Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto

Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23

Harsh Reality: Act: III

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX~ xx ~ XxX

He fought against Kakashi's words in his mind as though he was wrestling down a savage animal. The words gnawed and clawed at him, tearing into his soul, and leaving bleeding wounds.

Naruto had sworn he would never regret his path as a ninja. So, what did that mean when he faced the knowledge of how unsavory, and downright vile, some of the things he was ordered to do were? Did it mean he had to go along with it even though he despised it with every fiber of his being? Was it just his job and nothing else, could he simply take pride in knowing he served his village by profiting from the pain of others?

It was tearing him apart, the contradiction hurt him more than any other insult or physical strike ever lobbed at him.

Part of him wanted to run away, as to not deal with all this. But his sense of responsibility was far stronger, and that only brought him even more conflict. He had to stay here; he could not leave his teammates behind. But that meant going along with all this.

Couldn't he do anything? Perhaps convince them to stop helping the daimyo?

No, he was not certain he could. Kakashi was a loyal shinobi through and through, as an ANBU he had done far worse... and the same went for his mother, as he was slowly realizing.

Despair glowed in his eyes as he peered around him. He had run further into the lower section of the village where the poorest of the citizen resided. Here their homes were shambling huts of whatever people could find. Same was said for their clothing that looked no better than rags. Their eyes... Nothing but pure hopelessness reflected from them. Be they adults or children.

And some looked like they had not eaten properly in ages with their skin be thin to where he could see bones.

This is what he was hired to preserve... The young teen's body trembled gnashing his teeth. In the back of his mind, he faintly could remember some lessons Jiji had taught him before joining the academy. "While our lives are fraught with perils and conflict, and while at times outcomes can lead to positive ends. This does not make us heroes, remember that..."

Hiruzen had warned him... So did many others around him, Shinobi were not people who walked the righteous path. There was no concept of good or evil in their line of work.

There was no such thing as a hero shinobi...

What was he doing here? There were no people he could help, no despondent frowns he could turn into smiles.

Naruto felt loss, and there was only one thing that could remotely guide him at this moment. Though it was Kakashi-sensei's words that caused this spiral of emotions inside him, he could never forget the adage he imparted into them.

People who abandon the mission are scum, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum.

Whatever may happen, he was not going to let his teammates deal with it alone.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Kakashi surveyed the varied expressions of his subordinates and comrades. Sitting in the apartment room the daimyo had provided for them, they positioned themselves around a low table. Sakura and Karin looked very conflicted regarding their assignment, Sasuke as usual masked his emotions perfectly. Soujiro for all his calm demeanor could not hide the slight shows of displeasure to an experienced eye like Kakashi's.

And Kushina... well, she always wore her heart in her sleeves.

If these missions could not get any more complicated, now there was an Uzumaki aiding the rebels.

'Let me deal with him', was all she had said. The redheaded woman sat with her arms crossed, a deep frown marring her features as she looked at nothing in particular.

Nobody questioned where Naruto was, they all understood he was taking this the hardest out of all of them.

"Karin and I were able to identify a few spies the rebels" Sasuke brought up. "They are under my genjutsu, all we need to do is plant false information so the rebels may leave themselves open"

"Good work" Kakashi's complimented him on a job well done.

The door of their room opened as heads spun around and Hatake looked up. A relieved sigh came from Kushina, Karin, and Sakura as Naruto came into the room. However, relief faded quickly noticing Naruto's body language, the hollow gaze in his eyes. He spoke not a single word as he just sat by his team looking in no discernible direction.

Quite frankly it unnerved everyone around him, Sasuke included. "What did I miss?" Even his tone was devoid of his usual flair.

Concern was most centered from his mother who was about to speak till Kakashi spoke; "Figuring out a plan to ambush the rebels. Are you all, right?" The blond only gave a nod but not looking at his sensei; 'I'll speak with him a bit later... We have could had someone else take this mission instead of us. But no complaints now.'

Sakura rubbed her friend's shoulder with concern who glanced at her with a glance before looking ahead.

"The spies don't know where the rebels are holing up" Sasuke continued, "But they meet with their contacts on specific times and places"

"We can use them to give false information" Kakashi rubbed his chin in thought. "Separating the leaders from the main bulk would be ideal. Sasuke, get the spies under your illusions to tell the rebels there will be a large convoy of soldiers marching through the woods on the north and northeast. That will force them to move, and once they do, Karin here will track them"

"Would the daimyo authorize that many soldiers to move?" The spectacle-wearing girl asked.

"He won't need to spare anyone" The Copy-Nin turned to Kushina, "Not when we can call upon dozens and dozens of clones to act as a fake advancing army"

"Smart move" Kushina nodded in approval, pushing down the churning she felt in her stomach.

"The rebels will panic when they find such a large force moving in" Sakura reasoned, "They'll believe the Daimyo called every single soldier in the nation to eradicate them at long last"

Karin nodded; "Strategy is sound." she glanced over to her brother who was barely responsive.

"If by chance, would they surrender?" Soujiro questioned.

"I doubt it," Kakashi lamented honestly; "As the reports show Takeda and his group are determined to bring down the daimyo. I don't think these people will ever give up."

Kushina bit the inner part of her mouth; 'Kosuke won't stop...'

Slowly Naruto raised his head catching Hatake's attention; "Yes Naruto?" Though his voice was neutral a hint of concern was audible.

All eyes went to the blond; "Is the meeting done sensei?"

"...Overall, yes," As he spoke those words the blond slowly rose and turned to leave; "Naruto." The blond faintly glanced and stopped; "Let us talk after this. Wait for me outside all right?" The young Uzumaki gave a tiny nod before exiting the room.

Concern danced on the pinkette's face; "I had never seen Naruto so dejected."

"We all knew we'd had to deal with this eventually" Sasuke replied.

"There is little honor in this" Soujiro pointed out.

"Honor is serving your lords, which we are doing by following the Hokage's orders"

"At what point is the line drawn then?" The young swordsman generally asked, he did not wait for a reply and instead left the room.

Sakura sighed, and with Karin stood up to clear their heads. They wanted to speak with Naruto, but they knew he first needed to talk with Kakashi-sensei and his mother. Sasuke remained in the room, along with his thoughts. As the other young genin went out to the hall, they saw Naruto leaning back against the wall, hands in his pockets, gaze glued to the ground. Looking truly angry and frustrated, with no idea what to do with those emotions.

Then Kakashi-sensei and Kushina walked out, closing the door behind them, and they knew it was best to leave those three alone for a while.

Kushina stared sadly at her son, all while Kakashi sighed. Mimicking the youth, Kakashi leaned back against the wall next to Naruto, hands in pockets. "First time I got an assignment like this; I was even younger than you. A merchant hired us to assassinate a rival of his"

Naruto said nothing.

"I don't know if the man was good if he was bad. A dutiful son, or a devoted father. I did my job because that was required of me, for the village."

"So, just killing innocent people, ruining lives, it's all well so long as we get paid?" Naruto bitterly replied.

Kakashi looked at him for a moment, "It's the way the world is"

"Funny, I didn't think my dad's students would think like that"

It was an extremely low blow, but Naruto did not care. He was angry at himself, at Kakashi-sensei, at everything.

Kakashi closed his eyes for a moment, "That is why your father was the visionary. Whatever goal he sought to achieve a better world, I would have aided without question or hesitation. His hands could not have fully remained cleaned chasing it, so I was ready to dirty mine in his stead"

Naruto gave him a sidelong glare. "So, you don't care what happened to these people? You don't care what happened to everyone your hurt?"

...I never stopped caring, Naruto" Kakashi muttered, "But I care about my village far more"

With those words, Kakashi stood up from the wall, giving Kushina a brief nod, and walked away. The woman knelt next to Naruto, placing a hand on his whiskered cheek, brushing away a tear falling from his eye.

"This isn't even about me..." He hissed, "It's about these people and me... all I can do is mope about how I feel" It sickened him.

"Being a shinobi isn't all adventures and glory, Naruto"

He looked at her, eyes pleading. "Then how do you deal with it; how did you learn to cope with what we do?"

Kushina wanted to tell him it was the lessons she learned from the people in her life, the wise and old, the young peers who helped share her burdens... but that was only half-right. The truth is Kushina from the start had little concern about what would happen to others.

She was small and hurting, full of anger at the world. She wanted to be a shinobi so she could hunt down those who hurt her clan and homeland. All for revenge... how did someone as kind and compassionate as Minato ever fall in love with her?

How is it that she lost sight of his beautiful dream?

How did she ever forget baa-chan's lessons?

Kushina had no answers for him, so instead surrounded him in her arms, and let Naruto cling to her with desperation.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

As the morning sun of the next day rose, Takeda alongside the twin, his adopted grandfather Shibata, and Kosuke stride through the forest branches with ease. Isao glanced over to the hulking Uzumaki; "Big guy's been down since yesterday."

His brother interjected; "Can you blame him?"

None disagreed with his words.

Shibata let out a low grunt; "It was a gamble in trying to reason with her."

"I know," Kosuke murmured with a solemn tone; "She is not who I remember."

Takeda gave a concerned look; "To be fair, you both have changed since you were kids."

"It's more than that lad," the Uzumaki quipped with a glance; "Kushina walks the path our elders had frown upon."

Isamu scratched the back of his head; "I thought Uzumaki 'was' ninja." In an instant he nearly recoiled from the glare Kosuke sent his way; "That was what most people thought big guy!"

"We are NOT ninja Isamu," Kosuke sternly addressed with mild anger before calming down. "We incorporated several shinobi techniques, but never became a ninja. Tsukiko-Baachan was beyond abhorrent to the very idea!"

"Enough!" The wizened voice of Shibata stopped any further arguments. "The Manji representative is due to arrive soon, we're at the cusp of turning this war around, pointless arguments help no one"

The wild-haired man grunted but said nothing more.

Takeda took a breath, soon the Manji reinforcements would arrive, and they would have the numbers to assault the capital. After that, it was only a matter of planning a said assault, and finally, they could free their people from the grasp of tyranny. All the fighting, all the death, and suffering would finally be over.

Just a few more steps to get there...

"Takeda-dono! Takeda-dono!"

The sudden shouting brought them all to a halt, they turned back to see one of their runners heading towards them as fast as his legs could take him. His face was wet with sweat, but it was not from exhaustion.

Something was wrong.

"What is it?" He jumped down from the branches to approach the messenger. "Report"

"There is a large regiment of soldiers marching through the woods!" He urgently explained. "There's like two hundred of them!"

The shock was etched into their faces. Two hundred?! When had the daimyo amassed so many soldiers?!

"This... This can't be right" Shibata muttered, "Tokuhara couldn't have sent so many soldiers without us noticing!"

"Our spies say it was the ninja!" The messenger cried out, "They cloaked their soldiers in their illusions, before we knew it, they were already in the forest! They're already closing in our current location!"

Gods damn it all.

"Wait, cloaked them how?" The two shinobi among them questioned. "What did they see?" Isamu asked.

"T-The daimyo's soldiers appeared out of blasts of smoke"

"This could be a rouse" Isao warned their leader. "Sounds like clones"

"Or summoning" Isamu countered with a grave expression. "They have a fuinjutsu master among them, maybe they might have devised a way to create a mass summoning technique?"

hey, turned to the resident Uzumaki, who shrugged his large shoulders. "Don't look at me, barely even remember the basics"

Takeda shook his head, "It matters not, we need to deal with them immediately" He turned to the messenger, "Has the camp been evacuated?"

"Yes"

"Good" He nodded. "Our meeting with the Manji will have to wait"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Diverting their path, Takeda and company make for the direction where the supposed regiment was coming from. All agreed this was a trap by the shinobi of Konoha, but they could not let them near the camp. Which meant they were willingly walking into a potential firestorm but there was no other choice.

Isao nervously chuckled; "Never thought I'd be facing down folks from Konoha... Especially the legendary Red Death and Copy-Ninja Kakashi."

"Or anyone from Konoha, in general, considering our group's past." his brother quipped with equal nervousness.

A low grunt came from the wizened samurai; "As long you keep your mouths shut on your employers that should keep you alive." Though while saying all that his eyes, and everyone else's turned to Isao who dryly glared back.

"Oh, kiss my ass!"

"Let's keep focused," Takeda remarked steeling his mind. "If things turn sideways, we're in for a fight."

Kosuke said nothing as old memories crept into his mind.

He remembered playing with her and the others in Tsukiko-baachan's garden. He remembered following them around as they dragged him into all sorts of mischief. Such a small jittery little thing he was, it was only through his memory of his kin that he became brave and strong to survive for so long.

Kin fighting kin was a terrible thing. To an Uzumaki, there was nothing more shameful.

...But

He promised to help these people in their hour of need, he could not do anything as they struggled and suffered. Kushina was now on the path of the shinobi, and it put her against the brave rebels who wanted something better for their lands.

So, it came to this... he would not harm her or the others, but he would fight her all the same, to keep her in line.

He just had to follow his conscience.

"Look" One of the twins pointed as they neared a path through the woods. "Fuck..."

Rows of soldiers marching in formation, conical hard hats made of metal covering their eyes, standard yoroi style armor. And in their hands their flintlocks. Every single one of them wielded a firearm.

"Tokuhara sent this many to wipe us out once and for all" Shibata muttered grimly.

"We can't take a force this size" Takeda grit his teeth in frustration, a bead of sweat rolling down his face. "If we had the rest of our numbers, we could lead them into an ambush"

"I don't see the Konoha ninja" Isamu pointed out.

"They must be scouting to find our forces," Shibata said. "When they do, they'll lead the battalion right to them" He turned to his grandson. "Takeda, fighting them head-on like this will be impossible"

"Then we distract them" The young rebel leader reached into his clothes and pulled out several small paper bombs. "Make them fall into disarray"

Everyone followed the young leader's actions pulling out either smoke or flash bombs. Moving with silent steps, the group position themselves where they could cause the most chaos. All eyes turn to Takeda who nodded, soon they threw down their bombs.

Within seconds surprise shouts and yells rang out from the soldiers as smoke engulfed them with blinding flashes of light.

The rebels did not let up as they tossed as many bombs throughout the area as he could. While the others silently cheered at their work, Shibata's critical eye was observing the soldiers. 'Something is off...'

It was like a scratch in the back of his mind. The old Samurai knew by heart how soldiers are supposed to react during an ambush. And how these 'soldiers' were moving was out of place. They were not moving like seasoned disciplined troops... A horrid realization came across his face. However, before he could call out in warning, golden chains erupted through the smoke straight for all of them!

"It's Kushina!" Kosuke cried out avoiding some of the chains. "Do not get wrap by those chains!"

The twins ducked and dodged with expert speed as the chains came for them. Takeda moved through the treetops alongside his grandfather who used his sword to deflect a few of the chains.

Bursting through the smoke like a missile, Kakashi leaped into the trees with kunai drawn. He moved towards the first target he saw. A paled Isao cursed as he saw Hatake come for him; "Oh shit!"

"Isao move now!" His brother called out.

The red bandana-wearing ninja managed to use substitution just in time, leaving the Copy Ninja to strike only a piece of log. Isamu moved to intercept, but the tree he jumped on suddenly fell. A pinkette young girl struck it with monstrous force, breaking the bark apart and making the trunk fall.

Takeda quickly jumped down to help him, but the whirling sound of a flying great demon wind shuriken alerted him. He ducked and the four-bladed weapon buried itself on the three. A young man with dark hair and clothing, contrasted with almost shining red eyes, jumped down to the same branch as him, taking out a pair of kunai he leaped to attack.

He did not get far, the Uchiha grunted with a large hand grabbed his head, he saw the large redheaded man, having appeared from behind him at great speed, and threw him away with tremendous force.

Sasuke let out an alarmed sound as he whirled through the air without any way to stop himself. Only for an orange blur to appear and get a hold of him, helping set him down on a tree branch.

"You, okay?" Naruto asked.

The Uchiha shook his head, but that did not help stop his world from spinning.

The ground shook beneath them as they both gazed up that the towering hulking redheaded man. His eyes glowed melancholy staring at the boys who readied themselves. Kosuke took note of the blonde; "You're Kushina's boy..."

As if his words were an incantation, The chains vanished back as the soldiers soon burst in a puff of smoke. The former ANBU shot out from the smoke with a fist reared back. The hulking Uzumaki raised his arms to block as her fist landed onto his forearms. The force behind her punch was enough to skid the big man back afoot, ripping the ground with his feet.

Coming to Naruto's and Sasuke''s sides were Karin and Soujiro with weapons drawn. Kushina stood in front of the kids. A conflicted glare came from her eyes; "Figure this would draw you all out."

Kosuke rubbed his forearms; "...That hurt." Soon Takeda and the others came to his side as the Konoha crew came to Kushina's. "Neat trick."

"You're Takeda I assume," Kakashi spoke up eyeing the young man standing in front of the others.

"I am, Kakashi Hatake." His eyes darted around their surroundings. "Any more surprises?"

Kushina came to the Jounin's side; "Depends if you come quietly or not. I'd rather this not get bloody for everybody's sake."

Shibata glared; "Rare to hear mercy coming from you, girl. I heard in great detail of all your exploits during the Third War and after."

"..." The Uzu woman narrowed her eyes.

"Mercy was never a trait you held close."

"Grandfather," The young rebel leader reproached sternly; "Let us see if we can try to talk this out, shall we?"

"They care not for what we fight for" The large older man strongly said. "They're here because they were paid for"

"Already too much blood has been spilled, and more's yet to flow. I don't plan of needlessly fighting when we don't have to" The young rebel turned his gaze to the shinobi, to the redheaded woman in particular. "I heard your grandmother was a virtuous sage, no doubt she would see our cause is just"

Kushina said nothing.

"The daimyo oppresses his people, starves them, torments them when they 'step out of line'." He said, though his voice was controlled, the anger and emotion build up. "And his brother, the man I killed?" His eyes twitched as he momentarily gnashed his teeth. "A cruel enforcer of his will, who imprisoned and killed without consideration. His troops would do such vile things to people just to 'set an example. What he did to my mother, m-my sister" His voice broke there, and for a moment his eye shined before he fought back tears, once more setting a face of controlled determination. "He died for his crimes"

"You plunge your nation into chaos" Kakashi rebuked

"Tokuhara did that himself!" Takeda almost shouted. "When the tensions with the Imashima rose, he jumped at the chance to conquer their lands. The Akihabara, the most loyal clan of Han'ei, died to the last"

Shibata's knuckles cracked as his grip on his blade tightened.

"He left them to die, denied them reinforcements when they were massively outnumbered and surrounded. He knew that the moment he tightened his control over the peasantry the Akihabara would confront him... Now his soldiers wield the Akihabara Lightning Call, treating it like a tool of oppression" He spat in disgust. "He plundered the clan's relics and knowledge, and had the gall to say they valiantly gave their lives for their nation"

The young rebel pointed his finger at Kushina. "You, an Uzumaki who knows what it is to lose her home, to have her people suffer, you know we are in our right to fight against that despot!"

Kushina's gaze met Kosuke, the large man pleadingly looked at her, he needed no words to express how much he wanted them to switch sides.

"If it's money you want, help yourselves to the treasuries after we depose Tokuhara, I don't care" Takeda exclaimed. "You will appease your leaders that way"

For a moment, the shinobi were silent.

"There is more to this than money," Kakashi said neutrally. "There is our reputation on the line, betraying a client like this can affect Konoha massively. Not to mention the Tokuhara clan are business partners with some members of the Fire Court"

"And those friends in the Fire court would come down harshly on our village," Kushina continued.

Kosuke grunted; "If they are happy enough to take blood money from a corrupt leader does not speak well of them. They are just as wicked as Tokuhara. Not the same people Tsukiko-Baachan spoke highly of."

Neither Kushina nor Kakashi rebuked his words while Takeda processed their words; "It is not that you don't want to help us. You simply cannot or there will be harsh blowback to your village. Thus, your hands are tied."

"Which is why I am asking for your surrender," Kushina quipped with concern in her voice.

Takeda lowered his gaze to the ground for a moment before peering over to Kushina. His eyes were full of grief; "Would you stay your hand if the Raikage and Tsuchikage stood before you?"

Kosuke saw a strong twitch in Kushina's hands. the red-haired woman closes her eyes reining in her emotions. But the truth slipped from her mouth; "I'd kill both without a second thought..." Her voice toned with bitter rage.

"I thought so," Takeda nodded in mourning; "And I can't stop until Tokuhara is sent to the furthest depths of hell with his brother."

Kakashi closed his eye with a regretful sigh; "We've reached an impasse then."

"I fear you are right..." Takeda drew his sword and pointed at the Konoha crew; "I hold no grudges against any of you. You are stuck in an impossible situation, and I am sorry for that. But I will never yield."

"So," Kushina said regretfully. "We're at an impasse"

The young rebel leader nodded. "Indeed, we are"

For a moment, all was perfect stillness, it was like even the wind did not blow.

In a burst of the moment, Kushina dashed forward, griping her sword and ready to draw it in a flash to quickly cut down the young rebel. Takeda did not move, instead, Kosuke's large figure appeared in front of him, his eyes narrowed.

Kushina hesitated and did not draw her blade. Taking his chance, the muscular man grabbed a hold of her cloak and threw her to the size with his immense strength, making sure she was as far away from Takeda as possible.

The rest of the Konoha group readied themselves. The large old samurai quickly reached to his waist, pulling a demonic-masked helmet, and putting it on quickly. He jumped several feet in the air, with much more speed and dexterity than his large, bellied body would suggest. The shinobi and young wards quickly moved out of the way as his shadow loomed closer.

He impacted the ground with a thunderous crash, deforming the ground and making several jagged pieces of rock emerge. With a roar, he drew his enormous blade, and its swing created a gale force of the wind that sent the younger warriors flying back. Cries of shock rang out as they were hit with hurricane-worthy winds. Kakashi managed to remain in place, holding to the ground with an application of earth chakra. He grunted as he finally looked up, the great samurai was almost twice his height, this old warrior made sure it was just the two of them for this bout.

"I'll deal with the Hatake, you three take care of the rest!" Shibata exclaimed; his voice muffled under his mask.

The twins and Takeda nodded, circling the ninja who had no choice but to let them pass as he kept his eyes firmly on his opponent.

"I have faced samurai before" It was not a brag, but a statement, as Kakashi unfurled his Sharingan.

"And I have faced shinobi" Came the old warrior's reply.

Kakashi knew that statement was true because even with his Sharingan activated, he could not make any detail of the man's eyes behind his helmet's narrow slits. The gear was not just made to prevent injury, but also to block direct line of sight with one's own eyes, which prevented Kakashi from using any ocular genjutsu on the man.

"Let us see who falls this day Hatake..."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Kushina gnashed her teeth as she flew through the air from Kosuke's throw. Growling she used the momentum to her advantage releasing a single chakra chain from her back and latching onto a tree trunk. Pulling a full one-eighty and retracting the chain she heads back towards the battle. Only to be caught in fellow Uzumaki's large hands. His large palms and fingers held her arms against her sides while she was dangled off the ground.

Holding her up like he was her face was up to his own. She cast him a glare; "Let. Me. Go..." The Uzu woman spoke with a calm fury.

Yet anger was not returned from Kosuke's saddened gaze; "I will not Kushina." He grunted as she squirmed his grasp. "You're as stubborn as a bear!"

"I'll show you stubborn if you don't let me go, Kosuke!" Her legs kicked wildly towards the man who kept her at arm's length. With her biceps hugging her sides with how Kosuke held her she could not reach for her sword; "Damnit I'm going to kick your ass if you keep this up!"

"...Do you really want to fight me? Kin against kin, such a thing is shameful to our clan."

Frustration and rage boiled over from the woman; "I DON'T WANT TO DAMN IT!" she yelled at the top of her lungs; "But I don't have a choice! If I go against Tokuhara my son will suffer for it. And he's been through enough hell because of me!"

The large man cocked a brow; "Because of you?"

"I... I was not there for him, for so long" She shuddered a breath. "He was made the new Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, he went through so much, all alone, and I..."

Kosuke's eyes softened, feeling the struggle in her. And he did not mean physically, he could feel her growing limper on his arms.

"He's now a shinobi of Konoha, I'm going to make sure he's the best he can be. Even if this mission is against what he believes... it is my duty as a mother, as a ninja, to guide him through the things we do because of our loyalty to Konoha"

"Is this who you are now?" Kosuke softly asked. "Kushina of Konoha, not Kushina of Uzushio?"

His words ignited a fire that had been dwindling it, fanning it to become a raging inferno. Kushina's head snapped back, hitting his nose and mouth. Staggered by the flow, the strength of his grip waned and Kushina broke free, leaping back to gain some distance.

"Don't you dare judge me!" The Uzu woman seethed out. "I was given to Konoha to honor our oaths, I became a jinchuuriki and shinobi out of loyalty to our clan!"

Kosuke grunted, holding his nose before looking at his palm. He cleaned the blood on his trouser. "Yes, I'm sure this is what the clan wanted for you. Look what that village made of you"

Each of his words seemed to make her angrier. "Konoha gave me a home when ours was destroyed. You didn't meet the people who helped move on from the pain, you didn't laugh and cry and bleed with them like I did while our enemies sought to destroy us!"

The bear of a man glared at her for a moment. "You're right, I don't know what it's like to be devoted to a place like that. I was alone for so long, just living day to day, hoping one day to meet someone from our clan again. Maybe if I grew up as you did, I would see things differently. But as things are right now, I can't ignore these people"

Kushina trembled with fury mixing now with grief as her fellow Uzumaki spoke with resolution. She slowly took a taijutsu stance, Kosuke remained relaxed as both stared at one another with intensity and turmoil in their eyes.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Isao whistled dodging a fist from the pinkette Genin that slammed into a tree cracking it with ease. "I really don't want to be hit by that do I?" He asked openly.

"Depends on how many broken bones you want," Sakura quipped with determination.

"...Well, aren't you full of sunshine and rainbows..."

His twin clashed kunai to kunai with Sasuke and Karin. "Never thought I'd ever face an Uchiha," Isamu addressed evenly while glancing to the specs wearing redhead; "You Uzu too?"

"Yup."

A low grunt came from the older teen; "This day just sucks."

"You going to keep talking or fight? Sasuke spoke in a professional tone. "We came here to do a mission; I intend to see it through."

A dry stare came from Isamu; "More to life than a just business kid."

Steel and crystal clashed a good distance away as Takeda fought Soujiro and Naruto. The rebel leader gave a cocked brow at the crystal short swords that appeared in the blond's hands. 'A bloodline limits?' He kept his focus as he charged with a thrust towards the younger teen boys. Soujiro expertly parried while his cousin attempted to stab for an opening. Takeda dodged before creating a good distance from the boys; 'they move well together.'

But he took notice of something while fighting the boy; "Your hearts are not into your attacks." He saw the hesitance in their eyes; "You boys don't want to do this? Surprising for ninjas."

"My cousin isn't a ninja," Naruto quickly correct; "Soujiro just wanted to come to help us."

The rebel leader stared at him, "Your own eyes show nothing but remorse, kid"

Naruto did not reply.

"I promised Kosuke I wouldn't kill you, and I won't" His grip on his blade tightened. "But I will still fight for my homeland"

Then he moved. A dash of speed so fast the others almost thought he had used a jutsu of some kind, but it had been his natural speed. Takeda's blade clashed against Soujiro's, the young Uzumaki let out a strained gasp from the force of the impact. Naruto jumped in to help, but a sandaled foot suddenly met his face, kicking him away. Takeda moved close the distance, grabbing Soujiro's shoulder and performing a throw that made the young swordsman hit his back on the ground.

Sasuke rushed in, his Sharingan activated, when a barrage of kunai got right on his way. The red bandana-wearing teen grinned, and three clones manifested around him. Sasuke did not react to their presence, instead run straight towards the one in the middle, delivering a sweeping kick which the taller young man deflected with his palms.

"Damn, saw right through my gentjusu huh?" Isao smirked, "Those eyes are something else"

The Uchiha said nothing before going into quick hand seals and taking a deep breath. The twins blinked as a towering bloom of fire was exhaled out from the younger teen. "Oh damn..." Isamu muttered as he and his brother and Takeda leaped out of the way of the flames. "I heard your clan was partial to fire!"

Naruto, Soujiro, and the girls came quickly to Sasuke's side who glared hard at the leader; "This can end quickly if you just surrender."

"So, the kid does have a heart," Isao commented.

"Something my comrades would prefer, I don't care."

The twins deadpan while Takeda kept a serious gaze; "Can respect the professionalism. But hard to take seeing kids willing to kill."

"We gave up being kids when accepting the Shinobi life," The Uchiha quipped evenly.

"Can't say I understand that" Isamu shrugged, "We choose to be shinobi for a different reason, Kageken has a noble purpose"

"Like assassinating high political leaders and effectively jumpstarting a cycle of shinobi wars?" The pinkette said in a deadpanning.

"...Okay yes the grandmaster did that" The blue bandanna-wearing teen admitted with embarrassment and shame. "But we're no longer like that, we-"

"Don't waste your breath, Isamu" His brother called out with annoyance. "They are Konoha, they won't care what we have to say"

"On that you're right," Sasuke said before giving Naruto and Soujiro a look, "Whatever it is you guys are dealing with, stuff it. We need you focused here"

Naruto wished he could say he had Sasuke's back. But this whole damn situation... his spirit just could not be into it. He could not fight a battle he did not want to wage in the first place. Not with what was on the line here...

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Kakashi backed away from a large foot stomp that cracked the ground before him, a loud Kiai announced the coming of a palm strike towards him. He sidestepped to the side and drew close, slashing with his kunai, but this one harmlessly sparked over the samurai's armor, leaving only the shallowest of cuts.

Shibata brought his great katana in an arc, a diagonal slash that forced Kakashi to retreat. The shinobi quickly went through a series of hand signs and breathed out a series of small fireballs that flew at great speed. The enormous samurai crossed his arms, shielding most of his torso, his body shook slightly with each impact of the fireballs, leaving singed and smoking marks on his armor.

Tales of your exploits were not exaggerations," the grizzled Samurai complimented; "Been a long time since I confronted a truly skilled opponent."

'This guy is leagues more dangerous than Zabuza with that nodachi of his. And he is way faster than he looks with someone of his age and stature.' Out of the corner of their eyes, they saw Takeda and the twins facing down the kids. Kakashi paid close attention to Naruto as he clashed against the rebel leader; 'His heart just isn't in this at all.'

Shibata grunted; "You should be more focused on me Hatake. Unless you wish me to strike you down?"

"Not going to happen," The Jounin spoke with resolution gripping his kunai; "I'll find a chink in that armor."

"You're welcome to try..." The old samurai lunged for his enemy with incredible speed with his sword coming from the side.

'I can't overpower this guy!' Kakashi evaded the blade with experience; 'I have to play this smart and find an opening!'

Easier said than done as his opponent moved with several decades of experience under his belt. And Hatake could tell this man had face ninja before countless times. Shibata knew the overall fundamentals of shinobi combat that all villages share and was doing a respectable job countering his attacks.

Samurai were a force to be reckoned with, the fact that so many academies switched to the shinobi way was convenient and nothing else. A single hidden village could not face an army of them, which was the reason the Daimyo in the nations still had all the control, and why no one could pick up a fight with the Land of Steel.

There were few times in his career when Kakashi faced opponents like this old samurai. At least, not with all these traits at the same time. Old and very experienced, enormous, and possessing raw physical might, but also a surprising amount of speed and dexterity for one of his size.

Let us add toughness to that list because when there were small gaps in his armor which Kakashi slashed through, the blood he drew was superficial at best. This man in his long life had trained his body to be armor all of its own, no wonder he had survived when the clan he served died to the last.

Shibata grunted, gripping his enormous blade tightly with his two hands. There was a flash and a cry of energy, arcs of lightning coursing through the blade. With an upward slash, the earth cracked and singed, sending a wave of energy. It was only through his reflexes and the Sharingan that Kakashi evaded it in time.

The lightning carried on to the sky, the energy discharging as heat.

'Is he lightning wielder like me?' Kakashi could say with pride he was an all-around expert of the lightning element. But Shibata commanded it like it was second nature. 'This made my day harder...'

Once more lightning engulfed the elderly man's blade; "I heard you also possess a talent for lightning Hatake... Let us see who the true master of it is." He dashed at frightening speeds towards his opponent slashing with precise movements.

Kakashi quietly thanks the gods for Obito's Sharingan being able to read the other man's movements to dodge, if only at a hair's breadth.

"The cursed Sharingan of the Uchiha," The samurai muttered; "I only heard tales of those wicked eyes." The silver haired Jounin ducked a horizontal slash only to be met with a foot slamming into his face sending him flying. "Perhaps because you're not an Uchiha you can't use it properly."

Kakashi grunted before catching himself and sliding on the ground; "Maybe..." with his kunai, he quickly nicked his thumb and soon went into quick hand seals; "But I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve." He slammed his palm onto the ground; "Summoning jutsu!"

The ground erupted around Shibata who grunted in surprise with several exceptionally large hounds clamping down onto his arms and legs.

The warrior let out a wild Kiai and threw away the hounds biting his arms with wild swings, before punching the other two away with ease. The samurai regained his stance and shrouded his blade in lightning again with an upward swing of the sword, he sent forth a wave of lightning that traveled through the ground, tearing the earth as it went. Kakashi dodged it in time and saw as the lightning suddenly spiraled out of control and traveled high into the air where the energy discharged.

Shibata stomped the ground, ignoring the cracks deepening beneath his feet. Repeatedly, he attacked, firing continuous slashes of lightning, many of which were evaded and dodged by the ninja, dissipating into the hair as a result.

Above, dark clouds began gathering.

Kakashi went through a series of hand signs and fired a great fireball at the man. Once again, Shibata held his stance, choosing to whether the blow rather than evade it. For that, he lifted his food high and stomped down... causing the ground to finally cave in.

The earth weakened by the tunnels created by Kakashi's hounds could not take more of the man's repeated stomping combined with his great weight. Shibata let out a startled noise as he was buried knee-deep in the earth, before he could attempt to move away, he was thrown further off balance by Kakashi's fireball. His armor reinforced to withstand heat was the only thing that prevented him from being burned inside, but all the same, he screamed from the sudden flash of heat as the flames splashed over his figure and singed his clothing.

He slumped forward, panting as he caught himself with one palm on the ground. He looked up to see the Hatake pointing his palm on the ground, sparks of electricity generating on his palm as his arcs of lightning gathered around him in a circle.

"Huh..." The amount of chakra being gathered at such a precise place. No doubt it was a technique made to pierce any defense. "So, this is your famous 'Raikiri' isn't it, Hatake?" Shibata grunted, steeling himself as he tried to remove his feet from the ground. "But it will not cut this lightning..."

Thrusting his blade to the sky, he shot a bolt of lightning at the dark clouds.

Thunder roared above them.

Kakashi was momentarily startled out of his focus. The multiple energy discharges of his attacks had been heating the air so much it generated rain and storm clouds. The natural element building up in them quickly flashed down. "So that's what he was doing..."

A bolt of yellow lightning struck his sword, imbuing the weapon with its power. Torrents of potent electricity ran in golden arcs, and Shibata slowly shifted his katana in a strike position. "This... is the final stage of Akihabara Lightning Call. Drawing in the natural lightning and further empowering it with my chakra. No armor can resist it"

The Jounin stared impressed at the amount of energy coming off the man's sword. "Guess we'll find out who's technique is stronger."

"We shall indeed..."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Kosuke shifted his massive body avoiding Kushina's punch that landed against a tree. The force behind the first was enough to send cracks through the hardwood like it was nothing and soon came down with a hard crash. 'She's not pulling her punches... Or is she?' The hulking Uzumaki was not sure despite being riled up by their argument. Her eyes glowed with pained anger.

Kushina was not just fighting Kosuke, she was mentally fighting against all she had been taught by Tsukiko-baachan. Her subconscious was relentless as images of the past poured into her thoughts. Knowing their grandmother would be disappointed for such a thing to happen between two Uzu.

Yet she willed herself to keep going. She was a Shinobi of the Leaf damn it! It was because of Minato and Mikoto she was able to forge a new life after Uzushio's destruction. It was because of Sakumo-sensei's teaching she became the person she is now!

However, ... The pain in her heart was only crying out more strongly the longer she fought against her cousin.

The redheaded woman spun on one heel ready to bring up her other leg for a roundhouse when a tremendous thunderclap exploded.

The two momentarily forgot about their bout, shielding their faces from the initial blast of light and energy.

"Shit!" Kushina swore.

"Ahhh so this is it," The large man said in realization. "The Lightning Call..."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Sakura's sheer raw strength amounted to little before the young man who just danced around her every attack. The older teen with the blue bandanna and the white shinobi outfit parried her blows with well-timed palm strikes to her forearms, one time making her hit the ground and causing it to crack open.

"That's some fine chakra control, little lady" Her brow twitched at the last part. "Ever thought of taking up medical jutsu or genjutsu?"

Funny enough, Tsunade-sama had expressed her interest in Sakura's own ability to enhance her strength based on her method. Offering her the chance to go to the hospitals and learn with her and Karin, as her chakra control would be a great boon for such arts.

Though perhaps genjutsu would also be a good venue for her. Anything to make her enemies shut up! Why did they all have to talk so much?!

Karin sneaked behind him, and Sakura saw her do the hand signs to cast a genjutsu that would make him believe he was sinking into the ground. The teen reacted appropriately, and Sakura saw her chance to dive in and strike... only for a string of lit fireworks to appear right in front of her.

The quick flash and loud noises made her back away, and it also had the effect of making Isamu snap out of the illusion.

"You are falling for a cheap trick like that?" Isao said as he dodged the carefully controlled strikes from Soujiro's blade. "Come on man..."

On the other area of the battle, Takeda was taking on Naruto and Sasuke at the same time. Having a much easier time managing the blonde who kept making mistake after mistake, openings he did not exploit, jutsu he could have used to overwhelm him. But Naruto was forced to face the fact he did not want to win, he did not want this side to win...

And why would he? Just what were they fighting for? To defend an oppressive lord's regime. To ensure people kept suffering.

What was he doing here?

Sasuke charged a Chidori in his hand, shooting forth at great speed, only for Takeda to block it with the flat side of his sword. Sasuke grunted as the attack failed to break the sword, instead, he felt a similar thing happen to when that shark freak Kisame absorbed his chakra.

The lightning was redirected through Takeda's sword, whose face was one of pure concentration, channeling through the blade and unleashing it back with a burst. Sasuke shouted as he was sent flying from the blast, and the rebel leader leaped into the air, spinning around, and dive-bombing with a falling kick.

Naruto just reacted, forming a great barrier of crystal to shield his friend from the blow. Takeda's kick connected, and the crystal's surface splintered in spiderweb patterns.

"Hmph!" Takeda narrowed his eyes. "You will not stop me... I have to fight for my country's future!" He kicked off the crystal, causing it to splinter further.

Naruto watched with wide eyes as a flash of lightning surged through the teen rebel's sword and struck with unreal speed. The lightning just... dissolved his crystal as though it was not even there. The blade pierced Naruto's shoulder, and the blonde cried out.

It was at that moment their battle came to a stop as a deafening thunderclap followed by a blinding flash of light rocks all of them. All of them hold their ears as all they can hear is ringing. Despite the pain, Takeda sharply turned towards the direction where his grandfather was facing Kakashi. He knew the attack that was just used.

He had seen it once before...

At the epicenter, Shibata glared with steely eyes as he stared ahead, blade drawn post-strike, lightning training through the edge. Behind him stood Kakashi who soon fell to his knees with blood spraying from a large slash across his body. The elder samurai gave some begrudging respect as the ninja just missed being sliced in half. However, he also received some damage as the armor of his shoulder was shattered revealing a nasty burnt wound, his flesh had even been pierced as well.

Sakura cried out but none could hear her through the ringing of their ears.

Kakashi hissed with a hand one his wound while the other kept him from collapsing to the ground.

"You're skilled, boy, you would have made a fine samurai," Shibata remarked as he turned around.

Kakashi threw a shuriken at the large man, but his aim had been gravely affected by his wound, he grunted and collapsed. The shuriken harmlessly bounced off Shibata's armor.

"Kakashi!" Kushina cried out rushing to his aid. Both she and Kosuke hurried with great speed from where they were to rejoin the others.

Takeda narrowed his eyes, removing his blade from Naruto's shoulder and walking towards the two-adult shinobi. "It's over. Leave now, you can still walk away from all this"

"We have a job" The Uzumaki grunted through seething teeth as he cradled Kakashi's form

"Kushina..." Kosuke muttered sadly.

"I'm... I'm a shinobi" Golden chains erupted from her back. "So, I have to-!"

An arrow landed before them.

For a moment, everyone stood still.

Then another arrow, and another, and another. The grass was soon riddled with arrows around the shinobi, and the whistling sound of fireworks was heard, followed by a blast of colors in the sky, taking the shape of an intricate kamon.

"Never fear, for the Manji have arrived!"

Landing on the area was a young woman of petite stature, with messy wavy soft gum-colored hair held back with a large ornament. She wore a short kimono with only one sleeve over her arm, showing the bandages covering her bust and legs. Uneven segments of armor in her legs, and multiple tattoos decorating her skin, namely a goldfish traveling up her arm and a swirl pattern on her breast.

In her hands she held an intricate red bow, which she spun in her grip with great dexterity, readying another arrow.

"Sorry for the delay, Takeda-san!" She fired the arrow, and Kushina scrambled with Kakashi's form to avoid it.

"Wait!" Kosuke shouted, "Don't kill them!"

But it was too late as the arrows were sent flying. With a moment of quick thinking, Sasuke pulled out smoke bombs and threw them. A curse came from Takeda as the smoke engulfed the Konoha crew. It soon faded as the leaf ninja was gone, a lone groan came from the Manji girl as she came down to the rebel leader's side. "Well, they know how to make an exit."

"Perfect timing, Yoimiya-san." The young man remarked.

The archer gave a small grin; "You don't have to be so formal ya know." She whistled at the damage done to the area; "Looks like a small war here!"

"Where are you clanmates?"

"Spread around, they're already taking out several outpost and bases closest to the capital" She smirked at him. "Last report I got; the soldiers were all fleeing back to the castle"

"Good" Takeda felt he could finally breath out in relief, for the first time in a long while. "That is good…"

A long sigh escaped Isao who sat on the ground; "Well that was something wasn't it?"

Kosuke only stared at the ground with a hollow gaze.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Well, that was an interesting showdown," A deep feminine voice remarked sitting on top of a tree branch, having witnessed the battle from a good distance away.

A sake jug was brought close to her lips, head reeling back as she drank the last of its contents, causing her long orange looks to drape over the white fabric of her sleeveless haori.

"Ahhhh!" She sighed loudly, the sake burning her throat. "And those Konoha folks looked strong, but most of them were out of it" The woman muttered with disappointment.

She had trailed those Manji thieves for a while now, sure her orders were to stop them. Kill them if possible. But those reinforcements and the rebels paired up against the daimyo's forces... now that sounded like a good fight waiting to happen.

So, she 'lost' the track of them here or there. What that asshole Tokuhara did not know would not kill him.

Well, it would really. But she did not care, they already paid her.

Nah, she smelled a good fight brewing in the air.

Ohhhh but there was drama going on! Shinobi growing a conscience. HAH! That never ended well.

Oh, but they were strong, that much she could see. The Copy Ninja, son of the White Fang, now that was a great opponent right there. And The Red Death, she had heard stories about her, her hatred for Iwa and Kumo on the battlefield was legendary. Oh, how she wished she could fight them.

But right now, circumstances prevented her. And she was not sure red there would fight at 100% now.

But perhaps... if they were on opposite sides...

"Now, there's a thought"

Kōtarō Fūma smirked savagely, her blood boiling.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX