Okay all this is the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and to everyone who added me to their faves and alerts lists. I really appreciate it. Replies to anonymous reviewers below.
Guest: Thanks for reviewing. The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas (which is what I based this story on, very loosely) is actually a fictional book based on what happened in concentration camps. Although as I've been writing this story I've used what I've learned in history classes and what I've studied and read up on to write it. There are in fact many stories about what happened in the concentration camps. The Diary of Anne Frank is one such story that's infamous because it's the diary of a teenage girl who was sent to the concentration camps and didn't get out. Her father published her diary to make sure her story lived on. I don't think you're biased, it just depends on how much you're taught about the history of the Holocaust and how much you're willing to study it. I hope I've helped a little in replying to your review.
fluffyshadow: Thanks loads for reviewing. I did want to send you a PM to obviously say this, but for some reason your PM feature is disabled. So I thought I would thank you here. I hope this chapter lives up to expectation. (nods)
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The Boy In The Orange Jumpsuit.
Chapter Sixteen – Hit and Miss.
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The group huddled in fear as soldiers came towards the train carriages. Naruto and Sasuke grabbed hold of each other's hands, to hold tightly and try to stem the fear that raged inside them. That was when they heard another voice chime in from outside.
"What's going on?" The children heard a man ask. Everyone held their breaths and prayed that Akane didn't cry.
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Madara almost breathed out a sigh of relief as an older soldier that he knew well stepped out from the guard house.
"Mifune-San. How are you?" Madara asked. The old man looked at Madara.
"I'm well. Are you checking Madara Uchiha's cargo? You do realise that his nephew throws refugees into the camps. Why would he hide them on his train?" Mifune stated.
"Sir, we've been ordered to check every train that comes through." The younger general stated.
"Do you think I don't know that? Don't be stupid boy. I will check the train myself. Madara-San and I are old acquaintances, so it's not half as offensive if I check the trains." Mifune stated.
"But sir, you can't do that on your own." The younger man said.
"Are you trying to say that if I find one or two refugees, that I'm not capable of shooting them myself? What do you think boy? Do you think there's an army on that train waiting for you? If there are refugees on that train, there may be one, or two, probably women or children, who managed to sneak in around the meat cargo. There isn't any problem that I might have dealing with them. My aim is very good. I will check the train, and I want your men to go and check to see if our relief has arrived. If so, I'll be getting on this train with Madara-San. My home isn't so far from here, it saves my old bones the walk." Mifune said. The other men nodded and left to carry out Mifune's orders. Mifune looked at Madara. "I'm making the assumption there is more to this train than meets the eye." Mifune said to Madara, once he knew his men were out of ear shot. Madara nodded. "Just open the first carriage. You know the drill." Mifune told Madara sternly. Madara nodded and opened the first carriage, where Sasuke, Mikoto, Itachi, Rin and Obito, along with some refugees were still sat.
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Naruto was finding it difficult to keep calm. He could see fear on the faces of all around him, and he was frightened. He didn't want to go back to another camp. He didn't want everyone he loved to go back to a camp. He wanted everyone to make it to Konoha. That was when the door opened, and Madara came into the carriage, followed by another old man. The man looked at them all and then at Madara.
"I hope you realise how insane this is Madara. You were nearly caught just now. If I hadn't arrived when I did, every single person on this train would be dead. You know this. This is the final border checkpoint. You're lucky. But I wouldn't guarantee this. If I know Orochimaru, there may just be another surprise checkpoint popping up before the border. I don't think so, but it's a possibility. You need to be careful. I'm assuming you have carriages that have actual cargo." Mifune said. Madara nodded.
"Of course. I'm not an idiot Mifune." Madara said.
"Not completely at any rate. I was serious about you dropping me at home. You might be able to solve a small problem for me actually. Now I need to have a quick word with you." Mifune said. Madara nodded and left the carriage. Naruto squeezed Sasuke's hand, as Sasuke squeezed his. They still weren't sure what this man planned to do, but a feeling of dread crept up Naruto's spine and settled in the pit of his stomach.
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"The soldiers will be back in a moment, hopefully with the relief detail. At that point you will play along with what I say. I'm going to suggest that I thought I saw something in one of the carriages. Which ones have nothing in them?" Mifune asked, after he closed the carriage door.
"The second and fourth ones." Madara replied. Mifune nodded.
"I'm going to take soldiers into the fourth carriage. I'll say I heard something strange. They'll poke about in there, see that there is nothing but meat, and then they'll be reassured that I've checked the carriages thoroughly. But should any of these refuges make a sound, the soldiers will hear it. You need to warn them all to keep quiet. The only thing I can tell you do, is to make sure the driver starts the train up, ready to leave. If they hear anything, you have a choice. You can attempt to kill all the soldiers that enter the fourth carriage, after getting your driver to keep going. Or..." Mifune trailed off.
"Or what?" Madara questioned. Mifune sighed.
"How quickly can the fourth carriage be unfastened from the third?" Mifune asked.
"You can't be serious?" Madara asked.
"It may be the sacrifice you need to make to save the rest of them Madara. You lose one carriage of refugees, but you save the other two. They would all be killed in any circumstance. You're saving two thirds of the people you've set out to help. It may be a choice you do not like but it is still a choice. Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Mifune said. Madara nodded and hopped up onto the first carriage to let everyone know of the need to stay silent. He and Mifune walked along to the third carriage and then the fifth, all for Madara to give the same warning to each carriage. The fifth carriage was filled with the injured. Tsunade was sat with them and she looked at Madara and Mifune.
"If you can detach the fourth carriage you can save everyone else." Tsunade said.
"Tsunade-" Madara tried to speak but Tsunade cut him off with a wave of her hand a look.
"I know what I'm saying Madara. You think we don't think of these things. The injured in this carriage are men and women who nearly died trying to protect the women and children who are in the third and first carriages. We know the sacrifice we would be making. But if that's the price we pay to make sure our families are safe and free then that's a price that we are all willing to pay." Tsunade told Madara sternly. Madara nodded his head, still unsure of whether or not he could do this if it came down to it.
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Kushina looked at Ten Ten, huddling with the sleeping Akane. She prayed the baby would not wake. One cry, one strange sound and they would all die. Everyone stayed silent, trying to make sure that even their breathing wasn't too loud. They heard the shouts of soldiers going to check the fourth carriage as Madara had told them would happen, and they all felt a wave of dread coming over them.
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Madara and Mifune watched the men search the fourth carriage before they came out.
"Not a thing sir. Just meat. Any other carriages you felt needed to be checked?" Another soldier asked. He was apparently one of the relief soldiers that had been sent to relieve Mifune's men. Mifune shook his head.
"No. I checked all the carriages, but this one was a little odd. Could just be how dark it is." Mifune said. The soldier nodded his understanding.
"Can we go now officer? We're going to end up running late." Madara stated.
"Of course Uchiha-San. Mifune-San needs to sign this form and then you can be on your way." The soldier stated. Mifune signed the form, and then got up onto the train with Madara as they headed off again. It had been pure luck but they were glad of it.
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About two hours later, Madara had the train stop. Mifune got down and led Madara to his home. Before Madara could greet his old friend's wife, Mifune stopped him.
"My wife and I need to speak for a moment." Mifune said. His voice wasn't unkind, but he didn't look like he was happy to have this conversation. Madara waited as Mifune walked into his home, and sat for a while on a rock. It seemed to take a while, before Mifune came out with a woman, Madara assumed was his wife. With them was a girl. She had red hair and she looked at Madara warily.
"Mifune-San?" Madara seemed confused. He could see the woman had been crying. The girl looked sad and angry at the same time.
"This is my niece, Amaru. Like your refugees, Amaru believes in the Will of Fire. We've hidden that fact, hidden her, here. Her parents were killed in an accident before this war started, and we never thought that we should force her to change her faith. But it started getting dangerous. Madara, I know you to be a good man. Until this war is over, Amaru isn't safe here. She will be killed if they catch her. We have no children of our own, Amaru is like our daughter. I would ask you to take her with you to Konoha. I know it's a lot to ask, but it's the only way I believe we can keep her safe." Mifune said sadly. Madara looked at the girl.
"Is this what you want Amaru? This journey has been hard, and it's not a comfortable one." Madara asked the girl.
"I don't want to go. I like it here with my Aunt and Uncle. But if I don't and they find out what I am, then not only will they hurt me, they'll hurt my Aunt and Uncle too for harbouring me. When the war is over, I can always come back. At least I hope so. I hope this madness isn't going to last forever. I want to be a doctor someday and save lives. But I can't even do that here while Orochimaru is the leader of Oto. I don't want to leave, I have to leave. One day I can come back, when we're all allowed to live in peace again." Amaru replied. Madara nodded. He looked at Mifune.
"I will make sure to find somewhere safe for her to live until she can come back to you Mifune-San. My son Obito is going to be staying in Konoha when we arrive. If there is no other option, he will take her in. Obito is a doctor. He might be able to teach her some things." Madara said.
"Truly?" Amaru whispered. Her eyes wide in awe. Madara smiled.
"Yes Amaru. Obito is a doctor, as are a few of my friends. Some of the refugees you'll be travelling with were doctors here in Oto, but will have to start again in Konoha. I'm sure we can find an apprenticeship for you with someone if you truly want to learn to be a doctor." Madara said. Amaru nodded. She looked at her Aunt and Uncle and hugged them both.
"Be safe sweet heart." Mifune's wife said gently.
"May the Will of Fire watch over and protect you both Auntie." Amaru replied. Madara could see the bag on Amaru's back.
"I'm assuming that's all you're brining with you." Madara said. Amaru nodded.
"It's just some clothes and important things that I keep with me." Amaru replied. Madara gave his best wishes to Mifune and his wife before leading their niece back towards the train, wondering how many people like Mifune, had hidden relatives, hoping to spare them from Orochimaru's wrath.
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Okay, so that's the end of this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please R&R and let me know what you think, and hopefully I'll be updating soon.