Naruto exhaled, pulling out another kunai. He had recovered from passing out a day ago, his strength coming back in full. He smirked, and slashed into another Zetsu, discarding its body with the rest of the enemies he had slain today. He glanced at his comrades who battled fiercely beside him, and his heart soared with exhilaration. He inhaled and glanced at the battlefield hearing the screams of fellow shinobi. He looked on in absolute horror as people were flung sky high, and a single shinobi stood before him.

Sa-suke?

"Hey, loser."

The purple aura which surrounded the Uchiha was covered in the blood of his fellow friends, and sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. He felt his heart race faster, as he dashed forward, screaming his old rival's name from the top of his lungs. He barely registered the large ghoulish fist which raced to meet him, until it was almost too late to avoid it. He raised his hands, creating a shadow clone to push him out of the way, when a single shinobi slammed into the earth before him. The fist was stopped by two hands, as the kunoichi held her ground preventing the attack from reaching its intended target. No matter how hard Sasuke thrust, the woman didn't budge an inch.

"Hmmmm? Got a woman to protect you, lo-"

The comment never completed itself, as a storm kicked up around Susano'o, destroying everything around it in a flash. Naruto raised a hand to ward off the intense heat thrown off by the huge conflagration of wind and fire. He squinted through his eyelids, and watched the kunoichi approach him. The ambiguous shadow cast by her figure, made him apprehensive. He squeezed the kunai tighter should this figure's intents turn out to be malevolent.

"You alright, Naru-kun?"

His face immediately brightened as he recognized the voice of his savior. The voice of an angel, who intended to whisk him away to safety. He dropped his arm, and sighed a breath of relief.

"Ak-akira-koi?"

"Thank god, you are safe. I was worried about you. With good reason-" she snarled, looking over her shoulder at his rival. He smiled, distracted from the seriousness of the current situation.

"We have to get you to safety. I'll deal with hi-"

Naruto dashed forward, his heart hammering in his chest, as a Susano'o's left hand attempted to crush his lover. He was there in almost a second, pushing her out of the way, and jumping out of harm's way in an effortless movement.

"AMATERASU!"

"Naruto-kun!"

His eyes widened as the black flames surged towards him, almost instantaneously. The shadow clone he summoned earlier, grabbed his ankle mid-flight and yanked down hard, bringing him back to earth. He jumped over the ghostly sword, landing on the wrist of the phantom. He let both his hands fall behind him, as he closed the gap between him, and his opponent. Two massive spheres of coalesced chakra filled each appendage, and he thrust them both out in front of him. He avoided the second swipe of the sword, jumping skyward, and inverting his body.

"ODAMA RASENGAN RENDAN! (Massive Rasengan Barrage!)"

Naruto's eyes met his opponents, and he felt a shred of regret, but he would not hesitate to protect the one he loved. Sasuke stood in the darkness which threatened to overwhelm the village and all he cared about. For him, the decision was not his to make. His heart ruled over this choice, and he knew that he would not allow his ex friend to survive this day. The demonic apparition fought against his jutsu, which Naruto attempted to break through. After the jutsu faded from his grasp, he jumped away, barely avoiding the swipe at his body. The weariness that tore at him, suddenly vanished, as a huge amount of adrenaline poured through his veins. He glanced to his wife, who watched him anxiously.

We won't lose to you. Sasuke. I will protect our bond, even if it means breaking every bone in your body.

Naruto prepared himself to fight for his friendship, as Sakura appeared from behind Sasuke, her body aglow.

Kabuto watched Tobi leave the cave where he hid, a huge war fan on his back.

"Make sure you do not become a hindrance. I'd rather not have to kill you before this war is over."

Kabuto smirked, the snake from his stomach hissing over his shoulder.

"Don't worry about me. Just keep your promise to me, and I'll make sure that victory is ours."

He moved his glasses up higher, his thoughts shifting as several of the reanimated corpses vanished from his control.

The snake user touched the ground next to him, verifying that the four special coffins were still nearby.

I'd rather not summon these shinobi, until the right moment, but I'm losing pawns faster than I can make more. I underestimated the Allied Shinobi's Forces. I could always summon him...

He allowed himself a moment to move another piece on the gameboard in front of him. The war was slowly shifting in their favor, and all it took was a small push for them to overwhelm the ninja world, and take what was rightfully theirs. He smiled, and let his tongue lick his lips. The rewards for his manipulation of Tobi would be greater than he imagined.

Yuki sat down, and stared at the trail, wiping another bead of sweat off of her brow. She pulled a mint out of her ninja pouch, and popped it into her mouth. She glanced down at the ground, and the current map. Their plan of attack was coordinated, but it didn't account for all of the things that could delay their progress. She bit down hard on the crunchy sweet, and swallowed. Touching the pouch that hung on her left hip, Yuki verified that the scrolls her big sister had given her were still there. She sighed, and headed down the path, towards her destination. Her mind sorted through an assortment of thoughts that upset her, until it settled on a single person.

Akira. Do you forgive me?

Naruto ducked under Sasuke's sword, and thrust his kunai forward, gritting his teeth as the katana was there to block his counterattack.

He glanced towards his wife, concern for her safety, overriding his desire to protect himself. He quickly returned his gaze back to the fight, and jumped over Susano'o's fist, before he could be slammed into the rock.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!)" he shouted, forming over a hundred clones. He sent them downwards to pin the arm of the apparition, forming a massive rasengan in his hands. Before he could reach his target, black flames exploded in front of him, in an attempt to stop his attack.

Can't avoid it!

A tail appeared from nowhere, and wrapped around his wrist, pulling away from the hazard in time. He skidded to safety behind Sakura who threw another punch at his wife. He dashed forward, and thrust his Rasengan at her, watching his jutsu connect with the pink haired kunoichi. He dodged an explosive tag, thrown at his feet, and backpedaled towards Akira, who let loose a feral growl.

"Naru-kun. Please be more careful. I can only protect you so many times, before our luck runs out. Especially with her…"

Naruto glanced towards Sakura, whose face was bright red, a pink diamond in the center of her forehead.

That looks like Granny Tsunade's diamond? And why does she also look like Bushy Brows, that one time he fought Gaara?

"She mastered the Eight Gates," he whispered almost to himself, as he realized what the immense power behind Sakura truly was.

"That's not all, Naruto. I am invincible. I stole Tsunade's Mitotic Regeneration and have it mastered to an extent that I can open the Eighth Gate and survive. I've done it before," she sneered, releasing an explosive amount of chakra. The shockwave sent rock flying in all directions, at dangerous speeds.

Naruto warded off the shards of rock which flew towards him, and stared at his two ex friends, who now fought on the opposite side.

"It has been a long time Kyuubi."

Naruto's attention shifted as an orange mask swirled into existence between Sakura and Sasuke. He pointed his hand at Akira, whose head fell and body became limp.

"You are coming with me, nine tails. Submit!"

Naruto ignored the comment, and started to rush forward, only to stop. He watched in absolute horror as Akira walked forwards as if in a trance.

"Akira-koi?Akira…hey! Snap out of it!"

He reached forward to grab her, only to be stopped by a wall of black fire that separated him, and the love of his life.

"AKIRA! WAIT!"

He searched for some way to force his way through, only to come up with nothing. The height of the flames was over what he could possibly overcome, and the wall extended way beyond what he was capable of outrunning. He snarled his anger and, reached into his pocket, pulling out a paper bomb. He attached it to a kunai hastily, lighting the bomb up.

One way or another! I won't let him take the one I love!

He threw the kunai down, and jumped back, watching as the black flames exploded outwards. He avoided the debris, before dashing through the gap, and heading straight for the redhead. Before he could reach her, a wall of earth exploded into existence preventing Akira from reaching her goal. A black figure appeared from the depths of the barrier, and grabbed his lover.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" he screamed, dashing forward. Before he could react, the woman launched herself upwards, carrying Akira. He followed her arc with his eyes, surprised as she landed in front of him.

"Release."

Almost instantly, Akira's gaze settled upon him, and she smiled.

"Who are you?" Naruto growled, watching as said woman turned away, pulling the hood of her cloak off. Blonde hair cascaded down, and two jade green eyes, met Naruto's.

"A friend of a friend. I'm glad I reached her in time."

FLASHBACK

YUKI POV

Blood.

Blood on her hands.

Yuki stared at the blood drenched kunai which she grasped limply, confused. She looked down, her horror peaking as she stared at the corpse. She knelt down, and pulled the lifeless body off the ground, holding the head precariously. She stared into the lifeless eyes of the dead cadaver, and felt her heart twist and turn in agony. She tried to stifle the moans which forced their way up her windpipe, before letting out a low howl, tears pouring down her eyes.

I can't have…I…

She let her hand run through the silky smooth hair of the red head, and kissed her forehead, inhaling the cinnamon scent one more time.

"AKIRA!"

Yuki Hazukashii woke up with a start, gasping for air, her askew. She wiped the sweat out of her eyes, and shuddered in fear, as the nightmare dissipated. She held herself tightly, in an attempt to calm down, which had the exact opposite effect.

"Nightmare, Yuki-san?"

She turned to her older sister, who was watching her, the look on her face monotone. The unmistakable

concern which her voice dripped with eased Yuki's arms away from herself.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice weak. Her mind replayed the image over and over and over in her head, which only caused her more distress.

"Whose Akira?"

Yuki glanced up, and stifled the urge to blush hard, realizing that Yuki had never explained her current sexual preferences. They had discussed many things, but Yuki had done her best to avoid current love interests.

"She's-a friend."

"Hm."

Yuki felt her sister's gaze on her; slowly start to melt any and all objections she had about speaking about that part of her life.

"I don't believe you."

"WHAT?" she exclaimed, clenching the sheets.

"I wasn't born yesterday, Yuki-chan. Any person can have a dream, but to sob in the middle of your sleep is not natural. You attacked your pillow several times, and now your blushing beet red, which means whatever your telling me, is not the truth. Now out with it. Who is she? Do I have to torture my sister into divulging her secrets?"

Yuki fiddled with the blankets before inhaling deeply.

"She was my lover. I was with her when I was living in Konoha. She currently is married to Naruto Uzumaki who she loves more than anything else, but she let me be her second lover. I left her to find out about my family, and I don't think she'll ever ever ever forgive me!" she spat out in a single breath.

The look on her sister's face was so serene; Yuki forgot that she had just spilled her deepest most intimate secrets to the woman.

"That wasn't too hard was it?"

Yuki nodded, before letting her head fall down. The truth hurt deeper than any wound she'd ever endured. She had hoped that Akira would forgive her someday, but the time for that seemed impossibly far away. The wound that the dream had opened festered, and she winced as she tried to hide her hurt emotions, behind a false smile.

"I love her still, and yet it seems like all I do is push her away."

"Well, Yuki…Do you love her?"

"More than anything, nee-chan!" she insisted, clutching the sheets tighter.

The older woman sighed, and quickly recomposed herself.

"I don't know much about love. I'm way older than you, and yet I haven't had sex, nor do I know what a man looks like outside of the medical scrolls I've seen. If you love her though, then you have to say your sorry. Apologize and ask for her to forgive you. She will, if she cares for you at all. Leaving you in darkness and alone, is not a way to show somebody you care."

Yuki acknowledged that with a nod of her head.

"So…how is she in bed?"

Yuki's face flushed beet red and let out a small cry of astonishment.

"Ho-how?"

"I wasn't born yesterday, Yuki-san," came the reply

"She-she's amazing," she allowed herself to admit. The demon knew the woman anatomy better than any other person she knew.

Her sister's laugh was beautiful, granted that she had never heard it before. She smiled, and glanced at her sister, who continued to ask questions about Akira. Yuki was more than happy to provide the details on her former lover, and friend.

THE PRESENT

KAZUYO POV

So that's Akira, huh? I can see why Yuki would be attracted to her. She's quite a looker.

"Hey, look. Akira and Naruto is it? You guys get out of here. I'll hold them here, for now."

She turned and faced the wall she had created, listening as the shinobi pounded on it, fist by fist.

"So we're supposed to abandon you, and expect you to handle this situation? Doubtful!" Naruto shouted, walking to stand beside her.

"My friend asked that I ensure your safety no matter the cost. I understand how…careful she can be, so I am going to keep my promise."

"How do we know you don't want to harm us?" the red head demanded, grabbing her arm.

Kazuyo kept her emotions under wrap and grabbed a kunai out of her pouch, forming a water sword out of thin air.

"I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Believe what you want, but I will not let harm come to either of you."

Drip!

Drip!

Drip!

Yuki Hazukashii took another step deeper into the cavern, staring around at the different rock formations. She was taken in by the stalagmites and the colors of the limestone in the cave. She ignored the target she had been tracking until it was no longer possible.

"Hmmm. I am quite impressed you were able to find me."

"Hmph. Not hard to find. Just go a little off the beaten path, and you'd be surprised what you find. You know why I am here. So let's not delay the inevitable," Yuki said, casting her gaze above her head, ignoring her opponent.

"I am no longer a snake… sage power has allowed me to shed that skin… and I am a dragon now!"

Yuki smirked, and turned her head to face him.

"I don't see anything but puffs of smoke coming from you."

Kabuto's gaze became angry, and she stuck her tongue out.

"I'll teach you to fear me, Yuki. Let's see how long that smile stays on your face, after this…"

With that, he clapped his hands together, and Yuki watched as four coffins arose from the ground. Each coffin opened, revealing a shinobi, two of which she immediately recognized. Her face turned grim, and she let out a low hiss.

"What have you done, you bastard?" she whispered, in complete horror.