Chapter 32

Pacing around the small metallic bunker, Ino stared at the ferocious looking pink haired woman standing in front of her objective. A bit of a smile gracing her unseen lips. She would make this fun on so many levels within the time limit she was given. Rolling her neck with a feminine sigh, she suddenly threw a kunai her way and rushed in behind it.

Sakura knocked it out of the way with her own kunai and leaned back a bit to avoid the sword slash. Immediately she had to parry the next slash as well before it took her head off. Caught in a deadlock, she looked into the dark eye holes of the woman's mask but saw nothing back darkness.

Ino released her sword, allowing it to drop to the side of the bunker and immediately went for a punch to her face. Before it connected, Sakura knocked it out the way and tried to slash at her with her kunai. Ino brought her knee up and hit the inside of Sakura's elbow, blocking her slash. Landing, she caught the fist that Sakura threw to counter.

Sakura tried to slash again, but Ino used her elbow to block it again. Before she could counter, the masked assailant delivered three very quick and sharp strikes to her abdomen. She coughed up spittle and couldn't avoid the kick that smashed into the side of her face sending her to the side of the bunker.

Ino strolled over to her and stood over her with a dominant aura, watching her try to scramble back to her feet. "You're not as strong as they say you are, huh?" she asked her in a mocking way. Sakura made it back to her feet and threw a few punches that were all blocked with ease.

Ino caught her last hit and twisted her arm. Before she could break it, Sakura flipped over her and kicked her in the back, sending her into the wall. Before she could turn around, Sakura had her pinned. "What do you want!" she demanded, feeling as though she had the upper hand. She pushed her forearm up against the back of her neck.

Ino only giggled at her laughable attempt of a threat. She pushed off of the wall just enough to slip underneath Sakura's hold. She rolled away, delivering a sharp kick to her knee. Sakura yelped in pain and limped back towards the carriage to protect Sumire. She began healing the injured knee while keeping a sharp eye on the masked woman. Ino watched her silently.

"Who are you…" Sakura asked again in desperation. There was a very disturbing feeling she got from fighting this woman. She couldn't describe it. It was familiar in a sense, as if she knew her. The hair gave her a thought that she just wouldn't even dare consider.

Ino giggled, knowing for a fact Sakura had a feeling it was her anyways. She brought her hand up and covered the mouth of her mask. Gripping it gently, she slowly pushed up on it, revealing the face Sakura was praying she'd see again one day. Not anymore.

"Ino!" she yelled in shock.

Ino giggled and placed her hands on her hips with a very twisted closed eyes smile on her face. "Hey!" she said cheeringly.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Sakura yelled. She couldn't understand.

Ino, as casual as ever, gave her an answer. "Well, I'm here to get your child. Duh."

Sakura's eyes squinted threateningly. "Why…"

Ino tilted her head to the side and gave her a condescending smile. "Well, because my honey needs her for a… special project." She said with a nod. Sakura's face scrunched up in confusion. Ino understood the unasked question and answered before she could speak. "Oh, you don't need to know his name. Just know he's a brilliant man and he's just here to help."

Sakura stepped back closer to Sumire raising her fists defensively. "I don't care who it is, you're not taking her."

Ino raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh come on billboard brow. You know you're no longer a match." She mocked. "Especially not in this conveniently tight space we're in. What are you good for other than destructive punches? You really want to risk tearing this bunker up and endangering your own child?"

Sakura's head and guard slowly lowered at the mental bombardment of words. She had neglected her training for the sake of motherhood. Over a year of no combat has dulled her skill immensely. Now she wasn't even able to properly protect her own daughter. Raising her guard with a fire in her eyes, she readied herself for a battle to the death. Because, that was where she was willing to take this.

Ino watched her ready herself once again. Figuring she couldn't keep this going on for too much longer, she raised her fists as well. Before she left, she had to prove the point that she was far stronger than she was. She had been on the raw end of the deal with this woman for far too long. Sakura got the training at one point and she blew it with her lack of focus. Love can make you weak, but it could also make you strong. Ino was about to show her what the latter looked like.

Sakura rushed forward and threw a wild haymaker at the blond. Ino ducked the strike and jabbed her twice below her bicep. Sakura ignored the little hits and swung her other arm. Ino rolled out of the way and rushed her again. Jumping up, she used her left knee to block her blind right hook and drove her right one threw her chin.

Sakura tumbled to the ground face first. Ino waited for her to get back to her feet. When she did she rushed the blonde again with no hesitation and a fire in her eyes that had to be felt.

Flipping back, Naruto avoided the Rasengan that destroyed the spot he was previously standing at. He landed in a crouch on the side of a building, staring down at Menma who shot towards him with rage in his eyes. Naruto waited for him to reach him before cutting the chakra to his feet and falling towards him. Menma skidded to a halt, seeing Naruto shoot towards him like a bullet. He leaned back, causing the red head to fly past him.

Turning around, he leapt from the side of the building avoiding the ball of flames that destroyed the entire wall. While in the air, he noticed another one heading his way, throwing his kunai through the flames, he teleported to it and had to pull his head back before Naruto's knee caught his chin. In his outstretched position, he couldn't avoid the heel coming down towards his face. It smashed into his face, sending him shooting head first into the ground below.

Kicking up off the ground, Menma turned and was met with a soaring Naruto who smashed brutally into the side of his body, kicking him into the shop behind him. Naruto rushed in and grabbed a chunk of debris that was falling from the top of the wall. He threw it at the blonde Kage who was trying to pull himself out of the rubble he was thrusted into. Menma dodged it and rolled away before Naruto's heel struck his chest.

Before Naruto could correct his footing, Menma tackled him into the table behind him. Hitting his back on the edge, he caught his balance and flipped Menma over him. Jumping up, he drop kicked the table back to Menma who had just landed. The table smashed into his body, briefly pinning him to the wall. Naruto ran up right behind and kicked both the table and Menma through wall and back onto the street. Naruto jumped out and avoided the paper bombed kunai that shot into the shop. He rolled forward, avoiding the flying debris from behind him.

Rolling back to his feet, he quickly hit his back again, before Menma's knee connected with his masked face. He kicked himself up and jumped the follow up leg sweep. Menma took advantage of his suspended form and hit him in the side, sending him tumbling towards the ground. Naruto rolled out of his tumble and continued running up the side of the building with Menma chasing him. Before he reached the top, he stuck his hand out, catching the wrist of a sword wielding shinobi who tried to catch him off guard. He pulled the guy from the top of the roof and jumped away. While in the air, he kneed him in the face causing him to release his grip on his sword.

Before they hit the ground, Naruto had already decapitated him and kicked the head at the still chasing Menma. Menma dodged the disturbing projectile and continued with a rage in his eyes. He pulled two of his kunai on the way and threw one at his opponent. Naruto threw his own kunai stopping it between the two as he rushed forward as well. Before Menma made it to him, he was tripped up by a hand popping out of the ground.

He rolled until he was on his back. He quickly pushed his feet up, kicking the wrists of Naruto who was falling towards him with the sword ready to execute him. He brought his leg back and delivered a strike to his knee, dropping him down. He quickly disarmed him and pulled one of his arms down over his shoulder while he wrapped his legs around his neck, putting him in a triangle hold. He pulled as hard as he could, trying to black him out, but Naruto picked him up and slammed him on the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.

Menma's grip loosened just enough for Naruto to free himself. When he did, he picked him up by the collar of his cloak and swung him around until he let go, throwing his limp body into the side of the building behind him. Menma stood up painfully, wiping the blood that dripped from his mouth. Naruto just stood in his spot menacingly, staring at the downed form of his little brother.

Menma stood to his feet and rushed again, Naruto waited for him to reach him and when he did, he delivered a brutal kick to his chest, stopping his charge. Menma staggered back in pain for a second before he was kneed in the face, audibly cracking his nose. With no time to recover, he flipped away and landed on the side of a building, clutching his face in pain. Before he could react, another Naruto kicked the wall from within, sending him flying through the air. He set his eyes on landing on the building across the street, but before he could make it, he felt two hands clasp down on his ankles. Naruto began spinning violently through the air to pick up momentum. When at the peak of his speed, he released his grip, sending the blonde crashing painfully into the ground.

When Menma landed he flipped over and barrel rolled out the way before Naruto crushed his body as he landed in a crouch. Standing back to his feet, he rushed towards him and pulled two of his kunai. He threw them both to either side of the redhead and went through hand signs. The two blades became many and lodged into the ground around the waiting redhead.

Menma grew agitated at the seemingly undeterred manner of his older brother. He showed him absolutely no respect, even now given his position. Naruto stood stock still awaiting Menma's next move.

Menma rolled his shoulder out, staring at his masked brother intensely, planning out what he wanted to do. Throwing another kunai down next to his own feet, he disappeared. Suddenly the area around Naruto lit up in multiple flashes of yellow in an attempt to blind him. Naruto didn't even react. He just stood in the center of the field of kunai.

As if a practiced routine, he threw his hand up, blocking Menma's right hook with ease. Menma disappeared again and the blob of flashes continued. Naruto ducked, avoiding the kick to the back of his head before Menma continued. With a sigh, Naruto turned around and stuck his hand out, somehow grabbing the neck of his younger brother as he flashed to the kunai beneath his dangling feet.

"Ah, Otouto." He mocked from behind his mask. "It's like you don't even truly understand the jutsu." He said casually. "Maybe the Yellow flash himself can enlighten you a bit." He released his grip on his neck, letting him fall before he flashed away.

He landed on his butt at the kunai he placed away from the red head who didn't seem to be looking at him. Tracing his eyes, his father stood a few feet away staring at Naruto. "Tou-san! Get back!"

Minato looked over to him for a second before looking back towards Naruto. "Naruto…" The redhead remained unfazed staring off against two of the Hokage. "Why have you done this?" He remained silent. "What was your plan?"

Naruto scoffed. "Do I look like a guy with a plan?" he asked ominously.

Menma stood to his feet and positioned himself next to his father. The two of them stared over to the other male of their family with steely resolves. "We will not allow you to destroy the village." Menma called out with finality in his voice.

"…Destroy the village?" Naruto asked casually. "Is that what you believe I was doing?" Menma and Minato sunk into their stances ready for anything. Naruto looked up to the sky and saw something that seemed to catch his eye. "Well, in any case. I'm done here." He turned around and began walking away.

Menma stepped up in haste. "Wait! After all of this, you think we're gonna let you walk away!?" he yelled incredulously. Naruto just continued walking as if he couldn't hear him. "Hey!"

"Try and impede my gracious retreat and I can promise more damage will befall the village." He called out over his shoulder. "Risk it if you wish."

Menma readied his kunai before Minato grabbed onto his elbow. Menma turned to him in question. Minato just shook his head sadly. "We can't beat him here… it'll cause too much damage." Menma clinched his teeth and stared at Naruto's retreating form. "I don't like how easily he's giving up… Go check on Sakura." Menma's eyes shot open and he focused his chakra. He couldn't sense her seal, before he could voice his concern, Minato calmed him. "The bunker blocks the signal of the Hiraishin, to avoid all detection." Menma nodded and took off.

Naruto, now on the back of Deidara's clay bird, did not care to wait and call out to the others down below on his way out. They just joined as he and Deidara passed low enough for them to jump on. Soon, everyone was onboard aside from Zabuza who had Kakashi's Raikiri pierced through his chest. Naruto spared him but a slight glance before ordering Deidara to continue on.

"Ha-haa!" Hidan chuckled, swinging his sickle around. "That was fucking amazing! I killed so many of those rat fuckers!"

Kisame chuckled. "Heh-heh. What's your count?" he asked him with his and Zabuza's sword slung across his shoulder.

"Too fuckin' many!" Hidan replied with a grin. "Where we going next O' Great Leader!?" he asked in excitement. Naruto stared over the side of the bird, looking through the trees until he spotted Ino.

"We're going to greet an… old friend." He said ominously.

Pakura looked at him in confusion. "What? Right now?" she asked. "You don't allow rest do you?" Deidara, Hidan, and Kisame chuckled at her as they continued on the way. Kakuzu didn't seem to care much and Naruto ignored it as well. They swooped down and scooped up Ino before shooting off away from the hidden leaf. By the time they realized the Hokage's daughter was gone, they'd be too far to catch.

(3 days later)

Menma sat in the chair next to his wife's hospital bed. He was staring at her bandaged form trying to think up their next move of action. Naruto attacked the village, tried to kill him, and has taken the most important thing in his life. Before, he had in his mind the thought of trying to speak with him and talk him out of whatever it was he was planning. Now, there was nothing but a will to kill him.

Never before would he have thought that he'd have a will to kill his own brother. It would have never crossed his mind, but now it wouldn't leave it. With the absence of their most loved family member, the whole family had made up their minds, even his mother. There was still a heaviness in his heart that was praying for another way, but when his own daughter was at stake, there was no other way.

No matter how sure he was in his own abilities, he knew for a fact he couldn't beat Naruto. That last battle told him as much. Maybe had he used the Kyubi he could've forced him to fight seriously, but for fear of losing control, he held back to his strongest technique which he just recently found out was useless against another user. Naruto could have ended him at any time, and it wasn't until the end of the battle did he realize that. It's like his intention was to humble him.

It would seem that this endeavor of ending this was not Konoha's own responsibility anymore. He received three letters in the past three days. From Kumo, Kiri, and Suna all describing their attack and the theft of their Kage's loved ones. Menma had no idea what Naruto could be planning, but he felt as though it was falling into place.

Maybe he was planning on inciting a war? It held all of the components of such a task, but that would be quite obvious for someone as intelligent as Naruto. Maybe it was the simplicity of the objective that made him want to do it? Possibly, but it was too risky to assume anything. All he knew was that every living shinobi connected to a village was calling for his head. Well, aside from Iwa as far as he knew.

A knock broke the silence and before he could even answer, two people marched into the room. "Is it true?" asked Mito with a very heated and desperate look in her eyes. Sasuke stood behind her, just as alert.

Menma sighed and stood to his feet. He walked towards the window and stared out at the destroyed village. "He took Sumire-chan…" he said, letting that ring in the air for a few seconds.

Mito held her own stomach as she looked down to Sakura who was still out cold. She couldn't even imagine… "Well, what the hell are we gonna do?" she asked him urgently.

Menma spun around. "We… are not going to do anything." He said firmly, drawing attention to 'we'.

"Why aren't you out there trying to find her!? Why haven't you just teleported to her!?" She began again, feeling her anger slowly rising.

Menma shook his head. "Naruto has tampered with her seal… we can't feel the pull." He said in disappointment. "We've tried everything…"

"So, what we just sit around and do nothing?" Mito asked, taking a seat next to Sakura and grabbing onto her cold hand. "What if he… what if he kills her?"

Menma's focus was on the white blanket, contemplating her words. "…he… he wouldn't do that…" he tried to tell himself.

"Menma…" Sasuke said, for the first time making his presence known. "Look around you… look at how many people he's killed... Are you still trying to defend that monster?"

"No, I'm uh… I'm just…" he couldn't find the words. "We'll find her…" he got out, staring out the window once again. His eyes staring out to the horizon. "We will…"

All three of them were alerted by the sound of very urgent footsteps charging down the hall. The door was flung open and the gate guard burst through. "Hokage-sama! We've received another note!"

Menma walked over to him. "Is it Iwa?" he asked, the man looked down at the note and shook his head. Menma took it from his hands and a look of shock and hope lit his face all tied together with an underlining of worry.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked, walking towards him. Menma turned around, reading the message a few times over before reading it aloud.

(NOTE)

Dear Hokage,

It is to my greatest pleasure that I offer you this invitation to an event that may allow you to retrieve a certain prize I have taken from your village. Since it is a prize, you must follow the rules of the game I have set up down to the tee. Any ulterior actions will be taken as an immediate forfeit and your prize is eliminated. The rules of this game are simple:

-You must meet me at the location marked on the back of this scroll in three days.

-Bring with you nothing but yourself, any Kage of your village still living, your strongest Jonin, and one other individual of your choice. (optional)

-Arm yourself for a battle

The rest of the instructions will be given in person among your arrival. I pray you head my warning and stick to the rules, my patience is far from what it used to be. No late entries will be accepted. Failure to comply with the rules, failure to attend, and failure to cooperate throughout with result in forfeit. Good day Otouto.