Chapter 16: All These Things That I've Done

XxX

Tenchi bridge, 8:40 PM, 10 Days since Tenchi bridge mission start

"Okay Naruto, that's enough." Yamato yelled out across the battlefield.

"Ah, come on, Captain Yamato! It was just getting to the good part!" Naruto whined in a mini tantrum.

Yamato was busy catching his breath. He was feeling pretty tired, and the sun had just gone down. "You have to remember; I've already had three spars before you, and they were not easy."

"I think you are afraid that I'll beat your butt and want to save face." Naruto shouted out from across the field. Instantly, Yamato put on his ghoul face and stared down the young shinobi.

Oh crap, he's not joking around!

"O-Ok fine captain Yamato. Just p-please put that face away! It really scares me." Naruto said with a little fear.

Yamato was not joking when he said his previous spars were difficult. Each of the three kunoichi brought a different style of combat with them, and he had to adapt on the fly to deal with each of them.

Against Sakura, he was forced to maintain a safe distance, knowing that a single misstep could result in a crushing blow. Up close, her sheer strength was intimidating, capable of delivering devastating punches that could knock even the toughest opponents off their feet. Tsunade's training had clearly paid off, honing Sakura's skills to make her a formidable opponent.

When facing Ino, Yamato employed a more agile approach, constantly moving and seeking opportunities to get close. He was acutely aware of the risks posed by her clan's powerful jutsu, which could swiftly end any one-on-one battle if the opponent wasn't cautious. Fortunately, Yamato had prepared himself for this scenario, studying Ino's tactics and developing a strategy to counter her deadly abilities.

Hinata was the most formidable kunoichi opponent of the three. From a distance, she wielded her arsenal of rubber-tipped arrows with deadly precision, making every shot count. If he dared to venture closer, her mastery of the Gentle Fist technique would leave him reeling. It was only at mid-range that he stood a slim chance of gaining the upper hand, and he seized every opportunity to exploit this weakness. Despite his eventual triumph, the battle had taken a tremendous toll on him, draining his energy and leaving him vulnerable.

Fighting Naruto proved to be Yamato's toughest challenge yet, even taking into account his previous exhaustion. Naruto's only vulnerabilities were genjutsu and his impulsiveness, which often clouded his judgment. Yamato lacked the expertise in genjutsu to effectively exploit this weakness, so he decided to resort to taunting. This tactic worked for a short time, as Naruto's emotions would flare up, but he would regain control and refocus his attention after a moment. Yamato felt pleased with Naruto's progress. Yamato knew that if Naruto faced an enemy he hated, his anger might take control. In this case, Yamato hoped his wood release skills could handle Naruto's emotional outbursts. He prayed to Kami, the supreme deity, hoping his skills would keep Naruto on track.

Clap, Clap, Clap

"Naruto, you did amazing!" Hinata praised the boy she loved. During the 'battle' against Deidara, if it could be called that, Naruto had not been able to really show off what he could do. She only got to see him use the rasengan and swift release. Now, though, she finally got a proper taste of the growth he has had. She wasn't disappointed. If anything, he went above and beyond her wildest expectations.

"Yeah, I have to say, hearing you talk about your training and seeing it put to use are completely different things." Sakura concurred with Hinata. Unlike Hinata, Sakura didn't hear the stories about his training, and she wasn't there to see how the fight against Deidara had gone. This was the first real taste she had of Naruto's skills since the invasion of Konohagakure. He had improved by leaps and bounds. She hoped, though, that she wouldn't need to see him go all out during this mission.

"I have to say Goldie. If that's a taste of what you can do. Those Akatsuki freaks will stand no chance!" She says as she raises her fist into the air in triumph. Ino felt happiness at seeing Naruto in action. "Speaking of Akatsuki, what exactly is your connection with them, Goldie?" Ino questions her fellow blonde.

Naruto froze for just a second before he turned to the other two kunoichi. "You didn't tell her?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"It's your secret to share, Naruto." Hinata said hand started to tremble just a bit, but she paid it no mind.

"We wouldn't betray you like that. You alone have the right to share it." Sakura added on.

Naruto was left speechless, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. He felt an intense rush of gratitude towards the two of them. This surge of appreciation was quickly followed by a sense of trust that grew exponentially. But most profoundly, Naruto felt a wave of relief wash over him, like a cool breeze on a sweltering summer day. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, allowing him to finally exhale the pent-up anxiety he had been carrying. He could trust them with his deepest secrets. This made him feel comforted, like finding a safe haven in a storm.

"Thanks, you two. You don't know how much that means to me." He said with gratitude. The two kunoichi simply gave him big smiles in return.

Naruto then turned to Ino and spoke directly to her. "You know how the Akatsuki are capturing jinchūriki?" He received a nod of approval and continued. "I'm the jinchūriki of the nine tails."

A palpable silence hung in the air, thick with anticipation, like a heavy fog that refused to lift. Naruto's eyes dropped, his gaze fixed on the ground, as if the ground itself could provide an honest opinion. He couldn't bear to see Ino's reaction, her expression a potential reflection of his own self-doubt. The seconds ticked by at a glacial pace, each one feeling like an eternity, as the silence grew more oppressive. Finally, Ino's voice broke the stillness, her words piercing the air like a gentle breeze on a summer day.

"Ah geez, is that all Goldie?" Ino said, bewildered.

Naruto's eyes widened in bewilderment as he struggled to process Ino's reaction. He had braced himself for a range of emotions - fear, empathy, or anger - but this calm, bewildered response was beyond his comprehension. "Wait, you're not afraid of me?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion, as he finally mustered the courage to meet her gaze, searching for a glimmer of understanding.

Ino was now walking towards Naruto with her hands on her hips. "Why would I be? If anything, I'm happy you told me, but it honestly doesn't change anything between us. You are still the most unpredictable shinobi there is. If you seriously thought I would think less of you after telling me that, then you don't give me enough credit." She spoke with sincerity.

Ino didn't have a clue at just what her words meant to him. Words couldn't convey what he felt right now. So instead of telling her how he felt, he would show it. When she got near him, he wrapped her up in a hug, twirled her around in the air, and said "Thank you" as sincerely as he could. She was taken aback by the gesture. She had not expected such a genuine reaction from Naruto.

"Ok, ok Goldie, that's enough. Please put me down." She said as she laughed at the sudden sensation of weightlessness. "I know I called you the most unpredictable shinobi, but can you at least TRY and be more predictable around us?" She half-jokingly requested of him. In the smallest, darkest corner of Hinata's mind, a thought popped into existence and ceased to be so fast, it could hardly say to have occurred at all. This thought was of ways to kill Ino nice and slowly.

"I'll try my best, but no promises." Naruto said with his goofy grin, putting Ino down.

Yamato took in the scene before him and felt relief. He didn't know exactly how this group would function together as a unit and had some fears before about how they would operate and work off each other. His fears were unfounded, it seemed, and on the teamwork front, they were ready as they could be.

"Ok everyone, the sun has gone down, so I think it's best we go inside for the night." Yamato said as he stretched his arms above his head. "I want to go over the plan for tomorrow with everyone. I also want to practice my Sasori impression and see if it will hold up long enough." Yamato announced to the group.

After receiving a round of positive affirmation, Yamato went inside his wooden structure and sat in what had become the living room. He was quickly joined by all those under his command. They had informally arranged themselves opposite each other in a pentagon shape, being equidistant from each person to their sides.

"Our main objective will be to capture this spy alive. Even if we have to fight them, we are not to kill him unless your own life is also threatened, or if their escape is inevitable otherwise." Yamato said to his assembled team as he kicked off the mission briefing formally.

Hinata raised her hand first and spoke. "What happens if we do have to kill him?"

"If that happens, that is where Ino will become the lynchpin of us going forward or going back." Yamato declares as he gestures towards the kunoichi in question.

"You want me to do a mind walk on a dead person." Ino states in a straightforward manner as she points to herself.

"That's right, I hope it doesn't come to that. I have faith in your skills. Your father's reports state you are ready for it." Yamato says, reassuring her.

"I have never done a mind walk on the dead. I only know the theory behind it." Ino says, bringing her hands down into her lap. She casts her gaze downwards as well. She was starting to question her own abilities in this unexplored realm. She had only seen her father do a mind walk on a dead person once before, and she knew the difficulties and dangers in it. Unlike living minds, those freshly dead did not respond to the Yamanaka clan's normal techniques, forcing the mind walker to much more dangerous extremes.

"I hope to not put you on the spot like that, but it is a possibility, so I want you to prepare yourself for it. Have faith in yourself." Yamato says to encourage her.

Ino rose her gaze to meet Yamato's. In his eyes, she saw that her captain had the utmost faith in her.

If he has such faith in me, then so should I! You can do this, Ino! You were handpicked out of all the Yamanaka to be on this mission by the Hokage herself. If both of them believe I can do it, then I will!

"Right, you can count on me." Ino says to reassure her teammates, her fist raised in front of her with determination.

"Good, now in the case of a live capture, you might still be needed, but this would be a living target." Yamato utters.

"I will have no problem with that. It could take a while. It depends on their mental barriers, but I will get you what you need." Ino says with far more confidence than before.

"Now then." Yamato then turns to face the group completely again. "At the start of this mission, I will face the spy alone. You are NOT to engage unless I give the signal. You four will be in the tree line and will hide yourselves and your chakra signatures. We have no idea how good a sensor this person will be, and I'd rather not tip them off." He says as he glances over the group.

"What will be the signal, Captain Yamato?" Sakura asks, raising her hand.

"It will be this." Yamato then brings his hand up and down in a chopping motion. All four nodded their heads in understanding. "Good, now if this encounter does go sideways and combat does happen, listen to my orders on the field. I will determine who does what depending on the circumstances."

He then turns to Sakura and addresses her directly. "You will focus on those with injuries the most. That includes our target." He pauses for a bit before asking an important question. "Will you be able to heal the enemy if its required?"

"Hai Yamato, if it means completing this mission, I will help even those working with Akatsuki." Sakura made a blunt statement. Her eyes had an iciness to them, letting everyone know her stance on the Akatsuki quite clear.

"Good, with that said. I want you three to critique my henge. No detail is too small to not bring up. This needs to be as perfect as possible." Yamato declares. He stands up from his kneeling position and moves towards the center of the pentagon. Once he reaches the center, he performs his henge based on the dossier given to him and Sakura's personal observations.

Standing before the four shinobi was an almost perfect duplicate of Sasori. Yamato hunched over in a black cloak with red clouds and completed the get up with a large straw hat.

"Well, how does it look?" Yamato as Sasori asks.

The three shinobi get up from their seated positions and start to circle around their captain. Looking for any imperfections they could see in the disguise. Only Ino remained where she was, quietly watching the scene in front of her.

"Well, for starters, captain, his voice wasn't that deep or hoarse." Naruto says, continuing to circle.

"How's this?" Yamato says as he changes his voice based on the feedback.

"Perfect!" Naruto says as he gives a thumbs-up.

"His face covering also wasn't torn like yours when we first met him." Hinata says as she grabs her chin in a thinking manner.

"He also had a few more wrinkles on his face." Sakura added as they all continued their waltz around Yamato.

Hearing this feedback, Yamato re-henged and made some adjustments. "Anything else?" Yamato asks. The three continued to circle but couldn't find anything else wrong with the henge. It was perfect. The three replied with "No" and took their respective positions from before.

"Good, now I need to get his mannerisms down." Yamato stated. He then started walking and talking as best he could to imitate Sasori. Hinata, Sakura, and Naruto all gave feedback on what he was doing, and Yamato would adjust. Eventually, Yamato was a carbon copy of Sasori in both physical appearance and charisma.

"Honestly, Captain, I can't tell you apart from Sasori. You have done an amazing job recreating him." Sakura said, praising his effort as she took her seat to one side of Naruto, with Hinata on the other side.

"Thank you for that, Sakura." Yamato replies as he turns back into his normal self. He then returns to the position he once had.

"Now then, is there anything else you all would like to discuss or ask?" Yamato says to the group as he adjusts himself back into his seated position.

"Yes, there is." Hinata says as she raises her hand again.

"What is it, Hinata?" Yamato asks.

"It's actually a question for Naruto and Sakura." She says as he faces the two of them. "What is this curse mark you were discussing with Lady Tsunade when we first got this mission? I've been meaning to ask, but I kept on getting sidetracked before."

Hinata had never heard of such a mark before. She gathered it must have been a seal of some kind, but that was it. She had no idea its function or what it could do. She would have asked back at the hot springs, but she didn't for two reasons. One was that she wanted Naruto to be there to help explain things just in case. The second was Ino; her 'antics' at the retreat made Hinata completely forget about the curse mark.

"Thats... tough to explain. Neither of us knows exactly what it is." Sakura said, painful memories returning to her mind of that day in the forest of death. At the time, she thought she was ready to face death again after the waves mission, but she was wrong. Facing Orochimaru during the exams was still the most scared she had ever been for her life. Even more so than when she fought Sasori.

"It's a seal of some kind made by Orochimaru. It gives you unbelievable power, but it corrupts you as you do." Naruto says, recalling what he could remember Jiraiya and Kakashi had said about the mark. During his travels with Jiraiya, he had started working on his seal work with the sage. After some time, Naruto asked him about Sasuke's cursed seal.

Jiraiya had told him it was a nasty bit of work created by his former teammate and would be nigh impossible to remove outside of having Orochimaru's help. It meant that Sasuke and Anko would have to live with it for the rest of their lives. Or so they thought.

"So Anko has, sorry, had, that mark. What does that have to do with Sasuke?" Hinata questions the two further, eyes narrowing a bit as she looks at Sakura.

"During the chūnin exams, Orochimaru got into the forest of death and gave Sasuke the curse mark as well." Naruto stated. He could only remember the events to a point. He had confronted Orochimaru at first and had expected backup from Sasuke. Sasuke, though, had a rare moment of panic and hesitated, causing Naruto to fight Orochimaru on his own for a bit. This allowed Orochimaru to knock him out quite easily, and when Naruto woke up, Sasuke had been given the curse mark.

"Unlike Anko, though, Sasuke willingly gave in to the temptation of the mark. I had thought it was the curse mark that caused his first defection, but I was wrong. The curse mark only amplifies feelings that are already there." Sakura expressed her observations with a clinical tone.

Naruto had also asked his sensei if the curse mark could have been why Sasuke left. "Sakura is right, I told pervy sage I thought the same thing. He told me the curse mark can't amplify what isn't already there. Everything Sasuke has done; he's wanted to do on his own."

Hinata felt a twinge of empathy for the Uchiha. She knew of what he had gone through as a child. She couldn't imagine how she would have turned out if something like that had happened to her. "I'm guessing that normal means can't remove this mark?"" Hinata asks, her tone and expression softening.

"No, and as long as you don't give in to the temptation of the mark, it doesn't do anything." Sakura answered. "That is why we were shocked when we heard it was removed from Anko. It gives further credence to Sasuke being the one who did, given he's the only other person to have it." Out of everyone in Konohagakure, he would be the one to have hidden contact with Orochimaru." She says as she looks at Hinata.

"How much power does this mark give him?" Ino chimed in for the first time in this conversation. She was trying to get information on a potential future confrontation and wanted to be prepared.

"A lot, it gives him a lot." Naruto states, his eyes devoid of expression as he recalls that day with clarity. When I last fought him seriously, he had completely succumbed to the curse mark. His power almost matched mine and I was using the nine-tails chakra at the time as well. It was enough to do this to me." He lifts his shirt and mesh armor as he says this.

This time, none of the kunoichi blushed; too busy were they staring at the scar near his heart. A reminder to them that if they were not careful, they could easily die in this profession. This simply furthered their unspoken resolve to protect Naruto no matter what.

"In short, when we do find him, be on guard. I can't imagine just how much more powerful he is if he does have two curse marks now." Naruto shuddered at the mere possibility. He knew firsthand what one curse mark could do. Two? He didn't know if all his training would be enough to counter such a massive spike in power.

"Naruto, Sakura, if we do find and confront Sasuke. Will you be able to do what you need to do if he gives us no choice?" Yamato decided to ask the most important question of the two. He needed to know where Sasuke's former teammates stood in relation to him.

Both shinobi took some time to answer this. It was a question they themselves had asked many times, and even now they didn't have a very satisfactory reply. "Honestly, Captain, I don't know. I mean, I forgave him for betraying me once on top of him trying to kill me. Forgive him twice? Including what he did to Anko? I just don't know if I can do that. I don't even know what I'll do when I see him again. I just want to know why. As crazy as it sounds, he's still my friend and I want to help him. I will say this though: I will protect all of you no matter what." Naruto honestly answered first.

He knows things with Sasuke can't go back to the way they used to be. Sasuke must answer for what he's done. He can't get off like he did last time. This time though, he's going to try even harder to reach out to Sasuke and bring him back, even if it means losing his own life. Before he goes that far, though, he's going to try and beat the message into Sasuke first, and he had to be honest with himself. A part of him was looking forward to delivering that message.

Satisfied with this answer for now, Yamato turns to the other original member of Team Kakashi. "And you Sakura?"

Sakura knew this kind of question would eventually come up, and she had been mulling it over ever since they all started on this journey to Tenchi Bridge. "I don't know if I have it in me to kill him. I would only do it if it meant saving any of you. Still, I want to save him from himself. My feelings for him may have passed, but he's still my teammate, damn it! I hate what he's done to Anko, and I want to know why he did it. Despite that, Naruto and I both know he's hurting, and he needs our help. We wouldn't be very good teammates if we abandoned him when there is still a chance we can help."

Her thoughts, it seemed, largely mirrored Naruto's on the matter. Both were under no delusions about what Sasuke currently was. Both knew that deep down, the Sasuke they remembered was buried under hate, grief, sadness, and vengeance. They needed to somehow reach that part of him and save him before he was completely lost to them.

"Alright, I can't expect much more from either of you. As long as you put our lives first, I can trust you to do what's right." Yamato says with some empathy. With this discussion over, Yamato brought his hands together in a clap.

"Now then, it's starting to get late. We should all go to bed soon. I want us all to be well rested for tomorrow." Yamato adds on. The group agrees with this course of action as a collective and soon all drift off to neverland.

XxX

Sunagakure, 11:03 PM, 10 Days since Tenchi bridge mission start

Two weeks. It had been two weeks since Temari's world had broken and shattered. Her youngest brother had been taken from her far too soon. Now, as the moon cast an eerie glow over the village of Sunagakure, Temari found herself wandering through the silent streets, her heart heavy with grief. Every shadow seemed to whisper memories of her brother, and her mind was a tumult of anger and sorrow. She knew that she couldn't let her emotions hinder her.

The loss was a raw wound. The wind, ever her companion, seemed to mourn with her, carrying the weight of her heartache across the dunes. She vowed to honor Gaara's memory by avenging him and bringing the group that did this to him to justice. She headed on autopilot to the one place she spent her now restless nights, hoping tiredness would take her and allow her a mild peace in her tumultuous life.

Now she arrived at the training grounds where she and her brothers had first met Baki. This is where they started their journey to become shinobi of Sunagakure. It held many painful memories, far too many to count. At least it used to. As time passed, even the unpleasant memories began to shine slightly brighter, serving to contrast the genuinely good moments she had with Gaara.

She unfurled her fan from her back, gripping it tight to not lose it this night. She swung her fan in front of her, creating a slice of air that flew from her and cut into the sand. Then, she did it again, and again, and again, and again. Each time she swung a little bit faster, willing her arms to do a bit better each time. Soon enough, her swings were coming many times per second, each slice of wind continuing to dig through the sand a little more. A cloud of sand was soon coating the area, getting into her clothes and hair.

She did not care. After a lifetime of living in Sunagakure, she got used to the sand. She got used to it spreading everywhere. The hole in her soul that she would never fill and would never get used to.

The loss of her brother had changed her. Her sarcastic demeanor was gone, lost to the ether. Most of the joy she felt had vanished. She only had joy left in her life for her brother, one other boy, and for training.

For the past two weeks, she had come to this desolate place to further her abilities. She sharpened her wind release until it could cut through steel. She increased her chakra reserves and practiced her taijutsu against her sand clone whenever Baki was unavailable. Baki had been helping her a lot, but he had also been a little thorn in her side. He had started to plead with her to take more rest and to go easier on herself.

I can rest when I'm dead.

Her training had become her solace, the only place where she could channel her grief and fury into something tangible. The wind howled around her, a song of anguish and determination, as she pushed herself beyond her limits. Her mind raced with thoughts of vengeance. Each swing of her fan was a silent promise to herself, a vow to become stronger, to protect those she still held dear. Each swing represented an Akatsuki member she would strike down with.

In the depths of her despair, she found a fragile thread of hope, a glimmer of purpose that drove her forward. She would not rest until she served justice, until the name Akatsuki became nothing but a distant echo in the winds of time. With one final, powerful swing, she let out a primal scream, the sound reverberating through the empty training grounds, a testament to her unyielding spirit and the unbreakable bond she shared with her brother.

"Impressive, young one. You might be the best wind user in Sunagakure now." A voice said from behind Temari. Temari whirled her fan around her, blowing away the sand that hugged the air and pointed her fan at the unannounced visitor.

"Come now, child. Is that any way to greet your elder." The woman said. Her wrinkled face twisted in a frown.

"What are you doing here, Lady Chiyo? Temari said in a cold tone as she brought down her fan and turned to face the elder directly.

"I came of my own volition. It's no secret you have been sneaking out here to get in some extracurricular training." Chiyo says as she puts her arms in her robes to stave off the cool night air.

"There is a reason I'm doing this. I need to do this or else I'm wasting time. Every second I'm not training, feels like I'm letting Gaara down." Temari said, looking down into the sand, ashamed of herself.

"That night when the Akatsuki came, Gaara was the only one who could face them. Kankuro and I were helpless, sidelined against such monsters. Gaara had to fight them alone, and because of that, he got captured." Temari said, her voice shaking as she remembered the last time she saw her brother alive.

Chiyo, for her part, said nothing, only listening to Temari's grief. She had important news to tell Temari, but the girl needed to vent first. So, Chiyo would allow her to express her thoughts, hoping that she would finally release her emotions.

"If I had been stronger, spent more time training instead of lollygagging around, I could have fought with him. Then, he would be here with us, alive and well." Her voice continued to shake, and her body soon followed suit.

"But I didn't. I was weak, too weak. Because of that, I lost my Kazekage, I lost my brother! I'll never get to see him again. I'll never see the joy in his eyes again. I'll never get to tell him I love him ever again!" Temari said, sorrow taking over her. She shut her eyes tight and balled her fists tight.

"Why? Why did it have to be Gaara!? Why do those Akatsuki bastards have to even exist? How come we didn't know about them till it was too late? Kami, I hate them so fucking much. I want to rip their heads off and shove them up their own asses." She said, the fire inside her that had been growing was now finally breaking through. She needed to let the rage she felt inside escape somehow, or else it would overwhelm her.

"They will pay for what they have done to this village. I swear to Kami that I will avenge Gaara. I hate them, I hate them so fucking much. All I feel is hate now. I hate these feelings I have. I hate not being there when he died. But most of all, I hate myself! I hate this! I can't take it anymore! Why did this have to happen!? Why us!?" Why me!? She said, her rage finally left her as she fell to her knees and cried, covering her eyes with her hands and hanging her head.

Chiyo, for a while, let the young kunoichi sob. All her pent-up emotions were finally coming out to see the moonlit night. This is what Temari needed, to let go and be honest with herself. Chiyo would let Temari do what she needed to do. Only when she felt the young kunoichi was ready would she speak up.

Temari's sobbing came to an end. Her body no longer shook in the night. The hurricane of emotions in her heart had quieted to a gentle calm. The release provided her with a profound sense of calm.

Chiyo finally spoke, her voice gentle but firm. "Your anger and sorrow, Temari, are justified." But you must remember that Gaara fought not just for the village but for you, for Kankuro, for all of us. His spirit lives on in every decision we make, in every battle we fight. He would not want you to be so consumed with vengeance that you throw everything away to seek it."

"No offense, Lady Chiyo, but you shouldn't be the one talking to me about not seeking vengeance. I remember you tried to kill Kakashi when you thought he was the White Fang." Temari spat out in disgust, and she raised her head to try and meet Chiyo's gaze.

"...Yes, I did." Chiyo said as she turned her gaze towards the sand, ashamed of what she did.

"Then you should know better than anyone why I'm doing this. Why I need it!" Temari said as she brought a fist up to her chest.

Chiyo didn't speak for a few seconds, collecting the words that Temari needed to hear. "Yes, I do understand. I also understand that if I did manage to kill him, those Konohagakure shinobi would have had every right to kill me in retribution. And when they did, Sunagakure would seek retribution in kind." Chiyo took a breath to let her words sink in.

"I was wrong for doing what I did. I set a bad example for the younger generations. You should be better than us. We need to not only teach you better but show you better as well. In that regard, I failed you." Chiyo said as she brought her head up to meet Temari's gaze.

"Vengeance can spiral out of control and become all-consuming. Please, don't seek it out." Chiyo pleads with Temari.

Temari took a good long look into Chiyo's eyes. They were the eyes of someone who knew what they were talking about. They spoke of firsthand experience in such matters and how you needed to find another motivation other than revenge. "Then what am I supposed to do? Those Akatsuki bastards attacked us; justice needs to be had!" She shouted out.

Now that is the correct motivation. She needs to foster that mindset more to prepare her for her future position. But I must be careful, so she understands the difference between justice and vengeance.

"Yes, we need to do justice, and we will do it. We need to stop the Akatsuki so that what happened to us, especially you, does not happen again."

"Then I need to continue training so that I'll be ready next time they show up." Temari boasts. She felt better that Lady Chiyo and she were now on some kind of common ground. The rage and shame she felt were now dissipating at a rapid pace. Gaara's killers would not get away with what they did, and that brought her some semblance of peace.

"Training is necessary, but so is rest. If you do not get proper rest, you will not be able to train effectively. You have done enough for today. Please head home and clear your mind." Chiyo states. It wouldn't do Temari any good if she were to fall asleep without warning on her upcoming journey.

"But that is why I'm out here. I can't clear my mind except through training." Temari declares. She had not managed to get more than 3 hours of sleep a day since the funeral. She kept up a strong face, but even she was having a tough time covering up the obvious signs of sleep deprivation on her face.

"I believe this might clear your mind a bit." Chiyo says as she produces a scroll from her robe.

Temari stands up from her kneeling position and takes a few steps forward and grabs the scroll. She opens the seal on the scroll and unfurls it. As she is reading, her eyes start to grow wide as they dart across and down the scroll.

"Lady Chiyo this is..."

"A formal request from the acting Kazekage to the Hokage to allow you to join them on their hunt for the Akatsuki."

"This, this is ..." This is what Temari had been waiting for all this time. Chiyo's words replayed in her mind what the elder had said to her and the teams from Konohagakure. Chiyo's pledge that day wasn't empty boasting. She had put her money where her mouth was. There was something weird about the contents of this scroll though.

"Wait, you said it's from the acting Kazekage. It has your signature, though." Temari said, confused, as she looked up from the scroll towards Chiyo. It had not dawned on her yet what this meant.

"The council decided that as of this night, I will be the acting Kazekage until the successor is ready. They will not give me a number and will not record me as a Kazekage." Lady Chiyo declared with authority.

"This," Chiyo gestures to the scroll. "Is my first formal duty as acting Kazekage. This message will be sent tonight and arrive within Konohagakure shortly. That is another reason why you need to rest. You will need to be ready at a moment's notice to leave and so need to be well rested." Chiyo uttered, folding her hands behind her back.

Temari expected that this would happen at some point. Despite her grief, she understood the need for the village to have an acting Kazekage. She also understood that Kankuro was nowhere near ready to take on the responsibilities of the position. He was too brash and didn't play the political game well. Giving him extra time to learn under Lady Chiyo would do him some good.

"I guess Kankuro wants some more time to prepare for the hat. I can't blame him, but I hope he doesn't force you to wear it for an extended period." Temari says, calming down quite a bit. She turned her eyes back to the parchment to make sure her eyes were not deceiving her.

"Who said it was Kankuro that would be wearing the hat?" Chiyo said, with an eyebrow raised.

Temari immediately stopped reading and replayed what she had just heard. It took a while for Temari to digest that question and its implications. "Wait, the council wants ME to succeed Gaara?" Temari asked, stunned at the news, her eyes once again wide as she tore her eyes away from the scroll.

"Yes, my dear. The council has watched you both over the years and determined you would be a much better leader than Kankuro. You have the political tact to navigate sensitive issues. Plus, I wasn't kidding when I said you are likely the best wind release master we have. You have both the strength and intellect for the position. It's only your temperament that is questioned." Chiyo says. Truth be told, the council originally wanted Kankuro to become the next Kazekage. It was she and her brother that had changed the council's mind. They agreed quickly after Chiyo accepted the role of Kazekage temporarily while Temari prepared for the responsibilities that came with the position.

"Your position as ambassador to Konohagakure was fortunate now in more ways than fostering good relations. Both our diplomats and theirs have expressed strong admiration for you. When you are ready, I know you will be a fine Kazekage." Chiyo further adds.

"This, this is a lot to take in." Temari utters, still in shock about the news. For the moment, all her previous thoughts and emotions were gone, replaced with a bunch of questions she didn't have the answers too. If it had been Chiyo's goal to take her mind off her current troubles, then she succeeded.

Except now she just threw a bunch of new ones on my plate. Oh well, at least these problems I know how to deal with. I can't wait to see the look on Kankuro's face when he hears the news!

"I know, which is why I wanted to be the one to tell you all this before the council did. I won't be pushy on a timetable for you to take over. But I am old, and Father Time may decide for us both when you take the hat." Chiyo says, attempting a bit of humor.

"I suppose so." Temari chuckled a little for the first time in a fortnight.

Chiyo could hear the slight chuckle and was happy to see Temari feel something that wasn't sadness or hatred for the first time in a while.

"Once we bring the Akatsuki to justice, you will begin your Kazekage training in earnest." For now, keep up your training but do NOT overdo it. That's an order from your acting Kazekage. If Konohagakure agrees to you joining in the Akatsuki hunt, you will go to them and help them in whatever way they ask you. This will also be an invaluable opportunity for you to learn more about politics and how to run a village. Do I make myself clear?" Lady Chiyo asks the Kazekage in training.

"Crystal, ma'am," Temari says, standing straight and focused.

"No need to be so formal with my deary. I'm a temporary worker after all. Now then, it's time that you went back home to bed. Don't make me drag you back." Chiyo said with a slight teasing tone in her voice.

"Hey, you can't say that to your future Kazekage." Temari laughed a little as she said this.

"The day you become Kazekage, you can do whatever you like. Until that time, you live in my village and under my rules." Chiyo laughed with Temari.

After this, Temari did go back to her home. For the first time since her brother's death, she had a good night's sleep.

XxX

Near Tenchi Bridge, 11:59 PM, 10 Days since Tenchi bridge mission start

Naruto looked into Hinata's eyes. His voice trembled when he said, "I love you, Hinata." He grasped her hands with a firm grip, as if that would stop her from slipping away.

The moon cast a ghostly glow on their secluded spot, distant from the freshly made shelter and their teammates. They had wandered here together, seeking solace from the day's events, and Naruto felt an overwhelming urge to share his true feelings.

"It's important," he said. Hinata trusted him completely and followed without doubt. Now, as they stood face to face, Hinata's silence spoke volumes, her eyes wide with surprise and wonder.

"Naruto, I-I don't know wha..."

Naruto's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze intense and sincere. He reached out a gentle hand, his index finger pressing gently against her lips to silence her.

"Shhhh, you don't need to say anything," he whispers, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. "Know that I love you, and I want to be with you forever." His words hang in the air like a promise, and her heart responds by racing out of control. It's as if her entire world has come to a standstill, and all that exists is Naruto, standing before her, professing his undying love. She can't believe that the boy who has been her friend, her confidant, and her protector is now standing before her, declaring his love. It's a dream she's harbored for what feels like an eternity, and the reality of it is almost too much to bear.

He cradles her chin in his hand. His fingers wrap around it possessively. He closes his eyes and tilts his head forward. His face moves closer. His warm breath brushes her skin. His intention is clear. He will kiss her and show his true feelings. Hinata's cheeks blaze with a fiery heat, but she refuses to back down from this moment of truth. She has been waiting for what feels like an eternity for this, and she is not about to let it slip away. Her heart races like a wild animal. She closes her eyes gently, and her lashes flutter shut like butterfly wings. Then, she leans forward, her lips parting slightly in anticipation. One kiss, she thinks, and her relationship will be sealed. The air is charged with tension. They stand on the edge of a moment, waiting. The universe seems to hold its breath, eager for the spark that will ignite their love.

"Why didn't you help me?" He says, his voice cracking with unspeakable anguish, like a tree splintering under the weight of a raging storm. Quickly, she opens her eyes to look at him. They are no longer holding hands. He is standing away from her, his face cast down to the ground below, as if the weight of his gaze would crush him.

That's not what draws her attention the most, no. What horrifies her is the state of his body, like a canvas ripped apart by an artist's frenzied brushstrokes. His clothes are torn. Large patches of skin are missing. She can see the muscle, organs, and fat underneath. It's like peeling back layers of an onion to expose the raw, pulsing core. Blood pools at his feet, a crimson lake spreading around him. It threatens to engulf them both. She can see the actual beating of his heart in his chest, like a drumbeat in a primal ritual, pounding out a rhythm of pain and suffering. She fights the urge to gag at the sight. Her stomach churns like a stormy sea, as if the horror will swallow her whole.

Then, his head slowly pivots upwards, the sound of creaking bones echoing through the landscape. The sudden movement startles her, and her eyes widen in horror as his eyeless head finally meets her gaze. The sight is too much to bear, and a blood-curdling scream erupts from her throat. She springs up from her bed, her sheets tangled around her legs, as if propelled by an unseen force. Her heart races, pounding forcefully against her ribs. She fears it might burst from her chest, leaving her gasping for air. The room spins around her, a blur of darkness and shadows, as she struggles to comprehend the terror she has just seen.

A nightmare. Another nightmare.

She had been plagued by ever more nightmares since her return from the previous mission. What began as brief, scary dreams turned into constant, unsettling visions. They left her breathless and anxious. She had hoped that with time, the darkness would recede, and her troubled mind would find some semblance of peace. Instead, the nightmares grew worse. They invaded her mind with fierce intensity. She couldn't escape the fear that now filled her waking hours.

She grasps at her chest as if to physically still her racing heart, her hand quivering like a leaf in an autumn breeze. She inhales deeply, holding the air in her lungs for a moment before exhaling slowly, deliberately. At first, she gasps for air. Then, she focuses on how the air moves in and out. Her breaths lengthen and deepen with each passing moment. Soon, they find a steady rhythm. As her body regains its equilibrium, she wraps her fingers around the sheet with a firm grip, holding it close to her chest like a shield. The fabric's softness is a comforting sensation, a reminder that she is safe and that the turmoil has passed.

What is going on with me? Why isn't this going away?

Hinata frowned, trying to think of a way to stop the scary nightmares that troubled her. The question echoing in her mind was, who could she turn to for help? Suddenly, a name flashed before her eyes, Ino. She felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her for not thinking of her friend sooner. After all, Ino had been training under the watchful eye of her father, a renowned expert in psychology, for quite some time now. With Ino's help, Hinata wanted to understand her dark visions. She also aimed to find a way to get rid of them for good.

When we get back to Konohagakure, I'll ask her to help me.

With her mind made up, Hinata unclutched her sheets and lay back down. She knew tomorrow would be a very big day. She needed to get as much sleep as she could so she wouldn't be a burden to the others, but also to herself.

XxX

Near fire temple, 8:12 AM, 11 Days since Tenchi bridge mission start

"So Shikamaru, have you put any thought to what I said during our last shogi match?"

"..."

"Shikamaru, stop staring at the clouds. I don't know how you can cloud watch while walking and not trip over something."

"Oh, sorry Asuma, what were you saying?"

Asuma gave a sigh before he repeated his question. "I said have you put any thought to what I said during our last shogi match?"

"Can't say I have Asuma sensei." Shikamaru said. His hands were still behind his head, and he once again looked up towards the sky. In truth, he had thought it over, a lot. It had bothered him a bit ever since Asuma had told him about analogy about the village being like a shogi board. Shikamaru being like a knight made perfect sense since he could come up with out of the box solutions to almost any problem he faced.

He had initially thought that the King would clearly be the Hokage, but Asuma told him that was false. While indeed the Hokage is powerful, they were not the most valuable piece on the board.

If the Hokage isn't the most valuable piece, then who is?

"Seriously kid, how do you do that?" Kotetsu chimed in

"I third that motion, now spill it." Izumo said, carrying the motion.

Kotetsu has long, spiky, black hair and dark eyes. He has a strip of bandage running across the bridge of his nose and a light-coloured marking on his chin. Outside that he is wearing the standard konohagakure flak jacket and wears his forehead protector where it should be.

Izumo has brown hair, and dark eyes. His hair is combed down and always covers his right eye. He too is wearing the standard flak jacket of the village and wears his forehead protector in the proper place.

The four of them are currently on their way to the fire temple and plan on using it as a base to search for the Akatsuki that had crossed the border. Asuma was in front, Izumo and Kotetsu were in the middle, and Shikamaru was in the rear, completing the diamond formation.

Brought out of his train of thought. Shikamaru put a pin in his thoughts and answered. "There is no secret. You just need to be perceptive." Shikamaru made an honest statement.

Man, I hope these two don't become troublesome. I've rather been enjoying this little trip to the fire temple. It sucks this easy part won't last for too long.

Asuma had been light on the details of the mission. He said that a pair of S-Ranked criminals from a group called the Akatsuki infiltrated the land of fire and that they were seen near the border. They would make their base of operations be at the fire temple and from there, search the countryside for the criminals and then send word back to Konohagakure. Who exactly this Akatsuki group was, Asuma didn't say but he said they were dangerous. They were only to engage if to save lives or if unavoidable.

"Not all of us are as smart or perceptive as you Shikamaru." Asuma commented from the front while talking over his shoulder.

"Heh, you prove that to me every time we play shogi." Shikamaru slightly chuckled as he spoke.

"Hahaha, well, at least I always keep striving to improve myself." Asuma says as he lights up another cigarette.

"I don't see why you smoke those." Kotetsu says, commenting on Asuma's toxic habit.

"You do now how bad those are for you right?" Izumo adding on as he waves the fumes of smoke from his face.

"Wait really? They are bad for me? I never knew that!" Asuma said with sarcasm, but his tone remained kind. He was simply tired of hearing that line from virtually every nonsmoker he ever came across.

"And what would Kurenai say if she saw you right now?" said Shikamaru.

Much like in the Hokage's office, Asuma froze for a second. His cigarette falling out of his mouth. He moved to hide his wedding ring without being aware of it. He had tried his best to keep his relationship with Kurenai a secret. He thought he had done a pretty good job. He understood that the Hokage would find out; she had ANBU and was considered the strongest kunoichi/shinobi for a reason.

Shikamaru he also understood as well. The boy was smart, too smart for his own good. Heck, even Ino figuring it out didn't really surprise him either. She had the highest emotional intelligence out of any of them, including himself.

He just couldn't figure it out for the life of him how Chōji knew! He said neither Ino nor Shikamaru told him and that it was obvious. On the day Chōji told him, Asuma questioned his skills as a shinobi with deep concern.

So caught up was he in how own thoughts that he tried to take a drag from the cigarette that used to be in his mouth.

"Damnit Shikamaru, you made me waste one." Asuma grumbles out as he fetches another cigarette.

"If you stopped trying to hide it, it would be easier on you. What are you going to do when your child is born?" Shikamaru lazily drawled out.

That was a heavy question, and not an unfair one to ask. He and Kurenai had only just started talking about names for the child. He had a name for both a boy and girl and she had names in kind. Neither had backed down yet but they both agreed to settle on names when he got back from this mission. It was one of the many things that had to be postponed due to the Akatsuki

"Shikamaru, IF I have a child, and I'm NOT saying it's going to be soon. I'll sing it from the rooftops on that day." Asuma uttered out.

"Just don't do it too early in the morning. I need my rest." Shikamaru said

"Don't you sleep in till like 1PM on your days off?" Kotetsu remarked.

"And your point being?" Shikamaru retorted.

"..."

With that last bit of dialogue, the group continued onwards with its march for another hour. The group continued to rampart with one another, but they were always on the lookout for any ambushes.

"Hey, it looks like the fire temple is doing a big ritual this morning. I can see the smoke from here." Izumo said as he pointed to the smoke in the distance.

"I wonder what they could be doing. I can't think of any rituals they might be doing at this time of year." Kotetsu further added.

"Me neither. Shikamaru, your thoughts?" Asuma asked his young protege. Something felt off about seeing smoke from this far away. Any ritual they could be doing wouldn't need that much fire. He hoped that Shikamaru might be able to assuage his concerns.

Shikamaru immediately answered, a certain seriousness taking hold of his voice. "It can't be a ritual. We are still too far away to see any ritual fire. Something is happening to the temple itself."

"You heard the genius, let's move it. Double time to the temple!" Asuma barked out. He didn't wait for an acknowledgment from his team; instead, he began to run at full speed. He had a sinking feeling that something terrible had befallen his friend Chiriku.

Asuma had become acquainted with the ninja monk during their time as part of the twelve guardian shinobi for the daimyo. After a betrayal from within, the two were the only ones left alive. That was when Asuma decided to return to Konohagakure and Chiriku went back to the fire temple.

Chiriku was a righteous man who let nothing phase him. If he witnessed injustice, his wrath was great. It was these qualities that endeared the monk to Asuma. He hoped this feeling in the pit of his stomach turned out to be nothing. The closer his team got to the temple, the more his stomach twisted and turned.

The smoke continued to rise into the sky evermore. As they reached the temple grounds, the devastation became clearer. Structures that once stood as symbols of tranquility and resilience were now reduced to charred remains. Flames soared high into the early morning sky. Buildings were partially collapsed, and some had completely fallen due to the fire. Asuma's heart pounded with a renewed urgency, his thoughts fixated on Chiriku.

"Do you think this was the Akatsuki?" Izumo asked as he surveyed the devastation.

"I do not know, but if I had to guess I would say so. Right now, our goal is to search for survivors. I want everyone to stay close. The people who did this might still be nearby and I don't want any of you to die on my watch." Asuma said, keeping his emotions in check for the good of the mission.

"Understood." all three said in unison.

Asuma led the way through the smoking and smoldering wreckage, calling out for any survivors to speak up. All he could hear was the crackle and pop of the fires around him. His team was right behind him, putting out fires and moving debris to get to those they thought might be alive. All they found were bodies.

"Asuma, what's that over there?" Kotetsu said aloud, pointing to some strange markings in the distance.

"Let's check it out, but keep your eyes peeled for anyone, be they friend or hostile." Asuma stated. He then led the group to the markings in the distance. The markings became clear as they approached. It was a circle with a triangle in it, but that wasn't all. Dried blood covered it. Evidence of how long ago this massacre happened.

"What was the point of this?" Asuma questions aloud. No one could answer, not even Shikamaru.

Near where they were standing, the group heard a low groan. Someone was alive.

"Hey! Speak up! We are here to help!" Kotetsu shouted.

The groans became louder, and the group started moving closer to the source. They found the person buried underneath torn and shredded timber. They rushed to remove the debris, and to their relief, they discovered a surviving monk from this place.

Shikamaru rushed to examine the monk for any obvious life-threatening injuries. Again, to his relief, there were none. The monk still had his eyes closed and had labored breathing. There was nothing Shikamaru could do for any internal injuries. He wasn't a medic nin like Ino or Sakura.

The monk gave a loud cough and brought his hand to his chest in pain, trying to catch some clean air. "Easy there, take a deep breath." Asuma expressed his confidence.

"Asuma sensei, this monk doesn't have the same sash as you, so who is he?" Shikamaru asked.

"I don't know. I haven't seen Chiriku among the bodies we have found. This one looks young though, could be an apprentice." Asuma suggests

"Ch..Chi..Chiruku." The monk moaned out. His eyes started to flutter open in obvious pain.

"Easy now, we got you." Izumo said, lifting the monks head.

"Who did this?" Kotestu inquired.

"Black...cloaks...red...clouds." The monk says between labored breaths.

"It was the Akatsuki. We got here too late." Asuma said with shame. "What happened to Chiruku?" Asuma uttered with worry in his voice.

"They killed...him and...took his body." His breathing started to become normalized, but he could still say only a few words between each breath.

"Damnit!" Asuma shouted out.

Asuma took a moment to regain his composure and focused on what was happening in front of him. "Do you know which way they went?" Asuma questioned the monk.

"They talked about a ...bounty station." The monk said, now sitting upright on his own now.

"Bounty station. There are a couple of them around here. We will need to go to them and see if the Akatsuki have come around." Asuma stated.

"What about him?" Shikamaru said, showing concern for the monk.

"We will walk with him back to the nearest town to get him patched up. Then we will send a hawk back to Lady Tsunade with what we have found. Then we will confirm which bounty station they dropped off Chiruku off at and tail them." Asuma confirming the plan with his team.

"What's your name?" Asuma asked.

"Sentoki." The monk replied with.

"I'm sorry about what happened to the fire temple Sentoki. We will make sure this doesn't happen again. Do you think you can walk?" Asuma asks

"I should in a few minutes. Just give... me time to rest." Sentoki mutters, still in pain, but the pain is beginning to fade.

Chiruku, I'm sorry old friend. I wasn't able to get here in time. You deserved a better end than what you got. I hope you forgive me. I'll see you in the afterlife when my time comes.

XxX

Tenchi bridge, 9:55 AM, 11 Days since Tenchi bridge mission start

Naruto, Hinata, Ino, and Sakura were all hidden in the tree line. Every pair of their eyeballs trained on the spot opposite the side of the bridge. The only things they could see were the bridge, trees, and a bird circling overhead.

In the distance, darkened clouds rolled. They could hear distant thunder crackling in the sky. An energy charged the area that went unnoticed by all. An ominous omen if there was one.

"I wonder what Sasori's spy is like." Sakura commented.

"I hope he shows up on time unlike Kakashi sensei." Naruto replies.

"Hey Hinata, can you see if Sasori's spy is nearby?" Asked Naruto

"Sorry Naruto I can't. If I did, I would expose my chakra signature." Hinata said.

"Man, that stinks. Oh well, thanks for letting me know. I'm still having a tough time getting my signature under control." Naruto uttered.

"Oh please Goldie, I wish I had that problem. Your chakra levels are even higher than Hokage's and not by a little either." Ino quipped back.

"Hey! It's not all ramen having this much chakra!"Naruto said with irritation, a tick mark appearing on his forehead as he looked back at Ino.

"You and ramen Naruto. I hope you know that is why you were short growing up. That stuff is not nutritious at all!" Ino said in a huff.

"That doesn't mean it's still not the food of Kami! I just... need to supplement it is all." Naruto expressed his disappointment. His time away from the village had shown him Ino was right. When Jiraiya began planning his meals, Naruto noticed changes in his body. Ramen was still the best food in the world, it just couldn't be the only thing he ate.

Ino inched forward and gave Naruto a pinch. "Ouch! What was that for?" Naruto whispered in a low voice as he turned back towards her.

"Had to make sure you were real and I'm not dreaming." Ino spoke with confidence.

"Ino, you are supposed to pinch yourself."" Naruto said, rubbing the spot she pinched.

"But that would hurt. This is much more effective." Ino beamed out. Naruto wanted to stay mad at her but found he couldn't. With a defeated look, he turned away and grumbled out "Whatever."

Hinata was watching this display from the right with a slight look of disappointment. She loved his childishness most of the time, key word most. This was one of the rare few times she didn't like it. She held her tongue though. It wasn't a significant issue, and she didn't want to spoil his enjoyment. Even if she wasn't the cause of his happiness, she still wanted him to have it.

"Stop playing around you two. The spy can show up any minute." Sakura, standing about ten feet to the left of the pair, spoke with a serious tone. Unlike Hinata, Sakura had no issues correcting Naruto or Ino on missions. She did care what they thought of her and it hurt her at times when they gave her their angry looks. She was not going to let them form bad habits on these types of missions though.

"Ino started it." Naruto pointed out, trying to defend himself.

"I don't care Naruto. It's game time now. We all need to focus." Sakura said with a small aura of authority.

"Fine." Naruto said, with a tone that was more harsh than he intended, as he turned his attention back to the bridge.

Silence falls upon the group for the next few minutes. In Naruto's mind though, it was anything but silent. Several times he would open his mouth but then close it again. The words hung on the edge of his tongue, begging to be released, but he held firm.

Not yet

His internal monologue is interrupted when he believes someone is approaching from a distance."Hey, I think I see them." Naruto said, his gazing peering across to the opposite side of the bridge from the tree line.

"Damnit, I can't see them underneath the cloak. Can any of you three see them?" Sakura said, her attention drawn to the new figure that arrived.

"No." all three responded. The figure started to walk towards the middle of the bridge and the henged Yamato followed suit from the tree line closest to the bridge. Once both figures met at the center, Sasori's spy brought his head down.

"No way, it can't be him. Why is Kabuto here?"

Author Notes

Chapter title is from The Killers.

Another chapter completed, another chapter that felt more like it wrote it self. I had originally had more of the confrontation with Kabuto happen in this chapter but I just couldn't add it without adding a ton more length to the chapter. My longest right now is 14k and I don't want to do something like that unless I feel its necessary.

Now, onto what happened this chapter. I fucking love writing the scenes with our little team Yamato. Adding Ino makes things easier for me honestly. She doesn't have any baggage with any of the girls or Naruto for that matter and I can just write nice little scenes with her. She really livens things up.

That being said, this fic will NOT be a harem ending. Naruto will end up with one girl and that will be either Hinata or Sakura. I will say I do plan on each girl getting with Naruto for a night. I have a timeline on when I think major events will happen. But if I feel the characters would do something different I will go that route.

That is why I added the Temari scene. I originally had no plans for a scene with her this chapter. Hell, I didn't plan on really including her at all in this fic. But I came to a realization I would be doing her a major disservice if I didn't include her more. She's on a path that is eerily similar to Sasuke's and I love that, so I'm including her story now. This also goes with my wanting of death to have serious consequences and how it effects people.

Anyways, that's all I have. Please leave a comment/review and see yall next time!