AN: Why do we lie? To hide from reality, to hide from truth, to hide from our mistakes; or you could be meaning to diffuse a grave situation.

Nothing good can come from lies. Sadly, it might be worse to tell the truth.

Thanks to all of you for reviewing the previous chapter!

Note: At present, Naruto doesn't have full control of his chakra chains, so it is triggered by his anger. Also, actually drawing on his power amplifies his emotions, and he doesn't really think clearly while using it.

To naruhinalover: He has the same wind affinity, but I won't expand it until much later. Also, he has knowledge in elemental manipulation in all other elements, although these are all basic in the extreme and are extremely limited in power.

WARNING: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC CHAPTER, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

-A Week Earlier-

My name is Hana Inuzuka, daughter of Tsume Inuzuka, Clan Head and renown member of the Konoha Ninja Corps. I am part of Konoha Scout Team Five; you could say it is a bit of my specialty, courtesy of my heightened senses. After generations of living with our feral companions, the ninken, we, as Inuzuka, have ourselves developed similar traits; our natural sight is far sharper than any other, and is unmatched with the exception of those who possess the Sharingan and Byakugan, and our sense of smell is such that we could track enemies that have left even week-old trails. My closest friends are my 'ninken', my companions in life and unto death. The Three Haimaru Brothers were given to me during my coming of age ceremony when I had seen my fifth winter, and they have become part of me ever since.

The situation with Kumo has deteriorated rapidly, ever since their attempted kidnapping of the Hyuga Clan Heiress Hanabi Hyuga. Personally, I never really liked them, long before the incident had ever taken place. Six years ago, a couple months after I graduated from the Academy, I was part of a joint C-rank mission with the genin of Kumo; I never liked their dark skin and the smell of pompous superiority that seemed to cling to them. My sensei at the time, Hayate Gekko, had decided to accompany us on this joint C-rank diplomatic mission to escort an aristocratic official from the Land of Lightning back to the courts of the Land of Fire; the Kumo genin's sensei all but assumed the sole leadership role, even going so far as to insult sensei and his apparent lack of ability. Suffice to say the journey was an uncomfortable one; although it was supposed to be 'diplomatic', all it did was strengthen my dislike for Kumogakure.

My genin teammates at the time were Asuma Sarutobi, son of the Third, and Kurenai Yuhi, both of whom I would trust to my dying day. Even then, they proved their competence by making short work of the many foolish bandits that waylaid our path; but the road was long, and the path arduous. Eventually, word got around that the aristocrat we were escorting was the Fire Daimyo himself in disguise, warlord of the province of the Land of Fire.

He was an imposing man, strong built with numerous scars covering his body. At the time, he was wearing a simple kimono dress, but it was clear to all of us that he had seen his fair share of battle. Soon, elite missing-nin started attacking us, and it we were hard pressed to survive.

The Kumo bastards showed their true colors during the fifth attack. A wiry man jumped in front of us, alone and could be considered unassuming - if not for the bandages that swathed him from head to toe, and the massive Zanbato he was swinging around with ease. Apparently, he was an A-class missing-nin sent to take the Daimyo's head. Already, the team was weathered from the previous attacks, but this man, Zabuza Momochi, did not spare us even a second to recuperate.

Both Hayate and the Kumo Jounin battled alongside one another, when Zabuza slashed Hayate's midsection, winding him. At this point in time, the Kumo Jounin promptly lost it, and gave in to his cowardice. He promptly turned and ran, even going so far as to use his own genin to cover his tail; all three of them perished in a sad attempt to protect their sensei.

Seeing our own sensei down and out for the count, we could hardly just stand and watch. We stood as one, fighting the man, although the gap in skill was painfully apparent. In the end, our sensei saved us, summoning the last of his strength to wound Zabuza gravely while his attention was concentrated on us; he promptly fled, but not before commending our teamwork. Strangely, we felt our hearts swell at his praise, enemy though he might have been.

In the end, we managed to complete the mission successfully, no thanks to the Kumo Jounin. Our abilities were praised by the Daimyo himself, although all of us began to harbor a deep dislike for Kumo.

Now it seems our two villages are poised for war, and there is nothing we can do to avoid it. A few years ago, I received word that Hayate had died during the chaos of the Uchiha Uprising. Then Kurenai's entire Chunnin team had been killed in the midst of a border skirmish. The new Hokage, Jiraiya-sama then assigned her to my Chunnin team to act as backup.

She is a good friend, never shirking in the face of danger; even on the few occasions when Scout Team Five had run into enemy scouts from Kumo or their allies from Suna, she had always stood her ground, laying down illusions to cover our escape. Currently, I have two other teammates one of whom is Muta Aburame, a quiet man, although his skills are impeccable and his scouting abilities are among the finest in Konoha. More recently, about a month ago, Jiraiya-sama assigned a midget, eleven-year old brat to my team.

My assessment of him: young but surprisingly competent. His scouting skills may be basic in the extreme, but I daresay he possesses the best combat skills out of all of us; I expected no less, as Kurenai had informed me the new Hokage had trained him personally. He certainly is eye-catching - though shorter than many of the boys his age, he has a head of striking blond hair and eyes of the deepest blue.

But I have my doubts. He's too young to participate in the war; children should enjoy their childhood while they can. Ability and skill can only go so far; to survive, experience is crucial, and out there, it's kill or be killed. Whether or not he can stomach his first kill will be revealed in a matter of time.

The boy might be Jiraiya-sama's student, but I have on more than one occasion questioned his decision to include the boy on my team. Imagine my surprise when the Hokage told me it had been the blond's decision.

"Naruto is adamant about this, and he has made it clear he would do anything to help out in the imminent war." The man had said. "I have tried to reason with him, tried to get him to escape to the safe-houses with the women, children and Academy students, but he is resolute. Believe me, I know my student, and once his mind is made up, nothing can change it."

Currently, we are on border patrol on this winter eve, on the lookout for any possible threats to Konoha. Now, as I watch him, with those blazing blue eyes, I can only wonder what motivates him. At times, he might seem so exuberant, so full of energy, but it is times like this, when we never know what enemy might await us, that he looks as if he is barely keeping at bay his repressed rage. That clenched jaw, those tense muscles, perhaps he's having second thoughts?

What could possibly warrant his anger?

Naruto jumped from tree to tree, keeping his teammates in sight. To say he was angry was an understatement: Jiraiya had told him that, in as little as a week's time, war would break out. Not only that, but Naruto was to accompany the next batch of women and children to the safe houses five miles from Konoha, apparently to guard them from any possible threat.

Naruto knew better, his sensei was simply trying to make sure he could not participate on the front-lines. Granted, the blond knew the man cared for him, and that he was trying to keep Naruto safe, but in view of his valiant efforts to make himself stronger, not allowing him to fight for Konoha was an insult to him.

He had gone to Jiraiya's office the previous day, asking for an explanation, saying, "I have been waiting for this chance to test my strength! You can't take this chance away from me!"

Jiraiya for one, reverted back to that irritating tone he always used to lecture Naruto, sternly rebuking him, "Naruto, wars are fought with blood and the lives of men. you 'testing your strength' has no place in it. I understand you feel the need to become stronger to ensure Hiruzen's sacrifice was not in vain, but this is pushing it too far; you will be taken out of Scout Team Five after the next two patrols and assigned to the rear guard of the evacuating populace. That is all I have to say."

Naruto fumed, but he knew he could do nothing about it. Best not to dwell upon what he could not change.

A warning from his Inuzuka team leader jolted him from his thoughts. "Enemy ninja just outside the forest perimeter, four at least, seven at most. According to Muta's kikaichu, they seem to possess mainly lightning and wind affinities. Visibility low due to heavy snowfall; suggest we move closer."

Naruto drew his kunai silently. The team would have to investigate the group further before returning to report. If worse came to worse, an all out skirmish would ensue.

Silently, they crept toward the clearing, counting seven ninja camped in the area.

They kept their guard up, concentrating fully on the enemy. In his characteristic monotone, Muta reported the information gleaned from his bugs, "Seven enemy ninja confirmed, four confirmed to be from Kumo, three confirmed to be from Suna. Subjects appear to be part of a stealth team, judging from their heavily muffled chakra presence."

At this, Hana gave a quick nod, "Retreat in order. Muta, go on ahead, we will cover the tracks."

Before Muta could move, dark nets fell upon the shinobi, effectively trapping them and causing them to fall to the snow-covered ground from the branches cursing; shiny slivers of metal were interwoven with the strong ropy fibers. Chakra suppressing metal... damn it!

All at once, the group was surrounded by the seven ninja.

One of them stepped forward, apparently the leader of the team. "Good work, Kaoru. These bastards don't know who they're dealing with." Came his deep, booming voice.

The man wore the standard grey stealth armor, sleeveless so as to provide for the best mobility; his arms were muscular and sinewy, and possessed along with the rest of his exposed body a mass of scar tissue.

An eighth member dropped to the ground, spraying snow as his feet came into contact with the frozen soil. He wore a white cloak which rendered him all but invisible in the snow-covered terrain; a hood covered his face, hiding his features. "It seems we got all three of them. Should we call the interrogation squad?"

"By all means." The leader replied curtly.

Mustering all the defiance she had, Hana spat at the ninja leader, shouting, "We'll never tell you anything bastards!" This earned a chorus of assents from Kurenai and Muta.

"That's what they always say. Remember your defiance when you spill your secrets." The Kumo ninja said, not a hint of anger finding its way into his features.

"As if we'll ever do that!" Kurenai countered vehemently.

The other ninja turned their attention to her, not giving her pitiful attempt at resistance any thought. One of the Kumo ninja sized her up with lusty eyes, "Well, you're a beautiful one. I swear haven't seen a woman as fine as you in my entire life! Just think of all the things we could do together!"

Kurenai recoiled in horror, shuddering at the prospects. It's up to Naruto now.

From the treetop, Naruto hid, watching the interaction. I was lucky that they didn't see me because I was the rear guard!

It was the first time he was caught in this situation, and he could hardly take all the ninja on himself. But he had to do something before the interrogators got to his team.

Muscles tensed, Naruto readied himself for battle. This might be the dumbest thing I'm going to do, but it's worth a try. My chakra capacity can certainly come in handy here. Judging from their satisfied looks, they probably think they got all of us, so I can use this to my advantage.

Naruto himself was clad in a warm white cloak, and pulling down his hood, he silently raised his hand in a familiar hand seal. Mixing fifty solid Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clones) into a few hundred Bunshin (Clones) should do it. With my hood obscuring my face, they won't be sure whether I'm the same person or a clone!

With silent puffs of smoke, the clones popped into existence. As if sensing the sudden presence of chakra, the eight ninja looked around in confusion. The leader barked out some commands, although the howl of wind ensured Naruto could not hear it.

Voices raised in howls and shouts, the clone army descended upon the group of ninja. The effect was immediate; the eight ninja immediately fell into disarray, mistaking the various shouts as signs that they had stumbled upon a much larger Konoha force than expected.

"Retreat! there's too many of them!" One of them called, fear apparent in his eyes.

The dark-skinned leader, however, was not easily fooled; cocking a fist back, he let loose a powerful punch that connected with a Bunshin, causing it to disappear.

"Stand your ground! These are normal clon- UFF!" The leader coughed, winded from a very solid fist connecting with his midsection. Bounding back, he rallied his ninja, "Fall back, we don't know how many real ninja are mixed with the clones."

Seemingly overwhelmed, the Kumo assault group fell back, leaving Naruto, his clones and his three teammates in the clearing.

"Clones! Follow them and give us time to escape!" Naruto ordered, already cutting through the nets and helping his teammates up.

Hana Inuzuka had not expected to get caught by such a simple ruse, and she cursed the fact that she had been so careless. Before, she could only hope Naruto would call for reinforcements on time, but watching him deal with the situation with a cool head made her look at him with new eyes. The simple yet effective strategy of mixing his Shadow Clones with his normal Clones had succeeded, and the team was now free to forge their path back to Konoha. Hana was surprised that Naruto could even perform the Shadow Clone Technique, a feat not all Jounin could master. And the stamina he had shown! The strain of maintaining that many clones could tire out even the best in Konoha, yet Naruto didn't even seem winded!

Patting Naruto on the back and gesturing to Kurenai and Muta, she said, "Good work Naruto. Now let's get this report to the Hokage!"

As they bounded from the clearing, Hana whispered in Naruto's ear, "You saved us, even though you are just a child... I have my eye on you Naruto, I'm sure you will grow up to be a fine ninja."

Naruto looked her in the eye, "Don't mention it, just doing my job."

Well, at least I win sometimes...

That was when the memories of his clones hit him like a brick wall, causing him to stumble.

-The Hokage's Office-

"... to which Naruto performed the Kage Bunshin and Bunshin techniques, distracting the enemy and allowing us to escape." Hana concluded her report to the Hokage, who was at that moment scrutinizing the dishevelled blond.

"You may leave. Naruto, please stay; I have certain things to discuss with you." Jiraiya stated.

The doors closed as his teammates exited, leaving Naruto alone with his teacher. Jiraiya motioned for him to sit, all the while gazing at him strangely.

"... What?" Naruto asked, obviously very uncomfortable.

"I was not aware you could perform the Kage Bunshin No Jutsu."Jiraiya said calmly.

Immediately, Naruto's eyes widened. "Uuh... you see... I saw some Jounin use it, so I copied it." He bluffed, or at least tried to.

Narrowing his eyes, Jiaiya growled, "Really? It had nothing to do with a 'Forbidden Scroll' of some sort did it not?"

Naruto was now sweating extremely profusely, and he knew Jiraiya had caught him. Sighing, he revealed that he had in fact taken the scroll from the forbidden chambers in the library those years ago, when Orochimaru had sent his creation to infiltrate the Hokage's Residence.

Suddenly, for no apparent reason, Jiraiya's mood lightened, "No need to worry Naruto, I just wanted to scare you for once. Well, the jutsu in the scroll were forbidden once, during the time of the First and Second Hokage, but it is true; now many Jounin know the Kage Bunshin No Jutsu, although not many have the capacity to use it effectively."

Then, his tone turned serious, "I know you have immense chakra reserves, but many of the jutsu found in that scroll will kill you regardless. I will allow you to keep it, seeing as you can't use very many anyway. Most of them require Bloodlines to learn, you see. Still, as always, discipline must be upheld. For your punishment, you will be taken out of Scout Team Five effective immediately, and join the teams guarding the evacuating populace, and any attempt to weasel out of this will be regarded as insubordination. Also you will not be allowed to engage any enemy."

"Naruto, listen to me. The war will not be a long one. Either we will be totally and utterly crushed, or we totally and utterly crush our enemies. So bear with it. If we lose, people will look to the remaining shinobi for protection, so you know what you must do. At best, a compromise of some sort will be reached, but it is highly unlikely." Jiraiya remarked solemnly.

Sighing, Naruto nodded, then disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

A few days later, Naruto had become part of the escort guarding the group of women and children leaving the village. The group left via the Southern Entrance of the village, an entrance rarely used because it was located right above the Hokage Monument. Still, it was the safest route at the moment, and so it had been chosen for the escape path.

The morning rays filtered through the clouds, striking the white carpet of snow that covered the village rooftops. Naruto watched as the women bid tearful farewells to the warriors, securing heartfelt promises and exchanging personal keepsakes; some embraced each other tightly, as if dreading the moment of separation.

But all things must come to an end, and slowly, tearfully, the procession of civilians stepped through the gate. Naruto was last to leave; he was the rear guard, and would ensure stragglers weren't left behind. Even at this moment, some could not help but cast him glares and hateful stares, although none approached him.

As the group drew away from Konoha, Naruto could still make out the figures back in the village watching them go.

Then the gates closed, and there was nothing more to see.

Naruto estimated about one hundred civilians being evacuated; this was the last batch making their way to the safe houses further South. It was in the midst of winter, and the group traveled across the cold, slightly inclined terrain leading into the distance. All sounds were blotted out by the incessant howl of the wind, and the steady snow fall obscured Naruto's vision; he was hard-pressed to see twenty meters in front of himself. Looming in the distance was a great mountain range reaching up to the heavens; the ragged tips of the mountains was all that could be discerned in the colorless, grey sky.

The guard consisted of five genin squads, their Jounin instructors having been left behind to bolster the village defenses. Naruto himself was not an official ninja, although the Hokage had personally made him part of the guard force; he was to report to the Chunnin leader regularly on the status of the group.

About five hours into the trek, the group slowed. The elderly could not travel for long periods in such harsh weather, so breaks had to be carefully portioned out. Naruto made his way to the middle of the group, intent on familiarising himself with the Chunnin in charge. Imagine his surprise when he came face to face with a tall, crimson-eyed woman.

"Kurenai-san! I wasn't aware you were leading this evacuation squad!" Naruto called out.

At the sound of her name, Kurenai turned. "Naruto-kun! A pleasure to see you. Hokage-sama felt my skills were suited more to support the village evacuation than straight out fighting. Still, after we reach the safe houses in about a week I will have to travel back to reinforce the Ninja Corps. What do you have to report?"

"Visibility is low, and it's much more slippery at the rear. Must be because all the snow's loosened up by the constant pounding of feet."

"I see. Good job, go back to your station, and take care!" Kurenai said as she dismissed Naruto.

Saluting, Naruto pulled his hood back on and trudged back down the line. As he walked, his attention was suddenly taken by a head of indigo hair.

Is that...? Before he could finish the thought, the figure whirled around, exposing big lavender eyes. Hinata...

Wondering at the coincidence, Naruto stepped forward, greeting the girl. It was the first time he had spoken to her in such a long time...

"Is that you, Hinata? I almost didn't catch you!" Naruto said softly.

For some unexplained reason, a shade of red immediately crept onto Hinata's face. She was blushing madly now, suddenly very aware that she was facing the object of her affection.

"N-Naruto-kun? W-what are you d-doing here?" The girl stuttered, pressing her fingers together.

"Huh. Jiraiya made me one of the escorts. Why are you here? To my knowledge, most of the Academy students and genin were evacuated last week." Naruto inquired.

"I w-was cataloging all the s-scrolls we had in the library and picking out some of the more precious ones to take along..." Hinata said, voice quivering. To meet him here, after so long... What do I say?

"Well... okay then, I'll be going!" Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head and continuing back down the line, albeit a bit more quickly than before. I feel funny when I'm talking with her. How strange.

At this, Hinata panicked; he was going so soon, after just meeting her! "W-wait! Naruto-kun!" She said as loudly as she could. To her dismay, she was too late; the blond had already disappeared into the snow.

-Back In Konoha, Days Later-

Jiraiya stood at the top of the village battlements, casting his eyes forward. Hail pelted down upon the village, buffeting the ninja that stood guard. The village was emptier than ever, and the quietness added to the tension that permeated the air.

The weather is obscuring our vision. If they attack now, they could distract us enough to send a stealth team behind our lines. The most likely places they would attack would be the North and East gates. The West and South gates are fortified by natural cliffs and traps; if they launch an attack from that direction, it would be easy to distract them by causing avalanches, then subsequently destroying them. But here, the only thing separating us from their natural cover - the forests - is these wide fields. Normally, we could defend this area with simple kunai and jutsu, but with visibility this low, and a lack of manpower, we have to divide our attention between conserving chakra and aiming at the enemy.

Of late, supplies have failed to reach the village, so it would be safe to assume they have cut our supply lines; every kunai counts.

Jiraiya checked his forces - already the fear of death loomed in their minds. If they were defeated psychologically, then the true battle would be lost before it even started. The bulk of the Leaf's Ninja population were assembled behind him, numbering almost a thousand and a half shinobi.

Raising his voice, Jiraiya mustered all his authority, gravely addressing his soldiers, "Ninja of the Leaf, the Death God comes. Before this day ends, many of you will enter the gates of the underworld."

"From the day we are born, till the day we die, we are thrust into a world of hatred and violence; as children, we do not fret over worldly, material things, but grapple with the prospect of ever-present death and the destruction we are called to inflict. Every single one of you, your souls are blackened by sin and dishonor, for we are shinobi, the greatest tools of battle. In fire we are forged, and our bonds are as tempered as the strongest steel, because as men and women who follow the path of darkness, all we have are one another."

"Tonight, our brethren stalk the shadows beyond these walls; like us, they have lived in the shadow, like us, they kill as shinobi should. And is that fear I see on your faces? How pathetic are we, to show such weakness in the face of the enemy? We are no different; to those who do not understand the path of the ninja, the path of 'Endurance', we are all cursed, unworthy of redemption; we are all demons in the form of men. But I assure you, those that seek battle with us, they are but human; like humans they can be crushed, can be made to feel pain, can be made to break."

"So tonight, as the bell tolls for our hour of death, let us show them that we are not known as the strongest, the fittest, the best and the greatest ninja that Japan has ever known."

"We are all doomed men. Our sins have erased any chance we could have had for paradise in the afterlife. But when we meet Death, let it be with heads held high."

All around, a fire blazed in every heart and mind. It was a black fire, one corrupted by years of dealing death. As one, the Leaf Ninja readied themselves, all traces of doubt gone from their posture.

Behind the wall of snow, dark shadows flitted back and forth. As one, the dark figures blazed across the battlefield, and the battle was joined.

-Miles Away, Night Time-

His head tilted upward, Naruto gazed at silver specks of light that hung in the sky. The night was black as it was cold, and he was alone, sitting atop a snow-covered tree.

I see what we are. We are nothing more than mercenaries, soldiers for hire. But why? Why do people ever agree to trade their humanity? And to gain what?

Is it fame? Money? Power?

The shuffle of feet alerted him to another presence. Turning his head lazily, he saw Kurenai, joining him in his contemplation and sitting on an adjacent tree-top.

It was a rare sight; the cold seemed to enhance the unearthly attractiveness of the woman beside him, and truly she seemed like a goddess. Naruto could feel his heart rate spiking, a natural reaction to seeing first-hand the epitome of Beauty.

Why is it even the most beautiful of us are so ugly inside? We hide behind our reasons, saying that 'we do it because we have to', but is that right?

Sometimes, when we are lucky, we are contracted to kill other men as twisted as we are. But there are times, when we kill people fighting for a just cause, just because it benefits ourselves or those in power.

People rebel against authority because they have their own opinions, because they seek better lives. Who are we to impose our way on others?

"What is your dream, Naruto?" Kurenai suddenly asked, startling the blond boy.

"To become the strongest and make the world a better place."

Kurenai was among the few friends Naruto had. Often, she had trained Naruto in the ways of the ninja, and her wisdom had benefited him greatly. All of a sudden, Naruto realized just how much he cherished the friendship they shared. She always listened when he was in need of someone to talk to, and he was always there when she needed company.

"I have my own dream too, Naruto, I have many dreams." She whispered, just loud enough so Naruto could discern her words. "I want to become the strongest too, the most renown in my field. I want to inspire others, and most of all I want to find a man that loves me, and attain happiness. Do you think I can achieve all that?"

Then she added jokingly, "Of course, I would like to eliminate all the perverts in the world, but that might prove impossible."

Sighing, Naruto replied, "I truly believe you can achieve it. We both can achieve our dreams."

For a moment, they shared the comfortable silence. Then Kurenai looked into Naruto's eyes, saying bitterly, "You know, when the Hokage assigned me here, I actually felt as though I was left out because of my weakness. It was as though Hana and Muta were stronger, so they were allowed to stay; but I had to guard the civilians, coddling you children."

Naruto chuckled, "You know, I was feeling the exact same thing. We really are the same eh?"

"Yeah... Well, I have to grab some sleep. I am the officer in command right now, so I can't be dozing off tomorrow. Night." With that, the woman disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Ugliness is relative. Some of us do not do what we do by choice. In the future, I intend to change that.

-Back In Konoha-

A miasma of death hung over the battlefield; the stench of blood was so strong even the most hardened of shinobi was hard pressed not to retch. Night was falling, and the battle had run its course, with both sides retreating to heal their wounded. The sky was painted a dark red, the occasional lightning strike lighting up the darkening heavens.

Everywhere Konoha shinobi lay dying, the hospitals were filled to the brim, and those whose injuries were too grievous were left where they had fallen, moaning as their lifeblood pooled underneath their prone bodies. Enemies surrounded the village, cutting off all supply routes and preventing reinforcements from arriving.

Icy droplets fell from the sky, the drizzle of rain and snow blanketing Konoha and the battlefield; so much blood had been spilt that even the rain droplets were tinged red, and it seemed as though the Leaf Village was drowning in blood.

As the night grew darker still, voices could be heard, singing, lamenting the fate of the dead. The moon, white as ever, glared down, eternally unsympathetic and apathetic. Hyuga worked beside Uchiha, united by a common enemy in Konoha's dying breath, piling bodies of comrade and enemy alike, giving them a final farewell in the form of mass funeral pyres.

It was midnight now, and the pyres were still blazing. A wind picked up, scattering the ashes of the cremated, dousing the walls of the Leaf Village with the remnants of the fallen.

Through it all weathered Jiraiya, the Fifth Hokage. He was still awake; tireless and immortal he seemed, a terror on the battlefield, but ironically, never had he felt so old and withered. Not since the Kyubi's attack did the amount of casualties amount to so much, and this was simply the preemptive strike - the beginning of the end.

The day had been long, but finally, the invaders had been pushed back. Tomorrow they would come again.

-Miles Away, The Next Day-

"Hurry up back there! We have to get through the mountain pass before the snow starts again!" Kurenai hollered. If it were not for these civilians, I could reach the safe houses and back in a single day. As it stands, we are already behind time.

The day had started off as usual, and the morning had been slow. The civilians were grumbling at the condition of the road, and many of the elderly had collapsed and had to be carried, slowing the group down further.

Behind, Naruto meticulously erased the tracks of the entire group, making sure no enemy ninja could trace their way back to the safe houses.

The morning rays of sunlight struck the ground, chasing away the darkness of the night. For once, the air was clear, and far in the distance, smoke could be seen rising from Konohagakure.

Still, getting rid of the tracks of a hundred people was not an easy feat, and Naruto himself was feeling rather irritable.

Unbeknownst to them, a single dark-skinned Kumo ninja was watching their every movement.

-Seven Hours Later-

The groans of the tired civilians chorused down the line. To the ninja, traveling at a snail's pace was an insult to their physical prowess, but already the untrained men and women were at their limits.

They were grumbling openly now, and their tiredness had sparked more than one angry outburst at Naruto. Apparently, their patience was running thin, and the added proximity of the 'cursed child' was too much to bear.

Naruto was lucky he did not travel beside the others; nobody could do anything to him while he was alone at the rear, slowly covering the tracks. Although he was no longer the defenseless child whom the villagers had beat all those years ago, he had no wish to turn his ninja skills on civilians.

They might be foul-mouthed and unreasonable, but I have no wish to soil my hands with their blood. No matter what, I will never kill without just reason. After all, this isn't anything new.

The group was travelling single file along the steeply inclined mountain road. To the right was a sheer rock cliff leading up to a snowy peak that loomed high into the sky; to the left was a bottomless chasm. It had been many days of constant climbing, and the ground was no longer visible to those who tread on the narrow road.

That was when Naruto looked up and noticed an outcropping that looked ready to collapse. A middle-aged woman with bright pink hair walked right in front of him, right under the weathered overhang. With a loud crumbling sound, the rock broke off and tumbled down the cliff, straight at the unassuming woman.

Acting almost on instinct, Naruto dashed forward, taking the woman by the waist and bounding forward, just in time to save her from a grisly fate. Sighing in relief, he set the woman down... only to receive a slap on the face.

"Y-you touched me! Demons' spawn! Defiler!" She shrieked. Her insults did not stop there, like a banshee she hurled obscenities Naruto never even knew existed.

"Wait... If I didn't do that you would have died!" Naruto yelled in an effort to explain himself.

The woman continued to shriek in his ears, giving him a terrible migraine. Ugh... Come to think of it she seems a lot like that girl back at the Academy...

Finally, he gave up trying to justify his actions and stood there, covering his ears. From somewhere ahead, a loud voice, which Naruto recognized as Kurenai's, shouted, "What's all that commotion? We don't have all day! Will you shut up and keep moving?"

Muttering darkly under her breath, the woman got up and walked forward, not even deigning to cast Naruto a look.

Silently thanking Kurenai, Naruto himself continued with the journey.

They trudged on, farther and farther up the mountain, until the air became thin and breathing became difficult. The long line of evacuees stopped, as the Chunnin leader signaled for a short break. It was snowing heavily now, and Naruto could hardly see anything.

And then the enemy struck. Bursting out from under the cover of white, four Kumo shinobi charged the group from the rear, running headlong into the blond.

Muffled cries of jutsu names rang out, and bolts of lightning arced from the ninja, electrocuting an unfortunate old man and sending him plummeting down the mountain. With a curse, Naruto drew his kunai, flashing through hand seals and yelling, "Fuuton: Juuha Reppou Shou (Wind Style: Beast Wave Violent Wind Strike)"

To his chagrin, his opponents leapt above the sloppily aimed technique, and surrounded the blond. Damn! These must be scouts! They must have crept past the village while they were busy fending off attacks! I can't let them fin- Naruto's thoughts was interrupted by a powerful punch that rammed him in the gut, winding him.

The civilians were in chaos now, shouting and trying to run, scrambling over each other in their attempts to escape; fear was etched into their expression.

In a single, swift motion, Naruto took another kunai from his boot and rammed it point-first into the crotch of the man before he had the time to retract his arm from the punch. With a piercing scream, the man fell back... only for Naruto to follow through and slice off the man's genitalia, simultaneously planting a punch in the man's face.

From behind, he could hear Kurenai and the other genin rushing to his aid. Silently, Naruto bounded back, arms raised in a defensive stance.

Kurenai appeared in a puff of smoke beside Naruto, immediately sizing up the enemies. Simply advance scouts, nothing we can't handle.

As the remaining three ninja advanced, Kurenai worked her magic, muttering, "Genjutsu: Chou Shinka (Illusion Technique: Butter Fly Fire Works)" and priming three paper bombs... only to see the three continue advancing.

Frantically, she chucked the primed paper bombs at the ninja; with a resounding explosion they detonated, and the ninja were revealed to be clones, puffing out of existence.

From the smoke, a dark-skinned figure emerged, kunai aimed straight at the blonde's heart, moving too fast for Naruto to even begin to react. Faster than he could follow, a shadow flitted across his vision, and his face was spattered by droplets of red fluid.

The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes were a pair of beautiful lavendar-tinted eyes. Then he noticed a piece of metal jutting from the shoulder of the figure in front of him. Hinata-chan? She used her own body to shield me...

He could just make out her lips mouthing words that strangely sounded like the characters that made up his name... Naruto-kun...

Bristling in irritation, the ninja pulled out his kunai roughly, sending Hinata flying into the mountain-side with a backhand. Again he readied his weapon, but this time Naruto was ready for him. "Fuuton: Juuha Reppou Shou!" Screamed Naruto, cleaving through the man's torso with the sharpened winds, painting the ground red with blood. How dare you hurt her!

Before they could react further, hands exploded from the ground, catching Naruto and Kurenai unawares. With inhuman strength, the hands grasped their legs and flung them off the mountain.

Thinking quickly, Naruto twisted his body around, channeling chakra into his hand and adhering it to the surface of the sheer cliff. Kurenai had no such luck; she was thrown too far to have any chance of reaching the cliff.

"No! Kurenai!" Naruto cried out desperately. With a single hand seal, eight clones puffed into existence, each holding on to the other like a human ladder. Swinging up, the furthest clone just managed to catch Kurenai, saving her from falling to her death.

Looking up, Naruto saw the two surviving Kumo ninja, staring at them and smirking to themselves. "You Leaf ninja are weak; it seems the years have dulled your edge. Know this in your dying moments: Konoha will fall and Kumo will take its place!" With that, they drew their kunai, intent on ending the fight.

I'm lucky sensei taught me the basics of Earth elemental manipulation... Growling in anger, Naruto flashed through hand seals, smashing his free hand into the wall and muttering, "Doton: Iwa Nadare (Earth Style: Stone Avalanche)!"

Cracks branched throughout the rock, surprising the Kumo ninja. Finally, the cliff could take it no more; rocks broke off and rolled down into the abyss, and with a crack the entire cliff face collapsed, sending all of them flailing down the mountain.

Naruto's last thought was of Hinata, and whether she would be alright. Please be okay, Hinata-chan... I can only hope the other genin find you.

-Back In Konoha, The Next Day, Morning-

Jiraiya sat at the head of the War Council, staying silent as the other Clan Heads and Elders argued for and against the best tactics to commit to. Uncertainty was rife, and the previous battle had resulted in many deaths. Granted, for every one Leaf ninja, three enemy ninja fell; still, that did not bode well for the village. The invading force consisted both Kumo and Suna ninja, and rumors had it that Kiri would join the battle on Kumo's side as well; all-in-all, Konoha was heavily outnumbered.

Perhaps most disconcerting was the strange behavior of the Aburame Clan. Normally, the clan would put across substantiated opinions that actually worked, but for some reason, it had kept absolutely quiet since the session had started.

Finally, the Hokage had enough of the arguing. They were getting nowhere while their enemies were consolidating their position and planning for another attack. Slamming his hands on the table, Jiraiya raised his voice, capturing the attention of the others, "Quiet! Eighteen Jounin squads will be assigned to the North Gate, and the rest to the East Gate. The remaining Chunnin squads will be spread out among the West and South Gates; all internal communications are to be handled by the Yamanaka - Inoichi, please take charge - and Chunnin reinforcements are to be portioned if absolutely necessary. Reinforcements from Iwa will not be able to arrive if the Suna blockade continues, so our first priority is to destroy that by the end of this month - this week if possible. Now get to your stations; the enemy awaits."

With that, Jiraiya left the Council room.

-Miles Away-

A bitter and coppery taste greeted him as he reopened his eyes. Every fiber of his body ached in pain; with a start, he realized he was still alive. Damn it! How many near death experiences am I going to have in my life?

He sat up, only for jolts of pain to lance up his spine. Suddenly, he noticed that he had been lying in a sludgy substance. Looking down, he could just make out pulverized flesh and a strange grey substance. Then he recognized the vaguely familiar shape of a human body; it was too much for his stomach to take, and Naruto vomited bile and saliva, soiling the ground.

The trees are tall and the branches are closely entwined. They must have broken my fall; that, and this body. The Kumo ninja was unlucky enough to land right underneath me, he must have died instantly at the impact.

Turning his attention upward Naruto noticed the rising sun. I must have been out for some time, it's already morning. A pity my cloak's torn, it sure is freezing.

Shivering, Naruto scouted the area, attempting to find a trace of Kurenai's body. A few minutes later, he found the bruised and battered body of the crimson-eyed beauty tangled in the thick branches of an Oak tree. Scaling the trunk, Naruto cut the branches, catching the woman's limp body and setting her on the ground. She's still alive! Her leg is broken though... I'll have to get help!

At that moment, it must have seemed that Naruto was the unluckiest person in the world. Barely ten minutes after he had awoken from an unconsciousness induced by certain death, he found himself in the middle of a very large group of enemy ninja.

"You know what? Fuck you all!" Naruto shouted. Probably not the best idea.

The ninja overwhelmed the already exhausted Naruto, binding him to the Oak tree with ropes laced with chakra suppressing metal. The blond estimated almost fifty ninja stood before him.

"What did we ever do to you! Why are you doing this to us!" Naruto shouted. A one-eyed ninja stepped forward; he sported a full head of grey, and had an eye-patch covering his left eye.

"You Leaf ninja are weak, and so you disgrace the name of the shinobi. By extension you disgrace us. My name is Kousuke Hirameki, and my job is to extract information from you." The man said mirthlessly. "Now, tell us where you cowards have hidden your people, and you might die painlessly."

Seething, Naruto spit at his face. Flinching back in disgust, the man sputtered in rage, and turned his attention to the stirring woman on the ground. "So, you refuse to talk? Let me repeat; tell us what you know, or this woman will be in pain, very soon."

"I'll never betray my Hokage!" Naruto yelled defiantly.

Kurenai opened her eyes... only find herself surrounded by enemies. Her blond friend was tied to a tree, and there was no hope of escape.

She was vaguely aware of a dull pain in her leg.

"Still refuse to talk? It looks like her leg is broken. What happens when I do... this?" The man said. Taking out a serrated knife, he placed it at the knee of Kurenai's leg. Then he started sawing.

The pain shot through her body, making her scream. The shriek horrified Naruto, cutting him straight to the bone. I can't let her die! But I can't betray the people of Konoha... Jiraiya trusted me to protect them!

A sickening squelching sound could be heard as the blade sliced through flesh. Then the knife hit something solid, but the man continued his work undeterred, pushing through bone and sinew; her screams were heart-wrenching and outright terrifying.

The blond could take no more, and opened his mouth - only to be silenced by Kurenai. Between gasps, she begged Naruto weakly, "Don't talk... Naruto-kun... never betray... your friends..."

Tears were streaking down her face now, and soft sobs could be heard coming from Naruto's mouth.

Suddenly, the man paused, "Such fortitude is admirable."

Throwing the knife away he stood... then promptly ripped the leg off, causing Kurenai to scream louder. "It seems, more must be done to convince our blond friend. Men! Take your pleasure from her body!"

Naruto watched on in horror as the laughing men violated one of his only friends in the world. They were grinning, cackling in their madness, as if they enjoyed the pain they inflicted.

Kurenai was naked now, forced onto the blood covered ground and whimpering as the men had their way with her. The fight was gone from her eyes, and all she could do was lie there, helpless, looking at the bound boy with pleading eyes.

She did not scream, she could not summon the strength to do so anymore, and so Naruto screamed for her, raising his voice and cursing the heavens for inflicting such horrors on himself and his friends.

He felt pain clutch at his heart, a sadness so profound he drowned in it; his anger welled up within him, hardening his heart and steeling his gaze. Nothing would save them from his wrath.

This went on for a terrifying hour, and slowly but surely, Naruto drew on his power. He cursed the fact that he was so weak, so unable to protect those dear to him. Then the men, satisfied, slit her throat as they would a trapped animal, leaving her to choke on her lifeblood.

And he was lost. He gave in to righteous fury as those blood-red chains exploded from his body shredding his cloak, shearing through his bonds and destroying the great oak tree he was bound against. Power, more potent than he could handle, rose inside him, and as he opened his mouth to scream yet again, it was not the hoarse cry of a defeated and broken opponent, but a demonic offering to the God of Death. Blue power emanated from his gaping maw and widened eyes, and he cried tears of blood.

The Kumo ninja paused in their step. Where before they were advancing on Naruto, intent on continuing their ministrations, now fear rose behind those eyes that had looked on so pitilessly as they soiled the blond's friend.

More chains emerged from Naruto, sending jolts of pure pain through his body. The links grasped two of the men closest to him, and with a wordless command, constricted, causing them to explode in showers of blood.

The chains lifted Naruto, embedding themselves on the ground, acting as his feet. The ninja were frantically tossing kunai and jutsu at him, but the chains, acting on their own free will, deflected the pathetic attempts to stave off their demise.

Naruto willed the links as if they were natural extensions of his body, ripping the fearful ninja apart as they tried to flee; he strung the bodies up, impaling all in his path with a single chain, as if they were beads on a string; and they struggled, writhing in futility as they tried to escape death. The writhing men were beheaded as more of the bloody metal wrapped around their necks, pulling their heads off in a show of excessive brutality.

And at last only one man faced the blond. The familiar one-eyed man who had initiated the torture and rape. Blubbering in fear, he nevertheless fought to his last breath. All of Naruto's chains drove into the man's chest, then sheared the man apart, showering the area with pieces of bloody, steaming flesh.

In the distance, Naruto could make out black plumes of smoke rising from Konoha. The sun was shining hard now, and the snow had all but stopped. Heart still brimming with bloodlust, Naruto made his way forward. He did not know what this power was, this thing which let him cut men down as if they were nothing. But he was going to use it to get revenge. I'm going to kill all of them. Kill everyone. Destroy everything.

Turning, he covered Kurenai's body. It looks like you won't be fulfilling your dreams.

-The Next Day-

Jiraiya stood resplendent in his armor, great gleaming pieces of metal covering him protectively from head to toe. He was the leader of the village, and thus had the responsibility to protect it. That was why today, many more enemies would be killed for the glory of Konoha.

But the previous days had taken a heavy toll on the Hokage. Dark rings circled his eyes, and despite himself, he swayed slightly in the wind, his muscles aching from over exertion.

From his vantage point, he could see the dead piled up in the short stretch of field leading up to Konohagakure; it had become a veritable killing field, and the cold did little to stifle the stench rising from the piles of rotting meat.

I estimate we have killed nearly two hundred of the nearly two-thousand strong invading ninja force. Only one-tenth of their forces destroyed, yet so many more casualties have been inflicted on our side. How long more will this war go on, how many more people will die?

Kumo has invaded our home to satisfy their selfish goals of economic and social gain. They want to become known as the 'most powerful Hidden Village', and thus reap the benefits of increased monetary attention. But at what cost?

In the distance, a horn sounded, signalling the start of the attack. Faster than any normal human could keep track of, the blurry outlines of ninja blazed across the field, hurling lightning bolts and enormous gusts of wind toward the defenders. The Konoha ninja stood their ground at the top is the battlements. The chakra shields held, absorbing any incoming jutsu and preventing the ninja from coming closer. A hail of kunai descended upon the invaders, ravaging great swathes and leaving dead and dying.

Then a single bolt of electricity, stronger than any other, lanced across the snow-covered landscape, striking the chakra barrier and overloading it.

Jiraiya readied his own kunai, hands poised to race through his hand seals. Damn... They pooled their chakra and collectively unleashed a lightning jutsu! If this keeps up, our walls will crumble!

Just as he was about to signal the assault teams of Konoha to leap into the fray and engage in close-quarters combat, a demonic howl washed over the landscape.

For a moment, both sides ceased their battle, heads raised in curiosity and wonder at the source of the chilling sound. From the West, a single blood-covered figure advanced above the tree-tops; most intriguing was what seemed to be the various shiny appendages hanging from the body, acting as it's limbs and carrying it steadily, and slowly, forward.

It had seemed time had stopped.

Then, the body disappeared, reappearing in the midst of the battlefield and shocking all those present. The person was completely red, from his hair to his clothes - drenched in blood.

Like a god smiting the unworthy, the figure wrapped its appendages, which were actually chains, into great balls of steel, smashing them into the ground and cratering the area. Those unlucky enough to get caught in the brutal attack were smashed to bloody pulps, their limbs torn off and flung into the air by the sheer force.

And through it all you could make out the constant screaming of the bloodied figure, as if it were a prophet denouncing the heretics arrayed before it.

AN: Read and review please! This has been the longest chapter so far, so please review!

Jutsu used (all jutsu based on canon):

Fuuton: Juuha Reppou Shou (Wind Style: Beast Wave Violent Wind Strike)
Type: Attack
Rank: B
Range: Short-Mid
Description: A combo of a wind gut shaped like a claw with cutting wind that push and
slice at the same time.

Genjutsu: Chou Shinka (Illusion Technique: Butter Fly Fire Works)

Rank: A
Type: Supplementary/Attack
Range :Short-Mid
Description: Traps user in an illusion were they first think that they are sucked into he ground to shoulder height and then they see butterflies but they are really paper bombs that explode once the user puts the main seal on the enemies head.

Doton: Iwa Nadare (Earth Style: Stone Avalanche)
Rank: C
Type: Attack
Range: Short-Mid
Description: By forming hand seals and running up a cliff face, the user causes stone and rock above him to become dislodged and rain down past him onto his opponents below.