I ever talked to her was just after her discovery that it was you who murdered her mother and the rest of the royals."

"She didn't come willingly if that's what you're implying."

"She will be irate when she wakes up." Tobias pulled away his hand, already missing the warmth of her face, and turned to face his lord.

"I count on it, but she will learn to accept this position and turn on the village she foolishly once protected."

"Forgive me lord for saying this, but are you that dense? She's been holding her mother's death against you for six, nearly seven years! What makes you so confident about your assumption?"

"She had grown over the years. Though I let her go, I did not loose track of her entirely. As you can tell, her physique had changed greatly, though dying her hair I could condone." Orochimaru waved a hand in her direction to give emphasis. "But emotionally she has matured enough to have a mind of an old man of wisdom. Her mind is sharper and possesses enough commonsense to even make myself envious. Still, she is my daughter" Orochimaru walked over to her bed and took her warm hand into his cold, callused hands, "and I love her more than my revenge and hatred upon Konoha. And when she wakes up, I will tell her the reason why I killed Aurora, but until then" he released her hand and turned to gaze fiercely into Tobias' pale orbs, "keep a diligent watch on her."

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"Retreat!" Jiraiya's voice boomed over the entire land with foreboding tones. And it was, in turn, returned by the foreboding silence as each ninja hesitated to leave. A second later the Konoha nins disappeared leaving behind the countless dead and merciless shadow nin to do as they please with the barren village that once stood tall.

The tide was turning in the favor of darkness. Jiraiya with his calling a retreat was well aware of that factor. He knew as well as the other Hokages, that all responsibility to quell the darkness was not present. The persons themselves had their own fears to conquer before they became able enough to fight it…by then it could all be too late. A dark frown marred his features before pushing the final lock through its place. With a hallow click bouncing off the cold, metal walls, the remaining citizens and warriors of Konoha were locked in as darkness of the night descended upon their grave faces.

I hope we chose wisely. He grimly closed his eyes as he walked down the halls towards the meeting room where he and the rest of the Hokages would discuss further details concerning certain matters. His heavy footsteps reflected his solemn heart, so far things are not boding well, what if our trust was mislead?

Indeed, what if everything they thought was right turned out to be wrong? That a trust in one person could very well mean the certain downfall of the Hidden Leaf Village and most of the Fire country? What if, despite everything, they loose?

What if…

Well, I am really at a horrible writters block. Though I have nearly finished the next chapter I feel that my concentration is dwindeling substantually. And I REALLY need to know what you people want for the next chapter? Which character do you want me to focus on? So message me and tell me, but mind you, some of these characters come with a twist that will leave you yelling at the computer. These are the choices:

Aliea/Kana: Her history and why Orochimaru killed her mother

Naruto: His POV during a fight scene

Sasuke: His POV when fighting Naruto seeing just how...well can't give that away yet

Kakashi: Does he actually love Aliea and his feelings of the war...and will he live?

Orochimaru: Enough said

Tobias: Is he really as creepy as he seems.

Sakura: Will she leave Kakashi...?

Other: Who and why?