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"War is the place where life and death meet." - The Art of War, Sun Tzu.

Meddling In Fate.

Chapter 10: Wrong Side Of Heaven Part II.

Kirigakure no Sato;

Sixth Day:

Sachi woke from her Sharingan induced sleep sometime the next morning. Her neck was stiff and she wanted nothing more than to rub the sleep from her eyes. Once everything came back to her, Sachi groaned and moved her wrist experimentally.

She had no hope the chains were old enough to be broken by sheer force, and without chakra she simply wasn't strong enough to break them without them already being weak from age and rust. She realized quickly these chains were well cared for, they had not been sloppy when they imprisoned her.

How she missed the days of incompetent villains. If this had been a Death Eater she probably wouldn't have even been chained up. They'd have chucked her in a dungeon cell and disarmed her before walking off for hours. She wasn't positive but she thought she heard the shuffling of feet near the exit, or maybe even outside the exit. A guard.

"Come on, think Uzumaki," she muttered to herself, craning her neck to stare at the chains binding her to the wall and the seals binding her chakra tight.

She would have to go back to her first plan, breaking down the seals. It was child's play to an Uzumaki, usually, but she was still not on the level where she felt comfortable calling it child's play for herself. She was still studying fūinjutsu while teaching Karin and Naruto what she already knew.

Some Uzumaki were talented in creating seals, others at deciphering what made seals tick, and then there were those who specialized in breaking them down and recreating them. She was good at creating and wasn't too shabby at deconstructing them.

Deciphering seals could take some time though, some fūinjutsu users had a kind of short-hand that made that seal formula unique to them. This stopped others from stealing their seals. It was one of the reasons when someone looked at a seal with a spiral it was usually Uzumaki made, it was like a calling card with hidden traps.

Then there were the universal seals which everyone who knew anything about fūinjutsu used, if she was lucky that was what she was dealing with. Those who knew what they were doing could make these seals unique by adding and tweaking things, but if they were novice and tried this they'd probably sooner blow themselves up. That happened a lot with fūinjutsu.

Whoever had written the seals on her arms – a common place for seals to be applied for cutting off chakra, since one used their hands to channel the life energy – wasn't a novice. If they continued to study they'd become even better, maybe on the level of Jiraiya of the Sannin. As it was they couldn't outmaneuver an Uzumaki.

There were two flaws with these seals. One, they were in plain sight. If it was a simple oversight on their part or not she didn't care. It gave her a better chance of breaking them down, but the Mizukage was right. The more she struggled to use her chakra the more pain she was put in, an electrical current forced through her body. It could be fatal, but she had to try.

Sachi had no intention of waiting for a rescue team that might not even be sent. The other glaring flaw in these seals was the fact they were really well made seals that any fūinjutsu user worth their art knew. The only thing added was the array to shock her the more she tried to use her chakra, and that would be the first part of the array to go. It would take the most time to unravel, if she made one wrong move she could seriously electrocute herself. Sachi wished she had more than the light that came through a small window and the torches.

If worse came to worst, Sachi would use the already drawn seals as a base, tweak them, and create a bomb so powerful she'd blow herself and the area she was locked up into an ashy crater. She didn't want to resort to that, she couldn't imagine leaving Karin and Naruto alone. Sighing, Sachi took a calming breath and once again craned her neck to memorize the seals.

A few minutes later she closed her eyes and began manipulating her chakra. She wasn't truly trying to expel it like one would do for a ninjutsu or genjutsu, but the seals still reacted as they should. However, with some time and pain she would be free of her restraints.

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Seventh Day:

On the seventh day of her confinement she seriously thought they were trying to kill her. She'd gone just over a week without food and only a small cup of water a day. Her empty stomach was causing her to lose energy and concentration.

Every time someone came to check on her she had to stop her progress with the seals, and try not to look like she'd gone ten rounds with Pikachu (she was sure the reference would be lost on the ninja). It was on the seventh day she saw an unwelcome familiar face. He just popped up out of nowhere, and she barely had a few seconds to stop messing with the seals before he phased through her cell bars.

She bit her lip and prayed he didn't come too close, or pay attention to the fading seals on her arms. The only reason no one had noticed yet was how slow the process was and the fact none had gotten close to her. She was in a rather low-lit area.

"Ah, I'm glad to see you're still alive," he said, his voice just as deep as she recalled. She glared, and then noticed the tray with what looked like soup and bread. Her mouth watered. She looked up startled at the mans sudden laughter. "I apologize, your need for food was... overlooked."

Somehow she didn't believe him. Not completely at least. He moved closer, so close she could see the detail of his orange spiral mask. She moved back against the brick wall in a flash, shocked he'd gotten so close to her. Her heart beat erratically in her chest, her mind yelling that any moment he'd know what she'd been doing.

He was someone dangerous, the one behind this, and he wouldn't be so easily fooled. She didn't know when it really hit her that the Mizukage was just a puppet, controlled by this unknown Uchiha, but it made the reality of her situation clearer.

Tobi tilted his head to the side, and chuckled. "You don't need to fear me, Sachi-san. Tobi is a good boy."

Her eyes widened more and she was conflicted. His voice had fluctuated between it's deep baritone and a more boyish, childish, tone. Both confused and frightened her, but she would not show it more than she already had. She turned her head away from him and glared at the wall.

"Why are you here?" she demanded coldly, her voice cracking from lack of water and regular conversation.

"As I said, you need to eat. Water will keep you alive, but you're already losing weight. Before long you'll be flesh and bones." Tobi flopped down with a childish air in front of her, and held up the spoon overflowing with heated soup (and not the appetizing kind, this looked like some kind of broth). "Open wide for the chew-chew..."

she wasn't sure whether to be frightened, insulted, or laugh at this mans – Tobi, she recalled – absurd behavior.

Her twisting stomach told her one truth, she'd eventually have no choice but to play along since she didn't have the movement to feed herself.

How degrading, she thought bitterly.

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He stayed in her cell for well over an hour, part of that time struggling to get her to eat. She smirked thinking about his annoyed huff when she refused the food at first. No amount of train or boat sounds worked. Soon she was so weak and hungry she had no choice but to accept being fed by the man who had ordered her capture.

While he fed her soup and bread he talked to her. She didn't understand what he was thinking. One minute he was childish, and the next he was serious and threatening. By the time he left she had an idea of what he was after. Either he was part of something bigger than controlling the Mizukage, or he was after her for the fact she was an Uzumaki.

Uzumaki were known for their fūinjutsu, feared for it even. Their skill was unparalleled and their special chakra was even more coveted, and she was more unique with her healing abilities having manifested from her special chakra. Uzumaki's were also the perfect candidate for jinchūriki, even at her age. So either he wanted to use her or kill her. Any one of these theories didn't bode well for her.

He returned that night with a cup of water.

"Hm, looks like I'll have to get one of the guards to clean your toilet," he muttered, glancing next to her in disdain.

His eyes were locked on what he called a toilet, but what she called a crap basket, as he spoke. That was basically what it was; it was barely a bucket. It was beginning to stink too. She'd had no choice but to use it, though. It was either that or go on herself, and she was not willing to go so far as to sit in her own filth. She was just lucky she had enough movement to use the bucket.

"What do you want?"

"Haven't we been here before?" he asked, kneeling down in front of her. "I don't want anything, honestly. Why don't we play a game, though?"

Sachi kept her gaze hard, but arched an eyebrow in question.

"What sort of game?" She wasn't sure why she even asked.

"Hn, I'll ask a question and you'll answer truthfully. Then you can ask a question and I'll answer."

"You mean twenty questions," she said and he paused for a second before nodding. She realized he might not know what that was. She still hadn't debunked if she was in another dimension, the far past, or far future. She figured the first and last options were the most likely.

"You could say that, Chi-chan," he said cheerfully, and she grimaced.

"Don't call me that," she snapped.

He just laughed, with his deep voice it sounded rather intimidating and soothing at the same time. She blinked, startled by those thoughts, and wondering where they came from to begin with. She told herself it was a simple observation.

"As a good boy, I'll start us off," Tobi said, his voice twisting back and forth between childish and mature. "What's you favorite color?"

Sachi stared at him in disbelief, but the man just plopped down Indian-style in front of her, tilting his orange-masked face to the side like a curious puppy.

"Ah, come on Chi-chan. It's a simple question," he encouraged.

"Fuck you," she spat. Tobi laughed, amused by her fiery spirit.

He smirked behind his mask as he raised his hand towards her and she flinched back on reflex. Tobi stopped and said, "Don't say something you don't want, Sachi-chan. You never know who'll take you literally." He smirked wider at the faint traces of fear that shook through her body and ignited in her bright eyes.

"If it helps you to get into the game, Tobi's favorite color is red. I find it very beautiful, the color of blood, the Uchiha's precious eyes, and..."

He reached out and grabbed a few strands of her long hair, letting the locks run through his fingers and loving how she seemed to stop breathing, but didn't allow herself to show anymore fear. Instead she glared at him as if he were a disease. In her bound and weakened position it didn't do much to make him feel threatened.

"I don't really have a favorite color, but I like yellow and purple." Sachi let out a breath of relief when Tobi withdrew his hand and chuckled. She realized he never had any intention of hurting her, but was enjoying her reaction to the threat.

"See, was that so hard?"

"You're the reason Tōsui village was attacked! What do you want?" Sachi demanded, her eyes narrowed. "You're not just talking to me in your free time for nothing; you want something."

"Why ask what you already know?" Tobi asked with a sigh and a shake of his head. "Honestly, the whole thing was set up from the beginning. I had to get you out of Konoha somehow. You're more useful to me than you think. I just haven't decided if your more useful dead or alive."

She didn't say anything, not knowing what she could say to that. She wasn't afraid of death or torture, she hadn't been for a long time. Tobi stood and headed for the cell door. Obviously, he didn't want to play anymore and she wasn't going to complain.

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"What is your game with that girl, Tobi?" a black and white figure asked after forming out of the wall minutes after leaving Sachi to her own devices. "You seemed pretty intent on killing her a few days ago..."

Tobi looked at Zetsu and frowned under his mask. It was a good question. He had set up for the leak of information to get to the Hokage, all so he'd send ninja to investigate. He'd even suggested that someone with knowledge of seals be sent with them; they were the best source of protection on undercover missions one could get.

The fact Sachi had a summon, which could deliver quick messages to the Hokage, was something he'd banked on the Hokage taking into account. He had been ready to go there himself and influence the Hokage into sending Sachi, when the Sandaime did so on his own accord. Once she was in Water Country he laid in wait, and near the end of their mission he sent his – or more like Yagura's – ninja into Tōsui Village to bring back the girl.

At first the plan was simply to kill her. She was too unpredictable to leave alive. She'd already caused quite a few Uchiha to live through the massacre when only Sasuke was supposed to be alive. She survived him during the massacre, even if he hadn't been trying as hard as he ought of, it said a lot about her skills.

He'd known there would be more chances for him to get rid of the Uzumaki girl, so he hadn't bothered pursuing her further. Then he'd found out she'd joined Konoha and that she had a younger sister – another full blooded Uzumaki.

She was proven even more troublesome when she became the Uzumaki clan head and took in the jinchūriki. The original plan had indeed been to kill her, but after she arrived he began to think of her uses.

Her healing was unparalleled by anyone other than Tsunade. She was easily as skilled as Itachi, if the boy refrained from using his Mangekyō Sharingan. From what he'd witnessed she had the highest affinity for fire he'd ever seen, and at least some mastery of wind chakra. She used her Adamantine Sealing Chains in ways he'd not even seen Uzumaki Kushina use them. And she was only sixteen, she could become even stronger given time.

Furthermore, any child she birthed would also have the potential of being powerful. He wasn't interested in her solely for her ability to have children, though. He was more interested in her power, the power to heal and control, to bind – with her chains she could easily restrain a jinchūriki or the bijū itself. She could even hold one within herself until the proper time to place it within the statue came.

Like most Uzumaki she would be weak to most higher genjutsu, and though she'd shown some aptitude for minor illusions and breaking them, it wouldn't be enough to counter his Mangekyō Sharingan alone. And even if she was able too, no knowledge in seals would save her from his control once he triggered it. If she was weakened first, though... she would fall pray to his control much easier.

If Sachi saw him in another light other than an enemy, then the chances of her fighting his control lessened even more. If something should happen to Yagura, she would make a wonderful container for the Sanbi if it reformed before he was ready to seal it. If nothing else, she would be the ideal person to recapture it because of her abilities.

He smirked. "My plans have changed for now. Uzumaki Sachi is much more valuable to me alive than she is dead."

Zetsu frowned. He wasn't sure if the boy was making the right choices or not. Uzumaki were a tricky breed, and the girl had a hidden power he didn't like. It was powerful, almost dark, but far from evil. Despite his misgivings, Zetsu nodded. Hopefully, this wouldn't blow up in Obito's face.

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Night Seven:

After the Konoha team had arrived at the Rebellions HQ the plans had begun. A large map was laid out and the teams were created. The shinobi would be split into two factions, they didn't have enough shinobi to split them anymore than that. All together, not counting children too young to fight, they had a force of ninety ninja between the ages of twelve and fifty. Ranging from chūnin to hunter-nin trained.

They only had an estimate of Yagura's forces, but since the majority of Kiri-nin stayed in Kiri they were at least facing off against an army of one hundred and fifty – more or less, probably more. During Aoba's run to Konoha, Mei had sent out some of her best Hunter-nin to find Zabuza and his rumored apprentice. They'd given up hope he would be found, but that night after the Konoha shinobi arrived the Hunter-nin had returned with Zabuza and his apprentice, a young boy named Haku. He was the only known Yuki clan member left.

The whole time Honoka stood at the side, not a very high up ninja despite being taught a few things by Mei herself. She had been born in the Land of Fire fourteen years ago. Her mother, Uzumaki Saki, formerly of the Fukui clan of Kumogakure was a missing-nin.

She left Kumo when the Sandaime Raikage demanded she take lovers and have children to continue her dwindling clan and restore the bloodline – which only Saki had at the time. The Shōton, or Crystal Release, a kekkei genkai which combined earth and lightning release chakra natures.

Her father, Uzumaki Shinobu, was the oldest son of a couple who managed to survive the destruction of Uzushio. They were an older couple, so by the time Shinobu was born his parents were quite a bit over middle aged, even if they didn't look it thanks to Uzumaki longevity.

Honoka wasn't sure what happened to her grandparents, but she didn't recall ever meeting them. Her father, on the other hand, had an unknown illness, something which he'd fought since childhood. He eventually succumbed to the disease. And then her mother died fighting Kumo's hunter-nin. She was young, too young to fight with her mother. She was instead ordered to run and she knew to listen.

If Kumo had known who she was, she certainly wouldn't be here today. They would've taken her back to the village, and she might've faced the threat her mother had just to reintroduce the Shōton to Kumogakure. Honoka was by herself for a long time, barely scrapping by on her own. Eventually, her luck ran dry and she was cornered by unknown shinobi – she still didn't recognize their symbol or which village they were apart of.

It was during this time she met Sachi, a relative – though how closely related there was no sure way of knowing. Honoka did know she was not from the Royal family of the Uzumaki clan, so it had to be pretty distant, since Sachi and her sister were of Royal Uzumaki blood.

Honoka had felt a pit of dread in her stomach since the Konoha-nin arrived. How many Sachi's could there be out there? She should have asked if it was the same Sachi she was thinking of, but truth be told, she wanted to be wrong.

She hadn't known Uzumaki Sachi long. Sometimes she wondered if she should've taken the offer and stayed with the two sisters. She had thought about it, but she didn't want to impose on them. At the time she was more of a free spirit and young.

Although she wasn't as cheerful as before her mother's death, Honoka still knew how to laugh back then and even now. It came down to the fact she didn't wanted to go at another's pace. She was only eleven then, so after a while of tagging along she'd left a note one morning and left.

Honoka had been found by Mei and some of her ninja some time later, almost a year ago now. She hadn't quite understood how badly the war in the Land of Water was at the time, so she'd gone to a port-side village to get a boat to Uzu no Kuni – there were many ports in Water Country. There were fewer in the Land of Fire, but looking back she should have chosen one of them. It would've been safer.

Ninja from Kiri attacked looking for refugee bloodline holders, and in order to protect herself she'd used her bloodline like an idiot. If the rebellion hadn't arrived she wouldn't have gotten away, though she would have tried her damnedest.

"You're out rather late, Miss."

Honoka held in a gasp, her hand going to a kunai tucked into the obi of her short battle kimono (a combination of lavender, pale orange and yellows). Standing there in the edge of the shadows was one of the Konoha ANBU. He didn't look all that old, but than again he did have a mask on. His hair was pretty much all she could see, which was brown and his voice was youthful. He was probably a few years older than her, late teens or early twenties.

"Oh, I was just taking a walk," she stated.

Tenzō nodded. "You should head back to your room soon. We leave early for Kirigakure in the morning."

Honoka knew the journey would he rough. They wanted to get to the gates of Kiri before nightfall. It would take at least thirteen hours to get to Kiri from the base, and that was at a steady run the entire way. Otherwise, it took at least two days. She'd never been to Kiri before, but she'd studied the maps. She probably knew shortcuts half the natives didn't by this point.

"I just couldn't sleep." She looked down at the stone floor and sighed. Tucking a bit of her hair behind her ear nervously she asked, "Look, about the mission. Who exactly are we going for? I heard some speak about her, but I'd like to know some more about her."

Tenzō was already pretty still, but he went even stiller at her question. He'd had his suspicions since he'd seen Honoka. None had mentioned her last name, and he got the impression no one knew it, but her hair was so similar to Sachi and Karin that he thought there was a high chance she was an Uzumaki, even if only part. He hadn't come out and asked though, there was really no point in it.

"She is... an interesting person and a friend. Her name's Uzumaki Sachi, she joined Konoha a few months ago. I don't know her as well as some of the others, mostly Shisui, though. He'd probably be the one who could tell you the most," he admitted.

Honoka's breath caught when he said her full name and her eyes widened slowly.

"Sachi," she muttered, a look of what could only be described as despair entering her dark eyes.

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Sachi spent the better part of the last three days either working on getting out of the seals and chains, or conversing with Tobi – who was the only one to enter her cell or the area after the first time she woke up.

In the last few days she'd gotten to spend so much time with her kidnapper that she was beginning to worry she was sympathizing with him, and she didn't even know much about him to sympathize with. She would sometimes even find herself enjoying his company. She was even starting to feel less threatened by him; she was letting her guard down, and she knew in the back of her mind that was a bad idea.

It was what he wanted – she had little doubt of that.

Sachi was currently working on fumes. She was fed once or twice a day, usually soups or broths, and sometimes she was given bread. She was given water in small amounts, perhaps three times a day, and the only person she ever saw was Tobi. Stockholm Syndrome, she thought, and wondered if that was what Tobi was banking on.

It would be just her bad luck to be developing something like it. It was going to take more than a few days for her to stop wanting to escape, though. It wasn't until late into the afternoon of day eight, when the sun had fallen, that she finally got the last of the seals off.

Well, maybe not off – the ink was still there, but she'd made it so it read something completely different. Instead of stopping her chakra from flowing, it would encourage her chakra to flow, and the array that electrocuted her if she tried to mold chakra was completely gone now.

She wasn't sure if Tobi didn't notice the changes to the seals, wasn't knowledgeable in seals, or was just counting on her escaping. He hadn't acted as if he'd noticed. Getting out of the chains was a little more tricky, but with well aimed wind chakra she was able to cut the chains with little resistance and sound. She probably could've melted them with fire chakra, but that could harm her as well and the less injured she was the better her chances of escape were.

Her next dilemma was standing. Sachi's muscles must have started to atrophy, having stayed in the same position for over a week, so when she stood she fell flat on her face. It took a few minutes to make it to her feet, get out of the cell, and make her way towards the door leading out of wherever she was. Before she left she planted some seals, which she'd used chakra to implant, on the stone walls. When she activated them there would be a big boom worthy of an Uzumaki.

When she opened the door, which was surprisingly unlocked, she was faced with the startled reaction of the shinobi who guarded the door. She'd thought of this, so when he turned to look at her with surprise she was ready.

"Wha – how did you..."

His first mistake was trying to speak before acting. Her hand, coated in her unique chakra, slammed into his chest. The chakra scalpel cut deeply into the guard's heart. He fell to the floor with a thump, and she thanked her mother mentally for insisting she learn some medical-ninjutsu. The guard was still alive for now, but would soon drown in his own blood.

She stepped over him, whispering a soft sorry as she made her way out of the underground encampment. She was soon able to do more than sluggishly jog, most likely her Uzumaki blood kicking in to help her out. She got to the top of the stairs and opened a steel hatch, which opened up into what she assumed to be the basement of the Mizukage tower. She pulled herself through only to be startled when she heard explosions going off, shaking the ground and building around her.

She stood up with a small smile on her face, which grew when she felt Shisui's chakra signature along with a few familiar others. They'd actually come for her.

"I had expected this, but maybe not so soon."

Sachi's eyes widened and she spun around...

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The rebellion left their camp before dawn, just as the sun was peaking over the horizon. Other than minor rest stops they had run for the last fourteen and half hours. If it weren't for the soldier pills, they'd have been unable to fight to their full capabilities.

While some ninja had the endurance to go into battle after such a long journey without the added aide of soldier pills, younger more inexperienced ninja didn't always have this. Once they arrived the pills were passed out, to be taken only as needed.

The rebellion had been split into two factions. One was down below laying in wait, while Mei, Shisui, Honoka and a few others were on cliffs overlooking Kirigakure. Close enough to rest and plan, but not too close to the village that the ninja possibly standing guard would notice them right away.

"What are we looking at, Ao?" Mei asked the man gazing down at the village, the eye under his eye-patch seeing everything. The Konoha shinobi were aware of what was under it, though they had neither brought it up or asked to see it. With the current situation no one cared that the man had a hidden Byakugan.

"There don't seem to be many shinobi on watch. It's possible this is when they change shifts from day guards to night guards," Ao said, unsure as it had been years since he'd been a Kiri shinobi. Things could have easily changed. "Our best bet is a surprise assault, I believe. We strike hard from above, and then have the ground forces move in. Either way they out number us."

Mei nodded and turned to Shikaku.

"What do you think?" she asked.

Shikaku nodded. "It's probably our best plan. They seem to not have noticed us yet, and seeing as security is lax they must believe we will not come for her. Probably in fear of spreading the civil war outside Water Country."

"Honoka, send the order to watch for the signal to begin the invasion," Shisui said, stepping forward. The younger Uzumaki girl nodded, and touched the headset at her ear connecting her to Tenzō who led the group down below.

"What's the signal?" she asked, before opening the connection.

"It'll be hard to miss," Shisui said, forming a tiger seal. Honoka nodded in understanding. She may not use fire jutsu, but she knew the start of one when she saw it. Opening the connection she relayed the orders to Tenzō who informed his shinobi.

Shisui's eyes flared with a spinning Mangekyō Sharingan, and he flashed through an array of hand seals.

"Katon: Gōenka (Fire Release: Great Flame Flower)," he said, and spat out dozens of large fireballs.

The others were taken by surprise. Not so much at the chosen technique, but how much more powerful it was than usual. The fireballs were larger than most and many more in number. Kakashi smirked under his mask, he supposed it was true; you shouldn't push an Uchiha. Within seconds the fireballs had rained down on Kirigakure and the area just outside it's gates like meteorites.

"Nice," Mei said, nodding at the destruction the attack had caused. Inwardly she winced at the destruction caused to her old home, but villages could be rebuilt.

Ao nodded. "The guards are down," he said, noticing it through the explosions and smoke with his eye.

The shinobi led by Tenzō charged the gates and flooded into the village. Soon after this, the ones on the cliff found their own way down and into the village.

The battle for Kirigakure had begun.

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The village of Kirigakure was soon a battlefield. Blood ran along the ground as shinobi fell on both sides. None had the time to recognize just whose shinobi were taken down, and even still, some of the blood was not from the dead but the wounded.

Tenzō's Mokuton cleared ways, and smashed ninja into buildings along the way. The Kiri-nin under Mei's order, temporarily listening to Tenzō as their commander, fought just as fiercely. This was the final battle between them and Yagura, they could all feel it.

Rana and Mana were twins who had joined the rebellion because of their own morals. They didn't have a bloodline, but they were friends with someone who did. Their teammate had been killed in the beginning of the war for his bloodline. They took pleasure in being able to pay back the ninja who followed Yagura with brutal force. They charged headlong, cutting down ninja with their short swords, and having each others back.

They'd worked well together since birth, and their natural elemental affinities showed this. Mana ran through one-handed seals and shot water from her mouth, coating the ground with a shallow puddle under the ninja surrounding them. Rana took a running leap into the air, already finished with her own hand seals, and as she fell to the ground on one knee in front of her sister her hand sparked with electrical current.

"Hōryū Raika no Jutsu (Discharge Lightning Calamity Technique)," they said together. The ninja who didn't react fast enough were caught in the explosive jutsu, and were either killed instantly or injured severely; either way they wouldn't be getting back up.

"I see you've both come a long way, Rana and Mana." The twins turned to spot their former genin instructor. They hadn't seen him as such since he single-handedly killed Kageki, his other student and their friend.

"Yuu," Mana spat like the name was venom itself.

Rana gripped her wakizashi tightly, her pale blue eyes glaring holes into the shinobi standing with a few others. He'd obviously stopped them from charging ahead to attack them, and Mana being a sensor knew there were ninja fighting others around them. Mana sighed, and twirled her own wakizashi in her hand before stabbing it backwards into a Kiri-nin trying to attack from behind. She'd spoken – figuratively – too soon.

"You've both changed. You look good," he said with a smile like a snake.

They fell into a stance known only to their clan – which had a large amount of twin births – their swords crossed over the others.

"Shut up and fight us," Rana said in no mood for idle chit-chat, and her long white hair shadowing her face.

Mana nodded, her silver hair bobbing in the high ponytail she wore.

"Today we avenge Kageki. You wont be walking away from this fight alive, Yuu."

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Zabuza laughed as his zanbatō slashed through three ninja at once, the mist from Kirigakure's signature move; the Hiding in Mist techinque, causing some of the newer shinobi to pause, and the others to fight to survive. He was well known and more than a few had hesitated upon seeing him again. At his back was his young apprentice. Haku's ice release jutsu and growing skill with senbon making it even harder for Yagura's men.

"Zabuza-sama," Haku said, appearing by his side from one of his ice mirrors. "Another group are headed this way."

For a ten year old he was a strong ninja, already of high-genin level, all thanks to the rather treacherous training Zabuza had put Haku through since he'd found the last Yuki. Haku was young still, and if it weren't for Zabuza's insistence, Haku would've stayed back at base with the others ten and under. Haku was lucky not to have encountered anyone above chūnin level yet. Though he stuck close to Zabuza as commanded, so that could be why.

Zabuza turned his attention in the direction of the approaching ninja and snorted.

"Looks like Nobuyuki and his lot." Surprising enough Yuu wasn't with him. "Fall back Haku. This is out of your league," Zabuza said. Haku hesitated before nodding, disappearing through one of his ice mirrors. Haku would return to help the others with their fights.

"I can't believe you had the nerve to come back, Zabuza," Nobuyuki said, coming to a stop in front of him. The mist obscured a lot, but they could still make out the other in the mist.

"Lets skip the banter Nobuyuki, and just get to the fight."

He smirked and Zabuza charged into the group of ninja, his sword raised to kill.

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While Mana, Rana, and Zabuza had their own battles, others fought around them. Honoka fought closely with some of the Konoha ninja and Kiri-nin. The young redhead may be a budding fūinjutsu specialist and scientist, but she was not unable to fight. It was why she had stayed with the rebellion, because they'd promised her training. She'd learned a lot from them, mainly in taijutsu.

It showed as she was with Tenzō's group, manipulating her chakra into seals which she used in battle. What appeared to just be a devastating open palm strike to one ninja's chest, detonated into an explosive tag the moment they channeled chakra, taking out two or three of the closest ninja in the blast. She kicked another in the head and then swiped her open palm over the same ninja's throat, cutting off the mans access to ninjutsu by closing his wind pipe off with a seal.

Tenzō was impressed; he'd only heard of a few being skilled enough to use fūinjutsu in battle. Uzumaki Mito was renowned for it, and Uzumaki Kushina was skilled in it, but was more known for kenjutsu and her chakra chains. The only other person he'd seen able to pull it off was Uzumaki Sachi.

Sachi had actually taught Honoka quite a few of the moves she knew (during the short three weeks she'd been with the Uzumaki sisters). Tenzō's attention was pulled back to his battle, which considering how out numbered they were was going well. If not for Shisui's preemptive strike before they rushed Kirigakure, it may have gone differently.

It was already clear the rebellion was a big factor that allowed for the Konoha-nin to make it this far. If they'd had more shinobi to spare they could've done this alone, but Konoha could not afford for the casualties of war so soon after a good chunk of their shinobi force was massacred.

He slammed his elbow into the chin of a Kiri-nin, and in quick succession thrust his tantō into the ninja's heart before withdrawing, and beheading one coming up behind him. Tenzō jumped back, away from a water ninjutsu which crashed onto the ground, eroding the earth, and his hands flew through seals.

"Mokuton: Daijurin no Jutsu (Wood Release: Great Forest Technique)." Tenzō's arm turned to wood and shot out, breaking into branches and becoming spear-like at the end. Those who didn't avoid the branches were speared through the chest or stomach, and dead within seconds of being flung off the wooden branches.

As his feet hit the ground, he was already speaking another jutsu. "Doton: Doryūsō (Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears)." Spears condensed from the mud the prior water jutsu had created, and took out the rest of the group in front of him.

Close by, Honoka took on more unknown Kiri-nin, and thanks to her stamina – which was more than common among the Uzumaki clan – she hardly realized how long had passed since the invasion began. Her knee collided with a ninja's groin, sending him to the ground on his knees, and she grabbed his head in her hands before twisting – breaking his neck.

She spun around, ducking under a sword, and sending her shoulder into the ninja's chest, thanking her short stature for the ability to get under his defense. At the same time she thrust a kunai into the ninja's chest, and jumped backward to avoid an earth jutsu. Unfortunately, for every successful hit or kill, there was someone who got past her defense.

The earth clipped her side and she groaned at the newly opened cuts and bruises. She only spared a moment to make sure her arm wasn't broken, but it cost her. Honoka yelped when a water jutsu slammed into her, and as she stood with a grimace of pain she was forced to doge multiple kunai thrown at her.

She was quick on her feet, but she wasn't the fasted ninja out there, so a few sliced into skin as they flew past her; cutting into her clothes and biting into her legs, arms, and sides. One lodged itself into her shoulder, and she groaned again when a fist flew into her face and then gut, sending her tumbling across the ground closer to Tenzō's position.

Things had turned bad for her quickly.

"You alright?" Tenzō asked, his mask hiding any sort of concern he might have shown on his face.

Honoka got to her feet, her eyes narrowed. "I'm fine, I just got too arrogant there," she said. "But they won't be alright in a minute."

Tenzō killed another ninja who came at him from the front, and took a hit from behind, before recovering and successfully fending the sword wielding kunoichi off. When he had room to breath without being cut down, he pulled the kunai out of his back, and noticed Honoka gathering chakra into her hands before slamming them onto the ground.

A seal array appeared, and a chain link, like a single Kongō Fūsa (Adamantine Sealing Chains), shot out towards every enemy ninja within fifty feet. A bigger array appeared under them, and Tenzō called for their shinobi to fall back away from the array.

A few of the smarter Kirigakure shinobi noticed what he was warning about, and moved just in time to avoid the affects of the seal. Tenzō had expected the seal to be one giant explosive tag, but instead the ninja slowed down, nearly freezing in place.

Honoka smirked, thanking Sachi mentally for leaving her with one of her most accomplished creations. The seal would target a group and cause time to slow down in the area of the seal. Sachi had created it with the Immobulous spell in mind. The redhead's hand flew through hand seals, and Tenzō was taken by surprise at the words out of Honoka's mouth.

"Shōton: Suishōryū Daibakuha (Crystal Release: Crystal Dragon Great Explosion)."

A great dragon made of purple crystal wound around Honoka before shooting towards the immobilized shinobi. It circled around them like a boa constrictor, and then with one last hand seal it exploded into crystal shards. The shards acted oddly, instead of just spreading out in all directions like one expected, they homed in on the shinobi inside the seal array. Like the shards were attuned to only their chakra and where they were.

There was only a few enemy shinobi in the area after the smoke cleared, those who had left the seal before it had activated completely where still standing, but injured. They seemed shaken by what they'd seen, and Honoka groaned at the expense of chakra that one technique took.

The seal itself took a lot of chakra, and then the jutsu she'd used was her most powerful ninjutsu. She may be an Uzumaki, but she was only half Uzumaki, and even an Uzumaki had their limits. It didn't help she hadn't completely mastered that combination technique yet.

"Good job," Tenzō said, holding out a hand to help her up. "You alright to continue forward?"

Honoka grinned shortly, and pulled out the soldier pill she'd not needed until now. "You bet."

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While Shikaku handled an area not far away with the Yamanaka and Akimichi clan heads, Shisui had cut a swath through the shinobi forces of Kirigakure. If someone had seen him they'd swear the Yellow Flash of Konoha had returned in a black flash of death to anyone who got in his way.

His target was the Mizukage Tower, which was just about centered in the village. Mei had told him it was the most likely place for Yagura to be holding Sachi, since their high security cells were directly underneath it. As he moves he cuts down the ninja who try to take him out.

But with one glance of his Sharingan many stopped short only to begin screaming as if in pain, others turn against one another; saving him from dirtying his blade and wasting time. He wasn't known for his powerful genjutsu and shunshin for nothing.

With the Mizukage tower a few feet in front of him, Shisui was forced to slow to a stop by a group of shinobi waiting for him. Together they unleash a wave of water, hoping to disable him. Tossing his sword into the air, he flashes through quick hand seals, gathers his breath, and releases.

"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku (Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation)."

The jutsu was rather feared by those who remembered its origins. A technique made infamous by Uchiha Madara, his great-grandfather. Not many were old enough to have encountered it, and few knew how to do the jutsu – which was probably why more Uchiha hadn't gone around spamming it in the past.

It was passed down through his family though, his father left it for him to learn after his death. Shisui didn't use it often, preferring more subtle means of making a name for himself; such as his shunshin and genjutsu, which was what he was known for in most parts of the world.

The wide spreed fire jutsu – one of his most powerful Katon jutsu – collided with the water and pushed against it. Steam was the result as the water vaporized, leaving those who hadn't moved to be engulfed in what was left of the fire.

Once he'd finished breathing fire, Shisui body flickered forward in quick succession, giving the group of remaining shinobi no time to react before they were cut down, some by nothing more than the afterimages of his technique.

With his eyes darting around warily, Shisui came to a stop and flicked the blood from his tantō. All around him was devastated earth, charred and corpse ridden. He understood a little better now why the Rebellion had failed to stop Yagura in the past. There situation seemed hopeless with how outnumbered they were. He refused to give in, though, and he wasn't leaving without Sachi.

His chance to get to her was now, while the pathway was clear of shinobi. He took a few steps forward, but just outside the entrance he stopped. Sensing a chakra signature just above him, Shisui looked up with his eyes narrowed.

"Ah, so you came after all. I wonder, how much fight do you even have left?" Yagura's mocking voice asked. Clapping slowly and chuckling darkly (in a way Shisui found overly cliché). "Do you even have the chakra left to spare, Shunshin no Shisui?"

The Mizukage stood in front of him now, just ten feet away, and Shisui's grip on his tantō tightened.

"Where is she?" he demanded, his knuckles turning white from gripping the hilt so tightly.

"So that's the great Uchiha Shisui's reason for storming the Bloody Mist." Yagura laughed. "How the mighty have fallen."

Shisui growled low in his throat, his Sharingan spinning as he disappeared like a mirage. He was on Yagura in a second, and sweeping his sword across with the desire to detach the Mizukage's head from his shoulders. He only ended up splashed with water – a water clone, he thought with annoyance. He turned around in time to catch the man's hooked-club with his sword.

Looking into his eyes, Shisui couldn't help but feel as if something was off. Yagura spoke as if he knew what he was doing, and he enjoyed causing the chaos and bloodshed he did, but his eyes... they were different.

Before he could look further into it, Yagura channeled chakra into his club to double his strength, and push past his guard. Shisui body-flickered behind the Kage, only to find the man's club headed for his temple. Ducking down he received a kick to the torso, which shot him across the field and into some rubble from broken down buildings.

"You can't hope to defeat me… Ahhg!" Yagura cried out when a punch forced his head to the side. Another punch forced him to double over. With wide eyes he barely noticed the sound of a blade through air, and replaced himself with a water clone before Shisui could decapitate him. This clone was different than the one before, and Shisui hissed when the water splashed him; acting like acid it began burning through his clothes and skin. It wasn't enough to make him loose focus, however.

They stood across from each other, feet apart, and Yagura wiped blood from his face with a look of surprise.

"You talk too much." Shisui smirked. "Looks like I got first blood."

"It'll be the last thing you ever do, boy!" Yagura growled out, and the fight started again. Punches and kicks flew between then, and both used their weapon of choice to their advantage. Shisui took more than a few hits from the shorter man, but gave as good as he got.

"Sango Renshō (Coral Ripples Rising)." Yagura slammed the end of his staff onto the ground, and Shisui's eyes widened when he saw the spiked-coral rising from the ground in a line towards him.

Yagura smirked when the coral pierced Shisui's body, but instead of gagging on his own blood and dying slowly, like he'd expected, Shisui simply faded away. Looking around for the teleporter, Yagura's head snapped up at the sound of flapping wings. Heading straight for him was a flock of murderous crows. Skidding back to gain distance, Yagura batted those he could away with his staff.

However, he was unable to deflect them all, and ended up bleeding from being pecked at by the birds that broke his defense. Snarling in anger, the Mizukage released a bit of the Three tails chakra, which caused the crows to disperse. He was too late to stop Shisui's next move, though, and felt his breath leave him when he was kicked across the rough ground.

He was standing back up when he heard it.

"Raiton: Gian (Lightning Release: False Darkness)!" Shisui spat out a spear of bright lightning, his tantō at his side and the lightning chakra swirling around it as well. Using his afterimage clones, Shisui sped around the Mizukage, leaving behind dozens of afterimages.

The lightning was too fast. Yagura had no chance at dodging it, and although he had a technique that might turn the tables, he had no time to enact it. He barely noticed Shisui running circles around him moments before the lightning struck him full on.

His screams were those of agony, even for a seasoned ninja being struck with lightning wasn't something he could ignore.

Shisui's shoulders sagged momentarily, but his Sharingan told him what he feared – Yagura had survived, despite having been fried by lightning; lightning which had pierced the right side of his chest, inches from his beating heart. He'd had just enough time to make the attack less lethal, and he was breathing heavily, nearly on his knees.

"H-how… dare you. How dare you make a mockery of me!" Yagura snarled, the Sanbi's chakra swirling around him.

'Shit,' Shisui thought. He'd used a lot of his chakra already, and he could feel the exhaustion starting to set in. he knew this could happen, throwing around high-level ninjutsu like the Great Fire Annihilation and False Darkness wasn't without sacrifice. His Shunshin as well, it might be a low chakra consuming technique but with the way he used it, it might as well have been a high-chakra consuming technique.

But he couldn't give up now. His comrades were fighting a battle that they could very well lose around him. It had been decided he'd focus on finding Sachi, and he wasn't about to fail his mission. Reaching into his back pouch he pulled out a capsule, a chakra pill, and swallowed it dry. Instantly he felt his reserves rise, but it would only last so long. No one said fighting a jinchūriki, who happened to be a Kage, was going to be easy.

Raising his tantō in front of him, Shisui darted forward so fast his foot bit into the ground, leaving a small crater in his wake.

He would not lose!

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Tobi watched from a high spot atop the Mizukage tower, his arms crossed and an amused gleam in his eyes. If one was to look deeper, they'd see a hint of pride within them as well. Tobi, otherwise known as Uchiha Madara (or in a distant past – his real name, Uchiha Obito), was rather impressed with Shisui.

He could see now why the boy was said to be the most talented ninja within the clan in generations, second only to Itachi. But that was really debatable. Tobi wasn't sure who would win should Shisui and Itachi face off in an honest to god battle to the death. Both were prodigies, both possessed the drive and power to back them. He supposed it came down to who wanted it bad enough.

The same could be said for the battle going on now. The tides were stacked against his foolish little brother. Yagura was a good little puppet, and a powerful one at that. He was a seasoned ninja, having fought in wars Shisui was too young to fully participate in. He had the power of a bijū at his disposal, but at the same time Yagura was at a disadvantage because of the power behind Shisui's dōjutsu.

There was always the chance Shisui would come out victorious. In fact, Tobi hoped he did. He may have broken any bonds he could've had with his little brother the moment Rin died, the moment he'd set loose the Kyūbi on Konoha and helped Itachi massacre their clan, but he was still blood. He couldn't help the pride he felt for his brother.

Still, he had no intention of going easy on the boy. Should he survive Yagura, he had a special surprise in store for Shunshin no Shisui.

It would be hell.

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Shisui stumbled back, his head ringing from being bludgeoned with the end of Yagura's staff. He realized his mistake too late; he gasped for air when the hooked end came around his neck and Yagura spun around in circles.

Shisui was flung about in a circle, causing his head and blood to pound, before Yagura let gravity have him. He was flung high into the air, and gasped loudly when he felt a chakra powered foot meet his back, nearly snapping the spine as he was forced back down onto the earth.

Yagura landed on the ground, and walked over to the cracked earth where Shisui struggled to stand. The Mizukage chuckled, his staff held loosely at his side. Shisui stood half on his knees as he shook the blood from his face and ears. Spitting a glob onto the ground – luckily his spine wasn't cracked in the collision between his body and the earth.

"You stand no chance. You and your comrades will die today..."

Shisui glared at Yagura, his eyes spinning into his Mangekyō Sharingan. Yagura froze momentarily, and Shisui tilted his head to the side. To a regular shinobi it would be difficult to spot, but Shisui was an Uchiha, someone who regularly made a point of looking someone in the eye, and he could tell the difference between honest emotion and emotion hidden beneath the surface.

And Yagura, though acting perfectly in control of himself the entire battle, had a glazed quality to his eyes that Shisui recognized almost instantly – a genjutsu, a strong one if it could cause a Kage level shinobi to act like this. And he only knew one type of genjutsu that could accomplish this effect; a Sharingan based genjutsu.

The way the Mizukage had frozen at his Mangekyō… well, Shisui had a terrible taste in his mouth as a theory came to mind. Other than Itachi, he was the only known Mangekyō user alive, but there was one other possibility. The masked man Sachi fought the night of the massacre was thought to be an Uchiha, but other than Sachi's word, there was no solid proof. But maybe now there was.

Shisui tried negating the genjutsu, but whatever genjutsu this was, it was the strongest he'd encountered, other than his own. Unfortunately, his prodding at the control held over Yagura seemed to shake the man from his daze. But the genjutsu hadn't broken. Acting quickly, Shisui body-flickered behind Yagura and swung his blade at his neck. He was stopped by the man's staff, which pushed back against his blade.

Yagura glared into his eyes, a brave (or stupid) thing to do when faced with the Sharingan. With a grunt Yagura pushed once more, adding chakra to his staff, and watched with glee when Shisui's tantō broke in two. Shisui's eyes widened, but he was nearly ten feet away from the Mizukage within seconds, throwing his now useless sword to the side.

"Who are you?"

"What are you talking about, boy?" asked Yagura, raising an eyebrow and leveling his staff towards him. "I am Yagura, Mizukage of Kirigakure. Jinchūriki of the Sanbi."

"Maybe in body, but in mind… you're little more than a doll. Haven't you noticed, hasn't your bijū noticed?" Shisui asked.

He needed to know. Most jinchūriki weren't quite as susceptible to genjutsu as others, usually because their bijū could warn their container or negate the effects. Yet he knew more powerful genjutsu could overpower even bijū. His own ancestor had controlled the Kyūbi, the strongest of the nine tailed-beast. If this genjutsu was powerful enough to render the Sanbi docile, it must be on a level similar to his Kotoamatsukami, and the caster was someone to be weary of. Even to him, known for his prowess in genjutsu.

He only had one genjutsu that might counter the effects of whatever was controlling Yagura. However, he wasn't even sure if he could use it right now. It usually took more than a few months to use it after using it once. And it hadn't been long since Danzō's execution. He'd never tried to use the Kotoamatsukami to counter another genjutsu either, only to take control of someone. Although, he was almost positive it would work. The thing about Kotoamatsukami was that it could take up to a decade to be useable again (depending on the user). He'd already used it once – he didn't know if he could do it again.

'Plan B then,' he thought. He pulled out a handful of kunai, tossed them into the air and inhaled. "Fūton: Reppūshō (Wind Release: Gale Palm)." He clapped his hands together, letting loose a powerful wind which caught the kunai and made them even more deadly.

The wind and kunai hurtled towards Yagura, who scoffed and batted the kunai away, growling when he noticed the gouges it placed in his staff. He was pushed back by the fierceness of the wind, but kept on his feet. Reaching behind him, Shisui pulled out a scroll and unsealed another blade, a longer-bladed wakizashi, which had belonged to his mother.

It was made in the land of Iron and was much sturdier metal than his old tantō. He didn't usually use it because it was of sentimental value, but he'd rather use it now than be left with only kunai and shuriken as weapons against Yagura's staff. If he could just get rid of it, the fight might land back in his favor.

They charged each other with the intention of ending the others life. Their respective weapons clashed together, and they would sometimes shift into a more taijutsu heavy battle, their weapons either at their sides or used as defense against the others punches and kicks.

Shisui got a heavy punch on Yagura's face, only to have the smaller man heave a powerful kick into his mid-section. Doubling over, Shisui resorted to body-flickering around Yagura, and summoning a murder of crows to attack the man.

Yagura snarled through his teeth. "This old trick again," he said. "No matter."

Shisui was unprepared for Yagura to be upon him in a matter of seconds, having incinerated his crows with a large dose of bijū chakra flung around him like a cloak. Yagura's staff stabbed into the Uchiha's gut and then his back. Once behind Shisui, he hooked him with his staff and tossed him into the air.

Making a few hand seals, Yagura held his hand to his mouth and said, "Suiton: Suichū Hōgeki (Water Release: Water Pillar Barrage)." Pillars of water raced up to impact Shisui, but he'd righted himself while in the air and his Mangekyō appeared to glow murderously.

"Amaterasu," he said, and black fire lit up in-front of him. The water was instantly rendered little more than steam (barely even that). Yagura's eyes widened before narrowing, narrowly avoiding the black flames which had continued to travel for him. He watched the flames burn the ground, refusing to be extinguished by anyone but their caster.

"I see," Yagura said, a Mangekyō Sharingan design flashing in his eyes, which didn't go unnoticed to Shisui.

'So it is a Sharingan genjutsu, which means I have to end this. Now!' Shisui thought and he said, "Amaterasu: Entenka." The ribs of his Susanoo covered him, and was then lit by the black flames of Amaterasu. Holding his wakizashi out in front of him he continued, "Enton: Kagutsuchi (Blaze Release: Added Tool Earth Lord)."

The flames spread around him and his sword. While he cast the Amaterasu with his left eye, he controlled it with his right. Yagura frowned, visibly shaken by the show in power, but unwilling to give in. Shisui disappeared from where he stood, leaving behind smoldering ground as he rushed Yagura. The jinchūriki knew if those flames touched him, not even Isobu would be healing him quick enough; maybe not at all. He'd only heard tell of the Uchiha's black flames, and the green and black encircling Shisui certainly outdid any rumor he'd heard.

Holding his staff in front of him, Yagura made a circle motion in the air, while putting distance between him and the teleporter. "Suiton: Mizukagami no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Mirror Technique)!"

A mirror appeared and Shisui nearly stopped his approach when a mirror-image of himself appeared out of it. He continued his run and with his free hand he went through hand seals. He knew if he didn't overpower this reflection then he was done for. The last thing he wanted to do was be hit by his own technique.

He willed the flames of Amaterasu to thicken around and in front of him, the bones of his Susanoo becoming fuller as he muttered his last words, "Raiton: Jibashi (Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder)" Lightning streamed around him in wide arcs, attaching to his form as he and his reflection collided.

There was a cracking sound, and the sounds of lightning screeching. Yagura gasped as his mirror was cracked and shattered into fine dust. His jutsu standing no chance against Shisui's lightning enhanced technique. He screamed when Shisui struck him, having no time to avoid it Yagura was left completely vulnerable. For sixty seconds after-images of Shisui danced circles around the Mizukage, his blade striking, his flames eating at the jinchūriki who couldn't heal quick enough to match his speed and power.

Shisui landed one more blow with his wakizashi before he landed a few feet away with his back to the Mizukage. Both of his eyes bled fiercely, and he struggled to stand. The lightning fell away, leaving only his flaming bones, until he was forced to drop both his Amaterasu and incomplete Susanoo. Yagura was screaming silently, his left arm (and staff) completely eaten away by Amaterasu and his body a geyser of blood. The Mizukage fell to his knees, his fingers digging into the ground.

"I-I won't be de-fe..." Yagura struggled to speak and stand.

His arm was gone and the deep cuts on his body felt as if they were infected with those black flames. They refused to close, even the Sanbi had trouble healing his wounds. His arm was a complete lost cause, and if he'd not detached it at the shoulder it would've continued to burn away at his body. He hadn't been left unburned either, his body was covered in burns, but his arm was the only thing which had caught completely on fire.

Yagura didn't finish, he screamed and released one tail of Isobu's power, causing Shisui to groan. Wiping his eyes, Shisui flickered in-front of Yagura with half of his Susanoo activated and his eyes spinning. The Mizukage's eyes widened in realization, and knowing that he couldn't evade the Uchiha, Yagura was caught by his power and Isobu was lolled into sleep.

Without his bijū, Yagura was left near defenseless. He couldn't avoid the powerful punch the arm of Shisui's Susanoo delivered, and he was punted across the village. Too far for Shisui to even see when he inevitably landed.

Unsure if it was over, but unable to keep to his feet, Shisui fell to his knees panting. His chakra felt burnt out again, worse than before, and his eyes stung like a thousand bee-stings. Blood slowly trickled down his face from his eyes. He closed his eyes and caught his breath while he still could. Despite Yagura being out of commission, he knew this was far from over.

Shisui dug his blade into the ground as he tried to clear his vision and keep his body steady. The ground around him had been torn asunder by him and Yagura, a battle which he doubted was truly over given Yagura's jinchūriki status; it was a known fact that it was notoriously hard to kill a jinchūriki. If the Mizukage got back up he'd have no choice but to use the Kotoamatsukami, and pray that it worked so soon after the last use.

"I must say," a deep voice said from above. "I'm impressed."

Shisui's breath, which came in short burst, halted and he turned towards the top of the Mizukage tower. Standing there nonchalantly was a man dressed in black; a body-concealing black cloak and orange spiral mask. His eyes widened and he pushed the discomfort use of his Mangekyō caused aside; this was the man Sachi had seen, the one who'd aided Itachi in massacring the majority of the Uchiha clan. Shisui wasn't sure how he felt about this mans part in the massacre of his clan, but suddenly Sachi's capture made even more sense. This wasn't just about her blood.

"You," he breathed the words. "You're the one who helped Itachi..."

Tobi tilted his head silently. "Hmm? So you've heard of me?" He chuckled. "I'm not surprised. Sachi doesn't seem the type to keep our… encounter to herself."

Shisui narrowed his eyes at the familiar way he said Sachi's name, as if they were close friends. Suddenly it hit him who the true mastermind behind Yagura really was. "You're controlling Yagura… you're an Uchiha?!" he accused, now back on his feet and on his guard. "Just who the hell are you?!"

"Again, you're correct. But given your prowess in genjutsu it was only a matter of time before you noticed. As for who I am… you may call me Tobi."

His teeth ground together, his irritation and anger rising the longer he listened to Tobi. This man hadn't only killed who-knows-how-many of his clan, but admitted to being the cause of a civil war – the reason behind countless deaths: women, children, and men alike. Shisui held his wakizashi in-front of him and disappeared, leaving an afterimage clone behind. He was upon the masked-man who called himself Tobi before most could've blinked. Any ninja not quick enough to react would have been beheaded, but Shisui got a nasty surprise when he passed through Tobi like a ghost. Spinning around on his heal, Shisui stared at Tobi in shock.

"Huh, what was that?" he muttered, he'd flown right through him! He'd never seen a technique like that before, the only thing remotely similar was when someone would mistake one of his afterimages for him.

Tobi laughed. "I am not without my own unique abilities, boy." He tapped the side of his mask, near his lone eye, and Shisui clinched his fist. So that was his secret, Shisui thought, he was using a technique unique to his Mangekyō Sharingan. Shisui had underestimated this man, but that wouldn't happen again.

Tobi held out a hand and mockingly urged Shisui to attack, and having no choice but to take the challenge, Shisui flickered across the distance between them. If he couldn't trust Tobi to stay solid long enough to land a hit, then he'd simply have to be faster than Tobi. His sword glanced off Tobi's kunai and Shisui exploded into crows, which attempted peck the masked-man to death.

Tobi proved too much for the crows, however, and one by one the crows were destroyed. Falling from the sky, the real Shisui poised his sword to pierce Tobi's body silently. He only got so close before the man looked up and disappeared entirely with only a distortion in the air to show for it. His sword sank into rock and earth instead.

"Shit," Shisui muttered, standing and groaning as his earlier injuries strained with each breath and movement. He was pretty sure a good number of his ribs were broken.

His grip on his blade was wretched away when he was kicked in the back and sent tumbling across the torn ground. He came to a stop about a foot away from Tobi, who'd reappeared behind him from wherever he'd gone. Shisui knew it was tied to his eyes (he didn't know what this technique was, but he'd look into it if he made it home. The Uchiha records had to have mentioned such abilities somewhere).

"Amaterasu," Shisui called as soon as he set eyes on Tobi, and the man simply crossed his arms and waited. He growled out in rage when the flames were sucked into whatever dimension his eye led too. Opening his senses he was gone from his spot just as a distortion opened up above him, and his own technique rained down on the spot he'd been moments before.

His eyes strained against him more, blood trailing down from one, and he felt his reserves plummet even farther. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was out-classed. Maybe if he wasn't already so worn from his prior battles, but there was no point denying that right now Tobi was toying with him.

Damn him, Shisui thought angrily.

Tobi clapped his hands together and laughed darkly. "Splendid. You're a talented shinobi, but you're a hundred years too early to be standing against me today. It was an honorable try, I'll give you that."

"Just tell me, what have you done with Sachi?" Shisui demanded, his blood boiling in his veins. He'd never felt so much hatred for one person before – not even Danzō.

"Hn? I've done nothing… in fact, why don't you see for yourself," Tobi said, looking towards the Mizukage Tower and Shisui felt a shiver down his spine.

"What..." Shisui's tongue dried out and he chocked on his words, his eyes widening upon seeing a familiar slender figure standing on the very top of the tower.

Long red-hair fell to the back of shapely thighs to her knees, but unlike the usual near-straight, asymmetrical locks he was used to, her hair was messy, tangled in spots and spiking out almost uncontrollably. He didn't know if the spikiness was something caused by lack of care or something more natural, but it made her look wild. Almost feral against her too pale skin, which was visibly scuffed with dirt and dust.

Her fist were twisted into her kimono, which was tattered and torn, nearly falling off her shoulders and ripped at the ribcage. Her usual vivacious emerald eyes were lacking most of their spark and glazed over – Tobi wasn't trying to disguise the fact he was controlling her.

"You bastard!" Shisui shouted, glaring the promise of a slow and painful death at Tobi. "Let her go. This fight doesn't have to concern her."

Tobi laughed, appearing behind the unresponsive Uzumaki. He placed a hand on her bare shoulder, using his other gloved hand to caress her cheek. "Now why should I care about that? You said you wanted to see what I've done with her, well, here she is. She's very beautiful, I'd like to find out if she's just as beautiful as she kills you… or you kill her. I'm not picky."

Shisui felt his eyes burning and even with his depleted vision he could clearly see Tobi behind Sachi, touching her almost like a lover would. He wanted to rip her away from him, to keep her safe from Tobi's influence. He saw red and he vowed that for whatever pain Sachi went through, he'd repay upon Tobi a thousand times before he died.

Tobi pulled his hand away from Sachi's cheek and squeezed her shoulder tightly. Leaning down he whispered his command into her ear, "Kill him, Chi-chan."

Sachi's eyes sparked with recognition, but not of Shisui, of whatever Tobi had whispered to her, and with a war-cry she leaped from the tower and raced toward Shisui. He grunted when her fist met his crossed arms and he pushed back, forcing her to skid across the ground. Her bare-feet bled as sharp bits of earth shredded them, but Sachi paid them no mind (her shoes had been lost sometime between arriving in Kirigakure and now).

Seeing the fight begin, Tobi disappeared from the battle ground.

"Sachi… please! You have to listen to me!" Shisui said between the punches, kicks, and combos Sachi threw at him. He was trying to reach her, trying not to hurt her.

He'd already tried dispelling the genjutsu Tobi had her under, but it was one of the most powerful illusions he'd ever seen. On the same level as whatever Tobi had the Mizukage under. It didn't help that Shisui was running on empty. Sachi never said a word. She was a woman on a mission, listening only to the commands she was given by the one who held her leash. Her face remained nearly perfectly stoic, only changing when Shisui avoided a killing blow or fought back.

Her body was like a hurricane. She danced around him gracefully, throwing punches and open palmed blows, and tried to take him off his feet with low and high kicks. He evaded most, but for every hit which passed him harmlessly, two more hit their mark. He was forced to fight back, abandoning his kenjutsu and weapons for taijutsu. His foot collided with her gut as his forearm blocked an open-palm.

Sachi twisted around and threw her opposite elbow back into his nose. He heard the crack of cartilage and blood which flowed freely as he stumbled back, keeping most of his attention on Sachi who pressed on, giving him little to no time to recover.

"Sachi," He muttered, as he grabbed her right fist and then her left in his when she threw them. They were face to face now. "This isn't right. You're being controlled. You have to break free… I'll help you, but you have to listen to me!"

He pushed some of his remaining chakra into her hands and she groaned, shook her head as if to clear it, but his hopes were squandered when she broke away and flickered behind him. He turned and used his arm to block an open-palm strike, which might have done serious damage to his spine had it hit. Instead he got a shock, literally, when her palm hit his arm. Instead of having just the force of her hit absorbed into his arm, he saw her releasing chakra too late and felt the pain of lightning coursing through his body (and not for the first time that day).

He dropped to a knee and saw the markings of a seal on his right sleeve. It was difficult business making seals with little more than your chakra, it was even more difficult to place said seal on fabric instead of skin, but Sachi excelled in it. In a few years she'd probably be better at seals than Jiraiya of the Sannin. She already had the advantage of being taught fūinjutsu by her parents, two Uzumaki trained by the clan.

He'd forgotten that taijutsu wasn't the main threat with her, it was her mixing fūinjutsu with her taijutsu that made it deadly. Sachi increased the voltage the seal released and Shisui struggled through the paralyzing pain and ripped the sleeve off his shirt. The seal came away with it, and he was gone before Sachi's glowing chains could impale him. They sank into the ground and she tore them out without a care. She stood several feet away from him now, dozens of chains waving around her like angry snakes. But something had changed, Sachi was slower in her movement. Her face was more expressive.

On the inside her state of mind was in chaos. She knew what was happening to her now, she could hear him, and she continued to combat the control Tobi had over her. After days of disabling complex seals from her body, a lack of proper care, Sachi's mental state was already fragile. Still, weak or not, she fought; before this point she'd been in a daze, but now that things were clearer she refused to let Tobi win.

Sachi wouldn't forgive herself if Shisui died because of her.

Shisui moved his nose back into place, barely paying mind to the pain (it was nothing compared to having his eye torn out). Without a word the fight began again, this time as a game of cat and mouse – Sachi's chains flying out and attempting to either stab or grab the flighty Uchiha. One silver-gold chain sliced into his abdomen, but pivoting to the side saved him from being spiked along its length.

With a grunt, Shisui body-flickered circles around her, leaving afterimages to keep her busy, and in this time was able to fish out a chakra pill and pop it into his mouth without much hesitation. It wasn't recommended to take more than one within twenty-four hours of each other, but he had no choice; the last few uses of chakra had wiped him out almost to the point of chakra exhaustion, and his Sharingan couldn't be used without enough chakra. And it was obvious he would need it.

He felt the affects immediately and flickered behind Sachi; mindful of her chains, Shisui attempted to knock her out – hopeful that with her unconscious he could go about breaking Tobi's control on her. Instead he ended up grabbed around the ankle, lifted into the air, and slammed into the ground a foot away.

Shisui could feel his chakra being affected by her chains. Growling, he released Amaterasu on the chain, breaking it's hold on him. The flames attempted to run up the length of the chain that remained and back to Sachi, but the redhead disconnected the chains from her body and the flames lit up the ground instead. Shisui jumped to his feet and looked at Sachi sadly.

Not matter how he tried to reach her emotionally, her body continued acting against her will. Sachi recovered from a viscous roundhouse to the face which sent her body flying, but instead of tumbling about she flipped in mid-air and landed on the ground gracefully. She glared slightly, wiping her busted lip and flew through hand-seals.

"You have to fight it, Sachi," Shisui said, holding his ribs with on hand and tightening his hold over his recovered wakizashi. He read her hand-seals before he heard the name of the jutsu.

"Katon: Yūreibi (Fire Release: Ghost Fire)." White-hot flames arced out and headed for him, and he knew he didn't have the time to counter it with a powerful enough water-jutsu. Instead he allowed his Sharingan to shift into the Mangekyō Sharingan. He couldn't afford to hold back any longer.

Sachi watched as her flames engulfed the Uchiha, but what she expected to see was a smoldering corpse or skeleton – she was half-right. Her flames exploded out and around Shisui as his chakra exploded around him in a wave of green. Sachi's eyes followed the formation of ribs and a body and arms, a head. It towered over them, the shade of green just as bright as her eyes.

"Susanoo," Shisui muttered from the center of the perfected Susanoo.

Sachi's eyes hid a battle of wills as she gazed at the creature protecting her prey. Instead of fear, however, she simply released a large amount of her chakra around herself, along with a dozen more chains, half of which curled around the vitals of her body, as well as her hands and arms.

The battle for Sachi's freedom had only just begun.

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AN: So... it's been over a year since I updated this. I'm sorry, but either things got in the way or my inspiration for this story wasn't there. It didn't help I was having a hard time rewriting it to my standards. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, although the longest chapter yet. It might not be as good as the original chapter I lost, but it's a close second. Hopefully it was somewhat worth the wait. The next chapter shouldn't take nearly as long since I've already started writing it. I'm sorry for any blatant errors, it's a long chapter so I may have missed a bit - like always I'll be going over it and fixing any mistake I find. The same can be said for the previous chapters, when I find the time.