Yes, this is a story about ninja, and even though I'm going to try and be as historically accurate as possible, there will be differences. I'm probably going to throw a little Naruto in here, too.

Anyway, this has been stuck in my head all day, and I had to start writing it directly after school. Hope you guys enjoy it.

The rages of war surrounded me. The knife in my hand silently cut through the limbs of my enemies, felling them to the ground. With every one I downed, four more showed up around me.

I glanced over my shoulder, keeping one eye on the enemy in front of me. My comrades were in the same position as me, destroying foe after foe. Bodies were strewn across the countryside, blood soaking into the grass.

The opponent brought my attention back to him when a slight pain shot up my arm. I whipped back around to him, grabbing the knife in his hand between my fingers and twisting. The blade fell to the ground, and I drove my own through his neck.

Another down. I stepped back, panting. My side was severely lacking in fully able fighters. I saw one man fighting with blood gushing over his eyes, another with a dislocated shoulder.

"Mom!" I cried out to the field. "We have to retreat!"

Suddenly she was beside me, eyes wild with the kill. "No." She said, simply, swiping out to kill a charge enemy. "We never retreat. You should know that."

"But, Mom!" I shouted over the battle cries. "We can't win today! If we keep going, all our fighters will die!" I surveyed the field one more time.

Our people were strong, but few in numbers. Their people weren't fast, strong, or agile, but they swarmed the battles fields with the numbers of grass blades on the field.

I watched her jaw flex. She knew I was right. I was always right when it came to battle.

"Soldiers!" She shouted over the field, her voice commanding. "Retreat! Live to fight another day!" I could see the pain it caused her to say these words.

The fighting came to a stand still, and I watched solemnly as my people ran back the way we had come. The enemy commander shouted for pursuit, but we had the night on our side. No one could find us in the dark.

My mother and I ran among the trees, hiding in the shadows as enemy soldiers trooped past, frustrated with their failures. I could see my mom hated that I was right about this, but there was no time to talk.

I saw the flash signal, and motioned to my mother. After glancing around, we flew over the grass and into the safety of our cavern.

Torches were lit, leading deeper in the cave. Silently and swiftly, we ran down the damp rock flooring and came to a huge room. I saw all my comrades sitting around the firelights, healers surrounding them and bandaging their wounds.

"M'ladies Bella and Renee." A boy ran up to us, bowing slightly, fists together. "We have a healer designated for you, if you'd step this way."

My mom stood still, glaring at the boy. I elbowed her, and dragged her by the elbow to our healing station. "We just fought through hell, Mom. We need to be checked out." I mumbled to her, authority coating my tone.

She remained silent, but followed without protest. She always knew I was right. We were seated closest to the fire, the warmth washing over my battle-chilled body. I removed my helmet, laying it beside the chair, and shook my hair out.

An elderly female healer came over, and bowed, similar to the boy with her fists together and eyes down. "M'ladies." She mumbled.

I nodded to her, clearing my throat for her to stand straight. "Much appreciated, holy sister." I said, tilting my chin down in a respectful manner.

She began working over my mother first, patching the small cuts on her arms and legs and fighting her to remove her chest guard. Watching this, I sighed, and leaned my head back. My mother was a brilliant fighter, but she was also brilliantly stubborn.

The holy sister moved to me after she was sure my mother's wounds weren't life threatening. I let her work me over, and winced a little when she poured disinfectant into the shoulder wound I'd suffered from lack of focus on the field.

"Tell me, m'lady Bella, if you'd be so kind. Why would the Ponta clan choose to attack today?" The holy sister asked, bandaging my bleeding knees.

"Your guess is as good as mine, sister." I told her, shaking my head, feeling the soreness of battle setting in. "Today was not an opportune time for either tribe to fight. The ground was too soft and we are both still recovering from our previous battle. Perhaps, sister, they simply wanted to see a great bloodshed."

"But, according to the reports of the others, they were the ones who fell to death's hand."

"I don't pretend to know the workings of our enemies' minds." I glanced around, watching my comrades and family groan in pain and anger. "The Ponta's are very blood thirsty clan. They thrive on war and death." I shook my head, picturing the bloody scene again. "Even if that bloodshed is on their side."

"My only joy in this is that the younger ones were not dispatched." She stepped back and nodded to me. "Your wounds are very minor, m'lady. They will be gone by morning."

I nodded my thanks and she left, bowing again. I turned toward my mother.

She was sitting very still, glaring at the flames nearby. Her jaw was tensed and her eyes flashed with the anger she usually saved for battle.

"We could have won, given enough people." She said, not looking at me.

I sighed and leaned forward, resting my arms on my legs. "No, we couldn't have." I kept my tone flat, like someone talking to an unreasonable person. "Not without heavy casualities."

"Our people are willing to die to protect our way of life!" My mother stood up, knocking her chair back, and paced in front of the fire. "We're ninja, Bella! We do what we're told and what's best for the clan."

"I know that, Mom." I shifted my blank stare up to her face. "I've been at this long enough to know that. But we also have a duty to ourselves. What good would it do to have all our fighters die? It would cause grievance and chaos in the remaining members of the clan."

An angry glare was shot at me from my mom. I was used to it. I simply gazed back, trying to etch boredom into my face as well.

"You certainly are an American ninja." She mumbled. "Not caring about the pride of our soldiers."

Anger began to swell inside me, but I quickly shoved it aside. A ninja must never show emotion. "In case you haven't realized, I'm one of those soldiers."

"Exactly!" She shouted, slamming her hands against my arm rests. "How can this not be eating you up inside?"

"Sometimes the wisest thing to do is turn tail, for there will always be another day to fight." I told her, my face still flat.

Her face turned bitter. "You would say something like that."

Now I narrowed my eyes at her, and let a little irritation creep into my tone. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm sending you home." She let go of my chair and began pacing again, her head turned away.

"This is my home." I looked around. Several men and women caught my gaze and smiled lightly at me, waving. I nodded back to them and turned back toward my mother. "I've been raised here."

"And that hasn't saved you." She shook her head and looked at me, some emotion tainting her anger. "You still believe running can save you."

"Running does save us." I stood up and met her eyes. "It makes us more agile, stronger. The term you are looking for is retreating. And retreating did save us. Our people will recover fast and come back with vengeance in their hearts."

"And crushes their spirits." My mother stated, a simplistic tone coming to her.

"Our spirits will recover as fast as our bodies. You do not trust your own people, Mom." I clenched my fists at my sides, and allowed no emotion to come to my face. "You are scared that our people will turn into cowards, but this retreat will rekindle the dying fires in their hearts."

She glared at me for another minute before turning away. "You will depart for the mainland tomorrow morning. You will be staying with your father."

I opened my mouth to protest again, but she turned around and gave me her commander glare. "That is an order."

As she turned away, I cursed silently to myself. I couldn't defy orders.

I stood in the cavern for hours, barely moving. Late into the night hours, everyone departed toward their places of temporary residence deeper into the cave. When they were all gone, I slammed my fist against the chair nearby, shattering the wood, and splintering my hand.

"I'll be back, Mom. You can bet your life on it." I muttered to an empty room, the anger finally taking hold of my body. My limbs began shaking and I could barely keep my murderous thoughts from becoming reality.

I stood there all night, letting my anger simmer down before people began waking up. I would not allow my comrades to see the emotions I kept hidden. They didn't need to see their second in command so out of control. They needed a rock.

Being in a cave, the terms night and day were relative. We woke up when our bodies decided it was time, we slept when we became tired. My mother was the first one up in the morning, usually with me following. But today, I refused to make this easy for her.

"Pack your things." She commanded, handing me a bag. "I will tell your father you need new clothes when you get there."

"I'm not going to pretend like I'm not a ninja!" I shouted at her. "This is ridiculous! I'm not a simple teenage girl who can go to high school. I am an Atarian ninja!"

"You will be anything I tell you to be." My mother sneered at me. "This is the best thing for you, Bella. It is. You have an American mind, not that of which an Atari ninja should have."

For a second, the thought of punching my mother out came to my head. But I quickly shook it off. I wouldn't do that. Finally, I snatched the bag away, and stormed to my residential space. I stuffed my important things in the bag, like the picture of our home city I had had painted years ago.

Touching the painting lightly, I put it on top of my clothing and my other keepsakes. Not that my clothing would do much overseas. Where my father lived, people all dressed weird. Their clothes didn't blend or represent a ceremonious occasion. It was just… there. No meaning, no anything.

I slung the bag over my shoulder, and followed my mother out of the cave, bearing one last glance at my home for the past week. People were beginning to stir and awaken. I quickly hid my face, away from the dishonor of being sent away.

My mother bid me farewell just outside of the cave. "You are to go to the port just outside of Kittou. I have contacted people who will make sure you get on your boat and then your plane on the mainland."

I frowned at her, and set off, refusing to look back at her.