A/N:I'm posting this in the middle of my AP Gov class lmfao.

𓍊𓍊 ~ Chapter Forty — Lady Fifth ~ 𓍊𓍊

This was going to be the last time Gosei would have to stay in this little hotel before returning home. His… mother was the Hokage. He should've been used to the idea; after all, the Shodai was his ancestor, Lord Second was his brother, and now… his mother was the Hokage now. It never truly dawned on him due to all of the other things he had on his mind.

First it was the utter waste that Konoha was in, and then it was how injured he was, and afterward it was the focus of retrieving Lady Tsunade and his training to impress her… which he did. Even if it was just him there, Lady Tsunade would have come back to do her duty.

Gosei had, for what seemed like the first time since the Academy, truly achieved something, truly succeeded, with the taste of his perfect vision ripe on his tongue. But no, that was no excuse for slacking. His celebration of the victory was going to be starting up his next step.

After all, Natsuyo made Lady Tsunade use three fingers instead of two.

Naruto… was… a Jinchuriki. As ambitious as Gosei was, he was equally grounded. There was no way he'd match Naruto in his Wrath of Inari form anytime soon. Eventually, of course, he would. But, as much as Gosei hated to admit it, not now.

Definitely not now.

But now he was the son of the Hokage… his already plentiful resources for training would grow even more.

What did concern Gosei, however, was the lack of communication between his mother and Lady Tsunade. It seemed that they still did not like each other. They still seemed to have a sort of… bad blood with each other. Not a single word was exchanged between them.

Gosei didn't want to imagine what would've happened had Lord Jiraiya not been a mediator, keeping Lady Tsunade occupied. Gosei's fists clenched. It was honestly disgraceful that two family members were refusing to get along. To assign such an act to his mother was blasphemous, but Gosei couldn't help but agree with it internally.

There were not many Senju left; they needed to stick together and bond properly! Not be divided over any petty matters that happened decades ago. It was true that Lady Tsunade abandoned Konoha and wasted away for years, but there was no longer a reason to hold it against her! She was rectifying her mistakes!

Many of Lady Tsunade's tendencies were unbearable, her foul language, her loud mouth, her addiction to alcohol and gambling, but that didn't take away from the fact that she was family. And so, Gosei needed to treat her as such.

No matter what, every Senju in Konoha was going to be united under a familial roof!

Gosei was going to build it… by any means necessary.

—

It didn't take too long for Baiko to help Suigetsu find some clothes to wear. Lord Orochimaru left to do… something with Kabuto. According to both of them, it'll heal Lord Orochimaru and bring him back to 'an acceptable level.'

So, it was really just him and Suigetsu, as well as the prisoners that Lord Orochimaru kept. They were evil, enslaved for their crimes against humanity. It was good that they were there. So, Baiko and Suigetsu just… sat together.

The silence wasn't really comfortable.

"...Suigetsu?"

"What."

"Now that you're free, what do you wanna do?"

Suigetsu huffed. "I'm going to be the greatest swordsman in the history of the Shinobi World. I'll start by taking and mastering all Seven Swords of Kiri, just like my brother did. After that, I'll track down every other Legendary Blade and use it for myself…"

"Woah," Baiko muttered, awestruck. "That's… an amazing goal."

"Thanks?" Suigetsu chuckled.

Baiko smiled and nodded. "Of course! With a goal like that, why did you get trapped by Lord Orochimaru?"

"Uh…" Suigetsu grumbled. "Orochimaru has a blade of his own… the Kusanagi Blade. I tried to take it… and yeah."

"...You tried to steal from him?"

"I won't do it again."

"Because he's too powerful for you to succeed, or because you know it's wrong to do it?"

Suigetsu paused, looking incredulously at Baiko. "The fuck type of question is that?!"

"Some people only don't do wrong because they're scared of what's gonna happen to them… that's what Dad used to tell me. Are you one of those people, Suigetsu?"

"Yeah! Sure! What of it? Orochimaru's a fucking asshole—"

"—Don't speak about Lord Orochimaru like that!" Baiko yelled with a glare.

Suigetsu put his hands up. "Fine fine! Geez…"

"You know that stealing is wrong."

"I only steal from assholes, like Kiri! That village is full of assholes…"

"I guess… they're one of the Five Great Nations," agreed Baiko.

Suigetsu nodded. "Yeah…"

"But, sadly for your goal, Lord Orochimaru already has the Kusanagi Blade."

"Yeah, it sucks."

"Maybe you can ask to borrow it?"

"...Borrow it."

Baiko raised his brow. "Yeah? He might say yes."

Suigetsu burst out in laughter. Hard. He laughed so hard that he started dripping with the water he was made out of. "You are fucking hilarious, man!"

"Uh…"

"What makes you think Orochimaru would lend me his Legendary Sword?!" Suigetsu questioned, forming himself back into complete solidity. "If anything, he's competition. I gotta claim as many blades as I can before he gets his snakey hands on them."

"But my Mom always told me sharing is caring…"

"Yeah, I wouldn't take dead people's advice about how to live. Very smart."

Baiko felt a fiery punch to his chest. His fists clenched. "Don't say that again."

"Eh…" Suigetsu let out a sigh. "Yeah, my bad, dick move."

That silence fell again.

Baiko was starting to not like Suigetsu very much. Maybe Lord Orochimaru was right to lock him up.

"Alright Baiko, uh… what do you wanna do? What's your grand goal, eh?" asked Suigetsu, putting on a forced, odd looking smile.

Was this his way of saying sorry? All of a sudden, Baiko felt bad for being so mad at him. "I'm going to rescue my brother, Shinrai from the clutches of Konoha. Then, we're going to destroy the evil of the Five Great Nations."

Suigetsu's eyes went wide. "You want to… destroy the Shinobi World."

"I want to destroy the evil in it."

"That's something else," Suigetsu muttered with a chuckle. "I never met somebody with a goal like you."

"That's sad…" mumbled Baiko. "That nobody but me wants to do the right thing."

"Well, I wouldn't call the destruction of countries the right thing to do…" Suigetsu laughed, putting his hands up. "But hey, I'm not some pinnacle of morality, am I?"

"What's morality?"

"I—" Suigetsu rolled his eyes. "Morality it's like… how good of a person you are, something like that, yeah."

"Hmmm," pondered Baiko. "Yeah, you're not a good person."

"Thanks."

"But I don't think you're a bad person either."

"Thanks…?"

"So, that means you can become a good person!" Baiko concluded, a smile crossing his face. "Y'know, I think the greatest swordsman in the world would be an amazing person to help me destroy the evil in the world!"

"Eh?!"

"Yes!" pushed Baiko, standing up and in front of Suigetsu. "Since you're free, and most of the Legendary Swords are in the Great Nations, we should work together! Both of our goals are going to be fulfilled at the same time! It'll be great!"

"Uh huh…" Suigetsu put a hand on his chin. "Y'know what, fuck it. What's the point of being the Greatest Swordsman if I got nobody to use the swords on!" He put his hand out. "We can be partners."

"Yayy!" cheered Baiko, shaking Suigetsu's hand.

The future Greatest Swordsman in the World and the future Destroyer of All Evil formed their alliance… to make every nation fall.

—

Dantai's face was exactly what Ryujin expected to interrupt his meditation. To his surprise, he was getting the hang of the whole thing after he silenced the Kyuubi. His mind actually felt like his own… once again, funny that.

"What do you want?" asked Ryujin, resting his face on his fist, which was upheld by the arm sitting on one of his crossed legs.

Dantai scoffed, grinning wide. "What wouldn't I want?"

"I'm serious… I've been trying to decode this Koan for a week," muttered Ryujin—feeling Dantai pulling on his nerves.

Dantai's brow furrowed. "Huh? Really? I came up with an answer like an hour after you told me."

"Well good for you!"

"I know something that's good for you!"

"You leaving?"

"Ah… yes and no." Dantai chuckled. "I leave, but you also have to leave too because I have something to show you."

Ryujin groaned. "How long should it take?"

"That depends entirely on how cooperative you are."

For some reason, Ryujin decided to stand up and walk with him. All Dantai did was smile and giggle as they walked out of the training ground that Ryujin made into his makeshift home. The forest turned to village and before long, the direction they were going became quite familiar.

It was… Naruto and Shinrai's apartment complex.

"Why are we going here?" asked Ryujin.

Dantai giggled like a school girl. "Because I bought it."

"...What—?"

"In your name!" revealed Dantai, showing off the building that remained surprisingly untouched after Konoha Crush. "Everyone inside will be paying you rent! At the same time, you get to be near Naruto and Shinrai, which you should care about, but eh that's on you."

Ryujin blinked. "What?"

"Did you not hear what I just said—?"

"I did—that's why I'm asking you! What the fuck—?!"

All Dantai did was cackle in response—that fucking madman.

"Where did you get the money—?"

"...I had it on hand."

Ryujin went cold. "You didn't steal—?"

"What?! Of course not! I'm not a petty criminal! I'm a war criminal."

"You're insane."

"You've known that since we were brats."

Ryujin genuinely tried to comprehend, but he couldn't. He genuinely could not. Shaking his head, letting out a breath, all Ryujin could do was ask, "Why?!"

"...not? You deserve it, man. The rent everybody in this apartment won't ever be enough to repay you for your service to Konoha. For everything you went through and have done for this little dirt-ball's sake is honestly priceless, there's nothing that can truly repay that debt.

"But, this is just the least I can do—" Dantai cleared his throat. "Actually, nah, it's the most I can do. I tried to do more but it was out of my hands unfortunately."

Why was this so hard for Ryujin to comprehend?! It was just… all of this… appreciation?! What the fuck was that?! Was this what it was?! For the first time since—Ryujin didn't even know when. Too many emotions were pouring through him.

A type of guilt—Dantai was furious after he spared Itachi… and yet he still did this?! He was happy—to fucking think that was possible! Dantai was right, all of his sacrifices couldn't be repaid, but Dantai was at least trying and that was enough for Ryujin to feel it.

Of course, there was that melancholy—that sadness that he couldn't have this earlier. He couldn't have had this when he was already so far gone. That Miya never thought to do this—his own family…

Dantai had been more of a family to him in this past week than Miya had been in the past thirteen years.

"...Thank you…" was what Ryujin managed to say. "So much."

"Anytime! I know you usually hate handouts, but I decided to make an exception, y'know?"

Ryujin shook his head, and smiled. "Yeah, I think I will too."

With another laugh, Dantai threw a ring of over fifty different, labeled keys to Ryujin. Of course, he caught it. "There you go, landlord."

Ryujin rolled his eyes and just looked at Dantai. "You weren't like this before… you never did shit like this… what changed?"

"Nothing…" Dantai's smile shrank, but somehow strengthened. "Just making up for lost time."

"Well you've made up for it in my book, that's for sure," Ryujin said with a chuckle.

Dantai shook his head. "Well, not in my own book." To Ryujin's surprise, Dantai turned to walk off. "Enjoy your home, Ryu. You need it."

"I will… again, thank you!" Ryujin said as Dantai walked off.

Dantai's 'you're welcome' was just one last cheeky grin.

Ryujin reciprocated with a smile of his own. Not long after, Ryujin entered. The first thing he did was sense a blizzard on the inside. A blizzard that had a familiar feel…

Shinrai?

That feeling was concerning… considering how Shinrai usually felt. Ryujin put it on his list to talk to him. Just… not right now. This little state of 'happiness' was too fragile for it to be any use. But, he still went to the top floor. The apartment on the far right, opposite to Shinrai and Naruto's apartment, was unclaimed.

His home would be right there.

Ryujin took the correct key for it out—all of the keys were labeled with their apartment number—and unlocked his door. The space was… empty, generic. About what Ryujin was expecting, Dantai knew better than to choose an apartment and decorate it for him… not that Ryujin would be doing much decorating.

This space was his in more ways than one. According to Dantai, the building was fully bought, no mortgage plans or anything. It was only going to make him money from the rent he'd get, especially with housing being in high demand after Konoha Crush… this was the perfect time for Ryujin to gain money off of real-estate.

Not that Ryujin really needed much money, but it was nice to have.

What was… Ryujin going to do now?

Well, he dropped back into his cross-legged sitting position. He rested his hands. He meditated.

Who is it that repeats the Sage's Name?

Who is this dragging corpse about?
What is this?
What is it?
What was the original face before my father and mother were born?

Who am I?

Dantai really did… show him something just now. His eyes were opened to a truth he was blind to beforehand. A common factor between every phase of his life. Something that Ryujin always had, something that Ryujin would never lose—something that was so vital to him, that he couldn't lose it.

No matter what, Ryujin… achieved. What did he achieve? He achieved endurance, no matter what… he never just… gave up. No matter how close he came, he couldn't let himself fully fall, truly let go, completely give in.

As a child he achieved the endurance to keep going after losing his parents.

Before he committed to Shinobihood, he lived with his aunt, uncle… and Miya, he adapted to that new environment… and Miya became almost a sister to him.

Unlike anybody else, he didn't give up when it came to trying to not only keep up with—but surpass Miya. In the Academy, as Genin, as Chunin, as a Jonin he never once believed it was impossible for him to surpass Miya… as a matter of fact, it came true, even if it came at a catastrophic cost.

Not once did he break under the torture of the Blood Mist Village, a feat that was never replicated before or since.

When his sensei and other squadmate died he kept pushing forward to honor their names and legacy.

He gained Minato-sensei's attention and trained under him until he was killed—then he bore the burden of hated, the Kyuubi on his lonesome for years.

Even when Orochimaru took him in and betrayed him… it was never a reason to give up.

And even now.

Now.

Despite everything he was still trying.

If that wasn't who he was… then Ryujin didn't know what was.

Ryujin Hiyenzo: the Achiever of Persistence.

That had a bit of a ring to it.

—

A year ago, this would not have been what Kusari expected to be doing on her thirteenth birthday. She just wished that Neji was there with her. It wasn't surprising how exhausting abusing her Dead Bone Pulse to this level would be. What was surprising, however, was how supportive the Branch Family was. They'd sacrificed most of their rations to her, food, water, hell, she was never rushed or belittled by any Branch Family member. They either adored her or helped her out of obligation.

Kusari… had truly become Lady Pearl Bones.

To think the shining white of her Dead Bone Pulse would give her a moniker such as that. Despite being a 'lady,' Kusari was still sweating and bleeding and tiring for the Branch Family—for the Hyuuga. The hardest part of her job was memorizing all of the bricks, pillars, supports, foundation, molding her bones into precise shapes in order to make them usable for construction.

Another thing that was good for the Hyuuga was that her bones were lighter than stone, about the same weight as wood. The relatively lightweight material was easier to transport than stone… it was really just perfect.

Kusari knew that Kimimaro probably wouldn't be pleased with her. But, she couldn't bring herself to care unless Kimimaro made himself known.

The Hyuuga loved her and she was serving alongside them.

There wasn't much more she could ask for.

On the other hand…

Slowly, respectfully, a Hyuuga man walked up to Kusari. She sat with her legs crossed, scanning blueprints and weaving hand seals to grow bone from the floor, matching their shape. When he came close enough Kusari gave him her attention. "Yes?"

"Lady Pearl Bones—!" Quickly, he bowed his head.

Kusari rolled her eyes. "Don't bow to me."

"I apologize!" he sputtered, standing back to his full height. "I have a question for you!"

"...Go on?"

"I would like your advice on how to become stronger! More powerful like you!" he asked, clenching his fists. "I'm twenty years old and still a Genin… and—"

"I am… also a Genin," Kusari said, deadpanned.

He shook his head. "But you're stronger than one! If it were up to me, I'd make you a Chunin at least!"

"I'm… flattered," Kusari said, somewhat sarcastic. But she pondered his question for a short while. "Well, if you want to become stronger, then don't limit yourself to the sphere of Hyuuga techniques. They're powerful on their own, very much so. But when you add on top of it… what it becomes is something much more effective and versatile."

"I see!" said the Genin, excited. "Thank you! Thank you so very much! I'll be sure to spread your wisdom!"

"...Thanks—? You're welcome! I'm happy to have helped you." How did Hinata deal with this type of attention constantly? Kusari couldn't bring herself to dislike it, but she didn't love it in its entirety either.

Somebody seven years older than her asked her for advice.

That had never happened before.

…The arrogant part of Kusari wished it would happen again.

As the hours went on, that arrogant part of her was pleased.

Maybe… Kusari could learn to love this.

—

It was about now when Miya truly started to fully adapt to the 'Hokage's regime.' Having her own home to return to really seemed to help! Who would've thought. Even though all she did was sign Danzo's paperwork to make it look like she came up with it. The only decisions she made for herself were the ones regarding the funeral… which she finished by her third day in office.

Her starting to get so… used to this went back to what she had promised Aiko. Was being a staying Hokage something that she could truly do? At the very least, she did what she could while planning for the funeral. Preaching peace and not war… not to seek out war, but to only fight when it comes knocking on their doorstep.

Miya wasn't sure how much Yosei would agree to that, but… what she did was out of her hands. But… Miya clenched her fists. For Aiko's dream and for everybody she cared about, she had to try. Just the thought of Shinrai's face after returning… that combined with the mission report that he wrote—something like that should never happen to a child.

At that declaration, the door to her office opened. Miya's brow furrowed. No knock or announcement—? She looked up to see who entered and immediately saw why.

Lady Fifth had returned to claim what was hers. The moment that Miya saw her face, it felt like the weight of a thousand mountains was taken off her shoulders. A breath that she didn't know she needed escaped her breath as a small smile crossed her face. Miya stood from her seat then bowed her head. "Welcome back, Lady Fifth."

"Thank you," she said, with Jiraiya entering not long after.

Before he could say anything, Naruto burst from beside him and grinned. "Ms. Miya!"

"Naruto!" Miya's smile widened as Naruto ran up to the desk to try and hug her. Much to his dismay, Miya had to stop him from leaping over the desk. "Hey… not right now."

Gosei and Natsuyo entered next, with Gosei muttering, "So unprofessional," under his breath at Naruto's antics. On the other hand, Natsuyo had an endearing grin on her face, watching him.

Last but certainly not least, none other than Tsunade of the Sannin entered the room, placing herself the complete opposite direction from Yosei, seemingly on purpose. Miya hummed and bowed her head at Tsunade as well. "Lady Tsunade! Thank you for returning to us."

Tsunade shrugged and waved her hand. "Eh, whatever it is what it is."

I don't know what else I was expecting! Miya shook her head and chuckled. "I see." She cleared her throat. "I'm happy to see that the mission was a success."

"Indeed," agreed Yosei, standing in front of Miya, across from the Hokage's desk. "Have you completed the task that I asked of you?"

"Of course," Miya said. "I scheduled the funeral to coincide with your coordination as Hokage, so now that you're here, it will happen whenever you're prepared."

"Interesting choice," Yosei said with a hum. "Tomorrow."

"Alright," said Miya with a nod.

Yosei physically had to look up at her, and yet it felt like she was looking down at her all the same. "I can see that Konoha's reconstruction has made stellar progress… it's already in a much better shape, good work, Miya, for you are now dismissed as acting Hokage."

"Yes, Lady Fifth," Miya said with a bow of her head.

Yosei cleared her throat and turned to everybody else in the room. "All of you will write your mission reports with me, then you are free to go." She put her full focus on Tsunade. "You, since you were out of Konoha, must report everything you have done, every place you stayed, all the information you gave, every single detail since you left Konoha."

"...You're fucking kidding."

"Why would I be?"

Tsunade groaned and muttered a curse under her breath.

Jiraiya shrugged. "Hey, Tsunade… I had to do the same shit." He inched closer to her. "If you want, I can really be a good emotional support for you through such a hard experi—"

"I will punch you."

"Okay, okay!" Jiraiya quickly backed away with his hands raised.

Yosei, ignoring the interaction, looked to Miya. "Everything you did is on record, yes?"

"Of course," Miya answered, catching the emphasis on 'you.' Danzo was included.

Yosei nodded. "Good. You are dismissed."

Miya gave a nod of acknowledgement, and as she walked out, Naruto grabbed onto her. "Wait!"

"What's up?" Miya looked down at him, lips curling into a smile.

Naruto let out a breath. "Shinrai's back right?"

"He is," answered Miya, her smile fading a bit.

Naruto grinned. "That means Orochimaru really is dead!"

At that, Miya's smile went away in its entirety. "No… he's alive."

Jiraiya and Yosei turned their full attention to Miya. "...What?" sputtered Jiraiya.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes and huffed. "I don't know why any of you thought a Genin could kill him, even if he was as weakened as you said he was."

"I made Shinrai write a report of every detail that occurred during his mission," Miya assured. "That will be available for you to read," she said to Yosei and Jiraiya.

Naruto nodded. "Alright, where is it?!"

"You are a Genin, you are not authorized access to mission reports," Yosei said, flatly and sternly.

Naruto shook his head. "No, but—"

"Don't talk back to me." Yosei's tone fell like a hammer onto Naruto's head.

Even Naruto knew better than to speak out of turn.

With a bit of a frown, Miya pulled Naruto into a short hug. "When you see Shinrai again, he can tell you what he can, okay?"

"Alright," muttered Naruto.

Miya let go of him and walked out of the office… free of immense responsibility but still shackled by the chains of the future. After all… she still had a funeral to host.

—

Cold.

Nothing.

Cold.

Nothing.

What gave Shinrai the most frostbite was the fact that Karin wasn't okay. Every day he flipped from wanting to hate her to not caring about her to wanting to do any and everything to make sure she was okay. But, there was nothing he could bring himself to do about any of his feelings. There was nothing he could do.

There was nothing to do.

There was nothing.

Nothing.

Somehow, Shinrai managed to keep himself training with Sasuke without Kusari dragging him there. Sasuke… was cool. Plus, it was better to get tips about the Sharingan from somebody that actually grew up with Uchiha… even if it was a while ago.

It was Baiko that kept him training.

Shinrai needed to rescue his brother from Orochimaru; no matter what cold, what frostbite, no matter if he felt like a frozen corpse he was going to save Baiko. That was what really kept him going.

If Baiko was never born and it was just him… what would've happened to him? It wasn't hard to imagine.

He'd just wait to die.

If bringing Baiko back didn't warm the cold, then Shinrai didn't know what could. Not even the thought of romance entertained him like it did before… Shinrai's eyes drawled to Karin. Where was he? On the couch, right… Karin just sat at the dinner table. She finished her food an hour ago.

Was he desperate enough to try again?

Was he?

Should I—?

"Shinrai…" she said.

Her voice felt like a frigid dagger to his heart—everything pulsed numb throughout his body. "Huh?"

"Naruto's back in the village. He's coming here."

Everything became so numb that it hurt. "Fuck." Frostbite made Shinrai feel like he was purple—crumbling apart at the seams. Naruto was honestly the last person he needed to see. All of that shit that Karin helped him run away from, he had to confront it now.

All of his lies were exposed all of the skeletons in his closet were revealed and Naruto didn't like it one bit. He knew his brother. He knew his brother and knew his brother and that there would be no more running from this—Shinrai ran for long enough and it was over over over everything was fucking over.

His heart sprinted glaciers into his arteries and icebergs returned to it—everything hurt in the way that it shouldn't. Shinrai couldn't see her Shinrai was no sensor but he could feel that Karin was dying because he was like this.

Shinrai couldn't help it—he wished he could still take care of Karin after everything that happened he wished that he could clear everything with Naruto with a smile on his face he wished he could train with Kusari and Sasuke with the fullness of his heart he wished that he didn't have to worry Miya—but I CAN'T!

Everything was wrong it was because of Karin—because of Orochimaru—

The click of a lock froze Shinrai on the couch. The slow creak of the front door opening ripped Shinrai with frigid dread. Naruto's first step in was loud. The door closed.

His eyes locked in on his brother before flashing to Karin. "Oh… hey! You're Karin!" greeted Naruto with his signature grin.

A heartbeat of silence passed before she answered. "Yeah… hi, Naruto."

Naruto nodded at her before setting his eyes back on his brother, grin fading away. "I'm going to help you next time. We'll kill him together."

"I'll do it myself." Again… that echo chamber voice—echo-chamber of dread.

Naruto's fists clenched. "No! You've done enough on your own, Shinrai!"

There it was.

It didn't take Naruto long to stomp over to the living room, looking down at Shinrai from right in front of the couch. "You didn't talk to me before, so you're going to talk to me now!" Naruto took a deep breath, calming himself just a bit. "Please, Shinrai. We were the Demon Twins. We always did everything together, we were always one in the same and inseparable but you've done too much by yourself! I know it's good that we won't die without each other but dammit I can't live without you either!"

Would Shinrai have been able to cry like he did behind Naruto's back so many years ago? That was the urge he had right now. It felt like the urge to finally kiss Yora. Something he wanted so bad but never could, no matter how hard he tried.

"We're brothers, Shinrai! You've been there for me in all my worst moments and I want to be there for you just the same! I want to talk to you about everything. I'm not mad at you, I don't hate you—I'm not gonna kick you out! I just want to make sure that you're okay."

"...I'm not," was what Shinrai could admit.

Naruto winced. "Then tell me what's up."

"I can't."

Naruto's face screamed, but he managed to keep his demeanor somewhat calm. "Why?!"

Before Shinrai could truly register it, he stood up, looking down at Naruto. "It's because of you!" he yelled. Shinrai caught himself, pausing as frostbite overtook him.

Shinrai wasn't strong enough to hold on.

He let himself go.

The shock and hurt on Naruto's face was going to get so much worse but Shinrai couldn't bear to care anymore. "I spent my whole fucking life trying to keep you from being sad and stopping you from crying every night! If you had been strong enough to hold yourself up then none of us would be here right now! And now you wanna act like you're me, act like you're hurt because of me when you don't have the fucking right!"

Shinrai didn't know what he was saying. He didn't know if he even believed what came out of his mouth. "You're not even my real fucking brother! All you've been is somebody I've had to worry about for my whole life! You don't deserve me as a brother! You don't deserve a brother that hides things from you! You don't deserve a brother that lies—that doesn't know how to handle his own pain! You don't deserve a brother that's as fucked as this! I shouldn't have been your brother and I'm sorry that I am!"

Shinrai could barely breathe—the air conditioning was suffocating. Naruto's tears were daggers—there was never a time where Shinrai didn't hate seeing his brother cry. Whywhy couldn't he make sense of his own head.

Naruto was hurt and Karin was hurt and Shinrai wasn't capable of being hurt anymore. All it was it was frostbite all Shinrai was doing was falling apart at the seams he couldn't handle himself Shinrai shouldn't live—he'd rather die than live like this.

Shinrai looked into Naruto's eyes and all he saw was silence.

—

Naruto looked into Shinrai's eyes and all he saw was silence.

His heart wouldn't stop racing and his tears wouldn't stop falling. Naruto knew better than to believe what Shinrai was saying. Something was so seriously wrong that it made Shinrai into somebody he wasn't. Karin, she looked like she was guilty—she had to have known what happened.

With a shaking hand, Naruto reached out to his brother—Shinrai bolted past him to the door. The moment Naruto noticed, he grabbed Shinrai by the arm, stopping him. "You're not gonna run away again!"

Shinrai cried out and grit his teeth. "Please let me go."

"No!"

"You can't do anything Naruto!" yelled Shinrai.

Naruto clenched his jaw and held on tighter. "Don't you fucking dare say that!"

He was going to talk to him, he was going to understand him—nothing was going to stop him! With a deep breath, Naruto summoned that golden understanding Chakra. He sent it into Shinrai—

—Naruto immediately shuddered from the cold. It felt like he was on top of a mountain during the worst winter's night. Was this… Shinrai's feeling? His brother glared with his Sharingan coming to life. Naruto only held on tighter. Naruto's golden chakra went in even deeper—

—"Nono, this is what you want? This is what you want right?!" Karin screamed—

—With a cry, Shinrai drove his namesake blade into Karin's heart—

—"Don't mourn for me, I don't deserve your tears."—

—Karin's head dropped to the floor, separated from her neck—

—All Orochimaru did was grin—

—Desperation clawed at Orochimaru's throat as Kusanagi gutted Shinrai—

—Karin was alive—her healing chakra attempted to mend the wounds—

—"GIVE ME MY BROTHER!"—

—"I KNOW YOU'RE ALIVE!"—

—Karin gasped—

—Cold—

—Frostbite.

Naruto blinked. Is this my brother? It couldn't have been Shinrai—this wasn't Shinrai's mind. This wasn't how he felt when they fused. Naruto's breath began to race—Did Shinrai seriously suffer through all of this?! It was almost the worst possible outcome that Shinrai could have.

The more he sensed the more he felt the more he tried to understand—Naruto simply couldn't. Naruto STILL couldn't understand the most important person in his life. All that Naruto understood was that there was nothing he could do. There were no words that Naruto knew that was capable of reaching him. As a matter of fact, the longer Naruto was there the worse that Shinrai felt.

All Naruto could do was make things worse for Shinrai.

A thousand daggers shattered Naruto's heart. More tears fell. They spilled over out of his eyes. It was too late. It was too late for Naruto to help his brother. He'd rather die than make things worse.

Naruto looked into Shinrai's Sharingan eyes as they faded back to their regular state. A sharp jolt in Shinrai's cold chakra made them both wince as Shinrai looked away. "I'm… sorry…" his brother muttered.

"Promise me this… Shinrai," Naruto began, using his free hand to make Shinrai look him in the eyes. "You're going to get better, and once you do that, you're going to come right back and everything's going to go like it should've been."

"I will," promised Shinrai… Naruto didn't feel any lies in his chakra.

Naruto nodded. "You better." With that, Naruto did the most painful thing that he'd ever done before.

He let go of Shinrai.

After taking a breath, Shinrai took his keys out of his pocket and threw them at Karin. She caught them. Without another word, Shinrai walked out of their home.

For the first time in over eight years, Naruto was alone again.

"I'm… so sorry…" Karin apologized.

Naruto didn't look at her as he asked, "For what?"

"For taking your brother from you." Her voice sounded like shattered glass—it sounded like pain… Naruto didn't need the golden chakra to understand that.

She wasn't wrong. She did take Shinrai from him… accidentally or not. Naruto clenched his fists. "Yeah… you better be sorry."

Karin's breath was sharp.

"You hurt him… so you are gonna help get him back!" Naruto turned to face her, fist pointing at her. "You understand me?!"

Her wet eyes went wide.

"He treated you like he did me! He did everything in his power to make sure you were okay! Now, and now he's—" Naruto grit his teeth. "He can't anymore! You're gonna help me bring back the best Shinrai! The old Shinrai! The better Shinrai that won't ever lie or hide anything again! I know you can! He saw something in you… and I need to see what he saw for myself."

Karin's flower-looking irises trembled in the whites of her eyes. As she shook, she wrapped herself in a hug and leaned forward. Naruto saw her tears hit the floor. It looked like she was fighting herself in a way.

"Do you… think I deserve a second chance? After everything?"

Naruto paused, before he clenched his fists. "Of course you do. You just have to want it for yourself."

"You… actually believe that," Karin said, not asked… it was a statement. A statement that she couldn't truly bring herself to believe.

Despite that, Naruto answered. "Why wouldn't I? I saw someone a whole lot worse than you become a better person. A friend of mine… called it the Power of Happiness. He says that the world would be a better place if more people used that."

"Happy?!" questioned Karin. "How the hell am I supposed to be happy?!"

"I'll show you!" assured Naruto. "I'll show you everything there is to know, believe it!" His tears were about dry by now.

Karin shook her head, laughing now. "You are… everything Shinrai said you were. I didn't think people like you existed." She looked up, peering into Naruto's eyes with so much desperation that it almost made him scared. "I'll try only if you can make me a promise."

"I'll keep it," Naruto declared before even hearing it.

"Promise me that you'll never break. Promise me that you won't become as fucked as me. If you can do that… then I can try."

With that, Naruto broke into a grin. "You bet your ass I won't! I never even planned on it. Believe it!"

—

That grin. Shinrai said that he stole it from his brother, but he never did it justice. Naruto Uzumaki had the most beautiful chakra that Karin had ever sensed. Just like Shinrai's once did, it had an overpowering protective warmth… but it was somehow stronger. It had that equally soothing warmth of Shinrai's, while having that same unbreakable protective aura that Miya's had.

It was the best of both of them amplified.

Unlike Miya or Shinrai, it had nothing cold. It could be hurt, of course, but it didn't linger and poison him like it did everybody else. Naruto's chakra was the purest, most untainted warmth… People like him shouldn't exist. A person like Naruto Uzumaki was impossible.

And yet, here he was, right in front of her.

When Naruto promised that he wouldn't break, Karin… actually believed it. She believed that he was strong enough to weather the tragedy of this world and come out still smiling. That sparkling smile…

Naruto almost made Karin believe she could get better. But… she had to at least try. She had to try because she said she would.

Karin had to try to make Shinrai's sacrifice mean something.

Just trying seemed like the biggest hurdle in the world.

Whether her attempt to scale it would break her even further, would… have to be seen.

With a breath, Karin looked him deeper in the eyes. "Thank you, Naruto."

"Of course!" Naruto responded without missing a beat.

Maybe Konoha wasn't going to be so terrible.

—

Nobody really cared to notice him once he was back in Konoha. Good. Shinrai probably would've stabbed the first person to get on his nerves. Miya was probably sick of having him show up to her door.

At least the cold wasn't frostbite without Naruto and Karin there.

Hopefully, Miya would do something. He barely talked to her since he got back… Hokage business and all of that shit. Also, last time he checked—he didn't—her home was… fucked. It wasn't now.

That meant he'd have a place to sleep.

Shinrai knocked in his identifying pattern on the ebony darkwood door. Not long after, Miya appeared with a smile. Her smile couldn't make him smile. She didn't make the cold go away.

"Shinrai!" she greeted, ushering him inside. "I'm so sorry that I couldn't talk with you earlier."

"It's fine… Miya…" Shinrai drawled.

Miya gave him a delirious look as she closed the door behind him. "No Ms?"

"Oh, sorry…" he mumbled.

All of his energy just turned to blocks of ice weighing him down. What happened to that screaming passion that he had for Naruto?

Fuck.

"Honestly, I don't really care," admitted Miya as she sat him on the couch. "Just don't… insult me and we'll be okay!" Miya's arm was around him, she rubbed his shoulder soothingly… it still didn't do anything. "What are you here for?"

"I need to stay here… for a while," said Shinrai with a sigh. "Naruto and I got into a big argument, so I kicked myself out. I can't be around him… or Karin."

"Oh." Miya frowned. "It's okay, of course you can stay… Did you bring any of your things?"

Shinrai shook his head.

"Ah, you should probably go back and get it," Miya forced a chuckle. "We don't really have any places to shop, right now."

"I'll sneak in when they're gone."

"I… alright, that works." Miya held onto him tighter.

Tighter and tighter.

Cold and cold.

Nothing worked.

Shinrai almost threw his arms around Miya. He held on as tight as he could—grasping for the warmth that she used to bring him. His face was planted onto her torso and he squeezed. "I love you so much, Miya—you're always there, you're always helping me and taking care of me, you've always made me feel safe and you've taught me more than anyone else… I wouldn't give you up for the world and more."

"Shinrai—" Miya embraced him just as tightly as Shinrai did her. "I love you too—I'd do everything I did before again for you."

There wasn't the slightest lie in anything that Shinrai said, but he didn't feel it. He couldn't feel it. Everything that Shinrai believed he couldn't feel. Miya warmed Shinrai's body but she couldn't warm his heart—not like she always did.

The cold wasn't leaving why wasn't it leaving why didn't anything ever help why couldn't he just feel like he used to?! WHY?!

Shinrai pulled himself out of the embrace. Right after she did, Miya gently grabbed his head and kissed his forehead. The adamantine sparkle in Miya's amber eyes used to be the star of comfort in his life and now it was just… something that looked pretty.

Miya saw the lack of anything that Shinrai felt—he saw the dread bring her face down as she sighed. "Shinrai…"

Nothing could make him respond the way she wanted him to, the way he wanted himself to.

"Tomorrow, the funeral for everybody that died during Konoha Crush is going to be held. It's also going to be the coordination for Lady Fifth, officially!" Miya informed with forced excitement. "The theme is red, but since you always wear red I doubt I need to tell you!"

Her joke landed on Shinrai like an invisible cotton ball.

Not even Miya could laugh at it. She shook her head and held onto his shoulders. "Shinrai, what happened? Did the Snake Sannin—?"

"I didn't hide anything that he did," spat Shinrai.

Miya bit her lip. "We're going to get Baiko back, Shinrai. No matter what."

"I know I will."

"Shinrai, talk to me, please," pleaded Miya. "I can't help you if you keep acting like this."

Karin… Shinrai muttered. If he told Miya what she did… then she might be in danger. She worked under Orochimaru. What if… Shinrai grit his teeth. "I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?!" Miya made him look her in the eyes. "You're not yourself—"

"You don't think I fucking know that?!"

"Then you know that you need help!"

Shinrai wanted to scream. He didn't. He just sighed instead because seeing her so stressed was making the frostbite threaten to come back. Especially because it was his fault.

"Miya…"

"What's up?" she asked, stumbling over her words, holding on to what he hadn't even said yet like it was her lifeline.

"Have you ever been with anybody?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like… a boyfriend, or girlfriend… or whatever."

Miya pursed her lips. "I guess… In the few months after the Third War, before the Kyuubi attack… I met a guy, we got along, we messed around for a bit… but, we both agreed that long term wouldn't be the best. So, we split off."

"Do you still care about him?"

"No… not really," admitted Miya with a frown. "I haven't even seen him in years." Miya's frown deepened as she looked at him. "Is this about Yora?"

Shinrai flinched from the mention of her name. "No. No…" Was it worth it telling Miya about Karin? Especially because she worked under Orochimaru? What if—Shinrai grit his teeth, sealing his mouth shut.

"Karin?" asked Miya, tilting her head, covering Shinrai's hand with her own. "Did something happen between you two?"

Shinrai froze.

"It's okay," she soothed. "I won't judge either of you… just… let me help you, okay?"

Shinrai laughed. He didn't mean to. How fucking ironic that was… "You can't," said Shinrai, after he stopped laughing.

The hurt look Miya gave killed any further urges to laugh right then and there. "Didn't you say that talking to me after the Land of Grass helped you, right?"

Shinrai nodded, slowly, like a corpse being pulled by strings.

"Why not try again?" pushed Miya. The desperation in her eyes was making Shinrai crumble like a melting glacier.

"Just…" Shinrai sighed. "Just make me a promise."

Miya nodded, a glimmer of hope shone in her adamantine eyes. "Okay, what is it?"

"Promise not to do a thing to Karin." Shinrai allowed his Sharingan to whirl to life. "If anything does… then I'll never forgive you for it."

Was Miya… scared? No… not scared. Her face just looked like it. Shocked? Surprised? Taken aback? That was probably more accurate. There was no way Miya could be scared of him. "...I'll make sure nothing happens to her."

"Thanks…" muttered Shinrai before his Sharingan faded with a sigh. As he thought of the events that tortured him for the past week he could already feel the frostbite coming back.

"I…" Shinrai grit his teeth. "I wanted to love Karin… so bad. I think I even did… but… fuck. Y'know, we did everything a couple usually did. I kissed her, I hugged her, we fell asleep on each other we even…" Shinrai trailed off, not exactly knowing how to say it.

Judging by the widening of Miya's eyes, she seemed to have gotten the idea.

"She was… everything I ever wished for… All of those romantic fantasies I used to think about when I couldn't sleep, all of the shit I read in those books—" Shinrai snorted. "What am I talking about… no the fuck she wasn't. But that's what it felt like. I guess that's all that really matters.

"When I finally confronted the Snake Sannin… I found out that… he ordered her to go after me. He ordered Karin to… lull me into his grasp."

The calm grip Miya had over Shinrai's hand turned tight.

There it was…

That rage which Shinrai expected.

Her amber eyes were now fully the color of Adamantine.

"You promised…" Shinrai said through his teeth. "She's… not with him anymore."

"Are you sure?"

"A hundred percent," Shinrai said with a sigh. "Karin hated him from the start. None of it was anything she wanted to do. Y'know, I should fucking hate her for what she did. All of those fake kisses that were just to manipulate— to lead me to my own fucking death.

"I can't." Shinrai shook his head. "Everything started so fake but it turned so real. I know— I know that the love I saw within her is real. She could've been everything that I wanted—she died for me! That was as real as all of her kisses were fake. Even the last kiss we had…"

Shinrai clenched his fists. "It was real. I know it was. What was real was the way she did everything she wasn't comfortable with to make me feel better—" He slammed his fist onto the couch"—and I fucking hate her for it!"

Finally he got to scream. It didn't make him feel any better. That made him feel worse.

"I can't get her out of my head. I don't know if I love her or I hate her I miss her but I never want to see her again she betrayed me but was always on my side I don't—"

Miya yanked him into another hug. She knew it wouldn't work—but she did anyway. As tightly as she could, she clung onto him.

Her silence made it clear that she didn't know what to say.

Shinrai couldn't help but appreciate the gesture.

Despite that, the everything of frost inside of him wasn't warmed.

It felt like it never would

was it ever going to go away?

—

Red was a unique color scheme for a funeral. But, it was what Miya-sensei had chosen. However, Hinata had trouble finding red in her wardrobe… it wasn't a color she often wore. What made it worse, was that she only had a small crate of wearable clothes after the Chinoike's invasion. The closest to red she had was her white jacket that was stained pink by her own blood… during her battle with Kusari. Was that what she had to wear?

As Hinata continued to rummage through the clothes she had left after the Chinoike's invasion, her father entered the tent. Hinata looked back and bowed her head. "Hello, Father. Do you have anything red to wear for the funeral? I have found it difficult to find anything, for the rest of the Hyuuga… I assume it's similar."

"You needn't worry," Hiashi assured. "You nor the Hyuuga Clan will be attending."

The shock froze her in place. Her mind simply blanked. It took too long for her to answer. "I-I'm sorry?" She cursed herself for the stutter.

Hiashi sighed. "The Hyuuga Clan's efforts need to be focused on rebuilding our compound. Because of that, I will attend the funeral for the Hyuuga Clan as a whole. We have already had our own mourning, there is no need to have another."

Shino… "May I attend with you?" asked Hinata—she felt the desperation leak from her gaze, no matter how hard she tried to stop it. "It would be better for appearances…"

"You must stay here more than anybody else. Who here is supposed to lead the Hyuuga Clan in my stead?" said Hiashi with a bit of a scoff that wasn't supposed to come out. "Especially if you plan to keep your standing against… Kusari's."

"I…" Each crack of her heart within her chest was just another stab to her composure. She took a deep breath to choke her stutter down. "I understand."

"Good." Without another word, Hiashi walked out of the tent.

All Hinata did was just… sit there, crouched over a box of clothes. She was going to miss Shino's funeral. She wasn't going to see all of Miya-sensei's preparation. Kiba was going to be without the support of Team 8—because she wasn't there.

The emptiness that was carved within her made its presence known for the first time in a long time. It was the hollow shell of herself that she carried with her wherever she went before Miya-sensei reminded her of her own goodness… before her Blessing banished it entirely.

Why did things always have to go this way for her?

Why?

Somebody else burst into the tent. The energy caught her off guard—"Big sis!" Hanabi called, twirling in a pretty red dress. "I'm ready to go!"

Hinata's lack of response made Hanabi frown. "Big sis…?"

"Sorry," apologized Hinata, clearing her throat. "We won't be attending."

Hanabi gasped. "Wait?! Why?!"

"Father said so… we must stay here to watch over the Hyuuga Clan's rebuilding," informed Hinata, keeping as much emotion out of her voice as possible. She couldn't use her Blessing to calm herself down… Hanabi disliked it.

Hanabi crossed her arms and huffed. "That's mean… Didn't you say you had to be there for Shino?"

The reminder was twisting the knife that was already embedded into her heart. "Not anymore. My duty to the Hyuuga Clan… is more important than my personal feelings."

With a hunch of her back, Hanabi's frown deepened. "Aw…" She tilted her head, dissecting her sister as best she could.

Hinata kept her demeanor… calm, relaxed. It was easy to just give up control of her body and go limp.

"Are you sad?" asked Hanabi.

Hinata blinked at the question… then she let out a sigh. "Yes. But it's okay."

"Yeah, it's okay because I'm here!" Hanabi declared, before jumping over to give her sister a hug. "I'm gonna make you feel so much better, like you do for me!" After digging her head into Hinata's torso, Hanabi looked up at her with the purest smile in the world. "Because we're sisters, right?!"

Hinata couldn't do anything but stare at Hanabi for a few seconds. Not long after, Hinata responded with, "Of course." She pulled Hanabi deeper into the embrace and rested her head on hers.

The two sisters sat there for longer than Hinata would've usually allowed herself.

"I love you, Hanabi."

"I love you too, Big sis!"

Hinata wouldn't trade that exchange for the world and more.

—

If you had told the Ryujin a week ago that he'd be willingly attending the funeral that Miya planned… he wouldn't have believed you. Funny how things work out? Ryujin was there, blending in with the crowd, in front of the Hokage Tower. It seemed that… instead of the crowd of buildings that were previously in front of it, a sort of plaza was built around it, enough to fit a few thousand people.

Was it for the funeral specifically, or was it permanent? If Ryujin was being honest… it was a nice touch. As a matter of fact, it was smaller than it was supposed to be… because of the massive altar.

A black drape over red candles of every single person who was killed during Konoha Crush. It was easily over a few thousand portraits… a few thousand people… a few thousand lives taken. If they hadn't gotten a warning… then there would be so much more.

His eyes drifted to the portrait that was larger than all of the others, with a mini-bonfire instead of a candle… with the black drapes making a shadow over the fire. It was the altar of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.

Even with the Kyuubi silenced, Ryujin felt it clawing against the tightened seal—wanting to scream. It wanted to say something… that Ryujin didn't want to hear. Soon after, citizens and Shinobi alike, dripped in red formal outfits poured in. The sight was like a sea of fire congregating around the Hokage Tower, the altars. Ryujin felt the sorrow pulsate like smoke from a candle—angle simmer like the burning wick and resolve harden like a diamond under pressure.

Dantai eventually found him in the crowd, only greeting with a nod and tasteful silence. Good on him… Ryujin didn't expect so highly of him at first. He almost felt bad for thinking so lowly of him… especially after what he did.

Among the people most intimately familiar with the agony of stolen lives, Dantai ranked near the top.

Despite that, Dantai still had the nerve to hold a smile on his face. No deceit or dastardly intent… it was almost somber. The smile of Dantai was one of seemingly limitless joy held up by strings of scars.

Ryujin returned with his own smile… a smile as impactful as an illusion, held up by nothing.

The moment the sun rose to its peak in the sky, noon, was when Miya made her appearance. She had no need to silence the unspeaking crowd. Red was truly the color of the occasion, with Miya herself draped in a red robe, the edges were like that of feathers… it was as if she had on a Phoenix's cloak…

Ryujin's brows furrowed. She didn't… he muttered.

Was this whole thing… modeled after him?

He cut his train of thought off to listen to her speak.

"Hello citizens and Shinobi of Konoha," introduced Miya, projecting her voice for all to hear. Just hearing her speak covered the crowd in a calming blanket—the intensity of their emotions calmed.

"Konoha Crush, orchestrated by Orochimaru and executed by multiple other villages was the biggest tragedy and loss of life since the Kyuubi's Rampage… twelve, almost thirteen years ago. Had we not had a leak, letting us know of the plan, then the casualties might have even matched or surpassed that of what happened twelve years ago.

"But it did not, and for that I am eternally grateful. That does not change the fact that life was still lost. That does not change the fact that our home was utterly devastated. That does not change that Konoha is still critically vulnerable. That does not change the fact that all of us are hurting.

"All of you have done an outstanding job aiding in Konoha's reconstruction, each day since the invasion, Konoha has been more repaired and even safer than it was the day before, and that is solely because of our efforts as a community, our efforts to ourselves, our kindness and our unwillingness to give up.

"Of course we'll keep it up, of course we will, and Konoha will come back stronger and safer than it ever was before! But as far as we'll go, as much as we'll move on, we must not forget the past. We must never forget what we lost…"

Miya finally took an extended breath. "We lost many lives, all of them equally valuable, but among the most beloved was that of our Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. After being chosen by Lord Second, he had the longest reign of any of our lords. His leadership led Konoha through many years of war and many years of peace, and after Lord Fourth's tragic death he had no qualms about stepping up and re-entering the role of leadership.

"Lord Third was a man of peace, a man of action, a man who extended joy to all in this village. He was the one who instilled the Will of Fire into so many generations of Shinobi. He was the one who raised Konoha and perfected it into the great village that it is today.

"For hundreds of years to come, he will not be forgotten. His memory will live on in the Will of Fire, he will live on in our fight for peace and protection for as long as Konoha continues to exist." Again, Miya paused.

Ryujin heard some sobs, saw others wipe their tears, many, many fists were clenched.

'Would you be mad if I cheered for her?' said Dantai's voice.

Ryujin gave him a dubious look for speaking at a funeral—but he found that his lips didn't move. Illusionary speech… so much like him. Ryujin shook his head and shrugged. He didn't care.

"As great as Lord Third was… he was not the only person who had their life taken during Konoha Crush. I will list every single name of every single person who was killed during the invasion, Shinobi and civilian alike."

From there, Miya took one long, deep breath, and began.

Miya proceeded to list every single name… by memory.

It was hard not to admire the care, the dedication that Miya had put into this. If only… Miya had that fire for him as well. It wasn't fair to say that she didn't, but, he wished her care didn't hurt.

All of the best times in his life were when Miya was in his corner.

All of the worst times were when she wasn't.

Ryujin couldn't help but sigh.

Miya continued to list names for a grand total of seventeen minutes.

Multiple thousand names.

"Gone from this world they may be, but in the purelands they watch, and in our hearts they will remain," said Miya with a somber breath, after she finished the names. "Even though death and destruction is all around us, we still find life in it and we rebuild, we rise back up to where we're meant to be.

"It was an honor being your acting Hokage for this past week. But it is now where I relinquish this title, to our true Hokage, Yosei Senju: The Fifth Hokage." Miya stepped to the side, and from out of the sight of the crowd, Yosei stepped forward.

The Hokage's hat sat on her head, blowing in the wind alongside her blonde hair. Her cloak was like that of a Sage's, fitting around her with long sleeves, with most of it flowing down to her feet, a perfect, fiery pattern of red and white adorned it. Of course, the title of Fifth Hokage was written on the back.

By her side was of course Miya, but also Danzo Shimura, and surprisingly enough, Kakashi Hatake. Those must've been her three chosen advisors… it was a miracle that nobody had to deal with Koharu and Homura anymore. Danzo's presence, however, was expected.

"Village of Konoha," Yosei said, an undeniably proud smile on her face. "I apologize for the fact that I have delayed taking this hat for so long, but I can assure you that I am here now with no plans of leaving."

The moment Yosei spoke, the feelings of everyone around hardened—hardened into the most concrete resolve ever. Just hearing her voice made them ready to fight.

"I will bolster Konoha's reconstruction to make it the most defensible haven in all the Great Nations. I will increase the intensity of our Shinobi training to make us the most powerful of the Great Nations, even without all of the Shinobi we've unfortunately lost. Once Konoha has re-cemented itself as the most powerful of all Five Great Nations, we will waste no time in extracting vengeance on all of our enemies.

"Our Will of Fire connects us all, we feel each other's fire and resolve to never surrender, like fire we will spread and grow and burn hotter until not even a world combined will be able to match our fiery power. Worry not, for I will protect the growing seed of our village with everything beyond what I think I'm capable of.

"Under my leadership, Konoha will never fall. Konoha will never break. Konoha will never truly lose." Yosei pointed a fist toward the crowd with vines growing from all around the Hokage's Tower—which then ignited in the most intense of burning flames. "As Konoha's Fifth Hokage, I will ensure that."

Her speech was short, and yet, it was enough for the crowd to roar with a battlecry. It was only the type that he'd hear on a battlefield, right before all hell broke loose. This was the speech of a general igniting the sparks of battle.

Yosei was going to lead Konoha into a war… that she seemed to know that she was guaranteed to win.

With how she spoke… Ryujin was inclined to believe her.

This was Konoha's utter triumph.

—

There it was… the isolated mountains of the Land of Lightning. It was forbidden to enter this place… for one notable reason.

Uwabami no Daiji of the Yokai.

The peaks were so high that the clouds obstructed all views of what was above and below. All of the mountains were ripped and torn like it was made of flesh. Crevices and ravines not made by nature dotted the range—making it jagged.

Orochimaru grinned. "This is certainly the realm of who we're looking for…"

"It is…" Kabuto muttered, wiping the fog from his glasses and sighing. Uneasiness pulsated off of him like the fear-summoned sweat from his forehead.

The dread in Kabuto's eyes made Orochimaru laugh. "Worry not, if everything goes to plan then you shouldn't need to get involved."

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," said Kabuto with a gulp.

All they did was… wander. Even evening's light couldn't give color to the black mountains and gray clouds—the pitch expanses of the severed land below were the color of night that was soon to join them.

There was no need to track Uwabami.

For if you entered his domain for long enough… he would come to you.

It was only a matter of time.

Each minute that passed, Kabuto's anxiety grew. Half-eaten skeletons with shattered bones and decomposing eyeballs—littered corpses simply overtook the black rock with a refreshing white. Most… weren't human.

Was it because most were too smart to enter?

Or was it because humans were small enough to consume entirely in one bite?

Questions… questions… questions.

"Tsk Tsk Tsk…" muttered Orochimaru as another grin slithered across his face.

Kabuto was frozen in fear.

They felt it.

Both of them did.

The only eyes in the world as serpentine as Orochimaru's were watching them.

Nothing below, nothing to the left or right… both of them looked above. A ruby eye the size of Orochimaru's torso with the slit of a serpent's. Black scales shrouded themselves against the rock and darkened fog. It was almost impossible to see the true size of this beast.

"Human visitors are always the worst…" said Uwabami, his voice smooth and sharp like a fang. And yet, it was deep like the crevice that was behind both Orochimaru and Kabuto. "They're too small to be a sufficient meal… and yet they always have the nerve to appear so I must consume them."

"Is that right?" asked Orochimaru, looking up at Uwabami with his own serpentine golden eyes. "I may not be your meal… but I will be your greatest challenge."

Uwabami hissed with venom seeping from his mouth. What looked like blood spewed from his fangs as its droplets ignited the earth below. "Arrogant Shinobi," Uwabami spat.

Kabuto flickered away—Uwabami struck—so did Orochimaru. A leg slammed into Uwabami's snout, stopping the gigantic serpent in its tracks. "You insult Shinobi while being one yourself! You're just as human as I! This is nothing but the form granted to you by your bloodline."

A snarl and a bite—Orochimaru's body was pierced by the giant fang. His body went up in chemical—bloody flames. "Don't you dare compare me to those pathetic humans. I've evolved past humanity!"

"Is that so?!" Orochimaru cackled as he reformed in a pit of white snakes. "Is that what you think?! Is that the goal that you think you've achieved?!"

Uwabami roared, spewing more acid at Orochimaru. He flickered away, landing on the side of the mountain where Uwabami lay. As he landed, his arms fell limp, obeying gravity with no soul to guide life into them. No arms… barely any jutsu…

A snarl pulled at Orochimaru's lips.

To fight like this… against something like that was a challenge that Orochimaru had yet to have in his life. His pride shattered as Orochimaru inhaled—the little chakra he had in his body gathered in five nodes, five points.

"Fifth Gate! Gate of Limit! OPEN!" Pain erupted alongside newfound chakra for Orochimaru to use. The effects of Ryujin's Rasenova held him back no longer. Fractures in his bones formed from the stress on his body.

If this was any body but that of Might Gai's, then Orochimaru wouldn't be able to withstand this. Not at all. His pride cracked alongside the bones in his body—to think that he had to resort to this. With a battlecry, Orochimaru shot toward Uwabami. A kick knocked the gigantic serpent to the ground.

All that were in Uwabami's eyes was fury. Orochimaru didn't allow that to stop him. Kusanagi grew from his mouth and with all the speed he could muster, slashed at the blackened scales. Not even Kusanagi could slash through Uwabami's hide.

Orochimaru cursed—the snake's tail whipped him into a crevice of severed earth. With a flip, Orochimaru leapt onto the walls, his chakra keeping him standing. As he landed, the earth shook as the ravine closed.

Earth Style?! Orochimaru cackled. With the strength of limits flowing through his body, Orochimaru slashed through the earth with Kusanagi. He emerged with his neck extending out like that of a snake's body. "You claim to discard your humanity and yet you use their Jutsu! Pathetic!"

Uwabami hissed and spewed his bloody acid at Orochimaru. Using his extended neck, Orochimaru pulled his body out of the earth to connect with his head once again. The attack was evaded and Orochimaru landed behind a skeleton. He kicked a rib at Uwabami and it was burned by the acid.

I can't damage him, I don't have the strength! Orochimaru strained behind the skeleton. All of his chakra was sent to his stomach. "Sixth Gate! Gate of Joy! OPEN!" The green aura of chakra shattered the bones of whatever giant creature they used to belong to.

The experience stored in Might Gai's brain as well as the intricate memory held within his muscles… as much as Orochiamru hated to admit it… it was outstanding! This man was truly unmatched in the art of Taijutsu. If only Hiruzen hadn't taken his arms from him…

Orochimaru felt the spark of fury and that only made his chakra erupt even further. Uwabami struck at Orochimaru but he matched the power, pushing against the Yokai's snout with the full power of his legs. With a smirk, Orochimaru extended Kusanagi, slashing at Uwabami's eye.

Ruby was slashed and true blood poured from his eyes. For the first time in centuries… Uwabami felt pain. A serpent's cry of agony was true joy to Orochimaru's ears. Cackles and laughs erupted from Orochimaru's mouth as he poured on the offensive.

Kick after kick battered Uwabami and the Yokai was blasted into a nearby mountain. Orochimaru didn't stop there. A jutsu that was usually completed by the fists had to be done with the blade. Orochimaru's head and legs struck and slashed at the air with such speed and force that the air ignited.

"Morning Peacock!" Orochimaru shouted, fireballs and flaming slashes careened through the dark clouds—Uwabami's realm went up in an inferno. The detonation made the Yokai cry not from pain but from fury. A cataclysmic roar blasted the fire away—and by the time Orochimaru could blink he was whipped again.

With his body already breaking, the impact utterly shattered Orochimaru's ribs. Blood spewed from Orochimaru's mouth—I didn't substitute in time! Uwabami coiled and roared with its bleeding eye making tears of blood run down his face. "A pathetic Shinobi you are! You can't even use Ninjutsu, can you!"

"Quite the contrary…" Orochimaru bluffed through his bloody teeth. "I am simply a Shinobi so great… that I don't need to use Ninjutsu against the likes of you."

"You bastard!" Uwabami slammed his tail on the ground and the earth shook. Black cubes of earth shot upward from the impact—because of the Ninjutsu he used. A quick spewing of acid and makeshift meteors poured down on Orochimaru.

Another Morning Peacock combatted the onslaught, with Kusanagi slashing through any rocks that threatened to hit him. Uwabami's frustration became clear as fire scorched his realm thoroughly. The black stone gained a dusty coating of ash.

A hole was blown through the fire as Orochimaru blasted through, toward Uwabami with a sick grin on his face. His chakra beamed right below his stomach. The green aura shifted blue—with his red skin evaporating with sweat. His veins bulged as his long hair stood on end.

"SEVENTH GATE! Gate of Wonder… OPEN!" Another level and Orochimaru's kick to Uwabami's face cracked the scales. Orochimaru's grin grew as another hiss of pain spewed from the giant serpent's mouth.

This time Uwabami's tail whip was not only perceived, but blocked. The pain continued to be palpable but it was manageable. Orochimaru landed on his feet—Uwabami was already on him. A pure contest of physical strength commenced, with Orochimaru losing—? How?! A mountain gained a sizable crater as Orochimaru landed in it.

The agony—amplified by the Eight Gates was miserable. It flashed him back to when Sarutobi ripped the soul from his arms—when Ryujin slammed that monstrous Jutsu into his chest. Phantom aches from that Rasenova pulsed in Orochimaru's already broken ribs.

Once again the earth beneath him fell and Orochimaru was introduced to a cavern. The soft blue glow from his chakra granted him sight that he wouldn't have had otherwise. Uwabami, however… had no such issues. Even with one eye, true snakes didn't need their eyes to see.

Uwabami's tongue flicked in and out of his mouth as he slithered into the cavern. His one red, glowing eye was the only sign of his presence. Even Orochimaru felt the twinge of fear within him.

Dammit! Once again, Might Gai's muscle memory granted him what he needed.

An attack that would turn this cavern to dust.

But it needed hands—Orochimaru cursed. Instead of his arms… Orochimaru threw off his sandals, and clasped his feet together. He heard Uwabami flash and he kicked as hard as he could in the direction where the snake struck.

"Daytime Serpent!" A snake that matched Uwabami in size blasted toward him. What was a tiger in Might Gai's hand turned into a white snake in Orochimaru's. The two gigantic serpents collided and a cyclone of wind uprooted the dirt and bones within the cavern. Uwabami cried out in pain and Orochimaru could barely breathe with the constant impact against his shattered ribs.

To think that even Might Gai's body had limits—"Curse the weakness of humanity!" Orochimaru yelled.

Uwabami snarled—true blood dripped from the serpent. "Look at you! Cursing what you are… cursing what you'll never be able to escape! I haven't been human in five-hundred years! You are no immortal like I am, your power doesn't grow with your mere existence! You are pathetic! You are human! And you'll die as one!"

Uwabami struck Orochimaru once again. The power of the Eight Inner Gates faded as Might Gai's body fell apart. His muscle fibers were ripping themselves apart and any bones that weren't already broken continued to fracture. The vacancy of his eyes faded even with the golden of his serpentine irises coming to life. Even still, Orochimaru forced the blue of the Seventh Gate to stay alight.

Despite all of Orochimaru's efforts… his power still dropped.

Despite the fact that Orochimaru had faced death once before… the possibility was still horrifying.

Despite the fact that Orochimaru had eradicated his former home and killed Sarutobi with his own hands…

It still hurt him that his sensei was dead.

Orochimaru wasn't immortal.

He couldn't learn every Jutsu.

Orochimaru was not Uwabami…

…he was not the true serpent that abandoned his human form. Orochimaru didn't he—couldn't abandon his humanity. Blood seeped from his teeth and his eyes. The pain of being limp over the discarded skeletons was agonizing.

Despite that, Orochimaru asked a question.

"If you are no longer human… then what are you?"

Uwabami cackled. "I am a spirit… I am truly a Yokai! A monstrous beast on par with the Bijuu!"

That's… it? Is that truly all he aspires to be… Orochimaru, on his deathbed, laughed. "Pathetic…"

Uwabami hissed. "What did you say?!"

"You're pathetic!" yelled Orochimaru, cackling and giggling despite the pain. "But you're right! I am human! I am but a pathetic human… but in that same vein… you're but a pathetic beast." Orochimaru giggled more as he stood. "You will die as a beast here… and I will end my existence as a human. You will live as nothing… and I will live… as a God."

Summoning Kusanagi from his mouth, Orochimaru stabbed his own heart. "Eighth Gate… Gate of Death…" The aura of blood surrounded him as Orochimaru's white skin charred black. "Open."

Chakra stained the color of blood erupted from Orochimaru as he bellowed with laughter—of victory guaranteed. His hair took on the pattern of roaring bloody flames. The burning heat of his own power was already turning his body to ash.

And yet, Orochimaru wouldn't stop laughing.

Before Uwabami could even react, Orochimaru had kicked him. The attack sent him flying into the cavern's edge with a destructive boom. His serpentine body looked deflated the way his ribs were turned to dust and his organs were turned to mush.

But oh no… Orochimaru was far from done.

Stepping on air, Orochimaru kicked him again—again—and again! "Evening Boa!" Orochimaru's hyper-speed attacks shatter the scales of Uwabami's hide and utterly decimate his bones. There wasn't a thing the Yokai could do besides howl in utter agony.

Even after the Evening Boa was finished… Orochimaru was not.

His arms were already ash on the ground. The outfit he wore was burned into nothing—anything that wasn't fueled by chakra was completely nothing.

Uwabami hissed and choked and wheezed—looking on in utter horror as Orochimaru crouched. Red chakra exploded upward.

"Noo!" Uwabami could barely manage to cry—

"Nighttime Cobra." Orochimaru blitzed forward. A cobra's hood and head erected upward with a hiss of death. The foot of the end slammed into Uwabami as Might Gai's body began to disintegrate.

Just then, Orochimaru's mouth opened.

The truest hydra—an ivory serpent made up of white snakes escaped the disintegrating body. From the impact, the entire mountain exploded into dust and rocks. The White Serpent's golden eyes looked into the Black Serpent's ruby eyes.

Orochimaru's true form poured into Uwabami's mouth.

The theft of the Yokai's body had begun.

—

When Orochimaru entered Uwabami's mindscape, it was… an empty black plateau, riddled with skeletons under a night sky void of stars and even the moon. Being rid of the pain of battle felt like a cool wave of relief over his body, even if it was an astral body that only existed in his mind. Well, and the mind of Uwabami, though that was soon to be his anyway.

It didn't take long for Orochimaru to see a man sitting on the black rock. The man had long black hair, dirty and unkept, it grew to his feet while he sat with his head down. There were no clothes that he wore, so Orochimaru could see the dirt and grime that built up on him… for hundreds of years. His pale skin looked almost black with filth.

"So, you're more human than you say you are, Uwabami."

The man grunted, looking up at Orochimaru with dead, red eyes. "And what of it… you appear to me as a man as I do to you." His voice was still deep, but lacked all sharp and smooth vigor as his serpent form. He almost sounded more like an animal in his human form. "There is no escaping the pathetic truth of the fact that I'm human."

"Is that what you think?" asked Orochimaru, walking up to Uwabami. "I'm afraid I don't think the same."

Uwabami's red eyes met Orochimaru's gold. "What makes you think that you can escape humanity? What makes you think that you can do the impossible? All the ones I once loved are dead. I've eaten more humans than I have animals. I've hated and caused more destruction than I can even recall… and yet I'm still human."

"To escape humanity is to abandon the emotions that cling to your soul… to purify it. All of those things that you listed, do you view them as wrong?"

"They are! Why wouldn't I?"

"That's it… that's your problem. That is the trap that we both fell into. It is the trap that I have escaped. There is no right and wrong… there is only what I want and what I don't want. Nothing else is relevant… nothing else matters." Orochimaru outstretched his arms and bathed in his own revelation.

Uwabami laughed, shaking his head. "Is that so…"

"Indeed. You were so close… yet so far." Orochimaru reached down into his throat and pulled the Kusanagi blade out. "Now die as a man, so I can ascend as a God."

Without another word spoken, Orochimaru decapitated Uwabami in his own mindscape.

The white snakes consumed the black earth and of course… Orochimaru laughed. His army of white snakes pooled below him and elevated him higher and higher above the collapsed earth. Into the sky of black, Orochimaru's presence allowed for the moon to bloom and the stars to twinkle.

His perfect victory… had only just started.

—

In the ash and dust, the serpent body of who was once Uwabami laid in the remnants of what was once a mountain. Kabuto, with his glasses caked with dust, walked up to it. "Lord Orochimaru!" He walked past the dead snake and only saw more ash, more dust, and more rock. His breath hitched. "Lord Orochimaru!"

A shift from behind him froze Kabuto in his tracks. Slowly, he looked back. The body of Uwabami moved. Fear and ice flooded his veins as the eye of the beast opened. A golden, serpentine iris pierced his very soul.

Golden iris… not ruby.

Kabuto's fear melted into excitement and relief. "Lord Orochimaru!"

With a hiss of agony, the giant serpent body dispersed into decomposing flesh. At the head of the snake, a man walked out. The man had long black hair with skin of white scales. His arms were functioning as he stretched his limbs with a yawn.

The clothes he wore were that of a makeshift robe made of black snake scales. With his arms, he removed the hair from his face and grinned with golden eyes. "Kabuto… the mission is a success."

Kabuto let out a laugh and clenched his fists. "That's great! Do you have access to your Jutsu once again?"

"Unfortunately, no. There is no Chakra that flows through my arms. Any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu that requires hand seals is out of the question." Orochimaru stepped to face Kabuto. "However, the effects of Ryujin's Jutsu have been completely erased, he is no longer a hindrance on my reserves."

"That's good at least," muttered Kabuto, wiping the dust from his glasses and bowing his head. "Do we head back now?"

"Of course we do, I have promises to keep."

With that, Kabuto bit his thumb and weaved hand seals. "Reverse Summoning Jutsu!"

Just like that, Orochimaru and Kabuto were gone.

𓍊𓍊 ~ Chapter End ~ 𓍊𓍊

A/N: Funny thing, this would've been the last chapter you're getting for this batch but the next two combined are literally the best thing I've written EVER and also the impact would hit harder with proximity to the events of this arc. So, yeah, you get another two weeks past what I originally planned, lucky you guys!