Contract of the Shinigami

by KyuubiGoku

Naruto nearly died at Final Valley, but Fate still wants him alive. The Shinigami finds interest in Naruto and makes Naruto it's first summoner. Watch Naruto as he shows the world what it's like to have the Death God for a summon. Incest warning NaruKushi. Uzumaki Eccentric.

51. Chapter 51

KG: Happy New Years everyone. Yeah I was really late trying to get this out, but that's the way the ball rolls sometimes. Well I won't keep you forever.

Warning: *Character Deaths*

Music of the Week: Change Your Ways ft. Charolette Haining.

Quote: "No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new," by Steve Jobs.

---

As the alarms raised around the area, Sasuke attempted to put them out of his mind for the time being. Kakashi and Yugao were still hurt as their forms laid upon Sasuke's body for leverage. Sasuke could tell by their breathing that they were probably more injured than he could have guessed. Sasuke didn't know any medical ninjutsu, but he did know a bit of field repair. It was a standard in their line of work. With the very limited expertise that he knew, Sasuke patched up Kakashi and Yugao's wounds as best he could. However any internal damage to them was unknown to him at the moment. He felt his judgement demanded that he take them to the closest medic that he knew, that would have had to have been Haku if Sasuke knew it right. It still sounded surreal when Sasuke thought about it, but as his feet slowly began to trudge from brick and earth, to wet mud he couldn't imagine how the others were doing.

"Sasuke, can you stop for a second?" Kakashi rasped out with a cough. Sasuke sent a small look to Kakashi before nodding. He stopped at the corner of one of the many halls and gently placed Kakashi and Yugao to the wall. Yugao slid down. "Sasuke, we might be slowing you down. The others are going to need your help," Yugao said. Sasuke, in a way, agreed with her, but something forbade him from plainly leaving them.

"Hmph, they wouldn't die to something like this. If you need to rest for a couple of minutes then do that. I can wait," Sasuke said. Kakashi offered an eyesmile while Yugao just groaned easily. Yugao did have medic experience, but when the medic is down then there isn't much they can do at the moment. Yugao just lightly groaned as she turned her head. Her eyes pierced through the darkness as best they could from her training. She frowned. She quickly nudged Kakashi. "Someone's coming!" Yugao warned with a snarl. Kakashi and Sasuke glanced over. The Uchiha took a step in front of Kakashi and Yugao before placing his hand on his sword. He wouldn't give the enemy any chance to do anything!

As the footsteps got closer, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Yugao were surprised as screams quickly followed. Screams of resolve, determination, and pride filled Sasuke ears as people came into view. "This way! Make sure to stay close! Kill anyone in a mask!" They heard the people shout. Men and women with swords, sticks, shovels, and pickaxes charged into the opening. Sasuke growled as the force came to a stop upon seeing the three shinobi.

"They don't have masks on! They could still be the enemy! I say we kill them!" Sasuke could hear these many people say as he tightened his grip over his sword. "Don't even think about it. We're not your enemy. If you want to fight then keep moving forward, but if you want to die then I will send you to the Shinigami myself," Sasuke threatened exuding the KI to remind the people who just how much the difference in their levels was to Sasuke. Some of the people took a step back before a man walked before the Uchiha. He stood before Sasuke for a moment.

If Sasuke were honest then this man wasn't ordinary. To be able to stand, let alone walk up to, Sasuke and his KI required a vast amount of confidence and pride in one's skills. It showed just how strong one could be. "Are you going to stop us from leaving?" he asked. Sasuke glanced to the man for a second before frowning.

"We are going to the lower levels. What you do doesn't concern us," Sasuke stated. The man stared into his eyes for a second before closing them. "Let's be on our way! Move out!" he said as he ran past Sasuke, Kakashi and Yugao. The others looked at the three for a second before moving forward. The three Hinoken members watched them go before Sasuke sheathed his sword.

"I imagine we will encounter more of this resistance movement as we go down further." Kakashi said. Sasuke nodded as did Yugao before Sasuke knelt down. He quickly picked up Kakashi and Yugao and they made their way to the lower levels.

"Oh by the way Sasuke, there is some other news I have to tell you…," Kakashi said with a small smile as they descended down some steps. The echoing of the steps in the corridors masked the sound of Kakashi's voice, but the small smile on Sasuke's face was easily recognizable as they made they way downward.

-x-

In the lowest levels of the caverns, Zabuza, Mikoto, Komachi, and Shinnō quickly made their ways up the flights of stairs that were the exit to the compound. "Hai, Konan-san and Karin-san should be in the same place in the trenches of the cavern just a floor or two above this one! I still have the piece of paper that Konan-san gave me. It's moving slowly back to her. We have to hurry to their location!" Komachi said as she held Shinnō's arm. "That would be optimal. We'll have to free anyone else we come across. They could be of use in staging our escape!" Mikoto replied. Komachi and Zabuza nodded as they came out the entrance of the staircase.

The lights illuminating the cave gave off an ominous feeling, but the shaking made Zabuza fear for a potential cave-in. That was the last thing anyone in this maze would have wanted. Who knew how long it would be to get out of the place then. "Don't move! You're all dead otherwise!" A voice shouted as the four looked up in surprise. They quickly noticed people in masks staring at them with their swords drawn. Zabuza quickly picked up his shovel along with Mikoto.

Shinnō honestly had to say that he was surprised those next few instances as he saw a dance of blades in the cavern. Blood spilled over the walls of the cavern without resistance. The screams of men and women assaulted his ears for about five minutes, but those five minutes felt like an eternity. He was actually in such a trance that he was surprised when the screaming stopped and Zabuza and Mikoto appeared unharmed. "Komachi, this way!" Mikoto guided. Komachi nodded. Zabuza glanced around the corner before giving the all-clear. He ran down the hall with Mikoto close behind him. There was even more blood and death to be seen here. Actually there was so much blood that The group could tell the prisoners from the wardens. That was just how bloody it was.

"I don't understand something. The way these people fight, they can't be professionals because some of them hold a sword like its their first time doing it. How are people like this able to not only kidnap important political figures, but also raid entire villages?" Komachi asked. Zabuza and Mikoto did hear the question, but no one had the luxury of stopping for very long.

"Oh not everyone in this organization leaves. Only the Regent and his five or six disciples do that. The others stay and take charge of the prison cells. However those seven have an odd power. I imagine that at some point we will meet those who hold the power I am telling you about," Shinnō said to them. Komachi just nodded while Zabuza and Mikoto stood behind a corner. There was a closed door in their way. Mikoto held up three fingers. Then two. Then one.

Zabuza charged at the door before using his shovel to slam it open in one fell swoop. A room full of the masked people was obvious by their surprise. Zabuza's mercy was non-existent. Quickly Zabuza demonstrated that, in the hands of a master swordsman, anything can be used as a weapon. He quickly cleaved one person's head from their shoulders letting their blood spray over his body. He then bashed his shovel into another person's face batting it into a wall. One person tried to parry his attacks, but it was useless before the former Demon of the Mist as Zabuza flipped over the person's body and cleaved one of their arms from their body. The person screamed as they backed into a wall. "Leave one alive Zabuza, we'll need them," Mikoto said as she stepped into the room as well. Zabuza just nodded from his place.

In time the room was barren with only one person remaining, shivering in the corner. Zabuza pointed his rusted shovel at them. "Talk," he said. The person shivered in their place before Mikoto stepped forward. "I'm not as kind as Zabuza-san is with killing. Though it does pain me, I can make a person suffer if need be. Do not try my patience. Tell us how to get out of here," Mikoto said. The person looked between them all before they pointed their finger.

"T-That way, there will be a fork in the cavern. G-Go right four times then a left," they said. Mikoto nodded before she patted Zabuza's shoulder. She quickly relayed the information to Komachi and the four walked out of the room. Swiftly the person felt at easy having survived the ordeal however they gasped when they noticed a tag on the doorframe. The person widened their eyes before the tag exploded releasing searing flames throughout the room. The explosion dropped rubble over the entrance to the door as the flames began to spread. The person trapped in the room widened their eyes.

Outside, the group continued walking. "You decided to kill them anyway?" Shinnō asked. Mikoto nodded as they came up to the fork in the cavern that the deceased person talked about. "I don't take kindly to being lied to so obviously. We'll go left four times and then we'll take a right," Mikoto said. Zabuza and Komachi quickly agreed and made their way after Mikoto along with Shinnō.

-x-

Yuri, Sasame, and Amaru sat in their places as guards stood all around. The alarms were still blazing fast. Yuri looked at the people surrounding her before she took a deep breath. "Sasame-san, Amaru-san, do either of you know any Katon jutsu?" Yuri asked softly. Symone and Amaru looked at her for a moment before they looked at each other. "You have some kind of plan?" Sasame asked. Yuri slowly nodded as she cracked her knuckles.

"Can you do it with these many people around?" Amaru asked. Yuri swiftly nodded. So far everything had been going according to what Kushina had told her. She really didn't want to risk it now. "I can I just need a shot at that door. Kushina-san wanted me to offer all those stuck her a chance at refuge in the Land of Eddies. I don't know how I'm going to pull that off yet, but I think I can get everyone out then make the offer," Yuri said. Sasame seemed surprised. She had heard of the Land of Eddies before. She had heard about its recent uprise.

"Well if you're in need of a shinobi force then you have the Fuma clan," Sasame said with a small smile. Yuri jerked in surprise as did Amaru. "Can you do that?" Yuri asked. Sasame smirked. Well technically she couldn't do it, only Kotohime could do that, but Sasame believed that more than enough of the Fuma clan would side with going to new lands rather than attempting to repair back in the destroyed place that had once been their home. Sasame didn't believe that they would survive for very long if they did that.

Sasame was ready to nod, but a voice stopped her. "She doesn't have to. I agree with it," The three turned and noticed Kotohime looking at them from her far corner a longing smile on her face. Sasame narrowed her eyes. "Why?" was her response. And why should she be skeptical? For the many, many months the Fuma clan had been down in the cavern maze, Kotohime had not known any sort of pride that warranted escape. Yet, Sasame felt a feeling of joy seeing the almost forgotten smile on her family's face.

"Because Sasame, I remember Uzumaki Naruto. For our family he always had a knack for doing the impossible. If we can escape here then I would speak for the clan that we would be obliged to relocate to the Land of Eddies. Sasame…I have to admit that you've really grown up. You're more a leader for the clan than I am. Hanzaki always believed it to. You were right Uzumaki Yuri, I suppose I am a coward. A girl who can't take the hard times when they hit. I really haven't changed," Kotohime said before Sasame scooched over to Kotohime.

"I'm sorry. I never tried to think about how you or the clan felt. Stuck in my own sense of doing things. I'm sorry too. But hey, we'll build a better life for our clan just like we did when we freed ourselves from Orochimaru. We always find a way to survive!" Sasame said. Kotohime chuckled lightly while Yuri scratched her cheek.

"S-Sorry for calling you a coward dattebayen. You're actually pretty cool," Yuri praised. Kotohime chuckled a little more before she stretched herself. "So…what do you need?" Kotohime asked. The other three blinked while Kotohime smirked.

"You really don't except me to believe that one of you wasn't the cause of all of this! I would naturally assume the Uzumaki since trouble seems to follow your clan like Orochimaru follows bloodlines," Kotohime said. Yuri didn't know if that was a praise or an insult, but she decided not to think on it now. All that mattered was that she had another ally to help her with this mission.

"The thing is, I need someone who knows Katon jutsu. Even a D-ranked one would be helpful," Yuri explained. Kotohime smirked. "Well I can give you a good C-ranked one when you need it. That's all the chakra I would have right now," Kotohime said. Yuri grinned. That. Was. PERFECT!

Once she finished explaining to the others the details of her plan, the four quickly agreed as Yuri looked at the surrounding forces one more time. She quickly nodded. "That's it! I've had enough!" Kotohime shouted as she stood to her feet surprising everyone. She then pointed towards the masked men and women.

"You think we don't know?! You're little revolution is dropping to the ground. When I get my hands on you I am going to make you suffer for all that you put us through!" Kotohime boasted greatly. "You will be silent!" One of the people screamed cracking his whip for emphasis. Kotohime laughed off the sound before she slapped her palms together.

"If you think you can retrain me then go ahead, but I will not make it easy on you! Katon: Gōenkyu( Fire Release: Blaze Ball)," Kotohime cried as, much to everyone's surprise, she blew a fierce ball at the door. However no one was ready to see Uzumaki Yuri standing between the fire and the door. The fire grew closer and closer before Yuri slapped her palms together as well.

"Suiton: Suiryuheki (Water Release: Water Encampment Wall)," Yuri bombed out letting a massive of water explode from the floor and into the ceiling. The fire collided with the water forcing steam to erupt from the midst of the collision shrouding the entire area. "Shit! Someone get down there now!" one of the masked people screamed. Swiftly they all jumped from their ledges and into the smoke.

"Someone get rid of this steam!" a male voice shouted. People quickly moved to action opening some of the doors. As the steam slowly began to blow out the doorway, the wardens were surprised when they saw Yuri standing at one of the entrances. "Thanks for the way out. Now…sayonara!" Yuri said as she held up a handsign. Swiftly the steam wrapped around the wardens, suffocating them and filling their lungs. Men and women coughed, hacked, and groaned as they dropped their weapons. Their unknown faces contorted in pain as the steam took a hold of their lungs and forced all of the air out. One by one they dropped to the ground, dead.

Yuri dispelled the technique before walking out the door and to her group. "Sorry you're going to have to wait a few minutes for the poison to seep out of your bodies. It won't take long I promise dattebayen. So long as I don't act upon it then it will leave naturally every time you breathe," Yuri said to the freed people who panted on the ground.

"So…what now?" Amaru asked. "Well you guys can try and head to the surface. I need to free Nii-chan and Kushina-san. Free any people and offer them the invitation to Uzushio if you can. Nii-chan would rather not have lives wasted. I'll catch up with you! I'll also look for Amaru's sensei!" Yuri said. Amaru widened her eyes before she smiled with a thankful nod.

"I don't like it, but I'll agree. We'll see you at the top Yuri!" Sasame said. Kotohime and Amaru nodded as well. Quickly Sasame moved to the front of the confused, but freed people. "If you want to live then stick close to us! We're getting out of here this time! No exceptions! We free anyone we come across, but we're all getting out of here! Let's go!" Sasame said as she ran through a hall. The people quickly followed her. Kotohime and Amaru gave one more look to Yuri before they left as well.

Once she saw them all disappear, Yuri looked in another direction. "Okay, time to go commence 'Get Nii-chan Out Of Jail! Operation' Let's do it!" Yuri said as she tightened the slips of her shoes and jolted off back into the caverns.

-x-

Guren and the rest of her team continued to fall Pakkun as silently as they could while keeping their balance in the rock crevices. Yura had to admit that this was relatively difficult as they weren't using their chakra. To use chakra here took a certain degree of control that no one in the group had. The rows of spikes were much to difficult and slippery to make any sort of grasp with. So they had to do it the old-fashioned way.

As it stood, along with Team Guren, Shi and Fujikaze had tagged along as well. It was something that Guren appreciated as more manpower wasn't something she was about to turn down. When Pakkun had said that the place they needed to get to wasn't far, Guren had thought that they would have been there by now, but the pace was probably slower due to caution more than anything. While Guren didn't hold any particular animosity towards Iwa, herself, it still stood to reason that she and the others were invaded, no matter the intention. Perhaps it was that caution that they were taking this long, but Guren couldn't argue that they were getting close to…something. Guren could feel this upon seeing Pakkun's nose feel around urgently.

"This way," Pakkun's gruff voice said as he landed to the bottom floor of the rock crevice and continued onward. Guren signaled for her team and the others obeyed. Everyone dropped to the ground and ran after Pakkun. Guren had to hand it to these people, this crevice was a rather intricate maze if Guren had ever seen one. Guren actually had to compare its natural…maze-ness to one of Orochimaru's bases. Kami if you could navigate one of those then you would never get lost.

A few sharp turns to the left and following a last few turns to the right, the team quickly came to a stop as Pakkun glared forward. "It's here," Pakkun said with a glare. The team, Shi, and Fujikaze looked forward, but…they were all confused. "It…it's just a small house. Not even really house. More like a shack. Is this really it?" Iruka asked. Guren narrowed her eyes before turning to Ibiki. The jonin slowly nodded. Guren did the same before placing a finger to her chin.

"No, there is something here! I can sense it!" Yura said bringing everyone to her attention. They saw her knelt on the ground with her hand feeling the soft dirt and rubble. Shi quickly agreed. "Yes, I feel it too. There is actually an entire fortress underneath this shack. Housing almost over a thousand chakra signatures. Some of this chakra is easily on par with a Kage's. Iruka widened his eyes while Shikamaru looked at the shack.

"A case of mistaken illusion. Anyone would second guess a small shack in the middle of a large crevice since it's not hiding anything. The perfect "hiding" spot. Theoretically this wouldn't work at all, but there is 'something' here. I don't know what, but I can feel a pressure coming from this shack. It's like nothing I've ever felt before," Shikamaru said with as much of a serious face he could muster. Guren slowly walked up to the shack before placing her hand on the door. She could feel something washing over her for a moment before it left. Guren turned back to the others.

"Everyone be prepared for anything. I'm going to open the door." Guren said. Upon having said those words, Guren watched as everyone pushed up to the door, kunai drawn from their holsters. Guren swiftly wasted no time opening the door. She pushed it open and scanned the room. "Empty, of course," she said. Everyone looked inside and saw it was indeed empty. Just a tatami mat, bookshelf, and kitchen in the corner. Everyone gently crept inside. Guren closed the door.

"What are we supposed to be looking for?" Iruka asked. Guren looked around for a second before turning back to her squad. "I remember Uchiha Sasuke talking about the sacred room for the Uchiha. It was hidden underneath a tatami mat under a row of tiles. We'll just have to search," Guren said with a small smile. The others quickly nodded. The search for anything interesting began.

It was about twenty minutes of searching which finally made Guren realize that something was wrong. Everyone tried to pull up the tiles, but no one got anywhere. It was obvious that they tiles weren't supposed to be moved. Guren could see the beginnings of frustration seep their way onto Yura's face. Guren didn't blame here. This mission might have been more taxing on Yura than on anyone else in this room. It took another ten minutes of aimless searching around before Shikamaru tapped Guren's shoulder. "I believe I have it now," Shikamaru said making everyone look at him in surprise. While everyone had been searching, Shikamaru had been in the corner "thinking" in his own way. It seemed he had finally found the answer. "It's not that the tiles don't move. We have to make them move," Shikamaru said.

"We have to make them move?" Iruka asked and Shikamaru quickly nodded with a sigh. Didn't he just say that they had to move them?! Why would you make a statement a question when the person before you already said it?!

"And how do we do that?" Shi asked. Shikamaru quickly looked at the floor. "What do you see about the tiles? There are small, but similar designs on each tile. They form a shape. I imagine that when we find the right shape we will be able to find the entrance. That is my best bet. Guren-san take one horizontal row. Yura-san take the vertical row next to Guren-san. Iruka-sensei will take the second from the left wall and I will the row to the south wall near the door. Shi-san can you turn on the faucet please?" Shikamaru asked. Shi blinked but quickly moved over the floor and into the kitchen.

"If my theory is right then this kitchen serves a purpose. Shi-san, when I tell you, please turn on the faucet," Shikamaru said. Shi just nodded as Ibiki and Fujikaze removed themselves. Shikamaru looked around the room for a moment before he pointed for Shi to turn on the faucet. Shi did so. To everyone's surprise, and Shikamaru's expectation, the faucet didn't drop water, but rather blood filled the sink before it spilled onto the floor. Shi widened his eyes and backed away. Everyone had to hold their rising disgust as the blood seeped onto the groves of the tiles. "Guren-san, move forward now!" Shikamaru commanded. Guren did so and widened her eyes as she heard something 'click' and the tiles shifted along with the coursing blood. Guren pushed the tiles forward and the blood followed the tiles.

"Your turn Iruka-sensei!" Shikamaru said. Iruka nodded and pushed his tiles upward. Everyone watched the blood suddenly zigzag in separate directions from the corner it had been heading to from Guren pushing it. It had been heading for Yura and Shikamaru. "Our turn Yura-san. Push them forward!" Shikamaru said. Yura swiftly nodded and the two simultaneously pushed up their tiles. Everyone watched as the blood suddenly flowed into three separate circles, one at the top center, one on the bottom left, and one on the bottom right. The image was completed. An incomplete stage mask. How ironic.

However no one was ready for the bookcase behind them to noisily move to the side revealing a large corridor. Guren smirked as did everyone else. "Nice work Shikamaru," Guren said while Shikamaru just nodded with a tired sigh. "It might be a little too earlier for celebration, my comrades," Fujikaze said stopping everyone's happy mood as he looked out the window, his sword partially drawn.

"Is it the enemy returning?!" Iruka asked, but to everyone's confusion Fujikaze frowned. "I believe it to be a much more fearsome foe," Fujikaze said. Guren quickly moved to the door and looked out the window. She stared into ring-shaped eyes of a man with piercings and orange hair. She quickly identified the black cloak with red cloak. Well….shit. Guren wanted to split the group up to have someone watch the exit. She still wanted that, but all members of Akatsuki were S-rank targets. Granted at this moment Guren couldn't tell what his purpose here was. She honestly doubted it was because Naruto was here.

"Fujikaze, everyone stand down. Leave this to me!" Guren said urgently. Fujikaze glanced back to her before he sheathed his sword. "Guren-san, what's going on?" Iruka asked. Ibiki glared at the front door heatedly, but Guren had told everyone to not move so he didn't do so.

Everyone watched as the door opened. Iruka, Shikamaru, Shi and Yura stilled their breath as Pain made his way into the room. His eyes focused on everyone for a minute. When he landed on Yura, she honestly thought he would tear her soul from her body which should have been impossible seeing as Naruto was the only one able to do that, but Yura did having the feeling that he could.

Shi, Iruka, and Shikamaru just remained silent willing to let the situation play out for the moment. They all turned to Guren for the answer. She was just looking at Pain with a tight glare before releasing a small sigh. "Yura, Ibiki, Shi, you guys are with me. Iruka, Shikamaru, and Fujikaze will remain at the top to guard the entrance. If you see anyone in trouble then assist them if you can. If you see the enemy, attempt to defend this perimeter. We're going in," Guren ordered. Everyone glanced to her before they glanced to the Akatsuki member.

"H-Hai," Yura as she and Shi followed her into the corridor. Pain watched them go before closing the door and going into the same corridor. His form slowly disappeared without a word. Once he was gone, Shikamaru dropped to the ground. "So that is a true S-rank shinobi. He's much stronger than either of those S-ranks Naruto or I faced. Troublesome," Shikamaru said with a sigh. Fujikaze just sat on the ground with his arms folded. Iruka leaned against the wall. He looked back at the open corridor. This could not go well. Ibiki frowned as he looked at the corridor.

Meanwhile, Pain slowly trailed behind the Konoha shinobi. If he were honest he was actually half-tempted to merely destroy the entire crevice to force an opening, but there were many downsides to this. He could have caused a cave-in and the surrounding rubble would have been a pain to deal with. While he didn't care about anyone else down here, he could feel Konan's familiar chakra even if it was strangely small and weak. Konan was down here, but sources had told him that she was captured by Konoha forces. The fact that she was down here had been the only thing keep Pain from ripping this group of Konoha shinobi's souls from their bodies in an attempt to find her location.

When he had opened the door he had long since felt the Konoha shinobi, but he was relatively surprised to be met with no hostility even if the atmosphere dictated otherwise. Well, it wasn't like anyone could challenge a god anyway so there efforts would have been futile. Normally Pain would send this body in this situation, but there were too many unknown variables that he really didn't want to take any chances. Even if defeating him was next to impossible, it still felt better to have reassurance than anything else.

Once Pain, Guren, Yura, and Shi had walked through the corridor for about ten minutes they had finally made it into the a large stone dome-shaped room. "Guren-san, do you feel it?" Yura asked. Guren nodded. "Yeah, I feel a little weaker than when I was up top. It might be that this place this dome or this earth is a special rock that naturally absorbs chakra from life around it. I can see why they would imprison people down here." Guren said, however she didn't get the expound on her statement as a person shouted.

"Die intruders!" A masked person shouted at the top of their voice. Guren, Yura, and Shi quickly assumed a defensive stance, however the three were surprised when Pain casually took a step forward. "Foolish idiot. No may come before the power of god," he said as he held up his hand. Guren, Yura, and Shi were stunned as their mysterious assailant was quickly pulled into Pain's hand before the assailant was slammed into the ground enough to crack his fragile mask.

Pain then picked up the person and held them to his face. "Where is God's Angel, Konan? I sense her chakra signature. Do not test the patience of a god," He said darkly. The assailant seemed silent before their mask moved. Pain didn't seem fazed when a wad of spit fell over his cloak. "Go to hell. The only true God is Uzumaki Naruto-sama, he will bring about the resurrection of the revolution!" the person said forcing Guren, Yura, and Shi to widen their eyes.

If Pain were surprised then he didn't show it as Yura grabbed the assailant from his grasp and crushed them into the wall. "Where. Is. Nii-san?!" Yura asked angrily, her chakra flaring sporadically enough to crack the ground underneath their feet. Guren and Shi seemed surprised by the action. Pain's reaction was rather hard to ascertain, but then again who could understand the thought processes of a…god?

"Tell me where he is or I'll gut you like the pig you are!" Yura snarled, her chakra empowered grip crushing the person's mask as they tried their damnedest to get Yura to let go, but their screams were slowly becoming more and more strained. "Fifth floor up the largest flight of stairs! I don't know anyone named Konan!" they shouted finally, but they didn't have the time to even think about anything else as Yura snapped their neck, leaving them for dead, and jumped down to the center of the room.

"Yura, hold up!" Guren shouted as she and Shi followed after her. Pain watched them go before turning a corner and walking off. He didn't have anymore time to waste.

-x-

The Regent and Akki ran through the corridors cutting down anyone in their way that wasn't wearing a mask. "I swear I am going to kill those two!" Akki growled out as the Regent maintained his calm. "There is no need to be this worried Akki. Our King and Queen will fulfill their roll. I have already sent someone to go on ahead and watch after them while we tend to things down here. I had them take your…toys as well," The Regent said while Akki sighed.

"Well I was getting bored with them anyway. Now how about we end this farce of a rebellion?" Akki asked as a loud roar came over the confined corridor and the screams of many filled the halls of the caverns. It had only lasted for a moment before the Regent and Akki came from the darkness. Akki grinned as she wiped some blood from her lips while the Regent sheathed his sword.

"Did you truly have to eat them?" he asked while Akki chuckled. "The best human meal is Bigotry, Regent-sama. Now if you don't mind I will go find out how Mu and Ranmaru are doing with our little problem," Akki said as she walked off in a separate direction. The Regent watched her leave before he shook his head and proceeded towards the lower staircase.

It hadn't been a challenging task to reach the stair case as with the alarms going off, more than likely everyone would be trying to find their way around, too panicked to truly be of any use to anyone else. It was actually his predication that about a third of the people in this naturally made prison would die before ever finding their way, but he wasn't one of those people. He had traversed these corridors many times. Him getting lost was like him dying at random, it wouldn't happen so long as he had this revolutionized power.

He descended the staircase effortlessly before he made his way to the tenth floor. The mud and dirt of the soil quickly began to spread over his shoes, but he didn't care about that. He just continued walking until he came to the very door that he had forced many nobles to painstakingly toil at and after thirty years, just a final crack was opened. The Regent smiled to himself as he looked at the crack in the door. He nodded. "Open yourself to me. Possess me that I may stay at Uzumaki-sama's side. Become…my Kindred," The Regent said as two sets of eyes glared at him.

"Dear wolf, there is a power that calls to us. I believe it wants us to answer," One of the beings said in a soft, feminine tone. The Regent then heard a snarl come forward. "Hmph no one has this power except us. I will make this one submit just like all the others!" came a very angry male voice. As the spirit pushed past the door it walked onto the field. A small white bow was held in its hands. The masks of white and black appeared on their differentiating faces. They both stared at the Regent.

"Who are you? You are close to death yet so full of life. Is this a way to mock us?" The feminine voice asked holding the boy in its arm steady. Circling the female's slender frame was her partner, the attachment of herself, the other half of the whole. "No, but I am not your enemy. I only ask that you help our King to realize his potential and revolutionize the world with his power," the Regent said.

"And why should we do that?!" The angry male half asked this time as his jaws snapped at the Regent's face, but the Regent wasn't deterred. "Because he is the one who will subjugate you and the one will…bring true death and life to these dying nations," the Regent said. The two remained silent. They looked at each other for a moment.

"You attempted to seal us away. Which had apparently worked. Yet you need us now. What does this have to do with us?" the female asked and the Regent slowly took off his mask before he got on one knee. "Because for as long as the Shinigami has been present, you have also be present. In days of old you vowed to be the forever faithful servant to the Shinigami. You swore on your blood as the Kindred to be there for the Shinigami. He has not forgotten you, but…he prepares another to take his place. He seeks for you to…guide the next generation," The Regent said. The Kindred looked at him for a moment before they stepped forward.

"No one can merely subjugate us! We will test for ourselves little Lamb! I will rip the flesh from his bones! This King deserves no swift passing," The male half said while the female half slowly nodded. "So it shall be dear wolf. Let us depart to where we are needed the most," The female half said and just like the wind they were gone from the Regent's view. Slowly the Regent placed his mask back on his face. Behind his mask he grinned. Time to begin the next step in the plan.

-x-

On the eleventh floor of the underground organization, Zabuza, Mikoto and Komachi panted in a far corner while Ranmaru and Mu chuckled in another. The shoves that Zabuza and Mikoto had been using had already been devastated from taking too much damage It was fairly obvious that their shovels didn't even look like shovels anymore.

"Ma'be ya'll should be givin' up now! Would do ya any good ta' fight us li' dis!" Mu said with a grin as he held a large cleaver blade glowing with white energy. Ranmaru chuckled as he bounced white flames from one hand to the other. "I think you should take Mu's advice and quit this resistance. You're only hurting yourselves by doing this!" Ranmaru replied with a wide smile as he quickly threw a large white fireball as the group.

Zabuza cursed and quickly grabbed Mikoto and Komachi before throwing them to the side. Zabuza dodged to the left as the white fireball blasted into the wall. With a small grunt, he glared back to Ranmaru. However he couldn't keep his look forever as Zabuza saw a shadow loom over his body in the light. Looking up he quickly saw Mu attempting an overhead slash set to rip his heart from his body. Zabuza looked back to his broken shovel before he rolled out of the way from the large man. Mu slammed his body into the ground ushering in a loud crash.

Seeing this, Mikoto and Komachi quickly moved to confront the man however neither was prepared for a wall of white fire to separate them from Zabuza. They glared back to Ranmaru who sat on the ground, rocking his body back and forth. "I would rather not like to kill you Onee-chan-tachi, but I don't like it when prisoners attempt to escape the truth just like the world around them," Ranmaru said as he stood to his feet.

"And what is this truth that your organization seems so adamant to teach us?" Mikoto asked. She admitted that she felt a little childish holding a shovel as a weapon, but it was all she had at the moment. "Here is your truth Onee-chan. 'For the blood I toil, for the work I sow, for the dead I laugh, for the living I kill, for the unfaithful I destroy, for the faithful I sacrifice. Death is Life and Life is Death.' Do you now what this means?" Ranmaru asked. Mikoto didn't say anything and neither did Komachi.

"I won't bore you with the philosophical meaning since I find it dull, but essentially it means….the dead are the true ones alive and the alive ones are the true ones dead. So. Just. LIVE!" Ranmaru said with a grin as the white fire coated his arms once again. Komachi quickly assumed a taijutsu stance and Mikoto was quickly follow. Ranmaru snickered before the white fire began to cover his body. Slowly it covered his hair and it seemed to latch onto his mask. It was then that Mikoto and Komachi widened their eyes as Ranmaru ascended into the air.

"He can fly?!" Mikoto asked. Ranmaru flicked his finger back and forth. "Not fly Onee-chan, Stand. I can stand. It's relatively simple for even morons like Mu. However it's not quite something you can do either. It is a technique unique to those of Reiton. For users of Reiton, we can draw on an abnormal amount of the spiritual energy that makes up half of what you shinobi call chakra. By concentrating that to a single point, i.e under my feet, I can stand in the air as if on land. Rather convenient wouldn't you say?" Ranmaru asked. Mikoto and Komachi cursed while Ranmaru smiled.

"Oh now that I think about it, you three and that old man over there don't have much chakra do you? No I guess not, you've been in here for over a month. You must have used some chakra to strengthen that shovel of yours to survive this long against some of our forces who had swords, but it looks like you're luck had run out when you ran into us. How unfortunate for you. It's really a shame I would like to not hurt Uzumaki-sama's friends, but in the new world that he will create…I don't see you being useful…in that world," Ranmaru said as he slowly raised a finger towards Mikoto and Komachi the two watched as a large light suddenly appeared from that finger. Mikoto and Komachi watched it grow even bigger. Mikoto could feel…something from it. She could feel something chilling. It was almost like the technique was going to rip her soul away and scatter it into the wind.

"Vanish," Ranmaru said as the light drew closer and closer towards Mikoto and Komachi. Mikoto looked back at the walls of white flames which hid Zabuza and Mu. She then looked over to see Shinnō in the corner stiffened to death. She glared back at Ranmaru. This was most likely not good.

-x-

Yuri huffed as she turned a corner. It pained her, but she had to ignore the sight of rotting bodies and the smell of blood in the air. The maggots that began feasting on the human remains wasn't welcome for her either, but she had to set aside her disgust as she quickly turned another corner. "It was this way right?!" Yuri asked as an explosion from the side of one of the many cavern halls rocked her eardrums. Yuri glanced and noticed the flames slowly beginning to spread from the east side section of the tunnels. "I remember the way girlie. You just keep your legs running if you want to have any chance of making it," Sanbi said rather urgently. Yuri didn't argue.

Quickly Yuri turned down another corridor. As far Yuri understood it, the only reason she was even making good time was because she, unlike last time, she was running to an objective she knew about and because she wasn't exploring each and every last little thing. Right now this entire maze or caverns was about to go down in flames and Yuri really wanted everyone out before that time had come. "Turn left now!" Yuri heard Sanbi say and she quickly grabbed the ledge before moving to the left. She gasped as she nearly slipped in some mud, but quickly righted herself and kept moving.

It had taken almost five more minutes of instruction, but Yuri finally sprinted out of the darkness and looked up to see the familiar…lengthy staircase. With a sharp sigh, Yuri rubbed the back of her head. "If I see stairs this long ever again, it will be too soon," Yuri said before she marched herself up the staircase as quickly as she could. Her legs burned, but Yuri didn't much care.

The long grueling climb aside, Yuri huffed for a minute of rest before quickly walking towards the familiar door. As Yuri walked up to it she grabbed a hold of the bars. "Nii-chan, Nii-chan are you there?!" Yuri asked with a harsh whisper. The room was silent. Yuri blinked before she looked through it, she could see no trace of Naruto nor Kushina. The room was utterly empty. "Nii-chan!" Yuri said before she quickly got to work on the door. Special door or not, the door was still a door. All it needed was a special touch. It just needed the 'Yuri' touch.

Yuri picked at the lock on the door before it finally opened. However as soon as it opened Yuri wasn't ready for a sharp kick to hit her in the face chin bashing her into the wall. Yuri felt the air escape her lungs as she dropped to the ground. "What?!" Yuri looked up before noticing a foot outstretched. A mask covered the person who kicked her. Yuri watched their stance, they dropped their arms and swayed them back and forth. The kanji for 'One' on their mask. After them came another one with a mask, the kanji for 'Two' written on it. Ichi and Ni looked at the girl before moving to the side. Yuri groaned as she looked up before anger overtook her when she noticed the woman in the familiar stage mask from before come from the door. "You are a rowdy bunch you know that? It is understandable for a child to rebel against their parent, but the only thing that awaits that child…is a harsh reality of punishment. You might be Uzumaki-sama's family, but if you deter him from his mission then you are only…an eyesore!" The woman said as Yuri leaned up.

"Where is Nii-chan?!" Yuri asked angrily. The woman looked at her for a moment before chuckling. "Do not fret. Our King is in a secure location along with our queen. It's simple. We filled the room with a gas and knocked them out. They are fulfilling their purpose as we speak," she said. Yuri sucked her teeth before getting back to her feet.

"I am going to make you regret this! You and your little cronies!" Yuri said as Ichi and Ni tilted their heads to the side. "I would rather call them Servants of the True Purpose. That's a fitting name. They have been changed, reformed, and have found the light of our cause. Just the same as everyone else will in time. Perhaps even faster with Uzumaki-sama," she said. Yuri huffed before she stood to her feet.

"I'm going to stop you!" Yuri claimed heatedly as she rubbed her face. "I don't that highly. As a guidance I will parent you one last time. This final lesson will end…with you dead," she said and Yuri didn't even have the chance to react the statement before she leaned over when she was punched in the stomach. Yuri dropped to her knees, but this proved to also be a mistake as the woman spun her leg and slammed it into Yuri's temple, the force expelling her from the hallway and into the staircase. Yuri groaned as her body fell down stair by stair. The pain intensifying each time as she fell.

Yuri didn't know when she stopped falling, but god she was thankful for it. However she groaned once more as she stood to her feet. Yuri hated to admit it, but she was a little out of her league. in terms of her resources. Yuri literally had next to no chakra. That stunt back in the dome room had wasted what she had gathered. She was barely running on anything substantial. She did have a bijuu, granted, but with how low her reserves were she actually wondered just how badly she would need to draw on the Sanbi's power. "You're going to need more than that girlie," Isobu said making Yuri's eyebrow twitch.

"DODGE!" Sanbi shouted and Yuri gasped as she rolled to the side avoided an earth-breaking kick that would no doubt have sent her brains all over the walls. Yuri gasped as she watched Ni tilt their head to the side. "You know Isobu, yelling 'DODGE!' is more distrustful than helpful!" Yuri said as she backed away from a punch aimed for her face from Ichi. Yuri quickly gawked as Ni flipped over Ichi and coated their arm in chakra. Yuri gasped and jumped back as Ni swung at her just barely missing the strands of her hair. Ichi and Ni looked at each other as the woman in the mask dropped to the ground level floor.

"I'm surprised you lived," she said. Yuri cursed as she took a step back. "Empty words, empty promises, made by empty souls. That is the world we have all grown up to believe in. Just as your empty words refuse to acknowledge the truth in mine. This is why you suffer like this," the woman said. Yuri seethed before the woman swiftly appeared in front of her.

"Now understand and admonish yourself. Repent for your sins!' the woman said. Yuri dropped down and quickly formed a sweeping kick. Her legs flew through the air, but the woman jumped over it easily. Yuri, seeing this, backflipped away, but she wasn't able to get far as Ni grabbed one of her legs. Yuri yelped as Ni swung her around before slamming her into the wall. Yuri groaned as she slid down. "Three on one, I really know how to pick'em dattebayen," Yuri said as she leaned against the wall. She watched as the woman closed in on her. Yuri chuckled to herself.

"You think I need all my chakra to beat you?" Yuri asked with a grin. The woman raised her fist before bringing it down. However as she connected with Yuri's face the redhead Uzumaki vanished in a cloud of smoke replaced with a stone. Hearing footsteps the woman turned around and noticed Yuri running fast down a hall. She chuckled. So…destiny had chosen this path had it?

"Kill her," the woman said as Ichi and Ni ran into the direction that Yuri had run in. The woman was quickly to follow. She looked up at the long staircase for a second. A small smile came to her face behind her mask. She grabbed the hilt of her sword.

Meanwhile, Yuri panted as she ran further and further down wherever the hell she was going. "It's getting hotter. No doubt you are nearing some form of heating chamber," Sanbi alerted. Yuri really wasn't in the mood for those kind of alerts, but she did admit that as she descended she was getting hotter. It was actually getting really, really hot. Yuri could feel the sweat drip down into her clothes as she neared an entrance. Yuri quickly ran through the entrance and stopped at where she was. "Uhhhh….on a scale of one to ten, how bad is this?" Yuri asked. Sanbi shook his head as he watched lava bubble around the chamber.

"Only a Uzumaki," Sanbi said to himself as Yuri walked on the hot ground. She saw a large metal structure hovering over the lava along with a strange computer device. Yuri walked up to the computer and blinked at it. Some images flashed across the screen and if Yuri was shocked before then she was absolutely devastated now. "They…they actually plan to…," Yuri didn't get to finish her statement as a shadow loomed over her. She quickly turned around and noticed Ichi and Ni hovering over here. Their masks inches from her face. Yuri quickly jumped over the computer. Ichi and Ni quickly followed after her.

Yuri kept backing away, but eventually she felt her foot have nothing solid to stand on. Turning around, she realized that she was out of earth. The only thing that was keeping her from dying was her one foot that was still on land. Yuri glared back at Ichi and Ni before cursing. The two slowly edged towards her, but Yuri looked past them and noticed the woman slowly appear out of the entrance. She looked around the lava chamber for a brief moment before turning back to Yuri. Something changed about the woman's aura because no Yuri could tell the woman wasn't pleased by something. Her stance told Yuri this. "You have backed yourself into a corner with no escape. Such a stubborn child," she said. Yuri growled as the woman drew her sword. Yuri quickly readied herself, but she wasn't prepared for the woman to walk on the platform and then….slice through the stone connecting the platform to the entrance of the chamber. The woman then placed her foot on the remaining path that connected the entrance. Using her muscles she pushed the disconnected platform through the lava. Yuri shifted her balance to accommodate as the only thing standing between her and her body becoming a top for ramen was a damn piece of earth. "Back away," Yuri heard the woman say. Ichi and Ni quickly backed away from Yuri as the woman took a step forward.

'Why are you doing this?! You are going to kill thousands of people if you go through with this!" Yuri snarled. "It is for the sake of our cause. Believe that only in death can anyone understand the true purpose of life. However Uzumaki-sama will revive us to the new world where all will understand the true point of this broken world," she said. Yuri seethed, but it quickly turned to a suspicious glare when she heard something fall to her feet. Looking down she noticed it was her weapon's pouch. She along with two military ration pills. She glared up at the woman.

"A shinobi wouldn't do this!" Yuri said while the woman folded her arms. "I am not a shinobi. I do not have to lie, cheat, or deceive to make my ends meet unlike the rest of the world. There is a difference between you and I. I kill for the true purpose, you would kill mindlessly for your own selfish ignorances. This world truly is nothing but a child. Only worried about itself. Here are your option, take everything off the group and fight, then die….or leave it on the ground and surrender to be of use later. We have fought before when you had all your chakra and you still lost. You should realize how low the percentage of you winning is," the woman said matter-of-factly while Yuri looked at the items. Yuri slowly grinned.

"Is it zero?" Yuri asked. Making the woman in the mask frown behind said mask. Yuri quickly strapped her weapons to her pants as well as hr holster to her leg. She picked up one of the ration pills. "Excuse me?" the woman asked as Yuri crunched on one of the pills. Yuri could feel her chakra rushing back into her body. She then ate the second one, the chakra felt like a raging inferno in response to the anger in Yuri's heart.

"Nii-chan always told me… 'If I even have a .1 percent change of winning then that's all I need.' So long as it isn't zero…I will win," Yuri said with a small grin as she stood to her feet. The woman closed her eyes and sighed. "Truly a stubborn child stuck in her ways. I will make sure you learn this lesson with your death," The woman said as her sword was coated by that same mysterious fire that Yuri had faced with last time. Yuri took out a kunai and held it firmly.

"Do I at least get to know my supposed killer's name before I die?" Yuri asked with a hint of sarcasm. The woman looked at her for a moment before she chuckled behind her mask. She raised her hand to her face before she took off the mask and threw it into the lava. She watched it burn until nothingness. "Tokiwa, a name I had forsaken long ago after my disgrace. Now than you know my name I will teach you the true meaning in our cause," Tokiwa said as her sword was steadied.

Yuri glanced back to see Ichi and Ni form some sort of combat stance as well. Yuri tightened her grip over her kunai. As the lava bubbled around them, Yuri snorted with one thought. "Nii-chan, you are SO fucking me when this is over," Yuri thought to herself.

-x-

Naruto really didn't know where he was it was cloudy that was for sure. The weight of the…whiteness seemed to weigh over his consciousness. Naruto and Kushina had been waiting to execute the plan as far as Naruto had known, but then somewhere along the line they had to have blanked out. Still Naruto didn't know how he had gotten here or even how he could leave. He could actually feel the strands of his consciousness being pulled in this white space. He actually thought this place could have pulled him away into nothingness if it actually tried. "How do I get out of here?!" Naruto asked at the white space.

"You idiot. I know you haven't been here in a while, but I don't think you would forget me so easily. How rude!" Naruto heard a deep voice speak. He turned his head and noticed a white dragon with several heads looking down at him. "Mōryō!" Naruto called out quickly in surprise making the dragon snort.

"That would be my name. As for why you're in here well you should have me to thank for that. The bastard Nine Tails and myself are the only ones keeping you connected to the physical realm right now," Mōryō said making Naruto blink in surprise. What was happening to him?! "What do you mean? Am I being spirited away or something?! Am I going to lose my legs and arms?! What's gonna happened to me?!" Naruto asked as he ran circles around the once demon dragon. Mōryō watched his summoner run around him while he frantically scratched his blonde hair. At the moment Mōryō was truly wondering if he made the right choice in giving up his Thousand-Year Kingdom ambition for…this. But then again, the human known as Uzumaki Naruto was a surprising individual when he had to be.

"Quite your squirming. It's unsightly. However you're right to be concerned. I feel the presence of another Shinju coming soon. However unlike me I do believe that you should not attempt to tame this one," he said making Naruto surprised. "Another one? But I don't have a headache like I did with you. I don't even feel my Honshou being drained," Naruto said while one of Mōryō's heads turned to the side.

"Well to answer that, the first reason would be because I was intentionally doing those things to you. Keep in mind I hated the thought of being controlled by you so it was pretty easy to synchronize with your Honshou and suck you dry leaving you a husk on the ground. The headaches were supposed to help with that," Mōryō said with a small toothy grin. Naruto glared at the dragon, but to his credit Mōryō didn't shy away from the gaze. Instead he cleared his throat.

"I feel that each of the Shinju can have an effect on you that doesn't have to be physical. What it's doing to you is most likely spiritual or even mental," he said, but Naruto widened his eyes. "My powers!" Naruto said as he recalled when he couldn't use the Jikūyugami or even the Kukanyugami to make an escape. That was supposed to be his Shinju contacting him?!

"That is most likely the cause. They are canceling out your ability to properly use Honshou. However that has nothing to do with your current situation. Right now, you and your mother…mate…whatever you call her, are being drained of your essence. If this doesn't stop then you will die…again, but the difference here is that your soul will inhabit another body keeping the Shinigami from resurrecting you. You really are a troublesome summoner," Mōryō said while Naruto pouted and folded his arms.

"Make no mistake brat, you are only going to get one chance to make it out of this alive. Kyuubi and I are going to overload the machine you are in and allow you to escape. Your sword is sitting next to the door. Kill the person who has you hostage in one instant and then escape. Kyuubi and I can only get your powers working for that short time until you meet with your Shinju," Mōryō said to which Naruto nodded. "You got it Mōryō, I'll definitely get us all out of this dattebayo!" Naruto said with a small grin. The dragon looked at Naruto for a moment before he snorted.

"Yeah, whatever you say brat. Just get out of my presence now!" Mōryō said before ejecting Naruto from the white space. Mōryō turned his head to look behind himself. He noticed his body starting to fade away. "Hurry and get out of this cavern brat," Mōryō said to the white space.

Outside, Naruto groaned as he opened his eyes. His vision was hazy, but he was on a table of some sort. "Hehehehe just a little longer my King. Just a little longer before we reroute your power through the tubes and into the mountain. When the caverns erupt your power will spill into its hot flames destroying and resurrecting all life as we know it. This is a glorious day!" Naruto heard someone speak through his muffled ears. The light that was in his eyes was a small headache to wake up to, but Naruto looked down to find himself strapped to a table. He quickly looked up and noticed a woman typing something furiously with a mad grin in her eyes. Naruto turned his head and gasped when he saw Kushina sleeping on a table next to him.

"Mountain? Hot flames? What the hell is she talking about?!" Naruto thought to himself before he tried to move his arms. He could feel the power being drained from his body. Naruto cursed. It felt like his entire existence was being sucked away. "Oi Naruto, do it now while you have the time! You won't get a second shot!" Naruto heard Kyuubi say before nodding. With as much strength as Naruto could muster. He groaned, he strained, he panted, and he grunted as he forced the power from his body in exceeding bursts.

"Energy reserves increasing by twenty percent! This is amazing! How much power does our King have? W-Wait…thirty percent, forty percent, fifty percent…w-what's going on here?!" the person said before they turned around and noticed Naruto straining his body as the Honshou bursted from his body and into the tubes. "No, this is too fast! He'll break the tubes! Is it too much?!" the person asked themselves before the rushed over to Naruto's table.

"My King! You have to calm down! You're going to end us all before your purpose is recognized!" The person shouted as Naruto strained even tighter. Alarms went off as the person turned back to see smoke coming from the tubes. They gasped as the tubes cracked and the lights flickered on and off. The bulbs quickly snapped raining glass shards to the floor. "Shit, I guess I have no other options," they said as they ran to the computer. They quickly typed in a code before the machine stopped. Naruto fell to his table. His strapped unfastened.

"My King, are you okay? It's your loyal servant, Akki. We can't have you in too much pain. I'll have you rest for a bit," Akki said as she moved a hand through Naruto's hair. However, suddenly she stopped. She gasped as her hand started shaking. The reason they were shaking was because Naruto was looking at her, fury evident in his eyes. "Uhhh hello My King! Are you okay?" Akki asked as Naruto glared harshly at her. He grabbed her arm and leaned up.

"Kukanyugami no Jutsu," Naruto said as time, itself, froze in place. Naruto gently leaned himself from the table before moving slowly through the room. His body was a tad sluggish, but he would make do with a couple minutes of walking. Naruto moved to the door and grabbed his sword. He then turned back to the woman who was froze in place. It was suffice to say that Naruto…was not in a great mood right now. His eyes glowed with the pure white flames of Honshou as he held his sword in the air. He vanished in a burst of speed before reappearing at his mother's table. "Let's get you out of there Kaa-chan," Naruto said as he willed for time to resume. Akki glanced towards Naruto to see him undo the straps on his mother.

"My King! You can't do that! Our cause! We need you bo….," Akki stopped when she noticed blood on her hand. She looked up and noticed Naruto glaring back at her. "I will make sure Shin makes you suffer eternal torment," Naruto promised as Akki's head dropped from her shoulders and to the ground. Swiftly her fingers followed, then her hands, then her arms, then her shoulders, and then her legs. Her everything dropped to the ground in a pool of blood as Naruto picked up Kushina. The Red Death mumbled in his arms. Naruto gently leaned forward and placed a kiss to his mother's lips. Kushina let out a cough before resting.

Turning around, Naruto made his way for the door. He grabbed his mother's sword before taking one last look to the machines that had strapped them down. Naruto grabbed his sword. "Uzu no Fukushū: Dai Uzumaki Ikari," Naruto shouted as he slammed his sword on the ground releasing water that quickly formed into projectiles that crashed into the room exploding and destroying it. Naruto watched the ensuing explosions before he closed the door and took off running through the halls.

Naruto huffed and huffed as he carried his mother through the unknown halls. It had been probably over a month and he had only recently learned about some of the layout of the cavern maze thanks to the time that he and his mother had used Tōka Senju to find Yuri. Naruto had gotten a good general layout, but right now it was a point that he couldn't afford to have at the moment.

Turning a corner, Naruto noticed the piles of deceased. He then looked into the air noticing the spirits quickly flying through the ceiling. Quickly Naruto stood before them. "Any of you who know how to get out of here, tell me now!" Naruto ordered. The spirits quickly stopped moving and glanced to him. "Yes Shikyō-sama," They said without hesitation. Naruto watched as about ten spirits flew off in a separate direction. Naruto quickly followed them as they turned a right corner. Naruto followed them as fast as he could. His eyes glanced to the left as he heard an explosion coming from one of the hallways. Naruto cursed to himself. "Where is everyone else? Did they escape?" Naruto asked aloud to none in particular. Suddenly Naruto heard a crack, staring at the ceiling he noticed thousands of rocks and stones beginning to fall to the ground. Naruto covered Kushina's body as he ran through the halls. The spirits then took a left, Naruto slid in the mud, but took a turn as well.

"This way, come on! We're almost out! Keep pace!" Naruto looked forward and gasped as he saw a multitude of people rushing through the halls. The three girls leading them were actually a surprise too. Naruto stared at the woman in the middle. Her orange hair seemed so recognizable, but when Naruto and the woman stared into each other's eyes, it was almost instant recognition as the woman smiled. "I figured we'd run into you at some point Naruto-san!" Naruto heard the woman say as the others looked up to see the blond running for them.

"Yo Sasame! How have you been?" Naruto asked skidding to a halt. Sasame grinned while Amaru blinked. So this that was what Uzumaki Naruto looked like. Kotohime grinned as she waved before the multitude slowed to a stop. "Been trying to escape. Yuri decided to go try and help other people, something about a plan or operation. Right now we're just trying to get to the surface," Sasame replied. Naruto quickly nodded before everyone felt the cavern shake.

"Ummm not to be rude but I would like to continue this conversation at a later time and place where we won't get flattened!" Kotohime remarked making Naruto and Sasame blush. "But you guys are going this way? There is only a dead end this way," Naruto told them. Sasame and Amaru widened their eyes while Kotohime's face turned red as she suddenly found the cave wall interesting. Sasame and Amaru sent her a small glare.

"I guess we took a wrong turn somewhere," Amaru said while Sasame folded her arms. "Come on and follow me, I know how to get out of here!" Naruto said as he ran past the group before Sasame could even ask how he had this information. Many in the multitude glared at the young man, but right now they had to get out so they were willing to leave him alone for now.

Naruto, Sasame, Kotohime, and Amaru quickly took a right turn with the mob and continued on running through the maze like halls. Sasame glanced at Naruto and noticed him looking at the ceiling multiple times, but she couldn't figure out why. As Naruto took a left turn, the others followed him. Sasame looked down and noticed the unconscious woman in Naruto's arms. She then looked back up at Naruto before chuckling. "You really haven't changed at all," Sasame thought to herself as they quickly came heard more talking.

"Guren-san, I think we should tread cautiously. This place is becoming unstable!" A voice that filled Naruto with a touch of happiness and joy came out saying. Naruto couldn't resist the bright grin on his face as he shouted. "Yura-chan!" Naruto called out from the caverns.

Yura, Guren and Shi looked at the three separate entrances. "Maybe the left one?" Shi asked. Guren placed a finger to her chin. "I think the middle one might be more viable for us than the two on the side. What do you think Yura?" Guren asked as Yura stood up from kneeling on the wet ground.

"Guren-san, I think we should tread cautiously. This place is becoming unstable!" Yura said before she turned and heard fast footsteps coming for her location. "Yura-chan!" Yura heard a familiar voice break through the noise of the cavern. Yura widened her eyes as did Guren and Shi. Yura would know that voice anywhere. That was…

"Nii-san!" Yura called out to the left most tunnel. The thunderous footsteps grew even louder and the team of three watched as a mass of blonde hair exploded from the room with nearly hundreds of captives behind him. Guren widened her eyes as did Shi when the people stopped. Yura quickly ran up to Naruto before shocking most of the denizens as she claimed his lips. Naruto was even surprised by the amount of lust Yura actually placed into the kiss. Was that her tongue? Seriously?! However Naruto couldn't deny he found the friction and tenderness of Yura's lips inviting.

Quickly Guren cleared her throat ending the kiss between Yura and Naruto which both felt a little flushed after the ordeal. Guren and Shi quickly moved up as Guren patted Naruto's shoulder. "Glad to see you're doing alright Naruto, but we'll have to set aside the pleasantries for now. Run down the situation for me," Guren said and Naruto quickly nodded. He told Guren as much as he could about the organization and its goals involving him and his mother. He also told her about what he had seen on the computer screen and this wasn't filling Guren with the most optimum of confidence right now. "I see," Guren said making Naruto nod one more time.

Guren looked down and noticed Kushina in Naruto's arms, unconscious. "Looks like you guys had it rough. Well you guys are safe now. Come with us," Guren said, but to everyone's surprise Naruto shook his head. "Sorry Guren-san, but you're going to have to take Kaa-chan and the other captives out of here. I still have to find Yuri-chan and the rest of my teammates!" Naruto said. Yura widened her eyes for a moment as did Guren.

"Yuri's down here?! We were on a mission to find Yuri, Shizune-san, and Ebisu-san. We came here because Kakashi-san alerted us that you needed help," Yura said. Naruto blinked. It was possible that Shizune and Ebisu were down in the caverns as well? Naruto balled his fist.

"Guren-san, can you guide the others to the surface? I'll go back and try to get everyone else before anything else happens," Naruto quickly replied. Guren glanced at the mob before glancing down to the unconscious Kushina in Naruto's arms. She then looked at Naruto before turning to Shi. "Shi grab Kushina, Yura help me guide the others up the stairs. Naruto, continue searching for survivors. But you have one hour! If you can't find anyone…then we have to assume the worst. Get it done!" Guren said. Naruto gave a quick salute before he dashed back into the cave halls.

"Alright people, any of you want to see the light of the sun then you'd better follow us!" Guren said and the people cheered as Yura watched Naruto vanish. Yura suddenly shivered. She had forgotten to mention that an Akatsuki member was roaming down in the caves! "Yura, come on!" Guren said. Yura glanced back to Guren before looking back into the caves.

"Be careful Nii-san," Yura said before turning around and helping guide the people up the stairs. Sasame, Amaru, and Kotohime swiftly helped with the efforts to guide everyone out as fast as possible.

-x-

Mikoto and Komachi uncovered their eyes as the blinding light vanished away. Opening them, they gasped as they saw a wall of paper, ice, and flame stood between them and the blast. However those was only the second surprise when Mikoto was staring into the eyes of Sasuke. "You seem to be having a rough time," Sasuke said. Mikoto glanced back to her beaten shovel before chuckling. "Having next to no chakra will do that to you. Glad to see you're alright," Mikoto said as Sasuke handed his mother her sword from the weapons' room he had found. Mikoto looked at her blade before dropping the shovel. She grabbed its handle.

"Ah, I wasn't expecting more guests. I guess that's what I get letting my guard down. Hey, how are you doing M…," Ranmaru didn't get a chance to finish talking as Mu was slammed into the stone wall making Ranmaru widen his eyes. The boy turned back and watched the smoke clear revealing Zabuza and Haku standing together. However Zabuza had an arm around Haku for leverage. The side of his face look incredibly beaten and the blood that fell down Zabuza's arm was enough cause for Haku to worry, but she stared at Ranmaru defiantly. Kakashi and Yugao quickly tended to Shinnō who was in the corner watching the fight happen.

"Careful Sasuke, I can sense your reserves too. You're actually lower than I am right now," Mikoto advised. Sasuke turned back to Ranmaru and cracked his neck before snorting. "If you know what's good for you, you will give up right now. I'll show you how much your little philosophy has changed me," Sasuke said pointing his blade at the face of Ranmaru. The small boy chuckled.

"You're funny Sasuke-san! A bluff like that won't work on me, I know you're so close to no chakra that you would pass out if given the chance. I have nothing to fear from you," Ranmaru said from his place in the air. Sasuke took a step forward before standing aside Konan.

"Are you going to back me up or not?" Sasuke asked as Konan stared at the floating Ranmaru. Sasuke looked at her out of the corner of his eye and he noticed Konan slowly begin to expand herself into an array of paper that began to spread into the air. "I have been working with people I had thought I wouldn't ever work with. I don't have the time to worry about it right now, now do I?" Konan asked as she quickly formed paper wings on her backside. She moved behind Sasuke and pulled him into the air.

"Sasuke, be careful Konan is expending chakra as well to keep that form!" Karin warned. Naturally Sasuke didn't think she had to shout that, but he was aware of it. However Konan was a member of the Akatsuki and the Akatsuki were S-rank criminals, he had hoped that her chakra hadn't been drained too much. "You won't slow me down will you?" Sasuke asked as he held his sword.

"Just do what you can and I will do what I can. That is all," she said while Sasuke gave a nod of his own. However everyone was surprised when a shadow loomed over Sasuke and Konan's form. "Ne'ter of ya is doin' anyt'ing while I'm alive!" Both looked up and noticed Mu over them with his large sword. Zabuza cursed for a second as he had been too distracted to notice.

"Haku, throw me!" Zabuza said urgently. Haku looked in surprise. "But Zabuza-sama, you're injured!" Haku said. Zabuza growled before looking back up, but everyone was surprise as Mikoto slammed her foot into Mu's face sending him into the ground. Ranmaru widened his eyes as Mikoto landed to the ground. Her sword slowly began flowing with chakra.

"I didn't want to have to use this just yet, but I guess I have no other options," Mikoto said before pointing her sword towards Mu as the man rubbed his cheek angrily. "From the very beginning of this sword's creation it was designed for chakra preservation. Over the many wielders who have used it it has taken a portion of their chakra day by day. There is enough chakra in this blade for the next half an hour. I will teach you in the ways of the Uchiha, Mu-san," Mikoto said with a glare as her sharingan came alive.

"Hehe I will enjoy makin ya screech ya lil beetch!" Mu said as he held his sword at his side. Mikoto glared at him before moving back to the others. "Zabuza, Haku, Karin, Komachi, get everyone to safety. Kakashi and Yugao will back you up, but head to the surface and rescue any survivors that you come across. That's what you want, right Mu-san? A true fight?" Mikoto asked. Mu snickered as the white flames surrounded his body. The flames slowly began to spread around his body. Mikoto held her sword tightly.

"What about you, Sasuke-san and Konan-san, Mikoto-san?!" Yugao asked in alarm. Yugao knew first hand just how powerful these individuals were and to have her teammates face them without any type of support wasn't something that she wanted. Mikoto smirked as Mu stepped to her. She took a small step back, but tightened her defenses. "Yugao, you and Kakashi are still injured. You're only liable to be targets. Right now we need as many people to get away as possible. This isn't up for debate!" Mikoto warned.

Yugao snarled for a second before she sighed with a nod of her head. Kakashi patted her shoulder. Yugao glanced towards him and he firmly nodded. Yugao gave a nod of her own before grabbing Shinnō arm. "Come with us Shinnō-san. We'll get you out of here!" Yugao said. Shinnō hesitantly agreed before getting to his feet. Haku quickly moved to pick up Kakashi. Having both Kakashi and Zabuza to hang on her, Haku swiftly began to move while Komachi and Karin moved for the path to the opposing door.

"I hope you all realize, the only reason why we aren't stopping you is merely because you know it's futile. Mu-san and I will catch up with you in a little bit and we promise to show you the heads of these three that dare defy our King and our cause. We will meet up with you soon," Ranmaru said waving from his place in the air with a wide smile. Sasuke and Konan narrowed their eyes before everyone noticed Yugao suck her teeth and run up to Mikoto. The two glanced to each other for a second before Yugao pulled out her sword. Mikoto watched the glimmering steel before Yugao held it in front of the Uchiha. Mikoto looked down at the blade before looking at Yugao.

"I like this sword. I would hate for it to get lost down here," Yugao said with a small smirk. Mikoto couldn't help it and loosened her stance to let out a chuckle. "No one wants to lose their things I guess," Mikoto said as she took the blade into her opposing hand. Yugao nodded before giving a nod to Sasuke. Sasuke gave an unnoticed smirk of his own as Yugao ran back to her group. Haku, Zabuza, Kakashi, Shinnō, Komachi, Karin, and Yugao vanished into the cavern hallways leaving Mikoto, Sasuke, and Konan to deal with their two adversaries. Mikoto glared back at Mu.

As opposed to her single-sword stance, she quickly formed a standard Uchiha dual-sword stance. "Yer prep'ations complete?" Mu asked with an almost insane grin on his face. Mikoto took a small breath before grinning. "Hai, all the preparations for your death have been completed," Mikoto said while Mu cackled. Swiftly he charged at Mikoto.

Meanwhile, Sasuke turned back to Konan. "Still got enough chakra?" Sasuke asked. Konan never took her eyes off Ranmaru. "I will be sure to inform you when I am about to run out," Konan responded. Sasuke didn't respond. He just glared back at Ranmaru. The young boy dropped his hands to his side. From his fingertips came the white flames that Mikoto had seen on Mu. Yet as Sasuke, Konan and Mikoto watched this all go down they could finally understand it. They could understand that they…couldn't…sense…anything.

-x-

In the magma chamber, located deep underneath the caverns, a hard grunt was heard as Yuri blocked a kick from Ichi. She turned to her right and noticed Ni quickly let out a punch for her face. Yuri swiftly ducked underneath the punch before swiping a kick for Ichi's feet. Ichi jumped over her leg with ease, but Ichi missed Yuri's smirk as Yuri swirled on her hands. Outstretching her legs, she kicked Ni and Ichi simultaneously forcing both back away from her. However Yuri wasn't given the chance to relax just yet as Yuri leaned her back far enough for her hand to touch the earth as a slash of the white, illuminating fire blazed past her face and into the wall dropping rocks into the scorching lava all around her.

She glared at Tokiwa before she noticed Ichi and Ni coming for her again. Yuri quickly backflipped to the edge of the rock platform she was drifting on before she slammed her hands together. "Katon: Uzu no Hō( Fire Release: Whirlpool's Phoenix)," Yuri called out releasing a torrent of flames from her mouth that quickly split off in three separate directions on the platform. Each flame made its way for her three targets. Ichi and Ni watched the incoming flames before they jumped into the air. Yuri grinned at the sight before she formed another handsign. The fires suddenly converged into one flame making their way for Tokiwa. The woman watched the flames coming before holding her sword into the air.

"Reiton: Henshoku( Spirit Release: Discoloration)," Tokiwa said in almost a whisper as she held out her hand. Yuri was stunned as a mass of white light beamed from her hand before colliding with Yuri's orange flames. The beam of light dispersed the flames so easily as it forced Yuri to duck avoiding the shot. Yuri took a deep breath before reaching into her pouch. She quickly flung two kunai at the woman before carefully dodging Ichi and Ni as they slammed into the ground with their feet making it crack. Yuri backed in surprise before steeling her gaze at both Ichi and Ni. She sucked in her leg and with the built up power from their suspension, she blasted towards both puppets. Yuri quickly jumped over Ichi by grabbing their head and proceeded to kick Ni straight in the jaw forcing them off the platform and into the bubbling lava. However Ni quickly surprised Yuri when they backflipped to the wall and ran along the ceiling before coming back down.

Yuri jumped off Ichi and landed. She took a calming breath. "Tch! I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but this is a lot harder than I thought," Yuri said to herself as she watched Ichi look at her cautiously. Ni was doing the same only much closer to Tokiwa who seemed to be looking at Yuri with a look that Yuri could only akin to disappointment. "You didn't truly believe that you could defeat the three of us. You could hardly defeat me that month ago that we fought. I wouldn't truly call it a fight either," Tokiwa said making Yuri snort.

"Well it doesn't matter. You are merely delaying the inevitable. Like a child attempts to delay their growing up or when a person realizes they are about to die and do just about anything to prolong their lives. Why are you resisting this much? Why do you resist the truth when it means the salvation of everyone?" Tokiwa asked. Yuri quickly stood. "Because I don't like you. That is all. You think its that simple? You really think Nii-chan would revive just for the sake of your goals? That isn't the man I love. No matter how right you might you are, it's no right to force it on others!" Yuri said before quickly shifting back into her taijutsu stance. Tokiwa gave Yuri a look before closing her eyes. She took a step forward.

A loud bang reverberated through the magma chamber. Yuri widened her eyes as she found Tokiwa's fist buried deep in her stomach. "I-I didn't even see her move," Yuri thought to herself as her body slammed into the ground. "That was a forceful shut down of one of your chakra nodes. No where nearly as effective as the Hyuuga clan, but it gets the job done," Tokiwa said as Yuri struggled to breath. She watched Tokiwa take another step before she suddenly appeared behind Ichi and Ni.

"This isn't teleporting…this is…just speed," Yuri thought to herself. She glared up at Tokiwa hazily. Grunting heavily, she forced herself onto her feet. As she stood to her feet, Yuri could feel the red chakra slowly beginning to coat her body. Tokiwa looked on, unimpressed by the sight. "So you would bring out your bijuu once again. Very well, I will teach it the same lesson too; that offering one's life for their cause means makes the world grow up!" Tokiwa said while Yuri sprouted a red tail from her backside. Her eyes narrowed and her nails lengthened.

"I'm gonna wake you up from that illusion!" Yuri said before she roared shocking the area of the chamber. Ichi and Ni quickly assumed their fighting stances. Hot steam escaped Yuri's mouth before she dashed across the platform. She then followed by jumping into the air. She brought her fist back. Ichi brought up their hands to block the attack, but Yuri growled as she slammed her fist into their block easily breaking it before slamming her fist into their gut. With a mighty roar Yuri launched Ichi across the ground and to the feet of Tokiwa. Ni turned back to her before Yuri glared at them as well. Ni flung a kunai, but Yuri's tail effortlessly blocked before she vanished in a burst of speed. She grabbed Ni's mask before she grinned Ni into the dirt of the platform. Expertly she then twisted her leg and unleashed a kick to Ni's side propelling them to Tokiwa as well. Tokiwa narrowed her eyes while Yuri stared at the woman with her own. Tokiwa's blade flew up in white light. Yuri's right arm reddened.

In a flash of speed, Ichi and Ni covered their faces as Yuri and Tokiwa instantly appeared in front of each other as a shockwave erupted forcing a portion of the lava away from the platform. Yuri held Tokiwa's blade n her reddened hand. Tokiwa strained her sword against Yuri's body before she swept Yuri off her feet with a sweep kick. However Yuri quickly righted herself as her tail pushed up against the ground. With the adding power, Yuri launched her fist for Tokiwa's face, but it was easily countered as Tokiwa through Yuri over her arm. Yuri flipped through the air before rolling her arm back. Swiftly she launched her red chakra arm at Tokiwa. Being on the edge of the platform, Tokiwa brought up her sword for defense. Yuri's hand slammed into the sword forcing Tokiwa back to where her feet could just barely stay from the lava edge. Yuri growled while Tokiwa frowned for a moment. Instantaneously, Tokiwa appeared behind Yuri making the jinchuuriki snarl as she brought up her tail. The tail blocked a blade strike from Tokiwa as the two landed on the ground. A Suiton jutsu would have been perfect here, but Yuri had to admit that with the surrounding environment it would have dried up too fast. Cursing, Yuri slammed her hands together.

"Doton: Hiketsu Heya no Jutsu(Earth Release: Chamber of Secrets Technique)," Yuri said and Tokiwa quickly noticed a large stone chamber appear behind her, Ichi and Ni. She quickly turned back to Yuri who was forming another set of handsigns. "Katon: Hōkakyu( Fire Release: Phoenix Fireball)," Yuri blowing a streaming fire for Tokiwa and the two puppets. Ichi and Ni quickly moved in front of Tokiwa before they slammed their hands on the ground. Yuri watched as a seal appeared before a door appeared. The door opened releasing white flames that quickly met with Yuri's. The white flames easily overpowered Yuri's technique. Yuri snarled before she pushed more chakra into the Katon technique. The orange and white flames danced around each other, but Tokiwa raised an eyebrow when the orange flames suddenly began to overpower the white flames. The flames were so close, Tokiwa could feel them on her skin. She quickly grabbed her sword and coated it in white light. Tokiwa slashed at the coming flames before easily dispersing them, however Tokiwa had to have been surprised from the look on her face as Yuri came from the other side of the flames. Her fist cocked back she swiftly slammed it into Tokiwa's face before landing on the ground.

Huffing, Yuri growled, irritation easily noticeable on her face. "Are you satisfied? That you, a child, were able to bear her fangs at me, a parent? I hope you aren't satisfied with that," Tokiwa said as she grabbed Yuri's hand. Yuri gasped and jerked her arm, but she found she couldn't move it. On the platform, Yuri struggled and struggled to free herself from Tokiwa's grip, but found it impossible to do so.

As Yuri attempted to free herself she found herself…getting cold. She huffed as her body seemed to be freezing. She felt like she was drifting away or better yet, fading away. She felt so cold. It was like her body was trying to cling to any forms of warmth that she could get. She suddenly shivered before looking up. "You are feeling it. The true essence of your soul drifting away into my possession. You feel the cold embrace of death over your body. You are losing all sense of touch from having your spirit energy drained. A fitting way to die for an ignorant child," Tokiwa said as she continued to suck away at Yuri's spirit.

"Let go of…me!" Yuri shouted as she tried to punch with her other hand, but she found Ni had grabbed and restrained it easily. She also watched as her red cloak slowly began to vanish. Yuri felt so could she could actually see her breath in a hot lava chamber. She slowly fell to her knees. "This…is what it means to die," Tokiwa said before Yuri glared left and then right. She closed her eyes.

They say that when you are about to fully drown, you are first consumed by a state of panic. Of course, no matter what human it was, people could only go a few seconds without oxygen. Yuri actually remembered her lesson on that from Zabuza. Holding one's breath didn't necessarily count as going with oxygen. A person could keep oxygen in their body by limiting the amount of energy that the expelled from their body helping to increase their time while under the fluid. However eventually the brain would start to become affected. In short, it would have something of a systematic shutdown. Oxygen to the brain stopped and the brain would slowly collapse on itself from the additional water. From this pressure, if one opened their eyes then they would begin to see subtle hallucinations. The lights would be brighter from the reflection of the water and the pupils. Moreover, the lungs would constrict grasping and grasping for air. Humans naturally exhaled carbon dioxide, but in trying to conserve as much oxygen as possible the built up carbon dioxide would accumulate in the body forcing the person to want to breath more. That was…stage one.

Stage two, the person breathed in the water grasping for oxygen. However with no oxygen the body's response was to lock the throat to keep it from getting more. From this lock came also a lock of the muscles or becoming rigidity. As the remaining water left the throat to the stomach it slowly began to flood everything else. Then…there was stage three. Stage three, known as Death's Embrace, was when the person slipped into unconsciousness. This unconscious would fester and persist as you sunk into a watery grave, never to open your eyes again.

That's right, this felt like nothing more than drowning. The feeling of not being able to breath. The feeling of going unconscious. That sleepy feeling that makes you want to succumb to death. That is all this way.

"D-D-Dōdenshō (Conductive Shock)," Yuri shouted as she forced her chakra to expel. Tokiwa groaned as her body was shocked violently by Yuri's technique. Ni spasmed from the electric shock as Yuri shouted even louder. The shock quickly began to crack the ground as Ichi covered their eyes. Tokiwa quickly let go of Yuri's hand and jumped away while Ni fell to the ground in a hectic spasm. Yuri panted as she fell down, the sweat dripping down her face. "A last resort technique. Was that your last attempt to make a miracle happen?" Tokiwa asked. However she watched the familiar cloak slowly begin to surround Yuri's body once again. A second tail quickly formed, the only thing keep Yuri connected to her consciousness and not give in to the rage was her absolute knowledge that if she let this woman go then all her family was dead. Yuri would keep this woman where she could see her.

Before she could even register Tokiwa, Yuri glanced back and noticed Ni get back to their feet though she could see the scar marks on their arm. Yuri turned back to Tokiwa. "The only ones that are going to feel death are you and your organization. I will not let you use Nii-chan as you like!" Yuri said. Tokiwa's face was even for a moment before she appeared in front of Yuri. Yuri didn't move and stared at Tokiwa, the two glared at each other for a moment. Tokiwa raised her knee to Yuri's chin, but Yuri quickly blocked it with her hands. Yuri then spun in the air sending her foot for Tokiwa's face. Tokiwa effortlessly blocked the kick forcing Yuri to growl. Yuri flipped over Tokiwa and backflipped away. Her chakra flared. Tokiwa took her stance.

With a loud roar, Yuri dashed hard enough to leave a dent in the platform before rushing for Tokiwa. She shouted as her rolled back her fist, Tokiwa swung her blade down. Yuri's cloak-covered fist slammed into the blade as Yuri snarled. "You think you have the right to decide if someone lives and if someone dies? You claim you hate the rich and powerful for messing up the lives of regular people, but you're not making it any better!" Yuri cried as her chakra hardened. Tokiwa slightly opened her eyes as she found herself pushed back.

"We are not messing people lives! We are correcting human behavior! Human might the decision of they should die or live everyday!" Tokiwa raised her voice as the light from her sword glowed even brighter. Yuri growled as the ground beneath their feet quickly started to crack. "Is that what you tell yourself to sleep at night?! You say we all have the same blood. That no one is different from anyone else! Then you should correct everyone's behavior, not just the nobles! You're just a coward who used a terrorist tactic to get what her organization wanted which is the slaughtering of millions under the guise of peace!" The clash of Tokiwa's sword and Yuri's claws resounded through the cavern. Yuri swung and swung while Tokiwa parried each shot that she could. The ground at their feet cracked and rumbled. Tokiwa quickly flashed away from Yuri's onslaught. Tokiwa appeared on the other side of the platform while Yuri glared at her.

"Reiton: Seintan Issen: Shō Giri( Spirit Release: Insane Edge Single Point: Palm Slash)," Tokiwa said before she faded away and blinked in front of Yuri. She quickly let out a series of slashes over Yuri's form. Yuri jumped, dodged, and rolled across the ground as the heat of the cave warmed her body. The slashes were so fast she could barely even follow them correctly, but she could feel her body predicting where they would happen. She could…see the flow of spiritual energy around Tokiwa's blade as she continued to dodge each strike. Tokiwa swung her sword and Yuri ducked underneath it watched as the slash left a large indent on the walls of the lava chamber. Yuri quickly spun on her hands and let out her foot to a kick at Tokiwa's chin. Tokiwa effortlessly blocked and and grabbed Yuri's leg. Yuri yelped as she was dragged across the ground. Yuri snarled once she was tossed into the air. She floated over head before glaring downward. "Humans make their own future! It's why we live each day as if it were our last. It's why I treasure Nii-chan and the rest of my family because even if I die the moments I have shared with them all will never be taken away from me! Don't underestimate my will to believe in my family!" Yuri shouted as she slammed her hands together. Tokiwa's blade swiftly glowed.

"Katon: Gōryuka no Jutsu( Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique)," Yuri shouted as she fired five large flaming dragon heads to Ichi, Ni and Tokiwa. The woman held up her sword as she glared at Yuri. "A little girl's foolishness will never be able to change the world," Tokiwa said before she swung her blade. Yuri watched in surprise as the flames dispersed into nothingness as she landed to the ground. Tokiwa stared at Yuri before closing her eyes. Yuri snarled before her legs buckled. She fell to the ground and huffed.

"A reckless endeavor. You do remember that in conjunction with using chakra this cave was also sapping you of your power source as well. I have never seen anyone run through their chakra as much as you have. Of course the backlash would hit you after a couple of jutsu and a near death experience. You say that humans make their own future? Humans treasure each other's memories?" Tokiwa asked as she stood over a gasping Yuri. Tokiwa glared down at Yuri before raising her foot and winding it backward.

Yuri cried as Tokiwa kicked her in the stomach sending her crashing into the opposite side of the platform. Yuri coughed before she cried again as Tokiwa kicked her in the side. Yuri could feel the pressure of Tokiwa's foot on her body as her muscles and skin groaned for release. "You know nothing of future or memories. Rakūyo Chūmon is not a kind group, but we are the group that the world needs! The world needs to grow up from what it has hidden itself in for so long. You know what that is?" Tokiwa asked as Yuri huffed. Tokiwa knelt down and picked Yuri up by the her collar.

"That is the false illusion of strengthened individuality!" Tokiwa said as she slammed Yuri into the ground. Yuri felt her breath escape her body from the sudden shock as she landed on the hot rock. Tokiwa walked over her. "I can become this. I can become that. I will do this. I will do that. It's never a 'we can become this' or 'we can become that.' You would rather hold to your individuality even if it meant watching the world burn!" Tokiwa said harshly.

"You think having someone child shows a dedicating love to them? You are just doing as your nature intended, procreating. There is nothing in love about that! Being born in this world is nothing more than a failure for us. When this world is broken, everyone will be united. Death will become resurrection and no one will fear death. The killing will stop, no more will it be the 'I.' It will only be the 'we.'" Tokiwa said as Yuri coughed.

"Yeah? And who did you sacrifice for this little dream of yours? You want people to be united, but as far as I can tell your people aren't anywhere around you dattebayen!" Yuri coughed as Tokiwa looked down at her. "That's because they are all resting, waiting, hoping, for the day when I will revive Nadeshiko from the terror that befell it. Even in my former village is waiting to greet me with open arms," Tokiwa said making Yuri chuckled badly. She coughed over her broken ribs.

"I feel sad for a woman like you…not know the true love like I do dattebayen! There is no one waiting for you. Actually if I could see them all now…they would be looking ad you with nothing, but disdain and disappointment," Yuri said. Tokiwa closed her eyes and chuckled for once. "I truly think for once I have heard enough of what you have to say Yuri-san. Somewhere in my mind I always knew it was a mistake to let you live. I will correct that mistake and I will leave you with absolutely no chakra at the end of this. I will disperse you chakra to the air in this chamber, never to return to your body." Tokiwa said before she looked at Ichi and Ni.

"Ichi, Ni…what is 500 minus seven? Don't break count!" Tokiwa said. Yuri growled as Ichi and Ni advanced to her. Once they spoke, Yuri almost felt like she could cry…they sounded…broken. "493…486…479…472," They said at the same time as they grabbed Yuri's battered form and held her up. Yuri punched Ichi's face as best she could, but Ichi barely cared about the punch and settled for holding Yuri. Yuri slumped and panted as Tokiwa stood on the other side of the platform. "Any last words before you die Yuri-san?" Tokiwa asked. Yuri growled.

"You'll be joining me soon enough!" Yuri coughed out as blood poured from her mouth. "Defiant to the end. A trait worthy of any Uzumaki. Reiton: Mugen Kūgeki Shin'en: Kaitai( Spirit Release: Endless Void Abyss: Deconstruction)," Tokiwa said as she held her sword in the air. Yuri chuckled humorlessly as she looked at the white light. She still couldn't sense anything from it. How funny it was dying to something that you couldn't even feel. The white light passed over Yuri, Ichi and Ni. Tokiwa closed her eyes as the white light blasted through the lava and into the front wall without hesitation. The explosion rocked the chamber for about five minutes before the light dissipated. Slowly the light faded revealing Yuri kneeling, unmoving. Tokiwa narrowed her eyes. How amusing.

"Truly a tiring child you are. Still alive are you?" Tokiwa asked as Yuri huffed and shivered. Ichi and Ni stood in front of Yuri looking down at her as she gasped for any form of breath. "I can feel your spiritual energy decreasing rapidly. I surmise that you have about five minutes left. Make your peace now," Tokiwa said as Yuri leaned forward and slammed into the ground.

"Y-Yo Isobu, you there…?" Yuri asked. Sanbi didn't reply. Yuri coughed. "It's rude to be silent asshole. You could at least see me off. Shizune-san, Ero-oji-chan…did you guys make it out?" Yuri asked in thought as she as she twitched her muscles.

Inside his cage, Isobu chuckled humorlessly. "Idiot girl, like I could contact you right now when I'm trying to keep you alive!" Sanbi said as his breathing got heavier. His eye started to fade in and out of consciousness. "Am…I going to die here?" Sanbi asked as he could feel Yuri's heart slowly beginning to stop beating.

Yuri groaned as her fingers moved millimeters across the ground as she glared up at Tokiwa. Tokiwa stared down at her before closing her eyes. "I suppose as an act of kindness I can at least see you off together. After all those broken like the rest of the world should remain broken together, just like trash waiting to be burned," Tokiwa said. Yuri shivered as she looked at Tokiwa touch the masks of Ichi and Ni. Yuri looked up and her breathing hitched as Tokiwa took off the masks, letting them drop to the ground. Tears welled up in Yuri's eyes.

"Shizune-san, ohayo!" Shizune snapped out her thoughts at the greeting to her name. Looking up she took notice of Yuri grinning widely at her. Shizune blinked at her outburst, but she smiled. "Ohayo Yuri-chan, what are you doing up so early?" Shizune asked as Yuri rubbed the back of her head. The grin on the young Uzumaki female's face was a refreshing sight for the assistant to the Godaime. It too much reminded her of Naruto's smile when he was around that age.

"Yuri-chan, would you like to help me around the village for a bit?" Shizune asked much to Yuri's confusion. She didn't know the premise behind this question, but whatever. She wasn't in any rush so it wasn't like it mattered when she completed her mission or not. "Erm, sure. Where are we going?" Yuri asked, but Shizune didn't tell her as they walked off. Yuri pouted at the silence. She didn't like being ignored.

Both were met with a male who stood at the door with his arms folded. Neither could really tell his expression since his eyes were covered by his glasses. "It seems that you really do take after Uzumaki Naruto's nature for not being punctual, Yuri-san. You're late, very late." Yuri blinked at the person for but a second before she gasped and pointed out her finger. "Ah you're the closet pervert that Nii-chan talks about on occasion!" Yuri proclaimed making the man scowl behind his glasses.

"I am not a pervert! I am a tokubetsu jonin and you would do well to show me some respect!" he growled out while Yuri snorted. "Yeah, whatever you say Ero-ojisan. So…what am I doing?" Yuri asked with her hands behind her head. The man was more than ready to do something he was about to regret before Shizune cleared her throat for his attention.

"Hmph impudent child. I will be going with you as well. To make sure this girl doesn't try anything like a certain relative of hers," Ebisu said pushing up his glasses. Yuri gawked. "We don't need your help Closet Ero-ojisan," Yuri protested back heatedly.

"For. The. Last. Time. I. Am. Not. A. PERVERT!" Ebisu exclaimed vehemently while Yuri covered her ears. "Maybe he's a super pervert then. Nii-chan said that Ero-sennin did the same thing at one point," Yuri contemplated to herself before shrugging her shoulders as she watched Shizune walk out of the door. Yuri hopped off her chair and walked off as well.

As the masks fell to the ground, Yuri's tears did the same. All…all this time, she had been fighting, all this time she had been searching, all this time she had been hoping. Tokiwa watched as the lone tear fell from Yuri's face in conjunction with their masks.

"I'm sure Shizune-san and Ero-oji would have been able to do something, but I don't know where they are. I definitely can't leave without them," Yuri said in a firm tone.

"I will save them. On my name, I swear it!" Yuri remarked.

BANG, BANG! Tokiwa looked over and watched Yuri bash her head into the platform repeatedly before she looked up. "Shiz….une-san, Ero….oji-san!" Yuri thought as she saw the blank faces of Shizune and Ebisu staring down at her. She could see no life in their eyes. They truly looked no better than puppets. Their arms at their side, their faces unemotional, Yuri wasn't even sure if her voice reach them. They looked down at her and Yuri choked on her own tears and dying breaths as they didn't even seem to recognize her. "388….381…374…367…," Shizune and Ebisu continued on and on as Yuri's tears stained the ground.

"This is your reality! This is where your memories lead you Uzumaki Yuri. This is where true life is," Tokiwa said as Yuri's tears burned the side of her face and sizzled off the hot rock. "Ichi…lick my feet and call me your god," Tokiwa said. Yuri widened her eyes and looked up as Shizune stopped counting. She walked over to Tokiwa

"Ni, make sure her eyes don't close," Tokiwa said as Ebisu stopping counting and moved over to Yuri. He grabbed her eyes and forced them open. Yuri shivered as Shizune fell to her knees. "Shizune-san, Shizune-san, please…don't! Shizune-san!" Yuri cried as Tokiwa took off her shoe. Without a word, hesitation, or protest Shizune sucked on Tokiwa's toes obediently.

"You are my god, Tokiwa-sama," Shizune said as her tongue trailed Tokiwa's toes. Tokiwa glared down on Yuri while felt the bile begin to rise in her stomach. Tokiwa stared at the nearly dead jinchuuriki. It was of no consequence to Tokiwa. This was merely the true reality.

"Tell me when the Konoha Night Guard shifts!" Tokiwa commanded. "Every three hours every day for day/evening/night shifts," Shizune said before continuing with her previous order. Tokiwa nodded before Yuri clenched her teeth in anger as Tokiwa kicked Shizune to the ground.

"Now get up!" Tokiwa ordered. Shizune was instantly on her feet without another word. Tokiwa nodded as Yuri turned away, but Ebisu grabbed her head and held her down, only to watch as Shizune remained still. "Very good. I hate to break Akki's toys to prove a point, but she will always get new ones. This….is our Fallen Order," Tokiwa said as she unsheathed her blade. Yuri stilled. The chamber was silent except for Yuri's screams as Tokiwa pierced Shizune through the heart. Blood poured from Shizune's mouth as she fell to the ground. She fell to her knees before her face slammed against the floor. Yuri looked down before Tokiwa grabbed Ebisu.

It was swift, it was quick, and it pained Yuri as she watched Tokiwa…behead Ebisu. His lifeless body dropped to the ground as Yuri watched. Tokiwa watched as Yuri crawled along the ground. Yuri grabbed Shizune's arm and tightly closed her eyes. "Shizune-san, Ero-oji-chan! You guys were supposed to watch me do the chunin exams! You weren't supposed to die down here!" Yuri thought as she struggled. With her remaining strength she pulled Shizune and Ebisu's bodies closer to her. "I couldn't save you. I couldn't save anything! I couldn't do anything!" Yuri thought as her tears fell to Shizune's body and Ebisu's body. Her tears stained their clothes wishing against wish that they would wake up and just hug her. Yuri sniffled. Slowly two hands touched her shoulders. Yuri gasped and turned around only to see the ethereal forms of Ebisu and Shizune smiling down on her. She looked at them before her eyes become watery.

"Gomen! G-Gomen! Gomen! I couldn't save you! I couldn't save anyone! I couldn't…I…I…couldn't," Yuri slowly gasped as Shizune gently wrapped her arms around Yuri. Ebisu placed his hand on top of her head. Yuri held her head to the sky as Shizune and Ebisu smiled.

"So are you ready for the Chunin exams?" Shizune asked making Yuri shrug her shoulders. "I guess. Fuka-san's going to take over some of ninjutsu training while Onii-chan and Kushina-chan do their mission. I've also taken my training to the next step in terms of Fūinjutsu. I'm gonna ace that chunin exam!" Yuri said with a confident smirk. Shizune and Ebisu chuckled to themselves.

"Hmph like a shrimp like you could do anything significant. I bet you lose the first round," Ebisu said folding his arms. Yuri gawked. "I'm gonna ace it dattebayen! I'm gonna ace it better than anyone especially your entire team," Yuri boasted. Ebisu's eyes gleamed behind his glasses.

"Ho ho is that a fact? Would you care to make a little wager then?" Ebisu asked looking down at her. Yuri blinked. Yuri remembered playing a gambling game with her sister on one of their off days. Yuri had learned she may have had a minor gambling habit, or maybe it was a minor betting habit. Was that the same thing? Yeah, more than likely. "You're on! Name your price!" Yuri demanded with a somewhat maniacal grin. Shizune only placed her hand over her face with a sigh. Was she really only capable of hanging around gamblers?

Ebisu's grin only widened before he cleared his throat. He might as well not get too ahead of himself. "Very well if you can…make it to the second stage with nothing, but Fūinjutsu then I will acknowledge you as competent. Lastly if you can beat two people in the exam then I will…give you a surprise," Ebisu responded. Yuri raised an eyebrow.

"It's not perverted is it?" Yuri asked. Not that she really cared if it was perverted or not. Yuri didn't mind thinking she was the same, but this guy didn't need to know that. Actually no one needed to know that except those who already knew it. Oh man if anyone knew the things she dreamt up doing with her Onii-chan they would easily mistake her for a student of Jiraiya. Also no one needed to know about her 'collection' either. "No it's not perverted you idiot!" Ebisu quickly corrected while Yuri smiled.

"Alright, and what do you get if you win?" Yuri asked. At these words, Yuri was sure that she saw a gleam in Ebisu's glasses for a brief moment. "For one, you stop calling me that shameful, degenerate name! And second, you become a part of my team," Ebisu remarked with another grin which made Yuri shiver. Shizune raised an eyebrow. What an odd demand that was especially considering that Ebisu already had a 3-genin squad. It wasn't like they could just suddenly put Yuri own, even if she was the only Konoha genin without a team. "You're on!" Yuri declared as she held out her hand. Ebisu held out his hand and shook it.

"Don't go running away when you lose dattebayen!" Yuri said with a small smirk. Ebisu matched her smirk. "The same could be said for you Uzumaki Yuri-san," Ebisu replied. The two nodded and sealed the deal while Shizune pinched the bridge of her nose with a long, drawn-out sigh. What was this world coming to where adults had to bet with kids? Shizune didn't know and she doubted she was going to know too.

However, as Yuri sniffled, she stopped. She looked down and noticed Tokiwa walking away leaving Yuri to die in the lava chamber. Yuri shivered before she chuckled. "N…..o. No. No! No! NO! Not….like….this!" Yuri said as, much to Shizune and Ebisu's surprise she grabbed them. She grabbed their forms. Yuri looked at them with tears in her eyes. Tokiwa glanced back and noticed Yuri grabbing at the air. Insanity before death…a beautiful sight.

"You're both staying! You're both staying with me dammit! I am not going to say goodbye just yet," Yuri said. Shizune and Ebisu glanced to each other before…something shook. As Tokiwa walked away the ground suddenly shifted. The temperature in the room suddenly began to increase. The lava bubbled angrily. "You are staying with me! I will make this right! We…won't let her get away with this! Shizune-san…Ero-oji-chan…stay with me forever!" Yuri said as she balled her fists on the ground. Ebisu and Shizune watched as Yuri's soul attached to theirs. Slowly Shizune and Ebisu gasped as they slipped into Yuri's body. Yuri clutched her body tightly as the ground beneath her feet furious broke into pieces. Yuri's hair flew into the air wildly. Tokiwa watched in shock as the red chakra cloak suddenly appeared around Yuri's body.

"What?! That's impossible! I left her near death! She shouldn't have any chakra left!" Tokiwa thought as she felt a bead of sweat fall down her face. She covered her eyes from the fierce winds that flowed through the lava chamber. However, as Tokiwa opened her eyes again, she could honestly say that for the first time since she had joined the Fallen Order…she had felt true…fear. Yuri's eyes glared harshly at her with an almost inhuman aura.

In his cage, Sanbi opened his eyes as he looked down at his body, his entire shell started to gain white markings and those markings continued down further and further through his body and continued into his tails. "I'm alive?! I…feel incredible!" Sanbi proclaimed before he took a look at Yuri. He gasped. "Her…Her chakra network…it's…eradicating itself. What's happening here?!" Sanbi wondered as outside, Yuri stood to her feet. She looked at the dead bodies of Shizune and Ebisu. If any spirits were around then they would have seen all the spiritual energy collected in the caverns slowly crawl into Yuri's body. Tokiwa watched as Yuri's red chakra cloak quickly changed into a bright, white color. The white power exploded from her body. The spiritual particles attached to her hair, they filled her eyes giving them a small silver look.

"You have crossed the line for the last time!" Yuri said and Tokiwa wasn't sure, but she thought she heard at least two other voices talking besides Yuri's. "T-This power?! This is the same power that we tried to extract from our King! Why does she have it too?!" Tokiwa asked as Yuri forced the entire cavern system to rumble and shake. Tokiwa gasped as lava sprouted from the chamber and ruptured violently all around her.

"You have mocked my family, my love, my village, and my friends for the last time. You wish to die so badly! I will make sure to rip your soul from your body hand it to the shinigami upon your death!" Yuri snarled out as the white chakra cloak that had formed around her body suddenly dispelled. It was only for a second however before Yuri's body flourished with power as the white light encompassed the whole room.

As he ran through the tunnels, Naruto gasped as he fell to the ground in surprise. Naruto looked down as he noticed the seal on his right hand. He gasped as he watched it unlock and fill with Honshou before encompassing his entire body.

Off on his own, the Shinigami glared over in the direction where everything was taking place. He narrowed his eyes. "So it was possible after all. To think that this would be possible. Odd that she would unlock his the second-tier of his seal. Interesting," Shin thought as he gobbled up a soul.

Back in the lava chamber, Tokiwa quickly brought her sword back and snarled. "Reiton: Mugen Kūgeki," She said as the white light become bright before she swung her sword at Yuri. Yuri took a step forward into the incoming light. The light passed over her like water over a sandy beach before it slammed into the wall behind her. Tokiwa waited for the light to dispel, but as it did she took a step back in shock as Yuri appeared from the light still standing and still much angry. "Count us as the last face you will ever see before you are taken before the Shinigami. I hope you're ready to die. Like Nii-chan, right now I am reluctant on second chances for those who don't deserve it. Here I come…Tokiwa-san. Your death is coming dattebayen!" Yuri said with an angry glare and with more than one voice as her silver eyes stared at Tokiwa's form…like a predator that had suddenly found a reason to kill and would have a chance to like it.

---

KG: Okay, I guess I can stop there. There are going to more deaths than just Shizune and Ebisu. Despite how I write it sometimes, this is still a Death-themed fic which means death is supposed to be the norm around this. I have no regrets writing it this way.

KG: As to the constant PM's from people. I did say in my last updated story that I hadn't planned on updating anything until the new year. I was serious about that. But I tried to give you this as a Christmas present. That didn't work out. Then I tried as a New Year's Present. That didn't work out either. Well I guess I can call this a Belated New Year's Gift.

KG: Well that's all folks, Stay Breezy, Protect What's Important to you, review, and SEND ME CREAM SODA DAMMIT! Maybe I should make a that uses cream soda instead of money? But WE MUST ALL RESPECT THE CREAM!