Mountain Warfare

It had been a while since they disembarked to help the Remnants prepare their warriors and valley for the initial assault from Trinity. Lara was separated from Patronus who came under fire by the natives. By fire, she meant him being followed around by the children and the warriors who seemed to be in awe when they set their sights on him.

Lara helped the natives with several preparations such as bringing repair supplies to damaged watchtower buildings that suffered from floods. Then she brought down aerial drones said to be mapping the entire valley with her arrows. Speaking of arrows, she approached the smith who heard about her and Patronus' deeds of rescuing Jacob from Trinity.

"Here you go. I found as much as I could, but they'll help you." The smith told Lara as he handed her a bag with essentials. "I also crafted something extra as thanks."

Lara nodded. "Thank you." She left the smith's shop and left for an area to be alone for the moment to inspect the extra tools added to her arsenal. The tools were small grenades meant to be attached to her arrows along with an oil flask to create fire arrows like in Yamatai but faster as she could also refill the container with supplies spread throughout the valley. Her rifle was modified to the automatic setting instead of semi-automatic; a new pump-shotgun with ten rounds instead of five; a new hunter quiver that carried up to fifty arrows rather than fifteen with her old one; lastly her combat knife was sharpened since it was dull to begin with.

As Lara prepared her arsenal onto her personal, a child walked to her hesitatingly. "Excuse me, outsider?" She flinched when Croft looked at her. "Do you know the Hidden One? Are you one of them?"

"The Hidden One?" Lara asked confusingly.

"The man you came with."

"Patronus? Why do you call him the Hidden One?"

The young girl shook her head. "Not just me; the entire valley calls him that."

"Why?"

"A story from the days of our ancestors." The girl said before Lara offered her a seat and she took a seat. "I don't remember a lot but the Hidden Ones always grabbed my attention during story time. When our ancestors fled from Kitezh, they were saved and aided by shadows that came alive. Those shadows slew the Mongol Horde led by that…Genie Can or something."

Lara was surprised and asked, "You mean Genghis Khan?" The girl nodded as the Croft girl was more intrigued about the history of the Prophet's people. "Please continue."

"Even one of them slew Genghis in battle with a blade from his wrist!" The girl cried out happily as she imitated the way Patronus does for his Hidden Blade. "He fell from the sky and thrust the blade into his neck."

"Kind of young to know this particular history." Lara said with a sweat-drop.

The young girl continued her people's history. "They held them back long enough for our ancestors to escape Kitzeh. We do not know their real names or their identities, but each generation gave us a description of our saviors: robes with hoods covering their faces and small blades emerging from their wrists as if they were part of them. We call the Hidden Ones as they stay in the shadows."

"Sounds like Patronus. Could he really be a Hidden One?" Lara asked internally before the girl's mother called her back. They needed to move to the catacombs before Trinity arrives. "I must ask him now."

The last Croft made her way to the area where she and the Remnants last saw Patronus. It was times like this that she was grateful for Roth teaching her how to hone her unique skill. Her gifted sense as stated by Roth also allowed Lara to find people whom she was more familiar with much easier as their auras glowed brighter even in daylight.

Such as in the case of her friend Patronus.

She found a rather isolated mountaintop and scaled the side until voices could be heard from the range. "Kurama, are you in agreement with this?"

"Kurama? Who is he talking to?"

"Yeah, we're going to need all hands on this. As fast as you are, those Trinity bastards have ammunition to blow apart this valley. I just hope you haven't lost your touch."

"Please, Kurama. I can handle it, but the question remains: can you?"

"Smartass."

"Grouchy fox." A brief silence made Lara wonder if they noticed her presence. "What's with that look?" A small sigh of relief escaped from Croft's lips.

"Listen, ninja boy. You've been acting odd for a while." Kurama stated, adding only more intrigue to Lara as she eavesdropped on the conversation. "Especially with this Lara girl."

On the top of the mountain, Naruto paced around the spot as his Tailed Beast partner, the size of a dog, laid on the ground lazily. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"I mean you acted rather hastily to protect her from those Remnants and Sofia."

"They threatened her. Simple as that."

"You may hide it from everyone else, but I've known you since birth. You're really crushing on her, huh?"

A small blush appeared on Lara's cheeks as she held on through the groves. "So?" Naruto admitted, unknowingly making Lara blush more.

"Since when I wonder." Kurama cheekily teased as he knew when. He just wanted his partner to tell him.

"Yamatai, okay?" Naruto answered hastily. "I've liked her since Yamatai." He breathed deeply and spoke calmly this time. "She's an amazing girl—woman I've ever met. She…When I first met her, Lara was just a scared girl who was hit with the hard punch of reality. As I got to know her and fought with her at Yamatai, Lara grew to be this confident, brave woman. After I came here at the Gulag, I didn't see any trace of the scared girl I met at the cave."

"I hope you wear protection."

Naruto punched the Biju's head at the jab. "Yeah, I don't think that's going to work out." Lara felt a pang in her chest as she listened to him. "She's…she's precious to me, Kurama. The world we live in is not suitable for her."

"So is Saeko. And Medusa, Kuroka, Rhea…they're all special to you."

"But Lara…she-she…She's something else, Kurama." Naruto informed his partner. "And besides, do you really think she'll be okay with a harem?" Lara had to suppressed a gasp as her chest hurt more. "I'm sorry but I don't think she's the type of girl who'll be okay with that sort of thing."

"Your wives did, but I see your point." Kurama agreed. "After all, most of them are immortal and lived in an era where that sort of thing was common. I did mention it back at the plane at the island, she's really something. Don't you think you're being a little…How do I say this, presumptuous about her? Like with your wives, she could be okay with it and our mission."

Naruto deadpanned at him. "Did you just meet her?" Kurama shrugged his shoulders. "And what am I going to say to her? 'Hey there, Lara. I'm a dimension-traveling ninja who's on a quest to save my dimension from a deified demon with four keys and I have four wives and two children with one of them. Do you want to be my fifth?' You want me to say that?"

"Not with that attitude, I don't." Kurama deadpanned back. "I think you're putting too much stress on yourself about this—about her. If she makes you feel the same way as your wives does, why fight it?"

"Because I'm afraid of losing her if I tell her." Naruto admitted honestly. "She's been through a lot, Kurama. She lost her father whom was right about something that is common knowledge to us, almost lost her life several times at Yamatai and here. If I tell her everything now and she rejects me, I'll lose not only a beautiful and capable woman, but a great friend at that."

"Well it's too late for that."

Both Naruto and Kurama turned around to find a clearly hurt Lara standing at the edge of the mountaintop. She walked towards the stunned ninja and slapped him good as Naruto's head snapped to the head from the action. "You think I'm some fragile thing that needs to be cuddled with?!"

"Lara… I-"

"And a harem? Did you think of me as some sort of trophy to add to your collection?!" Lara shouted as she slapped Patronus again. The Croft girl was about to slap him again, but the hooded Naruto stopped her.

"Never. I had never once thought of you as a trophy, Lara." Naruto said to her sternly. "You're much more than that."

"Like what?" Lara asked sternly as she wrested her hand out of his grip.

"I-"

"Like I'm so special that you don't want to even ask me because you're afraid of losing me overall." Lara somewhat repeated Naruto's words against him. That was when he realized she heard everything. "Well, congratulations, Patronus. You just did." She was so angry that she didn't take into account about the talking fox.

That was when the radio on Lara's hip blared with Jacob's voice.

-'Lara, come in over.'-

Lara glared at the solemn Patronus before she picked up the radio. "I'm here, Jacob."

-'Everything all right? You sound tense.'-

"I'm fine." Lara insisted.

-'Okay then. I need to light up the central beacon a few kilometers north from the village. That'll warn the entire valley of the incoming Trinity attack.'-

"Got it." Lara put away the radio and walked towards the route instead of climbing down. She heard footsteps and barely glanced at Patronus. "Don't follow me. I don't need your help with the beacon." Her head turned just as sparkling of tears left her eyes, a sight Naruto caught and made him feel even worse.

Naruto sat down against Kurama's body. "Aw shit. I screwed up."

"You think?"

"Is there any chance?"

"I don't think so, Naruto." Kurama said honestly before he returned to Naruto's body, forcing him to hold himself up with his right arm.

Naruto sighed heavily as he looked up at the sky. "Mom, dad…I could really use some advice right now."

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Dining Hall, Inari's Temple

Takama-ga-hara

A blissfully happy Inari and his wife Leone sat with food presented to them as they clapped their hands together. "Itadakimasu!" The couple repeated the words ingrained since creation before they took their chopsticks and commenced eating. The Inari household was slowly regaining the light in the form of Leone.

After the small scuffle with her unacceptably-for-now adopted son, Leone exhibited the traits that attracted her husband in the first place. Plus, she began to train more intensely in the training hall and Inari knew the reason why. The small scuffle revealed to Leone that she had grown weaker while Naruto became stronger as he never would have reacted to any of her attacks or movements at all if she was at her prime. She noticed that he was adjusting to her combat style very quickly, which stunned and excited her at the same time.

Inari knew that she will want to be at her absolute best if she was going to truly beat Naruto at his best as well.

And his servants whom he considers to be his family were happy as well to see Leone regaining her spark.

"My lord and lady..." One of the servants appeared before them. She was a young slender girl with short red hair and green eyes dressed a kimono in the fox god's color scheme, showing her allegiance to the deity. Next to her was an older version of her with fair skin, dark green eyes and ginger hair in a wavy bob-cut who was dressed in the same kimono via a dark color scheme as to show the difference between them. "Your guest has arrived."

"Very well, thank you two." Inari said. "Hold on." His new servants stopped from leaving the room. "How are you adjusting here, Chika?" He asked the older woman who was in her late twenties.

"It's taking some time getting used to." Chika answered softly as her daughter had a small smile. "Both Chise and myself."

Leone blinked while Inari nodded since he knew of their horrible history. "Well, here you are safe from anyone who attempts harm upon you two. Also, make you wear these medallions." He snapped his fingers as small necklaces with a green fox statue appeared around Chise and Chika's necks. "They will disguise you as souls while you're here."

"Lord Inari, this is…"

"You're home now. You're excused." Inari smiled at the mother and daughter who bowed deeply to their savior before they left the room. "I suppose you want an explanation." He looked at his wife as she nodded. "This was just before I adopted Naruto as our son. I was in Fushimi to collect the prayer tribute when ayakashi appeared in the vicinity. They were drawn to something and I investigated before killing them all. Imagine my surprise when it was those two the ayakashi was after. Granted they were afraid of me at first, but I chose to listen to their story to gain their trust."

"What happened?" Leone asked.

"Chise and Chika were born with an abnormal ability to absorb mana or magical power in the European nations." Inari answered. "I've heard of such a thing in rumors, but I never thought they actually existed. Such power strained their bodies and many of their people died at a young age. It was also this power that many evil entities want them to bolster their power and such."

"And the husband?"

"He defended the family from the dark entities but eventually he abandoned them and took Fumiki, Chise's brother and Chika's son, with him."

Leone growled as her cup cracked under the pressure from her fingers. "That coward! I'll fillet his skin if I ever see him."

"Now, now, Leone, let's not be hasty." Inari calmed his wife before his face assumed the same glaring yet evil-like expression. "I'm the one who'll kill him first."

"No, it'll be me!"

"No, me!"

"What kind of husband are you?!"

"One who's good in bed."

"I wish I didn't have to hear that."

The bickering married couple looked at the hall's entrance where their guest had arrived. He was tall with a somewhat angular face and phenomenally developed physique as his arms and legs bugled just by standing. His attire was a set of black pants with European-styled boots and a magenta short-sleeved shirt under a floor-length red and white cloak. On the left chest side was the kanji for "Hiten" and showed his validity of training of one of the powerful kenjutsu styles known to man and deities.

"The thirteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Hiiko Seijuro XIII." Inari announced the man's title and school before they both bowed in respect. "I appreciate your responding to my invitation."

"Yeah, yeah, where's my sake?" Seijuro asked nonchalantly. Inari didn't seem bothered by his attitude as he was used to it after meeting him in the Meji era when Seijuro was alive. A jar of special Inari sake was thrown at him and he caught it easily. "Thanks. What else you have in mind, Inari?"

"Training."

Seijuro stopped his drinking and sternly looked at the serious fox god. "I thought I told you that Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is dead."

"You said it, not the headmaster." Inari corrected as Seijuro's eyes narrowed at the mention of him.

Throughout Takama-ga-hara, it was known there was an enclave of all the past Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu practitioners, and their families if they had married during life, resides in and prohibits any human souls to enter their territory as they all vowed to never teach their kenjutsu style unless the headmaster approved it. The headmaster was none other than the progenitor of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Hiiko Seijuro I.

"I doubt even he will approve of it."

"You never know~"

Seijuro sighed heavily. "You've already contacted him."

"Actually, you did."

"Huh? Wait, you didn't."

"I did."

"If only you weren't a god." Seijuro muttered under breath with a tick-mark on his forehead.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Leone giggled at her husband's triumph over the arrogant master swordsman before her thoughts clued into someone whom she hadn't seen for a long time. "I wonder how she's doing. Maybe I should take a trip to Earth sometime."

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Geothermal Valley, Siberia

Hell had come for the land of the Remnants, descendants of the Deathless Prophet's followers. Fire scorched trees, filling the air with harmful ashes. This was what Trinity wanted upon the ones they deemed to be heretics for centuries and no one was going to stop them, not even the Croft girl.

Instead it was them who was being destroyed by flashes of yellow lightning on the ground and all was watching the spectacle.

When the helicopters arrived, Lara urgently ran from the beacon to aid the fight against Trinity before she came across Jacob and one of his men who was being held hostage by a Trinity soldier. She was about to help them but Jacob shook his head, telling her to stand down.

"Where is the Divine Source?!" The soldier demanded from the Remnant warrior before he shot him for not answering fast enough.

Jacob shouted, "Stop! Don't hurt anyone else!" He was shoved to the ground when the grunt hit him with the shotgun.

"Where is it?!"

"Right here." The Trinity soldier gasped in pain as he gagged in pain with a golden blade stabbed through his throat. Patronus scoffed before disengaging and threw the body away from Jacob. "You good?"

"Yeah." Jacob answered before he and his warrior were helped to their feet by Lara who emerged from her spot.

The once scared warrior was in awe of Patronus's presence. "Just like the stories. Thank you, Hidden One."

"What the hell is a Hidden One?" A confused Naruto asked before his wrist computer blared with voices. He had tuned into Trinity's communication frequencies after killing a few on his way back to the village.

-'Watch out!'-

-'He's everywhere!'-

'Target is in the north—no, south, wait west!'

'Proceeding to the upper village!'

"Incoming." Patronus glanced at Lara who didn't seem to register his presence as she went on ahead. "Jacob, take cover."

The Remnant nodded as he and his warrior fell back to aid the other warriors in another part of the village. Lara pulled out her shotgun before she took cover as three Trinity soldiers entered the building with guns raised. She didn't wait a second longer as she blasted three rounds at them and moved forward to the adjacent building where a Remnant woman was heard.

"No wait, please!"

Before the Trinity soldiers could kill her and the children, Patronus broke through the roof and stabbed the soldiers through their necks with his Hidden Blades before he leapt at the last one with a flying knee strike and felt a snap feeling through the contact. Lara and Patronus continued to make their way to the edge of the village where they encountered Trinity soldiers armed with flamethrowers.

Retreating Remnants including women and children were chased by them until the being they called the 'Hidden One' jumped in front of the startled enem soldiers.

"Burn." Patronus said as he unsheathed Kogitsunemaru and unleashed a wave of blue flames at the fire-bearers.

The Trinity grunts screamed while they rolled one the ground, trying to put the divine flames of Inari to no avail. The gun-bearers hesitated to approach and gave Lara time to charge at them before she slashed them with her combat knife and climbing axe. Patronus aided her with coordinated attacks, pushing back soldiers until none were left for them to kill.

It was times like this when innocent lives were threatened that Naruto will resort killing to protect them. After all, he told the Elder that he won't be able to keep the Katsujinken completely before his departure.

"They're monsters!" Two more Trinity soldiers cried out before leaving their hiding spots, only for them to blown into the air and land on the ground in a lifeless heap.

Lara glanced at Patronus as he flicked the blade to get rid of the blood. What she or the Remnants didn't know was that Naruto created clones and sent them out all over the valley to attack Trinity with stealth or brute force. Ninjutsu was also included as long as they don't damage the valley too much. What really helped them was the Hirashin markers that the clones put all over the valley so they can blitz them everywhere at the same time, much like Naruto's father during the Third Great Ninja War.

-"We're bugging out. Any remaining forces withdraw and regroup at the drop."-

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he raised his blade high in the air. What happened next stunned Lara and the observing Remnants. The fires around village were sucked towards the blue blade, swirling around it like a coat before Patronus swung the weapon. A large orange flaming wave rapidly caught up with the helicopter and destroyed it as the remains fell in a distance away. "Now they know we're not to be messed with." With a flick, Patronus retracted his Pivot Blade and sheathed Kogitsunemaru.

"Huzzah!" A Remnant cheered at the might of the Hidden One followed by his brethren who joined him.

Lara saw the hope in their eyes but she felt nothing other than pain towards Patronus. She thought he was different from the others but she was wrong. On the entire way to the beacon, Lara cursed at him and felt alone in the world once more. The feeling had been this painful since her father's death.

Perhaps she was better off alone after all.

"Listen up, all of you!" Patronus shouted sternly, ceasing the celebratory cry. "The enemy will be back with bigger guns and larger numbers. I urge you all not to rely on me. Rely on yourselves and the comrades that stands next to you." The Remnants looked at each other and nodded as they listened to him. "Rely on the training and the ways you undertook during your childhood… the same ways your ancestors did. This is only the beginning."

"I couldn't have said that better myself." Jacob announced as everyone turned to face him. "Everyone, head back to village and recuperate as much as you can." His people heeded his words and left as he noticed Lara leaving Patronus but couldn't call out to her in time. "Did something happen?"

"Yeah."

"May I ask?"

"I kept something from her and… I lost her."

"Something about you I presume."

Naruto looked at the leader. He was shrewder than the ninja thought. "Yeah."

"Let her heal, Patronus. Things take time."

"How much time exactly?"

"Who knows?" Jacob left the hero briefly before the latter followed him.

Patronus sighed lowly. "Yeah, who knows?"

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Gulag, Soviet Installation

Within a rundown wooden church, the leader of the Trinity forces had his arms spread out as he basked in the direct sunlight through the broken mosaic. His sister was sitting behind him in the far row benches, quietly observing him while something else was on her mind. Their silence was broken when the radio on the altar blared with a grunt's voice.

-"We've been overrun—no, destroyed by the natives. Croft and that hooded man is with them… All casualties…all of the men dead and scattered throughout the valley…yellow lightning on the ground. None of the natives lost any man."-

An angry Konstantin growled before he yelled in frustration while throwing a wooden stand. "We should have killed her."

"You have nothing to show for your efforts. Perhaps she'll succeed where you're failing." Ana coldly told her brother as she approached him.

"I will not fail!" Konstantin declared at the insult.

"Trinity will step in if you do. And you know what that means?" Ana asked as her voice almost cracked. "I'm expendable. They have no interest in my survival. I need the power of the Divine Source." She entered another coughing fit while her brother held her to stabilize her balance.

Konstantin placed his hands on her shoulders. "And you will have it. Don't lost faith, Ana. This is God's will. Our success is inevitable."

"Not while that man is still around."

"Ana…"

"It's a cruel joke. To think they would come back of all people. Please. Just find it. My time is running out." Ana pleaded before she left him in the church.

The Trinity leader returned to the altar and kneeled as he clasped his hands together. "I've come so far, I've endured so much. These final barriers you have set before me… These sins you have forced me to commit… they must have a purpose. Only you can show me the way. Grant me strength to continue for her. For you, for Trinity. Please… show me the way." He clasped his hands together so tightly that the wounds bled out, deluding him as they were a sign. "Then blood it shall be."

He rose from his kneeling and headed for the door when his radio blared again with a different voice.

-"Konstantin, the package is inbound. ETA fifteen minutes."-

A smug smile etched the merciless leader's mouth. "Excellent. Send them to the command center and I'll give them their target."

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Geothermal Valley

The village was damaged but not as much as Jacob or Lara had originally thought. It was mostly thanks to Patronus's hidden clones that remained sentries throughout the valley in case Trinity tries a sneak assault. From the numbers they tallied, most of the Remnant warriors were uninjured save a few who are currently in the tent for treatment.

Lara approached Jacob after helping an injured man to the tent. "I'm sorry, your people don't deserve this."

"It is our chosen path…our duty," Jacob responded solemnly. "It's never been easy."

"That's what makes a human being." Patronus interjected as he landed between Lara and Jacob. "Life's full of difficult challenges and uneasy truths."

"Sounds like you're experienced." Lara tensely sneered at the hooded hero. She looked at Jacob. "Trinity won't stop, will they?"

Jacob shook his head at the question. "They have too many resources so I doubt it."

"And the Atlas?" Lara asked, much to Naruto's surprise. She was still thinking about the Atlas at this time?

"It's an ancient map to the old city, but Trinity won't find it at the tower." Jacob answered as he pointed at the tower located far up in the mountain peak. "Many of my people live in those ruins. They won't be prepared for what's coming."

"I can help them, Jacob."

Jacob had a somewhat skeptical expression. "Would you do this for us or for that which you seek?"

"Right now, they're one and the same."

Naruto had to suppress from shaking his head at her answer while Jacob seemed to accept her answer. "I'll bring reinforcement after I tended the wounded." The Remnant leader informed before one of his soldiers screamed in defiance.

"DON'T TAKE MY LEG!"

They saw the medic, a woman, trying to hold the injured man on the table. Jacob was about to calm him but Patronus beat him to it as he kneeled down next to him. "Listen, you need to calm down."

"DON'T YOU TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!"

"…Okay then." Patronus answered before he punched the man out of commission, shocking everyone present. "His screaming will distract me from this."

The woman asked him, "What?"

"This." Patronus's hands glowed white as he was using the Yang release and placing them on the man's leg. A second later, he retracted them and the wound was gone while the bullet remained in Naruto's hands. "There we go. Good as new."

"Are you the Prophet?" asked the woman in awe.

"No why?" Suddenly the Remnants brought their injured brethren to help and asked him to use his healing powers to save them. "All right, one at a time."

Jacob chuckled at the hope in his people's eyes. "He's full of surprises."

"I'll be going now." Lara tensely said before leaving the village to help the civilians at the tower which was also the Acropolis.

"Lara, wait!"

The Croft girl was gone from their sights to do her own thing for now.

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The Acropolis

It wasn't long until she found the entrance but upon entrance a mess laid before her. Carts of food were overturned; livestock was amok; an overall mess. It seemed they left in a hurry.

"Jacob, it's a mess up here. There's no sign of your people." Lara said through her radio.

-'Sofia might have taken them into the catacombs beneath the tower. Patronus had already healed the wounded and he's on his way to you now. Reinforcements and I will be behind you both ten minutes from now.'-

"Jacob, I don't-" Lara stopped transmitting when Patronus walked past her. "That was fast."

"Yeah."

"Just how long have you been able to heal others?"

"Is this really the time?" Patronus asked Lara who scoffed at him.

"No."

The tense atmosphere between them didn't cease as they traveled through the acropolis together. The ruins reminded Lara of her trips to Greece with her father while Naruto remembered about the battle he had at the Acrocorinth. They climbed up an obstacle the route took them outside and back through a narrow passageway with a waterfall. Despite of the tension between them, it didn't impede the duo to work together whenever Lara faced a compromising climbing obstacle. They reached the top of stairs when helicopters flew over them headed towards the acropolis where the Remnant civilians were hiding.

"I hope it's not too late." Lara said to herself as she ran down the route followed by Naruto. They reached the bottom and found dead bodies though none of them were Remnants. "Your handiwork I presume."

Patronus didn't answer as he sensed his clones nearby. The ninja had sent some of them to protect the civilians in case Trinity would do something like this. "Let's keep moving." He told Lara before they walked towards the courtyard where Trinity soldiers were huddled together, panicking.

"Where did they go?!"

"I don't know, man!"

"There's one! And Croft is with him!"

Lara readied her bow and arrow but Patronus stood in front of her protectively. "What are you-" A single gunfire made her pause as the bullet that aimed at her was deflected by the blade of Kogitsunemaru.

"Shoot him, shoot him!"

"You're dead." Patronus simply stated, confusing the panicked soldiers. Suddenly one of them was pulled into the ground by a pair of hands while the other one was snagged away from a roped projectile. Another two pointed their guns at Naruto before two figures appeared behind them and stabbed them in the back. The last Trinity was taken by Lara's fire arrow, setting his body ablaze. "Told him. Thanks boys."

Lara watched Patronus interact with the ones dressed exactly like him. They had the same manners as him, same footwear and even the swords on their backs. "A-are they clones?" Lara asked them as Patronus sighed before he nodded. "Who or what are you? Never mind that, you never were going to tell me." She left them as the clones winced at their creator.

"That's cold, boss."

"I know." Patronus replied knowingly. "How many of them are left? Where are the survivors?"

"All of them were taken to the catacombs by that Sofia girl. There are still two of us who revealed themselves to the Remnants and are guarding them right now. As for Trinity, they're all dead."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

Patronus nodded before he dispersed three of the clones and left one remaining. "Head back down to ground level and warn the others to keep a sharp eye. I have a bad feeling in my gut that this isn't over." The clone saluted him before Hirashining below and Naruto left to catch to Lara.

Meanwhile Lara had entered the catacombs and silently walked when she heard scared voices belonging to Trinity soldiers. "Who the hell are they, man? They're not human!"

"Demons! They must be demons!"

Lara readied two of her arrows and aimed at her targets before she fired them. A thick green puff of gas flooded the chamber as the men coughed violently from inhaling the substance and quickly died. By the time Patronus caught up to her, the gas left the room through the hole in the ceiling and allowed them move forward to the tunnels.

They walked some distance within the catacombs when the ground under their feet blew up, forcing them to fall on the ground. "Ahh! Dammit!" Lara whispered painfully until she realized that it was just disorientation. She felt something below her and glanced to see it was Patronus. "H-Hey, are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me." Naruto wheezed out. "I'm more concerned about you."

Lara shook her head at his words. "Why?"

Their little discussion was interrupted when footsteps was heard, forcing them to take cover as Trinity soldiers walked into the room albeit cautiously. "Hey man, this isn't the way out of here."

"Shut up!"

"Face it, we're lost!"

Patronus and Lara sneaked up behind the scared soldiers before slitting their throats with the Pivot Blade and combat knife. They continued their way until both managed to scurry through a narrow pathway and turned the corner when light met their eyes, blinding them.

"Hold it, hold it, it's the boss." The light went away, revealing the Remnant survivors and Sofia accompanied by two of Naruto's clones.

"The Hidden One…are you really the Prophet?" One of the Remnant asked the original near Lara who shook his head. "You must be though! How can you do this?"

Sofia broke up the group and told the warriors to gather the women and children to make the trip into the catacombs accompanied with Naruto's clones. "Thank you, you two. Our losses are nonexistent thanks to you." Sofia said gratefully before a worried expression overcame her. "But I fear that will happen if this continues. We can't afford to lose our people, not even one."

"Maybe your people have sacrificed enough." Lara said to Sofia.

"It's…all we've known." Sofia responded before assuming a somewhat relieved expression. "I misjudged you, Lara. And you Hidden One." Naruto didn't bother to ask this time.

Lara breathed as she said, "Tell me how I can help."

"I've got to get the rest to safety but the entrance to the catacombs are blocked." Sofia answered against the door in front of her. Patronus stepped in front of it as he knocked on it several times. "What are you doing?"

"Opening it." Patronus answered. "You guys on the other side, back away!" He sensed their ki to move away before punching through the door. "Come on, people, let's go!" The horde hurried out of the chamber as the clones protected them from the vanguard and rearguard.

"Thank you, Hidden One. They'll be safe in the catacombs with your people." Sofia thanked, mistaking the clones as different Hidden Ones. She looked at Lara when the latter was conflicted about something. "I know you seek the Divine Source, but my people will die to protect it."

Sighing, Lara retorted, "If this keeps up, your people will die. You can't protect it forever." She argued, hoping Sofia would understand her reason.

"We've lasted this long." Sofia argued strongly before speaking softly. "But for now, I'm glad to have you as an ally." She was approached by one of the villagers.

"They're converging on the tower! We've still got people there!"

The trio looked at the standing, somewhat burning tower. "Get the others to safety. They'll need you." Lara told Sofia who nodded as she left Patronus and Lara. The duo continued to run atop narrow passages and reached the segmented bridge when Jacob's voice spoke through the radio.

-"Lara, Patronus. We're here but the helicopters are pinning us down. I need you both to get Trinity's attention in any way you can."-

"No problem, Big J." Patronus answered as Lara went ahead of him over the three-segmented bridge. He caught up with her in a single leap. "I presume you want me to-" Lara had fired a grenade arrow and blew up the debris that blocked the entrance. "Never mind." They crawled under the door when Trinity fired upon them.

"Lay down suppressive fire! Don't let them gain an inch!"

Patronus growled as he deflected the bullets with Kogitsunemaru. Lara ducked behind a stone brick large enough to give her cover before she fired three ablaze arrows at the same number of soldiers. She ducked again before looking at the corner and catching the hero also dodging bullets that would have blown him to pieces with subtle movements. Patronus reached two Trinity soldiers before he decapitated them with a single stroke.

The first courtyard was clear and they moved up the stairs to the second courtyard where more Trinity soldiers appeared to kill them. Lara took care of them with poison arrows and proceeded forward, only to take cover behind a boulder when heavy fire came from a wooden bridge ahead of them. Naruto coated wind chakra around Kogitsunemaru's blade and swung it, unleashing a wind blade that sliced through the bridge and killing the soldiers as they died from the impact.

They continued forward when Remnant warriors ran towards them but were shot down by a soldier. "Bastard!" Lara cursed as she pulled out her shotgun and blasted his chest. Two more soldiers charged at them as Patronus and Lara met them halfway. The ninja ducked under a slow swing while cutting him in the waist while Lara twirled around the other and hooked her axe around his neck before pulling hard, snapping the bone in the process.

The duo reached the main courtyard and took cover as the Remnants anti-aircraft artillery and weaponry began to overpower the remaining Trinity soldiers. "Jacob, it looks like we've got the upper hand." Lara informed through the radio.

-"Good work. Those choppers should be in range soon."-

Patronus spoked next, "They're here now!"

Said helicopters were shot down by the numerically superior artillery as they spun out of control and crash-landed nearby the coutryard.

"We did it." Lara said with relief while the Remnants cheered at their victory just as Sofia's voice was heard through the radio.

-"Lara, Hidden One, are you there?"-

Patronus responded as he was worried by Sofia's tone. "We're here. What's the problem?"

-"Trinity is swarming the tower. We're trapped in the catacombs beneath."-

"Damn it!" Lara cursed at the short-lived victory. "Just hold on… we're on our way!" She blinked as soon as the words 'we' registered in her head but put it aside for now. They ran across the hallways and killed any Trinity that stood in their way until their route led to the tower as three soldiers argued about blowing a hole in the floor.

Naruto threw Kogitsunemaru at one Trinity's back while Lara took care of the others with her assault rifle. Two more but more armored soldiers appeared though they too fell to Lara and Patronus's weapons. The Remnant reinforcements had arrived with Sofia coming up from the catacombs as Jacob approached from the entrance.

"They're gone, Jacob." Lara informed the leader who wasn't convinced at all.

Jacob sighed heavily as he informed his allies. "I fear this battle is far from over."

"Will you tell me more about this place?" Lara pleaded as Jacob finally nodded at her request.

"You've earned that much. Come with me." Jacob responded as they went for somewhere private, but stopped to point at Patronus and gestured to come with them. "Both of you." Sofia kept her distance but followed them quietly.

The trio reached the top of the broken tower and saw a magnificent view of the entire valley. "In ancient times, our Prophet brought the Divine Source to this valley. My ancestors built Kitezh to protect it from the outside world." Jacob said, relaying his people's history to the outsiders.

"To what end?" Lara asked. "What is the Divine Source, Jacob?"

"I'd like to know too." Patronus insisted as Jacob nodded to him.

"An artifact from a time long forgotten. We believe it holds a fragment of God's soul." Jacob paused before he continued. "Legend tells us those who beheld the Source were granted immortality, but others have always been drawn here seeking its power." He pointed at the structure across the valley from the tower as it was showered with light from helicopters.

A realized Lara said, "Trinity."

"Yes, they seek to spread their darkness across the world. With the Source, their soldiers would be… unstoppable."

Patronus shook his head at this new information. "I knew it! I knew it, I knew it! This thing must be destroyed."

"Then help me find it… before they do!" Lara pleaded with Jacob, stunning Naruto with her words.

Jacob shook his head negatively. "This is not your burden."

"Of course, it is! My father died for this." Lara answered desperately.

"You can't fill the emptiness inside you, Lara. You can only set it free."

Lara glanced briefly at Patronus before her eyes set upon the Trinity-occupied structure. "I'm going to find it. With or without you." She declared with determination.

"Lara, wait!" Patronus called out as he followed Lara who was held by Sofia.

"I have to do what I can." Lara said to Sofia.

The daughter of Jacob understood her determination. "You spilled blood for us. I want to help."

"You know where the Atlas is." Lara responded in realization.

"The Cathedral. In the archives below." Sofia slowly shook her head. "But we won't follow you there."

"Why? What will I find?"

"There are others."

Patronus waved his hand to grab her attention. "And by others, you mean…?"

"The Deathless Ones."

"Oh great, Deathless Ones." Patronus sarcastically muttered under breath. "More to worry about."

"They will kill any who trespass." Sofia answered. "My father believes they will stop Trinity."

Lara didn't like that idea. "I can't take that chance."

"I know." Sofia replied before she gave Lara an object. "It will help you reach the Cathedral." Lara nodded before she left for said structure. Sofia approached Patronus and whispered close to his ear. "Please keep her safe."

"Always planned to."

TTIIPMxTTIIPMxTTIPM

Naruto grunted as he landed behind Lara after watching her use the gadget to throw axe as a launcher of sorts. "Lara, we got to talk."

"No, we don't." Lara barked at him.

Patronus grabbed her arm, stopping her stride. "Yes, we do. I don't care if you hate me about what I kept from you, but Lara, you're basically abandoning these people for an artifact."

"An artifact that's brought them such pain and grief." Lara countered as she wrested her arm out of his grip. "Patronus, they're bound to an oath made by their ancestors… a duty that's brought them bloodshed. I see a people who wants to live in peace and if I can relieve them of that… reveal to the world of their heavy burden…"

"Sometimes good intentions can make things worse, Lara." Patronus retorted softly. "Take it from me literally."

Lara's gaze stared at the ground until she chose to look at Patronus in the face or hood for that matter. "I guess with me, everyone gets hurt."

"Is that what you think of yourself?" Patronus asked. "Lara, life happens to all of us. It's not like you're some bad luck charm that brings disaster to everyone you know."

"Yamatai. I lead my friends to that hell hole and almost lost them."

"But you met me and Captain America who saved all of your asses."

"Roth almost died protecting me."

"And yet he lives with a daughter and girlfriend… or wife?"

"Wife."

"Oh good for them. Why didn't anyone invite me?" Patronus asked, steering the talk off-topic.

"Patronus…"

"Sorry."

"And my father."

"What happened to your father was unfortunate, Lara, but you can't just focus on the past. It'll eat you alive and make you blind and the future." Patronus hesitated but placed a hand on her shoulder as he was relieved she didn't brush it off. "I'm not saying forget the past, but remember the happy memories you had with him. After all, if you forget him completely, he's gone forever. And I consider you lucky."

Lara chuckled mirthfully. "How's that?"

"At least you were raised by a parent." Patronus answered softly, stunning Lara as she registered his words. He just revealed something very personal to her. "Treasure that always." He went ahead and jumped across several descending formations and obstacles.

Lara turned her gaze at the back of her associate—no, companion. The pain in her heart still stung but a new feeling began to emerge once more. It was the warm feeling that she'd felt whenever his presence was near and ever since Yamatai. She put aside her thoughts and followed Patronus to ground level, but that couldn't stop the small smile etched in her lips.

TTIIPMxTTIIPMxTTIIPM

The Cathedral

With a lucky Hirashine marker placed near the location, Patronus and Lara reappeared above the trees where they found a new Trinity base set near an old Remnant cabin with stationary lights set around the perimeter. A large bonfire was in the center as several Trinity soldiers huddled near the source of warmth. The strength of the flames was strong enough to avoid being put out by the rain aided by strong gusts of wind.

"Hey, did you just hear?"

"What?"

"Regiments five through eight were taken out."

"What?"

"How?"

"It's those hooded freaks! They're everywhere in the valley, sticking to the shadows and other places to hide, man. I'm starting to think this is not worth it."

Lara looked at Patronus who had a hidden smirk since he knew about the slaughter of the forces. Trinity may have guns and helicopters but they don't have Ninjutsu which is the ultimate weapon. Patronus glanced at Lara and noticed her hair was getting wet so he fixed it by pulling her hood over.

"There, now you're an Assassin."

"A what?"

"I'll explain when this is over. You deserve that." Patronus told her as she gave a small nod. "I got the guys in the cabin. You okay with the men out here."

"Please."

"Attagirl." Patronus left Lara in her tree as he walked among the branches and landed softly on the roof. The ninja dropped down to the second floor and quickly stabbed the guard in the back with his Hidden Blade. Lara picked a poison arrow and let loose the projectile at the bonfire as the poison gas burst out violent around the men.

The result was dead soldiers.

Lara climbed down from the trees and approached the cabin, hearing nothing from inside, as she entered the first floor with Patronus hiding the bodies he just killed. "Good work."

"Same to you."

The duo walked the stairs to the second level and used a pile of hard logs to jump to a bar in the high wall. They scaled the side and climbed upwards before running through the wilderness. Patronus had to keep a careful eye on Lara due to the rain but he also knew she can handle herself. They climbed higher and higher until a radio stopped them from reaching a level as it warned the soldier of lost contact with the team Naruto and Lara just killed.

"Possible hostiles?"

-'Could be radio interference but Konstantin doesn't want to take any chances.'-

Lara pulled herself over the edge and swiftly grabbed the soldier's mouth, slitting his throat as she held him firmly until he stopped moving. Patronus followed her afterwards as their progress to the top was almost unhindered save for the Trinity soldiers they killed on the way up. Finally, their journal to the top ended as they propelled themselves through a hole in the wall of the cathedral's base from a high bar. "I'm never doing that."

"You know you will."

"I know." Lara pouted a little. "I was just saying that to calm my nerves."

They instigated another but easier climb to the cathedral top where Ana's voice could be heard for both of them. From what it sounded like, she and Trinity attempts to dig through the archives. Her voice grew clearer and louder on their climb to the top until they reached it and cautiously walked toward the center where they spotted a lone Ana standing before a hole in the stone floor. There was a support beam and rope to carry people down in front of her.

"It's got to be down there." Ana said to herself.

The duo heard voices and saw Trinity soldiers everywhere, forcing Lara to make a rash decision. She ran to the unsuspecting Ana and held her hostage with a gun to the head.

"Kill an unarmed woman?" Ana asked tauntingly. "That would be cold even for you, Lara." More soldiers converged on their location. "Then again, I know why you haven't pulled that trigger. Shoot me and my men will cut you down within seconds. It's the one thing they're better than you."

"Shut up, Ana!" Lara told her as she oticed the explosives around the circumference that she and Ana stood. They both heard guttural voices around them and found dead soldiers instead with a lone Patronus.

"What men? And don't think those snipers will save your ass, lady. I took care of them as well." The ninja informed the shocked lady before anger flashed across her face. "You know if you keep your face like that for a while, it'll stay that way."

"You…Why are you here?!"

"Stopping you from committing a massacre."

Ana seethed at the now confused Naruto. "You and your people… I thought all of you died during the war. I thought my brother and I were free from your clutches… free to do with the world. Make it in our own image."

"…" Patronus chuckled softly before it blew into laughter, much to Lara's confusion and Ana's anger. "Trinity is them?"

Lara nudged at him. "What are you two talking about?"

"Lara, Ana here along with her brother and Trinity as a whole… they're the Templars." Patronus replied haughtily. "A fanatic secret organization that sought to save mankind by taking away their free will. In the 20th century, they and my order, the Assassins Brotherhood who protected mankind's free will, engaged in a final battle that killed almost all of its members."

Ana let a loud taunting huff. "We're not the Templars; we are better than them. They kicked us out, calling us radicals for going against the order's rules and goals. We hid from the Assassins and Templars to wait it out until the fools killed each other. I thought the world was free of the Assassins until I head of you."

"Yeah… we're getting the Atlas." Patronus told her as if it was a sure thing. "You're going to die like the pathetic thing, Ana."

"No one will stop me."

Patronus noticed her glance shifted to the ceiling and turned around to see a bullet hit one of the explosives. "Oh SHIIIITTTT!" He cried out during free-fall below. Naruto kicked the wall to push him towards Lara after she separated from Ana and grabbed her tightly as he crashed against a wooden platform. "Gaaaa…That hurts." He looked at the person in his arms. "Are you okay?"

"I'm the one who should ask you that." Lara retorted concernedly. "I'm tough, you know."

"Yeah, but I don't want that face of yours to get scratched up like in Yamatai."

Their little moment was interrupted by Ana's voice as she stood on platform several levels higher than her. "Reconsider my offer, Lara… before it's too late." Her response was a bullet and shuriken into both her shoulders.

"it was too late the moment you betrayed my family!" Lara countered strongly as she lavished the thrill of harming the traitor. Both Lara and Patronus got up. "I'm getting the Atlas, Ana!" Her and Naruto's attention was drawn to the lower levels when sounds of battle with gunfire and screams echoed to them.

"Something is slaughtering my men down there, Lara! If they can't find it, neither can you."

Lara chuckled at her words. "That's where you're wrong. I have him by my side and another thing, got to hell!"

Ana watched her enemies leave but not before Patronus gave her the middle finger. "Croft and the Assassin are on their way down there. Kill them and get me the goddamn Atlas!"

TTIIPMxTTIIPMxTTIPM

They made it through a narrow crack where Lara saw a sight through a hole barred with metal. "*gasp* There it is… it has to be."

"Keep your mind cautious, Lara. There's still more to be done." Patronus told his ally softly.

They approached the next tunnel when Lara noticed an old mural in the wall. "An old mural… and those vessels… Greek Fire… The Prophet's Deathless army… Armed with Greek Fire, they were unstoppable." She relayed the images to Naruto who grew more cautious about the Deathless Ones.

"Let's keep moving, Lara." Patronus took the vanguard as he used Kogitsunemaru's blue blade since it glows in the dark under his mental command. A nifty trick he learned from a darkness training session with Inari. Suddenly a wave of foul stench burned their nostrils. "Gah, you smell that?"

Lara's cough was confirmation of that. "Hard not to." She replied before coughing again. They traversed through the thick smoke fog when it cleared to reveal an awful sight. "Oh no…" Dead soldiers with smoke from their bodies. "Burned alive…"

"Hard way to go." Patronus coughed out before they continued through the hallway.

"Who could have done this?"

"Probably the things Sofia warned us about."

"The Deathless Ones."

Patronus nodded sternly. "Be on your guard" His nose was now free from the stench as they now faced a blocked entrance with green substance leaking out of the vessels. "What the hell are these?"

"These vessels… They're still filled with Greek Fire…" Lara gasped before she took out her assault rifle. "Those vessels are still full… if I could ignite them."

"Wait, what?"

Lara fired a round at the jar as a bright flash of white flames destroyed the rubble that blocked their way. Orange flames clamped onto the vines and walls to burn anything in its path. The duo was careful not to get any of the flames on their person, especially Lara, but made it through to the chamber where the object of everyone's desires was present before them.

It was a dodecahedron of a black hard metal with red linear symbols. A green gem embedded on the top only added its mystery with the glow of the same color as well.

To Patronus, it was just a glowing ball, but to Lara it was the key to finding the object she so desperately wants to find. She looked up at the ceiling where a massive hole let in a ray of light directly on the artifact. "This is it." Lara said with great relief and accomplishment. It was short-lived however as a grenade was thrown near her location.

Patronus helped her to stay balanced after the device exploded when she ran outside of its range. "Take cover!" He told her behind the large stone altar-like table. "Ready to blow these guys away?"

"You bet." Lara said confidently as she stashed the Atlas into her quiver. "Bring it on then." They made quick of the Trinity soldiers mainly due to the jars of Greek Fire around as the enemy burned alive. "Anyone else?!" She challenged more.

Her answer was several bullets aimed at her but Patronus stood in the way and deflected them as he assumed the Soresu brace-ready stance. It was different from the opening stance as Naruto held Kogitsunemaru's hilt held at his waist on his dominant side in a two-handed grip with the blade extended vertically upwards while his dominant foot was placed back as the other extended forward and to the side in a brace-position.

"YEAH BITCHES! Nice job with the sword, McHoodie!"

"Oh no…" Patronus said in an annoyed tone after he recognized the voice. "Of all people… he had to be here…"

Lara grew worried. "Who?"

"DEADPOOOOOLLLLLL~" The red and black clothed mercenary said sing-song with his machine guns aimed at them. "Do you feel lucky, punks?"

"Ugh, he's annoying." Lara admitted with a disgusted face.

Patronus nodded in agreement. "You have no idea." After the little scuffle with him in Christmas, Naruto wanted to know more about Deadpool and the information was unreal to him at the point he could no longer research him.

"Why us?" Lara asked out of instinct, unknowingly saying Naruto's words albeit changed.

Naruto looked at Lara with an appreciative look. "You understand my world now, I could almost cry." Ignoring Lara's deadpanned response, Patronus faced the dancing Deadpool which raised the question, "Is it just him or are there more out there?"