Chapter-25

He flung the ordinary sword in his hand aside for it would be useless against Tobirama's own dangerous weapon. Now they would both spar, Naruto with his great ancestral weapon and Tobirama with his own holy blade.

"Dance with me, then" taunted Naruto with a smirk,

Tobirama grimly nodded before they both charged forward clashing their swords sending wild sparks of lightning everywhere, with some even hitting careless Inuzuka who were stupid enough to stand too close. Tobirama winced at the injuries to his own allies and was further irritated when Naruto mocked him for it.

Tobirama used all his strength to land every powerful swing of his sword across his enemy's body, however the Kinslayer was very quick on his feet and even quicker with the movement of his sword which he used to deflect every blow.

Deciding to go on the offensive, Naruto forced a vertical slash towards Tobirama's head which the Senju blocked with his own weapon which left him wide open as Naruto suddenly jumped delivering a brutal kick on Tobirama's armor that sent the Senju crashing away while the Kinslayer flipped in the air while performing a set of hand seals quickly.

"Lightning Style: Electromagnetic Murder!"

A maniacal laugh escaped from Naruto's lips as he watched the sheer horror that spread in Tobirama's eyes watching his own allies being electrified before his very eyes. Naruto didn't relent and continued to shoot bolts of lightning from his hands that were powerful enough to even hurt Kurama.

Against the lightly armored Senjus and their allies, the attack was a death blow and a dozen more were sent crashing away. Their lives already ended before they even hit the ground.

The carnage would have continued had Tobirama not made his move urgently...

"Water Style: Water Dragon!"

Naruto was quite impressed when Tobirama used the water present in the air and turned it into a monstrous dragon with menacing yellow eyes. But by then he had also decided and acted on his counter move.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon!"

He so dearly wished his father and their clansmen could see him unleashing bright red flames from his mouth and shaping them into the image of a roaring fire dragon. They had all despised him for not being able to use fire jutsu naturally, but after years of training he was atleast good enough to perform some decent moves. Although pale in comparison to the things Madara could do with fire, Naruto liked to think his elder brother would be happy with his progress.

As both dragons of opposite nature clashed, a heavy mist spread across the area.

Naruto again realized he had a chance to flee in this short confusion but he also knew most of the enemy forces were here because of the threat he posed. If he ran away, then these same enemy forces would pursue his Uchiha allies, his Kinsguard comrades and Naori.

And he couldn't allow anymore of his people to die. Even if they hated or despised him, they were still his family and that was all there was to it.

So he used that short chaos to wreck more carnage across the battlefield by silently creeping upon unaware enemies and slicing their throats. He used genjutsu to trick the alarmed fighters into harming their own allies which only made him laugh.

But his fun didn't last long as a wild gust of wind dispersed the mist and he found himself again surrounded by enemies, albeit fewer than they were before.

Tobirama saw the three dozen more soldiers that Naruto had killed in the confusion and grimaced. This victory was going to be very costly...

But it also made one fact clear to him.

Naruto Uchiha was stronger than him.

He could continue to engage the man but it would not stop Naruto from causing chaos and killing more of Tobirama's supporters, and enough had already died on this front not too forget those who could have died on the other two flanks. He had to put an end to all this senseless death.

Setting his pride aside, he gave a subtle nod to his army.

Naruto's eyes widened when he saw dozens of enemies performing a quick set of hand seals and all of them were looking at him.

Dozens of fireballs, water bullets, wind cutters, lightning bolts, and even giant rocks were hurled at his position. He allowed them to assume that he was done for before at the last second he made a quick hand seal.

Kawarimi.

Tobirama cursed outloud when he felt a violent force pulling him, so sure he was of his victory that the chakra going through his feet was not enough to resist against the monstrous pull. Before he could blink, he appeared right into the spot the Kinslayer once stood. He just had enough time to see the army of attacks that had been launched by his own clansmen before they hit him.

Naruto collapsed brutally against the ground where Tobirama once stood as he heard the blood curling scream of the Senju with whom he had replaced himself at the last minute. By the time the dust settled, he found Tobirama smeared in burns and deep cuts across his entire body. The white haired Senju spat blood and the same liquid leaked out of a dozen wounds from his body as he fell to his knees before crashing gracelessly across the forest ground staining it crimson.

The Senjus and their allies watched in horror as their finest warrior fell, the victim of trickery.

Sensing the boiling hate and madness, Naruto quickly jumped towards Tobirama's slumped body and was relieved as well as furious to see the Senju was still alive if only barely.

He caught sight of the enemy army about to move forward in fury and quickly got up on his feet before planting his sword right ahead of Tobirama's head marking a clear line.

"You can kill me, but he dies with me. Then answer Hashirama how you got one of his brothers killed and the other hanging near death. I'm sure it would be quite an interesting conversation" suggested Naruto with an arrogant smile,

"He's already a dead man. You think us fools? We know you'll kill him even if we retreat..." spat a Sarutobi furiously,

Every cell inside his body was telling him to kill Tobirama, his brother would have done it. But the rational part of his mind knew how important a hostage he could be not to forget even a valuable source of information on the Senjus and their plans. In that way, he was more important that Itama Senju for Tobirama was considered to be Hashirama's top officer.

Whatever his thoughts on the Senjus and their allies, one thing Naruto admired was the fact that they respected and actually cared for their comrades. Something which the Uchiha's lacked to some extent...

Both clans were just as worse despite what either side claimed. However, the Senjus looked after their friends and in return those friends looked after the Senjus.

''We don't trust you. Everyone knows you hate Tobirama..." spat a Senju bitterly,

"Yes, I hate him for killing my brother. But ending this conflict ensures the safety of my people and that of Hashirama's most trusted brother. Now make your choice, I am prepared" declared Naruto, as he picked up his sword and placed it just above Tobirama's head.

He saw the conflict in their eyes clearly. They didn't trust him not to kill Tobirama, which was quite justified for he didn't even trust himself not to do it. But if he was to turn this battle around and make sure his faction didn't lose all they had gained, then he had to sacrifice his personal vendetta.

It was hard and quite bitter for him, but the lives of his people mattered more than his pride.

Finally, one of the older Senjus with stark grey hair stepped forward and stared at him with a resigned look in his eyes.

"I can see in your eyes that you seek death. You have nothing left to lose, but we do. We shall retreat for now and inform Hashrama of this" proposed the older Senju calmly,

"Tell him if he wants his brother back alive then he has to relinquish any alliance with the Yamanaka or Hatake. Their lands and clans belong to the Uchiha now. Do this and he'll get his brother back alive" promised Naruto hesitantly, and clenched his fists shut to suppress his boiling rage at himself.

It was the right thing to do, but gods it was hard.

"What assurance do you give us in return?" asked the Senju patiently,

Naruto glanced at his surroundings and realized he had nothing with himself that could serve as a reassurance to the Senjus. A proof of his word...

Then he glanced at his ancestral sword, Dawn.

His breath stopped as he knew what he had to do. The sword had been a part of him for all these years, had given him victories unmatched. The history of the Uchiha was inside this sword right from Indra to Naruto himself.

A priceless heirloom...

The only gift his Father had ever given him.

Closing his eyes, he tossed the sword towards the Senjus and heartbreakingly watched as one of them caught it. He knelt down and now placed a kunai at Tobirama's throat and saw the older Senju glance at the priceless weapon.

"That sword is my life and the pride of my clan. As long as you have it, Tobirama will live" said Naruto icily,

Even the Senjus and their allies gasped in surprise at the ancient weapon. Not only was it powerful and contained the history of the elemental nations, it was also worth more than two mountains of gold. One of the few valuable things the Uchiha's still possessed from the old days.

Naruto knew he would be further reviled for giving such a priceless heirloom as leverage. But he had no choice and it was not as if people would hate him less after today. But if it secured a victory, then it was worth it.

The older Senju glanced at him before giving a reluctant nod.

"That will suffice for now. Keep him alive, Kinslayer. Or you shall face Hashirama's wrath, and let me warn you there is nothing more dangerous in this world than Hashirama's fury. It is that fury that compels us to accept this ceasefire..." warned the Senju,

"Understood" replied Naruto curtly,

He stood guard even when the Senju army turned back and started their march back home. Only when they were out of sight did Naruto finally kneel down and check on his prisoner. Tobirama looked so close to death that it would be a mercy if Naruto crushed his throat.

Not today.

With a resigned sigh, he again glanced suspiciously at his surroundings and used his sensory powers but he felt no presence other than his own and Tobirama's.

He walked ahead and picked up the common sword he had thrown aside before and made a shadow clone who placed Tobirama on his shoulders. When that was done, his eyes turned towards his final destination.

The Yamanaka settlement.

He remembered the promise he had made to that clan but they had not heeded his warning and betrayed his people.

Faint rain drops fell from the skies and soon enough it turned into a heavy downpour as if the heavens themselves wept for the carnage that was about to happen.

Itama Yamanaka bitterly watched as his precious town was now turned into a battlefield courtesy of the Uchiha and the Hatake forces. Despite the dire circumstances, the enemy army had came running back only to find Naori Uchiha protected by the Kinsguard. The Uchiha matriarch had been fast enough to escape the Castle before the Yamanaka guards could kill her, but instead of fleeing she had chosen to fight.

A fight that had been going on for quite sometime with no sign of an end.

Even though the Yamanaka had numbers on their side, the Kinsguard still managed to cut a bloody path through their forces. The only solace Itama had was the fact that Naruto Uchiha must have perished on the battlefield by now and without him this resistance wouldn't last long.

Another source of Itama's problems was the wild fox who was butchering dozens of his clansmen with laughing ease. Some of his people had been stupid enough to attack the beast and it had retaliated with thrice the force.

"My lord..."

Itama was forced to turn his attention towards the eastern side of the town where one of his guards was pointing. And what he saw froze his heart.

Naruto Uchiha stood there with a clone of his who brutally dropped an injured ninja on the ground. Itama's eyes widened on seeing it was Tobirama Senju himself...

He remembered this boy's words from that night and judging from the sheer fury in his eyes...

"STOP HIM NOW!" shouted Itama in alarm,

His personal guard moved to intercept the bloodstained boy who himself charged ahead. Itama cringed when within seconds Naruto made quick work of his enemies before marching towards Itama.

The clan head performed a quick set of hand seals but had to duck when Naruto threw his sword straight at Itama's head. By the time Itama recovered, the Kinslayer had used a shunshin to appear right in front of him.

Alarmed, Itama sent a kick towards Naruto's armored chest and when the blow connected something unexpected happened.

Naruto didn't move an inch.

He's channeling great chakra to keep his hold on the ground.

Itama cried out in agony when the Kinslayer punished him for that mistake by connecting a solid blow to Itama's knees, the disgusting sound of bones cracking and Itama's scream drawing the attention of the fighting armies nearby.

Naruto moved quickly by first breaking the Itama's remaining leg, followed by the man's arms and finally connected a solid blow to his family jewels. By the time he was done, the Yamanaka clan head was gasping and moaning in pain.

"It's time I keep my promise" whispered Naruto reluctantly,

The Yamanaka fighters tried to come to their clan head's rescue but were fiercely pushed back when Kurama got in the way.

Naruto ignored the commotion and all the eyes that were on him and instead dragged Itama through the dirty streets by his collar before arriving towards a pole hanging in the town square. Without a word, he grabbed Itama and slammed the man against the wooden pole and quickly tied ninja wire around his body to keep him chained there.

"What...are...you...doing?" gasped Itama Yamanaka in horror,

Naruto stepped away from the man and when he looked back at the blonde older man he just asked one question.

"What are my clan's words?"

Itama started to struggle against his restraints as a new kind of fear overcame his heart. His supporters were trying their best to get to him but Kurama was not in the mood for leniency. Certainly not against fools who tried to rape his mind.

There was no mercy or hesitation in Naruto's heart as he weaved through a set of hand seals and at the last second saw Itama cry out for mercy.

But it was too late.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"

Itama Yamanaka's scream tore across his entire settlement as the fierce flames washed over him. His fine blonde hair caught fire and so did the rest of his body. The man screamed and screamed, his melting eyes pleading with the boy before him to end his suffering.

Stone faced Naruto watched the man burn alive before his very eyes. He didn't need to turn back in order to see the horror and fear that was spreading across the Yamanaka forces. He felt all their emotions and he knew after this people would only fear and hate him even more.

But he had promised to burn them alive if they disobeyed his commands or betray the Uchiha and they had done just that under the command of this man.

He had to enforce his promise no matter how much it repulsed him or their enemies would never take the Uchiha seriously.

Burning a clan head like Itama of such an ancient and prestigious clan was going to send tremors across the elemental nations.

Naruto's hands threatened to tremble as the burning man's screams got louder and more painful. But he didn't look away even as he watched the flesh burn and melt from Itama's entire body. He stared back at the man blankly.

He didn't know how much time passed before Itama's screams turned into painful moans and into desperate sobs before his head finally slumped making Naruto close his eyes in relief. He could have ended the man's suffering but it wouldn't have enforced his message fully.

The lone tear that fell from his eyes being the sole proof of his own sadness and revulsion before he masked his emotions and turned to face the Yamanaka fighters with his burning sharingan eyes.

Sounds of steel crashing to the ground echoed across the ground as one after another every Yamanaka fighter threw down their weapons, horror and fear ever present in their eyes as they watched the charred form of their clan head. They would never forget his screams nor the scale of retribution the Uchiha were capable of.

Fire and Blood.

Thunder rumbled across the skies with heavy rains cleansing the bloodstained lands. The smoke and ash alongwith the souls of all the dead being taken to the afterlife.

And Naruto watched them all, every life he ended today. All of them ascending out of this painful world to something better. They had all lived and died as true warriors regardless of their allegiances, for a moment he felt the faces of his three dead brothers staring at him.

They were smiling at him, waving their hands as an invitation for him to join them.

He wanted nothing more than to join them after today, to escape from this insufferable world where he faced and committed atrocities everyday. A world where killing was as regular as drinking water.

To end this battle he had crippled a man's young brother, beaten the same man to a bloody pulp and took him hostage, and now burned another man alive.

It had ended the battle with the surrender before him the very proof of that. His clan was victorious despite all the odds and betrayal they had faced.

And yet he felt more defeated than ever.

His people and the Hatake's survived but what he did would haunt him for the rest of his life. When he looked in Kurama's eyes the fox had neither sympathy or pity in his eyes, something for which Naruto was thankful for. However, neither did the beast have any anger or repulsion his eyes for Naruto's actions, the same could not be said for the Yamanaka or even Naruto's own clansmen and allies alike.

He started his march back towards the forests in order to be away from all these people, this town, from everything. People parted away from him as if he was the plague itself including his Kinsguard and his aunt, but he didn't blame them.

The fox wordlessly joined beside him making Naruto glance at him sadly,

"There are no victors here"