I cannot begin to describe how sorry I am that this has taken so long to come online. I had the WORST case of writer's block, but now I am back and should start posting weekly. Thanks for the support and love. Enjoy!

YUKI POV

Yuki's eyes followed the shapes in the smoke, before turning to her mother who had sidled up alongside her shoulder.

"I need to borrow some of your strength. Do you think-"

Her question was immediately cut off, as her chakra levels were quickly brought back to their fullest capacity. Her hand squeezed her mother's as a silent token of affection. She kept her eyes on the center of the field as the smoke abated slowly.

"What happened?" her mother asked, facing her.

"I am finishing what they started."

She could feel the intensity of her parent's gaze as she was examined thoroughly. Her curiosity was so palpable she could taste it. And only after a minute did her examination reveal her secret.

"It can't be!" the older woman exclaimed, fear constricting her pupils dilating in realization.

Yuki ground her teeth, before extracting her hand from the death grip that now attempted to hold her in place.

"I'm sorry, but I won't lose Akira. Watch over Kazuyo."

Focusing her strength through her eyes, she expanded the field of her realm to encompass every single allied shinobi. Raising her hands to chest level, she clasped them tightly,,sending them to the other side. No longer concerned with their safety, the jounin would be free to let her power flow freely and fully. Her chakra levels fell to half capacity, the drain stealing the air out of her chest. Gasping, she let her weight come down, sitting on her knees. She returned her attention to the Madara and Sasuke, who watched her closely. Removing a strand of hair out of her eyes, she faced them unafraid.

I cannot lose.

CLONE POV

The worm had fought much better than she had anticipated. As much as she hated the regretted it, her strength had been brought to bear against him, leaving her winded, and far from unblemished. Her body was bruised and cut in numerous places. By her sheer will, she had remained in combat, and defeated her enemy. A token of her victory was clutched tightly in her right hand, dripping blood onto the floor.

"My father will be so glad to have the matching eye to his!" she stated, with a sweet smile, as she pressed her knees deeper into his arms restraining him.

"Fuck you!"

"Unfortunately you aren't cute enough for that. So I'm gonna take your life and end it here."

Obito resisted, but her kekki genkai informed her that the attempts were futile. He had not strength or chakra to resist with.

"I could take your Rinnegan, but destroying it seems much more satisfactory in my opinion."

She raised a hand to act, before glancing towards the real body. It seemed as though this was not part of the plan. In fact, she intended for something else entirely. If they didn't destroy the Rinnegan now there would not be another , her main body, conveyed instructions that would ensure their victory. Forming several seals, she performed a single hidden jutsu, letting the misled Uchiha go. She backed away a couple feet, giving him room to breathe. Her body shook with exertion, as the fight

"Lucky you, it's not my choice whether you live or die. Later!"

And with that she exploded with a soft poof.

NARUTO POV

He woke up only a minute ago and yet his heart rate had skyrocketed at the situation he was now in. White walls, floor and ceiling which prevented him from leaving. He couldn't help but worry if he had reached heaven or was under genjutsu. Channeling his strength he attempted to break any hold the enemy might have over him. Nothing. He sighed anxious to find Akira and return to the battlefield. His memories were a little blurred. The Genin knew that he had been with Akira confronting a cloaked intruder...and then...nothing.

"What's going on here, dattebayo?" he whispered to himself, scratching his head.

He walked the space seemingly void of a beginning or ending. He stopped for a minute to consider what his next course of action, before his senses warned him of danger incoming. He turned to face his assailant , only a moment too late. He yelled out as he was tackled to the ground, his foe wrestling with him as they rolled along. After about thirty seconds and several feet they came to a stop, his vision blocked an arm that covered his eyes. He started to protest, only for warm lips to capture his own, and a tongue to force itself inside his mouth. He bit the intruding appendage earning a soft moan out of the person. Immediately, the lips withdrew, giving him time to breathe and focus.

"Get off of me, so I can kick your ass!" he threatened attempting to throw the weight off his hips.

"If I do, I won't get to have fun with you," came the feminine voice.

He ground his teeth together.

"Fun or not, I'm getting free and then you'll be sorry, dattebayo."

He started to demand what they wanted, but his voice died in his mouth as a hand grabbed his dick and balls roughly, rubbing them with pressure. He let out a low whimper, and fought to break free even more. He wouldn't let this happen. If it did, Akira would never forgive him.

"Stop it! I'm married!" he shouted, thrusting up to break the grip, but only succeeded in injuring himself. Almost immediately, the person above them, lessened their hold, but kept him pinned, leaning in. He could feel hot breath on his ear as his enemy whispered in his ear.

"Beg for her to save you."

His eyes widened, and he growled in rage.

"If you don't, I won't let you go. If you do, I promise to at least give you your vision back."

He considered his options, but decided against it. If he acquiesced to this request, he would eventually completely break down. A cold finger traced his abs gently, and he shivered under the touch, wanting anything than for his body to react as it did. Tented pressure built under his waistband and he fought to keep himself in control of what he could.

"Beg for her!"

He fought the urge, his mouth hanging open as his dick was pulled free from his pants, and something warm and wet captured his member, sliding down his length. At first he denied that he was inside another person, only to whimper as the muscles of her rippled along his soft dick.

"Akira….I'm sorry! Please-"

No sooner had her name escaped his lips, then the arm was removed and his vision returned, slowly but surely. He winced as the bright light blurred his sight, but slowly the picture resolved and he could see who was riding him.

"AKIRA-KOI!" he cried out, moaning as she ground her hips down to his. She was here and was mating him. His heart soared, and he felt arousal rush through him rapidly, unable to hold off his pleasure as she bounced on him slowly. Lips captured his own, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him. Her mouth returned to his ear, and again whispered, only this time, he responded in kind.

"Cum for me Naru-koi! Cum for your dear wife."

He moaned in ecstasy, before his load shot into her womb, his eyes wide, and nails digging into her flesh. As he came down from his climax, his senses returned, and he found himself needing answers. She slowly lifted herself off of him, and cuddled him, pulling his pants back up, and getting dressed herself.

"Ho-why? Whe-"

His wife placed a finger to his lips and stared at him for a moment, before glancing away.

"I don't know how we got here, or where 'here' is. What I do know is that I was sent here." The young shinobi considered her words, before asking the obvious question.

"Sent by who?"

"Yuki."

He pondered the words suspicious of his mate's current state of mind.. He had seen the ghost white color of her skin, and the lightless eyes which filled their sockets. He had touched her cold skin and felt the lack of a pulse. She was dead. He considered the possibilities, but couldn't bring himself to accept that she was somehow alive.

"You're lying. She's dead, Akira-koi."

His accusation normally would have made the kitsune angry, but instead she smiled broadly.

"She isn't, Naru-kun. It was her...she's back."

The statement stopped all questioning thoughts in his head. Turning his attention back to his mate,he immediately sensed the difference in how she carried herself. She was confident. Carefree. Much lighter it seemed. The plague of not having her second lover, had left Akira emotionally scarred, and yet it seemed as though a different person stood in front of Naruto.

"What happened? Are you sure you weren't under genjutsu or otherwise affected?" he asked placing an arm around Akira.

Almost immediately the demon broke down into tears, and pressed her head into his chest. He comforted her to the best of his ability, but felt his heart grow colder with each passing moment. He was tired of watching his wife come to him for solace only because Yuki was too selfish and too childish to commit to a relationship. Her indecisiveness hurt the team more than anything else. And now this. If she was truly back, and the fox wasn't lying, then there were far more questions that needed to be answered.

"She...she begged forgiveness."

His lover's words dumbfounded him, and he only had the sense to blurt out a single word.

"WHAT?"

"On that battlefield, right before she sent me here, she explained everything.. She told me that she had broken my heart due to her own fears. She had been afraid of being unpleasant in my eyes and not living up to my expectations and desires. I love you, Naruto Uzumaki. Words cannot describe what you mean to me, and you will always...come first. I love her too, and though demons take multiple mates, I denied her love the first time for fear that you would deny me. Due to that one decision, I ruined our relationship and all interactions that would come after that day."

Naruto listened patiently, and smiled as his mind wrapped itself around old times.

"So...do you forgive Yuki?" he asked, his concern palpable and bitter in his mouth.

"I do, but only because of you. I knew in my heart that you would forgive her, so why shouldn't I?"

Unfortunately he didn't have an answer for her.

Before he could continue to interrogate her, a black void formed and thousands of shinobi spilled into the space. Confusion ran amok as every person shouted and spoke trying to figure out what had happened. People pushed and shoved, sending him left and right. A claw dug into his arm, dragging him. His head turned to look at Akira who was immediately pulling him towards a cloaked shinobi. He followed her, coming to a stop in front of Yuki's older sister who was lying serenely on the ground. He wanted to squeeze past the person but was held back by clones of the newcomer.

"Let me through! We can help!" Akira shouted, pushing against the clone, who refused to budge an inch.

"I know who you are Akira, but right now, my concern is her life. Don't get me wrong, we need to talk, but I need to examine her, first."

Naruto started to argue, but an arm grabbed his, pulling him away firmly. He started to shout at said person, only to notice that Kakashi and Anko were leading him and Akira to an unoccupied area. As soon as they were out of earshot, his questions came out like an unstoppable flood.

"Why won't you let us near her? And why did you drag us away? What's going on? How did you get here and-"

"NARUTO!"

His instructor's voice was colder than usual, and it silenced any further comments in his throat.

"Here is what I know and can tell you. After this shinobi and Yuki arrived on the battlefield, the tides changed. I could sense that somehow she had changed, but I couldn't tell you how. We need answers, but until we get them we need to remain we can reason with the figure we might be able to get some answers to our-"

The cloaked figure placed a hand on his shoulder, causing the four to turn and stare at it.

"Reason with me? There's no reasoning to be done. I need your help, and I don't have a lot of time," a person spoke coming from behind his teacher. All four shinobi turned to face the mysterious figure, fear bubbling up for what they might desire.

Kakashi spoke next, stealing Naruto's words from him.

"Why should we help you?"

The cloak faded into nothing, revealing a stunning woman with platinum hair and blue eyes. The face was very familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. Then he noticed it. The sclera were not the usual white, but dark grey.

"Edo ten-"

"Naruto. I am not Edo Tensei. Look,Kakashi Hatake...you know what it's like to lose a daughter. I don't want to experience that myself."

"Eh?" Naruto queried, tilting his head to the side. He didn't get it. Who was this mysterious woman? They were extremely beautiful and apparently gifted in ninjutsu, but other than that he couldn't seem to wrap his head around the statement.

"Kazuyo and Yuki's mother. One of the great shinobi of the Third Ninja War. Nagisa Hazukashii," Kakashi spoke, his voice merely a whisper.

Naruto eyes widened, and almost immediately, he recognized the truth before him.

"I'm surprised you remember me, Kakashi! We only met once during that era," she said, giggling aloud.

His wife cuddled up against him, and he followed Kakashi and Anko as they walked over towards the quiet body of his friend's sister.

"I don't understand why she hasn't woken up," Nagisa spoke, her shadow clones vanishing in a single explosion of smoke.

Naruto stared at the woman's body, incapable of finding any flaw or blemish which would prevent the spirit from waking up. He was about to turn away, when he noticed something. The others continued to examine Kazuyo, but nobody mentioned it. He leaned forward, touching the spot, before speaking up.

"Um...what about the weird tattoo on her right shoulder?" he asked, watching as everyone's gaze turned to him.

The older Hazukashii sat down and ripped the clothing away, before gasping in shock. Kakashi immediately let out a low whistle, and Anko turned away. Naruto stared at the marking, confusion etched on his face. He didn't understand what he was looking at. An intricate marking laced the skin from the top of the older Hazukashii's shoulder, and over her breasts and arm. It was changing colors rapidly, and shifting, the swirling patterns seemingly alive.

"Nice catch," Anko spoke up, her eyes meeting his. He smiled and glanced to Akira who was mesmerized by the pattern.

"We can't remove it," Nagisa whispered.

"Is this not one of the special seals from your clan?" Anko asked glaring down the Hazukashii.

"Yes, but-"

"I would venture to guess that you have an idea of how to undo the jutsu," Kakashi stated, his tone firm.

"I might be able to, but it's a huge risk," Nagisa spoke, her eyes watering up a little. He glanced at her, and noticed that she had faced Kakashi, who was frowning.

"Why not?" Naruto asked again, staring at Yuki's mother.

"To remove such a jutsu, you would need to know the exact chakra ratio, the way that the seal was applied, and also which way the pattern intends to move. It's nigh impossible to get off without killing my daughter or myself," Nagisa replied, lifelessly.

"Why not? It's just a seal," his wife stated, frustrated by the sight in front of her. Nagisa rose to her full height before speaking. And each word that hit the blonde haired boys ears, only caused his heart to grow heavier.

"That seal that contains Kazuyo's kekki genkai is a dangerous one, that our clan created. In order to remove it, I have to not only know what hand seals need to be performed, but also how to keep the chakra flowing in the right direction without damaging Kazuyo. It's leeching off her life force, which we keep using chakra to sustain. It's a nonending circle. Unless that jutsu comes off, we lose. But that isn't even our biggest concern for us now…"

"What do you mean?" his wife asked, her voice dripping with concern.

"Yuki is...well she's not herself," the mother stated, exhaling forcefully.

"Of course she is," Akira snapped, her features becoming more aggressive.

"She's not," Kakashi attested, putting a hand on his hip. "She feels wrong. I know my daughter and that wasn't her."

"Yuki was affectionate, and sincere with me. It was just a clone, but still-" Akira interjected.

"Then she played you for a fool," Nagisa stated, dryly.

His wife seemed at a lost for words, as the last statement hit her full force.

"Yuki is no longer a single entity but two inside a single body," Nagisa sighed, pausing momentarily.

"I think it's only fair that I answer your questions. Yuki's death was created by me. I wanted a way to gift my daughters with more power. To truly unlock our kekki genkai. While messing around, I accidently had a run in with the Shinigami. We created a contract that would enable me to summon him to show my daughter how to unlock her fullest potential. The only side effects would be, I would die and be tortured for eternity and my daughter would suffer through torture at its demonic hands. I agreed, and this power led to my clan being hunted. Unfortunately things didn't turn out as planned, and I died before I could gift either of my daughters with greater power. Fast forward a bit, and after breaking free of that snake's jutsu, I proceeded to take Yuki to the underworld with me, so that I could proceed to give her power. The torture affected her far worse than I intended. Essentially upon returning back to the realm of the living, her soul split in half. Part good. Part wicked. I had the same reaction, but it took me only seconds to fix it. Yuki is content how she is. She has greater power, but she's lost herself."

Naruto felt his heart sink, and stared into Akira's eyes. They might win the war, but they had lost the battle with a weighty cost.

"So how do we get her back?" Akira asked, hesitant to hear the answer.

"I won't let you."

The voice that spoke up sent a shiver up Naruto's voice, and turned facing an ethereal Yuki who stood at his shoulder.

"Hey everyone. Sorry if this isn't amazingly cozy, but she needed to get you to safety fast."

Naruto stared into her eyes, and could feel the good that Akira had mentioned. The light which permeated her being, and made him feel weightless.

"Yuki, stop this!" Nagisa spoke, her voice fearful.

Naruto turned to his friend, who looked away ashamed.

"We won't. I don't know why this happened, but I can tell you that a strong desire to protect Akira, grew within me. I wasn't willing to let anyone take her from me," Yuki whispered.

Naruto stared at her and watched as the ghost shook her head.

"So I can assume my desire, split my power in half. Half to watch over her, and the other to destroy anyone who would get in my way,"she stated in a daze.

Akira spoke, her eyes saddened by the sight in front of her.

"This is dangerous Yuki. You will lose, without your full power. Let us help. Madara is unlike anyone you have ever faced!"

"No."

Naruto was surprised by the smile that touched her face.

"I'm not afraid of him or dying. This is my fight. My other half might need me later, but for now she sent me here. How's my sister holding up?" Yuki asked with a flip of her hair.

"Barely," Kakashi replied.

Naruto stared at her, as she gracefully slid over and knelt by the body of her sister. A tender hand touched her face, full of love and care.

"That seal is one of our own. Do you know the combination of seals? Or anything that might help?" Nagisa asked, standing beside the ghost.

"I don't know. In this realm, I'm able to control every aspect that you can conceive. Your five senses. Your thoughts. All of the things that occur in here do not escape my sight. So naturally, when it comes to something like this, I could just erase it. Doing so might hurt Kazuyo more than I intended. I can tell you some aspects about the seal, just give me some time to analyze it."

Naruto noticed his wife, was watching Yuki with a new look on her face. One of admiration. He stood beside her as she rubbed one of her tails.

"It seems like she's finally committed herself to ya," Naruto commented, a smile on his face.

"After all the fights. All the arguments and discussions of how we weren't right for each other. She's finally here. For me," Akira said, lying her head on his shoulder.

Naruto stared at the ghost and wondered what lay ahead, if they succeeded in stopping the war.