Okay, here it is! Chapter 32, enjoy!

Chapter 32, War Plans.

When Tsunade and I returned to the office room Naruto already had most of the battle plans drawn up. I glanced over it. I would go in first, that was clearly marked down. Then a squadron lead by Naruto himself would enter from the far left. Okay, I can handle covering them. He would have fifty people on his team. More than three quarters of those names I haven't heard before. But I did hear Hinata's, Kiba's, and Lee's names mentioned.

The next group to enter will be lead by Gaara, and that is to the far right. Them splitting up so much is going to be hard for me to keep track of, but I can do it. Gaara will have fifty men, as well. Kankuro, Neji, Shino, Tenten, and Choji were all mentioned along with the other names. The third group will come up behind me, the easiest to keep safe. That will be the medic team. Sakura and Ino, as well as Temari for a guard, were among the hundred names. The biggest group, but also the most important. Others have been put in that are not medics, so they can protect them and also distract the enemy.

Naruto's group and Gaara's group will attack at the same time, throwing them off balance. That, is what is going to be the hardest of all for me. I need to keep the enemy busy long enough for them to sneak up and get in position.

I know I can do it.

My part, however, was only mentioned in that I will give the command to start moving. Or my death will be the command. I know Naruto didn't want to put that in there, but I knew he had to. Should I die before I can cover them all, they need to be ready to move. It says nothing about what I will do. And that is because it will be decided by me when I get there.

I looked at all of the names. There are more that are coming behind the medic group. Hundreds more. I wiped a hand over my face, trying to dispel my uneasy feeling. To many will die. I cannot protect everyone. The best I can do is kill as much of the enemy as I can, and give my people the best advantage. I nodded to myself. That is all I can do. I looked up to a silent room, with all eyes trained on me.

"How will I get my message across when it is time?" I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping to block in all of my feelings so the others do not see them.

Naruto searched my eyes for a moment, then looked down and grabbed a bag off the floor. He pulled out a radio. "You will wear this." I took it from him and looked at it. It had an ear piece, a mouth piece and a collar to wear around your neck. "All of the leaders will have one. And some of the commanders. Alright? We will keep in touch with each other. Understood, Lorenzo?"

I smirked. "Yes, sir!"

We both laughed. The laughing erased my unease and I felt better. We can do this.

We can beat those bastards!

– –

I walked into Jessica's hospital room. Her face lit up when she saw me. I climbed on the bed with her and wrapped my arms around my baby girl. She hugged me back tightly, her head on my chest. I kissed her hair and closed my eyes. Jessica snuggled up to me, her arms tightening. The door opened and I looked up to see Yukio standing there. I smiled and waved him over.

Yukio climbed up on the bed and put his arms around both his sister and I. I wrapped an arm around him and hugged them both close. "I love you both," I whispered, kissing both of their heads. I laid there with my children, holding them tightly. I'd love more than anything to spend more time with them. But I have to think of their future. They cannot live a happy full life if they have a war raging on. I need to end this.

I need to end this for their sake.

I kissed both of them again and stood up, straightening my ANBU outfit. "Be good for Tsunade-sama, okay?"

"Okay," They said at the same time. "Be careful!" Jessica called to me.

I turned at the door and smiled at them. I love you, I whispered in their minds.

We love you, too, both of their voices filled my head. I smiled and left, shutting the door behind me. I feel like I should be surprised that Yukio can mind speak as well, but I find myself feeling like I already knew he could.

I found Gaara alone in his office. As soon as his eyes met mine the tears started. I put my hands up to wipe them before he could see, but he was already in front of me, pulling my hands away from my face. The falling of my tears sped up when I looked into his eyes again. Gaara wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him, putting his cheek against mine.

"Everything will be alright," He whispered.

I put my arms around him and held him tightly. "I love you." I tightened my arms around him. "I wish we had more time."

His nose brushed against mine. "When this is over we will have all the time in the world."

I shook my head, a sob coming out. Why does he still think I will live through this? This is my suicide mission. I am choosing to die so others may live. Why doesn't he get that? I shook my head. He is such a jerk.

His hands grabbed at my back tightly. "Kira," I couldn't help but look up at him. His voice sounds so strained. His eyes have a wild look in them. Almost like panic. "You are coming back." I tried to look away, but his hand turned my chin back up so I was forced to look at him. "I can't lose you again, Kira." I've never heard so much emotion in his voice. "I can't lose you. Not again. I wont. You are my children's mother. You are the love of my life. Do not leave me like that again, Kira."

Tears blurred my vision. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," I sobbed.

I clung to him tightly.

– –

I viewed the army from the light rain coming from the clouds above. There are thousands. Will our army be able to stop them? It's all up to me then.

I need to tip the tides in our favor.

I let go of the rain eyes and stood from my crouched position under the roots of an over turned tree. My waterproof boots made only a slight sound as I walked through the ankle deep puddle towards the other side of the trunk. I climbed out of the water and looked around. I know there aren't any scouts within sight, but I can't afford to miss something.

I moved quickly and quietly.

A voice was whispered over the radio, but I turned it down. I can't lose my concentration. The snap of a twig had me falling to the ground, scrambling for cover. I peeked out from around the thick brush. A deer. Wait. I followed the movement behind the deer. An arrow was shot and the deer fell. Three men came up and talked quietly over the dead animal. Each grabbed a leg and started to drag it back the way they came. So they are hunting for food. If I had the time I would starve them off.

But I don't have that time.

I crawled along the ground, following at a great distance. Once I could hear the hustle and bustle of many men, I found a close tree and climbed it, all the way to the top. Just over the top of the trees I could see them. The camp of thousands. Perfect. They are all huddled close together, which means they will be easy to take out. I turned up the radio only slightly and pressed the speaker button twice, to let them know to be silent. I was about to speak.

I whispered as quietly as I could. "I have found their camp. They are hunting for food. They are restless. I can destroy half their camp in one blow, but I don't know how many that will kill. Stand by."

There was static in my ear. "Be careful," whispered Gaara's voice.

I didn't respond.

Akamaru sat on the branch next to me. He is so quiet I had forgotten he followed me this whole way. He is such a good dog. I sat on the branch and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. He kept his eyes on the enemy. If they should see us before I am done, he will warn me and protect me.

I put my hands together in front of me and pressed them together tightly. My vision shot down the tree and out towards the enemy, surrounding them. I saw them all, felt them all, heard them all. They suspect nothing. They see nothing. They feel nothing. They hear nothing. I spread my power out all over the ground, spreading it out a mile away from their camp on all directions. I need not to worry about my teams because they are still five miles out. They know better than to get to close. I felt everything like I was running my very own fingers over it. I saw everything like I was standing right there looking at it with my very own eyes.

I quickly took in everything and waited, waited, waited. Soon the sun was gone and everything was dark. They were curling up near their fires to sleep. My men stood ready, waiting, waiting, waiting. I opened my eyes and let my hands fall down to my side. It is time to begin. I dropped to the ground and slit the throat of the guard standing there.

I clicked on my radio. "I'm beginning." I shut it off then, they will be ready for when I say to move.

I felt like a jungle cat stalking her prey as I moved in on the camp of sleeping soldiers. Is it really their fault they are here tonight? No. But they are here either way. They are threatening my home. My children. And they will all die. I thrust my palm out towards the right side of the camp, closing my fist. The ground under the sleeping men crumbled and swallowed them. Most screamed with terror and pain. As I turned to the other side of the camp, they were just rousing, shouting as they tried to figure out what was happening. I thrust my palm out and clenched my hand together. Their screams echoed the others.

"Right and left unit, move." I said into my radio. There was a responding click from Naruto, and a double click from Gaara. A wave of fire came from my hand and shot out towards the right, blocking the escape routs for those who survived the ground attack. This will also hide Naruto's approach. I did the same to the left.

Men from the middle ran at me, using everything they had. A wall of wind gushed out from me, blocking all of their jutsu's and weapons. I smiled wickedly. I tossed out another gust of wind, blowing the front men off their feet and back into the ones behind them. I walked towards them, knowing I looked vicious. My hair whipped in the wind, flying everywhere. I can feel the fear coming off of them. I can see it in their eyes.

I grabbed a squirming man on the ground and snapped his head around backwards, dropping his limp body back to the ground. The fear I could feel doubled. Let them know I will give them no mercy. Let them know I have come to kill. Let them know they will never see their loved ones again.

One of the men tripped and tried backing away from me on his hands and knees, but his fear slowed him down. I stopped in front of him, looking down at him. Tears leaked from his eyes. I can feel his thoughts. His daughter and wife with child. How he was tricked into doing this. Blackmailed. He didn't want to kill anyone. He just wanted to go home.

I felt my hair lay flat across my shoulders, all of my powers stopping for the moment.

His little girl, only three years old. I can see his memory of her first steps, the first time she got on a horse. How she would run to meet her daddy when ever he came home. How much she loves her daddy. His wife. The feel of his child kicking her womb. The warmth of laying next to his wife at night. Never being able to feel that again. Never being able to see his daughter again. Never knowing his other child.

An arrow shot into my left shoulder, knocking me back a few steps. I kept my eyes on the man staring back at me. Another arrow dug into my leg, making it hard to stand. I can hear yelling in my ear. I can feel the pain. But all I can see are the mans hazel eyes. So much like his daughters. I grabbed the arrow and yanked it hard out of my leg, ignoring the spurting blood. I walked over to him, bending down and placing my hand on the side of his face.

"KIRA!" Gaara yelled into the radio. "What are you doing?" The band on my arm felt hot.

I rubbed a thumb over his nose, seeing his daughter in my mind. Another arrow shot into me. I ignored it. "Go home," I whispered to him. "Go home and don't ever come back. Go, now. I will cover you."

He nodded and ran off. Every time something flew at him wind blew it all away. My men quickly saw he was protected and jump in to bat away the people who wanted to kill him for taking off. I dropped to my knees when he was out of sight. Gaara and Naruto were yelling at me. Five men ran at me to attack, but a huge gust of sand blew them all away when they got within three feet of my body. I looked up and looked over the battlefield.

Both teams have been here for awhile it looks like. So much death. So many bodies. So much fear. So much pain. I shivered and looked at the arrows sticking out of my body. I can't feel them, but I know they hurt. The medic team will be here soon. They will be able to save the others. I pulled out the arrows and healed my wounds.

I am still needed. I cannot die yet.

I stood and looked around. Our men have the upper hand. I can see the back end of the enemy camp starting to make a battle plan to destroy us. They will fail. I ran and jumped into the fight, slicing at people with my razor fingers, made this way by wind. I cut and killed with fast strokes and small movements. A trail of death was left behind me.

There was a rapid clicking over the radio. "We need help!" Sakura's voice. "They came around- INO!"

In one fluid motion I spun around and was sprinting back the way I came. This isn't good. How did they get behind me? I saw everything with a mile radius, no one could have escaped me. Unless... Shit! Those bastards knew I was there. They skirted as far out as they thought and passed my view point. I ran as hard as my legs would carry me. The band burned my skin, I ignored it. Gaara will not cause my concentration loss.

I flew threw the trees towards them. My vision flew past my body, searching. I found them. They are in big trouble. Did the enemy know we would have the medics come in last? That is smart of them. Bastards. I grabbed onto a branch and flung myself into a tree, my hands slapped together and the ground in front of me ate the people standing there. I flipped down from the tree to Sakura's side and kicked away a man that was left standing.

"Are you okay?" I asked, helping her to her feet. Her forehead is bleeding. I pressed my hand to it and healed her concussion as well. She nodded. I looked around at everyone else. So many are already dead. I lashed out at anyone I didn't recognize. Bodies dropped all around me.

But that one man stuck in my head. Many of my attacks were not deadly. Many would walk away from this if they wanted to. I grabbed Ino by the back of her shirt and lifted her off the ground. "Get up!" I growled at her. Her chest is covered in blood. I healed her wound as best as I could and pushed her back into the fight. I clicked my radio on. "We need backup," I said. "This is to much for me to handle."

Another click, then Shikamaru's and Kiba's voices filled my head. "Be there in a moment."

I sliced my hand into the gut of another man. I can't believe I let them get around me. This could ruin our chances of winning. I sliced open someone else. "Hurry!" I said over the radio.

I could hear everyone discussing their positions and how they are fairing. Naruto and Gaara have the upper hand on their end of the battlefield. But I fear that will not last long. From what my rain eyes are saying, they have more on the way. I warned them. I can feel the pressure of the battle getting to everyone. I gutted another man.

I clicked my radio. "We need to end this," I said. "Soon."

Naruto's voice replied. "How? We are outnumbered. There is no way we can do this. I say we back off and regroup. We need to think this out."

Others agreed with him. "No!" I barked. The line fell silent. I quickly ended another mans life before continuing. "If we back down now, we lose. Plain and simple. We keep going. Push harder!" I spun on my toe and lashed my other leg out, snapping someones neck. I bent now to the ground and Sakura flipped over my back, taking out a man coming up in my blind spot.

She agreed with me. "If we back down now," she said over the radio. I found it slightly disorientating to hear her talking next to me as well as on the radio. "they will follow us. We will get no rest. Kira is right."

There was a loud sound of confusion starting. I quickly looked around. Our men are just... gone! Sakura and I frantically spun around, yelling out names. But then sand started covering us, and I knew what had happened. I felt Gaara's presence as the sand covered my whole body, transporting me to a different, safer place. At his side. I punched him in the arm, not hard enough to cause damage, but enough to let him be sore for awhile.

"I told you we cannot run!"

He caught the next fist that came at him. "Calm down, Kira. We have figured something out that was not told to you. Listen." He reached for the radio box on my neck and changed the frequency station. Tsunade's voice filled my head.

"Kira, shut up and listen." Definitely Tsunade-sama. "Most of those men are clones. Hell, more than eighty percent of the ones you have killed already were nothing but clones." I looked over at the others. They cannot hear this. A privet station for the Kages? "You remember the Akatsuki, right?" I nodded, even though she cannot see me. They are the ones who killed all of my friends. They made my life hell. "A member of the Akatsuki is creating all of these clones. And they do not die. Think of clay. That is what they are like. Clay can be molded and shaped, then smashed, then shaped again. Do you get what I just said?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

She scoffed. "Well, good. Because I have no clue what that means. You can thank Jiraiya for that one." I tried to keep the smile off my face. The others will wonder even more what is being said. "We trust in you to find a way to destroy all of the clones so they cannot be made again. Get to work." There was a click, and I knew she was done talking.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Of course, Tsunade-sama." I turned my head to the left and closed my eyes, feeling through the ground towards the enemy. They are a safe distance away. And they seem to be trying to regroup. I opened my eyes back up and looked at everyone around me. "We can take a quick break. Heal any injuries. The fight will continue in the morning." There was a loud sigh of relief and everyone sank down to the ground.

Is everything that stressful for them?

I guess since I have been here there has been so much stress upon my shoulders that this war seems like nothing to me. But I can see the effect it is taking on the others. Sakura... Kakashi told me she is pregnant. I will do everything in my power to protect her and her unborn child. I walked over to where she sat, and put my hand on her shoulder. I did a quick survey of her condition and her child's condition.

She looked up at me with a smile. "We are fine, Kira."

I smiled back and nodded, walking away from her. She had been healing a slight injury she received to her abdomen. But the child is fine, and so I will leave her alone. I climbed up a fallen tree and sat facing away from everyone. I have some thinking to do.

Clay. How do you destroy clay? Water. If there is to much water the clay will become to watery to hold any kind of form. But the rain didn't touch the clay men. There has to be something else. You have to have some water to keep it multipliable. Without water it would be dry and stiff and break easily. Maybe I can take all of the water out of them? No, I don't think I can do that. Taking water from plants and the ground is much different from taking it out of a living creature. What about firing it? When I used the fire to keep them from moving where I didn't want them, and also to hide Naruto's and Gaara's advancement, they had backed away.

Is that it?

I can try my fire idea, but I cannot be certain it will work. What can I do if it doesn't work? How else can you dry out clay and turn it to dust? Well, I can't think of anything. Maybe I can simply blow them away? With the wind I can make the gusts so strong that it will slice them apart. But they will just reform, like Tsunade-sama has said they have been doing. I could try to remodel them with an earth technique... but that may not work. What could I turn them into, even if it did work? Would they still be able to control their own bodies?

There are still way to many questions to that idea to be able to think much more about it. What can I do that will work? I sighed and scratched the back of my neck. This is too hard. But there is a way to destroy everything. You just have to find what works. I bit my lip. I could try everything I've just thought of, but I don't know how much energy it will take from me, so I don't know if it will have a desirable amount of success. I looked over everyone who is resting. They need me to do this. They need me to finish this so they can live their lives and go home to their families.

A flash of red had me out of my thoughts and on alert. It was probably just Gaara, but he normally wouldn't take care not to disturb my thoughts. I looked for the color again, but couldn't find it. I glanced over my shoulder at the group, and saw him talking with Naruto, his back to me. The flash of color couldn't have been him. I silently dropped to the ground, staying in a crouch. Did they follow us? I reached out with my mind, seeing if I could find out who it is and where they are located before I have to get the others involved.

Another flash of red to my left, and who ever, what ever, it is is coming at me with a speed I have never seen. I had just enough time to throw my hands up and yell Gaara's name before it crashed into me, sending me rolling across the ground with the force. A very wet tongue was then plastered to my face over and over again. I opened my eyes and shoved Youji away from me. Everyone was standing around, laughing.

"Youji!" I grabbed her and hugged her tightly. "Oh, I missed you so much!" She squirmed and squirmed until she could lick my face once more. I laughed. "Where did you come from?"

"Kakashi!" Sakura yelled. I looked up to see her tackling him. I hadn't noticed he was not with the group before. Did he bring Youji to me?

– –

Later that night I lay next to Gaara and Youji in our tent. My mind is still on the clay clones. So many possibilities, but no guaranty. I closed my eyes with a sigh and lightly ran my hand down Gaara's arm that is resting over my hip. He protected me earlier with the arm band. Is that why he gave it to me? I sighed again and opened my eyes back up. One of Youji's eyes were open, staring at me. I smiled and scratched behind her ear until she fell asleep again.

She is a good distraction. I've missed her without really knowing it. I can't believe I actually forgot about her. What would Renji think, me forgetting his daughter? I don't think he would be happy about it, I know that. I ran my hand down her back. Definitely a good distraction.

The mention of distraction had my mind thinking about Anne again. She said something about her being a distraction. A distraction for what? I thought about the blood. What was going on with her? Was she in pain? Why am I even thinking this? I may be human, but I should be able to hold a grudge longer than this. Anne stole my baby. She hurt my baby. And for what? To die without giving me an explanation? That's what I had wanted. It is why I didn't kill her right off. Then she had to die before I got it. And confuse me with what she did say.

A distraction... of what? I wish I knew. I wish I all of the answers that I need. I wish I could know what would happen before it happened. I wish I was more than human. I wish I could save this world, save the people in it. But I can't. What I can do is make sure I die for the good of the people, so that others will know someone cared enough to try to protect them.

Youji's eyes snapped open and her ears pricked up. After a moment of just staring at me she stirred, sitting up and looking at the tent flap. I gently touched her back, letting her know I am listening, too. I felt along the ground with my power and searched the camp and the surrounding area. There is nothing there that shouldn't be. What is it that she hears? I listened carefully and then I heard it. Crying. Who's crying?

I carefully slipped out from under Gaara's arm, being extra careful not to wake him, and quietly left the tent. I looked around, but did not find the crying person. I felt with my power, and only found one person awake, sitting on the edge of camp. I walked over and was surprised to see Sakura sitting on a log with her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking with her quiet sobs. I thought about getting Kakashi, but if she wanted him to know she was crying, she wouldn't be out here alone.

I put my hand on her shoulder and sat next to her. She tried to wipe the evidence from her face, but it was to late, she knew. I had seen. "Sorry I woke you," she whispered. Youji crawled up in her lap and turned so her belly was up. Sakura sniffled and scratched Youji's stomach.

I rubbed her shoulder. "Why are you crying?" I whispered back.

She shrugged. Then she shook her head. She stared at Youji. I can feel the dampness coming back to her eyes. I hugged her. "I'm so afraid," she whispered to me. "I'm afraid Kakashi will die. I'm afraid I will lose my baby. I'm afraid of dying, Kira."

I hugged her even tighter. To hear Sakura, the strongest woman I know, admit to being afraid, it makes me want to start crying, too. "Everything will be okay, Sakura. Everything will be okay."

Her head shook against my shoulder. "How do you know? How can you know for sure?"

I let her go and looked into her eyes. "Because I will make sure it is." I tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "I promise you, Sakura. Everything will be okay."

She started crying again and I pulled her into another hug.

What do you think? Let me know!