Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Wish I did though. Kishimoto-sama must be rolling in the money.

Please review since this is my first piece of fan fiction. Luckily, I have had help from a few different people. My most heartfelt thanks to Songbird21-sama, Quackpotty, and the wonderful beta and sensei, Narai Moroha.

Prologue:

Years ago, there were three Noble clans, the Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Hyuuga. They, along with a few sympathetic lesser clans, sought refuge from the Land of Grass's Daimyo, who resented bloodline traits and clan traditions. The First, endeared to the hearts of those who were persecuted, used his abilities to raise a new village and its beloved trees founding the village of Konoha in the southern part of what was the Land of Grass.

Furious, the Daimyo sent his armies to crush the newly founded Village Hidden in the Leaves. Seeking assistance, the clan heads from the three Noble clans and the First asked the honorable and respected Daimyo from the Land of Fire to annex Konoha and the surrounding area. A deal was struck. Konoha would be part of the Land of Fire if they could win its freedom from the Land of Grass. The Daimyo would send assistance from the Village Hidden in Smoke, but only for tactical planning. In return, Konoha would be subject to the laws set forth by the Fire's Daimyo.

The war was a brutal campaign with losses only diminished by the skills of healers from both sides. After some negotiations, both Daimyos agreed to one final battle to settle the conflict, winner takes all.

Border of Grass and Fire Country, 110 years ago

After months of fighting, it was finally over. Bodies lay strewn over the battlefield. The air stunk of rotting blood and the scent only created from massive amounts of chakra discharged through various jutsus. Banners of various Shinobi nations and villages lay tattered and broken on the field.

As the sun peaked over the top of the trees, two lone shinobi stood atop the two tallest pines in the forest that survived the battle. Both were from the Land of Fire and were Shinobi from Konoha Village, now a part of the Land of Fire. As they surveyed the battlefield, two separate points of view could be seen from their similar faces.

The taller one, a man lean and majestic in stature with peaceful golden eyes and short brown hair with a streak of silver down the sides, seemed pensive and regretful. The slightly smaller man, with piercing blue eyes and bright yellow hair, sighed and a small smile crossed his face. He turned to the other man and noticed his brother's emotions, making him worry greatly for his older brother.

"Yamada, I know you don't like fighting and was disappointed that the diplomats could not stop this war, but we saved Konoha today. Our friends and loved ones are safe. I thought you would be relieved that the war is over and we saved them."

Yamada just sighed and hung his head low. "Kiro, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but this war has worn me down. Look at the numbers that are dead down there. Those are men who will never see their families again. So much bloodshed, and for what? Petty differences that the Elders and the Hokage could not resolve with the Grass over our village's existence?? What was the point??"

Kiro leaped over to his brother's side hoping to drive some sense into him. "Listen Nii-san, no one ever wants a war. No one ever takes the idea of killing lightly, but we had to defend our land, our friends, and our family. You can't let something like this eat you away. Let's go home and maybe family, friends, and time can heal the wounds in your heart."

Yamada raised his head and looked into his younger brother's eyes. "Nii-san, when we get back to Konoha, I am going to retire as a shinobi and find someplace peaceful. Someplace away from war. Someplace where these petty differences won't find me and my family."

"Do you think that the Uchiha will let one of their daughters out of the village, especially since she went and married an Uzumaki?? There is no way. Try to be reasonable here," Kiro said as he continued trying to shake some reason into the broken warrior in front of him. His eyes widened in shock as his brother blew some green powder into his face. As he fell asleep, he heard his brother's voice one last time.

"Don't worry, little brother. It has already been arranged. Stay strong for the rest of the clan, but Kina and I must find our own way."

Yamada caught the slumping form of his brother and leaped to the ground cradling him protectively. Reaching into his pocket, he took a medallion that he had and using a quick jutsu, he split it in half and placed it in his brother's pocket. He then motioned over to a female Jounin medic that was surveying the field for survivors.

"Please take him back to the rest of the ranks. It seems the strain of battle has exhausted him." The medic nodded and took Kiro in her arms and leaped back through the tree line.

"Farewell, my brother." Yamada then looked to the southeast and sprinted along the tree line. After a few hours, he headed deep into the forest towards a familiar location. He recalled the place quite well. He paused as the memories drudged their way up from his mind, especially being tied up on one of the three posts to his left.

"It would have been nice to say goodbye to my sensei," he thought aloud with a small smile crossing his face as a familiar voice spoke from behind him.

"You know he would have tried to stop you, my beloved, either by battle or words. What was it he always said when trying to steer your mind down the right path?" a pleasant female voice said behind him.

Yamada turned around to look at the owner of the voice that he swears is like an angel's song. As the tall raven haired beauty approached him, he smiled even wider knowing his choices were the right ones. From the day he met Uchiha Kina, he was in love and never left her side, or at least unless it was vital to his well-being not to be assaulted by the head of the Uchiha clan. He embraced her and kissed her softly before he whispered those famous words of his sensei.

"Look underneath the underneath. He told me that while I was nervous the night before asking for your hand. Best advice he ever gave me."

"I guess I owe that old war dog a debt of gratitude then," breathed Kina as she looked into her husband's eyes. "You ready to go?"

Lifting Kina up and spinning around, you could hear the excitement in his voice. "Believe it! I have been waiting for this moment. We can start a new life and not worry about fighting again." All of a sudden, his face changed to one of contemplation. Seeing that look in her husbands eyes, Kina knew Yamada had some plan in mind.

"What is it that is troubling you?"

"You know, it would be wise to not go by our names anymore. Someone may come looking and stumble upon a way to follow us. I ended up placing a scroll about us, just in case, in the rock next to the shrine. If the shrine comes back, then the scroll will reappear."

Kina pouted and shuffled her feet. "I always liked the name Uzumaki Yamada. It sounded so graceful and glorious. It would be a shame not to call you that in public anymore, beloved."

"How do you think I feel, Uchiha Kina? A name worthy of song and story. It is a necessity though." Taking her by the hand, they walked towards a shrine surrounded by five crystal spires. A seal was placed on the alter in the middle of the shrine. Some of the couples' belongings are already on the alter and they stepped onto the alter. After a series of seals, both of them exclaim "Dimensional Shift Jutsu" and a bright green flash was emitted from the crystals. Then they were gone along with the shrine, the area replaced by maple trees – a single group of maple in the midst of the pines.

Konoha Hospital, that night.

Uzumaki Kiro slowly opened his eyes looking up at the ceiling. He recognized the place as being a room in the Konoha hospital. As he slowly tried to sit up, he surveyed his surroundings and noticed the broken medallion on the table beside him. At that moment, it hit him that his brother was gone, never to return. He clutched the medallion close to his chest and started to cry.