So here is a new chapter for all you lovely readers.

Sorry it took me so long to get this out, but as with most chapters I finish I ended up with no idea how was I going to keep it going.

So after admitting that I really appreciate the fact that you readers stick with me through this.

Also this chapter would have been out sooner this month but I got distracted with Middle Earth: Shadow of War.

I must say Talion's story arc, while not written by J.R.R. Tolkien, stays at least most of the way faithful to the lore, although they did take certain liberties with it.

Anyway, ON WITH THE SHOW! – slams a button that looks like a upside down sword-

It was a typical Saturday in the Hidden Leaf Village, or as typical as it could be if you were one of its Orc citizens. Such was the case for Doogg Blackhammer, who had just left his job at the Inugura Weapon Shop, where he was employed as a blacksmith, apparently his father's lessons on forge work had come in handy. Currently the four of them who worked in the forge were trying to fill a massive requisition order for the Konoha military's weapons, things they called kunai and shuriken, while also trying to craft armor that was sturdy enough to turn away most weapons, but light enough that it wouldn't hamper the wearer's movements. It was hard and grueling work most days, he had just started figuring out how to make the weapons the shinobi needed and was still trying to get them down to where the humans could use them single handedly. Oh well at least the forge mistress was patient. It was then Doogg noticed a shadow flitting past out of the corner of his eye. At first, he brushed it off, after all a lot of the beginning shinobi took a mission that involved chasing down some cat with a ribbon tied around its ear. However, he noticed that the shadows kept following him, he figured this out after he purposefully took two wrong turns instead of the turns that would have lead them to the newly dubbed "Orc Quarter", although certain locals had more colorful names for it. After five more minutes of walking Doogg stopped seeing the shadows, and thought he had lost them. He was immediately going to start back tracking, to get back on the right path to his home, when he felt something wrap around his throat.

As soon as the object had tightened around his throat four human sized individuals jumped out of the shadows. Each of the individuals were wearing a blank, white mask with only eyeholes cut out, black long sleeve shirts, dark gray bracers that covered the back of their hands and forearms, black pants, dark gray greaves that, for some reason that escaped most orcs, left their toes uncovered.

"Finally caught one of you pig people," said a masculine voice from among the group. Doogg immediately tried to reach for one of the people, to at least disable them until someone got a hold of whatever passed for a magistrate in this village, only to feel whatever was around his throat tighten.

"The beast thinks it can escape," mocked a feminine voice in sarcastic horror.

"Please," said another masculine voice, "the more he struggles the tighter that wire gets, so let him keep struggling."

That caused a cruel laugh to echo through the group as one of them walked up and punched him in the gut, causing Doogg to double over and the wire to tighten. Immediately Doogg figured out at least the one had punched him was a shinobi, after all they might have the assistance of their chakra but they were the only humans who could hope to cause a orc to be winded from a single punch. Afterward the other three took turns hitting him, causing him as much pain as they could while simultaneously tightening the wire.

'I'm going to die here,' Doogg thought in grim realization, as the wire had tightened so much that it had started cutting into his neck. It was at this point one of the assailants rammed a kunai into his left shoulder. With a grunt of pain and exertion, mostly because he was having trouble getting enough air just to stay conscious, Doogg grabbed the arm of the assailant who had stabbed him and began squeezing until a loud and harsh snapping sound was heard, which was followed with the assailant screaming in pain.

'Least someone might find one of them this way,' Doogg thought, as he finally blacked out.

"That damned beast," shouted the one who had stabbed Doogg, "he broke my damn arm."

"Does anyone here know medical jutsu," the female of the group asked, looking at the other two expectantly.

"No," they both answered in worry.

"Great," the female stated in exasperation, "and we can't go to the hospital because they'll start asking questions, and we still gotta move the pig's corpse somewhere his disgusting people will see."

"Looks like he'll need to invent a cover story," the leader of the group stated, as he cut off Doogg's head and began walking in the direction of the place that had once been the Uchiha District.

"What are we supposed to do with him," called out the female of the group.

"Leave him," the leader stated, "we're almost finished anyway."

With a nod the other two followed the group leader to finish what they had started tonight.

The next morning…

Normally today would be considered a peaceful day in Konoha, the sun was out, the birds were chirping, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. However, any notion that today would be peaceful was quickly shattered when a loud scream echoed from the Orc Quarter, rousing many orcs and humans from their peaceful slumber. Naturally everyone rushed grumbling to see what the problem was, only to immediately usher the children back into their homes while some adults, both human and orc, quickly looked for someplace to puke. The reason for this reaction? The head of an orc was mounted on a spike at the entrance of the Orc Quarter. A short time later the Hokage herself had appeared and looked at the severed head in disgust.

"Cordon off the area," Tsunade ordered one of her ANBU guards before turning to the crowd, "I need everyone to return to their homes."

As if a spell had been lifted everyone, except Gorrum, began grudgingly heading back into their homes, hoping to have some answers soon.

"The Hokage said to return to your home," one of the ANBU stated authoritively, although it didn't escape Tsunade's notice that there was a hateful edge to the ANBU's voice.

"He can stay," Tsunade ordered sternly, glaring at the ANBU, who just inclined their head and walked off.

"Thank you Lady Hokage," Gorrum said, inclining his head in respect.

"You're welcome," Tsunade replied, nodding toward Gorrum, "after all better the people hear about what happened from one of their own."

With that the Hokage began overseeing the investigation, not knowing that this was going to be the first of many similar incidents.

Meanwhile with Naruto…

There are two absolute truths in Konoha, the first is that one must always honor their ancestors or they invite disaster, the second one is that Ramen Addiction is apparently an inherited trait amongst Uzumaki. The senior members of the village would testify to the number of times that shinobi of Uzushiogakure had left a local ramen stand owner crying in horror, as they watched their stock of ingredients, that were supposed to last them the month, only last them mere minutes. Sadly, or fortunately depending on who you were, this trait passed on to one of the two known surviving members of the Uzumaki clan, Naruto Uzumaki, who inhaled what had to be his tenth bowl of ramen in as many minutes, and it was considered a slow day for him, at Ichiraku Ramen. The reason he was eating so slow was because he trying to figure out how he would measure the team's progress, because in his mind measuring it by missions completed was deceptive because a team that did a lot of missions could still be ready to rip itself apart due to who should "get the glory" and measuring it by individual jutsu mastered could lead to team members spying on others and taking shortcuts. Sighing and setting the bowl to the side, he checked the clock on the wall and noticed he had just under ten minutes to get to his team's training ground before he would be late, and he most certainly wanted to set a better example than his own sensei. Putting some money on the counter, Naruto made to leave when he noticed something odd, a 5'8" tall male with dull red hair that was matted down, dark brown eyes, and he was wearing the standard chunin uniform with his head band wrapped around neck, the man's name was Ryuji Matou, a chunin from a wealthy civilian family who had taken the Jonin exams a unknown number of times and failed everyone and he had a spot in Naruto's personal Bingo Book, which was fill strictly with the names of Konoha Shinobi he knew to be dirty in one way or another but had no evidence against to bring to the Hokage. However, what caught Naruto's attention was the condition his arm appeared to be in, close to his chest and wrapped up in an improvised sling.

Now it should be noted that it was not unusual for shinobi who had been on missions or had trained excessively, as is the case with Rock Lee, his protégé Metal Lee, Naruto, or any other number of shinobi who took their training too seriously, to show up the next day with a bodily injury. However, based on what Naruto knew of Ryuji Matou he knew the other shinobi didn't take his training anywhere near seriously enough to receive a injury like that and the only mission's Naruto knew he had been on recently were simple delivery missions that were to nearby town magistrates, certainly not dangerous enough to receive an injury like that. Upon getting outside of the ramen stand Naruto created a shadow clone.

"Follow him," Naruto ordered, "and if he meets with anyone suspicious you know what to do."

The clone nodded before it jumped onto a roof overlooking any exits from the ramen shop. Nodding to himself, Naruto made his way to the training ground as quickly as he could. Upon arrival Naruto checked the time and saw that he had made it to the training ground with just seconds to spare. Nodding satisfactorily, he looked around for his students and he noticed that Zin'jin and Northaen were there Tamaja was absent.

"Where's Tamaja," Naruto asked, looking around and enhancing his senses with chakra, wondering if she was trying to hide.

"Don't know," Northaen answered with a shrug, secretly glad that she was missing as it meant more of his teacher's focus was on him.

"Well dere was a commotion in da Orc Quarter today," Zin'jin stated, rubbing his chin in thought, "dat might have something ta do with it."

"Commotion," Naruto parroted back with shock on his face, "what commotion?"

"Don't know," Zin'jin answered with a embarrassed look on his face, "but I know da Hokage was dere."

"Alright you two," Naruto said, creating a clone to go see what the commotion was about, and if possible to escort his other student here, "today we are going to start with the basics of being a shinobi, and I expect you two to help Tamaja out when she gets here."

With that Naruto distractedly began to walk them through the twelve hand signs necessary to perform jutsu, all the while a foreboding feeling began to settle in his gut, the feeling was telling him that something very bad was on the horizon and Konoha was about to be Ground Zero for it.

In the Orc Quarter…

Tamaja had gotten up that day thinking it would be a great day, after all today was supposed to be the start of her journey to becoming a shinobi, and in turn prove that Orcs could be just as good as humans, in hopes it would shut the purist minded bullies in the village up. However, the day took a dark turn when she found her uncle Doogg's head mounted to a spike at the entrance to the Orc quarter. As you can imagine this caused her a great deal of both distress and grief, as she dearly loved her uncle Doogg and the funny stories he would tell her whenever he came for a visit. Currently she was in another room as her parents discussed funeral rites for her uncle, as he didn't have any other living relatives. Currently she was sitting on the back porch of her family's home, staring mournfully down at the first dagger her uncle had every forged for her, and the first one he had ever forged.

However, she soon heard the door to their house, a rather modest one by Konoha clan standards, though Tamaja still felt like it was mansion compared to the hut her family lived in at the Conclave, and it was followed by the sound of Naruto's voice. After the conversation was over she heard a loud poof, and then her mother came out and sat beside her.

"Your teacher showed up," her mother said, doing her best to hide her own pain for her daughter, "he said you can show up tomorrow."

Tamaja nodded, feeling tears starting to pool in her eyes while she tried to put a strong face. She decided then, as he mother wrapped her in a comforting hug, that she would live to honor her uncle's memory, and to become the best shinobi that Konoha had ever seen.

Later with Sylvanas…

The news she got from Naruto that evening was upsetting, to the say the least. While she and her Forsaken had joined the Horde mostly out of a need for allies and convenience overtime she and her people began to see themselves as part of the Horde, and hearing something horrible had happened to one of the races that made up the Horde had caused her some grief. However, as she looked at Naruto, she noticed that he seemed to be beyond just grief, as evidenced by the fact that he was rapidly tapping the heel of his right foot against the floor while Zin'jin went about a rather confusing task of moving his hands into various shapes.

"Something on your mind," Sylvanas asked, eyeing Naruto who, if she remembered properly, was supposed to be helping Zin'jin with those shapes he was trying to mold his hands into. All she got in return as acknowledgement was a grunt, which irked her. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Deciding to answer it, because violently shaking Naruto and potentially putting him in the hospital with a case of whiplash would most likely be frowned upon, she opened it to reveal Hinata Hyuga who, aside from Naruto, was one of the more well-known people in the effort to help assimilate the other races into Konoha, with a armful of what appeared to be groceries.

"Hello Sylvanas-san," Hinata greeted with a gentle smile.

"Hello Lady Hyuga," Sylvanas greeted with a nod of her head, looking at the brown paper bags, "might I ask what those are for."

"Oh these," Hinata asked, jostling the bag a little, "well if somebody doesn't bring actual food over here occasionally, then Naruto might go back to his all ramen diet."

"Oh," Sylvanas said, stepping aside and allowing Hinata entry. Smiling, Hinata turned to give Naruto a greeting, only to notice that he seemed to be staring straight ahead and hearing a rapid series of taps, obviously coming from his foot tapping against the floor.

"How long has he been like that," Hinata asked, walking to what passed for a kitchen table and setting the groceries on it.

"Since he and Zin'jin got home," Sylvanas answered, annoyance and exasperation lacing her voice, "which was a hour ago."

"Actually," Zin'jin interjected, ceasing his homework she guessed, "he been like dis since 7 dis morning."

"That long huh," Hinata stated, "well there is one way to get his attention."

Sylvanas was curious as to what this might be when Hinata looked at Sylvanas with a mischievous smile.

"What are you looking at me for," Sylvanas asked, obviously confused.

"Simple because you're the one who has to do it," Hinata stated, the grin growing wider.

"Do what," Zin'jin asked, starting to become intrigued by what this technique was that could get his teacher out of this funk he had been in all day.

"Are familiar with a story about a prince having to kiss a sleeping princess to wake her up," Hinata asked, immediately it dawned on Zin'jin what she was talking about. Meanwhile, Sylvanas looked at her in shock, after all such a thing just wasn't done, due in part to her "disposition" as she called it, and the fact that she was taught when she was child that a lady was not to be so forward.

"Who has to do what now," Naruto asked, looking at them curiously.

"Oh nothing," Hinata answered innocently, acting like the previous conversation had never happened. Needless to say, Zin'jin was confused, Sylvanas was flustered, even though she remained stoic as always, and Naruto was confused.

With Hanabi…

Hanabi was currently rocking back and forth on her heels as she waited for her boyfriend to get off work. Currently she was waiting outside the Flowing Raiment clothing shop while her boyfriend Norus Mirthflame finished clocking out. Anxiously she looked around, even though she had a active henge that made her appear as a red haired, brown eyed girl with a fair complexion, the reason for her anxiety was that she was hoping that none of her clansmen were there or anyone would recognize that she was using a henge. It was at this moment that the door opened and her boyfriend walked out. Her boyfriend stood taller than most humans in the village, something that was constant amongst all members of his race, with light blonde hair, a similarly colored goatee, and he was wearing a dark green short sleeve shirt, black pants, a leather belt, and black shoes.

Now if people saw them together, or how they interacted with each other, they would begin to wonder how the two of them had ever gotten together. Well to be honest Hanabi didn't know what drew her to him, only that she was. The next thing that would be asked is why they kept their relationship secret, after all they were two consenting adults. The answer she would give to that was that 'she didn't see how it was anyone's business who she was with', however the truthful answer was that if the Hyuga Clan Elders got wind of their relationship they would lock her up, probably slap the Caged Bird Seal on her 'just to be safe', and would most likely have Norus 'dealt with' discreetly to make sure 'no clan secrets got leaked during her little lapse in judgement'.

"Took you long enough," Hanabi stated, mockingly glaring at him.

"Boss had a few things he wanted to talk about," he responded sheepishly, "so what out of the way location are we headed to tonight."

Hanabi just huffed and began walking toward the more remote public parks in the village, with her boyfriend walking beside her.

"So how is your sister," Norus asked politely.

"She's doing fine," Hanabi answered, rubbing her arms, on account of it being a little colder than most nights in Konoha. Almost immediately afterwards she felt Norus wrap a arm around and pull her close, causing her to blush. She smiled softly, hoping that the kami would allow her this one small moment in time.

So what did you all think?

Personally I don't think it's my best work but I am my own worst critic.

Also next chapter I will attempt to focus on the Horde-Alliance factions, no promises though.

So anyway you lovely people enjoy and please review, also if you have criticism please be constructive.

That means no "This sucks so you should crawl in a hole and die".

Also, I feel like I should throw this out there, I had planned on doing a chapter where one of the characters has a mental illness, thoughts?

Anyway enjoy and remember…

-unfurls a black banner with a red emblem in the shape of the Witch King's iron crown-

Nothing will be forgotton!