-AN-

This was a hard week and now capped off with apparently half my state is supposed to flood. Yay climate change. If my house floats away maybe I can use it as an excuse to not work anymore. Hah.

-Story Start-

Tayuya blinks, taking in the quiet Uzumaki compound while Ino and Temari touch down next to her. No visible damage, no errant chakra floating through the air which meant no combat yet. Good. Their intruders hadn't made it here yet. Walking forward and entering their home first, Tayuya leads the way while Ino and Temari follow behind her. Almost immediately they're met by a calm but curious Hinata who looked over their shoulders.

"Naruto?"

Tayuya pointed a thumb over her shoulder back towards the main island, "Off to save the city."

Hinata nods, turning and walking further into their home as Ino closes the front door behind them. "I have the rest of the family down in the basement in the bunker. Nothing short of one of Naruto's v2's will get to them." Hinata's footsteps were quiet on the clean wood floors, and Tayuya had a feeling that anyone from Kumo who somehow got this far wouldn't be making it past Hinata's deceptively delicate hands. "Kotohime is down there as well while Karin is watching the entrance." As she said this and they walked well past the sitting room and dining area, she paused at a nondescript portion of wall. With a touch of her hand the wall melted away and Karin was there, eyeing them up before nodding and stepping forward. Behind her the stairs dived down well below the home where all but Temari knew there was probably the safest place on the planet right now.

Tayuya however was already building plans in her mind, "Alright. You've got the house covered. Hinata, you should join them downstairs."

Hinata huffed as Tayuya tried to turn away, gently taking her co-wife's hand in her own and pausing the other woman's movement, "And so should you. Naruto would be rather cross if you tried to run off and go fight. I would be rather cross as well."

Karin rolls her eyes, walking past Tayuya while snagging Ino and Temari in her grip, "Hinata is right. You both get down there with the rest of the family. We'll take care of the intruders." Karin twitches, eyes turning to track something unseen that no one else but her could sense. "Speaking of, there's three. They aren't close yet, hell not even to the forest yet, but we should move."

Tayuya turned worried eyes to Karin first before turning back to Hinata, "I should go. I'm the combat type, not Karin. I'm stable, I can hold my transformation again and-"

Hinata shook her head slowly, calmly, smiling at the taller woman who let her transformation go with a sigh. "You don't have to fight this time." Hinata brought Tayuya closer to her and thus the stairs down to the basement. "You have more than combat to concern yourself with."

Ino rolls her eyes, flexing and showing off dense muscles, "Save your strength and let us deal with the small fry."

Temari nods, adjusting her fan at her back, "We'll make sure nothing happens to Karin."

Karin was grinning as they were already opening the rear doors to leave, "We've got this Ta-chan. You keep the house, we'll take out the trash." Karin watches Hinata pull Tayuya back slightly, and her grin softens into a real smile, "You're carrying the next generation of Uzumaki. We can't risk you. Besides, if someone does somehow get past us, we'll need some of our strongest here to defend our home. And I pity anyone who thinks to get through you three."

Giving it up, Tayuya let Hinata pull her away, "So much as a scratch, and I'm never letting you live it down little sister."

Karin nods, "I believe it." Turning and looking out over the rear garden, she clenches a fist, "Let's get to it, I'd rather them not get any closer to the house. They might taint the grounds." The three girls race off, leaving Tayuya and Hinata behind.

Hinata held Tayuya's hand in her own, not sure if it was the taller girl trembling in her grip or her own, "They'll be fine. They're strong."

Tayuya knew that, but she wanted to be out there all the same. "One scratch, and I'm going to Kumo and leveling that shit place a second time."

Hinata giggled and led Tayuya back towards the basement entrance. "I believe it."

Behind them and racing through the forest behind their home, Karin took the lead position as the sensor type while Ino checked over her senbon launchers and Temari fingered her fan. "It's two Jonin and one high Chunin. No offense but I think I'll take the Chunin." Karin knew she was very much a support type. But for her home? Well, she was still an Uzumaki, she always had the home field advantage.

Confident smirk on her face, Ino flipped through the trees next to Karin, "This is going to be fun, we get to cut loose." And take out some frustrations. They all had a bone to pick with Kumo for one reason or another.

Temari couldn't help but agree, "I could use the exercise."

Karin has all of a breath to dodge and stop the group before Naruto is there, two more women in his grasp. "Wha?"

The Naruto clone saluted them, "I come bearing re-inforcements! Have fun!" And then it was gone, leaving behind an irate looking Yugito and a confused Samui who was looking around at all of the greenery.

"Oh that no good asshole! If he wasn't such a good lay I would-"

Samui sighed and shook Yugito by the shoulder, "No you wouldn't. You like him too much."

"I…well. I'm still pissed off!" The two tails made of fire at her backside clued everyone in on that fact easily enough.

Chuckling and telling herself to give Naruto shit for this later, Karin retook the lead, "No offense, but we kinda have a bug problem. Wanna come help?"

Samui nodded and did her best to ignore the Jinchuriki who decided to spit literal blue fire, "That is why Naruto brought us. Lead the way."

Karin jumped away, talking as the others joined up with her in the trees. "I know Yugito doesn't need anything, but you've been disarmed. Need a weapon?"

Samui considered herself before nodding, "Anything with a blade would work. I traditionally work with a Tanto."

Karin thinks about it, before nodding and snapping her fingers. In the air before her in a puff of smoke a ocean blue scabbard appears, no more than two feet in length. She easily tosses it to the astonished Samui. "I get bored, so I make things. Consider that a gift for assisting in Uzushio's defense."

Ino felt snarky, "Or maybe a gift for boning our husband."

Squashing down the momentary blush that crossed her face, Samui sighed and threaded the new weapon into her belt at her lower back. "I um…apologize for overstepping."

Ino shrugged, "Oh, don't worry, I'm not mad. Yet. But I'm guessing that's how you got dragged into this?"

"No I…After seeing how callously the Raikage treated Yugito's death, how ready he was to throw any of us away. I decided I couldn't continue to fight for Kumo anymore. I know. It's…I ignored a lot of horrible in my time. But I thought it was for the good of my people, my home." Samui sighed, looking away from the judgement she would see in the other girls' eyes. "I'll do what I must, to atone for what my people did to yours. But I couldn't continue to fight just to appease the ego of one old man."

Yugito chimes in, blue fire trailing from glowing eyes as her tails flicked in the air in agitation, "You worked with the information you had. No one will blame you Samui. Personally I blame you lot for showing me that there could be something better. If not for you, for Naruto, I'd probably still be a good little brainwashed Kumo ninja. Ready to blow myself up for my village's glory." She pauses for a moment before pointing a finger at Ino, "And yes, the perks are pretty, life changing. Aren't they Samui?"

Samui couldn't prevent her blush this time, "No comment." She certainly didn't want to be torn apart by the Kage's wives. No. She liked being in one piece thank you very much.

Ino sighed, deciding to talk to both of them later to clear things up, "Well, it's good to have ya here now. Maybe we can talk terms."

Karin rolled her eyes and pointed at the mirthful Ino, "We'll talk about that later. Pause at the hill here, we're close." They could hear waves now, they were close to the coastline now. Dropping down to the ground as the brush cover thinned out, Karin stops them before rising over the hill. "The intruders are huddled together. Take it slow." They all edge over the hill, looking down onto a rocky beach. Three men were huddled together, one of which seemed to be laying out a plan to the others. "Yugito, Samui, know any of them?"

Samui edges forward, seeing the group of three men roughly a hundred meters away from them now. "Hmmm. Atsui, my brother. Omoi, my old teammate, and Motoi. I'd, I'd like to handle my brother. Try to talk him down."

Karin nods, "Fair enough."

Yugito has a grin on her face, knuckles cracking in one hand as her nails lengthen, "I have a bone to pick with Motoi. I'll handle him." Shining eyes raked over everyone else, "I'd suggest everyone stay away from my fight."

Ino and Temari look between her and then each other before shrugging and deciding fighting two on one would be alright. "Guess the straggler is ours." Plus, it allowed Karin to stay behind and watch the rear.

Karin nods, "Alright, we have surprise, hit them hard and fast."

Yugito was already molding chakra for a shunshin, blue fire leaking from the edges of her eyes increasing, "I'll split them up, after that we tear them apart."

-b-

Motoi stood between Omoi and Atsui, arms crossed as he considered their options. B had told them he felt chakra this way, specifically Uzumaki chakra. They didn't have a lot of time to explore, which meant they needed to either split up or coordinate an efficient search. It wasn't a large island, but they only had one shot at this before they met back up with B and the Raikage. Steadying himself, he eyed both of his current teammates.

Omoi looked thoughtful, hands on his hips as he kept his senses alert, "Odd that the Uzumaki would be all the way out here away from the main island. Maybe a secret base? An enclave away from the normal citizenry?"

Atsui shrugged, wanting to find that cur the Uzukage himself. What evils was he unleashing on his sister? "Who knows how cowards think. They probably ran and hid in order to let their people burn again and escape Raikage-sama wrath."

Motoi motioned for silence, gaining the other two's attention. "We're going to stick together, scout quick and quiet. Hit and run, don't get into any protracted fights unless you have no choice. We were given a time limit and after that we're leaving. If you aren't back, you'll be left."

Omoi nodded, "Sounds good, best get a move on then."

Atsui nodded, "Let's get fired up!" The blonde haired Atsui was all grins as he fingered the sword at his hip. This was for vengeance for his sister, maybe they would negotiate her return after this.

"YOU'LL GET FIRED UP ALRIGHT!" Something made of blue fire landed in the middle of the group, a shockwave tossing them all through the air. Omoi had all of a moment to spy what looked like a furious Yugito within that fire, before it was gone, chasing after the retreating Motoi up the rocky slope toward a cliff.

Atsui was already drawing his sword as he skipped to a standstill, turning to assist their team leader, "Was that Yugito!?"

"Eyes up Atsui!" Samui was suddenly there, driving a forward kick into her brother's side to toss him along the rocks. Tanto singing through the air, they were racing back and forth along the hill in the opposite direction from Motoi and Yugito.

Omoi grunted, divide and conquer, classic. Feeling two chakra sources behind him, he drew his sword and turned to face the two blondes. What was a Suna woman doing here? "A trick then? No. Defending the Uzumaki gathered here."

Temari was already swinging her fan around, her summon coming forth in a puff of smoke, "Kamaitachi!" Completing her swing, she frowned as Omoi was able to complete a block, her summon flipping through the air to return to her and land on her fully opened Fan. "You've got talent." Her weasel hefted its own sickle, ready to try again.

"Or you over-estimate yourself. Why are you here Suna?" Omoi looked between the two women with concern. He vaguely remembered her from the Summit, a guard for the Kazekage. Did that mean that Kage was here as well? The Suna woman was a long range type with that massive fan, but what about the Uzumaki blonde? Seals? Explosions? He had nothing to go off of with her besides the muscle definition along her arms and legs. Maybe a close range type?

Ino dashed towards him, chakra cycling through her as with a wave of a hand over her face a brown Oni mask wavered into view, "Less talking, more dying!" Jumping up and over a horizontal slash from Omoi, Ino launched a brace of senbon his way as she flipped over him. He blocked them all, but that was fine, she had more, and now his attention was split.

Temari took advantage of that, launching her summon again with more wind behind it this time. "Kamaitachi!" Omoi didn't even attempt to block this time, a short range shunshin carrying him to safety, and then, well within her reach.

"One down!" Omoi's sword coming around in a tight arc, it was blocked by the now closed war fan with a clang. He pressed the attack, lashing out again and again as Temari retreated by several steps. He only then had a minor warning as Temari smirked at him, before a dainty fist smashed into his ribs. He rolled with it, but he could feel that at least two were cracked if not outright broken. Back crashing into the ground he rolled, spitting blood and regaining his feet. Sure enough there was the Uzu woman again, mask making her face unreadable and flexing muscles in her arms, "Short range for one, long range for the other. Just what I need." What was that mask for? Did it assist her in some way? He didn't have time to figure out all these variables! "So what, you bend over for the Uzukage and he promises to give you whatever you want or something?"

Temari smirked as she watched Omoi dodge between Ino's senbon as she circled around him, this idiot sure didn't know anything did he? "If it was just that, Kumo would probably have been gone a long time ago."

Doing her best to figure out how to lead him into a trap, Ino decided simple might be for the best. In the middle of reloading one of her launches as she felt the rocky terrain slip under her feet. She let it happen, body falling off balance as she kept the grin off her face as Omoi rocketed towards her. Perfect.

"Weak. Crescent Moon Beheading!" Augmenting his strike with chakra and his sword trailing light, he was caught even more off guard when between two breaths the Uzumaki woman was before him, and then gone in a muted flash of light. Sword passing through empty space, he felt the impact of something striking the back of his neck. His world spun, body numb as he watched a grinning Weasel pass him by with a bloody sickle. Understanding that he had been completely outclassed, he let calm wash over what was left of him. He wouldn't even be able to warn the others this way. His world went dark.

Ino bounced in place, watching as Temari cuddled her summon in her hands, "Now that was a fast attack. What's the upper limit on it?"

Temari sighed, letting her summon return home, "That was it. Thanks for the set up."

"Didn't feel like dragging him along and it isn't like we need any of the Kumo ninja for anything." They both heard an explosion from the direction Yugito had gone, looking up to see her welling up a massive amount of chakra and the area looking like a sea of blue flames. "Think she'll need help?" With a stomp from Ino and a healthy amount of chakra the ground swallowed up the beheaded body and head of Omoi, dragging it into the earth with ease.

Temari was already turning back to where they had left Karin, "Yugito? Doubtful, maybe Samui?"

Locking her hands behind her head and dispelling her mask, Ino shook her head, "She asked to deal with her brother alone. Best to let her have that. Let's check in with Karin and go from there."

"Okay." Temari finished folding up her fan and replacing it at the small of her back, "Maybe I can have Naruto add some seals to my fan. Could increase the durability a bit."

"Wanna get better with close range?" Ino could understand.

"At least I wanna be able to give someone a nasty surprise or two if they get close like that again." Temari had decided a long time ago that she hadn't wanted to be helpless at close range. Even now a few stashed away kunai gave her some extra options.

Another explosion rocked the area that prompted both girls into a jog, best to make sure their friends were okay.

-b-

Panting and weaving away from a blast of blue and white fire, Motoi considered his options. Fighting against Yugito normally would have been a hard pressed fight. Fighting against her while she was in this enraged state and likely brainwashed was a completely different realm of impossible. Short sword in hand but almost entirely useless, he made another dodge to his left, watching a wall of fire trail past him and nearly cook him even at this distance. The ground was molten in its wake, but Yugito was already chasing him further, fire clinging to her body though refusing to burn her. "Yugito! I know you're in there! Fight whatever this is! Whatever that Uzukage has done to you! You're stronger than it!"

Grinning and pressing her attack, Yugito considered that from Motoi's perspective she probably did seem to be erratic. She would normally be much more in control, less violent, less wasteful of her chakra. However, Kumo had stolen her life from her and now was here to rip away the happiness she had found. No. They had totally pissed her off! And she wanted to make sure some of them burned for it. Dashing towards him and jumping into a twirl, two tails of chakra smashing into his arms that he raised to defend himself. She could smell the burning flesh from here. A sickly sweet scent. "You've gotten soft Motoi. All that time fighting against those who couldn't fight back finally catching up with you?"

"We're here to save you Yugito!" Cursing as his arms screamed in pain, Motoi tried to break through whatever was blocking the control seals on the Jinchuriki. She would be angry at being knocked out in such a way, but would also thank him when this was over. "I'm trying to bring you back home!" A small lie. She would be a nice bonus on top of their current mission. Maybe she knew where the Uzumaki were?

Chakra building along her right arm into a cat's paw, Yugito was within striking distance in a blink, swatting Motoi further up the cliff and through a boulder. Molding chakra in her chest, first one, then a second line of fire was born from her mouth, liquefying more of the island rock and reducing Motoi's avenues for escape. Seeing him begin to stand, she strode his way once more. "Home huh? I am home."

Motoi had all of a second to defend himself, a lightning wall hastily formed but blocking another blast of blue fire. On either side of him the world detonated, leaving him with the only cone of undamaged earth behind him. "Yugito! You've been corrupted, I'm here for you!"

Yugito jumped high, a short string of hand-seals before her tails lashed out repeatedly, several fireballs splashing into the ground all around her target. Motoi was quick to run away, but he was edging closer to the cliff's edge. Maybe it was time to play along? Give him some hope? Landing and walking through the flames, Yugito put on a distressed face, "You, what?"

Mentally Motoi grinned, finally, some good news. "Home, remember? Kumogakure. With your team, your real team? And B, he's here too, he'll be happy to see ya." Looking back, he didn't have anywhere else to retreat to. The fall wouldn't kill him, but those rocks under the waves would surely do him in if he was injured beforehand. "Yugito, it's me. Com'on, you know me." Keep calm, no sudden moves. Like trying to calm down a mountain lion.

Pausing within arms reach of him, Yugito put a hand to her head, her flames dimming a bit while she did her best to ignore the Matatabi cackling in her head. "Mo-Motoi?"

"Yeah, it's me. Com'on, calm down, tell me what happened. We can fix this." If only they didn't have such a time constraint. They needed to get a move on!

Yugito's hand flashed forward, snatching Motoi by the neck and hoisting him in the air. "Oh, you want to know what happened?" Yugito offered him a murderous grin, her fire coming back to full strength. She noted that the man began to sweat profusely from the heat. "What happened was the Raikage sent me on a mission to die. Expected me to sacrifice myself for a village that committed genocide." More fire began to encircle them, but Yugito barely paid attention, slit eyes locked onto one of her tormentors. "What happened was I spent a lifetime training in all manner of horrible or demeaning ways. You were part of that. Remember? How was it, 'training' a drugged up Jinchuriki? Did you like it? Enjoy it?"

"I-I was following orders. I was only following orders, just like you."

"Following orders. Like that absolves you of your sins." Nails dug into his soft next, drawing blood. "I woke up. Found a new life here and I have pledged to right my wrongs of the past. For once I have found real happiness. A reason to live beyond fighting and killing. But you? I don't have anything left for you." Her free hand knocked the short sword from his left hand, aborting his desperate attempt to free himself. More sweat was beginning to fall now, and more. His breath was starting to sound ragged, dry. "Any last words, Motoi?"

"Heh, so. You really did it. Ran away to whore yourself out to the Uzukage so he would free you? Just like the alley cat you really are. Just some animal."

Yugito shrugged, tossing the man onto the rocks before backing away slowly, "I've decided this is going to be the last time I fight. I'm not made for this anymore. No. Probably never was. Burn in hell Motoi. I hope peace is a long way from you." Chakra bursting free and taking the form of the Matatabi, a dense ball of fire built within her chest. She watched as Motoi was rising in some attempt to either flee or fight, but he wasn't given the chance. Fire engulfed him, his screams lost to the roar of her fire.

The sustained attack was a full minute, and when complete Yugito powered back down into her normal self, a tired sigh leaving her mouth as she took in the glowing and molten rock before her. "Guess that's that." Part of her had wanted to drag it out more. To make one of her abusers suffer for the lifetime of pain they put her through. But it wouldn't change anything, and only weight her heart down more. Ino and Tayuya had convinced her. This was a new life, which meant a new start.

'You're free kitten. Truly free.'

"Have been for a while now haven't I?" With a thought she dispelled the various smaller fires around herself. Matatabi's fire really was something special.

'You know what I mean. It's time to let go of those ghosts. Kumo isn't an entity for you to worry about anymore. You know your love will handle them.'

"Love? I…no I don't-"

'Don't be dense kitten. You can only play pretend for so long.'

Another sigh leaving her, Yugito gave it up. Damned Uzumaki. She blamed Tayuya. With a satisfied Biju deciding it was time for a nap, Yugito was of the same mind. Turning away from the glowing red surface of the rock before her and jogging back towards where she could feel the others. Maybe Lord Naruto could employ Samui as a secretary as well. Yugito was sure her friend was done with fighting now. They both deserved a new life, a new start.

-b-

Samui's face was carefully neutral, slipping through Atsui's strikes with millimeters to spare as she pressed her attacks, her new tanto diverting strikes or lashing out with precision. She could see the frustration on her brother's face, but she needed him to understand. "Stop fighting me. I want to talk to you."

"Talk? Talk! I thought you were dead! And when I see you again it's at the point of a blade!" Atsui's sword trailed fire, a vertical strike that Samui slid away from but caught several trees in its wake. They burst into flames easily, but Samui was already there, shorter blade snipping away several locks of hair, "I thought you were gone, or best case brainwashed or tortured! But here you are, in one piece and working with the Uzumaki? Why!?"

Cringing a bit internally at the pain she could hear in Atsui's voice, Samui understood. He had thought her lost, but now here she was and now his enemy. Such a situation would break most people. "If you would stop we could talk. I could explain. There is so much we've ignored, allowed to go on. We don't have to do this."

"You, you're right, we don't!" Atsui dashed backwards, out of range of her attacks as he began to chain seals together and well up chakra, "Because I'm still a loyal Kumo shinobi! I don't know what they did to you, but you need to snap out of it! You know what our mandate is for someone like you Samui!" Brainwashed or not, he was to kill her. That was his duty.

Samui knew it as well, seeing the resolve entering his eyes. "Don't. You've never beaten me before. And you won't today."

Fire encircling his sword, Atsui went back on his attack, range increased due to his technique, "You're being fooled by the Uzumaki and Uzushio. They can't be trusted! That's why we're here, because they stole from us."

"Those are people you're referring to as property." Samui leaned back, watching his blade trail over her chest and loosing fire. Coming up she dove into his range, tanto drawing blood along his ribs, "Living breathing people Atsui. How long are you going to claim ignorance to the atrocities of Kumo?" They exchanged blows back and forth, Samui beginning to sweat as the heat seemed to increase as their fight went on. "Think about it! If Uzushio was so duplicitous, how could the rest of the world not see through them? Are you saying Konoha, Suna, Kiri, Spring, and the host of other smaller nations are all being taken in by them?"

"Yes!" A horizontal strike split a dozen trees in a cone of destruction before him, but Atsui was already turning to address Samui who had jumped over him. He received a foot to the face for his trouble, but she didn't press her advantage. "Kumo knows the truth! Has seen it! The Uzumaki are bottom feeders who will bring ruin to everything and we can't let that happen! You used to be like me, like us!"

Samui sighs, chakra finally beginning to build within her body. This had gone far enough, "Once, yes. Until I opened my eyes. The Raikage just wants power and prestige, a Kumo at the top of the world. Not cool at all."

Atsui can see a thin layer of frost beginning to build on Samui's blade, he couldn't let her get started, "Traitor." A single word, but it froze both of them in place, Atsui's fire going out as he stared at his sister. Neither moved, though Atsui was emboldened as Samui couldn't hold eye contact with him. "Lay down your weapon Samui. We'll go back to Kumo, you'll stand trail and maybe you can get away with heavy labor for a few years. But, this is done. Don't make me kill you."

Something in her heart broke. Was there really no convincing her brother that something better was out here? That Kumo wasn't as great as they had once believed? "Atsui-"

"No! Stop. Just. Put down your weapon. Don't do this!"

Well. Yugito had been correct. Sometimes cutting all ties was for the best. Exhaling a thin stream of mist, the air around them began to rapidly cool, "You've never beaten me Atsui. Not once. Need I remind you?"

Fire bursting back into life along his weapon, Atsui took a new stance as he angled his sword, "I've never gone all out against you either, sister."

"Hmm." Flipping the tanto in her hand into a reverse grip and taking a new stance of her own, Samui locked firm eyes on her brother, "So you say. But neither have I." With a shout they both came together, fire slashing out to her side from a deflected strike and scorching the ground, while a line of ice was left in their wake as they dashed to and fro across the forest floor.

"So what, you spread your legs for the Uzukage and suddenly you have a new outlook on life? Or maybe you think you're somehow better than us? Better than Kumo? You don't get to run away like that!" He misses his next strike, white hot fire digging a trench in the ground before being snuffed out. He's forced to retreat from her tanto now trailing ice crystals.

Samui grunts, hating the assumption everyone made about her, even her brother apparently. "This body doesn't define who I am."

"Sure seems like it."

"My eyes are open. Kumo has committed countless atrocities. Why can't you see that?"

"And why can't you see that it was all for our benefit, for the betterment of everyone in Kumo! Even you!" Dodging away from a strike, Atsui watched a tree get flash frozen in an instant, he'd best keep his range. "So you can debase yourself all you like! Submit yourself to your new master. Kumo's sins are still on your hands and no amount of atonement will wash them clean."

Shame. Regret. A host of emotions Samui couldn't put to words right now, but she would later. When she had a quiet moment with Yugito. Or maybe by herself. "There's always a chance to make things right Atsui. To make things better."

"So what, should I be like you?" His sword came down upon Samui's hasty guard, and he hammered down on her repeatedly, "Should I bend over for the Uzukage as well? Pledge to do whatever he wishes, whenever? Uzushio isn't some sparkling clean nation either, a ocean of blood lays at their feet as well." Rising again to strike once more, Atsui can feel his rage boil over, "You can't just wash your hands of it all and enjoy a new life! You commited to this, to our duty as killers!" His weapon came down, and met a wall of ice. His strike melted a trench through it, only for his weapon to be trapped within. "Yeah, run away! Apparently that's what you're good for!"

Samui nodded behind the wall, watching Atsui's weapon behind to sizzle and water to trickle away in rivelets down her barrier. "I can't change your mind then. You'd die for Kumo as opposed to coming with me?"

"I'm no traitor, and Kumo will win this conflict." Atsui's eyes hardened as he began to pour more chakra into his weapon. "I've made my choice."

That was something Samui was going to have to accept, even if she didn't want to. "Understood." It took little effort to mold chakra along her right hand, thrusting it forward and changing the barrier in an instant.

Atsui grunts as something pierces him. Looking down, it isn't her sword, but her free hand, encased in a spike of ice. "Wuh?" Coughing, blood dripped down his chin as his concentration slipped, his fire going out and his hand falling away from his weapon. He noted Samui's wall of ice melting away, water soaking the ground around them.

"I can't change you, I see that now. Nor can I make you see how wrong you are. You're a Kumo shinobi and I won't take that from you." Samui watched as ice began to creep from his chest, growing over his body as she pulled her hand free. Reaching down and taking his weapon into her hand, she continued "You can call me whatever you like. Judge me however you wish. I've decided to make a change for myself. Not for Kumo. Not for their glory. Not for you. I'm putting myself first." Looking down on Atsui as he fell to his knees, Samui stood over him before dispelling the chakra laden ice on her weapon and stowing it away. "I'm sorry. I wish it could have been different."

"So…so do I…sister. I'm sorry. You're not a whore. I-I know that."

Samui nodded, turning away to hide her tears from him, "I think, you would have liked it here in Uzushio. The men of the Chinoike clan, I think you'd get along with them, all hot blooded and eager, just like you." She could hear the ice creeping over his body, and his breath now coming in shorter gasps. "Plus, there are many single women here. Some are pretty cute."

Atsui chuckled, no longer able to feel anything beyond the all encompassing cold, "Heh…would have liked to see em."

Samui's grip on his weapon was tight, enough for her nails to dig into her palm and draw blood. "I think. If Naruto would have met you, he really might have been able to change your mind. Show you that the Uzumaki aren't the monsters the Raikage made them out to be."

"Un, maybe so. Is he that…great?" Atsui watched his sister's shoulders shake and sighed. He did that. What a terrible brother.

"He's…kind. Foolish. Strong. Dedicated to his people and to what is right. He would spit in the eyes of the Kami if he deemed them in the wrong."

"In a word…Cool."

"Yes, cool."

Atsui wanted to chuckle, but no longer had the strength. "I think….it would have been fun to meet him. Even once." It was so hard to breath now.

Samui had noticed as well

and decided she needed to go. "Rest well, little brother."

"Live well, big sister."

Walking away, Samui didn't need to turn back to see Atsui take his last breath. Nor did she need to see the technique finish its task, ice shattering into shards to leave her brother's broken body on the ground. He would return to the earth here, and she would come back one day to properly place a grave marker.

For now she needed to return to the others. Samui cleaned her tears and slipped his sword into her belt just behind her tanto. Yes, she needed to find Yugito and the others. She wanted to make sure her friends were okay.

-b-

Evening began to descend on Uzushio and all in all, Naruto decided today was a job well done. No portion of Uzushio proper received any damage, all of their citizens were accounted for. No loss of life on their side of things and hell, not even a building damaged. So as he lowered himself into the massive baths of his home and let Temari snuggle into his side, Naruto accepted a bottle of something from Sasuke who relaxed next to him.

"Here's to a job well done."

"More like here's to curb stomping the Raikage." Naruto and Sasuke shared their toast, before relaxing back to watch the rest of their families. Sasuke was doing his best to ignore Sakura and Amaru chatting away animatedly with a conspiratorial looking Kotohime and Hinata. Those two were a bad influence.

Naruto nodded along, arm snuggled warmly around Temari as she relaxed fully, "You're not getting any sleep for a long, long time."

"Says you, you're even worse."

"I have personal dimensions to retreat to." Naruto grinned wide as he could feel the irritation wave off of Sasuke.

Sasuke gave him the stink eye, "Share."

"Build your own."

"Dunce."

"Prick."

Temari pinched the blonde, happy at the yelp he let out, "Enough of that. I'm tired, and you're keeping me up."

Grunting and looking back as Ino and Karin seemed to be sharing notes with Tayuya and Honoka, Sasuke asked the burning question of the evening. "So, what now?"

"Now? Huh. I wonder." Naruto wanted to take a break. Relax for a while, not have to worry about fighting other Kage or super powered ninja. Maybe finally get around to that road trip with Jiraiya. See the world a bit. "Now nothing. I need to talk to Gyuki, and Kokuo. But there's no rush anymore."

"Some time off does sound nice. Required really. We've been going crazy for the last few weeks." Sasuke was almost looking forward to a plain old normal mission. Hell. Maybe he'd go and visit Konoha and take a mission to hunt down Tora.

Just so he could see if that damned cat could survive an Amaterasu.

Temari hummed, "Well I agree to a well earned rest and break. No missions. No leaving the city."

Ino was already holding up a hand, "I second that! No craziness for a year I say!"

Temari was grinning as she looked up at Naruto through her bangs, "No running off mister. I want a date."

"And you'll get it, honest." Naruto squeezed Temari once, before Ino was pointing at him again, uh oh. What did he do now? He did not like the look on her face.

"And you! Are Yugito and Samui part of this family now or not?" All eyes turned to him, and Naruto could feel all restful thoughts leaving him instantly. He gave up. All signs pointed that this really wasn't his choice to make, again.

"Do whatever you want! I'm sturdy."

Ino cheered and turned to Tayuya, "So, about that plan…" That all four of the girls devolved into whispers, a tired looking Karin leaning into the more muscled Ino. Naruto gave Sasuke the finger as the other boy started chuckling at him.

"Not a word."

"Bet your pocket dimension won't save you now."

"Every Princess, Daimyo, female bandit leader, or lost soul we find, I'm tossing your way. Believe it."

"I'm man enough to admit I just don't have your charm. It's okay." Sasuke shivered as Sakura and Amaru both looked his way quietly before turning back to Kotohime and Hinata. "Control your women Naruto."

"I hope they tie you to a bed for a week straight."

"At this rate, they'll convince your sister to join. And that has me worried." Naruko was, something, for sure.

That brought Naruto up short, thinking it over before taking a long sip of his saki, "Touch her, and I'll kick your ass."

"Oh hoh, brotherly protection is a real thing isn't it?"

"Nevermind, I'll have Ino flay your mind."

"Oh now there is a real threat." Both boys shared another drink, before relaxing back into the warm stone.

After a short while of just enjoying the idle chatter, Naruto took in Karin and Honoka floating his way. "Hey girls."

Honoka was all smiles as Karin came and joined Temari, "A heads up, Fuwafuwa should be fully repaired in a few days."

"Such a lame name. It's a laser spitting dragon! It's needs something menacing and cool."

Several womens' voices all rose up at once, drowning him out, "It's cute and you won't change it!"

Chuckling and vowing to beg Isaribi to change it for him, Naruto turns to the other half of the basement duo. He didn't like the look in her eyes. "What's up Karin?"

"Well. Even though you want to take a break from all the craziness. What about Kaguya?" That draws some attention, everyone more than a little curious about Naruto's plan for the goddess. Or former at least.

"Kaguya huh?" Naruto shrugged and laid out his plan for the Goddess, "Well, like I said. Gotta deal with the five and eight tails. Plus, I'll have to make a trip to Ame in order to talk to Pain and see about the four tails. Plus, gotta get to Mei and convince her to let me borrow Utataka about the six tails." Not that he had to guess what sort of convincing that woman would request.

"Hmmm, sounds like a few months worth of work then." Karin rolled a hand in the air while Naruto gave her a confused look.

"Eh, couple weeks tops." Naruto's attention was pulled in as Honoka loomed over him. "Uh."

"She said it sounds like a few months worth of work." Long red hair draped over Naruto as Honoka's eyes began to glow. "Which means lots of time to relax. Focus on the not so little things." She edged closer, "Yes darling. So much focus." She let out a squeak as Ino picked her up and put her over her head. "I'm a delicate flower!"

Ino chuckled, "According to Karin, not so delicate." Honoka's thrashing ended up unbalancing them both, ending up with them disappearing under the water in a splash.

Karin did reach over to poke at Naruto's chest, "So, you taking the hint?"

Sighing and nodding, Naruto gave in, "A few months it is. I'll slow it down." He rolls his eyes as the girls cheer. He turned back to Sasuke, "So, what was that about Sakura having a Sharingan. Does your dong hand out Sharingan now?"

"Ignoring your idiocy, it wasn't like I needed all of the Sharingan harvested by Danzo. Nor did I need both from Itachi. Plus Sakura is an Uchiha."

"And, how does she have non-red Sharingan?"

"Never underestimate the will of a world class medic with a vanity streak."

Naruto blinked at that, before his eyes turned back to Amaru who was laughing at something Kotohime had said. "Uh…" Uzumaki blood and a Sharingan…hmmm.

"I doubt Amaru wants the same treatment. Sakura was just over our quote and quote hack powers."

"They are hacks and I'm going to break them!" Sakura yelled over to them while shaking a fist at Naruto and Sasuke both.

Huffing, Sasuke turned bored eyes to Naruto, "We broke her."

Naruto shrugged, "I take no responsibility for your wife and her mental state. My wives are all normal." They both turned as Ino was carried into the air by chakra chains formed by a cackling Honoka. "Normal for Uzumaki."

"That isn't a point in your favor."

Temari snuggled deeper into Naruto's side, a content smile on her face, "I wonder if our kids will have your cute whisker marks."

Shrugging Naruto relaxed and waved a hand in the air, "The future is full of possibilities." And hopefully with some work it would remain a bright one.

Ino was giggling as she struggled free, "Naruto, would you put a baby in this one already and calm her down?"

Honoka was already bounding his way, "I second that idea!" She ignored Ino dropping back down into the water as she dispelled her chains. Yup, life was normal again for the Uzumaki clan.

-AN-

Kumo is done and gone, and with them, as have one more thread to deal with. I took a little liberty with Samui's abilities. I liked the idea of Atsui already having fire base techniques, but Samui being the calm one should have ice. I could have used water I suppose, but it didn't have the same hit in my mind. Fire and Ice, always fun.

-OMAKE-

Naruto had made one promise that he had set out to fulfill the moment the seal appeared on his wrist confirming that Shochiro's mission was complete. And thus, here he was, in the forest behind the rear of his home, staring at a Memorial. It was simple enough, a three meter by three meter blue cube made of a material stuck somewhere between metal and stone, sat on a small mound of earth and surrounded by a small moat. Small enough Naruto could step over it, but he would bet no one ever would. Not unless to carve a new name onto its surface. Which for now, only held one. A sniffle, and Naruto placed a hand on the shoulder of his surprising guest today. Little Souta had joined him, and was doing his best to hold back tears. Failing at it, but the kid was trying. Naruto watched butterflies flit about the flower filled mound, one of which with bright red wings landing on the memorial itself.

"As the family grows and our members grow old and pass, we'll add their names from here. Radiating out from Shochiro's in a great spiral. It will be a lasting testament to his sacrifice that truly gave us this fresh start in a new age."

Souta nodded at Naruto's words, clearing his tears and sniffing hard, "Do you…can I become strong one day? Like Shochiro?" Shochiro had always been kind to him. Telling him stories of teaching him fun stuff.

Reaching up and ruffling the kid's hair, Naruto nodded firmly once, "No sweat. You can be whatever you want in the future. If ya wanna be strong? You'll get strong with hard work and dedication."

Shuffling his feet, Souta turned to look down in the water, it was clear, nothing swam in it just yet. "I know…I know I'm a brat. And spoiled. But I wanna be better! Super kind and full of great stories of adventure like Shochiro! Super strong and the greatest ever like you." More tears falling, Souta's shoulder shook, "I wanna be just like the both of you. Able to protect everyone else."

Returning his hand to Souta's shoulder, Naruto turns him to face him and takes a knee in front of the kid. "Heh, as strong as me? No way." Seeing the crestfallen look on Souta's face, Naruto lightly tapped the boy in the chest, "Aim higher. You're going to surpass Shochiro. Be bigger and greater than even I am. That's your goal. But, first." Naruto stood again, unsealing a book and thumping it into Souta's arms. "Hit the books."

Confusion flooding his mind, Souta took the weathered book with their family crest on its cover. "Lord Naruto?"

Naruto pointed down at the boy, all confidence and self assurance, "The first thing you need to do is learn. To summarize something a wise old man taught me once. If you lack knowledge, read and learn. If you lack strength, train and become hardy. You lack both. So, ya got a long road ahead of ya. And this is where you start." Placing both hands on his hips as some understanding seemed to enter Souta's mind, Naruto nodded again, "Talk to everyone in the family. Practice your chakra control. Train when you can. Learn and grow first as much as you can. And when you can stand before me with the power of our family? Then I will teach you some truly impressive stuff."

Souta looked back up to Naruto, eyebrows high, "The power of our family?"

"Well, it takes many forms but…" Naruto held up a hand, a thin all white chain rising from his palm to dance in the air, before slithering back from whence it came. "You'll figure it out. I believe in you."

Souta looked back down at the book in his hand. A finger trailing over the author's name. Uzumaki K. "Which one of us wrote this?"

"Heh." Naruto rubbed his nose before turning away to stare at Shochiro's name some more, "Tell ya what. Make your own Uzumaki Mask, and I'll tell you. Not a day before."

"I…Okay! Lord Naruto, I'll make you proud! That's a promise. A promise of a lifetime!"

Turning and holding out a fist, Naruto grinned, "Be careful. You can't go back on that kind of promise."

Souta looked at the large hand held out before him. There were scars there. So many. But they were old, nearly completely healed. The hand of a warrior. He bumped his own much smaller hand against it. "I'll make it happen. Believe it!"