Tales Of The Warring States Era

by Freestyle 763

Growing up in the Era Of The Warring States is hell on earth. One is trained to be a weapon of mass destruction with chakra and nothing more. Alliances are forged, that transcend time. This is a story of those who rise, fall, and endure in this era. AU.

107. Pride Comes Before The Fall Cacophonous

"There is no such thing as a victory in this world. Hope...Is merely an illusion."

Obito

---

Going into this battle, he already knew they'd be at a disadvantage. It's why their only option was a direct attack. Now, he was seeing just how outnumbered they were. While they were seven thousand odd strong, not counting their companions, the Hyuga were easily in the eighteen thousand range. They didn't use summons or animals in battle like his clan and the Domou.

It led to everyone taking on at least one hundred Hyuga at the same time, which was no easy feat. The Byakugan granted them near three hundred and sixty degree vision, a barrier of sorts that allowed them to perceive everything around them. It couldn't expand or constrict. It's why the Hyuga were famous for their "dancing". While most clans took a direct approach the Hyuga were rather graceful, but it led to them being soft.

"Haji!"

"I can handle things here, Uhi!" He shouted, eyes darting to the side for a split second to spot his companion, soaked in blood, head within her maw, ready to lunge for another. "Make sure Daiki or the Hyuga divison leaders don't slip away, I can sense Ichiro, Ichigo, Shiro, Tomatsu, Tatsuo, and the other division leaders starting to make their presence known. The second I get the chance I'm going to blast a fissure through that compound wall! Storm it afterwards."

"What about you, Ji san!?"

"I'll meet up with you when I'm finished handling things here, if I can help it I'll take out two division leaders."

Uhi growled, not at all pleased with his answer. Not at all pleased with how his rage was gushing from his pores like chakra. There were easily one hundred Hyuga surrounding him-she wasn't sure if they were the main or branch family, likely both, not that she really cared. The fact was a lot of Hyuga were surrounding him, and more looked ready to swarm in whenever they could.

She lunged at the barrier of bodies-several dodged, but several couldn't, and lost their throats.

Without breaking stride Uhi darted off to the side-honing in on Ichigo and Tatsuo who were both making a beeline for Todou and Syrus.

"You're going to regret attacking our compound, wolf." A hyuga sneered at him.

Haji shifted, narrowly avoiding a cut to his side, the deafening screech of blades hit his ears. He blocked the offensive onslaught of his horde, blade smacking away ten other blades each second, all of them aimed for his side and neck. Haji shifted down, knee bending-blade protruding out the back of two Hyuga, the first stabbed, the second shoved through by himself.

A couple of Hyuga tried to step into his guard to take the advantage-his blade engorged with two bodies, he was nearly motionless. With a burst of chakra he left the two Hyuga in pieces, blade singing as it arced in a full rotation, his footwork shifting as a spray of blood splattered into the snow close by. With another turn, he rammed his fist against his next attacker's chin, feeling bones buckle.

Twenty five Hyuga fell dead on the spot-all cut across the neck, save for one that had his head rolled to his spine.

Flicking his sword to the side, Haji pointed his focus onto the other eighty Hyuga.

With furious cries they charged-veins bulging around their eyes, palms whirling about with chakra, blades poised.

From all sides he couldn't hope to defend. The Hyuga for all their grace were relentless with their attacks. There wasn't any room to defend, go on the offensive, or retreat, since they'd hit the Tenketsu regardless. He brought his blade down, chopping one Hyuga across the face, beyond his lips, and splitting his neck right down the middle while another lost part of his skull-blood and hair mixing with snow.

One Hyuga had been witty enough to bind his blade against his own, driving them both towards a tree with fierce speed. It seemed the Hyuga didn't care if they both splattered into the trunk, or just one of them did. He didn't humor the Hyuga as he ground his foot deep into the frozen earth, tearing at the frozen tundra before it gave way to clay, and he purchased.

They powered against each other, teeth grit, and eyes wild. Furious, Haji twisted the Hyuga's wrist-gouging his sword deep into the man's back until it exited two inches out from his solarplex. With little time to shove the body aside, he sent a burst of lightning through the dying Hyuga-charring his corpse until it was dust, and arced once more, this time splitting through five necks at the jugular.

The horde backed off, eyes wide and narrowed in shock. He met their eyes with a ruthless gaze of his own. There was no fear, no hesitation, and no doubt. The eeriness of his gaze caused a few Hyuga to shake where they stood.

"You wolf!"

Ten more Hyuga attacked. Four fell to his blade, another two evaded only to be swung in two by their own kin, another two had their face and cheeks split in two.

Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.

Haji came around again, blade singing as it struck bone.

"HAJI!" Ichiro roared-hand enveloped in pure chakra, smashed into the ground where they all stood. The impact alone was enough to cause destruction, but adding in his velocity and speed, what would have been a crater turned into a wide gouge as his chakra powered through the earthen crust.

Haji slid against the force until he stopped, eyes focusing on Ichiro's scarred face and hateful pale eyes.

The Hyuga that had been around him were completely gone. He wasn't sure if they were vaporized, disintegrated, crushed, pummeled, or purely atomized. He couldn't spot their bodies, or pieces of it, and their chakras were all snuffed out. Rage pulsed through Haji's veins more than it had been at this point-for Ichiro to kill his own, and not even give out a warning...

Ichiro smirked. "They were getting in the way."

"To kill your own..."

Ichiro's smirk didn't falter. "They were just the branch and served their purpose."

"You son of a bitch."

Ichiro went on the attack in typical Hyuga fashion. A swift palm was the starting point, followed by a cacophony of more chakra imbued palms and thunderous kicks. He pressed forward just grazing Haji's jaw as he leaned back and away from the strike distancing himself from the older Hyuga before he could catch his stride. Hyuga weren't aggressive like Uchiha, and had to find their rhythm, once they found it...

"Scared!?" Ichiro collided with Haji once more, brazen as all hell, and beyond reckless, his only power was hatred. His fury and hatred growing by the second as he skewed just a few inches away from Haji's vitals every time, just a few centimeters from the Tenketsu he had intended to strike. Without any warning he spun rapidly, chakra exploding out from his hands in waves of force.

Haji grunted, pivoting to his left as hard as he could just as the chakra erupted from underground. The shockwave sent him sliding back-chakra cushioned the back blast, armor and chakra protected his organs from the crushing force.

Ichiro flashed through the cloud of snow and dirt-screaming at the top of his lungs.

Haji twisted passed him, spun with him twice before slashing him across the back.

"Grraaghh..." Ichiro grunted, body nearly giving out towards the ground, but he held it up with sheer willpower. One. Two. Three. He staggered to the side, his steps shaky before he shifted and forced himself to a halt. Crimson was staining his sides, and slowly filling the entirety of his white garb. Slowly, forcibly he advanced forward, eyes burning with disdain.

Haji attacked first this time, propelling forward at terminal velocities, and he swiped upwards gripping his sword with both hands to add more velocity, Haruo shifted around the stroke lashing out with a quick series of palms which Haji dodged promptly. He didn't maintain defensive, and attacked again. Ichiro swung forward deflecting the first slash with his palm and stepped back, evading the second.

"Hgggnnhhh."

His teeth ground against each other as Ichiro charged forwards ignoring the hot pain of his back. Haji paused in his step before shifting to the side, and Ichiro pressed forward, easily clearing the minuscule distance between them and struck out.

Haji flicked his wrist, blade arcing in its blue-silver hue forcing a gallon of blood tear away from Ichiro's neck, the rest splattering onto the snow and the sleeves of his shirt.

The Hyuga's body dropped.

"You're hatred is strong..." Haji said-watching Ichiro clench the ground, eyes glowering at his form. "Die, hubris Hyuga."

Several of his companions swarmed around the Hyuga with Uhi at their side, tearing away at his face and eyes. A pack of rather vicious Chihuahuas came sprinting as fast as their legs could carry them, snarling with their dagger-like teeth. As small as they were, they were just as vicious as the bigger and more massive dogs.

Flicking his sword to the side again, and ignoring the irate screams of Ichiro, Haji observed his surroundings.

The Hyuga compound entrance was beyond overrun with bodies from all sides, fires constantly erupted, sending black plumes skywards, his companions were sprinting and flying across the terrain, moving at angles and directions that even he couldn't hope to replicate. Ryoku, Tsugi, and several other shinobi were hauling trees forward at blistering speeds, screaming in fury, using them as battering rams to smash, crack, and obliterate the massive compound walls. They were tossed and strung about with ease, the impact of their collision with ground shook him to his very ankles.

The Hyuga decimated the trees and any debris from them, but some huge chunks escaped them-and they were crushed.

Two of the Hyuga's towers were collapsing in a series of jagged pieces, part of a tree trailing just above them along with several of his comrades-the Hyuga trying to prevent their inevitable deaths by a perilous fall were all but moot as they splattered on the ground.

"Haji!"

Shizuku and Asuko flashed before him, panting roughly-several hundred Hyuga on their tail.

Nagakura came from the other side-eyes nothing short of twin suns as he bellowed his war cry.

Haji shot forward, felling twelve in one movement-eyes glinting through the blood shower above him.

Nagakura came around, chopping through one Hyuga's cranium, sending hair and blood flying onto a nearby tree.

"We need to bust a hole in that compound!" Asuko shouted over the roar of an explosion close by. "At this rate!"

"Stand back! When I'm done, storm inside of it!"

Haji slammed his hands together in the dragon seal, fingers clenching against each other-body surging with chakra. He looked from left to right, eyes darting up and down. His comrades and companions were everywhere-Hyuga were everywhere. He didn't want to strike his comrades or companions down, he also didn't want to strike Hyuga, as he wanted the full power of his jutsu to smash a fissure in the wall.

"Raiton! Supuritto Wasseru!"

As if he were a temple and Lightning struck his crown, lightning surged and buzzed about, darting from his body into the air above him, to the space around him, before erupting onto the ground. It traveled, spurred on by chakra and will, taking a mind of its own. Slowly, the mass of lightning condensed, compressing in on itself-one long body formed with four short legs and a particularly long neck.

The beast shot ahead-while small, and just a weasel, it was alive with chakra and it struck the wall with trembling force. It forced him to close his eyes, as the collision forced the shape to disperse into a mindless mass once more-shredding through the wall with ease. It climbed up and up, to the sides, and even through the ground, until it sent jagged cracks and slabs out.

Burning cinders lit up the night sky around the compound, several hundred Hyuga raced to try and extinguish the flames while many others swarmed around the entire compound within, and outside, going for anything that looked for a threat. Two hundred Hyuga shinobi raced to the front gates, weapons raised, before seeing a flash of white and gleaming steel followed by a rumbling snarl.

"Compound has been breached!" One of them shouted before smacking the ground with a thud unmoving.

Ikue drew her sword in an instant hearing the footfalls coming towards her, feeling the chakras rushing towards her. She snapped her head towards a corner where at least a dozen Hyuga were charging at her with hate and malice in their eyes. The first Hyuga to attack was felled by a swift stab, the next two to come were also felled by a swift stab-all to the throat.

Uhi and thousands of others swarmed into the fissure, and if possible the noise reached its apex-deafening to such an extent that bark flaked from their boles.

"Our compound has been breached from the east and south!" Several Hyuga screamed.

"Focus on the busted sides! Sweep all around these wolves. Corner them!"

"Start evacuating the children and elderly!"

"Gather the rest of the warriors! Subatsu and those albinos are all charging in! We can't stop them!"

"We will stop them!"

"Kill them all!"

"Thanks for the assist, Haji! Asuko! With me!" Shizuku yelled, darting away, cleavers flying and twisting as she watched her a couple of her comrades fall wounded to the frenzied Hyuga. Seven Hyuga fell to her, while she was content on choking the last one to death. Asuko shot in front of her, blade cleaving right through armor and bone, splitting the protective plating of the lungs and heart.

"I'm going to push further!" Asuko exclaimed, breaking away from Shizuku and speared ahead-blade gouging through a Hyuga's skull!

"I'll handle the women if they charge, cut down the men!" Shizuku screamed before fading into fire, smoke, and debris.

Asuko shot away from her, felling four more Hyuga with one horizontal chop. She charged right into the horde that were pursing Yamaguchi, Nao, and Nobu.

The Hyuga dispersed some whirling into a hemisphere of chakra spilling the terrain in a storm.

"Asuko!"

Okita swiped down, just a mere blur of motion-his blade sang as it cleaved deep through one skull, tearing across two more before it was free of blood and got engorged into a chest.

Yamaguchi was more physical, tossing away his foes with the sheer power of his strikes, keeping their trajectory Asuna, Nao, Itsume, and several other of his comrades were, smirking when completed the motions-cleaving and cutting through the bodies like paper.

"Move!" Shizuku screamed, forcing them all to sprint away from each other as her cleavers cut and slashed through the air. A familiar gleam rocketed for her eyes, and she swiped against it, painting her vision red and took a mighty lunge upward, spinning and twisting. Her chain rung loudly, wrapping and coiling around her body before it swiveled out in every direction.

Some of the Hyuga had enough wits to dodge or get out of the way. Some didn't have the mind to parry or dodge, believing they were superior. Those who refused to get out of the way were cut across the neck, others felt the cold steel crush their throats. Three quickly flashed into a series of chakra rotations, a surge of pure power that knocked her blades aside wildly and ripped the ground where they stood.

Shizuku pulled on her chains sharply, smirking as they came around and dug deep into the Hyuga's skulls from the back-right in their blind spot.

"Yamaguchi, Ikue, and Okita handle things here!" Shizuku shot away from them both the moment she hit the ground, felling three more Hyuga with brutal stabs taking one by the throat and crushing it with a sharp and vicious yank of her chain.

A few women came her way and were immediately wrapped up in her chain, she didn't even give them the chance to squirm before she pulled.

"I got it! The others are pressing ahead!" Yamaguchi shouted, making a beeline right for two Hyuga that were poised to strike down his comrade. His longer than average katana glistened within the madness of the showdown, and both Hyuga could only brace against the blow before they were cleaved in two by the gut, gore spilling out across the ground.

"Don't let the women touch you!" Okita shouted back, swiping away a slash that was aimed for his neck. Deflecting another four within the fraction of a second, and shifting his weight forward cleaving off a part of his attacker's leg by the knee. Another Hyuga lost both of his feet before his fingers and arms pattered to the ground. Before the man could scream out a curse or in pain, Okita jammed the tip of his blade through his armor, swiping to the side-slicing through the side of a Hyuga's left leg.

A flash of movement sent him sprinting to the side, thousands of Hyuga giving chase to his form only to be felled by his companions or by his blade. He turned, tired of the pursuit, slashing across one's neck and kicking him to the side before leveling two more.

"Got you now, Subatsu wolf!"

"I don't think so!" Kimie roared, springing off of the ground in a flash, skewing through three Hyuga shinobi in the same stroke as she pushed forward, blood gushing out from the gaping wounds and smoothing out around her fingers and the hilt of her blade. She turned yanking her blade free-the clang of armor screeching in her ears made her wince.

"Let's press ahead, husband! Ikue!" Kimie shouted.

Okita's only response was to charge ahead, blade singing.

Ikue flanked Kimie.

Ikue and Ayako pressed forward tearing through anyone who got in their way, never trading shots or blades, but instead dodging and unleashing lethal strokes taking off heads and arms just the same.

Ryoku and Junko pressed forward a few inches ahead of them, colliding with three dozen men, blade on blade, pushing them back. They felled the first wave with a simple horizontal slash splitting through the soft skin at the front of the neck, the next wave attacked with vigor screaming in fury, teeth grit and feet digging into the floor Ryoku held them off, grunting loud enough for himself to hear as six more bodies collided with him.

Okita sped in their direction, slamming his blade into Ryoku's and pushing forward.

The collision was enough to break the stalemate, the attackers went flying and skidding back, Okita was already upon two of them flicking both of his wrists, his blade almost vanishing for a moment as it tore through the first man's neck lobbing his head upward, he shifted in the same motion bringing his blade back sharply cutting through the second man's cheek tearing through part of his mouth and slicing into the top of his neck.

Kimie and Junko flashed ahead of him, cutting, slashing, screaming.

"Ayume" Rokuro shouted, not sparing a glance behind. No time. He grunted slamming his blade against another glaring at the man who pushed against him, their eyes met.

Rokuro grunted pushing up, and slammed his foot into the man's chest sending him flying back into his cohorts. He sped forward, felling the man with a stab pushing forward until he cleaved through two Hyuga''s neck before they could react and severing another man's arm before his sword could cleave through his neck. He narrowed his eyes, staring down his approaching attackers.

He smirked, turning suddenly and swiped forward slashing a man's head clear from his shoulders, parry, parry, block, evade! Rokuro, Junko, Itsume, Tsugim and their companions hard pressed, went of the defensive for just a second. Junko broke into a sprint leading them through the destroyed houses and buildings of the compound where battles were still raging.

Split them up, divide their strength, Junko turned suddenly again swiping low instead of high, and tore through her attacker's leg ripping right through the tendons at the knee joint, she heaved slamming her knee into the armor at his shoulder. Ryoku and Rokuro came flying from the side-stabbing the Hyuga through both sides before pressing ahead-splitting the body in two.

"I'll handle this side!"

"I got it, Yamaguchi, Ayume, Shizuku with me!"

Yamaguchi kept cutting and cutting. Anyone who stood in her way he whacked down, battering bodies and blades aside. He dashed throughout the chaos of the crumbling compound, leading them all to chase, spreading them out over just a couple of meters, the end result was the same his sword connected and tore into flesh. Slicing. Cleaving.

The numbers weren't in his favor at times he was taking on eighty to two hundred one time, even with Shizuku, Ayume, Ayaoko, Tsugi, and their companions fighting in tandem with him.

Nagakura pressed on his current target, snarling-smacking the blade aside. The Hyuga could only snarl as he was forced to swivel, back facing Nagakura, and Nagakura struck. Blade tearing across the entire length of the Hyuga's back-sending him staggering forward before plummeting through a collapsing house.

Nagakura snapped his head to the side. "Ryoku! I'm going to leave this side to you!"

"I got it!"

"Nobu! Shinji! Nao! Shoji" Nagakura darted towards the side, mowing down the first three Hyuga that charged at him before he even caught a stride.

Shoji grunted, slamming his head into his attacker's nose kicking him back and turning on his heel, slamming his heel right on the point of the Hyuga's chin. Nao was already hurrying away from them one hand clasping her sword as she swiped and swung, sending hundreds of blades back each second.

She ran as fast as he could, not bothering to wipe the fine sheen of sweat dripping down his forehead. She didn't bother to swipe the blood from her blade. She slammed her feet into the ground, blade whirling, blocking two attackers' swords at the same time, she shifted sharply-one Hyuga's head slammed off the other's, a blade tearing itself apart from the sheer force.

Haji sped away from a kunai poised for his eye, having little time to sway, let alone jump away from the spiraling orbs of chakra. One and one, they merged into a hemisphere that ripped the ground asunder and sent waves of force crackling outward that sent a web across the ground. Shiro-tall and hateful eyed stopped his rotations of chakra first, feet sliding across the ground as he drew his sword forth, while Tatsuo-tall and somewhat lithe, stopped himself on a dime-already in the Gentle Fist stance.

"Ichiro was a fool, you won't fell me so easily." Tatsuo said, teeth clenched rigidly.

"I'll handle Nagakura." Shiro bit out, glowering at the stern faced man.

"When you're done with him focus on Usagi, Nao, Kimie, Okita, Itsume, Yamaguchi, and the rest of those wolves! They're sweeping through our forces and inside of the compound!"

"What about the dogs and wolves?"

"Kill them too!"

Nagakura was the first to attack, sword glaring and slicing through the air-the miniscule distance that dared to get between him and his foe. Shiro's attacks were nothing short of furious, bellied by his grace, and bolstered his malice.

Shiro didn't just want to defeat Nagakura and the Subatsu, he wanted to maim this man, inflict unbearable pain and punishment before he pulled the curtains down and stabbed him right through the throat splitting his body down. Kill the Subatsu down to the last child. To prove the Hyuga were superior and have always been superior to the wolves.

Anticipating that the wolf would come at him with all intents to rip him limb from limb, it didn't matter if it was with his bare hands or with a weapon the result would be the same. There was something especially powerful and straight forward about Nagakura and his attacks. His uncompromising strength, his unyielding resolve that'd never bend like bamboo.

He couldn't let Nagakura press the assault-the man was just too powerful. Both in spirit, will, and physically. His next parry was crisp, no single flaw was evident as he shifted passed the blade poised for his cheek and struck out with a quick counter strike, teeth gritting as Nagakura blocked the chakra imbued palm, shoving him forward and striking out once more.

Again Shiro sidestepped the vicious stroke, retaliating with quick and sweeping offensive flurry that pushed Nagakura back bit by bit. However, he wasn't satisfied with his current assault, and increased his pace. Nagakura, already dashing and springing about spryly-pushed forward with one chopping slash that broke the Hyuga's rhythm, another stroke brought him closer to the Hyuga's heart.

Shiro's attacks were something mysterious and sporadic, constantly changing, shifting like the tides of the waters. He flowed without reprieve, remaining intangible. First he was kicking, then punching, his chakra imbued palms sending ground and earthen clay flying. He was throwing quick elbows soon after and spinning on the balls of his feet kicked his feet as he shrouded himself in chakra.

It was graceful chaos, a staccato of rhythm that twisted and spiraled all according to his cunning and wit. Much unlike Nagakura's approach which was to be unyielding and bold-the man was far from graceful, his movements concise and powerful, he didn't dance or sway. He stepped. He stomped. He advanced and pushed with all of his might.

Precise, swift, concise, and pointed; Nagakura pressed the tempo every chance he got. When a kick came too close, he'd jam his knee into Shiro's shins, parrying a vicious slash of the palm when the air crackled from the intense chakra, dodging and evading the staccato of strikes that came from up, down, side, below, and all around.

He couldn't match the graceful yet erratic attack pace of Shiro, but he didn't need to match it, he flowed with the intangible tide spotting moves well in advance and hastily dodging the next four that followed in a series of parries. Trying to match the Hyuga in taijutsu would be a grave mistake-the Hyuga focused on Tenketsu-the very flow of chakra itself, it just wasn't a matter of punching and kicking.

Nagakura snarled springing off the ground propelled by velocity and momentum. He closed the small between himself and his foe, swiftly bringing his katana up and to the side. Warm blood splattered against his sleeves and armor as his tip cleaved through Shiro's arm near the elbow joint-the man had been too arrogant, and overreached by just a few inches.

Shiro must have been oblivious to the pain because he went on the attack again, but was halted when Nagakura's blade cleaved across his neck.

Panting, Nagakura wiped at his forehead, eyes burning from sweat and blood mixing in with it. There were so many Hyuga swarming him, despite Shiro's fallen body, they weren't the least bit daunted.

"Don't relent!" Ichigo roared. "We outnumber them, kill them all!"

"That's a lot of bark coming from a small man." Usagi grated out, putting herself in front of Ichigo.

"You little bitch." Ichigo spat. "Surround her! Surround the enemies in our compound!"

"Keep them contained!"

CLANG!

Ichigo grunted, wrists rattling against the tremendous force that met them squarely.

"Ichigo..." Usagi's cold tone made his eyes narrow.

"You little wolf! Today is the day you commoners are exterminated down to the last child along with your allies!"

Usagi's body went stock rigid for a moment, eyes glowing viciously as she took a stance. "I've got no problem if you attack me, but attacking children...Attacking infants...My blood will sing with your blood, Hyuga."

Their blades collided.

"Kill her!"

Usagi swiped at Ichigo before chopping down at ten Hyuga trying to stab her in the back. One sliced horizontally, skin of the cheek sputtering before flicking off into the snow. Two sliced right across the nose. She twisted, deflecting what would have been a slash for her scalp, chipping the blade down inch by inch before she jammed her fist into her attacker's nose, pushing until the man's head erupted in gore.

Shifting again, she lunged at the last second cutting the next one across the neck. The remaining seven sprung forward, stabbing and snarling.

Their attacks were graceful, their form impeccable, but they wee drowned in their malice and hubris. Drowned in their thought process that they were royalty, and everyone else was a mere commoner. That they were the strongest, and always have been. Four met their end, while another was left gurgling on the ground as he clutched his throat to stem to blood loss. Usagi advanced, foot crushing down on the man's head, spreading gore.

She scowled at the remarks thrown her way without regard. Killing children. Her rascals. Calling her clan, and every other clan plebeians. "If you're talking all that shit I guess that's all you Hyuga can do! Talk!"

Her exclamation was punctuated by the blinding arc of her blade, unable to avoid the blood hurdling towards her, she dived right into it, screaming as her blade met resistance for just a second before it gave way to blood and broken bone.

Usagi swiped to the side. Two heads flew, while another three rolled partly from the neck. Ichigo was upon her a second later, snarling, cursing, eyes bulging with grotesque veins and exploding with chakra. She dodged and parried, sidestepped and avoided the chakra imbued palms. The deadly chakra coated fingers that could make her arm explode, or even worse.

Two strokes brought the attack to an end-Ichigo backing up a few steps to gather his wits.

"Kill the bitch!" Ichigo roared.

They lunged forward. The first couldn't even gurgle in pain as she sent his head flying high above the battlefield, the second and third came with a stab only to be felled by one vicious slash that ripped their blades in two, and split their torsos open-armor just a moot point. The next to charge was felled by a vertical slash ripping his body in half to the groin, and the fifth couldn't react in time to evade the stab to his neck.

She tore her blade free with a sharp twist. sending another splatter of blood against her sleeve. Warily, she shifted her feet, running one way, and then another, and then another-eyes constantly honing in on the Hyuga that pressed her like shadows. There's so many of them...

"Don't relent! She's getting tired" Ichigo yelled charging forward, his horde following after him with irate screams. Her movements were nimble, she was always spry and quick on her feet. She was on the ground, she was spinning around them, twisting, gliding, darting through their tight quarters, it was poetry. It was power. It was grace. It enticed fear and horror, but envy as well.

The brilliant flash of one sword, singing in the same way its wielder glowed. One surreal blade that squelched flesh. The movement fleeting and dissipating just as her form as it vanished into hyper speed, blade drenched with the familiar crimson liquid. It brought an immediate end to her attackers-the image forever burned into them, even as they passed on.

With a hasty swipe and a shaky step, Usagi cleared the sweat from her body, eyes warily tracing after her attackers. Ichigo was her priority at this point in time, the rest of the Hyuga were merely nuisances, as they didn't pose the same threat as Ichigo. However, the man seemed content to watch them fall to her blade, chipping at her endurance and stamina, chipping at her strength-he was just clenching his teeth to ram her through at the right time.

"And here I thought the sword of Usagi was supposed to be feared by all, but you're just a little brat." Ichigo sneered with contempt.

"You're a coward. Sending your own to their demise, just to give yourself an opening against me."

Ichigo shrugged, the smirk never leaving his face. "Any good shinobi takes any opening, takes any advantage they can get, even if that means killing their own kin."

"That is madness."

Usagi swayed once-one Hyuga charged, and she swiped as hard as she could. The man didn't even get the chance to scream as his head shot into the sky, his body plummeting to the ground silently. This didn't impede her attackers at all, and with a wave of his hand, Ichigo bolstered the men beyond their limits-and they charged, screaming.

"Usagi!" Ayako shot passed her, blade coming down in one chopping stroke.

The Hyuga dispersed, but one wasn't lucky enough, and found himself clutching at his throat before everything darkened.

Daji charged without any hesitation, taking down three Hyuga by the legs before crushing the bones at the knee-his kin and the dogs rushed all around him, snarling, growling, bellowing.

"Ayako..." Usagi breathed out.

"We'll handle them for now. You just handle Ichigo. That bastard has to be cut down!" Daji said with a fierce stare.

"Make him pay for his cowardice." Ayako said fiercely.

Usagi nodded quickly, turning her eyes onto her foe.

"Tch, I'll kill you myself." Ichigo spat.

Ichigo's movements were nothing short of erratic, not as graceful as the rest of his kin, his attacks were bellied with anger and hatred lacking that finesse and grace the Hyuga were infamous for. He didn't open up with a chakra imbued palm, his attack approach was much more brutish. He came out with a knee, transitioning into a vertical chop of his hand, before spiraling into a series of strikes.

Dodge.

Parry.

His attacks became fueled with malice and nothing less. His intentions and emotions were clear, and it took Usagi only the barest amount of movement to dodge each stroke, jumping over his hasty swipe for her legs, evading the crushing blow towards her face, but even as she dodged-she could feel the heat suffocate her. Chakra surging, she was propelled forward by the unseen force-blade hissing through the air.

Ichigo merely pivoted-avoiding getting cut by just an inch, turned, and struck out with his palm. A bout of anger pulsed through his veins as Usagi danced around his strike so fluidly, that the fluidity of her blade made him snarl. It came too close to taking off his head, and if it weren't for his visual prowess and combat experience, certainly he would have lost his head to the younger woman.

They slid apart by a few inches.

Fingers shaking, Usagi clenched her hilt tighter. The blood on her face, the blood staining her attire, the blood smearing down the side of her face at this very moment was all but an afterthought. Rage nor fury clouded her vision, it didn't consume her, and it didn't make her brash. Being brash against Hyuga was a mistake that would cost one their very life. One too many times did she see a Sarutobi or Senju just charge at a Hyuga-only to have blood burst out from their mouths.

She set her feet, taking a deep breath before exhaling-her expression and eyes never wavered, her shoulders didn't flinch, and she didn't take a single step back. Even if Ichigo's eyes were filled with malice-his intentions clear as the white of his garb, it didn't faze her.

He blitzed forward, a smirk crossing his face as he upped his speed-taking his foe by surprise.

"Grraauuuu-" he could barely cut off his choking as he clutched at the blade deep within his chin with trembling hands. His eyes lost focus, the veins fading away, the chakra dissipating. His tongue split in two, the tip of Usagi's blade pointing out of his forehead by several inches.

"Hubris fool...Overestimating your offense and underestimating me..." Usagi breathed out, tearing her blade free-chipping through the front of the man's skull.

"Usagi!" Ayako landed beside her in a similar condition, panting, hair completely disheveled, armor cut, bruises and small cut dotting her form.

"I'm fine..." Usagi breathed out slowly, eyes refocusing despite how deeply they burned, lungs expanding and contracting despite how much she wheezed out her breaths.

"Looks like the Hyuga are starting to retreat." Ayako noted softly. She could feel the flares of chakra getting further and further, most likely the children and elderly made up these chakras. There would be women as well, and perhaps some of the warriors, but for the most part it was the next generation of Hyuga that were in retreat at this moment.

"We'll leave the rest to Nao, Seiichi, Nobu, Kayoko, Ayume, and the others...Shizuku, Shoji, Rokuro, and the others will handle the inside of the compound and any stragglers. Our companions will be able to track them down. We have to get to my brother so we can end all of this, now."

Both women shared a gaze, eyes darkening as only death was one their minds.

The death of one man.

Daiki drew his sword with blinding speed-the blade appeared to come from ten thousand different directions, taking Syrus by surprise as he spun back, but Daiki pressed ahead and slammed a shin right against his chest. Without any reprieve, Daiki surged forward with a battle cry attacking wildly, his sword screeching every second as his attacks were met, deflected, and negated by Syrus's much larger blade.

The Hyuga whirled about-blade multiplying by a thousand as he charged in from the side, but Syrus pivoted away from the blade at the last second, slamming a fist across Daiki's jaw-the force behind the blow sent the lither man flying back and through a bole-splitting it down the middle. Syrus charged ahead with no fear, blowing by the debris in his wake and swung for Daiki's ribs, but the man's blade screeched against his own.

"RAAGGHH!" Daiki shot forward, teeth clenched. "Just die! You virus!" He shouted, swinging blade forward-Syrus evaded narrowly watching as the stroke left a crater where it struck. There was quick blur of steel, Daiki's blade multiplying into thousands once again, and he smashed his shin into Syrus's right side as he came around with another rotation.

A scowl and bloody cough were his only reactions. He didn't stagger nor waver back on his feet. Daiki dashed in again, this time coming from the left, but Syrus dropped down on one arm, watching the Hyuga sail over him, and swung his legs up.

"Damn you!"

Syrus continued dodging his blitzing barrage, continued to evade his thousand blades, smashing Daiki in the chest with his palm forcing the older man to stagger back once again. Daiki merely snarled, flared his chakra, and whirled about with his blade. Hoping to keep Syrus's attention negated long enough so he could land a stroke to his neck.

He launched forward-the blades merging and separating according to his will, but Syrus swung-starting from above his head and down blocking the swift stroke that would have no doubt pierced through his neck, skidding back from the force, and watching as his massive blade split in two. Daiki didn't relent, and dashed right back towards his foe.

Syrus swayed passed a a hundred blades, the force cracking the ground behind him-the swiftness taking a few strands of his hair. He feinted with a chopping swipe, and Daiki mockingly copied the action. Syrus strained as he ducked under the man's blade, teeth grit, snarling as he lashed out, forcing blood out from the Hyuga's mouth.

"I've had enough!" Daiki's chakra roared and within a second he was just a blur of blades and hands. Steadily, he began to drive Syrus back with his chakra explosive movements, but the man's expression hadn't changed in the least still.

Syrus grunted, latching onto Daiki's left wrist before it could strike his chest, and began to squeeze.

Damn!

Syrus pulled Daiki, jumping up and towards him heel first, the impact of the collision snapped Daiki's head back.

Both men were flung back by the force of their collision.

"Daiki..." Syrus tossed what remained of his massive blade aside, drawing a normal katana.

"You like my kenjutsu technique? It's a merging of the Hyuga's taijutsu and prowess of the Byakugan."

Syrus narrowed his eyes. "Is that why it appears there's more than one blade..."

Daiki smirked. "Indeed. In taijutsu nobody can match the Hyuga, and with this technique...I can cut down entire armies with ease!"

Daiki moved first, dashing to the side, and then making a lunge. He pressed his advantage jumping into the man's guard, using the small gap to smash his blade against the man's chest armor. To his shock and surprise Syrus took it without even flinching. Daiki pulled back, swinging twice as hard, but Syrus batted the blade aside with some effort, driving his knee into the Hyuga's stomach making him double over.

Pushing passed the pain, Syrus slammed his fist against the Hyuga's chin taking him off of his feet, before he could hit the ground Syrus appeared above him punching him with his top knuckles-splitting a gash into his forehead.

The jarring impacts leveled the entire patch of ground around them, houses collapsing, cement and debris cascading every which direction. When the dust finally cleared. Daiki was half buried in the frozen clay, blood flowing from the gash on his forehead freely. Syrus stood over the edge, panting, brows furrowed as he kept his sword gripped tightly.

"Is that all you've got!?" Daiki roared angrily, leveling the debris around him by surrounding himself in chakra. "You will never defeat me with such trivial attacks!

"You say that..." Syrus took a moment to breathe in deeply. "But, yet you're bleeding. Contrary to what you may thing-you are mortal."

"RAAAAAHHHHH!"

Syrus spotted a trace of movement, a blur of chakra, and a thunderous impact knocked him forward and face first into a tree.

Pain erupted within him-blinding and hot white.

"My father feared that you Hyuga would be the most fearsome clan in the entire world-should you all get on the same page...But, I see now that'll never happen. You've developed this kenjutsu technique, but haven't spread it through the rest of your ranks."

"And, why would I do that?"

"You merely proved my father's fear to be wrong so he can rest easy. You hubris Hyuga will never change.

They both vanished, moving too swiftly for the Byakugan to keep up, Syrus gave the hubris man no chance to rebound. He didn't care if he was surrounded by a million blades or a thousand, or a thousand Hyuga. He batted aside the man's palm slamming his right foot into Daiki's face feeling his bones buckle and a loud crunch sound off as the cartalige of his nose was reduced to nothing.

Daiki snarled in a feral manner, lashing out with all of his limbs, sending waves of chakra forward, only for Syrus to power through them, despite the damage they caused him. Despite the pain, Syrus flipped, slamming a kick under Daiki's chin snapping his head up once again. His attacks continued to increase in ferocity and force, as did his screams.

They were both knocked back and forth up and down, side to side, front to back by the other's barrage, each move punctuated by their angry screams.

"Haaaahhhh!"

Bones cracked and shattered under the furious beating.

Daiki staggered back, gasping for oxygen through his bloodied mouth, wincing as his ribs screamed in protest and his lungs begged for more oxygen. His body was battered, one arm hanging limply at his side with the bone sticking out from the forearm, and a huge cut was running across his chest and forehead gushing with blood.

Syrus was in a similar condition as the Hyuga. One arm was limp at his side, while the other was almost limp, a gash on his forehead and shoulder bled profusely, soaking his attire, and a rather agonizing looking cut ran from his scalp all the way to his lips. His breaths were short, furious, wheezing even-his body would have collapsed if it wasn't for his sheer strength and willpower.

"You really are powerful, Daiki. To think you'd merge your clan's taijutsu into a kenjutsu style that'd give the illusion a thousand blades moving at once in every direction...You are uncanny." Syrus admitted through his pants, wincing as his left eye-swollen, nearly shut itself. The sweat pouring down him serving to agitate the wound more.

"Even with Osen's poison circulating through you...You still wounded me to this extent..."

Daiki only sneered at Syrus, a hateful expression. That explains why...

"Your Byakugan isn't all seeing, and contrary to your clan's ideology-you are not gods."

Daiki hissed, turning around-eyes narrowing as Todou and Usagi glowered at him, blades trained for him. The rest of his kin were being picked off and cornered, only to be ran through. Others ran away to regroup with the others, only to be cut down before they ever caught their stride. Others fought to their last breath, being mauled and stabbed all at once.

His glare became more hateful as more and more began to surround him. The wolves and the dogs bared their teeth, saliva and blood mixing together as they snarled. The albinos and The Subatsu kept their fangs pointed right at him.

"You've forgotten the most important lesson...Pride came before the fall, and always comes before the fall..." Syrus panted out, spitting out blood.

"This is your end, Daiki Hyuga." Todou growled.

"But, it isn't the end of the Hyuga clan."

Kimie advanced on him with fury in her eyes-everyone followed her like moths to a flame. Daiki was the flame. "Genocide wasn't our objective, you hateful, hubirs little parasite. Your demise is our objective. The destruction of your compound was our objective. I'm relieved I'll never have to look at those eye tumors again..."

Daiki snickered. "What a hollow victory...To think you did this just because...My kin attacked of a...Couple of little brats."

"Parasite!" Todou snarled, jamming his sword deep into Daiki's chest, pushing through until it protruded from his shoulder blade.

More blades pierced through the Hyuga, as did claws and teeth-so much and so copious he couldn't even scream as blood erupted from his very pores. His neck was crushed all the way down, sharp canines gouging through bone and tender muscles. The pain so great that he just fell numb to it, even his own death was something of numbing.

"You're not worthy to be called shinobi..."

With his last words spoken, Daiki's body hit the ground with a cold thud, his life blood spreading all around-melting snow with its heat. Syrus stared at the still body of Daiki, his face twisted in a mix of pain and hate. 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 wounds, parts of his ribcage and soft lung tissue were visible. His throat was completely gone...

Syrus turned away from the grizzly scene, eyes on Haji who observed the carnage with sharp eyes for a long moment before turning his own gaze onto him. It was done. The long and fierce battle, that lasted all night...Was finally over. The screams and explosions that wished to go on forever ended.

Finally, it was over.

The Hyuga compound was completely demolished the houses and walls around them were completely devastated some ravaged to the point it couldn't even be considered a house or wall anymore, it looked like an explosive tag went off or bodies were flung through it. It wouldn't be too far off as bodies were flung through them along with intense chakra strikes. The walls were gashed and torn from blades, reduced to dust by mighty boles and straggling branches, bodies stuck to the debris, hanging over them.

Blood stained and smeared the frozen tundra and every other place possible.

The guard towers were shadows of their former selves just chunks and segments of the once powerful structures. Parts of bodies could be seen under the debris. The powerful strikes and collisions forcing them in half and then into more halves. Pitiful arms and legs littered every stepping point, bodies hung off from branches and uprooted trees, pieces of skin with hair and facial hair decorated just about every place, the bits of bone and tendons were scattered about.

"Syrus, your arm..." Shizuku noticed how his arm remained limp, even the gashes on his form didn't concern her as much as the arm did.

"I'll be fine." Syrus said, still bleeding from the cut on his face. He stepped over any bodies that got in his path, hardening his eyes as some were missing arms, legs, and heads, he had taken off a great deal of heads while he was fighting. His massive blade doing its job perfectly.

"How are things around the perimeter?" He questioned, eyes zoning towards Ryoku who sat on a fallen bole elbows resting on his knees, his broken sword lying next to him. Osen, Ayume, Kayoko, and Shinji were close by with Junko and Seiichi inspecting several bodies.

"So far so good." Rokuro replied. "There's some injuries, some are pretty bad."

"Daiki is finished." Todou supplied blandly, stepping towards Itsume who was speaking with Ikue and Nao, she spotted her coming and waved the two off to do whatever task she requested. "Any survivors?"

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

"None over here, either." Tsugi supplied, shouting from a few feet away.

"Had some stragglers, but they're done now." Nobu supplied, walking from the left flank.

"None on this end either!" Ayoko said wearily.

There was a collective silence, with the only sound being the rough, wheezing pants of everyone gathered, and the flick of blood being flung off of blades. Some fell to their knees, the exhaustion finally taking a firm hold of them as the battle was over, others fell on their backs, while others remained standing, and some plopped down resting their iron arms on their shaky knees.

Swords were bent and welted, some were chipped like bamboo wickers, and others were rusted from being drenched in so much blood. Shurikens, kunais, and any other projectile dotted the ground like grass.

Pieces of hair and skin hung on trees-the bark chipped. Particularly pitiful were the digits of fingers and toes, the ankles and hands, arms, and legs. They spotted the ground-several feet from their owners.

"Itsume and Ayako..." Syrus panted out, wincing as a jolt of pain forced him to stagger. He took a steady breath, looking at the two women. "Burn the compound down to the ground. Yamaguchi and Osen could you help them out..."

"Right." Osen nodded.

The trio nodded.

"I'll help as well." Ayume said, carefully following after them.

Her legs felt like lead weights.

Haji glanced around, eyes carefully scanning the carnage. "Casualty report."

"Three are dead..." Ikue replied softly, eyes tight as she watched the bodies vanish in a bright flash-some esoteric seals spreading over them before they vanished.

"There's roughly four thousand Hyuga dead here, and more around our surroundings. They couldn't escape out perimeter, and our companions are hauling them back as we speak with those tailing them. Ichiro, Ichigo, Shiro, and Tatsuo are all dead as well." Okita supplied.

Silence.

'"Put their bodies in the compound and burn them with it." Haji said, eyes darting to his brother, and then to Usagi.

Tsugi swiped his sword to the side, slowly sheathing it. "We took down Daiki and four division leaders, however, lots of Hyuga evaded us."

"Wasn't that the point?" Ikue asked.

"Yes, it was. If Daiki wasn't dealt with, we'd never have our harmony." Okita nodded in agreement, trading a glance with Syrus, Haji, Usagi, and Tsugi.

"We wanted to eliminate all of the adults, if possible. However, many of the adults are alive and well." Ebisu spoke up in his brusque manner.

"If the adults live it means war is inevitable." Eshi added.

"Indeed." Haji's feet crunched into the snow as he stepped towards Ichigo's body, eyes hard as he observed the corpse for a second.

Something just didn't...Feel right. Eliminating the Hyuga entirely was close to impossible and would cost far too many lives in the endeavor of doing so. However, Tomatsu should be among the dead Hyuga, along with a lot of women-because they were just as vindictive as the men. And, while some of women were dead, there were still many that evaded them.

One can't stare down a wolf, and one can't evade a wolf once it has its eyes locked and the scent deadlocked. It went a thousand times more when there was a pack of wolves.

A traitor... Haji thought silently-the hard look Tsugi was giving him, almost made him firm on this thought. Someone from his own clan warned the Hyuga-warned one of them about this attack, and that Hyuga warned everyone else. It was most likely Tomatsu that spread the word through the Hyuga, but no Subatsu would ever do such a thing. Not when their children had been threatened.

Somebody broke the code...

However, when Uhi met his gaze, shaking her head, he dispelled the thought altogether as they communicated silently

No traitor, Ji-san. No Subatsu has ever went against the code and ethics. Your kin would sooner die than go against it.

We were tailed then...?

Uhi moved her head slightly in agreement. It's why Eshi, Ebisu, Zumi, Atsur, and Rugi were so wary and why they wanted to stop and camp. The rest of us agreed, our instincts are never wrong.

Haji turned his gaze up-the sky while dark, was starting to shimmer with light from the sun. Someone had tailed them, and warned the Hyuga of this attack. Genocide wasn't the objective, nor was whole scale slaughter, but if the Hyuga had certain members and numbers-they'd remain a problem. Daiki was dead, as were four division leaders, they shouldn't have to worry about them anymore, but...

Could it be...

Haji shook the thought away for a moment. "We'll move swiftly until we clear the fork, then we'll camp out and rest. Carry those who are injured."

There was only silence, but everyone agreed. Wary, weary, and just exhausted. They just wanted to get back home.

---

Hashirama cracked one eye open and immediately regretted it. His throat felt like sandpaper was scraping against it, and the sun felt like it was going to tear into his skull and rip him a new one. He was in the same place he had been with Eiji, but his memory was completely fuzzy. He remembered indulging in the sake with Eiji, starting to gamble with the younger man, and then...

Wincing at the knot on his head, he recalled vividly how he got in this condition.

"That makes it a billion ryo for me."

"That's bullshit!" Several Uzumaki shouted in outrage.

"Shut up, you sore loser!"

"Who you calling a loser?"

Hashirama grimaced slightly, looking a bit pensive as the harmless game turned into something of life and death. Everything had been going smoothly up until this point. Everyone was laughing and having a good time, they threw down their ryo, chugged down sake and food, and they won a few thousand to million ryo. He was in the middle of it all, grinning ear to ear. He had a great time. It wasn't until the wager got to two billion ryo and over that everything erupted.

"This game is stupid and rigged!" One Uzumaki flipped over the table in a bout of heated emotion.

"You just say that because you lost." Another quipped, hands going for the ryo.

"Don't touch my money!"

"Now, just-"

"Shut up, Hashirama! I bet you used your Mokuton to get my three hundred thousand ryo!"

"Don't say anything Eiji!"

"Shut up, you big mouth!"

"I've had it!"

After that everything just fell out. Though he tried to calm down the irate Uzumaki it only served to make them even more angry. One picked up the table and started swinging it around-someone got hit right upside the head with it, and that caused the others to throw punches. Again, he had been caught in the middle. There was nothing he could do other than raise his guard. Eiji even threw caution to the wind and started throwing punches.

That did little as the table smacked Hashirama right in the head-everything faded to black. He could remember Uzumaki lunging at each other like animals, snarling about cheating and being a stupid ass.

With measured precision, Hashirama sat himself up with a loud groan. He had thought his raging headache was the product of a hangover, but it was because he had been smashed with his own gambling table. He hadn't been the first or the last to suffer the loud crack of the table, and seeing it in pieces all around him, some pieces covering Uzumaki's red heads...It was totally obliterated.

"That's the last time I gamble for a while..." He muttered, rubbing his skull with one hand. The Uzumaki had stones for knuckles and steel for shins-they were also foul tempered when they were drunk. But, in all fairness, anyone would be irate losing over a million ryo. He could recall men getting thrown out many times in the gambling halls he'd frequent in villages. None of them were Uzumaki, of course, but they were just as irate.

"You enjoy yourself?"

Hashirama sighed to himself. He was used to Mito's voice by now-the tones she'd take with him. This tone seemed to be one of disappointment. He had been a little friendly with the Uzumaki women, but they sort of goaded him. He didn't do anything that his mother would be ashamed of. "Well, yeah...Until..."

"You are unbelievable. How dare you throw yourself at women like that."

"Mito, how many times do I have to tell you to stop with this jealousy?" Honami's tone was soft, but it had a flinty undertone to it. The older woman approached the duo with Hisao and Amane at her side-they dodged passed out Uzumaki, careful to step over them.

"Mother-"

"Do you dare speak back to your mother, Mito?" Hisao's gaze was nothing short of stern.

Mito shrunk back.

"It can't be helped. It seems since meeting Hashirama she's forgotten everything that she's been raised to adhere to." Amane said, eyes narrowed.

Mito pursed her lips, brows furrowing. She couldn't say anything in objection or make a retort, if she did...She'd only be showing her disrespect to her parents. Her behavior wasn't becoming of an Uzumaki at all. She even tried to make a retort against her mother, something that she'd get disciplined for severely if she were younger.

"Will you shame us before Hashirama with your petty jealousy?" Honami questioned, more stern than Hisao.

"No. I'm sorry mother and father." Mito bowed her head.

"You shouldn't apologize if you don't mean it, Mito." Amane said-her tone was something like ice cold, as compared to the stern tone her parents took. Mito had done nothing but bring shame to them with her behavior-the way she snapped at Miyuki, Akiko, and ever herself; the way she was getting possessive with Hashirama whenever a woman let her eye roam on him. All of these things were frowned upon by the Uzumaki.

Jealousy and all those carnal emotions weren't becoming of an Uzumaki.

"You dishonor our parents with your lies, sister..."

"I am not lying, Amane." Mito's brows furrows, her tone controlled, but strained.

"Then you are being glib, that's even worse. How dare you, sister..."

The two sisters stared each other down.

Hashirama felt himself shrinking as the Uzumaki continued to talk among themselves. Mito being berated for her behavior, and rightfully so. She was nothing short of a whirlwind yesterday-first with Miyuki, then with some Uzumaki women, then there was the incident with the gambling table being used as a weapon. He never knew Mito had such a streak in her, but as he was seeing-Mito wasn't picture perfect, and that's why she was merely being groomed to take over the Uzumaki. She wasn't deemed mandatory leader.

He felt like he was to blame, partly. He never had a woman behave in such a way as Mito did towards him. They would often send him small smiles, and he'd gently bow his head or wave. This would cause the women doing it to blush or smile a bit wider-taken by his rather innocent response. Most men would dive on them, but he maintained a respectful distance. He never lead them on, or took it to that next level that would see them walking over to him.

But, Hashirama was leaning towards Mito's...Possessiveness of him, that was causing a lot of friction. From what he seen, Uzumaki women loved to tease, regardless of age, but they didn't take it a step further and try to possess the person they were teasing. They didn't get possessive with them the slightest, they just enjoyed themselves, and Mito was doing just that with him-getting possessive. It was aggressive, abrasive, and inconsiderate since he could take an Aburame as a wife in three weeks.

It could be a Sarutobi or a Domou. A Hagoromo or a Nara.

What would Mito do then?

She very well couldn't get upset over it. She'd have to accept it. She had no choice or say in the matter, and naturally he'd want her to stay out of his union with the Aburame, Sarutobi, Domou, Nara, or any other woman hailing from a clan, family, or even a civilian. If there was interference it would lead to distrust, and in turn that distrust would lead to a war. He didn't want to face off against the Aburame-their bugs were infamous for eating flesh-and there were many skeletons dotting their domain, a clear warning.

He didn't want to face off against the other clans either.

"Please forgive me. If it wasn't for my own actions Mito-san wouldn't have felt so offended..."

"With all due respect, Hashirama. You haven't overstepped any boundaries. Mito knows who us Uzumaki woman love to tease and be sly, yet she behaved in the way she did." Amane said with an air of calm

"You are here to observe. You rescued our daughter and brought her back here. You aren't here to take Mito's hand in marriage, she has no reason to be exhibiting this unbecoming behavior. She brings shame to us by doing so. She insults your bravery for seeing her safety through until the very end." Honami said softly.

"Well..." Hashirama scratched his cheek nervously.

"Jealousy is of an abrasive and aggressive nature. It is the baser and more carnal of human emotions. The person experiencing this wants to take what they feel should be theirs. What they believe is theirs. They will take, or plan to take." Amane added.

Hashirama bowed his head slightly, shutting his mouth. Mito was really shaming the Uzumaki with her behavior, that was clear. Even the women who had teased him, even Miyuki and Airi, and Akiko-none of them felt possessive over him. They didn't get jealous. They just enjoyed his presence and enjoyed teasing him to no end. Mito was taking it a step further. A step Uzumaki didn't take, ever. Uzumaki weren't aggressive or abrasive-they could be rowdy, but that's different.

Uzumaki didn't take.

"I guess some things can't be helped." Hisao sighed softly, looking at Mito with disappointment.

"I really am sorry father." Mito said sincerely.

"Mito..." Amane bit out in a fierce growl, eyes burning with fury.

"Don't press on it." Honami told Amane softly.

Hisao nodded his head, though his expression didn't change the slightest. Disappointment and resignation shined clear. He turned his focus to Hashirama. "I assume you're ready to leave, Hashirama? We have discussed very much, and Ashina questioned you critically as well, am I wrong?"

Hashirama looked at Mito, then at her parents, and lastly at Amane. The trio didn't look the least bit happy with Mito-if it were any other clan, Mito would be exiled at this very moment, but since it's the Uzumaki...They didn't believe in such things. With a careful nod, he met Hisao's gaze. "Yes, I appreciate...No...I am forever grateful for our talks as well as Ashina-dono. I'll never be able to repay you for the wisdom you've passed onto me. I know what I must do."

Hashirama kept his wince down, even as he smiled in genuine gratitude. This situation was somewhat confusing from himself, but more disturbing for Hisao, Honami, Amane, and many other Uzumaki. Mito had brought herself into a light that wasn't grand or good by Uzumaki standards. She was a little too aggressive in how she reacted to woman teasing and fawning over him-even if it was all in jest.

He felt like something happened that shouldn't have.

"There will be a boat ready for you to set sail by the evening...There will also be a map-there's a river that flows from here to the mainland. It is a secret passage that only we Uzumaki know about, but don't take it for obvious reasons. You should make it to the mainland in less than three days traveling through this passage."

Stunned, Hashirama could only bow his head in gratitude. "Hisao-dono."

"You needn't bow your head, Hashirama. Uzumaki never look down on others or feel that we are superior."

Holding back a well of tears that wanted to fall, Hashirama just nodded stiffly.

He could remember hearing similar words.

So similar...

Hashirama rubbed at his grumbling gut.

"But, until that time comes...Let's eat and be merry." Honami smiled easily enough, immediately cutting the tense atmosphere.

"I'll get the fish ready." Mito volunteered, smiling brightly.

"I'll get the tea ready." Amane added.

"No sake." Honami said-something of a stern reminder.

Several Uzumaki shot up hearing the statement about food.

Hashirama suppressed a smile-despite just fighting, they were all going to sit down and enjoy breakfast together. Enjoy the company of others. A part of him really didn't want to leave this place it was so...Bright. So peaceful.

So perfect.

Hisao and Ashina were great men, truly great.

---

Yuko stood with Ahiko-flanking Mikito, Madara, and several dozen others-looking at the assembled clans and their respective leaders. This would be the first time she'd be witnessing this. While every Domou knew there was the code and ethics. The children weren't subjected to it since they were still innocent, but once they came of age they would hear it verbally and repeat it-acknowledging that they knew what it meant to be a Domou.

Akari, Chie, Yumi, Mimori, and Saki. Respective leaders of the Kurama, Yuhi, Haruno, Nohara, and Namikaze clans stood ahead of the full bulk of their clans. No greater than eight thousand in total, them, along with every Shimura, Domou, and Uchiha over the age of seven looked on with stoic expressions. As stoic as their expressions could get.

It was hard to believe that just a year ago that an alliance had been forged between the Uchiha and Domou. That she took her leave to begin training within the Domou compound. It had been a blow to Madara's pride at that point in time when Izuna was all for it, though he had feigned indifference at first, but she didn't hold it against Izuna since he had to maneuver carefully, even around his elder brother.

Madara had become leader, Izuna had become his right hand, they both awakened the Mangekyo and took control of the Uchiha. They prohibited children from being sent off to battle. There was a lot going on, and Madara hadn't want an alliance with anyone at that point in time.

But, the Domou were the most austere and ascetic of shinobi clans with the Subatsu in the very same spot.

She knew now thanks to firsthand experience. It was a grave mistake to ever provoke either clans.

Madara broke the silence, voice echoing around them-sounding over the patter of rain on leaves. "Those of you under the age of seven; stay where you are. Everyone over the age of seven step forward!"

Akari stepped forward first, followed by Saki. It took a while, but everyone filed forward, there were so many people this time around. There were easily thousands in total-men, women, children, and elders.

"I know you are all Haruno, Nohara, Yuhi, Namikaze, and Kurama by blood, and that will never change, but this is the code and ethics of the Domou. When a Domou becomes of age they go through this same thing. As you can see there are many around you. This is what it means to bear the burden of the Domou clan and being a Domou." Mikito continued, crossing her arms over her chest as she fixed all of the shinobi gathered with a very stern expression.

"Whether you change your surnames to Domou after this, or take the Domou surname as well after this is entirely up to all of you individually. We're not going to force the issue. I, myself, nor any of my kinsmen will force you to make the decision. But, after this, in spirit, you will all be Domou. For, we all share the burden together." Souji added.

"Ranking is merely something used to organize our forces-whether you're captain of the first squad, or twentieth squad doesn't matter. That is your station. Your only superior is the code and ethics. You should respect your elders, but there isn't any squabbles over seniority or things of that nature. Any questions?" Madara stared them all down, waiting for someone to raise their hand, but when no one even moved he simply nodded and turned his focus onto Mikito giving her the floor.

"I will go over the code, so listen carefully. You will all acknowledge that you've heard this and know what it means. If any single one of you have objections to the code or can't follow it you will take your leave and won't suffer the consequences. But, should you go against anything in this code after you choose to stay here, you will be subjected to the consequences."

Mikito waited for all of them to nod.

"The first. Defection and desertion are forbidden. The second. Running away from a foe or turning your back to them is forbidden. The third. Surrendering is forbidden. The fourth. Getting involved in other's fights is forbidden. The fifth. Engaging in private fights is forbidden. The sixth. Killing children is forbidden. The seventh. Becoming hubris, power hungry, or bloodthirsty is forbidden. The eighth. Superiority is forbidden. The ninth. Slavery is forbidden. The tenth. Leaving a comrade behind is forbidden. The eleventh. Remain benevolent and train up the younger generation. The twelfth. One must control themselves inside and outside of these walls, a single action reflects on all of us, just not that one person. The thirteenth. Courage, even if the odds are against you, you will lead and die beside your comrades with conviction, honor, and dignity. The fourteenth. Valor, never once waver before a foe, human or demon, a million or one. The fifteenth. Greed is forbidden. The sixteenth. Self control. Conquering yourself is better than winning a billion battles, the victory is your's and it can't be taken away, not by angels, not by demons, not by heaven, and not by hell. The seventeenth. Death without victory, victory in name only."

"Makes a cold shiver run down my spine, hearing this..." Saki murmured to herself.

"You're not kidding." Yumi murmured, shivering the slightest. "I've heard they have a ruthless code, but hearing it spoken, and having to follow it..."

"All of you raise both of your hands!" Kosuke commanded.

While some of the people were confused, especially Akari, they all did what they were told.

"You've all heard the code, now acknowledge that you've heard it and know it." Souji said, voice booming.

"We've heard the code. We acknowledge that we've heard the code and that we know the code!"

It was recited in complete unison for the most part, like a loud roar or chant, it was spoken with vigor by everyone gathered-for this was the only chance that they had at life now. They've made their choices, have left their old compounds behind, for them there was no turning back, this was the only way they could live now. For their sake and for their children-for their descendants decades from now, did they make this decision.

"Those who go against the code will have three options. The first is seppuku. The second is to get their head cut off. The third is fight one last fight, dance one last dance-to the death. If one defects or deserts the clan they will be hunted down and brought back here to face punishment. They will have the same three options as stated above. There are no exceptions and everyone is held accountable for their own actions. Even leaders and commanders, that includes myself, Madara, Kosuke, and everyone else." Souji replied in a tone that broke no sort of argument.

"Does anyone have questions?" Izuna looked over all of the shinobi gathered, noting that some looked a bit put off and nervous about the punishment for going against the code. he was certain some of them had concerns over it, rightfully so, nobody had such a strict and austere code other than the Subatsu-all of the clans gathered weren't nearly as austere or ascetic.

There was a moment of silence before Chie spoke up. "Yes, I do."

"Come forward." Katsumi commanded.

A path was parted for her.

"What is your question?" Madara looked her up and down before relaxing his shoulders.

"Well, are these punishments the norm?" She tried to keep the fear out of her voice, but it still rung loud.

"When one breaks the code and goes against the ethics they know what they are doing, so there is no turning back after that. They've already resolved themselves to face the punishment for their actions, but we don't do this straight away. There is confinement for a certain length of time, but if someone kills children, one of the more severe parts of the code they will face one of the three punishments. Killing children and becoming hubris are inexcusable." Madara explained, his expression remaining the same.

It did nothing to comfort Chie, and her brows furrowed in a frown. "That's too extreme."

"You have to understand that before the punishments are given out-that those who broke the code already know the consequences of doing so. They are making the conscious decision to break the code, despite what will happen to them." Ahiko took the reins, offering nothing but a calm expression.

Chie nodded, furrowing her brows for a second longer before nodding again. "Very well. We are all held to a standard."

"Correct." Izuna nodded.

"What if someone forces another to go against the code?" Akari asked.

Mikito stared at the woman, eyes narrowed. "The sixteenth. Self control. It is up to you to assist them or not-there are circumstances and times that fools will use sophistry. You must not be deceived. It is up to you to hold the line. You are in control of your own actions."

"I understand." Akari nodded, falling silent. "Do we get our own clan grounds?"

"No-you will be living side by side with all of us."

Akari frowned.

"Problem?" Souji questioned stonily.

"How do you expect me and my clan to live side by side with the Shimura, Nohara, Namikaze, Haruno, Yuhi, and Uchiha?"

"You are clouded with greed, Akari. The fifteenth. Greed is forbidden. If you can't get over it; take your leave now. You will learn how, or you will take your leave now." Madara said calmly, though he wanted to bite the words out.

"Very well." Akari didn't look too happy, but she wasn't going to press the point.

"Do we have to fight?"

Souji cut his eyes at Mimori. "You don't have to fight in the wars, and unless you're thirteen you won't be participating in them. But, you have to train-it is mandatory. If any person refuses they will be dragged out to train. There are no civilians here and there is no weak link."

Mimori nodded. "Are we treated any different if we don't fight?

"No different. Everyone isn't allowed to participate in the wars because they must pass three tests, and some can't succeed passed them. Others never do the tests. Your clan specializes in healing and medicinal herbs, we're advanced in medical ninjutsu and the like. You'll find yourself at home."

"I have no more questions." Mimori said modestly.

"What about religion?" Yumi asked.

"What about it?" Souji asked, tone just a bit impatient. He didn't want to hear about that zealot creating nonsense.

"If we practice one, can we continue to here?"

"Yes, you can. We have no problem with that, but refrain from forcing yourselves." Ahiko replied.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Don't try to convert or initiate us, or anything like that. There have been times in history where there's been religious persecution, many of those who were being hunted down fled here and we took them in. We allowed them all to practice their religions. But, they end up confronting each other later on, for whatever reason-we allowed them all to practice their own, and in the end they tried to initiate and convert us as well-this too caused conflict because we wanted to no part of it. We Domou refused, and chased all of them out. Those who tried to fight were cut down."

She would never understand.

Why would they seek to confront each other, despite being able to practice their own religion...

Why would they try to convert and initiate them?

Bringing division and enmity...Religion was a product of the outside world, just like money, just like war; so it was cancerous and a disease.

"Anyone else have any questions?"

"What if we are tasked to guard a tomb or something, and we have to split apart?" Saki asked.

Silence.

"That's a good question. We wouldn't guard a tomb in the first place. The tomb would be that of a noble, and we don't care for nobles. There would need to be an agreement put on paper, and none of you would be allowed to come back, and nobody else would be allowed to join." Daishiro replied easily enough.

It went against the Domou-them as a whole now, putting being together above everything else.

Silence.

"Does anyone feel that they won't be able to follow the code and ethics?" Madara posed the question after silence went on for minutes.

"If you do speak up now, act now, and you may take your leave with no consequences, but this is your only chance to do so. Desertion and defection are forbidden. If you can't live side by side with us, and others that will be joining, take your leave Akari. Civilians continue to file in here, and that won't stop." Izuna continued.

They all waited patiently for a few minutes, retaining the still silence other than the ruffling leaves around them. The patter of rain. The gentle howl of wind. Leaving wasn't forbidden at all, and many times when a Domou found that special person they would leave or just never come back-there was nothing wrong with that. But, defection was going to another side-to another clan's side, deserting was renouncing all ties completely-both were forbidden.

Leaving wasn't though-and the three were different fundamentally.

Everyone felt a bit unnerved under Souji's, Madara''s, and Daishiro's stony expressions-there was no malice or anger in their tones, but just the way they carried themselves. It was quite imposing.

No nonsense.

"I take your silence as no, in that case." Daishiro said, nodding ever so slightly.

"Thank you for your patience. I will be accompanying all of you so you don't get lost on your way." Souji said, slowly ushering them away with Katsumi, Kosuke, and Izuna.

"Well..." Yuko trailed off once everyone was out of the clearing, closing the small gap between herself, Daishiro, Mikito, Madara, and Ahiko.

Ahiko could only nod in agreement, still reeling from the whole thing. While it was solemn, completely solemn-the whole ceremony left her stomach in knots and she rarely ever felt such a sensation. It could be the fact that they were about to be drenched to the bone and thunder was literally shaking the ground while lightning streaked in a cacophony.

"Things are..." Ahiko cracked a smile.

She couldn't find a word to describe this moment. Nohara. Yuhi. Namikaze. Haruno. Kurama. Uchiha. And soon...Terumi...

Yuko nodded slightly, trading a glance with Mikito-the older woman's eyes were pointed towards Daishiro-the man next to Daishiro. The man who just phased into sight.

"Ajo..." Mikito snarled, fists clenching.

He smirked slightly. "I come with valuable information..." His smirk faded and his eyes darkened as he looked to Daishiro once more. "Danzo has defected. It is likely he will be going to the Senju or Sarutobi. Kumogakure has also set their focus onto us."

Mikito narrowed her eyes.

Daishiro chuckled. "That little brat, it seems his emotions have gotten the better of him. He has no choice but to go to the Senju. The Sarutobi will never allow a Shimura in their midst, let alone in their compound. We always knew Kumo would take an aggressive stance."

Ajo nodded, turning his gaze to Mikito. "I hope we can move forward from our past affairs."

"We can have at it one last time." Mikito said, tone low.

"Mikito..." Madara started, but flicked his eyes onto Yuko.

This chakra...Don't tell me she's about to!

Yuko felt something slip, and all she could see was red. Ajo, the battle, Chojo, those people possessed by Jashin-cackling as their heads rolled and then exploded. The pain of a sword being run through her abdomen, the way her blood poured out without any reprieve. The pain of being mortal, of flesh and blood. The pain of never being able to see Izuna or Ahiko again.

Her eyes burned fiercely, tomoes rotating until they couldn't be seen, and then they morphed...

She could vaguely see Madara looking completely shocked before he ran towards her. His hands flashed through a series of seals before he lunged for her, palm open.

Ahiko beat him by two seconds. "Yuko wait!"

But, all she could see was red before it faded to black. "BURN AJJJJOOOOO!"