I made sure to keep myself between Orochimaru and Itachi, uneasy and sick to my stomach as his chakra was twisted and vile. Kurama was restless, stirring constantly, keeping my guard up, raging towards Orochimaru's presence, and Sasuke’s recklessness boiling in my chest. We moved into an empty war room, everything was put away, and no one had been inside the tent, just us in here with about ten anbu stationed outside in case Orochimaru tried anything.

Perhaps he did mean well. After all, he's stupid for showing up here if all places, the medical company, with someone like me here.

"Ah, now that we are nice and secluded, I suppose you wish for the pretty little details." Orochimaru purred out, his eyes fluttering at me. However, he remained sharp and observant, dissecting my every twitch and fiber.

"Now." I hissed impatiently, all too aware of how Itachi was literally shaking behind me.

"Perfect. So, I should start by saying that Kabuto's claim over my work was rather insulting. He tweaked a small flaw, which was my inability to figure out how to keep the body fed, which ended up turning out to be blood. Other than that, from what I've heard from Sasuke, nothing else was changed, which means the destruction process is relatively the same." Orochimaru shrugged his shoulder before holding out his hand towards me, making me flinch as he grabbed my wrist, pulling my arm straight, eyes moving to the bite marks. "Your blood must be insanely desirable to both Itachi and Madara Uchiha, which makes you my bait."

I grunted in discomfort since his other hand slid up my arm, quite literally feeling up my arm and neck. Itachi hissed with anger, but I set my free hand on his knee behind me, making sure to reassure him that I wasn't letting my guard down.

One wrong move and Orochimaru's arms are gonna be ripped off.

"A vampire has a strong claim over their desired prey. If it's true that Madara has bitten you, then he has a seal implanted beneath your skin. However... I'm not seeing one? Just Itachi's based on the chakra." Orochimaru hummed, leaning forward, yellow eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"I-I found that seal and destroyed it. He was manipulating his nerves and body." Itachi ground out behind me.

"How interesting." Orochimaru chimed and slid his fingers along my bites, studying them and chuckling after I shuddered in protest. "Forgive me, merely taking mental notes." He then pulled away from me and folded his legs, placing his hands in his lap as he continued. "The destruction process is a bit tricky, as it involves the subject remaining entirely still. It's an undetectable jutsu until it's released, which binds itself to the body of the vampire and shreds it apart, body, and soul almost instantaneously. It's only able to latch onto the vampire, in this case, Madara Uchiha, so you won't be in any danger from it. The only issue is that the casting time takes several minutes. I can use this jutsu from great distances, so the only real problem is that window of time. You need to keep him still for me."

"Act as bait... h-how still?" I questioned, gripping the hem of my shirt.

"Relevtively still, just in the same seven foot circle from when I begin the jutsu." Orochimaru answered, smirking at me knowingly. "Which shouldn't be a problem if that bite is any indication. Jinchuriki are splendid subjects~, after all. You are simply something else."

I shuddered and grabbed his bite, legs coming together slowly as I averted my gaze, eyes widening and brows furrowing in fear and disgust as my mind told me just how I'd be able to do that.

Knowing what he wants from me... after all.

"That's absolutely OUT OF THE QUES-"

"I'll do it." I spoke over Itachi, who grunted in shock.

"NO YOU WON'T!" Itachi yelled and grabbed my shoulder tightly.

"ITACHI!" I snarled and shot to my feet, flaring in anger before simmering down. "I get that you're completely against this, but what other choice do we have!? It's the easiest way to take him out!"

"B-But... he..."Itachi winced, his fingers digging into my shoulders harder than he meant too, making me feel them pulse with pain. "You- you're still..."

He knew I was still messed up, and his worry made my heart flutter with adoration, and I also knew his instincts refused the idea, but that desperation was laced with understanding.

He knew deep down this was the best option we had.

"As much as I hate the idea too, it's our best and possibly only shot at killing him, Itachi." Sasuke finally spoke up, placing a hand on Itachi's arm, frowning heavily. "As much as the idea makes me want to kill something, it's something we have to try."

Itachi growled, moving the bandage Sasuke placed over his face a little as he looked me up and down with extreme worry. Itachi sighed heavily and ran a hand through my hair, nodding slowly.

"I hate this... but... if that's really what needs to be done. I'll be close, always, so.... if things do go south, I'll be able to stop him this time around." Itachi reassured.

"Being used by others... again." Kurama sighed with disapproval. "Pests, all of them. I despise the thought of being used as a means to accomplish other's goals."

"It's our best option." I spoke softly, rubbing my stomach absently. "I'm sorry, I hate this too. All of it."

"Hm?" Orochimaru raised a brow.

"He isn't talking to us." Sasuke's voice spoke, though it sounded underwater.

"It better work. If it doesn't, we kill Orochimaru slower than Obito. Deal?" Kurama sneered, blood lust filling my being, making my eyes narrow and hair stand on the back of my neck.

"Sounds perfectly reasonable." I nodded my head, feeling a weird fog settle over my brain.

A part of me screaming in resistance to that deal. Some small speck of my mind that knows my plans for revenge are wrong.

"It's not who you are..."

Again, that unfamiliar voice I've been hearing. I wonder if it's my conscious. However, that voice deep down is unfortunately too quiet for me to care about anymore.

I'm tired of all of it.

"Good." Kurama hummed with glee, the sound around me returning to normal.

"On a different note. It was my understanding that Sasuke had killed you. I also purified him of your curse mark. How are you alive? Did someone die in your stead?" Itachi questioned, to fill the silence, to draw attention away from the fact I had spaced out.

"Ah, well, I wasn't the only one who had a curse mark. Also, no, no one died. I bumped into Anko, one of Orochimaru's old pupils, and used her curse mark to summon him back. She won't remember a thing, and she didn't die. I had Jugo leave her in a safe place. She'll wake when she wakes." Sasuke explained, shaking his hand dismissively.

"Does Sakura know about this?" Itachi curiously asked.

"I actually discussed it with her in detail. Jugo completed the summoning not too long ago about a day maybe, which is why Orochimaru's here now rather than previously. He had to basically kidnap her, but it's for the good of our future, so I figured one bad night would trump the eventual end of the world." Sasuke deadpanned and looked away from Itachi's disappointment riddled face.

"I get the point, but that was still cruel of you." Itachi huffed and looked over to me, his eyes studying my neck, roaming over the bites he continues to try and cover up with his own. "At least no one was killed. However, your presence will and has already been felt by our intelligence team. The Kage may come to confront you being here. Then again, they each have their respective roles and stations." He tilted his head to the side, his eyes fixating on Orochimaru. "We need to inform someone about this. Most definitely, Gaara."

"Yes, that would be wise." Orochimaru smirked at Itachi before stretching his arms, making me tense a little, watching him like a hawk. "Now, as for the other thing I've promised, I'll need to clear out the junk in here if I am to perform one of my many talents."

"Which is?" I snarled.

"The hokage sealed away with the death seal." Orochimaru smirked at me, making my heart race. "It's a sort of ritual, and it requires me to injure myself, dance, and chant a little, so I'll need some room. The tables and chairs need to go unless you have a different tent I could use. Sasuke, I assume Jugo informed you of what I required?"

"Hn." Sasuke stood and popped his knuckles. "Collected everything while on the battlefield." He replied and tossed a scroll to Orochimaru, who caught it with ease.

"Or you want us to give you enough room to attack us." Itachi hissed with distrust, eyes narrowed in revulsion.

"I almost want him to try it." I whispered, gaining Orochimaru's attention.

"My, my, such serious eyes." Orochimaru teased, making my nose scrunch up. "You have the eyes Sasuke used to bear. Such a hateful little glare, you have. Seems life hasn't been too fair on you. Then again, how could it be with a child cursed with such a massive burden at birth. Well, in a little bit, you can take it out on your father." Orochimaru chuckled. "Should that be your desire."

"You know?" I blinked in mild surprise.

"Oh, come now, little thing, you are his spitting image. Only a fool wouldn't make that connection." Orochimaru chuckled as he shoved some chairs to a corner, Sasuke dragging a table outside.

"Can you grab the mask I discarded on the ground while you're outside?" Itachi asked, quickly shielding his face with his hat as sunlight bled into the tent once the flap was opened.

"Hn." Sasuke replied as he drug the table out, asking the surrounding Anbu to move aside as he did so.

Sasuke returned with the mask quickly and then left to inform the surrounding shinobi about what was going on, leaving the three of us alone in the tent together.

Dad was going to be reanimated.

I leaned back until my back was against Itachi's chest, who wrapped his arms around me the moment I made contact with him. I felt my pulse racing, stress swallowing my mind entirely from both the possibilities of what I could say and what could happen once we enter that battlefield again.

My head began to throb, and with it, flashes of horrible memories from villagers abusing me to the Akatsuki encounters. From Asuma's killers, to Pain, to Kisame, to Obito, meeting me in the land of iron. Everything stems from the decisions of both Obito ruining my life the day I was born and my father sealing the Nine Tails inside me.

That cold pit devouring my mind was growing more and more infinite, making me feel cold and overheated at the same time, dizzy. I winced and leaned my head into the lips I felt pressing against me. I found comfort in the gesture, knowing Itachi was probably drowning in a cloud of my own anxiety and anguish.

"Never in a million years could I have imagined you two would end up becoming a thing." Orochimaru hummed, interrupting the tense silence as he set up the space. "Fate does funny things, no?"

"It's none of your business. Snake." Itachi hissed against my head.

"I wonder. How much of your affection is genuine, and how much of it is your instincts." Orochimaru spoke with curiosity, looking at us up and down.

"None of your business." Itachi repeated, hugging me tighter.

"Well, Madara's shown his interest. It must be driving you mad." Orochimaru chuckled as he wrote the last of a pattern in ink on the ground with a brush. "Ah, all done."

Sasuke walked back inside, his arms crossed as he was followed by Gaara. Gaara glared Orochimaru down with resentment for a few heartbeats before he smoothed his face over with neutral guardedness. He looked to me and Itachi and inclined his head to us.

"Good morning, you two." Gaara spoke weakly, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before looking to Orochimaru, his look heavily loaded. "Once the jutsu is completed, I have some information I'd like to share with everyone present."

"Oh... is it bad news?" I winced at the tone of his voice.

"..." Gaara frowned softly, his fingers twitching, but he kept to himself and didn't answer me.

Yeah... something happened.

Sneaking in behind Gaara was Sakura, who shifted to move next to Sasuke, whispering to him, making Itachi tense behind me and grabbing me firmly before relaxing his grip. I narrowed my eyes in frustration since I was dying to have sensitive hearing like his, just to hear what was said, however I was drawn from that as Orochimaru dawned a mask with horns and a pale face, and began to chant and dance like some lunatic, using his foot to open the scroll and summon a tied up living white Zetsu.

I felt Itachi shudder when a wall of chakra erupted from Orochimaru's body, his hair lifting up, rising as a giant figure formed behind him, demonic with long white hair, holding a knife in its mouth. Its eyes looked down as he held his arms up, pulling the knife from his mouth before impaling its stomach. Orochimaru growled out in pain, blood pooling from his abdomen as he was impaled in the same place.

Orochimaru's body fell as the giant demon took the living Zetsu's life force from its body, narrowly missing Orochimaru's by a hair. I jumped, eyes wide as I watched it consume the chakra entirely, before expelling four glowing bodies before vanishing, the markings along the floor shifting as Orochimaru's hand slid forward, smearing his own blood across the scroll, summoning four dead bodies of zetsu. He tore the mask off before slamming his hand against the ground with a smirk.

"REANIMATION JUTSU!" He called out, smirking widely past the obvious expression of pain.

The four bodies jolted before patches of skin and chakra wove together over them, morphing and transforming their bodies into the souls being summoned. I tensed, an image of Jirayia flashing in my mind as I felt my gut twist with disgust at the idea of being able to drag people back from beyond the grave.

It must have been a horrible experience for the person being reanimated. The thought feels violating and disruptive. Though, these negative thoughts turned off, as four figures rose to their feet, gasping in air, chakra exploding throughout the tent as four different signatures took shape, clothes changing, hair, skin color, all forming into four different people.

Itachi tensed behind me, inhaling sharply before relaxing. I blinked slowly, my eyes wide open as the figures finished forming. Orochimaru grunted as he rose to his feet, panting and holding his bleeding side, smirking over at me as he held his hand, not holding his side out.

"I told you I wasn't lying. Behold, the four Hokage!" Orochimaru chuckled.

"Mnh... where am I?" A deep voice growled, drawing my attention to who looks to be the second Hokage from the statue heads back home. "Brother?"

"Tobirama!" The first grinned widely. "Well, look at you! It's been a while! Hiruzen, looking older than me! Damn, you lived long!"

"Hashirama-! To- M-Minato as well!? What- wait!? Orochimaru!" Hiruzen growled and tensed, getting into fighting position quickly. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"

"There's no need for that." Gaara spoke up, taking a few steps forward, ushering Orochimaru towards us. "He's a temporary ally, past transgressions aside, we are all united under war times."

The four men turned around to face Gaara, though, the breath caught in my throat as Dad's face came into view. I felt the wind get knocked out of me as his eyes found mine, widening open to mirror my shock.

"Who the hell are you?" Hashirama spoke, raising a brow, making me feel oddly intimidated by his narrowed gaze.

"I'm the current Kazekage of the sand. Gaara." Gaara introduced himself and inclined his head.

"Oh? Is that so? Nice! And you are?" He then leaned over to dad, who grinned and showed off the back of his cloak, which read out 4th Hokage. "SPLENDID! So who's the fifth then?"

"That would be your granddaughter." Orochimaru spoke up, as Sakura reluctantly began to heal his abdomen, her eyes glaring him down with anger.

"Oh... is she really?" Hashirama tensed and winced to himself, withdrawing and scratching the back of his head. "Is it okay?"

"Uh... the people are." Gaara retracted for a moment before smiling faintly. "She's a wonderful leader and an extraordinary healer. Hidden Leaf's best."

"Ah, that's good to hear." Hashirama deflated with relief, sighing heavily and wiping his forehead. "It's bad enough she picked up my gambling habit... she was a monster at times, hehehe."

"Tch." Tobirama growled to himself softly, looking bitterly around the room. "Reanimation Jutsu, huh? I outlawed it as forbidden. To be brought back by this is... almost comedic and insulting."

"You out - did you create it?" Sakura piped up, shrinking when he made eye contact with her.

"Yes, I did. But after realizing it's danger, I had it branded as a forbidden technique." Tobirama explained, his eyes glaring at Orochimaru. "Clearly, that wasn't enough to stop some people from using it."

"I thought you made it." Sakura looked to Orochimaru, who shrugged.

"I perfected it." He smirked at Itachi before standing straight after he was fully healed. "Hmhmhm, a beautiful jutsu indeed."

"Itachi Uchiha." Hiruzen froze, looking shocked and tense, his eyes fixed behind me.

The room went silent as all eyes fell on Itachi, who tensed like stone behind me. I frowned heavily and looked over my shoulder, taking a step forward as his eyes were flooded with sorrow and glued to Hiruzen's. Sasuke took a step forward, moving until he stood in front of both of us, his eyes narrowing.

"We're all on the same side." Sasuke hissed, gaining the Sarutobi's attention. "Tsunade, along with the entire village, knows about the sins committed behind the scenes." Sasuke's eyes landed on the 2nd for a moment, as did Itachi's.

"It's... fine." Itachi mumbled quietly, holding his arms against his chest. "Everything's been sorted out, now."

He was visibly uncomfortable and tense, but Sasuke looked bitterly at the third Hokage, who took in the sight before him.

"My... just look at you all, so grown up. And Naruto Uzumaki." Hiruzen smiled in my direction, looking me up and down. "You're a spitting image of your father."

"..." I felt my heart race, as I suddenly felt all eyes land on me, before footsteps drew closer and closer, until I felt a gentle hand on my head.

I flinched and looked up, meeting my dad's gaze as he smiled lovingly down at me. His fingers gently tangled into my hair before he cupped my face, taking a step back and looking me over. I shuddered, averting my gaze as he picked me apart before bringing me into a soft embrace. I gasped quietly, eyes wide as he hugged me tighter and tighter.

"Look at you." Minato spoke softly, making me shiver in response to this foreign feeling. "My son... so grown up. I can sense how much stronger you've become. I'm so proud."

His words were like nails to a chalkboard to me. I winced, eyes widening against his shoulder, the fabric burning my eyes as I began to shake. I couldn't place this sudden feeling, this escalation inside my core, as he held me. I shakily reached up and grabbed at his cloak, tears brimming my eyes, as i suddenly felt like I was about to explode.

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

My mind turned to mush, and I fought to keep myself from falling apart, but the image of obito resurfaced again, and again and again like he was right there in front of me. I felt and heard my teeth chattering hard, and I felt his hug tighten and his breathing change. Like he caught onto the spiral, I was stuck inside.

"Are you okay?"

My pupils were constricted into dots, and the tears dried up, but before I reacted, I felt an ice-cold hand at my back, coaxing me from Minato's hold. I inhaled sharply, growling as Itachi pulled me away from him and against his chest. Minato took a step back with shock on his face, able to see the amount of pain my expression held. Hiruzen was watching me, eyes wide with terror as I glared my own father down with so much rage, flooding the room with so much tension it could've been cut by a blade.

"..." Tobirama tensed and took a step forward, but the first grabbed his shoulder to calm him down before moving towards us.

"I'd advise giving us space. It's been a rather terrible few days." Itachi spoke suddenly, his tone stern. "I promise he isn't entirely angry with you. Naruto means no offense. It's the enemy he's angry with. That masked Akatsuki and Madara Uchiha."

"Masked man?" Minato tensed and tore his eyes from me and to Itachi.

"The same one." I whispered past clenched teeth, gaining his attention as my world bled red, watching everyone in the room tense. "He's responsible for this mess. For your deaths." I spoke to my father, watching as his eyes narrowed with concern.

Minato's eyes narrowed at me, and he seemed to grow more worried and upset, his eyes drifting down as if he were momentarily lost in thought.

"Madara Uchiha? I killed him." Hashirama spoke up, his face turning serious.

"Yes, you did. But he was reanimated by Obito Uchiha, the identity of the masked man. And it was by Orochimaru's experimental -"

"O-obito!?" Minato gasped and held a hand over his chest, looking winded and in shock, a look Hiruzen mirrored.

"You're certain!?" The Third asked.

"Uchihas..." The second mumbled out quietly. "A running theme of our night so far."

"Do you know him?" Gaara questioned, raising a brow.

"Y-yes, he was my student! H-He died in battle during the third great war!" Minato spoke hurriedly. "You must have heard wrong! Where did -"

"Kabuto and Madara were calling him by his name." I hissed softly. "Seems life decided to turn him evil. You and Jirayia have some things in common."

"Huh?" Minato grunted and looked at me, his eyes flooded with concern as lines of stress formed on his face.

"Madara Uchiha was reanimated. That's... not good." Hashirama mumbled and grabbed his chin, sighing heavily. "War... such a horrible thing. It's always war where we find ourselves bumping heads in. I wish I could just knock the sense back into his stubborn war mongering ass." Hashirama grumbled to himself. "Back in my day... when things were all about dreams of the future rather than hate."

"It's not only bad that he has the almost unending stamina of a reanimated shinobi. But he was brought back using an improved form of reanimation, a sort of vampirism that gives him unnatural strength and senses without the use of chakra. His chakra supply is almost bottomless as well. His only readily known weakness is sunlight, like Itachi here." Gaara explained, motioning to Itachi, who hummed and folded his arms.

"You were killed?" Hiruzen questioned before his eyes landed on Sasuke's guilt ridden face. "So... you managed to accomplish your revenge."

"Yes, but I've since had the sense knocked back into me. Itachi was reanimated as a means to drag Naruto to the enemy. But they failed to realize where his heart lies, which is with the hidden leaf. We're all on the same side, here. Every village is united against Madara and his army of undead and white zetsu. But... we are admittedly struggling and suffering extremely heavy losses due to Madara and Obito attaining seven of the nine tailed beasts." Sasuke explained. "Their goal is simple. Capture Naruto's tailed beast and Bee's, and summon the ten tails and capture the world into an infinite genjutsu. It's genocide."

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone took in and processed the information. Everyone stared at each other or at the ground, and I kept my eyes lowered, unable to handle my dad's stare as he watched me in silence with an observant expression.

Tobirama was the first to step forward.

"Do you have a plan to stop him? Is the reanimation jutsu undoable?" He looked to Orochimaru with cold eyes.

"Yes, we've worked that out. Naruto's the bait for Madara, I'll seal him away, but in order to get this to happen, we need to make a convincing window for them to be alone." Orochimaru smirked softly.

"And why's that?" Minato narrowed his eyes at Orochimaru, who smirked at him in return.

"Vampires are very territorial. They are very possessive creatures when it comes to their food." Orochimaru looked to me. "Naruto's been bitten by Madara recently, and he's our easiest ticket to victory with the least amount of bloodshed. His blood is more flavourful than a regular human's simply because he's a Jinchuriki, and the tailed beast chakra in his system mingkes with his own, and changes his smell ans flavor to a vampire to be much more desirable. Naruto and Itachi are the only other two people capable of somewhat handling Madara's strength from what I hear from Sasuke. But the man hasn't actually been trying... more like toying with everyone. Now that we have you four on our side, we can control casualties and have a backup plan in case things turn for the worse."

Minato glared Orochimaru down with anger, his eyes traveling to me with concern. He then sighed and rubbed his face before looking over at the other Hokage, who met his gaze.

"We can hold Obito off for you." Minato nodded his head. "And we can watch over you as you use your methods of killing him." He looked back to Orochimaru for a moment before looking to me. "I'd like to speak to my son in private."

Itachi tensed behind me, but I have his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"It's okay, I'm calm now." I reassured him. "It's just Minato, I'll be okay."

Itachi narrowed his eyes at me with worry before nodding. He brushed my bangs from my face before kissing my forehead, earning a startled grunt from my dad, a disapproving whispered slew of words from Tobirama, a shocked look from Hiruzen and a curious hum from Hashirama. I didn't miss the warning glare that Itachi shot everyone who reacted, his eyes cold and threatening yet somewhat apologetic as he pulled away. I blushed at the attention and slipped outside the tent where the sun was cresting over the horizon.

I closed my eyes, taking in the breeze and fresh air before Dad followed me outside, earning a collection of gasps from nearby shinobi. Minato looked around, studying the camp before walking away from the tent, motioning for me to follow.

I was in his shadow the entire time, my heart getting faster and faster with anxious apprehension. I didn't know what he wanted to say, I didn't want him to see me as I am now. I didn't want to deal with this.

I'm too tired.

We're too tired.

"I'm so fed up with every one of these fools. Why can't we just be left alone to kill that masked prick." Kurama snarled, his rage aimed at Minato, growling angrily.

"Apparently, it's too much to ask." I whispered, rubbing my abdomen as he paused behind the largest medical tent.

"Everything's too much to ask." Kurama grumbled before his presence vanished for the moment, leaving me alone with my father.

"Naruto... uhm. You... pardon me for saying this, but you look terrible." Minato winced weakly, his hands held together in front of him, picking at his nail bed, fidgeting. "What... what all happened up until now after Pain? After I stopped you from fully turning into the Nine Tails."

Wow. Straight to the point.

I sighed heavily at the question and rubbed the back of my neck, nausea flooding through me as I recalled everything that's happened, mostly the recent stuff.

"A great many things." I mumbled out, kicking a random rock and shoving my hands into the pockets of my black pants. "For starters, a bunch of tense stuff with Danzo and me. Danzo didn't like me in general. He didn't enjoy me being able to roam freely while the threat of the Akatsuki was so high. After our village was destroyed, he just... took over. It was also then that Itachi came back from the dead and met with me under a guise due to his worry over my reaction since the Akatsuki just leveled our home." I replied, eyes wandering everywhere but his face.

"We managed to bring Sasuke home from his path to revenge and wanting to destroy our home for what was done to the Uchiha. Danzo ordered the eradication of the entire clan due to tensions he caused, and Itachi had to carry that order out. He, of course, spared Sasuke since he didn't have anything to do with it. He played the villain so well he died by Sasuke's hand, making everyone think of him as a horrid person when really he was a victim. I tried to stop Sasuke's death order from the Rikage after Sasuke became rogue and joined the akatsuki to get to Danzo, and that ended up into a slew of stuff" I shakily whispered, wincing as my head throbbed.

"I'm listening." Minato hummed, leaning against a tree beside the tent.

"Sasuke encountered Danzo at the kage summit since Tsunade was still in a coma. He was killed by Sasuke, I was there when it happened, but Danzo put me into a genjustu and put a seal on my head to keep me fucked up out of spite. It's gone now... but it was removed about a week ago? I'm not sure... uhm. Me and Itachi are sort of a thing, very much so a thing. A strong thing. I keep him fed voluntarily, and he helps me... keeps me level-headed and makes me feel less like a monster and more like... I don't know.... not bad. He says the same thing, but I never viewed him as a monster to begin with. We encountered Obito a few times. He's almost managed to capture me, but I'm still here...." I whispered, tears brimming my eyes.

"He did... end up... capturing me, though. I've only been free for what, two, three days?" I whispered, grabbing my my chest with my trembling hands. "I-I can't really keep up with time much after that fucking week!" I hissed, red dying the world around me. "Ah... I thought I was going to die in that prison. At one point, I preferred it. Sasuke and Gaara saved my life and Itachi's after we were captured. So much more has happened, me and Kurama are on common ground now, but...that's pretty much the gist of it."

Revenge

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

"I see... it sounds like it was hard." Minato whispered.

"Yeah, it was. It is." I growled softly, fighting to contain my anger as he grabbed my shoulders, my mind screaming to break those wrists off of me.

"I... it... it wasn't my intention for you to suffer the way you have -"

"BUT WE DID ANYWAY! DIDN'T WE!?" I shoved him off of me, his words fanning the flame of hate in my chest. "IT... it's not entirely your fault. No... you didn't have a choice. I know that, but forgive me if my tolerance is a little thin at the moment." I shivered and took a step away from him, holding up my hands. "It's Obito... everything stems back to him, his decisions and actions have led me here like a fucking puppet. I'm tired of him controlling everything about me!"

"He isn't -"

"Yes, he is!" I ground out. "It's all his fault. Once he's dead, I'll actually get some restful sleep!" I growled and looked down at my shaking hands before humming weakly. "It's... it's messed up, right, dad? I'm supposed to be better than this. I... I wanted so badly to be what Jiraiya wanted me to be. But even if there wasn't a war going on, I'd still be hunting that masked man to the ends of this earth just to watch him die."

"I know how that feels." Minato hummed and looked down with a grim set to his face. "I grew up with war. It was pretty common then, fights and encounters and past grudges and hunger for power boiled over, and war would begin. Before Obito was as you know him to be, he was my student, alongside two other bright and talented kids. He was such a good kid, competitive, and eager to improve and refine his skills. It was hard for them... having to grow up and train in life or death settings. They were my responsibility, I was in charge of showing them the way of shinobi, I was responsible for their lives." Minato sighed softly and looked me, his eyes saddened.

"My other student, our medical ninja, was captured by the enemy, and the two went after her in hopes of saving her life. In the end, though... Kakashi and Rin came back to me without him, and -"

"KAKASHI!?" I gasped, eyes popping open wide as I took a step back, color draining from my face. "He was your student!?"

"Yeah, are you both good friends?" Minato perked up a little bit.

"Good friends is an understatement. Kakashi was who I was assigned to when I made genin with Sakura and Sasuke." I grinned faintly at the memory before the smile vanished. "He... never said anything about it..."

"Yes, well, it was a hard time. I made many enemies while alive, you not knowing, and no one knowing you were my kid was probably smart. It saved you from many who wanted to hurt me." Minato smiled sadly before looking down. "As I said, Kakashi came back with one of Obito's sharingan eye, a gift for him getting promoted. He was declared killed in action... but... if he is truly alive, then he somehow survived and became cold and evil."

"..." I frowned and looked down at my hands before looking up at him. "Kakashi doesn't know..."

"Hm, well, he may learn soon. Look, the reason I'm telling you this is because I understand the feeling of losing someone close. I understand you want revenge. I was like this after he died... I was angry at myself for being unable to be there to help them. Even though we were on a very risky mission, I felt guilty for it. Even after I took my anger out on others, on the enemy, I felt no different. It didn't change anything about what happened and what I lost. It didn't bring Obito back, and I carried that pain with me. Kakashi, especially... it tore him apart. They were rivals, they didn't get along, but they cared deeply for each other." Minato frowned and closed his eyes, deflating.

He was trying to convince me to stop this revenge path I was on. I winced, and  my legs pressed together, fingers gripping into the fabric of my shirt covering my abdomen. I shakily exhaled and looked away from him.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, but it won't change my mind. I'm sick of him. Even if he is a former student of yours, it means next to nothing to me, and I'm sorry for saying that to your face, but he's been terrorizing me, he nearly tortured Itachi to death, and he left me at Madara's mercy. He indirectly killed you... that can't be forgiven."

"No, it can't." Minato ran a hand through his hair before nodding. "Just... promise me you won't go down the pit of despair revenge always has. You won't lose yourself to it. Otherwise, Obito wins in the end."

"I've got Itachi." I smiled sadly, looking over towards the tent, seeing him exit it with his daytime outfit protecting him from the sunlight as the morning sun greeted everyone, returning from and leaving to the battlefield a ways away. "He knows my intentions and supports it. He vowed to pull me from the depths of hatred, and I trust him completely."

"It seems so." Minato patted my shoulder, looking over to Itachi with a loaded look before wrapping his arm around me, trying his best to be soothing, a weirdly foreign feeling gesture that made my heart race.

I calmed down a little after that and took the opportunity to allow my guard to fall slightly. I closed my eyes, leaning against my father, exhaustion swallowing my body, the rage simmering down just enough to allow this horrible exhaustion to become my dominant feeling. My nerves buzzed in a way that left me feeling numb, all too aware of how gross I felt.

My body felt impure, didisgusting, tainted, knowing what had happened. I shuddered, feeling another wave of nausea overwhelm me, making me grunt audibly and cover my mouth, staring forward with bitterness, dread, and discomfort possessing me.

I was the bait.

"Will you be okay?" Minato asked me softly, resting his head on mine.

"Once Madara is destroyed, it will be a step towards me being okay." I shakily admitted, tears brimming my eyes. "D-Dad I'm really sorry for being mad at you. It's not your fault. I-I just- i-i..."

"I know, son. I know." Minato sighed heavily and wrapped his other arm around me, pulling me into a comforting hug I melted into. "You've suffered so much, and you need to go through a little more hell to defeat problem number one. Once this war is over, you deserve a very long holiday. Fresh air from being the best Shinobi in the world will do you some good."

"I killed allies in a blind rage fueled tantrum yesterday." I huffed weakly. "I don't think I'm the best."

"You're always the best to me, Naruto." Minato chuckled and ruffled my hair before pulling away.

"Hn." I grinned weakly and watched as Itachi, Gaara, Sakura, and Sasuke move towards us.

"So, the plan is us leaving towards the evening. Wherever you end up standing with Madara for a prolonged period of a few minutes will allow Orochimaru to begin casting the jutsu. He can mask his smell and did so for my sake, and so he wouldn't be discovered." Itachi explained, his eyes roaming over me through the holes in the mask. "The Hokage are joining the fight now, Minato, you and Hashirama are staying with us for this evening while the Second and Third join in the Frey now."

"Yeah, that way we can leave as a group, and set things up in case it both goes well and horribly. I'll heal any w-wounds he makes." Sakura spoke grimly, worryingly twisting her fingers together as she stood beside Sasuke.

"Don't worry, we'll step in if Orochimaru gives us the order, or if, you know, Madara tries to kill you." Sasuke huffed, making Itachi hit his arm weakly. "What?" Sasuke grumbled. "I'm just being honest. We're all adults here."

"Way to show optimistim." Itachi growled.

"I-Its fine." I grimaced to myself. "I don't want ant sugar coating of the situation. I think it would just make me more infuriated than I am, just being honest."

"Well, the plan sounds solid. I should go get some supplies... so... want to join me?" Minato asked me and everyone else, motioning for the four of us to follow. "Let's get Hashirama and Orochimaru and load up."

We all looked to each other with worry, fear, and determination. "Right!" All spoke in Unison.

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

Revenge...

"... it's not who you are."