Yo, It's Ken.
How's everyone doing? We've made it into December meaning the New Year is upon us that being said I will have more on that later for right now I wanted to talk about the chapter. This is a very Kurotsuchi centered chapter as we'll move through the many things rushing through her mind while Naruto's next fight is on the horizon. I actually had a lot of fun writing this chapter it was definitely an emotionally dramatic one to say the least but there's a lot of character drama which I haven't really had many previous opportunities to get into, so I hope you enjoy I enjoyed writing it. Let's get into reviews!
Jagsboy: First off, the prediction is awesome and as much as I would like to add input, I'm not one for spoilers but I really like the idea it feels like it'd be a lot of fun also I've been super interesting in Uzushiogakure too, but you'll just have to see. I will say the return to the Land of Stone is arriving very soon so stay tuned there is plenty of exciting stuff coming up as we get through the rest of the arc. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Dragonkeeper10: Another awesome summary I'm glad you are looking forward to this chapter! Kurotsuchi was always on the path to learn Naruto's true heritage for the longest time it was super hard to not jump the gun, but I feel like it was conveyed properly now we get to see where that path takes her. Regarding the Ninja Villages it's always been the unspoken thing in their plans to clash against them that they were always at a disadvantage, but I won't say more because spoilers, so you'll have to see. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Alexander4443: Thank you! Thank you again for reading, I'll see you in the next one!
Hnbutt: I'll try not to tangent here lol. Amanai has been one of my favorite characters that I've designed for this arc, she's a complex character that I always knew I would have to do a lot with using very little, but she embodies one of the core themes in this story that all of these characters are human in different ways yet like you said dream and die. Thank you so much for enjoying the chapter and reading I hope to see you in the next one.
Krieger Techpriest: Krieger! I want you to read this note and read it well my friend, grab that popcorn this is the one. Here's hoping I pulled it off, but I had to channel a lot to write this one haha. This is the realization aftermath and boy does our girl go on a trip I've been waiting for this moment for so long he's hoping its good. Arashi is an ironic character, and I will leave it there as to not spoil anything else for the story, but I have fun writing him as well. Thank you again for reading and I'll see you in the next one comrade!
Reedz22: The tragedy of shinobi... well kinda but no spoilers here from me you may have better luck with Gamesdean1 haha or you can read and find out I'm glad you liked the chapter it was an amazing one to write. Speaking of Ghost of Tsushima that and Sekiro were both games that I drew a lot of inspiration from both games so I'm glad you were able to pick up on that hopefully that means I did the sources some justice. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one.
Ambuj123: The love between shinobi should always have a dash of complication just to keep it interesting but this love story will continue to complicate as we go on but you'll just have read to find out. I'm really glad you like the story, thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one.
Spellbat: Don't be sorry as we add another layer to the narrative haha here's to another one! The Naruto and Amanai fight was always a super important one for me to write so I'm glad I was able to do it justice. There's an old saying about fighters being able to understand each other through an exchange of blows, Amanai or any of the generals are all far from reedeemable characters I wrote them like this deliberately to add more weight to their characters as well as give them the abilty to be understood in a sense by the reader and by Naruto plus isn't it a little heartbreaking getting to see an interesting get some nuance only to not get that nuance explored? It made the fight more fun to write knowing this. Kurotsuchi meanwhile she's slowly becoming one of my favorite characters to write for and this chapter shows that. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Dojo4fic: Thank you! I'm glad it was exciting hopefully the wait wasn't too bad because here it is. Kurotsuchi's character continues to be challenged with each chapter as we get closer and closer to the end of the arc, you know me so no spoilers but interesting things are on the way take a read to find out. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
equinoxhun: Hey there! Thank you so much, I really like writing long chapters, but I try not to too much because I don't want to overwhelm the reader. That being said I'm glad you enjoy them, and I can almost guarantee there will be more in this arc alone haha. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you again in the next one!
Thank you all again and as always I am open to questions, thoughts and constructive criticisms so feel free to review and I'll respond to yours, shout out to Gamesdean1 for putting up with me haha.
For the last bit of news there are with the release of this chapter 5 chapters left in the Land of Iron Arc before we move into the next arc which will be announced soon. I also want to add that the Land of Iron Arc will be finishing before the New so the last chapter for it will sometime in the end of December that means that chapters will be coming out weekly until the New Year.
Thank you all again for the support.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy.
-Ken
Next Time! Chapter 22: Bittersweet (12/13/2023)
{...}
Chapter 21: Realization
A slash cuts through the air while the sound of clashing steel echoed in his mind.
Images of Amanai clashing against his blade flashed as he smoothly maneuvered between his techniques, she had been teaching him as the two of them fought against each other. Their dance was also his lesson and he had to put that to practice.
The Dancing Moon Stance was a stance that combined the even movements of the Roaring Moon Stance but applied them even faster and far more fluid while the Roaring Moon Stance was far stronger this stance was faster and able to defend using offense.
Yet there were two glaring weaknesses to the Dancing Moon Stance.
The first was the amount of concentration and posture control was far greater than if he just used Roaring Moon Stance, if even one slight change or distraction disturbed the movements of his Dancing Moon Stance then he would be left wide open in a worse position.
The second glaring weakness was despite the amount of effort being put into the two stances and their application her still hadn't reached it yet.
Formless.
Naruto cut at the air again while sweat flew from his brow, he used his memory to the best of his ability to face off against the darked haired general in his mind. He thought back to how she moved her blade and applied her stances to her techniques without a prominent form.
Amanai had reached such an advanced level of swordsmanship with her weapons that her stances were engraved in every single one of her moments without a need to actively channel her chakra through her body utilizing the typical movements of her stance.
It made her extremely dangerous.
Naruto landed while cutting through the air before he exhaled, he still had so much to learn despite the fact that it's been a couple of months since he and Kurotsuchi arrived in the Land of Iron as well as when he started to train in Kenjutsu.
Just when he thought he had one thing figured out another thing would suddenly appear and push him even further.
The generals he faced while they were monsters in their own rights that he fought not only to free himself from their curse but free the people of the land he found himself respecting them by the end of their battles in an odd way.
Both Judon and Amanai taught him valuable things about swordsmanship that he would take with him into his future encounters.
His thoughts trailed to Zabuza and Haku causing the blonde to sigh before he looked into the sky, he gave them both his silent respect before he looked back down toward the castle, where he saw her.
Naruto's grin widened on his face when he caught sight of Kurotsuchi quickly exiting from the castle, he lifted his hand to wave at her, but she gave him a brief glance before continuing to walk away.
She's been like this ever since he mastered the Rasengan.
They would rarely interact over the span of the last week or so, she's been a little distant speaking little to nothing to him when he tried to speak to her.
Did he come off too strong when he was mastering the Rasengan?
The blonde watched her disappear into the forest of bamboo causing him to sigh, "Why am I so bad at this?" the blonde complained to himself while another set of approaching footsteps caught his attention.
"Naruto."
Marika spoke while the blonde gave the young woman a smile, "Hey Marika, how's it going?" the blonde asked slightly awkwardly while the girl gave him a smile back.
"So far so good. It seems like the tides are shifting in this conflict, we're receiving more support from the villages surrounding the capital. It looks like we're going to be discussing our plan of attack for pushing into the capital later on today."
Marika said while Naruto nodded his head, "Is something wrong?" she asked while the blonde-haired boy sighed before he looked at the swordsmith.
"I think I pissed Kurotsuchi off. For some reason I don't have a clue about she's just different around me. It started right after my training with the Rasengan since I got more of my chakra back."
The blonde spoke while Marika tilted her head at him, "You ever stop to consider that ever since you started fighting for us, you're constantly near death yet still stubborn enough to continue pushing your limits even though you should be resting? You nearly died again." the girl lectured before she gave Naruto a gentle punch on the arm.
"Hey, I know I was pretty close to death and stuff but still I'm training to make sure I stay as sharp as possible the minute I lose track of that all of you are in danger. When I fought Amanai, if I hadn't trained that hard after Judon I would have seriously lost."
Naruto spoke while Marika used her hand to touch the boy's cheek gently pushing his face to look her in the eyes, "Naruto… While it's already understood that you will do whatever it takes to do what's right. You can't forget about how much value your life has, to yourself. To me. To all of us. You've faced so much by yourself and still keep pushing. It's scary thinking about how you could possibly break." the girl spoke while the blonde looked into her purple eyes.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm seriously not trying to throw away my life, but I can't afford to just do nothing. I have to push my limits to get stronger…"
"Naruto-"
"That doesn't mean you aren't right though."
Marika was caught off guard by the response of the blonde while he looked toward the bamboo forest, he last saw Kurotsuchi walk into.
"I just don't want to lose anyone else because I wasn't strong enough… you know Kuro actually gave me a lecture about throwing my life away. How she wants to know what it's like to be human and that I'm not just some demon. I've been really trying to value this life. I have more but old habits die hard especially when I have someone I want to protect."
The blonde's blue eyes seemed to sparkle when he said that Marika felt herself feeling a little sad at the notion. Naruto treasured that girl; she could tell from the way that he spoke. While she didn't know the full extent of their bond, she still couldn't help but feel some kind of way about it.
She wanted Naruto to treasure her as well.
Marika gently stroked Naruto's cheek with her hand, "You may be some powerful ninja who protects the people he cares about but you are still allowed to lean on others. You aren't weak when you let other people in, in fact letting others in is the scariest thing that someone can do. Only really strong people can do that so just think about that. The girl spoke while she looked tenderly into the eyes of the shinobi in front of her.
"Think about the people who would care if you got hurt and let them in. I promise they won't think any less of you. I certainly won't, Naruto."
Marika spoke while the blonde looked at the girl with slight surprise before he huffed, that same huff became a chuckle that evolved into light laughter.
"I'll do my best."
Naruto spoke with renewed vigor while Marika smiled brightly at him before she leaned forward resting her head against his chest catching the boy off guard, "I believe you." she spoke while she closed her eyes, still keeping the smile on her face.
"We still have that war meeting, right?"
"Yup, later on today."
"Cool, then I'll make sure to do something by then."
"That's good…"
"Then I'll-"
"Let's stay like this… just a little longer."
"...Alright."
Naruto and Marika spoke back and forth while Marika continued to rest her head against his chest, meanwhile nearby the pair.
A pink-eyed gaze looked at the pair from the bamboo forest.
{...}
"Sir, you shouldn't be here."
A shinobi spoke while the flaps on the hat covering the top of the head of a shorter man looked upon a massive battlefield, it was covered with ninja all bearing the same brown colored flak jackets behind several large rock formations.
Another large stone burst from the ground kicking up more dust that blew past the ninja and the shorter man now standing beside him who was unfazed by the sudden eruption of earth.
"Young man, while I understand your concern. I am the Tsuchikage, this stand may as well be my own with my men covering this battlefield. I'll be fine… I must see this to its end."
Onoki the Third Tsuchikage spoke while he watched earth style techniques pummel the enemy Konoha lines suppressing them further while he narrowed his eyes at the battlefield.
"The moment that the Leaf Village forces are crushed underneath our might, and we take back the foothold they managed to gain to finish this war."
The older man spoke confidently while the young shinobi nodded his head at him before he looked into his spyglass at the other side of the battlefield, "It looks like right now, their forces have gone to a standstill. Our last barrage appears to have been highly effective." the younger man reported while Onoki nodded his head toward the ninja.
"Good, then we push forward now. We must not give the enemy the opportunity to breathe even for a moment, run them down and end them."
Onoki ordered coldly while the shinobi nodded his head before he looked out toward the rest of the massive army of 1000 soldiers, "FORWARD!" the shinobi yelled before the men yelled in response, charging forward onto the battlefield.
Onoki narrowed his eyes at the battlefield while they charged toward the downed forces of the Leaf Village, it looked as if victory in this offensive had been theirs and finally, they would be able to push them back. Suddenly he noticed objects being thrown toward the approaching men prompting them to stop in place.
One of the men on the ground looked toward another shinobi at the very front of the line, "You've been hit!" the shinobi yelled while the hit ninja pulled the kunai from his shoulder, "It's just a scratch, nothing to worry about. We need to keep pushing forward." the shinobi spoke back as he inspected the bladed weapon.
He slowly observed the kunai turning it in his hands inspecting it for any sort of paper bombs or traps seal in it yet there was little to nothing on it other than an unknown seal wrapping.
With three blades instead of one.
It was then that Onoki felt it, a chill had entered into the air of the battlefield as if the winds themselves had been trembling from the sheer atmosphere of the battlefield.
Then he saw it.
The Tsuchikage spotted a single man walk out onto the battlefield on his own, the distance was pretty far but he could already tell. The blonde spiky hair, the posture of a man that had seen so many different battles and only brought his experience, and those icy blue eyes that seemed to glow even in the daylight.
It was him.
"Push ahead, it's only one man!"
The ninja holding the kunai yelled while suddenly before he could even turn around a hand had grabbed his wrist, his eyes widened as he made direct eye contact into the cold deep gaze of the blue. Before he could even scream his own hand holding the kunai was shoved into his throat.
Then his blood sprayed into the sky as the blonde tore into the shinobi with the kunai, the blonde man then looked toward another ninja who looked toward him in horror.
Onoki watched speechlessly while he looked down upon the battlefield where the blonde man was now standing directly in front of his army.
A roar left the mouth of one shinobi before the roars of the other 998 shinobi followed before they converged to attack the blue-eyed assailant, then the true horror began. Far faster than his eyes could pick up the Tsuchikage watched as his men were massacred, he could barely follow the chaos as blood began to fill the massive space that his men once stood at.
All Onoki could do was watch as his men, the shinobi who swore their loyalty to him, who trained under him, and who had loving homes waiting for them with their families… all of their lives ending…
In a flash.
"Sir!"
"Sir!"
The yelling of the man next to Onoki fell on his deaf ears while he continued to watch as the blonde man flashed and moved between large sections of his men twisting and turning through the air splitting and cutting through them with his blade being tossed into the air after he was finished in a specific section.
Before another section was torn through with a loud 'Rasengan' as the jutsu decimated the bodies of several men before without skipping a beat more men were slaughtered.
Eventually he had to run out of stamina.
Eventually he'll slow down, his men will overwhelm and kill him.
Eventually…
They had to.
Yet in spite of his thoughts the flashes continued while the screams and dying war cries of his men met with the yellow wave of death that weaved over them without showing a single sign of exhaustion or stopping. The man would continue until they were all annihilated.
What was out there was no man… but a force of nature.
"Sir!"
Onoki finally looked toward the shinobi who had a panicked expression on his face, "We need to evacuate you!" the ninja yelled while the older man gritted his teeth.
"Don't just stand there! End him!"
Onoki yelled while the shinobi looked toward the Tsuchikage with surprise before he turned toward the battlefield again with expression shifting into one of pure horror, the older man saw his expression before he too looked toward the battlefield.
One man versus a thousand men were odds that no one in their right minds would have ever bet on or even gambled with in the landscape of war, he figured that the thousand men he had would have been more than enough to make a difference against their forces.
Yet.
Onoki's face also shifted to horror while he looked into the eyes of the blonde man who heavily panted his breath exiting his mouth like hot steam while behind him were the thousand bodies of what were once his men that he believed would make a difference in their war.
Those blue eyes carved into the Tsuchikage's soul while he panted heavily looking directly toward the older man from on top of the elevated space, he was on from the ground surrounded by death.
Slowly Onoki turned around speechlessly walking away from the battlefield while the shinobi he was with watched the older man walking away from him.
"Sir?"
The shinobi asked while Onoki kept walking away, not even bothering to turn around while his hand gripped into a fist with those blue eyes still haunting him, leading his thought to trail to his young infant granddaughter back at the place he called home.
That man...
Even as years had passed still haunted the Land of Stone.
"Listen to an old man when I say this Kurotuschi, in this world there are monsters. That man was one of those monsters, I hope that you will never cross paths with a man like this one."
Onoki spoke while a younger Kurotsuchi's pink eyes stared toward her grandfather in disbelief and wonder, to still have so much fear over a man that had been dead since she was an infant.
A monster.
…
The Yellow Flash.
One of the most dangerous shinobi to ever exist in the ninja world being one of the very few ninjas in history to achieve the level of 'Flee on Sight' during the Third Great Ninja War, he was also responsible for the 1000-man Stone Massacre that ended the war.
She grew up on the stories.
The haunted looks of the faces of the men that survived his onslaught.
She studied his profile in old editions of the bingo book.
His blonde hair, his deep ice blue eyes that held a stare that could freeze a man solid from just looking at him. This man was the murderer that scarred her home and took the lives of countless numbers of her fellow countrymen.
One day, she was going to grow up strong enough to kill monsters like him.
For her home.
For all of those they lost.
Yet.
She met that blonde hair, those deep ice blue eyes, with a stare that could freeze someone solid from just a single look.
A man that felt like a storm.
A monster.
The sound of an explosion went off as Kurostsuchi backflipped away from the area, weaving hand signs rapidly, "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" The flame blasted from her mouth while she weaved more hand signs during her first jutsu.
"Earth Style!"
Kurotsuchi began to mold the chakra types while her flames blasted hot enough to begin melting the rock while her pink eyes narrowed into a heavy glare. Then Naruto's smiling face came to her mind abruptly ending her jutsu canceling them out, the girl hit the ground while she took a heavy huff that became a growl.
A part of her always knew.
Too many things had begun to line up the more they traveled together, his training with Jiraiya, one of the great Sannin from the Hidden Leaf, the Rasengan technique developed by the Yellow Flash of the Hidden Leaf, his appearance looking just like the Yellow Flash.
That damn Uzumaki symbol!
Kurotsuchi growled before she summoned clones made of stone picking up her sword before she got into Fire Stance, the clones rushed toward her while she dashed toward the three aggressive stone clones. She flipped while slashing at them while they defended against her heavy attacks.
It should have been impossible, if the Yellow Flash had a son, then it should have been news around the entire world. The Namikaze were an ancient and now extinct clan, his son should have been born with his name and the Stone would have known.
Kurotsuchi deflected strikes from her clone before she smacked it across the face with the back of her hilt before twisting, "Fire Stance: Burnt Cutter!" the girl yelled before she slashed into the clone aggressively causing it to set on fire before she immediately moved to the next clone.
Instead, she met Naruto Uzumaki.
It should have been obvious; the name change was clearly to throw off his scent. To keep his son under wraps until they could unleash him into the world, that must have been why they made him into a Jinchuriki as well as insurance that they made the most powerful ninja possible.
Was that his true purpose?
Was he not actually abandoned? Did they send him out into the world to gather as much experience as possible to become strong enough to face any nation or shinobi?
Kurotsuchi kneed another one of her clones in the face causing it to disappear before she slashed through the last one perfectly in half before she made the hand signs to summon even more clones to train against with her blade ready.
This entire time.
The Naruto she had been traveling with was the same kind of monster as the Yellow Flash, another weapon from the Hidden Leaf Village. He was wandering the world for what? Was he heading toward the Land of Stone, to finish them like the Land of Stone tried to do to them after the Konaha Crush?
Kurotsuchi's Fire Stance movements made quick work of her newly created clones before she lobbed the head off of the last clone causing all of them to disappear, the brunette landed with a huff that exited her mouth as a short burst of fire.
Thankfully, she still had time. Naruto indeed was strong, far stronger than a lot of ninjas she's ever faced in her life, but she had to take the opportunity now before he had the chance to become any stronger than he already was.
She had to kill him.
Kurotsuchi formed another clone quickly changing its appearance as soon as it was summoned, the clone now had blonde hair, blue eyes, and whiskers on its cheeks. Her pink eyes narrowed into a glare at the clone disguised as Naruto.
The clone pulled out its sword as it faced down Kurotsuchi who held her blade up in response to it holding it's blade up.
They both dashed, clashing against each other's swords while Kurotsuchi watched the unflinching face of the clone swing causing her to growl before pushing back with more strength, clashing furiously against the faux foe.
She didn't have a choice, as long as Naruto lived and became stronger, he was a threat. What would happen if he completed his journey with all of his skills and strength then it would happen again, the Stone would be crippled, and the Leaf would end them.
What if he really was abandoned though?
That intrusive thought knocked Kurotsuchi off guard enough for the blonde to take advantage of the opening kicking her backward, Kurotsuchi slid before she deflected another one of its strikes before she went back on the aggressive.
That wouldn't matter, in his heart his home will always be the Leaf Village when push came to shove, and they came to find him he would choose them.
That was how it worked.
But he swore that he would protect me, that he cherished me.
Another faulty swing was swung from Kurotsuchi enabling the clone to deflect it and gain ground on her smacking her across the face with the hilt of its sword.
Lies.
To comfort me, to make me human. To prevent me from being able to protect my people, to take advantage of my weakness to end me. It was all a lie, all of it lies. They had to be lies.
They had to be.
Kurotsuchi yelled as she pushed back against the sword of her clone, clashing against it furiously with her own still looking toward its unflinching face that looked just like Naruto's, she kept fighting against it harder and harder as she felt the clone beginning to slip.
He's kind.
His smile comes from his heart, he risked everything to protect me, he fought alongside me. He ate good meals with me, he made me laugh, he made me smile.
Naruto…
Kurotsuchi felt her footing slip as the clone kicked out her footing from underneath her causing her to fall backward while it's blade slowly plunged down toward her, the girl watched the blade stab down toward her while the unflinching face of her clone looked into her eyes.
"Tell me girl… this shinobi Naruto. The one you hold dear, what would happen if he were to suddenly become your enemy?"
Shut up.
"Would you kill him… you would, wouldn't you? Because you know I'm right. In this world you were born in, if you had to choose between him and your home you would choose your home every time."
Shut up.
"That fear will never allow you to be anything more than you are, Kurotsuchi of Stone…"
Shut up!
"He will never be yours."
ENOUGH!
Tears welled up and fell from her eyes while she watched the blade come closer and closer to her, she thought about Naruto's smile, when they went fishing together, the way the boy looked toward her when they fought Deidara, their how close they held each other at the hot springs.
'I don't want it…'
The girl thought to herself as she closed her eyes tightly allowing for more tears to run down her face as she sucked in another breath.
'I don't want any of it to be lies.'
The girl's thoughts rang through her head as she saw the way Naruto smiled at her with the fully formed Rasengan in his hands, however his visage in her head slowly morphed into the cold face of the Yellow Flash instead.
Kurotsuchi's eyes snapped open, she roared as she regained her footing swinging her sword in a counter strong enough to send the sword flying out of her clone's hands, the kunoichi then knocked the clone to the ground straddling on top of it.
She roared as she plunged the sword into its chest, she looked at the slightly more expressive face of the clone with Naruto's face as it displayed pain, Kurotsuchi screamed into the air again before she plunged the blade into the clone's chest over and over again.
Kurotsuchi's tears were still falling as she continued stabbing into the clone now showing pain in its face, but she kept stabbing into it, harder and harder.
"I'm going to protect you."
The words echoed through Kurotsuchi's head as she stabbed down into the clone as hard as possible until the hilt hit the clone's chest, the girl shut her eyes tightly while a silent sob exited from her mouth before a louder one exited.
She thought back to the way that Marika leaned against his chest with a smile on her face without a single worry in the world, close to him in a way she couldn't be.
Try as she might, she couldn't do it, she couldn't stop thinking about it…
How much she wanted to **** him.
Yet her resolve had become one of her greatest burdens and an impossible choice was what she was faced with, that thought in of itself long after the clone had disappeared.
Made her cry harder.
{...}
The dimly lit war room was filled with the core of the alliance against Arashi's forces while Mifune sat at the very front of the room behind him was a large map of the Land of Iron with multiple hot spots that were circled as a part of the strategy.
They were in the planning phase of ending this civil war, with two of the generals taken down, moral overall being improved, along with the support from the rest of the villages outside of the capital now was the time to strike as hard as they could in an effort to end this conflict.
As bad as it probably was to say.
Naruto wasn't paying much attention to the screen at all.
Not that he thought it was boring… well he did but he also figured it was important however the real issue that took his attention away was sitting as far from him as possible at the table they found themselves gathered around.
Kurotsuchi looked like she had a ton of stuff on her mind, but she wasn't saying a word about it to anyone, not even him. The blonde couldn't figure it out for the life of him what she was going through or what exactly caused it.
He just wanted her to talk to him.
Naruto was conflicted looking toward the girl who couldn't even meet his eye in the last few days, he wanted to give her space to figure things out for herself but at the same time he wanted to reach out to her to say something, anything.
It was eating at him.
"Naruto."
A nudge at his side from Marika caused the boy to look toward the front while Mifune glanced toward the blonde, "That plan works with you? Doesn't it?" Mifune asked while the blonde teen paled before he scratched the back of his head.
"Uh, yeah of course! Super easy…just for um clarity purposes could we go over it just one more time?"
The blonde spoke while a series of chuckles came from the surrounding seats while Mifune sighed revealing a slight smile on his face before shaking his head, "What I was saying was… the last of the generals is Koga Otokenshi. Unlike the rest of the generals, it appears he's been seen in the Badlands which is in the direct opposite direction of the capital, I have a feeling that this is most definitely done on purpose." the older samurai spoke while Naruto nodded his head.
"Since we are settled directly in between General Koga and the capital it appears that General Nobuzagi is planning a pincer strategy. If we try to strike one then the other will attack the compound while we are away, since General Koga has one of the seals you require, we will send you to confront him alone while the rest of our men head directly to the outskirts of the capital to take care of the most direct walls of forces between ourselves and them to clear a path for a full-fledged assault."
Mifune explained while Naruto blinked, "So I'm headed into the Badlands to face the general and face off with him while everyone else strikes at the capital strongholds?" the blonde summarized while Mifune nodded his head.
"Precisely, while the generals are nothing to take lightly from your current track record, I have faith that you will be able to pull through, though Koga is the most experienced of the generals when it comes to combat. The only thing I ask is that you hold him off until we can send reinforcements."
Mifune spoke while Naruto nodded his head in response, "Right!" the blonde spoke up while Marika looked toward him.
"The compound Kyofu no Mizu Tower is covered in vibrant wildlife. Almost everything in the forest is capable of killing a human with ease, not to mention that its fog is dense and it's easy to get lost. Try to tread carefully through the forest."
Marika said while Naruto nodded his head in response, it was like the Forest of Death from the Chunin Exams only somehow even worse, he would have to be super careful navigating through to get to the tower. His gaze went toward Kurotsuchi again who looked away.
"Now then for our strategy for attacking the capital strongholds."
Mifune announced before the room's attention went back to the screen, Naruto couldn't take it anymore. He had to talk to her. It was driving him insane knowing that there must have been something that was bothering her.
That she was possibly dealing with it alone.
The meeting in the war room concluded with Kurotsuchi wasting no time getting as far away from the room as possible, she could feel the glances Naruto sent her way. She knew better, he was concerned and wanted to help her, but she couldn't let him.
The more distance she places between herself and her target the easier that makes her job to later on when the time comes, undistracted by any feeling. to do what she must with no hesitation.
"Kuro!"
The pink eyed girl's eyes widened at the sudden voice called out while she gritted her teeth continuing to walk away from the call. A sudden poof revealed Naruto right in front of her, his eyes held that same bright look but laced with a clear concern.
"...You shouldn't abuse your chakra like that."
Kurotsuchi spoke while Naruto looked back at her, "You shouldn't just walk away then." He countered while the girl turned her gaze away.
She felt his fingers lightly touch her cheek as he gently turned her gaze back to his own, "Talk to me." The boy requested in a soft tone while Kurotsuchi allowed her hand to gently touch his hand, pressing it against her face a little more as if to cherish its warmth a little longer before she took it off her face.
"There's nothing to talk about, Naruto."
Kurotsuchi spoke softly while the blonde continued standing in her way, "Clearly there is, I'm not the brightest of the bunch but something is off. It's been days." The boy mentioned while the breeze blew cherry blossoms and bamboo leaves past their faces.
"Naruto... that-"
"Was it what I did? Fighting alone again without telling you?"
"Naruto."
"Was it what happened at the tree? When I was training?"
"Naruto..."
"Was it what I said? When I said that I wanted to protect you? That I cherish you?"
"Please..."
"I meant every word of what I said, just say something to me."
"Stop."
Kurotsuchi spoke, putting her hands on Naruto's chest, "Why? I wanna fix this? I can't stand watching you go through whatever this is without trying." The blonde responded while her fingers gripped into his black shirt and her nails dug into it.
"This isn't something that you can fix so simply."
The girl spoke while Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly, "That doesn't mean I can't try... whatever I did... I'm sorry." The boy said in an almost pleading tone while Kurotsuchi gripped his shirt harder.
"Sorry? Don't you dare say that you're sorry... I'm the one who's sorry..."
The girl said while Naruto tilted his head to get a better look at her face, "Sorry for what? Look, whatever it is, let's talk it out but I forgive you." The blonde said while Kurotsuchi harshly chuckled.
"Forgive me... I can barely forgive myself, yet you can forgive me for what I have to do... what I haven't done yet."
The girl spoke while Naruto looked at her, "Of course I will, look... I know you. Whatever this is, I know that you feel like it's the only way and not because you're some bad person." The blonde explained while Kurotsuchi huffed.
"You know me? Naruto, you don't even really know why you're out here..."
Kurotsuchi spoked while Naruto's eyes widened slightly at her words while the girl steeled her voice.
"All that you've done so far is fight for others and make that your purpose... what are you even really here for? What dreams do you even have?"
The girl spoke harshly while Naruto closed his eyes and took a breath, "...I have to get you back to your home, that was the mission you gave me, remember? I have to help end this war for these people, for everyone." The blonde explained while Kurotsuchi looked up slightly into his eyes.
"What then? What's your purpose after them? After me?"
Naruto winced at these words while he sighed, "I..." The blonde trailed off while Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes.
"You still want to go back to your home, right? Back to the Leaf Village? Where the people you love are possibly waiting for you? The friends, the family..."
The girl spoke while Naruto looked away from her pink gaze, Kurotsuchi harshly chuckled again. "Funnily enough Naruto... if you understand that feeling then you understand me more than you think." The girl said while Naruto continued looking away from her, as her grip lightened on his shirt no longer digging into it.
"If you had to choose right now... you could go home back to the Leaf and abandon your lonely journey or you could stay with me and have to continue fighting on this road?"
"Kurotsuchi..."
"Choose."
The girl spoke while Naruto huffed before shaking his head, "That's unfair." The blonde spoke while Kurotsuchi took her hand moving his gaze to look at her.
"That's unfair? Let me make it easier then? What if I attacked your home? To destroy the Leaf Village what then? Easier right?"
The girl proposed while Naruto narrowed his eyes into a glare, "Kuro, what are you talking about?" The blonde asked while Kurotsuchi glared back.
"That's the truth of this world Naruto, as long as you and I are shinobi that will always be the truth of this world. Now answer me."
"Kuro..."
"Answer."
The girl spoke firmly while Naruto took a deep breath, "I'd stop you. I wouldn't want any of the people I care about to hurt each other." The blonde spoke while Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes.
"What if I killed them? Your precious people? You'd still stop me? You wouldn't kill me? You would, wouldn't you?"
The girl spoke while Naruto's eyes flared open, "You wouldn't do that, Kurotsuchi." The boy spoke while the girl chuckled.
"Why not, because you 'know' me? I've killed before I met you, I'll kill again after. That's my fate until I die, so what's stopping me?"
"Because that isn't what you want to do."
Naruto responded firmly causing Kurotsuchi's eyes to widen as she took a step back from him, he took a step toward her while looking her in the eyes.
"I know that isn't what you want to do... because you sound scared forcing yourself to be this way."
Naruto took another step forward while Kurotsuchi took multiple steps back away from him, "Says who? I'm Kurotsuchi from the Land of Stone, Naruto. My fears died with my title." The girl spoke back while Naruto walked toward her unfazed.
"I can hear it in your voice... screw the titles or the roles we have in our lives. You're trying to run away from it, that part of you that feels things. The real you underneath the headband of a ninja."
Naruto explained while Kurotsuchi kept shaking her head at him, "Stop it." She spoke, continuing to take steps backward.
"No, I won't. You're suffering, believe it or not that's normal too like it's normal for me to want to be there for you, to help. That's human, isn't that what you said you wanted to be? More than just a weapon?"
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi shook her head, "That's what we are Naruto? We're weapons, that's what we agreed to be when we took these headbands! Born and bred to protect our homes, to die for our people!" Kurotsuchi yelled while the blonde walked toward her.
"I don't believe that. You don't believe that. It's ok to be scared but you can't ignore or abandon that feeling just to be what they made you."
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi backed into a thick bamboo tree looking toward the blonde with a shaky gaze in her eyes.
"That purpose is all I have! The blood that's on my hands, the people I'll have to kill afterwards. Once I've destroyed my enemies, once my home has no more fears left running around in the world. Then my fight is done, my purpose is met. What the hell would I even have left?!"
Kurotsuchi yelled while Naruto's hand slapped above her head on the bamboo, his blue eyes looked into her pink eyes firmly.
"You'd still have me."
The blonde spoke while Kurotsuchi felt herself about to cry as his gaze burned into hers while still carrying that gentleness and care he's always had. The ice blue eyes that he inherited from the monster she swore to destroy, looked more like deep warm oceans comforting instead of killing.
These eyes... These were Naruto's eyes.
Not his.
"I... I don't know what I'm supposed to do..."
Kurotsuchi confessed while Naruto kept looking at her as she chuckled with watery eyes.
"What's the right thing to do? What's the wrong thing? How am I supposed to choose when I don't know what's what? I'm just lost... so damn lost."
Kurotsuchi spoke while Naruto moved his hand from above her head on the bamboo before using both of his hands to wrap his arms around her waist gently pulling her into a hug.
"I don't really think there is a right or wrong thing... I think there are actions and consequences both good and bad. I wanna do what's right and be a good person but I'm not perfect and may end up making a mistake trying my best but that's all we can do. Do our best and learn and get better."
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi silently allowed him to hold her in his arms gently, slowly being covered in his warmth.
"It's unfair and probably unhelpful, but you are going to have to decide for yourself what to do. Kuro, whatever it is you have to choose. I trust you to make the choice that's best for you. I know you can do it, Believe it."
Naruto spoke his catchphrase while Kurotsuchi closed her eyes tightly before she allowed her hands to trail up his body, "Naruto..." she said his name softly while her arms wrapped around his neck before she pulled back enough to be close to his face looking him in the eyes directly.
"Would you die for me?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Naruto's eyes widened slightly while one of Kurotsuchi's hands dropped to her side, slipping into her pouch her fingers slowly gripping around a blade in it ready to use it while the blonde stared at her silently.
"...No."
The blonde said while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened slightly while the grip she had on the blade in her pouch loosened in response to his words.
"I'd live."
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi continued to stare into his eyes, "I've been on the road for a while now... during my travels and my encounters I think I learned something really important." The blonde explained while he nodded his head.
"Dying for something? That's easy, you only die once and after that you have nothing to worry about because it's just over... but living? You have to do that every day, you have to face your fears, go through crappy situations, and do it all over again repeatedly. It's a constant choice and it's way harder than just dying."
Naruto explained while Kurotsuchi kept her grip on the kunai in her pouch while her eyes stayed focused on the blonde.
"The awesome thing about that life is that you can make it worth it. You taught me that. Whatever you want, those were the words I said, and I plan to live by them for as long as possible. I'm sorry I can't choose between you and the Leaf Village and I'm sorry for not really having a dream or a purpose... but right now I do have one thing... one little worth..."
Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi's eyes slowly widened while the smile grew on his face looking into her eyes.
"I still have you."
Naruto said while he held her close to him still, "That's a pretty good start in my book." The blonde said while Kurotsuchi took a deep breath. The grip on the blade she had in her pouch tightened before slowly releasing it letting it fall, her hand emerged from her pouch quickly meeting her other arm wrapped around Naruto's neck as she pulled his face to hers.
Their foreheads touched, Kurotsuchi pulled him closer still until their noses brushed against each other. Their lips were about to meet close enough to feel each other breathing.
"Thank you, Naruto."
Kurotsuchi left her words on his lips as the blonde moved forward ever so slightly to meet hers never reaching before he felt hands push his chest pulling them apart.
"Kuro?'
Naruto asked while the girl took a breath turning her back to him walking a few steps away before stopping, "Even now I can't choose either. Naruto..." The girl said while she turned, allowing her pink eyes to look into his bright warm blue again.
"Never be mine."
Kurotsuchi allowed the words to roll from her tongue while she watched Naruto's expression shift into a longing and confused one before she walked away disappearing into the bamboo. Cherry blossoms and bamboo leaves blew through the air while Naruto watched her braid sway in the wind.
As she walked away.
{...}
Kurotsuchi sat on a wall far from the rest of the compound, she needed space.
As much as she could get, after all she had to make a decision. Or had she already made her choice?
"No right or wrong."
The girl voiced aloud while nothing, but the wind could hear her woes, she had cracked. Right in front of Naruto, her target. She nearly shattered to pieces right there and abandoned it all.
It was weak of her.
All of her training, all of the discipline, her grandfather's teachings and words. All of it nearly became nothing over a single smile.
Naruto was far more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
There was no choice then.
Only what has to be done.
"Believe me or not. I spent a good few moments standing here pondering what wise thing I would say to get you to think."
The voice spoke while Kurotsuchi turned her head, spotting Mifune who looked toward him from her side on the wall. "Now I believe that is inappropriate for this moment." Mifune said while Kurotsuchi looked at the man silently before she looked back into the distance.
"Have you come to apprehend me?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Mifune raised his eyebrows before shaking his head, "No." He spoke while the girl continued to stare into the distance.
"You know what I'm thinking don't you? The question I was asked? The decision that I've made?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Mifune looked at her before he chuckled, "Perhaps. However, what makes you think that requires punishment?" The man asked while the girl narrowed her eyes.
"Naruto as far as the people of this land see him as a hero. Standing against the forces that wish to harm this world and their homes, he'd even die for them. I'm going to kill him."
Kurotsuchi said while Mifune looked at the distance as well, "I see, then why punishment? What could I take away from you that you haven't already taken from yourself after that point?" The samurai spoke while Kurotsuchi looked at him silently.
"I'm exactly what Arashi had seen in the rest of the world, I'm a ninja with a duty that comes even at the cost of my heart. You'd still have my life to take as vengeance."
Kurotsuchi spoke while Mifune shook his head, "You said you were a shinobi, correct? Duty comes before the heart? If that's the case, then your life doesn't seem like much punishment either." Mifune spoke while Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes.
"Then what? What's the price? What's the cost? Naruto's life, what would I have to give to take it?"
Kurotsuchi spoke while Mifune pointed his finger toward her, "Your heart." The older man said while still looking into the distance.
"My heart?"
The girl asked while Mifune nodded his head before he looked toward her, "Yes, killing Naruto isn't your duty. That's your punishment, one you've given yourself." The man said while Kurotsuchi glared.
"Once the war is over, once we make it back to the Land of Stone. Naruto will have the strength to destroy just as much as his father did. His life is a threat, he's dangerous and can't be left alive. I can't allow it."
The girl spoke while Mifune chuckled again, "I see, I see." The older man spoke while Kurotsuchi growled at him.
"The hell are you chuckling about? You may not understand because you're a samurai locked to this land, but I've heard the stories and saw some of the sights. I know what people like Naruto could do, what monsters can do."
Kurotsuchi raised her voice while Mifune looked toward her, "Young Kurotsuchi... I've always held the belief that age sometimes is the illusion of experience." The older man spoke while she tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"I have lived for a good while now, yet that doesn't mean I know everything. Hell, I still have all this life ahead of me now as long as I have it to continue to learn even more."
The man spoke while his black eyes softened looking toward the girl, "Though I don't have to know everything to know that you are scared, girl." Mifune spoke while Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth.
"Why? What is it about me that makes me so scared to you and him? I don't fear pain, death, or loneliness. I've been conditioned against those things. I do what I must with no hesitation."
Kurotsuchi raised her voice more while Mifune shook his head, "Even a blind man could see that you are cursed, Kurotsuchi." The man spoke while the girl raised an eyebrow.
"Cursed? Cursed with what? Purpose? Duty? Protection?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Mifune shook his head, "A curse far more terrible than all of those combined, a curse that draws on your most private moments and haunts your dreams. Stills your blade. Even warp your conviction." Mifune explained while Kurotsuchi gave the man a bewildered look.
"What?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Mifune looked back toward the distance, "Allow me to ask you a simple question. You are afraid but have you ever considered what you were afraid of? Not of failure or death. What if your fear was Naruto himself?" Mifune asked while Kurotsuchi looked back into the distance.
"What kind of question is that? I already explained why I'm afraid of Naruto. He's a monster and a strong one."
Kurotsuchi said simply while Mifune took a breath, "No you haven't. You're avoiding the answer." Mifune spoke while Kurotsuchi gave him a glare.
"You aren't afraid of Naruto because he's a monster, you are afraid of Naruto because of what he does to you."
The man explained while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened slightly, "Your principles, your training, your discipline. All of it goes away when you are with him, instead you feel happiness, sadness, desperation, and care." Mifune said while the dim rays of the falling sun peeked over the horizon.
"It's fine if you can't properly understand that. It's because of that curse that has been set upon you."
Mifune explained while Kurotsuchi looked at the golden light ahead of them, "What curse?" She asked simply while she turned to look at Mifune's face that had been bathed in the golden light as he smiled.
"It's love."
He responded simply while Kurotsuchi's face twisted at the answer before she looked away from him.
"I can't... it's not real. None of it is real. It can't be."
Kurotsuchi said while Mifune nodded his head, "Love is such a beautiful yet terrifying thing. To care for something that could hurt you against all reservations, yet never waiver." Mifune spoke while Kurotsuchi looked away.
"Is that why it hurts so much? Why feel this pain? If it's so beautiful, why does it have to be so painful?"
Kurotsuchi asked with a wavering voice while Mifune smiled, "Because it's real." The man said while the girl shook her head.
"Why? What even is love to a shinobi? To something like me?"
Kurotsuchi asked while Mifune placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, "Love can be tragic, filled with ups and downs. Yet blossom into nothing nonetheless perhaps it could even blossom into the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. You can never know until you embrace that fear and accept one cruel thing." Mifune spoke while Kurotsuchi looked toward him.
"Love is trusting someone with everything that they can use to destroy them and trusting them not to."
Mifune defined the word while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened in response to them.
"Wouldn't that betray my home?'
"Why would it?"
"He could hurt them?'
"He could."
"He could damage their homes. Destroy their livelihoods."
"He could."
"He's dangerous."
"Yes, he is."
"..."
"What is Naruto worth to you?"
Mifune asked while Kurotsuchi looked toward his black eyes that held a gentle look.
"That's the only question that should be asked and answered, Kurotsuchi."
Mifune said while Kurotsuchi watched the sun continue to fall behind the horizon, "When you kill Naruto, at least do that for yourself first. How selfish, right?" The man responded with a smile while Kurotsuchi gave him a conflicted look before he started walking away.
She then looked back into the distance as Naruto's smile occupied her thoughts.
"Whatever I want..."
The girl pondered into the air while the sun finished setting, ending the day.
Beginning a new one for them all.
-Several Hours Later-
Trees rustled while feet dashed from branch to branch as the wood began to twist and turn in odd ways.
Naruto broke through the leaves flipping before landing on another twisted mess of wood, his eyes looking into a misty forest filled with vibrant colors from flowers and fauna alike. The Badlands of the Land of Iron, Naruto had arrived at his destination where they had located the general that awaited him.
The Forest of Deceit, a paradise for those who wished to meet their ends.
It was here that Naruto would have to locate Kyofu no Mizu Tower, that was the current compound where Koga was awaiting him.
The plan was simple: find Koga, fight him, and regroup with the others as soon as possible. While he wouldn't even for a few seconds underestimate a general he had grown a lot and had a large part of his chakra back.
He could even feel the Nine Tailed Fox's chakra again, this fight while it will be difficult it wouldn't be impossible.
He had to push himself even further than he has before, the attack on the capital that could end this war was near.
Naruto knew he couldn't let up for a second.
He had to finish this.
Naruto dashed into the forest toward where Koga was waiting for him while sitting in his seat.
A golden throne decorated with diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones. His chin rested on his fist as he looked at the massive door at the front entrance of his throne room. His gaze looked bored while his red eyes gleamed, his long grayish black hair was tied into a ponytail and his grin held a couple of gold covered teeth and sharp fangs.
"To desire death."
The general spoke out loud as his bored look expanded into a wicked smile.
Kurotsuchi back at the compound allowed the breeze to blow against her face causing the wind to make her hair sway gently in it.
The girl took a breath calmly while her eyes looked at the rising sun in front of her. Slowly the girl pulled out her katana from its sheath as she turned away from the sunrise and falling cherry blossom petals. Kurotsuchi finally knew what she must do.
She always knew her choice.