Er... not too long or the beginning of the action as I'd hoped, but now there's nothing left but action! So rejoice, for the time is drawing near!

Oh, yeah. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanuka! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Any-other-holiday-I'm-forgetting-unless-you're-an-atheist-then-in-which-case-it's-Happy-'Winter-Break'! Now go eat and spend time with your family!

No, seriously. Close your internet browser and go eat dinner and unwrap presents with your family. Unless you already did that, in which case: Enjoy!

disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Maybe Santa can bring me the rights to the franchise... (keeps fingers crosses)


That night, Hinata dreamt of the peaceful landscape with no sun again. However, this time a vast majority of the rolling hills were covered by an unnaturally dark shadow. The once green flowing grass and swaying vibrant oaks now laid in brown stiff patches and gangly tangles of dead branches within the absence of light. Whatever was left in the confines of the apparently nonexistent sun was illuminated from a sole source- the Hyuuga herself.

She immediately realized that this had to be more than a dream, seeing as she had experienced such unusual scenes within Naruto's mental prison. She decided to take the proverbial leap of faith and planted a foot in the encroaching shadow caused by the rainless storm clouds. As if the pressure of her appendage was a command, the darkened atmosphere parted just enough to allow the tuft of grass around her foot to suddenly become illuminated and miraculously regain life.

"Weird…" she thought. She looked up and saw a dead and decaying tree roughly twenty feet from her. She strode toward it with careful steps, observing her feet as the grass beneath would glow as if in the rays of the sun and return to the land of the living. She reached the tree and gently brushed it with the tips of her fingers. She watched in amazement as the artificial sunlight spread across the entire tree, bringing forth healthy limbs and budding leaves. She looked up at the sky to see that every minute place she passed through was brilliantly lit through sharp gaps in the darkened clouds. It was then that she thought she heard something in the wind. She paused and focused all her attention on her sense of hearing.

It sounded like thousands of voices whispering in the calm wind. The blue-haired woman strained to hear anything specific to no avail. The whispers were scattered and incoherent individual vocalized noises about every subject under the sun. As she continued her struggle to hear something, she suddenly heard a slightly louder voice mumble, "Hinata, wake up. Places to go…"

She obeyed the voice and her eyes creaked open to find Uzi's azure and crimson eyes staring intently into her lavender eyes. "Wake up Hinata," he said in a low voice to avoid waking the other slumbering red-eyes. "We got places to go."

The eastern woman paused inwardly as the familiar words registered in her mind. She sat up and stretched in the rickety cot as a red-eyed soldier brushed quietly past the duo. She shook the sleep from her eyes, gathered her various weaponry, and followed Naruto out of the subterranean barracks.

After a bit of walking and an underground tram ride, they reached an auditorium of sorts. The seats were lined up in a semicircle with a makeshift digital screen and its corresponding equipment piled up on the central stage. The two took a seat while the rest of the seats were filled by what appeared to be higher ups in the red-eye infrastructure, but that fact was difficult to determine by outward appearances alone.

The screen crackled to life and Sünden's grinning face appeared amidst the static. "Good morning everyone," his voice sounded off from the hastily assembled stereo system. The progenitor specialist's red eyes burned brightly. "I see all the squad leaders and other such commanders are present, like I asked."

Hinata leaned over to Naruto and whispered, "If he wants all the big players, why am I here?"

He looked at her with surprise. "Are you serious? You're one of them now." He pointed to the screen and stopped her before she started again. "Now listen up. All this'll apply to you too."

"Now as you all know," Sünden continued, "We're all making our move today. The Agende Vhansin family will lead the western group and attack simultaneously with Daemon Laven and the demon slayers, who will assault the north. Hopefully those two groups will alleviate the pressure on the south and east side.

"After the north and west groups have engaged the enemy and redirected any noticeable attention, Uzi and the White Eyes of Death will lead the charge against the southern portion of the city. Once the security on the eastern side is refocused on the southern attack or when night falls, whichever comes first, the Zersvampirie family will advance on the east. If none of the previous advances overwhelm the military, the vampires will surely do so and ease any pressure on the other fronts."

As comical as it was, a hand was raised in the crowd as its owner put forward a question. "What'll you be doing, Master Sünden?"

Amazingly enough, the original red-eye turned in the screen towards the soldier and answered. "I'll be keeping my crimson eyes open and… offering my assistance wherever I can during the entire assault."

"Gotchya."

"Any other questions?" He was met with silence. "Alright. Be sure to relay the appropriate orders to your troops. You already know to work together, so be sure to coordinate with your brothers in arms. Hail to the king!"

"Hail!" replied every soldier in the room as the screen went dark. Immediately afterwards, the rows were steadily emptied as the red-eyes left to rendezvous with their respective squads.

"Hey Uzumaki," Karin asked out of the blue as the blonde walked past Sasuke's team in the back of the auditorium, "I thought you didn't support the current ruler?"

"We don't. We acknowledge the last king in his place."

The red-headed easterner shrugged, satisfied with the simple explanation.

The blue-haired Hyuuga frowned as she realized that she somehow already knew that despite wondering the same thing only moments ago. She attributed it to the adrenaline rush building up within her and dismissed it.

-----------------------

The easterners waited anxiously below the enormous automated lift. It had been a mere two hours since Sünden's message, yet every red-eye in the base was ready to go, each firearm was locked and loaded, and all vehicles and tanks were prepared to move out. The ground above them was settled on multiple enormous lifts that practically led to the gates of the capital, as the exits were situated a few miles away from the outskirts of the target city.

Apparently Daemon and his demon slayers initiated their attack and were closely followed by the Agende Vhansin family as soon as Sünden announced the general plan. The white-eyed woman glanced at the blonde red-eye and could actually hear his heart beating rapidly. She could sense the nervousness and excitement pouring out of him as his eyes flared crimson and returned to their usual glow.

"Hinata," he said as he turned to his eastern companion, "Just one thing before we do this." He placed his hands on her shoulders and stared intently into her eyes. "I've avoided getting close to anyone for all these years in case they should die on me. You're the first person whom I've gotten close to since I promised myself that, but I still kept you at a certain distance. If we survive after all this is over," his face flushed as he swallowed hard and stumbled over his next words, "Do you… want to… see… where this goes?"

She smirked during her response. "Of course, you blonde troublemaker." She placed her hands around his arms and pulled herself in to embrace him. She was pleasantly taken aback when he had other plans.

He pulled her in close, clasped the sides of her head in his hands, and kissed her softly. Hinata was surprised at the unprovoked public show of affection and surrendered herself to the passion shown by the blonde easterner. They reveled in the moment, ignoring the positive loud remarks and cheers of all the crimson-eyed soldiers watching them.

"Go Uzi!"

"Aww, ain't that cute?!"

"Take his heart, White Eyes!"

Even Sanshatav broke his silence to offer his (rather loud) two cents. "Sweet! A new Master and Mistress!"

Uzi broke the kiss after a few more seconds and kept his longing gaze on her eyes. His smile widened and he jumped on top of the foremost platform, almost slamming his head on the retractable metal roof. He wielded his trademark firearm, eyes blazing brightly, and addressed everyone.

"It's about time for us to move out! You ready?!"

The massive army cheered.

"I didn't hear you! I said are you ready?!"

If it was possible, they cheered even louder.

The eastern red-eye raised his weapon above his head as the gigantic doors creaked to life and began to lift slowly, tearing apart the ground above them. "Hail to the king!"

"Hail!" they responded.

"For everything we've been through!"

The crowd roared.

"For the comrades we've lost!"

The uproar voiced their approval.

"For those we love!"

The red-eyed forces shouted at the top of their lungs. The atmosphere was choked with the scent of excitement and adrenaline.

The massive doors were now high enough for vehicles to pass. "Let's ride!"

The enthusiastic cheers were drowned out by the sound of engines and turbines roaring to life and beginning their advance towards the capital. Everyone's eyes were wide with motivation and seeming disillusionment over what they were about to embark upon. Even Hinata, despite her lifetime of keeping her feelings in check, marched forward by Naruto's side with the same tenacity as the specialist soldiers behind her.

It had all boiled down to this day. The final assault had begun.


Er... not much to say. Oh yeah! The art contest thingy will almost certainly be pushed back at this point. I just have to work out 'when'.

Catch ya'll on the flip side.