Yuki stood up, facing her enemies, aware of the situation. Her clammy hands, and racing heart only increased her anxiety. She wasn't about to give up though. Her mission was to stall the six shinobi. Every one of them. They could not and would not be allowed to pass her barrier.

"You dare to defy a god?"

Yuki nodded once, dashing forward.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

Yuki watched the huge bull race to meet her, eating up the ground between them in a matter of a seconds. Her eyes followed two paths as they attempted to jump over her wall.

In a flash, she teleported herself to the first. Her hand grabbed his arm, and spinning, she launched him into the other. As they collided, she appeared from their right, throwing a kick that sent them crashing into the ground. She landed on the top and dashed down the wall, watching as the summon attempted to destroy her wall. She reached behind her back, pulling out three senbon, and threw them, to get it's attention. As she landed her eyes went to the the other Paths.

Three are missing.

She looked behind her in time, to see the Asura path, who's arm had changed into a large spike, as she backpedaled towards it. She spun, the tip clipping her ab, and barely warded off another Path as it reached to grab her. She jumped, dashing away, before being confronted with a steel rod.

She willed herself out of the sticky situation, a loud boom echoing across the field. She glanced from her new position at the ox. It had created a dent in her defense, and was about to ram it again.

FIGHT BACK!

"Ok. Here I go!" she growled, dashing forward.

Her eyes bled, and then she released Amaterasu, watching the beast trip, hit the ground and writhe in pain. She ignored him, and the searing agony that ripped through her head.

"BanshōTen'in (Universal Pull)!" She felt the ground leave her feet, and whipped around, throwing out a large length of ninja steel cable, which wound itself around a tree trunk. She held on tight, wanting a moment to analyze her situation. The pull increased, and she slipped several inches. The explosion that rocked the ground, informed her of one pest dead. She watched as the other five enemies dashed towards the wall.

Damn it all. Only one minute into the fight, and I've let them get past my guard.

Her hand slipped another inch, and she smirked, letting go. Her body flew towards Deva, who smiled in victory, as he stabbed. Things moved in slow motion, giving her time to react accordingly. Her left hand shot out defensively, the rod penetrating through skin and flesh, breaking bone. She shifted the rod out of the way, and grasped his hand with her fully impaled hand. Blood dripped, onto his shoes, making her smile. Water conducted electricity and this one was completely alone. She heard rushing of footsteps as the other five realized what was about to happen, and knew that they were on their way to get him out of harms way. She formed half seals, due to the condition of her left hand.

Ox, hare, monkey!

"RAIKIRI (Lightning Blade)!" She watched his eyes widen in shock, at how vulnerable he'd left himself. His fist drew back, another rod, slipping out of it, too late.

She concentrated, her chakra flowing into her hand, in a large current. Blue electricty shot out of her hand, surrounding it. She increased the voltage as high as she possibly could. She let out a small stream wrap the two of them, to prevent the others from touching them. She raised the jutsu to chest level, and then slammed it through. She thrust forward, burrowing through flesh and watching as the body went limp. She twisted once, her hand grasping his spine. She let more electricty surge, and severed the link between body and mind. She yanked her hand out of the corpse, and turned, teleporting as all five Akatsuki members converged on her position. From her new position she watched as all of the Paths stared at their fallen comrade.

"You are a nuisance."

The pain settled in, and she winced, staring at her hand, and waking up from her sleep. She tried not to let out any sign of her agony, but failed, as a small moan escaped her lips. Blood poured from the wound, and she knew that falling back asleep wouldn't happen anytime soon. Which meant she'd have to fight with Nin, Gen and Taijutsu. She reached into her bag, pulling out bandages. It only took a second, before it was fully wrapped, and bound. Blood dripped through the cloth but it didn't matter. The injury stung but not enough to dissuade her from fighting.

Two minutes.

She sighed, and stood up, assessing her current chakra reserves. She was hardly home free. Every minute dragged on for years it seemed, and each movement she made, had cost her. Already, she had used two high end jutsus, just to get rid of a summoning, and ONE enemy. The chances of her getting close enough to use that technique again, were slim to none. Her eyes widened, as her enemy seemingly teleported behind her. She barely had time to react, so she ducked. She turned, sweeping her foot in a long arc. It was blocked and she dashed forward, throwing a punch with her good hand, missing. Her attack was almost countered, as his hand came to break her wrist. She spun out of his grasp, striking his knee, drawing out a kunai, and aiming it at his spine. She thrust it towards the neck, watching victoriously, as it came a millimeter within contact.

Her eyes shifted left, as a huge fist slammed into her gut. Pain shot throughout her body, another fist slamming into her ribs. A loud cracking sound filled the air,and she was thrown away by another punch into the side of her head. She hit the ground hard, rolling, and skidding through the earth, before her back hit her own wall. She impacted it hard, leaving a large crater. Her head spun, and she coughed up blood, her vision blurring.

I was careless. Damnit.

She shifted, and tried to breath, which was incredibly difficult. Hot stabbing agony surged through her body, sending her back to her knees.

Her senses warned her of incoming danger, and she dashed away from it, barely in time as a steel rod missed her by inches. She clutched her injured hand to her chest, her eyes glancing from enemy to enemy.

The one closest to her was a big guy, whose hair was slicked back. She waited patiently for him to attack, and when he didn't, she looked to the other five who stood still. She watched that Path turn his back on her, and create a gap between them.

"This is futile. Your ribs are broken, you are suffering massive internal bleeding, and you are barely standing."

Yuki stared at him, waiting for him to reach his point.

"Give up."

Two words she didn't want to hear. Two words that ignited a fury in her. Reaching behind her, she pulled out the blood red scroll from her backpack. She spun it, true Kakashi style, holding it inbetween her thumbs and index fingers, as her hands formed ram.

Forgive me, Tsunade-sama. I didn't think I'd have to use this Kinjutsu I created. Rooster, Horse, Serpent, Tiger.

She bit the bright ribbon in a swift motion. If her hands left the scroll, it'd cause the jutsu to fail and her efforts would be wasted. She watched them, glaring at them.

Two Paths dashed towards her, their speed inhuman.

She knew that they weren't going to take her insolence. her desire to live. They were going to take her out before she could use what was in this scroll. The difference was, she had trained for this jutsu. She was more than capable of defending herself.

She stomped her left food, slid it in a circle, and inhaled.

"Katon: Gōakyūno Jutsu! (Fire Release: Grand Fireball Jutsu!)"

She released a huge stream of fire, her eyes focused on the scroll. Her teeth were still holding the end of the ribbon in it. Sucking on it, like a straw, she pulled all of it into her mouth, eating it. It turned into liquid blood. Her own which she would need.

She grabbed the edge of the paper with a single thumb, and ripped, watching as the scroll opened, a bright blue orb forming in mid air. She stopped the tear and folded it, glancing up in time to see him thrusting a rod at her face. She brought her foot up, adding a little chakra to it, and kicked, shattering the metal pole in half. She brought it back down, and kicked again, missing by an inch. She spun, focused on the jutsu more than the her hands to their original positions she dripped two precise drops of blood onto the torn piece of paper. The paper hissed, as she finished turning. She slammed her foot down, creating a small wall of rock, between them, gasping as a huge pain ripped through her chest. She waited patiently, as the scroll slowly, ate itself up. The wall exploded, and Yuki smiled triumphantly. Before the two enemies could hit her, she let the scroll go, and threw a single flash bomb into the ground. There was no way to avoid it, and she watched them attempt to attack her. She opened her eyes against the harsh light and reached for a single glass orb that hung in the air. Three years, she'd had this jutsu and never had to use it.

"Kinjutsu: Jinsei ijou no Jutsu (Life Transfer Jutsu.)"

Her strength returned to her, twice as much, a blue rope, which originally was a vein, wrapping around her wrist. The pain in her chest died, to a throbbing as her chakra healed and overflowed her body. She focused, absorbing as much as she possibly could. Every day for the past three years, she had poured half of her chakra reserves into a single blue jewel, which was formed from her own chakra networks. The reason it was forbidden, was that in order to use it, she had had to cut a piece of her own chakra network from her body, and reheal those wounds. It'd taken some precise cutting and focus, but she'd accomplished it. She winced as the bones were reset into place. The damage she could heal was only minute. She could return bones to previous places, and external cuts and bruises. The hemorrhaging in her stomach was still bleeding, and the bones were still broken. But at least, she could breathe easier.

She dashed forward, her feet barely touching the ground. She attacked the first Pain she could get her hands on, her punch shattering the jaw of her opponent. She turned, kicking him away, and flipped as a rod, swiped at where her head at been a moment before.

Three minutes. Come on Akira. I can only hold my ground for so long.

The female threw a punch, which Yuki blocked, and countered, slamming two senbon through the space between forearm and bicep. She smiled as the arm became dislocated, and using the limp appendage, spun around three times.

She let her rage show through her throw, which sent the Animal Path through numerous trees, before coming to a rest.

She turned moving her head to avoid a fatal punch. Somebody, grabbed at her ankle, and she jumped, stomping the hand, and spinning. She threw a punch, at the Preta Path, who stopped her fist with his hand. A shockwave issued from the contact, and Yuki pushed against the hand.

My chakra is being taken...HIS HAND!

Realization set in, and she twisted, breaking his arm, and dashing back a couple steps, concerned. She'd been perfectly okay earlier. Now though, her strength seemed to have decreased to two thirds what it had been.

She dashed forward, racing to meet her enemies again.

Akira laid Naruto down, gasping for breath. The seventy mile run, had taken a little more out of her than she had expected. She glanced back in the direction she had come, her eyes misting up. It had only taken a moment to alert the Hokage, who had sent as many Konoha shinobi as she could muster. Right now though, her lover was holding out for her. She was dealing with six enemies. She was probably...

Akira fell to her knees, as if a punch had been delivered to her stomach. The pain was intense, and she didn't understand where it was coming from. It took a moment before she realized why her knees had collapsed. The thoughts of losing the woman, had caused her body to feel like jelly. And the only thing that could save the girl, was Akira.

"Yuki-chan," she breathed. And she jumped out the window, heading for the only thing that mattered at this moment.

Yuki rolled as another attack missed. She stood up, only to be pinned by a rod shooting through her shoulder.

"Die."

Her vision faded as a genjutsu enforced itself upon her. Yuki smirked, falling asleep. There was an explosion as she teleported out of the way. As her feet touched the ground, she formed several seals.

She turned in time, to barely avoid the Preta Path. She back pedaled, and felt a rumble behind her. Before she had a chance to turn around, darkness enveloped her and a slimy tongue grabbed her. It wrapped around her body, constricting her tightly and preventing escape. Sharp pointy teeth lined the mouth, as she was dragged towards them. She focused her chakra, attempting to get her feet to stick to something, only making her slide faster.

"Die."

She looked up in time to see carnivorous teeth racing to crush her body. She closed her eyes for a moment and then reopened them. The effort of her last technique was very stressing, but she had been able to perform it. She was outside a three headed dog, who had eaten it's own master. She'd teleported herself outside of the enemy, and replaced her own body with the Animal Path. Now she stood beside her wall, a safe distance away..

Last one of these. I'm already feeling my chakra levels returning to normal.

"AMATERASU!" She yelled releasing another stream of black fire that enveloped the dog. It exploded in a poof of smoke, the Animal Path landing on the ground gently.

Yuki blocked attacks from the Human Path, who was attempting to work past her guard. She glanced left in time to see the Asura Path attack her wall with hundreds of missiles.

Oh no!

She formed seals, and inhaled as deep as possible.

"Katon: Hōenka no Jutsu (Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!)" She fired as many as she could, taking out half of the barrage.

Too many!

She dashed left, her eyes on the Akatsuki members. All of them seemed unconcerned with her, as the wall crumbled to dust before her eyes.

No! I failed! Four minutes couldn't be enough time for her to get back to the village. I NEED TO STALL!

She thought about her choices, and finally decided. She reached behind her, and pulled out a scroll.

She bit into her thumb activating the scrolls. Kakashi had helped her with many jutsu, and this one, he had picked out a very special summons for her.

A small black dog appeared, and looked up at her. It's eyes were two different colors, and she smiled at it. They had gone on several missions while Naruto was gone. He'd even helped her create a jutsu that was unavoidable.

"Hey pal...Long time no see," she said with a small smile.

"I was hoping you would call on me again," her teammate said, his eyes returning to the battlefield.

"Though-under more favorable conditions."

His gruff voice always reminded her of Kakashi, and she shrugged.

"It's complicated. Just know we will be using THAT technique today," she stated, her face turning serious again.

"Is that so?" she heard him whisper.

She dashed forward, to face her enemies.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" The Animal Path cried out, a large bird being summoned. She watched it fly towards Konoha.

"Stop it, Taji!"

"On it!"

She dashed forward, inhaling deeply and releasing a massive fireball, watching as the Preta Path absorbed the technique. Then the Human, Asura and Preta Path raced to meet her assault.

Yuki ducked under the first attack, and threw a punch, weaving in and out of the three enemies. She sidestepped a kick and glanced up, watching as bombs fell from the sky, over head.

She watched as they tried to retreat, and grabbed the Asura Path, locking him into a Half Nelson. I have to stall. No matter what.

She glanced up to see the Animal Path jump onto the bird and head towards Konoha at a pace uncanny. Yuki took off after the Path.

"STOP HER!" she yelled, into the explosion, which threw her head over heels until she slammed into an impassive tree. Her ears rang, and vision blurred with the force of impact, reopening her wounds. She coughed up blood and attempted to regain her bearings. It was the ideal moment for them to attack, and looked to see that a small chakra barrier had blocked their attacks.

"Cmon! I can't hold them off forever!"

The dog's voice had carried to her, and she could distinctly see him trying to force the bird to land.

Yuki picked herself up, and turned to pursue the bird, wincing in agony.

"Ugh!" she groaned, glancing down at her leg. Blackened skin fell from her knee down, revealing raw and blistered skin underneath. Her nerve endings complained against her weight, almost forcing her off her feet.

"Damn it all," she muttered. She pulled out a sleeping pill and bit into it, only to find that she wasn't capable of falling asleep in her current condition. The pain made it impossible to stay asleep. She panicked. She could be hit at any moment. Her eyes shifted to see the Asura Path whose body was barely damaged, save a few scratches.

Running out of options. Genjutsu it is.

She slammed her thumb to her opposing hands palm and focused, releasing a rush of wind which touched her opponents. This jutsu was far reaching and by far the fastest she owned.

She had unique genjutsus and this was the strongest she possessed. It was far reaching and she focused on protecting Taji from the effects of the jutsu. As wind flowed through the air, she watched each opponent, before falling to her knees, as a good portion of her chakra reserves failed.

Five minutes.

She huffed for air, and glanced, watching as the Six Paths were immobilized by her genjutsu. They were hidden in a darkness that she had created, which nullified all the senses. From there she could cast any image she imagined, which included her dead. They stood still, and Yuki heard an explosion and then a poof as the summon was killed. She felt her strength continue to drain, the longer she had to keep the genjutsu in place.

"Just one more minute. Let me last one more minute," she gasped, checking her reserves. She was almost running on fumes, and had enough strength for a final technique. The one Taji and her had collaborated on. She focused harder, and stood, counting the seconds before she had to end the jutsu. This next one would leave her completely vulnerable and she would force Taji to return.

At forty five seconds, she felt a break in her concentration as the five enemies realized what had happened. She felt her drain stop, and jumped back, barely in time to avoid a huge blast of chakra from the head of the Asura Path. Yuki reached into her pocket pulling out a final sleeping pill. She had created one that had a numbing affect, like Novacaine on the entire body.

It's time.

She bit down hard, the bitter taste of medicine filling every orifice of her mouth. She dropped to the ground, and then, formed the lengthy chain seals,before she fell asleep.

Rat, horse, ram, hare, ox, boar, dog, boar, serpent, rooster, dragon, tiger, rat, ram, ox, tiger, serpent, dog, monkey, serpent.

"Raikiri: Arashi! (Lightning Blade: Storm!)"

The wind stirred up violently, as her technique started. She placed her entire being into her hand. Every inch of strength and power into it. She glanced back, watching as Taji attempted to restrain the Animal Path. She focused, watching as the current of electricity flowed in both palms before becoming to separate charges.

"Goodbye, Taji. Release!"

"No! Wa-!" his voice was cut off mid sentence as he was dismissed.

Yuki focused hard, and then dashed forward.

"You can't touch me with that jutsu."

Yuki smiled. She had no intention of touching him. She placed her hands to the ground, and felt the static build up. When she felt the patterns in the air become just right, she released both spheres of charged energy flow through it. The surrounding the six people became charged with electrical energy that damaged ,and paralyzed them. Yuki smiled as she fell asleep, using the last portion of her chakra to rid herself of them.

Ram.

"Kinjutsu: Hanasu! (Forbidden Jutsu: Divide)" The jutsu she had created three years ago, allowed her to cut an opponent in half. The reason it was forbidden was, that for every cut she inflicted, her muscles would tear. It was also limited to how much strain on her arms she could handle. She focused on the Animal, then let the technique go, feeling her muscles burn as the Path hit the ground dead.

Seven minutes.

She looked to attack the next enemy, only to feel two arms grab her, slamming her to the ground. The last of her physical strength faded from her body, and the Preta Path let her go, giving her body a rough kick. Yuki gasped several times, and stared ahead, as the finality set in. It was over. She was going to die. No more pain. No more sorrow. Just...darkness. Every inch of her body was on fire, which was numbed due to the medicine. She didn't want to imagine what it would have felt like if she wasn't on medicine. Her last attack, had been created over the past week, and her strength had recovered in one day just from using it. Her arms right now, were beyond repair. She moved a hand forward and tried to push herself up, failing miserably. The futility was laughable.

"You put up a good effort. But it's over."

Yuki smiled, and let out a sigh.

Looking over her body, she assessed the damage she had accumulated. Second boder-line third degree burns down her leg. Four broken ribs. Massive internal bleeding. Two holes where flesh had originally been. She tried to move again, and failed. Tears poured down her face, and she glared at the ground. This wasn't how it was supposed to end! She loved Kyuubi no Kitsune more than anything in the world.

Kyuubi...

Her life seemed to flash before her eyes, and she remembered all the good things in life.

"Kyuubi-chan! Come on! Give it back!"

"Hey, Naruto...Maybe you should slow down. I don't think I have enough bills to cover all your ramen."

"Kakashi-sama! Thanks for the bag of mints."

"Again sensei! -I need to be stronger!"

"I love you, Akira. Always will..."

All the people who had supported her through out the years and cared for her. Grandmother, Naruto, Shizune, Akira, Kiba, Hinata and Shino. Anko and Kakashi-sama. They all cared for me.

And now the struggle is over...what do I leave behind me? Why me? WHY!

She gritted her teeth, and felt a hand grab her hair by the roots, dragging her to face her executor. His eyes stared at her as if seeing through her. She wouldn't receive mercy. She looked down, and away from him. Her vision blurred, more tears falling. The sun hid behind the clouds, as if to signal her end.

"It's not fair," she sighed.

"This is life. Life never is. Know Pain."

Yuki felt her will to live reignite, and she raised a hand, and threw a punch, collapsing back on herself as her wrist was broken. She clutched her hand to her body, whimpering. She almost felt sorry for herself. Except...She'd protected Naruto and Kyuubi. She'd given them enough time to get away. Her father and mother would be proud. It brought a small smile to Yuki's face.

I'm sorry Akira. I love you and always will.