The lost soul..

Naruto watched with a bored gaze as Ginchiko and Hidetada fought the remaining five Anbu, three lay dead at their feet. They fought back to back, not allowing their Anbu counterparts to separate them too much. The Mizukage watched with thinly veiled glee as the two began to tire, as was shown by heavy breathing and sloppier attacks.

They both had excellent teamwork he acknowledged. No doubt what had gotten them this far, but still, they wouldn't last much longer. Once they fell he would step in, defeat this weakling of a Kage and seize Kiri as he meant to do so.

Finally, one Anbu broke the Melee and leapt back, forming his hand seals he called out his jutsu. "Suiton: Suryuudan!" He yelled as he blew out a stream of water which quickly formed into the water dragon.

Ginchiko and Hidetada snapped their heads in its direction. Acting on instinct the two leapt in the first direction their legs took them…away from eachother. The attack had worked.

As soon as they hit the ground the two realized their mistake and tried to reach eachother, only to have the five Anbu block their path. Ginchiko cursed. They had wanted to avoid this for two reasons. The first is because now they were separated, making it easier for the enemy to surround them, therefore kill them and second is because in order to avoid them getting surrounded they would have to use Jutsu, not something you wanted to do if you had to face the Kage of a nation right after.

The only female member of the seven swordsmen cursed as she was forced to leap back again due to various explosive tags being thrown at her feet.

When she landed again she formed her hand seals without ever releasing her sword before she swung, dragging the tip of the blade on the ground. "Raiton: Doki no Ten!" yellow streaks of lightning exploded from the attack, snaking through the earth leaving a jagged trench as it released electricity everywhere.

One of the Anbu formed his handseals. "Suiton: Suijinheki" He yelled slamming his hands on the earth letting the lightning streaks hit it. The lightning was naturally drawn to the water reducing the attack to barely nothing when it reached them.

Ginchiko narrowed her eyes as two of the Anbu charged her their two blades glinting in the light. 'Fool's trying to beat one of the seven swordsmen in Kenjutsu.' She thought somewhat insulted as she took up her stance.

She backpedaled as she blocked the first and second strikes, merely diverting their attacks. When she had led the two on enough so that they fell into a subconscious state of believing she would merely divert their attacks, she dug her heels in harshly, this time she didn't divert the attack she blocked both completely, knocking them both off balance as they stumbled slightly.

She did a quick roundhouse kick, nailing the first one in the face as she continued the motion by smoothly slicing the others chest armor. She had aimed for his neck, but he had managed to recover quicker than what was anticipated and leaned back, avoiding the deadly blade…somewhat.

She snarled as she went to start her handseals again when she heard a scream behind her that made her blood run cold. She snapped her head in the direction of the scream and saw Hidetada, with a kunai jabbed into his right side, most likely where the kidneys were. Behind him, holding the knife was none other than the Mizukage, wearing a cruel smirk as he shrugged innocently. "I got bored."

She felt her anger rise as she grit her teeth hard and rushed at him, the two Anbu behind her ran to catch up, while the two infront of her moved to intercept her path.

"Raiton: ChuSeki no doki!" She yelled as she crossed her arms infront of her, lightning encased her form, making her look like a comet running along the ground.

The two Anbu leapt over her to avoid being hit by the Jutsu. She dispelled it once she saw her path was clear and leapt up as she raised her sword, lightning dancing and crackling around it.

"If you attack me, you'll kill him to!" The Mizukage yelled out to her. Her eyes narrowed and grew cold as she swung anyway, the streaks of lightning flying from her sword to the ground below like a shower of electricity.

The Mizukage leapt away as the lightning fell. To his surprise the lightning fell around Hidetada and the location where he himself would have been. It appears she had been bluffing.

Before he could do anything Ginchiko landed near Hidetada, picked him up and leapt through the tree's vanishing into their shadows.

"After her!" He barked. "Don't you dare let her escape!" He yelled angrily. His Anbu nodded before they rushed after the female swordsmen.

Naruto watched as she ran before he silently followed, always in the shadows.

'Come on damnit…don't you dare die on me, you hear me you worthless moron!" Ginchiko said as she carefully examined the injury. It was deep, very deep. It spurted blood every few seconds and truly looked fatal.

He chuckled, ignoring the blood that rose into his mouth. "You seem awfully worried over this worthless moron." He said chuckling before he coughed lightly.

"Just shut up." She said as she rummaged through her pouch for her first aid equipment.

He halted her search as he placed a hand on her wrist. She looked to him surprised before he waved her off. "Don't act foolish Ginchiko…my time's up, we both know it. Get out of here while you still can."

She growled angrily as she continued rummaging through her pack. "You're a moron, a delirious one at that, so just shut up and let me work.

He grabbed he wrist again, stopping her. "Ginchiko, please." He whispered hoarsely

She stopped in her attempts. She bit her lip hard as she forced the tears back.

Naruto, watched the scene from above, his speed and greater sense of smell making it very easy for him to find the two before their pursuers.

She sighed in agitation, masking the pain she felt for her dying friend. "Damn you." She whispered harshly.

Hidetada smiled at her harsh tone. "Promise me one thing Ginchiko."

"What's that?" She asked, her voice going softer as she closed her eyes.

"Promise me, that you'll live beyond this day. So..." He paused as he coughed blood. "that you can fulfill our dream. Since I…won't be able to help you."

She smiled softly down at him "You're still hooked up on that dream of yours. Ever since sensei put it in your head."

He smiled and nodded. "Damn straight." He said coughing more blood as he slowly moved his hand to grasp her own.

Naruto watched the display with cold apathy. Not even phased by the man's dying words and increasingly laboring breath. He sensed the presence of the Anbu approaching. Soon, it would all be over.

"Promise me Ginchiko…promise me that you'll live and…bring peace to Kiri. Bring peace to our land."

Naruto stopped, taken aback by the request. Remembering the Sandaime's last words to be almost the exact same thing.

Did this man, and Sarutobi…share the same dream?

He was brought out of his musings as the stinging smell of salt reached his nose. He looked down to Ginchiko's silently shaking form. She was struggling to hold back the tears. It was then he noticed that Hidetada was no longer in the world of the living.

She was a good Kunoichi Naruto conceded as she took steady breaths in order to calm her emotions, recognizing that now was not the time for it.

Naruto was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even see the Kunai that approached her until it was too late. Judging by her scream of pain, neither did she.

The blade hit her left shoulder. Blood seeped from the wound freely as she pulled the weapon out with a grunt of pain.

Naruto debated weather or not he should interfere, in the end, he decided to hold his position for a while longer.

Ginchoko stood, holding her injured shoulder as she turned and glared at her attackers, the Mizukage and his five remaining Anbu.

"How careless of you Ginchiko, I merely intended that to be a warning shot."

She cursed as she threw the bloodied knife at him. He caught it between his thumb and forefinger easily as he smiled down at her, savoring this moment for all it was worth.

"Kill her." He said simply and the Anbu at his side immediately sprung into action.

She held her sword in a defensive stance as best she could with her injured shoulder. "Hidetada, I cant promise I'll live beyond this day but…" She paused as she looked up to the Mizukage's smug face. "Maybe killing him, will make your dream of a peaceful Kiri, a reality." She said with hints of determination in her voice.

Naruto watched her. Something about her stance had changed, whereas before there was defiance, anger and a bit of fear, now there was only resolve and…acceptance? Of what? Her death perhaps? Then what was the resolve he sensed? The desire to take them with her?

He let his eyes travel to the still form of Hidetada, the man simply lay there, his expression, one of peace…yet also an underlying sadness in his features. 'Does she fight for him perhaps, to fulfill your last request? Just as I fight to fulfill Sarutobi-sama's final command?'

He again let his eyes travel to the Kiri Kunoichi. 'Or is it something else.'

He was brought out of his musings as Ginchiko began to glow bright yellow. Then electricity cut through the air around her form, encasing her in a high voltage field of chakra.

'This technique…she is consuming her bio-electric energy…if she keeps this up, she will most certainly die soon.'

Ginchiko glared at her attackers, the Anbu having ceased their charge at the sight of her technique.

For a moment, all was still until one of the Anbu took the initiative and formed his hand seals. "Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!" He yelled as he gathered the moisture from the surrounding mist. Using water against lightning was always dangerous, it had a fifty fifty chance that it would work or backfire terribly. It all depended on which attack held more chakra.

When the dragon hit the field of electrical chakra it simply exploded, scattering the small droplets of water everywhere. Ginchiko used the minor distraction and shot forward. Her lightning encased form appearing as nothing more than a yellow streak as she headed straight for the Mizukage.

"Doton: Doiryuheki" Another Anbu yelled as he slammed his hands onto the ground. A wall of solid rock came between her and the Mizukage.

She didn't stop, and simply tore through it like a wrecking ball through a building.

She kept moving her gaze set determinedly onto her target.

The Mizukage sneered as she neared him the high voltage seeped into the air making his skin tingle and his fingertips sting.

He began forming his hand seals. "Attack, destroy her now!" He yelled out his order, causing his body guards to form their own handseals as they flanked him.

Naruto watched as Earth, Fire, Lightning and water techniques were launched at the charging woman in rapid succession. They each seemed to bounce off the field of electrical energy as she charged straight through them. To most, she appeared unstoppable. But Naruto could see and smell traces of charred flesh, hear the snapping of bones and the tearing of muscle and tissue.

For a brief moment her charge faltered, before she pushed through with even more vigor.

'Why?' He wondered as he continued to stare. 'What is it, that makes you fight so hard? Is it Hidetada? Or perhaps…perhaps you are the same as those others.' He mused to himself.

"You took his place...Why?"

Haku coughed up blood, staining the gray floor of the bridge red. "Because…" He rasped out. "He…is…someone I would protect…at any cost."

"Even your own life?"

Haku nodded, and smiled at the taller blond.

"Why?"

The feminine boy let out a small laugh. "You'll, have to learn for yourself."

That was the first time he had ever seen something of that nature and it confused him still. What was it that compelled that Kiri Nuke-nin to surrender his own life for Zabuza.

"KILL ME INSTEAD!"

He remembered the girl from Suna she had cried out to him, begging for him to spare her brother. Even offering herself in his place, practically throwing herself infront of his blade.

What was it about these…individuals? What gave them such…drive to simply surrender their lives heedlessly?

He let his eyes travel to Hidetada again. 'What causes these people to do this?'

Meanwhile the Mizukage and his Anbu had just finished another volley of jutsu and still Ginchiko's charge didn't stop.

The Mizukage glowered and was about to leap up in order to get out of the way but nearly lost his balance as his legs kept themselves firmly planted on the ground. 'Wha-what the…I cant move? But how did she?"

He paused in his thoughts as looked to his feet, seeing many small electric 'strings holding him in place. ''But how? No one can manipulate lightning to such an extent…how did she?'

He paused as he realized that the lightning was coming from small water droplets, the droplets that had spread around the area from the water dragon used earlier against her. She was using the small reserves of her chakra in the droplets to manipulate the lightning now holding him in place. It wouldn't hold long, but long enough for her to reach him.

His Anbu leapt out of the way, not noticing that their leader was 'stuck' leaving him alone.

He made a move to form more hand seals but it was too late, she picked up speed The ball of lightning slammed right into him, he barely had enough time to scream before he was engulfed in the ensuing blast. Naruto and the Anbu each covered their eyes from the bright light and braced against the harsh winds.

When it finally died down, the sight that greeted them was a burnt, very dead Mizukage. Ginchiko stood over him her arms and legs were damaged badly, blood seeped from her mouth, indicating internal bleeding.

Her heart beat was erratic at times beating dangerously slow and then speeding up dramatically, her entire body was twitching badly as she fell to her knee's and threw up, vomit and blood mixed as her sword fell to the floor with a dull clattering sound.

All the while Naruto observed, his gaze focused intently on her. He suddenly caught the smell of salt. She was crying. Possibly from regret, that she did not try to escape, or that she was dying, he expected. But what she said next surprised him.

'At least…I managed…to keep…part of my promise. I'm sorry Hidetada.' Her thoughts slowed as she collapsed on her side her breathing becoming shallower and shallower as her heart suddenly stopped. She had used up so much bio-electricity, that her brain could no longer send messages to her body enough to keep her conscious.

But Naruto could see from his perch, that her features were not sad or angry, but rather…happy? She was smiling…despite everything and even the pain she must be in, she was still smiling.

'What causes you to smile this way Ginchiko? What is it that allows you to do so?'

The remaining Anbu leapt down, the captain of the group approaching with his sword ready to make sure she was dead.

He raised his sword, but that's about as far as he got before his head was neatly chopped off and the woman vanished.

The other Anbu tensed and turned as they sensed a presence. They found Naruto standing there one hand holding his blade while the other held Ginchiko under one arm.

"Leave now, and I will spare your lives."

Each of the Anbu, spared each-other a glance before they decided to simply cut their losses and leave.

Naruto lowered his blade and spared a glance at the woman slung under his shoulder before he set her down on the floor. She lay on her back as Naruto placed his hand over her chest. He closed his eyes and focused for a moment.

This was one of the few medical techniques that he knew, he usually just used it to preserve the life of a prisoner. He realized with some small sense of irony that this was the first time he would use it to save a life just for the sake of saving it.

He sent a jolt through her system, trying to jump start her heart again. He sensed no change in her pulse, so he did it again. Again nothing. He did it a third time and heard her pulse.

He listened for a moment and heard her breathing. It was shallow and unsteady, if she was to survive then he had to get her to the medics.

With this thought in mind Naruto sheathed his blade, picked her up and rushed back to camp.

It was several hours later that the demon of Konoha found himself waiting infront of a medic tent, where they were currently treating the woman he had saved. He didn't even know why he saved her. Was it curiosity? Was it because, her death would have been a waste? He didn't know really, but he had saved her, and yet…as he continued o replay the events over and over in his mind a dull ache grew in his chest.

The tent parted revealing one of the Kiri medics as she wiped her brow. "She'll be fine. But will have to stay in bed for several weeks before she can do any strenuous action."

Naruto nodded. "Very well. Inform me when she wakes." The woman nodded and bowed before she went to her other duties.

Naruto looked to the setting sun. It dull orange hue setting the sky ablaze with its light. He turned and left, he needed to think.

Kakashi looked over the battlefield. Many ninja lay dead or dying, some groaning in pain while others cried in agony.

A relief force had arrived, earlier, they were meant to be used as back up incase things went wrong but now they were in charge of mop up.

The Kiri ninja walked around, trying to find survivors from either side, various cries calling for medics could also be heard among the chaos.

He sighed. "This is war." He mumbled to himself as he rubbed his covered Sharingan. "I had almost forgotten what it was like." He muttered as he looked to the sky. "I guess I'll have plenty of time to get used to it again."

He sighed again as he turned to leave. But stopped as he caught sight of Naruto, walking among the bodies as he too surveyed the battleground.

He stared curiously as Naruto just walked past and entered the forest, seemingly unfazed by the gruesome display before him. He sighed and looked to the setting sun. 'Minato-sensei…I wonder…what you would do?'

Naruto stopped at the edge of the clearing. Hidetada lay there, in the same place as before. His blood pooled around him coating the grass a deep shade of brown.

He walked over to him and simply stared at his still form. The ache in his chest grew almost uncomfortably. He placed a hand over his chest and wondered what it was.

"It is called guilt Naruto-sama."

Naruto turned to the voice and found the Aburame clan head as he emerged from the forest. The blond was only slightly surprised at his presence there. But then his words caught up to him. "Guilt you say? And just why should I feel guilty over his death Shibi?" He questioned. His voice a slow bored drawl. "Leaving both him and Ginchiko alive was simply too dangerous. I did what I had to do."

Shibi adjusted his glasses and nodded. "Yes you did Naruto-sama. You did everything that you were supposed to do. But…you still feel guilty and naturally so.

"Naturally so?" The blond questioned.

Shibi walked around the clearing, his hands clasped behind him. "Naruto-sama…you are a person that has dealt death…your hands are stained with blood and much of it…but you do not understand it…" He paused as he turned to look at the boy. "Today, you witnessed what death truly is. You saw her suffering, not just the fear, or the anger you have normally witnessed but her true suffering."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "I suggest Shibi, that you keep your insects off of me." He warned quickly deducing the source of the man's knowledge.

"Did you know." Shibi ignored him as he continued speaking. "That after the great Shinobi war, Sarutobi and Yondaime-sama were in the perfect position, to take full control of Iwa? Do you know why they did not seize that opportunity?"

Naruto said nothing as he listened.

"Because, neither of them wished to bear the weight of that guilt. Conquering Iwa would only bring destruction, it would only bring more sorrow and neither of them wanted to bear that burden." He paused as he turned to face the blond. "You merely feel the beginning of that burden. Are you sure you wish to shoulder this thing that will undoubtedly become only all the greater? Even to one such as yourself, with this undertaking Naruto-sama?

Naruto listened, and thought over what was just said to him he squared his shoulders as he formed his hand seals.

"Katon Gokakyu" He whispered before he breathed a stream of flame, incinerating the Kiri jounin. He stared at the flames for a long while, listening to the cracks and losing himself in their glow.

He looked to the Aburame clan head. "This is a land at war, a world where demons fight…if I must become a demon to end the chaos. Then a demon is what I swear to be and I will shoulder whatever burden that comes with it." He spoke with determination before he turned and left.

'If I must…then I alone…will shoulder the sorrow.'