Author's Note: Yeah, I'm aware I have several PMs that I need to reply. I'll try to answer them as soon as possible.

In the meantime, enjoy the next chapter:

Chapter 108:

Lightning Clash

or

Father's Day Special

"Come on Akamaru, let's go! Human Beast Combination Transformation: Berserker Werewolf!"

"Let's do it Hina! Human Beast Combination Transformation: Cat Warrior!"

Kiba and Tamaki merged with their animal companions, and after a brief burst of smoke, their human forms were gone, replaced by their animal-like forms. Wasting no time, the two teens leaped forward, ready to rip the flying Zetsu to shreds.

"Hey Tamaki," Kiba said, as he teared the wings from a particularly unlucky Zetsu clone. "I bet I can kill more of these things than you do!"

The cat kunoichi wasn't somebody to leave such challenge unanswered, especially if it came from her long time rival. "Oh, you're on!"

The corpses of the White Zetsu clones started to pile around them as they fought with all their strength. Watching from above, Shino shook his head upon seeing how his teammates once again made light of a dire situation for the sake of one-upping the other. Then again, given their drive and the gusto they were slaying Zetsu clones with, maybe that was a good thing.

"Guess I can stop worrying about them, and focus on the enemy at hand," Shino thought. With a hand seal, he directed his remaining giant beetles to fight against the flying White Zetsu surrounding him. Several tried to attack him from multiple directions, but Shino already had a way to counter them. Spreading his arms, swarms of beetles emerged from under his sleeves, and started to fly around him and his giant beetle, almost like forming a protective barrier. "I'm sorry, but you won't be able to land a solid hit on me no matter where you attack me from."

Such boast proved to be his undoing, as something from below violently hit his giant beetle, causing it to lose balance and accidentally drop Shino to the ground. While the wasn't flying so high to worry about the fall harming him in any srious way, it still hurt.

"Ugh... I dropped my guard..." Shino chastised himself, as he adjusted his shades, while getting to his feet as quickly as he could. He was in a very vulnerable position. He scanned the battleground to see how had taken him down, and found his answer when he saw Kakuzu with his right arm raised, just as his right fist reattached itself to it. "You..."

"I grew to hate airborne targets. I also grew to hate the people that were involved in my death," Kakuzu said with an angry snarl, as his two reamining monstrosities landed besides him. "And guess what, you happened to be both."

Without having to ask for help, Shino's summoned beetle instantly dived from above towards Kakuzu. And without Kakuzu having to order them to do it, his remaining masked monsters released a torrent of water and a storm of lightning bolts, forcing the oversized coleopterous to change course and fly away in order to avoid the attacks.

"You know, I always felt that people who held grudges were fools, that let petty revenge get in the way of the truly important things in life, like wealth," Kakuzu began, as he started to advance towards Shino. "But given my current state, I think I'm going to indulge into revenge just this time. You'll be a good starting point. Then, the mutt and the cat girl. I shall present your decapitated heads to Kakashi, if he survives his enocunter with his father, that's it."

Shino took a step back, and made a hand seal. Kakuzu raised his arm again, and fired his hand at Shino.

"I know you're a ranged fighter, hence the first order of business is to bring you to hand to hand distance!" Kakuzu said.

"Thousand Bee Stings Jutsu!"

Suddenly, multiple razor sharp stings rained over Kakuzu, forcing the former Taki ninja to jump back. He managed to harden his skin in order to make sure the surprise attack didn't harm him, but his jutsu didn't extend to the threads holding his body parts together, and the threads connecting his arm and forearm to the rest of the arm were severed, leaving him one armed.

"Dammit! What the hell was-?"

Suddenly, Kakuzu found himself staring at a gigantic bee, with a smirking Iwa kunoichi riding on its back. Before Kakuzu had time to react, the bee opened its jaws, releasing a torrent of sticky honey that left the undead ninja pinned to the ground.

Thankfully, his masked monsters sensed their master's plight, and quickly went to aid him. Unfortunately for them, the newcomer wasn't going to let them release her prey.

"Sorry Kakuzu, but that's not gonna happen. I read your entry of the bingo book, and I know about those things you create with the heart of your enemies," the giant bee rider said as she made several hand seals. "Bee Bomb Jutsu!"

Suddenly, a swarm of bees appeared out of seemingly nowhere, split in two groups and flew towards the incoming masked monsters. Both Shino and Kakuzu realized that most of the bees were carrying explosive seals. Kakuzu tried to order his minions to turn back, but it was too late. The bees latched onto them, and the Iwa ninja triggered the explosive tags. Kakuzu's monsters were engulfed by a multitude of explosions, reducing them to charred remains.

Before anything could happen, Shino rushed towards the trapped Kakuzu and placed several chakra suppressing sealing tags onto the honey trap, which would ensure that the former Akatsuki woulnd't be able to brute force the way out of the trap. The giant bee lowered its position almost close to ground level, and Shino could hear the woman letting out a mocking laugh.

"An Aburame saved by a member of the Kamizuru clan," the woman said in an almost taunting manner. "And not just any Aburame, but the heir to the clan. How does it feel?"

Shino adjusted his glasses, and looked at his savior. She recognized her as Suzumebachi Kamizuru, current leader of what was left of the Kamizuru clan.

"Regardless of our respective clans' past history, I will always be grateful towards anybody that helps me in battle," Shino said, before crossing his arms and scowling a little. "However, you should do good in revising that attitude. We're allies now, fighting an enemy unlike any other. Petty squabbles have no room in the battleground."

Shino's dressing down erased Suzumebachi's smirk of superiority, and scoffed at him. "Hmpf. You Konoha scum are always so self righteous. I think I wasted enough time with you, brat. I have a battle to win."

As Suzumebachi and her giant bee returned to the skies, Shino shook his head before looking for his next opponent.

…

"A Sharingan," Sakumo said, dumbfounded. "Just... how? Did you take it from an Uchiha corpse or something? How is that the clan allowed you to keep it?"

"First of all, this eye is the parting gift of a precious friend," Kakashi began. He repressed the image of Obito as a member and currently leader of Akatsuki. Even to this day, even after fighting him, he still had a hard time reconciling with the fact that his teammate and the monster who started this war were the same person, and sometimes he refused to believe they were one and the same. "And second, the Uchiha clan no longer exists. As a big clan, at least. Their numbers can be counted with one hand."

"I did see plenty of Uchiha among the reanimations," Sakumo began. "Many Hyugas as well. Son... just what happened to Konoha?"

"Plenty of disasters befell the village. Fortunately, we managed to endure, and came out stronger as a result," Kakashi replied.

"It's a relief that at very least, you're still alive and well," Sakumo said, as his body tensed, ready to attack. "Make sure my body doesn't betray such statement!"

Sakumo leaped forward, his tanto leaving a trail of white light. Kakashi parried once again his father's weapon, and pulling a second kunai, he counter attacked with a series of quick swipes that Sakumo expertly parried, even knocking a kunai out of his hand, Kakashi wasn't deterred, and before parrying another blow from Sakumo, he pulled another kunai and used it to stab his father in the neck. Sakumo was fast enough to catch Kakashi by the wrist before he could do such a thing.

It was then when Sakumo realized that the second kunai had an explosive tag attached to it, which was already ignited. He opened his eyes widely, and tried to tell his son to avoid the explosion, but it proved to be unnecessary, as Kakashi disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving a log wrapped in more explosive tags.

There was an explosion, followed by a chain of more blasts, so powerful and in so quick sucession that they took down several trees, clearing out a small area of the snow covered forest. From the ensuing cloud of smoke, Sakumo emerged, landing on the giant crater formed by the explosions. He wasn't incapacitated as Kakashi was hoping, but he definitely was far from unharmed. He was missing a whole arm –the one he was holding the White Chakra Saber with– as well as several chunks of his body, including part of his head. Such damage would have been enough to kill a normal man, but alas, it was insufficient for a reanimated ninja.

"Still, I managed to weaken him enough. All he needs is the final blow!" Kakashi thought, as he dashed at Sakumo from behind, his Sharingan focused on his still regenerating form, while electricity coated his right hand as he readied his signature ability. "Lightning Bla-"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Flash!"

Sakumo's body crackled with electricity for a fraction of a second, before a bright white light engulfed the area. The effect was even worse for Kakashi given his Sharingan, and instinctively stopped, cancelling his jutsu, and closing his eyes shut, but still getting ready for a counterattack as long as his blindness lasted.

"He was able to use that jutsu without using hand seals," Kakashi thought, as he gritted his teeth under his mask. "Was he always this good, or am I underestimating him?"

Kakashi opened his eyes slowly, and was greeted by a blurry sight. The copy ninja directed chakra into his eyes in order to restore his eyesight faster, but when the blurry vision was gone, so was Sakumo.

"You're fighting full of anger, son," Kakashi heard Sakumo's voice. He tried to pinpoint its location, but was unable to track it. It felt like it came from multiple directions at once. "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgement."

"I'm fighting my long deceased father that killed himself when I was a mere child!" Kakashi fired back in an uncharacteristical display of anger. "Excuse me if I'm not a paragon of stoicism!"

"Yet I have the feeling that your anger isn't entirely directed at the man who orchestrated this scenario, but at me as well," Sakumo said. "Am I right, son?"

"Just keep talking. That way I can track your position better and end this charade already," Kakashi said, as he nervously looked around, trying to predict where Sakumo's attack will come from.

"Lightning Release: White Fang!"

Sensing the faintest breeze of air behind him shift, Kakashi turned around as he channeled electricity through a kunai, parrying a sword made of pure electricity, that was being channeled through a kunai. Sakumo managed to overpower Kakashi and push him back, before delivering more swings. While the Copy Ninja managed to dodge them all, his flak jacket got a few cuts.

"His specialty was close combat. I can't beat him in that area. I need to put some distance. Let's raise a wall and- no, not a wall, earth jutsu is awful to counter lightning, though there may be something..." Kakashi thought as he continued to jump back from Sakumo's swipes. He realized much to his furstration that his father was only using one arm, while the other was still regenerating. "I can't let him push me into the defensive! Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Jutsu!"

The moment Kakashi's feet touched the ground, the quickly sank into it as if it was made of water rather than solid matter. Not that such a just was going to stop Sakumo.

"I'm afraid that's not going to be enough, son. Lightning Release: White Fang Wolf Bite!" Sakumo sadly said, as he slammed his lightning sword into the ground, releasing a mass of lightning bolts in every direction, breaking the ground and releasing rocks and peebles in every direction.

Among the objects launched into the air, Kakashi was among them, however, the Copy Ninja wasn't as surprised as one would expect, probably because he was already expecting his father's reaction. While mid air, he made several hand seals.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Sage Jutsu!"

Kakashi breathed a volley of fireballs from above towards his father, whose torn arm finished regenerating. Grabbing the kunai with both hands, the lightning sword it was projecting grew in length, and started to spin it so fast, it looked like a disc of light. The spinning lighting sword created a makeshift shield that deflected all the fireballs that would have hit him.

"Just as expected. And while he's doing that, he can't see me," Kakashi thought as he rushed towards him, making hand seals. His hand crackled with electricity as the screech of a thousand birds filled the air. "Now, it's just a matter of landing a strike. Lightning Blade!"

As the White Fang stopped the spinning, Kakashi thrust his lightning-coated hand into Sakumo's midsection. However, Sakumo was fast enough to use his elemental sword's remaining momentum to move it down and intercept Kakashi's attack.

"I know you're another clone," Sakumo stated.

"Then this may not surprise you," Kakashi said, before he exploded into a mass of lightning, surrounding Sakumo. However, the Lightning Clone's discharge was deflected by his lightning sword, and failed to do any harm.

That second, the ground around Sakumo started to rumble, and three Kakashis emerged from the sides and behind him, all three of them with another Lightning Blade already prepared, ready to impale him from three different sides.

However, Sakumo didn't became a living legend by letting himself fall prey to such ambushes. Displaying an amazing, almost inhuman speed, Sakumo started to spin around his feet while pulling a second kunai with his other arm, generating a second lightning sword through it. When Kakashi and his clones landed their strikes, all they hit were Sakumo's elemental swords. The energy clash between all the lightning jutsu resulted in three explosions that destroyed Kakashi's shadow clones, while launching the real one several meters back, painfully bouncing a couple times on his back.

"When you were a kid, you told me you wanted to fight me when you were old enough," Sakumo recalled, his eyes glinting with a sad light. "I presume that this is not what you were expecting, were you?"

"Are you talking about the beating you're giving me, or the fact that you're a reanimation under the control of one of Konoha's greatest traitors?" Kakashi bitterly asked, as he shook off the pain and got back on his feet as best as he could.

"Son, you can't beat me if you keep fighting like this," Sakumo said.

"Shut up. You're nothing special. People might have called you a legend, but I've seen ninjas that could wipe the floor with you," Kakashi seethed. "And you would have seen them, have you not took your life like you did!"

Fueled by anger, Kakashi charged forward. Sakumo smiled inwardly. So, that was what was keeping his son from doing his best. Now that he had that hint, there might be some hope.

…

At another side of the battlefield, other one on one duel took place. This time, between Hanzo the Salamander, former leader of Amegakure, and Mifune, the commander of the Fifth Division. So far, the two of them limited themselves to armed combat, Mifune's katana clashing against Hanzo's kusarigama, filling the air with metallic clanging noises every couple seconds.

"Samurai surely fell low if they are so willing to become a ninja's lap dog!" Hanzo taunted, as he delivered a blow at Mifune's legs.

The samurai expertly blocked before countered with a swing to his neck, which Hanzo parried with the chain of his kusarigama. "We samurai do not meddle in the affair of ninjas and nations that support or employ them. But this war... this war isn't just a matter of ninjas! It's a matter of survival, for all of us!"

Hanzo swung the mace of his kusarigama at Mifune's head. The old samurai managed to duck in time, and taking advantage of Hanzo being wide open, he stabbed his katana into the Ame reanimation's gut.

"That was a mistake, Mifune," Hanzo said.

Suddenly, a purple gas started to leak out of the hole Mifune had made into the man's stomach. He didn't ask what it was, since he could figure it out, and jumped back as quickly as his legs allowed him to, praying that he didn't accidentally inhale some of the gas.

"So, even as a reanimation, Hanzo still keeps that Black Salamander poisonous gland," Mifune thought. "It was careless of me not to assume that."

"Mifune-sama!" a nearby samurai called while tossing his leader a spare samurai helmet.

The Shogun of the Land of Iron took no time to put that helmet on, given that it had a gas mask built on it as well. After thanking his fellow samurai, Mifune looked at Hanzo, who was in the process of making a chain of hand seals.

"You might have stopped me from making hand seals with your twice damned iaijutsu, but my poison bought me all the time I needed to do this!" Hanzo finished, before slamming his hand into the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"

There was a burst of smoke, and the next second, Hanzo was standing on top of Ibuse, his feared Salamander summon. Upon seeing this, Mifune gripped the handle of his kanata tightly, not taking his eyes from his opponent. The fight had become much harder now.

"Everybody, stay away from Hanzo! Only samurai, or those who are able to avoid the poison of his salamander should face him!" Mifune shouted.

"How brave. Telling the others to save themselves, instead of asking for help when it's obvious that you need it," Hanzo observed. "You samurai didn't forsake your honor, I can concede that."

"A warmonger like you has no right to talk about honor," Mifune said in subdued anger. "Much less to judge somebody else's!"

Hanzo smirked under his rebreather. "Very well then, no more words, just actions! Ibuse, after him!"

The large eyeless amphibian charged at the Shogun of the Land of Iron, small quakes caused whenever its large legs hit the ground. The blade of Mifune's katana started to glow as he channeled chakra through it, before making an horizontal swing, releasing a crescent shaped chakra blast at the incoming monster. However, Hanzo was already expecting such a move.

"Ibuse, now!" the Ame reanimation said, as he jumped into the air.

Ibuse stopped on its tracks, and buried itself underground headfirst. Meanwhile, Hanzo threw the mace half of his kusarigama at Mifune, who wrapped itself around his wrists, pinning them against each other. Upon landing, Hanzo pulled the chain towards him, but Mifune managed to resist and didn't bulge.

"Your resilence is worth praising, samurai, but this is your end. Ibuse, get him!" Hanzo ordered.

The ground beneath Mifune's feet started to shake, as he knew what was coming. He tried to break free from the chain binding his wrists, but Hanzo's pull was too firm.

"Paper Chakram!"

Suddenly, a large sharp ring made of paper descended from above, cleanly cutting the chain holding Mifune in place, and the old samurai managed to jump backwards just before Ibuse emerged from underground and tried to swallow him whole.

"Where did that attack came from?" Mifune thought, as he started to carefully look around, thought without taking at least one eye from Hanzo. Following the direction of the paper jutsu, Mifune saw a blue haired woman floating above him,with two wings made of many sheets of paper coming from her back. While he never met her before, this woman met the description he had given of the ex-Akatsuki member that now worked for Konoha, Konan. "Thanks for your assistance," he said, before smirking a little. "Heh, this is the second time today that I'm helped by a flying kunoichi."

"You're welcome, Mifune-sama," Konan said, as she floated down. "May I ask for a favor in return? I wish to deal with this opponent myself."

"I don't think I can allow such thing in good conscience. Hanzo is not an opponent to be underestimated," Mifune said. You're welcome to join the battle."

"I'm not somebody to be underestimated either, as many ninjas who fought against me can attest. Those who are still alive, regrettably enough," Konan replied, her amber eyes narrowing at Hanzo. "Hanzo and I have some history together. I studied his fighting style in depth, and I have the perfect way to permanently put him down."

Mifune looked at Konan, and could see the fire burning in her eyes. He knew that she needed more than a fiery spirit to defeat an opponent of such caliber, but then again, the Shogun of the Land of Iron was also told of Konan's ninjutsu prowess, so it was likely that she could back up her words with actions. Wordlessly, Mifune fell back and went to look for another opponent, though he made sure to stay close in case the bluenette may need his help.

"I take that back what I said," Hanzo said in disgust. "That samurai has no honor left in his old bones."

Konan's eyes narrowed even more, as her mouth curved into an ugly snarl. "The man who ambushed a trio of kids with an army of ninjas because he was too afraid of them dares to speak about honor!?"

"A trio of kids...? Just what the hell are you talking... wait a minute..." Hanzo began.

He then remembered something. A flashback to some years ago. That man with orange hair, piercings, and purple rippled eyes. The very man who put an end to his life, and Hanzo, the man who fought and defeated the Sannin in their prime, the one who anointed them with such title, wasn't even able to touch him. His defeat was so humiliating, he was almost glad when his attacker put an end to it.

…

Amegakure, a few years ago

"Such a disappointment, the legendary Hanzo the Salamander," the purple eyed man said, his voice deep and imposing. "I guess if you aren't fighting against a trio of children with an army backing you up, your skills alone don't take you too far. And Jiraiya-sensei lost to you when he was in his prime? Disgusting."

"Trio of children? Jiraiya-sensei? Who are you? You came here to avenge him?" Hanzo asked, the building panic not allowing him to think coherently. His many wounds didn't help either.. "Just what do you-"

"Silence," his attacker said. He didn't raise his voice, but his commanding tone compelled Hanzo to shut up. "I don't want to hear your voice anymore. I don't want to see you anymore. The mere thought that I once admired you makes me want to hurl. Your mere existence is blight upon this world that I plan to correct right now. SHINRA TENSEI!"

…

Those were Hanzo's last moments, who has been repressed the moment this cursed jutsu brought him to life, but the blue haired woman's words brought to the surface of his mind.

Then, another memory. An ambush he carried out alongside a Konoha high ranked ninja named Danzo, against a trio of Ame ninjas that were growing in power and influence. Better deal with them now before they became a threat. He didn't remember much of that day, the horrible image of that grotesque giant statue as it massacred his ninjas, while letting out nightmarish roars replaced everything else.

Though now, he could remember who were his targets: two boys, one with orange spiky hair, and another one a redhead, plus a blue haired girl. A blue haired girl with amber eyes. The same amber eyes that were now glaring daggers at him. Though while those eyes were full of innocence and fright, those eyes now reflected weariness, regret, and above all else, anger.

"You... that day... you're the girl I took hostage..." Hanzo said in realization.

Konan's snarl turned into a smirk of satisfaction, but her anger did not subside one bit. "Good. So you finally remember us. You know, the first time Nagato wanted to deal with you alone. He didn't want me near, he said that I didn't deserve to get my hands dirty with your blood. Of course, I disagreed, but I didn't want to argue with him. And now... I finally get to avenge Yahiko's death personally. And unlike the last time we saw each other, I have no intention of becoming a damsel in distress."

"You're getting it wrong, girl. It's me who will get to avenge my own death! Ibuse, get her!" Danzo commanded.

The salamander opened its jaws, releasing a wide stream of purple colored poisonous haze at the flying woman. Sheets of paper started to spin around her, as she made c hain of hand seals before thrusting her arms forward.

"Paper Cyclone!"

The sheets of paper formed a twister that flew towards the incoming stream of toxic fumes. Some of the paper sheets started to glow, revealing themselves to be explosive tags before they detonated, creating a chain of explosions that stopped the attack. From the resulting clouds, the mace half of Hanzo's kusarigama rocketed towards her, wrapping the chain around her ankle. With a mighty pull, Hanzo slammed her into the ground.

"First order of business, bring you back to ground level!" Hanzo said. "Now, for the second and final order of business, to deal the death blow!"

Fast as lightning, Hanzo dashed forward, and sunk the blade half of his weapon into Konan's neck. However, Konan's expression remained unchanged, and no blood seeped from her wound.

"Don't you think I know every one of your little tricks?" Konan asked, as she burst into a mass of papers that enveloped the former Ame leader, forming a cocoon of paper around him.

"What I think is that you're underestimating me!" Hanzo indignantly said as he made a hand seal and escaping the paper prison with the Body Flicker jutsu before the paper cocoon formed completely.

"I would never dream of underestimating you," Konan's voice said. Hearing that it came from above, Hanzo looked up and saw Konan floating above him, but the worrying part were the literally thousands of origami shuriken floating besides her. "Now be torn to shreds and disappear!"

Motioning her hand down, Konan commanded the paper shuriken to rain upon Hanzo and his salamander. However, Hanzo had enough time to weave several hand seals.

"Fire Release: Multiple Flame Plumes!"

Hanzo removed his rebreather before unleashing a wave of fire projectiles towards Konan. The blazing missiles and paper shuriken met in the middle, resulting in a multitude of explosions. However, much to Hanzo's surprise, he saw that Konan's attack was overpowering his.

"What the...? How can paper beat a fire jutsu?" the reanimation panicked. "How can this-"

Hanzo's thoughts were interrupted when the paper shuriken raining upon him suddenly multiplied by one hundred, quickly overpowering his fire jutsu before the attack reached him. He tried to jump back, but even if he only spend less than two seconds being pelted by the razor sharp paper projectiles, it was still enough to torn him to shreds, just like Konan said. With plenty of deep cuts across his body and his four limbs completely rendered useless, Hanzo helplessly fell on his back.

His wounds quickly began to regenerate, but the sight of Konan descending upon him, more papers fluttering around her, told him that he wasn't going to regenerate in time. The papers fluttering around Konan started to move around Hanzo, slowly wrapping around him, forming a paper cocoon.

"It's hard to believe that you were the same man who beat the Sannin in their prime. I didn't believe Nagato at first when he told me how easily he beat you," Konan began, as he looked at him with eyes full of contempt. "Guess that you let your reputation precede you, and didn't keep your skills honed."

"...perhaps I did," Hanzo sadly admitted. He then looked at the papers quickly covering him, and realized of something. "Though, before you seal me... there's something I want to know..."

Konan didn't say anything, but Hanzo took her silence as a cue to ask. It's not that he was going to lose anything for doing so.

"What happened with Amegakure?" Hanzo asked. "I saw some ninjas wearing the Ame uniform around. I tried to avoid them. How is the village doing?"

"Nagato and I ruled the village after you were out of the picture," Konan began to explain, deciding to humor the old man's last request. "Then Nagato died, and I'm the sole ruler of Ame. And as its Village Head, I pledged the forces of Ame, few as they are in comparison to the Great Villages, for the cause of the Ninja Alliance."

"I see..." Hanzo said, looking somewhat relieved. "Regardless of what I did, or said... if there's one thing you can believe about me, is that I cared about my village... given that the village is now yours, make sure it stays strong... and don't let the Great Villages stomp over you..."

"That thing won't happen. Not just because of my leadership," Konan replied. "But because I, alongside others, are helping to build a better world where the bloody conflicts from the past will remain forever in the past."

Hanzo didn't say anything, and let the papers envelop him completely, forming the cocoon. Konan walked towards it, and placed a couple of chakra suppression seals, making sure that Hanzo wouldn't be a danger anymore.

"Nagato, Yahiko," Konan said, rising her gaze to the cloudy skies. "I'll make sure our dream will come to pass. And this time, it will be done properly."

…

"Water Release. Water Bullet Jutsu!"

"Water Release: Wall of Water!"

Shibuki expelled several watery projectiles from his mouth towards his father. Hisen expelled a wide stream of water that managed to stop his son's attack, and still had enough momentum to continue forward, forcing the young Takigakure leader to jump back, just as Hisen prepared his next attack.

"Watch out, son! The next attack is going to be a big one!" Hisen warned, just as he finished the chain of hand seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon jutsu!"

The water of the previous attacks, plus the water from the recently melted snow gathered under Hisen, forming a tornado of water, which quickly took the shape of a serpentine dragon, with Hisen riding on its head. The dragon let out a roar before it lunged at the young Takigakure leader. While panicking, Shobuki decided to counter his dad's jutsu with a similar one.

"I can use that as well! Water Release. Water Dragon Jutsu!"

Another dragon-shaped water construct of similar size formed from the nearby water and snow, and managed to intercept Hisen's dragon. While the two dragons struggled against the other, Hisen leaped into the air, and formed a sword of water on his hand.

"Dammit, the first attack was just a distraction!" Shibuki inwardly cursed, his hands still locked into a seal, pouring chakra into the latest jutsu, before stumbling to generate another water sword to parry his father's incoming blow.

"Son, run!" Hisen warned, as he was about to strike.

"Wolf Claw Strike!"

Hisen saw a white blur, followed by a loud metallic clang, and the next second, much to his shock, there was a huge, feral looking werewolf with white fur between him and his son, parrying his blade of water with his bare claws, that glowed with chakra. The chakra glow increased, taking the shape of crescent shaped energy blasts that violently pushed Hisen backwards.

The sound of a thousand birds chirping coming from above drew his attention, and saw what appeared to be a spinning drill coated in lightning falling on top of him.

"Lightning Release: Chidori Drill Claw!"

Still, Hisen was quick enough to defend himself from the unexpected ambush, and formed more hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

Hisen expelled a torrent of water from his mouth at the spinning electric drill, both propelling himself to the ground, and pushing the threat away from him. The drill stopped to spin, revealing itself to be a girl with cat features, wearing bladed gauntlets. Both the cat girl and the werewold landed on the ground on their feet, and rushed towards Shibuki.

"Kiba, Tamaki!" Shibuki said, breathing heavily, still processing the fact that he was alive.

"Are you alright, Shibuki-san?" Tamaki asked.

"I think we cut a little too close. A few seconds late, and who knows what would have happened!" Kiba added.

Shibuki let out a sigh. It appeared to be of relief, but there also of resignation. "Once again, thank you. You came to my aid when I needed it the most."

Tamaki smiled. "Hey, don't sweat it! That's what friends are for!"

"Shibuki," Hisen said, as he walked towards the trio, making Kiba and Tamaki to tense up and adopt fighting positions. "You know these people?"

"Yes. They're Konoha ninja. Part of the group of ninjas that helped us to take down the Akatsuki that nearly destroyed our village," Shibuki explained. "Kiba, Tamaki, this is my dad Hisen, the previous leader of Takigakure."

The two of them winced upon realizing that Shibuki had been forced to fight his own father. Such experience had to be emotionally devastating. Still, they managed to hide their reaction pretty well.

"It's nice to meet you, sir," Kiba said, trying to smile, but in his current form, it appear more like a vicious snarl.

"We don't usually look like this, though," Tamaki was quick to point out. "It's because of a transformation jutsu we're using."

"Don't worry, I've seen ninjas with far more bizarre appearances," Hisen replied. "Though if my son said is true and you helped defend our village, then you'll have my gratitude."

"Taki and Konoha are allies, and we have some good friends in Taki as well," Kiba said. "We did what anybody else would do in our position."

Hisen, however, noticed that his son was less than thrilled with the two Konoha ninjas coming to his rescue.

"Shibuki, what's wrong? Aren't you glad your friends are here to help you?" Hisen asked.

"This is what I previously meant, dad," Shibuki began, sounding dour. "Just like how Kiba and Tamaki had to help me from you, I had to ask other villages to help ours. What kind of leader that makes me?"

"I tell you what: a leader that cares for his village," Hisen firmly stated, as his expression became a little harsher. "Shibuki, needing somebody else's help to do something you can't do on your own isn't a sign of weakness, but of wisdom. Sure, improving oneself and being able to do things on one's own, be an individual like you and me, or a village, is important. But that doesn't mean that we should try to do everything on our own. Not all of us are born equal, just like how not all villages are the same.

"Yet, the fact that you not only kept Konoha's alliance, but strengthened it, shows that you've been a good leader for our village. Think what would have happened if other villages didn't help Taki against Akatsuki. Our beloved home would be a smoking ruin with no hopes of getting it back."

Shibuki stood there, silent, weighting his father's words. Even part of him, the part that loved to put him down, tried to ignore Hisen's wisdom, another part, the rational one, argued that his father was right. Taki had undergone mass destruction, but the loss could have been much greater, and the village was in the process of being rebuilt. As long as Taki existed, there would be hope.

"Yeah, not everybody can get strong on their own. Just because you fight alongside others, that doesn't mean that you're weak," Kiba said. "Or that Taki is. Hell, not even Konoha is strong enough to take on Akatsuki alone! We had to seek the help of many other villages, both major and minor, to do so!"

"Plus, take a look at us!" Tamaki said, chuckling a bit, as she pointed at both herself and Kiba. "We had to merge with our animal companions for a power boost! If that's not relying on others to grow strong..."

Shibuki sighed, though this time, it didn't appear to be a sigh of weariness or sadness. If anything, it appeared like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He closed his eyes, and shook his head as his lips curved into a smile.

"I've been such an idiot..." Shibuki said, almost in a whisper. He opened his eyes, and fixed a stare on his father. Hisen was almost taken aback to see that the doubts and self pity he could see reflected on his son's eyes were gone, replaced by steel hard determination. "Kiba, Tamaki... help me seal my father, so we can later return him to afterlife where he belongs!"

"Alright!" Kiba said, dropping on all four.

"You got it!" Tamaki said, crouching down like a lioness would before pouncing on her prey.

Hisen smiled. He wasn't even worried when his body moved on its own again, and rushed to attack the trio of ninjas. Shibuki, Tamaki and Kiba also charged forward, ready to meet the former Taki leader in the middle, whose hands were flying through hand seals.

"Water Release: Double Water Blade!"

This time, masses of water appeared around the undead ninja's hands, before they took the shape of swords, one with a straight edge, the other with a curved and serrated brought his arms together in a swift x-shaped motion, making Shibuki to break and jump back, and Kiba and Tamaki turn to the sides. Though, as he moved his swords, they released small blades of water to the sides and the front.

Shibuki managed to deflect all of them with quick swings of his watery sword. Tamaki did the same with her bladed gauntlets, but some razor droplets found their mark and left several cuts on her arms and legs. Kiba, however, was the one who took it the worse, given his lack of weapons to use to defend himself as well as his increased size. Soon, patches of red started to grow around his white fur.

"Kiba!" Tamaki called, concerned.

"I'm okay! You need more than a few superficial cuts to take me out!" Kiba quickly replied. "Focus on the enemy!"

"Right!" Tamaki said, shifting her focus from Kiba to Hisen, as she and her partner charged back at him.

Sensing this, Hisen prepared his next move.

"Water Release: Water Clone Jutsu!"

The water around the area gathered and took the shape of three Hisen clones, all of them already armed with a water sword. However, rather than intercepting Kiba and Tamaki like the feral duo was expecting, they moved towards Shibuki, while the real Hisen went after them.

"It seems that whoever is controlling me considers you two a greater threat than my son," Hisen warned them, sounding a little sorrowful. "I have faith that Shibuki can beat a trio of water clones, though as for you, you better prepare."

"Don't worry, you won't be able to make me bleed twice!" Kiba boasted, as he rushed to meet Hisen. Long chakra blades formed around his claws as he spread his arms, ready for a brutal slashing swipe. Hisen raised one of his swords to attack, while keeping the other low for defense. However, just when it appeared that Kiba was about to strike, he instead dived down, and tunneled underground.

"What?"

"Tamaki, go for it!"

The sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air as Hisen once against found himself facing a living drill coated in electricity.

"Chidori Drill Claw!"

In such amount of time, all what Hisen could do was raise his water swords in an X shape to block Tamaki's onslaught. Channeling chakra into his swords to make them sturdier, Hisen took the attack head on. Even if his swords resisted, the force behind the attack was strong enough to push him backwards, while the electricity that leaked into his body left it stiff.

The earth started to shake beneath his feet, and Kiba emerged from underground, delivering a brutal uppercut with his chakra-enhanced claws. However, much to his surprise, Hisen burst into water when he was hit.

"What the... was he a clone too?" Kiba asked, outraged.

"No, I believe he switched positions with another clone," Tamaki said in realization. Looking at where Shibuki was fighting the clones, she saw that only one remained, which had to be the real Hisen. "Come on, after him!"

Hisen wanted to turn around and adress the more immediate danger, but Shibuki wasn't going to let him. Creating another water blade on his other hand, the young Takigakure leader delivered a double swipe at his father, who used both his swords to block the attack. Hisen could see that his son's eyes were glinting with renewed confidence.

"So, what do you think about my friends, dad?" Shibuki asked, beaming with pride.

Hisen smiled. "They're incredible. Truly remarkable ninjas."

"I know right," Shibuki said, before his mouth curved into a smile. "I couldn't have retaken Taki without them. And I don't think I could have defeated you without them. That's why I'm going to become much stronger than I am right now, so one day I can be the one who helps them in their time of need!"

Shibuki pushed both of her father's swords to the side with an impressive display of strength, before delivering a kick to the chest that send the reanimated Taki ninja skidding back. Right into Kiba's path, whose front paws burned brightly with chakra as he prepared an attack.

"Wild Howling Strike!"

Kiba delivered a brutal uppercut to Hisen, as the chakra aroundn his paws exploded, and took the shape of a giant wolf head, catching the undead ninja between its maws, and sending it flying up into the sky. As this happened, Tamaki jumped onto Kiba's shoulders, and used him as a springboard to jump into the sky, leaving Hisen below, while her hands flew through hand seals.

"Fire Release: Burning Man!" fire spread around the cat kunoichi, covering her completely in a cloak of flames, as she let gravity pull her body towards Hisen. The former Taki leader tried to weave the seals for a water jutsu, but it was too late. "Blazing Feline Aerial Bomber!"

Tamaki's burning rear impacted against Hisen's chest, both of them pummeling to the snowy grass below, resulting in a massive fiery explosion the moment the two of them hit the ground, spreading embers around, melting the snow, and carving a crater into the ground. When the smoke dispelled, Tamaki was standing besides Hisen, lying on his back with his arms and legs spread, and his body greatly damaged. The Reanimation Jutsu was already working on healing his broken body, but not fast enough to prevent sealing.

"Okay, I think this guy isn't going anywhere," Tamaki said. "I'm going to fetch a sealmaster. Shibuki-san, do you want to say any last words with your father before we seal him?"

Shibuki merely nodded, and walked towards the fallen form of his father as Tamaki leaped away.

"Hey, dad," Shobuki said, a bit sheepishly. "I always wished I to see you again. Be careful with what you wish for, huh?"

"Yes, the circumstances of our reunion weren't the best ones, to put it lightly. But I'm glad that we were able to meet again. Not only because I was able to see my boy all grown up, but because I managed to give you some of the help you needed..."

"Yeah... sorry dad, I didn't want you to see me that way," Shibuki said, as his eyes started to water, but he willed his tears back. "I always wanted to be a ninja you'd be proud of."

Hisen smiled. "You're already that, son. I'm sure you'll be a greater ninja than I was. Just never give up, and remember, don't be afraid to ask others for help if something proves to be too much for you."

"I know, dad. Thank you... and farewell," Shibuki said, before he turned around and walked away. A few seconds later, Tamaki returned with a sealmaster, making sure that Hisen wouldn't be forced to fight against the Ninja Alliance anymore.

…

As Kakashi had stated previously, the real fight began now. No holding back, the silver haired Jonin knew that he had to throw everything he had at his father, or else he would end up dead.

"And being dead means ending in the same place as my old man, and I'm not really in the mood for that," Kakashi chuckled at his own grim joke, as he prepared his next attack. "Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"

Kakashi breathed several small fireballs through his mask towards his father, who travelled in a wide angle, hoping to cut his room to dodge. Sakumo merely jumped backwards and started to make hand seals of his own. Kakashi recognized the seals as part of a water jutsu.

"Can my father use ninjutsu other than lightning?" Kakashi thought in surprise, before the answer came to him. "Heh, of course he can, he was a Jonin."

"Water Release: Great Water Wall!"

Sakumo expelled a massive torrent of water from his mouth, which was enough to put out all the existing flames. However, as the White Fang did this, Kakashi already prepared his next move.

"I can't let him go into the offensive! If I force him to be on the defensive all the time, I will win!" Kakashi thought, his heart pounding each time faster as the masked Jonin former more hand seals. "Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!"

A mass of electricity fomed around Kakashi's right arm, before it jumped and took the shape of a hound, still connected to Kakashi through a constant thread of lightning, and rushed towards the now wide open Sakumo without finding any obstacles on its path. When it was close enough, the elemental hound jumped into the undead ninja's neck and closed its maws around it, before it exploded into a blast of lightning.

And then Sakumo vanished in a burst of smoke.

"What the...? A Shadow Clone? When did he create it?" Kakashi thought, as panic began to creep through his back, franctically looking around.

"Kakashi, watch out! Do not get caught by this jutsu!" Sakumo's voice said from behind. Kakashi turned to the direction the voice came from, and prepared for the worst. "Ligtning Release: Alpha Thunderstrike!"

Sakumo's entire body was covered in electricity, bruning so bright, it was as if a thunderstorm was happening before his very eyes. Thrusting both arms forward, a truly massive cluster of lightning bolts rocketed from the undead man's hands, before they quickly merged and took the shape of a gigantic wolf head.

"Shit, no jutsu I have can counter that!" Kakashi panicked, as he jumped back, trying to put some distance between him and his foe. There was only one thing he could do. Channeling chakra into his left eye, his Sharingan morphed into is Mangekyo form. "Kamui!"

The air in front of Kakashi started to ripple and deform, before reality itself contorted into a spiraling vortex that devoured Sakumo's attack completely. However, it came as a big cost, as Kakashi could feel his chakra reserves quickly draning, and the extertion made him drop to one knee.

Sakumo perceived his apparent weakness, and quickly charged forward, a kunai on his hand. Kakashi did the same, but rather than charge to meet his father, he used it to make a cut on his thumb, before discarding the weapon and making five hand seals.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Kakashi slammed his palm into the ground, forcing Sakumo to break his charge and take a few step backwards as not to run into Kakashi's summoned ally. However, when the cloud of smoke vanished after a couple seconds, Kakashi was still alone.

"You made me think you were summoning something," Sakumo observed. "Or you did summon something that I failed to see."

"Why don't you get closer and find which one is?" Kakashi taunted his father.

Sakumo's face saddened. "Son, it's quite obvious that you're mad at me."

"Whatever I feel right now is irrelevant. I need to end this fight right here and right now. You're too dangerous of a foe, and I'm one of the few that can put you down," Kakashi said, struggling to keep his voice cool.

"You don't deny it, then," Sakumo said. "But not acknowledging it is just as bad."

"Why do you care so much about how I feel!?" Kakashi shouted, his patience close to snapping. He clutched both fists, and could feel small sparks of lightning crackling around them.

"If you don't calm down and focus, you won't be able to beat me," Sakumo replied. "And if you don't beat me, you will die! Can't you see that?"

"Oh, so now you care about me!?" this was the moment Kakashi's emotional barrier went down. "You didn't care about me in the slightest when you choose to end your own life!"

Sakumo smiled, though sadness did not leave his eyes. "So, that was it. Just like I feared. No wonder you don't have a very good memory of me."

"It's a bit late to apologize, father," Kakashi said, as his hand burst with electricity once more, and rushed forwards.

Sakumo's body moved on its own to pull another kunai, and channel another sword of lightning through it, ready to meet his son's attack.

"It's never too late to make things right, son!" Sakumo said, almost in a pleading tone.

"Really? Do you have a way to reverse time, and fix the childhood I had to spend alone?" Kakashi replied.

Sakumo's expression dropped even further. "I'm afraid not. All what I can say is that I'm very sorry for leaving you alone, son. I'm sorry for giving up into despair, and failing you as a father. If I was stronger, maybe I could have withstood better the shame I brought upon myself-"

"Stop," Kakashi firmly said. "You might have done things you should regret, but saving your comrades at the expense of the mission wasn't one of them."

"How can you say that? That choice is what ended up dooming me!" Sakumo said, as he jumped backwards while making hand seals. "Lightning Release: Forked Lightning!"

Bolts of ligntning shoot from Sakumo's fingers, heading into multiple directions in a cone towards Kakashi. However, upon hitting the ground, rocks, trees or plants, they would bounce and continue forward.

"Ingenius. I'm definitely copying that," Kakashi thought, as his Sharingan worked to learn that jutsu, while his hands formed the seals of a counter. "Wind Release: Vacuum Great Wave!"

Kakashi formed a sphere of concentrated pressurized air in front of him, before dropping all the pressure and releasing the air forward in the form of a powerful wind, dispelling the mass of lightnings coming at him, and continuing forward towards Sakumo, tearing away the grass in its path. Sakumo tossed several kunai with explosive tags attached to them to the wind attack, and the resulting explosions undid Kakashi's jutsu.

It was then when Kakashi noticed something from the corner of his Sharingan: something metallic glinting with the sun. Upon focusing his gaze on the glint, he could see it was a weapon embedded into the ground.

"That's father's White Chakra Saber! He might have dropped it before," Kakashi thought. "I need to get it back before he realizes!"

"Lightning Release: Double White Fang!"

From the smoke of the explosions, Sakumo emerged, dahsing forward, two blades of lightning on each hand. Lightning also manifested on Kakashi's hand, and shaped it like a sword, just in time to parry his father's blows.

"What do you mean, I didn't make the wrong choice?" Sakumo asked. "Had I completed the mission, it would have helped Konoha win the war! Even the people I saved thought so!"

"For a time, I used to think the same. That following the rules, the orders from our superiors, and completing the missions assigned to us was the way of the ninja. But a friend of mine showed me otherwise. Ninjas aren't unfeeling tools bred to kill. We're human beings that breathe, bleed and live. We aren't to be discarded like that," Kakashi rebutted, as he parried a double blow from Sakumo.

"But protecting your friends and loved ones at the expense of the village..." Sakumo began, before Kakashi cut him.

"How can we protect a village full of people we don't know, if we aren't allowed to love and cherish the people we do?" Kakashi asked, as he began his counterattack, pushing his father back. "How can ninjas fight for a village that will send them to their deaths, without taking their lives into consideration?"

Kakashi managed to swipe one of the kunai that Sakumo was using to channel his jutsu out of his hands, and delivered a roundhouse kick to his chest, sending his father flying backwards. Fast as lightning, Kakashi pulled out several shuriken, and after imbuing them with lightning chakra, tossed them at the still flying Sakumo.

With his remaining lightning sword, Sakumo was able to parry the electrified steel stars flying at him. But little did he know, that was only a distraction. He didn't see how several dogs wearing blue clothes and Konoha forehead protectors burst from underground, and slammed against him multiple times, making his drop his other kunai. Despite this, he managed to land on his feet, but the moment he tried to bring his hands together to form a hand seal, but two more dogs, these ones larger than the first few, bit on each on his arms and forced them apart.

Sakumo's eyes had barely a second to register Kakashi dashing at him, Sharingan glowing with a red gleam, and the White Chakra Saber in his hand, its blade crackling with blue lightning. Then, a diagonal, downward slash followed by a burst of ash and pieces of paper. Kakashi was now behind his father, his back turned to him. Sakumo's upper half of his body slid from his torso, both parts falling to the ground lifelessly.

"For forsaking the mission and saving your comrades, they called you trash. A ninja that doesn't follow the rules is trash. But a ninja that forsakes his comrades..." Kakashi said, before turning around, and looking at his father with fire in both his eyes. "...is worse than trash!"

Sakumo looked at Kakashi in awe, new feeling forming a chaotic whirwind in the very core of his being. "Kakashi..."

"I hated you for leaving me alone, father..." Kakashi said. "But... to this day, I think you made the right choice. I think you are a hero of Konoha, even if I may be the only one who thinks like that. And I teach my students to follow your example."

"...you have no idea how happy hearing that makes me, son," Sakumo said, tears forming around his black eyes. "Again... I'm sorry for being weak, and not standing strong for you. It makes me happy to see the fine ninja you've become, son, and that your convictions hold such strength. Your students are lucky to have you."

"Father, I..." Kakashi began, sounding hesitant. "I might not have another chance to do this, and I think I will regret it the rest of my life if I don't do it now, but..., despite what happened in the end, I'm proud of calling you my father. And I forgive you."

Suddenly, a beam of light broke through the clouds above, and fell right onto Sakumo, much to Kakashi's surprise. And his surprise grew wider when not only Sakumo's regeneration stopped, but his body started to crumble and break apart.

"Thank you, son, even if I don't deserve it," Sakumo said, smiling earnestly at his son. "Now... I can finally... look at your mother... in the eye..."

Sakumo's body crumpled completely, leaving a mound of dust and paper bits, and half buried between them, the corpse of a man, whose face was frozen in a scream of terror, an unlucky victim Orochimaru sacrificed used to bring Sakumo from the afterlife.

"Farewell, father," Kakashi said, looking at the cloudy sky. "Might you finally find in death the honor and peace you were denied in life."

Author's Note: Yeah, a pretty Kakashi-heavy chapter, but I felt that this was I fight I had to do. In canon, Kakashi's issues with his dad seem to stem from Sakumo choosing his comrades over the mission. However, it always struck me as odd that Kakashi had no resentment over his father killing himself, especially when Kakashi himself was so young, so I felt the need to tackle such difficult topic. I think it makes Sakumo's sendoff better, and I hope that you think that as well.

The other fight I've been dying to finally do was Konan vs Hanzo. Nothing against Mifune, but the fact that Mifune's past with Hanzo was established on the very same fight, and that Kishimoto tried to portray Hanzo as some misguided visionary gone bad, instead of the power hungry warmonger he had been portrayed so far, well, it kinda left a bad taste in my mouth. So here, Hanzo finally gets some much needed payback from Konan over the time he kidnapped her which resulted in Yahiko's death. Because when you think about it, it was thanks to Hanzo that Akatsuki came to be.

Thanks to Ookami88 for betareading this chapter.

Also, I got some PMs from people saying that they like the story but don't review because they don't know what to say, since these chapters don't move the plot forward much so there isn't much to say. If that stops you from leaving a review, you don't have to write something super long! Sure, I do love long reviews, but if you don't know what to say, just say that you liked the chapter, and that's it! All reviews make me happy, no matter how long or short they are. So if you liked this chapter, please leave a review! It will make me really, really, really happy!