Chapter 13

"Who are we?"

"We are Konoha!"

"Who are we?"

"We are Konoha!"

"Louder!" The teacher barked. "Louder! Say it with meaning! With conviction! WHO ARE WE?"

"WE ARE KONOHA!"

"WHO ARE WE?"

"WE ARE KONOHA!"

"I SAID WHO ARE WE?!"

"WE ARE KONOHA!"

"Now remember that you brats!" The Chunin Instructor said, glancing at the students standing at attention. "Remember We Are Konoha. That mantra should be in your head, in your mind, in everything you do – you should remember – We Are Konoha. As Konohan Shinobi aspirants it will be your duty, your responsibility to show to the world why Konoha is the greatest nation. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir!" The chants said in unison.

"Now, who is the enemy?"

"Kumogakure sir!"

"Wrong!" The teacher roared. "Everyone not of Konoha is the enemy. Everyone not in Konoha's best interest is the enemy. Everyone not supporting Konoha is the enemy. The very sooner you weak-livered brats understand this, the better!"

The man turned on his heel, marching as he shot his stony gaze to the students in his class. He turned around, a massive sneer on his face as he approached a young blonde-haired boy.

"Uzumaki!"

"Yes sir!"

"How old are you now Uzumaki?"

"Eight years old sir!"

The Chunin instructor sneered. "Eight. Tell me Uzumaki, can you tell me when the Clods," he spat with distaste "Engaged against war with the great nation of Konoha?"

"Five years ago sir!"

The Chunin nodded. "Five years ago." He spun around, moving to a pink-haired girl. "Tell me Haruno! What happened five years ago that led to the great nation of Konoha engaging in war against the Clods?"

"A representative of the enemy came into our village and attempted to assault a prominent clan heiress, sir."

"Assault?" The Chunin instructor sounded baffled. "Did you just attempt to euphemize the disgusting crime committed by an enemy of Konoha?!"

"N-no sir, I did not mean –"

"100 Laps in the Purging Pit Haruno! 100 Laps! NOW!"

"Y-Yes sir!"

The girl ran off, and the Chunin instructor's sneer grew. "It was not an attempted assault. We do not sensor the brutal savagery of our enemies. It was attempted rape!" The man roared. "Those sick, fucking clods had a cheap rapist and pedophile as their head ninja. That sick bastard attempted to force himself, ON A THREE YEAR OLD!"

The Chunin was fuming. "Upon being killed like the beast he was, their village, had the audacity to ask for compensation. And do you know what we did? Do you know what our leader, the Professor of Shinobi did? Do you know what our War Commander, Shimura Danzo said?"

"WE SAID FUCK THEM!" The Chunin yelled. "FUCK THE CLODS! REPEAT AFTER ME! FUCK! THE! CLODS!"

"FUCK THE CLODS!"

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

"FUCK THE CLODS!"

"AGAIN!"

"FUCK THE CLODS!"

"Good!" The man said, satisfied. "Now, you must remember – we are not fighting men, we are not fighting other people – we are fighting a village of brutes and savages. A village of madness and depravity. You should train not to kill men – but to kill monsters." The Chunin took a deep breath. "For it is only until these monsters are dead, that our home, our loved ones, our fondest memories and cherished moments – shall be safe."

The man clapped loudly. "Now! As today is Tuesday, we shall commence our scheduled survival battle in Training Ground 44. Get your things ready – we leave in ten minutes. Those who are even a second late will be joining Haruno for fifty laps in the Pits."

"Man, Hitami-sensei is as intense as ever, -ttebayo." A young, blonde-haired boy, dressed in the dark green camouflaged uniform of the Konohan Shinobi Military Academy said, while glancing to his left.

The girl at his side rolled her eyes, grabbing her own uniform from a labelled locker. "You really have to stop that verbal tick of yours Naruto-kun. Also – you better hope he doesn't hear you."

The boy shot out his tongue at her. "Bite me Ten-chan."

"I would, but I don't feel like tasting idiot today." She quipped dryly, taking off her shirt as she began changing.

"Oi! You take that back! I'm a bonafide genius –ttebayo!" The boy said, grinning smugly. "I even help Remi-chan and Hashi with their homework."

"That's because you always get extra lessons, and extra notes, and extra… everything." The girl replied, irritably. "You're the 'Golden Boy' and everyone knows it. It's like everyone wants you to graduate quickly and go fight in the war."

"They just know how awesome I am!" He said with a grin. "With me on the battlefield – the clods won't stand a fucking chance ttebayo."

She rolled her eyes, buckling her shirt. "Or maybe, people just think that because you have blonde hair and blonde eyes, you're the second coming of the Fourth Hokage."

"I think you got it backwards Ten-chan." Naruto grinned. "If anything, the Fourth Hokage was the first coming of me."

"Keep it up, and maybe you might actually win this war by suffocating all the clods with your thick ego."

"Alright Ten-chan," The boy said, turning his blue eyes to her, blue eyes which flashed red for a brief second, as a predatory grin grew on his face "If you think I'm all hot air, how about we go a few rounds in the Burrow – and we'll see how it goes ttebayo?"

The girl gave him a once over, before feeling her eye twitch. "Like I'm going to actually spar with you. The only ones who can keep up with you are the Uchiha and the Hyuga. And even then, you're ranked higher than them – Mr. Number One."

"Hah! Chickening out?" the boy made numerous clucking sounds, while flapping his arms. "You know, you might be able to make me break a bit of a sweat if you tried hard enough. What's your ranking again? I tend to forget people whose numbers are more than one digit."

"Ass!" she said, tossing a kunai at him, which he spun around and caught with his pinky, twirling it effortlessly. "I'm ranked number 10! My ranking is my name! You know that!"

"I know, I know, but you're just so easy to tease –ttebayo!"

The girl in question huffed. "If I'd known you'd become a cocky smartass, I'd never have taught you how to do your own laundry. Or cook. Or iron. Or –"

"Yeah yeah I know I know," Naruto waved her off "If we'd never met in the Orphanage, I'd have been screwed trying to learn all that stuff for myself. I really do owe you for that Ten-chan."

The girl in question sighed. "And I guess I do kind of owe you for tutoring me and training me in your free time. I'd never have been ranked in the top ten without your help."

The boy pumped his fist forward. "That's what family is for ttebayo. You rub my chest, and I rub yours."

"… Naruto, that's not how that phrase is used."

"Wait – huh? You sure? I thought the whole point of it was that family was supposed to rub each other?"

Tenten sighed, palming her face. "Combat genius you may be Naruto – but you still have a lot to learn." She shook her head. "Come on – I'm done changing – let's head out before we join Haruno in the Pits."

Konoha – Training Ground Forty Four

"As always, we will be using real kunai and equipment in this battle. Killing and maiming which leaves permanent damage is strictly forbidden. If you perchance kill your opponent, be prepared to drag your kunai across your own throat, as it would be a mercy compared to what would happen to you otherwise." The Chunin said in a cold, level tone.

Students, all gathered and dressed in the uniform outfits of the academy, stood in a queued line, their hands held to their side as they stood at attention in perfect uniformity.

"Remember, six hours on the clock. The goal is to eliminate as many people as you can." The man paused. "However, today, we will be mixing things up. Academy Points will be awarded depending on the Ranking of who you eliminate."

There was a brief burst of excited chatter, all of which died once the Chunin gave them all a stern glare.

"Yes, yes, Academy Points. The sweet points that you lot exchange for grades, for the opportunity to skip a test or quiz, turn in for food, weapons, jutsu scrolls or private training sessions – or convert it into Ryo and use it as cold hard cash. A single point equals a single ryo – so you had better not waste them. Anyone wasting their points will be immediately stripped of all of them, and will run a thousand laps in the Pit."

There was a thick, silent agreement.

"So, today special rules apply. Points are distributed in a slightly geometric progression. The higher your ranking, the more points you are worth, and the lower, the less. Rank number 30 is worth only 5 points, but rank number 25 is worth 50 points." The Chunin explained. "If you somehow eliminate someone of a higher Rank – for instance, Akimichi with rank number twenty-four, takes down Uchiha, with rank number three – he will receive five hundred and fifty points. Taking down Hyuga, with Rank number two, will award one-thousand five hundred points."

"And what if we take down Uzumaki, sir?"

All eyes turned to the golden boy of the Academy, his face absolutely expressionless.

"One Million Points."

The yellow-haired boy grinned like a maniac.

"Bring it!"

He was a monster.

"Aw, come on! You guys can't be getting tired already – I'm just getting warmed up!"

No, not a monster. He was untouchable. Strong. Fast. Nigh-impossible to tire out. Seemingly inexhaustible chakra reserves. One which he used to the fullest –

"Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!"

"Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!"

"Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!"

"Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!"

"Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!"

"Where the fuck does he get that much chakra from?!"

"He can spam as many justu as he wants without even breaking a sweat –"

"Gah! I'm hit! I'm hit!"

"I'm on FIRE! AAAAH! HELP!"

Carnage and fire surrounded one blonde boy as he stood tall over a pile of defeated, unconscious students, his cerulean eyes scanning across the forest as he stretched his arms to the heavens in conquest.

"BRING IT DATTEBAYO!" He roared "I AM UZUMAKI FUCKING NARUTO!"

The video recording came to a stop, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the God of Shinobi, slowly rubbed his nose as he stared at the young flippant blonde in front of him.

"Naruto-kun, do you know why you're here?"

"Because you saw the badass way I took down everyone and you want to finally promote me to Jonin?"

"No." Hiruzen said flatly. "You're here because you sent every single one of your classmates to the Konoha Hospital with varying degrees of burns."

"It's not my fault they're all weak." The boy grumbled.

"Naruto." Hiruzen said sternly.

"It's the truth Hokage-sama." The boy argued, frowning. "I've been Ranked Number 1 for almost two years now –my grades are good enough and my chakra is strong enough – I should have graduated become a Genin long ago – but I'm not! I'm not out there making my first kill because you won't let me!"

"You're not ready for the front lines Naruto."

"Danzo-jiji says otherwise." Naruto argued. "He helps me train – he teaches me cool jutsu – he says I'm ready!"

"Well Danzo is not the Hokage, and my decision is final." Hiruzen said coldly, all traces of his grandfatherly tone gone. "Until you can show some restraint and display an ability to work without causing collateral damage – I cannot let you graduate."

"Restraint? I was showing restraint! Fire isn't even my strongest element – if I'd used the Wind Jutsu that Danzo-jiji taught me – I'd have wiped out everyone in half the time -ttebayo!" He said, growling, "And I depowered the jutsu I used! My fire jutsu can melt steel Hokage-sama! Steel! And I used them at such a low level that no one died and everyone just got a few burns. That's me holding back! I'm always holding back!"

"My decision is final, Naruto."

The boy steamed for a bit, before growling. "Fine Hokage-sama." He bit out. "Can I go now? Tenten is waiting for me – we're heading to the orphanage together."

Hiruzen sighed. "Dismissed."

The boy stormed out, leaving the Professor with a bitter taste in his mouth. It pained him to see Minato's son slowly grow more and more volatile and arrogant with power. Yet, Hiruzen knew that this was his fault. He could have visited Naruto, when the boy was still much younger – he could have gone to meet the orphans, as he usually did – and he would have taught him the value of humility and other good virtues.

But the war had not allowed him such time. The war had not allowed him such luxuries – instead – Naruto had encountered Danzo one day, and Danzo had shown interest in the orphan boy – and so, Naruto learned his attitude from Hiruzen's teammate. He could have instructed Danzo to stay away from Naruto – but he believed in his rival, and his rival proved him right by not attempting to turn Naruto into one of his agents. Instead, he became a mentor figure to the young Jinchuriki – training him, spurring him on, teaching him –

Then, the Academy Reformation came, and when Naruto entered, he was so far above his peers in skill and talent that it was clear he was a prodigy. With the introduction of the Ranking Systems and Academy Points – he bagged the number one spot for himself, and used his points to gain more jutsu, gain the time of the teachers, and did everything he could in order to become stronger. Naruto was a self-taught prodigy with an obscene amount of skill – the problem was, everyone knew it, and so, he knew it as well. The lack of proper challenges or suitable methods of tests only ended up making the boy develop a distaste for the school, and, eventually, for others.

They were slowing him down.

It was an accurate sentiment – he started despising people because they were not as talented as he was. They did not learn at the astronomical rate that he did, meaning that his time was wasted when people took long to learn concepts and techniques he mastered effortlessly. Soon, this spite translated back to him as arrogance and cockiness. When not even Hyuga Neji or Uchiha Sasuke could keep up with the boy – Naruto was rightly self-assured in his power and position as the best and strongest.

Hiruzen grabbed his pipe, taking a long swift drag from it.

Still, it could have been worse. He could have grown up ostracized, stunted, and weak. The people of Konoha had not honored Minato's last wish – but they hadn't spat on it either. With the war, the increasing amount of propaganda he allowed Danzo to propagate, and the developing Us-Versus-Them mentality that Konoha possessed – Naruto grew up without people hating him or spiting him for something out of his control. The Kyubi Jinchuriki was just another tool that would be used to fight against their real enemies – Kumogakure. Some, particularly those shinobi swayed by Danzo's beliefs and tactics, started doing their best to help the boy in little ways. They wanted him to be strong, for Konoha – they wanted him to be a great weapon that would help against Kumo – a village renowned for having two Jinchuriki. They felt, that one day, it would be Naruto's job and duty to eliminate the enemy Jinchuriki, for the greater good and victory of Konoha.

The problem was, Naruto himself was beginning to think this way as well.

Hiruzen didn't want that to happen. He didn't want the boy to be nothing more than the sum of the tailed beast inside him. Yet, he was rapidly running out of reasons to prevent Naruto from graduating and enter the front lines. Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and even Minato had all graduated younger than Naruto – so his argument for age was irrelevant. His argument for temperament was the only one that was still allowed, but it was a weak one, and Hiruzen himself knew it.

By the end of the Month, Naruto would have to graduate – and he'd have to fight on the front lines. Being an enemy jinchuriki, his chances of dying was at least 60% higher than that of the average shinobi. Considering the average shinobi's chances of dying were already ludicrously high, Hiruzen did not like Naruto's odds.

It was selfish and it was unreasonable, but Hiruzen did not want to be the one who would meet Kushina in the afterlife, and explain to her why her son had died before he did.

"Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen's thoughts ended at the arrival of a Weasel-masked ANBU.

"Report."

"The Kumogakure shinobi seem to be having some difficulty fully taking Yugakure. The borders of the Land of Hot Water are being held by the Jashinists. This is disadvantageous for them, as their forces cannot effectively leave the Land of Lightning without risking a battle against the Jashinist forces. Should they engage, it would leave them open for an ambush by our own men."

Hiruzen sighed, dragging thick smoke with him as he did. The Jashinists – a religion of immortal warriors led by a crazed Priest named Hidan. The primary religious opposition for the Gatoists – in the past five years since the Konoha-Kumo war began, conflicts between these two religious groups had escalated significantly. The problem was – the Jashinists were supposedly immortal, and to attain that immortality – they had to sacrifice lives to their god, and bring upon all sorts of suffering and pain. The allure of being able to torture, rape and murder and get rewarded with immortality for it was a surprisingly effective bargain to many, and hence, most of the Jashinists composed of rogue shinobi, bandits, raiders and other low-life scum of society.

"I see. Anything else?"

Weasel nodded. "Danzo-sama suspects that Kumo may attempt to use the Nadeshiko Isles to launch a surprise attack from the North-East, and to gain control over the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools. From there – they will most certainly launch an invasion of the Land of Waves." Weasel paused. "They may also recruit women of the Nadeshiko village into their fold and send their Kunoichi as assassins."

Hiruzen grimaced. Such an outcome would be highly unfavorable.

"And his proposed strategy?"

"To conquer or eliminate Nadeshiko village ourselves before they are overtaken by Kumo."

Of course it was. That was Danzo's default response to any threat. Destroy it before it can destroy you. Hiruzen hated to admit that the strategy was brutally, if not overwhelmingly successful at times. Taking pre-emptive action often eliminated threats before they ever became threats.

"Very well." Hiruzen said, before turning his attention to Weasel. "Continue your observation on Danzo's operations – I want to be fully informed when he does anything."

Weasel nodded.

"Also – do remember to take some time to train your brother. If he truly wishes to graduate, to become a shinobi in this war… he will need all the training he can get."

Hiruzen supposed, one of the few good things that came out of this war was the fact that most of the village's suspicion and ill-treatment of the Uchiha Clan had subdued itself in the wake of the war and the greater enemy. If they had escalated, if they had continued – he feared that a great tragedy would have befell the Uchiha – or worse, Konoha would have fallen into a civil war, with the Uchiha being the agitators.

Now? The relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village had almost completely mended, as the Uchiha Police Force truly aided in keeping the peace and stability in the high-tension environment that came as a result of the war. There was no dissent, and Hiruzen was satisfied to know that the Uchiha Clan would remain a proud clan of Konoha, for many, many years to come.

Perhaps in time, an Uchiha might even find himself becoming the Hokage.

XXXX

Sunagakure no Sato

"Agh! This is impossible!"

"Try again." a mature, female voice said.

"But –"

"Try. Again." The voice said, even more sternly. "Your father has the ability to control golden sand. Your brother can control regular sand, and although it is derived from his tailed beast – that ability remains. With your high wind affinity – I believe it is possible for you to equally unlock the Magnet Release style. Bloodlines are often genetic – natures even more so."

The girl being addressed frowned, rubbing her callused hands. "I'm fine with my fans."

"You are the daughter of the Kazekage. You may use the fans, but you should not be reliant on it. To become an S-Rank Kunoichi like myself, you have to ensure that you are not a one-trick pony. Do you think that all I can use is Scorch Release?"

"Well, you are called Pakura of the Scorch Release."

"Which is exactly why I learned how to use other techniques that my opponents would never see coming. For instance, Water Natured techniques, and Kirigakure's coveted Silent Killing Technique."

"Whoa – how – where did you even learn that?"

"It is a common misconception that one must be an Uchiha in order to copy jutsu." Pakura responded. "I learned it from someone of the Terumei Clan during my visit to Kiri."

"Can… can you teach me?"

"Master the Magnet Release first… and then we'll see."

~~~~~~~~~~ Son of G

A red haired boy stood in a clearing, taking deep, slow breaths as he examined the area around him, a large, empty field devoid of anything but sand. On the sand, there was a giant stone made of granite. The boy, no older than eight or nine, stared at the stone, before thrusting his hand out, closing his eye, and then clenching his fist.

Sand gathered around the stone, swirling and surrounding it, until, it stopped – and then the sand, the individual granules, all shot forward with a sickening crack. Individual pellets of sand rained down on the boulder with each and every one leaving a tiny-subsonic boom as they were propelled at the speed of bullets. The granite stood no chance against the granule rain – eating away and being chipped, piece by piece, as the sand granule bullets tore at it into nothing but fine, refined dust.

No, not dust, powder. For dust was still coarse, while powder was perfectly smooth.

The boy panted, feeling the exhaustion from the heavy chakra requirement of the technique, but, his expression showed nothing. No tiredness, no satisfaction, no glee or joy from the effects – it just… was.

"Gaara-kun!"

For all of a few seconds, before he was suitably glomped from behind.

An automated defense would have activated, would have assaulted the offending person – had Gaara not been training to control it. Had he not trained to differentiate the intent of an attacker, from the intent of a non-attacker. It also helped, that his father and his uncle had been the ones supervising his training from the very moment he was born. Pakura of the Scorch Release also helped – beating it into him since he could walk that he had to control his powers.

"Nee-san." He said evenly, tilting his head forward in greeting.

The girl in question almost pouted. "Gaara – I've told you to call me Temari-chan."

He nodded. "So you have."

"And yet you never call me that."

He nodded again. "So it seems."

"Don't you care for your older sister?"

A third nod. "I do."

"So why do you continue to hurt my feelings by not calling me Temari-chan?"

A frown. "You need to get tougher feelings, nee-san."

She gasped, clutching her chest exaggeratedly. "Gaara-kun you wound me." She said, falling to the ground. "However can I recover from this slight?"

"Tou-sama is standing behind you."

In an instant, Temari was standing on her feet, her playful expression gone and her eyes deadened, her face entering an expression that could have been described as perfectly emotionless.

"Tou-sama, I have completed my training session with Pakura-sama for today. I came to meet Gaara to –"

She blinked, upon realizing that there was no one present. No one except Gaara, who, for the most part, looked on blankly. If he was amused, he did not show it.

"Why you sneaky little –"

Her words stopped when she watched 'Gaara' fade away into nothing but sand.

"A Sand Clone?! GRRR – GAARA!"

"How many?"

"Twenty puppets."

Rasa frowned as he looked at his first born son. "Sasori of the Red-Sands could control over a hundred – merely controlling twenty is not enough if you wish for your name to be remembered throughout the world as an S-Rank shinobi."

"…Yes, Kazekage-sama."

"Perhaps puppetry enough is not alone?" Rasa mused. "Hmmm… yes. I believe there is a way we can make puppetry far more deadly…"

Kankuro could only grimace at the thought. It was now an open-secret in Sunagakure that Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, was a man who was obsessed with improving the quality of his shinobi, and attaining famous S-Rank nin. Rumor has it that his deep seated desire to gain more power came as a result of his visit to Kirigakure no Sato a few years back, and his failed attempt to gain an alliance with what was now the technology-capital of the world.

The words, supposedly spoken to Rasa, by Jinshi Hoshikage, the Fifth Mizukage, were:

"Your village is a sandy wasteland with no resources, few notable shinobi and nothing extraordinary about it. We cannot ally with you, because you and your village have nothing to offer us."

Needless to say, one did not tell the Kage of his village that he had nothing to offer. The realization that Suna could not count on Kiri as an ally should the worst happen in the ongoing Konoha-Kumo War had spurn on the need for the Kazekage to develop his military as much as possible. This simple fact had led to him taking a vested invest in training his children, in training his son. Personal tutoring – teaching the boy to control the sand he used because a Jinchuriki who had full control of his beast and could think, was easily a more laudable threat than a Jinchuriki who simply relied on nothing but brute strenght and power.

He didn't want Gaara to be a weapon. He wanted him to be an S-Rank Shinobi. It was a tiny difference – yet, the difference had long reaching impacts that he himself did not anticipate.

"Come, Kankuro let us meet the Puppet Masters and see if they can design what I have in mind… Suna Puppetry is in due need of a suitable revolution."

XXXX

Yuki no Kuni

A thirteen year old girl sat on the hand of a statue. Ranging over fifty feet, the statue was enormous. It was a statue of a God, for a God was the only thing that could be used to define the person the statue was dedicated towards. She knew, first hand, just how mystical he was. Of course, she was not sitting on the statue merely to relax and enjoy the melancholy. Even as tiny flakes of snow descended from the sky up above, she gazed her upwards, a small smile on her face as she looked at one of the greatest wonders of Yuki no Kuni.

Lights danced up above, hueing in different colors from greens to reds, swirling in such a way and casting a beautiful sight on the village down below. Aurora Borealis, was the name that her god had given to the phenomenon. He enabled those lights to shine eternally upon Yuki no Kuni – lights that gave the city of snow a beautiful, ephemeral feeling. The citizens would look up every morning, and they would see different variations of lights, and they would know, that their god was watching over them.

The girl's attention was drawn down below, to the sound of silent, fast humming. Her gaze locked on to the train tracks, or rather, to the Bullet Train that now ran across all of Yuki no Kuni. With speed and efficiency never before seen in the world, running purely on chakra and no other energy system – it was one of the greatest inventions this country possessed.

A shadow cast over her form, and she glanced upwards again, no longer paying attention to the train or the lights, but instead, to the flying aircraft that streaked across the sky. Her god had done the impossible once more – he brought the power of flight to the layman. Airplanes he called them – and they stayed in Hangars. There was a small fleet of them available, although, very few of them were available globally.

The girl sighed when she thought about him. The passing years had not diminished her lord's appearance, if anything, it had heightened them, and she found herself having more and more dreams of him than she would like. In all of her dreams, he was always taking her – in wild, indecent ways. He would make her beg, make her fall, make people watch as he filled her – the dreams were all too vivid and all too detailed, such that she would wake up drenched in sweat and fully aroused afterwards. She shuddered to wonder what he would do if he realized what she dreamed of.

But, he had his hands full. He was busy, as it was, and she had nothing but her fantasies to comfort her. Nothing but her dreams and thoughts of him to embrace her. He was working on something – but he was always working on something. It was the type of person he was. Always wanting to improve the quality of life of everyone – wanting to ensure that their stay in this world was as pleasant as possible, even as they prepared for the next one.

"Haku-sama."

Her gaze turned to the sight of the dark-haired woman who appeared beside her in what she recognized as the Body Flicker. Koyuki Kazahana had grown in the past eight years from being a young twelve-year old girl, into a beautiful twenty-year old woman. Her attires often consisted of beautiful, elegant kimonos which framed her body, which highlighted her sensuality, and which exposed just enough legs and cleavage to leave men wanting more – yet never fully giving them.

It peeved Haku a little, when she looked at the beautiful body of Koyuki – her full breasts, her waists and thick thighs. Men were tripping over their feet just to meet her – and it had nothing to do with the fact that the woman was a genjutsu specialist.

Koyuki had taken to the seduction training like fish to water, and she was far more efficient and effective at it than Haku was. Although, this was because Haku could not stand or stomach the thought of anyone that was not her lord being even vaguely interested in her, yet alone attempting to touch her.

Hence, Koyuki Kazahana was the diplomat – the ambassador – she was their lord's spy and public relations officer. Her beauty and her calm temperament made her perfect for the job, but Haku knew deep within that her elegance was a cover for something else.

"Koyuki."

"The Princess of Ice sitting on the Hand of the Shepherd – how fitting."

"Is there something you want Koyuki?"

"My – so volatile. Don't tell me you're still jealous of me after all these years?" Koyuki giggled. "Then again, I suppose I am a woman now."

Haku rose her hand, a cold chill covering it as it caked over with ice. "Do you want to be a frozen woman?"

"As long as it's you doing the freezing Haku-sama," Koyuki whispered, "It has been so long… I miss the way you used to rough handle me. Throw me into the dirt – step on me with your toes –"

As it turned out, Haku had been too enthusiastic in 'training' Koyuki.

The woman panted as her eyes glazed over. "The only thing I can imagine better than you, Haku-sama, would be if Shepherd-sama himself punished me… I have dreams of it every other night, him, spanking me, whipping me – pinning me and ravaging me like an animal –"

Haku's face heated up as she was reminded of her own dreams, and she frowned as she turned to Koyuki. "Shepherd-sama would never be interested in you."

"Oh? Is that a challenge, Haku-sama?" Koyuki smirked.

"If you try it –"

"You can't kill me, you know. I've proven myself too useful to Shepherd-sama. If I died, he would be very, very displeased with you Haku-sama. He would punish you – maybe even banish you from his presence – can you imagine your life without him?"

Her chest grew cold from the mere mention of such a life. She couldn't. He was her everything.

"Besides… a man of Shepherd-sama's power and influence… don't you believe that he is deserving of more than just one woman? He is a man above men – no – he is a god – and he may have as many as he wants." Koyuki said, still smiling. "Do you think he'll stop loving you if he takes more women? Oh – but – you don't even know if he does love you – do you Haku-sama?"

Koyuki Kazahana, was, simply put, a sadist and a masochist. She derived pain from others, she delighted in seeing the pain of others, and she loved pain being inflicted upon her. Haku knew she was partially responsible for this… well, wholly responsible. It didn't stop the Ice Wielder from wanting to freeze the woman and shatter her into dust though.

"You women bicker too much."

The gazes of the duo gazed up to see a man, garbed in soft samurai armor, with two swords strapped across his back, standing on what appeared to be a floating shield.

"Kitami-sama," Haku greeted, whereas Koyuki merely snorted.

"Coming from a man who has bedded how many women exactly?"

"Are you disappointed that you weren't on the list?" Kitami retorted.

"As if I would even want to contemplate being with you!" she responded, sounding outraged. "Shepherd-sama is the only man for me."

"Yet, you flash him with your body every other day and he doesn't bat an eyelash." Kitami responded dryly. "Makes me wonder."

Koyuki bristled. "Why you –"

Haku sighed. "Koyuki-san. Unless you want to die, I would recommend not engaging Kitami-sama. Out of all of us, he has known Shepherd-sama the longest… I feel he may be able to kill you without much repercussion."

The girl paused, before frowning. "Yes… that is true." She turned to Kitami. "You've known Shepherd-sama the longest… tell me, why does he seem to be… unaffected by women? I have never seen him show a sexual side – with such looks, he could bed any woman he wanted, yet – he seems not to be interested in the slightest."

Kitami gave a smirk, a smirk which said 'I know something you don't.' "Ask him yourself. I'm sure the answer will be eye-opening."

Koyuki rolled her eyes. "More cryptic nonsense. Dementia does not look good on you, Kitami-sama."

"You uppity little – I still remembered the day you creamed yourself in front of your father just because Gat-sama said he wanted you. Now she's talking to me about dementia."

Koyuki's face went red. "T-t-that was a long time ago!"

"Creamed herself? I do not know this expression. Could you clarify, Kitami-sama."

Three pairs of eyes spun around to meet a fourth person, sitting in the air with his legs crossed on two femur bones, his white hair was styled into a short cut, and he leaned forward with a face full of intrigue and wonder.

"How long have you been here?!" Koyuki asked, her mortification growing.

"I arrived with Kitami-sama. I went unnoticed due to his claim that women argue too much." The Kaguya tilted his head. "Does his claim have merit? Do women bicker too much? If so, why? Also, what does it mean to cream yoursel–"

"Don't ask that!"

"Kimi-kun – when someone creams themselves –"

"Don't actually explain it to him!"

Kitami barked out a laugh, shaking his head at the scene. They were a strange, weird, dysfunctional type of family – but it was a family nonetheless.

Disciples.

All four of them froze up when they heard the voice speak directly into their heads.

It is time.