Mikito stared at the still body of Tomoyuki, his face twisted in a mix of anger and agony. There was definitely hatred in those lifeless dull gray eyes-had been hatred. Part of his torso completely missing somewhere splattered across the room, blood steadily flowing from the gaping wound in his torso and parts of his ribcage and soft lung tissue were visible. She turned away from the grizzly scene, eyes on Madara who observed the room sharply for a long moment before turning his own gaze onto her's. It was done. The long and fierce battle was over.

They both exited. Only their footfalls sounding in their ears, not a scream, not a whimper, not a single shout could be heard. It was eerie. Just before there had been the chorus and raucous screams and cries, the incessant and deafening pounding of steel on steel chipping away at the walls and at one's very sanity. They both stayed silent as they turned towards the staircase beginning their descent..

The four floors were completely demolished the rooms around them were completely devastated some ravaged to the point it couldn't even be considered a room anymore, it looked like an explosive tag went off. The walls were gashed and torn from the blades, blood stained and smeared the mats and wooden pillars, the wooden pillars were shadows of their former selves just chunks and segments of the once powerful pillar, the powerful strikes and collisions tearing them in half. Pitiful arms and legs littered every stepping point, bodies hung off from railing and segments of the wreckage, pieces of skin containing facial hair decorated just about every place, the bits of bone and tendons were scattered on the floor.

The mats of the rooms and lower floors were torn to shreds after Shaningu men popped up from under them, puddles of blood were forming in clusters of bodies, filling the air with a heavy and putrid scent. But, most notable thing was the gaping hole that started from the outside at the top of the inn going all the way to the basement. "Madara, you're sickle it's..." Mikito noticed the severe warp the blade had to it and the mile long crack on the dull part.

"I'll take care of it." Madara said, descending the staircase his sandals mashing into the streaks of blood running don the length of the stairs. First thing he needed to to was get downstairs where Izuna and the others were, then he could worry about his sickle. He stepped over any bodies that got in his path not at all bothered by some missing arms and heads, he had taken off a great deal of heads while he was fighting. "How are things down here?" He questioned, eyes zoning towards Izuna who sat on a set of wooden steps both elbows resting on his knees, his broken sword lying next to him. Shin was close by with Aito and Hiro inspecting several bodies, Misaka sat a few feet from everyone inspecting her chipped blade with narrow eyes of scrutiny, Isamu and Isami stood guard the entrance where Mitsuki and the others were outside making sure the last of the Shaningu were dead.

"So far so good. And, no one is severely injured nothing more than a couple of scratches. How about you two?" Izuna asked.

"Tomoyuki is finished." Mikito supplied, stepping towards Souji who was speaking with Isami and Misaka, he spotted her coming and waved the two off to do whatever task he requested. "A dumb question. Are any of them still alive?" She had to find out just what drove Tomoyuki to such drastic heights, shinobi didn't just do things to do things there was always a purpose, even if it couldn't be seen on the surface. There was always a purpose.

"There's not a single survivor." Souji answered.

"We still have Sumichi, hopefully he'll tell us what the point of this whole thing was."

"Well..." Izuna spoke up. Mikito turned towards him with all intent. "I killed him before I got ready."

"Damn it... Izuna..." Mikito pinched the bridge of her nose.

"He was just a small fry anyways." Madara didn't see what the big deal was. Sumichi had one foot in the grave anyways after his interrogation, better just to put the old fool out of his misery. "We've completed our mission. The village isn't in flames." He stated this very dryly. Looking at Mikito long and hard, was Tomoyuki's idle threat really getting to her? Mikito wasn't one to be fazed by such things.

"Valid points." Mikito agreed. This was their mission. And the village wasn't in flames.

"Of course." Madara sounded so sure.

"None of them are alive over here," Aito called at Madara and Mikito, standing up from his post.

"None over here either!" Hiro called standing up and finally wiping the beads of sweat from his brow sighing in relief.

"None on this end either!" Misaka announced. They were thorough.

"The damiyo and his force is here." Souji informed them.

"Clear the way!" Madara sighed at the voice.

"All of you! Go back to whatever it was you were doing, this is none of your concern! Go back to your drinks!" A voice boomed from outside, the crowd stepped further back murmurs echoing being carried by the gusty wind fading in and out. Madara fixed the entrance with a deadly glare, whoever was brazen enough to even try stepping foot in here not wearing his clan's attire or Mikito's they were going to suffer a swift death. He tensed spotting a familiar tall and muscular man from the damiyo's estate, and the damiyo standing a few inches in front of him. Well

"Sir..." Izuna started as placidly as he could. This wasn't a place for a noble. "It'd be a good idea to-"

"You've all done excellent!" The damiyo said, voice booming and authoritative, it was enough to catch Mikito and Madara off guard. The damiyo gestured towards the tall man at his side, and with no hesitation he walked deeper into the inn doing his best not to stare too long at the grizzly scene all around him. Shinobi were beyond brutal. He stopped clashing eyes with Madara and Souji for a long moment before continuing in his stride dozens of clothed in armor from head to toe following after him. "Don't be so alarmed Souji-san and Madara-san, he is the leader of my infantry, you've all done well in assuring this village remained safe and out of harm's way. We'll be taking it right from here. Thank you for all of your hard work!"

"I'm not finished here-" Mikito started.

"It isn't in a shinobi to clean up bodies." He chuckled, hearing grunts of agreement from the older men and women in the room. No shinobi didn't clean up bodies they dropped bodies. They're the ones that put them there in the first place. "You've taken care of the hard part. This is my village, it's only right I be here to inspect everything and clean the bodies up." He grimaced just slightly seeing the carnage surrounding him. Tables were broken, bodies were everywhere, limbs and blood littering and marring the floor, the individual floors of the inn were ravaged the wooden railings nonexistent even the very walls were gashed and torn from flying swords and sword attacks, he had seen gruesome scenes but this shook him slightly. Madara wasn't bluffing when he gave me that warning before... I'll need to keep a special eye on him... And, I know Mikito wasn't either before, I'd better get them out of here as fast as I can after tonight, they're like demons... He gathered his composure, focusing his eyes on the two leaders. "The threat has been neutralized, that much is clear. Do you disagree?"

"I don''t." Madara stated bluntly. No way in hell was he going to be hauling these bodies out or the ones still outside. "I'd rather not shove my way through these people. Do as you wish."

"I do." The damiyo said firmly, he had his mind made up when he gathered his army and began his trek over here. "You may head back to the estate, there will be maidens there waiting for you to arrive, they will help you take off your armor and unwind. And, I must insist that you head back and get some rest at the very least no matter how slight. I'll have your payment ready by tomorrow evening." He was satisfied seeing Madara give a small nod, but Mikito didn't make any response, and that worried him on a level he couldn't begin to explain.

"Well, you heard him." Izuna spoke up, clasping the hilt of his broken sword and resting it against his shoulder. "Let's head on back, who wants some sake?"

"You're not going to guzzle down sake by the liter, Izuna." Madara all but told him in a very stern manner. "Not again. That will wait."

"But, brother!"

"I actually have some sake at the estate, feel free to help yourself to some." The damiyo encouraged Izuna.

Izuna didn't need any encouraging. Too bad it was still too early to take off this stupid noble's head because Madara really wanted to at this moment.

"See!" Izuna boasted with a smirk. "It'd be rude to decline his offer."

"No!" Madara growled softly. "Damn it, Izuna! I said no. We aren't having a repeat of your last escapade."

"Now you know that wasn't my fault!"

"You wouldn't happen to have a smithy here?" Misaka asked the damiyo, paying no attention to Madara and Izuna's argument about sake, then it turned to how Izuna can't behave worth a damn when he is drunk. Seeing his confused expression she showed him her sword that was riddled with chips and breaks running up the entire length of the blade.

"Most certainly. He lives alone in the outskirts of the village." Misaka nodded. That was a good answer. My sword looks like a chopped and whisked bamboo stick.. She'd have to wait until she got back to the estate first and foremost.

"In any scenario it's time we take our leave." Souji steered them back on course, and halted Madara's and Izuna's argument that was getting a bit heated. "We won't be able to move if this crowd gets any bigger."

"Right." Mikito agreed.

Blue armor. A happuri engraved with the Senju clan crest. These were the obvious signs of the Tobirama Senju. He was always wearing this 99.9 percent of the time. However he was no sporting his armor nor his happuri, his snow white hair covered by a rice hat obscuring his features and even the three red markings on his face. His attire consisted off ragged pants, a worn pair of zori, and an old kimono, he didn't want to stick out among the crowd. He had arrived short of forty five minutes ago, the battle was still raging he watched Izuna stab right through a man's neck and a massive man in a blue haori whack down six people in just a few strokes, he could hear the screams and thunderous booms bursting from inside the inn, bodies spilling out of the inn, fights raging in the street just eight or so feet away from where he stood.

He didn't make a move. There was no fire starting. Nobody was attacking innocent people.

There still wasn't a fire not even a spark.

Only bodies of Shaningu covered the dirt spilling blood onto the dry earth, their weapons inches away from them, and for some their limbs were inches away from them. Whatever was even dulling his sensory perception was torn down a short while ago. He stayed in his place, blending in with the crowd making himself as nonexistent as possible. He adjusted his hat, pressing it down farther, the strap flexing on the skin of his neck, he could sense something... A presence, he glanced to his side not spotting anyone, he turned, no one on his other side. "Here they come!" A man said in a hushed yell, Tobirama pushed a few feet up ahead peering over a few heads.

"Uchiha... And... The Domou..." A woman said, dread on every word and he couldn't blame her honestly. "Both... Together at the same time."

"They killed everyone in there." A man said in a harsh whisper. "Can you believe it?"

"Who was in there?"

"Beats me."

"I heard it was Tomoyuki..."

"That man is heartless."

"All shinobi are."

"They're animals."

Tobirama shook his head. Typical gossip. He tuned out the idiotic chatter keeping his eyes trained forward on the entrance of Maison-ya. He felt himself tense, it felt as if he were being watched-something or someone was hovering over him. He frowned searching for whatever it was, nothing. his eyes flicked towards the entrace and Mikito was walking out of the entrance followed by Madara. The damiyo's guards formed a wall pushing the people back and away from the two, it was much easier said than done, it seemed the crowd grew and some people wanted a closer look. Slowly Souji and Izuna exited behind them next followed by Shin, Hiro, Isamu, Isami, Hikaku, Aito, Kagami, Mitsuki, Misaka and the rest of their unit all wearing blue and purple haoris or black, purple, and dark blue high collared shirts.

Mikito stood at the helm of the group with Madars, Souji and Izuna flanking them with serious expression, the damiyo and his guards that flooded the inn were going about their task of collecting bodies and trying to disperse the crowd, they traded a few words with the damiyo before nodding and turning towards his direction, "Let's move." He knew that was Madara giving the order, the people around him huddled together some starting to shake in obvious fear of the blood drenched shinobi before them and the armor clad guards that were now making their way in slowly pushing people away.. Everyone followed into tight formation behind Madara and Mikito the former resting her sword on her shoulder like many others were doing, some wore smirks of arrogance, others cold expressions, others emotionless, and some exhilirated. and be

He didn't react, instead focused on his chakra brewing inside of him imagining a boulder crushing down on it slowly squeezing it out from him. They wouldn't be able to sense him, he was certain. "Don't get too close." A woman whispered behind him, herself stepping away in fright, Mikito and Madara stepped right passed him not even sparing a glance in his direction their eyes fully trained forward , he tensed visibly as Izuna and Souji passed by him next, his eyes narrowing to slits.

"Mmm..." Izuna mumbled to himself, turning his head slightly and stared into a pair of shining ruby eyes they burned with rage. He sneered with malice at the white haired Senju a soft chuckle escaping his lips, there was no sense in fighting him here out in the open... Their paths would cross soon, as always. It was destiny.

Izuna tore his hard gaze from his ruby eyes and continued onward.

Tobirama didn't relax the slightest watching the rest of them stalk away, their crests stitched proudly on their backs and sleeves blood smearing and staining their attire and spotting their armor, forever burning an image in everyone's mind who witnessed this. The Uchiha have always been our greatest enemies... Tobirama frowned. The Domou may very well be our greatest as well. I've stayed long enough. Tobirama thought, backing up steadily disappearing into the ocean of people, and then just vanished.

It took Tobirama less forty seconds to depart from the village and dart down the path he came from. He was fast, now was a good time to use that speed. Knowing Madara he could be after him right now. The thought made his ruby eyes glint and he put on a burst of speed lunging up overhead and above the treeline for a moment. There was much gathered from this, he now knew the Domou were just as merciless as the Uchiha. There wasn't a single person alive after it was said and done, and they were both the Senju's greatest enemies.

Not since several centuries ago had his clan and the Domou collide. It was long before his time.

He pushed the thought away, only serving as a distraction. It was a good thing the Grass and Fire village were only a few hundred or so miles apart, for the average person this would be a few days or months travel, but for a shinobi it was an easy hour or so, in his case not very long. He lunged once more, sailing above the tree line. It didn't take longer than an hour for him to arrive back into the Fire village having just jumped over the gigantic walls-he could do that.

Tobirama absorbed the impact, eyes darting up to survey around him. He narrowed his eyes at the pair of dark eyes looking into his. "Usagi..."

"Hashirama told us he sent you." Usagi told him. He noticed she didn't look that upset, though there was something on her mind. Rikudo can only know what that was.

"He just can't shut up." Tobirama growled. He wasn't going to explain what he was doing out to Usagi had she been out here or not.

"Hey, be nice!" Usagi punched him on the chest. "He didn't tell us verbally, but when Syrus asked and Hashirama wouldn't respond... Well we kind of just figured." She shrugged a bit lamely. It wasn't exactly smart had the situation got out of hand Tobirama's presence would only increase the violence and chaos, but the situation didn't just like her brother said Mikito would stop it. "Anyways-"

"Woman..." Tobirama muttered, rubbing his chest. It didn't hurt, but when did she just start hitting him? He was Tobirama! Nobody just hit him! He attempted to glare at her, and still managed a glare but it wasn't as intense as he would have liked. She's quite short... Tobirama thought, he wish it were dully but it felt so new. He hadn't really paid attention to Usagi that closely, height was just well, it didn't really matter, but now that he took the time to look she was quite short. "I have two questions."

"I have one too though." Usagi pouted at him, she was going to ask before he so rudely interrupted her. Usagi did her best to smile, which was pretty good because Tobirama gave her that weird look he always did. "I can answer your questions first though." She looked a bit nervous.

"Good." Tobirama nodded. "My first question is what are you doing out here?"

"I was waiting for you." She responded as if it were obvious.

"My second question. How tall are you?"

"Tobirama!" Usagi snapped, cheeks burning a deep scarlet.

"I'm five foot ten, how tall are you?"

"I'm..." Usagi looked flustered and embarrassed. It was a deadly mix of both and Tobirama could read it all without even trying. Usagi already knew she was so short compared to him, but she didn't want to verbally tell him how short. It felt as if he could hold it over head, no pun intended. "I'm four foot ten..." She whispered, burying her face in the nape of his kimono so it was muffled and he couldn't hear it fully.

"Four foot ten." Tobirama echoed. He would have told her to let go of his shirt, but something about seeing her so close to him was fulfilling. "You're not that short."

"You're a whole foot taller than me!" Usagi complained.

"You're a whole foot shorter than me." Tobirama countered, his usual stoic expression cracking with a hint of a smirk. Usagi couldn't try to make a retort on that. "Now moving forward." He gently grabbed her wrists pulling them from his kimono, she kept on clenching it tighter and it was going to rip if she wasn't careful! And, she wasn't careful. "What question do you want to ask me?"

"W-well..." Usagi fumbled with her words. It should have been easy, it should be easy, but it was just a bit overwhelming for her. "Remember when you asked me about... And, um, well, here I am." Usagi struggled to find the right words settling on just vague. It was just a bit overwhelming for her, to think that Tobirama would be...

Tobirama swallowed. He had a feeling this topic would come up. It should have been easy to discuss and talk about, but it all seemed too surreal. Usagi. "Do you think it's a good idea to do it now? We could be attacked at anytime, and we still need to speak with Hageshii they want to form a truce with the Tachibana and Chibana clans. I've also got to relay what I observed in the Grass village."

"Well, we could do tomorrow or in a couple of days." Usagi suggested.

"It's going to take a couple of days just to pick out the type of dress you want." Tobirama deadpanned.

"I don't want to rush..." With pursed lips Usagi stared at the white haired Senju. That snow white hair and those bright ruby eyes. It was strange to think Tobirama was related to Hashirama everything from their appearance to personality was opposite. She could she he wanted to do it, which surprised her, she didn't think Tobirama would wish to do such a thing ever. It wasn't so strange, but the clan took prominence over everything else. "But, I could pick a dress in five minutes." Usagi defended, she was not the type to sit and try on twenty thousand different dresses, this would be the only time she wore such a thing.

"I have some conditions that I..." Tobirama told Usagi, capturing her attention. "Wish to be met when we're married."

"Okay." Usagi was trying to keep an open mind. Going to try. "What are they?"

"First." Tobirama stared into her eyes. "I want seven kids."

"Tobirama!" Usagi all but gasped almost fainting on the spot from hearing that. She couldn't have heard that right, maybe it was one of the rare moments when her senses were just a bit dull or she was hallucinating. She stared into his eyes deeply, and there was no mistaking it, Tobirama really said that. "That's crazy, seven! I have to push them out of me! You want me to have a litter!"

"Don't call it a litter!" Tobirama glared at her, folding his arms tightly. "I know you have to push them out."

"How about five?"

"No." Tobirama shook his head standing firm on his choice. "Seven."

"Four."

"You just went down."

"Three."

"Seven."

Usagi took a deep and shuddering breath at that prospect. Seven children, that was crazy! It wasn't unheard of, but she wasn't pushing them out! She played with her fingers, a memory surfacing from a long time ago. Usagi, there will come a time when you become a woman and get married. It may be to one of our own or a different clan for an alliance. You must remember it is your duty as the wife to bear your husband with powerful children. Whether it's seven or two... Usagi has scowled when she heard that, boys. That was just a total no she was too busy training and playing with Daji when they were supposed to be training, she didn't want babies or boys around her!

But, now she was faced with the situation her mother spoke about. It wasn't one of her own kin but it was a different clan and it was to solidify the alliance. It was her duty as a wife to bear Tobirama powerful children. Oh mother, you're always right. Usagi thought, slowly gathering herself and her composure. When she did she looked up at Tobirama, staring into this powerful eyes. "Okay, seven. Seven." Usagi couldn't say no, she just couldn't even if she wanted to. It went beyond just her duty, that played a big role, but Tobirama also had a lot of love to give. He may be stoic but he was a family man. He had a lot to teach. And that was perhaps the greatest thing. "I'll do my best!""

Tobirama smiled at her. "Next, I want five boys and two girls or four boys and three girls." He held up his hand, stopping Usagi before she even got started. Saying anything about her strength or she's just a girl, well that was going to lead to trouble. Once he was sure she was quiet he continued. "Girls are a handful, and if our daughters are anything like you it's going to be times ten. I won't treat them any different, but they'll need to be watched."

"Tobirama I can't control such things." Usagi laughed, normally she'd get pretty upset hearing such things, especially if someone was saying it directly to her, but she understood. Having an older brother was a gift, Syrus and Haji watched over her even if they could be a bit over protective, Syrus more so. And, there was just something more assuring about having a son, but she wouldn't allow Tobirama to treat them any different. "I promise you, I'll do my best! But, I will not be barefoot and pregnant all of the time."

"Also I want four kids by the time I'm nineteen."

"But, you're sixteen now!"

"You're stating the obvious, again."

I can't say no... Usagi thought, scowling at Tobirama. It was her duty, but four kids in three years! Where were they going to find the time? "Is there anything else?"

Tobirama nodded, he couldn't ask for much more. "There's one more thing. When this is all over with I'd like you to meet someone. Since we'll be married soon enough I should tell you." He took a steady breath, Usagi would probably be excited to hear this. "There's a woman named Jun in my clan, she's... Like a grandma to me and Hashirama, all of us for that matter."

"Should I be nervous?" Usagi fiddled with her thumbs. She knew first impressions made a difference.

"No." Tobirama almost deadpanned. He appreciated the question, it'd imply should she wear a certain thing or look a certain way. She would be his wife and he her husband. "I'm sure she'll be very happy to see you and hear that you'll be my wife."

Usagi could only blush.

"Come on, I need to get of these rags." Tobirama said looking over the garbs one last time before gesturing for Usagi to follow. She followed playing with her fingers. He'd be busy tomorrow first thing at 5AM, but for now he could relax if only for a little while.

The next morning

Yuko grimaced visibly. The tea was hot and a somewhat bitter. She sat in the far corner of a small tea shop in the sand village. She had arrived just short of dawn, the gates were large and a portion of the mammoth walls themselves was buried in sand. Ahiko spoke to them, and they opened them without any hesitation. From there she found herself here at a small tea shop. It wasn't large or grand, the building itself seemed to be a bit aged, but there was a homey feel to it. There was a history to it.

It was rather cozy.

"Where's the damiyo's estate from here?" Yuko asked softly, taking another sip gingerly this time.

"It's actually not an estate, but a castle." Ahiko informed the red haired kunoichi. She was seated across from her with a hot tea in one hand and a bowl of soba nestled in front of her. Yuko was a bit taken that she was hungry given the fact all those dragon fruits they ate last night, but they were running for practically five hours without any break, so it was a given. She herself was more thirsty than anything. "We're about six miles away from it at our current spot, it should only take us a few minutes to get there, forty five minutes at the most. We'll be informed of the current status of the situation with the Sarutobi and if there are any more clans hassling the merchants, then them too."

"Well, shouldn't take us too long then." Yuko looked a bit unsure as she said this, but the way Ahiko laid it out it seemed very simple and short. She knew they couldn't just go into the thickets whacking through people, they in addition to reopening the routes needed to find the base where the Sarutobi were camped out and filtering their forces through the area.

"Let's hope not." Ahiko beamed a smile at her. "I'll finish this soba then we can go, kay?"

"Yes." Yuko gave a nod.

It didn't take Ahiko long to finish the noodles. She called a worker over paying for both herself and Yuko despite the red haired girl's protests. Ahiko gave a bit extra and insisted the worker just keep it, with that taken care of she grabbed her bucket containing fruit and her spear that was resting on her shoulder and stood up heading towards the door with Yuko close behind. The air was crisp and dry when they stepped out, the sand paths leading in every direction hung with the tiny flakes as the gentle breeze swept them up. the sun had yet to completely rise so it was a bit on the cool side, some merchants set up their shops and stands while others were just getting situated. Owners of nearby inns and taverns were opening their doors, or the guests stepping out and breathing the first breath of morning air. Yuko had rarely been outside of the compound, so the sight was something amazing. She had never seen this place before.

The roads and paths blended in with each other as did the houses, there was no varying differences all of them thickly built, the roofs especially thick and layered to keep the sand out. One could easily get lose in the maze, however Ahiko was familiar with the area and navigated it with expert precision she took shortcuts and turns that could have lead to nowhere, but got them one step closer to their destination. Finally after about twenty minutes of walking and turning Yuko pitched her gaze up, and her mouth dropped at the sight that was getting closer and closer. "What is that?" She questioned half shocked.

"The castle." Ahiko said tilting her head. "I told you it was a castle."

"Well, I didn't think you meant it literally." Yuko told her, shaking her head still in obvious disbelief. "We're going in that thing?"

"Yes."

"Good." Yuko nodded once. That was a certainty. "I thought we were." Why am I getting the sense of foreboding?