Naruto: Kōkai

by Ken Miyamoto

After the failure of the Sasuke Retrieval Mission the Council of the Hidden Leaf decides to punish Naruto with banishment from the village forcing the hand of Tsunade. Now alone and no longer a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Naruto decides to take his newfound life into his own hands. Follow Naruto Uzumaki as he tries to find his place in the ninja world.

20. Chapter 20

Yo, it's Ken.

Allow me to start this note with an apology, this chapter is a behemoth. It's by far the longest chapter in this story and for that I am sorry, but this chapter is also a product of love for this story, and I could feel that writing and editing this chapter. This chapter is heavy on multiple different important elements but all and all I wrote this chapter with my heart, and I hope it shows when you read it, while I try not to make the chapter lengths super crazy like this in the future (unless requested to) I make no promises haha.

Anyway, let's get to the reviews!

Jagsboy: Hey there, welcome back. You bring up an amazing question that honestly, I've been dying to answer since the introduction of Kurotsuchi's character since she holds an interesting prespecitve regarding good ole Minato so as much as I would love to answer that question here, I'll leave you pondering until next chapter where the deep dive begins but my little hint is it has something to do with Onoki. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

Alexander4443: Thank you! Thanks again for reading, I hope to see you in the next one!

Dragonkeeper10: The crazy train has no breaks here, thank you. Now we are moving into the 2nd half of the Land of Iron Arc so there are going to be a lot of developments between our cast of characters and a change in their interactions as the war continues especially with a certain duo after this chapter. Regarding the world building I wish the samurai had more because in actual history the roles of samurai and ninja were switched with the majority of swordsmen were samurai and the minority had become ninja. So, I wanted to flesh them out was as well as better help set up Arashi and The Miko for this chapter. Thanks again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

Zipzapdoowoop: World building is always important in stories to flesh out characters and the story to make it more enjoyable, so I always put emphasis on making sure it's done as properly as possible. That being said, I'm seeing a lot of people mention the Konoha perspectives meaning they must have been liked that's good, but I'll confess I actually have something big regarding the Konoha perspective coming up and I wouldn't want to break the flow of Naruto's development before introducing it back again with more prominence please be patient with me and it will probably be worth it, I promise. Regarding the emphasis on Fire Stance you'll get your answer in this chapter and Arashi you'll have to stayed tuned. Thanks again for reading I hope to see you in the next one!

Krieger Techpriest: Krieger! When I was conceptualizing the character of The Miko originally, I wanted to make her the basic battle freak type of character but as her development continued, I realized she need more of an edge especially with the theme of her battle with Naruto all of that being said I never thought of the words 'Yandere Samurai' being a summary of her character haha It's perfect and I'm glad to show you something different. Thanks again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

The Faceless Wordsmith: Ah yes, the folly of being a teenager in the throes of young love and war literally. However, you are correct about his answer will leave someone disappointed however it will only become more complicated before said answer arrives, I hope you enjoy their dance of death of the samurai and Naruto. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

Gamesdean1: I can't say it enough, but your help is always appreciated on this chapter. I threw a lot of stuff at you with this one, so I appreciate you hanging in there with me. Here's to another W chapter, thanks again!

Spellbat: You never cease to make me laugh at the various character development that you go throw with every review on the chapters so far, even I'm invested at this point haha never change. Marika is now putting the pedal to the metal while poor Kuro is right at the line but can't help just not crossing it wonder if anything is going to happen there... Also The Miko I won't lie to you was a character I was excited to unviel the moment we made it to the Land of Iron Arc so I'm glad she's made an impact and hopefully an even further one after this. Thanks again for reading, I hope to see you in the next one!

That's the reviews for last chapter as always I am always happy to read through and respond to your thoughts, questions, and constructive criticisms so feel free to leave them and I'll get to them.

I apperciate the journey that we've been on up to this point and everyone for reading along with it, not sure where everyone is but It's Thanksgiving for me so I'm thankful for everyone sticking around and reading this story for so long and hopefully enjoying it along the way. I promise to continue to do my best and get better!

I hope you all and so many more are there too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you again for reading and I hope you enjoy.

-Ken

{...}

Chapter 20: Something to Protect!

Snow crunched under rushed footfalls as a young man panted, a warm drop of sweat hanging from his brow while he approached closer to a downed figure in front of him.

In a large patch of bloodied snow.

"My Lord!"

The young man nearly screamed into the air, the heat from his breath briefly fogged in front of him as his knees collided with the snow landing him right in front of the injured man, slowly the injured man looked toward him from where he lay.

"A…Ar-"

"Don't speak! Just give me a little time and I'll patch you up! I swear, I'll make sure you'll make it!"

"Arashi."

The older samurai adopted a stern look to his face from the ground as he spoke firmly to Arashi, a young samurai with bright black colored eyes and dark hair pulled into a ponytail faced his dying lord who coughed on the ground.

The wounded young man cradled his lord in his arms while the older man looked into Arashi's eyes.

"I am not long for this world… both you and I would be fools to think otherwise."

The older samurai spoke with finality as Arashi whose face still held that glimmer of hope slowly let that same hope he was holding onto die away as he faced the truth of his master's fate at the hands of those who attacked them.

The young man gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked, "Damn them!" he yelled in rage into the air.

"Listen to me… Arashi, this world is bigger than all of us… as we are all born into it, we will one day die by it. Those who kill no matter how righteous must always remember they will die."

The bloodied samurai coughed while Arashi held the man even closer to him in some vain attempt to keep his master from leaving this world cold and alone. The wounded samurai's blood ran warmly, staining the young man's armor with it before it trickled into the snow.

"That being said… one shouldn't live their lives in vengeance. Instead, one should honor the lives of those lost and carry them and their wills into making a better future…"

The older man continued to speak while his voice became fainter, "Those shinobi… they deserve nothing less than death… Yet you ask me to refrain after they've done this?! " Arashi's rage slipped through the cracks of his composure while the samurai looked toward him.

"Arashi… why do you believe we draw our blades?"

The samurai asked while Arashi looked his lord in the eyes before they drifted elsewhere off to the side, "To honor those who came before us and to fight against those who threaten our way." the young man answered with a tremble to his breath while a fist lightly smacked against his chest plate.

"To protect. For justice. To do what is right… That is our code as one of the samurai Arashi… my death requires no vengeance that would taint your blade."

The samurai spoke in a softer tone, more tears began to form in the young man's eyes as he held the wrist of the weakening man.

"Arashi… listen to an old fool's dream… I wish… I wished for a world that could know the meaning of true balance and harmony. One where bloodshed was merely an option, not a way of life. That was the reason I drew my sword."

A soft smile appeared on the face of the older samurai as snow continued to fall around the two men, the older man's eyes softened as he looked at the sky.

"Now the will falls onto you… to carry into that bright future. To carry my dreams, though you are far from a perfect man Arashi… you are a good one. I have faith that one day that will be enough…"

Another cough caused blood to fly out of the older man's mouth while Arashi's eyes widened, "Sasaki sensei…. Please." The young man nearly begged his master while the older man's face hardened before he mustered his strength to look at his student again.

"Do not falter, Arashi."

The older samurai spoke as firmly as he could while his own tears betrayed the look on his face, the younger man fought back the sob in his throat for the sake of his master who could longer control his own sorrow facing the end.

"Oh… Arashi… Was it really so bad? To draw my blade… a weapon forged to protect and serve as a samurai… with the mere hope that one day…"

The man said as he began to fade rapidly while Arashi's eyes widened in panic while the older samurai's tears ran across his battle-weary face.

"We made a world… where we would no longer have to draw our swords?"

Arashi watched as the most honest expression he had ever seen on his lord's face in all of the years he had learned and served under him…

As it became his last expression.

"My Lord? Sensei?"

Arashi shook at his master who was unresponsive as he had finally taken his last breath in his arms, the young man gritted his teeth while the sob finally escaped from his mouth, he felt his fresh cut on the bridge of his nose extending to his cheek bleed as he quietly sobbed against his lord.

Those sobs slowly became growls that rolled from the back of his throat threatening to burn the cold in the air while his fist clenched as tightly as it could, like a man possessed he grabbed his discarded sword with one hand using the other to close the eyes of his teacher.

"I shouldn't be long now Sensei; I'll give you a proper burial."

Arashi spoke while he stood up, his dark eyes looking ahead of him reaching a small village filled with citizens who had peeked out of their homes. However, his vision caught something else. One of the shinobi was wounded and left a small trail.

That meant they were still in the village.

He gave his master one last look before he turned his sights back on the small village ahead, marching toward it filled with resolve. The wind kicked up while his blade shined in the snowy storm that had been building while Arashi continued moving forward.

The samurai had a code to honor, protect, and do what is right. To fight for the justice of those who had deserved it. In his hands Arashi felt rage no longer, nor sorrow. What he had to do next wasn't an act of vengeance.

It was justice.

And these shinobi had to pay their due.

The man who walked into the village had become as cold as the steel of his sword ready to enact justice upon those who had earned its wrath.

"Wait!"

A young woman called while she stood directly in the path of Arashi who looked at her with his cold stare, the young woman stared back at him with a sorrowful expression.

"I… I'm sorry about what happened to your lord… however those shinobi…. They are a part of this village. They've protected us, they've made homes here. They have families! Please forgive them for they do not know what they've done."

The young woman pleaded while Arashi's eye twitched looking at the woman in front of him, was she completely mad? Those men killed his master and several other samurai in an ambush with little to no remorse or regret.

And she asks him to forgive them?

He looked up slightly as his eyes began to widen, slowly more and more of the villagers had left their homes standing directly in his way blocking Arashi from entering the village.

"Please."

The young woman pleaded again while Arashi looked at all of the villagers blocking his way with a look of horror on his face that slowly became a haunted look. Eventually even that haunted look faded away as he looked toward the villagers with his blade brandished.

Samurai had a code, to honor, protect and do what is right.

To bring justice to those who have earned its wrath.

There were only two words that had left Arashi's mouth as he addressed the young woman in front of him, these words were so faint that even while directly in front of him the woman barely heard them uttered.

"Forgive me."

The young samurai's breath cut through the air visibly at the horror of the young woman, Arashi with his blade then continued moving forward.

No matter where that justice took his blade.

...

-Current Day-

The faded scar on the cheek of the samurai general was illuminated in the light of the lantern filled room while across from him Mifune and Kurotsuchi sat across from the man, Mifune kept his face even while Kurotsuchi did her best but was clearly preoccupied by something else.

"Why did you come to this festival, Arashi?"

Mifune asked while Arashi looked toward the older man, "As I've said before I'm here for the sake of my men's families as well as to find Naruto. I wish to understand him." the other man spoke evenly while Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes at him.

"What does that even mean? What would you have to gain from trying to understand Naruto? Some kind of weakness to exploit? Is that why you're here? To break him down and tear him apart?"

Kurotsuchi's voice raised while Mifune looked toward the girl, "Kurotsuchi." he said firmly trying to get the girl's attention while Arashi took in a deep breath.

"I see. It appears you care deeply for that boy. I understand. However please rest assured I am not here to cause violence on a holiday. I merely wanted to see what kind of man my opponent was, a curiosity before we crossed blades from what I'm assuming will be soon."

Arashi spoke while Mifune looked toward the man, "Arashi… this war is a fool's errand. Consider both sides constantly losing men on a gamble you decided to take trying to wage a war on the rest of the world. There's no certainty of your victory." the older man said to the general who looked toward him.

"While it is regrettable that we've faced losses I'm still more than ready to march into battle against the shinobi and knock them from their thrones of control over this world."

Arashi said while Mifune gritted his teeth, "General Judon whom you granted the largest of your forces to lead has been killed, one of the Iron treasures destroyed, a section of territory regained by those who oppose you. The tide of this civil war is turning here at the home front. Out there you'll be at the mercy of far greater forces and still you persist on this path?" the older samurai spoke while the general looked toward the ground.

"A world that knows the true meaning of balance and harmony…"

Arashi spoke while Mifune and Kurotsuchi looked toward him, "My lord said those words to me all those years ago… it was his wish even after he was struck down by shinobi. He told me to carry his will and as a samurai and his student I intend on doing so without faltering." the general spoke while Mifune's eyes widened.

"Arashi."

"This world is fractured, General Mifune. It's scarred and afraid from years of warring fools in the mainland all vying for power by any means necessary. You make it seem like I'm attacking some unified front when on the contrary. I'm merely digging into the cracks already formed."

The general said while Kurotsuchi glared at the man, "What do you mean cracks?" the girl asked while Arashi gave her a glance.

"You may be far too young to understand the impacts of your predecessors on the world you currently live in. However, your home is far from what anyone would call peaceful, it's volatile and ready to shatter. Once we attack the Sand then it would merely be a matter of time."

Arashi said while Mifune looked toward the younger man, "A matter of time until what? An inevitable and costly defeat?" the man said while the general shook his head.

"Until the rest of the world follows suit."

Arashi said while Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth, "The Hidden Villages of the shinobi world are ruled by their hatred and this current peace they have is merely there until an opportunity arises. The moment one is weak, or has it's back turned, the shinobi will do as they do best and appear to stab their enemies in the spine." the general said while Kurotsuchi stood up.

"Shut up!"

The girl yelled while Arashi looked at her calmly, "The secret to waging a war against the world is to take advantage of our enemies' desires. Tell me the Land of Stone did they or did they not see the weakness in the Hidden Leaf after the stories of an invasion weakening their forces take place?" the man asked calmly while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened.

"How could you possibly know that Arashi? That's nonsense!"

Mifune raised his voice while Arashi looked toward the older man, "Nonsense... forgive my tongue General Mifune but do you remember that day? When I was banished for what I did at that village all those years ago?" the general asked while Mifune narrowed his eyes at him.

"I wandered the lands for years, fighting, surviving, and learning. I've cut down many shinobi as wandering ronin and I've gained intel from just as many. The more shinobi I spoke with and interacted with, the more the true picture of the world was painted for me. That shinobi world that the Land of Iron decided a long time to turn their heads from, I lived and learned in that world. I learned their weaknesses. I learned the truth."

Arashi said while Kurotsuchi backed away from the man slightly as his piercing gaze turned to her before he spoke.

"Their world is filled with weapons that call themselves people yet kill and die at the drop of a pen if it means an advantage to their villages. A single spark from a force of samurai attacking will prompt the other villages to attack each other, while their weapons slaughter each other we'll take advantage of their hatred and finish tearing them apart once they've ripped each other to shreds."

Arashi spoked pointedly toward Kurotsuchi who continued to back away from the man who glared heavily at her. She felt an immense pressure coming from the man, "Arashi!" Mifune yelled while the man looked back toward the older samurai.

"All of this is for the sake of peace, old friend."

Arashi said calming down slightly while the older samurai looked toward him, "Peace? Forcing the world to tear itself apart and killing the remnants of those in power afterwards is peace?" Mifune spoke while Arashi shook his head.

"I'm not forcing anything, it's merely a matter of time. I'm capitalizing on that. For too long a blind eye from us samurai has been turned toward the ones who believe they rule the world only to watch them ruin it with their vying for power and deceit."

Arashi spoke while Mifune glared his eyes at the general who was sitting in front of the two of them giving off a heavy pressure from his position.

"If that world is going to die, then we might as well help it kill itself."

The man said while Kurotsuchi's eyes flared before she stomped toward him with her hand reaching into her kimono touching her sword, Mifune stopped her before he glared back at the sitting general.

"Arashi, this is madness!"

"Let me go!"

Mifune yelled while holding back the enraged girl while Arashi tilted his head at the pair before closing his eyes, "Madness?" the man spoke while he slowly rose to his feet.

"This world in no way, shape, or form is capable of being free. As greedy hands gain power that power will inevitably corrupt, creating more monsters out of men. I wish to bring balance to this world by giving it a code, an order to follow instead of wandering lost for shreds of power."

Arashi spoke with a calm tone while Mifune and Kurotsuchi looked toward him, "A code of honor, justice, and doing what is right by our fellow man. A world of swords forged to bring honor and bestow justice upon those who earn its wrath and are judged rightfully." the general spoke passionately before he opened his eyes.

"A world ruled by those with the sturdiest of wills, the strongest of character, and the most unfaltering of convictions."

Arashi spoke passionately as he looked toward the two members of his opposition standing across from him before he took a breath.

"I really wish it wouldn't come to anymore violence between us, old friend. My means will be justified by the end when we can live in a harmonious world led by the strong who can do what it takes to maintain order and establish peace. I do not wish for any more bloodshed; however, my path has been laid and I shall continue moving forward…"

Arashi said before he shook his head slowly.

"No matter where it brings my blade."

Kurotsuchi glared toward the general, this guy was mad. Yet he was unshakable while displaying an immense amount of his strength with just his presence alone. Everything in her wanted to attack him however she knew that Mifune was protecting her.

This guy held an immense amount of strength.

"However, an interesting situation has unfolded regarding that shinobi, instead of running away like a shinobi he faced me as a man and challenged me to a duel. It made me curious as to what kind of man he really is for a shinobi born of that twisted world."

Arashi said as he slowly sat back down in his seat.

"I wonder where that strength is going to take him and how far he'll allow it to lead him to what he believes in."

The general spoke while elsewhere in a small torch lit area a woman's gentle hands glided across multiple white flowers growing from the ground, she stood up the light shining off of her porcelain mask as she faced her opponent.

Naruto stood with his blade ready while The Miko's mask tilted toward the young blonde man while a short distance away Marika watched them both.

The woman outstretched her arm and from her sleeve a long halberd with red and white feathers decorating it slid into her hand where she grasped her weapon gingerly holding it as if it were one of the flowers before her grip on the weapon hardened as she looked toward Naruto.

"Shall we begin… our dance of death?"

{...}

The breeze blew lightly while The Miko stood in front of the blonde with her halberd secure in her hand. Naruto looked at her stance as she stood looking toward the teen from her position. Unlike Judon who held a firm stance with his weapon brandished. The Miko's stance almost seemed like she wasn't using one, there wasn't a single indication of any particular stance yet she still looked more than prepared to strike.

"Are you afraid, shinobi?"

The woman asked while Naruto narrowed his eyes at the woman, "No, I'm kinda wondering what's taking so long for us to start." The blonde fired back while her mask tilted.

"I'm savoring this moment... looking at your face still so full of life and warmth. By the time our encounter ends that face may be one I no longer see."

The Miko spoke in her honeyed tone while Naruto eased into his stance. "I'm curious, shinobi. How is it that someone from such a tainted world could have such kind eyes and great strength? I would have believed with time that kindness would have faded." The Miko said while Naruto shook his head in response.

"That's just who I am, lady. I ain't losing track of that no matter what."

The teen said while The Miko's mask tiled again. "Your resolve displays strength behind it... that's good. However, one's resolve means nothing if they do not have the capacity to act upon it. When you swing your sword, you do so to protect is that right? Your reason?" The Miko asked while Naruto grounded himself.

"I don't get all the questions lady, as long as you are around the lives of these people are in danger. We should quit stalling."

The blonde eyed the way The Miko looked down. "I see. Eager to dance, are we? Fine, we shall but please indulge a curious woman as I am not done speaking." The Miko took her first step forward as she slowly lifted her halberd toward the blonde.

"Your resolve, your dedication, the look in your eyes as you hold your blade, and even the way you stand tall in the face of adversity. I adore all of that about you, Shinobi."

The fondness in the woman's voice echoed in the small area they were in while Naruto felt that same change in the air he felt from her before. "Please, I implore you. Take my adoration and my loathing of you, every drop as we waltz to our end together. In a violent harmony." The Miko spoke tenderly while she took another step before lowering her halberd to the side.

"I will shatter you, shinobi. Your resolve, your strength. Then hopefully whatever comes from your broken pieces is a far greater warrior."

The malice in her voice revealed itself while the teen grounded himself further before he took his first step, his hand touching the back of the hilt of his sword.

"Roaring Moon Stance: Railgun!"

Naruto yelled as Marika who was watching nearby felt a massive gust of wind blast from the blonde's position launching him at blinding speed toward the masked woman. The air exploded with the sound of a sonic boom from Naruto's position as the blonde slashed toward The Miko.

However, another sound was heard.

The sound of metal clashing sending the ringing of steel echoing between the two combatants.

Naruto's eyes widened as his blade was knocked from its path still in his hands but deflected, he looked at The Miko's expressionless cracked mask as her spear had already moved.

Far faster than he could have seen.

The boy flinched as he quickly brought his blade back down quick enough to block another strike from the halberd, sending him flying backward. Naruto caught himself as he slid before he looked up toward The Miko who tilted her mask. "Not enough." The woman said while she took a step.

Her step was light, so light it was nearly silent as the moment her foot hit the ground Naruto was slammed against with another strike from her spear.

The blonde's guard nearly completely shattered while The Miko began to move and apply pressure to the blonde, her movements were graceful like a dancer's yet held the same amount of force as his own Railgun technique.

If not more.

The Miko then weaved her attacks against Naruto's blade striking quickly and heavily as the blonde struggled to guard against her rapid attacks, the woman then held her halberd backward before unleashing a powerful three strike thrust breaking through the teen's guard.

Naruto then felt the back of her spear smack against his solar plexus before she smoothly pivoted around him bringing her halberd upward, slashing the boy across his back.

"Naruto!"

Marika cried out while the boy groaned before his face smashed into the ground from a kick to the back of his head from The Miko who calmly walked back to her original position.

"Moon Stance, even movements with every strike allowing for fast attacks and decent defenses. However, when faced with heavy offensive pressure against the even movements the stance shatters leaving its user open to devastating blows."

The Miko said while Naruto lifted his face from the ground, 'She's insanely fast. Was that Lightning Stance?' The blonde asked while he slowly got to his feet.

"That Roaring Moon Stance increases the balance of your techniques making the movements of your sword stronger without sacrificing too much defense. However, even the slightest disruption in your flow causes a complete break... I see."

The woman analyzed while Naruto quickly dashed toward her, he lifted his sword looking toward her frame as she continued to stand with serenity in her poise.

'Lightning Stance is countered by Fire Stance, I have to make an opening somehow.'

Naruto then changed his stance into his basic Fire Stance as he moved toward her, The Miko watched him approach her while he swung. She deflected his strikes as Naruto continued to push, applying pressure to her guard with the aggressive stance, the teen pushed himself swinging even harder while The Miko continued guarding.

Her foot stomped against the ground heavily before unleashing a heavy swing in Earth Stance. that cracked the ground smacked against his blade ruining his offense before an elbow smashed against his face sending blood flying out of his nose.

While the blonde was dazed from the strike, he felt his collar being grabbed before The Miko balled up her fist, smashing it against his face multiple times sending even more blood flying into the air before she threw him into the air. She then lifted her halberd and swung it so the back of the blade slammed into the boy's back sending him crashing into the ground.

'Even with her bare hands she hits ridiculously hard!'

Naruto thought to himself while The Miko looked at his frame in the small crater he made crashing into the ground.

"Fire Stance, powerful but extremely hard to control leaving you wide open and your movements unpredictable yet flimsy. You must remain furious and focused when you strike throughout the stance and force your control over it. You're fighting like a novice, shinobi."

The woman said while Naruto lifted himself from the ground again while he could feel her cold glare from behind her mask.

"This isn't your real strength."

Her bloodlust leaked into her voice while Naruto growled before he entered Fire Stance again, he dashed striking at her again as she gracefully deflected his strikes. Metal clashed again while The Miko found her opening, she went to strike but was deflected by Naruto who lifted his blade in an arch.

The Miko landed a little further away while Naruto panted, "Better, it's still nowhere near enough. Please fight me as if you are trying to kill me shinobi." The woman said as her mask tilted.

"Or else you'll die."

The woman warned as Naruto dashed toward the woman while swinging in Fire Stance, her movements were still graceful in her guarding and deflecting of his attacks. The teen however was trying to read into her movements, she was extremely fast and the way she moved felt as if she wasn't even putting any effort in her movements as they flowed from one to another nearly perfectly.

'It must be Water Stance!'

The boy thought to himself as he struck against her heavily sending her sliding backward before he sheathed his sword in Lightning Stance.

"Lightning Stance: Thunderstrike!"

Naruto yelled as his sword launched from his sheath in a strike that moved at blinding speed, The Miko then moved toward the strike aggressively avoiding it before slamming the back of her halberd into his gut before slamming a high kick under his jaw sending the boy flying upward.

Naruto recovered in midair before landing on his feet, The Miko then reset into her original position ahead of the boy.

"Impressive however incorrect, one's movements should reflect the intention of their wielder rather than one's actions acting as a direct result of them. Never take an opponent at face value no matter how they stand."

The woman spoke while Naruto continued his striking toward the woman who yet again with graceful movements defended against his aggressive strikes in Fire Stance once more.

'Never take an opponent at face value? This lady has no face value, she moves as if she's already in stance without even taking one!'

Naruto thought in his head while he struck against the woman who continued deflecting his strikes, his blue eyes widened while he noticed her spear shifting positions in her hand.

It was an extremely subtle change but a change, nonetheless.

Her strike was quick, but Naruto raised his blade allowing her spear strike to slide against it before he exploded in his movement unleashing a series of strikes in Fire Stance most of his attacks missed all for one that sliced against the edge of her mask.

Naruto landed on the ground past her while The Miko held a hand against her mask touching the scratch against it. A soft chuckle came from the woman before she turned toward him.

"You're beginning to see. Wonderful, I can let loose a little now. Allow me to push you further toward your truth."

The woman said before Naruto got back into stance ready to dash toward her but before he could move, she had already closed the distance between them. Her blade cut through the air so fast Naruto could hear it whistle as it slashed toward him before he was slammed against with a torrent of attacks that smashed against his blade.

The teen blocked and deflected as many strikes as he could as she seemed to be going faster and faster, yet her movements didn't look anything like Lightning Stance. Hell, he couldn't even see a true opening in her movements this time.

Each strike she threw was deliberate and had purpose behind it all being weaved together into a perfect pattern of graceful attacks. Naruto then shifted into Roaring Moon Stance while defending, allowing her movements to weave through his defenses, her spear cut into his shoulder while he quickly moved trying to slash her again in the opening he made in her movements.

Suddenly she disappeared from his vision, the teen's blade sliced the air as The Miko suddenly appeared behind him before she allowed her spear to drop to her side.

Naruto's eyes widened before he suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through his body as he yelled into the air, three slash wounds suddenly appeared on his body sending blood flying into the air. The Miko noticed a drop of his blood touch her mask before her fingers gingerly touched the blood.

The Miko sighed.

{...}

Naruto panted while he stood across from The Miko who stared him down from behind her mask. Multiple angles, multiple strikes, multiple different stances yet he couldn't even get another strike off on the woman. The one attack he managed to land on her merely chipped her mask out of sheer luck alone.

The Miko's presence blanketed the area in front of her with a heavy bloodlust that came off of the woman as she took another step.

'Here she comes again!'

Naruto thought to himself as a graceful step was taken before he felt her steel crash into his before again, he struggled against her rapid attacks. The blonde changed stances in an attempt to strike back against The Miko who slashed into him sending more of his blood flying into the air.

What was he missing?

What was she saying that he was seeing earlier?

Now she was faster and far more aggressive than she was before all while still moving gracefully and without a single opening. She was a brick wall, a swirling storm of steel.

He didn't stand a chance.

Naruto felt his blade get deflected before two heavy slashes dragged across his abdomen before a third slash went across his back again. The Miko allowed his blood from her attacks to hit her mask, staining it.

He couldn't see her face, but the way she was moving, and her presence was felt.

She was enjoying this.

Naruto slammed against the ground again while Marika looked toward the boy, "Naruto! Get up!" The girl yelled while he felt the halberd stab into his back.

"Shinobi, you're still not seeing the truth. Open your eyes to it, stop denying it. Stop denying me! I'm not feeling you run through my veins, this is no dance. This is just a massacre."

The Miko said as she stabbed Naruto again causing the boy to scream before she lifted him from the ground before smacking him across the face with the back of her halberd.

The truth.

What was the truth?

Was he lying to himself about anything?

No, he couldn't have been.

Naruto growled before he took Fire Stance countering against her strikes in an attempt to strike back only to be quickly blitzed by a sudden change in her movements. Her movements were flawless, measured, and flowed right into the next without a missed beat.

"That kindness, that will you have to protect, your flimsy resolve. They are all weights holding you down and blinding you from the truth you refuse to see. Abandon those kind eyes and show yourself to me."

The Miko spoke while Naruto felt another strike slash against his neck, nicking it barely as he managed to avoid it before he was kicked across his face. He then felt a slash on his side.

"Your ugliness, your pain, who you really are."

The pain was immense.

He saw Marika yelling something at him, but he couldn't hear a word she was saying to him, his vision began to blur probably from the amount of blood he was losing with every strike he received. The teen pushed and pushed fighting with all of his effort he couldn't smell anything.

Not even the flowers that had covered their battlefield.

"Shinobi, your last moments will be filled with agony, you disappoint me. That strength I admired about you so much was it just my delusion? Perhaps I had too much faith in you."

The woman said while Naruto was beginning to fade in and out of consciousness slowly while looking toward the blood-stained masked woman.

Was this...

Was he going to die?

His vision was blurred, his scent of smell could only pick up his own metallic scented blood, and he barely heard their voices.

He did hear her footsteps.

Her footfalls approached him while Naruto could barely see her coming yet he could feel her very presence, she was furious and filled with wrath as she raced to strike him down with her spear.

He no longer felt The Miko.

He only felt death.

Yet...

Naruto's eyes blinked as he swung his blade deflecting her blade as The Miko's mask tilted in surprise, he pivoted on his heel before he slashed again. Blood flew through the air while The Miko jumped backward, her shoulder stained red by the fresh cut into her white garb.

He could feel the woman approach again as he felt his vision coming back to him even sharper than before, this wasn't the fox healing him.

No, this is different.

He still felt the burn of his wounds, the pain from them but he also felt serene and calm. He saw her movements as she approached him, the gratefulness of them how gentle they were despite their killing intent. She flowed between her movements like water, yet he still felt the fury in her movements.

The burning in her stare.

He deflected the strikes with his adjusted stance, Water Stance as he completely shattered through her assault, slashing her side causing her to jump backward again while she began to chuckle before attacking him again.

This entire time he had completely misunderstood.

He watched her feet touch the ground while she spun on her heel while he met her halfway pivoting on his heel clashing with her.

She was telling him a story.

The Miko was telling him her story with her movements, this wasn't a fight between blades it was a dance. Her movements, he's already seen them before. He already knows them, he's felt them.

The Dance of Ashes.

The Fire Stance of the Miko was the near perfection of swordplay so much so he couldn't see the movements because they were a part of her dance.

They were formless.

Like the fire that burned in her that she was trying to share with him.

Metal clashed again while another slash appeared against the shoulder of the Miko while Naruto faced the woman with a calm expression on his face.

"I'm sorry."

The blonde apologized while the chuckling woman stopped, "Apologize for nothing shinobi, you finally see it! You can dance with me properly now!" The masked woman spoke with a raised voice while Naruto shook his head.

"I am sorry... this entire time you've been trying to get me to see. Yet I was constantly looking at the wrong thing, your dance isn't what you wanted me to see."

The blonde's stance relaxed into him holding his blade to his side while facing the woman.

"I see you."

The blonde spoke while the woman's mask tilted before she extended her spear quickly dashing toward the boy who moved along with her. He blocked against her strike before he shifted into his Roaring Moon Stance.

The Miko noticed the change before she eagerly struck before the blades clashed against one another before she felt a slash on her arm. She quickly turned and thrusted her halberd. The blonde leaned forward catching the spear by the handle before heavily tugging the woman toward him.

She felt his fist smash against her mask with enough force to crack it and send her crashing into the ground kicking up dirt.

"The truth you wanted me to see was myself when I wasn't trying to be what I thought I should be... you were pushing and pushing all to have some satisfying dance exchanging stories, yet I wasn't cooperating."

Naruto spoke while the woman laid on the ground staring into the cloud covered sky above them.

"I was holding back. My strikes weren't true, I was just fighting to win. I wasn't really facing you because a part of me doesn't want to... not because I think you're justified in how you feel. But because I want to have a choice."

The blonde continued while The Miko continued to stare into the air before Naruto pointed toward her. His stare calm and collected as if he had become a different warrior then the one, she had begun the fight with. She saw the cracks beginning to form figuratively on the boy's psyche as he began to change and literally as her mask cracked away.

"My kindness is not my weakness... it's my choice. So, I chose to be kind to you now."

Naruto said while he held his blade to his side formless in his own stance as he looked down on the masked swordsman.

"No more holding back... I'm ready to dance to the death now."

Naruto spoke while The Miko chuckled before her chuckling became loud laughter while she slowly lifted herself from the ground, she continued laughing while her hands landed on her mask.

"Shinobi... I was waiting for you! I was waiting so long! Look! I want you to look!"

The woman yelled while she continued laughing as she cracked her own mask further tearing the pieces of it from her face as she laughed.

"Look! Look at me!"

The woman laughed as she continued to take pieces of her mask off shattering and tearing away from her face until the last piece hit the ground. Under the mask fair and flawless porcelain skin was underneath she had crack-like black marks that went over her right eye that ended at the top of her cheek.

Her eyes were a cloudy crimson red that almost looked completely empty and devoid of life, the same shade as the color of her supple lips. Tears ran down her face while she continued to laugh loudly before her eyes met with Naruto's.

"Oh... so that's what you look like... shinobi."

The woman said while Naruto stood undeterred by her actions, she stopped laughing as she felt the bottom of her chin with her fingers, she dug her nails into the corner of her chin cutting three marks into her skin that made her bleed.

"Hideous... aren't I?"

The woman said while Naruto looked at her before he took a single step forward toward her, his expression not revealing any kind of reaction to her sudden change.

"Your name. What is it?"

The teen asked while the woman gave him a shocked expression as a small smile grew on her face, she looked at her halberd before she snapped it in half. Naruto watched as a mechanism in the halberd engaged, revealing a small double barrel at the top of the larger blade of the halberd sitting right behind it.

"My name... Naruto... that's your name, isn't it? It's beautiful. Naruto... you said that you saw me, correct? That's good... I want you to see all of me so look."

The woman said as she slid her bloodied white shirt off revealing her bandage covered skin below over her bust while the rest of her torso was covered by small scars. Her free hand reached toward a sword she had against her waist that she unsheathed, holding both the halberd and her sword in both hands.

"My name is Amanai and I'm ready to kill you too. my dear Naruto."

The woman said while Naruto's hand touched his sword, Amanai wasted no time bolting forward as fast as lighting with a thrust from her sword.

Naruto avoided the thrust before he stomped against the back of her blade with his foot before he thrusted forward cutting into her collarbone slightly before she slashed at him with her halberd causing the boy to jump backward.

He smoothly shifted into his Roaring Moon Stance as he deflected a series of lightning-fast blows from the dark-haired woman as their feet lightly touched the ground. Naruto saw her dancing and did his best to follow her own movements with his own rhythm putting all of his strength into his attacks and his defenses while Amanai followed suit smiling the entire time.

Marika meanwhile couldn't keep up with the two of them, their movements rapidly changed from how they were fighting at the beginning of the conflict between them. They seemed like blurs to her while they clashed, "Naruto..." The swordsmith spoke while he fought back against the extremely fast and aggressive Amanai who continued to grin.

"Formless. When one reaches a balance within the stance that resonates and comes from their soul to the point where they no longer need a stance to perform techniques. My Stance is a formless combination of Fire and Lightning Stances becoming a perfect medium between them."

Amanai spoke while she continued to clash with Naruto before she slashed with both of her weapons, cutting into the boy with her weapons before she kicked him with a heavy kick hard enough to shake the flowers underneath them. The blonde slid while Amanai took in a breath.

"You're beginning to reach it; however, you haven't shattered just yet!"

The woman yelled while she clashed against Naruto again, she was right while he was capable of keeping up with her rhythm now that he understood that she was dancing her movements were still smoother than his. He wasn't anywhere near formless yet, so he had to keep pushing his limits against her.

Naruto deflected a slash before he jumped into the air "Roaring Moon Stance: Twilight Descent!" The blonde yelled before he crashed into the ground with a massive gust of wind.

The pair jumped out of the cloud of dust still clashing against each other before Amanai backflipped. "Fire Stance: Blazing Lotus!" The woman cutting into the air with her superheated blade igniting the air into explosions of fire where her slashes were supposed to be, Naruto deflected two of these slashes before avoiding the third slash.

The slash burnt the ground exploding against it while the blonde aggressively approached with Water Stance to defend against her Fire Stance attacks with the Halberd before switching again into Fire Stance to handle her Lightning Stance strikes with her sword.

He was beginning to find his rhythm, the harder she fought the further Naruto felt his limits being pushed as he fought his hardest against her. Amanai laughed with joy while she landed a little further away before she landed gently on her feet, she held her blades up before she moved.

"Formless Stance: Dance of Ashes."

The woman said before her movements changed even from her normal movements becoming faster and more destructive than her usual dancing causing Naruto to go on the defensive as she poked holes in his defenses cutting into him with her technique as she bounced on her heels grace landing on her feet. Each time she landed on her feet a different type of slash from either of her weapons was unleashed.

With every slash that cut into Naruto's skin he further felt her rhythm in her attacks watching his blood fly into the air, until he lifted his blade breaking her technique, Amanai slid backward ready to strike but stopped in her tracks as she looked at the way Naruto had begun to move.

She saw the way his rhythm caused her to freeze up briefly upon seeing the beginning of it.

His dance.

"Dancing Moon Stance: Gale Dance"

Naruto spoke as he unleashed his own technique, his sword cut through the air gracefully while his first slash cut Amanai across her abdomen with the other two slashes cut into both of her shoulders.

Blood flew into the air while Amanai kept that smile on her face.

{...}

Kurotuschi's glare burned heavily into the sitting general while Mifune continued holding her back from acting upon her rage.

"Is this the road you truly wish to tread, Arashi?"

Mifune spoke while Arashi looked toward the older man, "This is the only road that can be, old friend. That world that will know peace, cannot exist in the world of shinobi… this girl rage is proof of that." the general spoke while Kurosuchi growled.

"Listen to me girl, condemn me if you wish however, you understand already. That fury is born from the truth, not just the rage of one to protect someone you cherish but also rage from what you would have to do for the sake of your home."

Arashi spoke while the brunette spat, "Shut up!" she raised her voice while the general stood up from his spot still looking toward her.

"Tell me girl… this shinobi Naruto. The one you hold dear, what would happen if he were to suddenly become your enemy?"

The general spoke while Kurotsuchi's face shifted into one of horror while Mifune narrowed his eyes at Arashi, "That's enough." the older man spoke while Arashi's stare was unwavering.

"Would you kill him? You would, wouldn't you? Because you know I'm right. In this world you were born in, if you had to choose between him and your home you would choose your home every time."

Arashi said while Kurotsuchi seethed her hand on her blade beginning to tremble while Mifune's words fell on deaf ears, her pink eyes looked into his cold black colored ones while he continued to speak.

"Try as you might, you were raised to be a killer. Molded by the hatred of your people from everything they've lost, your humanity will always hold a blade. That fear will never allow you to be anything more than just that… as you are, Kurotsuchi of Stone…"

"Don't."

That single word fell from Kurotsuchi's lips while Arashi kept his cold stare at her, he leaned ever so closer to her right in the perfect range of her blade, it would be quick and all of this would be ended here and now, yet Kurotsuchi found no strength to swing her sword.

"He will never be yours."

Arashi's words were firm and betrayed none of his emotions while Kurotsuchi collapsed to the floor dropping her sword as she just stared at the ground, Mifune glared toward the general before he clenched a fist at his side with all his strength.

"You've gone too far, Arashi."

Mifune spoke while Arashi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I shall bear your hatred as well, General Mifune. As I am strong enough to carry that, strong enough to face the truth and tell it." the general spoke before he looked toward the door.

"I'm going to free this world from itself. It's fear, its hatred, and the meaningless death caused by all of it. To unite it under a single banner where peace will prosper."

Arashi spoke before Mifune looked toward Kurotsuchi who was still staring at the floor, "It won't be long now… I must retrieve my general. I fear she is beginning to see something she's always wanted to." the man spoke before he walked toward the door.

"Despite your hatred, I still even in this moment bear not a single speck of ill will toward you. I still respect you as much as I always have."

Arashi spoke while Mifune looked toward him, "Was this truly the only way? Is this what you have to do?" the older samurai spoke while Arashi's hand touched the door.

"I do what I must."

The general slid open the door before he walked out looking toward the cloud covered sky beginning to watch a few of the stars peeking through.

"Shinobi, you must be a brilliant man to have such people hold as much hope and care for you as they do. It's a shame, we couldn't have spoken even for a little bit."

Arashi spoke as he walked toward the festival in pursuit of Amanai, while Mifune leaned down to Kurotsuchi's level and began to console her, the entire time the girl's face was marred with a strange look.

A haunted one.

Meanwhile two swordsmen were both torn up, the fatigue and his injuries were beginning to catch up to Naruto as his entire body began to sting from pain. Amanai on the other hand laughed while her blood ran all over her body from her various injuries from her fight with Naruto so far, she felt immense joy while combating her match.

Someone who pushed her, who danced with her.

Her laughter slowly died down while the sounds of fireworks going off in the distance echoed, the smile on her face slowly shifted into a frown.

"Why did it take me so long to find you?"

The dark-haired woman asked while Naruto looked toward her, "Your exponential growth, your strength, all while still holding onto that kindness. If only I felt this earlier, then perhaps I wouldn't have turned out like this... alas." The woman said while she gave a small curtsy.

"All good things must come to an end my dear Naruto. Including our tale."

Amanai twisted her body slightly with both of her weapons extended outward while Naruto prepared for an attack from the woman.

"Your Dancing Moon Stance stays even while leaving your movements to flow into each other without restriction allowing you to access your full strength in your slashes and your defense keeps up as a part of these strikes. While it is closer... this still isn't formless. Allow me to push further toward shattering you."

Marika looked around at the flickering torches, "Naruto, wait!" The girl yelled but it was too late Amanai spun hard enough to extinguish the torches that surrounded them, cloaking the area in darkness.

Naruto couldn't see a thing as he looked around in the dark for any sign of his opponent, the clouds still cloaked the moon while the night took over their flower covered battlefield.

He heard the sound of a mechanism clicking before he felt a sharp pain blast against his shoulder grazing it, the blonde hit the ground groaning before he rolled out of the way of Amanai crashing on the ground nearly on top of him.

He continued looking aimlessly in the dark while he heard another click, this time moving out of the way of the sudden blast only to be kicked into the ground.

'She cut the light, since her movements are so quiet, she's practically invisible!'

Naruto thought to himself while he continued looking around, "Naruto!" Marika's voice called while the blonde turned toward it exposing his back to a slash.

"Marika!"

The teen yelled while the girl still in the dark yelled again, "Listen to me! Her Iron Treasure is Sora o Moyasu Tetsu. The halberd can fire projects of highly compressed chakra from its barrels. If she gets a direct hit on you, it will kill you!" The girl yelled while Naruto heard the click again before he dashed out of the way getting grazed along his lower back.

"Damn! I can't see a thing!"

The ninja yelled while the swordsmith yelled back, "Give me some time! I'll do something about the light, just to avoid getting misled by her in the meantime the mechanism will also click about a second before it fires!" The girl yelled while he heard her running somewhere.

"Got it!"

The blonde yelled while he heard the click directly in front of him, he leaned his head backward avoiding a direct point-blank shot to his head as he twisted his sword just managing to block her strike. Amanai lunged, moving through the dark like an animal well accustomed to the environment as she slashed Naruto's chest before loading her halberd with more chakra.

The blonde heard the click before he quickly pivoted on his heel, his blade hit the tip of halberd sending the shot elsewhere before he grabbed onto the wounded shoulder of the woman, he held her in place while she growled at him.

"I'm not letting you go anywhere!"

The boy yelled as he engaged in extremely close combat with Amanai who used her sword in her free arm to clash against his sword while holding her in place.

"It's time for this to end Naruto!"

Amanai yelled while the blonde was slowly being pushed back by the speed of her attacks before he was pushed away.

"It has to... before I end up missing you too much!"

The woman yelled while another shot fired while the blonde managed to avoid it before he dashed toward her location as quickly as he could. The pair maneuvered around each other in the dark before Amanai kicked the blonde she aimed her weapon right where she heard him hit the ground.

She fired her shot but when it hit the spot began to glow, Amanai's eyes widened before an explosion went off sending her flying backward. Her feet hit the ground causing her to slide while she heard footsteps approaching her.

She felt Naruto's presence as she slashed at the air again, her blade cutting through something that began to glow before it exploded.

"Damn it!"

Amanai yelled while Naruto ran around in the dark making as much noise as possible around her, she was detecting him in the dark using her other senses that she's honed while her mask dulled her sight. So, he would take advantage of that too.

"You wanted me to see all of you right? It's only fair you see all of me too! Don't forget I'm still a ninja!"

The blonde yelled as two more black powder bombs went off the explosion causing Amanai to jump backward into a heavy kick from Naruto slamming her into the ground. Meanwhile back in the forest path, Marika was panting running back to the fight with her arms full.

Naruto and Amanai went back and forth both trying to take advantage of the dark to try to one up the other, flashes of light from the small explosions illuminated the battlefield while the only other source of light they had were the sparks that came off of each other's blades while they clashed.

The two combatants started increasing their speed of their attacks as they were finally able to locate each other properly, Amanai loaded and fired her weapon while Naruto countered with his black powder bombs before they would meet each other occasionally with clashing blades sending sparks flying.

Marika returned to the sight of sparks, flashes, and shots illuminating the two combatants while they fought hard against one another in the dark, the girl wasted no more time beginning to set up her plan.

Amanai roared while she swung as hard as she could, clashing against Naruto with all of her strength while he swung back as hard as he could, roaring back at her as they kept up with one another until a single sound broke the stalemate.

"Naruto!"

Marika yelled while the blonde looked toward her, giving Amanai the opening to slash grazing the teen's forehead with her blade, the thin cut bled causing blood to run down Naruto's face.

"Do it!"

The blonde yelled as the sound of sizzling was heard before Amanai noticed what it was, she jumped backward giving Naruto some breathing room as the fuse she set up began lighting up the fireworks around the two of them lighting up their battlefield again with multiple colors.

Naruto and Amanai both looked at the fireworks, they both had serene looks on their faces before they looked toward each other, "You said you wanted to feel me? That working yet?" The blonde asked almost nonchalantly while Amanai softly smiled.

"I do... let me continue to feel it, just a little more... Dear Naruto."

Amanai said while she readied her weapons for their final clash, she had already known subconsciously that only one of them was making it out of their next exchange of blades.

She knew that he knew that fact as well.

"I feel you. Your rage... your passion. I feel all of it, it almost feels bittersweet... but this has to end."

The blonde said while Amanai nodded her head while her weapons trembled in her hands, she took a deep breath before she steeled her will and faced the shinobi.

"Burn through my veins and show me your truth... shinobi."

Amanai said while Naruto gave her a look before a small, tired smile appeared on his face slowly he felt a faint warmth coming from the woman's stature that was surrounded by a fading darkness, he could explain what exactly it was that he was feeling.

He just knew that was her.

"I think I understand you now, Amanai."

Naruto spoke while the woman paused at how sweet her name sounded coming from the shinobi when he said it out loud, he had finally done it.

He saw her.

Through both her fury and her passion, past the ugliness his eyes had become hers and hers alone while the ninja was ready to end their dance.

"Allow me to grant you the peace you sought in life with this dance."

The blonde said while Amanai closed her eyes before she brandished her weapons dashing toward the blonde while Naruto blasted toward her as well.

"Formless Stance!"

"Dancing Moon Stance!"

They roared as their blades clashed, showering the flowers under their feet with sparks while fireworks went off illuminating the field further with different colors.

Marika watched the two of them clash from a distance, she's seen many swordsmen in her short life. After forging a blade and watching them train but rarely has she seen them fight against each other so fiercely before in her life.

Normally in battles like these one would expect an intense amount of hatred between the combatants born of a tainted history with massive consequences for either side should one fall.

Yet.

She didn't feel a single hint of hatred in this fight.

Naruto and Amanai continued fighting while the woman felt a smile growing on her face, she deflected a blow sending Naruto flying backward as he caught himself in mid-air recovering.

"Fire Stance: Breathing Inferno!"

Amanai yelled while blue and purple flames burst from the ground causing Naruto to continue to dance with his blade, "Dancing Moon Stance: Gale Dance!" The blonde fired back while Amanai deflected the slashes before the third one pushed her back.

Naruto dashed, meeting her at close range before the two of them crossed blades again, their clash was finally coming to its finale as they both roared again while crossing swords. Amanai lifted her blade deflecting Naruto's strike before she landed on the heel of her foot, gracefully she landed before she stared Naruto down before her vision slowed down.

Everything else had disappeared.

It was just him.

Amanai allowed her smile to sprout on her face before she began her dance-like movements with her blades, her halberd and sword weaving past one another smoothly and gracefully while carrying the aggression of her Fire Stance.

"Formless Stance: Dance of Ashes."

Amanai unleashed the full-fledged attack on Naruto who jumped directly into the path of her strikes, she watched as he danced through them matching her rhythm with her own as if he had every strike memorized now..

Like they weren't wielding any swords at all.

Just the two of them dancing in this field of white flowers with fireworks going off above them, Amanai felt her halberd get knocked out of her hand from a disarming strike while the moon began to peek through the clouds and the fireworks ended.

...

A young girl sat in the snow just outside of a small cabin, in her trembling hands held a small broken knife covered in blood.

Bodies.

The bodies of the men who attacked her home, the bodies of the men who failed to defend them, and the bodies of her family. Her red eyes looked toward the sky as a dark gray substance slowly fell from it, blowing in from the burning buildings that were nearby.

The ashes fell like snow around her as she began to chuckle, that chuckling turned into laughter as tears began to pour from the young girl's eyes.

She laughed loudly while the place that used to be her home was silent enough that the only thing, she heard back was her own echo.

She continued to cry while laughing to herself hysterically the laughter died out leaving only the tears left, out of the ruins of her home she saw a single dark haired young man appear in front of her as he slowly walked toward her.

He said nothing at first, she saw that his eyes looked like hers in her despair. Cold and dead while the fresh wound over his nose and cheek bled.

"Did you do this?"

The young man asked while the girl looked back at him before she slowly nodded her head back toward him. He looked at her for a moment before he saw the inside of her ruined girl awaited the cold steel of the samurai to execute her.

Instead, he then extended his hand out to her, the girl looked at his hand before her red eyes met his now with just a hint of a spark of life black eyes.

Slowly she reached out and took his hand while he held it firmly before he spoke.

"You are strong. That's why you're alive. Never forget that."

The young man said while that same tiny spark of life entered her eye before the two of them walked out of the ruins together.

Their strength being the reason they lived.

...

The moonlight shined down at the flower covered battlefield as blood filled the air in a splash.

Naruto twirled Amanai gently in his arms as her memory ended before he dipped her at the end of their dance. The dark-haired woman smiled gently as she looked into the warm blue eyes of the shinobi, her hand gently slid across his cheek.

In reality.

Naruto held her up by his hand being placed on the small of her back gently holding her while his blade had entered her chest, his expression was a calm one while Amanai's smile shifted into confusion for a brief moment before she realized it.

"Oh..."

Amanai gasped slightly as she coughed up a little blood, she touched her face where she was bleeding before she huffed in response.

"How hideous..."

Amanai trailed off while Naruto shook his head at her slowly while she looked into his blue eyes, her cold red eyes that had looked empty once more had their vibrant color back, the life returning to her eyes.

"You were beautiful, Amanai."

The blonde said while the woman coughed again as more blood came out before she smiled, Amanai then dipped her finger in her blood before writing a character on her lips with it.

She then pulled Naruto closer kissing the gap between his upper lip and his nose gently while the blonde felt the marks on his wrapped-up arm recede even further from his bicep to his shoulder.

"...this strength is your truth... never forget that. One day your strength will be what changes this world."

Amanai said while Naruto pulled his blade from her chest, slowly laid her down in a patch of white flowers that were now stained red with blood as the moonlight illuminated them.

"I won't."

The blonde said while Amanai nodded her head weakly before she closed her eyes using the last of her strength to smile as brightly as she could.

To think her first genuine smile would be her last.

"As I won't forget you... Dear Naruto."

Amanai spoke faintly while Naruto stood up looking toward her, she kept her eyes closed as she let out one more weak laugh from her mouth.

"Forgive me for this my lord... but I finally found it..."

Amanai spoke while Naruto for the first time since their battle had reached its final steps of their dance.

Could no longer feel her.

Naruto then walked a few steps before he too collapsed while Marika ran toward him, she checked if he was still breathing, and he was but very faintly.

She smiled at the ninja as they came yet another step closer to the end.

Two swordsmen that had built and ended a bond on their battlefield laid among the flowers under the pale moonlight.

Their strengths understood.

{...}

The breeze blew gently while the flowers swayed in the wind, in a single patch of red stained flowers among the white colored ones.

Arashi found his general.

"...So this is where you rest, Amanai."

Arashi spoke as he looked upon the moonlight shining brightly against the body of the dark-haired woman lying in the flowers.

He silently walked closer to her while he slowly looked around what was previously a battlefield, he saw the signs of struggle. The scorched dirt, slashes in surrounding trees, and the small craters in the ground.

Arashi kneeled next to Amanai's body looking at her before he lifted his hand placing it against hers before holding it and shutting his eyes.

"It appears that you too have fallen to this conflict... I shall carry your strength into the future as well, old friend."

The general spoke while he looked down on the woman finally opening his eyes to look at her, briefly he saw the hand of the young girl with the cold eyes of something who had lost everything as well as taken her first lives.

He took in a deep breath as the visage faded revealing the truth back to him as the breeze suddenly picked up again causing the general to squint his eyes at the blown petals. Arashi looked toward Amanai again before a smile appeared on his face, the general slowly stood up as he looked at her still form once more.

"Amanai... you died because you were no longer strong enough... that being said even gone you still look as if you know far more than myself... I've always believed in the adage that a woman becomes prettier when she's in love... and you Amanai..."

The man spoke while the petals continued to blow furiously around them in the breeze before he huffed his eyes slightly squinting and a ghost of a smile appeared on his face.

"You've never looked more beautiful."

The moonlight illuminated the features of Amanai's face brightening her flawless pale skin in its gentle shine, the white and red petals danced in the wind while they fell around her body once they were finished and on her still lips.

A small smile.

{...}

He had disappeared.

Again.

Kurotsuchi stomped around the compound looking all over for the blonde ninja, she was pissed and only getting more furious.

While becoming worried.

Last time he did something like this he literally fought a small army and its general and came back in shambles, the other time he had done this just recently he was torn to ribbons and brought back near death.

She's always admired his effort and his passion about doing what's right but constantly disappearing to do without talking with her made her angry.

What if he got hurt again? What if he died?

What if he was with her?

The last thought creeped up on her as she froze in place briefly, she shook her head and continued stomping around the compound hunting for her blonde companion.

That was until she reached him, it was a little ways out but right on the edges of the compound near the large sakura tree that constantly showered its pink petals to the ground below.

A bandaged-up Naruto was standing right in the center.

"Oi!"

Kurotsuchi yelled while the blonde flinched at the sudden yell turning around toward the girl, "Hey Kuro. Um, would you mind keeping it down a bit? I'm concentrating on something..." The boy said before Kurotsuchi stomped toward him.

"Don't you 'Hey Kuro' me you bastard! You should be resting!"

The girl yelled while Naruto flinched again but scratched the back of his head with a small smile on his face.

"I know I know but check this out!"

Naruto exclaimed before he opened his palm before a small gust of wind came from it causing the petal in his palm to dance in it before he stopped it catching the petal in his palm.

"Your chakra..."

"Yeah, I got a bunch back from that latest seal I got from Amanai."

Naruto said while Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow at him, "Amanai?" She asked while the blonde nodded his head slowly before he took a step back.

"She was one of the generals under Samurai Asshat, the miko lady from the dance at the festival... She was amazing... Anyway, since I got more control of my chakra back there was something I wanted to try."

Naruto spoked while Kurotsuchi's brain was trying to comprehend what he had just said to her before she looked down at where they were standing. She slowly realized there was something carved into the ground.

It was a giant swirl.

"I used to have this symbol on all of my clothes, this swirl back at my home. I've been having these dreams about the Rasengan I think, and I wonder if it has anything to do with this..."

Naruto said while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened slowly as she watched the blonde hold his palm out before slowly, he started to follow the path of the swirl with his feet while placing his other hand on top of his palm.

"I wanna master this jutsu and I think this should help. I just... have a feeling."

The blonde said as he began to move his hand over his palm gathering chakra in it while the brunette watched him move around in the swirl.

'That technique again... the Rasengan, it sounds familiar. This swirl… isn't it the symbol for the...'

The girl's eyes began to widen even further while the pieces started to come together in her head while Naruto reached the end of the swirl causing his chakra to dissipate in his hands.

"Damn it! Ugh what am I missing? How did Pervy Sage do this without a clone?"

Naruto huffed while he went back to the center of the swirl before taking a deep breath before he held his hand over his palm again.

"It's a rasen. A spiral..."

The girl spoke out loud in disbelief while Naruto looked up toward her in surprise before he walked toward her.

"Did you just say rasen? This swirl that I drew, the ones that were on almost all of my clothes. That's a rasen?"

The blonde said while Kurotsuchi slowly nodded, "It's the symbol of the long destroyed Uzumaki Clan, it was adopted in their honor after they were gone..." The girl said almost blankly while the blonde rubbed his chin.

No... this couldn't be right.

"What did Pervy Sage have to do with the Uzumaki? Wait, I had some kind of clan... but they didn't create this jutsu... what does it have to do with them?"

The blonde asked while he felt his brain being wracked by the sudden information he was piecing together in his head, the person who created the jutsu according to Pervy Sage was the 4th Hokage.

The same 4th Hokage he was seeing in his dreams about the jutsu in the first place, in them he would always say something before giving him the jutsu in the dream.

It was his name.

How did the 4th Hokage know his name? How did he know the Uzumaki? What did the Uzumaki have to do with the Rasengan?

The blonde was having an existential crisis of his own while Kurotsuchi was having one as well, too many things were beginning to line up between the two thinking at once.

Slowly the pair started to come to their own conclusions.

'The 4th Hokage... did he know my parents? If he did, what did they mean to him? Did they teach him the way to figure out the creation of the jutsu?'

The blonde thought to himself while he placed his hand over his palm again before he more aggressively began to mold the chakra into a spinning spiral by himself.

He narrowed his eyes at his chakra creation trying to stabilize into the complete jutsu, the swirling began to blow away the petals around him, Kurotsuchi felt the amount of chakra coming off of the blonde as petals blew past her.

"Naruto. You're using too much chakra!"

"Just a little more!"

The blonde yelled while the girl watched him push even further trying to stabilize the sphere in his hands as it bent and warped out of control in his palm.

'Did Pervy Sage know who my parents were? Why didn't he tell him? Were they dangerous? Was he too dangerous? Why the Rasengan of all things?'

Naruto thought to himself as the sphere exploded sending the boy crashing into the ground, "Naruto, that's enough. You're pushing yourself too hard!" Kurotsuchi yelled while the teen groaned from the ground.

He stared toward the sky while the clouds drifted by in the air calmly while he felt the earth around him with his hands.

What was the purpose of the Rasengan?

The blonde thought to himself while he could feel his internal turmoil raging within himself, this jutsu belonged to his family whoever they were, and they're gone now.

It was all he had left of whoever they were, the 4th was trying to give it to him. Was he trying to tell him something about the technique? About his family?

What was stopping him from completing this technique?

Was it himself?

"Come on, we can try again another day."

He watched as Kurotsuchi hovered over him with her hand out toward him, he looked into her slightly concerned pink eyes before his eyes widened slightly. The boy pressed his hands against the ground before traced the indents he carved into it with his hands.

The Rasengan was a spiral, a rasen. Not some kind of random whirl or spin, the image he drew on the ground was exactly that.

Just a flat image.

The blonde stood up from the ground suddenly while Kurotsuchi backed away from him, "Naruto please..." The girl asked while the blonde gave her a confident look.

"One more time."

The blonde said while he placed his palm over his hand instead of rapidly moving his hand over his palm inside the blonde slowly and deliberately rotated his hand over his palm. Slowly the chakra began to rotate in the palm of his hand before it began to strengthen.

He was asking the wrong questions.

The 4th, his family, their involvement, and their symbol, his questions were flat closed ended questions rather than open and honest questions.

He was trying to answer a spiral with a whirlpool.

Naruto took his hand away from his palm before he closed his eyes, the chakra continued to mold around his hand while his thoughts drifted.

'Why am I forming the Rasengan?'

Naruto thought to himself while the chakra molded more violently in his open palm, his thoughts went to Jiraiya showing him the technique before his thoughts went to the 4th Hokage in his dreams handing the jutsu to him.

"Naruto!"

Kurotsuchi yelled while Naruto opened his eyes looking toward her while she was blocking her face from the petals flying around aggressively.

'Don't finish that jutsu.'

The lone thought went through Kurotsuchi's head while her pink eyes met the blonde's blue ones before he gave her a small smile.

He wanted to protect her.

The chakra in his palm formed into two small spiraling spheres on the opposite sides of his palm, then slowly the two spheres began to revolve around each other while getting faster as they got closer to reaching the middle.

'Was that why you made this jutsu? You wanted to protect something precious to you like I do? Was that precious someone my parents? The village?'

Naruto thought to himself while the two spheres got closer and closer while the sakura petals began rotating around the blonde as well in a spiral.

The two spheres then touched each other combining in a big gust of wind sending the petals flying all over the place, Naruto looked down at his palm as he saw it. In his palm he saw a calm sphere of spiraling chakra, he could feel the destructive force of the calm sphere, yet he could also feel the serenity in it.

Slowly tears fell down Naruto's face as he looked at the Rasengan spinning in his hands, for some reason he could feel some kind of warmth coming from the technique he couldn't describe.

It felt like love.

Meanwhile Kurotsuchi looked toward the blonde with a shocked expression on her face as he looked toward her and smiled brightly. The sphere disappeared in his hands before he began to collapse, Kurotsuchi dashed before she caught the blonde boy in her arms.

"Kuro."

The blonde said while Kurotsuchi looked at him speechlessly before he lifted his bandaged hand cupping her cheek in it before he chuckled.

"It's you... I swear..."

The blonde said while he wrapped his arms around the girl and hugged her tightly.

"I'm going to protect you."

The boy said while Kurotsuchi nodded before briefly burying her head into his shoulder before she spoke.

"You're an Uzumaki... that symbol belongs to that clan..."

The girl trailed off while the blonde nodded his head as he took his hand and started stroking her hair.

"Yeah, looks like it... Everyone in the Leaf Village had this symbol so I had no idea."

Naruto spoke while Kurotsuchi gripped the boy even tighter as he returned the favor holding her closer as a lone sob exited from her mouth.

With a single sentence, Kurotsuchi's heart shattered to pieces.

"Kuro, you... you're very precious to me. I don't want you to suffer. So I'm going to keep getting stronger and pushing myself to make sure that doesn't happen. Alright?"

The boy spoke into her ear while he felt the girl nod against his shoulder before he closed his eyes, keeping her as close to him as possible.

In his arms held his most precious person.

Kurotsuchi looked over Naruto's shoulder with a tortured yet hardened expression as she held him closer to her body.

In her arms...

Kurotsuchi held her enemy.