The lost soul..

The cool breeze of the crisp air ruffled the trees as the morning mist began to part. Naruto stood on one of the trees that overlooked the coalition encampment. They were three hundred yards away more or less, but even from this distance he could tell that they were readying themselves to march again.

He felt the branch shift beneath him and turned his head to catch sight of Guan and Ginchiko. The Kiri ninja's missing eye was patched up nicely, only the faint edges of the scar Shizune's senbon had caused could be seen. And Ginchiko also looked well despite her all too recent injuries.

Naruto looked back to the camp. "I assume your men have been briefed."

The two Kiri jounin nodded before allowing their own gaze to travel to the camp just a stone's throw away.

Guan moved to speak, but Ginchiko beat him to it, surprising him slightly. "Lord...If we do not end this quickly…I fear Iwa, Kumo or Suna may take advantage and strike us from the rear." Both Guan and Naruto noticed her slight hesitation in calling him lord. To be expected the Jinchuuriki supposed.

He nodded. "Do not worry, I have already addressed the situation between Kumo and Iwa…it will hopefully keep them busy enough for us to finish this undisturbed."

Both Guan and Ginchiko exchanged glances before the larger man decided to voice their thoughts. "What do you mean sir?

A platoon of 30 Kumo Anbu leapt through the trees silently. Their forms mere blurs as they whipped past.

The leader, a man wearing a bear mask with a green cloak held up his hand, signaling them all to stop. "This is far enough." He yelled before he leapt down to the forest floor, the others following closely behind.

The leader reached for his mask and with a soft click, the strap was unbound and he slipped it off revealing-

"Ahh my youthful comrades! We have arrived in fire territory again, remove your facemasks and let our victory be heard!"

Such was the cry of one Maito Gai as he threw off his green cloak.

The rest of the ninja removed the forged Kumo Anbu masks and headbands, revealing Konoha jounin and chuunin hidden beneath. One grunted as he removed his mask and cloak, tossing them aside as he fixed his headband. "I gotta say…Hokage-sama's pretty smart, having us pit Kumo and Iwa against eachother."

Gai's expression didn't change as he thought. 'Already they acknowledge him as their Hokage…'

Still, even Gai had to admit the strategy was good. Have his squad pretend to be Kumo ninja, and attack Iwa, who had no doubt been planning to attack Konoha, thus putting their two greatest threats against one another, leaving him free to deal with this coalition.

"Gai-san." Another addressed him. "Do you believe Ibiki-san's and Anko-san's missions will proceed as planned?"

He smiled giving the man his nice guy pose. "Do not worry my youthful comrade, our friends Ibiki and Anko will succeed!"

Before the man could say anything further Gai turned on his heel. "Now! My youthful comrades onward, back to Konoha!"

A short pause…

"That's the direction of Kumo isn't it?" One ninja whispered to another.

"Yes…" He answered back.

Another short pause…

"How long do you think it'll take him to figure it out?"

"Its Gai…how long do you think?"

Yet another short pause…

"Fuck."

Meanwhile:

Ibiki and Anko were also leaping from tree to tree, their two contingents, numbering sixty men in total following closely.

Ibiki looked to the purple haired kunoichi as he spoke. "This is where we part ways, good luck Anko."

She grinned back at him. "Aww Ibiki-chan…you really do care!" She sniffed a few fake tears as he grunted in irritation. She giggled after a moment. "Don't worry, I don't need luck…I've got knives."

He nodded before he made a few hand signs to the men behind him and with a strong leap, swerved to the right, vanishing into the forest along with his men.

Anko smirked as she looked behind her to her own group of ninja. "Alright boys we gotta make good time so we can catch those grass idiots off guard! Pick it up!"

Two days later:

Naruto stood again at the top of a tree, the green leaves, shielding his form from the harsh sun and the eyes of the enemy who continued to approach…they were still just beyond his sights, just a few hundred yards.

Kimimaro suddenly appeared next to him, the last Kaguya stared impassively at his leader. "We are in position Naruto-sama. At your command…"

Naruto nodded. "I trust you know the plan…when I give the signal, pull back immediately."

Kimimaro nodded. "Yes…however, you have yet to tell us what the signal is Naruto-sama." He replied impassively.

"Do not worry Kimimaro, you will all know it when you see it." He replied somewhat cryptically before he looked to the former sound nin. "Now…go, rejoin your squad and wait for the enemy."

He bowed his head once before leaping to the tree tops.

Naruto looked back to the general area he could feel the enemy approaching from. "Kenpachi, Yoshino and Zaraki. The three of you have decided to shoulder a burden far to heavy for you to bear…I shall take that burden from you, together with your lives."

Yoshino sighed to herself as she sped through the forest floor, the rest of the ninja army moving swiftly at her side. The coming confrontation was not something she wanted and the more she ran it around in her head the less she wanted it. Still, just as lord Kenpachi said, they had to fight…as the leader of her village she had no choice but to fight and defend her lands now, no matter how much it pained her to do so.

Yoshino smiled as she gently traced the petals of a flower. She had found this field near their encampment shortly after they had placed it, and for the last month or so came here every night. It was beautiful and calming, reminding her much of Ame's delicate flower gardens, the tropical nature of the country made it so that a variety of wildlife and plant life could thrive easily even within the city limits.

She sighed but the sound of footsteps caught her attention, she turned, gripping one of her chain whips instinctively before she caught sight of the familiar mask

She smiled, though she knew it would not be returned. "Naruto-san, what are you doing here?"

"You have been leaving the encampment often of late, I found bit prudent to follow…"

She hid a frown at that. She knew the reason why he had followed…he wanted to make sure that she wasn't leaking information to the enemy. While she was insulted by the insinuation she also knew that not taking such precautions was foolish.

She would let it slide.

She made herself smile a bit more before she sat down and motioned for him to join her. He walked over, but didn't sit, merely standing by her side.

"I like this place." She spoke, whether it was to herself, or to him he didn't know, but he still felt compelled to ask…

"Why?"

She smiled and gestured to the field that lay before them. "Its beautiful here…the troubles of the world don't reach this place…" She took a deep breath as she paused. "And even if its for a moment…I can be at peace."

"Hn." Was his monosyllabic response as he knelt down cradling one of the delicate flowers with his calloused hands. "You find beauty in these?" His tone was neutral as he spoke. "Their beauty is fleeting…soon they will wither away into nothingness."

She smiled kindly, pitying the poor boy that had been turned into this, but she wouldn't show it…she wouldn't dishonor him like that. "Similar to our own lives don't you think?'

He turned towards her then, the slited eyeholes of his facemask not allowing her to see the calm pits of ice as they stared into her own dark brown ones.

She smiled again before looking up at the sky. "Our lives, just like these flowers are fleeting, Naruto-san…we're here today, but what of tomorrow…will we still be here? No one knows…that's why we must cherish each special moment that brings us peace…" He said nothing instead turning his gaze to the sky.

She smiled as she looked upon his form of crimson and black, smiling in something akin to fondness. 'Naruto-san...' She thought. 'I know…that somewhere you have a kind heart…they haven't succeeded in taking that from you…and hopefully they never will.'

They remained there, at peace.

Flashback end:

Beside her small form, Kenpachi watched as her form visibly sagged, as if a great weight was on her shoulders, he knew why. He too, was not in any way looking forward to the conflict to come. He remembered that boy, and despite that they had met mainly on the field of battle or near one, his memories were nothing but amiable with the young man.

Flashback:

"That wound you received yesterday has not yet healed…you should return to the camp. I will keep the enemy occupied here." Naruto spoke calmly to the larger man that stood beside him.

Kenpachi smiled but it came out more like a grimace as he rubbed his bandaged chest. "I cannot allow you to do that Naruto-san. You see, we must hold out until our reinforcements arrive, and though you are strong my men do not know you, seeing me here, will raise morale and help them all fight better."

"If you do not rest then it will not matter because you will die regardless. Then where will their morale be?"

Kenpachi sighed, the boy didn't understand. He placed his arm on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto-san look at those men behind us." He spoke calmly, almost in a fatherly tone. Naruto did as asked and looked behind him to the 40 or so ninja that went about preparing themselves for the coming battle.

"Now please tell me, what do you see?"

"Men preparing their equipment.." He answered simply.

"I will tell you what I see…I see comrades, comrades with families waiting for them back home. People worth protecting…if it helps them return to their families- to their lives-I will gladly sacrifice my own…remember that every comrade is precious and must be protected."

He paused for a moment before he spoke again. "When one is fighting to protect, not destroy…that is when ones true strength is revealed…remember that Naruto-san."

And now they marched against him it was…distasteful to say the least…

The leader of Taki was brought out of his thoughts as a loud crash and dust cloud appeared infront of them. There was a loud cry of "AMBUSH!" Before three large snakes appeared from the cloud of dust and slammed into their forward ranks and hundreds of Kunai and Shuriken rained down on them as Konoha ninja began leaping down from the thick tree canopy.

Naruto knelt on the head of one of the summoned snakes, his feet sticking firmly to the creature's head with chakra. One of his swords was unsheathed, glinting in what little light cut through the trees above.

The snake beneath him thrashed violently, lashing out with deadly poison and razor sharp fangs, scales like black chainmail as they deflected kunai and Shuriken all too easilly.

He leaned to the left, then to the right, avoiding two ninja that lunged at him and then catching the throat of the third one with a swipe of his sword. Blood rained around him, falling and loosing itself in the crimson cloak over his shoulders.

His sensitive ears caught the whizzing sound of kunai slicing through the air. With a small gust of wind chakra he deflected them, the exploding tags going off in the air before they reached him, picking up dust and whipping the wind and heat across his face.

With a leap he got off the snake's head, going through the flames and dust, charging headfirst into the enemy ranks, which had been reduced to a chaotic mass of people as Konoha ninja and kunai rained down over their heads.

He wasted no time as he began cutting his enemies to pieces with swift and precise movements, aiming for vital arteries and organs as he sliced them open.

He sidestepped one's attempt at a downward cut before he swiftly and effortlessly cut open his stomach before grabbing his face and shoving him to the floor. He blocked another strike aimed at his thigh and countered with an upwards sweep of his blade, cutting off the mans leg at the hip

He took out a kunai and threw it, lodging the metallic projectile between the eyes of another who charged at him.

He heard the sound of chains and turned on his heel, raising his forearm in time to block a kunai with a chain attachment.

It wrapped around his arm and the man pulled hard. Naruto gripped the chain and sent a burst of wind chakra up the length of the chain, shredding it and the man's arm to pieces.

He turned, blocking a kunai easily as he unsheathed his second blade. He could see the former sound ninja as they made their presence known, arrows from Kidomaru killed ninja before they could scream, Jirobu's massive strength and arsenal of earth jutsu working together with Sakon and his brother Ukon. He could hear Tayuya's flute in the distance, the tune distinctive and distracting among the other sounds on this field.

He looked to the right, and found another ninja approaching but before he was able to dispatch him himself, a sword made from bone impaled the man stopping him dead in his tracks. Naruto looked up to Kimimaro as the bone user passed overhead and nodded in his direction. Kimimaro nodded back, before calling his sword back and using his bone whip to lash out at others around him.

He took a stance with his two blades held in a reverse grip, lashing out with a confusing flurry of moves, weaving and moving in and out of attacks as if he had rehearsed it, killing ninja with each swing of his two blades, in the distance he noticed Ginchiko and Guan as the two cut a bloody swath across the field with Guan's massive strength and Ginchiko's swifter lightning strikes.

He cut open another ninja's throat, unmindful of the blood that sprayed over him as he observed his retainers…

His senses perked up as he felt a familiar presence…two familiar presences actually. He stopped. Freezing mid motion before he straightened and turned slowly, his blue irises glowing faintly beneath his hood as he finally rested them on the two he once called allies just as Yoshino's chain whips cut down a Konoha nin and Kenpachi dispatched another. The two stilled, sensing his gaze on them, they turned, finally coming face to face with the boy they hadn't seen in years.

Even with the changes to his attire and physical body they knew it was him…his presence was unmistakable. Their gazes held one another for a long time as the battlefield seemed to vanish from view. Both Yoshino, and Kenpachi's eyes held a silent plea. 'Don't do this…'

However, something shocking and disturbing occurred just then. His shoulders shook, and with a start they realized he was laughing, the hollow sound of his voice sending chills down their spines that froze the marrow in their bones.

They tense ready to fight this boy that they had once called a comrade when suddenly, before anyone could react another ninja appeared behind the blond. They recognized him instantly- Zaraki, the leader of Kusa.

Naruto turned his head to look back at his attacker, and Yoshino could have sworn she saw his eyes flash before Zaraki brought his blade down, small traces of lightning chakra surrounding the weapon, allowing it to burn and tear through flesh and bone as he carved a deep jagged wound down his back, from his right shoulder, all the way down to the left hip.

Their eyes widened in momentary shock and horror as blood exploded like a shower from the garish wound and Yoshino could not stifle her gasp.

The blade in Naruto's right hand dully clattered to the floor as he fell on his side, crimson blood pooling around him. Zaraki moved quickly, his blade ready to deliver the killing blow. However, a whip made from bone snatched the weapon from his hand. He turned, just in time to barely avoid Kimimaro as the bone user lunged at him.

Yoshino and Kenpachi, after a moment of hesitation, moved to join the fight when Ginchiko appeared infront of them "Raiton: Denko no Heki!"

A small wall of lightning exploded from the ground between them, stopping the two in their tracks as she leapt back. She looked to Naruto in time to see Guan place his arm over his shoulder, ignoring the blood as it seeped into his green clothes, turning them a dark brown color.

Seeing her commander in such a state she cuped her hands over her mouth and called the order. "RETREAT! RETREAT!" She yelled throwing a green smoke bomb down on the ground, alerting the Konoha nins that it was they who had been called to retreat.

After a few moments of confusion, the Konoha ninja again took to the trees, retreating swiftly back to their own territory.

"Quickly! Reform the ranks, we must pursue him at once." Zaraki called to his men before turning to Yoshino and Kenpachi. "You two as well, move quickly, now is our chance to end this upstart. We have to get after him right now!" The dragon masked ninja spoke.

"Zaraki-sama." Yoshino spoke calmly. "This could all be a trap, we must proceed with caution, do not pursue the enemy so hastily."

"I'm not sure how many wars you've fought lady Yoshino, but I assure you that now that their leader has been injured and they stand without him and are demoralized, this is the greatest opportunity to rout them completely."

Her eyes narrowed. "I have fought plenty of wars lord Zaraki, and I also learned that rushing into a fight will more than likely lead to your own defeat rather than theirs."

"Fine then." The kusa nin growled out. "You two can stay here and plan, resting your frail bones while the rest of us secure our homes." With that he turned to assist in organizing his men to retake the pursuit as quickly as possible.

Yoshino grit her teeth hard before she felt Kenpachi's calming hand on her shoulder. "Kenpachi…"

"I know lady Yoshino…" He replied quietly before he too began moving to organize his men.

Meanwhile the Konoha ninja rushed through the trees at breakneck speed, The sound five, Ginchiko, Guan and the injured Naruto at the head.

Guan heard a faint chuckle at his side, and with a slight start, the long bearded man realized it was Naruto himself that was chuckling. "Why are you laughing Naruto-sama?" He questioned, worried that the boy was delirious from blood loss already.

"Because Guan…they injured me…they believe they can win…"

It took a moment for the green clad Kiri ninja to catch up with what he really meant. "You knew the attack was coming?"

"Of course I did." Was his simple reply.

"Then why did you not dodge it?"

"Simple…now that they believe they can win, they will pursue us, leaving their rear open."

Guan was left speechless as he dumbly leapt through the trees. "Then that means that those three squads you sent out earlier…" He trailed off as Naruto nodded.

"Yes…one was to distract Kumo and Iwa, and the other two will attack the villages of Ame and Kusa now that they're away. In their haste, they will not learn of it until its far too late."

"THEY'VE DONE WHAT?"

That was the voice of the resident Jinchuriki of Kumogakure, otherwise known as Yugito as she addressed the Raikage who calmly sipped more of his tea before he answered. "Konoha has fooled Iwa into believing we attacked them, Yoshihiro is marching his men to our borders."

"What? We have to tell them what happened right now!" She spoke as she moved to the door when his voice reached her.

"No we will not."

"Excuse me?" Was her incredulous question as she rounded back to him.

"I said, we will not tell them anything, merely send orders to tighten the defenses around our borders."

"Bu-but sir…"

"Yugito." He interrupted firmly yet gently. "Come with me." He said as he stood from his desk and made his way to the balcony the blond girl following silently.

He stood leaning one hand over the railing and waited for her to join him. When she finally did, he spoke. "What you must learn Yugito is to see beyond the battlefield, to see the repercussions of your actions, rather than your actions themselves."

"Is that what you do? Seeing what lies beyond?"

He nodded slowly, his raven black tresses waving slightly in the cool breeze. "Yes…see what lies beyond Yugito…when you learn to do that, tell me what you see."