Chapter 38: The Will of Fire

(Four Weeks Later)

Tajima carefully stepped inside the tent occupied by his son only to see his child currently surrounded by his advisers while they all looked at the rough map of the Land of Water. He waited and simply observed his son listening to the suggestions while offering some of his own every now and then. There was so much focus and determination in his hardened eyes that made Tajima proud and sad at the same time.

Proud of the man his son had become and sad for all that he had endured and continued to endure in this war.

The past few weeks had not been easy either. The Land of Fire was completely devastated by the Otsutsuki, majority of the population was dead or missing, there was large scale destruction of critical resources and there was acute food shortage. A phenomenon the residents of this nation had never thought possible. Already two minor rebellions from the civilians had to be forcefully put down as the people blamed the only one they could for their misery.

Their King.

The King who lost his kingdom.

Tajima felt his blood boil everytime he heard people whispering such things about his son every now and then. The ninjas and fighting men understood just how difficult it was to defeat the Otsutsuki, but the civilians were another matter. They had never faced so much hardship and pain before, it had gotten to the point that many even believed that being ruled by the Daimyo was far better than letting Naruto be their leader.

Yet despite all this scorn and mayhem, never once had Tajima seen his son waver in any manner.

The boy had tried his best to maintain the peace among humanity while doing all he could to stem its suffering. But the scale of destruction and misery that the Otsutsuki had left behind was too large for any man to eradicate alone. Even so, Naruto had continued pushing forward while also preparing his 245 men for the final assault on the Land of Water.

Tajima looked at the nine people currently standing around his son, warriors who had proven their worth on the battlefield and had chosen to follow their king into hell itself. The Uchiha leader was not surprised to find Shisui, Itachi and Mikoto be present because for as long as he could remember these kids had always been by his son's side. He still remembered the moment when Itachi returned to join the rest of the army alongside the queen. The boy had been saddened when he learned how Kagami and Takeshi's death in battle but had wordlessly joined Naruto when told of his plan to assault the Land of Water.

Kakashi Hatake and Danzo Shimura were sons of loyal Uchiha bannermen so it was no wonder they too followed after their King. The two boys were good fighters but more importantly they could lead men into battle.

The Uzumaki siblings, Mito and Nagato were also given leadership roles with Tajima having the feeling that they were going to play a crucial part in Naruto's plan.

Last two members were Hanzo and Mifune, the most experienced warriors among the entire force that was going to invade the Land of Water.

"We put up the decoys here, here and here. Armed units acting as a fog screen to make the enemy focused on the coastal front" directed Naruto, as he placed his finger on some of the key areas serving as landing zones of the Land of Water.

"A sound strategy but one bound to be discovered sooner or later. Even if we make the decoys engage the enemy in full force, they will get wiped out easily. Then the ruse will be up, my king" advised Hanzo, earning a nod of consent from Mifune as well.

"And then the enemy will know we're there..." deduced Itachi,

"We'll be ambushed by their entire remaining army" added Mikoto grimly,

"If that happens then even with our elite force and the Kyuubi will be at an added disadvantage. The enemy will have numbers, the knowledge of the terrain. Combine that with the power of their queen..." realized Kakashi, some hesitation already creeping into the young boy's voice as he looked at his one eyed king.

"It is a suicide mission. As the last elite warriors of humanity, we must be willing to take all risks including the sacrifice of our lives for the future of our race" emphasized Danzo fiercely, his dark eyes demanding the same level of conviction from the older warriors in the room.

Tajima didn't miss the tiny smirk that graced Naruto's lips as he stared at the son of Tobi Shimura. That particular clan had always been Uchiha loyalists and were one of the most fiercest group of warriors. And while they were yet to produce shinobi of the same caliber of the Uchiha and Senju, their fighters had a sense of determination and purpose greater than either clan.

Madara had recognized the same talent when he recruited Danzo in his personal guard and the Hokage's youngest brother also saw the talent which Danzo Shimura had.

"But still..." said Mito hesitantly, but was cut off when Naruto stepped forward and laid a hand on Danzo's shoulder.

"Well said, Danzo. It is exactly as you believe which it is why I appoint you in charge of the Defense Unit that shall protect the Special Operations Team" said Naruto proudly, as he placed a piece across the map surrounding a structure that Tajima couldn't decipher.

Whatever it was, it could be significant to the success of this entire mission as Danzo visibly paled on realizing the responsibility being laid on him.

"My King...I...am...not...worthy...of...this...honor...I'm...not...the...strongest...man...for...this...task" said Danzo nervously, earning a faint smile from the monarch.

"No, you're not. But you are the most determined and fiercest ninja in this room, and I can see the desire to win in your eyes. While most of us in this room are worried about the odds, the countermeasures and whatnot, you are only focused to achieve victory at all costs. I respect that conviction and it is why I believe that you can do this task. However, the question here is not that you're worthy or otherwise...but will you do it?" asked Naruto calmly,

Tajima saw the young Danzo glance at the map for a few brief moments before looking back at the king with an unwavering sense of conviction and fierceness.

"I will defend the Special Operations Team until my dying breath and even after that" promised Danzo,

As Naruto smiled and gave a proud nod to Danzo, there was another person that caught Tajima's eye. The said boy had clenched his fists so tightly and there was great turmoil visible in his eyes. But soon enough, he too stepped forward and knelt before the king.

"I request you to assign me the command of the Decoy army. I will buy as much time as I can for all of you by keeping the enemy engaged" requested Kakashi,

"Kakashi, do you know what you're asking for? You're the only son that your father has left. With the Hatake clan all but wiped out, it is imperative that you come back from this mission alive at all costs" advised Naruto patiently, and saw a faint guilt visible in the young boy's eyes.

"My brother Ken vowed to defend Madara-sama and our nation at all costs. When the time came, he sacrificed himself without hesitation. I couldn't even move back then but he acted and died for what he believed in. For Honor, I never truly understood my clan's motto but I think I understand it now. It is why I must do this...more than that I am the only one who can do it. The strongest in this room must help the king eliminate the Otsutsuki queen" explained Kakashi sincerely,

Tajima watched the slight tension that came on Naruto's face as he looked at Kakashi and then at the ships stationed near the coasts of the enemy nation. That entire coast was full of enemy figures and Tajima's years of experience made him realize what leading the Decoy Army meant.

Sakumo was badly injured, and his eldest son Ken had died protecting Madara in their first encounter with the Otsutsuki. The Hatake clan was all but wiped out save for a handful members including Kakashi's sister, Kiara. Entrusting Kakashi with this responsibility could only lead to one outcome for the boy and Naruto knew it.

So did Kakashi if the conviction mixed with resignation that was clearly visible in those eyes.

"It's a true shame when the young ones of today try to overestimate themselves. Boy, it will take real skill and experience to keep the enemy focused with the Decoy Army for long. While you have guts, you are not fit for this task. Stay by the king's side and protect him at all costs. I will lead the Decoy Army" declared Mifune calmly,

"But-" argued Kakashi, however he was forced to stay silent when Naruto raised his hand.

"Kakashi, you shall help Danzo in protecting the Special Operations Team. Mifune, you shall lead the Decoy Army. That is my final decision" concluded Naruto,

Danzo placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder and took him backwards as the king gave a firm but thankful nod to the veteran Samurai commander. Tajima didn't miss the gratitude in his son's eyes for Mifune which only earned a short nod from the older leader.

"Nagato and Mito shall lead the Special Operations Team. I entrust the success of this plan to the Uzumaki clan" said Naruto seriously,

"We will do all that we can, however time will be of great essence if we are to succeed" cautioned Nagato,

"I agree" said Mito, earning a grim nod from the king.

"Noted. Hanzo, you shall command the majority of our forces and lead the Vanguard. Engage and eliminate any additional forces that Hinata Otsutsuki might have at her disposal. While I, Shisui, Itachi, Mikoto alongside the Kyuubi will go ahead to eliminate the Otsutsuki leader and her top officers." commanded Naruto in his composed but firm tone,

The chorus of affirmative but grim nods received by the king was more than enough to portray how tense the situation was.

"You can come in now, Father"

Tajima blinked and saw his one eyed son now staring at him with a faint but amused smile. The rest of the group offered short bows to the two Uchiha's before making quick exits. As Tajima stepped inside, he saw the dark shadows beneath his son's eye. His skin was becoming more and more pale courtesy of his lack of sleep.

"How are the preparations going?" asked Tajima silently,

"As well as they could be. It's only thanks to the information I managed to glean out of the one Otsutsuki prisoner I freed that we even have an idea about their homeland" answered Naruto hesitantly,

"Don't underwrite yourself, Naruto. What you did with Kakashi was a sound choice, the Hatake clan is on the verge of extinction. As their overlords, the Uchiha will forever bear shame if they go extinct. More than enough clans are already gone" lamented Tajima,

He stopped when a firm hand was placed on his shoulder and was even more surprised when he saw a melancholic smile on his son's face.

"Don't dwell on it, Father. You'll regret it" advised Naruto calmly,

"But-" protested Tajima weakly, but was silenced when Naruto looked at him with a smile Tajima had long thought lost.

"If you regret it, then it will consume you. Take it from someone who has lived a life full of regrets...I couldn't save my mother, my brothers, my beloved aunt, my friends, my kingdom or my people. If I look at my failures then all that is left for me is eternal darkness, yet all I can do is move forward as best as I can. I don't know if my choices are right or wrong nor can I change the past, all I can do...all anyone can do is just...Fight till their dying breath" explained Naruto patiently,

"How...can...you...after...all...that...has...happened?" asked Tajima hesitantly,

"It's because I made a promise to Izuna" confessed Naruto, a far away look ever present in his lone eye.

"Izuna?" questioned Tajima,

"Be...happy...little...brother. Those were my brother's last words, his last wish. I owe it to him, to give it my all to be happy so that his death does not go in vain. All my life no matter what pain came in my way, I never gave up not because I didn't want to. There were so many times when I thought death would be better, but even dead...Izuna gave me the strength to face life head on even till this day. I will never give up so that one day I can achieve that happiness for which my brother gave his life"

A small smile came on Tajima's face as he saw shadows of his three dead sons standing around his youngest son.

"Humanity is not finished yet, Father. As long as even one of our people keeps on fighting...the war will never be lost. Nobody knows what the future holds yet I ask you to believe in me one more time and I will save our people. I promise" said Naruto confidently,

Tajima nodded without hesitation and watched as Naruto went into the other corner of the tent. The Uchiha patriarch bit his lip as he wondered whether to tell his son about the fate of Shizuka and the two unborn children. This issue had troubled Tajima for weeks as the small band of survivors whom had fled to the Uchiha's secret island had cut off all communications with the outside world. It might also be possible that they all perished on sea or were discovered and murdered by the enemy.

Naruto had already made his peace with the fact that his unborn children from the priestess were dead, he never talked about them but the pain was easily visible in his eyes.

"Should I really give him hope only to snatch it away later on? I don't know which is more crueler, keeping the fact that his children could be alive or tell him the truth only to discover they have perished?" thought Tajima worriedly,

Tajima couldn't help but feel trapped and guilty which was why he approached his son once more even as the young king was busy sharpening his ancestral sword.

"Naruto...there is something I need to ask you. It's a bit...personal" stated Tajima hesitantly,

Naruto didn't miss the nervousness on Tajima's face and couldn't help but feel a little wary as this was far from the normal behavior of his father who was always stern and composed.

"Tell me" encouraged the young monarch,

"You never told me about...the priestess"

Tajima cringed when for a moment those words hit his son like a lightning bolt eliciting an extremely pained look which was soon replaced by barely concealed remorse.

"Madara told you?" asked Naruto quietly,

"No"

The king blinked and looked up at his father in surprise. There were only a handful people who knew about Shizuka and the unborn royal children she was carrying in her belly.

"You know something and I would like to be briefed right now" stated Naruto tersely,

Tajima flinched again on the commanding tone but it was the intense gaze of that lone eye that made the Uchiha patriarch hesitate. But in the end, he had to take a decision and face the consequences that followed.

"It all happened..."

Naruto listened without blinking as Tajima revealed the fact that how the Uchiha men that Madara had placed around the holy temple laid down their lives and managed to evacuate Priestess Shizuka to Castle Tsukiyomi. He went on to even reveal the fact that Shizuka alongwith hundreds of refugees were further evacuated to the Uchiha's secret island.

Tajima didn't hide anything and even confessed that he had kept this fact from Naruto because they had not received any communication from the survivors on that island and he didn't want to give Naruto any false hope.

"I'm sorry to have kept this secret from you, Naruto. I...just..." confessed Tajima hesitantly, unable to meet his son's eyes.

"Thank you, Father"

Tajima blinked in surprise and looked up to see a lone tear fall from Naruto's eye, yet there was a relieved smile present on the king's face.

"Naruto..."

Tajima was even further surprised when Naruto gave him a firm hug, one which the father returned as he wrapped his arms around his youngest child.

"You saved them despite knowing their very existence can destroy our clan and this fragile kingdom. The old you would not have understood what they are to me...but you have changed, Father" said Naruto happily, earning a tiny smack on the head in return.

"Of course I did, baka. They're my grandchildren! Besides, this war has taught me a lot, but most of all watching your journey through life has changed me. I cannot change the past which is why I will do everything in my power to protect my family. As long as I and Madara live, nobody will harm those children. I promise" answered Tajima,

Naruto gently broke the hug and Tajima was glad to see an happy smile on his child's face.

"I know. To be honest, Tsunade will also slowly come around to this reality and with Hashirama's help we might be able to make the Senjus accept the same" suggested Naruto,

"They better because we're not giving up on my grandchildren-" warned Tajima seriously,

"Naori and Hikari''

Naruto smiled as Tajima took a step back on hearing those words. It took the older man a moment to understand and even longer to open his lips to speak but no words came out. However, the swarm of tears that came in his eyes and his trembling hands said all that was in his heart.

"Naruto, you-" whispered Tajima in a choked voice,

"If they are girls, we will name them after Hikari who gave me life and Naori who gave me the strength to live life. And if they are boys and since they'll only be two of them, then we will name then Izuna and Inashiro (Inabi and Yashiro) who were my beloved brothers. That is my choice" said Naruto with a smile,

Tajima was left speechless even as tears continued to fall from his eyes, and all he could do was bow before this child and his unwavering spirit.

"Yes, my king" promised Tajima humbly,

Naruto smiled as he placed Dawn at his hip and started walking towards the outside where a world full of challenges and threats awaited him. And yet, his smile never wavered.

"Leave the future to me, Father"