It felt like months have passed since I joined the war; no one knows the exact time since it hasn't been the most important thing to focus on. I've been staying with Kitty's group which has become smaller, unfortunately because of the many casualties we have had. Our group has been targeted mostly because of me. I tried my best to save everyone but I'm only one person. If I hadn't given my necklace to Kabuto, things might've been different. Each night I am exhausted from chakra loss after protecting myself and my team along with ripping the souls from the undead.

Kitty and I have kept our relationship professional for the time being not wanting to be distracted but it was easier said than done. We've always stayed together where we know we're both safe instead of worrying for one another which happened when we did split up the first time. It was hard to focus on the enemy when I kept glancing to where he was making sure he was doing alright.

It was morning and we just finished with breakfast now cleaning up. Instinctively, I activated my Subete Miru keeping an eye out. So far, they haven't attacked in the early morning. There was no sign of the enemy, so I turned my attention to Miki, a sand shinobi whom I've considered a friend.

"Hey Ko," she greeted with a smile. Her brown hair reached her shoulders but she had it tied up in a low ponytail since the first night. My eyes met her amber ones and motioned for her to help wash the dishes. I was the only one washing the enormous pile so she gladly helped. "Why are you doing this by yourself." She questioned.

"Guess no one else wanted to do it." I grumbled knowing people haven't completely accepted me yet and have been giving me the shitty chores.

"You could've made clones to help,"

"That would waste chakra, I can't afford another trip to the infirmary due to chakra loss."

The was a brief silence between us until she spoke again. "So, what's with you and Kankuro?"

"W-what do you mean?" I stammered feeling flustered by her question.

"I'm not stupid, I can see the way you to look at each other; it's pretty cute. I didn't think he'd actually find a woman he liked." I gave her a questioning look. "Back at the academy many girls would try to get his attention, but he was very picky. He thought they were pretty but once he got to know them, he wasn't interested."

"I'm guessing your friend liked him or you did?"

"Um well it was my friend, but I also had a crush on him. I wasn't brave like her."

I was about to reply but I saw close to thirty coffins rising near the camp. "Miki, alert everyone that coffins have risen seven ticks North!" She nodded before sprinting off.

I immediately went to the location followed by a few others. When we arrived, we waited with anticipation for them to reveal the next enemy once everyone had gathered. I could hear the muffled voices of some shinobi until the coffins began to open. I felt my legs wobble and I couldn't suppress my gasp when I saw blue figures emerge from the coffins.

"Ko, what is it?" Kitty questioned making everyone look my way.

I looked at him then over at some of the Mist shinobi in our group but they were too young to know. "They're Himura, all of them." I told the group as I looked over at my Kin. "Be on guard, they can see your movement before you make them. Some can see underground but it's rare. Be on the defensive and group up. It's hard to focus on multiple enemies." I scanned each and every face recognizing them from the picture I found years ago but didn't see Mother or Hikaru's mother. "I don't think anyone has the ability to take your life force like me though but still be careful. Go for the children first, their eyes aren't as strong." The clan had reached consciousness and looked around at each of us. "Also, try to turn them against each other; Himura don't like one another. So Kitty, make sure my emotions are in check."

"Where are we? This isn't the Mist Village." The clan head questioned looking at everyone but turned his attention to me. He was tall and very hefty. His piercing red eyes stared at me noticing my glowing ones. I noticed his hair was fairly long but was held in a low spiked ponytail.

"You're in the Fourth Shinobi War. They resurrected you to fight against all five nations." I explained not breaking eye contact with him.

"Who are you child? I see you have our eyes but you have different hair and you aren't dead with us."

"Unfortunately, I was a product of the massacre. Orochimaru killed you taking my mother and created me." I could see the anger in their eyes as they stared at me. All their eyes glowed red making everyone get on guard.

"Then you are not one of us. We will never accept a half breed like you, especially the daughter of our killer!" He shouted signaling for an attack.

"Group up!" I shouted and they instinctively went for the children taking them out with no difficulty.

They ganged up on the eighteen that were left. Kitty, Miki, a Mist Shinobi Katsu, and I ganged up on a Himura who I believed was Hikaru's father. Kitty had his Sasori puppet fly out towards the Himura, but he quickly leaped into the air avoiding it. Miki used her wind style to send him towards the blades. As he got closer, he weaved signs countering her jutsu and blew out wind to propel himself backwards.

I quickly weaved signs disappearing into the ground waiting at the spot he was going to land on. Once he landed, I popped my hands out from the ground grabbing his ankles pulling him under the ground so only his head was visible reminding me of when Kakashi did the same to Sasuke.

"Wha? How?" He questioned in anger.

"I know all your weaknesses, you may not accept me, but I am a Himura. I will defeat each and every one of you." I answered standing over him. I held out my arm making my hand glow red making his eyes widen.

"I see, so you possess the power to take a life force; the most powerful ability we have but only one could achieve, your mother. Before you kill me, what happened to my wife and child? They are not here."

"They escaped, your wife and son traveled the world but she died of a disease a while ago. Your son is still alive in a small village. He's the one who taught me about the clan. If it weren't for him, I might not have been here right now."

"I-I see, so I'll see you soon; Matsuri." He finished as I placed a hand on his head ripping the life force from him until his numbers reached zero.

I could see many shinobi unable to hold their own against my clan resulting in their death. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel pride for the clan I came from. I jumped to the side avoiding an attack from one of the girls followed by another.

"What was the point in that Ainu? She can see our moves." The oldest of the two commented.

Ainu had long spiky brown hair with her bangs covering her glowing red eyes while the other had short, spiked hair with her bangs pulled back.

"Shut up Anju! I know what I'm doing!"

"Heh easy targets. They must be sisters."

"I agree with your friend, it was stupid." I said making her snap her neck towards me.

"What'd you say half breed?" She questioned clenching her teeth with anger.

"I said that I agree with your friend."

"Tsk, friend. She's my sister. If she were a friend, she would've been dead a long time ago."

Anju looked at Ainu in anger making me smirk. The two sisters started to bicker giving us the perfect chance to make our next move. I reached into my weapons pouch feeling the vial I had prepared making sure it was still there before taking my hand out. I looked over towards Kitty making eye contact then over at the others who were waiting for orders. I looked over at the girls seeing they were still bickering then looked over at the shinobi next to me.

"Tell everyone when Kankuro attacks to scatter. When I create an opening, all Earth user's make a wall around them and me." I whispered to him so the girls couldn't hear then he disappeared alerting every one of the plan. "I'll throw my sword up for a signal."

I was about to weave hand signs until I saw movement. My eyes widened when two of our shinobi, Miki included, lunged to attack the sisters.

"No, stop!" I shouted to them but it was too late.

The sisters acted on instinct pulling out their swords slicing Miki's neck and the other shinobi took a stab in the heart. My eyes never left Miki's body which fell forward as she gasped for air.

"We were trying to have a conversation here." Anju snapped not even looking away from her sister.

I could feel my anger starting to boil inside of me as I saw Miki finally stop moving. Her head was turned to the side facing me making it able to clearly see her glazed over eyes. I think this was the first time I've ever felt anything during a battle, loss. It felt as if someone had their hand around my heart. I haven't felt like this since Father died...she was the first person who wasn't family that I had lost and I didn't like it one bit. I drew my swords then looked over towards Kitty and nodded. I then ran towards the siblings engaging them in kenjutsu.

"Heh, do you really think you can defeat us? My class was the last to partake in the bloody mist graduation exams. Killing you will be too easy." Anju laughed flickering her gaze to me as she blocked my attack with her single sword.

Ainu was about to swing at me, but I placed my free hand over one of my seals releasing another sword to block hers. Just from their reactions, I knew they were slower than me.

"I have the advantage; I just need them to get overconfident then I'll make my move." I thought as I blocked their next attacks purposely receiving a cut to my side.

They were going all out but carelessly using up their chakra in their swords and limbs. They were in sync though, so I remained defensive.

"What's the matter? Don't know how to fight?"

"They're getting cocky now, now's my chance."

I blocked their attacks once more but this time I had snakes crawling out of my sleeves snapping at the girls making them scream and retreat. I smirked as I looked over at my group seeing them ready for my signal. I went on the offensive slashing at them until they were getting close to where I wanted them. I threw my sword into the air making my group weave signs until the ground started to shake.

The girls looked down, but it was too late. Earth walls shot up from the ground surrounding the three of us just as planned.

"Everyone scatter!" I heard Kitty yell and everyone dispersed as his Sasori puppet hovered above the box and shot out a purple mist.

Before they could even utter a word, the two, me included, started coughing. They were trying to gasp for air, but they were only breathing in poison. They started to fall to the ground either clutching their throats or chest while I reached for the vile in my weapons pouch. I noticed how scared they looked as they clutched their necks and chests. I didn't dwell on it and I drank the liquid automatically feeling better unlike the two before me.

"I bet you're wondering what's happening. You were exposed to my poison which stops all chakra flow and slowly collapses your lungs. I'm the only one with the antidote which is what I just took. Now, I have a perfect opportunity to steal your souls." I explained as I walked behind them and placed each hand on their heads. "Goodbye cousins," my hands glowed red and I latched onto their life force pulling it out of the host body making them disappear.

"Well that was easy, I barely used my chakra." The walls started to fall down once everyone came back to the area. I could see whoever was left were able to defeat a few of the clan; only twelve were left at this point. "We should go after the clan head next. Once he falls, the other will follow." I told the group making them nod.

The leader ran through the crowd of Allied shinobi slicing through anyone who got in his way with a lone kunai. Before he could end another life, I flashed in front of him blocking his attack with both of my swords. His strength was overwhelming, he wasn't even adding chakra. He also had a good three feet on me which was even more of a disadvantage.

"For a half breed, I can't believe you possess our Soururipa. A power that won part of the second shinobi war. Only a selected few possess it. Tell me, do you also have one that brings life? Atoenushi?" He hasn't added any pressure to his kunai, it seems like he just wanted to talk.

"Yes," I could see the anger in his glowing red eyes but he had a smirk plastered on his face.

"It looks like you didn't think this war through. The Soururipa takes your enemies life force giving you their own. Essentially gaining the years they had left. You my dear have been taking the life force of the undead. Have you even thought about the consequences?" He questioned making my heart sink. "At first I thought your life was just short like most shinobi but seeing what you did to Anju and Ainu, I know you're losing you own life force with every undead life you absorb."

I was horrified. "Hikaru never mentioned it but how would he know? The Edo Tensei hasn't been used like this before, especially against Himura." I thought as the leader brought down the kunai adding more force making my knees buckle. I knew how I'd get out of this situation, but it was take up my chakra. His eyes widened then quickly jumped away just as my bones protruded from my flesh making my cry out in pain.

"W-what are you? A monster? You're definitely not one of us!"

His words stung making my anger flare but I took in a few deep breaths to calm myself down and make my bones retract. My attention turned to a blue figure heading our way.

"Crap, did he revive more?" I wondered then looked over towards Kitty about to announce another Himura approaching but my eyes widened when I foresaw a demon shuriken piercing threw his torso.

All my attention was on Kitty. I sent chakra to my fingertips extending the strings onto Kitty's body and moved my arms back to pull him towards me. Just as he noticed the weapon approaching, I pulled him out of harm's way but it still managed to slice his leg. I might've used a little too much strength since he flew right at me landing on top of me.

"A-are you alright?" I questioned looking up at him seeing just how close we really were.

"Uh y-yeah," he stuttered as he got off me. "Just my leg got cut...I didn't even notice it."

"He has strength and speed on his side, we need to stop him immediately." I said as I watched a few others try to attack him.

"Are you going to be alright? What was he talking about before? With your life force?" His voice held concern but that's the last thing we needed right now.

"Um well, let's not get into that now. That's something to worry about after the war." I told him giving him a reassuring smile, but I was completely terrified at this point. If he said was true, then how am I going to defeat all these undead enemies? I'm not sure how many lives I had taken with my ability and now how much time do I have left?

"Captain! A sealing team has been dispatched!" A shinobi shouted to Kitty making me feel a bit relieved.

"We need to trap them so the sealing team can seal them all at once." I looked around seeing everyone was either injured or completely exhausted. "They better come soon; I don't think anyone has strength left."

"How is this clan extinct?" I heard one shinobi question. "An experienced army can barely handle them so how did Orochimaru take them out in one night?"

His question made the leader laugh then look over towards me. "Because he cheated. Instead of facing us like a real man, he poisoned us in our sleep then attacked knowing we couldn't defend ourselves." My eyes widened at his explanation; this was the first time I heard how the clan was destroyed and I often wondered myself.

My attention turned towards the blue figure still approaching us making me smirk. "I've got a plan, I will fight him alone while everyone is my support. While I fight him, everyone else attack him from afar. If we're able to land a few hits that should be enough to slow him down until he regenerates."

"Ko are you crazy? You can't fight him on your own!" Kitty exclaimed giving me a worried look but he had to put his personal feelings aside. Winning this war is more important than one person's life.

"Who said I'm going to be alone? In fact, my partner in crime is just about here."

"Who?" Just as he asked, the blue figure finally arrived.

"Sorry I'm late, didn't think you'd be having this much fun here." A familiar voice said from behind me. I can already see his smirk on his face.

"Took you long enough Hikaru," I said finally turning to face him. "You up for knocking some sense into our family?"

Edited: 2/26/2021 

Yay Hikaru's back! Bet you thought I forgot about him