The lost soul..

Hiashi stood in his study, shifting through the blueprints of the Hokage tower, to see if he could find some kind of weak point or perhaps some passage way he could use to sneak in. He snarled angrily when he came up with nothing. The tower was built as a virtual all or nothing last stand fortress. From both the outside and in it seemed as if it was nothing more than an administrative building but it hid a myriad of trap doors and booby traps, along with a virtual honeycomb of secret doors within the building itself. They all linked up to the main office, but there was no passage that could get him INTO the tower, lest it be from the front door.

He sighed tiredly and rubbed his head. It was then one of the Main house members that had been placed as his personal guard barreled into the door "Hiashi-sama!" He said bowing. "One of the Inuzuka scouts reported that a battle is currently taking place at the outskirts of Danzo's ROOT Anbu base."

Hiashi paused. If the Demon was moving against Danzo then he could ambush his troops when the battle was over and they were still tired.

He let a slow smirk cross his lips and was about to issue the order to organize the men when a faint yell reached his ears followed by several large crashes. There was silence after that for a second then three huge explosions shook the compound. "What the devil…" He ran out of his study.

He made his way down the hall and towards a second story window that overlooked the courtyard. What he saw made fear grip his heart.

The entire east side of the courtyard was demolished and the great pristine walls that had previously surrounded the area were now nothing but rubble. Four giant snakes, each differentiating slightly in color rampaged through the area, slamming, biting and thrashing against the chuunin that emerged from their tents.

Before he could do much, another series of explosions rocked the west wing of the compound. He rushed over immediately.

When he arrived he was not greeted by snakes this time, but by flames.

Fire, seemed to blanket the entire floor, the orange, reddish light casting the area in a hellish crimson.

And in the center Hiashi saw him, his single red robe like hood, shading his face and eyes from view, his metallic mask glinting in the firelight.

Two blades, baptized in scarlet liquid seemed to move as if they were made of it, the flowing, graceful, yet brutal movements, somehow managed to contrast yet blend, with the inferno around them.

Naruto moved like a machine, leaning back to avoid a volley of shuriken he turned to the attacker, whom was already in the air, leaping as if to stab him in the junction between his neck and shoulder. His toes curled inside of his boot, before his leg moved as if a blur, kicking the ninja solidly, between his chest and his stomach pushing the wind clear out of him. He fell to the grassy floor, rolling once to escape the flames that even now still spread. The man was clutching his chest in pain, hacking and wheezing in an attempt to get air back in his lungs.

He turned to face his next attacker, ducking under a spin kick before delivering a harsh backhand to the ninja's face with his right hand, followed by a slice across his chest with the sword in his left.

The ninja fell over with a dull thud.

The blond haired jinchuriki faintly heard the sound of footsteps to his right over the roar of the flames and the screaming of the injured. He saw a dozen or so enemies to his side, forming handseals for different jutsu.

He sheathed his two blades and formed his own set of handseals.

"Katon: Sukkoku" He yelled, as flames came from his mouthpiece and spread across the ground like a wave. Before the flames reached them however he formed another set of seals. "Futon: Atsugai" He yelled extending an open palm. A massive gust of wind combined with the flames.

The fire spread, high, being carried into his attackers by the wind.

Those that knew any form of water jutsu used it, but were left frozen in fearful awe as the flames continued their path unhindered.

He heard their screams as the fire scorched them, many were thrown into a wild panic yelling as they ran around flailing their arms about until they finally fell to the floor and ceased moving.

He ducked in time to avoid a fire jutsu aimed for his upper body, he turned on his heel and saw more chuunin, jounin, Inuzuka, Aburame and Hyuuga beginning to form up as the confusion of his attack was beginning to clear.

He narrowed his eyes before raking out one sword and rushing them.

The first ninja was to his right, he quickly avoided the swipe he attempted, ducking under the blow, cutting him across the stomach.

He moved on to the next one, two quick slices, one to the left hip, slicing the artery another slicing off the mans left arm.

He spun then, moving around the man in order to attack the one that was running up behind him. Surprised by the unexpected movement he couldn't put up any form of defense, as Naruto delivered a vicious hit to his stomach with his left forearm, while at the same time delivering a harsh kick to the mans shin, making him flip forward, Naruto's arm being used as a pivot point. He screamed as he fell until finally, his head hit the floor, his neck bending back until it gave an audible crack.

Naruto moved again, this time extending his arm forward, catching a Hyuuga that had been approaching him with a clothesline, his forearm smashing into the man's throat. He then used that same arm to grab a kunai from his pouch as he fell.

He threw the projectile which hit another ninja that was making his way to the compound to call for back up, while using his sword to stab the Hyuuga on the floor.

He pivoted on his heel again, catching another charging ninja by the throat before tossing him to another approaching group knocking them all back as they tried to catch their comrade.

He turned again, ducking under a very inexperienced chuunin that had tried to leap onto him from a slightly elevated boulder. He took out a kunai and tossed it, catching the man between the eyes as he rolled and tried to recover his feet from the miss.

The man fell to the floor.

He rounded, delivering a brutal, sharp side kick to another mans face, hearing a satisfying crunch as he fell on his back.

Next, he delivered a quick, upwards slice to a foolish Hyuuga that had tried to take him head on with the sixty-four palms technique cutting diagonally from his left hip to his right shoulder. He pivoted again this time delivering a kick, catching again another ninja in the face, making him fall on his back.

When Naruto brought his foot down he brought it down on the mans throat, crushing his wind pipe with brutal ease.

He turned to face the group he had knocked over when he threw the ninja at them and unsheathed his other blade in seconds, one blade lit aflame and the other glowed faintly with tiny, unseen wind blades passing over it. 'Katon: Daitopa Shoha!" (Fire release: Great Breakthrough Shockwave)

Inside the Hyuuga compound it was complete pandemonium, no one knew where the enemy was, or how many there were, or who they had to attack, they were prepared to fight a group, not just one man, hence the confusion.

Hiashi tried to establish order amongst his remaining ninja, while Inoichi, Chouza, Shikato and Tsume gathered the all the gennin and civilians they could find.

The gennin, for their part were completely confused and terrified. All around them they could hear crashes, explosions, they could smell smoke and feel the heat of the fire on their skin. The screams of pain, the moans of the dying, the fear in the eyes of the ninja, it was utterly terrifying.

Tsume, for her part didn't know what to do with the children, or the civilians, They hadn't had the time to form a proper escape plan for the gennin or the civilians. This attack was much sooner than anticipated, they still needed at least a day or two more to have absolutely everything ready.

Still, that wasn't a luxury in any battle. She cursed, and grabbed her daughter's arm as she moved to rush past her.

"Mom what…" Hana began but was cut off as Tsume spoke over her. "Hana, take your brother and the gennin and head to…" She paused…where could they go? The forest was too dangerous, Danzo may be patrolling them, or any other foreign nation that had caught wind of this.

Grass and Ame wouldn't give asylum to anyone from Konoha since they were very close to Iwa. Iwa itself wold likely kill any leaf nin in its borders on sight as would Kumo, Kiri in its civil war would turn them away. So that only left their former ally of Suna…she bit her lip. Somehow she knew she had to get the civilians and children away from here, something told her that no one that stayed here would survive the night.

She had to get them away from this place!

She weighed the options and realized that Suna was really the only one available. Even if they survived this night, they would still have to leave. The village would be too weak military wise to continue defending itself.

"Head to Suna." She said resignedly.

Hana gaped at her mom. She was about to protest when Tsume looked at her dead on the eye and spoke. "Don't question me just do it!"

Inoichi who had heard the woman's yell, rushed up to the Inuzuka women and spoke. "What's going on?"

Hana looked to the blond man. "She's ordering me to take the gennin and civilians to Suna."

Inoichi stiffened and was about to speak up when another voice broke through the chaos. "Do as she says."

The three snapped their heads in the direction, catching sight of the scarred visage of one Nara Shikato as the man ran up to them. Inoichi was again about to protest when the man began speaking in his lazy, logical tone. "Inoichi listen, even though Suna did attack us, its common knowledge now that Orochimaru was impersonating their Kazekage, right now Suna is leaderless and I highly doubt they would risk retaliation from Konoha, even a weakened one should they harm our refugees. And do you really want Ino here for this?"

The blond man stiffened and turned to look down the hallway as a medic dragged in a bloodied corpse and another individual crashed through a wall, which was followed shortly after by a loud, screeching hiss of one of the snakes.

He turned just as Chouza limped through the door. He was panting and he had a nasty gash across his forehead. He looked up at them. "We managed to deal with the snakes over here!" He said dazedly.

Inoichi's lips thinned before he turned to the thickening group of civilians and gennin, he spotted his wife, holding Ino, in a hug, as if trying to shield her from the madness.

He walked over to them and knelt, Shikato and Chouza, taking this as their own cue to say goodbye to their own families.

Inoichi gently pried his wife away from Ino, the girl immediately latched onto his neck and began crying into his shoulder. He gently rubbed the back of her head and began making soothing sounds to calm her. 'Shhh, shhh, princess. Its alright." He cooed.

Chouza knelt in-front of his visibly confused son and placed his firm hands over his shoulder. "Chouji…I need you to listen very carefully…you listening." He said smiling softly, hiding his worry. Somehow, he just knew, that this day marked his death but he couldn't bring himself to say goodbye. He took out a rather large scroll from his pouch and handed it to his son. "I need you to keep this safe for me okay?" He said handing it to the boy who was still trying to grasp the situation.

He smiled, looking down at his son. "I cant fight with that big scroll on my back, so I need you to keep it safe okay. It has all of our clan Jutsu so you take good care of it got it?" He then winked in a mischievous kind of way. "Tell ya what, if you do a good job, you might even be able to learn a few of those."

Chouji spoke up now. "But…but…why don't you come with us?" Tears began to pool over his eyes, trailing down his painted cheeks. And Chouza felt a pang in his chest but smiled anyway. "Hey now." He admonished slightly. "What kinda friend would I be if I left your uncles Inoichi and Shikato here to fight by themselves."

"But…" He began to protest before Chouza cut him off again. He couldn't hear his sons protests for he knew he might just give in.

He leaned in and whispered in his ear conspiratorially. "The real reason is that those two are so clumsy they might just let one of the bad guys get past them and chase after you guys. But with me here, they'll never be able to go after you." He said smiling. Still seeing Chouji's tearful face he added. "Don't worry, once we're done I'll be right behind you." He couldn't recall having ever lied to his son before.

"You promise?" The chubby boy spoke sniffling.

Chouza nodded."I promise son." It was surprisingly easy here. He reached forward and hugged his boy fiercely, knowing somewhere that it would be the last time he would do it. He stood, hiding his tears. "Now you make sure you stay with Ino and Shikamaru, keep them safe to eh." He said, smiling a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Chouji nodded and strapped the scroll to his back.

Chouza ruffled the boys hair..

Shikato looked at his son, who averted his gaze down to the floor. He sighed and rubbed his head. "I won't sugar coat it, you've probably figured out what this is anyway." He had once prided himself on his sons smarts, but now he was cursing it to the seventh hell.

Shikamaru nodded biting his lip to keep from crying he choked out. "The rear guard."

Shikato nodded, taking out a scroll, handing it to him. "This has all of our Jutsu, learn them well." He said before pulling his son into a hug. "I love you son."

Shikamaru, slowly wrapped his arms around the man's waist and stifled his sobs against wife, Yoshino looked on, crying silently, she knew that this had always been a risk when she married him…but expecting something and actually seeing it were two different things.

"You take care of your mother…alright Shikamaru." It was an order, not a question. The youth nodded brokenly into his stomach.

Shikato sighed and looked to the ceiling, blinking back his own tears.

Such…is the troublesome life of a Shinobi.

Tsume hugged her daughter and pulled away with a somber expression, Hana stared at her mother, pushing down her tears. She too, realized what this was. "You take care of your brother." Tsume said.

Hana nodded, wishing in the back of her mind that this wasn't happening, that it was all just a bad dream. Tsume looked to Kiba, who was pulling in more civilians from the east courtyard. "He's too young to understand." She said somberly.

"Princess…" Inoichi said slowly prying her off, meeting her puffy red eyes. "Princess listen to me, I need you to go with your mother, Shikamaru and Chouji."

She began to shake her head, her blond hair flailing around wildly. "No…I want to stay with you daddy…" She sobbed more, her arms tightening almost painfully around him. Again he pried her off, slipping his clan scroll into her pouch this time since he knew that in this hysterical state she wouldn't take it.

He took a breath to say more but just as he did, the wall down the hall exploded in a cloud of dust and fire. He pushed Ino into her mother, who wrapped her arms around the girl holding her as she screamed for her father. He placed a kiss on her head before pulling away.

"GO! GO NOW!" He heard Tsume yell to her daughter who began hastily leading the civilians and gennin out through the east courtyard.

"NO! NO! DADDY!" He heard Ino yell as Shikamaru and Sakura dragged her away. His fists clenched in effort not to run after her and hug her again.

He finally turned and faced their attacker.

Clad in crimson and black, he stood in the center of the burning debris, wisps of red chakra lashing out at everything around him, ruby red eyes that glowed darkly beneath his hood. In one hand, a bloodied scimitar, in the other, the battered and bloody form of Sarutobi Asuma.

With a casual flick he tossed the elite Jounin aside, his head hitting the wall with a crunch wether it was from the wood, or from his skull, none knew.

Naruto's red eyes stared past the three dozen or so ninja between him, and his prime targets. Inuzuka Tsume, Akimichi Chouza, Nara Shikato, Yamanaka Inoichi and Hyuuga Hiashi.

He stepped forward, immediately backhanding one ninja that approachedsending him into the wall, followed by an upwards slice to a second ninja and a spin kick into another man that sent him flying down the hall and crashing into another of his allies.

He grabbed another ninja by the wrist and spun around, swinging him like a bat, with his flailing legs he kicked two others and slammed into another until he finally crashed out one of the windows. He latched onto the throat of another ninja and with a quick snap, broke his neck.

Hihashi watched the bloody display and snarled as his men backed away in terror. "Cowards, twenty men run from just one?"

An Anbu, one of the few that had joined his faction looked to him and spoke plainly. "The narrow hallway nullifies our numbers, and no one wants to face those blades.."

More were cut down, dozens more. Until finally, the blond's path of death ended as he stood before the five clan heads. The five individuals that stood before him and his ambition.