Naruto's POV (Chakra Anchor - Western River Plains)

  Naruto numbly stared at Yuno Uchiha's pale, still body. She had been an interesting and kind woman who treated him reasonably before and after he had been revealed as a jinchuriki. The kind that cared so much for her cousin; she went out of her way to support and find support for him. The kind that seemed to find something pleasant in every situation. Yuno was the kind of woman who risked her life for her loved ones, yet she feared bugs like many normal people. Now she was still, never to speak again; Yuno was dead… and it was his fault.

  The others were also crowded around Yuno; there was a tense and heavy silence. Perhaps just like him, they were stunned, confused even. For years, they had been warned of the risk of their profession and the commonality of death among one's comrades. Yet, facing the world's reality weighed heavily on their shoulders. Seeing it firsthand, made it clear just how real this all was.

  Naruto glanced around the group sullenly. He had come to these lands to save them because he felt he must move himself to do it. Because his home had been hesitant to offer aid. Perhaps it had been a mistake.

  Sasuke stood next to him; despite their wounds and exhaustion, neither of them cracked or showed weakness. Naruto suspected Sasuke blamed himself just as he did. Yet refused to show the pain at all, he seemed almost emotionless.

  Muri sat on his shoulder, for once mentally silent as he quietly sobbed. Naruto knew Muri was an empath; it must've been even more challenging for him to accept the death of a friend. Yuno and Muri had gotten along well, and his summon has seemed fond of her.

  Shino, Hinata, and Kiba helped each other stand. Shino allowed Hinata to cry into his shoulder. As Kiba seemed to stunned to even breathe. Sakura kneeled over Yuno, ugly, crying and apologizing all at once. Tamaki kneeled with her, praying silently. Each of them had fought tooth and nail and overcame so much. Yet they still suffered.

  'Yet we let them down, didn't we? They needed us to save them, defeat the big bad, and do the one thing we're half decent at. But we failed them because we're weak… because we always hold back. Luckily, we're done with that now… I won't let you…' His own voice rang in his head. Usually, he'd assume it was merely our thoughts, but it felt different. Was this his dark self?

  'So first you pop in my head, and now you're talking to me?' Naruto thought back angrily. 'Yes, I know what happened; we have bigger concerns now. This isn't the time to mope.'

  'Don't give me that stalling bullshit. I'm you; I know you don't believe a single word you just said. Besides, you should get more comfortable with me… now that you let me out a little, there is no going back…' Dark Naruto replied spitefully.

  'Just what I need…'

  'You should be thanking me! I stopped our tenant from gaining control and gave you the focus and strength you could never display before…'

  "Shut the hell up…" Naruto whispered out loud. The problem of his inner aspect acting up was a major one, but not something he was prepared to deal with now.

  Muri looked over, worried at him. Of course, his summon could her that all… 'Not now, Muri…' Naruto warned his summon before the group suddenly moved, some of them anyway.

  Tamaki began to recite a prayer out loud as Sakura closed Yuno's eyes, and Sasuke removed a scroll from his hip. Shino nodded as Sasuke and Sakura prepared and sealed Yuno's body into the scroll.

  "I am sorry to see her go… she was a fierce warrior. One I was honored to have as an ally. She died a death worthy of a ninja…" Tamaki offered softly.

  "Yuno was that and more…" Shino answered softly. "It is my failure… as her teammate, I should've been there."

  "It was I who unknowingly aided them." Tamaki countered. "The fault lies partially with me; if it should please you all I offer my life-"

  "Yuno would've never wanted that…" Hinata offered.

  "Hinata's right; besides, I let her go. I didn't suspect she could even move, alone do what she did… I couldn't even heal her…" Sakura muttered to herself.

  "Silence all of you." Sasuke spat out suddenly, full of passion. "Yuno was not pathetic enough to blame us for her death; she knew the risk of this career. You feel guilt; you recognize if you were… better, that you could've stopped it. But those feelings only weigh you down… focus on surviving… she gave her life for that…"

  "Sasuke…" Hinata said worriedly.

  "He speaks the truth, perhaps not as we perceive it, but the truth nonetheless-" Shino chimed in, but Naruto was in no mood for this talk.

  "Let's just get out of here." Naruto agreed simply.

  However, the group flinched as a burst of chakra alerted their senses. Most could barely move; Naruto, Sasuke, Muri, Tamaki, and Sakura moved to face the threat. But his summon, and the woman were suddenly bowed over by the unconscious bodies of Lee and Choji. Two blurs raced past the group, dashing straight for the chakra anchor.

  Naruto felt the muted feeling and confusion leave him. He had failed, but a chance for redemption showed itself. He allowed the rage to fill him again; the possibility that more of his friends had fallen offered much more potential.

  'They hurt more of our friends… will you let this slide?' His other half spoke, but it didn't need to offer input. Naruto wasn't sure what to do, but first, he would catch these creeps! Chakra burst from his core, filling him with as much hatred as it did power. Just as it had with Mishiro, it nearly overwhelmed him even with the aid of his other self. But Naruto's focus maintained control. His eyes locked onto the blurs as they neared the anchor, only Sasuke noticing they were now orange. The two tails formed behind him before transforming into bubbling hands. With a boom and massive gust of wind, they grabbed both blurs, stopping their progress nearly instantly. Screams sounded out as the hands slowly dragged the intruders back. The corrosive chakra of Kurama burning their skin.

  "That's where Choji and Lee went," Sasuke muttered darkly as two women were dragged forth, their screams of pain making it clear contact with Naruto's jinchuriki chakra was anything but pleasant. From the cruel smile on Naruto's face, he was clearly losing it again. Sasuke felt a tinge of fear; his killing of Mishiro had been a selfish act. But not purely selfish; Naruto had been clearly losing control. Removing the agitating agent made perfect sense. But now these two fools had reared their heads… if they had killed them. "Guys, check them out! Are they dead?!" Sasuke barked to the others worriedly.

  Naruto ignored them all for now as he locked eyes with his prey. While he wasn't sure who they were, one had the trade-marked hair of a Uzumaki, the other a headband clearly marking her as a Stone shinobi. Considering the state of Lee and Choji, they must've beaten them in battle, maybe even killed them… "Who the fuck are you two?" Naruto asked cruelly. A smaller voice inside him was alarmed by the deepness and naked hatred in his tone. 'Keep them in our grip; we'll pay them back for every bit of pain they dealt…' His darker half whispered.

  The redheaded woman laughed between gasps of pain. "To think you fools could actually do it. That bitch is finally dead! My name is Leifazu, a former pawn of Mishiro-" Leifazu was cut off as the burning hand of chakra holding him tightened its grip. Their was the bone chilling sound of cracking bone as he did.

  The other woman struggled, screaming mindlessly against the pain. Naruto winced at the sound, the small part of him winning over as the woman was released from his grip. She gasped breathlessly in pain before forcing herself into a bow before him. "We were servants of Mishiro! Both forced, of course! We defeated your two friends, but they're alive! We only intended to escape as you fawned over them! I am Suzumebachi of the Hidden Stone Village; killing me could-"

  Naruto let more of his hatred show, killing intent, filling the clearing and silencing Suzumebachi. The anger was hard to control, but if they had spared Choji and Lee.

  "Naruto!" Sasuke called out. The blonde blinked as he remembered the others were watching. "They're telling the truth! Lee and Choji are in bad shape but alive! Sakura confirmed it. You need to stop. Your anger is allowing the beast to get the better of you!"

  Naruto hummed as he thought it over.

  'So they only beat your friends half to death, therefore directly contributing to the death of Yuno… why shouldn't we kill them?'

  'Naruto…' Muri's worried voice rang in his mind. Naruto could feel his fear and exhaustion, his grief, his growing fear of him… 'Hasn't there been enough death today?'

  Naruto sighed and released Leifazu as well. The woman writhed from the deep burns on their person, but a healer would be able to patch them up easy enough. Walking over to both, Naruto tore several strips of cloth from his clothes, weaving them together; Naruto created strong binds that would deter the two exhausted women from escaping. "Okay, you're coming with us; you'll answer for your crimes. We'll weaken Ikam with justice…" Naruto decided. The group slowly moved carolling their new prisoners and each other toward the Chakra Anchor.

  Leifazu and Suzumebachi complained as Naruto dragged them along as Muri grew in size to examine the Chakra Anchor. "So what are we doing? I thought we were leaving? Can't we just reverse summon or whatever to go home?"

  "Our last objective is to ensure the safety of the Chakra Anchor." Shino reminded the group. His tone was even more monotone than usual. "Besides, if our prisoners were heading for it, there must be some reason. They know the reverse summons escape possibility, yet they attempted to come here…"

  "Eh, I'm sure your raccoon will catch on," Leifazu said flippantly.

  "Tanuki, and yes, I have. It seems they were in the process of modifying the Chakra Anchor. I can't tell their goal, but they did manage to transform it into an entryway…" Muri said, shocked. "With this, almost anything from either world could come to Terra or Earth as they pleased…"

  "As I guessed. Damn, Okama, but yeah, you see our little ploy. Even though you stopped us before we were complete, the groundwork is set. We've created an entryway to Terra and Earth alike, one unregulated by you troublesome clans…" Leifazu explained.

  "Why are you being so forthcoming?" Sasuke asked with a raised brow.

  "I live for pleasure, the pleasure of sex, killing, whatever, really. The only thing that moves me at this point." Leifazu said with a shrug. "Besides, I'm worn out, and blondie here killed my boss; I know when I'm beaten."

  "Even if he is so agreeable, this is a complex situation. With the capture of Suzumebachi, this does have the chance of an international incident…" Shino reasoned.

  "It doesn't matter." Naruto decided. "She helped hurt us; she has to pay the price…"

  "Agreed." Muri chimed in. "Though this does make leaving easier, this is a big problem for Terra…"

  "Sorry to chime in here," Suzumebachi said with a sigh. "But we were fleeing from the "Crawling Demons." We should probably get to leave!"

  "Muri said they won't come near-" Naruto started as an inhuman roar broke through their conversation. The group looked behind them to see dozens of the vaguely human creatures stalking forward. So many had moved in close. Naruto stepped in front of the others; he may need to-

  Another occurrence shattered the brief standoff as three massive shapes landed in the clearing. One was a massive toad smoking from a pipe as it leveled a blade in front of the group protectively. A slug looked at the group of demons before it spewed acid from its mouth, dissolving half the army in an instant. The other half was swiped away casually by a giant purple snake.

  "It's the Heads of three of the biggest clans!" Muri cried out in shock. "Gamabunta, Chief of the Toads, Katsuyu, the single member of the Slug Clan, and Mando, the Lord of Snakes!"

  "It seems the council decided well to send us here. To think the Crawling Demons would venture this close to the Chakra Anchor!" Gambunta belted. "I was just about to enjoy dinner too!"

  "You foolish brute," Manda replied hatefully. "There is a feast before us here and now!"

  "Our goal is not to handle this quickly nor satiate our appetite." Katsuyu reminded her allies. "We are to secure the Chakra Anchor and the humans who have aided Terra."

  "True! Though they only need to send Katsuyu and me! Manda will barely be of any aid!" Gamabunta exclaimed as double the amount of Crawling Demons emerged from the forest, the numbers countless and all heading straight for the Chakra Anchor. "I'll kill most of them myself!" The toad then lashed out with its massive blade, killing a dozen quickly. The toad leaped into the air, crushing more as it landed, laughing all the while.

  "You arrogant frog! I shall kill twice as many!" Manda swore as it joined Gamabunta's rampage, the two old enemies intentionally mislabeling each other as they easily repelled the seemingly endless Crawling Demons that charged toward the Chakra Anchor. As the two giant creatures smashed the new and apparently ineffective threat, Katsuyu split into three equal-sized slugs. One joined the toad and snake in their battle, and another crawled off as the third faced the group.

  "I have sent one of myself to inform the council of today's events. We will likely have to act now that the Crawling Demons can access the Chakra Anchor. We can not afford to lose control of it twice. However, that is no true concern for humans like yourselves. I will allow safe passage out of here and deliver you to the Leaf; my summoner will make such a simple matter. I apologize for the blunt and brief meeting, but-"

  Naruto stood with a tired sigh. He was much too exhausted to fully accept everything that had and was happening. The idea of leaving gave him a tiny bit of relief before it was replaced with crushing guilt. They would not return as champions or even with everyone… he had failed…

  'Why'd they just get here now… can't help but think a trio of giant and powerful clan bosses would've made the difference…' Dark Naruto whispered, but Naruto brushed it aside with a sigh. He was too tired to be angry right now.

  "It's fine; thank you all for saving us," Naruto replied curtly.

  "We should be thanking you, Naruto," Katsuyu replied evenly. "It took us longer than we wanted to mobilize, but we watched your struggle. The combined efforts of the Leaf and Okama, spearheaded by yourself, are the only reason the Chakra Anchor is still safe, perhaps the whole of Terra. Tales of your strength have spread throughout Irminsul, and the Okama spread your exploits and strengths throughout the rest of Terra. I doubt it is much of a comfort, seeing as one of yours has fallen, but you have done Terra a great service, Naruto…"

  "I'm glad…. I just want to go home. We need to put Yuno to rest…" Naruto replied somewhat impatiently.

  "Naruto is right. We are mostly injured and exhausted, and we need to rebuild the destruction this trip has cost us." Sasuke added, "We appreciate the recognition, but we must be on our way."

  The others offered agreement, but most were too tired to respond with words. But the idea was clear: The group was ready to move past this terrible day.

  "I understand," Katsuyu replied politely. "Just know, Naruto Uzumaki, the Council of Terra owes you a great debt. One we will repay one day. My summoner, Tsunade Senju, is currently located in the Leaf. Allied grounds and her ability to heal surpasses even my own. We figured it'd be the best destination going forward."

  "Sounds great. Let's go home, guys… there's a lot we need to do." Naruto called the group and summoned several clones to gather them around him. Katsuyu approached the group before enveloping them in a gentle chakra.

  "Reverse Summoning Jutsu!" Katsuyu called before the group vanished in a massive explosion of smoke. The slug then rejoined her other third as the three massive bosses thrashed their way through the hoard of demons before them.

  The final part of Katsuyu moved quickly back toward Terra. The Council of Terra would need to know that the Chakra Anchor was now compromised and under the considerable threat of the Crawling Demons.

  Hiruzen's POV (Kage Manor - Hidden Leaf Village)

  It had been years since he had felt this way, years since he had felt this level of stress and fear, years since that ugly and overwhelming feeling of desperation reared its head.

  Serving as long as he had, Hiruzen had survived any number of crises. Indeed, he had headed the Leaf through every recent emergency for decades. Each had left its mark, another drop of doubt. The doubt that he was an effective leader, the doubt that the Will of Fire alone could protect his home, the doubt that the kindness and fairness he had prided himself on was practical.

  Orochimaru's escape, Danzo's betrayal, and now some of the most promising shinobi of the next generation had gone missing. It all brought back that desperation, but Hiruzen did not doubt it. That desperation had been how he had forged peace in recent years.

  The method of obtaining such had been morally detestable. It was out of character for him, even on rare occasions when Danzo and Hiruzen had seen eye to eye and worked together. It took time due to Danzo's secret work and Hiruzen's innocent and charming self. But they had drudged up effective blackmail for each of the four Hidden Villages. Various secrets that were so vital each of them had signed a deal they wanted no part of. But now, that delicate balance had been disturbed. The Leaf had been weakened, which meant each of his motivated enemies had their chance…

  The Mist and Sand, luckily, were of no concern. The Mist was still in the process of a bloody and enduring Civil War, and with his leverage, they would dare not risk their ire. The Sand were their allies and knew better than to risk their fragile alliance, especially with the leverage and the unstable and powerful Gaara.

  But the Stone and Cloud had never been allies; they were consistent enemies. The Cloud had been their greatest rivals for years and always had a vested interest in acquiring some of their unique bloodlines, something their village had always lacked. So great was their village hatred and ambition against the Leaf, which made even his blackmail ineffective. The Stone were much more personal enemies. The two have always been against each other in each of the major wars. And with the most recent one having weakened them significantly, Hiruzen doubted anything would make them hesitate to take what appeared to be a great chance. Now that there was blood in the water, they would need a miracle… something shinobi inherently does not believe in.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Danzo, Homura, Koharu, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shikaku, Shikamaru, Eagle, Kakashi, Yugao—it was a who's who of the various important and trusted figures. In times as dire as these, with potential days coming forth, it was necessary.

  Shikaku, Danzo, and Koharu peered over maps of the Cloud and Stone and various history books containing past battles. The mess covered the large table. With the likelihood of aggressive play from both parties, the three were working tirelessly to plot likely moves, formations, and routes they may take. If they could figure out the movements, plans, and strengths of their potential foes, their ability to react accordingly would save them countless time and effort. It was nearly impossible to predict shinobi, but three of the most experienced and tactical minds in his employ would work out nicely.

  Homura, Jiraiya, and Tsunade worked themselves nearby on a whiteboard. On it was a list of neutral nearby villages and territories. They pondered through each, debating if they could be won over as allies or, at the very least, encouraged not to be won over by foes. It would be areas like these their foes would seek to use as further aid or even footholes for a potential invasion. Each of them was experienced in foreign matters. Jiraiya and Tsunade had traveled most of their life. Jiraiya's spy network made him a natural choice for such a matter, and Tsunade's sway in the criminal world would prove helpful if weaponized. Homura was less experienced but was known for the level of diplomacy few could match.

  Eagle, Kakashi, Shikamaru, and Hiruzen himself worked on internal matters.

  "I've never engaged in the plan you suggested." Shikamaru continued his briefing. "Academy and Genin's personnel have been admitted into the Police Force as tentative cadets. Paired with the inclusion of those strange Anbu you won't explain, we have nearly doubled our numbers and tripled our power. Using such resources, the Police Force has taken over all internal guarding and patrolling within close proximity of the village. This should allow for a thirty percent increase in usable manpower."

  "I have led the rest of the Anbu, Chunin, and Jounin and organized them into various adaptive strike teams and platoons. They have already mobilized to establish patrols throughout the Land of Fire until the borders. Within the Inner Land of Fire, we have established various newly built strongholds. This should allow us to defend our country well, be well aware of enemy movement, and ensure that even if blindsided, we are prepared for an outright war." Eagle added on.

  "I've also drilled each on the proper method of operation and large-scale combat," Kakashi added in; as the former head of the Anbu, his experience was invaluable, and Eagle, as a former underling, had been happy for his input. "It likely won't be enough, but at the very least, our men know what to expect."

  "I have denied the Summit called by A. Knowing the arrogant man, he'll have expected me to come and beg for peace or threaten him using my leverage. However, I am not coming, and Rasa's odd agreement to do the same will throw him off guard. Knowing Onoki's cautious nature, he will not make the first move; this should buy us time." Hiruzen added his part. "But it is merely putting a bandage on a leaking pipe; it is an ineffective and momentary fix. If things do not change soon-"

  The group was interrupted as a massive burst of smoke filled the room. Hiruzen flinched and filled the room with killing intent; the clicking of freed blades rang as the smoke slowly dissipated, and chakra filled the room as various techniques were prepared. They were too late-

  There were several crashes as several heavy impacts were heard, including the crack of the table the assailants had landed on. Coughing and demands of surrender filled the room. As the smoke finally cleared, Hiruzen saw the miracle he had just doubted.

  Among the debris of the table and strewn about paperwork were a shocking amount of people, missing people… Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi, Sakura Haruno, Rock Lee, and even a strange unknown woman. Two more were with the group, kneeled over with their hands up. The group was exhausted and obviously injured, each of them bloodied, dirty, and covered in bruises, but they were alive…

  Hiruzen moved before the shocked others; he stomped his feet and spiked his killing intent again. This got everyone's attention, even the new arrivals. "This is clearly a stroke of fortune! Get these nine to the hospital immediately; I want them checked out and treated now! I will not accept a single one of their deaths! Tsunade, go with them and ensure they make it! I want these three strangers checked out and interrogated; Jiraiya, go with them! Do not begin with advanced or extreme tactics until I give the say-so! Shikaku, Danzo, Koharu, and Homaru! I want you to begin leaking this new arrival to everyone! Let them know the Leaf has not been weakened! The rest of you spread this news throughout the village! I want this done now!"

  The room burst into action the second he finished. Even the often rebellious Danzo followed his orders without question. The new arrivals quickly broke up and carried off to their respective destinations. The rest scrambled around to get the word out. Hiruzen sighed as the room was soon emptied. He felt relief but mostly exhaustion. Hiruzen had noticed one of the missing hadn't been among their numbers… one Yuno Uchiha…

  Tsunade's POV (Leaf Main Hospital - Hidden Leaf Village)

  Tsunade and Shizune exited Choji Akimichi's room. They had spent the last few hours in each of their rooms. The entirety of the missing personnel had returned, but nearly every one of them was severely injured. Of the group, only Naruto could move around by his own will. The stubborn man refused aid and sat in her office, waiting for any news. The two of them were going to inform him of their state. Luckily, he sat quietly for the first time since she met the blonde.

  Tsunade could see why. It had been literal decades, but she could remember the first time her team had returned from a failed mission. The three of them had been miserable and nearly as hurt as this group had been. But even they hadn't suffered the loss of a comrade, nor the potential further loss around the corner.

  Tsunade and Shizune entered her office, momentarily ignoring Naruto as the two removed their bloodied scrubs and relaxed within the lovely furniture in the office. Ironically, the two rested in the guest seats as Naruto sat in the seat she used for herself. The three of them were silent for a moment. After hours of intense surgery, the two of them were exhausted and more than happy to stall a complicated conversation. Naruto himself seemed hesitant. But eventually, he could wait no longer.

  "Tell me."

  Tsunade sighed and composed herself before she responded. "Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga suffered minor injuries, including deep bruises and fractures, but were healed with relative ease. I suspect they'll be back to full health within the next sunrise. Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno were much less injured but suffered from severe chakra exhaustion. It'll take a couple of days, but after their extended rest, I suspect they'll recover fully with no complications. Kiba Inuzuka's injuries were mostly minor, but it seems he suffered an incredibly potent concussion. It'll likely take a week for him to be able to move around as normal; we'll keep him under observation till then. Unfortunately, that was the good news…"

  "How is that good fucking news?!" Naruto snapped, cracking his fist through her desk. Shizune reacted by attempting to stand, but Tsunade calmed her by raising her hand.

  "I will not pretend to know just how poorly things went, nor do I intend to trivialize the pain and suffering you and your friends went through." Tsunade assured Naruto. "Though as someone who has been in this game longer than you have been alive, I can assure you, this many people returning from the shit storm you lot came from. It's a damned miracle."

  "A miracle," Naruto said with a shake of his head before he suddenly ripped the desk from the floor and hurled it against the wall, shattering it with impressive ease. Neither woman flinched; Tsunade was well known for her temper and often lashed out herself. Neither was surprised by Naruto doing the same. "That wasn't everyone, what about the others?"

  "Choji Akimichi and Rock Lee are both in critical condition. Both used different forms of Kinjutsu, and based on just how extensive the side effects were, they used and abused them. Choji's case is much less destructive than Lee's but all the more complex. The famed food pills of the Akimichi are already a lethal drug, and the user forcing themselves to use their effect for as long as he did only bolstered that. The effects of them have damaged his stomach lining so intensely that I have to reconstruct it, a surgery that is difficult, if not outright impossible. Rock Lee's case is much simpler but more demanding. Nearly every muscle in his body is practically shredded, the bones snapped and fractured as if he was going for a high score. Unless things change soon, we could look at two more casualties."

  "Lee and Choji…" Naruto muttered with wide eyes. "They could die… and it's all my fault… just how many of my friends will I get killed?! What about Tamaki?!"

  "Alive and relatively healthy. Anbu is questioning her as we speak. They made their own choices." Tsunade pointed out. "While they suffered for them, they live the same as you. And I doubt any of them regret what they did or help as they could. Don't allow your misery to overcome you."

  "Lady Tsunade!" Shizune objected. Tsunade sighed as she understood her pupil instantly. It seemed she was going to do this now, then.

  "I suppose I should be truthful. As dire as the last two are, I am confident I could save them. But I won't do so for free…" Tsunade explained.

  Naruto growled but nodded. "Make sure they all live, and I'll do anything, Tsunade."

  Tsunade smiled smugly. Finally, she saw a path forward. All she needed to do was guide Naruto on what she could've done for Nawaki and Dan. "I knew you would see it that way, Naruto. However, there is one complication to the matter. To save them both, I need access to supplies to create the necessary medicine. Unfortunately, they are not locally grown. However, I know the ruins of the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools are said to hold them."

  "I'll get them," Naruto replied simply. He attempted to stand before he was suddenly knocked from his feet as a mysterious assailant leaped onto him, knocking the two of them to the floor. Naruto tried to kick them off, but a flash of red hair and blue eyes made him realize who it was.

  "My baby!" Kushina cooed as she hugged Naruto incredibly tightly. Naruto felt his anger and frustration melt a little, though he struggled to escape her grasp… It was embarrassing. "Oh, I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again!"

  "Sorry, Blondie, but your mother insisted she be let in. It was already hard enough to keep the others out; her on top of them would've been too much trouble. Besides Naruto, you may be healthier than the others, but you are in no state now." Tsunade explained as she smiled at the mother, smothering her child. "She's been briefed on what happened and the state of yourself and our allies. I'd suspect we'll be visited by my old fool of a sensei-"

  "Intelligent as always, me dear beloved student." The voice of the Hokage sounded; a tired and worn-out Hiruzen entered the office. Despite his state, the man was focused; his aura seemed to make each of them suddenly pay rapt attention. "As she said, Naruto Uzumaki, you and no shinobi under the Leaf's employ will be mobilized any time soon. During your absence, the world did not sit still; we stood at the potential precipice of war. Such a tense state of affairs has forced my hand to put the Leaf into High Alert Mode."

  Naruto suddenly shrugged off his mother as he marched forward to get in his leader's face. "I may not know everything that's going on, but neither do you, old man. We fought and struggled these last days, did everyone we could, and then some to survive and protect our friends… but it wasn't enough. Now two more of us are laid out, potentially facing death, and you don't want us moving?!"

  When Hiruzen's cold eyes met Naruto's, the old man blinked, and they softened. But the sudden reveal of an edge within the kind old man set Naruto off. "Tsunade, status report, keep it brief."

  Tsunade scoffed but listened all the same. "Of the group of our own that have returned, it would be no great exaggeration to say nearly every member was near death. Almost all suffered all sorts of minor injuries, blood loss, major chakra, and physical exhaustion. Though almost all will recover fully with dedicated care, two are in a state that will not improve without intensive and difficult surgeries. Surgeries, I believe only Shizune or I could hope to perform. I have offered my services with an incentive from Naruto, but even with my aid, we'll require some rare ingredients. That being two rare medicinal herbs, Whirlpool Weeds, a rare underwater seaweed often found within whirlpools, to help heal the stomach of Choji Akimichi, and a pond kelp called Strands of the Waves, to enforce and heal the bones of Rock Lee. I will say they are currently in stable condition but are unable to be roused until the surgery is done; the longer the wait, the lower the chances."

  "How low are they now, and at what rate will they fall?" Hiruzen asked grimly.

  "You seriously ask that question? Who cares about the odds we can't risk them-"

  "You risked them and even more when you left unannounced Naruto Uzumaki!" Hiruzen snapped back.

  "Oh, I'm sorry! From what I saw, our own were disappearing, and you were ignoring it for the damn exams!" Naruto roared back.

  "It is a balance! They may be your friends, Naruto, but they are soldiers. Soldiers of mine in service to a village we defend with all our hearts! I will not shame you for your compassion, but mind yourself I must always move in favor of the majority." Hiruzen defended.

  "Ah, so you're willing to let my friends die just on the off chance it causes a risk?" Naruto responded coldly.

  "We could be facing war," Hiruzen replied. "If it is the case, I'll regret it, but I will make the decision again. I feel your plight, Naruto, but I have learned in my years that one must temper their heart-"

  Naruto didn't let the man finish. He launched forward and slugged Hiruzen square in the face. The blow sent the old man careening back and embedded him into it. The building shook, and the sound of crumbling within filled the room. But Naruto and Hiruzen did not once break their stares into each other's eyes.

  An instant later, two blurs launched themselves from the room's corners and attempted to blindside Naruto from behind. However, Kushina and Tsunade appeared in tandem and backhanded the Anbu away casually.

  "So you're willing to let your own die just because it's easier…" Naruto spoke darkly. For the first time since his darker halves arrived, he was silent. Naruto assumed they both agreed on this one. "That's pathetic and not the kind of Hokage I'd ever be."

  "Then perhaps you're not nearly as ready as you think," Hiruzen replied flippantly as he pulled himself free from the wall and spat out a wad of blood. I allowed you that blow. I recognize you are not yourself at this moment, and I will not hold this against you. However, I'd refrain from attempting again… Tsunade, answer my question."

  Tsunade flipped her sensei off, and Kushina nodded, glaring at the Hokage. Hiruzen, however, merely sighed as he locked eyes with Shizune.

  "They will likely survive for the next two weeks at a healthy eighty percent…" Shizune answered hesitantly. Averting her eyes from the glare of Tsunade. "It'll go down drastically after that, but it will likely work out…"

  Tsunade scoffed at her pupil and stomped out of the office as Kushina joined Naruto's side in solidarity with her son.

  "Such proves my point, the two of you may not like my decision, but it is final. Choji and Lee are both stable for now and are likely to stay that way. I simply cannot risk moving to a foreign land in this environment; after a week or two, we can afford to make that decision…"

  "You haven't even fucking mentioned her! And where the fuck is Tamaki! Or those creeps!" Naruto roared. "We brought prisoners and a new ally and lost a damn comrade. Yet you just gloss over it all! Do you even care about the death of Yuno Uchiha?!"

  "Of course I do," Hiruzen replied with a sigh. "In my years much too many of my soldiers have died in my employ. It is unfortunate and heartbreaking, but we cannot afford to languish in misery. Yuno died for the Will of Fire we all carry. I have already arranged for her funeral; she'll be given full honors and the rank of Jounin."

  "Cold and uncaring…" Naruto responded darkly. "To think I used to idolize you. But that caring and sage demeanor of yours is utter bullshit… I'll see you at the funeral…" The Uzumaki answered before smashing his way through his office window in a loud and needlessly showy exit.

  Kushina went to follow her son before her eyes landed on Hiruzen. "I apologize for his behavior, sir, but one thing…" The woman's eyes became a dark orange as she locked eyes with Hiruzen. "If you ever threaten my son again, I'll kill you…" Kushina then left with Naruto. Leaving a weary and exhausted Shizune and Hiruzen behind.

  Sasuke's POV (Uchiha District - Hidden Leaf Village)

  Approaching his child's home was strange for Sasuke. Shortly after the fall of the Uchiha, he moved into his own abode. While Sasuke had not lost all of his family on that day, he had pushed away what little he had left.

  While it seemed no one was aware of what had transpired that day, Sasuke knew that it was a note. His mother had been a loyal wife and shinobi, certainly not the most powerful, but his father had always trusted her sage advice. Sasuke had known, even as a young child, without a doubt, that his mother knew more than she let on. A fact that his mother seemingly would never admit to. She had denied and held her secrets all these years. And Sasuke had hated her for it.

  Shisui, the former best friend of his now-missing brother, had been a much-needed bridge for the Uchiha. It had been he who had introduced Yunot to them and had taken up looking after Sasuke directly. Between the efforts of both social butterflies, the remainder of the Uchiha had held together. Now, one of them was dead.

  Returning home, Sasuke spent the first two days forced to relax and heal. While his injuries were nowhere near as severe as some, he had exhausted his reserves to near zero. It took time for the body to recuperate from such a situation. During his forced stay, Shisui and his mother arrived several times, gushing over him and lamenting the fate of Yuno in equal measure. Sasuke suffered it all until he was healthy enough to leave by strength.

  Sasuke had chosen to hide out in the Forest of Death. He had left a note for the Hokage and his mother to assure his safety. But he needed to be alone, to think.

  He spent five days in the forest. Fighting beasts, hunting game, and surviving in nature was a time-consuming and valuable exercise. It kept him busy as he thought over the events at Irminsul—the battles he had fought, the lessons he had learned, the failure he had suffered, and the family members he had lost due to his failure. Lamenting as he ground brought Sasuke an odd peace, allowing him to stew over her final words.

  Yuno's wish had been fitting for her. A wish to ensure solitary among her loved ones. Even when facing death, she was only worried about others. It only occurred to Sasuke now that he should look out for her as well as she had for him. It was why he was here now, to settle things before they said their final goodbye to Yuno.

  He entered the well maintained and classily designed front door of his home. He removed his sandals silently, and slipped on the old pair of house slippers next to the door. It seemed after all this time his mother had remained ready for him to visit. Another mistake for Sasuke to right it seemed.

  As he entered the dining room he saw Shisui comforting Mikoto. The two sat at the table, Mikoto clutching a photo of Yuno tearfully, as if afraid it would disappear. Shisui whispered quiet comforts to his mother and noticed Sasuke before her. The man smiled at his student and only somewhat jokingly whispered, "Behave." to him. It seemed his sensei was expecting him to be his normal confrontive self.

  Sasuke merely nodded as he pulled out and sat in a chair opposite Mikoto. His mother flinched before she smiled fragilely. "Son… I've been worried about you…" Her words were hesitant as if she was unsure what mood he would be in. Yuno had always warned him about his attitude, but he had never listened.

  "I'm sorry for that… for everything… truly," Sasuke answered hesitantly before sighing. "I still don't understand everything, what happened and why, why you seem so supportive of an event that cost us everything… I doubt even if you told me, I'd get it. But the truth I've realized after Yuno's death is incredibly simple. I fight, train, and risk my life for the Uchiha to return to their former glory. But in the proc-" Sasuke was caught off as Mishiro suddenly appeared and enveloped the Uchiha in a deep hug. Sasuke almost attempted to shrug her off but allowed it and even returned it with an inward sigh.

  Shisui appeared over his mother's shoulder with a proud smile. "None of that matters right now, Sasuke… we're family and still together… something I think we all know isn't guaranteed. For now, this is enough… we have to show Yuno we'll be fine without her."

  The mother and son nodded, and the three of them separated to prepare. Yuno's funeral was only an hour away.

  X-X

  Yuno's funeral was a small affair. Classy and well funded, but with the reputation of the Uchiha what it was, and the lack of relative Yuno had only left a couple dozen people to attend it.

  Hiruzen the Hokage, and both of the loyal Sannin had been there. The three offered the Jounin vest that Yuno had earned in death and offered a kind speech about the shinobi Yuno had been.

  Kurenai and Shino, the teammates of Yuno, were present. The sensei had been a mess and Shino had been a quiet comfort to the woman. Both had told tales fitting of Yuno, her eccentricities and kindness the main theme of both.

  In fact, most of the Genin and Chunin and the sensei's sensei of their generation had shown this. With the new state of the world, it was rarer for lower-ranked shinobi to fall like this. It was a stark warning to them all that the world was a dangerous place, and they had far to go.

  Yuno's parents had been present and were by far the worst off. Even Sasuke had flinched at the raw grief both had shown. It seemed the two blamed the Leaf for it entirely. They had left early.

  Sasuke, Mikoto, and Shisui had been the last present. Sasuke had watched both offer their goodbyes but refrained himself. The two rose and offered questioning glances, but left Sasuke alone at the headstone of Yuno. It seemed they, too, were attempting to make things work; both would've pressed him before.

  Sasuke stared at the grave with Yuno, almost with a quiet sense of disbelief. It was an ornate marble headstone, skillfully having been carved with her name, rank, date of birth, and date of death. A Leaf and Uchiha sign are emblemed below the info. It was a modest but respectable grave. According to old Uchiha customs, it was a fitting end to a Uchiha, yet one Sasuke felt no comfort in.

  Sasuke nearly spoke before he shook his head. In an instant he blurred away to the treeline of the graveyard but hesitated before he left. Among the trees he stared back at her grave, and garnered his composure to approach again before suddenly a crowd of men and women arrived.

  The groups , nearly two dozen masked men and women with similar masks, though theirs were nondescript and it was nearly impossible to make out discernable traits. It seemed these people were some kind of secret Anbu. But what were they doing here?

  Sasuke watched as they approached Yuno's grave. He tensed as he prepared to rush the group and defend her site before both groups kneeled down and raised a single hand toward the grave. Each of them held up a unique hand sign pointed at the grave.

  Sasuke gasped as he recognized the hand sign. It was an ancient practice of the Uchiha used to respect the fallen. Just who the hell were they-

  Sasuke felt fear as each of them suddenly looked over directly at them. Whoever they were, they were all powerful… but he felt no malice from any of them. In fact, he felt an odd kinship with them.

  Before Sasuke could think it over much more each of them body flickered away. And another guest visited Yuno's grave just missing them entirely. It was Naruto…

  The man looked even more of a mess than Sasuke had earlier. He was covered in tattered clothes and bruises. It appeared as if, just as Sasuke had, Naruto had distracted himself from his grief. The blonde collapsed just before the gravestone and sobbed. Even from his distance, Sasuke could hear the blonde's desperate apologies, his pain…

  Sasuke was shocked to see it mirrored his own…

  Before Sasuke could debate on approaching Team Seven and Kushina arrived and gently pried Naruto away from the grave site. From their distant chatter Sasuke could make out Naruto had been missing just as he, it seemed their grieving processes were even the same.

  "We truly are alike, Yuno," Sasuke said to himself as he approached the now vacant grave of his family member. "You're right yet again…" Sasuke felt emboldened by the sight of Naruto's pain, somehow seeing someone else struggle as much and as similarly as he had brought him comfort.

  Enough to say his own goodbyes…

  About the Next Arc

  So, originally, I had planned for the next arc to focus on the Orochimaru Hunt Arc. But with the planning I'm doing and the pacing I'm striving for that's just not realistic. The original idea and goal of DiA was my own non compromising attempt at a Naruto AU Fanfic. With that in mind, the next arc won't be a focused narrative, yet it will not be as crazy as the early chapters.

  So for the next Arc of DiA we will be covering three main narratives. That's right, a three for one kind of situation! Let's take a peak shall we?

  Orochimaru Hunt: The Akatsuki, Guren's forces, and the Leaf have all deemed Orochimaru an unacceptable enemy or threat to them and have moved out to remove him. With Sasori and Deidara, Guren, Tayuya, Dosu, Chiriku, Sora, Itachi, and Obito all approaching to come for the Sannin's head, can the snake yet alone manage to crawl away?

  Expedition of the Ruins of the Hidden Whirlpool: Naruto and a ragtag group of allies go on a journey to find rare medical supplies for Lee and Choji and seek information pertaining to Ikam. However, the newly captured Leifazu and Suzumebachi warn the group that it is full of traps from the former islanders as well as Ikam himself. Forcing group two to take the two as forced guides. However, after Mishiro falls, Ikam leads his own group to hunt down Naruto.

  Hidden Sand Village Civil War: Gaara enacts the first steps of his grand plan, which entails the overthrowing and removal of Rasa. In this endeavor, he has managed to gain the favor of Pakura and her supporters. Leading to a quick and bloody war as father and son battle for dominance over the Hidden Sand Village.

  We'll be telling all three of these tales at once, mostly focusing on them. The entire idea of DiA is ambitious and makes the entire world of Naruto feel alive and interactive heedless of our MC. Looking forward to trying this new style.

  AN

  We will be doing one more chapter on this before we switch over to NU:UM. We want to get set up for the next adventure before we move on. Sorry for the grimmer chapter here, but the plot is truly moving now! Exploring Sasuke's relationship with Mikoto hints at the Uchiha attempted Coup. Naruto's dark side exploring, and some crumbs being set up for the backstory for his younger years in DiA. Strap in; things are only getting crazier from here. Thanks for reading~! Peace~!