Chapter 2: Finding hope in the dark

'They look young'

Winter Schnee said as she walked along with her staff within the recruitment center, already her battlelines were stretched thin by the nearly endless tides of traitors that slammed themselves upon her city's walls, yet still Vierra endured.

Dust communications were sporadic and patchy, yet the information she was given painted a grim picture, for no less than ten of the great cities had already fallen to the tide.

Yet they could only receive these messages in futility, for their means of communicating with the outside were being hampered by the enemy war machine, massive towers of brass and bone erected outside Vierra's firing range that acted as massive jammers. The enemy was letting them suffer a most cruel fate, allowed to hear the plea's of those whom have fallen yet not being able to call for it's own.

'It is regrettable my lady. Yet we are short of manpower right now, these are the few we could requisition from the survivors'

Lines of boys, some as young as ten stood at attention as they were instructed in the arts of warfare, firing drills with boys whom could barely hold up their rifles echoed across the place as the sounds of volleys echoed across the ranges.

Winter looked as she spotted a young boy, no older then perhaps twelve, yet his shoots were remarkably accurate for a boy of his age, he unloaded the dust rifle with a skilled hand as he checked the barrel and such for any damage.

'Boy!... you there!' Winter said, the child stood at attention, his dirtied face showing Winter that he had arrived with those survivors from the outlying townships, his clothing had seen better days and the youth looked like he had not slept in days, yet he still stood saluting her.

'What is your name boy?' Winter asked.

The youth was confused for a moment, as he looked at Winter with a look of confusion at first, yet Winter gave a quick slap on his hip, straightening the youth once more.

'I'm sorry maam... what is it you asked?' the child said, his voice genuine.

'Your name... what is you name?' Winter replied, her tone now curious about this child.

'Marcus maam'

'No last name Markus?' Winter asked, her tone a little curious as she could feel a warrior's spirit shining through.

'Kruber maam... from Uberzrik' the child, named Markus, said.

'I once knew of a Kruber... Lothan was his name' Winter said, as that surname struck a familiarity with her.

'You... you knew my old man?' Markus asked, his voice now curious.

'He was a damn fine soldier... served the first expeditionary crews during the crusade... Was a damn shame when he fell on Ullanor... my condolences' Winter replied, her tone genuine.

'I never knew him... but me mum always used to tell us stories... I miss her'

'As do we all Markus' Winter said, as she started to walk away from the child, before she left she turned her head back towards him.

'Make sure you survive little Markus... I can see you having a bright future ahead, so long as you survive'

'By my honour and that of my family... I will not let you down maam' Markus said, giving a final salute as Winter left the training range, beginning her climb towards the command post.

The sounds of one of her generals echoed across the chamber as she entered her command center, his voice was laden with frustration.

'We cannot hold this indefinitely... we need to send out a message to anyone whom can help us'

'And how do you supposed we do that general?' one of the other seniors said, their tone sharp. 'In case you remember, we cannot send any signal because of the jammers. And even if we did, what chance do we have that anyone is still out there to help us?!'

'They have already sent no more than five waves against this city... yet we do not know how many more waves will hit us or what kind of reinforcements they have just outside the city limits... we are fighting a battle that we cannot just win on our own... this city will be our tomb' the general said, his voice crackling as he gave the admission others were not willing to stomach.

'And how would you suppose we do that?' The other general said, their tone rising in frustration 'Last I checked there is no means to send out messages in this city'

'There... there is one method'

'No... that is just plain suicide... we haven't even used that system in our history... besides that is just a remnant from Elementia... an antiquated system that has no purpose here'

'A messenger bird just might be the solution we need right now. Even the enemy would not suspect it'

'And what if they do?... then we will just announce to the enemy that we are running on fumes! It is not worth the risk!'

Winter watched as the general slammed his hand upon the table, a look of frustration and sadness upon his face as his plan was being labelled as foolish.

'We have to do something... the men and women... their eyes, I have seen them... they don't have much to give anymore, they look cold, dead to what is happening around them... it's as though they know'

Winter walked into the room, the silence from her command was deafening, yet she walked towards the general, she placed her hand upon the man as he looked up to her figure.

'Governor...Commander...Please... I need to at least try... please, give us hope'

Winter closed her eyes, as she drew a great sigh, her mind calculating the risk of inaction versus doing such a thing.

The room was quiet, yet a minute would pass when Winter would open her eyes once again, her mind set upon what will be done.

'Then pray... pray that your task gives us hope... Go, and may humanity smile upon us this day'

'Thank you my lady... thank you'

The general moved with a swiftness as the other officer cursed under her tone, she walked towards Winter as she looked upon her.

'I hope you know what you are doing... for all our sakes' she replied.

'I hope so too' Winter replied, her tone sombre 'Yet to do nothing in the face of death is to merely invite it upon us... for now, we rely on hope, yet arm ourselves in steel and dustpowder'

The general made his way upon the upper spire of Vierra, from here the skies could be seen in all it's splendour, yet the floating armada of enemy ships above did not paint such a glorious scene.

'Bird Master! Give me your finest messenger bird!' The general shouted within the dovecote, as a fairly average man walked out from his resting area, he gave a distinct whistle as a magnificent raptor eagle landed upon his hand.

'Here is my finest... what message will they carry?' The master said, his tone curious.

The general pulled out a simple piece of parchment, the scroll itself was small yet was able to be fitted upon the carry pouch upon the avian, he looked upon the master with a look of conviction.

'They carry a message of hope. To any who are friend whom can help us, he must find the symbol of our nation, any whom could give us aid in these dark times'

The master gave a nod as the bird stretched it's wings, it's eyes looking upon the both of them with a curious sight, he walked near the window, where the breeze of blood and death stung upon their noses.

'Bring hope little one' the master whispered into the birds ear 'Bring hope for us all... now fly'

The eagle soared upon the sky, it's form gaining altitude as it dissipated upon the horizon, even as the sounds of gunfire and such started to rumble anew within the city.

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The sounds of heavy footsteps echoed across chambers and corridors, a pale green light hung as their steps were nearly frantic.

Naruto guided his squad across the many levels of the tomb complex, with each corner and room becoming a short but vicious series of firefights with elements of those within whom had awoken from their intrusion, behind their crew in the distance was the sounds of metalling footsteps, their slow advance warning them that the way backwards was riffled with the ever encroaching enemy.

'We have to keep moving!' Naruto bellowed, as the sounds of elementians, those not of astartes gasped with heavy breath across the narrow pathways and claustrophobic sites.

'Contact!' an astartes shouted, as a deadly volley of gauss peppered the exit from the next chamber, fearlessly the astartes rushed into the room, their auto sensors highlighting firing arcs and position calculations, all the while they rushed into whatever cover they could as they returned the volleys of the enemy with their own sounds of bolter fire.

Power armour provided some means of protection from the first shot that struck an astartes, yet provided no protection to any subsequent attacks, with this in mind the shinobi used a combination of body flickers and substitutions to counter heavy attack vectors, with many necrons being victims of their own weaponry.

Yet the tide of metallic beings continued in intensity, while they continued with haste further into the underground tomb.

'How much longer must we go lord Naruto' his senior tech magos asked, as the onset of fatigue had settled among the party.

'We still have seven more levels we need to traverse, that will take us to one of the control nodes of the tomb, from there we can power the weapon'

More metallic warriors stumbled into the room, these ones were of a more rugged and sturdier design from the others they have encountered, yet with them they brought more exotic weaponry.

Arcs of untamed lightning echoed across the air, filling the room with a profound smell of burning ozone, these arcs cracked and twisted across the room, where those whom were not fast enough screamed in pain as electrical energy shorted nerves and muscles within their bodies, making them collapse onto the ground as their faces looked on in panic while their voices screamed from the pain.

'What the heck was that?!' one astartes shouted as the rest took cover from the barrage of living lightning.

'Tesla' Naruto shouted 'pure lightning, it seems they have brought their more elite fighters into the fray'

'Help him... please' said one of the elementians to an apothecary, one of his hands started glowing green, pulsing across the body of the screaming person, as the energy flowed within their body, the pain starting to subside, yet the shock forced the elementian to fall into unconsciousness.

The wounded were treated with haste while others joined Naruto in eliminating these new threats, onwards this continued as the group continued to descend lower into the tomb.

Eventually, the tide of metallic metal staggered in their pursuit, as their environment started to change once more, where the mono green lights of the upper chambers denoted this place as almost dead, these floors were vibrant in colours and design, intricate carvings and murals dotted the walls and ceiling, showing images or carvings of moments in time.

Naruto stopped before a single mural, his eyes looking upon it in a mild glaze as memories echoed across his mind, he could feel the moments etched in time, as the screams of those whom had no choice echoed within this memory.

He was pulled out from one of his own astartes.

'What is this mural?' asked an elementian, his curiosity now peaked as he had an almost mesmerizing look at the details.

The mural itself was a sea of countless humanoids, each one with chains binding their arms and legs as they stretched across the surface, within the center was a gateway structure that contained an almost unnatural flame around it's frame, while on the other side more humanoid figures continued their march, yet the chains were nowhere to be found, while above the sea of humanoids were figures carved to be beyond comprehension, as they looked on with eagerness and a hunger within their eyes.

'Bio transference' Naruto said, his voice soft as he ran his hand across it's surface. 'This was what forever changed the Necrontyr... and condemned them'

'This is history that is ancient... far older than even our entire species... fascinating' replied a senior mechanicum.

'There was nothing fascinating about this' Naruto said 'They did not know what they had been forced into, most within the necrontyr would never even know of what they had lost. And they never will'

'Naruto?' one of his astartes asked, his tone curious.

'They never had a choice. Had they known it would cost them their own souls, the very essence that made them individuals... I know they would of hesitated to take the deal'

a soft hum echoed across the room, putting the group in a high alert, as a static crackling echoed across the chambers, eventually the sound normalized as a synthetic voice echoed across the chamber.

'Greetings intruders... It is rather interesting how far into this sanctum you have progressed... yet I find the wasteful use of our resources to grate my internal systems'

'Looks like the ringleader is actually taking action against us' Naruto said, as the rest looked around the chamber with varying looks.

'I will instead make this very simple. You see... I am a collector of sorts, across many worlds and many lifetimes I have gathered all manner of artefacts and species... as a sort of preservation effort... indeed you lot would have been seen as just another pest to destroy... yet my sensors realise that you are not like those fleshlings that I have already added to my collection from these barbaric engagements that have been happening recently'

'What?' A mechanicum person said, their voice surprised 'This creature... has been abducting loyal citizens of the Imperium? That is Impossible'

'DO you mind not talking over me!... such arrogance'

This brought a silence among the group, realising that this being indeed could hear their talking through alien methods.

'Now... isn't that much better... As I was saying...ohh dear... I seemed to have lost my train of thought'

Footsteps echoed across the chamber, as a wave of metal marched in formation towards the resting party, many within had looks of panic while the astartes and Naruto merely looked on in grim resolve as the tide marched into the room, lines of soldiers aimed their weapons towards the group yet stood still as the static voice continued to echo voices of shuffling, while the sound changed once more to the figure.

'Ahh... there we go... Ohh, it seems my warriors have finally reached your location... I would advise not attacking them... they have been given my command to shoot if you prove to be... hostile'

Naruto stepped forward, his voice projecting towards the room

'What do you want Necron?'

'My... I would have never thought someone within your party would know of our name... But then again I would have been disappointed if you did not remember us... old one'

'The old ones are gone... My name is Naruto... If you are still a remnant of the Necrontyr of old, the least you can do is give me your name'

'ooooh... how exciting... Yet your words cannot deny what you are little Naruto'

The lines of warriors started to part as a single figure walked up towards the group, they were of grander stature than the common soldiers next to them, his body was more heavily armoured than their standard body, His head was sheltered within a shell like outer core while behind him was a dazzling cloak of hanging metal scales, within his hand was a unique staff, it's twin pincers holding an orb that glowed with a profound green light, while his stride looked more ancient as the figure walked with an almost unconscious limp.

Naruto stood before his group as the figure stood in front of him, the two staring at each other as the figure had to look up at the young primarch.

'You are indeed a worthy specimen... such physique, such stature... my how much of a great bounty I have found'

'Well little Naruto... Allow me to introduce myself... I am Trazyn, archiver and collector of precious relics and artefacts'

'And you... along with your companions... are trespassing on one of my worlds'

-0-

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Jaune felt frustration at the inaction.

Sitting within the underground shelter his company and those survivors of the Iron hands took refuge in, he had a visible frustration upon him at the lack of action Ferrus had taken after the massacre on the surface.

The primarch had isolated himself within his chambers while others within organized and dealt with the administration and treatment of those within this place, all around them the sounds of apothecaries and medical personnel echoed as the wounded and dying within could only wait upon the person whom was to lead them.

Jaune had already been helpless as many of his comrades and friends had already suffered for this lack of inaction, as the now promoted captain of his company he was in task of overall logistics and operation, yet the established command meant that he could not act without the consent of the lone primarch, in a way his hands were tied and he could only watch as it happens.

He had already received too many reports of their dwindling supplies and resources, as the casualties of that conflict were starting to mount due to a lack of sanitation and medical equipment being desperately low in supply, meaning triage protocols had to be obeyed as there was no word of any resources being secured any time soon.

'Captain' Nora asked him, pulling Jaune out of his contemplation 'Were running out of stable blood plasma and emergency food serum, the apothecaries have told us that their medical supplies are almost depleted and we still have many more whom suffered horrendous wounds...they...they won't make it'

Jaune was silent, yet his face held back a scowl, even as he thanked her and left to attend those she could.

He looked towards the area the primarch had taken refuge, the opening was covered by a simple cloth yet Jaune could still tell that Ferrus had no care for those outside of his sanctum, lost in his own world.

Jaune has had enough of the primarch's self exile, so walked into the room as he pulled the cloth aside.

Ferrus looked like a mess, his eyes were red and bloodshot as he looked only to his hands, his body started to show signs of malnutrition as his armour was haphazardly scattered across the room leaving him in his under-suit, the primarch was muttering to himself as he just gazed upon his hands, lost in thought.

'Get up' Jaune said, his look portraying his annoyance at the primarch, yet Ferrus merely continued to mutter, gaze still upon his hands.

'Why... why did I do that... would you have still been here if I had listened Bee?...Fulgrim...why did you do that...Why am I still here?'

'I said Get up!' Jaune said, trying to pull the primarch towards his feet, yet he just gave a glance to Jaune, his eyes hollow.

'What is the point?... We are just all going to die in the end' Ferrus said, his tone dark as he looked upon his hands in a gaze.

The primarch fell over as Jaune delivered a vicious haymaker upon his face, Jaune's face set in anger as he pulled the primarch back to a kneeling position by his shirt, while Ferrus looked at him with a look of anger tinged with regret.

'Is that what you think?! Do you not care for those whom are still here?!' Jaune bellowed to him, his voice flaring in anger.

'You don't know what your getting yourself into boy' Ferrus said, his gaze now holding a spark of anger as his nose bled 'Leave me to my own' he muttered.

Jaune looked down towards the primarch, memories of his captain saying of Ferrus and himself echoing in his mind.

'He would be disappointed in you right now'

Ferrus grasped the Astartes within his hand, his face now boiling in rage as he held the captain by his neck, yet even with the pressure of a primarch upon him, Jaune did not look away.

'You take that back!' Ferrus bellowed.

'Then prove it' Jaune said through strangled breath 'Prove that he did not die for nothing'

Ferrus had a rage within his face, his blood was hot as he looked upon the astartes within his hand, yet that anger faded as he remembered what his anger had lead him to do, releasing the captain whom was coughing upon the floor.

'You would not understand' Ferrus said, his tone sombre 'I was the one who chose to keep going... I was the one who let my anger get to me... and because of that... Bee...he'

'My Captain' Jaune said, his voice hoarse as he continued coughing 'Knew what he was getting into... he knew the danger and yet still stood by your side... the least you can do is honour what he did'

'But... he died because of me' Ferrus said, his eyes now darkening as the anger within him faded 'All because of my anger...my rashness'

Jaune slammed his hand near Ferrus, pulling him out of his mood.

'That doesn't excuse what you are doing right now! That was in the past... deal with it!' Jaune shouted at the primarch.

'Many of us died in that hellfire... yet we still chose to keep going... I will rather die then let those whom sacrificed everything be given an ignoble death... You feel regret for what you did... well tough shit!'

'Do you think your the only one who lost those you care about?! Look around you! Everyone has lost someone they cared for. Yet they have to watch as they are pulled into inaction... all because you want to feel sorry about yourself'

'I don't give a damn that you are a primarch... I don't give a damn that you would rather feel sorry and regretful about your actions... But I have had it up to here with your shit!' Jaune said, pulling the primarch closer by his shirt, Ferrus could only look on in surprise at the fire within the young captains eyes.

'I am going to go out there... into that hell we left... And I am going to do all I can to help those who need it' Jaune said, letting Ferrus collapse to the ground.

'You can cry all you want in this little piece of whatever you have left... But I am not going to act like a little bitch about it... I will do whatever it takes to care for these people... so you just stay there, wallowing in your grief... I will get shit done'

Ferrus looked on in shock as Jaune walked out of his sanctum, hours later the forces within the shelter would have new supplies and such flowing through the doors, while the bruised and battered captain would rally those within the company to his side, attempting to do whatever they could in this war.

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Sasuke felt a dull boredom settle upon him.

After his defiance of the Lion, the primarch decided to be petty about it and send him to Guilliman and Sanguinius to be court marshalled, the captain of the second company looked on as the Ire of two primarch's settled themselves upon him, it seems his personality had rubbed the two primarch's the wrong way, while Sanguinius could only watch as his brothers argued among themselves on how to best punish the young captain.

'I say we just put him into a cell and let him rot for all I care' Lion said, his tone was sharp and vicious, to him Sasuke had disrespected his command and even threatened him to his face, he would have gladly given the captain the death penalty but his expertise and skills were unmatched among astartes.

'And I say we make him seek out Konrad by himself. As an act of penance against this travesty' Guilliman said, his feelings were much the same as Lion but making the captain rot in a cage was a waste of his unique skills.

'Get on with it... you toddlers' Sasuke said, his voice showing no remorse nor regret.

'He just had to egg them on' Sanguinius muttered under his breath, the winged angel looked at Sasuke with a pleading look, trying to see some form of compromise with the maverick captain.

The other two snapped at his off hand comment.

'That's it! Sasuke Uchiha... You shall be sentenced to repent for your actions. This will not be released until your task is complete, which is to capture our brother Konrad... if you want to be so eager to catch a monster, then it will be easy for someone of your so called skill level' Guilliman said, with Lion giving a satisfied nod in agreement.

Sasuke merely looked at the two with unfocused eyes, his gaze not even stumbling as he gave a brief 'whatever' to the two primarch's, to the irritation of the two.

'So... I'm guessing you want me to start now, right? You at least have any information I can work with? As it looks like the only thing you two are good for at this point'

'Why you insolent... ungrateful cub!' Lion roared, his sword almost being drawn from it's sheath, yet it was by the actions of Guilliman and Sanguinius that held him back.

'Well... unfortunately... you are out of luck... Our brother has gone into hiding it seems' Guilliman said offhandedly.

'Wait' Sasuke muttered, his mind thinking of the possible scenario's that could be used from his experience 'You mean to tell me you have had no trace of your brother since that hive city? None at all?' Sasuke said, his tone curious.

'Yes... unfortunately so... our brother is rather subtle when he wants to' Guilliman said, his tone arrogant yet frustrated.

'Then I have another question... How many forces have you stationed at these facilities?' Sasuke asked.

'Is that supposed to be a serious question?' Lion said, his tone flaring at the arrogance 'There is no need for a sizeable force to stationed here... for who would be so bold as to attack three primarchs?'

'Heh' Sasuke said, his tone smug 'Then I guess I won't have to go far then to find him'

The lion was surprised by this statement, yet before he could ask Sasuke about it the chamber exploded in a great conflagration of fire and ash, the chamber that the three primarchs and those seeing to the captain was ruined beyond repair, as the sounds of the wounded echoed across the chamber.

Konrad had to give a demented laugh at how easy it was to assault the three, indeed his plans had been expedited due to the young captains actions, allowing him to strike when his brothers were all vulnerable.

He stepped out from the shadows as his face bore a vicious grin, seeing the three primarchs injured from his little surprise, yet his mind flashed with images as he stabbed towards his behind, where a blade held his claws back, while staring at him was the same blood red eyes and swirl pattern that was plaguing his vision of late.

'Hello little bird... did you miss me?' Konrad said, as Sasuke stared at him.

Sasuke merely gave a small tisk as the two disappeared across the chamber, as the sounds of clashing steel echoed across the room.

Guilliman, Sanguinius and Lion started to regain their bearings, the three looked upon the upper parts of the building to watch the young captain keep pace with their deranged brother, even from such a distance the three had to give a begrudging respect to the second company captain, as he was able to keep pace with one of their own, Lion pulled out his plasma pistol to take a pot shot at his brother but a bellowing voice echoed across the room.

'Stay your weapon Lion! This is my quarry! You will not interfere!' Sasuke bellowed across the room to the sounds of clashing metal.

'Ohh how bold you are little bird' Konrad said, his voice carrying a hint of smugness

The two dashed across the chamber, the sounds of clashing metal echoing as even the three primarchs started to lose sight of the captain and their estranged brother, eventually the two clashed their weapons in a vicious stand-off, as Konrad merely looked upon Sasuke with his demented smile.

Yet it would be Sasuke whom would surprise the night haunter.

Konrad couldn't place the overwhelming feeling he suddenly felt, yet his senses were screaming at him that danger was coming, flashes of images echoed through his mind as he took in confidence he would be safe so long as his predictions came true.

Yet as he took a glance upon the second company captain, he swore that his eyes had changed, no longer was both of them red as blood, but one had changed completely, it's violet colour and strange pattern setting off all manner of warnings, as though something primal had warned him of a great danger.

He rushed upon the captain, a brief flash telling him the captain will try to decapitate him, so his body unconsciously ducked under the blow that was going to happen.

Yet nothing happened, which put the primarch at edge.

Sasuke merely stood there, looking at the primarch with a neutral expression.

Konrad rushed forward into the captains personal area, the blades from his claws ready to flay the captain, yet Sasuke merely looked on without any concern.

Konrad felt no confliction nor flashes that what he was doing was leading to his death, so had full confidence that he would be delivering the captain his death.

Right up till the moment when he felt no resistance pass through his claws.

The primarch's eyes rose in shock, in that brief moment when his blades found their purchase he expected a dead corpse, yet Sasuke was still standing there, with nothing to show for it.

Sasuke took a single step, as Konrad flinched.

'What's the matter night haunter?' Sasuke said, his tone indifferent, his two eyes looking upon the primarch, with one of the familiar blood red Konrad had already expected, yet the other was that haunting violet he did not know.

Konrad rushed forward again, this time putting more effort into the attack, his mind subconsciously pulling his latent power from the warp to imbue the blade with a hint of the unknown, as his eyes looked upon Sasuke's with a clear certainty.

Yet once again, his claws found nothing, even seeing with his eyes the impossible playing out before him as the blades simply passed through the captain's body.

Konrad pulled back immediately, his face was dripping with sweat at what he just witnessed, in all his life he never had an experience such as this, through his many years he was the one whom felt fear and terror upon his enemy, yet looking upon the stone cold face of the captain, whom never once changed his gaze left him with a feeling he had only ever felt once.

Konrad threw out a pair of throwing blades towards the captain, yet even those blades embedded themselves in the wall behind the captain as he took another step towards the primarch, Konrad had never felt such a feeling before, he had once remarked to his brother Sanguinius that creating a terror within his enemy would ensure that no plan shall face him bar that of survival.

Yet now, within this room, his twin hearts felt like boltgun rounds as his body was trying to make sense of what the hell he just witnessed.

'I believe these are yours' Sasuke said, turning his back as he pulled out the twin blades, Konrad rushed in that moment to strike at the captain yet felt a cold chill fill his system as he still saw his claws phase through the captain, yet that was not the true fear that reared it's ugly head.

It was instead the fact that Sasuke, without any hesitation or emotion upon his face, had the two throwing knives upon his hands, open towards the night haunter himself.

It was in this moment that Konrad had a revelation.

Chakra was a truly horrifying weapon if it allowed people to do such feats he had just seen with his own eyes.

The two blades were snatched from the captain's hands as Konrad pulled back from the captain, in this moment Konrad tried to find any security, any measure by which he knew his life was safe. Rather than being subconscious, Konrad pulled upon his gift, an act he would find revolting as it only showed the way in which he died, he tried to look upon his true death, hoping that such a vision made him assured that his end was not here.

He peered into his future, already expecting his death by the hands of the assassin he had seen time and time again, to the point it nearly drove him mad realizing such a thing.

Yet when he felt the telltale signs of his visions flooding his mind, he was greeted with nothing, his final death was gone, only a haze of nothingness embraced him.

Konrad gave a shriek as he pulled away from the captain.

'Sta...stay back!' Konrad shouted towards Sasuke, whom took another step against the primarch, he kept moving back until his body felt the surface of rockcrete, as Sasuke merely took step after step towards the Night haunter.

Sanguinius, Guilliman and Lion rushed into the room the two were in as they watched an unprecedented sight, as their brother, one whom relished in fear and terror of others, was reduced to a shaking mess trying to move away from the captain whom was walking towards him.

Konrad's hearts were pacing at an abnormal rate, his mind and body not agreeing what to do in such a scenario. His voice came out as a strangled mess, pitched between a high and low voice as his eyes were wide in horror. Sasuke merely stood next to the primarch as his eyes looked upon the night haunters own.

Konrad felt his body become unresponsive, as he felt a slow pain start to edge itself within his mind, he looked down to see the hand of Sasuke phased through his chest, yet could feel a pressure upon his hearts that made him want to scream, yet his voice could not produce such sounds as his body was paralysed.

'Do you feel that?' Sasuke muttered within his ear, as the captain gave a short tug upon one of Konrad's hearts.

The pain was unlike anything the night haunter had felt, his voice came out as a strangled scream as he felt the organ try and overpower the captain's grip, yet start to fail as it was constricted in it's function.

'This is what death feels like... overwhelming, helpless... With but a simple action I can end your nightmare right here and now' Sasuke said into Konrad's ear.

'You think that fear is a justification of your actions. That you were made to be a monster'

Konrad felt above the pain an Ire against the captain, as though he was trying to make the primarch doubt himself. He did not see the horrors in his youth that he did, the things he had to do to survive, so what gave Sasuke the right to judge him what he is and isn't.

'You... know... nothing' Konrad said, his voice barely coming out from the onslaught of pain at having his primary heart start to fail upon him, his head was pounding as he could feel his second heart starting to stutter, as the captain still held his first heart in his iron grip.

'Even now... as death is embracing you... you still think yourself unredeemable' Sasuke said, his tone a bit humbled as he watched the primarch still try and do something against him. Konrad looked upon Sasuke, even as his vision started to fade and become worse, even as he felt a cold starting to find purchase upon his body and mind, even as he felt his entire being subjected to a pain beyond imagination, he still looked upon the captain, his eyes never changing from what he is.

'Everything is a choice' Sasuke muttered into the primarchs ear, even as he fought against rolling his eyes and embrancing the temptation of sleep 'Everything we have done is the choices we make. Just like your life is within my hands, so too is your actions and consequences the making of your own design'

'I am not doing this to make you suffer Konrad. I am doing this to prove a point, we are what we choose to be. In the end, what choice will you make?'

Sasuke smashed his hand onto the right temple of the night haunter, as his body collapsed upon the ground through a combination of his technique and the concussive blow delivered upon the primarch. He looked upon the night haunter, his face restless even as he layed upon the ground, his body going into brief moments of seizures.

Sanguinius, Guilliman and the Lion walked next to the captain, looking at his brother, while Lion looked at the captain with a near hostile gaze.

'What did you do?!' Lion said, his breath hot with suspicion as he looked upon the unconcious form of the night haunter, while Guilliman merely looked on in concern as he glanced towards the elementian, only Sanguinius looked at Sasuke with a look of compassion, even as the captain looked upon the great angel with a look of sombre.

'What I had to do... pick him up. He is not going anywhere in his state' Sasuke said, Lion gave a grunt as he picked his brother's body, while Guilliman placed his hand upon the captain.

'It seems your penance is complete captain... with an almost shockingly fast efficiency' Guilliman said, his tone neutral yet even his hand gave a brief moment of flinching when the captain looked upon him with his blood red eyes.

'Just make sure you don't question my actions again Guilliman. It would not be in your best interest to test my patience'

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'Hold them back damn it! Hold them back!'

The corridors within Konoha hospital had become the most bloody within Elementia. Bodies of astartes littered it's corridors as every conceivable thing was being used in the confined corridors. World eater butchers, these driven mad by the nails and embedded into suits of Cataphractii terminator armour, used their impressive bulk and resilience to cause absolute havok within the confined corridors, their axes soaked with the blood of countless victims as they rushed into any resistance they encountered, headless of any tactics or even reason.

Compared to the defenders, whom had no such protection, they had to employ group tactics to stop the sheer momentum of these juggernauts, yet even such tactics, from mechanical traps to even the use of danger close jutsu were not enough to stop these rampaging lunatics.

'BLOOD! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!' a butcher screamed through his vox, his voice deafening to the defenders and those taking shelter within the hospital walls, this butcher was being followed by eight others, for in their mind their god reveres the number eight for reasons they do not yet fully understand.

Sakura was applying medical chakra upon one of the astartes, her physique and the lack of armour made her a prime target to be killed by a stray boltgun shell or plasma discharge, yet her oath as a doctor and apothecary for the legion compelled her to save as many as she can within these death halls.

'Put pressure on the wound! Keep that presssure on!' she yelled at the wounded astartes, this one had suffered a chainaxe injury from a rampaging bezerker and was bleeding out from a nasty eviscerated wound, her chakra glowed green as she applied the bare minimum of aid to stop the wound from progressing, as the laramans acted to scab the injury.

A few stray shells hit the impromtu barrier that she was working behind as she took a glance towards the hostile zone, the sound of revving chains and shouts of pain and madness made the situation all the more hostile and stressful.

She felt a sharp pain within her abdomen as she realised the stress was causing her body to go into premature labour pains.

'Ahhh... Sarada... Honey... please... don't hurt mommy right now' she muttered to her child as the pain started to flare up, while under her a clear fluid started to find purchase across the floor.

The butchers started to gain more momentum, as the eight roared their offerings to their foul god, the corridors were filled with the scent and smell of blood, as their axes bit deep into the defenders at every chance they could get.

'We can't hold them! We have to fall back!' one of the astartes said, their boltgun clicking dry as they scrambled to find a new magazine.

'And where can we go!? We have nowhere left to fall back to!' screamed another astartes.

The groups were already pushed back towards the main sealing chambers wtihin the heart of the hospital, this is where the sealing matrixes for all the rooms within the hospital were situated, if they were destroyed then there was nothing stopping the enemy from butchering the helpless astartes women within their rooms.

More butchers took their place behind the initial group, as they could feel their god guiding them to their objective, with would be soon that the blood god will be given a feast of blood and life. This drew more strength upon the butchers as their madness started to ease up.

Sakura was situated upon the front line fighters, her abdomin was giving her a temendous pain, her body going into contractions even as her chakra was glowing green across those within her care.

She knew that they were doomed if something didn't happen soon, yet as luck would have it an opportunity presented itself to the senior apothecary that she would be stupid to not capitalize.

'You! Keep the pressure on these wounds! You lot give me covering fire!' Sakura shouted to those around her, as she issued orders to her juniors.

'Lady Sakura! What are you thinking about doing?' one of the astartes asked, his tone hesitant to guess what the wife of the second company captain was going to do.

'Just cover me!' Sakura shouted as she pictured in her head the timing needed for her plan.

A stream of rounds screamed upon the enemy, forcing the butchers to stagger in their advance, using this moment of hesitation Sakura leaped out from the barriers and dashed upon the enemy.

Power armour for an astartes was an interesting topic to discuss among the shadow fox legionaries, on the one hand it provided them a level of protection unprecedented, allowing them to hold against weaponry that would tear even their transhuman bodies apart, yet it was always debated if the reduction of movement was worth the price.

In this moment, Sakura realized that had she been in her armour, this plan would not work.

Her fist glowed with a rage of green chakra, as her target layed out in front of her, their eyes looking upon her with murderous intent.

'BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!' the butcher yelled, his chainaxe coming down upon her unarmoured and very pregnant body.

'SHANNARO!'

The butcher had but a lightning split second to comprehend his scenario, this astartes woman, whom had no power armour and no protection, against him who was in the finest armour the Imperium could have produced, behind the maddening rage of the nails his subconcious mind was wondering how could this woman possibly defeat him.

This meant nothing as his body was crushed instantly by the inhuman strength of the chief apothecary of the shadow foxes, his armour was compressed upon his body as the sheer momentum of the strike instantly destroyed every shock absorption system and structural joint within the suit of armour, the exosceleton being embedded upon his flesh, causing instant explosive compression of every organic part in his body.

Yet this attack was two fold in it's function, for Sakura had calculated in her mind the confining nature of the battlefield and the momentum her impromtu astartes sized projectile would cause to those behind the butcher.

The squads of butchers had no time to react, as the mass of former comrade collided with each one of them, the sheer speed and pressure of the attack caused a shockwave to occur within the corridor itself, which along with the sealing arrays upon the walls created a funnelling effect that resulted in nothing short of apocaliptic damage.

Each terminator was added to the pile of meat and adamantium, it's mass proving no contest from the concentration of energy that was produced from the attack, it seemed that the projectile was not slowing down in it's momentum even with the additional weight and mass.

The outer window of the hospital, which was at the end of the corridor exploded outwards as flesh and metal shot out of the openning like a cannonball, the round miracously landed upon an assaulting squad of bezerkers as even the konoha defenders were looking in awe at what just happened and how a ball of gored metal exploded upon the frenzied attackers.

Sakura gave huge gasp of breath, her right fist was still aflame with green chakra as she looked upon the devastation of her attack, those of her juniors whom witnessed the event were in awe at the raw power unleashed.

She cried in pain as her contractions came back with a vengeance.

'Aaaah! Sarada!... Baby girl please!' Sakura said as she collapsed upon the floor, her screams becoming louder as she could feel her birthing canal protest against her actions.

'Lady Sakura! Someone get her into a delivery room! Hurry!'

Sakura was taken to a secured room as she experienced one of the most painful moments of her life, while those astartes whom were with the apothecary took the opportunity their senior had given them to reinforce their position and slowly push the enemy back out of the hospital.

It would be several hours longer before an exhausted Sakura would be in tears, the sounds of her daughter filling the room as she held her small body against herself.

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Howdy yall...

Welp, I have been back from holiday for a while now. Have been on and off writing this story and all, I think I have done alright for this chapter and all.

Anyway, this was just a small update and all, but I hope you guys are looking forward to the next part of this big story.

Until next time.

P.S. To the person who reviewed about how female astartes are impossible, might I suggest you look at my previous books in the series. Which reminds me, gotta get around to changing the imperial dates and all... But at the moment I'm just focused about getting the story out of the way first. The fix ups and stuff can come later on, the Imperial system is really bonkers to visualize when you look at it.