Villages in the Land of Earth were a unique sight to behold. Carved into their mountains they were vertical rather than horizontal like the villages in Fire, Sand, or Water. However, unlike the mountains of Kumo these villages lacked much arable land. It forced their populations to be extremely small, physically incapable of supporting large amounts of people due to the sheer inability to feed them all. The capitol city of Rikuto Tor was the bread basket for the entire region. It was how their Daimyo rose to power. Dominating the only area with a large amount of arable land in a land that struggled to feed villages larger than one hundred people had the tendency to give one significant political and military power. Even the Tsuchikage had more limits on their power due to the fact that Iwagakure was heavily dependent on Rikuto Tor's food production.

The lack of food availability tended to make villages very snippy to outsiders. They were just another mouth to feed. In the wartime production they were in, it was even worse. Food rations were small, mostly going to the Daimyo's army and the shinobi of Iwa. Land of Earth citizens were testy on their best of days. During wartime?

They were outright hostile.

That was why when a man with black hair and dull brown eyes walked into their village with nothing more than the clothes on his back they weren't all to happy to see him.

"What'd a think yer doing 'ere?"

The man raised his hands in a placating manner for the large man blocking his path. The burly man was surrounded by a group of ten men, all holding some type of weapon and glaring at the outsider.

"I'm just looking for work."

"Rikuto Tor got plenty a jobs workin' the field as a farmer. Ya ain't wanted 'ere."

'Rikuto Tor? Yeah, I'd go there if I was bloody insane. That by itself is enough to cause this war to escalate even more.'

"Too noisy for me. Just want a quiet place to lay my head and work."

The large man frowned, staring the stranger down.

"What's yer name?"

"Menma. Menma Fumei."

The large man frowned. "Ya know how to work a pickaxe Menma?"

The man noddded.

The large man looked at the group of men around him. They all were murmuring to each other, trying to be quiet enough that Menma couldn't overhear. Of course, that didn't mean it was working.

"We are struggling to meet the quota..."

"But we don't know where's he's from."

"Menma ain't no name from another major village."

"We should just request a shinobi to come do a background check on 'im."

"Ya idiot! Ya think Iwa got time to spare dealing with small fries like us!"

"Where would we even house him..."

"Just throw him up somewhere. We need the extra hands."

The group continued murmuring for a brief moment before they turned to look at the raven haired man.

"Ya can stay," the large man stated curtly. "On the condition that you help us mine chakra metal in these mines 'ere."

"That's agreeable."

The large man nodded. "Follow me and I'll show ya where ya can lay yer head."

The crowd dispersed as the large man led Menma through the town, although the eyes never left his frame. Men, women, and children all stared at him as he walked through the village, clearly marking him as an outsider. It didn't bother him.

The large man led him into a small inn that looked worn down. It was likely an old house that had been converted to an inn to house soldiers when they came to visit. It wasn't much, but it was something. The man opened the small door, revealing an elderly woman working the place. A small child ran up to the large man and Menma, a smile on her face.

"Goro-san!"

The large man beamed, his personality shifting entirely as he lifted up the child.

"Oh, well hello there Aika! How are you? Not being too much of a trouble on your poor grandmother are you?"

"Never!"

"Good, good!"

The girl giggled as the man spun her around in the air, her laughter echoing in the otherwise barren inn.

"Don't believe a damn thing she says Goro! That girl is a headache!"

"Am not!"

"Well it's good to see you too Makino."

Goro placed Aika back on the ground, causing the girl to pout. The annoyance on her face visibly left as she finally seemed to notice Menma, approaching him cautiously.

"Who are you?"

"He's a new arrival to the town," Goro interrupted. "Names Menma."

"Menma," the girl stated, saying the name as if she was tasting a food for the first time. "That's a funny name."

"Aika!" Makino cried out. "Apologize!"

"It's quite alright," Menma stated, kneeling down to look at the girl. "It is quite a funny name. You would be Aika, correct?"

"Yup!"

"It's great to meet you Aika."

"Mhm!"

"I apologize for her," Makino stated, rushing up to the two men still in her doorway. "She's far too rude. I did not raise her to behave like this."

"It's fine," Menma stated. His voice was soft, his eyes clearly showing he was distracted. Thinking back to memories in his past. "She reminds me a bit of someone I used to know."

"What brings you here Menma-san?"

"He'll be workin' the mines with the rest of the men. Give 'im somethin' to do. Can't have freeloaders 'round here. Was hopin' ya could house 'im."

"Well there's certainly space," Makino stated. "We have two rooms on the top floor there. Take your pick of which you want."

"I appreciate it. Thank you."

"Of course dear."

"So he's gonna be living with us," Aika stated, tilting her head. Makino nodded gently.

"Is that all right with you little one," Menma questioned.

"Only if you know how to play hide-and-seek!"

Menma chuckled.

"I'll see what I can do."

Menma resided there for a few weeks. He was dilligent in his work. He was always at the mines before every other worker, and left precisely when his shift ended, not a moment earlier. He met his daily quota, without fail. Over the time he was there the suspicion of the nearby town had slowly faded. Instead of treating him as an outsider he became a member of their town. An estranged member, but a member. The town had tried to slowly welcome him, pleased with his earnest work in the mines and Makino spreading good words about him in the village, but it all ended in vain. The man didn't speak unless spoken to, and never went with the other men to drink at Goro's house or underneath the stars during the night. He was either in the mines or in the inn. Nowhere else. It was so bad they'd think he was a mute.

It was then that the rumors began to circulate. Rumors that he was a rogue samurai from Rikuto Tor that was fleeing conscription. There were others too of course. That he was the lover of a noblewoman that had ran away out of fear of their intimate relationship being discovered by the Daimyo. A more popular one was that he was a recently released convict from prison. It would have explained the harsh callouses on his hands, ones that couldn't be garnered by working in the mines. A more ludicrous one was that he was a shinobi spy meant to hurt Iwa's war efforts. That was quickly dispelled. After all, why would a foreign shinobi assist in mining chakra metal for Iwagakure? No one truly knew much about him. But they knew he was helpful, and as such they didn't question it.

The man finished drying the plates, placing them back in the cupboards.

"You're really too good Menma," Makino stated. "You practically do all the chores in this place by yourself. After your get home from mining all day. You really should rest more."

"I'm quite fine ma'am. It's truly no problem. You're housing me for no fee. The least I could do is earn my keep around the inn."

"I'd gladly give no fee to someone as helpful as you."

"Menma!"

Aika slammed into the man's leg, a smile on her face. "Can we play hide and seek today?"

Menma grinned. "I'll give you ten seconds."

Aika squealed, running off to go hide from the man.

"No fee he says. You taking care of Aika is truly worth more than anything I could have asked for."

Menma shrugged. He didn't mind it. It was fine with him. He slowly walked up the stairs, lightly tapping his fingers on the wall as his eyes scanned the building. He slowly approached the closet in Aika's room. He snorted and turned on his heel, looking at the bed with suspicion. However, despite this he slowly grabbed the doorframe and moved it, snapping his head to the side.

Aika's tuff of black hair tried to sprint out the door and into the hallway but Menma was to quick, snatching her up and placing her on his shoulders.

"I found you."

"Weeee!"

Menma laughed, dancing around the inn with Aika. Makino could only watch the scene, a soft smile adorning her old face. It wasn't long before night came, the two playing well into it before Aika eventually grew tired. Menma placed her under the covers, a smile on his face.

"Hey Menma, never leave okay?"

Menma blinked at the sudden words from the young child, but smiled at the child. She fell asleep before he could answer, and Menma sent a silent prayer in thanks for it. He couldn't promise her that.

The man silently walked back down to the first floor.

"She's asleep."

Makino nodded, a smile gracing her face.

"Care for a glass of tea?"

"No thank you."

The woman nodded, instead making a cup for herself. "You're such a blessing to have here Menma. I don't know what I'd do without you. Aika has really latched on to you. Her mother died in labor. You, you're like the father she never really had."

Menma looked up at the woman, a frown on his face. "I was curious...but I did not want to overstep."

"It's fine," Makino stated, looking out the window of the inn. "It's likely as you imagine. A fit man sent off to war to fight for the glory of the Daimyo. And like many men conscripted into the samurai, he did not come back. Died in the field against Konoha samurai."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Ah, don't apologize. My son knew full well what the responsibilities with being a citizen were when in wartime. It hurts, but he wasn't a man to run from his responsibility. Not many men like that."

Menma winced, but Makino did not notice. "What do you mean?"

Makino smiled.

"You know the men still in the village? Goro and the others? Well, lovable they may be, they also are all former convicts. Ran from the call of duty when told to conscript into the samurai forces."

"I thought the punishment for disserting was death?"

"Ah, usually is. But Iwa needs chakra metal. They were offered a deal. Come here, to a town where the men had all been conscripted and mine the minerals that the women didn't, or die. Easy deal really."

A pause.

"I see. How interesting."

"And what about you, mystery man?"

Menma turned to look at the woman.

"Oh come now, you can't think I'm not curious can you? A man walks into the village and asks for work. Doesn't talk about his past. Dutiful and helpful around the village. It's like something written in a romance novel, only there's no pretty lady here for you to woo."

The woman snorted, laughing to herself at her little joke.

"So, what's your story Menma Fumei? How did you become who you were?"

The man was silent for a brief moment, his eyes meeting the woman's. For a second it looked like she would give up, but Menma opened his mouth to speak a second before she did.

"My parents died the day of my birth," he stated plainly. "I never actually knew them. I was raised in my village, mostly by the village elders. They took me in, raised me to be the man I am today. I gained a lot from them. Gained an older brother and a little brother as well. Aika reminds me quite a bit of him actually."

Menma paused.

"I met a man and a woman. That man, he knew my parents. He taught me more about them then anyone else ever had. He...he became like a father to me. He was a massive pervert, but he was respected. Strong. Dependable. But the war...it took him from me. He died when I was fifteen. It broke my world. It was almost too much. It would have been too much if not for her. The woman...she was perfect."

Menma's voice began to crack.

"The most perfect woman in the whole world. She was kind and genuine, yet firm and dilligent. A gentle soul. I married her. She was...my everything. My world. It wasn't long after that she became pregnant. It was as if my luck had finally turned up. The love of my life, and a child to call my own. It was too good to be true. Too good for this world. And a soul that gentle...it couldn't survive this blasted war either. She was killed when I was twenty-two. She...died in my arms. Our baby died with her. "

Tears were falling down his cheeks.

"I couldn't protect her. My own wife and child. I couldn't handle it anymore."

A pause.

"I left the village," Menma stated, his voice choking. "That was three years ago. Ever since I've been working odd jobs to get by."

Makino stared at the man, a sad look in her eye. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You poor boy. You've seen far too much at your young age. To shoulder so much loss on your own. You don't deserve that."

Menma tried to hold it in, but bottled up emotions he hadn't released in three years came rushing up. Emotions he had beat down with all of his willpower simply couldn't be restrained anymore. Tears that had begged to be released finally poured forth, and the man crashed to his knees in tears. Makino wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight.

"I couldn't protect her," Menma whispered, his sobs pitiful. "I couldn't protect my own wife."

"Shhhh," Makino whispered. "It's okay. The Sage has a plan for all of us."

"And what was her plan! To die a death for too soon?"

"It was for you to honor her memory," Makino stated. "You have run from your pain all these years Menma. Here in Tsuchi we have a saying. Never let death turn you into a shinin. A dead person. It seems you have been living as one these past three years. Refusing to accept the world you live in. I do not know your wife...but I doubt that is what she would have wanted for you."

Menma looked up, tears blurring his vision as he looked at Makino. The elderly woman smiled.

"You have struggled with the pain for so long. You have been dead ever since your wife died. Perhaps it is time to start learning how to live again?"

The blonde repeated the words, as if they were foreign to him.

"How?"

Makino smiled.

It was as if a switch had been flipped. A very strange switch. One day Menma was distant, avoiding most everyone in the village with the exception of Makino and Aika. The next he was awkwardly attempting to actually get to know everyone in the village. He spoke slightly more at work, trying to crack odd, poorly timed jokes with the other miners. No one ever laughed at them, but it was refreshing to see the man slowly begin to open up. He had always seemed so cold, and was slightly bringing down the work atmosphere despite the praises Makino sang of the man.

The next day he went out drinking with the men in town after work. He didn't stay long, but he had listened as they shared stories of working in the mines or what they did before they moved to the remote village in the Land of Earth. He never shared his own story, but the sheer fact that he was there spoke volumes about his acceptance of the town, rather than the town's acceptance of him. Another day they had gone drinking, everyone getting shit faced only for them to learn a valuable lesson.

Never try to out drink Menma.

He was like a damn pit. Alcohol seemingly had no effect on him. It didn't make any sense, that much was sure. Goro was the best at holding his liquor in the entire village. The best in the entirety of the Land of Earth he boasted. And yet, by the end of the night Menma had carried him back to his wife's abode, a small smile on his face and not a wobble in his step as he helped the man into his house. A quick apology for staying out so late later, and the man was at work on time the very next day. But it wasn't just alcohol that seemingly had no effect on him. He seemed to be immune to disease too. The miners in the village were often sick. Mining was not the most sanitary work, and they certainly were not following safety code in their rush to meet the increased quota's of the Daimyo. Yet Menma never once had a day off. The man never showed any signs of illness at all. And according to Makino he still somehow managed to help out around the inn.

By all manner of speaking the man was perfect. That was why it was so strange that he was late to greet the visiting Iwagakure shinobi and the samurai entourage that accompanied him when he came to visit the village. It was five minutes after the man had shown up that Menma appeared.

"And who are you eh," the rotund man stated, a frown on his face. "And why the hell are you late? Didn't anyone teach you manners in this backwater town? When a shinobi or samurai send word of their arrival to the village you are to greet them upon their entry to the village!"

The man slapped Menma across the face, provoking shocked gasps in the crowd. Menma did not respond however, his eyes locked on the ground. Hell, his face didn't even move at the physical beating. He stood stock still, dwarfing the man in height and physical stature. If anyone had seen the scene without knowing either they would think Menma was the shinobi's superior.

"Answer me! That wasn't a rhetorical question! Or do you not know what rhetorical means?"

"My apologies sir. I was helping with the chores at the inn I live at. I did not want to make live more difficult on the owner. Time must have slipped away from me."

The man snorted, glaring at Menma.

"I don't give a rats ass about some fucking inn. When I come you are here. I have half a brain to throw you in jail for your insolence."

Makino wanted to glare at the man. He was verbally berating Menma and for what? Because he was late to some damn entourage? Still, the woman kept quiet. She knew her place, and it was not to challenge people who were vastly more important to the structure of the Land of Earth's government than she was.

The man turned from Menma, spitting on his feet.

"Scum like you shouldn't be freed from prison to work in the mines. You should have just been killed."

A brief gust of wind through the area, kicking dust into the air. It wasn't long before it died down. The man turned to look back at the villagers.

"As I was saying. Daimyo-sama is demanding additional farmers in the fields of Rikuto Tor. It's not just chakra metal that has become more important, but also feeding our soldiers. As such your rations shall be cut."

Soft grumbling came from the crowd. They were already barely getting by with what they were able to grow combined with the rations provided by the Daimyo and Iwagakure.

"Is that grumbling I hear? Perhaps I should inform Tsuchikage-sama that there's traitors in the southlands of the Land of Earth! I'm sure he'd love to hear about people so disloyal to the war effort!"

The silence died down.

"I suppose it shouldn't surprise me. A bunch of fucking ex-convicts and whores running a town."

Another gust of wind, this time stronger. Briefly the villagers and visiting soldiers wondered if they were going to be receiving some of the infamous 'rock rain' the Land of Earth was notorious for. There was a small rumble in the mountain, but nothing else occured. The shinobi shook it off, turning back to the group of villagers before him.

"Now, we still need the chakra metal so we can't take any of the miners here," the man muttered. "Thus, we need to instead take children."

A horrified gasp came from the adults in the town. Makino instinctively stepped in front of Aika. The man snorted, shoving the woman aside and onto the ground.

"Listen here lady, any type of attempting to protect the child will only get you in trouble."

"No please! Take me instead!"

"You're too old woman. We need workers that can work for a long time like this young girl, right little lass?"

Aika took a step away, terrified of the man. Goro approached the shinobi gently touching the man's shoulder.

"Sir, with all due respect-"

His protest was cut off with a howl of pain as the shinobi snapped Goro's wrist with ease, dropping him to the ground.

"Did you just touch me you filth?"

The shinobi glanced at one of the samurai.

"Your blade."

The samurai quickly approached, handing over the blade. He unsheathed the weapon, glaring down at Goro. He glanced at the girl.

"Watch closely little lass, at what happens to those who disobey the commands of the Daimyo and Iwagakure. You would do well to remember this as you work in the fields of Rikuto Tor."

The man brought the weapon down.

It never reached Goro's hand. The shinobi glanced up at the bo staff that stopped his blade. The weapon was clearly made of some form of metal, expensive metal at that. Certainly nothing a peasant in these lands could afford to own.

So why was the late man holding it? And how dare he stop his punishment?

"Do you understand what you just did?"

Menma stared at the man.

"SAMURAI!"

The soldiers of the Daimyo quickly encircled Menma, blades drawn. The crowd of villagers immediately dispersed from the man, watching the scene with horror in their eyes.

"We can all let bygones be bygones. I'll take the punishment for Goro myself and go work in the fields of Rikuto Tor as a farmer instead of the girl. I'm sure that offer is more than reasonable."

"Shut up! Scum doesn't get to decide what's reasonable."

The shinobi lifted a blade towards Menma. "You stopped my punishment. I don't want your deal. I want your fucking skull. Kill him."

The samurai charged, blades aimed at kill points along Menma's body. None of their blades ever reached their destination. The man easily deflected them with his bo staff, before well placed strikes to the head or joints incapicatated all of them. The shinobi's eyes widened, before he glared at Menma.

"So you have some skill with a bo staff. Where'd you get one that good? Stole it off an Iwa shinobi I'd bet."

Menma was silent.

"Let me be clear though. Just because you beat some samurai doesn't mean shit to a shinobi like myself. You see, the Daimyo is the economic power of this country. Samurai are what he uses to keep the regular civilians in line and obey orders when they get to big for the britches. But shinobi? Iwagakure and our shinobi are the military might of this country. When other bastard villages come knocking we are the ones who send them packing. Just like the late, great Sandaime Tsuchikage, Onoki of Both Scales. Those Konoha bastards came knocking at our door at the Kanzaki Front and Onoki of Both Scales cut them down! Including a member of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya the Toad Sage of Konohagakure. Ever since Onoki's death ten years ago us Iwagakure shinobi have carried the might of his flame! Do you have any idea what that means? You can't defeat me."

Menma was deathly silent, his eyes covered by his dark hair. The shinobi grinned.

"Scared? You should be. I happen to carry on that-"

The shinobi's head dropped from his body, cut clean off by the sheer force of Menma's swing to his throat. The samurai and villagers stared at the scene, shock on their faces. Menma let the bo staff disappear in a puff of smoke, killing intent rolling off of him in waves.

"Samurai," he whispered quietly. "I want you to go back to the Daimyo or the new Tsuchikage or whoever. I want you to tell them one thing."

Menma turned, his black hair turning into a bright blonde. His dark eyes became violet, and three whisker marks covered his face. The villagers and samurai all turned ghostly pale when they saw his face. Everyone in the Land of Earth knew that face. He was the boogeyman that mother's told their children about. A man that Iwagakure shinobi were told to flee from if they ever encountered him, just like his father.

"Naruto Uzumaki, student of Jiraiya the Toad Sage of Konohagakure, son of the Yellow Flash, and the man who killed Onoki of Both Scales will not abide by you all using Jiraiya's death as some sort of morale boost to your soldiers. Am I clear?"

The samurai nodded, but the stink in the air told Naruto everything he needed to know. They had soiled their pants.

"Never bother these people again. They contribute their fair share to the war effort. Your abuse of them is unacceptable. Soldiers of a country are supposed to treat their citizens with respect, not as tools. Go and tell your leaders this, am I clear?"

Another shaky nod.

"Now...run."

The samurai did not need to be told twice. They sprinted away, fear clear in their eyes. The blonde sighed, watching them leave.

"They should not bother you aga-"

A rock hit the back of his shirt. He turned, seeing Aika throwing a rock at him.

"Get out of here," the girl shakily whispered. Naruto tried to say something else only for her to throw another rock at him. It wasn't long before most of the town joined in, Goro included. The chants only got louder.

"Get out of here!"

"We don't want you here Konoha scum!"

"Tree fucker!"

"Murderer!"

"You killed our idol!"

"You're the son of a bastard!"

"Get out of here!"

"Why don't you just disappear!"

"Were you planning on killing us too!"

The words were too much. The blonde didn't even bother to defend himself from the verbal assault. He simply let the rocks hit his body, staring with hollow eyes at the ground in front of Aika. The girl looked at him with fear and hate in her eyes.

"You're just like the man who murdered my father," she screamed.

Naruto grit his teeth, dropping his head. He turned on his heel, slowly walking away. He only glanced up to look at Makino, the elderly woman looking at him with a strange look in her eye. One Naruto could not recognize. She had not thrown a single rock at him, nor uttered a word. She simply watched him.

The blonde turned his gaze back to the ground, and walked out of town.

Naruto stared up at the clouds from the peak of the mountain he was lying on, watching the dark clouds in the night sky pass overhead. The moon was covered by the clouds once more, leaving him unable to see anything for miles.

"Why did I do that?"

That was the question the blonde had been asking himself for some time. He looked down at the village, the small light it was giving off a clear indication of where it was. It had been a couple hours since had left or rather been kicked out. He pondered the question as he watched the village. His initial decision after fighting off the Konoha squad meant to bring him back to the village was to hide in the Land of Earth. It was an ideal place to hide. Konoha wouldn't want to risk a political incident to make the war even more extreme by sending search parties to find him in the Land of Earth. Iwa and Konoha had the worst relation of any of the villages. It was practically a blood feud. A simple application of Henge (Transformation) had covered the blonde hair that was so despised in the Land of Earth. He had only changed his eye color for good measure. He had even chosen a culturally ambigious name in Menma to ensure that he wouldn't be identified as a resident of the Land of Fire. His plan was just to settle down quietly in a village somewhere. That way if Konoha came for him there would be plenty of witnesses.

He hadn't expected the plan to backfire.

But it had just gotten so complicated. The village was working in the war effort for Iwa and the Daimyo. That had been expected, but to directly contribute to it? That was...something. Every day he had contributed to the war effort of a people that killed his master. It was one of the most painful things he had ever done. He felt like he was betraying Jiraya's wishes every day. The blonde had hated it. And yet he enjoyed his time with Goro and the men of the mine. Not when they were working, but just being with them. It was nothing like his relationship with Kakashi-sensei or even his Genin team. It was new. To just be working as an equal with someone. No inner rivalries. No complex relationships with other groups of miners. No hierachies. Just, equals. It was so unlike the system he was used to.

That wasn't the only good part as well. Aika and Makino. The grandmother and grandchild reminded him so much of home. Makino and Teuchi were a kindred spirit. Maybe that was why he had opened up to her so easily? He could remember plenty a night at Ichiraku Ramen where he poured his heart out to Teuchi, begging for advice. It had only become more common once Jiraiya had died. And Aika. The similarities between the girl and Konohamaru were astounding. They were practically the same person if not for Aika possessing no talent for shinobi life. She reminded him of his adopted little brother. The brother he had left after Hinata's death. Just like he was leaving Aika now.

Naruto grit his teeth. He had thrown all of that away. He had thrown it away to accomplish what? Temporarily save the town from the abuse of the powers that be? It wasn't like he alone could stop it. The towns people were just victims of the war they were in, just as much as he was. He had saved them? That was a fools thought. He had just given them a temporary reprieve. Could it even be considered that when the person who saved them was the same one they were told was the boogeyman? A devil? It wouldn't be long before another shinobi and group of samurai came to either conscript the villagers or take more children to work as farmers in Rikuto Tor. And that was if they were lucky. They could be blamed for housing one of Iwa's most hated shinobi. The entire town could be massacred if the Daimyo or the Tsuchikage believed them to be traitors.

That was why Naruto still lurked around the village. Despite his complicated relationship with the village and what occured there he had made their situation infinitely worse. He refused to sit by and watch an entire town get massacred because of his actions. Land of Earth citizens or not, contributing to Iwa's war effort or not, he couldn't do it.

That wasn't what Jiraiya stood for.

That wasn't what Hinata stood for.

That wasn't what he stood for.

So he would wait for however long it took. When the soldiers returned, and they would, he would gauge their reaction. If the soldiers believed that the villagers had housed a terrorist threat then he would disabuse them of that notion.

It was the only thing he could do to repay the citizens of the village for the kindness they had shown him.

It wasn't long before the soldiers came. News of Naruto Uzumaki in the southlands of the Lands of Earth? Yeah, the government would come running. One of the most notorious men in the Elemental Nations.

The man who murdered their Sandaime Tsuchikage.

Naruto damn near expected to have to fight their Yondaime themself. However, that was not the case. Naruto saw the military procession role into the village. Fifty shinobi strong. Mostly Jonin level. Three stood out though. Their chakra...two were around the level of a Kage while the third was slightly weaker. Perhaps around the level of a War Shadow?

Naruto frowned. So he was fighting two people who were roughly on the level of Danzo Shimura in his prime with support from someone like Kakashi Hatake. Without factoring in the fourty-seven other Jonin there.

This would be a pain.

"Where is he!" Kurotsuchi cried out. "Where is Naruto Uzumaki! We heard reports he was here!"

The villagers shook in fear because of the screaming of the woman. Killing intent rolled off her in waves. No civilian could withstand it. She was like a rabid dog barely on a leash. If they didn't tell her something they were in danger.

"W-we dunno ma'am," Goro managed to choke out. "He left after killing that Iwa shinobi."

"You let him leave," Kurotsuchi hissed. "The most wanted man in Iwa history since his bloody fucking father and you let him leave! You should have given your lives to kill him!"

"Ma'am-"

"Kurotsuchi enough. You're being unreasonable."

"But father-"

"They are civilians Kurotsuchi," Kitsuchi ground out. "You just asked civilians to try and take down one of the most powerful men in the Elemental Nations. You might as well have asked them to kill themselves in vain."

"A loyal citizen-"

"And any sane person would realize what you're asking them to do is impossible. Stop letting your anger cloud your judgement. If you did find Naruto Uzumaki he'd kill you in an instant like this. You cannot take him lightly, is that understood?"

The woman was silent. The dressing down by her own father in front of her troops was embarressing.

"Still, it is worth bringing up the fact that Naruto Uzumaki was hidden here for so long and none of them knew about it," another voice called. Another woman, with piercing steel-gray eyes stated. "That's not something that should happen without them reporting it."

"Suzumebachi you are well aware of the type of person we are dealing with here. He could easily have been holding them hostage."

"You're quite willing to ignore obvious questions Kitsuchi."

"No, I'm the only one making the obvious assumptions considering what we're facing. Naruto Uzumaki is more powerful than his teacher, Jiraiya of the Sannin. He...killed my father. I understand the desire both of you have to bring him to justice. But we are facing someone who may very well be as strong as Minato Namikaze. Not to mention he is a Jinchuriki. Civilians can do nothing in the face of that kind of authority if they want to live except obey, regardless of what nation they belong to. Besides, the Henge is quite an easy jutsu to use is it not? Easy to fool a civilian with."

The two women were quiet. Kitsuchi sighed.

"Now where would he be?"

"Right here."

The group of Iwa shinobi, and the villagers, all snapped their heads towards the source of the sound. Standing on the opposite side of town, leaning against a wall with a bo staff in hand, was Naruto Uzumaki himself.

"Well I'll be damned, the story was true."

"You really did a good job dressing down your subordinates there. You're right you know. I had the town under my thumb the entire time. They had nothing to do with any of this."

"Murderer," Kurotsuchi seethed. "You killed my grandfather."

"I did."

Kurotsuchi kicked off the ground, the chakra she pushed herself with causing the ground to crater. She swung at Naruto kunai in hand as she aimed for his throat. The blonde blocked the blade with his bo staff, twirling the weapon to smack it upwards into her jaw. She winced, leaping away before he could follow up with a kick that sent her flying. She was about to move in again only for Kitsuchi to stick his hand out, stopping her assault.

Naruto looked at the woman, recognizing her. He had seen her picture before. In fact, he had seen all of their pictures.

"Kurotsuchi Tenbin, also known as the Molten Earth. A+ rank kunoichi. Ninjutsu expert, user of the Yoton (Lava Release) Kekkei Genkai. Granddaughter of the man I killed."

He turned to Suzumebachi.

"Suzumebachi Kamizuru, also known as the Bug Princess. S rank kunoichi. Doton user, but primarily uses her families summoning scroll of bees as her primary fighting style. Granddaughter of the Shodai Tsuchikage."

His eyes then followed to Kitsuchi.

"Kitsuchi Tenbin. Iwa's Stone Wall. S rank shinobi. Doton master, and a nintaijutsu expert. Son of the Sandaime Tsuchikage, Onoki of Both Scales."

"You're certainly well informed," Suzumebachi stated.

"All of you are in both Konoha's and the international Bingo Books," Naruto stated. "I did try to keep up to date in that."

"I must ask," Kitsuchi stated. "Where were you these past three years? You all but disappeared from the war three years ago after the Battle of the Waves. You. The man who went to the Kanzaki Front at the young age of sixteen and not only slaughtered one hundred Iwa shinobi, but did so right after your victory against my father. And you reappear now? In the middle of nowhere in the Southlands of Iwa? Did it have anything to do with Sarutobi Hiruzen's passing? Just what are you hoping to accomplish?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

"I had no intention of being seen again," Naruto stated plainly. "I wanted to disappear off the face of the planet after the Battle of the Waves. Unfortunately, that wasn't a possibility. So here I am."

"So what, you're saying you're a nuke-nin?"

Naruto frowned.

"I see," Kitsuchi stated. "Well regardless, you do understand that we can't simply let you go correct?"

"I'm well aware."

The two men stared at each other, however Naruto raised his hands.

"Can we not do this here though? The villagers don't need to be caught up in our battle."

Kitsuchi nodded. "I choose where we fight."

"And here I planned out the perfect kill zone for you too."

Kitsuchi frowned but signaled for his group to follow him. They did as ordered, Naruto following a healthy distance behind them. The blonde was no fool. He wouldn't get too close to them. Kitsuchi may care for the civilians more than the other two threats, but he wasn't stupid. Naruto was a target worth a few civilian casualties. He was only moving because Naruto had clearly given him the option to do so and he got to choose where they fought. Naruto had no doubt he was walking into the closest thing Kitsuchi could make a kill zone in such short notice.

They paused as they reached a clearing completely surrounded by mountains on all sides. Naruto frowned.

Yeah he had to admit Kitsuchi was very good at finding kill zones on short notice. Surrounded by earth on all sides with three expert level or higher Doton users, and that wasn't counting the Jonin in the group?

He was at a massive disadvantage here.

Good, it would make the fight fair overall.

The Iwa shinobi instantly surrounded him, all of them perched somewhere along the mountainside looking down at him. Only Kitsuchi stood in front of him.

"You know, you can just surrender."

"You'll just kill me regardless."

"It would be less painful."

"Don't care. I'd rather not die."

"You realize you are surrounded? By elite Jonin."

Naruto looked around, looking at every Iwa shinobi that was there to kill him. It was familiar to him. He had been in situations like this many times. This was war. What he had tried to avoid for three years. It was here, surrounded by shinobi who unleashed killing intent as easily as breathing that Naruto realized the foolhardiness in his actions. He couldn't run from this. It was part of him. It was in his blood. And he despised it. His eyes settled on Kitsuchi, twirling his bo staff. He unleashed his killing intent, letting the pressure of his chakra leak out to crack the ground beneath him. Unlike it had just a few days before the wind howled as dust was kicked into the air.

"All I am surrounded by is fear, and dead men."