A/N: Hey, I know what you're thinking, "Who is this chode? I feel like I might have read his shit somewhere once, but I'm not sure." Yeah I know, longest week ever, right? I can't really say anything other than shit happens and you trying doing a marathon sprint with this chapter and post every week. It'll burn you out real quick. But I've used the time well I suppose. Worked more of the story out and I've got four chapters written and waiting in the wing to be beta'd. So that means for the next four weeks you'll at least have a regular update on Wednesdays so cheers! I've also decided to leave my Twitter account here and on my profile in case you want to chit chat or maybe keep on my ass about regular updates. It's the same as my pen name here JustRetribution. I won't drag this out, its good to be back and I look forward to hearing all your lovely words-ahem-thoughts on the next arc of Our Ninja Way.
Chapter 41: FUBAR
—20:52—
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata's words jarred him from his stare, and cerulean eyes darted down to meet lavender ones. "Naruto-kun what's happening?"
He licked his lips, eyes flicking back to the crowd before going to her again. He opened his mouth, about to finally explain to her what was going on, and stopped. The words failed to form. He wanted to tell her, spill everything and explain what was happening. But from the back of his mind a voice appeared, commanding him to focus and deal with the current situation. So he snapped his mouth shut, whirled around, and pulled her deeper into the shadows of the side street.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Hinata's brow furrowed and emotions swirled. Her inner turmoil balanced on a wire, shifting back and forth between panic and frustration. "Is he trying to make sure no one else hears?"
After a few more meters he turned back to Hinata, and in the dim light trickling down the street from the festival he could see the question forming on her lips. Before she could say anything he pressed a finger to her lips. She jumped at the sudden contact, and her eyes widened but she didn't recoil—only became more confused.
"I'll explain when I have the chance," Naruto said. Turning to Shikamaru he asked, "How did they get past us?"
Shikamaru scowled, "I don't know. There're only a handful of explanations, and each one is more unlikely than the next."
Naruto shifted his gaze to Shino, thankful the other women weren't asking questions yet, "Anything you'd like to add?"
"Sewers, that's the only logical explanation for how we haven't seen them up until now."
"I agree," Shikamaru nodded. "As for why they're unmarked and participating…"
"Unimportant now," Naruto said surprising them. "We don't have the time to wonder if they're being forced to do this or not. At this point the only thing we need to know is how many there are."
Shino held up a hand and allowed his Kikachu to cover it. "I can begin sending my—"
"No time," Naruto cut in. "I'll worry about it. I need you to get to the Barrier team and help subdue the targets there. Shikamaru, you'll need to get to the center of the festival and keep a low profile."
Shikamaru's lips thinned, and a few moments later Shino stiffened.
"Smart," Naruto thought darkly. "Didn't take them long to figure it out at all."
"What's the plan?" Shikamaru asked slowly. There was no dodging the accusation veiled in neither his words nor glare, or the desperation that he'd misinterpreted his commander's words for once.
Naruto said nothing. His eyes bore into the soil at his feet as a cold contempt rose from his stomach—the bitterness clogging his throat more acidic than bile. At that moment, he hated no one more in the world than himself. This was what he'd become, the path necessary for him to achieve his dream. The epiphany he was sure Sarutobi-jiji hoped he'd never have. Naruto met Shikamaru's eyes, and watched the flicker of hope die in them.
Naruto's back straightened, and he set his jaw. "What's the maximum radius of your control?"
"…About 500 meters."
The distance the main road took from the village gate to the Hokage Tower. The distance he could achieve with every last drop of his chakra.
Naruto suppressed the disgust screaming at him from inside. This was what it meant to be a leader.
"Be ready."
This was what it meant to send a friend to his death.
"Hinata," he started off. He glanced to the side before taking a breath and meeting her gaze again. "Hinata, I know you're probably feeling a lot of things right now—mostly confusion. But I need you to trust me on this, okay? And more than that, I need you to understand."
"What's going on, Naruto-kun," Hinata asked, not a trace of a stutter and voice strong. This wasn't shy on a date Hinata. This was strong, future head of her clan Hinata.
Naruto set his jaw, glanced from the street, to his watch, back to her and said, "Remember that problem your dad asked me to help out with a month ago?"
He watched the expressions of confusion, recollection, and finally realization play across Hinata's face.
"The rebellion…" Hinata breathed.
Naruto nodded. "For the past month we've been preparing for this. I know how important this night was to you. Please believe me when I say it mattered just as much to me, but I'm counting on you to understand why I did what I did."
"You used our date as a cover," Hinata said, her voice dropping. "Every time you slipped away...it had something to do with that." Naruto said nothing, choosing only to nod. He felt terrible, but he had no choice. However, he was caught off guard when she suddenly looked up at him saying, "Please don't hurt them."
"W-What," Naruto's tongue leaded, and a rush of nausea churned up his stomach. This wasn't happening. Please, god, don't let this happen.
"I-I know what they're doing is wrong," Hinata said biting her lip. "But they're just in pain; they don't know what they're doing."
"H-Hinata, I…" Naruto could do it. He couldn't make that kind of promise. But the pain on her face hurt. And the knowledge of what they'd already done cut him so deep, the guilt slicing through all of him. "I'll do my best."
Lie! The word screamed through his head and echoed back and forth. And when the worried look relieved itself from her face the screaming intensified. He felt dirty. He could already see her betrayed look when she found out, the blade of guilt hack sawing his chest into a gaping wound. There would be no easy forgiveness for this—if any. He'd lied to her, and when she found out about the Hyuuga they killed, when she found out he was the one that gave the order…
"You're losing focus," Kurama said. The sudden voice shocked Naruto out of his thoughts, and he breathed in sharply gaining Hinata's attention as well.
"We've talked for too long," Naruto said and grimaced at how dismissive he sounded. Hinata even seemed surprised, and he even caught a flicker of irritation in her eyes as her forehead knitted together. She opened her mouth, but he beat her to it, "I'm sorry Hinata, but I don't have time to explain."
Hinata looked at him strangely. She'd never seen this side of him before. He was beyond tense, and carried a no-room-for-argument attitude. And although he asked for help, it had the undertone of an order. He sounded more like a superior and less like the man she was on a date with.
"What do you need," Hinata asked, and some of the tension left his face. He didn't fail to notice the way her tone dropped and her eyes lowered.
"I need your help," Naruto said cupping her chin and pulling her eyes up to his. "I need you to something really important for me."
Hinata tried to fight the annoyance, but her eyes narrowed. He sounded as if he were speaking to a child. "What do you need," she asked again.
Naruto let go of her chin and straightened, looking her dead in the eyes air around him becoming very still.
"I need you to protect the Hokage."
20:54
"Naruto," Shikamaru called over the radio. "Please tell me you have a plan."
Naruto said nothing, focusing on the seals in front of him.
"Naruto, tell me you have a plan."
Nothing again.
"I need to hear those words. Tell me you have a plan."
Naruto sighed, "Do you want to hear them all in that order?"
"That's not funny. That's not fuckin' funny at all."
"Despite it being inappropriate given the situation," Shino interjected over the channel, "I chuckled."
"And we missed it," Naruto muttered snapping his fingers. A clone handed him a new brush with ink. "Hey, jiji. Any chance these conversations are being recorded?"
"Yeah, "Jihibiki answered. "I'm recording a black-op."
"Sarcasm noted," Shino said.
"Can you all be serious for one damn second?!"
Everyone fell silent, and Naruto finished a few more strokes with his brush before being handed a new one and saying, "My plan is to create a reverse summon seal for the explosives."
"Can you do it," Shikamaru asked.
"Simple," Naruto said finishing another stroke. "Should be done in about another minute. Shino, how's the clean-up going on your end?"
"We're about to engage," Shino said.
"I want an update as soon as you're done," Naruto said.
"Wil—"
Shino's voice cut out and Naruto blinked. "Shino do you copy?"
Silence was his answer.
"Does anyone copy?"
Nothing.
Naruto's hand sped up drawing the seals in a blur. But it couldn't match the speed of his stomach as it dropped. A cold sweat settled on his brow and hands, and his heart spiked. Communications shouldn't have cut out. It should've been impossible.
20:55
Hinata activated her Byakugan for the tenth time in the span of two minutes, and left out a soft gasp when Naruto squeezed her hand.
"You need to relax," the clone said, leaning in and smiling. To anyone else it would look like he was whispering something intimate into her ear. "You're going to draw attention to us if you keep doing that."
"S-Sorry," Hinata said looking down.
Her face dusted red for a few seconds before she glanced back at the clone, "How is he so calm right now? The situation is dire but he looks as if everything is going according to plan."
Another squeeze from Naruto's hand brought from her thoughts, "It's okay Hime. We've been preparing for an entire month."
Hinata nodded, but quirked an eyebrow when she saw him look over his shoulder. "What is it?"
"I'm looking for—ah, there she is. Karin, over here!"
Hinata looked behind her and saw a mess of red shouldering its way through the crowd, pensive crimson eyebrows locked on Naruto. Behind her, Neji was doing his best to appear dignified as he was hauled by the sleeve.
"Nii-sama what's wrong," Karin asked panting. "I sensed your chakra was distressed and Hinata's is all over the place."
"We need to keep moving," Shikamaru said coming up beside Naruto. "Something's wrong if the radios went dark."
Karin glanced at the shadow user and then did a double take. She stared at him and then looked to Shino, then Sai, and then back to Naruto. They were clones.
"Follow me," Naruto said steering the group towards the Hokage Tower. "And try to look like you're having fun."
"What is going on," Karin asked.
"So far the only thing we've gathered is it has something to do with the Hyuuga," Temari murmured.
Neji tensed and glanced at Hinata, who met his eyes and gave a stiff nod.
"Someone must inform Hiashi-sama," Neji said turning to leave.
Karin made locked eyes with Naruto who gave a subtle shake. A second later a chakra chain burst from her palm and wrapped its way up Neji's arm.
"Sorry Neji, but I'm in charge here," Naruto motioning for the group to move forward. "Hiashi has already been informed, and is currently at a safe house. I have a clone playing as his double right now. The only safety you should be concerned about is your own since you're also targets."
"W-What do you mean," Hinata asked.
"The rebels are targeting the clan head's family and those loyal to him," Naruto said. He felt Hinata's grip tighten on his arm and looked at her. Her eyes were wide, face pale, and lips pressed in a thin line. "It's okay Hime, there's no need to be scared."
"Hanabi-chan," Hinata whispered.
Naruto blinked, realizing what she meant. He turned to Karin, "I need you to find Hanabi and bring her to the tower."
"I'll go with her," Neji said.
"No, you're coming with me." Naruto said and when Neji opened his mouth he added, "It's not up for debate."
Naruto didn't even wait for a response and glanced at his watch.
20:56
"You have four minutes to find her and bring to the tower," Naruto said looking at Karin. "Do you remember her signature?"
Karin nodded, and Hinata grabbed both their attention saying, "She's two blocks away, on the right side, standing in line."
"Thanks Hime," Naruto said smiling. It slipped when he leaned in to Karin and whispered, "Be as quick as you can without drawing attention to yourself. You're on your own, so be discrete as possible."
Karin nodded turning but stopped when Naruto caught her shoulder, "One more thing. If any Hyuuga approaches you," his grip tightened, "kill them before they kill you."
"Sasuke…"
Crimson eyes shifted, glowing in the darkness. The dense grove they waited in blocking any evening light from penetrating the canopy.
"My spores have finished dispersing throughout the village, their communications have been severed. Better get a move on, you only have four minutes till the show begins."
A spike a chakra was Zetsu's answer followed by an unseen burst of smoke.
"We'll be there in two."
A few seconds later Sasuke and Sakura burst through the canopy on the back of a hawk. Its powerful wings pumped furiously, taking them to their rapidly approaching destination—Konohagakure.
Another tremor shook through the earth, and overhead thunder rumbled. Kurama lifted his head, eyes scanning the horizon before shifting down to the ground to see the small cracks appearing. He frowned, moving to the pond and checking his reflection he study his collar. Small cracks had appeared there as well.
"He's stressed," Kurama said. The earth shook harder and another crack splintered into the collar. "Very stressed. I hope you end this soon, Naruto."
On the other end of the mindscape, another crack appeared in the lidded pot. A second later, a wisp of black snaked from the pot, brushing over the ground before burying itself in the earth.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Naruto finished the final stroked and threw the brush aside. He wasn't going to waste any time waiting for the seals to dry, they'd have to do. His eyes shifted to his watch.
20:58
"Shit," Naruto said stringing hands seals together. "Summoning jutsu!"
Smoke exploded outwards, and a few seconds later a mound of explosive tags sat before him. He paused only a moment, long enough for his mask to register the sealing array, and then they disappeared into a storage scroll. Naruto followed right behind disappearing in a flash of yellow.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"You need to stall the fireworks."
"Excuse me," Tsunade asked. She turned from the top of the Hokage Tower to look at the group of ninja before her. Naruto, Sai, Shino, and Shikamaru along with their respective dates stood before her; along with a group of Kumo nin she happened to know that were the eight tails jinchuriki and his students.
"The firework show scheduled to go off at 10:00 pm needs to be stalled," Shikamaru explained.
"You mean the rebels are still out there," Tsunade asked. Her eyes shifted to Naruto and narrowed.
Naruto glared back, "Don't give me that look. We completed the mission but new intel uncovered a contingency plan."
"So you need me to stall until you can clean it up," Tsunade said. Her lips thinned as she frowned, "How close are you to mopping things up?"
She watched the men stiffen, all hesitating except for Naruto who scowled. The feeling of an earth jutsu fired point blank into her stomach settled in.
"Our comms went dark four minutes ago," Naruto said. "The good news is I've managed to disarm the targets. The bad news—they're still moving freely through the crowds. If they haven't realized the bombs are missing then they will soon."
"Bombs?" Tsunade who said it, the word echoed from everyone's lips that wasn't part of the operation.
Shino nodded, "Once the fireworks begin they'll attack anyone at random. You need to stall until Naruto and Shikamaru can finish eliminating them."
"Then what are you doing here," Tsunade asked. Her answer was all the men sharing the same smirk.
"You should know better by now, Baa-chan."
"Citizens of Konohagakure," Tsunade's voice rang from the top of the tower. Everyone stopped what they were doing, turning to the leader of their village. "Esteemed guests, friends, and comrades, thank you for attending this year's Festival of Leaves!"
The crowds applauded, cheers rising into the air up and down the street.
Shikamaru's eyes shifted right when Naruto appeared beside him, "Two minutes if we're lucky."
"Sixty seconds if we're not," Naruto answered.
Shino released a Hyuuga from his beetle coffin, his eyes shifting from the Hokage Tower where the Godaime's voice rang out to the other Anbu and Root swarming the rebels around the Village Barrier's entrance.
A cry came from behind him and he spun, side stepping the palm strike of a Hyuuga, and slammed his elbow into the rebel's face. He crumpled to the ground and Shino shifted to his next target. Anko was being triple teamed and on the ropes. A swarm flooded from his sleeves, consuming one of the rebels while he appeared behind another. The Hyuuga pivoted with a kick, Shino blocked and a kunai appeared in hand. Jamming it into the man's calf as it passed by, Shino ran the blade up his leg before pulling it out slashing his throat.
"Thanks kid," Anko said, eyebrows raised and impression in her voice.
Shino nodded and moved on, ignoring the blatant disregard for his superiority in this battle. She never was one to recognize rank anyways.
A Hyuuga appeared on either side of him and attacked his ribs. Shino did nothing, allowing them to connect. A second later and his bug clone burst, devour both men.
Anko appeared joined him and they moved to a different area where the fighting was taking place.
Anko's head shifted to him and she gave a sly smirk, "So…"
"No."
"What? I'm not your type?"
"You're beautiful, smart, a cunning fighter, and possess a rebellious charm," Shino stated and noted the slight blush on her face. "I'm taken."
Anko's lips pursed. "All the good ones!"
Shino allowed his lips to twitch. "I have a cousin."
"There's someone we owe our thanks to," Tsunade said. "If not for him, nearly all of us as well as the village would not be here. Uzumaki Naruto, please join me!"
Shouting at a near deafening level filled the street, and increased further when Naruto appeared beside Tsunade, waving.
"Naruto, your dedication and commitment to this village is something all shinobi and citizens alike should strive for," said Tsunade and Naruto blushed, a cheesy grin splitting his face as he rubbed the back of his head. "Your actions, both public and secret, have been grievously overlooked in the past. Therefore, it is with great delight I give you this much earned and extremely late promotion to Jonin!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, and Naruto stared at Tsunade in shock as she held out a certificate to him.
"I'd planned to promote you later this evening," Tsunade said just so he could hear. "But I figured this could be the distraction you needed."
Naruto nodded slowly, his eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. They shifted to the paper and he slowly pulled if from her hand.
"Area secured taichou," A Root operative declared.
Shino nodded, but stopped when a chuunin appeared from within barrier headquarters.
"A target has breached the village preliminary barrier by air; they will be over the walls in less than thirty seconds!"
"All teams move to the wall defenses," Shino ordered. "Anko, Kakashi, and Gai—inform Naruto and protect the Hokage."
Naruto skidded to a halt beside Shikamaru on the rooftop, the dust he kicked up clinging to their sweaty faces. Both of them panted, figures hunched slightly as they scanned the crowd further.
"This section is clear," Shikamaru said, eyes squeezing shut slightly.
Naruto glanced at his watch.
20:59:32
He cursed under his breath. They'd only cleared half of the street starting from the village gate, but they hadn't found any Hyuuga yet. It was like they were all congregating towards the Hokage Tower.
"Move up," Naruto ordered.
They disappeared.
"Alas, there is another announcement I must make," Tsunade said, and the crowd quieted the seriousness her voice captivated all. "I realize my time spent as Hokage has been brief, but I happily admit it has been an honor and a privilege to serve you all. That being said, I'd like to announce my retirement from the position of Hokage."
Wave upon wave of confusion and dismay washed over the crowd. Even Naruto was caught off guard. She'd made no mention of this to him, and slightly hurt that she hadn't especially with how close they'd been working together this past month. Before panic could set in Tsunade raised her hands and continued.
"I understand that this announcement is ill-timed. We have an impending war closing in and the fate of everything rests on our victory. I want to reassure you now; I will not leave this position until after the war. However, I think it's only fitting that I announce my successor. They have not given me an answer though, so I'd like to hear it now!"
Tsunade turned to Naruto again, and the blonde raised an eyebrow. Looking over his shoulder, he expected to see the candidate beside him but no one was there.
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto's heart shuddered, and the crowd below him lost it. His mouth went dry and his palms became extremely sweaty. His head snapped back to Tsunade so fast his neck popped. He could feel the blood draining from his face.
"I would like to hear your answer! Will you choose to follow to follow the path of our great leaders?"
Naruto gaped. The world started spinning. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't feel anything. His body swayed, and his eyes started moving towards the sky.
Then something grabbed his hand. His feet steadied, his eyes dropped to his side, and he found a pale goddess with tears in her eyes beaming up at him.
Naruto shifted his eyes back to Tsunade, smirking at his reaction but still cherishing the moment they were sharing. Hinata squeezed his hand, her support radiating through him and spurring him forward. A grin appeared—the reckless Uzumaki one that excited and terrified Tsunade at the same time.
"Thought you'd never ask," he said. Then, raising his voice he said, "Lady Tsunade, I—"
An explosion tore across the air. A ball of fire shooting upwards washed the village in daylight for a brief moment. Screams erupted, the blast so powerful debris rained down all over, and Naruto's throat closed as he turned to where the explosion originated from.
"Tsunade," Naruto whispered causing the horrified Hokage to look at him. "Get ready."
As the words left his lips, a second light flashed and a thunderous roar cracked down the street towards the tower.
"Shit," Shikamaru screamed as his body exploded into a black haze, the mask of Mercy hiding his contorted face. "Shit, fuck, shit, shit, shit!"
His hands slammed into the final seal, the world around him froze, the strain of the chakra sucked from his body brought him to his knees, and the hand on his shoulder disappeared with a flash. Pain unlike anything he'd ever felt burned through him. Fire devoured his stomach; a war hammer slammed against his skull; electricity contracted his entire body.
Shikamaru released a strangled cry, and fell into the dirt face first. The world darkened rapidly, the ungodly pain dimming along with it. His lungs had failed. His heart had failed. His chakra had failed. But god willing, Naruto would not.
Blonde hair flashed in his fading memory. A cocky grin and adoring eyes glistened. Her face held attention for only him. And these last moments, that was all he wanted.
The world had stopped. He existed on a plane of stasis. Yet it was a blur. Face after face appeared before him, swing after swing his blade tore across chests and throats. They were dead. They were dead and they didn't even know it yet. Their wounds fatal, but their bodies couldn't comprehend the damage, the world couldn't comprehend.
And it continued that way, down the street, through the crowd, snuffing the life of every Hyuuga he crossed as he made his way to the Hokage Tower. He didn't think. He didn't breath. He just acted.
And prayed he wasn't too late.
He appeared with the sound of thunder, black cloak and grim mask staring down Tsunade and the others.
"Do not let him die!" Naruto ordered tossing Shikamaru's convulsing body into Tsunade's arms.
"Naruto! Naruto can you hear me?" Jihibiki's voice crackled into existence again.
"Go!"
"The Hyuuga estate was a trap! Sai and his team were caught in the explosion, someone has entered the village through the air heading that way as well, and there is an unidentified presence above the Hokage monument!"
"Son of a bitch," Naruto shouted activating his mike. "Sai do you copy?"
Naruto could feel everyone listening over the radio, everyone holding their collective breathes.
"Naru…shit, Naruto they're…ed. We've been…gah!"
"Sai, say again!" Naruto's heart felt like it would burst from his chest. His entire body shook as he listened to his brother's broken voice.
"Dead…They're all dead. It was a trap…we've been had…"
Sai?" Naruto asked. Nothing. "Sai?!"
"En-route," Shino said. "I've sent my teams to the walls and Anko, Kakashi, and Gai will be at the tower momentarily."
"All Root units report to the wall defenses," Naruto ordered. "If you see the target, do not engage unless attacked. I repeat maintain a visual only, do not engage. Commander I want Anbu at the Hokage Tower and Hyuuga estate. Jihibiki give me the coordinates for the unknown presence."
Turning to Tsunade he said, "Mobilize your medics to the estate as soon as you can. Everyone else is to stay here!"
A small map appeared in front of Naruto's eyes with the position of the strange anomaly. A clone appeared then disappeared in a flash followed by Retribution.
"What do you see," Sakura asked. She had to raise her voice over the wind so he could hear her.
Next to her, Sasuke's crimson eyes peered down at the burning estate below. The distance may have been great, but his eyes allowed him to see everything.
"It's the replacement for our old team, Sai wasn't it? He's seriously injured; it looks like he's trying to keep another Root operative alive as well. Funny, I didn't think he had the capacity for such things like compassion. He's facing off against Black Zetsu."
Sakura said nothing, her mind only replaying the memories of Sai before she left the village. She knew he had compassion for others—he'd displayed it the night before she left. He had been defensive of Naruto, worried she'd hurt him.
"What will you do," she asked.
Sasuke didn't need to ask her to explain further, he understood what she meant. If he stepped in now, he could save Sai and possibly gain a slightly higher standing with the village. Or he could not do a thing and let him die. It all boiled down to what he'd decided about the village. "I…"
Sakura closed her eyes and sighed. Men. Sometime you really couldn't count on them to make a decision.
"Sasuke," she said and waited for his beautiful red eye to shift to hers. She watched them widen when he saw the tears slipping down her cheeks and the sad smile on lips. "I'm sorry."
"Sakura, wait!"
But she didn't wait, falling backwards off the eagle and towards the ground. The sadness she felt inside was stripped away by the roar of the wind along with the tears in her eyes. A fury began to build in her, unbridled rage towards the thing threatening her teammate. Her hand tightened, chakra pouring into the fist, the leather glove creaking at the pressure building.
Her jaw ached, her lungs burned, her eyes locked onto Black Zetsu and from within her chest she exploded, "Shannnnnnaroooooo!"
Sai was dying.
He didn't need to be a medic to know that much. Darkness crept in from the corners of his vision, the pain he'd felt earlier fading away—about another minute till he lost consciousness. But before then he had one last enemy to silence.
His hand shook as he raised it to his face and the creature grinned like it enjoyed his struggle. Black haze cloaked him, the mask of Vengeance welcoming him with strength and support as seals worked to slow his death. And Sai watched as the creatures eyes widened, its smile turning into a gape.
"Where did you find that?!"
Sai said nothing, shifting his tantō and preparing to move when an alert in his mask caused his head to shoot up.
"Shannaro!"
Sai stumbled back as the earth ruptured and cracked like another tag had gone off. A flicker of hope ignited in him, the familiar glimpse of pink and catch phrase whispering he just might make it out of this.
A few seconds later his hope was confirmed when Sakura leapt from the massive crater and landed beside a ways from him. She turned to him, taking in his appearance and cocked her head to the side while raising an eyebrow. "Sai…is that you?"
Sai said nothing, but pointed to Teuchi. "Please hurry, he's fading quickly."
Sakura didn't hesitate, her doctor instincts kicking in when she saw the mangled ninja. She moved for him, but was yanked back by Sai suddenly and where she was about to step exploded with wooden spears.
"You traitorous bitch," Zetsu said slipping out of the ground. "I knew you couldn't be trusted. I'm going to enjoy killing you!"
"You're forgetting about someone," Sai said from behind him swinging for his neck.
Zetsu gasped, shifting to the side and raising his shoulder. Sai's blade sunk into its upper arm, and when it countered with another wooden spear Sai burst into ink. Jerking its head to the side, it leapt back avoiding an ink lion's pounce. When it connected with the earth, it exploded into a fiery ball throwing Zetsu back further.
"I've underestimated you," Zetsu said frowning. "The information you know is detrimental for us, but I can't die here." He started to slip into the ground but stopped after a few inches. "What?!"
"Sorry, ya weren't plannin' on goin' anywhere were ya," Jihibiki asked from the side. His hands pressed against the ground and spread out over the entire grounds were seals.
Shino appeared beside him, Justice's glare causing Zetsu to take a step back, "Another one?!"
Shino's head turned slightly, his hive swarming from his cloak as he said, "I'm not the one you should be worried about."
A kunai buried into the ground beside Zetsu. He turned looking at where it came from, and screamed when Naruto appeared from behind slashing down with his tantō. Zetsu fell back, his body going one way and arm going another. Fear etched in his face as the furious mask of Retribution bore into him.
"Sasuke is fifteen meters above and circling," Shino stated.
"Sasuke! Get down here and help me!" Zetsu said scooting away from Naruto. "Sakura betrayed us. She betrayed you! Kill her and the rest!"
The only answer was the fire's crackling as it consumed the mansion. Naruto stepped forward, raising his tantō to strike one more time, and had to cut a giant shuriken in two. By the time the two hunks of metal hit the ground Madara had appeared, grabbed Zetsu, and retreated to a safer distance.
Naruto glared at the masked man, and the tension rose further as the Anbu arrived around them. Finally Naruto said, "How nice of you to join the festival."
Madara's mask shifted slightly between Naruto, Sai, and Shino. "Zetsu, judging from your reaction you know who these ninja are."
"We need to go," Zetsu answered. "Now! We're no match for them. Not the Night Angels."
Madara's masked shifted up for a second before falling to Naruto. "I suppose Sasuke has abandoned us as well. How very irritating, especially after telling him the truth and giving him his brother's eyes."
"Perhaps you'd like to join us Sasuke," Naruto asked looking up. "Or do I need to force you to?"
A few seconds later Sasuke landed, eyes burning fiercer than the fires around them. "Don't flatter yourself."
"You disappoint me Sasuke," Madara said. The contempt in his voice wasn't hard to detect. "I thought you'd be harder to manipulate than by just hormones."
"I move to my own beat," Sasuke said drawing his sword. "I'm not anyone's puppet."
"Except hers, huh?"
"I'll deal with her later," Sasuke answered, his eyes shifted to Sakura's and she could feel the anger and betrayal in them. She looked away, trying to focus on the ninja's terrible injuries and force the painful tears to subside for now.
"What should we do in this situation, I wonder?" Madara asked.
"Cut our losses," Zetsu answered.
"Hmm…" Madara said, his single Sharingan fixing on Naruto. "Perhaps just a quick exchange,"
"Enough," Zetsu said grabbing Madara's sleeve. "We're leaving now."
Madara glared at Zetsu before finally conceding.
"Very well," his eye turned to Naruto and the others. "You win this time. Don't expect it to happen again."
The vortex appeared and Naruto vanished, reappearing in front of Madara and slashing his tantō across his chest. The two leapt away, Madara forcing his body to turn intangible to escape the blade. However, as the two landed he let out a surprised yell and clutched his chest where a long gash now ran across. Madara's eye spun furiously, the confusion concealed by rage while Zetsu looked on horrified.
Before the Anbu could attack Naruto held up a hand, watching to see what Madara would do. Wordlessly, the masked man pulled an explosive tag from his robe, another Block Buster. He tossed it, the fuse igniting while his vortex appeared at the same time. Naruto blurred again, and when the vortex disappeared Naruto reappeared with the tag fluttering to the ground in two.
But the tension didn't leave as everyone's focus shifted to Sasuke. The lone Uchiha eyed Naruto, crimson eyes spinning fruitlessly as he tried to decipher the ambiguous man before him.
"Who are you," Sasuke asked and narrowed his eyes when he received a chuckle.
"I'm afraid that's classified."
Everyone's eyes shifted when Vengeance collapsed face first to the ground with a weak grunt. The masks and cloak crumbled away revealing how serious his injuries actually were.
"Shit," Naruto muttered.
"Naruto!"
He turned to see Shizune arriving with a team of medics and missed Sasuke's eyes widen a fraction.
"Attend to Veangance, he's been hiding his injuries." Naruto ordered and Shizune nodded. Naruto then shifted his gaze to the Commander, "The rest of you search the estate for any survivors. The hostages are in those three buildings. Root forces should've extracted them by now but we lost contact. Be careful."
The Commander didn't move, but his question was loud and clear.
"Go," Naruto said. "He's not a problem, and if he becomes one Justice and I will handle it."
As the Anbu flickered away Sasuke's eyes narrowed on Naruto. "You think you can take me, Naruto?"
"It wouldn't even be a contest," Naruto replied grimly. "Shizune! What's the status on my brother?"
"Brother…" Sasuke echoed, eyes widening further.
"Bad," Shizune answered. "Collapsed lung, internal bleeding, multiple deep lacerations, and a concussion. We need to get him to the hospital now!"
Two clones burst into existence beside Naruto, and Sasuke shifted his sword in front of him.
"Don't kid teme," Naruto said. The clones turned around and each headed for Sakura and Shizune.
"Hold on," said the clone with Shizune's group. Everyone grabbed a hold of the blonde and in flash the disappeared.
Sasuke and Sakura gaped at what they'd just seen. But Sakura was shaken from her shock when the blonde grabbed hold of her shoulder.
"Wait," Sakura said and turned to Sasuke. "Please surrender."
"Why should I listen to you," Sasuke asked. The coldness in his voice hurt, but the pain of betrayal hurt even more. "I should kill you just like all the others."
"You can try," Naruto said stepping forward, "but you won't get very far."
"Stop it you two," Sakura yelled. "Sasuke look at me."
"We're worlds apart," Sasuke said glaring.
"I said stop it! Sasuke, look!"
"You're right," Naruto smirked from behind Retribution. "Wanna see the gap between us?"
"God dammit, I said stop it!" Sakura screamed slamming her fist into the earth. The shock wave shot out towards the rivals, and forced them to separate further. "Sasuke! Look. At. Me!"
Sasuke jerked his head at her with a snarl and Sakura glared. "I know I'm being selfish, but I'm asking you to make a choice: me or your revenge." Her eyes started shimmering and she shook her head. "We can work things out if you give us a chance. I'm begging you, please don't do this. I know you don't want to. The man I love isn't like that. He's tired, and weary, and looking for peace. Please," her voice shook as she lowered her eyes. "Please don't leave me again!"
Sasuke said nothing; he just stared at Sakura. Seconds passed, the only sound filling the empty space being the fire and her stifled sobs. Then Sasuke moved. He held out his sword, reversed it, and buried it into the ground. His Sharingan slowed to a stop, then deactivated. He held out his hands, and stepped away from his weapon, but his eyes—full of so many pained emotions—never left Sakura.
Naruto studied Sasuke for a second. Retribution showed no indication of him building chakra anywhere, so Naruto approached slowly, weaving hand seals as he did.
"Uchiha Sasuke, for crimes committed against Konohagakure, I hereby place you under arrest." Closing the last bit of distance between them in a blur, Naruto placed a powerful suppression seal on Sasuke's stomach. Sasuke swayed, the sudden drain of chakra hitting him hard, and he slumped onto Naruto's shoulder. "Welcome home."
"I have no home…" Sasuke whispered as tears slid from his eyes, "I have nothing."
Karin didn't know what was happening, but it was definitely bad. She'd managed to find Hanabi and was nearly to the Hokage Tower when a massive explosion rocked the village. Then, not even a second later a second explosion shot down the street past her and Hanabi. That one had been even more terrifying because it hadn't even held any kind of presence. It just came out of nowhere and then vanished like it'd never existed.
Karin's grip on Hanabi's hand tightened, and the younger girl did the same. She forced her way through the panicking crowd, her senses running on overdrive trying to register any threats. A third explosion rocked the village, this time feeling more like an earthquake and inciting more fear. The village had to be under attack, but no alarms had been raised. What the hell was happening?
"Hanabi-sama!"
It came in a wave, running up Karin's spine before gripping her heart. Her eyes widened—a sharp intake of air as her hand unconsciously tightened around Hanabi's. She hadn't even sensed him. He'd literally appeared out of nowhere, so fast the Anbu following from the rooftops hadn't caught it.
Hanabi stopped immediately at hearing her name, the force of her full weight jerking Karin back for a moment before her own weight caused Hanabi to fling forward into her. Off balance, off guard, and unarmed, Naruto's warning echoed in her mind.
"Kill them before they kill you."
Karin spun, pushing Hanabi behind her and threw a hand towards the approaching Hyuuga. She may not have possessed the Byakugan, but her Mind's Eye told her precisely where the man approached from before she saw him. A chakra chain burst from her palm, the close distance between the two of them left the Hyuuga unable to react. His eyes bulged as the sharp tip of the chain pierced his chest and he slumped to the ground. There was a beat of silence—everyone staring at them, Hanabi wide-eyed and rigid—and then Karin dragging her through the motionless crowd yelling, "Run!"
They made it ten steps before three signatures appeared on both sides and one directly below. Karin pushed Hanabi forward; the girl stumbled, fell, and rolled to a stop. Karin jumped up, tucking into a tight flip, and on her descent a Hyuuga burst through the ground with a kunai. She paid it no mind, allowing the metal to cut deeply across her calf as she caved his skull in with an axe kick. She landed hunched over, the burning pain making it harder to focus on the two signatures leaving the crowd and moving for Hanabi.
Red eyes glared behind glasses. There was no way she was failing her brother. Her forearm snapped into her mouth and she bit down, drawing the healing energy in to mend her calf. At the same time a chain burst from her shoulder, wrapped around Hanabi's foot, and launched the girl into her arms just as the attackers arrived.
They scowled, and Hanabi seemed melded against Karin's body, shivering. Karin's eyes snapped to between her sides as two more signatures appeared along with one more behind her.
Well Karin you've faced worse odds, just not while having to protect someone.
"Hanabi," she said so only the girl could hear her. "When I say go, charge the two ahead of us."
Hanabi's eyes snapped to hers, wide and with a hint of incredulity.
"Just trust me okay?"
Hanabi took a shaking breath, swallowed, and nodded her head. Looking forward again, she activated her Byakugan and brought her arms up to her sides.
Everyone fell silent. The crowd was far to close despite trying back up as much as possible, breathing reduced to nothing more than sharp shallow intakes. Tension built in the muscles of every ninja. Chakra hummed within each tenketsu. It would happen in an instant.
The Hyuuga on their right shifted, and Karin threw her hands forward shouting, "Now!"
Chains erupted everywhere. The Hyuuga behind her anticipating the chains leapt back, avoiding the chakra constructs, and was drilled in the back by a Rasengan as Konohamaru met him with an outraged shout. The brat had followed from a distance, worried about Hanabi. Karin was thankful he had the same persistence as her brother.
The chains from her palms formed a path for Hanabi to run between, forcing the Hyuuga to separate if they wanted to avoid impalement and opened the way ahead. The Hyuugas at Karin's sides jumped at her, and the chains whipped sideways across their ribs, throwing them into the walls of the buildings. The last two Hyuuga charged at Hanabi with abandon, intent on claiming her life. Karin saw the looks they held, clenched her jaw and tried to manipulate the chains to hold them back. But she was too slow.
And they knew it.
Hanabi slid into her stance, head down and teeth grit. The two clansmen moved in for a final lunge and Hanabi ducked, her small frame moving her well past the dangerous paths of the knives, and then exploded upwards. A shell of chakra shimmered briefly in each palm before she buried it in their guts. They slumped forward slightly, air loosening from them. Then they straightened, hands clenching the young girl's arms while raising the kunai again.
"W-What?!"
"Nice try kid," he said grinning.
Karin's chains were just finishing their back swing, and she was building chakra in her legs to lunge, but Hanabi knew none of this would be enough. Her body stiffened as she watched the knives plunge.
"Nee-chan!"
There was a flash of light, and it was over.
She nearly dispelled him with a Jyuuken strike when he tried holding her back. From the top of the Tower they saw everything unfold, and Hinata wasted no time in attempting to go to her sister's aid.
"Let go," Hinata screamed at Naruto as he held her from behind, his arms locked around hers in a bear hug.
"You can't," Naruto said watching the fight. "You're a target too."
"I care what I am," Hinata said throwing her head back attempting a head butt. "That's my baby sister!"
"Leave it to me," Neji said moving forward and Naruto inwardly groaned.
"Neither of you are going anywhere," Naruto ordered stopping Neji with a glare. "You all are targets!"
He wished Tsunade was there to back him up, but she'd gone to the hospital the moment his maker appeared with Shikamaru's choking and convulsing form. Temari's screams still echoed in his head as she called his name on the way to the hospital.
Hinata's struggling started fading, but a gasp—the kind of truly horrified one, like when a mother sees her child in the street with a cart barrel down it—left her lips causing Naruto head to snap back to the fight. Hanabi was about to die.
He felt the chakra building in her body for some kind of attack. He knew she'd dispel him if she dealt any real damage to him.
He also knew he couldn't risk any of them going down there.
But more than anything, he knew he didn't want her to see what happened next.
He released her, surprising her enough that she couldn't react, and moved.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered, ignoring the clenching of his heart as his hand chopped her neck. Hinata shuddered, going limps in his arms.
"Wha?" Hinata asked confused, eyes darting around.
He looked at Neji, tossed her to him, and disappeared.
He'd done something he'd never dreamed he'd do. And the pain from that single thought multiplied with the next one. Now she'd watch him kill her family.
Elongated kunai slipped from his sleeves. His arms shot forward, crossing in an X over Hanabi and deflecting the incoming blades up and away. He yanked down, swinging in a wide arc outwards. The knives parted, found the necks of the two Hyuuga, bit, rent, and sliced completely through, and escaped the other sides.
Blood sprayed up and out, painting him and Hanabi with crimson speckles. His eyes were hard, his body rigid, mouth pressed tight, and when he looked at Hanabi he saw fear. His soul screamed. The knives slipped from his hands and clattered in the dirt. Around him gasps and whispers radiated through the crowd.
"I have enough chakra to transport you two to the Tower," Naruto said holding his hand out to Karin while holding Hanabi's wide gaze. "Come."
Karin wasted no time, uttering a quick thanks to a shocked Konohamaru, and grabbed Naruto's hand. Hanabi was more reluctant to move, so Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder and did his best to ignore her flinch when he did. All the while he felt her gaze on his back from atop the Tower. The guilt reached its apex, the tsunami roiling over and rushing down, over-shadowing him.
He teleported them back, dispelling in the same instant avoiding the crush of the massive wave, and across the village Naruto stopped. His breath shook behind his mask, his body swayed slightly, and his tense shoulders finally sagged.
"Taichou," Shino asked looking over his shoulder.
"Commander, Justice, see Sasuke to the I.D." Naruto's voice was empty, even to his ears. "Afterwards report to the Hokage Tower."
"Hai," they responded.
Naruto disappeared with the Hirashin, wishing the night would end.
Miles outside Konohagakure, atop a massive tree overlooking the village, Madara watched silently. His single crimson eye glowed dully in the darkness, and as he stared his hand silently rose and brushed the sliced fabric across his chest. The white flesh had still not healed, but even more concerning was what the masked man had managed to do while he was supposed to be intangible.
"Did the clone in charge of recording tonight's events survive," he asked.
"No," Zetsu answered. "Despite being out of the way someone somehow detected it atop the monument and destroyed it."
"Those Night Angels," Madara said, "they're game changers."
"Yes, they are." Zetsu said from the branch beside him. His arm hadn't grown back either, amazing as it was disturbing. "Where they found those masks I don't know. They disappeared nearly a century ago. But here they are now, and their wielders are just as deadly as I remember."
Madara said nothing for a moment, eye watching the village in the distance aglow with lights. "There are too many new players now; the preparations I planned for are nearly useless."
"So we postpone," Zetsu asked, but there was no question of the ire in his voice.
"No, we act," Madara answered clenching his fists. "I think it's time I visit Ame and take back what I lent."
Zetsu lips moved up slightly, but did not break into a full grin. "I'll assemble the clones for attack then."
"Not just yet," Madara said finally breaking his gaze away and turning to Zetsu. "I have a new plan."
"But…" Zetsu said frowning. "The Night Angels discovered the bodies. And all the clones in the Hyuuga rebellion have been eliminated. With Tsunade and both her apprentices it'll be a matter of hours before they discover the secret of the clones."
"Exactly."
Zetsu blinked—then realized what he meant and grinned. "You're devious. You want them to find out."
"Initially I wanted to use their surprise to cut down their numbers, but this works even better I think." Madara's gaze swept the expansive forest. "No doubt when they realize the clones' ability they'll send word to the other villages and plea for help. But how do you mobilize armies when you can't trust those you order or take orders from? You can't. The five great nations will be paralyzed by a single overwhelming fear and no way to combat it without interrogation. Their arrogance has handed me the things I desire most on a silver platter: the last two Jinchuriki in the same place, and revenge on this despicable village."
"So we won't attack," Zetsu said. "We'll give them a few days to choke on their own fear, allow paranoia to corrode them."
"Exactly," Madara nodded. "I wasn't lying when I said my trump was Despair. When the world takes a turn for the worse, when life crashes down and tears everything asunder, when every constant you've ever known vanishes, how can you possibly hope to move forward when the only thing you have left, the bonds of love, friendship, and trust are shorn away?
"You can't," he said turning to look back at the village one last time. "You become an empty shell filled with a drowning fear and broken spirit. And when there is no more room left to fill, when that fear becomes too great and you come crashing down to your knees, that is when you feel it. The utter, expansive, hopelessness of Despair."