Naruto: Kōkai

by Ken Miyamoto

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

36. Chapter 36

Yo! It's Ken.

Annnnd We ARE BACK!

I'll say it, I wasn't imagining things to turn out to be as hectic as they were, but I also have a small confession to make. During the hecticness of my schedule I realized that the days that I wasn't uploading or storyboarding I found that my mind raced a little less. One of the difficult things about writing is the balance between doing it because you love it and doing it because you feel like you need to.

That being said while I was dealing with a bunch of life stuff, this was a well appreciated hiatus to set my brain back into gear and help me remember how much I love writing for this story. My second confession, this chapter is long it might be the longest chapter I've written for the story, but I really got into this one. What that means is the other reason it's taken so long for the new chapter to drop is because I was having a little too much fun with this, so I hope that's a treat for waiting so long.

In other news, the story will be returning to its regularly scheduled uploads every 2 weeks on Wednesday (Sundays of the same week at the latest) as of this chapter.

I just wanted to say, thank you all for your patience and the kind words and interesting questions that came along during the break and thank you all for being patient with me. As always if you have any questions, comments, or criticisms feel free to leave a review I read all of them and will be sure to respond to as many as possible.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy.

-Ken

Next Time! Chapter 37: Honor Among Thieves (09/08/2024)

{...}

Chapter 36: Twin Tailed Blue Flame!

The sun shined down on the top of a large castle structure as the sounds of rumbling and crashing were coming from it.

A towel slid across the floor with two hands pressing it down while humming was coming from the person pushing it. Fu made it to the other side of the room wiping sweat off of her brow as she turned toward her work, the hardwood floor practically sparkled as the girl grinned.

"Alright!"

Fu cheered as she tapped her chin before looking at her towel, "Maybe one more lap." The girl giggled before she pressed the towel to the floor running the towel over it again.

Fu hummed as she went back and forth with the towel on the floor again, each time she went back and forth she gave herself a little kick off of the wall before continuing to wipe. Fu continued to hum, closing her eyes while she was enjoying herself as she turned her feet to the wall, kicking off of it.

However this time the wall she kicked her feet off of crunched a bit, Fu's eyes went wide as she watched the wall section she kicked fall over loudly slapping against the next room.

"Damn it, Fu! You knock over another wall and I swear on everything I'll bury you under the foundation."

"My bad!"

Tayuya scolded the girl who yelled from the other room while she was sitting on the ground repairing a paper screen door that tore when she pressed it against the glue. "Fuck. Who the hell was the bastard who decided paper was a material to use for doors!" Tayuya complained while Tsubasa walked into the room. He looked at the wall on the ground before he looked up toward Fu.

"Good, I'll take this. You keep up the good work, Fu."

Tsubasa said, lifting the section of the wall that was knocked down, "Got it!" The girl called before continuing her work while Tayuya sighed.

"You guys' spoil that girl."

"Well, the wall is already knocked over, so why fret? It's like an open concept or something. That's the bright side, right?"

"...Stop trying to sound like Shithead, Edgelord. That doesn't fit you."

Tayuya said while Tsubasa exhaled through his nose before looking at the screen she was working on, "Be careful with that and take your time." Tsubasa said while Tayuya huffed.

"Bite me."

The girl said tearing the screen a little more causing her to fume, the gray-haired teen threw the section of wall into a pile before he threw a small flame on it lighting the pile.

Meanwhile upstairs Boro was stamping down tatami mats in the rooms upstairs, he leaned his face against the mat sliding his hand across his work. "Good enough for me, the work of an honest man continues." Boro spoke proud of his work before he tripped over a section he missed pulling the entire mat from the floor.

"Damn it!"

Boro yelled while he heard chuckling from downstairs, "Ha!" He heard Tayuya yelled while he huffed.

"Screw you, Lady Cripple."

Boro said while he heard something drop from downstairs, "The hell did you just call me?!" Tayuya yelled from downstairs while Boro smirked.

"You heard me! What are you gonna do about it? The stairs aren't exactly wheelchair accessible!"

Boro yelled with a laugh before Tayuya growled, "You're dead! You hear me, Bounty Fucker? Dead!"

Tayuya yelled from downstairs while Boro chuckled, he turned around to the sound of footsteps spotting a familiar blonde.

"Yo, need some help?"

The blonde asked while Boro looked at the floor, "Nah, I'm good. I'm sure you're already all over the place… literally."

The yellow eyed young man said while the blonde chuckled, "Well, I'm already done with the other rooms on this floor and I'm heading upstairs." The blonde said while he walked off.

"Jeez, how in the hell are you supposed to keep up with that guy?"

Boro said stamping down the tatami mat again, meanwhile back downstairs Fu finished her lap dusting herself off while the blonde teen walked over to her.

"Hey Fu, good work on this room. I've got the mats for the next room ready to go, wanna help me knock those out?"

The teen asked while Fu jumped to her feet, "You got it!" The girl said following the blonde while in the kitchen area the blonde teen was underneath the sink area working on making sure things were tightened properly.

Tayuya watched the blonde teen run past the open door she was by before another one sat down right beside her.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

The blonde boy asked while Tayuya huffed, "You should have called me an idiot for picking the screens." The girl said while the blonde waved his hand.

"Nah, I'm here to help. Happy to."

The blonde said, grabbing a screen while applying the glue on it while the girl narrowed her eyes at him, "Where's the original?" Tayuya asked the clone who grinned.

"The boss is working too!"

The clone exclaimed while Tayuya huffed, "You say that dumbass not to push himself so much for this stuff. He ain't exactly working alone, nor does he have to." Tayuya said while the clone looked at her and smiled.

"Heard. He appreciates the sentiment, but I'm still helping."

The clone said while Tayuya blinked at the clone before huffing, "Wait a sec… You just said heard… can he hear everything you hear?" The reddish haired girl asked while the clone scratched the back of his head.

"Not really, it's more like the minute I disappear he gets whatever information I have or something? It's pretty neat."

The clone explained while Tayuya blinked, "Everything? Like everything?" The girl asked while the clone smirked.

"Don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me."

The clone teased while Tayuya's eyes twitched, "That bastard is a dumbass! Remember that!" The girl yelled while the clone laughed.

Outside, Tsubasa walked toward another section of the castle. His eyes landed on the part in front of him.

This was the place where the cells were held, where the villagers had been locked up in. Would they have a use for this? Would they even need it? The thought of holding someone there for anything crossed Tsubasa's mind. There was a part of him that still didn't feel exactly right about that.

'It may be a necessary evil… just in case we find an enemy that may have information or some kind of trespasser. If that's the case, then I'll steel myself to-'

Tsubasa's thoughts were cut off by a large explosion, he watched blankly as the building he was referring to blew apart into multiple pieces that rained down around him. Out of the smoke Naruto came out dusting off his hands while whistling before his eyes landed on Tsubasa.

The gray-haired teen stared at the blonde before he faintly smiled, "You don't think that was a little much?" Tsubasa asked while Naruto shrugged.

"Eh, we don't need them. Now then, how about a quick break?"

Naruto offered while Tsubasa watched the blonde walk past him before he looked at the smoking building one more time before following the blonde.

A little while later, the group found themselves by the river. Fu and Tayuya were at the other side washing their faces with the green haired girl occasionally splashing the reddish haired girl with water.

While the boys all sat down by the river side, they had taken their shirts off to wipe the sweat off of themselves with the water.

Boro looked at himself for a moment, he was definitely on the skinnier side lacking a lot of defined muscles but when he looked at the other two boys, he noticed something.

"What's up, Boro? Is something on me?"

Naruto said looking around while the young man shook his head, "Nah, it's just, well I'm pretty self-explanatory but I was kind of expecting you guys to be more muscular. Like super buff or something." Boro asked while Tsubasa and Naruto looked toward each other.

"I don't know why; I mean yeah I train a lot, but giant muscles don't just appear out of nowhere y'know. Besides I don't really see a reason to be buff, I'm pretty good where I'm at."

Naruto explained while Tsubasa nodded his head, "I agree, the last thing I have been worried about was how my body looked." Tsubasa said while Boro raised an eyebrow.

"I totally get it but at the same time don't the ladies like guys with muscles?"

Boro asked while Tsubasa tilted his head, "The ladies?" The gray-haired teen asked while Boro nodded his head.

"Yes, summer child. The ladies. Women. Girls."

"I was born in the winter."

"It's a figure of speech, Tsubasa."

"Oh."

Tsubasa said while Boro looked toward the boys, "Listen, there's nothing better than cute girls. Or even better, cute girlfriends." The brown-haired boy said while Tsubasa blinked, and Naruto laughed.

"What? I'm being 100% serious. Imagine it, nice dates, someone to hold and the other fun stuff…"

Boro trailed off with a grin on his face while Tsubasa raised an eyebrow, "Fun stuff? Like the dates?" The gray-haired teen asked while Boro nudged him.

"Nah, you know what I mean."

"...I really don't."

Tsubasa said while Boro's jaw dropped, "Tsubasa… it looks like you have much to learn. You too Naruto, from the sound of it you boys need a push in the right direction from someone with experience." Boro spoke while Naruto blinked.

"I hate to break it to you but, I've already done that. Y'know, stuff."

Naruto said nonchalantly while Boro collapsed into the water while Tsubasa's eyes widened, "W-wait so you… with who?! Spit it out!" Boro yelled, grabbing Naruto by the collar.

"Wait… was it Tayuya? You guys seem to stick to each other a lot… was it… comfortable?"

Boro asked while the blonde shook his head rapidly, "No, no! Tayuya would probably murder me first. No, her name is Kurotsuchi. She's pretty special, a bit of a hot head sometimes but she's a good person." Naruto explained while Boro drooped a little.

"Is she your girlfriend?"

Tsubasa asked while Boro melted to the ground, "That's… a good question. I wanna say yes but I really don't know how that stuff works. I didn't really get to ask her, I kinda had to leave afterward." Naruto said while Boro glared at the blonde.

"So, you just left without confirming anything?! You dog!"

Boro yelled with a laugh while Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "How about you wake up to being hunted by ninja and a letter stabbed into a wall!" Naruto raised his voice while Boro blinked.

"Oh… that's rough man. So, she was the one who left first huh? Women."

Boro said while Naruto smiled, "It's not like that but I do miss her though, hopefully I get to see her again soon." The blonde responded while Boro grinned.

Tsubasa meanwhile looked at the surface of the water for a moment before looking up toward the blonde.

"So, what is Tayuya to you? I don't mean to be rude but you two are really close… it almost feels like it's something different. I don't really understand that stuff but, I am curious."

Tsubasa asked while Naruto looked into his eyes before he turned his head toward the girls down at the other side of the river.

"Tayuya's…"

Naruto trailed off while Tayuya moved her wet hair out of her face, she then looked over toward the blonde making eye contact with him.

Tayuya stared from the distance for a few moments before a faint smile appeared on her face, that smile quickly disappeared with a large splash of water hitting her face.

Naruto smiled before shaking his head from his thoughts before he looked back at the other boys with him.

"She's my friend. You guys are all my friends…"

Naruto trailed off while Tsubasa gave him a look, "You're too wholesome for your own good, you bastard!" Boro exclaimed, slapping Naruto hard on the back.

"Wai-"

Naruto exclaimed before he puffed into smoke and disappeared, Tsubasa and Boro looked at each other before they blinked.

"Was that-"

"That was a clone."

"So… Where's the real Naruto?"

Boro asked while Tsubasa looked around before the brown-haired boy huffed, "What an odd guy." Boro said while Tsubasa looked into the forest.

"So, Tsubasa. About teaching you stuff."

"I'm sorry but I think I'm ok."

"Aw come on man!"

Boro yelled while elsewhere deeper in the trees Naruto huffed and panted while on the ground on all fours.

"...Again."

"Brat. You know this is futile."

"But there's a chance."

"A chance you're too afraid to take, I can smell it all over you. You're trying to act like you have it all under control, but you don't."

"Shut up and let me try again."

"You're afraid."

"I thought I told you to shut up."

Naruto spoke before he took another deep breath, he closed his eyes while extending his palm outward. Slowly red bubbling chakra crawled up his wrist into his palm, the chakra then began to tighten and compress into a small sphere.

Naruto began to sweat while he concentrated on the small red sphere in his hands, compressing it and trying to keep it stable. Naruto exhaled, opening his eyes to spot the bubbling chakra in a stable sphere, the blonde's eyes widened while he slowly extended his hand outward.

The sphere then warped slightly before it warped again even more, Naruto held onto his wrist in an attempt to stabilize it, but it kept warping out of shape.

"Shit. Come on! I can do this."

Naruto spoke to himself while tightening his hold on his wrist, the sphere kept warping before the chakra warped violently before it launched off of the blonde's palm into a tree blowing it and several other trees apart.

"Damn it! Again."

The blonde said while he opened his palm trying to concentrate more chakra into it, "I have no idea why you continue to try. The only thing my chakra does to other things is destroy. Trying to force it to do something else based on a chance is asinine. You can't even muster the strength to face the real problem." The Nine Tailed Fox said while Naruto growled before he fell to his knees.

"You're the real problem… I have to figure this out. I just have to…"

Naruto spoke while he looked at his palm, watching the wound close before his eyes before he clenched his fist.

"For her."

{...}

A pencil scratched on a notebook while the sound of dirt crunched underneath the feet of the walking pair. The man writing in the notebook was slightly dancing to himself while he grinned at the notebook.

"Ooh yeah, that's good."

Killer Bee said while nodding at his notebook before he continued to scribble in it causing his companion to turn toward him.

"Lord Bee, with all due respect. Shouldn't we be more vigilant? If this threat potentially has other Jinchuriki alongside it, then even we can't be too distracted."

The blonde woman spoke while her long pale blonde hair swayed as she turned her head toward the man who looked up.

"Always the killer of fun, why not relax? Take in some sun? Vigilance is neato, but relaxation is way better, Yugito."

Killer Bee rapped while his companion blinked at the man before she looked at her nails, "It's my responsibility to protect you from any danger no matter the cost. I'd like to avoid any unnecessary burdens, if possible, that will only work with both of us being alert." Yugito said while Killer Bee looked up from his notebook.

"Even your life huh? A bit unfair, isn't it?"

Killer Bee said while Yugito looked into his shades with a serious look, "Giving my life is my job. I'd gladly give that away for you." the woman spoke while the man sighed.

"Y'know it's the teacher that has to watch over the student, but when it comes to you that whole concept is muted."

Killer Bee rapped before he tapped his chin, "I'm not a little kid anymore Lord Bee. You and I are no longer teacher and student. I'm an adult, for everything you've done for me I'll fight and die for you. You know this." Yugito said while she continued to walk while Killer Bee looked at her back.

"An adult huh?"

Killer Bee pondered out loud while Yugito continued to walk forward, "We should be meeting our contact soon, hopefully we can get some more information on this Bandit King." the woman spoke while Killer Bee scribbled in his notebook.

"Bandit King, what a lame name. It's up to you and me to put that bum to shame."

Killer Bee rapped while he nodded in approval writing in his notebook again, Yugito resisted the urge to sweatdrop at her former mentor as they began to approach a small camp.

In the camp were several tents, a fire pit, and it looked lived in. It wasn't the most highly staffed base but for recon it worked as much as it could. Yugito looked around the camp before she stuck her arm out stopping Killer Bee from walking before she glared toward a sound.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to alarm you."

A gentle voice spoke revealing a man in Hidden Cloud attire and headband, his jet-black hair was tied into a hanging ponytail that had a tuft of gray hair at the very end of it.

"Lord Bee, Yugito Nii. Forgive the lack of fanfare but I am honored to be in your presence. My name is Gen, I am the Jonin posted to meet you."

Gen spoke while Yugito eyed him warily before she relaxed, "So you are the contact then?" The woman spoke while Gen nodded his head.

"That is correct, we've been tracking down the Bandit King to the best of our ability here through his associates. There's much to discuss."

Gen said before he extended his hand out toward the fire, Yugito nodded before she looked at Killer Bee who was nodding his head at his notebook. The woman huffed giving the man a nudge while Killer Bee smirked before walking toward the fire, soon the three ninja were sitting by the burning wood.

"Tell us everything you know, don't leave a single thing out. The more we can gather the better."

Yugito said while Gen nodded his head, "Unfortunately, I am unable to divulge much about the Bandit King. Everything about him other than what was gathered in passing is locked tight within his ranks. So much so that even interrogation isn't effective against those loyal to him. All we do know is he's incredibly formidable and an ex-Hidden Cloud shinobi." Gen spoke while Yugito huffed.

"So, there's still nothing substantial that we can use to track him… No matter. We'll use other means to find him and eliminate him. Tell us more."

Yugito spoke while Gen looked at the fire, "No one is sure when the Bandit King began to gather so much influence, but influence he has. Rumors say that he's in control of several small villages and a few larger ones. They even state that even a few Hidden Cloud shinobi are loyal to his cause." The man spoke while Yugito nodded her head.

"It's disappointing how easily one abandons their cause for greed and power. I'll see to it that every shinobi who fights under his banner is punished. That said you still haven't mentioned anything we don't already know; I don't mean any disrespect, but this information isn't leading anywhere."

Yugito spoke, her impatience leaked into her voice while Gen looked up from the fire, "You wish to know about the Jinchuriki, don't you?" Gen spoke while Killer Bee stopped writing.

"Yes."

Yugito responded while Gen nodded his head, "Very well. Recently a strange thing has begun to occur within the forces of the Bandit King. Those associates I mentioned, they've started to dwindle and compounds that house them have begun to disappear." Gen began explaining while Yugito listened.

"There is a group of ninja, they are only known as the Renegades. They've been the cause of multiple attacks on several villages throughout the Land of Lighting, involving the disappearance of those associates. These Renegades are led by a ninja known as the Blue-Eyed Demon."

Gen spoke while Yugito narrowed her eyes, "The exile, the one that houses the fox…" the woman said while the man nodded his head.

"It appears his rampage has brought him here and within his group is another Jinchuriki that was identified as the 7 Tails. Our recon suggests that they are acting with the Bandit King, cleaning up any loose ends such as those close associates."

Gen explained while Yugito rubbed her chin, "What would make them join the Bandit King? I understand he has influence but to have so much that even Jinchuriki from different lands working for him sounds hard to believe." Yugito said while Gen looked back into the fire.

"I couldn't come up with a reason either… Perhaps it's for a place in this world. I'm sure you both understand the struggles of Jinchuriki better than anyone else. A few false promises and it's not hard to imagine them joining."

Gen said while Yugito looked at the small scars on her fingers, "To fall for something so low… how unfortunate." The woman said while Killer Bee stayed silent.

"Our current theory is that if we find these Renegades, we'll find the Bandit King."

Gen said while looking Yugito in her eyes while she clenched her fist, "Once the Jinchuriki are apprehended and we eliminate the Bandit King. We'll take them back to the Hidden Cloud Village, I'm sure we'll be able to find a purpose for them there." Yugito's eyes flashed blue before returning to their dark purple color.

Gen nodded his head while he pulled out a map pointing toward a section of it, "There's a supply caravan transporting goods to the Hidden Cloud, according to our information this will be the target of the Renegades within the next day. We'll be there waiting for them to strike." Gen spoke while Yugito nodded before a small smile grew on her face.

"As a fellow jonin, it's an honor being able to work with someone so diligent. In the name of the Hidden Cloud, we'll put an end to this farce."

Yugito said while Gen nodded his head, "The honor is still all mine, the prosperity of the Hidden Cloud is the main priority." The man said while Yugito turned toward Killer Bee.

"Do you understand the plan, Lord Bee?"

Yugito asked the man who stared at his notebook for a few more moments before he lifted his head pointing a finger at Gen.

"Y'know, that's some nice bling you got there."

Killer Bee said while Gen moved his hand toward the hair clip holding his ponytail together, "This? This old thing is a family relic." The black-haired man said while the light shined off of the tiger fang that was on it.

"I see."

Killer Bee said while Yugito sighed, "With all due respect, Lord Bee. This is hardly the time to compliment someone's personal effects, we are currently planning." Yugito said while Killer Bee's eyes lingered on Gen who stared back before he sighed.

"If that's the plan then B's ya man. I'll take those Jinchuriki kids to school, fool ya fool!"

Killer Bee said while Yugito sighed, turning back toward Gen while the man nodded his head before bowing. "Once more, I thank you both for your presence. There are no words to express how thankful I am for you both." Gen spoke his eyes staring at the ground while they narrowed into a glare. Yugito politely smiled in response.

"Of course, if it's for the Hidden Cloud then I'll do whatever it takes."

{...}

Feet dashed on tree branches before they launched themselves forward toward more trees ahead, Tsubasa landed before Naruto followed landing on the tree branch next to him. Fu flew through the air ahead of the rest of the group looking around.

"Oi Bounty Fucker, you sure this is right? I'm still a little sketched out that you waited this long to tell us anything about these plans that the Bandit King had with this shipment."

Tayuya asked from Naruto's back while Boro dashed to another tree branch, "Look, I'm not going to ask you to trust me or anything, but I don't have a reason to lie. I still told you guys at the end of the day after the cleanup we did." the brown-haired boy said while Tsubasa continued to dash ahead.

"As far as I'm concerned, what he says checks out, that man he mentioned, the dark haired one… I remember him being there as well. We'll find him and end him before they can get ahead."

Tsubasa said while Boro sweat dropped, "I knew that guy was intense, but he seems more on edge than usual." the yellow eyed young man said while Naruto looked toward Boro.

"So, you said that this delivery they were doing is a cover up for something else? Do you happen to know what it's covering up?"

Naruto asked while Boro shrugged, "Honestly I didn't get that much from the discussion that guy had with Rubi, all I do know is that this delivery is happening and it's some kind of ruse. Hence why we're going out to stop it." Boro explained while Tayuya huffed.

"Damn it, Bounty Fucker. So, we're practically going in blind again, I wonder what amazing surprises will be awaiting us once we intercept this guy."

Tayuya said sarcastically while Boro scoffed, "Yeah says the chick that's gotta be carried around! You talk a bunch a crap despite almost being dead weight." the young man shot back while Tayuya growled about to yell back before Naruto shot them a look.

"Guys relax… Fu, could you fly out a little further ahead and let us know if you can see them? I'm beginning to sense more chakra signatures."

Naruto asked Fu while the girl in the air gave a salute before she took a deep breath before cutting through the air even faster, Tsubasa looked up before he began to pick up speed toward the direction Fu was flying in while the blonde began to move forward as well.

Meanwhile Gen was walking ahead with Yugito and Killer Bee following closely behind the man, Bee was writing down more lyrics in his notebook with a slight grin on his face while Yugito turned her attention away from him and toward Gen.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are we walking to the location of the delivery? I don't mean any disrespect, but wouldn't it be faster if we traveled above ground? Walking around in the open like this feels like we're too vulnerable."

Yugito inquired while Gen gave the woman a look before he bowed his head slightly, "Forgive me, but that is my intent for the most part. The forest is a dangerous place the closer we get to the edge of villages with gangs like the Renegades moving around, by walking we'll bring less attention to ourselves not to mention if something does approach, we'll be in a better spot to defend against it." Gen explained while the blonde woman nodded her head.

"In a way it makes sense… If we were to be attacked while moving in the air it would be harder to defend against. My mission is to protect you and that shipment delivery as well as Lord Bee. Whichever method will allow me to do that to the best of my ability is one I will do."

Yugito spoke while Killer Bee looked up from his notebook, "Lil Yugi, allow me to speak truly. As much as you wanna try to protect me, you gotta protect you too. Fool ya Fool!" the man exclaimed while Yugito shot him a pointed look.

"Lord Bee, that's enough. You aren't convincing me of my stance being anything other than what it is. I'll die before I let any harm come to you or fail my mission. It's my duty, my responsibility. My respect for you won't cloud that."

Yugito said while Killer Bee sighed looking toward her and was about to say something, but he stopped, "The hell?" the man said while Yugito gave him an odd look before she too paused her eyes widening while Gen looked at them both.

"Lady Yugito? Lord Bee?"

Gen asked with confusion, lacing his voice meanwhile Fu flew further through the air looking around with Chomei's vision before she stopped looking through a small clearing in the path where she spotted three ninja standing there.

"Found ya. Naruto, I found the guy-"

Fu stopped as a chill ran through her body, the sound of crackling flames that seemed to growl and a mighty roar rang in her ears while Naruto down below continued to dash, "She found them? Then I'm going ahead!" Tsubasa called before he dashed off even faster.

"Fu, what happened? Why'd you stop talking? What did you find?"

Naruto asked while Tayuya looked at the blonde with concern, meanwhile Fu continued to look down at the ninja before the blonde woman on the ground slowly looked up at her, "Naruto… these ninja… they aren't… they're just like us." Fu spoke while Naruto's eyes widened.

"Shithead what happened? Is it what I think it is?"

Tayuya asked while the blonde blasted forward faster while Boro struggled to keep up, "What the hell is going on?!" the former bounty hunter yelled while he tried to keep up with Naruto. Fu meanwhile continued looking down at the trio while her eyes met with Yugito's.

"Found you."

Yugito said as her eyes flashed blue, Fu broke a sweat while she noticed Tsubasa closing in on their direction. "Tsubasa!" Fu screamed flying down toward the approaching boy who had made it to the trio flying out of the bushes.

"GEN!"

Tsubasa yelled, igniting his blade with flames before thrusting it toward Gen who barely had time to react as the blade nearly reached his neck, Gen's eyes widened as Tsubasa was suddenly stopped. Fiery orange came into contact with dark purple as eyes met.

Tsubasa looked at the pair of eyes in front of him with surprise noticing that his blade had been caught in her nails, Yugito's eyes changed into a cold dark blue as her other hand rapidly struck at Tsubasa with her nails extending as they reached toward his face.

Tsubasa tried to react, but blood flew through the air as Yugito's strike met its mark.

"Fu!"

Tsubasa yelled while Fu who managed to grab him roughly landed on the ground rolling with him before she panted, "You ok?" Fu asked while Tsubasa looked at the large slash that went through her shoulder. The gray-haired teen looked at the wounded girl while she turned back toward Yugito.

"So, you must be the 7 Tails, your speed is impressive. It appears the bond between you and the beast is strong."

Yugito said while Fu stood to her feet, "Fu, your…" Tsubasa trailed as he watched the wound closing right before his eyes before Fu was able to roll her shoulder.

"I'm sure you have suffered so much… but this path that you are on isn't one that you should tread. That loneliness has swallowed you up and blinded you to the side of those who wish to disrupt the order of the world. I'm here to end that suffering."

Yugito spoke while Fu's hair covered her eyes, "You… You…" Fu said while Yugito gave the girl a look before she looked back up toward the woman with bright orange eyes.

"You guys are Jinchurki too?! Holy crap, this is exciting!"

Fu yelled while Yugito's face adopted a flabbergasted expression while Killer Bee chuckled and looked at the girl with a grin. "She ain't that bad at all-" Killer Bee stopped as he turned deflecting a kick from Naruto sending him into the air.

Tayuya flipped off the blonde, pulling out her flute and playing a song that summoned her doki trio, they all landed roughly around Yugito, Killer Bee, and Gen. Boro pulled Tsubasa and Fu backward before pulling out his hatchets.

"The hell is he doing with them?"

Boro asked while Yugito tilted her head coldly, staring the boy down while Tsubasa gritted his teeth, "Gen!" the teen yelled while Tayuya shot him a quick look.

"Don't! These two are just like Naruto and Fu… judging from this heavy presence their giving off then they might even be stronger than even I originally thought."

Tayuya analyzed while Naruto tightened his scarf while glaring toward the duo, Killer Bee's eyes settled on the blonde before he made a sound before rubbing his chin, "That kid looks kind of familiar…" Killer Bee said while in seemingly an instant Boro spotted a blade stabbing toward his head.

"Lord Bee, Gen. Please allow me to handle this confrontation."

Yugito said while Boro attempted to avoid the stab from the woman as Tayuya broke into a sweat, "Way too damn fast! She completely avoided my doki without me noticing!" the girl yelled while the air pressure changed before wind gusted by her.

Yugito's eyes flicked over before she blocked Naruto's punch with her arm, "The Exile." the blonde woman said while Naruto narrowed his eyes at her as they changed into a cold blue.

"I don't care whether or not you're a Jinchuriki or not. Anyone who attempts to hurt my friends is someone I have no trouble fighting."

The blonde said while Yugito's dark purple eyes flashed dark blue before she looked into his eyes, "That was far too slow if you were actually trying to attack with your strength, not to mention your attack was weak. If you plan on holding back, then your 'precious friends' will just be just casualties." the woman said while the blonde gritted his teeth before he kicked a wind enchanted leg toward her.

Yugito went to block it but was suddenly covered in a cloud of bright powder before it exploded upon contact with Naruto's kick, the blonde slid backward while Fu backflipped next to the blonde.

"Guys! Watch out! These guys… they aren't like anyone we've faced before. Let's try not to prolong the fight! We've got this lady, take care of that Gen guy as quickly as possible!"

Naruto yelled while Yugito's eyes gleamed through the smoke as she walked through it toward the duo while Tsubasa turned his back to them facing toward Killer Bee and Gen pulling out his blade igniting it with his fire as Tayuya on her doki and Boro with his hatchets.

"Right!"

Tsubasa agreed while Gen broke a sweat looking toward them. Meanwhile Killer Bee nodded his head at the lyrics in his book before he scribbled in the notebook more. Yugito's face cut through the smoke as she dashed toward Naruto and Fu.

"Renegades! Let's do this!"

Naruto yelled while he dashed toward Yugito and Fu extended her wings outward enlarging them before she threw them toward Yugito, the blonde began to clash with Naruto violently. The blonde engaged in hand-to-hand combat with her while avoiding her blade as Fu's wings shot toward them.

Yugito lifted her arm blocking a flurry of punches from Naruto with it before she pushed them both out of the path of the wing that slammed downed by them. Naruto flew upward as Yugito backflip kicked him under his jaw before she grabbed his collar pulling him back toward her.

She slammed her feet hard into his gut multiple times in a bicycle kick before slamming a kick across his jaw moving them both out of the way of the second wing. Yugito gracefully flipped, landing on the wing running toward Fu.

Fu sucked in a deep breath, before launching a cloud of bright powder toward the woman. Yugito sped up cutting through the cloud quickly as Fu snatched her wing back toward herself, the blonde woman was nearly face to face with Fu.

Her warm orange stared into a cold purple before she noticed that instead of attacking, Yugito flipped over her while forming hand signs, "Fire Style: Cold Flame Inferno!" Yugito yelled, aiming the fire technique toward the rest of the group.

The blonde woman's eyes widened as she watched the fire twist into a spiral before disappearing revealing Naruto who threw a punch launching backward, Yugito stuck her nails into the ground before she narrowly avoided a kick.

Fu attacked Yugito quickly, not giving the woman a chance to maintain her guard, pushing harder against it in an attempt to break through it. "Why? Why break so easily to the side of those who only wish for destruction? I understand your loneliness, but I wish this path wasn't the only one you thought you needed to take. Please allow me to fix that for you, come with me, both of you." Yugito explained while she parried and avoided Fu's attacks as the green haired girl gave her a look.

"As respectfully as I can say this… I have no idea what the hell you're talking about, Lady!"

Fu yelled before she unleashed her wings throwing a flurry of blows toward the woman who blocked them with her blade before flipping over a swipe toward her feet kicking Fu into a tree, "The scars must run deep then." Yugito said as her ears perked causing her to quickly turn toward Naruto who was swinging a punch at her.

Yugito went to slash at the blonde, but he exploded into smoke in mid-air, the woman then turned toward the blonde swinging at her from the other direction. "A shadow clone?" the woman asked before she stabbed into the blonde's shoulder.

The blonde then disappeared into more smoke, Yugito then quickly looked into the air. Naruto flipped spinning toward her with a kick ready, the blonde woman went to dodge before the ground crumbled around her feet as Fu's hands came out grabbing her ankles preventing her from moving.

Yugito glared toward the girl before a kick slammed against her jaw, Naruto flipped before he landed on his hands. He used his feet to kick the woman into the air before pulling Fu out of the ground who wasted no time flying toward the woman.

Yugito tried to recover in mid-air, but Fu quickly cut through the air punching the woman in her gut before she pummeled a few blows into her before knocking her higher into the air where she was slammed into by Naruto who kicked her toward Fu against who knocked the woman higher into the air.

"Wind Dance Barrage!"

Naruto yelled flipping over Yugito while Fu joined him as they spun around each other before kicking the blonde woman out of the sky back into the ground roughly before the blonde teen dive bombed toward her reaching his hand back before swinging it.

A massive gust of air landed on top of where Yugito landed exploding upon contact, Naruto landed in a tree while Fu hovered to the ground, "Did we get her?!" the girl asked while the blonde gave her a look.

"Somehow, I really doubt it."

Naruto said while he and Fu looked toward the smoke preparing for another attack before the blonde suddenly pushed Fu backward as they avoided a large flaming blue swipe that instantly destroyed the trees leaving only flames in their path.

Naruto quickly got up while getting to her feet looking toward the carnage in front of them, in the smoke a silhouette stood in the middle. The smoke disappeared leaving only a bloodied Yugito standing there, one of her eyes had been knocked out of its socket while multiple gashes covered her.

"Forgive me… I didn't realize it had become that bad. You two may be far too gone for treating you like humans in your retrieval. I'll have to treat you like Jinchuriki then."

Yugito said while Fu looked at the woman who walked toward them, "What are you talking about!? The one who's working with the bad guy is you! Look let's try to figure this out while you're healing. We don't want to have to hurt another Jinchuriki!" Fu pleaded while Yugito paused.

"Hurt?"

Yugito asked while she looked toward them with her one good eye, "For the sake of the Land of Lightning, there is no amount of pain that will stop me from completing my mission. The end of the Bandit King, your retrieval, and Lord Bee's protection. Failure isn't an option… and this pain?" the woman said while she reached toward her dangling eye.

"I don't feel a thing."

Yugito said as Naruto and Fu watched the woman tear out the damaged eye, they both stared at her in shock as she tossed it away. "Now, I'm going to get as close to killing you as possible. So please…" the blonde woman asked as her wounds closed up.

Her missing eye reformed slowly, becoming whole again as Yugito's nails extended right as the eye blinked at them with her cold purple eyes gazing.

"Don't make me go all the way."

Yugito said while Naruto felt a chill run through his body right as he turned toward Fu to tell the girl something, but Yugito had already vanished from their vision.

"Fu! Mov-"

Naruto was cut off by blood suddenly flying out of Fu's body, the girl coughed up blood. While Naruto felt holes open up in his own body as he watched blood flying out of his own body before he coughed up blood as well.

"Even if I have to tear the limbs from your bodies to retrieve you, I won't let you suffer under the lies and pain of this world ever again."

Yugito said as blood covered her nails looking toward the two teens now on the ground.

"Shithead!"

Tayuaya yelled while Tsubasa held his blade at the ready along Boro with his hatchets staring down the other two men in front of them, "I don't know what the hell you told them, but I'll bury you regardless, you bastard." the gray-haired teen threatened while Gen glared back at the boy.

"Great, with the crazy cat lady busy and these guys locked down by Princess Cripple's summons. This should be cake!"

Boro taunted while Tayuya shot a glare at him, "Don't call me that and get ahead of yourself! Jinchuuriki are no joke, if this guy is one too then there's no way to know what he's capable of." the girl spoke while Boro blinked at her before pointing.

"Right… we're talking about that guy, right?"

Boro pointed at Killer Bee who was bobbing his head to himself while he was writing in his little notebook with a growing grin on his face, "Ooh yeah, this is good stuff." The three teens and Gen stared at the writing man as he continued to scribble.

"With all due respect Lord Bee… Our situation is currently-"

"Quiet! I'm gonna mess up my lyrics."

Killer Bee said while the three teens sweat dropped, "Lord Bee I-" Gen spoke before Tsubasa suddenly appeared in front of the black-haired man with his blade outstretched stabbing toward him. Boro meanwhile chuckled, "You're kidding. This guy is writing in a notebook in the middle of a fight leaving his teammate open and you expected him to be a big deal? You're off your game, this'll take no time." Boro spoke cockily while Tayuya glared at him.

"Just because this guy's some kind of idiot too it doesn't mean he's-"

The arguing teens were cut off by one of the large doki flying past them smashing through multiple trees before disappearing violently as well as Tsubasa smashing into the ground. Tayuya and Boro looked over at the sunglasses-wearing man with shock while he was still writing.

"In one move? I didn't even see it."

Tayuya said while Tsubasa struggled to get up off of the ground as Killer Bee scribbled at little more before he smirked, "Done and done! So… Where's this threat?" the man asked, sitting on Tsubasa's back while his sunglasses glinted.

"Damn it, cover me!"

Tayuya yelled, pulling out her flute while Boro looked at her before he gritted his teeth, "Damn it!" Boro yelled while he dashed toward Killer Bee. He slid his hatchets down to his palms adjusting his grip before slashing at the man who never moved from his seat on Tsubasa's back.

Killer Bee dodged the slashes casually while Boro swung harder and faster, the brown-haired young man then spun on his heel before kicking at the man who leaned back avoiding the kick before he sat back up meeting the sight of a thrown hatchet spinning toward him.

"Oh."

Killer Bee said before he snatched the flying blade out of the air, throwing it back hard enough to send Boro flying backward even as he swung his other hatchet to deflect it. A shadow covered over Killer Bee as he blinked, a doki flew down toward him with blades on its arms while Bee rolled off of Tsubasa's back kicking the young in his gut into the doki making it disappear violently on contact.

Meanwhile another doki suddenly appeared with a large mace swinging it at the man who caught it with his hand, a small gust blew past him while a sudden surprised look appeared on his face before he quickly pulled out his notebook again.

"Damn, I'm on a roll today, gotta write down more lines to play!"

Killer Bee rapped while Tayuya looked at the man in surprise as he was casually writing lyrics in his notebook again, her summoned doki were no joke either, easily being capable of leveling several forests if left to rampage at their full might.

Yet this guy had completely trivialized them, he was writing stuff not even paying attention to them. Naruto was strong but this guy was on a completely different level even for a Jinchuriki, doubt began to creep over her while Tsubasa and Boro jumped over her.

"Gen!"

"Don't count us out yet, old man!"

Tsubasa and Boro yelled while Killer Bee looked up from his notebook spotting a flaming blade lunging toward him, the man dodged the blade before he grabbed Tsubasa's wrist while Boro slashed toward a blind spot before his wrist was also caught.

Killer Bee slammed both boys into the dirt cratering them into it. Flames shot out of the crater Tsubasa was in before the teen shot out of it, slashing toward Bee violently while Boro pulled himself out of the ground with stone covering his hatchet blades.

Killer Bee moved, avoiding the slashes from both boys as they slashed at him at the same time, Tsubasa flipped, kicking the man while Boro advanced, slashing toward him again. Bee smacked Boro's slash away before smacking the boy into the ground roughly with an open hand before Tsubasa stabbed at him.

Killer Bee caught the blade between his fingers before tugging the boy into a clothesline into the ground, Boro stood up again forming more stone on his hatchets making their blades larger as he aggressively stabbed at and slashed toward Killer Bee.

The man kicked the back of Boro's knee dropping him to a kneel before kicking him across the face, Tsubasa stood back to his feet kicking with flames covering them, "Hot!" Killer Bee said as he casually swiped away another kick before slamming a punch into Tsubasa's gut knocking the wind out of him.

Boro punched Killer Bee's chest to no effect while the man gave the boy a look as the yellow eyed teen gritted his teeth before he yelled punching into the man's chest even faster before Bee grabbed the back of his head by his hair headbutting the boy in the face before sweeping him into the ground.

Tsubasa yelled mixing together a combination of slashes and kicks at Killer Bee who dodged them while Tsubasa increased the heat more and more adding speed to his attacks, one of the slashes nearly cut Bee's face before he dodged around the blade punching Tsubasa hard in the face to the ground.

Tayuya looked ahead at the scene of the two beaten boys on the ground while the sunglasses wearing man barely looked phased from the fight at all, this guy was insanely strong to the point where it almost felt pointless even trying to fight him.

Did they even ever stand a chance?"

Tayuya flinched slightly while Killer Bee's gaze reached her before he looked down, noticing the two boys getting back up to their feet again, "Still ain't dead!" Boro yelled while Tsubasa wiped his mouth with the back of his arm.

"I don't care who gets in the way, I can't let that man live another moment!"

Tsubasa yelled while Killer Bee raised an eyebrow looking toward the two boys who both brandished their weapons, Tsubasa's blade lighting up with flames while Boro's blade covered in black stone as the glared toward him.

"LET'S GO!"

Both of the boys yelled at the same time while Tayuya looked at them both in surprise, they didn't stand a chance. Not even a ghost of a chance, there was a 100% chance that they would get themselves killed trying to fight.

Yet they still stood.

It was asinine, it was dumb but…

Tayuya envisioned Naruto's back in her mind before she sighed heavily before she placed her flute against her lips and began to play another song.

It's definitely what Shithead would do.

Killer Bee watched the Doki materialize before he caught sight of the three teens in front of him before he laughed, "You… You guys kind of suck at this." the man said while Boro's eye twitched before he pointed at the man.

"Screw you, old man!"

Boro yelled while Killer Bee laughed again, "I don't really play around with kids but if you guys truly plan to be some kind of threat, you better shape up or you'll be filled with regret! Fools ya' fools!" the man rapped while the trio glared.

"We'll show you a shape up!"

Tayuya yelled while Killer Bee's grin suddenly changed into a more serious look before his face turned to the side where the other fight was happening, "Damn." the man said while he was about to dash off in that direction but was stopped by a kick from Tsubasa that he caught.

Boro suddenly exploded from the side, swiping toward his blind spot, cutting into headband slightly, while Tayuya's doki stood in the way of Killer Bee's path. Tsubasa, Boro, and the doki lined themselves up for another attack but were all blown away by the man spinning.

"Three seconds… I'll treat you all seriously for three seconds."

Killer Bee said while he reached for his blades, he pulled two of them out with his hands before tossing one into his mouth catching it with his teeth. The man then narrowed his gaze at them while Tsubasa held his blade up, "Here he comes!" the teen yelled while right as the words exited his mouth Bee was already in front of him.

Tsubasa reacted quickly trying to attack the man, but heavy punches pummeled into him before his blades flipped in his hands as he landed behind the boy, Bee then looked toward Boro.

"One."

Bee moved again at shocking speed while Boro tried to react with an attack, but it was deflected by a spinning kick before more kicks slammed into Boro as Bee's blades spun in his hands again as he flipped over Boro landing behind him and Tsubasa.

Blood from the quick slashes Killer Bee landed them on suddenly shot out from the two boys as the man lifted his head toward Tayuya.

"Two."

Killer Bee said while Tayuya's doki were already on top of him, Bee's blades spun with him as he flipped and shredded through the multiple doki before he spun landing right in front of Tayuya who had quickly brandished her kunai pointing it at his throat while he looked down at her with his blades in hand.

Tayuya stared down the man while he stared at her a few seconds before noticing she had been sitting on the ground the entire fight, he then quickly gave the girl a gentle chop of the top of her head before he stood to his full height.

"Three."

The man said while Tayuya glared at him, "Bastard. I'm still able to fight." the girl said while Killer Bee shook his head.

"I don't bully girls, so count yourself lucky. All in all, you lot best be glad. When it came to fighting, your moves weren't bad."

Killer Bee said while he gave a small salute before he quickly dashed away to the other fight nearby, Tayuya stared at the man before she quickly crawled over to Tsubasa and Boro. They were unconscious but they were still breathing, that guy had deliberately avoided their vitals.

Who the hell was he?

Meanwhile a massive cut across Naruto's chest closed while he flipped landing on his feet, Yugito then approached her eyes a blazing blue and her nails covered in blue flames.

"The two tailed woman is getting faster; she's getting to the point where she's doing damage faster than I can heal you."

"She's strong. Really strong."

Naruto said while Fu stood to her feet as the wounds on her body began to close, "You're tearing me apart over here lady… It really hurts." the girl spoke while Yugito attacked them again, Naruto got in the way of Fu taking the hit for her.

Yugito's hand tore through his shoulder while he grabbed her wrist, Fu quickly flipped over Naruto kicking the woman backward before unleashing her wings swinging them around as they grew larger. The woman smoothly dodged through the attacks as they smashed the ground around her.

"If this is the extent of your strength then you both still have much to learn."

Yugito said while she spun cutting into Fu's wings causing the girl to cry out in pain, Fu spun avoiding Yugito's nails stabbing into her throat kicking the woman in the side through several trees. Naruto dashed toward where Yugito flew blasting forward toward her.

The blonde woman quickly intercepted the blonde teen into close combat, Naruto jabbed at Yugito while she deflected trying to slash at Naruto who countered just as quickly. The blonde teen tried to take advantage of the opening to strike but suddenly he was slashed multiple times.

Naruto flipped while he noticed red chakra bubbling up around him, the chakra quickly covered him as Yugito launched blue fireballs at the blond. Naruto jumped backward now cloaked with one tail as he slid backward before coming to a stop.

"What's going on?"

"I cloaked you with my chakra at this point if I don't make healing you passive, she'll kill you before I get the chance to put you back together."

"That bad huh?"

Naruto asked while the Nine Tailed Fox grumbled, "Damned Matatabi, that human cage of hers almost perfectly complements their power." Kurama complained while Yugito landed in front of Naruto giving him a look.

"I haven't seen that form in a while, you must be getting desperate."

Yugito said while she was about to attack but giant wings slammed into her while Fu slid toward Naruto, "You ok? You have that red cloak thing on." the girl asked while the blonde looked toward Yugito before he looked at Fu.

"If we are going to kick this fight up a notch then we'll both need one. You do it too."

Naruto said while Fu nodded her head, "Right! …How do I do that again?" Fu asked while Naruto gave her a look.

"Huh? What do you mean how?!"

"I mean how?! Look I'm pretty experienced and all but I've never had a cloak like that before, I always managed to use my wings without it and if I did had a cloak at one point it didn't look like that."

Fu pointed out while Naruto blinked before he looked at his chakra covered hands for a moment, was it so strange? He was pretty used to the cloak at this point but now that he's met other Jinchuriki they have a different reaction.

Why is that?

Blue flames shot up from where Yugito landed before she flew at the pair of teens, she spun in a spinning flame tornado of slashes. The slashes flew out from Yugito's spin at the pair of teens, Naruto and Fu quickly moved and avoided the slashes.

Naruto landed where Yugito had suddenly appeared, "I'll end this now." The woman said punching a hole into the cloak into Naruto's shoulder before punching two more holes into his gut, Naruto coughed up blood before he landed on the ground.

Yugito watched his wounds close up while Fu attacked her, Yugito quickly deflected the attacks before pushing the girl backward. "You both fought well. However, you can't run from this anymore, I promise you the life in store for you will be way better than plunging into the depths of darkness." the woman spoke while Fu kicked her.

"Darkness? What the hell are you talking about? We're not plunged in darkness, we're just living. Is that so wrong? Is that some kind of crime? We aren't just monsters or weapons. We're people too! All of us! You included!"

Fu yelled while she threw a punch that Yugito blocked, "My humanity is something to be thrown away for the sake of protecting my land. Choosing to become part of a force organized against my land is darkness. All I want is to help you, why won't you let me help you? After everything you must have been through?" the woman said while Fu jerked away.

"We're trying to help your land too; can't you see that? We aren't plunged in darkness. We're trying to do the right thing. We're good people. Good humans. Humans that won't throw that away because we just got orders to."

Fu said while Yugito's eyes widened slightly as the girl balled up her fist looking toward the blonde woman, "Jinchuriki like us are allowed to live too. Without all the sacrifices. It's possible, even after everything it's possible. I believe that. I believe in my friends!" the green haired girl yelled, throwing a harder punch that Yugiro caught.

"Then you are lost!"

Yugito yelled, slamming a punch into Fu's chest breaking several ribs causing her to collapse to the ground, the blonde woman meanwhile froze at the sound of the bones breaking. Her hand slowly lifted toward the sides of her head as the sound of the bones breaking echoed through it.

A flash of a young blonde girl laying on the ground while her body was twisting itself back into place, the sound of the bones snapping back together while there was a gallery of people watching her piece herself back together on the floor.

Yugito growled in pain as her chakra began to flare up, Naruto looked up at the woman's chakra flailing wildly while she groaned in pain. The ground beneath them began to shake and crack under the sheer amount of chakra seeping from her.

"What's going on?"

Naruto asked while he grabbed Fu pulling away as Yugito growled more as more chakra seeped out, slowly a blue flaming tail sprouted from the woman while she was doing her best to hold herself together.

"Break… Fall apart… Put yourself back together…"

Yugito said to herself while Naruto watched for a moment before he dashed toward her, "Yugito!" the blonde yelled while the woman continued to struggle. He ran toward her to try to reach to see if there was some way he could help her.

However, the blonde was stopped as a palm slammed into her abdomen, Naruto watched as Yugito went limp into the arms of Killer Bee. The man held her carefully while he let out a heavy sigh, before adjusting his hold on her.

"You went and got yourself too worked up again Fool you fool…"

Killer Bee said while he turned to walk away but Naruto stood to his feet looking toward the retreating man's back.

"Wait! My friends… What did you do to them?"

Naruto asked while Killer Bee looked back at the blonde before he shrugged, "You know for a second there, I thought I recognized you. But I'd never recognize someone in an incomplete form like that. Hell, like that you don't stand a chance." the man spoke while Naruto gritted his teeth.

"You-"

The blonde was cut off by Killer Bee holding a finger up, "Faces your fears or end in tears. This time you got slain, so figure some stuff out and let's do this again." the man rapped before he vanished with Yugito in tow leaving Naruto standing there as his cloak faded away.

"Incomplete?"

{...}

…

A young girl panted on the floor from effort while on all fours keeping herself up from hitting the ground, she was exhausted from the training that she had been doing to gain control of it.

The beast.

She had spent her time like this since she was a young child, training day in and day out all for the sake of her village. She was to be an asset, to become their weapon. She had to be strong enough to become that weapon, even if it terrified her.

The doors to the room were suddenly opened revealing a tall man with light blonde hair and a Hidden Cloud flak jacket, the girl quickly stood up into a salute while the man walked closer to her as if he was inspecting her appearance.

"Number 211, How far have you progressed with your training? Any signs of further control of the beast?"

The man asked in a serious tone, causing the girl to look back at him, "I fear to report that I have only had mild improvements in control, the beast is proving to be difficult to fully manage." the young girl answered honestly, causing the man to stare at her before he reached his hand out.

The young girl looked at the man's hand before she offered her wrist to him, the man gently grabbed her slender wrist as his eyes looked at it carefully. "Are you afraid of the beast, 211?" the man asked while the girl looked at him for a few moments before she looked away.

"No sir."

She responded while the grip on her wrist tightened slightly, "Do not lie… Does the beast scare you, number 211?" the man asked firmly while the girl looked at the background before she answered.

"Yes… it does."

The girl responded while the man nodded his head, "That's understandable, what you carry within is a monster capable of mass destruction and an unmatched vindication against mankind. To have to constantly deal with such a thing should scare you… However, it and you are still weapons and must be adjusted as such." The ninja spoke while the girl nodded her head.

"Have you heard? The boy who is housing the 8 tails managed to master and gain full control over his beast. At quite the shocking rate too I may add. His speed and ability to control a tailed beast are remarkable."

The man explained while the young girl kept her head down, she had heard of the boy during her trails. He was the constant example that she was held against as the standard of Jinchuriki, there wasn't a day that went by that she didn't hear anything about him or his progress.

"That means that gaining control over the beast quickly is possible. That means we'll have to make adjustments to your schedule and the way you train using your abilities. The idea is to take that sense of fear and replace it with something else to motivate better control of the beast."

"Replace my fear with something else?"

"Yes Number 211… That is correct."

The man responded to the girl as she suddenly felt a sharp pain as he lifted her wrist upward breaking the bones in her arm, the young girl screamed out in pain as she hit the ground. The ninja looked at her coldly while he watched blue flaming chakra reach her arm to begin repairing it.

"With the combination of extreme emotional stimuli as well as constantly repairing your body you'll eventually adjust to the chakra flow of the beast until it becomes just like your own."

The ninja spoke while the young girl whimpered and cried while her broken arm was finishing healing as she looked up at the cold look in the eyes of the man with her own dark purple ones as he spoke.

"Heal quickly, Number 211. Then I'll break you again."

The ninja said this time taking her fingers into his hold snapping them with a single movement, the girl screamed again from the pain as she felt the chakra flowing to repair the damage done to her. This would repeat with more and more of her bones being broken and healed.

Fingers.

Toes.

Arms.

Legs.

Vertebrae.

It didn't stop until it had become dark, a set of dark purple eyes looked at the ninja who was finally exiting the room while her broken bones were still piecing themselves back together. It felt like she was going to die, that the pain was going to kill her.

The girl cried while her bones slowly put themselves together feeling every piece as it mended to another, this was the fate of the Jinchuriki. This pain, it was all because of her slow progress. It was all because of her fear, because she was scared.

All of this pain was her fault.

The girl's sob slowly became sharp breaths and growls as the chakra flowing through her went a little faster healing her bones faster as tears ran down her eyes and her broken fingers clawed at the floor she was laying on as they mended.

"Break… Fall apart… Put yourself back together…"

The girl chanted to herself while her broken body healed a little faster before she had finally finished healing herself, the girl stared at the wall while she sat on the ground, her eyes looked nearly clouded over as she looked at her hands.

"It's your fault… If you won't die… Hurry up and piece yourself back together. Stop being afraid… Stop being weak."

The girl spoke to herself as the next day had come only for the same events to repeat, her bones would be broken, she would repair them, then they would be broken again. And again. And again.

Until the day she was able to control this power.

...

A now older blonde teen kneeled in front of the desk of the recently appointed Raikage who looked down at her as she looked to the floor.

"My lord."

Yugito spoke while the man looked down at her, "Yugito Nii, congratulations on your promotion to Tokubetsu Jonin. That's a grand feat for someone your age. However, with your ability, I suppose it was as expected of you." A said while the young woman kneeled.

"That said, I summoned you specifically for your ability… You may be able to control it however it will still need to be molded and improved further. So, I have brought you your new sensei."

A spoke while Yugito looked up slightly, "New sensei? Forgive me for speaking out of line but I have no need of a teacher." Yugito said while A nodded his head.

"Of course, but this isn't your regular run of the mill sensei."

A said while the door swung open revealing a sunglass wearing young, tanned man who was still scribbling in his notebook, Yugito stared at the young man who kept writing for a moment before he finally looked up from his book.

"Yo."

"Don't 'Yo' me! You're late! Your new student showed up before you did, if you're going to be an instructor then you'll need to take this seriously!"

Yugito watched A yell at Bee who merely grinned at his older brother, she was very familiar with who exactly this was. Despite the burning feeling she could feel within herself.

"So, you're the new kid huh? Name's Bee and you're nice to meet."

The young man put his fist out causing the girl to stare at it for a moment before she grabbed it with her hand shaking it, "It's my honor, Lord Bee." Yugito said while the older young man gave her a confused look before he grinned anyway.

Soon the pair were about to leave to start training after a debrief but Yugito was stopped by the Raikage on her way out of the door.

"One last thing, Yugito."

A said while Yugito and Killer Bee stopped at the door, "Should the situation ever occur where it comes down between you and Bee. Do whatever it takes to protect him… even if it costs your life." A said while Bee shot him a look.

Yugito looked at the Raikage for a few moments before she bowed her head in response to the man's request.

"Of course, my lord. Without question."

Yugito responded smoothly while Bee gave her a look as well, she was a weapon born and destined to be a tool used to protect others. If everyone in this world was born to die.

Then she would die protecting that world.

That was her worth.

…

"Lord Bee!"

Yugito said sitting up while bee looked up from his notebook, "Welcome back to the land of the livin'. You caught us at a good time, we're just chillin'." Killer Bee rapped while she looked around herself.

"Where are they?"

Yugito asked while Killer Bee kept writing in his notebook, "You freaked out and almost lost control, so I pulled us out. Don't worry, those kids were properly punished." the man said while the woman stared at him for a moment before the sound of a door opening caught her attention.

"Miss Yugito, I'm glad to see you awake. The renegades proved to be a minor problem to deal with, thanks to the efforts of yourself and Lord Bee this operation should go seamlessly. We'll be able to make it in one piece."

Gen spoke while Yugito looked toward the man giving him a nod before she spoke, "Of course those were the details of the mission, I'll follow them to the end for the Hidden Cloud. Stay vigilant, we never know if that will be our last encounter with the enemy." Yugito stated while Gen nodded.

"Then let us not waste a moment more, we'll leave for the village immediatel-"

Gen was cut off by Killer Bee suddenly standing up and closing his notebook, he walked toward the door while Gen and Yugito gave him a look. "Lord Bee?" Yugito asked while the man stopped before he pointed at Gen with a glint in his sunglasses.

"I know you really want to hit the road, bro. Before we leave let's go ahead and peep the cargo. If you don't want my antics to slow up, I highly suggest you show us."

Killer Bee rapped while Gen gave the man a look while Yugito stood to her feet tying her hair back into its low ponytail, "Lord Bee, is something the matter? Why would we need to see the cargo? The further delay we cause the higher the chance the enemy will be able to catch up to us." the blonde woman asked while Killer Bee silently stared at her before he grinned.

"So? You comin'?"

Killer Bee asked while Gen followed the man alongside Yugito, "I understand your curiosity, Lord Bee. However this is a standard caravan entering into the village, you'll find little more than ninja tools and food supplies." Gen explained as they walked along the large caravan made up of multiple wagons that had been connected together, each one containing cargo.

"Still, isn't it the job of any shinobi to be through? Who knows, the enemy could have planted some kind of trap in the wagon before we arrived."

Killer Bee said while Gen gave the man a look, "Lord Bee, I understand your concern but while you were tending to Miss Yugito I thoroughly checked the delivery myself. I found no signs of tampering of any sort." the ninja explained while Killer Bee kept walking toward the back of the caravan.

"Lord Bee, you heard him. You're oddly adamant about this, you're never this stubborn about anything other than your writing."

Yugito said while Killer Bee opened the back of the caravan revealing crates, "I get that and I wanna keep us on track. However, being through is way better than being in a hole." the man rapped while he reached for a crate while Gen watched him closely.

"Lord Bee, listen to me. This is burning away precious time and who knows if we are being tailed as we speak, we need to leave and worry about the details once we get there."

Yugito argued while Killer Bee gave her a momentary look before he flipped the lid off of one of the crates casually before he turned to look inside of it, in there were supplies as Gen had stated there would be, scrolls, ninja tools, and packed food.

"I appreciate you again for checking behind me, but I ensure you, everything is accounted for. Now we can't continue to delay any further-"

"Ain't it odd?"

Killer Bee said while Gen tilted his head toward the man in confusion, "Excuse me?" Gen asked while Killer Bee looked in the crate before he turned his gaze toward the black-haired man.

"Well, you call these supplies standard but for some reason it almost looks as if these were for preparation for war. Most shipments are half the size of this unless something like that has happened."

Killer Bee probed while Gen took a step forward, "Well of course we would be preparing for some kind of threat, with the looming presence of the Bandit King isn't it fair for the village to attempt to prepare?" Gen asked while Killer Bee stepped toward him.

"What looming presence? As far as I'm concerned, the only ones who know about the Bandit King are us who were briefed to take care of him and you who has had a personal encounter with the man and his forces. I'm a believer of convenience, but I didn't hear a thing about making preparations and hear you are meeting us with supplies while we happen to be crossing by. It's good… a little too good."

Killer Bee said while Yugito raised an eyebrow in concern while Gen blinked, "Lord Bee, I'm not sure why you're accusing me of having something else planned by I promise you these supplies are for the village and-" the man's words died in his mouth as Killer Bee stood right in front of him looking down at the black-haired man in front of him.

Yugito could feel it from where she stood as well, the sheer amount of presence that came off of her mentor and the intensity of the dark feeling rolling off of him. Gen froze, staring at the normally jovial man in his sunglasses as the pressure felt like it would knock him off of his feet just from the man standing there.

"Why did that kid yell your name when he attacked you?'

Killer Bee asked while Gen looked at the man silently before he leaned toward him slightly, "You are a shinobi just as I am, there are consequences to the things we've done… he's mine." the black-haired man said while Killer Bee continued staring him down.

"Lord Bee, that's enough. Hasn't he said enough to prove himself? I don't know why you're so suspicious of him when he only has the best intentions for the Land of Lightning, risking his life against the forces that wish only harm to the land. He's a shinobi of the Hidden Cloud, his word should be enough. We should leave and help him accomplish our mission and then we'll accomplish ours."

Yugito said, raising her voice while Killer Bee continued to stare Gen down before he sighed, pulling out his notebook.

"Then let's get goin', I apologize for the slowin'. It's all good now so let's get rollin'!"

Killer Bee rapped while Gen could feel the pressure subside from the air before he bowed his head, "Of course, Lord Bee." the man aid before he walked toward the front of the caravan while Yugito looked at her mentor as he scribbled.

"Y'know. You never cease to surprise me, Lil' Yugi."

Killer Bee said while Yugito gave him a look, "How so, Lord Bee?" the blonde asked while he kept writing as he walked forward.

"How even after everything they did to you, how blindly you are to accept everything you are told by the Hidden Cloud. So blind I don't even think you know what the hell you're looking at anymore."

Killer Bee said while Yugito's eyes widened at the retreating man who walked away toward the front while she stood there, her eyes trailed to the small scars around her fingers from where they were once broken repeatedly.

The sounds of her screaming out as a child echoed in her mind before he gripped her fist closed, silencing them. Yugito then walked toward the front with a dark look in her eyes, for the Hidden Cloud no matter how grim the task.

She would accomplish everything they asked her to do without question, even if they had asked her to die for the land. Because that was what she did, that is what she was made for.

That was her only purpose.

{...}

"Yikes!"

"Quit whining, you big old baby."

Tayuya said while she dressed Boro's wounds as the group recuperated after their first conflict with the Hidden Cloud, Tsubasa placed a hand over his bandaged forehead while he looked off into the woods toward the direction where they had left.

"If we're quick we should be able to catch up to them before they get too far ahead of us."

Tsubasa said while Boro gave the gray-haired teen an incredulous look, "Slow your roll there, Revenger. I don't think you're super in the right mind after having your skull ran into the ground so let me remind you of what just happened. We just got our asses handed to a guy who let us live. If that doesn't say the obvious, I don't know what will." Boro said while Tsubasa shot him a glare.

"Why? Because that's just what you do? The going gets a little tough and you just run away? Cowering to yourself because you're afraid that you'll lose, afraid that you'll die?"

Tsubasa bit back while Boro narrowed his eyes at him, "Of course I'm afraid of dying, anyone who isn't is insane. Maybe if you spent less time trying to compensate for your rage by rushing in for the sake of mindless murder maybe you'd see that." Boro raised his voice while Tayuya growled.

"Guys."

Tayuya growled out while closeby Fu sat on a rock while Naruto tended to her, her orange eyes looked off into the distance while the blue-eyed boy carefully looked her over. Other than the damage to her clothes, she seemed perfectly fine.

"Naruto."

Fu said while the blonde looked up at her, "Yeah?" the blonde asked while the girl continued to look off into the distance.

"She was just like us… Wasn't she?"

Fu asked while Naruto tilted his head, "If you mean a Jinchuriki then yeah, she is just like us. Way stronger than us apparently." the blonde answered while the girl shook her head at the blonde slowly.

"You know what I mean."

Fu said while Naruto stopped looking over her, Yugito was strong but there was something else that he felt while fighting her. The look in her eyes as she was losing control, it was like he was watching her unravel right before his eyes.

That confidence, that drive. Behind it all, he could see the cracks that were there. The amount of effort that she put into maintaining the front she had created for herself to keep to her own status quo only to still fall victim to her own scars.

She was afraid and he wanted to reach out to save her.

"How could I recognize someone with an incomplete form like that?"

Killer Bee's words echoed through his head while he looked at the ground, but he couldn't. He still couldn't break the barrier between him and the ability to genuinely save the people he cared about, because he was still afraid too.

Naruto looked toward Tayuya who was trying to deal with Boro and Tsubasa before he looked at the ground again, "I won't miss again." Fu said while Naruto looked up toward the girl who grew a small smile on her face as her eyes met Naruto's.

"Miss? What are you talking about? You did your best, Fu. That's what matters."

Naruto said while the girl shook her head at the blonde, "No, I didn't. I couldn't reach her… I couldn't reach her like you could. It was sad, y'know… it's one thing to go through it but it's another thing to see it right in front of your eyes. All the while not being able to do a thing." Fu said while the blonde grabbed her hands.

"Look Fu, you can't cling on to that. It's not always going to work out that way for everyone, so you can't beat yourself up when you try, and it doesn't work at first."

Naruto explained while Fu looked at him, "You saved me… I tried to kill you. I tried to kill you because I was scared of letting anybody else get close to me again, but that's all I ever did. I got hurt and I killed them… but you changed that. I want to do the same… for her. I wanna show her that there could be more than just that existence. Just like you did for me." the girl said while the blonde stared at her.

He pushed himself to his limits and passed them all for the sake of getting to Fu and saving her, against all of the odds he managed to reach her. So why was it so difficult to do it again? So difficult to break past his limits to save the ones he cared about?

What was it that still made him incomplete?

"I-"

The blonde of cutoff by Fu cupping his face in her hands before she placed her forehead against his while smiling, "You aren't incomplete, stop thinking like that. You are exactly where you need to be, you keep pushing yourself to try to get to a place you already are. I know you wanna save us and protect us but we wanna protect you too. That's what friends do, they have each other's backs. No one does it alone. Not even you." the girl said while Naruto's eyes widened.

"Shut up already!"

Naruto and Fu looked over at Tayuya who had yelled out while Boro and Tsubasa looked at the girl propped against a tree glaring at them, "You both fucking suck, you two whiny bastards lost to that guy because neither one of you want to admit you don't know what the hell you're doing. You're a couple of fucking pansies trying to make up your feeling failure with excuses." the girl said while Tsubasa looked toward the young woman.

"You don't-"

Tsubasa said while the girl huffed, "I don't what? Know anything? I'll tell you what right now, I know that the both of you are so busy being butthurt about your personal prides and not even considering that maybe you both lost because you didn't even fucking try to fight together." the girl said while the boys went silent.

"For a moment there… you both reminded me of Shithead. The way you both stood back up after getting beaten, but then you fucking crumbled the minute that guy fought seriously. Like it or not… we're a fucking team. We gotta act like it, that means whatever feeling of failure has got you both in your feelings fucking swallow it and buck up. We got a megalomanic bastard to stop and he certainly ain't going to wait on your damn teen drama to settle."

Tayuya ranted before she huffed, Tsubasa looked at Boro while Boro looked toward him as well while Naruto stood to his feet.

"She's right."

Naruto said while he looked toward the rest of the group, "We failed, but that doesn't mean it's over. We still have time to make things right, that means we don't have time to sink in our own mistakes. Let's go and try again until we win." the blonde said while Fu grinned.

Tsubasa sighed heavily while Boro grimly chuckled, "Don't you just hate the guys that make you feel like you got something to fight for?" the young man said while Tayuya smiled a little.

"What are we standing around for? Let's get ready for round two!"

Fu yelled while she ran toward Tsubasa and Boro wrapping her arms around them while smiling, the two boys looked at her as a faint smile crawled on their faces as well. Naruto walked toward Tayuya with a smile on his face as he crouched in front of her.

"Didn't think you were the type to give speeches."

Naruto said while the girl rolled her eyes, "I'm not, they were being idiots." Tayuya said while the blonde reached toward her but was stopped as she placed her hand on his.

"There's no time. Just go, I'll stay here. I hate to admit it but moving around my body this much has exhausted me. I'll just slow you down, don't sweat it, I'm used to it."

Tayuya said while Naruto gave her a look before she gave him a gentle slap to his face, "Don't look at me like that you idiot. You know I'm right, besides I'm distracting you." the girl said while Naruto huffed.

"You're distracting me huh?"

Naruto said while Tayuya looked him in the eyes with her warm brown eyes, "Just because you are surrounded by your friends, it doesn't mean that's all you have to fight for. Edgelord has his revenge, Fu has her boundless enthusiasm, and Bounty Fucker has his… Well, it doesn't matter. The point is, remember what the hell you are fighting for and don't use us as an excuse." the reddish haired girl said while Naruto stared at her.

"Yeah."

Naruto said while Tayuya took her hand away from his cheek, "Don't worry, I'll be here. Waiting for you to come back. I ain't going anywhere fast." the girl joked while the blonde chuckled.

"I'll be back."

Naruto said while Tayuya leaned back, "I know." the girl said while the boy stared at her for a few more moments before he stood to his feet looking at the backs of the other three teens waiting for him a little further ahead.

Naruto adopted a serious look on his face as he stepped forward along with the other four.

Meanwhile the caravan was on the move, Yugito inspected her weapons while Killer Bee kept writing in his small notebook. "At this rate we'll be at the village sooner than we think.: Yugito said while the man looked up at her from his writing.

"You still thinking that there's nothing strange going on?"

Killer Bee asked while the blonde sighed, "As I have already said there's no reason to doubt him, you saw the same thing I did. What we saw were the supplies just as he said." the woman spoke while Killer Bee raised an eyebrow at her.

"Lord Bee, for the sake of the Hidden Cloud I-"

The caravan shook heavily as something impacted against it, "Took them long enough." Killer Bee said with a smile while Yugito narrowed her eyes.

"I'll take care of them."

Yugito said while Killer Bee sighed watching the woman exit to the top of the caravan while he turned to spot Gen opening the door behind him, "I'll get to the supplies!" Gen spoke while Killer Bee rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses as the black-haired man ran toward the back.

The man kept writing in his notebook as he jumped out after Yugito landing next to her, the woman's eyes looked around frantically as she couldn't spot anything.

"I swear they were here; I could feel the presence of the two Jinchuriki here along with us. They were right-"

Yugito was cut off by a kick slamming into her solar plexus causing her to cough while Fu spun kicking her backward, Killer Bee grinned as he pulled out one of his blades spinning it in his hand as Fu looked toward the man.

Killer Bee felt the change in air pressure immediately reacting fast enough to block Naruto's kick, "I guess old habits die hard eh, Blondie?" Killer Bee asked while Naruto suddenly suddenly exploded sending Bee flipping backward until he landed on his feet.

"But they still die."

Naruto said while Killer Bee smirked at the younger blonde standing right in front of him, he sheathed his blade while still keeping his notebook in his hand staring the boy in his blue eyes. "Ooh yeah! I like the look in your eye! Now it's time to let the fists fly!" Killer Bee rapped while the blonde got into his fighting stance.

Gen threw open the door to the caravan with the supplies in spotting Boro holding up bomb seal covered items, "Nice explosives here, chief. Sadly, we have to confiscate them due to safety concerns." Boro said while Tsubasa pulled out his blade.

"Along with your life, Gen."

Tsubasa growled while Gen looked at the two boys before he closed his eyes and took a breath, "My Lord's will be done. No matter what obstacles stand in the way, not even you or a damned mutt." the man said while he pulled his weapon from his back.

He took the twin blade from its sheath spinning it while Boro pulled out his axes and Tsubasa ignited his sword with his flames.

Yugito backflipped while Fu attacked her, the woman raised her arm to block a kick while Fu spun using her wings for an extra spin kicking against the woman's guard hard enough to break it before she threw a punch into the newly formed opening only for her fist to be caught.

"It's still not too late for you. I'll be bringing you back with me."

"You seem nice and all, but that's not happening. I'll be the one that saves you, so hang tight."

Fu countered while Yugito narrowed her eyes at her pushing her back, "I don't need saving. I know exactly what I'm here for." Yugito's nails grew while Fu let her wings spread out behind her as the wind from the fast-moving caravan whipped her hair around.

"Do you?"

Fu asked with a smirk while the woman dashed at the smaller girl attacking her violently while Fu dodged her strikes as much as she could, the green haired girl did a split to avoid a slash before placing her hand on the ground propping herself to spin kick Yugito who deflected the attacks before slashing at the girl again.

The slash was narrowly avoided by Fu who took a deep breath exhaling a cloud of scales point blank into Yugito's face, the scales quickly turned into black smoke as Yugito blasted them with her flames. Fu kicked into the black smoke, smacking Yugito across the face with her foot while ducking under another swing to kick the woman in the back.

Yugito quickly twisted kicking Fu with a back kick that spun the girl, the blonde women followed up stabbing at her with her nails, but Fu opened her wings wide allowing the wind to catch them blowing her past the attack allowing her to wrap an arm around Yugito's neck slamming her into the top of the caravan they were standing on.

"I'm ready to chat whenever you are."

Fu said while Yugito wiped the blood from her mouth, "It's worse than I thought, you still legitimately believe that you are in the right. That this path that you are on is good." the woman said while Fu nodded her head.

"That's because it is, you're the one that's in the wrong here. You know it."

Fu said while Yugito's eyes flashed blue before a blue flaming tail with black spirals in it sprouted from her as her nails covered in blue flames, "Then you are lost!" the woman shouted while Fu's wings spread defensively in response.

Blue flames shot out from Yugito while Fu blocked the flames with her wings, the blonde woman rushed forward slamming two heavy kicks against Fu's guard opening her wings only to barely dodge a kick from Fu who spun on her heel switching back and forth between her heels throwing out heavy kicks of her own.

Yugito flipped over a kick slashing her nails into Fu's thigh before landing thrusting her nails toward the girl's throat, her thrust missing as Fu leaned back causing the nails to drag over one of her eyes. Fu kneed the woman in the back before slamming one of her wings into her.

Yugito's face slammed on the roof of another caravan before she felt herself getting dragged, the blonde woman was lifted into the air and spun before Fu slammed her on her back. "Scale Shot: Triple Burst!" the green haired girl yelled, firing three clouds of scales toward Yugito.

The blonde shinobi quickly unsheathed her blade slashing at the clouds making them explode into black smoke, the woman then quickly stabbed into the smoke with a heavy thrust. Fu narrowly dodged the attack that cut across her cheek as she threw a punch slamming the fist heavily into Yugito's solar plexus.

Yugito coughed from the blow while Fu's wounds closed, "I'm going to keep reaching toward you until we can talk, I'm not giving up on you." Fu spoke while the blonde woman took a few steps backward.

Meanwhile down below Tsubasa backflipped avoiding the spinning twin blade of Gen tearing apart the crates around them while Boro attacked the man from behind, Gen spun the blade toward his back deflecting the strike.

Gen turned stabbing toward Boro with one side of the blade while using the other to fend off Tsubasa who attacked him aggressively, Boro dodged the attack slashing at Gen from one side while Tsubasa attacked from the other side at the side time.

Gen calmly blocked and avoided their strikes keeping them both at a distance unable to get closer to him, the black-haired man's eyes gleamed while he let one of his hands off of his twin blades catching Boro's wrist twisting it before he slammed a knee into his ribs.

Gen smoothly dodged under a slash from Tsubasa lifting his blade up to deflect a few more of the teen's attacks, the man turned his blade allowing Tsubasa's to slide against it to the guard before he chopped at his hand disarming him.

Tsubasa tried to counter but dodged two stabs from the twin blade before he was hit with a hand chop to his side with Gen grabbing his collar, Gen then winded his fist back before slamming a hard punch into Tsubasa's face sending him crashing into the floor.

"You boys lack discipline. Fighting and biting for life like dogs. The Bandit King… My lord is ushering in a new age, a revolution against the dying era of the shinobi because they are weak, and they make this world weak. Weak enough to produce aimless filth like you."

Gen spoke while Tsubasa and Boro struggled to get off the ground, "The Land of Lightning will be the first to embrace this change, as my king steps up to his throne. This is the declaration of a war neither one of you have any business being in. Your deaths are merely more fuel to the fire of the man that will change it all, burning away this twisted land." the black-haired man said while he pulled his blade from the wood.

"I'll find my peace for my sins as the weapon my lord will use to declare his war with my own death, blasting apart the obstacle to take what he wants… You should have died in that shrine with your family, Boy. That would have been the only peace you would have achieved in this life.

Gen said while Tsubasa gritted his teeth as the black-haired man suddenly dodged out of the way of an attack, Tsubasa looked toward the attack spotting Boro struggling on his feet.

"You're right… I am just a damned mutt. Trying to find someplace where I can just live to belong too, calling me filth is fitting I can understand that… But him? You took everything away from him. His home, the people he loved, his very reason for living, and he's the filth?!"

Boro yelled while Gen glared at the brown-haired boy, "Y'know originally I was only sticking around with these guys because they had food and a place to stay… Even I didn't believe in this bastard's pipe dream to kill the Bandit King. But now… I realize I thought it was a pipe dream because I didn't believe that I could even do it myself like some damn coward and that he was an idiot for believing in something so stupid! I don't exactly know when it happened but now, I know." Boro yelled as Tsubasa looked at the young man who lifted his hatchet toward Gen.

"This revenge loving, edgy, damn bastard is my friend! His vengeance is now mine too. So, after we get done dismantling your self-righteous, kamikaze mission because you're too much of a coward to live with your sins, then we'll take the head off your king. But first…"

Boro tilted his hatchet slightly causing the blade to gleam, "We're fucking burying you." the young man said while Gen gritted his teeth. Tsubasa meanwhile looked at Boro for a minute before he stood to his feet, he stared at Boro for a few more moments before he turned toward Gen.

"I'm-"

"We'll kiss and make up later dude. Let's kill this guy while I'm still pissed."

"...Heh."

Tsubasa ignited his blade along with his feet while both of the boys readied their weapons as Gen spun his twin blade, "With pleasure." the gray-haired teen said while he dashed leaving flaming footprints behind while Gen tried to react but was intercepted by Boro.

Boro deflected the strike Gen launched at Tsubasa while the teen slammed a knee against his abdomen, Gen flinched while he kicked Boro away deflecting a few flaming slashes from Tsubasa thrusting forward with another attack spinning his blade.

Tsubasa clashed against the blade while pushing against it creating an opening for Boro to backflip kick the black-haired man, Gen growled as he spun his blade again, he struck at Boro who selected attacks before ducking allowing Tsubasa to jump over him kicking Gen across the face.

Gen staggered before thrusting as Tsubasa allowed the thrust to slide across his blade, Boro headbutted the man in the opening that was made pushing him backward while Tsubasa advanced slowly the boys pushed and overwhelmed the man with their coordinated attacks.

"Enough!"

Gen slammed his blade into the floor blast the pair of teens backward with a black colored impact slamming against them, Tsubasa and Boro slid while the black-haired man glared at them before he held his blade out extending it slightly as black wind crawled up the blade.

"I underestimated your tenacity. I understand now that you will not simply die away quietly. So, I'll face you with my true might and my old moniker. For my lord, I shall end you both as Gen of the Black Winds!"

Gen raised his voice while his blade spun, stirring up violently black colored winds around him while Boro looked toward Tsubasa who nodded before the brown-haired young man grinned pointing his hatchet again with a cocky look on his face.

"Enough?"

"...We're just getting started!"

Up above on another caravan Naruto launched a spinning kick against Killer Bee who blocked it with his arm, two clones then appeared throwing punches and kicks at the older Jinchuriki while he continued to block the attacks with one arm clutching his notebook in his other hand.

"Damn it, you're messing up my writing hand!"

Killer Bee exclaimed while he threw a punch that instantly destroyed both clones before he threw a kick that Naruto blocked, the impact sent Naruto sliding backward from the sheer amount of force behind it.

"It's so heavy!"

Naruto yelled as he came to a stop, Killer Bee peeked over at the blonde from his notebook before he started writing again, "I know this might bring our Parade some rain, but I can't exactly remember, where do I know you from again?" Killer Bee rapped while Naruto blasted forward instantly closing the distance between them.

"Woah!"

Killer Bee yelled out as he suddenly was dodging a flurry of attacks from Naruto, "Not even giving me a second to write, eh?" Killer Bee said while Naruto kept attacking the man. Killer Bee blocked a few punches with his hands before stopping one of Naruto's punches with the palm of his hand.

"That's rude!"

Killer Bee yelled before slamming a heavy punch directly into Naruto's face, blood flew out of Naruto's nose as the blonde rolled backward, "You're really tough, Octopops." the blonde spoke while Killer Bee grinned rubbing his chin.

"Octopops huh? You're a pretty odd guy, aren't ya?"

Killer Bee asked while Naruto formed his famous hand sign, "I'm sorry but my friends are ahead and I can't let this caravan make it to the Hidden Cloud, even if that means I have to beat you." the blonde spoke while the older Jinchuriki sighed.

"How do you think you can beat me when you are still holding back, Fool ya Fool?!"

Killer Bee yelled out while Naruto narrowed his eyes before all of the clone dashed forward, the air pressure changed before Killer Bee backflipped immediately avoiding the strikes from the of the clones as he jumped into the air spinning destroying two more clones as Naruto threw another punch that slammed against Killer Bee's guard.

"That one had some power in it!"

Killer Bee exclaimed while Naruto attacked the man with heavy attacks, the man deflected and dodged the teen's attacks before leaning backward to avoid a kick. "You may think you're all tough but your fighting style right now still ain't enough! The man rapped while he clashed with Naruto.

Killer Bee spun under a kick while Naruto jumped landing in a one-handed stand kicking his legs in a spinning motion, a small twister formed that Killer Bee dodged as the blonde continued his assault. Naruto pushed off of his hand transitioning into a wind enhanced axe kick.

Killer Bee jumped backward avoiding the kick while the blonde blasted forward keeping up the aggression, "Why aren't you using it?" Killer Bee asked while blocking attacks as Naruto kept attacking the man.

"Using what?"

The blonde asked as Killer Bee deflected an attack before pushing the blonde back with a palm strike, "You know what. The Fox! You really want to win, then you'd know you need to go all out." the man spoke while Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"I don't need his power; I'll beat you myself!"

Naruto yelled while Killer Bee stared at the blonde before rubbing his chin, "Oh. I see now." the man spoke while the blonde broke the sound barrier blasting toward the older Jinchurki swinging at him. Killer Bee easily moved out of the way of the attack.

Naruto struck at the man a few more times before he deflected and put into a headlock, "You're too damn worried about your surroundings that you're not even fighting properly… Let's fix that." Killer Bee said before he spun Naruto around launching him off of the caravan.

Naruto's eyes widened as he pulled out a kunai with shuriken string throwing it toward the back wagon of the caravan only for the kunai to be slashed out of the air by Killer Bee. Naruto fell backward landing on the ground as Killer Bee landed in front of him.

"There, no more excuses."

Killer Bee said while Naruto got to his feet watching the caravan quickly speeding away, "You bastard! Do you know what's in there?! If that caravan makes it to the Hidden Cloud, then people are going to be killed!" Naruto yelled while Killed Bee just gave him a look.

"I know. Frankly though, that's the least of your concerns."

Killer Bee said while Naruto glared at him, "Do you think this is some kind of joke?" the blonde asked while Killer Bee shrugged.

"Only as much as you do, kid."

Killer Bee said while Naruto glared at him before he pulled out a scroll, "I don't have time for your games." the blonde waved around the scroll pulling out his sword while the tanned Jinchuriki grinned before pulling out three of his own blades.

"Good, cause I ain't playin'."

Killer Bee said before placing one of his blades in his mouth while Naruto quickly moved, "Wind Stance: Gale Thrust!" the blonde quickly thrust forward cutting through the air while Killer Bee spun; he deflected the thrust before engaging in close combat with the blonde's sword.

Metal sang while Naruto struck aggressively against Killer Bee who was quickly moving his blades around in accordance with the blonde's attacks, "Wind Stance: Shear!" Naruto flipped, cutting his blade into the air in an 'X' shape.

Killer Bee flipped backward while the slashes exploded, right as he was about to land, he spotted Naruto gently landing on the ground with one foot before slowly lifting his blade, "What the-" Killer Bee was cut off by the beginning of a flurry of slashes.

"Wind Stance: Gale Dance!"

Naruto aggressively attacked with a dance of slashes that cut toward Killer Bee quickly who was struggling to defend against the slashes and Naruto's movements, the man spun juggling even more blades in an attempt to block against the flurry of strikes from the graceful movements of the blonde.

Sparks flew through the air as Naruto began to speed up with Killer Bee continuing to juggle his blades to get through the attack, the attack finally ended with the man flipping backward to try to recover some ground, but the blonde sheathed his sword.

He slightly pulled it out of the sheath multiple times summoning a clone each time he did, the clones ran toward Killer Bee with their sword shifting into stances, "Wind Stance: Wind Splitter!", "Wind Stance: Song of the Breeze!", "Wind Stance: Storm Thrust!" the clones yelled as they showered Killer Bee with their sword slashes that the man struggled with blocking before he threw out multiple blades destroying the clones.

Naruto blasted forward swinging his sword down, "Wind Stance: Formless Gale!" the blond yelled as his slash created an explosion. The blonde looked at the dust before he put his guard up in time blocking a large tentacle slamming against him.

"You're really good! Why don't we kick this up a notch?"

Killer Bee said while the tentacles came from his back, Naruto narrowed his eyes at the man before he dashed forward. Killer Bee laughed before he dashed toward Naruto as well, the tentacles attacked the blonde while he did his best to navigate through them.

Naruto twisted, cutting through two of the tentacles before he was slammed into the ground by one, "Ow! Watch what you're cutting ya fool!" Killer Bee yelled before the tentacle lifted him up, tossing him into the air before whipping around slamming into him.

Naruto flew through the air smashing through multiple trees before he rolled back to his feet only for Killer Bee to already be in front of him, the man slammed a heavy punch into Naruto's face cracking the ground underneath him.

Killer Bee then began to pummel Naruto into the ground, smashing the ground around the boy as he continued his assault, the man kept swinging while Naruto was being beaten down by the sheer amount of weight behind his punches.

Killer Bee kept swinging until a red light appeared underneath his fist, the man grinned as he was suddenly blown backward. Naruto now cloaked in the red chakra panted as he glared over toward Killer Bee who sighed before chuckling.

"There goes that incomplete form again."

Killer Bee said while Naruto gave him a look, "What do you mean by incomplete form?" the blonde spoke while the older Jinchuriki popped his neck before he pointed at Naruto.

"That cloak, it's a reflexive defensive measure! It only appears when you still need to get better!"

Killer Bee rapped while Naruto raised an eyebrow, "You should be able to draw out the fox's power by now, right? Yet you still can't concentrate it, you burn through power wasting strength that could be used later. That cloak should only be used to enhance single attacks." the man said before he was quickly covered by a red cloak of chakra with one tail.

Naruto didn't have time to react before he took a punch to his chest, the impact from the punch was enough to crumble several trees behind him. Naruto fell to his knees while Killer Bee's cloak vanished, "Like so." the man said while Naruto coughed.

He could feel his entire body shake, an impact that hard that fast it was as if having a cloak didn't matter. If it wasn't up, he could have died in that single blow, "You're still at odds with the Fox, it shows." Killer Bee said while a second tail sprouted from Naruto's cloak.

Naruto swung knocking down several trees with his punch while it was blocked by one of the tentacles, "Two Tails, Three Tails, Four Tails, none of that matters if you can't get a handle on your own strength, Fool! Though… you probably shouldn't even attempt four tails at your current level." the man said while Naruto kicked at the tentacle making Killer Bee slide backward.

"What the hell are you talking about? I have my strength handled; I can control this!"

Naruto yelled while Killer Bee sighed, "That's where you're wrong… Guess you need to see. Bring it on, kid. Come at me. I'll meet you bar for bar, tail for tail!" Killer Bee rapped while his cloak formed around him with two tails.

Naruto blasted forward slashing his sword at Killer Bee who swiped away the blade sending it into a tree before headbutting Naruto hard enough to dislodge a few trees from the ground, Naruto spun kicking at Killer Bee's guard.

The man blocked the kicks before taking a punch to the chest, Killer Bee barely flinched while Naruto gripped his cloaked fist slamming his punches into Killer Bee's chest. The impact from Naruto's punches tore apart the ground and trees behind Killer who stood there taking the hits.

"Come on! Keep pushing!"

Killer Bee yelled with a laugh while Naruto roared, punching even faster into the unmoving man's chest, before Killer Bee kneed him underneath his chin before using both his arms to sledgehammer him into the ground. Naruto tore into the air almost like it was water from the impact of Killer Bee's attack as the man backflipped away above.

Killer Bee landed spotting the ground beginning to crack as the cracking earth began to move toward him, the man braced himself for an attack before Naruto exploded out of the ground slamming a punch into Killer Bee. The man staggered from the punch before Naruto lifted his fist.

"Gotcha!"

The now three tailed cloaked Naruto yelled before punching Killer Bee again sending the two tailed cloaked man flying backward, Killer Bee landed wiping his mouth with his hand as he noticed Naruto panting from where he was standing.

"See? You're burning out already. You're still struggling, struggling with something else. You're still holding back."

Killer Bee said while his cloak formed another tail, Naruto panted while he glared at the man. "Shut up. I'm ending this." the blonde spoke while he got on all fours.

"The Eight Tailed is right. You are still holding back. You don't stand a chance against him at your current strength."

"Shut up."

"He's toying with you; he could kill us at any point. You can show him. Give him what he wants. Unleash my power."

"Shut up, already!"

"Ya'll mind not debating right in front of me?"

Killer Bee said while Naruto looked up, spotting a punch, the blonde barely avoided it. Naruto flipped backward landing on his feet while Killer Bee dashed toward him, the blonde blocked a heavy punch from the man while he struck back.

Killer Bee only moved slightly while Naruto continued to advance, attacking the man with all of his might with Killer Bee meeting him with his strength as well striking the blonde hard as he flew from another heavy punch from the older Jinchuriki.

Naruto could almost feel the air explode around him as he flew back from another punch before he crashed into the ground, the blonde flipped back to his feet forming Rasengans with his tails striking Killer Bee with them at point blank range.

The attacks exploded while Naruto backed away from the explosion only for Killer Bee to cut through the smoke, punching him into the ground enough to shake the trees violently.

"You're afraid, aren't you?"

"Stop it."

"Stop being afraid, kid."

Killer Bee spoke while Naruto punched the man into the sky before groaning in pain, he held onto his wrist while his arm trembled from the attack.

"Stop being afraid, brat. Use my power, use it for the purpose it's supposed to have. For strength. For destruction."

"Shut up!"

"Let go of the hopes that my power can be anything but that. Accept it. Use it. Stop trying to fool yourself into being something you're not!"

"I won't do it!"

Naruto yelled while Killer Bee slowly approached him, "You can't let yourself be consumed by it, kid. You still don't understand the rules." the man spoke while his cloak began to darken as more tails began to form. Naruto could feel a heavy dark feeling sweep over him as the amount of chakra coming off of was overwhelming, engulfing him.

"Brat! Do it now!"

The Nine Tailed Fox roared as bones shifted and moved over Killer Bee's cloak before settling as 6 tails filled with cloudy dark red chakra waved around, Naruto had seen this form before when he fought with Fu when she had lost control.

"6 tails…"

Naruto said, astonished at the sight while Killer Bee cheered into the air, "Yeah! And I'm still in control! Matter of fact, I'm straight up on a roll!" Killer Bee rapped even while in that form while Naruto was frozen at the sight of it.

"I'm sorry, I have to do this, kid. You'll get it though."

Killer Bee said before his white eyes locked into Naruto's as he crouched, Naruto was still frozen while Killer Bee was preparing his attack.

"Brat! Stop fighting this! Your weakness will be the end of us! Unleash my power now!"

Kurama yelled to no avail while the cloaked blonde looked at Killer Bee before thinking of himself, is that what this power was? The power of monsters? Hellbent on destroying and only capable of destruction? Was there no way to change that?

Killer Bee launched himself toward Naruto with his arm extended at a near blinding speed that still seemed to go in slow motion to him, the rest of the sound around him went mute while Killer Bee approached before the cloaked man was now in front of him.

"Naruto!"

Kurma yelled before Killer Bee's arm collided with his body, "Lariat!" Killer Bee yelled while the attack slammed against him. Naruto could feel his bones crush underneath the sheer amount of force behind the attack as his internal organs ruptured.

Naruto flew backward hitting the ground while coughing up blood, the blonde stared up at the sky until he couldn't see it anymore.

Instead of the sky, the ceiling was black. He felt water around him, he knew what this place was. He was in the seal with the Fox… except he didn't see him behind the bars when he looked instead, he saw himself with red eyes and black sclera.

"Hey."

The version of himself spoke while Naruto laid silently on the ground, "You took a pretty hard hit back there… We're dying." the red eyed blonde said before he sighed. "I'm telling you; your damn sense of justice and humanity is always almost getting us killed and for what? Why is it so hard not to cling to useless things?" the version of himself spoke while he just stared at him.

"We can still make it; you can live through this. Wanna know how?"

The red eyed blonde said while he walked over to the cage pointing at the seal, "Let's pull it, tear it apart. Then let things be, get some rest. I'm sure after everything you've been through and the constant fighting, you're tired. You've been tired for a while." the blonde said while Naruto looked at the seal.

"It just hurts. We can end that pain. That suffering. All we need to do is allow it to be taken away. It's just as easy as letting go and finally pulling off that damn paper that taunts us."

Naruto continued to look at the seal while the red eyed version of himself walked toward him with his hand extended outward toward him.

"What… would happen to this world?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Would he destroy it?"

"Who cares?"

"Would he hurt the people I love?"

"After they abandoned you?"

"I have my friends.

"You'll lose them… you always do."

"...I'm afraid."

"You don't have to be with me."

The red eyed version of Naruto spoke while the blonde looked up at his counterpart before taking his hand, he was lifted to his feet while the red eyed version walked over to the seal. ""Just a quick pull and it's done." the red eyed version said while Naruto stood there.

"Still scared? You can't be a coward right before the finish line. I'll admit it, you did good. That should be enough to leave off with, isn't it?"

The red eyed version of him said while Naruto kept staring at him, "Come on. Move. Let's get this over with." the red eyed version of him said while Naruto looked toward the ground before he spoke.

"You aren't the fox, are you?"

Naruto asked while the red eyed version of himself sighed, "Never said I was. I'm you and you are me. The both of us together make who we are. Who you are. And I only want what's best of you." the red eyed version of the blonde spoke while Naruto looked up.

"You're afraid too… Of what would happen if we were happy. What would happen if I lost it all?"

Naruto asked while the red eyed version of himself huffed, "The only scared one is you. I'm the one who already knows how this ends. I'm the one who is brave enough to know that it's time to give up." the red eyed blonde said while Naruto looked at him.

"I refuse."

Naruto said while the other version of himself gave him a look, "Did you not hear what I said? You're dying." the version of himself said while Naruto nodded.

"I heard you, but I refuse."

Naruto said while the red eyed version of him started laughing, "You are going to refuse to die? You're just gonna live because you decided too? You're going to piece yourself back together just to get pulled apart, to break?" the red eyed version of him said while Naruto nodded his head.

"I won't break."

"Even if you aren't strong enough?"

"I'll get stronger."

"Even if it all means nothing in the end?"

"I'll make my own meaning."

"Even if they betray you?"

"I cherish them."

"After everything they've done to you?"

"I forgive them, as I always will."

Naruto said while the red eyed version of himself looked away, "That drivel isn't going to mean anything soon, you'll see. You'll go out there and you'll see that deep down you are exactly me." the red eyed version of himself spoke while Naruto turned away from him.

"No… I'm better."

Naruto said before he started walking away, the red eyed blonde watched as the blonde walked away as he closed his eyes for a moment before he turned away with a huff.

"We'll see."

The red eyed version of himself said as slowly the sound of voices around Naruto began to increase as the blonde kept moving forward toward the voices where he saw a flash of Fu dancing with him to help him train, before he saw Tsubasa in the prison, then Boro in the restaurant when they eat noodles.

He kept moving forward until he saw the familiar sight of brown eyes and that reddish colored hair staring at him from over the riverbank in her yellow sundress, the blonde closed his eyes before he heard her voice in his ears.

"The point is, remember what the hell you are fighting for and don't use us as an excuse… Don't worry, I'll be waiting right here for you to get back."

Killer Bee turned around spotting Naruto standing up, a grin appeared on his face before he swung a punch, but his fist never landed on the blonde only hitting something else as he was knocked backward by another impact before rolling to his feet.

Killer Bee then laughed while the cloak faded away from around him, "I'm sorry I had to do that to you kid but, do you get it now? You finally got rid of that fear?" the man said while Naruto had a small smile on his face before he nodded.

"No."

The blonde said while Killer Bee gave him a look as Naruto grinned at him, "No?" the man asked while the blonde nodded his head before pointing his thumb toward himself.

"No, but I'll do it anyway. I just had to get out of my own way."

Naruto said while Killer Bee, "That was almost a bar, kid." Killer Bee said while Naruto chuckled, Killer Bee then pointed at him. "When I said earlier only as much as you do. The same applies. You are only as much of a monster as you choose to be. There's always a choice. Remember that." Killer Bee said while Naruto nodded his head.

"Thanks, Octopops."

Naruto said while Killer Bee nodded, "The caravan got a little far, but we'll have no trouble catching up to it, especially now." the man said while Naruto turned.

"I'm going ahead, you coming?"

Naruto asked while Killer Bee nodded his head, "You know I'm down! I won't let the new you make me into a clown Fool ya Fool!" the older Jinchuriki rapped while the blonde smiled. Naruto adjusted his scarf as Killer Bee tossed him his katana.

The blonde caught it out of the air while the wind blew making his blonde hair and orange scarf sway in the wind, Killer Bee stared at the blonde in disbelief for a moment before he looked ahead.

"Let's go."

Naruto said while his whisker marks flared and slowly red chakra swirled on his back until it twisted and became a single physical orange colored tail with a black tip while his eyes turned red, the blonde took a breath before suddenly he was gone.

Killer Bee looked at the spot, "He's fast." The man then chuckled before in that same spot he saw a blonde-haired man in a green flak jacket holding out a three-pronged kunai.

"Now I recognize ya."

{...}

The sound of wood and fabric being torn apart sounded through the air while Tsubasa flipped backward through a shower of black wind blades avoiding them while Boro spun and weaved through them toward Gen who was spinning his blade rapidly.

Gen allowed his twin blade to spin in the palm of his hand before deflecting Boro's strikes with it as he kneed the teen turning with another wind slash already prepared on his blade only for it to burn away as Tsubasa spun sideways with his flaming blade creating a circle of flames.

Tsubasa slammed the blade to the floor and shot the flames up into a pillar that Gen dodged while Boro cut through the flames with his hatchets continuing his assault of Gen who continued to defend against the young man the best he could.

Gen spun his blade around his body before thrusting it toward Boro who caught it with his hatchets as Tsubasa came from the young man's side slamming a fire covered punch into the black-haired man's side, Gen coughed before he slashed down toward Tsubasa who avoided the slash.

Boro landed a kick to his face before kicking him in his chest sliding the man backward, Tsubasa dashed past Gen who narrowly avoided the slash that the gray-haired teen attacked him with. Gen was in the middle of the two boys deflecting and avoiding their attacks between them as they assaulted him from both sides.

Gen threw a feint a Boro causing the boy to react a little too soon giving him the opening to kick him back while the stabbed a few thrusts as Tsubasa who deflected them before Gen lifted his blade into the as black wind gather on it making it larger before he brought it down on top of the teen as a heavy slash.

Tsubasa avoided the first slash only for the wind to intensify again as he turned it in another quick yet heavy slash, the gray-haired teen's fingers ignited with flames before he threw them on his own face lighting his head on fire.

Tsubasa then caught the wind slash with his flaming teeth creating a small explosion, the gray-haired teen landed next to Boro who was messing with something as the smoke cleared. Gen panted heavily while he looked at the two teens also panting in front of him, the black-haired man balled one of his hands into a fist before punching his own leg.

"You… Nothing can stop my lord from taking what he wants. Nothing! Your insolence is a stain on the world that will be ushered in because of this act!"

Gen yelled while Boro chuckled, "If we're a stain then you lack the elbow grease to get us out, bastard! Some loyal subject you are!" Boro yelled while Gen growled. Tsubasa's flames on his face went out while he held out his blade.

"The filth that needs to be cleaned away from this world is you and whatever is left of that bastard… and I'm not leaving an ash."

Tsubasa said while Gen gripped two hands on his blade as a massive amount of chakra built up around his blades, "Forgive me, my lord! I'll fulfill my duty through death as I was told to do. I may not be able to complete oy mission of getting the payload to the Hidden Cloud, but if I can eliminate these curs then you can complete your dreams in peace!" Gen yelled while the black wind on his blades grew larger the black-haired man yelled while he started launching a series of black slashes at the two boys.

"Tsubasa!"

Boro yelled while the gray-haired teen nodded, running two of his fingers over his blade igniting it while Boro crouched covering the edge of his hatchets with black stone before the two teens dashed into the slashes, Tsubasa cut through the slashes in tandem with Boro who was close behind him.

Gen continued to slash as the boys got closer and closer covering each other's back as they continued cutting through the attacks, Boro jumped launching the black stone off of the edge of his hatchets through several slashes allowing Tsubasa to advance forward in a trail of flaming footprints.

Gen's eyes widened as Tsubasa was right below him thrusting toward him with his blade, the man immediately locked eyes with Tsubasa before he lifted his twin blade that was now covered in a black wind that was tall enough to nearly split the entire caravan from the top in half.

"That's enough of you!"

Gen yelled, swinging his blade down directly on top of the teen who didn't even flinch as blood flew through the air, the man looked at his shoulder in surprise as a hatchet was sticking out of it before his other shoulder was stabbed into by another thrown hatchet.

Tsubasa gritted his teeth before he looked toward the blade coming down on top of him, small flames came out between his teeth before he opened his mouth allowing smoke to plume out of it before the violent fire blasted out of his mouth in a stream of fire that destroyed the slash.

Gen looked at the teen with shock for a moment before he steeled himself to attack the teen one last time with as much strength as he could muster only form Tsubasa to deflect it as he stood to his full height in front of him with a glare in his eye.

Boro jumped in slapping objects onto Gen's chest while the black-haired man looked down in shock as he spotted them, they were the seals he had hidden in the entirety of the caravan that he was supposed to detonate when they reached the village.

Boro jumped backward, handing the fuse to Tsubasa who gripped it between his fingers while coldly looking toward Gen who looked back at the gray-haired teen with pure defeat in his eyes as the teen took a few steps toward him.

"It was supposed to be a blaze of glory… one last brilliant act for your king to usher in some dream. A good death… you wanted to die, right?"

Tsubasa asked while he looked at Gen with a fiery glare in his eye that the man remembered all those years ago, he watched the flames crawl over that small boy while he stared at him and the rest of the Bandit King's group with that same look.

Burning with his fury.

"You have my permission now…"

Tsubasa said kicking Gen backward sending him flying out the back of the caravan while pulling the fuse free from the multiple powerful bomb seals on his chest, things seemed to move in slow motion as Gen looked at Tsubasa while flying backward spotting that small burning boy one more time before seeing the teenager.

…

8 Years Ago

Gen stood in a forest looking back toward a fire in the distance, it was the shrine they had visited that they needed to destroy. Yet even as a shinobi his own thoughts couldn't help but linger on the purpose of that destruction.

Who were those people?

What had they done?

Did they need to be killed?

"You look like you want to ask me… So, ask."

The gold eyed man spoke while Gen immediately bowed, "Forgive me, my lord. It's not my place to ask or question your actions. Your word is my will." Gen said while the gold eyed man gave him a look before he tossed away the stick in his hands.

"Humans tend to have a bad habit of thinking their lives are essential… that their existences mean something. They don't mean anything except to the people that have the power to do what they want with them; I had the power, so I decided to kill them."

The Bandit King spoke while Gen gave him a look, "I see." The black-haired man spoke briefly while the dark gold eyed man looked toward the night sky.

"It disgusted me… How they lived, trapped. It was like watching lambs waiting to die, in my world places where those that are trapped don't exist. A king takes what he wants and does what he wants with his domain. They just happened to be my martyrs, the sparks of my ambition."

The man spoke while he turned his gaze toward Gen who stared back at him, "My lord… What you seek. Will their deaths help you achieve that?" the man asked while the king stared back at the black-haired man as he took a step toward him.

"Not just theirs, to achieve what I want. Many others will have to die as well, obstacles that need removing. Even comrades. When the time comes, I may need you to do the same. So, would you?"

The gold eyed man asked while Gen looked toward the serious look in his king's eye as he leaned toward him almost as if he was looking at his soul directly with that cold gaze.

"Die for me?"

The king asked while Gen looked him back in dark gold eyes while he thought back, as a shinobi he was tasked with the murder of so many people. Innocent and not, when the king showed up, he received a glimpse of something more…

Something more he could never truly have, because all he deserved was an end.

"For you. I'll die for you."

Gen spoke while the king grinned before placing a hand on his shoulder, "You're a good soldier, Gen. I make this new world for you too." the man spoke before he turned walking toward the rest of the waiting group ahead while Gen stood there.

The wind blew while Gen started walking toward them, the flashes of the people of that shrine burning and being killed, the sounds of their screaming and their pain. The haunting look in the eye of that little boy that they had left to burn.

Gen gritted his teeth and closed his eyes shut from the thought before he pushed himself to walk forward, he was a ninja, a soldier. Death was his life and his purpose, yet he was still a human. He carried it all with him, as he always would.

He would always deserve nothing more than an end.

It was his only purpose left.

…

Gen looked at Tsubasa again while the faintest of somber, yet peaceful looks covered his face as he looked at the fiery orange eyes of the teen, "All yours… Tsubasa." the man spoke while a small flame ignited on the teen's fingers.

"Die."

Tsubasa said, flicking the flame toward Gen causing the man to explode violently knocking back Tsubasa and Boro who laid on the floor of the moving caravan, "Huh." Boro said while Tsubasa raised an eyebrow at the brown-haired young man.

"What?"

Tsubasa asked while Boro chuckled, "You know… that was kind of badass. This revenge thing is kinda cool huh?" the brown-haired young man said while Tsubasa stared at him for a few moments before he started to laugh.

Boro snickered before he started laughing as well joining him as the two boys laid on their backs in the wagon they were in, they continued to laugh even as an orange and blonde flash passed over them moving quickly toward the front of the caravan.

Yugito slashed violently at Fu who countered her attacks swinging to attack back only to be countered as well, the pair were engaged in close combat with Yugito pushing harder and harder against Fu who kept her ground fighting back.

Yugito slashed again before spinning and throwing kicks at Fu, the green haired girl avoided the slash narrowly blocking the kicks and dropping low to sweep the woman's legs. Yugito fell backward before spinning, covering one of her feet with blue flames trying to kick Fu on her way down.

Fu flipped backward avoiding the flames while Yugito lunged at her with a high jump kick that had the blue flames on it, Fu rolled backward as the kick slammed down on the top of the caravan before she continued to swing to Fu.

"Why are you still so dead set in your way of thinking?!"

Fu asked while Yugito slashed at her again, "I know the truth! I can face that reality! Every moment you waste trying to run from it is a moment you don't get back! This is our fate!" The blonde woman then shot blue flaming mice at Fu who exhaled a cloud of scales.

The scales exploded into black smoke as Fu kicked through it sending Yugito rolling backward, "No it isn't! We aren't just weapons! We aren't just monsters! We're humans too! We're living too!" Fu yelled while Yugito glared at her.

"I died a long time ago."

Yugito spoke while Fu extended her wings outward, "Then I'm bringing you back!" the girl raised her voice while they dashed at one another engaging in close combat again with Yugito's attack getting more violent while Fu slipped through the gaps beginning to gain ground.

"You deserve to live too! Life doesn't have to be war! It doesn't have to drown us because we think we deserve it! We deserve more! We can have more!"

Fu yelled while Yugito could feel her attacks being slipped into by the girl while she kept swinging back, "That isn't true! Not for us! Not for me! My only purpose is to die protecting this land! It's all I am!" Yugito raised her voice while Fu countered a blow from her.

"You're human too!"

Fu yelled while she threw a heavy punch, Yugito instinctively blocked her chest with her arm as the punch had enough impact on it to create a small gust. Then a small sound entered into Yugito's ear as well as a familiar pain shot through her arm.

It had broken.

Yugito was a young girl again in her head writhing on the floor as she listened to her body heal and the pain of her bones cracking and bending back to their rightful place, all the while a shinobi stood above her waiting for her to finish healing just to break her again.

Break… Fall Apart… Pull yourself back together…

Yugito screamed out while blue flames shot Fu backward, the green haired girl rolled while she eventually stopped herself. "Yugito!" Fu yelled while a second tail sprouted from the woman as she continued to scream holding on to the sides of her head.

"Heal quickly. Then I'll break you again."

"It's your fault… If you won't die… Hurry up and piece yourself back together. Stop being afraid… Stop being weak."

Blue flames cloaked over Yugito as they twisted around her creating the form of a large cat made out of the blue flames, Fu watched as the tailed beast formed into being in front of her, the tails swaying violently as Matatabi roared into the air.

It felt like the very air itself shook from the roar while Fu looked at the tailed beast in disbelief, she could hardly believe the amount of chakra she could feel coming off of the Tailed Beast in front of her before she closed her eyes.

"Yugito! I know you can still hear me! I know! What you're feeling right now… I know exactly what it's like! Let me help you!"

Fu yelled while the Two Tails looked at her before swiping the air with its paw blasting Fu with air sending her flying backward, the green haired girl flipped violently through the air before she spread out her wings catching herself in midair.

"That's insane."

Fu said while Matatabi roared into the air, the green haired girl stared for a moment before she took a breath landing back in front of the tailed beast. She slowly started walking toward it while a somber smile grew on her face.

"Chomei…"

"Fu, we can't. That's Matatabi fully unleashed, there's no way we can face that without potentially harming you."

"Chomei… She's just like me, you know. I can feel it. She's in pain. She's hurting."

"Fu…"

"I have to… No, I want to be there for her. Will you help me?"

Fu asked while Matatabi roared again as the green haired girl continued to smile at the tailed beast that roared violently in front of her, the green haired girl then removed her hair clip before safely stashing it away in her pocket.

"Yugito… I know it hurts. I know you feel like some irredeemable beast. But I know there's more than that in you and as long as I do. I won't stop trying to reach you. Even if you've abandoned yourself, I won't abandon you."

Fu said while Matatabi roared again, slowly green chakra bubbled on Fu's back as two of her wings began to appear along with a third then a fourth. The green haired girl winced as the wings grew bigger from her back as she smiled toward the tailed beast again.

"Hang tight, Yugito. I'm coming."

Fu said as her four wings extended outward, Matatabi swiped again but Fu was far faster moving out of the way of the swipe faster than she's ever been. Matatabi continued to slash at her while Fu flew through the air, the girl spun out of the way of another swipe.

Fu blasted forward flying close enough to strike Matatabi with her wings while avoiding another swipe before she spun going in for another attack slamming her wings against Matatabi again while the beast was unable to touch her.

Fu spun before a sharp pain shot through her body, "Fu! Try not to push too hard! This is the furthest I can push your body with my chakra without causing you to transform! We don't have much time like this." Chomei said while Fu shook her head.

"I know!"

The girl exclaimed while she quickly reacted, closing up her wings around her blocking an attack from Matatabi slamming her through the wagon she was flying over, Fu flew back over it shaking herself off before she exhaled a large cloud of scales.

"Burst!"

Fu yelled causing the scale to become extremely bright before exploding into a blinding light, the green haired girl wasted no time flying into the cloud to try to reach Matatabi who was blinded by the light. Right as Fu was about to reach, she was hit by a stray swipe of a tail.

Fu flew backward again before she caught herself out of the air, another roar blasted the air immediately clearing the smoke. Matatabi looked its eyes on to the girl before opening its mouth blasting air toward her, Fu ran across the wagon roof she was on as the air blasts tore into it.

The green haired girl then jumped off of the wagon while spinning to avoid another blast of air before her wings opened up again, Fu cut through the air while another swipe was swung toward her by a large flaming paw. The teen quickly reacted by extending her wing to block the swipe.

"Yugito!"

Fu threw off the swipe before she enlarged her wing hitting Matatabi with them almost knocking the tailed beast off of the wagon, the tailed beast hung on crushing its claws into the wagon. Fu ran forward while weaving hand signs as Matatabi's eyes gleamed blue.

Before Fu could unleash her jutsu a massive roar that threw her backward came from Matatabi's mouth before flames shot out of its body, the flames fell sweeping across the top of the wagon. Fu quickly reacted, closing up her wings around herself to stop the flames from pelting against her.

The fire beat against Fu's guard as the girl's nose began to bleed, "Fu, that's enough! You're tearing yourself apart!" Chomei yelled while the green haired girl gritted her teeth, continuing to block the flames as Matatabi lifted its mouth into the air.

Slowly an orb began to form out of the chakra that was compressing over it, Fu felt herself getting weaker as more and more flames slamming against her violently as Matatabi compressed the large orb even further over its mouth.

"I can't… I won't give up."

Fu said while the flames slammed against her wings even harder, eventually Fu could feel her guard break. Her wings had vanished, allowing the flames to hit her directly. "Fu!" Chomei yelled as the fire had hit her directly as she had hit her limits.

Matatabi roared once more while Fu laid on her back, the heat sweeping over her as she stared into the sky. For a moment she was in a flower field curled up into herself, she had just sat there giving in. Her transgressions, her actions, the blood on her hands.

Those were the only things that accompanied her in that field of flowers.

A demon.

Suddenly she heard a sound of flowers moving, she turned her head spotting blonde hair and blue eyes as Naruto looked at her from where he was standing with her in the flowers. The green haired girl looked at him before she spoke.

"I wanna cry."

Fu said while Naruto chuckled before he crouched in front of her, "Go right ahead. We're going nowhere." the blonde spoke as Tayuya leaned against a tree looking at her with her arms crossed, Boro gave her a little wave as he grinned, and Tsubasa walked toward her with one of the flowers in his hand offering it to her.

Fu then turned around spotting Yugito with her hands on her head as fire covered her body.

The sky continued to rumble as Fu opened her eyes pushing her beaten form up to her feet as she watched the orb compress again, "Fu… You…" Chomei said while the beaten and bruised girl looked toward the tailed beast in front of her.

"It's so lonely, isn't it? It hurts, doesn't it? That's okay… It's okay to cry now… You more than earned it."

Fu said while Matatabi continued to roar, more flames swept toward her as Fu allowed her tears to roll down her cheeks. The green haired girl then walked toward the flames while she opened her arms fearlessly, a small smile grew on her face.

"I'm not going anywhere so when you cry, you can do it right here… In my arms. Not by yourself anymore."

Fu said while the tailed beast stared at her as the flames nearly reached her but was stopped by something, causing them to dissipate. Fu's eyes widened as she spotted the thing that stopped the fire from reaching her body.

"Well said."

Naruto said as he used a fox tail to stop the flames, the blonde spun blowing backward the rest of the flames as Fu gave him a large grin. "You did it! You really did it!" Fu cheered while the blonde looked back toward her with his own smile.

"We don't have a lot of time. Let's reach her."

Naruto said while Fu nodded her head before sprouting out her four wings again pushing even further against the limit, she had long surpassed, Matatabi growled as more flames blasted toward the pair while the chakra over its mouth compressed one last time.

Naruto dashed forward knocking away flames as Fu followed closely striking through the fires with her wings as well getting closer and closer to Matatabi who was about to unleash the tailed beast bomb, Fu blocked another blast of fire with her wings before a large wave of flames came toward the teens.

Naruto quickly grabbed onto Fu as he dashed faster toward the large wave of flames punching a fist at them opening a hole in the fire as he jumped through it, the flames spiraled into a vortex as the pair of teens flew closer to the tailed beast.

Matatabi looked down to blast them directly, but the pair quickly blasted past the jaws of the beast before extending their hands out.

"Yugito!"

On the castle floor Yugito sat surrounded by fire as she stared at the doors, as if she was waiting for something to come through them. Something coming to break her, because of what he was. What she had to be; she didn't want those doors to open to anything.

She didn't want to be broken again.

She just wanted to fulfill her purpose and be done with it all already, the suffering to become a weapon and the worth that would come from her death had made her tired waiting for it.

She wished it would just happen.

Suddenly she heard a sound, Yugito lifted her head as the door was beginning to move. The blonde woman flinched as she moved backward away from the door, "Damn you. Damn you!" Yugito raised her voice while she placed her hands on her head.

"Damn you!"

Yugito roared as the door finally gave way opening to revealing a panting Naruto along with Fu who poked her head out from behind him, the blonde woman looked at the two teens with disbelief as her dark purple eyes trembled.

"Mind if we come in?"

Naruto asked while Fu stepped into the room before following her, "This is strange. So, this was what it was like, huh Naruto?" Fu said while the blonde smiled at the girl.

"Get away… Both of you… you don't have a place here. These flames, they'll burn you. They won't allow you to reach me."

Yugito said while Fu looked at the flames before she shrugged, stepping toward them anyway, she stepped through them as Yugito stuck her hand out, "Wait, you'll-" the blonde woman said as Fu moved through the fire easily.

"A little warm but nothing in comparison to out there… Besides, I don't think you want to burn either one of us."

Fu said while Yugito stared at the girl in disbelief as she stepped closer and closer to her, "Don't. Don't come any closer. Just leave me. Leave me here. I can't-" Yugito tried to get out, but Fu kept walking toward her without a care in the world.

The girl then hugged the woman, Yugito's eyes adopted a shocked expression as the girl held onto her tightly. "No one is here to hurt you anymore… We won't let them. Never again." Fu spoke while Yugito looked at the girl.

Naruto then walked through the flames watching the two of them before he stepped closer as well, the blonde then gently grabbed Yugito's hand noticing the small scars that lined it from the many times it had been broken in her training.

Yugito's eyes widened in a slight panic as she remembered the way the ninja held her wrist before snapping it. The woman was about to pull back but stopped when Naruto lifted her hand to his head gently placing his forehead against it.

"You're not broken."

Naruto said while Yugito's face melted away from the shock and became somber instead, it was so warm here instead of cold despite the fires that had surrounded her. The blonde woman could feel a tear beginning to form in her eye as the castle began to fall apart around them.

Break.

Yugito could only feel Naruto's warmth on her scarred hand rather than the sensation of it being broken, she was still not broken.

Fall apart.

Fu continued to hug the woman as tightly as she could even as the castle continued to fall apart around them unmoving, Yugito felt as if she was keeping her together from completely unraveling. The castle continued to crumble and fall as Yugito felt light.

"Foolish girl… It took you this long to realize."

Matatabi spoke as the castle had fallen apart enough to reveal that large blue flaming tailed beast, "You will never be something that you aren't, nor can you escape who you are. I will always be the demon; you will always be a human. Value that. Your suffering is because of me, stop taking the blame for yourself. Damn child." the tailed beast spoke, turning away while Yugito blinked as the tear in her eye finally fell.

The small girl who had curled up into a ball was no longer there on the floor, just as the castle she was trapped in was no longer there either. They were breaking apart into nothing, which meant nothing had trapped her here anymore…

Pull yourself back together.

Yugito opened her eyes to the sky as Fu and Naruto sat next her, her purple eyes then looked toward the caravan which had been stopped. Before her eyes trailed over to a familiar sight of the dark-skinned man looking at her from behind his sunglasses.

"Welcome back to the land of the livin'. Before you say I was right and you were wrong don't worry, you're forgiven."

Killer Bee rapped while Yugito looked at the man from the ground before she huffed closing her eyes as a somber look covered her face, "... I hated you… for a long time." Yugito said while Killer Bee nodded his head at the woman.

"I know."

Killer Bee said while Yugito looked at him, "All I heard when they were with me was about you, how they wanted me to be like you, but I wasn't. I admired you… but I could never stop feeling like a failure even when you were training me. Only to be told to die for you. It... wasn't fair." the blonde woman confessed as the man closed his notebook.

"You're right. That wasn't fair. Something else that ain't fair is how little you care."

Killer Bee rapped again while Yugito looked at the man, "You made your life into war for something you were forced to fight for, constantly prattling on about the Land of Lightning to the point you didn't even question that guy when he told us he was with them. You allowed your judgment to be clouded and made an error." the man said while Yugito looked away.

"Hey Octopops, she was just doing her best-"

Naruto was cut off by the man sticking up his finger, "I'm her sensei right now. She knows what I'm saying." Killer Bee said while Yugito nodded her head at the blonde.

"So, you have to receive a punishment."

Killer Bee said while Yugito just looked at him as if she had already accepted any consequence he could give her, "Your punishment… Stick with these Renegades." Killer Bee said while Yugito's eyes widened while the man grinned.

"What?"

Yugito said while Killer Bee chuckled, "Until this Bandit King guy is taken down… We'll call it a recon mission, watching them to make sure they aren't a potential threat or something." the man said while Fu's eyes lit up at the same time Yugito looked confused.

"Lord Raikage, he would-"

"Leave that mug to me, this is an order from your teacher."

Killer Bee said while Yugito gave the man a puzzled look, "Why?" the blonde woman asked as the man lifted his finger into the air.

"All you have done since you've been a child was look for something to die for. Whether that's the land or even me. You are being punished with something more difficult by staying with these guys for a while…"

Killer Bee tailed off as he looked at Naruto and Fu before smiling while Yugito continued to look at the man with confusion before he pointed at her speaking again.

"Find something to live for."

Killer Bee said leaving Yugito speechless, meanwhile a little further behind them Boro and Tsubasa leaned against the damaged caravan, "So we're taking the scary killer cat lady with us?" the brown-haired young man said while Tsubasa nudged him.

"Ow! My wounds!"

Boro yelled out dramatically while Killer Bee gave the woman a look, "Don't worry, we'll be back home waiting for you once you finish up." the man spoke while he gave Yugito a nod before he stuck his fist up into the air.

"I'm out!"

Killer Bee yelled while Naruto stood, "Octopops wait. What about you?" the blonde spoke while Killer Bee turned around looking the blonde in the eyes.

"I'm kinda going against orders leaving her to you guys, so I gotta go back and make sure that doesn't cause any trouble for her as any good teacher would."

"Do you think we'll be able to meet again?"

Naruto asked while Killer Bee looked at him for a moment before he turned toward him, "What's your name, kid?" the man asked while the blonde pointed a thumb toward himself.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki!"

The blonde exclaimed as Killer Bee nodded his head before he stuck his fist out, "Well Naruto, where I'm from this is how we keep promises. Bump my fist. We'll meet again, I don't doubt it." the older Jinchuriki said while Naruto nodded, bumping his fist with his own.

"Believe it."

The blonde said while Killer Bee nodded, he then took a step toward Fu ruffling her hair. "Be good." the ninja said while Fu huffed.

"No promises."

The girl said with faux defiance in her voice while Yugito looked at her teacher as he gave her a salute before he turned walking away, he stopped by the two other boys giving them a quick look causing them both to flinch before the man started laughing.

Killer Bee then vanished as Boro got up shaking his fist, "What a dick!" the teen yelled while Tsubasa exhaled through his nose patting the other boy on the back. Naruto meanwhile helped Yugito to her feet as Fu bounced in front of her.

"You're going to love our headquarters! We spent a bunch of time fixing it up and it's super cool!"

Fu exclaimed while Yugito gave her a guilty look, "Are you really able to accept me, after all I did to you?" the woman asked while the girl grinned.

"Of course! There isn't a scratch on me, afterall."

Fu said while she gave Naruto a wink, the blonde chuckled while the girl ran ahead tackling the two boys into a hug. Yugito watched the girl while Naruto kept her propped up using his shoulder to help keep her on her feet as she was still recovering.

"Naruto…"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

The blonde teen said as he looked toward the woman, "I was wrong about you all. I judged your situation without even asking a question first." the woman said while Naruto shook his head.

"We're all here for each other and you being with us means the same applies to you. No questions asked, so don't beat yourself up about it."

The blonde teen said while Yugito allowed a small smile to crawl on her face as she continued to walk beside the blonde who looked ahead.

"You mind if I ask you a question?"

Naruto asked while Yugito raised an eyebrow at the blonde teen, who spoke as her eyes widened in response to his question.

{...}

The sky was now filled with stars as the night was still near the compound, the sound of footsteps landing in grass separating it was all that filled the air as Naruto walked toward the tree line with a calm look on his face almost focused.

"So, are you going to tell me why you're carrying me to the forest or am I going to have to find out mid-assassination attempt?"

"Just trust me."

Naruto said to Tayuya while she was in his arms groaning, "I hate surprises. Have I told you that?" the girl complained while the blonde rolled his eyes.

"Do you know what trust me means?... You do trust me, right?"

Naruto asked while Tayuya gave the teen a more serious look, "More than I'd like to admit… What's going on?" the girl asked while the blonde found a good place in the forest setting her down gently against a tree.

"So, I've been working on something for a while… Something for you, but it wasn't working because I was afraid of what would happen if it didn't and something worse happened… I still don't know if it will work but I want to try. I'm still afraid but I want to try."

Naruto said while Tayuya looked at the blonde's blue eyes before she looked at the ground, "That's when you do it anyway right?" the girl said as the blonde placed his hands on her arms.

"This could potentially kill you, if I slip up. If I miss then-"

Naruto said while Tayuya lifted her hand placing it against his cheek, "Then you miss. That's all. Look, whatever it is you should just do it. You can. I believe that because it's you. Shithead, go for it. If I live then awesome, I guess but if I die…" Tayuya trailed off as she continued to stare into Naruto's eyes before she huffed.

"Then I'm glad it was you."

Tayuya said while Naruto's eyes looked at her with shock as she nodded, "Get it out of the way, Naruto." the girl said while the blonde stared at her eyes for a few more moments before he took a deep breath opening his hand slowly.

In his palm red chakra slowly bubbled in it as it began to spiral into a sphere, the small red sphere danced in the blonde's hand as he looked at Tayuya's legs before he looked back into her eyes. Tayuya looked back at him before she nodded her head as the blonde took another breath.

He then gently took the sphere and as slowly as he could he brought the sphere down on top of her legs, Tayuya winced as the red chakra crawled up her legs clocking them in the red chakra. Naruto held steady as the girl continued to wince, gritting her teeth.

"Hang on, Tayuya."

Naruto said while Tayuya continued to grit her teeth before she finally opened her mouth, the girl screamed out in pain while the blonde continued to hold down the sphere. Tayuya held onto Naruto, shoving her face into her shoulder as he continued to press down.

"Tayuya! Hang in there! Stay with me!"

Naruto exclaimed while Tayuya yelled out in pain again, her nails dug into the blonde's back as he focused on maintaining the chakra flow. The blonde closed his eyes as he focused solely on the chakra as Tayuya let out another loud scream of pain before he could feel it.

The chakra had stopped bubbling around her legs becoming still before the chakra retracted from her legs back to the blonde's palm as Naruto quickly held onto Tayuya as she limply laid on him, the blonde looked at her face as her eyes were closed.

"Tayuya?"

The teen asked while he watched the girl with a growing sense of worry and dread crawling over him before her eyes slowly opened up, "Too tight…" the girl groaned as Naruto eased his hold on her while she coughed a little from the release.

"You ok?"

Naruto asked while the girl stared at him for a moment before her eyes widened, "Shithead, your knee… it's on my shin…" the girl said while Naruto looked at his knee noticing it was before he moved it. He looked back at the girl who stared at her shin.

"I felt that… I could feel that!"

Tayuya exclaimed while Naruto chuckled before he stood up, the smile grew on his face as he watched Tayuya wiggle her toes."Holy shit, I can feel that!" the girl exclaimed while the blonde pinched the bridge of his nose before he punched a fist in the air!

"It worked!"

Naruto cheered while Tayuya ran her hands over her legs, for the first time in over a year she could feel them. Every touch, every pinch. It was real. All of it was real. Her legs really came back. Naruto really did exactly as he promised.

It was strange and it still felt unreal, she had been trapped in the prison of her own body for the longest time. Constantly she was carried along and unable to move of her own accord but now she could, what was the first thing she wanted to do now that she could feel her legs?

Would she run? Just feel the grass between her toes again. Would she kick the bounty fucker in his ass? Would she climb a tree? Tayuya paused as she began to think of something that came to mind for her almost overwhelmingly so.

Naruto.

The times that he carried her around, that he defended her, that he came back for her, that she went after him. The constant in all the thoughts that came to mind when she thought about her legs and everything she had been through because she had lost them.

She knew the first thing she wanted to do.

"I was so nervous it wouldn't work! I mean I asked about it and was told that it wasn't a certainty but still it worked! Take that!"

Naruto gloated into the air as Tayuya struggled, pulling herself to her freshly healed feet to stand as she looked at the blonde, the sensation of standing felt foreign to her hell it felt like she would fall at any moment but that's not what she was focused on.

"Tayuya? Be careful you can't-"

Naruto was cut off as the girl took two quick steps on her wobbly legs pulling the blonde into a hug, Naruto looked shocked as Tayuya hugged the blonde tightly placing her face into his neck as she continued to hold onto him. Naruto wrapped his arms around the girl as well as she wouldn't let go for anything, because this was the first thing that came to her mind as what she wanted to do.

Because it's you.