Chapter 18 The Passing of Spring.

The masked man stepped from the flaming rumble, wood crunching under his feet. He looked around the scene, making note of everyone's position. Kakashi stood near a blood-covered redhead, which caught his attention.

Did she massacre the clan?

His clan mate had seals on their eyes, and she was obviously an Uzumaki, and that's not mentioning the blood. Was she that powerful, or had his clan fallen from grace?

Golden chains floated behind her, swaying like the tail of a mischievous cat. Her eyes were twinkling with delight as she looked at him. A stark contrast to the faces of those around them.

Kakashi was on edge, his body moving in preparation for an attack on all sides. He looked between the Uzumaki, Obito, and a small group of ninjas. Obito felt oddly relieved to know Kakashi wasn't working with the one that killed his clan. If he was involved, Obito wasn't sure what he would do.

"Oh my." A mesmerizing voice spoke. He looked over to the smiling Uzumaki, was this a genjutsu are was she that beautiful. "And who might you be, Masked man?" her voice was filled with seduction and sound unnaturally pleasant.

He pushed past his momentary stupor to address her.

"I am Madara Uchiha."

Everyone gasped. Madara was a legendary ninja, for someone to claim his identity. He smirked as he looked at them. The Uchiha's eyes were wide, as was the Anbu and captured man. Was that wood style? The young boys looked around in confusion, too young to understand the gravity of his name. The girl, however, glared at him with venomous eyes.

"I see." The angel said, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook. She looked away from him to hide her fear. It seemed she at least knew to be afraid.

Kakashi took a staggering step back.

"That's impossible, Madara would be long dead by now," he said. His eyes narrowed, gripping his sword harder. "Though you do match the description of the man that attacked the village eight years ago."

Obito hadn't expected the fourth Hokage to live long enough to tell the village of their encounter. He looked to the Uzumaki, now biting her lips and wiping away tears from her eyes.

Could it have been Kishina who warned them?

Kakashi couldn't believe his situation. Standing before him was the man that plunged the village into chaos eight years ago. By releasing and controlling the nine tails, he caused the death of many, including the fourth Hokage – his sensei – and his wife.

The Uzumaki walked forward after composing herself. He wasn't sure, but he could have sworn she was laughing. Her eyes twinkled with delight as she did a respectful bow.

"Who knew we were in the presence of a legend," she said. Wheater she meant it was up for debate. "I do apologies for not inviting you to the slaughter of your clan, but I was unaware you still lived."

Kakashi grit his teeth in disgust. He didn't need, it but having her confess to her crime would make things easier. With her confession, he had permission to act as an executioner. With the Uchiha traitor present as well, he had them both.

"Why are you doing this?" He had to ask. "Why kill the Uchiha clan?" It didn't matter her reason, but it would at least give them a piece of mind.

"This village is really, something isn't it?" she said, looking to the sky a small smile on her beautiful face. "It preaches to death the importance of the "Will of Fire," the idea that everyone is family, thus everyone must be protected." Her face turned dark, her smile never falling. "What a bunch of bullshit."

"The will of fire exist when convenient for them. They'll use you and then toss you away the moment you're no longer useful." She looked at him then. "You should understand right, Hatake? After all, your father only died because the village disowned him." She looked at the masked man, "You as well, you've been abandoned by your own blood. You should hear the things that say about you. "Warmonger," "Megalomaniac," "Tyrant," "Psychopath," oh, but my favorite has to be; "Brotherkiller."

Itachi shivered at the title, his eyes finding Sasuke. His little brother was in a protective stance as Sakura healed him. Sasuke's eyes were crimson with a single tomoe. He had awakened it after seeing their parents dead and himself bleeding out. It hadn't help that Madara attacked and forced them to fight. This experience would no doubt change Sasuke, and he wasn't the only one that noticed.

Emerald eyes were blazing with rage, even as her chakra was soft and gentle. He wasn't sure why she was here with captain Kakashi and her father tied up, but he was happy she was. Any longer and he might have died from blood loss. He already lost his parent; he couldn't bear to think of how Sasuke would feel if he were to die as well.

Sakura was furious. Killing intent stained the air around her. How she was healing him while being so pissed was beyond him. She'd run to him upon seeing his condition, but her instinct couldn't blind her forever.

Eventually, she noticed the massacre around her, Sasuke and Naruto's state of panic, and worst of all: her father in binds. If they all made it out of this situation alive, he was sure she was going to kill someone. Madara had to be on her list as she was glaring daggers at him every chance she got.

In all the confusion, she failed to notice his parents' absence. Today was going so well, how did it end up like this?

"The Uchihas' death was unavoidable, destined even," the redhead woman said. "They were too powerful and with the war over – for now – the Leaf simply didn't want to keep dangerous people around."

She was insulting the village again. He'd never seen hair like hers before; she wasn't from the Leaf Naruto was sure. No one from Konoha would badmouth it like she was.

Naruto was scared and confused. He felt anger toward the woman that took Sasuke's family away. He also felt sad that so many people had died: if they were all dead, then Sasuke and Itachi were the last Uchihas.

No, that wasn't right.

He looked over at the masked man; he too was an Uchiha. Manada? Madana? What was his name!?

"The leaf can't bear to have someone strong enough to oppose them," the beautiful woman said. "They would rather watch a great ally clan burn than run the risk of them turning against them. Just like the Senju, just like the Uchiha and just like the Uzumaki."

Naruto froze.

What?

Naruto looked at her to find her looking at him. Emerald eyes pierced his soul. The Uzumaki? Damn, he wasn't paying attention something about the clan being like the Uchihas and Senga?

The white-haired man blocked his view of her with his body. Golden chained attacked him, forcing him to move.

"You can't keep the truth from him forever, Hatake!" She yelled as the chains forced him further away. "The Uzumaki clan was one of the most powerful clans that survived the Sengoku era. They allied with the leaf and were considered family." She pointed to the spiral on his shirt. "That which you and the shinobi of Konoha wear is the clan symbol of the Uzumaki. The leaf wore it as a sign of their friendship, yet when we needed them most.

No one came."

She seemed so sad then even as she continued to fend off the attack from the white-hair man. Was she saying the Leaf village abandoned their allies? He refused to believe it. She gave a humorless snort and broke eye contact.

"And why would they, they had your mother, after all, if they wanted more Uzumakis they could have her make more. They used her until the end and then used her child once she was gone." The near-deafening sound of screaming birds pierced the air, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out what she said next.

"The death of your parents, rest sole on the leaf's hands."

Chidori screamed, but it was too late. The Jinchuriki was shaking, his eyes wide and filled with terror. Obito had been content to watch the scene play out, but he would not let an opportunity like this go by.

"They took you, mother, from her home with the intent to use her for their own end." He spoke to the young Uzumaki. "They promised her a home to replace her own, made her a target for greedy shinobi and in the end." He looked into wide blue eyes and smirked. "They failed to protect her."

The security detail was pathetic for protecting something as valuable as a Jinchuriki. He would know, he was the one to kill them after all. Though, with the fourth Hokage present, they had all the protection they needed, more fool them.

The boy took a shaky step back, shaking his head in denial. It was never easy to learn that those you trusted betrayed you. His eyes wandered over to the traitor. Lighting stroke the chains, but they refuse to brake. The Uzumaki was now using them as a whip, attacking and defending at once. She had skill he realized; perhaps she did kill his clan with her own strength.

Before allowing his mind to wander, he delivered the final blow to the boy's reality.

"Eight years ago, the leaf village was attacked by a demon fox that claimed many lives." Everyone stilled. Kakashi looked at him in horror, realizing his intention. The silver hair shinobi, charged towards him, Chidori at the ready. He didn't make it very far as chains of gold bound him. He crashed to the ground, trap.

"Its too late to play "Protector," Kakashi," the redhead goddess said.

"That demon fox; resides within you." He finished.

The damning words were spoking, and deadly silence spread among them. The truth was out; the kid now knew what the Hokage tried so hard to hide. He might be too young to understand what it means, but he was old enough to misunderstand.

Obito was specific, he said the fox was inside him, but the boy was sure to have only heard.

"I'm the demon fox?" He whimpered. His legs failed him, falling to his knees he griped his head he screamed in denial.

"NO!"

Raw chakra formed around him, wild and rough, but it was his chakra, not the Nine tails. It would seem despair wasn't enough to trigger an a–

Obito ducked under a deadly kick. It was instinct at saved him; he didn't think to phase through it. The wall behind him exploded from impact, crumbling to the ground. He rolled away, keeping his back away from them. He eyed the rubble as the dust cleared. He wasn't sure what attacked him, but he wasn't giving it another chance.

"You must be tired of living." A voice came from the debris; it sounded like a child. He dared to look to the only children present; the two boys were where he left them both stunned. He looked over to Itachi, a distinctive shade of pink was missing. The momentary distraction cost him. "Fine, I'll grant your wish."

She was behind him!

Too late to dodge, he activated his Sharingan's ability. Her fist phased through him and collided with the ground under him. A crater formed where her fist met the earth. He looked down at the monster that crouched beneath him and whimpered. Had that hit him he would surely have broken bones, what was a child this young doing with this kind of power.

Kakashi was extraordinary at her age, sure, but even he won't try to kill someone so readily. He leaped away from her, putting distance between them. This time she wouldn't leave his sight. The demon kin stood, clenching, and unclenching her fist.

"Forgive me," she said flatly. She turned to him and he gasped at her eyes. "I thought since you had a death wish, you wouldn't dodge, but it seems your survival instinct won out in the end. I wasn't fast enough; I will rectify that." Her eyes glowed chakra blue.

She bit her thumbs and ran them down her arms and over the seals. The inks slowing began to disappear and, in that instant, so did she.

The day started so brightly. His father taught him a fire jutsu, saying he had faith his son could master it. His mother had even made him his favorite snack for lunch, telling him he to get big and strong. Looking back, he should have known something would go wrong. No one could have predicted that they would die that very day.

Sasuke didn't want to die; he also didn't want his brother or Naruto to die either. He fought with all he had to keep the masked man away; relieved sakura wasn't there. And then she appeared out of nowhere. He knew something was wrong the moment he saw Mr. Haruno tied up. Anbus were with him with a sleeping Sakura. His brother was also an Anbu, so he wasn't sure why they had Mr. Haruno in binds.

As Sakura was unconcerned with her father's predicament, he overlooked it. That in of its self was a small mercy, as his mind was being overwhelmed.

Nothing made sense, was his clan's death truly destined? What the hell? To make matters worst, they started talking about Naruto's family and how the Leaf didn't protect them: just like they didn't protect his clan.

His brother had been acting oddly for some time now, could that have been the reason? Was it true the village wanted them dead? But if she knew their lives were in danger, why did she kill them instead of trying to save them? If she was angry her clan died, why didn't she have pity and save his?

His eyes burned, his vision red, as though looking through colored lenses. He had activated the Sharingan he knew. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but he couldn't bring himself to see it as anything but a curse. If he had to lose his family to get these eyes, he didn't want it.

It was then that the masked man told them all that Naruto was the demon fox that attacked the village eight years ago. The news sent Naruto in a panic, Sasuke felt compelled to join him. He didn't need that reveal at the moment. His clan was dead, he unlocked his Sharingan, and his best friend was a monster? This couldn't be real; it had to be an illusion, a very strong genjutsu that his eyes wouldn't see through.

An explosion stopped his panic attack before it began. He looked up to see Sakura fighting the masked man. It didn't surprise him that she would be the first to snap. He was impressed she remained calm for so long.

He looked at his best friend and saw nothing but rage in her eyes; she was going to kill him Sasuke realized. That look wasn't like the one she gave the girls from their class. It was the look his brother gave the shinobis that accused him of killing Shisui. Sakura unsealed her restraints and disappeared from view.

Sakura's attacks passed through him, never actually hurting him. That was the reason Itachi couldn't kill him. All their attacks went right through him. Sakura didn't seem to care. She kept attacking him with reckless abandon. She didn't give him a moment to breathe, forcing him to maintain his intangible form.

This went both ways however, as Sakura couldn't hit him, he couldn't touch her. His kick phased throw her as her kunai phased throw his leg. Their movements were so fast he was sure those without Sharingan would have a hard time tracking them. Naruto stopped panicking and watched in horror. He knew the masked man was untouchable, literally. Sasuke only hoped sakura had a plan. She always does.

"You are a nuisance" Obito spat standing in a web of razor-shape wires.

Just where did she get all these weapons?

"And you're still alive." She replied. She stood a bit away from him, holding a string of the deadly wire. "You need not fear death, it's a natural path in life." She smiled angelically, as though to put him at ease. It did the opposite. "All those you've every lose are waiting for you. Don't you want to see them again?"

An image of Rin smiling flashed before he crushed it. He wasn't going to die at the had of a crazy child.

"Still clinching on to life, huh?" She said, seeing the defiance in his eye.

A single flower petal fell from the sky. He followed it with his eye, seeing ink on one side as it turned. Another fell to his left and then another.

He looked up his stomach filled with dread, to find more falling surrounding him. Each and every one marked with an explosion seal.

"You were so focused on me; you failed to observe your surroundings." She said, forming a hand seal. "Close your eyes now, its time for dreams." The ground glowed with a pink glow, forming a cherry blossom, it was oddly beautiful for something designed to kill him.

The explosion of pink was blindingly bright and shook the ground. Itachi opened his eyes to find he was shield behind a wooded wall. The Anbu beside him the one responsible. Sasuke, Naruto, and Haruno-san were also protected, making him sigh in relief. A glace to the side confirmed that Kakashi shielded himself behind a stone wall and the Uzumaki behind her chains. Those were useful.

The wooden wall fell to reveal the aftermath of the explosion. There was a large hole in the ground six feet deep, fitting for a grave. Sakura stood next to it unharmed, the explosion never leaving the circle. It went off for a good five minutes, making Itachi question her motive. Sakura stood a step back, shaky on her feet. The fight must have taken more out of her than he thought.

She looked over to them and smiled in reassurance, causing her father to sag in relief. He had been struggling since the moment sakura decoded to fight Madara. He took had wanted to intervene until he saw the seal she was drawing on the with her weapons.

He wasn't sure what it did, but if she was making it, it met she had a plan. And so he watched and waited, in case she needed him, she didn't.

He wasn't foolish enough to think that killed Madara, but it had to have at least injure him.

"Sakura was tha-" Itachi started, only to pause in horror.

Blood flowed found the front of her, pooling under her feet. She coughed, blood running from her lips. Looking down, she stared in horror at the wooded spike emerging from her chest.

"What?" she rasped, looking behind her to see the masked man. His masked chipped from a large piece missing, his black hair covering the gape and concealing his face. He was touching her back, the wooden spike coming from his palm.

"Impossible!" the wood-style user gasped. Just how many Hashirama cell users were there!?

"This was a fun game, but I think it's past your bedtime," Madara said to her. He roughly pulled the spike from her body, widening the hole he put there.

"Close your eyes now, its time for dreams." Sakura sagged supported only by his hold on her back collar. As though to add insult to injury, he tossed her body away and into the hole she created.

"Sakura!"

Shot through the heart, and you're to blame. Darling you give love a bad name… too soon?

Hello, my night walkers, Luna still lives, and its all thanks to your reviews. I'm not joking, I went to the review and saw all the comments and went to the library the next day. Why didn't I do that early? Have YOU been outside lately? Yeah, that's what I thought. Cant saw when the next one will be out but ill try my best.

Until next time night song!

Next chapter July 17…

Maybe.